A LETTERED SOUL: REFLECTIONS...

By MadMenWearingFedora

5.9K 803 990

I have often wondered about the very curdled natures of our opinions so much so that the perch of imagination... More

INTRODUCTION
THE BEDAZZLEMENT IN SPACES.
TIME AND TIDES: OH! THEY ECHO A SYMPHONY.
THE HEART IS AN ISOLATED ISLAND
THE VERDANT HEART SETS ITSELF FREE
A SONG IS WORTH A HUM, A MELODY : MUSICAL GIFTS THAT HAVE SHAPED ME
I SING A SONG OF THE SPIRIT
DID YOU HEAR THE VOICE FROM THE TOMB?
THE QUEEN WHO HAD A SOLITARY THRONE
THESE ARE THE LEGACIES I HAVE
THESE ARE THE LEGACIES I HAVE PART 2
THESE ARE THE LEGACIES I HAVE PART 3
THESE ARE THE LEGACIES I HAVE PART 4
WHO PLUCKED YOUR RAINBOWS?
SWEET LITTLE FREDDY BOY, WHERE ART THOU?
THESE ARE THE LEGACIES I HAVE - 2017's ENCAPSULATION
THESE ARE THE LEGACIES I HAVE - The Year's Swansongs
THESE ARE THE LEGACIES I HAVE - 2017's SWANSONGS
THESE ARE THE LEGACIES I HAVE - 2017's SWANSONGS
THESE ARE THE LEGACIES I HAVE---2017's SWANSONGS
THESE ARE THE LEGACIES I HAVE - 2017's SWANSONGS
THE TUNEFUL EAR FOR A NEW YEAR - PART 1
THE TUNEFUL EAR FOR A NEW YEAR - PART 2
THE TUNEFUL EAR FOR A NEW YEAR - THE SONGSMITHS BECKON 2018
THE TUNEFUL EAR FOR A NEW YEAR - MORE MELODIES COME OUT IN THE OPEN
THE TUNEFUL EAR FOR A NEW YEAR - THE SONGS GO A LONG WAY.
THE MELODY THAT TRAVELS BEYOND ISLES YONDER
THE TUNEFUL EAR FOR A NEW YEAR - THESE ARE THE MELODIES OF THE DAY
A CINEASTE OPENS UP: CELEBRATING THE FORCES WITHIN CINEMA.
LOVING (2016)- THE EYES THAT SAW TRANSFORMATION
ROMA(2018) : REMEMBER HER NAME. SHE 'S CLEO.
ROMA (2018) : CLEO'S HEARTBEAT ECHOES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD
OUTLAW KING(2018) : HE CONQUERED THE DISTANT DREAM
THE 2018 TABLEAU PART 1
THE 2018 TABLEAU PART 2
THE 2018 TABLEAU PART 3
THE 2018 TABLEAU PART 4
THE 2018 TABLEAU PART 5
THE 2018 TABLEAU PART 5.2
THE 2018 TABLEAU - HALL OF FAME PART 2
THE 2018 TABLEAU - HALL OF FAME
THE 2018 TABLEAU PART 6
THE 2018 TABLEAU - HALL OF FAME PART 3
THE 2018 TABLEAU - FILMS THAT DISPLAY THEMES OF INTERCONNECTEDNESS.
THE 2018 TABLEAU - FILMS THAT FIND ECHOES OF THE OPPRESSED AND THE DAMNED
THE WHIFF OF MEMORIES BLEW IN A SANDSTORM OF NOSTALGIA: on THE ENGLISH PATIENT
A CINEPHILE'S RECOMMENDATIONS : HEARTFELT WORKS CELEBRATING THE HUMAN SPIRIT
PLACES IN THE HEART : ON THE UNDERRATED 1994 FEATURE TOM AND VIV.
A CINEPHILE'S RECOMMENDATIONS : FILMS FEATURING NATALIE PORTMAN
A CINEPHILE'S THUMBS UP : GET OUT and MARJORIE PRIME (2017)
A CINEPHILE'S TWO THUMBS UP : ON NOAH (2014) and WHITNEY (2018)
A HOME OF THEIR OWN : ON WHERE THE HEART IS (2000)
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RAINBOW : on THE FLORIDA PROJECT- PART 1 (2017)
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RAINBOW - on THE FLORIDA PROJECT PART 2
A CINEPHILE'S RECOMMENDATIONS : A COLLECTION OF DOCUMENTARIES PART 1
A CINEPHILE'S RECOMMENDATIONS : A COLLECTION OF DOCUMENTARIES PART 2
MY RECOMMENDATIONS : TWO MOVIES FROM THE MGM STABLE
ONE MOMENT IN TIME : on MY AMERICAN COUSIN (1985)
IT'S ALL ABOUT THE MUSIC : THE VERY BEST OF 2018
IT'S ALL ABOUT THE MUSIC : THE NAMES THAT MADE 2018 A WINNER
IT'S ALL ABOUT THE MUSIC : THE BREAKTHROUGHS AND REIGNING ARTISTIC MINDS.
SATYAJIT RAY'S DEVI : OF THE DILEMMAS OF FAITH.
IT'S ALL ABOUT THE MUSIC - 2018's VANGUARDS.
A CINEPHILE'S DOUBLE RECOMMENDATIONS : V FOR VENDETTA and BROTHERS.
SWEET CHILD OF MINE : on THE MAN IN THE MOON (1991)
YOUNG AND BEAUTIFUL : on THE MAN IN THE MOON (1991)
THE WIND RISES : on WALK.RIDE.RODEO. (2019)
CAPTURING THE SOUL THROUGH EYES : on CAROL and LIFE (2015)
A MEMORY OF A LIFETIME : on THE REMAINS OF THE DAY (1993)
THE TREASURE TROVE OF BENGALI CINEMA
TREASURE TROVE OF BENGALI CINEMA PART 2
THE BOUNTY OF BENGALI CINEMA
THE BOUNTY OF BENGALI CINEMA PART 2
THE 'HORROR' OF IT ALL : on SUSPIRIA and THE SIXTH SENSE
THE 'HORROR' OF IT ALL PART 2 : REVISITING THE SIXTH SENSE (1999)
TREASURE TROVE OF INDIAN CINEMA : ON CHIDAMBARAM (1985)
THE ALLURE OF IT ALL : on the Indian Classic CHIDAMBARAM (1985)
THE MEETING OF THE TWAIN : on the all time classic SHAKESPEARE WALLAH (1965)
CONTINGENCIES OCCASIONED BY POPULAR CULTURE PART 1
A ROSE THAT BLOOMS AMONG A SEA OF MILLIONS : on 36, CHOWRINGEE LANE(1981)
'SHATRANJ KE KHILADI' APPRAISAL ON CAFE DISSENSUS EVERYDAY BLOG
A MOSAIC OF CINEMATIC WORKS : on THE WIFE (2018), TWO (1964) and TARANG (1984)
CONTINGENCIES OCCASIONED BY POPULAR CULTURE PART 2
IT'S ALL ABOUT THE MUSIC - THE CREAM OF 2019
A COLLAGE OF CINEMA PART 1
CONTINGENCIES OCCASIONED BY POPULAR CULTURE PART 3
TREASURE TROVE OF CINEMA
A CINEMA OF LONELINESS : on PESTONJEE, THE SPINSTER and MR. AND MRS. BRIDGE
REPULSION, REVENGE AND SLOW BURN : on THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER (2017)
CONTINGENCIES OCCASIONED BY POPULAR CULTURE - FINAL PART
STRANGERS IN THE NIGHT : on PASSAGE (2009)
A LONG DAY'S JOURNEY : on the short film ON THE NATURE OF DAYLIGHT (2018)
'TIS THE BEAUTY OF OUR SUNSET YEARS : on ON GOLDEN POND (1981)
LISTEN TO THEIR VOICES BY THE LAKE : on ON GOLDEN POND (1981)
A CINEMATIC COLLAGE PART 2
A CINEMATIC COLLAGE PART 3
PRINTED RAINBOW : THE MOST UNDERRATED ANIMATED SHORT IN YEARS.
ANDREA THOMPSON'S ESSAY FROM BALDER AND DASH IS A MUST READ
A CINEMATIC COLLAGE FINAL PART - FOREIGN FILMS THAT MADE A MARK.
THEY WERE TRULY BEST FRIENDS FOREVER : on DRIVING MISS DAISY (1989)
THE GREAT CINEMATIC POOL OF VERSATILITY
TALKING 'BOUT A REVOLUTION : THE HANDMAID'S TALE SEASON 3
THE MUSICAL CREAM OF 2019 PART 2 (AND SOME ALL TIME CLASSICS)
SETTING OUT IN THE REAL WORLD ISN'T A CAKEWALK : on MAHANAGAR (1963)
THE MUSICAL CREAM OF 2019- FINAL PART
2019 - THE YEAR WHERE ART UNFLINCHINGLY MIRRORED TRUTH
2019 - THE YEAR WHERE ART UNFLINCHINGLY MIRRORED TRUTH PART 2
2019 - THE YEAR WHERE ART UNFLINCHINGLY MIRRORED TRUTH PART 3
2019 - THE FINAL CALL FOR A YEAR OF SEEKING TRUTHS.
EAST IS EAST : on A PASSAGE TO INDIA (1984)
DOORWAYS OF THE MIND : on A PASSAGE TO INDIA (1984)
THE SOUND OF MUSIC : on YENTL (1983)
PAINTING THE TOWN RED, QUITE LITERALLY
RETRO SPOOKS
A BLISTERING MASTERPIECE : on RAGING BULL (1980)
THE SKY OPENS UP - A PHOTO ESSAY
MUSIC'S THE BEGINNING, THE MIDDLE AND THE JOURNEY AHEAD.
NEW YEAR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CINEPHILES : PART A
STOLEN SUMMER : on THE CURE (1995)
THE SECRET BETWEEN THEM :on EYES WIDE SHUT and IN THE BEDROOM
HEART OF THE MATTER : on IN THE BEDROOM (2001)
WILD THINGS : on FOXES (1980)
ROLLING STONE MAGAZINE'S ARTICLE ON CONTAGION (2011) IS A RELEVANT ONE .
THE LONG AND THE SHORT OF IT ALL : on three influential short films.
TELLING IT AS IT IS : on stories we need to watch.
THROUGH ERAS AND YEARS: diverse works committed to screen.
LOOKING BACK AT THE TREASURE TROVE OF 2019 AND EARLIER.
A DIVERSE ARRAY, INDEED.
WITH A SONG ON OUR LIPS AND COURAGE IN OUR HEARTS.
A DIVERSE ARRAY PART 2.
My essay on ZERO DARK THIRTY has been published by SCREEN QUEENS.
LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP IN DAYS OF OLD: on CHOKHER BALI.
MY ARTICLE ON MOTHER OF 1084 IS PUBLISHED BY BORDERLESS JOURNAL.
THIS GARDEN CALLS OUT TO ME - AN ESSAY.
MUSIC TO LIFT US OUT OF OUR CURRENT STUPOR.
MY ARTICLE ON THE IRON LADY IS PUBLISHED BY SCREEN QUEENS.
THE BOY'S GROWING UP : on THE MUDGE BOY (2003)
OF FAMILIAR IMPULSES AND RELATABLE STORYTELLING.
MY ESSAY ON THE LUNCHBOX IS PUBLISHED BY CAFE DISSENSUS.
LIVES THAT MATTER : on cinematic documents that prevail.
MY ESSAY IS PUBLISHED BY CAFE DISSENSUS.
THE MGM CATALOGUE
MY ARTICLE ON 'THE ARTIST' IS PUBLISHED BY SCREEN QUEENS.
MUSIC IS HERE TO STAY
WHY WE NEED TO REASSESS NARRATIVES AROUND CRIME IN POPULAR CULTURE.
MY ARTICLE ON 'THE HUNGER GAMES' IS PUBLISHED BY SCREEN QUEENS.
REASSESSING NARRATIVES AROUND VIOLENCE IN POPULAR CULTURE- PART 2
MUSIC... IT'S IN OUR BLOOD.
NOW SHOWING: CINEMATIC WORKS OF THEMATIC DIVERSITY.
KUDOS TO MY COUSIN APARNA SINGH AS SHE FEATURES ON FORBES INDIA.
THE SOUND OF MUSIC- THE BEST OF SEPTEMBER- OCTOBER, 2020.
MY ARTICLE ON 'JOHN WAS TRYING TO CONTACT ALIENS' IS IN SCREEN QUEENS.
IT'S A SMALL WONDER: POPULAR CULTURE FIXTURES OF OUR CHILDHOOD.
BEST MUSIC FOR OCTOBER-NOVEMBER, 2020.
DIVERSE VOICES, COMPELLING STORIES
TRAVEL IS THE ESSENCE OF LIFE- MY ESSAY PUBLISHED BY CAFE DISSENSUS.
MY ESSAY ON 'PRETTY PERSUASION' IS PUBLISHED BY SCREEN QUEENS.
MY ARTICLE ON LEGENDARY SOUMITRA CHATTERJEE IS PUBLISHED BY CAFE DISSENSUS.
GRAMMYS 2021: WHEN TRUE, GOOD MUSIC WAS TOTALLY ECLIPSED.
GRAMMYS 2021: the artists and albums that were left in the cold.
GRAMMYS 2021: SOME OTHER OMISSIONS IN IMPORTANT CATEGORIES
THE BEST OF THE GRAMMYS 2021 NOMINATIONS ( YES, THERE WERE SOME)
MUSIC AND LYRICS
THE ART OF PORTRAYING INNER LIVES.
OF PERIOD ESSENCES AND TIMELESS HUMAN RESOURCES.
MY ESSAY ON TAXI DRIVER IS PUBLISHED BY SCREEN QUEENS.
A VOICE RINGS OUT FOR FREEDOM WITHIN THE SILENCE
TO HAVE AND TO HOLD
CRICKET IS JUST NOT MY CUP OF TEA: on WONDROUS OBLIVION (2003)
MY ESSAY ON MONSTER'S BALL IS PUBLISHED BY SCREEN QUEENS.
WE BEGIN 2021... WITH SONGS OF THE SPIRIT
THE MASTERS AT WORK
PIECE BY PIECE, LAYER BY LAYER.
VIOLA DAVIS, FOUR LEGENDS COME TO LIFE, NATALIE PORTMAN & MORE.
LANA COOS AGAIN, MISS LORETTA IS STILL WOMAN ENOUGH .
THE CLASSICS CATALOGUE
THE VOICE WITHIN LOVE SONGS AND DISTRESS CALLS
STILL WITHIN THE SOUND OF MY VOICE
IT'S THE VOICE THAT IS NEVER SUBJUGATED OR SILENCED
AMY LEE AND RINA SOAR WHILE OSCAR NOMINEES LIBERATE THEIR SOULS
MY ESSAY ON MAHANAGAR has been published by CAFE DISSENSUS
SOME TRUE INDIAN GEMS AND A TRIBUTE TO THE HUMBLE STAR NO MORE.
OF QUEENS IN MIGHT AND HUMBLER EMOTIONAL CROSSROADS
MY ESSAY HAS BEEN PUBLISHED BY BORDERLESS JOURNAL.
A HOME IN THE HEARTS OF LOVED ONES
THE TREASURE TROVE FROM MY FILMS AND LITERATURE CLASS.
THE TREASURE TROVE FROM MY FILMS AND LITERATURE CLASS- FINAL PART
THE JOURNEY AHEAD
CINEMA IN VERSE
GENTLE PIANO MELODIES AND CLASSIC ROCK BECKON.
CINEMA IN VERSE- A TRIBUTE TO THE GREAT SMITA PATIL
CINEMA IN VERSE- A TRIBUTE TO SMITA PATIL- THE FINAL PART.
A CINEPHILE'S GUIDE TO THE BRILLIANCE OF INDIAN CINEMA.
A CINEPHILE'S GUIDE TO THE BRILLIANCE OF INDIAN CINEMA AND TELEVISION.
A RARE LOOK BACK AT THE GREATS.
TREASURE TROVE OF CLASSICAL MUSIC AND DANCE IN INDIAN CINEMA.
MY ESSAY ON VANRAJ BHATIA IS PUBLISHED BY CAFE DISSENSUS
A FEW STIRRING PORTRAITS OF EVERYDAY LIFE

WORDS THAT CAME OUT OF THE WOODWORK

28 6 8
By MadMenWearingFedora

Hands that rock the cradle of everyday often have to bear empty patches of static nerves, a suspension of creativity from fingertips is projected to ends of the pen and we tremble with the realization that our minds, as open to words and thoughts and expressions too many as they are , have temporarily shut down and failed to produce those of our own. Where does creativity go in the face of this realization? We ask ourselves and witlessly submit to the elements governing us and beyond our immediate control. I maintain still that judicious reading and writing, selflessly pursued, only ends up advancing our art of the mind and in no time, ideas that we were in the process of mining for optimum quality and originality, emerge right in front of us and dispel all fears of a dry spell, a writer's draught, if I may call it. The best words and expressions are always there, running the gamut of our final  commitment and are destined to be placed exactly as we had envisioned them, where they belong.

"Everything falls into place in the end somehow" is the sentiment. It's reassuring to share that stasis of any kind then is nothing other than a lump that we, with constant exercising of our industrious output,  excise and  not let overgrow . This  interval of patient  scribbling helps us gather our wits together and write. A similar predicament had come visiting yours truly and I knew I had to turn to the many years of writing in my personal notebooks and raid their contents that had been responsible for the creative breakthrough that summoned itself in 2015 as I freely let loose my stream of words here on this platform. Now I have talked about the legacy of creation and writing in this essay collection over and over again and in the many essays following I will honour that credo by reviving my early, personal vault of words, expressions and turns of phrases by giving them permanent refuge here. They are works that espoused a start, an evolutionary spirit of practice, fearless opinions and  self esteem that putting pen to paper automatically bestows on a restless soul  with a mind of its own. Who knew then that this anonymous line of written profusion on my part would very gradually translate to the wattage of merit ( the watt) from pages of my pad( the pad)? That is my series of notebooks and their hidden features finally came of age when the conjunction of spirit and action happened to bring ' WATTPAD' to my rostrum. My inner world has changed and since there has been no looking back for me, I think this is the best time to hark back and spearhead my earlier writings on everything that mattered to me in the arena of popular culture in the many essays to come together.

In this one, 2015's written output prior to my engagement here( I began to circulate my poetry in June of the year) makes way and will definitely help me and you to assess that the art of creation is an ongoing one, always preceded by a backlog of treasures that we value and have the courage to bring to light of day. So here goes the retrospective journey towards my early intimations of growth and expansion of worldviews. I had been writing since 2007 proper, documenting everything that came to my attention in the pantheon of films, music and culture but I commence with the period when it all amassed a maturity, so this transition to getting it published and preserved will come full circle. As I always say, let this one have the hum and melody of words to spur it. In the next part, two films that are hugely underrated will be brought back from my writings on them dated April 2015.

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