A simple story winning hearts

Garhwali girl Monika Panwar shines in Mast Mein Rehne Ka, one of the most brilliant movies made in recent times. The surprise package is Jackie Shroff, who gives a career-best performance, ably supported by Neena Gupta.
Darshan Mondkar has penned a wonderful review on Facebook:

A 75 year old widower living his lonely life spending hours looking at the waves of the sea…..
A widow well past her prime, returned to India, neglected by her son and his wife, wanting to spend time with herself….
A talented but poor young tailor with a spate of bad luck, resorting to small crimes while trying to make something of his life .
And a young beggar girl who is part of an organized begging ring.
What do they have in common? Life….that’s what.
Mast Mein Rehne Ka is not a thriller or a conventional drama, a suspense….it’s just a simple story of these 4 characters and how life brings them together.
Vijay Maurya has shot the movie beautifully in the bylanes of Mumbai giving you visuals of middle class and the poor.
There is no glamour, no over the top action, no loud slapstick humor and yet the movie thrills you, amuses you and makes you tear up while still leaving a smile on your face.
The performances are absolutely terrific.
Jackie Shroff and Neena Gupta have managed to do an extremely convincing job at giving sensitive performances.
Jackie has probably given the performance of his life. And Neena has once again proved why she is held in such high esteem.
Abhishek Chauhan outdoes any of his previous works as the shy villager coming to Mumbai to fulfill his dreams.
But it’s Monika Panwar who has absolutely aced it. Her performance is nothing short of brilliant. She captivates you with her emotions while making you giggle or cry at her command.
The real Hero of the movie is, however, the story.
It moves at a gentle pace, just like the gentle waves of the sea, coaxing you in the direction it wants to.
The music is soothing to your ears with beautiful meaningful lyrics. After a long time I was actually interested in listening to the songs than just hearing them.
The movie ends on a poignant note and a smile on your face, nonetheless.
Kudos to the entire team of MMRK for daring to make such a beautiful movie which impacts you, without resorting to histrionics or trying to play to the gallery.
Lesson of life: Mast Mein Rehne Ka!

Answered prayers

Forty-one workers are rescued from the under-construction Silkyara Bend-Barkot Tunnel in Uttarakhand, after being trapped for 17 days. Ironically, the last stretch of the rescue mission had to be carried out manually by a 12-member “rat-hole” miners after imported machinery had failed.

The ever-optimistic Brit

#BistInBrighton, freshly arrived from 42 degrees Thane and shivering slightly in 20 degrees Coldean to local uncle near the convenience store dressed only in shorts and sunglasses: “Quite a sunny day.”

Uncle: “Yes, it’s going to be a lovely day today!”

And we are back…

Arrived for our second visit to Coldean on June 20, 2023, flying Emirates Mumbai-Dubai-Gatwick.

Killing the competition

Homemakers shopping at D-Mart were in for a surprise. Their favourite brands of cooking oils were missing from the shelves.
Only one brand was omnipresent: King’s. Here’s the good part: it was far cheaper than all the other brands by a wide margin.
And which is the company behind King’s?
Adani Wilmar.

Mission possible

You know the brainwashing is complete when your Uber driver tells you: “The previous government didn’t do anything. India has progressed only after 2014.”

Only two things

One lady giving gyaan to another on their morning walk: Aaj kal dawa aur duwa dono bahut zaroori hain.

The instant eye-catcher of a stadium

#BistInBrighton
Last evening, all roads, including forest paths, led to The Amex football stadium in Falmer, Brighton.
The occasion was the UEFA Women’s EURO England 2022 quarter final match between England and Spain. The hosts won 2-1 in a thrilling extra timer. Some great foot and team work by the English girls – and continual support from a vocal home crowd in a familiar jam-packed venue – helped the hosts seal a memorable win.
If an opinion poll were conducted tomorrow for the most recognizable landmark in Brighton, yesterday’s venue would give a tough fight to the Brighton Pier and the British Airways i360.
It would also win an award for the stadium with the most names, beginning with Falmer Stadium, based on its location in the small village by the same name in the Lewes district of East Sussex, England. It is also known as the American Express Community Stadium for sponsorship purposes. But locals would have none of these and they simply call it The Amex.
The Amex serves as the home of Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion. The stadium was handed over from the developers to the club on May 31, 2011. The first competitive game played here was the 2010-11 season finals of the Sussex Senior Cup between Brighton and Eastbourne Borough on July 16, 2011. The Amex hosted Premier League football for the first time in August 2017, following Albion’s promotion at the end of the 2016-17 season.

Apart from football the stadium also hosts other sports including rugby and hockey. Some matches from the 2015 Rugby World Cup were held there. Amex also holds music concerts, conferences and exhibitions.
Located on the edge of the city near the sprawling campus of the University of Sussex, the Amex was designed by KSS Design Group. Two massive tubular arches support the steel and glass structure; they have no columnar support and a substantial breadth.
The stadium is set low into the landscape and can be clearly seen from the surrounding downland.

A wild and beautiful sprawl

#BistInBrighton
The largest Local Nature Reserve (LNR) in Brighton, the amazingly alluring Wild Park is spread over 239.8 hectares (593 acres) and has extensive woodland walks and spectacular views over the city. It is owned and managed by the Brighton and Hove City Council.
Apart from the sprawling greenery, the park is home to the Hollingbury Castle, an Iron Age hillfort which is a Scheduled Monument, and the Hollingbury Park golf course. Species-rich chalk grassland is managed by sheep grazing. There is an extensive woodland with a network of footpaths, large areas of scrub and a dew pond.
Wild Park extends right into the city and important species-rich chalk grassland survives on south and north-facing slopes surrounding its vast expanse. There are also large patches of chalk scrub and grazing fields that are popular with seed-eating birds.

Sorry I didn’t take your call

One lady to another on their morning walk: Tuney aaj subah WhatsApp call kiya tha na? Main jawaab nahi de saki kyonki mainey kapde nahi pehne the.