Intelligence Quotient

It is not very uncommon to come across words like IQ in psychology. Psychiatry and psychology is my true area of interest. Though I don't have credentials in these subjects, I like to dole out my pearl of wisdom generously. This Sunday while working, it hit me hard "I don't know my damn IQ". Being the restless soul that I'm, I decided to act upon and find out my intelligence quotient.

I started with online test. You just have to enter your Date of Birth and all set to go. It contains 20 questions. What do I know. Most questions were maths-related. After huffing and puffing, I completed the task. My score was 116, high average. Now I'm a person who always thought and still thinks of myself as a beauty with brain (pun unintended). I shared my distress with hubby whom I believed married me for my super intelligence. I googlied him and I must say he came pretty unscathingly. His exact words were, I quote "If you had high superior IQ, you would have been a scientist sweetheart." Though I have high regards for scientists, I find them boring, not that I know anyone personally. It is a general perception and once in a blue moon I would like to go with the perception.

I think I have proved my case here. So I rest.

January in a Glance

We welcomed the New Year in historic town of Hampi where each and every one stone has a poetry of its own. There is saying "If you start with something at the beginning of the year, that will keep happening throughout the year", in this case traveling. I am not superstitious, but this one thing I want to be true.

A promotion happened in the work front. I wasn't not exhilarated as it was long due. Nonetheless a promotion is a promotion. I am nominated for an award as well, which is an yearly event. I'm not complaining, so cheers to me.

I was absent for almost 10 days in the blog space. I have written a separate post. 

Despite the time constraint I was able to catch a few movies-Sigaram Todu, Yara Silli Silli, Taxi No 9011, Ranavikrama, Time-Out, Vajrakaya, Jazbaa, and Vastuprakara. My reading took a hit this month as I was able to finish only one book, Dead Center by David Rosenfelt.

When I was at parents', watched Kannada Big  Boss with mom. She enjoys it so much. I didn't have the heart to burst her bubble saying it is all scripted. As cynic I'm, I could only laugh out loudly for orchestrated emotional scenes. I'm not alone here, dad does the same, which infuriates mom to the core. To be in sync with that, I've watched grand finale and found out Kannada actress, Shruthi to be the winner (she was once upon a time my favourite actress though). Thank god it is over. I like Sudeep as an actor, but he started giving me creeps with his smart-ass, over-the-top hosting.

January is the month of "FAMILY" if I have to say in one word.

Parental Care

I was at my parents' from Jan 14 to 26 to look after my father. He had to undergo bilateral hernia surgery as a precautionary measure. It was in October last year that I diagnosed it as inguinal hernia. After a lot of cajoling, blackmailing, and literally threatening, he agreed upon to go ahead. Surgery was scheduled and we all as a family huddled up as one. This is sort of a mini family gathering. He had to stay in the hospital for two days. His blood glucose was normal during the surgery and shot up immediately after the surgery. That was a little worrying factor. He was put on insulin and sugar levels are pretty much back to baseline. But he was in extreme pain. His speech and demeanor was incoherent. However, he was discharged in two days in stable condition. I assumed the role of a primary caregiver. Now for a paranoid like me it is the worst job. I tell you why. Dad needs assistant in changing positions, that is from supine to sitting and sitting to standing. He wakes one time at night to go to the bathroom. My mother also gets up with me even after reprimanding from doing so. I was there for a reason right? I get up minimum three times during night on the pretext of checking his temperature. But what I actually do is check for his breathing. I know my insanity has no bounds. I'm insistent on keeping the zero bulb on. Finally when I fall asleep, it is already morning. As analgesics wears off, dad will get up because of pain. I drag my ass out of bed since I ought to check his fasting blood sugar and postprandial too after breakfast. I move around the house like zombie assisting dad here and there. He even asks me to sleep for a while in the morning, but I took upon the responsibility of watering plants, picking up arecanut, plucking vegetables, chasing monkeys, the chores that my dad do on a regular basis.

I know mom too need rest in this ordeal as she worries too much and a little bit scared. So, after sumptuous lunch, I instruct both my parents to take a nap, so that I can rest as well. It looks like I run out of my luck here. My boisterous little nephew wants all my attention, otherwise he will be all whiny and cranky. It is the first time since he and me spending quality time together after his arrival (into this world of course, he is 3-1/2). He like a puppy dog follows me everywhere. I taught him one or two of my signature dance moves. We danced to 'Abhi Toh Party Shuru Huyi Hai' almost everyday. Before you could lecture me on 'age appropriate' crap, let me enlighten you. I am the cool aunt here. I will leave disciplining and regulating to his parents. I changed my decision to become a farmer in old age because it is hell lot of a hard work boss. Gorging on mom's delicious food, chatting with them incessantly, getting heckled by my darling nephew is how I spent my days. The only downside to this is I was missing hubby terribly. This one week separation is the longest in our almost four year's married life. My dad demonstrated all signs of recovery. His goal was to be independent before I could leave and 'he is' to a great extent. Undoubtedly, there will be gnawing worry about his health . I now call every morning and night to make sure they are alright. It is the least I could do staying away from them. Guilt of not doing enough will be badgering to no end.

PS-Rumor has it that pesky relatives gossiping that if I have kids of my own, I would not have gone and took care of my dad.  Touche. Hell, not. I'l leave you with this quote "I'm allergic to stupidity. I breakout in sarcasm."

Just Read

1. Deception Point-Dan Brown. I remember reading up to 20 to 30 pages and throwing the towel almost a year back. It is dull and tedious. It is only my determination to finish unread books from my shelf before I could buy anything new this year. I have thoroughly enjoyed his 'Da Vinci Code' and that is the sole reason to buy this in the first place. As a techno-thriller it totally lacks the fast pacing of Da Vinci. The story weaves around meteorites, ocean life, which surely is not much of an interesting subject to me. I am in 100 page now, still the plot is not moving forward at all.

2. Dead Center-David Rosenfelt. This is fifth book in "Andy Carpenter" series. It is entertaining, witty, and fast-paced whodunit. It is set in Findlay, Wisconsin, wherein other previous four installments were in New Jersey.  The protagonist is more of an investigator in this than a hotshit lawyer. A half-post is lying in the draft of 'Open and Shut", the first book in the series. I shall make it a book review soon.

3. Dark Places-Gillian Flynn. I am reading her books in reversal order, first Gone Girl, now this. Book blurb was catchy and it got me hooked instantly. If you think Gone Girl is twisted, you are in for surprise. I do not know what goes in author's head. She is awfully good at creating messed up and demented characters. It is racy, page-turner, and I'm trying very hard in my head to solve the mystery. I'm well aware it is going to shake me to the core, and that is the beauty of reading.

Masaan-Movie Review

Film: Maasan
Director: Neeraj Ghaywan
Star Cast: Sanjay Mishra, Richa Chadda, Vicky Kaushal, Shweta Tripathi

If I get to choose two best movies of 2015, Maasan is one among two, the other one is Kaaka Muttai. This review was long due because I got myself busy in accomplishing other to-do things of the year.

Set in the holy town of Varanasi, two stories run paralally.  First, Devi's(Richa Chadda) sexual encounter is busted by cops that leads to her lover committing suicide in the bathroom of the dingy hotel room. This mishap drags her father, Vidhyadhar Pathak (Sanjay Mishra) into vicious web of blackmailing done by a corrupt, menacing police officer.

Second, Deepak(Vicky Kaushal), a young, lower-caste boy whose family works in ghat cremating dead bodies. He is pursuing civil engineering and dreams of a better life. He falls in love with an upper-caste girl, Shaalu(Shwetha Tripathi). Not willing to succumb to social hierarchy, Shaalu reassures her commitment towards the relationship. Here the fate mocks at them pretty cruelly.

Chadda plays a headstrong woman, who is neither afraid nor regretful, takes on the societal snide remarks and smirks singlehandedly. She wants to move out of this small town, quoting "small place, small mentality". She is educated, wants to pursue higher studies, financially independent who refuse to take all blames on herself for an act committed by two.

Sanjay mishra is a phenomenon playing Devi's father, a retired teacher/shopkeeper from conservative background, scared of being scandalized.  He compromises on his values by sending young kid working for him into a dangerous game of coin-collecting from the Ganges. He and his daughter have their own issues even though that is a matter of past now regarding the circumstance in which wife/mother died respectively. 

The amateur love blooming between young couple melts your heart. Friend request in Facebook, the long bike ride, late night phone conversation, coyness are sure to make you to walk down the memory lane. The sweetness between Deepak and Shwetha is top-notch. And the immense pain of losing the loved one will have you in tears.

It is unbelievable it is director's debut movie. The performance is extraordinary by each and everyone. Kudos to the casting team for this. An electrifying performance by Sanjay Mishra as an hapless father. He is not an actor, he is natural. Varanasi is picturized beautifully especially the ghat part. It is not an easy movie to watch. It compels you to think about love, loss, greed, fear, guilt, and most importantly death. It touches serious issues of sexual oppression, casteism, gender discrimination, and death on many levels.

Do yourself a favour. Watch this awe-inspiring movie for its sheer brilliance and heart-touching story.

PS: When I heard Sooraj Pancholi won Filmfare best debutant award, I was befuddled whether to cry or laugh. Vicky Kaushal of Maasan truly deserves the award, nonetheless he has won million hearts with intense performance.

Agar Tum Sat Ho

Song: Agar Tum Sat Ho
Movie: Tamasha
Music: A.R. Rahman
Lyrics: Irshad Kamil
Singers: Arijit Singh & Alka Yagnik
Featuring: Deepika Padukone & Ranbir Kapoor

It is such a heart-wrenching song. Every time I hear the line "Tum saath ho ya na ho kya fark hai", I get a tight knot in my gut. I am yet to watch the movie. I am sure it brings back thousand memories back for heartbroken folks. It is the soulful lyrics that tugs the heart strings. I can imagine how difficult for Deepika-Ranbir to enact in this as they have gone through this phase personally. An apt break-up song, yet not ready to let things go. It is good to listen to Alka Yagnik after a long hiatus.

Just Movies

Movies watched this weekend:

1. Sigaram Todu-Action Thriller directed by Gautham Narayanan. The story is about a father's dream of his son becoming a police officer and winning the medal; and a son who yearns a normal 9-5 job, with no perils that a police job brings. It is intertwined with two ATM robbers and credit card fraudsters, one played by director himself. All in all a good movie. I didn't know actor Vikram is veteran Shivaji Ganeshan's grandson and Prabhu's son.

2. Taxi No. 9011-An old movie. Just started on a whim and like it. It is loosely based on Hollywood movie, Changing Lanes. Nana Patekar as always never fails to impress with brilliant performance. Music by Vishal-Shekar was immensely popular back then and peppy till now.

3. Rana Vikrama-Directed by Pavan Wadeyar, his previous movie "Googly" was a disappointment, so with zero expectation we watched, and it is okay-okay, better than "Googly."

4. Vajrakaya-Directed by Harsha. His earlier stint, Bhajarangi, starring Shivarajkumar was quite impressive. I cannot say the same thing for this one. My eyes would have popped out from rolling it million times. Harsha staying just the choreographer will be a blessing, because I will not dare see his next directorial venture.

5. Time Out-Directed by Rikhil Bahadur. It is a movie with content. It handles the sensitive topic of homosexuality brilliantly without ridiculing or making the characters look like clowns just to make the audience laugh. This one is done with a lot of responsibility.