Author: On the Trail of

Godhi Banna Sadharna Mykattu

Published by

“Getting lost will help you find yourself”   Having watched the much-talked Godhi Banna Sadharna Mykattu, the movie struck a deep chord. It stood out for its treatment of a simple missing-and-found person story with an interesting angle of an Alzheimer patient getting lost and finding himself amidst killer-gangsters. The plot had many poignant and meaningful Lost and Found nuances by Lost and Found Films that I thought I will spend some time writing down my impressions. When I started reviewing the movie here, there were so many aspects of the movie that stood out that I thought it best to use separate sections to appreciate the movie. Story Shiva (Rakshith Shetty) is an IT professional bent upon climbing the corporate ladder, traveling to New York is the carrot his boss keeps dangling. He has grown apathetic to his father, whom he calls “Anna.” With his mother (Triveni Chindodi) dead eight years earlier to cancer he has left his aging father Venkoba Rao (Ananth Nag) who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease at an NGO which ‘offers …

The celestial harbingers

Published by

“Beauty and Wisdom make a rare conjunction” – Petronius The news bits from past several days about Venus and Jupiter coming together had raised curiosity in me (more about jupiter-and-venus-conjunction here). I am no sky-watcher nor had I ever tried to imagine how two planets far away from each other by hundreds of millions of miles, in entirely different orbits can come together and appear aligned to us earthlings. I tried to learn more. Curious to behold the phenomenon tonight I ventured out onto to watch the skies. It was a treat to watch the full moon on one end of the sky while planets Jupiter and Venus catching up with each other in their brightest best on the other end. Just a couple of hours after the sunset the western sky had the dazzling planets Jupiter and Venus stand side by side – easy to spot as they were the brightest objects in the sky, besides the full moon. The astronomy fraternity calls this phenomenon as ‘Conjunction’ when two planets line up in their …

Batman on a mission?!

Published by

“I’m not saying I’m Batman. I am just saying no one has ever seen me and Batman in a room together!” This fruit bat has been clinging on to a mango tree branch overlooking my room’s window. He has been there for past few days. The branch he is clinging on to is just an arm stretch away from my window. He seems to be so determined to cling on to that branch (or perhaps determined to watch over me? ;)) that no force can distract him – till now I have seen him weather the forceful breeze, heavy rains and my attention over him. When the breeze unsettles his position, he adjusts himself. When it rains, he closes his eyes. When he notices me watching him, he is not shy. He seems to respond through his eyes. He opens his eyes wide open when he knows I am talking to him. He remains calm and unperturbed by loud conversations from my room. He is the only one on the tree. What is he up …

Mountain Kingdom on a Royal Enfield – A Motorcycle Expedition to Bhutan

Published by

“Now and again, it is necessary to seclude yourself among deep mountains and hidden valleys to restore your link to the source of Life. Breathe out and let yourself soar to the ends of the Universe, breathe in and bring the Cosmos back inside. “ – Morihei Ueshiba   Day One – April 2, 2015 Bright sunny Thursday morning, all set for flying out from Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru to Bagdogra Airport, West Bengal. The journey for the much anticipated adventure of biking road trip across the Himalayan Mountain Kingdom, Bhutan on Royal Enfield bikes is about to begin after flying out to Siliguri and then start on bikes the next day. The plan entails a team of Enfield Riders circumambulating the Mountain Kingdom of Bhutan from east to west with pitstops at Siliguri, Pheuntsholing, Paro, Thimpu, Punakha, Bhumtang, Mongar, Samdrup Jonkhar and Guwahati – a distance of 1500 kms. With a short stopover at Kolkata airport we reach Bagdogra in the afternoon. The Bagdogra Airport is an international airport as well as an important …

Gujarat – A Sip of ‘Honesty’?!

Published by

January 9, 2015 – Set out on an impulse to visit Vibrant Gujarat. Impulse became the throbbing pulse of excitement in exploring new land, its people and culture, and to know what makes it tick with the local, national, as well as international links. I set out with immense curiosity to know Gujarat, eager to learn what makes the state flourish, urge to explore the clichéd Gujarati business acumen, to know what makes that almost legendary Gujju business acumen tick. Vibrant Gujarat venue was an overwhelming experience with its enormity as well as range of companies that had set up shop to sell or buy, to find customers or attract investors. The mind boggling range of products from agriculture, ayurveda to food processing, from petrochemical industries to hi-tech companies, there seemed all and everything that mattered in the business world had a presence there that day. Finding it difficult to find a proper (read calmer and peaceful)  restaurant to have lunch within the Vibrant venue, my Savari driver took me to a restaurant. Honest Restaurant! …

Ranganathittu Oct 2014

Published by

“Cross the river in a crowd and the Crocodile won’t eat you” – An African Proverb Ranganathittu, was my choice as a weekend getaway from Bengaluru. With visiting colleague-friend who was looking for a photography trip and what is better than the bird sanctuary? Riding a boat with the boatman who knew a lot about birds, almost as eloquently as an ornithologist, we went round the islets on the river Cauvery watching the birds, their chicks and nesting behavior.  The cool wind of October added a soothing touch to the feathery feast right in front of our eyes. We were lucky to get glimpses of Great Pelican, Painted Storks, Spoonbill, Oriental Darter, River Tern, large and small egrets, and the Mugger or Marshy Crocodiles as they slithered close by our boat or lazed on the rocks. The sighting of an Eaglet was the crowning glory to our Ranganathittu; it was the nesting season for eagles!            

X’mas Gold Class

Published by

Christmas 2014 was a memorable one. Enjoyed breakfast in true South Indian style, tasting a range of lip smacking dishes – Neeru Dosa with its traditional coconut side dish and chutney, Akki Rotti and Ragi Rotti with a homely touch, piping hot Paddus with the signature chutney – was a royal menu reminding of mother’s touch. Med man missing made one wonder if it was yet another truant played by our modern day doctors. It’s better if less said to keep one’s mind calm and clear, to not let yet another negativity enter one’s mind. The games people play to establish a lie as fact is enough to make you withdraw, standing aloof and seemingly detached from friend forms. Cruising along a flicker of celluloid thought beckons in the form of newly released PK. The parody and irony in the organized religion, the metaphysical search of God and yearning for God’s hand in absolving one’s life’s struggles. The whole metaphysical question is taken to another level with an alien questioning the human beings’ incomprehensible customs. Enjoying the great mixture of …