bollywood – SWATINESS

Am I Anjali from K3G?

April 10, 2020April 9, 2020 by Swati Jain, posted in Story Time, tv shows, Whimsical Chatters

I remember watching Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham back in 2001 when it first came out. I remember going there with literally my entire extended family, I think maybe because the movie’s selling line was “it’s all about loving your family“. 19 years later, I’ve memorized the movie that it doesn’t even need to be playing for me to recite the dialogues. So, while Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jaayenge reserves the spot of my favourite movie (and still not on Netflix!), K3G comes somewhere in the top 10 favourite Bollywood classics.

In an effort to raise morale and give us something to watch, Netflix recently uploaded all the KJo classics – including Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham, and no surprise, I found myself watching it when I had a sudden realization (with a little help from my friends) – am I Anjali?

Anjali is clumsy. She breaks gamlas (vases) whenever she goes to the Raichands.

I cannot even begin to tell you of my adventures of clumsiness – but here’s a read about how i consecutively and repeatedly broke both my feet/ankles – https://swatiness.com/2020/03/06/story-time-mulling-over-mules/

I’m not even going to go into the different Givenchy Beauty (or related) events that I have somehow – with no additional help necessary – injured myself in some way or another. I’m talking hitting my head (and getting a mild concussion) 15 minutes before the event begins, burning my foot from the smoke machine (don’t ask), falling flat in the middle of the presentation and more.

Anjali has NO filter.

It’s like the brain and the mouth do no talking sometimes. I’m often biting my tongue – or wishing I did.

Anjali isn’t afraid of telling the truth through poetic sarcasm and pure sass.

Obviously, I’m elaborating when I’m saying the sarcasm is poetic – but it was witty. Especially the Ek ka vadda dil, dusre de vadde vadde bill and aagayi kamini bachi chodhne.

Anjali is excellent at mocking people.

Oh hello Mrs. Spritely – would you like some tea? Ask my family and friends – I love copying and mocking people, very lovingly of course.

Anjali thinks she’s funny. But, also, she is!

Anjali’s hilarious, and honestly, so am I. I’m not even going to begin to expand on this.

Anjali’s loud as hell

I’m not saying I’m loud, but I can’t whisper to save my life.

Coming back to the real question – am I Anjali from K3G?

‘Suraj Hua Maddham’ and Some Revelations

January 2, 2018January 10, 2018 by Swati Jain, posted in Whimsical Chatters

As every new year begins, everyone has new resolutions. My resolutions aren’t dependent on the new year, but rather on how far away my birthday is (February 23rd). I get into the full swing to get working on my birthday body roughly about in September/October.

In the gist of that, as Taylor Swift dropped her new album in November 2017, you cannot possibly imagine my excitement to go running listening to the album. It’s my jam. So, come January 2nd, I’m still running, still listening to Reputation. And just as my pace starts to differ and slow down, ‘Dress‘ comes on. It HAS to be the sexiest song on the album.

To recap, my exact emotions when I first heard the song were:

OH.MY.GOD.

This is a very, very sexy song. With an emotional touch. I am at a serious loss for words. I feel like this should be in 50 Shades of Grey.

“All of this silence and patience, pining and desperately waiting.”

As the lyrics mooned on, with all the “ah-ah-ah-aaaaahs”, it got me thinking – this song obviously makes me feel a lot of things. Things that another PR girl (read: Samantha Jones from SATC) will proudly raise a toast to. But, while this does make me “feel” a lot, there are more songs that probably have the same effect.

Taking my thought process as a freaky clue, ‘Suraj Hua Maddham’ from Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham starts to play, making me blush to my cheeks and thanking my stars for it being dark on my track.

It was the year 2001, and I was 8 years old (if you are doing the math, I’m 24 for another month and 21 days), when I first heard/saw the song. And since then, it’s been my ultimate love song. Till date, if I hear the song, I automatically start to blush. In that Egyptian backdrop with those plain effortless sarees and Shah Rukh Khan’s lusty looks, I had my “awakening”.

As a vain kid who didn’t know what sex was, I assumed, when people went on honeymoon – mostly in Switzerland or Egypt, they danced and ran to each other in slow motions and BAM, that was it. I was proven very, very wrong at 12 when I read my first ever Jude Deveraux. But, that’s a story for another time.

So today evening, as I walked back home, blushing pink with a huge cheeky smile plastered on my face from just listening to two songs, it occurred to be – I can’t be the only one who has a few songs like these – the kind that would make one blush in a busy room.

I can’t, right?

Life Lessons I Learnt from Jab We Met

August 10, 2017January 24, 2019 by Swati Jain, posted in tv shows, Whimsical Chatters

Don’t know if you know, but Netflix loaded my favourite movie- Jab We Met. The movie starring Kareena Kapoor-Khan and Shahid Kapoor is one of the best and most relatable movies ever made. A first by Imtiaz Ali shows India as the perfect tourist location- highlighting Rajasthan and Shimla.

I’m not going to tell you the plot, because if you’ve stumbled here without watching the movie- I strongly advise that you get a pack full of popcorn and bundle yourself in for an amazing 3 hours. The music score of the movie is top notch- with all my favourite songs ever being from the movie.

Here are a few life lessons that I learned from Geet and Adi.

Be your own favourite

Loving yourself is so important- because if you are not your own favourite- then how do you expect someone else to make you their favourite. You know what I mean?
Make your own decisions and get ready to bear consequences

Whether it was running away, or staying away- Geet stuck to her decisions. Her reasoning behind everything she did was she didn’t want to blame somebody else and would know whatever life is because of her own decisions. She stuck to her decision of running away and bearing the consequences of the rejection that followed. She could have gone back home but decided to stay.

“Aagey kya hone wala hai, is pe kisi ka control nahin hai. Toh aise mein main wahi karti hoon jo mera dil kehta hai. Meri life jo bhi hogi, mujhe pata hoga ki meri wajeh se aisi hai. Toh I’ll be happy.”
Never settle

Decisions bring me to a third lesson- of never settling. We make our own happy ending- and it’s simply by choosing what really makes us happy- and not giving into thinking what we think our hearts want.
Childish madness is sometimes a necessity

Sometimes the best way to dealing with things is through the utter childish madness. Whether it’s burning and flushing a picture of your ex, or you know, casually calling them up and screaming every imaginable swear word you know. Trust me- it works.
Keep talking

It’s okay to be that person who keeps talking- even when she’s sleeping. You don’t need a special occasion to keep talking endlessly (and filter-free). Although- do add some filters.
Be thoughtful

Be your own favourite, keep talking, make your own decisions but in all that, always be thoughtful about others. The whole plot of Jab We Met revolves around Geet missing her train because she went to get Aditya back to the train. She supports his case in front of the ticket collector in the train and literally stops him from falling to his death.
Everything will eventually be okay

This is something this movie teaches me every time I forget, or need hearing it again- that it might take a while till things are better, but they will get better.

6 Most Romantic Places

April 10, 2017April 7, 2017 by Swati Jain, posted in Inspirations and Stories, Wanderlust

If you haven’t guessed it already- I love romance. While it might be currently non-existent in my life, a girl can still dream, right? I thought why not share the top 5 places on my list for a little romance! So, if you’re booking your little getaway to catch up on the looo-uve, here’s 5 places you can go! (Future Mr. Swati Jain, if you’re reading, take notes!)

Venice, Italy
This is actually my dream honeymoon destination. In the many romance novels I’ve read, Venice has always been romanticized- even in movies. All those bridges, gondola rides, cheese, wine, sunsets, and the singing gondola rider. The city’s gothic architecture and the little alleyways are literally inviting you and your SO to lose yourselves!
I mean, come on, picture this- both of you, snuggled together on the gondola, while it sails through the little bridges during the sunset and just as you two are about to kiss, somewhere far away Church bells start to ring… Nice, right?
And since you’re already in Italy- maybe spare a day for Verona? See the inspiration behind Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet!
Paris, France
Don’t I know this one is a total cliche? Yes, I do. Then why am I still adding this? Because it is the perfect place for romance and here’s why: where else will you get the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and Disneyland in the same place? With its beautiful lanes, exquisite macaroon flavours from Laudree or Pierre Hermes, and Hot Chocolate from Angelina, the city’s views from the Eiffel Tower after a stroll down the path with the most celebrated painting, Mona Lisa- what’s not to love and about love?
Picture this- walking, nay running, in Disneyland to your favourite ride with Mickey Ears hat and your partner in tow!
Maldives
There’s a reason why people keep talking about the never-ending waters and beautiful water villas in Maldives. It’s peaceful. Mind you- I went there with my family and I couldn’t help but wonder how amazing it would be to visit with a beau. The blue ocean, the colourful corals, the fun water sports and of course the option of completely disconnecting with the world.
St. Moritz, Switzerland
Well.. you’re literally on top of the world feeling top of the world. What could be better? Nothing better than to cozy up in the original winter wonderland with a hot drink, good book, a blanket and the SO.
The Greek Islands
Whether you’re jetting off and running around in Santorini, Mykonos, Nafplio, or Corfu- every single island has its own story, and a unique enchantment. Whether you’re exploring the sandy beaches, running up and down the stairs around the city or siting in a little cafe wondering what food you’ve been served- Greece calls for romance!
Egypt
You only really have bollywood to blame for this. Ever since I K3G, this one’s been on the list. But, who wouldn’t like endless sands, oldest of the world’s architecture and a lot of romance?

23 Rom-Coms You Must Watch

February 14, 2017January 24, 2019 by Swati Jain, posted in tv shows, Whimsical Chatters

Right, so since we are all thinking and talking about love and romance, and I am a self-acclaimed romance enthusiast, who loves watching romantic movies, there are some favorites that are ALWAYS on my list- and with an obvious reason, they are amazing.

While there is a long list of movies that I can watch again and again, these ones are when I want to feel some love and giggle through my tears.

Tell me some of your favorites!