The Expression Hub

  • Queen

    Published by

    Roshani Patil

    on

    Genre: Fictional Drama/ Biographical

    No. of episodes: 11

    Presented by: MX Originals(available on MX player)

    ” Strength doesn’t come from what you can do. It comes from overcoming the things you once thought you couldn’t

    Rikki Rogers

    Each one of us has a story . Some of us have stories which seem ordinary. While on the other hand, there are some people whose stories seem larger than life. It is always intriguing to know the stories of people whose lives seem larger than life.

    Presenting to you the story of one such lady as my latest pick , a web series named Queen. This series is loosely based on the life of the late Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalitha.

    Synopsis : The series starts with an interview with the lead lady. The lead lady Shakti Sheshadri is being interviewed by a prominent lady journalist for her show. Shakti is shown to recount the major incidents of her life. She starts her story by recounting her days from her childhood. She remembers how education shaped her as a woman and an individual. But fate had another plans for her. Due to lack of funds for further education, she is forced to work in the Tamil film industry. There she is noticed by GMR, a superstar and a politician. She impresses him and quickly gains his confidence. But there’s another twist in the tale. The fact is whenever she begins accepting her reality , life keeps on throwing bricks at her. However, she uses the bricks thrown to her to shape up her personality. This is because they make her more and more determined to achieve what she wants.Thus, making her one of the strongest woman her state has ever seen. How does an ordinary Tamil movie actress catapult herself towards the corridors of power? What are the roadblocks she faces in her way to the top? How does she overcome them all? For the answers , do watch the web series.

    Analysis : The hits of the webseries-1. The protagonist herself. Her character is shown to be the one who is willing to leave no stone unturned to reach the top. Despite the roadblocks, she manages to carve a place for herself. She is unapologetic for whatever decisions she is shown to take. That according to me is the quality a strong woman possesses . 2. The story line. It is so gripping that it kept me as a viewer hooked. I was eager and excited to know what happened next. That according to me is a feature of a great story line. So huge credit to the writer of the show. 3. The seamless weave between the scenes of flashback and present. So, yes the directors of the show too deserve a big shout out. 4. The character of Pradeepan. He is shown to be a close aide of GMR. But the insecurity and the methods which he has adopted to eliminate Shakti out of GMR’s life makes him worth a watch.

    The misses: I seriously did not find any . Though some episodes may seem a bit long. But the time duration of episodes don’t matter a lot due to the interesting and gripping plot. You don’t realize how time flies while watching the episodes.

    The verdict: This one deserves a huge shout out. It ticks all the boxes which one desires in a web series. Those who love political dramas will enjoy it a lot. Do give it a watch. Would love to hear from you as well. Till then happy watching!!!

    ” Some people fear the fire. Some women simply become it.”

    R.H. Sin

    Rating: ****and 1/2

    Que: Name the book Shakti is shown to be reading while shooting for a movie with GMR ?

    a. To kill a mockingbird

    b. Great Expectations

    c. Lolita

    d. The Godfather

    Continue reading →: Queen

  • Village by the sea

    Published by

    Roshani Patil

    on

    Author: Anita Desai

    Genre: Non- fiction

    ” For greed, all nature is too little.”

    Lucius Annaeus Seneca

    The best way to keep your doors of imagination active is to open a book and dig in. So presenting you my latest dig- The Village by the Sea. This book is written by Anita Desai. Anita Desai is a writer who has been shortlisted for the Booker Prize three times. She is also a professor of Humanities at the prestigious institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA.

    About the book: The book is set in the picturesque location of a seaside village known as Thul. It focuses on the lives of the main characters named Lila and Hari. They belong to a family which is struggling to make its end meet. They have to shoulder the responsibility of their family due to an ailing mother and an alcoholic father. Fed up of the life they are living, Hari decides to try his luck to earn a living in Bombay. While Hari leaves, Lila is left alone to fend off her family. Also there are rumors of a factory coming in the village. This upcoming factory acts as a threat to the villagers as well as the village. This is because their mode of sustenance that is fishing is under danger if the factory comes up. Does the factory come in the village? Does Hari succeed in making a living in Bombay? Does the life of Hari and Lila’s family improve ? Read the book to find out the answers to the questions.

    Analysis: The book explores the issues of poverty, environmental degradation and threats to livelihood. It paints a picture of the lives of villagers in a village along with problems faced by them. The most interesting character according to me is that of Lila’s brother Hari. Though he leaves for Bombay yet he finds a way to sustain in the city. He works hard to be a bread winner to his family. Also he does not restrict himself to one skill. He finds a way to expand his skills which proves beneficial to him in the long run. Through his character, the author tries to convey an important message- adaptation according to change in times. Another important message she gives is of not taking Nature for granted . This according to me is the need of the times which we are living in.

    Verdict: The book should be given a read at least once. You might feel skeptical about giving it a read by looking at its cover. But once you put your apprehensions aside, you will witness the beauty of the book. The simple language and the beautiful portrayal of the characters and the scenic beauty makes you feel as if you are a part . So do give it a read and tell me about your experiences in the comments section. Hoping to hear from you soon.

    Rating: *** stars

    ” The art of life is a constant readjustments to our surroundings.”

    Kakuzo Okakaura

    Que: What is the name of the beach house of the De Silvas situated in Thul?

    a. Mon Repos

    b. Mon Tremblant

    c. Mon Cheri

    d. Mon Ami

    Continue reading →: Village by the sea

  • Ye Re Ye Re Paisa

    Published by

    Roshani Patil

    on

    Starring: Makarand Anaspure, Satish Tare, Dr. Vilas Ujawne, Viju Khote

    Directed by: Shailesh Kale

    Genre: Comedy

    ” Its good to have money and the things that money can buy, but its good to check up once in a while and make sure that you haven’t lost the things that money can’t buy.”

    George Lorimer

    These were some beautiful lines which I came across while surfing and resonated with me. Hope that it resonates with you in the same manner.

    What money can buy?

    A bed but not sleep,

    Computer but not brain.

    Food but not appetite,

    Finery but not beauty.

    A house but not home ,

    Medicine but not health.

    Luxuries but not culture,

    Amusement but not happiness.

    Acquaintances but not friends,

    Obedience but not faithfulness.

    Yet we keep on running after that one single thing called ‘money’. After all money is supposed to be a measure of earthly success. So people keep on finding ways to maximize this so called ‘elixir’. Money earned through hard work and honesty always sustains. But what happens if you try to earn it through some illegal manner? It is always short lived. This is because money is supposed to be a product of one’s efforts one puts in.

    This is what is explored in my latest pick- Ye Re Ye Re Paisa. This is a regional movie first of all. A Marathi movie to be precise. But the good thing is that it can be enjoyed by non- regional people also. That is the reason why subtitles are present right?

    Story line: The movie revolves around two friends named Namya and Dumpya. Dumpya is the grandson of a freedom fighter. While on the other hand, Namya is a person who is supposed to have gone to Mumbai to earn a living. But Namya returns to the village with an assistant named Baban. They start a business of lottery in order to sustain themselves in the village. Initially a villager wins the prize money meted out by them. This attracts the villagers as they see it as a quick source of making money. Frustrated with the fact that the village is becoming a gambling hub, some villagers decide to send Namya back to Mumbai. How do they do it ? Do they succeed in their plans? Does Namya learn his lesson or not? Watch the movie to find out.

    Analysis : Coming to the hits of the movie first. Firstly superb acting by all actors and actresses involved. Secondly, a fantastic script . It imparts an important lesson without being preachy. Thirdly, the element of comedy present in the movie . It is spot on. It makes you laugh out loud . And last but not the least the elements of village life are captured beautifully in the frames. You actually end up falling in love with the scenic beauty of the village.

    The only thing I failed to understand was the need of an item song in the movie. Could it have been ignored ? I wondered while watching the movie. This was the only thing that felt odd .

    The decision : Overall the movie is enjoyable. It imparts an important lesson without being preachy. Fantastic histrionics by everyone involved in the movie. It is fully worth your time . So do catch and share your experiences with me.

    Rating: *** and 1/2 stars

    ” If your success was earned through hard work and honesty, never apologize for it.”

    Frank Sonneberg

    Que: What is the name of the game which Namya gets the villagers addicted to ?

    a. Stree Shakti

    b. Karunya

    c. Champlot

    d. Akshaya

    Continue reading →: Ye Re Ye Re Paisa

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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