Meri Awaaz

According to a study in 2017, a report published in the Journal of Pediatrics, intake of polluted air  by women during preconception or one month after the preconception, can lead to defects for the new born's body and health. It is indeed sad to realize that in this world of urbanization, pollution has taken control on our lives too. Allergies or other illnesses due to pollution in the city, itself was bit unmanageable, and now its messing with our precious lives. Birth of a baby with disabilities or defects in bodies is a major problem for the entire family and the baby too. There is a way out for allergies through some medical aids. But, when a baby is born with cleft lip or abnormal heart, its going to be a life time disaster for the child and its near and dear ones too. A baby with a cleft lip. Planting trees has always been a tagline for fresh air, but indeed it takes a long number of years for a sapling to grow into a big tree to accommodate a small amount of ox...

Strikes ? Hartals ? Bandhs ?  It takes a few seconds for me, to recollect and understand the difference between strikes, bandhs and hartals. But yes I must say, when you speak about the beauty of Kerala you cannot miss your thoughts on the ' Hartal state'. Most of the time people in India use this as their medium to communicate, or to convey their pain, or even their demands. What makes me wonder is, is this the only way? Shutting down shops, burning of buses,cancelling trains etc, are these the only things that we can do? Cartoon by: R K Laxman When it is ' a government of the people, by the people and for the people ', why the so called people have to suffer so much. Who are the so called people in the above mentioned Indian national  quote? Questions! Questions! Questions! As a citizen of India, I do appreciate freedom but its at times too expensive. If we look in to the impact of these  protest activities, the one who suffers is obviously you ...

To (Un)Dear Ockhi, I am writing this letter to tell you, who you are to us. Firstly, I might be funny for you, but dare you even give a smile. It is indeed very painful to make you realise that you did what nothing on earth could do to India. You played with the lives of 'so so so' many innocent citizens of my land. Are you the winner? No never! I must mention its your loss that you could shake our families but could not brake our hopes. We will never forget your role in the murder of thousands of the fishermen from my land. We will remember you, when we hear about the black devil. For you it was just few minutes play, for us it is an incompleteness of lifetime. Hard slaps to Ockhi. This tragedy definitely will make you realize that you are the biggest looser on earth. As we fishermen and families worship our ' Sea Goddess ', we will come back to normal lives soon. Though we will be sad from within, soon we will throw our nets so far and show you our strength ...

"Secret Superstar ki Dangal " Aamir Khan's movie Secret Superstar's 17 year old actress 'Zaira Wasim', is more popularly known for her role as  Geeta Phogat's childhood character played in the movie 'Dangal'. Zaira Wasim in the movie ' Secret Superstar '. On 10th  December 2017, when Zaira was travelling in Vistara airlines from Delhi to Mumbai, she had a bad and an unexpected experience. She complained that a man (Vikas Sachdeva) behind her seat had sexually molested her. She also claims that no crew of the Vistara airlines came for her help at that moment. She could not even manage to get a clear image of what was happening, as it was dark in the flight. Later, once she came out of the flight she posted her pain in Instagram and then this issue took a rather social move. Vistara airlines then came forward with the words that, 'They have zero tolerance for such trouble done to their passengers'. Vikas was immedia...

Who should be blamed? Travelling is really fun, especially when it’s a long trip in train with all your family members and relatives. If you are a frequent traveler, you will definitely know the pain of booking your seats  four months before your date of travel. In my journey from Maharashtra to Kerala, several times I have personally experienced the reservation boogie being converted into a local compartment. It’s really sad to see people from Kasargod to Trivandrum, jumping into the train and almost sitting on your lap. We end up realizing that, in a seat of three more than 6 passengers sitting including kids, ladies and gents. During my recent travel from Kerala to Maharashtra, unfortunately it was an urgent travel, we had to book tickets under the Tatkal quota. Almost spending double the rates in the usual quota.  But there was a relief that at least we have  seats dedicated and reserved for us. There was an old lady sleeping in the seat in front of me. She...

'Custody' directed by Xavier Legrand( France ). This is a movie in which  Ms. Miriam,a mother of two is struggling to get divorce from her husband, Mr. Antoine. The husband wishes to get back with the family and claims that his son needs him. A still of the courtroom from the movie "Custody'. Very nice acting, by all the characters. Must say, the expressions of the child playing the role of Mr. Antoine's and Ms. Miriam's son is just amazing. The story shows a struggle that Mr. Antoine's family is going through, in order to get separated from him. Mr. Antoine's and Ms. Miriam's son from the movie 'Custody'. The representation of the concept is done well. Mr. Antoine is shown as a person whose anger is too dangerous and sometimes irrelevant. His loneliness and staying away from family members makes him behave like an insane. He is even shown to ask forgiveness to Miriam. But all goes in waste when each time he screws up th...

' Father and son ' directed by Aleksandr Sokurov  ( Russia/Germany/ Italy/ Netherlands/ France ). The movie ' Father and Son' revolves around the relations that a father and son share with each other. They have no one else to look after. They share a very strong bond with each other. They behave like father and son, like lovers, like best friends etc.  A still from Aleksadr Sokuvov's movie 'Father and Son'. Aleksei, the son is in military and has misunderstandings with his girlfriend. His girlfriend is not ready to accept that the father and son love each other so much. The script is not like a usual one. The scenes at times do make us feel that the reason the father and son are so connected to each other is truly obvious and acceptable. The director has tried a lot to spread the message that, people will find many obstacles and reasons to leave any relationship, but you can hold back if you really wish to. Nadar Shaila Sunder

' Ava ' directed by Sadaf Foroughi ( Iran / Canada / Qatar ). This is a very good movie that shows a change in the relation and approach between a 14 years old teenage girl named Ava and her parents. The scenes are too perfect at most of the places. Both the parents are working and keep blaming each other for not spending time with the family and their only daughter. The dialogues are very natural and one could definitely relate it with their own house or the next door. The scenes at Ava's school are bit funny. It gives a clear picture about how students at teenage find school a bit boring and also less interesting. Ava from the movie "Ava'. Ava feels music is her love, but her mother like any other mother is looking for a better future for her. Her father is shown quite supportive and understanding. It doesn't end here, she also tries dating Nima just for the sake of a bet which she keeps with one of her classmate. This date leads to many...

' The Swaying Waterlily ' directed by Seren Yuce. ( Turkish ) Handon and Korhan are husband and wife. Aleyna is their 10 years old daughter. The family is well settled and live in a very developed part of Istanbul.  There is something missing between the couple. Handon tries to come up with new ideas to divert her mind and and refresh herself. She finally decides to start up a 'Book-Cafe' inspired by her writer friend Sermin. But this creates jealousy and finally leads to conflicts between the Handon and Sermin's family.  A still from the movie 'The Swaying Waterlily'. The story is good. Editing is done in a very fine way. It points out many aspects of a couple experiencing the loss of love and emotions for each other. The movie also highlights on Handon's role as a mother of a daughter. It depicts today's modern generation where people interact more with technology than with family members. A still from the movie ...

' In the Shadows ' (' Gali Guliyaan ' ) directed by Dipesh Jain (Hindi). This is a movie inspired by a true story. Its all regarding some sort of fear that the people living in the walled city of Old Delhi face. Its base line is that people who live here get trapped here and are scared to step out because of the fear of being lost between the alleys.  A still from 'In the Shadows'. The location appears quite natural and also busy city of Delhi is depicted well. Actor Manoj Bajpayee plays the lead role of 'Khuddoos' , who is a lonely man and keeps checking things happening in neighboring houses by fitting hidden cameras around. He is shown to be a man who is boycotted by everyone because of his nature and weird behavior.  The background noises of the roads of Delhi appears very natural. Though there are very few characters, yet it will surely keep the viewers busy with the question, ' Why is Khuddoos actually behaving so ?...

' Take off ' by Mahesh Narayan (India). It takes lots of efforts to make a movie based on real incidents. The character selection done in the movie is good. The story is about Indian nurses who were stuck up in Iraq and were later rescued by the help and involvement of an Indian Ambassador, Kerala government and other rescue incharge officers. Take Off. The director has done a good job in creating a feel of Syria and its unsafe war zones. The lead character of Sameera played by Parvathy is worth appreciable. The general filmy approach like Sameera's  first marriage failure, then her second marriage with Mr. Shahid (Kunchako Boban), her son from first marriage, etc have helped to potray Sameera to be bold and struggling. There is a scene where the nurses decide to catch up with the red cross rescue team, but one of the nurses sits back saying that she cant go back empty handed to her parents who are all dependent on her salary for surviv al.  A stil...

' The Third Murder ' by Hurokazu Kore-eda (Japan). It is a movie wherein a lawyer is seen struggling to save his client Mr. Misumi from death penalty. The major point of interest is that his client has accepted his crime of murdering his own boss. The murderer himself is not sure about the reason of murder. Though the story line appears quite interesting but it could have been depicted in a much better way. The lawyer is seen doing a good job, as he realizes about lack of proper evidences to prove his client guilty. But the movie takes many minor twists wherein Mr. Misumi tries to change his statements each time his lawyer is seen counselling him. A still from the movie where the lawyer (left) is counselling Mr. Misumi (right). The lawyer appears to be more upset and tired of life than the murderer. The murderer is shown to be smiling and a bit relaxed in life. The movie takes a different view when victim's daughter confesses her statement f...

  Looking for Oum Kulthum - directed by Shirin Neshat and Shoja Azari. ( German/ Austria/ Italy) A nice movie depicting the plight of a female director in a male oriented society. It gives a brief view about what sort of roles a lady plays in a life and how she struggles to justify each role. Its a movie within a movie. At some places in the movie, it gives a better understanding about how a fully dedicated director at times looses hopes for the film that she is making.  A still from the movie ' Looking for Oum Kulthum  ' . Its more of a change that she experiences in her life throughout during the making of the film in the movie. At some places its difficult to catch up whether its the shoot or the actual scene we are watching , until the director is seen entering and calling out for a 'cut'.    A still from the movie ' Looking for Oum Kulthum  ' . Oum Kulthum an Egyptian singer's life at different phase is shown. The scene in...