The Shawshank Redemption

The Shawshank Redemption is one movie I thoroughly enjoyed the other day. Andy Dufresne, (Tim Robbins) the protagonaist, goes behind bars for a crime he hasn't committed but believes he has. A crime of not having been a good husband haunts him when he's told it was someone else who pulled the trigger.

He finds a friend and confidante in an inmate of teh prison cell called Red(Morgan Freeman) and goes on to tell him about the scam that's been created within the prison walls. His dreams and his efforts and 5 miles of unbelievable stench and shit lead him out of prison and into freedom. All that because he hoped. He hoped some day he would be a free man and live by the sea, own a hotel and a boat too. His faith in hope keeps him alive and digging. Digging a tunnel in dark nights of a darker life(20 years) behind bars, spent in fulfilling selfish motives of a prison warden who ultimately faces the world with a hole in his head, gun in his hand.

'Fear can hold you prisoner, hope can set you free', is the slogan the movie proudly displays. The movie shows it beautifully. This is true in real life too. Fear is the only factor that confines a person into doing or being what he/she is. Fear of self, fear of the society, fear of losing someone or something, fear of shame, fear of grief... and when there's hope, there's effort. There's a realisation. That's when the heart i set free - to live, to be, to exist.

This flick may not have made much money at the box office but it has certainly gone on to be much watched movie in later years. Some things take time to sink in and when they do, they are there to stay. A must watch..

Business sense

"Saab, what do u want to buy?" asked a little boy, who must have been just seven years old, as he chewed at the neem branch he held between his fingers.

"well, just hand me a small lock", replied the man, who was evidently in a hurry to catch the train. " how much?", he asked again.

"10 rupees, saab", the kid replied.

The man handed him a 100 rupee note.

"No change early in the morning saab" said the boy. "why don't you buy two more locks and i will give you back 70 rupees?"

The man refused. "Just hand me over whatever you have, I am getting late" he said agitatedly.

The kid had handed him over some change and as he walked towards the train he glanced at it. There were 90 rupees. The man turned back, a little surprised as he remembered how the boy had requested him to buy 2 more locks.

There on the shop window, sat a grinning little packet of mischief who had just begun his day with a good bargain. He had tried his hand at the business lessons he was being taught at the shop whole day. He waved at the man and all the man could do was wave back as he boarded the train..

Fat or Fit

What's with Adnan Sami? The man has lost oodles of weight and with that has gone his better half. The Adnan we saw romancing so many young models and actresses on screen is a thing of the past. He is now replaced with a slimmer man who isn't what he used to be. I don't know him personally and surely don't know what he really was, but the happiness he exuded is now missing, and hence, I rant and rave. He now looks sickly and his songs aren't half as good as they used to be. Weight loss does come with a price tag. He lost all the excess fat and in the process, became a stranger to all the people who loved him and enjoyed anything he sang. The songs bubbled with life and energy. It's gone now.


We come across fat people almost every day of our lives and after a certain age one doesn't have to travel very far to see an obese person. One can do so by looking at the mirror. Some people are meticulous enough to maintain a perfect physique, others are too lazy to spare themselves some time precious moments of excercising. I happen to be at crossroads of the weight bridge. That it would be a struggle so severe, was incomprehensible a thought for me and yet ech day I stare at the stranger who stares back at me.


I asked a friend for some tips to maintain an envious physique as hers, and the reply was "fall in love dear".. Well, now that's a pretty expensive and time taking, tedious clause. Unless it's the gym instructor you're attracted to!! Needless to say, I haven't taken this advice too seriously. I tried yoga, but the enthusiasm fizzled out as fast as it had surged. The timings were to blame. Early mornings was when the yoga classes were conducted and Sleep did not permit me to creep out of the cozy bed. The early morning newspaper reading was going to come to my rescue, and I noticed an Ad. It was of a weight reduction centre. I was up and ready to reach the centre. At the place I was made to dish out a hefty sum for a few tricks that would help me get a chiselled bod. To add to it was the sight of some faces that were aghast to see me there. It was hilarious but something from within me told me we were all sailing in the same boat. I cut short the smile that had just begun to form..


I gave up all of these eccentricities and settled for the more sober form of keeping fit. Yes, walking. Walks are convenient and I make it a point to walk in the evenings, albeit for a small stretch. A few excercises and I feel fit. I make it a point to watch all stand up comedies (the slapstick ones as well). Isn't that what i was searching for after all.. A few doses of energy mixed with fitness and a scoop of laughs with a pinch of happiness here and there - The ingredients for a perfect body and perfect mind. Being a little over weight is after all not really a big issue..