Bhawana Somaaya

In the footsteps of Guru – Day 2509

somaayabhawana — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 12:52:50 +0000

They say a guru is as much in search of a seeking shishya as a shishya in search of a seeking guru and the best example of this is shishya Takahiro Arai, a Japanese Citizen, who lived 18 years in India to learn Santoor under the tutelage of the renowned Santoor Maestro –Late Pt. Shivkumar Sharma.

Arai started his musical journey at the age of 16 by playing Western Drums and today has his own band. At the age of 26, he happened to meet Mr. Setsuo Miyashita, Santoor player and a Senior disciple of Pt. Shivkumar Sharma at a recital in Japan. Arai was attracted to his guru’s master and remained devoted to him till the end, traveling with him to all the concerts around the world.

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Another patriotic film – Day 2508

somaayabhawana — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 12:50:28 +0000

Every once in a while, history pauses to remind us that when the country is pushed to the brink, it isn’t the superheroes but the common man who rises to the occasion. The latest to present this thought is Kangana Ranaut starrer Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata: The Unseen Heroes. The film is a tribute to the blood-stained aprons, the sterile hospital scrubs and tells the story of the civil administrative force who conquered the chaos without panic. It is just that when the film features MAP of the ruling party, there are chances of the message getting jingoistic.

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Has someone changed?

somaayabhawana — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 12:54:08 +0000

When I was doing my post graduation, I had a beautiful friend in my class. She was funny, witty and always smiling. Then she got married to a friend she always secretly loved and she was over the moon when he proposed to her.

The wedding was a fairytale of sorts. She moved to her husband’s home, stopped working, gave birth to three children and was now a full time householder.

Years went by, her husband topped his profession and their children topped their universities. We seldom met but were aware of each other’s careers. We spoke once s year, on each other’s birthdays.

She had severed ties with all her old friend and it was a chalk age to get her to agree for a reunion lunch. She agreed after a lot of bullying.

We were surprised that she looked older, smiled hesitantly and laughed forcibly. She enjoyed our compan

but was impatient to return home.We joked that we will continue the party at her home. She declined, said her family was antisocial and boring.

I believed her because she never lied, yet today, after all these years I wonder if I missed signals of something breaking?

Could it be that her isolation was an armour of a bitter truth? Could she be battling abuse and never shared her woes?

There is a possibility that all is well and I overthinking! I will never the truth because she never told me and I never trespassed.I was never invited to any happy occasions in her family nor

intimated about her parents’ demise, even though we are friends of 40 plus years!

I have so many questions and no answers…
My reason to write this blog is that if you have a close friend you have lost touch with and who you feel has transformed mysteriously, there is a possibility that she needs help and is unable to reach out.

Don’t wait for decades trying to analyse her life. Pick up the phone and ask her straight if all is well. If you are familiar with her address, drop by unannounced even if you are unwelcome. You will have an answer, I don’t!

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Slice of Life – Day 2507

somaayabhawana — Mon, 25 May 2026 12:49:09 +0000

Recently, I read a piece in a leading newspaper about the fading of adult friendships. Written by Pranav Jain, it was a deeply moving and insightful reflection on what is happening to so many of us — and why.

I understand that the world is changing, and change is often necessary, even beneficial. Yet somewhere along the way, it feels as though with every technological milestone we conquer, we diminish emotionally…

On the surface, everyone appears connected — through phones, emails, texts, discussing news but beneath that illusion of constant connectivity, we have drifted. We are all fragmented, distracted, preoccupied, and I hate to say it but emotionally unavailable.

If your life is going out of control, will someone from your inner circle be able to notice your sithdrawl, your silence without you articulating your suffering?

To be honest, I’m no longer sure.

The isolation imposed on us during the pandemic, has slowly transformed into habit. We nurse our wounds in private while raising a toast in public.

We have skillfully mastered the art of shutting down. We don’t express, don’t trust, don’t share our lives, no matter how acute our suffering…Somehow, it is never the right time, the right place or mood to be transparent, to display our fears and so we remain entangled in the digital world, disconnected with reality.

On the surface super smart but eroded and hollow from within. We gorgot that the most cheerful emojis in our inbox could not replace a human voice, touch, presence!

I have the courage to admit to an aching vacuum, do you too?

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Cannes Calling – Day 2506

somaayabhawana — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 01:54:00 +0000

A 22-year-old writer-director Karen Kshiti Suvarna, will showcase her debut film September
21 at the world premiere at Cannes Festival 2026. Shot in Hindi and Kannada, the film
centres on Alzheimer’s disease through the fractured relationship of a father and son. The
father, living with dementia, believes his wife is quarantined next door due to COVID-19. His
estranged son returns home, forced to choose between personal ambition and duty.
“The struggles faced by caregivers are much greater than the struggles faced by Alzheimer’s
patients,” shares Suvarna and shares her story of the emotional toll faced by immediate
families.
Produced by Visica Films, FMD Productions, and HumaraMovie with Filmsmax, the project
is endorsed by the Alzheimer’s and Related Disorders Society of India (ARDSI). The film is
written by Rajshekhar & Music by Vinayy Chandraa.

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The myth about an actor – Day 2505

somaayabhawana — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 01:52:00 +0000

Avinash Tiwary has quietly built a space for himself as one of the sincerest performers of his
generation. He’s never chased the obvious. Instead, he’s leaned into roles that demand
emotional depth whether it was the heartbreak of Laila Majnu or the still, simmering intensity

he brought to Bulbbul. Even with something as different as Madgaon Express, Tiwary has
proved that he can shift gears without compromising on truth.
And now Tiwary is on to a new phase in his career, he is learning to focus on himself, express
himself. He says it is time to move out of drawing room discussions and face the music. The
best actors’ critics rave about, and are seldom visited in the cinema halls, why? Does this
reflect on the actors or on the audience and their lack of conviction.
Not sure if this is an outburst or a preparation for his forthcoming film Ginny Weds Sunny
directed by Prasshant Jha, but the actor is introspecting and asking the audience to reflect
with him.

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Welcome Raja Shivaji – Day 2504

somaayabhawana — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 01:51:00 +0000

Ritesh Deshmukh produced and directed Raja Shivaji was easily the best trailer launch I have
witnessed in a long, long time. A star-studded event it was packed with emotion and drama.
The co-stars lavished praise on the most popular couple and Ritesh got emotional
remembering his father and the making of this large-scale film. He praised his wife Genelia
popularly known as Vahini and Genelia got so overwhelmed that she could not stop crying on
stage.
It was an event overflowing with good wishes and love. Abhishek Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt,
Bhagyashree, Vidya Balan. Boman Irani showered the couple with love. The surprise actor is
Ritesh’s 10-year-old son who played Ritesh/ Shivaji Mahraj’s childhood, a special moment as
the legacy continues.

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Just Beat It – Day 2503

somaayabhawana — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 01:45:00 +0000

So many years after we watched a documentary on Jackson, we finally have a biopic Michael
on Michael Jackson. Written by John Logan, directed by Antoine and featuring Michael’s
own nephew, Jafar Jackson playing the superstar. Does the biopic do justice to the legend,
probably not but then nothing is up to the mark when it comes to MJ.For me the biopic is not
a film to be reviewed, it is a reconnection, a memory to be celebrated do I don’t care for the
imperfections, the limitations.
It does not matter to me whether the director serves a tilted, selective picture, I’m happy to
travel wherever the crew takes me, play whichever albums it wishes.
The narrative travels from Gary in 1966 where Joseph beat up his 8-year-old son and called
him a fat nose. His childhood traumas, his dreams of Peter Pan, his animal farm and the
bursting desire to write his lyrics. His mind was forever bursting with ideas and finally, in
1981 Michael broke free and went solo. But he did his last Victory concert with siblings and
then never looked back.
The biopic is a story of his deep-rooted fears, his aspirations to deliver the best, his
extraordinary talent and his compassion for humanity. His near fatal accident in the middle of
the concert and the physical transformation in coming years.
It is an incomplete biopic but I still love it, so will you, if you love MJ so font edit just Beat
It!

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One more Biopic – Day 2502

somaayabhawana — Sun, 19 Apr 2026 01:41:00 +0000

A grand cinematic saga is set to unfold as Wingspan Motion Pictures LLP officially
announces Ereya, an epic feature film based on the life and legacy of the legendary South
Indian emperor Pulakeshi II, one of the most powerful and visionary rulers of 6th century
India. Produced by Sunit Jawadekar and Nivedita Kothare, Ereya chronicles the extraordinary
journey of a king celebrated for his unmatched military brilliance, strategic acumen, and the
establishment of a vast empire that spanned nearly half of the Indian subcontinent.
His reign marked a defining chapter in Indian history, shaping the cultural and political
landscape of the time. The film is based on the extensive research and literary work of Dr.
Bhooshan Shanbhag. Directed by revered Kannada director KM Chaitanya, Ereya will be one
more biopic in a long list of real stories waiting to be unleased on the big screen.

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18 Year Itch – Day 2501

somaayabhawana — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 01:40:00 +0000

In a landmark moment for one of the most anticipated cinematic collaborations, the makers
of AA22 x A6 have officially unveiled the title of superstar Allu Arjun’s next, Raaka.
Positioned as a grand fantasy-action entertainer, Raaka is envisioned as a global cinematic
spectacle, backed by Sun Pictures. Filmmaker Atlee says, Allu Arjun is set to be projected in
a never-seen-before avatar, which is what most filmmakers promise, some live up to the
promise, most of them let you down.
The unfortunate bit is that nobody reveals the plot. There are no glimpses into the ethos or the
message, the details are always about the budget and the presentation. Doesn’t it all sound
too monotonous? The only interesting thing said by the filmmaker was, “Raaka isn’t just a
film… it’s a part of me, an idea I resided in my heart for 18 years. Years passed by but the
idea did not fade. On the contrary, it tested me, shaped me, resided within me silently for
decades and now this film is going to unleash that secret.”

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