8 Vasanthalu - Soul Stirrer on a rainy day!

I am happy to say on my blog that I am in the process of getting published, a collection of my poems. While aimlessly scrolling through my final manuscript on a dull rainy gloomy Sunday (as I didn't have much zeal to sit or look at it due to some events in my life),  I remembered this movie recommendation from my intermediate friend Poornima - who now is a Gastro surgeon in Hyderabad! What started as a casual time pass watch became a much needed brooding piece for me!

I finished watching it and I wondered why no one is talking about it! We’re quick to troll Tollywood for mindless content, but when rare gems like this quietly shine, they somehow go unnoticed, so I felt a need to write. Even I thought maybe it's originally a Tamil or Malayalam movie - that's how the brains got wired 😀 but felt happy to see that it's a true blue Telugu movie! 

What can I say about the movie? It felt like chicken soup for the soul. It’s been ages since something so pure, so soulful, and deeply rooted in emotion has graced our screens. It gave me the warm, nostalgic vibes of Geetanjali ( may be due to locations), Yevade Subramanyam, or even Aanand and Godavari (the classics by Sekhar Kammula) - those timeless, feel-good films from the late 90s and early 2000s that made you pause and feel. [Non telugu folks may not be aware of all this but read on :)]

The film explores many aspects like feminism, heartbreak, outdated societal norms, and above all, the strength of the human spirit. It’s a must-watch for women, especially!! The story follows Shuddhi Ayodhya, a passionate poet-author played gracefully by Ananthika Sanilkumar ( she played roles in some other telugu flicks), and her journey through love, self-discovery, and resilience.

Yes, the script does fumble at a couple of places, but it hardly matters - because what you walk away with is a deep sense of having felt something real. The dialogues are raw and powerful, and the connection between the two writer characters will especially resonate with anyone who writes or feels deeply!

Here’s a dialogue that stayed with me, when Shuddhi sees the Taj Mahal, she reflects :

“Magaadi premaku sakshyalu ga palarathi soudhyalu, bhagyanagaralu unnai. Aadadaniki emunnayi? Manasulone samadhi cheskunna gnapakalu tappa.”💔

(A man has grand symbols like the marbled Taj Mahal or cities like Bhagyanagar ( Hyderabad ) to prove his love. But what does a woman have? Just the memories she buries in her heart.) - translated for non telugu folks!

That line alone is worth the watch.

The writing feels like it comes from a place of lived emotion, of quiet pain and silent strength. Hats off to director-writer Phanindra Narsetty. He’s on my radar now - I truly hope he keeps making such honest cinema. He has given a new face to the female protagonist by not reducing her to an oomph exuding male magnet. Thanks for that🙏🙏

The poet in me now may be inactive, but this movie has definitely stirred the soul. 

PS: I also felt learning self defence could be really important for a girl, yes our protagonist is a black belter and that one fight sequence in the movie is just😲 fabulous, again laced with great dialogues!

Reflections💡and Life Lessons from the Movie (for all):

1. Not to center your happiness on the wrong man/woman ! Yes, a person could go above and beyond till it is convenient ...There is no guarantee that a Narcissistic man whether he is a friend / lover / partner would admire you the same way, once there is another enticing target or when you don't align with his Narcissistic purpose. Today I saw a wonderful quote that sums up this thought. See the image below. Having faced such Narcissistic personality recently, I can vouch for this lesson .

PS: Heartbreak necessarily may not come from a partner or a lover. At times it can be a close friend, child or even a parent.

And our protagonist Ayodhya stands for herself, is a lesson meant for all women - young, old, teen, soft, strong, vulnerable , bold - All

2. Women should be selfish about their goals, dreams, desires, choices. Sacrifices are good but not all people for whom you sacrifice deserve it and most of the times those sacrifices are just never even acknowledged (small or big)...

3. And often we are most attracted to the illusion we created about a person in our mind - and not the person himself! Always come face to face with reality before you decide on just serving your heart on a platter

4. Travel more, eat new dishes, write a book or a post if you can ( like our girl in this story). Don't fall for the heroic words or acts and forget your precious dreams! 

5. Cope - Cope and heal in such a way that you never have to look back again. Again not leaking any spoilers. Two days back I suddenly felt in my anxiety that I should hug some one and cry hard and then take a long walk with music in ears, sip a hot coffee....but our vulnerabilities sometimes are better suppressed than expressed - so I hugged myself and I am in healing process. One more gentle reminder - all our coping mechanisms are different!

6. Last but not the least NEVER EVER EVER LET ANYBODY WALK ALL OVER YOU. Your parents really didn't raise you to beg for attention, admiration, or love. The moment you are enchanted by the bigger and better things in life, and not tie the joy or smiles to a person - you have almost won in life!

Thanks for reading my rather long post :) I am dedicating this post to all kind of women I know ! Let us learn a lesson or two and raise our girls differently!

Goodnight!

Here's a pretty song from the movie in sweet voice of Chitra!