The Expression Hub

  • 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

  • 1% of something

    Published by

    Roshani Patil

    on

    Genre: Romantic Comedy

    No. of episodes: 16

    Presented by: Dramax

    ” Strength lies in differences not in similarities.”

    Stephen Covey

    The study of electric forces in Physics states that like forces repel while opposite forces attract. This is true in the study of science. But does it hold true in the study of life? Can two people who are poles apart behaviour wise fall in love and live happily ever after ?

    The answer to this question lies in my latest pick- 1% of something. Actually to be honest I am a bit wary of romcoms. But due to some reason I always end up watching them (HA-HA). Maybe one of the reasons might be that we as human beings just love the feeling of falling in love and cannot resist it. Then that feeling might exist anywhere in novels, movies or web series.

    Synopsis : The series is based on a novel of the same name by Hyun Go- woon. It revolves around a ruthless heir of a wealthy family named Lee Jae in and an elementary school teacher Kim Dae hyun. Lee Jae in has to get married so that he can inherit his grandfather’s fortune. In order to get what he desires, he agrees to enter into a 6 month dating contract with the teacher. The teacher is supposed to be belonging to an ordinary family. She is chosen for the legion by his grandfather. Why is she chosen for him? This is for you guys to find out. Both start on a rough note. This is because the heir is adamant on dating her ; while she thinks of him as a scammer. So how does their 6 month journey unravel? Do they fall in love ? What all trials do they have to face? Are they able to face it all and live happily ever after? Watch the series to find out.

    The analysis : The hits of the web series-

    Firstly it is the character of Kim Dae Hyun. Though at times she is shown to be a temperamental lady with her dating partner. But the best things about her is that she is really sensitive and kind to everyone. Her personality has that charm which instantly draws her to others. Also, she is a pretty independent woman . She insists on doing things on her own. Her only put off is that her naive nature lands her in trouble. And boy you do hate it when the lead heroine falls in trouble.

    Secondly the characters of team leader Kang and attorney Kim Hyeong Joon have also been portrayed by the respective actors nicely. They are the only ones who can withstand the so called famous wrath of the grandfather as well as the legion. Also the two always take important advice from these two characters.

    And last but not the least , the speech which is given by the legion’s grandfather. That is the best part and pretty well sums up the series. (Sorry for that little spoiler).

    The misses of the web series:

    Firstly, the rivalry between the brothers, the cat fights between the ex- lover and the current date and the family politics. It just feels dramatic and waste of time. But I guess these things are added to spice up the series. After all life is supposed to be one big drama isn’t it?

    Secondly that can be a put off is the time duration . Each episode is supposed to be of 40-42 minutes. If you want, you can skip the initial few minutes as basically it is a recap of what happened last. You can thank me for the tip later:p.

    Verdict: Its an interesting take about two people who are completely opposites. It makes you laugh, cry, pine for love. So, it manages to hit the right chords with the viewers. Also the performances of the actors and actresses involved make it worthy to watch. Those who love drama and are fans of romcoms will surely enjoy it. Do tell me about your experiences. Always waiting to hear it from you.

    Rating: ***

    ” I love you not only for what you are , but for what I am when I am with you.”

    Roy Croft

    Que: What is the name of the alcohol brand which Lee Jae in drinks in the series?

    a. Tada

    b. Dada

    c. Takju

    d. Soju

    The poster of the show with the show leads

    Continue reading →: 1% of something

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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