Ivide, a new age thriller, seamlessly delivered.

When I first started watching ‘Ivide’, I found it coming out from a novel or a Hollywood movie. What with the actors trying hard to adapt the American slang with the movie shot entirely in Atlanta, US, I found it to be just like any English movie except that they were replaced with Malayalam actors. Throw in the usual mix, hero separated, has a daughter, shares custody with the heroine, heroine dates another guy, hero jealous… the same usual drama, but more like an English film.

As the movie progress with the protagonist, Prithviraj, playing an investigating officer in a serial crime case, things begin to get interesting where he narrates us in Malayalam. Though the movie has heavily borrowed the American lifestyle, there are traces of the kerala culture which makes the movie stand out.

Places where Prithviraj narrates his story of how he landed in the US, being an Indian orphan, and his interaction with American parents work out brilliantly. As he investigates the case, his scenes are majorly developed with American actors and officers which he has carried flawlessly. Slipping into the role of an American, he has worked hard on the slang which doesn’t look artificial (which is not always easy).

Bhavana and Nivin have played their roles well. Bhavana, being the ex-wife of Prithviraj and Nivin being the new love interest in Bhavana’s life along with his involvement in a major IT company work out well. The murders of IT employees followed by police investigation is what forms the crux of the story.

It’s an entirely Prithviraj movie. And the background score cannot be ignored which has a noticeable place in the film. It’s a different movie which has tried to pick a simple storyline but the hard work is where when they tried to adapt Indian actors living the American lifestyle. A definitely new age cinema delivered to perfection. The climax is filled with bittersweet surprise.

4.5 stars for this one.

My salted tea

Sometimes, being with a baby, can get overwhelming. Now that I am a stay at home mommy, my only company is a baby who demands constant entertainment most of the times. And this gives me little breathing space for my own. Of course, after my husband comes, I can hand over the baby to him. But that’s the only time I can get any cooking done.

Today, when I noticed a cool breeze on my patio, I decided, no matter what happens, I will make myself a cup of tea and enjoy nature for a while. What’s the use of having such a huge patio then? Wouldn’t it be such a waste? After playing with the baby nonstop three hours (phew, so much energy they have), he finally dozed off to sleep. Without wasting a second, I sneaked into the kitchen and set upon making my tea.

As I made the tea, I noticed the dirty dishes in the kitchen, the toys scattered all over the floor, various other things messed up the living room, the kitchen table top screaming to be cleaned….there was so much to do. And the baby was sleeping. It was the perfect time to get things done. Putting up a strong front, I choose to ignore the chores that screamed for attention.

This was ME time, I said myself as I noticed the milk boiling with steam. I will not be one of those women who never make time for themselves and become miserable. Instead, I will ignore household duties for a while and enjoy a cup of tea. If I don’t enjoy, what’s the point in living? I reasoned with myself marveling at the fact that I had managed to squeeze few minutes for myself.

As I seated myself in my patio chair, with a carefree feeling taking over my mind, I set upon enjoying my tea (which was the whole idea). I frowned at the first sip. My tea was salted. How did I manage to put salt instead of sugar was beyond me! So much for a cup of tea!

Today is not my day, I thought as I threw the tea down the drain. Perhaps, another day will come, unplanned, undecided to surprise me with a cup of tea. Until then, you dirty dishes, here I come marching to fix you.

Miracles

“Every day, God gives us the sun–and also one moment in which we have the ability to change everything that makes us unhappy.
“Every day, we try to pretend that we haven’t perceived that moment, that it doesn’t exist–that today is the same as yesterday and will be the same as tomorrow.

But if people really pay attention to their everyday lives, they will discover that magic moment.

It may arrive in the instant when we are doing something mundane, like putting our front-door key in the lock.
It may lie hidden in the quiet that follows the lunch hour or in the thousand and one things that all seem the same to us.

But that moment exists–a moment when all the power of the stars becomes a part of us and enables us to perform miracles.”