Ishquia

Wonder what the exact meaning of the word is, but we saw a Hindi movie by that name and I really enjoyed seeing it. Set against the beautiful and rugged backdrop of the UP countryside, centred around Gorakhpur, it speaks of an unusual woman – played brilliantly by my favourite, Vidya Balan – who lives life on her own terms and comes up trumps! She watches every activity around her and observes everyone, that comes her way and understands the person correctly. She is fully aware of the fact that she’s beautiful but is superbly adept in the handling of weapons and keeps errant guys at bay, simply by her smouldering looks. There’s a scene in which she’s holding a gun but conveys the message that she cannot be messed with, through a haunting expression in her eyes paradoxically conveying her vulnerability, which I liked best. The whole ambience is rustic and the language spoken throughout the narration is a variation of Hindi, spoken in that part of the country. I must admit that much of the conversation went over my head because of the unfamiliar dialect and a not-so-clear sound system of the auditorium.
To me, it’s always a pleasure to see a strong woman, who underplays herself, but helps her man to overcome difficulties with her careful, analytical thought process and despite all that, she continues to remain feminine and extremely vulnerable! I’m a firm supporter of the age old saying that, a man is nothing without a woman. I’ve had the fortune of being born in a family of strong women – my grandmothers, both paternal and maternal, ran their households, looked after their children’s education and all other activities, but always preferred to remain in the shadows of their husbands’ towering personae, ungrudgingly – who’d so much to offer but never demanding anything for themselves as their needs were incredibly less, nay nothing! My Amma continues on the same mould and I’m proud to be her son!!
Three cheers to womanhood and my humble tribute to the strong women of my life, without whom I wouldn’t be what I’m today.