The Sacred Weight of Sadness/Melancholy!

2160th BLOG POST

I was reading a book where melancholy was given a positive perspective. It spoke about how, in the modern world, people suppress the feeling of melancholy through medication, terming it an illness. There are moments in life when you don’t understand what’s happening with your mind, and the automatic way of handling it brings out tears for no particular reason. People around you get confused about why you are acting depressed and throw every kind of motivational talk at you. How do you ever explain to them that there is nothing making us sad, but that it is a phase where the mind seems unable to calculate what it is being overpowered by — null moments of happiness and a trace of sorrow, or a complete silence of emotions, which makes it difficult for the mind to comprehend what exactly scares it enough to respond with tears?

 

Maybe these are those moments when we are not controlling our mind, but the mind itself is controlling our senses. Hence, it processes emotions in a particular manner that makes it even more difficult for us to understand the whole phenomenon. These melancholic moments appear rarely, and often when we least expect them. It can happen on a fine evening when your day has been wonderful, perhaps while driving back after one of the most happening parties where you have danced your heart out. Perhaps the mind balances its emotions; rather than allowing itself to be overwhelmed by happiness and joy, it makes you shed a few tears so that you realize there is more at work within you than you consciously understand. Your mind may be trying to tell you that, ultimately, it is the boss and not you.

 

I remember going to the very first satsang organized by the Isha Yoga Foundation after completing my Inner Engineering program with them. Through a guided meditation by Sadhguru, all of us were practicing a new meditative process with our eyes closed, following all kinds of visualizations the voice on the audio asked us to imagine. After a few minutes, I found many people crying with loud outbursts, which scared me for a moment. But, as instructed by the hosts before beginning — not to open our eyes and to concentrate on our own practice — I continued with my meditation.

 

After we opened our eyes, I found all of them wiping their tears and smiling. That smile which emerges from nothingness — where it feels as if you were given a blank canvas and could paint anything on it: a Full Moon radiating brightness or a New Moon painting the entire canvas black, revealing the deepest darkness imaginable. It was evident that people had found their minds blank after shedding tears and releasing excess pain. They had a choice to begin afresh, and they did — with a smile so powerful and soothing that even a spectator like me could feel its energy, though I hadn’t experienced the same thing myself.

 

Sometimes, we should respect the inevitable and accept it as life — or as a part of it. We shouldn’t judge every aspect of our actions, reactions, responses, and emotions. Some things happen because we are part of this vast universe and are deeply connected to it. We can’t disassociate ourselves from nature. You must have heard about the Butterfly Effect, and perhaps we have become the effect of nature’s cause somewhere in this world. We should feel acknowledged by this planet and the universe for allowing us, among billions of lives, to experience melancholy rather than feeling bad, sad, or depressive about it. Let life be the way it is, without constantly trying to change it.

 

Thanks!

WRITING BUDDHA

Pune Junction by Pranay Bhalerao (Book Review: 3.25*/5) !!!

2159th BLOG POST

2^nd Book of 2026

There is always an excitement in reading one of your favourite authors trying a new genre. I remember feeling the same excitement when Chetan Bhagat, Ashwin Sanghi, and Amish Tripathi experimented with non-fiction, and I experienced a similar feeling when I saw Pranay’s update on social media about his attempt at a love story. I have finally finished reading his latest book, “Pune Junction,” which is around 270 pages long. It felt refreshing to read him writing a soft, emotional story after having read his dark and action-packed duologies and trilogies like The Lost World and The Kavaach series respectively.

 

Pranay’s writing style has been kept simple to cater to Gen-Z and young school- and college-going readers who do not enjoy complicated storytelling. This is a light read in terms of storyline and works perfectly as a travel companion or a relaxing weekend read. Pranay has structured the chapters interestingly—even though the timelines do not switch this time, the voice of narration does, as the story is told in the first person alternatively. The two main protagonists, Parth and Rucha, keep narrating their versions of the same storyline, with slight progression each time, which helps the reader move smoothly into the next scene.

 

The author has nicely created the setup of how a fresh college graduate enters the corporate world and finds everything new and different from his previous life. The way he describes the room of a bachelor employee, the habit of saving colleagues’ contacts names with company references, the new addiction to coffee, and how older employees prefer stepping outside the campus for tea or coffee despite free options at work—all these details feel relatable and authentic.

 

The characterization of both protagonists is well communicated. You get a clear glimpse of how anxious, nervous, and excited Parth is, while Rucha comes across as confident, ambitious, and a dreamer. Their initial interactions and subsequent dates are handled with restraint, without forcing unnecessary steamy scenes into the narrative. This shows Pranay’s confidence as a writer, as he avoids adding artificial elements merely to spice up the story. He works with a simple plot and builds the narration around it effectively. However, while reading the love story, you may be reminded of films like Saiyaara or Aashiqui 2, especially in the last one-third of the book where the setup feels quite similar. I personally wished the author had chosen a different direction, as it reduces the sense of freshness and makes it feel like another familiar love story.

 

While reading, I initially wondered why Pune as a city was repeatedly being brought into the conversations between the characters, but then it struck me that the title itself is based on the city. The author’s love for Pune is evident in the way he begins the journey from Shaniwar Wada and takes readers through different locations. However, I felt he could have explored the city more deeply by mentioning local cuisines and popular couple hotspots. That would have made the city feel more organically integrated into the love story rather than slightly forced in certain sections.

 

Talking about the drawbacks, I feel the simple storyline could have been comfortably wrapped up within 230–250 pages and did not necessarily require the current length. The author also needs to invest more in proofreading, as I noticed several typos and grammatical errors this time—something quite different from his earlier books, which were more polished. It felt as if the book went to print in a hurry. As mentioned earlier, the final section resembles several Bollywood films and books with similar storylines, making the ending somewhat predictable. I would rate this book 3.25 stars out of 5. Definitely not Pranay’s best work, but I am sure he will bounce back strongly with his next one. Do read it if you enjoy sweet and simple love stories.

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WRITING BUDDHA

Salman Khan: The Sultan of Bollywood by Mohar Basu (Book Review: 4.75*/5) !!!

2158th BLOG POST

1st Book of 2026

I remember going to the market with my mother every time we found a Salman Khan song from a new movie playing somewhere. We had an entire collection of cassettes featuring almost every movie Salman was part of during the 1990s and early 2000s. We still frown upon the day we had to give away that entire collection because CDs replaced cassettes and we could no longer find a cassette player in the market. With time, favourite actors changed, but the soft corner for my very first favourite actor still sits right at the front. Surprisingly, last year we even got to experience watching Salman Khan live on The Great Kapil Show sets, which felt like a dream coming true—one that we hadn’t even imagined dreaming about.

I had a wonderful start to my 2026 reading journey by picking up one of the finest biographies written on Salman Khan by Mohar Basu—the same author who won the Crossword Popular Choice Award last year for her debut biography on Shah Rukh Khan. To begin with, the entire package of the book—the hardbound cover, the embossed golden title, the printing quality, and Salman’s photograph on the cover—makes it extremely tempting to pick up the moment you enter a bookstore. I have kept it displayed on my study table for over a month now, simply because of the aura it carries.

Mohar Basu has structured this biography very intelligently to ensure it doesn’t read like a conventional life story. She does not follow a linear narrative starting from birth and moving chronologically forward. Instead, she picks defining moments and personality traits of Salman Khan and explores them in depth. With every chapter, she attempts to decode why Salman Khan is unlike any other Bollywood star and what truly makes him unique.

What stands out is that the author never appears biased in her narration, which makes her writing credible and compelling. She does not attempt to whitewash Salman’s personality; rather, she tries to understand—along with the reader—why he continues to be forgiven repeatedly and given chances unlike most public figures. She maintains a balanced approach while covering both his filmography and personal life.

Her chapter design reflects her deep understanding of reader engagement, especially in a book that runs over 300 pages. The narrative keeps you hooked without ever making you feel saturated. In fact, when I reached the last 50 pages, I slowed down intentionally just to spend more time with the writing. In IT, we talk about UX (User Experience), and in marketing, CX (Customer Experience). I genuinely believe Mohar Basu has introduced a new concept—RX, or Reader Experience—which she consistently prioritises throughout this book.

She takes us deep into the making and impact of Salman’s most important films such as Maine Pyar Kiya, Hum Aapke Hain Kaun, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Wanted, Dabangg, Ek Tha Tiger, and Bajrangi Bhaijaan. The behind-the-scenes insights add freshness even to films we believe we already know everything about. Adjusting box-office collections for inflation further helps readers understand the true scale of Salman’s success and rising stardom.

The author frequently references her interactions with Salman Khan’s fans across the globe, sharing their personal stories of his impact on their lives. She also transparently acknowledges books, articles, and interviews she has referred to. I was glad to have already read the three books she frequently cites—Khantastic, The Three Khans, and Being Salman—which perhaps also proves how big a Bollywood lover I am—haha!

One generally assumes that any book on Salman Khan will heavily focus on his relationship with Aishwarya Rai. While that has been true in many accounts, Mohar Basu smartly limits this discussion, presenting essential facts without overindulgence. She articulately covers how Salman’s image suffered due to controversies and court cases without sensationalising them.

She dedicates chapters to his bodybuilding journey, which changed Bollywood’s perception of male physiques, and to his philanthropic work—highlighting how Being Human was simply a structured extension of values he practised since childhood.

What makes the book even more engaging is that the author occasionally lets her emotions as a Salman fan surface, making the narrative conversational and intimate—like discussing a shared admiration with a close friend. This book will remain a definitive reference for understanding why Salman Khan continues to inspire forgiveness, loyalty, and fascination. As they say, you may love him or hate him, but you cannot ignore him—and Mohar Basu’s research proves there is no better example of that statement than Salman Khan.

Overall, this book took me through nostalgia, excitement, emotion, curiosity, concern, inspiration, and amazement—sometimes all within a few pages. This explains why Mohar Basu’s books continue to sell despite their premium pricing. I give this book no less than 4.75 stars out of 5. It is a true page-turner. Right after finishing this review, I am picking up her biography on Shah Rukh Khan, and I sincerely hope she writes on other Bollywood personalities like Amitabh Bachchan, Priyanka Chopra, and Hrithik Roshan as well.

PURCHASE THE BOOK HERE

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WRITING BUDDHA