Musings

This 2016 movie is set in Canada and is a murder mystery. Isla, the 16 year old protagonist, who had been led to believe that her parents had died in a accident, receives a letter from her father who is in prison. She decides to visit him and goes to her native place without telling her uncle. She finds that her father is serving sentence for the murder of her mom but father denies this. Isla begins her own investigation with the help of local girl Tina whom she befriends at a motel where Tina works and where Isla had initially stayed. Tina also gets help from the local policeman. Isla finds that 9 of her mother's clients, young native girls, had disappeared into snow and died. No investigation was done by the authorities. Then her mother had been murdered and the jury had pronounced her father guilty in ten minutes. Meanwhile, her uncle is on the hunt for Isla and comes to the mining town where Isla is making discreet enquiries. In the end, Isla finds out the real culprit behind t...

I saw this 2014 film directed by Rebecca Johnson. It is about a teenage girl Layla just arrived in London from Trinidad. She befriends Troy, a short tempered boy and his friends and Shaun a decent, silent boy whom Troy and his friends dislike. Troy doesn't like Layla's friendship with Shaun and tells her to set him up to prove her loyalty towards him, so that they can take it out on Shaun. Against her wishes, Layla calls Shaun which results in a terrible, shocking tragedy. Layla is played by Jessica Sula who is pretty with a sweet voice. The film reminds you of the fights between two groups during college days on flimsy grounds which could have turned ugly but fortunately didn't, like in this film. Ravindra Shenolikar

Last Saturday, early morning, we started for Lonavala. My family and my sister's family. A family friend of my sister's family has a bunglow on the Amby valley road beyond the the Tiger point. Courtesy to him we got to stay there for two nights at very reasonable charges. The bunglow has a caretaker, a young boy of 28 who hails from the state of Chattisgarh. He also happens to be a good cook. We had given him a list of breakfast, lunch and dinner dishes for the two days and accordingly we were treated to a nice breakfast of sabudana vadas immediately on arrival. The bunglow has a very wide sit-out that looks out over the valley and you get a great view of the clouds moving across. It was quite windy and rainy. It was a pleasure sitting there and having food and tea while enjoying the monsoon weather. The caretaker prepared sumptuous meal for lunch. His daal preparation is marvellous. The bunglow has a huge basement with table tennis, carrom board and darts board to play. We tri...

Much as we hate Mondays we don't like to sit at home all the same. I travelled by train which was not too crowded due to travel restrictions. At cst I took a bus to Cuffe Parade. We worked through the day and it felt good. While it was raining in the morning where I stay, it was sunny in south mumbai. So much for the yellow alert sounded by the meteorogical department. Very few shops were open. In the evening my colleague was with me in the train and time moved fast amidst our incessant talking. Only when I came home did I realise how tired I was. After taking bath just relaxing now after dinner. I suppose I will sleep well too. Ravindra Shenolikar

Things have opened up and it feels good. People have started moving. By now everyone is frustrated sitting at home. Work from home too is losing its charm. Attendance is increasing in office premises. On weekends people are desparate to go out of the city somewhere. Homestays are getting booked. Those with second homes are going there to stay for the weekend. Vegetable markets are getting crowded. Slowly but surely, vaccination percentage is increasing. The second wave is dying as fast as it came and spread. Still it will take three to four months for vaccination to reach a level which might ensure herd immunity. Till then, caution is required. Unnecessary exposure has to be avoided. Restaurants and malls have been allowed to open now in our area with some restrictions. But no one is rushing there now. It seems to be the wise thing to do. However, the grip of the pandemic appears to be loosening. We can hope for better days ahead. Ravindra Shenolikar

Got up in the morning and saw rain pouring down. I had planned to take a train and go to office. But the rain forced me to cancel my plans. I just sat in the window and watched. The air became cool and appetite better. It was great to have a hearty breakfast and tea laced with ginger. I had some wine in the fridge which could be used later in the evening. After a good meal, I would perhaps watch a film or a web series. May be have a little nap. The day and weather is just perfect for a afternoon nap followed by evening wine. Today I am not in the mood to read anything. But it may change. What a blissful weather. Hope it continues to rain. Ravindra Shenolikar