The Expression Hub

  • The right to education…

    Published by

    Roshani Patil

    on

    Starring: Abhishek Bacchan, Nimrat Kaur, Yami Gautam Dhar, Shivankit Singh Parihar,Sachin Shroff

    Directed By: Tushar Jalota

    Genre: Comedy/ Drama

    “Education’s purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one.”

    -Malcolm Forbes

    Since, the election fever is at its peak, what better way to celebrate this so called carnival with some fascinating picks in the real as well as reel world. As promised by me to not let you get bored in the hot, sultry summer ,bringing to you a story which conveys a very important message in a comical manner, while keeping the theme in the mind. What is the story about and what message it conveys . Read on to find out more.

    Story Line: Dasvi is a story which is set in the fictional state of Harit Pradesh(inspired by the real state of Uttar Pradesh of India). The state has a charismatic and an arrogant chief minister named Ganga Ram Chaudhary who is implicated in a scam. For this, he is sent to jail. Not willing to give up his reins over the state , he installs his wife as the interim Chief Minister of the state.

    The wife, Bimla Devi who is a very timid person at first soon grows ambitious and plans to make her interim post permanent. Ganga Ram Chaudhary who is used to the luxuries of his mansion is treated like a regular prisoner thanks to a new superintendent of police posted in the jail where he is kept. He tries to make various excuses to make his life comfortable in the jail but fails. However, one day, he learns that students who study for 10th boards are exempted from doing any work. So, he decides to sit for the same. The superintendent , Jyoti Deshwal sees this as one of his schemes to avoid work but has to allow him for the same -thanks to the right to education act. Will Ganga Ram Chaudhary, who is mocked for his lack of education be able to complete the challenge and fulfil his mother’s dream of passing the boards? Also, will Bimla Devi hand over the reins to her husband or will her ambitious nature drive a wedge between the two?

    Scrutiny: This is a movie which tries to highlight the importance of education in a person’s life. To a person, education might be his or her way of climbing a social ladder and a way to earn respect as well as status. This is well reflected by the character of Gangaram’s secretary Tandon who is an IAS officer by profession. While, on the other hand , some view education as a waste of time until and unless they realize their importance. This is the case of Gangaram Chaudhary who initially is pretty ignorant about the field of education. But change begins to take place when he starts preparing for his tenth board exams seriously. The movie tries to highlight the point that no matter how powerful a man might be , but without education he or she is not subject to change in behaviour.

    The movie also highlights the adage,”Power corrupts but absolute power corrupts absolutely” through the character of Bimla Devi who occupies the seat temporarily but refuses to give up the seat and instead plots ways to make her permanent.This also highlights another key point in the field of politics- and that is there are no permanent friends or enemies in the field of politics.

    The positives of the movie are : wonderful histrionics by Abhishek Bacchan , Nimrat Kaur and Yami Gautam with a special mention for Arun Kushwaha who shines as Ghanti. The innovative learning techniques adopted by Gangaram Chaudhary to ace his 10th board exams and the determination which he has to achieve his goal no matter the obstacles thrown at him. The negatives are – the story is somewhat predictable and some scenes just make you laugh in disbelief as they tend to come from some other parallel universe.

    The sentiment: A light-hearted movie which can be enjoyed with your family with some interesting twists is how I would like to sum up this experience. This one can surely lighten up your mood in this festival of democracy. And who knows might inspire you to take your studies seriously or give you some political goals to achieve. 😅😂

    Rating: ***

    Quote–Unquote: “Itihaas se na sikhane wale
    khud itihaas ban jate hai.“(Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it”)

    The super-strict Jyoti Deshwal in her no- nonsense avatar.

    Que: What is the party symbol of the party from which Gangaram Chaudhary contests his election in the second half?
    a. Elephant

    b. Sickle

    c. Fan

    d. Pencil

    Continue reading →: The right to education…

  • A city of love and war?

    Published by

    Roshani Patil

    on

    Genre: Thriller/ Crime

    No. of episodes:10

    Presented by: Studio Next

    “We do not need guns and bombs to bring peace. We need love and compassion.

    Mother Teresa

    Its April which means the hot , sultry season of summer will start being at its peak . But summers can be fun and enjoyable if we know some hacks. These hacks can make our summers bearable if not completely fun. So, what are the hacks which you use to make your summer bearable? Do let me know in the comments section. For me, its always trying to maintain a fine balance of work and play. Or consuming lot of water as well as fruits and vegetables which contain a lot of water. So, if you are bored and wondering how to make your summer bearable, fret not I bring my picks for this month. Maybe they might help you to have a refreshing summer as well as be a powerhouse of information and knowledge. And isn’t it always a kind of flex when you can throw some facts around people and have them impressed ? After all, its always good to be a person of greater sense than being a person who indulges themselves watching some stupid stuff.

    So, this year, starting from mid April, we, the people of the world’s largest democracy are going to witness a festival which spans three months and comes once in every four years. Some people call it the elections, while for some it is a test of their elected representatives or a test of a strength of a democracy. So, keeping the current vibe in mind, lets dedicate this month to this festival called elections. Also, as the citizens of the world’s largest democracy, let us not forget to perform our duty whenever the need arises. After all, it is not a regular affair but an affair which comes after a very long wait and patience. And I do think we should not let our wait and patience go in vain. Therefore, don’t forget to cast your votes as a responsible citizen and do urge your family members to do the same.

    Okay, enough of me preaching you people, its time that we focus on the pick of this week. The pick of this week was supposed to be a story which actually did take place but has a dash of some romance added to it. Read on to find out more….

    Synopsis: Inspired by the 2005 Jahanabad prison attack, Jehanabad:Of Love and War narrates the story which inspired the prison attack. It revolves around Kasturi Mishra, a student who is in her last year of her college. She is a girl with big dreams and aspirations who wants to be a lecturer. Enter Abhimanyu Singh, a new professor who is supposed to be teaching English Literature in the same college in which Kasturi studies. Abhimanyu is handsome, and is also a person who is supposed to have a strong sense of justice.This attracts Kasturi to him as he fits into her definition of a life partner perfectly. She tries to win Abhimanyu by her actions. Abhimanyu is reluctant at first but slowly starts falling in love. While a love story is blossoming between the two, there is a condition of turmoil in the jail of Jehanabad as a notorious criminal Deepak Kumar is transferred there. Will Deepak Kumar create a condition of chaos in the peaceful small city of Jehanabad? If so, what are his intentions? Will Jehanabad be a victim of violence and disorder?What turn of fate will the love story of Abhimanyu and Kasturi take?The answer to these questions is what forms the rest of the story.

    Assessment: This is a show which is a fictional take on a real life incident which took place in Bihar in 2005. While creative freedom is always appreciated but when it just ruins the story that is supposed to be a very infuriating experience as a viewer. The show has a great story line initially and the romance between the two leads is somewhat tolerable. But as the story progresses, the romantic part starts getting on your nerves. Kasturi just seems to be a spoilt brat who is supposed to act like an emotional mature person but just appears to be way too impulsive as far as emotional maturity is concerned. Though the interesting part is that there are several plot twists in the story which does make the story interesting and keeps the viewer hooked.Another interesting part is that the story is pretty well- researched for which the writers need to be applauded.Also, the cinematography is to the point for which the people involved need to be appreciated

    Parambrata Chatterjee shines as the notorious criminal Deepak Kumar. Ritwik Bhomik too tries to strike a delicate balance between the chocolate boy Abhimanyu Singh and the cunning and shrewd Ajay who is seeking vengeance. Another person that deserves a mention and might be overlooked but should not is Satyadeep Mishra who shines as SP Durgesh Mishra.

    Even though the show tries to be realistic in nature by undertaking some hard hitting issues , questions do arise in the mind of the viewer- is violence the answer to all the issues ailing the country? Or is it justified to undermine the power of democracy?Or is it okay to take law in one’s own hands just because the legal system of the country is taking time?

    Scrutiny: What could have been a great show to watch is just ruined by the makers at the end. The creative freedom which the makers of the show undertook just ruined the beauty of an incident which could have raised some serious questions to the viewers. My reaction after watching the show was like why did I take the pain to finish this one ?Why did the makers did not think of a great ending is all I could ask ? If you do want to watch it , watch it only for the acting chops of Parambrata Chatterjee and Satyadeep Mishra. They are the only ones who make it worthy to watch. The others are just annoying characters to watch. And if you can avoid it altogether, please do the same atleast you will save yourself from the embarrassment.😩

    Rating: ** and a 1/2 stars

    Baap Dialogue: “Love revolution- to succeed in these it is necessary to win not wars but hearts.”(Abhimanyu Singh in his first lecture)

    Que: What is the name of the lady with whom Abhimanyu interacts often apart from Kasturi?

    a. Ragini Tripathi

    b.Sona Mahato

    c. Kumudini Mishra

    d. Ashadevi Chaturvedi

    Continue reading →: A city of love and war?

  • The hunt for the one who hunts

    Published by

    Roshani Patil

    on

    Author: Kate Quinn

    Genre: Historical-fiction

    Trigger warnings: cold-blooded murders, sexual references and alcoholism

    “If we act like prey, they will act like predators.”

    Alyxandra Harvey

    It is the last Sunday of the month of March . This means it marks the end of the series of posts which revolved around celebrating women in the real as well as reel life. Maybe you guys will have to wait for another year to see more posts which are related to the same. Though personally, I feel that deeds of inspiring people should be celebrated everyday irrespective of whether the person is a man or a woman. I do hope you enjoyed the picks which revolved around the women who inspired this month. Do tell me about the same in the comments section. Also, do tell me about who inspires you in the real as well as reel life and why so that maybe your picks can make it to the post of this blog someday. Plus, it enables me to get an insight into your minds as well as get some good picks to read, watch , listen and gain wisdom and knowledge 😅. So, don’t forget to mention about the same in the comments section. Don’t worry, you will get your due credit:p for the same.

    Therefore, let’s end this month in a bang by talking about a book which revolves around three female protagonists and two male leads who are connected to each other. Not by blood but by a purpose. Did this intrigue you? Read on to find out more.

    About the book: The Huntress revolves around the lives of Nina Markova, Jordan McBride and a woman who is known as die jägerin but no one knows her real identity.Apart from them we also have Ian Graham and Tony who is an assistant to Ian. A little light on the characters before we proceed further. Nina Markova is a tough woman who has always dreamed of escaping the drudgery of her life. She does so by becoming a pilot and a part of the Night Witches regiment which wrecked havoc on the Germans. Ian is a former war correspondent who after witnessing the horrors of war decided to hang his boots and thus becomes a Nazi hunter. Jordan McBride is a 17 year old girl who is raised by her single father who runs an antique shop and aspires to be a photographer someday. The thread which connects these four people is a woman who is supposed to have shot a young man and killed six children in cold blood next to a lake in German occupied Poland.

    Who is this cold-blooded woman and what was her objective behind these killings? Also, why is this woman important to these four people? What is the purpose of these four people to track this woman down? Will this woman be tracked down or will she be a wild goose chase?

    Analysis: This is a book which explores the impact of a war on women. Nina was a pilot in the Soviet Air Force who rose up to several ranks . But somewhere, she has to pay the price for the same as her endless sacrifice goes in vain. Ian too is suffering from the post trauma effects of the same due to which he has stopped doing what he was good at. Die Jagrin in order to escape her fate does something which is supposed to be rational but at the same time rises the suspicion of her step daughter. And finally Jordan, is finding it difficult to accept the reality of her familial life as she is suspicious of her so called step mother even though she is the very mother anyone would want.

    The book narrates the tale from the eyes of the three protagonists even though there are five characters who play an important role in the story. The story seamlessly shifts from one viewpoint to another that it does not create any confusion in the minds of the reader. Another highlight of the book is that though the setup is fictional in nature, but there are segments which have actually occurred in history. The book has strong female characters who have been portrayed as women who are way ahead of their times. Imagine being a woman who lives in the cold areas of Siberia and yet breaking the shackles which tie her by being a decorated pilot. That is Nina for you. Imagine a woman who wanted to escape her past and start her life afresh in a country with no connections and yet succeeds in doing the same. That is Annelise for you. Imagine being a 17 year old girl who wants to live life on her own terms and harbors a dream of being a world famous photographer . That is Jordan McBride for you. The beauty of these women lies in the fact that each one has her own aspirations and are willing to bend circumstances in their favor despite the difficulties faced by them. Out of the three if you ask me who is the most favorite, I would personally pick up Nina over the two. She is a character which according to me has been written the most beautifully.This is because she represents how a badass woman looks and acts like. Others might perceive her crazy or weird but when a woman knows her worth and capabilities, she does start acting like a woman in charge. Thirdly, the story line is gripping in nature that you feel as if you are a part of the story.

    Even though the story has traces of mature themes thrown into it , it does not feel overburdening to the extent that it might affect the psyche of the minds reading it. Still, if you are someone who seems to be affected by such themes, it is better to exercise caution. The only drawback I personally felt was that the book was a bit lengthy that I had to chalk out a lot of time to finish it. I don’t mind long novels but given my busy schedule , it does a feel a bit of drag to finish long pieces of work. That is the only complaint I have.😅

    Verdict: An exciting piece of work which explores how life was in the Second World War with three women in the picture. This one will never fail you nor disappoint you as it will keep you hooked to your seats.So, do give it a read if you are a lover of stories which have strong female characters or if you are a history enthusiast. I personally enjoyed this one and hope you will do so. Believe me this one has a great potential to be made into a great movie provided some shoddy work is not done while converting this piece of literature into the big screen as some works disappoint with their onscreen conversions. Also, this book has traces of mystery and thrill added to it which should also excite the people who are big fans of the genre. So, do give it a read in your spare time and do tell me about your experiences. Will be waiting for your lovely feedback as well. Meet you next week with a new pick . Till then take care and have fun.

    P.S. – If you ever feel that do I have a thing for books which are supposed to be New York Times best sellers because a lot of the books that I have covered as a part of book reviews are a part of , believe me there is no such things. In fact, it is more of a coincidence that the books which I select to read turn out to be in the list 😅🤣. So, in no manner am I connected to New York Times nor do I personally endorse their best sellers. I just review books which I feel must be read and share my opinions about it. I really need not had to post this justification but I thought it is always good to post a disclaimer instead of letting people assume things.😝😄

    Cite Bite: ““What is the opposite of a lake? What is the opposite of drowning? What lies all the way west?” (Nina in an attempt to discover herself as an individual)

    Rating: ****

    Que: What is the name of the brand of the camera that Jordan uses to click pictures with?

    a. Kodak

    b. Canon

    c. Nikon

    d. Leica

    Continue reading →: The hunt for the one who hunts

Hello,

I’m Roshani

Welcome to The Expression Hub! I’m Roshani, who loves to express herself through the medium of writing. This blog is my little corner of the internet where I dive deep into the world of movies, books, and web series—reviewing, analyzing, and sometimes just ranting about the stories that make us laugh, cry, and question everything.

Beyond reviews, you’ll also find my personal musings—random thoughts, life reflections, and the occasional deep dive into the things that inspire me. Think of this as a space where art meets emotion, and where honest opinions matter more than star ratings.

Join me as we explore incredible stories together, one post at a time. Have a recommendation? Let’s talk—I’m always up for discovering something new!

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