Of writings and handwritings

I still remember those classes in early years of my life where we had copies of 'handwriting' and books with printed italics which I believed a painter painted. We were supposed to write exactly in the same way. Never mind , the topic of my handwriting is still a hotly contested debate by my friends, parents and teachers alike !

It all began with a queer manner of holding the pencil in my early days. I didn't know that we had to hold our instrument in a designated manner. I just held it in the way my hand felt less pain. Years passed on and the pen came. One could be dead sure that even in a crowd of a 1000 my handwriting will certainly stand out (pun intended). I never believed that cursive or anything close to it was really needed. What is handwriting if not a mere path of expression of thoughts.

The distinctive style of the alphabet 'a' , the seemingly different initials and the mockery that followed. It never mattered. I can emphasize that I have seen people with far worse handwriting but acceptable being 'cursive'. And I was the only one to think cursive was a curse. My handwriting without a doubt is perfectly legible for the second time reader except when I scrawl or write while dozing off.

One hidden secret is my Dad's writing was sort of model for me. He used to write in small initials and to me it looked great. I have had always a liking for compact and precise things in life. He never used cursive but still it was pretty clear and spaced out.

One of the misgivings of cursive is that it makes it too crammy and inconsistent to me. Different people use different styles for a 'l' , a 'r' and such. People have strange slants while writing and surprisingly some personal research revealed that slants are indeed a hallmark of great writing.

Still the look of people reading my handwriting for first time ( Ashish Nehra would be shamed by the frown that people have ) is unbelievable. But second time around it becomes simpler. But when I have to copy things from friends who supposedly have 'great' handwriting I find it a mammoth task decoding and encoding into mine.

I would end by saying that no matter what the importance of writing can never become redundant even though iPads and Intels want us to. I don't intend to change my handwriting like Gandhi did when he was in Africa. I don't feel that it is in any way inferior or stupid as people have wished me to believe.

P.S : The secret behind the idiosyncratic 'a' is definitely the computer generated 'a'. :)

Review : The Descendants

There's a scene where George Clooney learns that his wife(who is in a state of permanent coma) has cheated on him. Clooney struggles to put on his sneakers and runs off to a friend's house to enquire. That one scene can tell you what the movie is about. It is about how we tend to take our relations for granted. The movie poses a pertinent question over how sometimes we only react to our close ones when they are not with us.

The Descendants directed by Alexander Payne is a movie that will pin you to your seats and pinch your hearts. It pores into you and makes you ask , how would you respond to situations when a daughter of age 10 curses you and a daughter of 17 behaves with a eerie sense of responsibility. George Clooney as Matt King forces yours sympathies to him. All the great actor we know him , he produces scenes of magnificence .

In the story, Matt King is a trustee of a huge tract of land in Hawaii which his cousins want to encash on for a multi-million deal. And then the indifferent husband and awkward father has to deal with the state of his wife. Life is a big riddle and director Payne relishes it. Painting the screen with subtle emotions and superb performances by leads , The Descendants draws you into its potrayal of messy morals.

Shailene Woodly as Alex is terrific in the way she has to deal with the scorn in her heart and the forced calm. Amara Millier as Scottie with an ugly mouth and a strong character makes you laugh , cry and be angry all at the same time. Using irony and emotions , Descendants classifies itself as a tragic - comedy , yes irony and complete irony.

The Descendants is a terrific watch. Watch it and you'll know how you can manage to smile and have a lump in the throat all at the same time and for the right reasons.

A new start !

This blog is a small way to satiate my desire of expressing and writing well. The posts will be kaleidoscopic peek into this huge realm of colours and beauty which we love to call as life. I hope my readers find my posts interesting and I shall put my best into responding to them whenever possible.