AVANIT AGRAWAL

In social media, if we come across someone’s profile who has a life we aspire to have, we instantly follow them. We feel insecure and depressed looking at the profile but we are willingly following it. How stupid is that? As per the survey, an average person checks their phone 224 times a day. If you are doing any activity 224 times a day, then that’s not an activity that’s an addiction. And we have become addicted to other people’s lives. We have got blinders on and our brains in a straitjacket. It’s the digital age, we may feel we are more connected, but we have never been lonelier. The meaning of “Kho Gaye Hum Kahan” is revealed in the epilogue, When Ahana says it all “It’s 31st of December. We are a bit older and a lot wiser. Wise to the fact that, like any drug addict, the problem was not chasing the high, it was running away from the reality. We got so lost in our screens, we forgot to look within ourselves. Since today is the day of new beginnings, let us reboot. Resolution one: Put your phone down and look up. Look life in the eye. Because life is meant for living. Without filters without lenses. Resolution two: Take it easy, keep it real. Recognize that it does not take much to be happy. Only when you truly connect with yourself can people truly connect with you. Resolution three: Stop the comparisons. No one is like you, and you do not need to be like anyone else. You are unique. The only person better than you today is your tomorrow. Resolution four: Be grateful. Say “Thank You” Loud and clear. Every day. & Resolution five: Find your tribe. Because who needs followers when you have friends?” Happy New Year!!

Review is for season 8: Koffee with Karan (with no actual hot Coffee) After almost a month, I watched the first episode of KWK. I must say, I am seeing KWK losing the magnetism it once had. It used to be the expressive, contentious, amusing ride. The Rapid fire used to be the game changer but now it all seems like hauling the bagful of convention forward with no integrity in it. The eminence, the grandiosity we crave, is no longer discernible on screen. The only thing I could connect in the DeepVeer episode is the revelation of DP being in misery and her dealing with the mental illness for so long that she couldn’t even validate her breaking down every now n then until she had professional help which she continues to date (for last 10 years). Other than that, the show doesn’t seem that laudable of being on the lookout.

Karwaan! To quote from the movie itself which literally defines the movie. “Main Akela Hi Chala Tha Janib-E-Manzil Log Aate Gaye Aur Karwaan Banta Gaya..” This quote was scribbled over the van of Shaukat (Irfan) Well to start with, I came across this melody during listening to one of the youtube playlist. I stopped whatever I was doing and quickly glanced through the blue screen and I saw the mesmerizing locations and the road trip kind of scenes.. and I knew it I need to explore more.. trailer.. then I decided I gotta watch this dude.. I am a sucker for this genre (Life, nature and road trip). Today was the day.. So here how it goes.. Avinash is an introvert who cant handle crowd and love to spend his time with the least people.. (my kind) .. :P Does 9 to 5 office job which he hates. But he understands the flash on the wall when he enters the Office “ Don’t complain, unemployment feels worse” and starts doing the monotony daily routine, he crosses his neighbor (air hostess) every now n then.. but only introvert can understand the pain of being an introvert. Meanwhile, Avinash receives a call from the travel company about the death of his father in an accident of a bus in which father was travelling. The travel company sent the wrong body to him which was exchanged with one woman’s mother and then starts the saga of self discovery in a road trip from Bangalore,mysore,ooty and finally Kochi.. The complete South India darshan.. The locations will simply gives you a fresh air of feel .. The three lost souls (Avinash, his friend Shaukat and Tanya-the granddaughter of the desceased) as the posters depicts.. Somewhere during the trip Avinash gets to meet his college friend (more like a girlfriend which he left during the graduation last day) .They have heart to heart meaningful conversation and when Avinash says goodbye, she knows this journey will be the life turner for him as he is in the path of self discovery. Finally he reaches Kochi and receives the belongings of his father whom he never had emotions for. He receives a letter. It’s like a moment of epiphany where he realizes how short the life is, to not live the way u want it, to not live with regrets and actually live life. After commemorating last rites to his father, he went back to Bangalore. But his time with self satisfaction, happiness across his face and newly rejuvenated Avinash. He quits his job and starts living his passion “Photography” He opens his exhibition and the life again seems like a beautiful dream like a kid who plays, laughs and thinks he is living a perfect life.

The character “Aram” is a real charm here. His outlook towards life make me compelled when he said” What really matters are the people in my life. You and your family are some of those people that make me feel good. Make my life good. Everyday.” Children love him. His sincerity, decency totally makes him stand out. I can relate to the character so much. I must say last 10 minutes of the movie is just amazing. The five years flashback has been shown so beautifully. He has adopted a kid when asked about his wife, his unjaded remark” it’s hard to find someone that’s good enough for us.” It’s all about maturity when you say” Dating isn’t my thing. I discovered.” And that’s when you know you have grown up. Life, accepting it and moving on makes you feel more alive.