celestesinsight

[celestesinsight]

i saw little women and couldn't stop myself......omg i love the book!!!! not just the book but also the entire series (good wives, little men, jo's boys, all of them!!!!)

i'd like to ask you, who was the character you could relate to and aspire to be, like not just the march sisters but also among every single character?

for me, i relate to jo but i personally wish to be more like beth, someone whose mere presence brings peace and calmness, that's who i wanna be, just a quiet soul.....what about you??

As I wrote in my post, I was very young when I read that. The young me related to Jo. Her not being a stereotypical girl, I understand the feeling. I don't know how many times, I have been told while growing up that I need to be more girly. She also inspired me to follow my passion for writing.

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Book That Started My Reading Journey!

As a reader, the question I have been asked most is "what book changed you or had a profound impact on you".

I am not bragging, but I read too many books to pinpoint one book that changed me. Every book I read has an impact on me, it has changed my thinking in some way, its characters live in my mind rent free. They became my friend, a much better friend than any friend I have in real life.

But if I have to force myself to choose, the only book that comes to mind is the one that started my reading journey. This one:

When I was in class 4-5, my school added a new period to the time table, 'library period'. We got to spend an hour in the library reading once a week and could even take books home. My school was small and the library was smaller. But for the ten year old me that small room was a fascinating world.

During my first visit, I had found "Little Women", in an old but well-kept up cupboard. What intrigued me about the book was its cover which contained picture of four little girls.

I have always been attracted to stories. Even before I started reading, I used to make my mom or other elders tell me stories. My only gripe with the stories I listened to or watched was that they all had boys/men as protagonists. Even if there were stories of women, the women were someone I could admire, but never relate to.

So, of course my curiosity was aroused about this book I had found, that had little girls in the cover.

To be honest, I don't remember the finer details of the books now. I just remember the names of the main characters and the basic plot of the novel. It's been so long after all. And for years, I am conflicted between my urge to relive the experience by rereading it and fear of losing the childhood fascination after reading it as an adult.

But I do remember how the book made me feel. It made me feel that I could have my story too, even if I was just a little girl. That my story was worth telling. It made me fall in love with the world of books and dream of becoming a writer like Jo. It created the person I am today, the reader, the writer and the dreamer.

This book will always have a special place in my heart. And maybe someday, I will get over my inner turmoil and reread it.

Till then,

Happy World Book Day to everyone!

And please do share with me your favourite books or books that started your reading journey or that changed you or profoundly impacted you in some manner. I would love to hear your experiences and thoughts. As an added bonus I get to know about more books.

#world book day #bookblr #booklr #booklover #books

[celestesinsight]

So I watched Nandanam. I was watching it for Prithvi and of course I loved him. He was so adorable as Mano. Especially that impromptu candlelight dinner with gunnysack as chairs and box for a table with torn table cloth.

But Navya Nair and her expressions definitely stole the show for me.

And Krishna was so cute. Every time he was on screen, I would rewind and watch again and again.

I liked the bonding between Mano and his mother and Bala and Unniamma.

I had watched Seedan years ago and loved it. This movie is 100 times better than that.

#Nandanam #malayalam movies #indian movies #prithviraj sukumaran #navya nair #desiblr #desi tumblr

[celestesinsight]

Happy Odia New Year, Maha Bishuba (Pana) Sankranti and Hanuman Jayanti!

#odia new year #odiablr #desiblr #desi tumblr

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April 6, 2024!

First salary is not just about the money!

I got the first paycheck from my new job today! So I treated my Nani (elder sis), Jiju and Subhy to dinner at a restaurant. We had lots of fun and also had ice cream on our way back.

#diary post #april diaries #happiness #dinner treat

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His voice! 🥰😍

#prithviraj sukumaran #his voice #bade miyan chote miyan #major kabir

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First Brocolli, then apples!

He really has an interesting taste in clothes!

#prithviraj sukumaran #his taste in clothes #he knows he’s hot #he'd look good even in rags #he takes full advantage of it #desiblr #desi tumblr

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Salaar Analysis: Mahara Women!

We were introduced to the Mahara women and their plight when Deva entered Khanshar as Varadha's one man army. We watched a young girl being taken away in a vehicle, while another young girl was running after them. We got to know more about these women from Baba, when he described Mahara as poultry farms, except there were no hens. The meaning of this statement would later become clear, when Vishnu's disgusting actions were shown in detail. Even though, the scene explained about their conditions, we were still left clueless about their affinity to the three tribes of Khanshar.

This issue has been discussed too many times in the fandom and mostly ended with the conclusion that Mahara used to be one of Varadha's territory. Varadha used to have three territories, one Dora territory, Bhargat (that he gave up for Deva) and two Kapus, one of which was Pathran. But Varadha during the ceasefire voting, only held one vote as Kapus of Pathran. Hence, a common HC in fandom that Varadha lost Mahara before 2010. This theory could explain why Vishnu thought of humiliating Varadha by making him watch him assaulting those women. Another common HC in fandom is that Varadha's mother belonged to the Mahara.

There is a second theory about their origin that I have seen in a few YouTube videos. They speculate that Mahara women have some connections with Shiva Mannar and Shouryangas tribe. In the above photo, we could see that the bell-like ornament worn by Shiva Mannar, was also a part of Mahara women's attire. But neither Varadha nor Raja Mannar ever wore this ornament as Kartha, so it was definitely not a Mannarsi ornament. There was one thing that changed when the regime passed from Shiva Mannar to Raja Mannar, the decimation of the Shouryangas tribe. I have even watched a YouTube video stating that Shiva Mannar also had two wives like his son, one of them being Raja Mannar's mother and the other was a woman from Shouryangas tribe. And he wore that ornament to honour her.

I am not completely sold on this idea of Shiva Mannar's wife being a Shouryangas . But I do believe that there is a connection between them and Mahara women. And before I state my reasons, I want to point out something.

When the presence of Shouryangas was revealed during the climax of Khanshar, the cyan colour palette was used to portray them. Deva's Shouryangas heritage was also shown by colouring his upper body cyan. This colour is also used as a hidden clue in many scenes of the movie, pointing towards Deva being a Shouryangas.

During the promise scene.

During 2017 Deva's entry.

Again for a split second when he took the sword from the soldier before decapitating Naarang.

When Radha Rama asked the Mannar army to be alert in the entire Khanshar, depicting the rising Shouryangas threat.

So, when I was rewatching Salaar again last Friday, I noticed this colour again in the background during the 'Aaru Sethulunnaa' song, behind the Mahara women.

This shows that Mahara women have some connections to the Shouryangas tribe. Either they were the women from the Shouryangas tribe captured during the massacre and kept captives in Mahara all these years or they were a kind of sub-tribe, that forms a small part of the larger Shouryangas tribe. Or they could be people living in Shouryangas territory under their protection.

This could also explain Shiva Mannar wearing those bell-like ornaments. As the leader of the three tribes, he could wear other tribes ornaments to honour them or show his neutral stance.

Varadha's connection to Mahara is still a mystery. And I hope we get some clear answers about it in part 2.

#salaar #salaar part 1 ceasefire #sslaar analysis #mahara women

[celestesinsight]

March 8, 2024!

The feeling of attending the Jagrata for the first time!

They say, 'when in Rome, do as the Romans do'. This Maha Shivaratri was another instance when I needed to adapt to this new place.

In Odisha, we visit Lord Shiva temple both during the day and at night on Maha Shivaratri and worship the Lord. We keep fast the whole day and break it only after the Mahadeepa is raised atop the temple, which normally occurs between 9 pm to midnight, varying from temple to temple. Some people also light earthen lamps and sit vigil in the Shiva temples till the rise of Mahadeepa.

But this year, I visited the temple during the day and also at night. I poured the milk on the Shiva Linga myself and also offered Bel leaves, flowers and fruits, which was a very novel experience. Back home, this is usually done by priests and we just hand our offerings to them. Unless, you are performing a special ritual like Rudrabhishek, you don't get to pour the milk or water yourself.

After returning home, I saw the neighbours organising a Jagrata. I broke my fast and went to see the ritual. I sat there for some time, listened to the devotional songs and returned home. Previously, I had only seen Jagrata in serials. It was quite a feeling to experience it in person. The idols were beautiful and the enthusiasm in the atmosphere was contagious. I would definitely remember this for the rest of my life.

#diary post #march diaries #mahashivaratri2024 #maha shivratri #shivratri #jagrata #mata ka jagrata #odiablr #desiblr #desi tumblr #lord shiva #matarani

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Prithviraj Sukumaran as Joshua Thomas in Koode!

#koode #prithviraj sukumaran #joshua thomas #cha #malayalam movies #indian cinema #indian movies #malayalam cinema #movies #desiblr #desi tumblr

[celestesinsight]

Malayali?

No, Odia.

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Prithviraj Sukumaran as Easho John Kattadi in Bro Daddy!

#prithviraj sukumaran #bro daddy #malayalam movies #eesho john kattadi

[celestesinsight]

#salaar #varadeva #varadha rajamannar #varadha #devaratha raisaar #deva

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My thoughts on Mumbai Police!

First of all, Prithviraj looked so hot as a cop. The uniform, moustache and smile, I am so in love with his look in the film.

Secondly, Prithviraj is so daring. He played a gay cop back in 2013. Some actors are not comfortable playing gay characters even today. This was not just a subtle hint and suggestion, here and there. There was actually a scene showing their relationship. I am so proud of being obsessed with this guy right now.

Though I felt the movie was dragging at places, but the final twist made up for everything. And what a twist it was? The film started with Antony searching for himself after memory loss. But he was literally searching for himself, the culprit.

The whole motive behind the murder was quite logical. The movie was made in 2013 and homosexuality got decriminalised only in 2018. So, he wasn't just facing a loss of reputation or employment, but possible arrest and prison time. He already was a hated cop with many enemies who wanted to destroy him. So, his intentions and desperate actions did make sense, even if they were morally wrong.

I have very mixed feelings about Antony Moses A or Rascal Moses. His actions really put me off but I can't deny he was hot. The swag, the mischievous smile, contemptible behavior for almost everyone except his friends, sister, and partner made him a complex character.

But Antony Moses B, has my heart. He was so vulnerable, especially when he found out about his closeted homosexuality. His anxiousness to get back his memory and life, his trying to manage the investigation without his memory, his occasional fumbles, everything was so heartrending.

Prithviraj played these two parts so differently. Their expressions, emotions and body language are all different. As the doctor said, they were not the same person, but two different personalities with similar skill sets. Prithvi really made me believe I was watching two separate personalities and not just a single character.

Other actors were also very convincing in their roles, especially Rahman. As Antony said Farhan was really smart. He knew Antony was the culprit and he was protecting himself. Hence, he made him bring back the investigation to proper track and finally got his 'who, how and why'.

Jayasurya was also good as Aaryan the idiotic, but endearing friend. Even though I find his behaviour of sitting in darkness while his friend was with his partner, quite creepy. His saying those mean words for his friend was so not done. Even if we excuse the behaviour as him being shocked and angry, he could have apologized instantly, instead of thinking of a grand gesture of dedicating the Gallantry Award. It could have saved his life. Sooner the apology, sooner the situation could be remedied. That's the basic rule.

Overall, I enjoyed the movie and loved the twist, the concept and the acting. I would definitely re-watch it.

#mumbai police #prithviraj sukumaran #antony rascal moses #rahman #jayasurya #malayalam movies #south movies #indian movies #neo noir #psychological thriller #movies #desiblr #desi tumblr

[celestesinsight]

Salaar: Scene Interpretation!

Fog lifts from the harbor, dawn goes down to day

An agent crests the shadows of the nearby alleyway

Piles of broken bricks, sign posts on the path

Every moment points towards the aftermath,

Deva and Amma were traveling from village to village, escaping from something or somebody. But nobody was actively pursuing them, like they did with Aadhya. In fact, Radha Rama (through Vedha) was just trying to find them discreetly by searching through the cctv cameras across the nation. Even Obulamma, Radha Rama's closest maid had no idea about this. The search mission was so secretive that Vedha hid the photo of his target behind the papers in his own den and refused to take his name even when he was among his men. It was as if they feared some kind of retribution if people got an inkling that they were searching for Deva.

Sailors straggle back from their nights out on the town

Hopeless urchins from the city gather around

Spies from Imperial China wash in with the tide

Every battle heads toward surrender on both sides

Then news of Aadhya's arrival brought a breakthrough for them. They started actively pursuing Deva in the guise of searching for Krishnakant's daughter to punish her for whatever Krishnakant had done seven years back. Their instincts proved right. With Aadhya, they finally found Deva. Radha Rama formed the plan of using Aadhya to make Deva break the seal and start a war between Deva and Varadha. Because she knew, if one of them would die, then the other would follow.

Bells ring in the tower, wolves howl in the hills

Chalk marks show up on a few high windowsills

And a rabbit gives up somewhere, and a dozen hawks descend

Every moment points toward its own sad end

Deva and Amma left Aadhya and Bilal in Tinsukia. Before they could go far away, Amma saw those two being surrounded by Rinda's men, Bilal putting a brave front and then finally surrendering on seeing themselves outnumbered. Amma looked at Deva to see his reaction to find him completely focused on driving away. Amma looked back again and saw Aadhya being stamped with the seal and put in the truck along with Bilal. Deva didn't need to look back to know they were captured. He knew exactly that would happen the moment he left them behind and drove away. But he was bound by his mother's word.

Ships loose from their grins, capsize and then they're gone

Sailors with no captains watch a while and then move on

And an agent crests the shadows and I head in her direction

All roads lead toward the same blocked intersection

When Bilal recognised the seal on Aadhya and realised whose truck it was, his first reaction was to hold the pole tightly and ask Aadhya to do the same. He knew that Deva was not only going to break that seal, but was going to put on a grand show while doing that. And Deva didn't disappoint him. He went all out to stop the truck. He knew to whom the truck belonged. He knew the consequences of stopping that seal. He was not just saving Aadhya, he was sending a message to the man, who was ignoring his existence for the last seven years.

And I am coming home to you

With my own blood in my mouth

And I am coming home to you

If it's the last thing that I do

Varadha didn't have to be told, he already knew it was Deva who stopped the seal. There was no exhilaration in his reaction, like one would expect when someone finally found the thing he was searching for all these years. In his demeanor, there was just reluctant acceptance of the consequences of Deva's actions. Varadha never pursued Deva, nor did he allow anyone else to do the same. He knew nobody could find Deva, if he didn't want to be found. He understood the message Deva had sent. Just like he had accepted every impulsive action of Deva, he accepted this too. He knew Deva was coming home, to him and he was ready to welcome him, even if it was the last thing they both do.

#salaar #varadeva #salaar part 1 ceasefire #devaratha raisaar #varadha rajamannar #deva #varadha #aadhya #radha rama #the mountain goats #sax rohmer #sax rohmer 1 #spotify

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My thoughts about Bro Daddy!

Mohanlal's John Kattadi wasn't just a green flag, but an entire green forest. His and Annamma's relationship was so beautiful.

Prithviraj's Easho was there for comic relief. He's such a goofy personality and can't get anything right, except making ads.

Annamma was so stunning! I can't take my eyes off her every time she comes onscreen.

The best scene of the movie was definitely the scene where John confirmed his mother's suspicion about Annamma's pregnancy. The entire conversation was so sweet and supportive.

John dissing Easho every chance he got was so relatable. In his defence, Easho deserved every bit of it.

Mohanlal and Prithviraj's expressions were so iconic. I loved how in sync they were in the scenes.

Overall, this movie was such a healthy portrayal of father-son bond and a wholesome family entertainment. I enjoyed each and every scene of the movie. And every character was entertaining in their own way.

I never knew Prithviraj is so good at comedy. But still more than his acting, his direction impressed me. I can't say much about technical aspects. But this movie was so entertaining, even though it was his second directorial and a completely different genre from his first film, Lucifer. I hope he directs more such amazing movies in future.

#bro daddy #prithviraj sukumaran #mohanlal #malayalam movies #indian movies #south movies #movies #desiblr #desi tumblr

[celestesinsight]

Watching Bro Daddy!

I just loved Easho and John's expressions when they went to Anna's home and she brought coffee for them. They saw Kurian enjoying the coffee and they were like 'is something wrong with us, not the coffee' and then they sighed in relief when they saw Annamma also having the same reaction as them.

#bro daddy #prithviraj sukumaran #mohanlal #malayalam movies #indian movies #desiblr #desi tumblr #movies