Petals!

Like Malayalis across the world, I too was deeply shattered by the passing away of Sukumari, one of Kerala's most versatile actresses. She breathed her last at a Chennai hospital two days ago. As an actress, Sukumari had the kind of passion and dynamic presence besides brilliant acting skills that made people enjoy all her performances spanning over five decades.  Her performances were so natural and memorable that she added considerable substance and depth to the story line itself.  She had the audacity to make every one of her characters, including the bland and bad ones, stand out as striking and memorable. Her dialogue delivery, her sense of humor and flawless timing struck a chord with Malayalis spanning all ages and walks of life.  About Sukumari A bit of info about this fine actress: Sukumari was born in 1940 in Nagercoil. She made her debut into the world of Malayalam cinema as a child artist at the age of ten.  She was the firs...

I have to confess this to you but you have probably guessed it anyway...okay, let me just take a deep breath before I say this..... Motherhood & Parenting Blues I am not a natural, hands -on mom.  Okay, I've said it and I feel better already. But I guess you already guessed that ages ago. Get ready for more. I am not done yet. I almost never wanted to become a mother in the first place. Not because I am a feminist or that I feared I would put on weight (which happened anyway) but because I feared that I wouldn't be able to love my baby like other moms naturally do. Even while growing up with girls, all they could talk about even in Std 4 was about getting married and having babies. That sounded disgusting to me. I believed then that I had greater things to do, or so I told myself. And the books I constantly read threw open a more expansive view of the world.  As I grew older, the prospect of motherhood didnt evoke any interest in me. What's the bi...