by whatsonsidsmind

Travel Diaries – Uttarakhand | Chapter 2 – Kasar Devi

Pic description – Stairs leading to the Kasar Devi Temple

Written by Siddhartha Krishnan | 5 Min Read

(Note: This article contains links of routes, hotels and tourist places for potential travelers)

If there was any semblance of fatigue that had crept into our system after the activities at Mukteshwar, it was quickly vanquished by a surge of excitement that we felt once our cab took the sharp left onto the Mukteshwar-Shaitla road to head towards Almora. The route adorned with alpine trees offered spectacular views of the snow-capped Himalayas, keeping our spirits high. It was a bright, sunny afternoon, with the temperature hovering around a pleasant 12 degrees. Although the drive to Almora was only 2 hours long, we took several breaks in between.

Nature had come alive—birds sang and leaves fluttered merrily in the perfumed air that caressed our cheeks. These hills are used by the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) for medicinal research, which explained—the aromatic air that we breathed. My only regret was that our smartphones could not fully capture the magisterial beauty of the Himalayan peaks. Well, I guess, some things are just meant to savor.

We reached a small town called Deoli around 2pm and stopped for lunch. Again, the menu at the restaurant resembled the ones I had seen before. However, there were several local sweet dishes on the menu to satisfy my sugar cravings. At Mukteshwar, I had tried an indigenous lentil gravy called ‘gahat ki dal’. This time I opted for another lentil dish called ‘bhat ki chudkani’, while my wife dug into an aloo paratha and my son happily slurped his noodle soup. We also ordered a sweet dish called “singori or singodi”—which tastes similar to kalakhand. It is made of khoya and is wrapped in maalu leaf which lends its unique flavour to the dish.

Pic description – ‘bhat ki chudkani’ a local dish

Post lunch we made our way to Almora town which was another 10 kms from Deoli. Located at an altitude of 1642 meters above sea level, Almora is one of the more populous towns of Kumaon. It was founded in 1568 by Kalyan Chand from the Chand dynasty. However, the place finds a mention in ancient lore, specifically in the Vishnu Purana and the Mahabharata.

Energized by the delightful meal, my wife started narrating her childhood stories at Almora to our cab driver, who was also a native of the place. I was listening attentively to her stories, some of which I had heard before, without her knowing. My phone secretly captured their conversation.

Twenty minutes later, we reached Almora mall road. The town was a departure from the solitude of Mukteshwar. It was bustling and had several commercial establishments, concrete buildings and tiny shops adorning its hills. You could either take the road that snaked across the hills or take a flight of stairs to reach these structures. We took the stairs to reach the 200-year-old house that happened to be my wife’s maternal home, which she hadn’t visited in 25 years. It was abandoned at the turn of the century due to a freak accident. Thereafter, only the ground floor was occupied by tenants, who were kind enough to show us around. It was my wife’s homecoming, and I had geared myself up for an emotional encounter.

Pic description – 200-year-old house at Almora

Surprisingly, after entering the house, she showed remarkable maturity to control her emotions and to go on narrating her stories. It was then that a thought came to mind that the random videos I was shooting in the house had the potential to be made into a short documentary. Since the experience did not get reduced to a sob fest, it now had all the right ingredients—the thrill of an expedition, compelling stories, sufficient tangible material to document, and an unexpected comic relief—my son. For him, everything was so unfamiliar that he couldn’t stop talking, thereby providing comedic relief to what was otherwise an emotional homecoming. You can watch the short documentary in the link below –

(165) The Homecoming | Short Documentary | 200 Year Old House | Uttarakhand – YouTube

We spent over an hour at the place. It seemed like time had come to a standstill on the upper floors of the house. But the homecoming was complete. We got what we had come looking for.

Pic description – an old family album found in the house.

As the sun began to set, we bid farewell to the tenants and headed towards Kasar Devi—8 kms uphill from Almora. Our stay for the night was a slightly more commercial set-up compared to the rustic vibes of the cottage at Mukteshwar. Mohan’s Binsar Retreat at Kasar Devi is a well-known resort in the area that provides tourists with the necessary creature comforts. The resort offers semi-luxurious cottages that cater to all kinds of tourists. It also has a multi-cuisine restaurant. But the big selling point is that it offers a splendid view of the valley and the rising sun. My son was thrilled to find a small children’s room within the cottage. He wove his own stories around it and called it the ‘secret room’.

Pic description – sunrise at Mohan’s Binsar Retreat

The dinner buffet comprised mostly local dishes, and they tasted okay. Nothing to ride home about. The breakfast next morning, though, was a lot more satisfying, with food options catering to a more diverse crowd. Since this is a resort that is trying to appeal to urban tourists across India, I felt they could have given more thought to the menu. The staff, though, was courteous.

Pic description – cottage at Mohan’s Binsar Retreat

On the terrace at the entrance of the resort, we got a panoramic view of the Himalayas. We spent some time there before heading to our next destination—Bhimtal. En route, we were going to make a few stops. On our list were a few famous temples of the region. Two of which I am going to write about in this article:

Kasar Devi Temple – Considered among the 108 Shakti Peeths dedicated to the Goddess, the origins of this Devi temple date back to the 2nd century CE. However, it came to prominence after Swami Vivekananda visited this place in 1890. It is believed that within a cave near this temple; he had performed the most severe forms of spiritual practices, and had a life-changing spiritual experience. Thereafter, several seekers have visited Kasar Devi, and these celebrated personalities include—Rabindranath Tagore, Alfred Sorenson, DH Lawrence, Bob Dylan and Walter Evans-Wentz.

Pic description – Kasar Devi Temple

The temple complex is also famous because it is positioned on earth’s Van Allen Belt—a zone of energy charged particles that are captured and held around by the planet’s magnetosphere. The geo-magnetic field is on par with two similar well-known places—Machu Picchu and Stonehenge, as confirmed by NASA explorations.

It is a steep climb to the hilltop where the temple is located, but once there, you can feel the serenity and energy of the place. The ridge around the temple offers a splendid panoramic view of the valley, surrounding hills, and the Himalayas. One can spend hours here to cancel thoughts, and just be in the moment.

I am not a deeply religious person. But I do like visiting ancient temples, mosques, churches and other religious sites, for the simple reason that they are all part of the human story. Their existence confirms humanity’s continuous endeavor to find meaning in life. They are also often places of great beauty and art. And man, being the storytelling animal, needs such places to tell stories of faith, beliefs and spiritual experiences.

We bowed to the Goddess at Kasar Devi, and then spent a few minutes gazing at the imposing Himalayan peak (clearly visible from the temple) and soaked in the rejuvenating vibes.

Chitai Golu Devta Temple – Our third day at the hills was dedicated to visiting temples. Uttarakhand is called ‘Dev Bhoomi’ for a reason. Blessed with nature, it is the land of many gods and goddesses. Almost every hill station has a famous temple. Almora too has its share, one of which is the Chitai temple located 9 kms from Kasar Devi. It was a minor diversion from our route to Bhimtal, but we took it because my wife had fond memories of the temple. It was a place she frequented as a child.

Pic description – a shop selling bells outside Golu Devta Temple

Once there, you cannot miss the shops selling bells of all sizes. The practice is to inscribe your name on the bell, ask for a wish to be fulfilled by the God, and then tie the bell to a post or pillar, or wherever you find space within the temple. Some people even write down their wishes on a piece of paper and tie them along with the bell.

Pic description – inside Chitai Golu Devta Temple

The temple dedicated to Golu Devta (an incarnation of Lord Shiva) overwhelms you as soon as you enter it. It is one-of-a-kind; the sight of thousands of bells, from small to big, with letters tied around them, containing the prayers of strangers, evokes myriad emotions. We tied our bells in a tiny little space that we found within a sea of bells. It was a humbling experience.

Note: Beware of monkeys at the temple. They are a mischievous lot, so carry food items at your own risk.

…

In the next chapter of Travel Diaries – Uttarakhand, we make our way downhill to Bhimtal –

  • En route we stop at the famous ‘Kainchi Dham’ an ashram established by Neem Karoli Baba, the seer, whose teachings had a profound impact on the lives of famous people like Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg and Julia Roberts.
  • Bhimtal and its adjacent Naukuchiatal, are towns with the most beautiful lakes. We go exploring what’s on offer at these lakes.
  • Our last night at the hills turned out to be a musical affair.

…

This and more next week in the next chapter of Travel Diaries – Uttarakhand | Chapter 3 – Bhimtal

 

About the author –

Siddhartha Krishnan is the author of Two and a Half Rainbows – A Collection of Short Stories. He is also a passionate blogger, and on his website, www.whatsonsidsmind.com, you can find his travel diaries, food stories, book recommendations and movie reviews.

All rights reserved by whatsonsidsmind.com

 

by whatsonsidsmind

Travel Diaries – Uttarakhand | Chapter 1 – Mukteshwar

Pic description – View-Point near ‘Chauli ki Jali’ at Mukteshwar

Written by Siddhartha Krishnan | 7 Min Read

(Note: write-up contains links to help potential travelers with route maps and details of places, things etc.)

At the start of the year, it had dawned on me, that I haven’t written enough travelogues considering, that I have traveled somewhat in the last two years. I’d like to travel more this year; but this section titled ‘travel diaries’ is an attempt to revisit some of my travel stories from the past year and share them with you. In doing so if I am to help prospective travelers to these places, so be it.

To celebrate Christmas and New year last year, we as a family had made a journey up North to the ‘Land of the Gods’ or what the natives call ‘Dev Bhoomi’. Uttarakhand is a North Indian state that is crossed by the highest as well as the youngest mountain range in the world — ‘The Himalayas’. Divided into two regions—Kumaon and Garhwal, the state borders Tibet to the north, Nepal to the east, and Indian states Uttar Pradesh to the south and Himachal Pradesh to the west and north-west. My wife’s ancestral origins are in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand. Hence, saying that we didn’t get a chance to visit this beautiful state in the 12 years of our marriage is a shame. But that’s how luck would have it for us.

Pic description – View of the valley at Mukteshwar

Our Himalayan sojourn was planned for 4 days (25th – 28th Dec 2022). Since my wife was the only one to have a body memory of living in cold climates as this, and that too a long time ago, we didn’t want to be too adventurous, at least with our on-road travel plans considering we had an eight-year-old who becomes nauseous 2 hours into any drive. So early morning and night drives was off our list.

There are innumerable hill stations in Uttarakhand, and hence covering all in just one or two visits is impossible. We had charted out our destinations, keeping in mind that the travel time between these destinations should not exceed 3 hrs. Moreover, due to the paucity of time, we had to be wise with our selections.

We zeroed in on 3 locations for the 3 nights that we were to spend in the hills, and they were—Mukteshwar, Kasar Devi and Bhimtal. We decided to hit the highest and coldest place on the list first and work our way down to more pleasant temperatures. In this blog, I will share my travel story at Mukteshwar.

Pic description – Pit stops En route Mukteshwar

We began our journey from Haldwani, which is in the foothills of the Himalayas and is the largest city in Kumaon region. The town is well-connected by road and rail to all major cities in North India. It was established in 1834 as a mart for hill people to visit during winter. To reach here, we had taken a 2.5-hour flight from Bangalore (our hometown) to Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh. We reached in the afternoon of 24th Dec. From Bareilly to Haldwani is around 100 kms which took another 2.5 hours by car. My wife’s aunt stays in the town, and she played an excellent host treating us to some delectable home-cooked food. On Christmas day, we left Haldwani after breakfast around 9 am, and planned to reach Mukteshwar by lunch time.

At 2171 metres (7500 feet) above sea level, Mukteshwar is one of the highest hill stations of Kumaon located in Nainital district of Uttarakhand. The drive to Mukteshwar from Haldwani is a pleasant one. The road (Bhatelia – Dhanachuli – Bhimtal Rd to Dhari – Bhatelia Rd/Dhari-Pokrad Rd/Link Rd) is largely good, but in case you are not used to driving in this terrain, I would suggest taking a cab the first time, like we did. Without stops it takes approximately 2.5 hrs to reach Mukteshwar from Haldwani. Since our check in time was at 1 pm, we decided to stop over for refreshments on the way. What we got was a local favorite—Potato and onion pakoras (fritters) with ‘bhang (hemp seeds) ki chutney’. Don’t worry the hemp seeds do not have psychoactive properties like the leaves. The ‘pakoras’ are also served with a tangy pomegranate chutney. A perfect snack for the weather.

We reached Mukteshwar town around 12 noon. One thing, that you need to be prepared for when visiting this part of Kumaon, is the absence of multi-cuisine restaurants en route to the hill stations. The restaurants here serve local cuisine which mostly comprises lentils indigenous to the area along with roti or rice. Other than that, you are bound to get your choice of parathas and … oh yes, Maggi! If you are lucky, you might see noodles or fried rice on the menu at these quaint roadside joints. Also, since these hill stations house sacred Hindu temples, so don’t expect too many non-veg options on the menu. At the most you might find one or two chicken dishes since the locals are mostly vegetarians. This was true of even the resorts of the area. I wasn’t complaining as long as I had that one chicken dish and eggs on the menu, to satiate my protein cravings.

Pic description – our home for the night – El Sueno by SaffronStays

We stopped over at a joint that gave us a splendid view of the valley. Post a light lunch we left for our abode for the day. El Sueno by Saffron Stays is a two-room cottage located within step farms where the locals grow apples, peaches, plums and apricots, in a village called Darima. The place is 13 kms downhill from Mukteshwar town which takes around 30 mins to reach. Since it is in the middle of nowhere, it is easy to miss and drive past it. My suggestion would be to contact the property manager for the exact location.

The cottage resembles houses typical of the area with a few creature comforts. Don’t come here looking for five-star facilities despite the slightly steep pricing which was accentuated by the holiday season. It is the experience that they are selling you. The rooms were unlike anything I had seen before. It had carpeted mud floors, wooden ceilings, stone walls and a fireplace. The owners have done the interiors tastefully, and I was happy to find a stack of books near the bed.

The temperature slips to sub-zero at night occasionally during the last week of December. And early mornings and evenings will see temperatures close to zero. So don’t bother with the portable heaters; the fireplace is the only refuge. We had no reason to complain because we had sought this adventurous, rustic and off-beat experience. Moreover, the verandah of our cottage provided a lovely view of the surrounding step farms, which I was told, looks spectacular during snow and during full bloom. I could imagine what it would look like.

Pic description – The room at El-Sueno, SaffronStays, Mukteshwar

After a quick break, we took a stroll down the hill to the farms. The staff at our cottage were local villagers. Our property manager’s uncle guided us through the step farms. He was generous enough to indulge us; tell us stories of the land and give us a peek into the local life by inviting us for a cup of tea to his house. It was fascinating to hear his stories. Of, how life had changed for him over the years, from the days when he used to walk from one hill to another to reach a school or market, as a child, to now seeing electricity, roads and other facilities come to his village. As a storyteller, I couldn’t have asked for more and the excitement in his eyes was unmissable. The one thing that I did realize was that these are proud people. They are proud of their heritage and culture and in no way consider themselves inferior to city folk—I liked that.

Pic description – bonding with the village folk. Right in pic is my son.

As the sun began to set, we felt the temperature plummeting. So, we made a dash to the cottage and ordered a few snacks. If you pay a visit here or to any farm stay in the area, please be mindful of the low night temperatures. It is, therefore, not right to expect the staff to be at your disposal all night. Be kind.

You might also not get an exhaustive food menu. What you are assured, though, is scrumptious homely food, clean air and a nice rustic vibe. My wife and I, spent the evening near the fireplace, sipping wine, telling each other stories of such fireplaces and bonfires from our past, while gazing at the waves of tiny shimmering lights that had draped the hills of the horizon. Our boy had quickly learnt how to keep the fireplace going. He lent a helping hand, and it kept him busy through the evening.

At Bangalore, I was doubtful when my wife had told me about the innumerable hill stations in Uttarakhand. I thought they were all part of a continuum. In the South we are not used to seeing so many hill stations within such close proximity. But I was wrong! Uttarakhand, I can now conclude is the ‘Goa of Hill Stations’. Every 30-40 kms a hill station crops up, out of nowhere, that has its own unique terrain, culture and history. It will take a number of visits to see all of it.

Pic description – that’s him at the fireplace

The next day after breakfast we left for Mukteshwar town to do some sight-seeing. On our list was the Mukteshwar Dham Temple, a short trek through a nature trail and a scenic spot called ‘Chauli ki Jali’. A 7-min drive from Mukteshwar town takes you to the Mukteshwar Dham temple area. It is within this area that all the other scenic spots are to be found. The whole sight-seeing exercise takes around 2 hours; that is if you are interested in exploring all of them. We took a guide to help us around for a fee of Rs 300. Let me give you a quick rundown of what to expect here –

Pic description – Mukteshwar Dham Temple. Pic credit – Times of India

  • Mukteshwar Dham Temple – This 350-year-old Shiva temple is located on top of a hill. Typical of the temples here, it is a small shrine, and a flight of stone stairs take you to the deity. Lord Shiva is believed to have slayed a demon here and granted him salvation (Mukti), hence the name Mukteshwar. Please expect a crowd at this place especially on weekends and holidays. And a waiting time of 30 mins is to be anticipated to see the deity because only one family is allowed within the sanctum at a time. Food stalls selling Malta juice (indigenous to the place), Kadhi Chawal, Rajma Chawal, Parathas and Maggi line up the area leading to stairs of the temple.
  • Nature trail–After a visit to the temple you can go on a trek through a nature trail around the temple. It doesn’t feel exactly like a forest, but more like a nature reserve of fruit orchards and coniferous trees. A serene place for nature lovers to take photographs.

Pic description – below ‘Chauli ki Jali’

  • Chauli Ki Jali–The name literally translates to a hole in the rock. According to local legend, if women wanting to have children climb this rock and put their heads through the hole, they are blessed with healthy offspring by the gods. I don’t how true that has turned out to be for the believers, but our guide had warned us not to climb the rock without assistance since accidents have been frequent lately.
  • Viewpoint–Next to ‘Chauli to Jali’ is a vantage point that provides a splendid view of the valley. There is a telescope on offer here to view a Himalayan peak for a measly sum of Rs 20.
  • Adventure Sports–If you are an adventure enthusiast, you can go for paragliding or zip lining options available near ‘Chauli Ki Jali’. Zip lining is allowed for kids as well, so my son (that’s him in the video) and I had tried it out. I found it safe enough to take the plunge despite a fear of heights. It costs Rs 600 per person.

We spent close to 2 hours at the Mukteshwar Dham temple area. At the end of it, we got what we had expected from the place—nature, adventure and a taste of something new, so we were happy!

…

In the next chapter of Travel Diaries – Uttarakhand | Chapter 2 – Kasar Devi

…

  • We take a 3-hr drive from Mukteshwar to Kasar Devi. A fascinating journey through a forest reserve offering spectacular views of the Himalayas.
  • En route we stop at a 200-year-old house which happens to be my wife’s maternal home. A place she hadn’t visited in 25 years.
  • The next day we visit Kasar Devi temple, a place believed to be endowed with a cosmic energy similar to Stonehenge and Machu Picchu.

This and more, coming up next week.

Siddhartha Krishnan is the author of Two and a Half Rainbows – A Collection of Short Stories. He is also a passionate blogger and, on his website, www.whatsonsidsmind.com, you can find his travel diaries, food stories, book recommendations and movie reviews.

All rights reserved by whatsonsidsmind.com

by whatsonsidsmind

The Father | Movie Review | A Masterclass in Set Design and Acting

Written by Siddhartha Krishnan | 4 Min Read

If the mind is a labyrinth of myriad thoughts and memories, then ‘The Father’ is an exquisite cinematic depiction of its mysterious workings. It imagines memories to be like pieces of a puzzle, that lack meaning by themselves. But when stitched together, they are like rooms of a house.

Florian Zellar’s ‘The Father‘ is as close to perfection that a film can strive to be. With a subject like dementia, it was easy to make another sob fest. Thankfully, however, the makers chose catharsis over melodrama. And so, we enter a fragmented mind, to experience up close the confusion and helplessness.

The film follows an octogenarian, who is constantly forgetting important life events. He is stubborn, egoistic, and yet a charmer. Anthony (played by Sir Anthony Hopkins) is not able to understand why his memory regularly fails him. Anne, his daughter, and principal caregiver (played by Olivia Colman) tries everything within her capacity to pacify him. But it is a losing battle, and sadly, acceptance is their only road to salvation.

To say that ‘The Father’ is heart-breaking is a no-brainer. But the overriding emotion one feels as an audience is confusion, since we are seeing things from the perspective of a dementia patient. But how did the director manage to achieve that?

The answer lies in the production design.

Perceptibly, there are three locations shown in the film. Anthony’s flat, Anne’s house, and the hospital. Set designer Peter Francis, in an interview explains, that to infuse confusion in the narrative they kept the architecture more or less the same across the imagined locations. But to distinguish between these locations, they made minor changes to the furnishings and furniture, which aren’t easily noticeable.

Also, doorways play an important role to show perspective—who is on the inside, and who is on the outside? Or to be more specific—what is real and what is unreal? The use of similar looking doors to move from one space to another, where the spaces themselves look oddly similar, gives the feeling that we are swimming through someone’s memories. Additionally, color tones of the walls, windows and furnishings, distinguish between different timelines, since Anthony frequently navigates between the past and present without his knowing.

‘The Father’ undoubtedly rides on the shoulders of its actors. In an interview with Stephen Colbert, director Florian Zeller said that he chose Anthony Hopkins for the role because we’ve known him to have essayed characters that are typically dominant or in control of their situation. For him to be shown as a dementia patient, the director believes was the perfect antithesis given Hopkin’s filmography. Well, an Oscar for best actor in a leading role proves that theory!

However, without a brilliant Olivia Colman, as Anne, the scenes wouldn’t have made the impact that it did. She brings in the required empathy and vulnerability to her role. She holds her own in all the scenes with the stalwart and elevates them. The two give a masterclass in acting.

To sum up, ‘The Father’ is a labor of love. It plays with very little and yet is magical. It is a rare piece of cinema that makes you cry, but with a profound realization. A must watch.

IMDb rating – 8.2/10

My Rating – 5/5

You can watch ‘The Father’ on Book my Show app for a rental of Rs 89.

 

Siddhartha Krishnan is the author of Two and a Half Rainbows – A Collection of Short Stories. He is a blogger and, on his website, www.whatsonsidsmind.com, you can find his travel diaries, food stories, book recommendations and movie reviews.

All rights reserved by whatsonsidsmind.com

by whatsonsidsmind

2023@Whatsonsidsmind | Travel | Food | Books | Movies

Hello Fellow Bloggers,

Created this short video promo to encapsulate all that I am planning for this blog in 2023. Hoping to be a lot more focused, active and creative this year. Looking forward to your continued support.

Regards,

Sid

 

Credits:

Music: Chill
Musician: LiQWYD
URL: http://www.soundcloud.com/liqwyd

Video created on – https://videoguru.page.link/Best

by whatsonsidsmind

The Menu | Movie Review | Whatsonsidsmind

Written by Siddhartha Krishnan | 4 Min Read

The use of food allegorically in films always makes for an exciting proposition. In recent years, Assamese film ‘Aamis’ and Spanish film ‘The Platform’ comes to mind where food was used in ingenious ways to tell stories marinated in subtexts. While these films weren’t easy to watch, they were nevertheless entertaining. Director Mark Mylod’s ‘The Menu’ has a similar trajectory. OTT platform, Disney + Hotstar classifies it as horror. However, to me, it felt like a satire pretending to be a psychological thriller. To be fair, though, the film does have its horrific moments.

Moreover, the horror genre is so fluid that, to an imaginative writer, it offers the flexibility to play and invent. So in terms of newness, ‘The Menu’ is a compelling watch.

The storyline is twisted. A young couple, Margot (an escort) played by an excellent Anya Taylor – Joy and Tyler (a food blogger) played by Nicholas Hoult, travel to a faraway island to eat at an exclusive restaurant named Hawthorn, where celebrity chef, Julian Slowik, played by a menacing Ralph Fiennes, has prepared a lavish menu for his chosen guest list. Slowik serves a series of courses for dinner, and before each dish he delivers an unsettling monologue. The absurdity of it all, makes Margot wary about the chef’s intentions. He seems bull-headed, and his ‘loveless’ cooking doesn’t suit her palate. The other guests, however, aren’t as doubting. They think it’s all part of Slowik’s ‘act’!

The self-indulgent guests include a renowned food critic and her editor, a fallen movie star and his personal assistant, a group of young angel investors, and a wealthy couple who are regulars at the restaurant. To Margot’s dismay, her partner Tyler isn’t any better since he is an ardent fan of Slowik and can’t stop singing praises of him. It is not until the third course that Slowik’s true nature slowly begins to unravel. The movie gathers pace thereafter.

Much of the storytelling happens through conversations, and writers Seth Reiss and Will Tracy have used absurdity in the scenes written to keep audiences guessing. But, at its core, ‘The Menu’ is a social satire, that uses elements of horror, and dark comedy to tell a story of human greed, man’s obsession with perfection, the elite’s ceaseless need to over intellectualize, and the death of passion at the altar of ambition.

In terms of cinematic language, ‘The Menu’ reminds you of Kubrick’s eccentricity in ‘The Shining’ and Bong Joon-Ho’s dark humor in ‘The Parasite’. Also, like those films, there is a lot to be mindful of as an audience because everything is there for a reason. So this film can be demanding at times.

Yet, ‘The Menu’ isn’t a perfect film by any means. Sometimes it tries too much to marry the amusing and the bizarre. I also felt that the supporting cast, should have had a greater role to play given their interesting backstories. Even so, whenever the film wavered slightly, there comes a scene to salvage the situation. For example, the way the restaurant staff were used to heighten the tension was enterprising. But the interactions between Slowik and Margot remain the most captivating parts of the film.

To sum up, ‘The Menu’ is an inventive film with an important message which comes through to the audience, at the very end, after the story has endured several twists and turns. It keeps you invested because the actors have done justice to their parts and the makers have been able to create several thrilling moments that will linger. I would recommend the film to audiences who like intelligently written thrillers that are more than what meets the eye.

If you want to know why a cheeseburger needs to be just that, nothing more and nothing less, then watch ‘The Menu’ on Disney+Hotstar.

IMDb rating – 7.3

My rating – 3.5/5

Siddhartha Krishnan is the author of Two and a Half Rainbows – A Collection of Short Stories.He is also an enthusiastic blogger, and on his website, www.whatsonsidsmind.com, you can find his travel diaries, food stories, book recommendations and movie reviews.

All rights reserved by whatsonsidsmind.com

 

by whatsonsidsmind

The Homecoming | Short Documentary | 200 Year Old House

Written By: Siddhartha Krishnan

(Link to the documentary is at the end of this description/post)

One of the stops during our recently concluded Himalayan sojourn was a 200-year-old house, which happens to be my wife’s (Kavita) maternal home. I have heard extensively about the house from my wife several times over the years. So, there was no way that we were going to give this opportunity a miss. Nestled in the heart of Almora, Uttarakhand, the house reminds us of the bygone days. It has its own history. But it was abandoned all of a sudden.

I was shooting random videos inside the house, when a thought dawned on me that the story had the potential to be made into a documentary. However, I only had a smartphone in hand to document what I was witnessing. The only lights at my disposal were the flashlights from our phones and whatever little sunlight that was creeping in from the windows that hadn’t been opened in ages. My 8-year-old provided the much-needed comic relief in what was otherwise an emotional experience. In all that time we were in that house, my wife wasn’t aware of my intentions.

I wanted it to be a surprise for her.

Kavita hadn’t visited her maternal home for over 25 years. So, this short documentary is an attempt to capture the moments, relive her childhood memories and understand the history, and emotions attached to the place. But I also see this documentary, as an opportunity for all of us to relive our childhood through her. We all had that one favorite house from our childhood. Didn’t we?

Have a look. Hope you like it.

Click the YouTube link below to view the video –

The Homecoming – Short Documentary

Siddhartha Krishnan is the author of Two and a Half Rainbows – A Collection of Short Stories. He is also an enthusiastic blogger and, on his website, www.whatsonsidsmind.com, he regularly puts out his essays, articles, travelogues and movie reviews.

All rights reserved by whatsonsidsmind.com

by whatsonsidsmind

Kantara | Movie Review | A Film that Breaks the Mould

Written by: Siddhartha Krishnan . 5 Min Read

‘Rooted in culture’ is a phrase that is all over the internet right now after the recent success of Kannada film ‘Kantara’. But what does it really mean? Does it simply mean invoking the past, remembering forgotten heroes and mythical gods? Or, is there more to it, like being true to the time, the people and the world that the film is exploring? In filmmaking, the latter surely is a more daunting task, while the former might just require a star, few whistle-worthy dialogues, horrid graphics and a big marketing budget to cover all of that. In the recent past, within the supernatural genre, I can only name two films that have pulled off this feat. One is Tumbbad, and the other is Kantara. But, while Tumbbad is a near perfect film in all aspects, Kantara is not without its flaws. However, where it matches the horror classic is in its world building.

Kantara’s world is magical. The attention to detail is immaculate. So, the locations, costumes and sets blend perfectly with the story. We can therefore escape effortlessly into the jungles of the western ghats in Dakshina Kannada, where Panjurli Daiva, the local deity in animist form, is the protector of the forest, its creatures and its people. We also meet Shiva, a Kambala athlete from the fictional village of Kaadubettu, a darling of his people, a rogue occasionally, who goes through a fascinating character arc to meet his destiny. The film strikes a contract with its audience, through a cleverly written opening sequence, promising an entertaining journey. The makers have wisely invested their energy in selecting a very capable supporting cast, an area which can easily be overlooked in films like these. This investment has paid them rich dividends.

The stellar camerawork of cinematographer, Arvind Kashyap, is a powerful aspect of the storytelling. He gives perhaps the most well-lit film of this year, which reminded me of Girish Gangadharan’s work in the Malayalam film, ‘Jallikattu’, that was also shot mostly in a forest. As in Jallikattu, every source of light, whether natural or artificial, has been used brilliantly to create stunning moments. The fight scenes especially were scintillating. Girish Gangadharan went onto win a national award for Jallikattu and grab a big project like ‘Vikram‘ thereafter. The same is expected of Arvind Kashyap with the talent that he has displayed.

In terms of performances, the film rides on the shoulders of its lead character. Shiva, played by a brilliant Rishab Shetty, who is also the director and writer of the film, gives one of the best performances of the year. The transformation that his character goes through over the course of the film leading to the much talked about climax has been essayed to perfection. In an interview with RJ, Siddharth Kannan, Rishab mentions how he doesn’t see any other hero doing this role, because, since childhood he has grown up watching the Bhoota Kola rituals. The deep understanding of the culture has helped him become Shiva with ease.

Kantara is unabashedly a commercial entertainer. It plays to the galleries with its outlandish fight scenes and dialogues. The film falters slightly with the love story between Shiva and Leela, which did not come across as convincing as the rest of the parallel storylines. At its core, it is the oppressor vs the oppressed story, set against a backdrop of folklore and local legends. Hence, the film is aptly titled – Kantara. A Legend.

However, what the film cannot be criticized for is laziness, both in vision and execution. The makers have given it their all to win over the audience, and the effort has been appreciated by both the masses and the classes. When shows are running to packed halls even after a month, there is a truth in there which nobody can deny.

I’ve seen three films by the Shetty brothers (Rishab, Raj and Rakshit) this year, ‘Garuda Gamana Vrishabha Vahana’, ‘Charlie 777’ and now ‘Kantara’. In my opinion, they are naturally skilled in two aspects of writing, namely world building and creating magical moments out of the ordinary. A scene comes to mind in this regard, in Raj B. Shetty’s ‘Garuda Gamana Vrishabha Vahana’ where the character Bhramaiyya, a sub-inspector, has lost all hope. He wants to end his suffering and asks his driver to take him to an isolated location. What follows thereafter was unexpected and elevates a decent gangster film into a really good one. There are similar evocative moments in Kantara as well.

I feel with their vision, energy and ability to offer something new to their audiences, the Shetty brothers are a blessing to the Kannada and Indian film industry. They make good films consistently which is not possible if you are not a good student of cinema. Making a big budget film look like one may be a difficult task. But making a 16-crore film look like a 100-crore one requires ingenuity. Therein lies the magic of cinema. Thus, Kantara is a film that breaks the mould in more ways than one.

Siddhartha Krishnan is the author of Two and a Half Rainbows – A Collection of Short Stories. He is also an enthusiastic blogger and, on his website, www.whatsonsidsmind.com, he regularly puts out his essays, articles, travelogues and movie reviews.

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Anubhav@Satpura | Learning Amidst Tranquility | Ghumakkad Initiative

Hey Folks,

Here is an excellent opportunity for budding writers, photography and travel enthusiasts to collaborate and learn from experts amidst the tranquility of the jungles of Satpura (MP, India). A 3-day curated learning experience that offers a sensorial sojourn. “A heady blend of art, literature, travel and cultural immersiveness” is what Gaurav Gothi, Co-Creator Anubhav and Founder Ghumakkad Initiative is promising.

A 15% early bird discount is available till 30th Sep. So if you are interested, please hurry and book your slot. Limited slots available – 20 (Creative writing) and 20 (Photography). Details of the complete itinerary, facilitator profiles and learning curriculum are available in the brochure (link below). Also, please get in touch with Team Ghumakkad for any doubts. All details in the flyer and brochure.

Anubhav Brochure English (1)

Regards,

Sid

by whatsonsidsmind

2 Must Watch War Films on Netflix | Movie Review

Omaha Beach Scene from Saving Private Ryan . Pic credit – telegraph.co.uk

Written by Siddhartha Krishnan . 5 Min Read

The year was 1998. I was 15 years old. Inside a packed hall in Lighthouse Cinema (Kolkata), we were watching Steven Spielberg’s Saving Private Ryan. A few minutes into the film, the famous Omaha Beach Scene happened. The air turned cold and tense. It showed in my breath which was getting heavy. I clenched the arm rest, discomforted by the carnage that was unfolding on screen. The audience around me fared no better. They too were stunned.

Each bullet that pierced the heart of a soldier, and each bomb that shattered their bodies into pieces, made us nauseous. Something changed in me that day. Perhaps it was my idea of war, which until then, had been largely shaped by the Hindi films of that decade. Unknowingly, I was guilty of romanticizing war. But this was very different. I loved the film, but I began to hate war. It left me with several unanswered questions. Who really wins a war? Who are the people calling it?

Recently, I watched two war-based films that made me remember that experience from years ago. The following are my thoughts on these two poignant and beautifully crafted films.

Last Men in Aleppo (2017)

Genre – War Documentary

Director Feras Fayyad

Last Men in Aleppo – Poster. Pic Credit – Grasshopper Films

Nowadays, documentary filmmakers have become very innovative with their storytelling. With the latest technology at their disposal, there are a million ways to tell a story. However, letting the camera do the job without intervention, is still perhaps the most truthful and effective. Director Feras Fayyad, does that with Last Men in Aleppo. As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words.

‘World Documentary Grand Jury Prize’ winner at the Sundance Film Festival (2017), this film is not for the faint-hearted. But it is essential viewing. It documents the everyday life of a volunteer group, called the White Helmets, who were engaged in search and rescue operations during the Syrian Civil War. These are ordinary citizens who have the choice to flee hell, but have chosen to stay on and save lives. They pull out dead bodies, from mountains of rubble, of little children and their mothers, hoping to find one alive. A torso, a hand, a finger, is all they find sometimes, yet, they muster courage to tell stories of hope to each other; that there will be a better tomorrow.

Shot in guerrilla style, this is documentary filmmaking in its rawest and truest form. It shows the cost of war and who really benefits from it. The camera is like a fly on the wall masterfully capturing the anguish and horror, as well as the rare moments of joy that these courageous men manage to find sometimes.

The film asks several questions of us, the fortunate, who do not have to deal with a crisis of this magnitude. Our understanding of happiness is one of them.

Pic credit – indiewire.com

The Bombardment/The Shadow in My Eye (2021)

Genre – Historical War Drama

Director – Ole Bornedal

Netflix Poster of The Bombardment. Pic credit – Netflix

Based on Operation Carthage carried out by the UK’s Royal Air Force towards the end of World War II, Danish film The Bombardment also called The Shadow in My Eye is a hard-hitting story told primarily through the eyes of children. The Air Force’s plan was to bomb the Gestapo stronghold in Copenhagen, Denmark, which was under Nazi occupation. While they do manage to hit their target, they mistakenly bomb a school (Institut Jeanne d’Arc) as well, killing innocent children and civilians. But the film is not just about that unfortunate incident. It captures several moments in the lives of its characters leading to the fateful event; to tell a poignant story about the cost of war.

The film, unusually, does not have a protagonist. It has five lead characters out of which three are children. Their performance is another strong point of the film. However, I found the character of the nun played by a brilliant Fanny Bornedal, the  most captivating. Her character is the most complex, and through her, director Ole Bornedal was able to convey the apathy and absurdity that war brings with it. This is a film that needs to be watched for being brutally honest to its subject matter. Again, not an easy watch, but an essential one.

A scene from The Bombardment. Pic credit – Movie Nation

In 2018, I saw a video of a child being rescued from a bomb explosion site in Syria. Both his parents were killed in the incident. Sitting inside an ambulance, he was covered in dust from head to toe. Except for his eyes, everything else was greyed out. The blankness in those eyes was horrifying. Perhaps he was having a meal with his parents, when in an instant his world crashed! His eyes haunted me for days until I decided to put pen to paper.

It was the genesis of my short story Fireworks, which eventually found a way into my debut book Two and a Half Rainbows two years later. It was the story of a toddler and his nanny, and a moment in their life. The child narrates verbatim the stories that his mother has told him about the daily fireworks seen from their apartment window.

This was my way of expressing the angst within me.

They say, war is inevitable. And children, women and foot soldiers must bear the brunt of it. They always have. From the age of the tribal warlords to the age of technocrats. But the question is—if we can tell fabulous stories to each other, that unites us to build spacecrafts, capable of exploring other planets; can’t we tell each other a brilliant story that unites us to end war?

What is that story? I wonder.

Siddhartha Krishnan is the author of Two and a Half Rainbows – A Collection of Short Stories. He is also an enthusiastic blogger and, on his website, www.whatsonsidsmind.com, he regularly puts out his essays, articles, travelogues, book and movie reviews.

All rights reserved by whatsonsidsmind.com

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Tilottama at a Glance | Book Review

Written by Siddhartha Krishnan . 4 Min Read

Before its chapters begin, the book opens with a quote by Pradeep Sarkar, director of the much-loved Hindi film Parineeta, which was based on a famous novel by Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay. He says, “Calcutta is beautiful. Wherever you place a camera, you get a vision.” I remember the director making this comment, 7 years ago, in a discussion with film critic, Anupama Chopra. You may hate or love this city, but what you cannot deny is that it is photogenic. The urban streetscape, especially in the older parts of North and South Kolkata, is mesmerizing!

Three generations of my family owe a lot to the city. My grandfather migrated to Kolkata in pursuit of a different life. My father, who has spent all his life there, calls it his home. As for me, it is the city which has given me a good education, and has moulded me. Kolkata is within me. I know a lot about it despite being an outsider of sorts, a Malayalee, from a small town in Kerala. So, when I read reviews of Tilottama at a Glance, in a Facebook group for bibliophiles (Readers Forever!), I asked myself—what am I going to get from it?

Despite the doubts, I took the plunge, and returned happy. I am going to tell you why.

This book to different people could mean different things. To a traveller, a handy guide, to someone who has lived or lives there, a memoir, and to a foreigner, a glimpse into a different culture. Thus, it serves many purposes. I was looking for something specific though, not having stayed in Kolkata for over 16 yrs.

I wanted a trip down memory lane, and to discover something new about the places and things that are known to me.

The introduction makes it amply clear, how the book came into being. Each chapter, to me, felt like an essay, an ode to the subject at hand. It gives enough without being over indulgent. It doesn’t pretend to be a chronicle of the history of everything about Kolkata, which would take a lifetime. Impossible to encapsulate in a single book. This honesty is much appreciated. In each chapter, the book offers little nuggets of joy to a reader, nostalgia for a city dweller, and requisite knowledge of a topic for a tourist. The author gets this mix and balance right.

The language is lucid, and the writing is crisp, making the book an easy page-turner. Quotes by famous people relevant to the topic discussed and anecdotes from the author’s own life adorn its pages. They help the storytelling considerably, and is the best part of the writing. The stories helped me relive my own experiences in the city, while the quotes helped put things into perspective. But I would have liked more of it. In fact, the author could have a been a little more generous with her personal stories, and the book could have easily done with a few more pages.

In the end, I got what I wanted from the book. It took to me to places I know of, both tangible and intangible. I remembered the distant winter morning at the Maidan, waiting anxiously with friends for a group to vacate one of the many cricket pitches. The addas outside Victoria Memorial sharing a bhel puri with my para buddies. And I held my dad’s finger once again to walk down the charming alleys of North Kolkata, with my jaws dropping, marvelling at the artistry on display during Pujo. These and many more beautiful memories came rushing in and flooded my thoughts. I also got a better understanding of the meaning of lyadh and the history of adda and why it is so intrinsic to Bengali culture.

Reading Tilottama at a Glance by Sreeparna Sen was an enjoyable experience. I would like to recommend it to readers who want to know what Kolkata means to the people who love the city.

The book is currently available online on Flipkart (link below)

Tilottama at a glance: Buy Tilottama at a glance by Sreeparna Sen at Low Price in India | Flipkart.com

 

Siddhartha Krishnan is the author of Two and a Half Rainbows – A Collection of Short Stories. He is also an enthusiastic blogger and, on his website, www.whatsonsidsmind.com, he regularly puts out his essays, articles, travelogues and movie reviews.

All rights reserved by whatsonsidsmind.com