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As I finish my work and crawl in bed, finally excited to spend some ‘me time.’ I pull over my blanket and take out my phone. To relieve off my exhausation of the day, I am gonna watch some reels. I know, I know those who are reading this might be judging me way too hard but everyone can have different ways of spending their me time, right?
I quickly reply to all those annoying messages on instagram and then waste no time to watch my absolute favourite thing in the world-the reels. Before reels made their entry on all social media platforms, long-form video was the only thing available to us. Those 20-30 minutes long videos on Youtube and Instagram were our only source of entertainment (this was before OTT platforms became popular). Now, when I think about it, I cant even began to wrap around my head how we as audiences could sit for so long and watch one video. Anyway, that’s already a widely discussed issue and we shall not ponder over it yet again.
I pressed that Reels button and I came across the first of the hundreds reel I was gonna watch. Reels are placed according to the algorithm which is basically what you frequently search or watch. So, one can expect to see reels of specific people/creators or related to themes they regularly search about or related to some keywords. However, sometimes it is also related to what the Instagram feels ‘we might like.’
I started my process of Doom-scrolling and noticed one commonality among most of the reels.
Instagram is the epicentre of trends. It gives rise to myriad of trends, ranging from dancing on a hook-step to lipsyncing on a popular song. And the amusing fact is that such trends are taken on by both the common people as well as celebrities. Recently, the trend of ‘So beautiful, so elegent..just looking like a wow’ which took instagram by the storm was also used the Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone.
Personally, I am not a big fan of these trends and I strongly discourage people to follow them. I believe that it just kills creativity. However, my opinion about this new trend will be quite constrasting to what I said earlier.
The newest trend on Instagram is all about ‘Romanticising your life.’ The idea is to film and post your absolute random moments of life like drinking coffee, walking on the road or maybe just eating your favourite food. It stems from the idea of ‘enjoying the little things in life’ which often get unnoticed. For me, this trend is all about feeling that ‘main character energy’ in your life. Like in movies where we see the protagonist dressing up cutely, meeting his/her friends or just getting ready to take on his/her day. For me, these reels emite those ‘positive energy’ where it makes the audience feel that the protagonist in the reel is really enjoying his/her life.
I think another reason for the popularity of this type of content is that Gen Z loves all visual-centric content. They are all about posting visually-pleasing stories, posts and reels. For them, whenever they look at anything which pleases their eye, they waste no time in capturing it in their phones’ camera. And with the popularity of filters, they have the power to make ordinary photos look exceptionally beautiful.
As I said earlier that I am not a big fan of Instagram trends, I feel this might change my mind and I agree some trends might not be that bad. My inquisitive self made me read more into this trend and I got to know that this trend actually began during the Covid era on Tiktok. During lockdown, everyone was in their influencer phase so everyone over Tiktok was filming themeselves and romanticising their lockdown lives.
Although Covid era is finally over, this trend is here to stay. And according to experts, this trend is actually good for your mental health as well. It helps people to be mindful of little things in their lives and be grateful for rthem. Moreover, it also helps them to be aware of themeselves, their surroundings and their lives in general.
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Picture this: A young woman, barely out of her teens, steps into a boardroom filled with seasoned industry veterans. She’s here to resurrect a faltering brand and compete against international giants. The odds are stacked against her. But this woman isn’t deterred by challenges. Instead, she embraces them.
From her Instagram profile, one gets a snapshot of who Nadia Chauhan is: a businesswoman, mother, wife, traveller, food lover, and bookworm. These labels barely scratch the surface of this dynamic woman who is steering one of India’s top FMCG companies, Parle Agro, into new realms of success.
This dynamic force behind Parle Agro was born in 1985 in California but spent the majority of her formative years in Mumbai. As the daughter of Prakash Chauhan, the Chairman of Parle Agro, she was destined to share in the company’s legacy. Even as a child, Nadia displayed an uncanny knack for business and an entrepreneurial spirit that belied her tender years.
Her childhood was not filled with typical pastimes. Instead, she would spend after-school hours and holidays at Parle Agro’s sprawling headquarters, shadowing her father. This immersion in the world of business from such a young age was akin to an informal business school, shaping Nadia’s perspectives and honing her instincts.
Despite being born into a nearly century-old business family, Nadia Chauhan was not content to simply ride on the coattails of her family’s success. She had an intrinsic desire to create something of her own. At the tender age of 11, she started a bakery startup, going door-to-door selling her homemade cookies. This early venture not only showcased her entrepreneurial spirit but also her determination and hard work.
Her academic life too was aligned with her passion for business. She pursued her studies in commerce at H.R. College, further equipping herself with the knowledge she would need to navigate the world of business.
But beyond the boardrooms and business strategies, Nadia’s upbringing was also steeped in empathy and understanding, qualities instilled in her by her mother. These qualities would later become integral to her leadership style, helping her foster a people-centric work culture at Parle Agro.
Nadia’s early life is a testament to the fact that success is not simply about having the right opportunities, but about making the most of them. From shadowing her father in the office to starting her bakery venture, every experience served as a stepping stone on her path to becoming a recognized thought leader within the industry.
At just 18, she joined Parle Agro, an iconic brand with a rich history, but one that was struggling to stay relevant in the face of fierce competition from international giants like Pepsi and Coca-Cola. However, what could have been seen as a daunting challenge, Nadia viewed as an exciting opportunity.
One of her first tasks was to breathe new life into Frooti, a beloved brand that had lost its appeal among the younger generation. It was a significant undertaking, requiring a complete overhaul of not just the product’s packaging, but also its positioning in the market. With a clear vision and a fresh approach, Nadia led the transformation of Frooti from a children’s drink to a contemporary, youth-oriented brand.
Yet, the path to success was not straightforward. As a young woman in a male-dominated industry, Nadia Chauhan faced her fair share of scepticism and resistance. Her ideas were often dismissed, and her abilities were questioned. But instead of letting these obstacles deter her, she used them as motivation.
She proved her mettle by not just reviving Frooti but also introducing new products like Appy Fizz, which went on to become a huge success. Under her leadership, Parle Agro’s annual turnover has grown exponentially, crossing the INR 8000 crore mark.
Nadia’s rise through the ranks at Parle Agro serves as an inspiration for many, especially women aspiring to make their mark in the business world. It’s a testament to her grit, determination, and innovative thinking.
Nadia Chauhan, the powerhouse behind Parle Agro, is not just a successful businesswoman. She’s a leader who has redefined leadership in her own unique way. Under her stewardship, Parle Agro has seen exponential growth, introducing innovative products and expanding into new markets. But what truly sets her apart is her people-centric approach to leadership.
Nadia firmly believes in empowering her team. For her, leadership is not about wielding power but about enabling those around her to excel. She fosters an environment that encourages innovation, challenges the status quo, and rewards hard work. This approach has created a culture at Parle Agro where every team member feels valued and motivated to contribute their best.
Her empathetic and inclusive leadership style has its roots in the lessons she learned from her mother. She once shared in an interview how her mother’s teachings of empathy and understanding have shaped her approach towards her team. It is this compassionate side of her that has helped her connect with her team members on a deeper level, making them feel more like an extended family than just employees.
However, Nadia’s vision for Parle Agro extends beyond just creating a positive work culture. She is determined to make Parle Agro a Rs 20,000 crore company by 2030. This audacious goal is a reflection of her unwavering faith in her team and her ability to turn visions into reality.
But perhaps the most inspiring aspect of Nadia’s leadership is her commitment to breaking gender stereotypes in the business world. As a woman leading a major corporation in a traditionally male-dominated industry, she stands as a beacon of inspiration for aspiring women leaders.
She’s a leader who not only inspires her team but also empowers them. And in doing so, she’s paving the way for a new kind of leadership – one that is inclusive, empathetic, and empowering.
So, let’s raise our glasses (preferably filled with Frooti) to Nadia Chauhan – a woman as refreshing and inspiring as the brand she represents!
Image source: Frooti’s, Nadia Chauhan’s Instagram
Being born and raised in an Indian society, my parents and relatives always made me believe that God has given life to fulfill certain roles and responsibilities and one of them is to get married and have kids and by not doing so equals disrespecting God. I have always questioned my father on this because I was one of those persons who didn’t want to get married but he always said the human cycle has been divided into phases and it is important to be a part of each phase.
I work with the Embassy of the Republic of Congo. I got married in 2022 (which obviously is late as per the Indian standard marriage age norms) before my seniors at work used to question me often about my marriage, they used to say, “It is getting late, it is important to get married and have kids; God like this”.
Once a lady from a travel company came for a meeting at the Embassy and she looked to be in her early 40’s. My diplomat asked her in general about her husband and family; she replied that I don’t want to get married and have kids, I am happy alone and you should have seen the reaction of my diplomat.
I have witnessed few people who have seen toxic relationships at their home who don’t believe in marriage and I feel it’s completely ok to be like that. I am in my 30’s and I have witnessed a radical shift in the concept of marriage. There are more divorces now than successful marriages because people don’t value relationships and I feel rather than going through the mental torture one experiences during the divorce duration it is better to remain single.
I, personally know how I am, I know how adjustable I am and I only know will I be able to amend myself after marriage the way it is required; nobody else can answer this on my behalf. If I am aware that my habits that I can’t change can be a hindrance, then why not make decisions wisely.
I am not saying parents should blindly agree but at least they should try to understand the reasons if their children don’t want to get married. Sometimes the reasons are really true and sensible. It’s completely ok not to get married if you know that it can spoil yours or somebody else’s life.
Trigger Warning: This deals with graphic details of murder and may be triggering to all readers.
Early this year, we all woke up to the shocking news about Suchana Seth, and the grim details that unfolded. Her alleged involvement in the heart-wrenching murder of her own 4-year-old child sent my mind spiralling. I couldn’t understand what kind of torment could lead a mother, seemingly accomplished in her career, to commit such a despicable act against her own flesh and blood.
To the uninitiated, Suchana is accused of murdering her only child’s life in an apartment in North Goa’s Candolim, coldly concealing his tiny body in a bag, and transporting it to Karnataka in a taxi, when she was detained.
Delving deeper into the heart-wrenching story, I discovered that Suchana is not just any individual; she is an esteemed AI ethics expert and a distinguished data scientist. In her professional life, she earned the prestigious recognition of being listed among the 100 AI ethics expert women in the world in 2021. Her achievements extend further, to being a Harvard fellow, according to her LinkedIn profile. She is a patent holder and the CEO of the Mindful AI Lab. She is also a first rank holder in PG Diploma, Sanskrit from Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture.
The clear contrast between her professional accolades and the horrifying allegations against her add a layer of complexity to this tragic tale. As I grappled with the details in the news articles, my mind kept reeling with questions like: What could have driven a woman of such apparent success to commit such an unimaginable and devastating act against her own child? The emotional turbulence within me is the sum of the collective bewilderment of human despair and the darkness that can overshadow even the brightest achievements.
It is also interesting to note the heart-wrenching details of Suchana Seth’s life that paint a picture of despair. Considering that I am only privy to her life through the various news articles I read this morning, I am only imagining how her life and days would have been.
Amid an ugly legal battle with her estranged husband, she also bore the weight of unspoken grievances with her father whom she hadn’t spoken to in years, following the demise of her mother. While climbing the corporate ladder, a journey undoubtedly fraught with challenges, she would’ve carried the emotional burdens of her fractured relationships. It feels like a ticking time bomb, waiting for a crash, but could anyone have predicted it would culminate in such a horrific tragedy? My mind struggles to make sense of it all.
She has undergone clinical reviews to assess her mental health. Despite whatever the results are, she clearly seems to have been under immense pressure.
The police reveal a chilling narrative of premeditated murder where she ordered cough syrup from the staff at the apartments and the boy’s post-mortem indicating asphyxia without a hint of struggle. Yet, my imagination struggles to come to terms with the aftermath. How did she confront the unthinkable truth that her only child was dead? What must be on her mind when she was packing him in a suitcase and carrying him away to be discarded elsewhere? My stomach churns.
As the mystery deepens, my mind grapples with the unimaginable mental and emotional turmoil she might have endured. What led her to believe that the death of her child would be a resolution? To anything in the world! What even led her to believe that she could get away with this? As a mother, I find it inconceivable that anything could outweigh the value of my child’s life, and the news refuses to settle within my comprehension.
Regardless of what unfolds for Suchana Seth, there’s one truth that pushes my sensory buttons – the little child did not deserve this fate. He should not have met his end at the hands of his mother, who was supposed to be his nurturer. The thought of his suffering pierces my soul, an innocent child robbed of the chance to grow and thrive, in a manner that defies my logical understanding.
Editor’s note: This is as yet a developing news story.
Image source: Twitter/ X
Not in the wildest of my dreams did I think that a wait at the doctor’s office would spark the idea for an article.
After reaching on time, it took 50 minutes until I was seen. No points for guessing, it was a test of my patience because I had gone there without eating breakfast! On the brighter side, I have ended up sharing my two cents on patience!
When my child was a five-year-old, it was not easy to teach him what patience meant. My husband suggested that I draw some pictures and explain them to him in the form of a story. I made a sketch of a boy waiting at a bus stop. The sketch was pretty pathetic, but my purpose was served. I succeeded in driving home the message that the kid had to wait without complaining until the bus arrived. Thereafter, my little boy started understanding that patience means “wait”!
At 27, he plays a trick on me with the tables being turned. When I tell him to hurry up and stop dilly-dallying while doing his chores, he quotes me: “‘Patience means ‘wait’.’ Didn’t you teach me that?”
As much as we keep talking about how important it is to be patient, is it easy? I explored a few scenarios.
There is immense joy in celebrating your child’s birthday, but there are downsides too. Your boy or girl can do a bunch of the most annoying things on that special day, yet they can get away with the famous one-liner: “At least don’t shout at me on my birthday!” Now, what else can you do besides taking a long, deep breath and calming down?
There can be no worse timing to having a tiff with your spouse than prior to having guests at home or just when you are about to visit someone else’s place. At that moment, you feel like you have your “bitter half” and not your better half next to you. In spite of wanting to put forward your point of view, you cannot. The most needed virtue is undoubtedly patience because you have to be on your best manners and pretend that all is well!
Yes, sharing is caring! Social media has enabled that more than ever. But it does get on to your nerves when sharing turns to spamming. Each and every social media account of yours is inundated with dozens of posts that give life lessons, some of them being shared more than once! Can you rant about this and hit the unpopularity charts by telling the sender that you would rather read a self-help book? I advise that you do not!
You are in a gathering, and you know for sure that the smart individual in the room who’s trying to impress the audience is lying through his or her teeth. Well you still need to be patient and not call out that person.
After navigating through these varied scenarios, it feels that imbibing patience into your daily routine is indeed a Herculean task! But then, I cannot look around me with a jaundiced eye and have such a cynical perspective because the sweeter side is visible too!
To be patient for nine long months till I held my baby boy in my arms and heard his first cry was a wonderful feeling. It was and still is a blessed experience!
I have seen those strong, determined individuals calmly undergoing long periods of treatment for their illnesses because they have believed that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Their patience has taught me positivity and made me understand that trials and tribulations need to be handled with courage and fortitude.
A beautiful example of patience is right in my family, and I see that in my mother She has always endured pain and embraced pleasure with equal acceptance. It warmed my heart when I happened to see her maintaining her composure when my father passed away. After losing her husband of 54 years, she has managed to walk along the path of life with grace and dignity. She shows her strength, lest the rest of the family falter and fall.
So if I look at this world through the lens of optimism, I would inevitably conclude that we ought to be patient. The canvas of our existence is way too large to fret and complain about trivial things that we will perhaps not even remember after a certain point of time. A quote from Stephanie Danler, the author of New York Times bestseller Sweetbitter, beautifully summarizes: “A certain connoisseurship of taste, a mark of how you deal with the world, is the ability to relish the bitter, to crave it even, the way you do the sweet.”
Being able to follow this philosophy will help one to face storms and calm with the same ease although there is a catch to what I am sharing. Preaching, as always, is easier than practicing. This applies to most human beings, and I include myself in this category. However, my wish is to increase my capacity for patience. Or let me rephrase it: I will strive not to be impatiently patient!
Trigger Warning: This deals with death, loss, and grief, and may be triggering to survivors.
Recently, I heard the sad news that the husband of an acquaintance passed away. It was sudden and unexpected. He died in his sleep due to a heart attack. He had no known heart conditions, and his demise came as a shock to everyone. I wondered what the poor wife must be going through. She and her husband were the ideal couple, always supportive of each other.
I wasn’t sure how to express my condolences. That is when a colleague informed me that she had beaten me to it, and had already spoken to the bereaved woman.
“She sounded very normal. How can she be so calm? Her husband just died a week ago!”
This statement hit me hard. Losing a loved one is heartbreaking. To be judged by the world for your emotions, or the lack of them, is just cruel.
This isn’t the first time I’ve heard something like this. I was thirteen when I lost my father. We were staying in my grandparents’ home, and the place was swarming with relatives (some of whom I’d never seen before). They had come to offer their condolences. The house was double-storeyed. My mother sat upstairs in her room, grieving. She was summoned on and off downstairs, so that an elderly relative who couldn’t climb the stairs could express their sorrow.
Amma needed space and time to digest what happened, yet she was forced to accept regret from unknown ‘well-wishers’ in the name of ‘social obligation’. A teenage me could only watch in frustration. Additionally, Amma had barely eaten. I was worried for her. I had lost one parent and was clinging to my only living parent. I went to the kitchen and found Idlis, and hurriedly heaped them onto a plate.
An old woman stopped me and asked, “Is that for your mother? Will she be able to eat? She just lost her husband!”
I felt numb. My biggest worry was that someone would snatch the plate away.
Should living beings stop living to honour the dead? My father wouldn’t have tolerated this if he had been around. But he wasn’t.
They say life teaches you many lessons. That day, I learnt that even death has lessons to impart.
The expectations attached to grief are what make it so much harder, especially those that are gender-specific.
The film Pagglait starring Sanya Malhotra portrays this point well. The societal pressures associated with a funeral and mourning are depicted in their full, mad glory. A free-spirited girl loses her husband five months into their marriage. She is given instructions on how to behave, and told to present the image of an ideal grieving widow at the funeral. Ironically, she didn’t have enough time with her husband to know him well enough to grieve for him.
Such stereotypes around grief are deep-rooted in society. In 2008, a 14-year-old was murdered and her parents were tried by the courts of law. The main evidence against the mother was that she did not cry or show any grief. Shockingly, the absence of emotion became a critical point in a legal proceeding. This is why it is dangerous to support such stereotypes.
Women are supposed to be more demonstrative of emotion, and any deviation is only an outlier, not the norm. Here are some examples:
The ability to emote
He is calm and collected. He lost his loved one. He is so strong!
She just lost her spouse. Why isn’t she crying? Didn’t she love him at all?
The appropriate period to ‘move on’
He remarried within a year. Good! No point in thinking about the past.
She remarried within a year! That was quick.
Why is she all dressed up and going out? It’s barely six months!
The distinction between boys and girls
Boys don’t cry. Be a man. Don’t be weak.
Not a teardrop shed! How is she a woman? A wife? A mother?
We grieve in different ways; the only commonality being the sense of loss and yearning for those who can never return. Is it necessary to put on a display of loud emotions to demonstrate that you loved someone? What if we didn’t want to wear our emotions on our sleeves? Would it make us any less of a human?
It takes an enormous amount of courage to maintain an outwardly calm appearance when there is turbulence within.
Loss is a personal emotion. How can we assign expectations and stereotypes to it? Grief doesn’t follow any rules. The focus must be on healing and shutting out all the external noise.
“Grief is like the ocean; it comes on waves ebbing and flowing. Sometimes the water is calm, and sometimes it is overwhelming. All we can do is learn to swim.” Vicki Harrison
Image source: a still from the film Pagglait
Koffee with Karan season 8 has proved that the show isn’t vain anymore rather it has opened the floodgates to a barrage of issues that our society has been battling with.
The septuagenarians make some candid remarks about the film industry back in the 70s, and one cannot miss the overt sexism that reeked off from their conversations.
Zeenat Amaan portrayed the woman we all aspire to be today while Neetu Kapoor remained the one that we often see in our homes or in our society at large.
The reference here is the latest episode featuring Neetu (Singh) Kapoor and Zeenat Aman where the former is being trolled for her anti-feminist stance. Her behaviour and answers lead to a common notion highlighted by actress Ratna Pathak Shah’s remark in an interview that most women are gatekeepers of patriarchy. She goes on to give examples of women who encourage patriarchy in the smallest of ways-the wife waiting for her husband to finish his meal, waiting for his approval for something she aspires to do etc.
The latest KWK episode shows the senior Kapoor boasting of her torrid relationship with the late Rishi Kapoor who has been claimed to be a womanizer and a hard core male chauvinist. She seems to be living in her own bubble wherein she sees a man’s possessive behavior as love neglecting how toxic it could get over time. Not to forget here that she mentions how until cancer hit the late star he never exhibited love or affection towards his wife or his children… as if the disease came in to bring them together into a one blissful, complete family that Mrs Kapoor always dreamt of.
Her inherent love for a patriarchal society is clear when she mentions how she’s been constantly training house-helps to teach Raha, Ranbir-Alia’s daughter to utter “Papa” even before “Mamma”! Besides, she prides in the fact how her son has made her super proud of his achievements even though we know what his recent accomplishment is based on-yet again his acceptance to portray such a character in a film that shams the whole concept of love, marriage and parenthood is a story for another day.
She remains surprisingly happy in her self created bubble of lies, deceit and a strong sense of brooding patriarchy that has left its mark even on the lives of her son and daughter-in-law.
Interestingly one sees the resurgence of Neetu Kapoor now more often once her husband is no longer around – a testament to how much he controlled her life. One cannot forget the onscreen appearances they made together when either she wasn’t allowed to talk much or was snubbed when she spilled some beans about their relationship.
Her acceptance of being controlled by a strict mother initially then an overtly strict boyfriend in Rishi Kapoor set the tone for her life. Besides, the fact that she gave in to it despite being at the top of her game back then shows the frailty of women in general. It leaves you confused – whether to feel pity for her or angry at her for encouraging such misogyny of the Kapoor clan for years. Though her reiteration of her affection for Shashi Kapoor gives us a picture of him being different from the rest of the Kapoor clan – how well read, well traveled he was which eventually justifies his production of women led films like Junoon, Kalyug and 36 Chowringee Lane.
While Zeenat Amaan minces no words about the harsh patriarchy and the male domination at the same that time that Neetu Kapoor paints a rosy picture of the Kapoor clan claiming the surname to the best crown she could’ve ever been bestowed upon.
Besides all this any discerning audience would’ve noted Neetu Kapoor’s condescending expressions to Zeenat Amaan’s conversations revolving around her upbringing of her sons into male-feminists as we all know where this need of hers come from.
Zeenat’s conspicuous presence on social media has uncovered a massive chunk of both her professional and personal life, which goes onto show how futile it is to be the reigning queen of the film industry when her personal life was always in quagmire which no one aspired to be part of. Her disturbed past with actor Sanjay Khan goes on to make her the woman or the mother she is today.
While Neetu Kapoor shone as the supposedly “ideal” girlfriend turned wife, mother and mother in law, Zeenat Amaan used the Koffee couch to break out of the decades-old perception of her as the glam doll and and the actor willing “to do it all” on screen. She shone as the badass woman that she is, the rebel, the woman ahead of the curve in so many wonderful ways.
It would have been sheer poetic justice to see both the ladies take down the bad boys in bell bottoms like how Deepika Padukone and Sonam Kapoor did in Season 3 of the show. But we do know and understand who would have perhaps stomped his feet the strongest…Rishi Kapoor?!
Nonetheless this episode surely clarified how one woman had it all but had to succumb to the brandishing sword of Tipu Sultan, or the one who believed in leading a Khullam Khulla life while she believes to have won small battles. But the question remains whether it was real or purely Khel Khel Mein.
You and I are like
Raindrops and the earth,
When we meet,
We create love,
We make a unique fragrance,
But also a muddy mess.
Music. Love. Pain. Anger. ‘Beyond Borders’ is a rollercoaster of emotions. Highs. Lows. Twists. And turns.
Aisha and Aahan meet in Berlin. They fall in love. Nothing new…but the catch is, that they belong to countries caught up in a perpetual state of war. India and Pakistan.
When their differing nationalities come to light, Aisha lands back in India, alone, determined to stay away from a doomed relationship. But Aahan is determined. Following her to India and indulging in emotional blackmail and incessant wooing, they get back together.
And their tale begins. While the book traces their tale of being together and apart, again and again, there is a continual hint of a secret nurtured by Aahan back in Pakistan. When their love story goes public in India, they are faced with a barrage of hate and hostility. But their sentiments are stronger. The story goes up and down in waves of emotional intensity and volcanic eruptions. And it moves back and forth between misunderstandings and their coming back together. It is only when the secret nurtured by Aahan is revealed, that things take a new turn.
The tale is age-old. But what is interesting is the way it is put across. The way the narration has been crafted creatively around music. Aisha is a writer turned lyricist. And Aahan is a singer and composer. What fascinated me most about the book was the title of each chapter. Song names. The author has beautifully picked up songs to create titles for each chapter. The songs pick up the nuances of the lover’s tale…..soulful and stirring.
Each chapter too flits between the two voices of the characters. Interesting.
Mosam Shah has woven the characters with raw emotion and an intense longing. There is no simplicity. Each relation is complex and disturbed. Whether it is between the two main protagonists, or between brothers, or mother-daughter. Each relationship is fraught with complications and has a wounded history. Aahan’s turbulent feelings towards his elder brother Farad who is already a well-established and sought-after star across the two countries giving him a sense of self-doubt. Or Aisha’s troubled past with her mother. Both the characters are highly passionate, and thus their response to each situation is equally volatile.
Aahan’s brother Farad is chosen by the author as the one to point out the flaws in their relationship… too mercurial and temperamental, with insecurity woven in adding fire to the flames.
The story later shifts to Lahore, Pakistan for a few pages before ending in the land of India. The end is left a little hanging. It is upto the reader to guess what happened.
Because when I looked past the border,
I didn’t see an enemy,
I saw a reflection of myself.
Be A Man, Yaar, a chat show by WeAreYuvaa—a youth centric digital platform, has recently wrapped its first Season and is a must watch for all the women and men in our lives. The women might get some answers to ‘why’ the men are the way they are. The men on the other hand will probably get comfortable to share their feelings around the fears and pressures of constantly living up to the image of being ‘a man’.
Imagine you eavesdrop on a conversation among a group of men. What are they most likely to be discussing—finance, politics, sports, real estate, automobiles?
Now, imagine you eavesdrop on an uninhibited chat among male artists from the media and entertainment industry discussing their growing up years, relationship with themselves, events that shaped their worldview and many such aspects of their life and personalities that are not easily available in the public domain especially in this industry that curates and crafts an artist’s public image.
Doesn’t the second conversation feel like a warm hug from the person whom you can bare your soul to?
In this case the person giving each of the artists a big bear hug is Nikhil Taneja—writer, storyteller and founder of Yuvaa and that hug is in the form of this chat show very cleverly titled—Be A Man, Yaar. Among the men who graced the inaugural season are Naseeruddin Shah, Zakir Khan, Vicky Kaushal, Naveen Kasturia & Amol Parashar, Vishnu & Govind Kaushal, Karan Johar and the host—Nikhil Taneja.
What do the guests in the age groups ranging from 20s to 70s, with such varied backgrounds and lived experiences have in common? Apparently, a lot!
Each conversation begins with an endearing segment titled ‘unboxing childhood’ in which the guests choose photographs, letters and other memorabilia from their growing up years and reminisce on the memories related to them. This sets the tone for a candid chat that you wish the men in your lives too could have with their parents, partners, siblings, colleagues or buddies.
As the chat show progresses the host asks them very simple questions that open up the guests’ inner worlds to us. How was their relationship with their parents and siblings? What was their school and college life like? What were some of the events that shaped them? Who were their early influences? How do they interact with the women in their lives and has it evolved over the years? How do they see themselves in the roles of partners, parents, friends, siblings or professionals.
While these questions seem mundane and simple, the guests’ responses reveal many critical aspects of the impact of patriarchy on men, gender stereotypes they need to affirm to and the social conditioning that sometimes pushes them in the cycle of toxic masculinity. The guests bare it all to a host who truly listens to them with the dignity that such soulful conversations deserve.
This show gives us an opportunity to look at the men in our lives from an empathetic lens. Be A Man, Yaar, is a gentle reminder to all of us, that men too are products of a patriarchal society which boxes them into a template and doesn’t look gently on the ones who don’t fit into those templates. This puts undue pressure on them to project an image that does not always align with their core beliefs and values. This has a negative impact on their mental health too.
Tune in to this chat show to broaden your outlook, understand the men in your lives a little better and show them some much deserved TLC—tender loving care.
In a world where the phrase “ek aurat hi aurat ki sabse badi dushman hoti hai” (a woman is often considered another woman’s greatest enemy) echoes, the transformative power captured in this cinematic moment demands a closer look. The prevailing societal notion of women being pitted against each other has, for far too long, hindered the collective progress and empowerment that can stem from unity.
Recently, a snippet from the movie Tejas is going viral on the internet. It’s a scene where Kangana fearlessly enters the men’s washroom to confront the eve-teaser of another girl who is nothing short of emotionally charged. Perfectly portrayed by Kangana Ranaut and Chirag Bhanot, that scene accurately resonates with the collective frustration and anger that many women feel when faced with harassment.
As a woman watching this scene unfold, its importance cannot be overstated.
Many of us have faced situations where we chose silence to avoid causing a scene, but this decision often comes at the cost of our mental peace. The internal struggle and unexpressed emotions take a toll on our well-being. While silence may seem like a way to maintain harmony, it leaves us grappling with unresolved feelings. Breaking the silence can be challenging due to societal norms and fear of judgment. However, acknowledging this dilemma is the first step toward reclaiming our mental peace and finding a balance between societal expectations and authentic expression.
Scenes like these are not just pivotal moments in a film; they are catalysts for change in societal attitudes. They remind us of the strength that lies in unity, urging society to reevaluate its perception of women. The representation of a woman taking a stand against harassment is not only empowering for female audiences but also serves as an essential lesson for all. It reinforces the idea that everyone has a role to play in fostering a culture of respect and equality.
Watching a woman take charge is not just empowering; it’s deeply satisfying. It resonates with the part of us that craves stories where women are not just characters but forces of strength. The call for more of these narratives is not just a cinematic desire; it is a societal imperative. The scene’s impact lies not only in its visual brilliance but in the potential to spark conversations that challenge stereotypes and foster a community where women uplifting women is the norm, not the exception.
By celebrating and promoting the transformative power of women standing strong for each other, we pave the way for a more inclusive and empowered future. It’s time to dismantle the notion of women as adversaries and embrace a narrative that acknowledges the collective strength, wisdom, and resilience that emerges when women join forces.
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