Who's a Healer? Music!

You’re just a little soul carrying around a corpse.

And have you ever wondered how you can make your soul impeccable and the corpse alive? The answer could differ for everybody’s superior minds, but the ultimate source of medicine is what you call a ‘sound’. A little piece of sound could break you, or shape you. You may feel yourself larger than anything, but then again, sometimes tiny things have masterpieces inside.

    The ultimate source of energy is the Sun. The human race loves the sun. Just as big as it is, there is a small, invisible thing called sound. A sound can make you go deaf, or it can give you life.

A sound may or may not be very pleasant to the ears, but whatever sound it is, when it is in a constant rhythm, you can relate to it. You can relate to the exact intervals, the gaps, and the mood of the rhythm. It can even be the excess water dropping slowly from the tap in your bathroom, or it can be a huge concert with enormous people shrieking their lungs out.

The name given to this rhythmic sound is Music. I’m not certain, but I think the word Music comes from the word Muse, because after all, music is really a muse.

Don’t they say, “When you’re happy and you know it clap your hands”?

There’s the sound of music, which is, undoubtedly, very intriguing or enchanting, and then there’s the sound of applause that you get as praise when you perform. Personally, there’s no sound better than applause to me, because it feels so right when you know that the bunch of people in front of you like what you’re doing, there’s just no better feeling. Applause is soothing to the ears.

Different songs in a playlist can change your moods as fast as nothing else. Slow songs can drive you into a trance, and rapid ones tend to energize you up. It’s a fact that you’ll enjoy the music of a song, but when you really look deep into the lyrics, you would find yourself rethinking your own life, criticizing world issues, or just remembering good moments.

People sing songs for those who are dead, so that their soul could peacefully blend into the sky. But there are people, who sing for their loved ones who are on the verge of dying, on their death bed, unable to speak, or walk. According to research, music can put someone on the road to recovery even when the doctors have given up. I think music can even bring dead people alive, let alone just diseased. If you don’t trust the researches, surf the net for the stories and events of people’s lives and how they recovered by the ‘Music Therapy’ that has become common today.

And Music is not only the saviour of diseased people, but also the life saver of today’s stressed out students. When it comes to science (there’s science in everything, isn’t it?), listening, or even better, playing music tends to divide the brain into two halves, and get them to work, which in turn helps in the vast, perpetual academics.

People get lifetime achievement awards just for devoting all their lives to a simple thing called music.

A few simple phrases that won’t sound very appealing when said, sound so incredibly amazing and eye-opening when put into music.

Things that can’t be put into words, can be described by music.

There are people who are affected by the lyrics, and there are those who are touched by the melody.

I’m writing this in 2015, and years later when I would look back into it, I can’t imagine what wonders Music would have caused. 

Pride & Prejudice : Review

Pride & Prejudice 

This book by Jane Austen from the early 1800s still does its work and still changes lives. As far as I can tell, books always make a change in the reader's mind, by the perfections of its characters, the perspectives of the author, or anything that the book is about. 

   

        I would call this book really 'agreeable', as that is a word very frequently used in the book. I hardly ever find ANY book disinteresting, so there's never really anything disgraceful that I have to say about them. Talking about Pride & Prejudice, it's nearly the best book I've read so far, and the storyline is flawless. The characters, when you talk about them, they're so remarkably described, that you can immediately have a picture of them in the deepest end of your mind. The protagonists, Mr Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet, have a special connection from the very beginning of the book. Their attributes, being so unlike, complement each other so very much and till the end of the book I'm sure you'd wish for them to unite. Every character has a very appropriate ending, and it couldn't have been better. The proudy got misery and the lovable got contentment (just the standard happy ending, but I assure you it's awesome). 

         The characters of Lydia Bennet and Mr Wickham have been so perfectly described, that at one point or another you'd probably grow to detest them. The striking and dramatic character of Mrs Bennet who, at times, seems to be a mercenary, adds life and humour to the book. 

        The way that the story leads from the characters being ball dance partners to aquantainces to friends to fiancés, will leave you yearning until you really have read the book.

          Elizabeth meets Mr Darcy in a ball at Netherfield, where they don't have a very pleasant encounter, but gradually Mr Darcy falls in love with Eliza, while she grows to hate him. But as the happy-ending protocol directs, in the end it all turns up well. 

          This book full of beautiful characters with ample of villains, is a MUST READ. This book is one of those which you 'ought to read before you die', so if you're reading this stuff, you gotta put this book in your bucket-list, like, immediately.

        The book kills pride so bad that it has been adapted into a movie also, with the same name. With actors Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen as the protagonists, this is such a wonderful little movie which is totally, totally worth your dear time. 

        So when you've done reading the book, you'd be able to relate to this review.

        Toodles readers! 

                                           

The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho (Review)

                                                  ~~   How The Alchemist Is Precious ~~

     As I'm writing this, my mind is constantly telling me that I don't know where to start. There are just so many things that are noticeable and really inspiring about the book that I can write here. Long contents tend to get boring, otherwise I would've made a masterpiece out of this review. 

    Ever since I've read The Alchemist, I've developed this respect for Paulo Coelho as I have for no one else. I had always been looking for that one 'perfect writer' that I'd call my favorite; I found it in Coelho. The way he puts his sentences just in the perfect places, and keeps you waiting curiously for the end, is what impressed me the most. Believe me, I'm a true critic, and I rarely call someone or something my 'favorite'. But The Alchemist has earned it. 'Bookaholics' always yearn for something intriguing, a little perplexing, and new. The book is all of them.
  
   The evergreen story starts with a just-as-needed introduction of a shepherd, who with his 60 sheep travels around a small part of Spain. He was much of a loner bloke, with the sheep and a book as his companions in his ride of life. I really like how the book portrays his 'friend with benefit' which he could trade for another one. The boy isn't really attached to anything except his sheep, which he later trades to travel to the Pyramids. 

     The book has a lot of superstition, but maybe it is just to give it a little mystical effect (which is really nice). A 'dream-interpreter' reads the boy's recurrent dream but all he gets was a pretty obvious reply that he knew for himself. The good part was that he didn't have to pay for the consult (but later you'd find out he didn't get away with it). 
     The much innocent and ignorant boy believes a stranger who comes dressed up as a king, and follows the path that his words led to. He was told to recognize the omens on his way that are god's messages. In the name of the old, trustworthy king, who had given him two brilliant stones that the Alchemists make, he sets out to his journey. 
      On his way, the boy aspires to find a "language that the universe speaks", and he succeeds in finding it. A language that is understood by wind, water, earth, air, birds, animals, and every speck of dust on this earth; can you find it in your real life?
      "When you really want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it", is a quote that is indeed very true and is used several times in the book. According to me, the quote is not literal. It should mean that when you're in the illusion that the universe is doing it for you, you are unknown to the fact that your own willingness and hard work has conspired in helping you. 

     The boy's overall aim had become from finding the fortune to finding the "Soul of the World". He believed that the earth was living, like us, humans. And everything that lives has a soul. He wanted to reach to a point where he would understand the meaning of the true Soul of the World. This is very deep philosophy and can be interpreted in a couple ways. It purely depends on an individual's perspective. After all, philosophy is a jewel. 
     The book deeply believes in 'destiny'. According to the wise king, destiny is that point in an individual's life where everything is clear, and all the answers to every question is declared. Towards the end the boy understands the meaning of 'destiny'. Like any other normal book, this too, ends in almost everyone being happy, including the love of his life - Fatima (whom he meets on his way). But the ending is a true eye-opener. And the exit-line he uses for closure is just priceless! 
   
    If this book is not perfect, then I don't know what is! 

P.S.- If you like my expert advice, you can perhaps go and grab a copy of The Alchemist and have an experience same as mine? Or the other thing you can do is, er, keep wondering about this chamber of secrets? *wink* 


                                                    "Dreams are made to be followed.
                                                            Life is meant to be lived.
                                                    Some books are meant to be read, 
                                                              loved, and passed on.
                                                 The Alchemist is one of those books."



                         

                                                                                                                      -Kriti Chandel

                                                    

The Fault in Our Stars - Book/Movie Review

The Fault In Our Stars

Book / Movie review

           So this one is about the book that went viral among the youngsters of India, the movie that made a hit on the cinemas – The Fault in Our Stars.

           

           Some people might mistake this John Green book as a book about cancer, but it’s surely not one. Cancer is not what it depicts, it’s the emotion, the will to live, to love, and to long for something that you really want or need.

           

            The story starts quite casually, when two people meet at the ‘heart of the lord’ where a few kind people guide other people to fight cancer. As they meet and fall in love, the story revolves around other distinct yet interesting characters, out of which, one is Peter Van Houten. He’s the writer of that amazing book that the protagonist, Hazel Grace, can relate to. Hazel needs so many answers about his book where the story about many characters is left unsaid. It’s so natural how she wants to know about some imaginary characters of a fictional book and is ready to even fly to Amsterdam with lungs that suck! And by natural I mean, that we all do!

             

            Hazel Grace and Augustus Waters are both attacked by cancer but whenever one is low, the significant other is always there to lend a helping hand.

             

            They together help their just-gone-blind friend, Isaac, take revenge from a girl he cared about, by egging her car!

             

            The book is just so perfect for a modern love story, it’s all just like real life! When you read it, you’ll never predict what’s gonna happen next. It’s THAT unpredictable!

        

            ~~For those who haven’t read it or seen the movie or heard from a friend about it yet, the ending is an eye opener !!~~

         

             To be honest, when I myself was reading this book, I had tears in my eyes towards the end. It’s actually that much full of emotion. Cancer is just an element that the writer chose to display the message that disease can’t win over love, nor can death. Hazel denied this fact but Augustus later made her realise that it’s love over everything for them. In the end, maybe things go a little awry, but still, they didn’t change, nothing between them changed.

         

             The title just wants to say (according to me), that it’s not death or disease or misunderstandings that came between our love, maybe it’s the fault in out stars that did.

        

             If we talk about the movie, it’s just the perfect cast. All the people in the movie are exactly what I imagined them to be. To add to the beauty, so many renowned singers have contributed to make the musical part a huge hit, and they have surely succeeded ! Ed Sheeran, Birdy, onerepublic, and who not has contributed for this movie. Thank you all for making it even more interesting !

       

            It’s well casted and the scenarios are very well depicted, hardly leaving out any part from the book. But as always, the book is better than the movie!

        

           Over all, the book/movie is just really interesting, realistic, and an eye opener. I’d rate it 10 on 10 so it’s obviously a MUST READ.

Happy reading (or watching) guys!

   

At the studios of AIR FM Rainbow

Hey folks!
So I just featured in the program Chhote Ustaad on 102.6 FM Rainbow on 23rd November, and I wanted to share my experiences with y'all. And here's the link:

Kriti Chandel in Chhote Ustaad on 102.6 FM

       So firstly I was so excited that I reached the studio nearly 90 minutes early, which kind of, er, increased the tension in the atmosphere. I had talked to the RJ once on the phone, but I was nervous, indeed. Anyway, I finally advanced the staircase to the lift to the studio. I was like, "Whoa, I never knew how a studio looked like." (Maybe because I never looked it up on Google.) It was a nice, warm room with huge computers, and stereos, and speakers and I don't know what but there was some pretty cool stuff down there. How do they even operate it? Well, I sat there, anyway.
      
        Time was running out, plus I wasn't ready. (Though I had been telling them that I was.) When the RJ - Jyotsna, turned up the volume of the mics, I don't know what got to my head and I just spoke whatever it told me to. She kept speaking and I kept replying. It almost felt like forever just when she turned down the mic and played another song. I took a deep breath.
     
        The best thing about RJs is that they're the coolest people ever. Jyotsna was so nice, so fun (oh come on, every RJ is fun), and so damn confident. She was so nice to me and my mum even behind the scenes. You'd know it when you meet an RJ.
     
         I used to think that they must be a whole lot different from what they are LIVE. But hell no, they're AWESOME. 
   
   And so I somehow managed and got it over with. But however it was, it felt amazing. It's so weird to think that RJs do it everyday, whoa. So if you give it a listen, all the tension in the atmosphere and in me would be SO WORTH IT! 

      Have a nice day and all the best mates! :) 

Daytime Dreaming

   It was only noon when the cloud stopped by to greet his friend, who was a tree, and settled right above him.

“Thanks a lot friend! It was getting hideous standing in the vigorous sun,” the tree was grateful.

“Don’t mention it, brother. I do this every day, for most of the world.” The cloud replied dully.

“It’s sad how no one actually lends you credit for anything you do.” The tree was concerned.

“I guess I’m now quite habitual to it. Sometimes it feels like a religious duty. Making sacrifices every day; melting down, heating up, that’s what my life is all about!” The cloud whined.

“That must be rough. The process is actually tedious, isn’t it? But sometimes, my brother, I’m really envious of you.” The tree confessed.

“And why’s that?” The cloud asked out of curiosity.

“It’s such a beautiful world, they say. You get to see every edge, but I swear, I’ve been standing here my whole life and all I’ve ever seen is the short grass around me, the bright sun, I’ve seen some children grow up. And brother, now I’m beginning to doubt if I’ll be standing upright for long.” There were worry lines on his forehead.

“You’re right. It’s hard standing at just one spot all your life, but it’s even harder melting to tiny drops every day, at a different place every time.” Pain was dripping from every letter the cloud uttered.  

“Let’s not compete, brother. I reckon we both have our own share of grievances to worry about.” The tree wisely advised.

“Command accepted, friend.” The cloud beamed.

“You know what? Sometimes I don’t understand Humans at all.” The tree gave him a puzzled look.

“How so?” The cloud questioned.

“In the beginning, I’ve heard, they used to be nature friendly, because they were totes dependent on us. But with the passage of time, they grew ruthless and started ruining nature which led to a holocaust.” The tree explained.

“I’ve heard that nowadays they’re taking initiative to spread awareness about conserving, aren’t they? And as far as I can judge, they seem like good people.” The cloud retorted.

“That’s what everyone’s thinking, yet not implying. They could use other materials instead of wood but they don’t pay much heed to the people who’re actually willing to take a step against this destruction.” The tree replied.

“But the amount of evil people is hefty!” The cloud concluded.

“I think we’re not supposed to be the ones thinking about it.

     They talked till the sun went down and then the gentle wind finally pushed the cloud away to another land, another tree. But that tree never saw that cloud again. It was his call of duty, the tree concluded.

And once again, he stood alone in the empty space. Perhaps waiting for his friend, who was gone forever.

Forever.

If It’s Not Forever – Book Review

                                         If It's Not Forever

Author: Durjoy Datta, Nikita Singh

Pages: 237

Synopsis:

      The book is mainly about a guy who left his diary before dying in the Chandni Chowk bomb blast. The narrator had himself witnessed the disaster and decided to check out the burnt sight after a while. He finds the diary lying inside a dustbin - barely readable. The diary just revealed the initials of its owner's name, so the narrator, Deb, decides to investigate about him. 
       It's really interesting to read how Deb acts as a detective while he worked in a publishing company! Simultaneously with the main story, continues Deb's love story with Avantika, the one who shared his home.
Later, Deb's best friend Shrey and a young spoilt girl join their odyssey. It's also amazing to read how all of them get to know about the diary one by one, and keep picking up the tiny pieces to make a rigid story out of it. They unbelievably find out a lot about the dead guy by minor clues from the dilapidated diary. 
        The diary was written beautifully by the mystery guy expressing all his love for the girl he used to see everyday on a bus stop. In the end of every diary entry, he used to write about his wish to see her again the following day. 
          As you keep reading, you begin to relate the title with the story. You go through all the ups and downs in the story as if you're a part of it. 
        Of course, the ending is an eye-opener! Their expectations go a little awry and then to know what happened, you'll have to read the book! 
        But in the end, there's only one message - If it's not forever, it's not love. And the title says it all! 
I have to say, it's another classic hit by Durjoy Datta, and of course, Nikita Singh provided a wonderful co-writer, or say, she played a great apprentice! 

Status Of The Book: Irresistible Suspense! :)