Wonder, now on Netflix: A perfect amalgamation of education and entertainment for kids

 

Entertainment is as essential for kids as for us adults (It’s the icing on the cake if it has education integrated within). Especially in these times when our social life is almost zero, it offers a great opportunity to spend some cozy time with our little ones. But picking the right movie or series can be a tricky business. I personally love picking up something which entertains as well as leaves a strong lesson in the kid’s heart in this impressionable age. 

Luckily I have landed on some good ones in the past few months and today I recommend to you one such film which I still remember weeks after watching it with the kiddo and often comes up in our discussion. It’s the movie called ‘WONDER’ which released for the Indian audience on Netflix on 9 October 2020. This heart-touching film is based on the novel ‘Wonder’ by R.J. Palacio and was first released in America in 2017. Personally, I love book adaptations in movies and mostly I read the book before watching the film but not this one. 

Plot of the Movie

This beautiful soulful flick is a story of a 10-year-old boy Auggie Pullman who was born with a rare medical facial deformity known as Treacher Collins Syndrome. He undergoes as many as 27 surgeries to be able to see, hear, talk and smell but the deep scars on this face remain which he often covers with a helmet to prevent other kids and adults from getting scared of him.

Fortunately, he is blessed with a wonderful set of parents and elder sister Via, particularly his mother Isabel played by my all-time favorite Julia Roberts. She homeschools Auggie until he reaches grade five. But after that, keeping in mind how sharp Auggie is and his extreme inclination towards science they decide to admit him to a normal school which is where all hell breaks. 

Overcoming his initial inhibition, little Auggie ventures school where almost every kid appalls from his face. This movie is all about how he overcomes the bullies at school and several other difficulties and wins wonderful friends like Jack. It will be heartwarming to watch his journey as he bags the best student award towards the end😊.

5 reasons I loved it

1. The theme of the movie is beautiful

Yes, the theme of the movie is priceless. In fact, it is a perfect amalgamation of entertainment and meaningful education for kids. I got glued to the movie right in the first 5 minutes, the storytelling was so bang-on. It was ‘unputdownable’. My heart kept going on special children like Auggie and saw how he filled my kid’s heart in compassion for him. Children are such selfless and innocent souls. Despite his facial discrepancies, Auggie’s mom has brought him up so well into a little genius with a beautiful smile and forgiving heart. Auggie is an inspiration to one and all and thus I say this movie is a must-watch for everyone.

2. The direction and acting are impeccable

WONDER is directed by Stephen Chbosky and he has done a phenomenal job with the subject at hand. A rare subject as delicate as this requires precise handling and how I admire Chbosky’s work. His genius is complemented by seasoned actress Julia Roberts’ acting who looks so real in her portrayal of Auggie’s mother but the show-stealer definitely is little Jacob Tremblay who plays August or Auggie Pullman. The support cast and crew too have done a wonderful job and it won’t be just if I don’t give them a special mention.

3. Inspires acceptance for all

The movie has nuances and overwhelming moments that compel us to think and self introspect. It is a marvelous take of Auggie and Jack’s friendship too. What is it that Jack does that breaks Auggie’s heart and he falls sick? The emotions of Jack’s sis Via who never got their parents’ time and attention, did she love Auggie unconditionally or secretly despise him? You must watch the movie yourself to find out. To us, it deeply conveyed the strong message to accept everyone with their set of strengths and weaknesses with open arms.

4. Entertaining and heart-warming 

I have always been an ardent fan of meaningful cinema and this one shall top my list for many years, I am sure. Wonder is a heart-warming entertainer and Auggie’s smiling face keeps presenting itself in my dreams so often. Such is the impact. If you too value your time and want to spend it on something worthwhile, I highly recommend WONDER to you.

5. Educational Treat for our little ones 

In COVID times, this movie makes an excellent choice for giving a worthy educational treat for our little ones. Watch it cuddled with them in your blanket and enjoy their myriad thoughts on the subject subtly imbibing in them values of compassion and acceptance of all. It is vital for them to have such meaningful lessons in life early on. This is what evolved parenting is all about.

Truly Yours Roma’s Rating of the movie

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

If you like what I write, you can grab the copies of my five published ebooks here: The Fragrance of True Love, Destiny's Favorite Child, Dare to Defy The Destiny, Empowered Women Empower Women and Soulful Letters On COVID, for my Future Grandchild

HiPi Premier League on ZEE5: A Worthy Treat for all Cricket Lovers

Image Courtesy: www.ZEE5.com

Ours is a family of cricket lovers. While my husband has always been the most ardent cricket fan, his love has rubbed on sonny and me over the years to the extent that it now almost feels like a religion at our place. But the last eight months of lockdown and then gradually opening up of the world, due to the pandemic, has kind of been morose for us, diehard cricket fans. Thus when ZEE5 announced HiPi Premier League 2020, the biggest cricket extravaganza of the year, we jumped off our chairs in excitement. It is so much fun playing HPL and trying every way our team wins.

I am sure you will like to know more about it, so here you go.

What is HiPi?

HiPi is a super entertaining short video app on ZEE5 launched in July’20 where we can upload and watch videos of up to 90 seconds. The content curators, celebrities, and social media influencers like me just love this place as is evident by the high-quality rich content we upload on it across all genres. For viewers too, it is an absolute delight. It is available as part of the ZEE5 App which is impressively heading towards becoming a Super App that integrates all the ways and means of entertainment in one place.

What is HiPi Premier League?

Trust me when I say, HiPi Premier League or HPL is the most happening Sporting Spectaculars of 2020. It’s a one of its kind opportunity for all of us, cricket lovers to celebrate our favorite sport. It went live on September 19th, 2020. If cricket is on your mind all the time and you love curating short videos this one undoubtedly is for you where you can not only have a plethora of fun but can also win amazing prizes worth 10 lakhs.

What are the teams in HPL?

Image Courtesy: www.ZEE5.com

Now here comes the most fun part. HiPi Premier League has eight exciting and awesome teams named impeccably after their regions and are owned by captains who are famous celebrities and renowned influencers like Sugandha Mishra, Sanket Bhosle, Gaurav Gera, and Ssumier Pasricha.

Here are the HPL teams for you:

• Hyderabad Hippers

• Mumbai Mastis

• Delhi Dhoomers

• Rajasthan Rockstars

• Punjab Putters

• Chennai Swaggers

• Bangalore Badshahs

• Kolkata Khiladis

I am playing for my favorite team, DELHI DOOMERS, and keeping my fingers crossed that we will win. The support of our captain Ssumier Pasricha to us is phenomenal. It’s such a pleasure to watch what exciting content the teams are curating including their captains. This contest is so much fun. There are so many people joining our teams every day to support their players.

Sharing with you below one of my most favorite video ‘Uncleji ka Bouncer’ on HiPi, there are many more you would surely love.

Video Courtesy: www.ZEE5.com

How do you play in HPL?

If the idea of playing HPL excites you hop on it now. You can find HiPi on ZEE5. Just sign up and choose your favorite team and make short videos and upload. Simple isn’t it? While the competition gives you the much-desired adrenaline rush, creating unique content makes your creative juices flowing. I personally love the concept of HPL, it appeases the cricket lover in me.

Prizes Worth 10 Lakhs for HiPi Premier League Winners

The icing on the cake is the there are many rewards for HiPi Premier League Winners worth 10 lakhs. The user who gets the maximum number of likes on his video during a day or during the week wins fabulous prizes. Also, the season’s leading content creator wins the mega prize.

Image Courtesy: www.ZEE5.com

All this is incredible fun and a perfect treat for all us cricket lovers. I am having so much fun playing it. Have you checked out the HiPi Premier League on ZEE5 yet? If not, download it now.

If you like what I write, you can grab the copies of my five published ebooks here: The Fragrance of True Love, Destiny's Favorite Child, Dare to Defy The Destiny, Empowered Women Empower Women and Soulful Letters On COVID, for my Future Grandchild

ZEE5’s New Release ‘Expiry Date’ is a MUST-WATCH Suspense Thriller: Honest Review

 

Guess how I ended my eventful birthday weekend with a bang. Yeah, I curled up on my couch and binge-watched a super suspenseful thriller ‘EXPIRY DATE’ on my favorite OTT platform ZEE5 and just relaxed. I have been rooting for this one ever since I heard of it. Thus, decided to chill with it on the weekend and I am so glad I picked it. This is one of my most preferred genres in entertainment and I was sure this web series will supersede my expectations.

 Here’s my review of the show for all of you. If you love investigative thrillers based on love, lies, and deceit, this one is undoubtedly for you.

 

 PLOT OF ‘EXPIRY DATE’

 At the onset let me admit, the first thing that fascinated me about this series is its unique name. It instigated in me the first seed of curiosity.

 Expiry Date, an engaging ZEE5 Original drives us crazy as Vishwa’s beautiful love story which goes bad with certain #BuriedSecrets reveals in flesh back. There’s an unexpected twist and turn, I guess every few minutes. Vishwa’s life is an epitome of perfection until he discovers on his first wedding anniversary that the love of his life Disha is cheating on him. He discovers she has an extramarital affair with a gym instructor Sunny. Burning in vengeance he kills her. To cover-up, he approaches the cops to file her missing complaint only to find out Sunny’s wife Sunitha has filed a similar missing complaint of Sunny the same day.

 Times reveal she too had murdered her husband in a fit of anger. Vishwa and Sunitha then hatch a plan and try to convince the cops their spouses have eloped but there was someone else who knew of their crimes. Oh my, you must watch the series to discover this mega entertaining edge-of-the-seat kind of thriller. Trust me I just finished watching the 10 episodes, 5 straight hours and I still have a strong gush of emotions flowing by.

 

 STAR CAST OF ‘EXPIRY DATE’

 We get to watch some wonderful actors in this series which uplift the standards of this show to great heights. You will get to watch Tony Luke as Vishwa, Sneha Ullal as his wife Disha, Ali Reza as the gym instructor Sunny and Madhu Shalini as his wife Sunitha. Honestly, all of them did great justice to their roles. While I already was a great fan of Tony Luke’s earlier work, Madhu Shalini was an absolute delight to watch. The rest of the cast did a fair job too.

 

WHY I LOVED THE SHOW SO MUCH

 I so loved the way #Expirydate is directed by Marthand K Shankar, already critically acclaimed for some of his previous work. He grabbed our attention every single moment and the series was UNPUTDOWNABLE.

 The screenplay is a treat to watch and the shadows photography and the background mystery score all added to the charm to the show.

 Impeccable portrayals by the lead cast are something I deeply appreciate too about this unparalleled goosebumps giving fast-paced thriller.

 

Image Courtesy: ZEE5.com

 

SIMILAR SHOWS ON ZEE5 I RECOMMEND

 You will recall, I wrote to you on ZEE5 Original Churails which was on somewhat similar lines. Incase this is your favorite genre too, you may also choose to watch The Chargesheet: Innocent Or Guilty, The Verdict: State V/s Nanavati, Rustom and Jism on this OTT platform.

 

RATINGS OF ‘EXPIRY DATE’ FROM HIGH RANKED PORTALS

 After watching this incredible show, I now know how it got such high ratings by so many leading portals like The Hindustan Times, The Quint, etc. I myself would have safely rated it a hearty nine on ten which is my best so far.

 

Image Courtesy: ZEE5.com

 

Honestly, I admit I got so smitten by this show that I had to share my earnest review with you all, almost immediately. I am sure you are going to like it as much as I did. You can watch this incredible thriller here.

If you like what I write, you can grab the copies of my five published ebooks here: The Fragrance of True Love, Destiny's Favorite Child, Dare to Defy The Destiny, Empowered Women Empower Women and Soulful Letters On COVID, for my Future Grandchild

"I'm taking my blog to the next level with Blogchatter's #MyFriendAlexa" 

 

5 Impactful Series on Netflix and Amazon Prime

 If there is one thing that’s keeping us sane during these pandemic times, it undoubtedly is the entertainment provided by various OTT Platforms like ZEE5, Netflix, Amazon Prime. Earlier I had written to you about my favorite shows on ZEE5. Now it’s Netflix and Amazon Prime Shows turn😊.

So here’s the list of 5 Must-Watch Shows on Netflix and Amazon Prime. They are my personal favorites from different genres to give you a variety of entertainment. I have purposefully kept it a mix of varied genres to give you all a fair chance to pick the kind of stuff you love.

1. Money Heist

A brilliant bank robbery thriller, shot in Spain, available in four seasons on Netflix. It is an unparalleled saga, a master plan run by a genius yet kind professor who falls for the cop who is negotiating with him on the state’s behalf to release the hostages during the heist. Each and every character in this show makes you fall in love with them. It is so engrossing and worthy to watch, I can watch it any number of times. I am an ardent fan and am waiting for the fifth season with bated breath. Watch this one on my recommendation and trust me you will only thank me later.

2. Swami Ramdev

Now, this one is the best pick if you are watching it with your children and family as there is so much to learn at every step from Baba Ramdev’s life. Season 1 of this worth watch biography is available on Netflix and is pure motivation. It is a well written and conceived show, the characters feel real and we associate our emotions with them. It was intriguing to see the childhood of the founder of the #MadeinIndia FMCG giant Patanjali and his journey from being ostracised by the society for being a cursed child to how he rises and shines to glory. Every Indian must watch this show. I genuinely liked it.

3. Unbelievable

This Netflix show kept me on toes and I had my heart in my mouth at many junctures. It is a tale of a serial rapist in the U.S. who clears the scenes of his crimes to perfection to make them look unbelievable. A young girl, an orphan, his victim, loses her dignity and trust in humanity as no one believes her but thanks to a methodical and worthy cop finally justice prevails. I loved watching this series and it indeed was a great watch, I highly recommend It to every woman and even man too.

4. Bandish Bandits

This is yet another beautiful and soulful family entertainer available on Amazon Prime giving a sneak peek into our deep-rooted culture, our music Gharanas. The music in the series is heart-touching. It instills in us the value of discipline and how pursuing art in its purest form requires the most stringent lifestyles. It’s a majorly a story of a grandfather and grandson, their values, their ambitions, and their unique bond. If this is the genre you find close to your heart, I am sure this one will bring great delight to you.

5. Little Things

It truly is the cutest modern-day love story between two humans who are as poles apart as chalk and cheese and yet their chemistry is almost magical. If you are a sucker of love stories like me, go binge-watch this and  I bet you are going to love these guys. Available on Netflix in Three Seasons, this love tale showcases beautiful human emotions in their purest relatable form. I loved the storyline to the tee. 

These were some of my absolute favorites though the overall list is really big and I shall keep sharing with you like always, what’s a hit and what’s a miss 😊

If you like what I write, you can grab the copies of my five published ebooks here: The Fragrance of True Love, Destiny's Favorite Child, Dare to Defy The Destiny, Empowered Women Empower Women and Soulful Letters On COVID, for my Future Grandchild

"I'm taking my blog to the next level with Blogchatter's #MyFriendAlexa" 

 

ZEE5 Churails Review: An Impeccable Must-watch Thriller Aiming Women Empowerment

 

                                    Pic Courtesy: ZEE5.com

 

 

I have a staunch belief in the fact that Empowered Women Empower Women, so much so, that I have written a book by this title. Trust me, there can be no better time than today to stand up for ourselves and for other women and unite in our fight on crimes against women. This was the reason I was so smitten by the concept of the Churails Series on ZEE5 from the time I heard about it. Since I was waiting for it with bated breath, I binge-watched it right on the first day of its release.

 

So, here’s an earnest review of the show and why it proved a worthy watch for me.

 

 

Intriguing Plot and Story Line of Churails

 

This show is a masterpiece crafted to perfection by critically acclaimed creator Asim Abbasi. It deals with how women can no more take infidelity and cruel patriarchy in their stride. It is a strong riveting story of four females protagonists from different walks of life who come together and form a squad to give a befitting reply to the philandering husbands.

 

They run a spy agency under the veil of a Burqa boutique called Halal Designs and help cheated women find justice until one day they run into trouble. Their earnest endeavor to overcome the hurdles is so worth a watch.

 

 

Well fleshed out Strong Female Characters

 

Let me give you a sneak peek into the four lead characters. The four leading ladies are Sara (played by Sarwat Gilani Mirza), Jugnoo     (played by Yasra Rizvi), Batool (played by Nimra Bucha), and Zubaida (played by Mehar Bano). While all four are poles apart as chalk and cheese, there’s a common fire in them which binds them together.

 

Pic Courtesy: ZEE5.com

 

While Sara is a rich lawyer from what looks superficially like a perfect wealthy family, Batool is a murderer of her husband who has served a jail sentence of twenty years for the same. On the other hand, Jugnoo is a single, high profile, wedding planner and Zubaida the youngest is a boxer from a traditional family with an abusive father. Each one has a hard-hitting story which has made them a rebel. The characters are beautifully fleshed and are equally well played by the four seasoned actresses. It was mesmerizing to see their onscreen camaraderie.

 

 
Powerful Dialogues and Performances

 

I will so like to state that the greatest strengths of this show undoubtedly are its enticing dialogues and power-packed performances by one and all including the supporting cast.

 

Sarwat as Sara is such a treat to watch as a trophy wife to an aspiring politician whose character gradually evolves and showcases myriad shades. She establishes a deep connection with her audience and it doesn’t feel we are watching her for the first time.

 

So does Nimra who portrays Batool who was married at a very early age and was subjected to marital rape. She has murdered her husband to save her daughter and that’s why the society called her Churail. A take a bow to such Churails. All the other characters too carve a place in your heart. The series was so un-put-down-able.

 

 

 

Gripping Storytelling and mesmerizing Cinematography

 

I became a fan of the cinematography and production design of this show almost instantly. It adds so much pleasure to the overall watching of the series. Minutest details have been well taken care of. Right from the first frame, the viewers’ minds and hearts are captivated by the visuals and nuanced performances.

 

Often a story can be strong but the power with which it is told in front of the camera makes or breaks a show. I loved the background narrations and heart touching poetry to the core and they remain a very significant part of making this series worthwhile for me.

 

 Inspires Women to Unite against Injustice

 

I love meaningful entertainment and often love investing my time in watching inspiring fiction and this one perfectly does the trick. It inspires every woman to stand for their own cause and don’t agree to be treated like a doormat as is prevalent in our society. Apart from gender inequality, this thriller also showcases issues like racism, homophobia, and transphobia in an eloquent manner.

 

 

Why I strongly believe #MainChurailHoon

 

While a man is free to do anything there are set norms for women on how to behave, particularly in the Indian subcontinent. Any lady who doesn’t obey this or raises a voice is called a Churail. But it’s high time these stereotypes are broken and if in doing so I become a Churail, yes indeed #MainChurailHoon and very proudly so. This show has embedded this thought deep in me.

 

 

 

Shows like this are a ray of hope to improve the strained Indo-Pak Ties

 

It was beautiful to see this show shot in Karachi as it feels like they are our own brothers and sisters in terms of culture. Produced by ZEE5 India and shot in Pakistan, this series indeed is a step in right direction in trying to ease the tension between Indian and Pakistan by promoting mutual art and culture.

 

                                   Pic Courtesy: ZEE5.com

 

Overall, I would say, this show inspires us to embrace the Churail in our self and be the positive face of change the society so desperately needs. It undoubtedly is a must-watch for every woman belonging to the Indian sub-continent. Churails is currently streaming on ZEE5 here.

If you like what I write, you can grab the copies of my five published ebooks here: The Fragrance of True Love, Destiny's Favorite Child, Dare to Defy The Destiny, Empowered Women Empower Women and Soulful Letters On COVID, for my Future Grandchild