Why our recent Olympic feat isn’t just a giant leap for Indian women?

Ever since news reports poured in, covering the achievements of three important women – Sindhu, Sakshi and Dipa made the rounds on Facebook, many have referred to the success as a turning point for Indian women. It’s no doubt that these three women, by their indomitable spirit and courage have created history that will be etched in our hearts forever.

What I truly believe is this – women in our country have been making history since many decades, Indira Gandhi, Kiran Bedi, Mother Teresa, Arundati Roy… the list is endless. There is a story in every woman which makes her influential regardless of whether she creates history or not. In fact, our own mothers are deeply inspiring individuals who have gone to great heights in their lifetime surrounding their families.

I don’t regard the recent success at the Olympics as “women oriented” or paving the way for women to come up front. What this success really offers is this – being passionate is what truly matters at the end of the day. Choosing our dreams over our mundane jobs takes a lot of courage which not every man or woman is capable of.

Not everybody decides to chase their dreams. In fact, most of us lock our dreams far inside our hearts only to be nostalgic about them in our later lives. These young women dared to chase their dreams, they dared to realize them than just visualizing, they dared to show the world what true passion is, they dared to show what it took to become what they were meant to be.

“There is no passion to be found playing small--in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.”

The recent spike in a range of wider and broader fields of careers is evident that people are choosing their dreams over mundane jobs. Yet, so many of us simply put aside our dreams letting our fear of failure control us. The biggest blow comes when parents ignore their child’s talent, pressing them to take a path only to earn a few bucks to ensure a risk-free future life.

As they say, “Those who wish to sing a song will always find one. Those who don’t, will always find an excuse.”

Our choices make us. Our passions define us. It is true that dreams always, always come with a big price. But so does a dreamless life. It depends on us, what price are we willing to pay?

I am fascinated by Robert Frost whose famous lines still hold true and will always will,

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

These three women just proved it. 

Airlift : loss and regain of hope and life

Stories can stir hearts making the much needed difference. There are stories everywhere. It’s up to us, which ones we do want to hear and which ones we don’t. But then, there are some stories that somehow make their way into our lives. One such story is Airlift, the movie.

I normally wouldn’t be writing a review if the movie hadn’t impressed me. In fact, it had surpassed my expectations. It’s just not the movie, but the flawless depiction of the biggest rescue operation conducted in Indian history that has baffled me beyond words. What men can do if they set their minds on and decide not to give up? How few people can take control and lead the way for the helpless?

The rescue operation story of almost 1,70,000 Indians who were stranded in Kuwait has been re-told trough the movie Airlift with Akshay Kumar playing the lead role. It’s a reality based movie but what is truly gripping is the delivery of the tension and pressure that must have prevailed in the situation years ago when Indian faced the plight in Kuwait when Iraq attacked.  The loss and regain of hope and life, over and over can break a human heart but it can also make it stronger and firm. The human bond that develops when attacked by a tragedy is beyond words. It's amazing what people can do if they decide not to give up. 

To say that it’s a beautiful or amazing movie would be shame, or to simply praise the movie would also not suffice. It simply transports you twenty years ago and shows you what it is to protect someone because at the end of day, we are all answerable to somebody. 

Coming to the cast, Akshay Kumar has delivered a meticulous performance carrying the entire movie on his shoulders. I would rate this as his best movie till date. Purab Kohli and Nimrat Kaur have played their roles beautifully.

Rating for Airlift – 5/5.