(This retrospective is dedicated to all my friends and family who have succeeded in making 2009 special for me. Thanks all, for being there !)
Well before the advent of the T20 format in cricket, the 50-over format was played in a different way. Where the initial overs dragged on, the last 10 or so overs saw fireworks that more than made up for the drab opening. 2009, in retrospect, seems exactly like that. December providing the fireworks!
...of Avatar, 3 Idiots and a Reunion to remember
Had someone told me, at the beginning (or in the middle) of the year that I would get a chance to meet 125 people, most of whom I have not seen for 20 years or so, and end up bonding with them, I would have just laughed it off!
If I would have told somebody that towards the end of the year, a movie will redefine what ‘cinematic experience’ means, people would have laughed me off!
And if we were told that Rajkumar Hirani will make Aamir Khan play a 22-year old in a movie that will achieve cult status, we would have laughed together…
Reunion of the IES ’89 batch was an unprecedented success! I know a lot has been written (by yours truly as well ;)), rewritten, read and re-read about it, yet the magical feeling refuses to go away :)
If I would have told somebody that towards the end of the year, a movie will redefine what ‘cinematic experience’ means, people would have laughed me off!
“Movies will never be the same.” That’s what the initial promo for Avatar promised. Director James Cameron has lived up to the ultra-hype. Avatar is simply sensational entertainment. It contains such visual detailing that it would reward repeating viewings. It is an event, one of those films you feel you must see to keep up with the conversation.
And if we were told that Rajkumar Hirani will make Aamir Khan play a 22-year old in a movie that will achieve cult status, we would have laughed together…
Well, Aamir Khan does play a 22-year-old college kid in 3 idiots and gets away with it. But that’s not what it is all about. Deep into the film what you actually sense is that to make a very important point, one doesn't need to preach and get all self-serious. A lot can be said purely through unadulterated humor, songs and suspensions of disbelief. Surely, comedy can be made into a serious subject matter. 3 Idiots works and how!
Truth is not only stranger than fiction, it is more interesting!
... of 50 years of Asterix and 70 of mom & dad
I still remember, way back in the early 80s sometime, the first time I saw a comic book. If at all there was love at first sight known then, this was it! I was simply bowled over by the make-believe worlds of Phantom, Mandrake and Flash Gordon. Pretty soon, comics became a way of life.
Around the same time, I was also introduced to another, different kind of comic hero, Asterix! He was a complete antithesis of what I knew of a hero. Completely unassuming, short and skinny-legged. I used to wonder how this non-Phantom like midget could be a hero. As the saying goes though, never judge a book by its cover. And what a book(s) and journey it has been! Over the years, I have read, re-read and devoured each of the 35-odd masterpieces dished out by the 2 genius creators of Asterix, Goscinny and Uderzo over 50 years of Asterix’s existence. Even after 10 readings, you might find a pun here, a satire there that will tickle your funny bone. Hats off, gentlemen!
… 2 other creators need to be mentioned here. One, my dad, who introduced me to this wonderful world of books and therefore, plays a large part in what I have become (mom, now you know whom to beat up :)). The other, mom, who for all these years has smilingly borne the idiosyncrasies of my behavior and surprisingly, is ever ready for more (to take and give back).
Both of them turned 70 in 2009 (as in all other things, mom a couple of months ahead of dad) and given the thick and thin of life they have gone through, it seems to have been one hell of a journey. Their astute wisdom; the willingness to laugh at life; the ability to enjoy Ranbir Kapoor in the same vein as Dilip Kumar; their inner strength that surpasses any physical maladies, are truly infectious qualities that endears them to one and all. Mom & Dad, Rock On!
Around the same time, I was also introduced to another, different kind of comic hero, Asterix! He was a complete antithesis of what I knew of a hero. Completely unassuming, short and skinny-legged. I used to wonder how this non-Phantom like midget could be a hero. As the saying goes though, never judge a book by its cover. And what a book(s) and journey it has been! Over the years, I have read, re-read and devoured each of the 35-odd masterpieces dished out by the 2 genius creators of Asterix, Goscinny and Uderzo over 50 years of Asterix’s existence. Even after 10 readings, you might find a pun here, a satire there that will tickle your funny bone. Hats off, gentlemen!
… 2 other creators need to be mentioned here. One, my dad, who introduced me to this wonderful world of books and therefore, plays a large part in what I have become (mom, now you know whom to beat up :)). The other, mom, who for all these years has smilingly borne the idiosyncrasies of my behavior and surprisingly, is ever ready for more (to take and give back).
Both of them turned 70 in 2009 (as in all other things, mom a couple of months ahead of dad) and given the thick and thin of life they have gone through, it seems to have been one hell of a journey. Their astute wisdom; the willingness to laugh at life; the ability to enjoy Ranbir Kapoor in the same vein as Dilip Kumar; their inner strength that surpasses any physical maladies, are truly infectious qualities that endears them to one and all. Mom & Dad, Rock On!
… of a friend lost, friend(s) gained and lessons learned
Fag end of 2009 served to teach a lesson that once in a while is necessary to make us realize the value of preserving what is precious; in this case friendship! It so happens that a very close friend is facing a serious problem that has eaten into his life and affected every one of his family and close friends. As he struggles to come to grips with and is making all efforts to get rid of the problem, we as friends are also doing our bit to help him.
The entire episode, however, has left me shaken and with a feeling of futility that despite being so close, there is nothing that I have done for him earlier. But as in every adversity, this one also contains a lesson to be learned, although the circumstances could have been less severe.
I have now resolved to stay ‘connected’ to my friends and at least once in a while, arrange for / attend a small get-together to celebrate … just being together :). To this effect, Facebook, the reunion, and subsequently, again Facebook have been very important in re-establishing the bond with friends who were lost in the haze of time. Thanks, all, for being there!
The entire episode, however, has left me shaken and with a feeling of futility that despite being so close, there is nothing that I have done for him earlier. But as in every adversity, this one also contains a lesson to be learned, although the circumstances could have been less severe.
I have now resolved to stay ‘connected’ to my friends and at least once in a while, arrange for / attend a small get-together to celebrate … just being together :). To this effect, Facebook, the reunion, and subsequently, again Facebook have been very important in re-establishing the bond with friends who were lost in the haze of time. Thanks, all, for being there!
But if the while I think on thee, dear friend,
all losses are restored and sorrows end.
~William Shakespeare
Round & About (the Glad & the Sad of it)
…Glad that Ajmal Kasab has not been set free yet, in spite of our legal system;
Sad that he is still alive, thanks to our legal system
…Glad that justice finally prevailed in the Ruchika Girhotra case;
Sad that it took 19 years and the molester cop got away with only 6 months of jail and immediate bail
…Glad that India reached the pinnacle of Test Cricket rankings for the first time;
Sad that the foreign media immediately indulged in bashing the ranking system
…Glad that people have stopped wearing masks to avoid getting Swine Flu;
Sad that the pandemic virus has claimed almost a 1000 lives and still continues unabated
…Glad that Heath Ledger (posthumously) won the Oscar for best-supporting actor for his performance as the Joker in “The Dark Knight”;
Sad that the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, is no more
…Glad that Sachin Tendulkar completed 20 years in international cricket and is raring for more;
Sad that Tiger Woods also completed 20 … mistresses ;)
…Glad that one of the top ten medical breakthroughs of the year (surgery using third-generation robots) was achieved by a friend, Dr. Jaydeep Palep
…Glad that another friend, Tejas Redkar, published a book on Microsoft’s Azure platform
Sad that he is still alive, thanks to our legal system
…Glad that justice finally prevailed in the Ruchika Girhotra case;
Sad that it took 19 years and the molester cop got away with only 6 months of jail and immediate bail
…Glad that India reached the pinnacle of Test Cricket rankings for the first time;
Sad that the foreign media immediately indulged in bashing the ranking system
…Glad that people have stopped wearing masks to avoid getting Swine Flu;
Sad that the pandemic virus has claimed almost a 1000 lives and still continues unabated
…Glad that Heath Ledger (posthumously) won the Oscar for best-supporting actor for his performance as the Joker in “The Dark Knight”;
Sad that the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, is no more
…Glad that Sachin Tendulkar completed 20 years in international cricket and is raring for more;
Sad that Tiger Woods also completed 20 … mistresses ;)
…Glad that one of the top ten medical breakthroughs of the year (surgery using third-generation robots) was achieved by a friend, Dr. Jaydeep Palep
…Glad that another friend, Tejas Redkar, published a book on Microsoft’s Azure platform
All in all, the year 2009 has ended on a high and positive note and here’s hoping 2010 will give us more reasons to be happy and glad.
- Aditya Soparkar
- Aditya Soparkar
