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Thursday, June 27, 2013

When tomboys are born..

I am pushed to write this post, after having read the one at Shobhaa De’s and another from fellow blogger Sowmya. Here is one more to add to the one hundred and one articles you've already read about YJHD – Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani. It doesn’t matter if you are a lover or a hater of it, but you cant just say that it wasn't entertaining.

When Deepika started the journey through this movie as a nerd, she’d been wearing short skirts and frocks, especially in a train where she had to climb an upper berth. The bespectacled one, who cannot think outside her textbook, ventures out on a trip with total strangers for trekking at Manali. This was a scene where the inappropriate dressing of her character caught the attention and criticism of the most amateur of movie goers. From then on, I completely ignored her and focused on Aditi, the brilliant and yet understated character portrayed by Kalki Koechlin. I cannot think of anyone else who could get into the skin of that character the way she did, and her side of the story kept the viewer guessing,  because the future of the protagonists Ranbir and Deepika was indeed the inevitable cliche. I appreciate the writer of this movie who knowingly or not scripted that scene in which Avi, played by Aditya Roy Kapoor cuddles with a random girl and Aditi gets fiercely possessive. The part where she hides her feelings and chooses not to talk about her love brought depth and reality to her character. This character is a slice of real life. Because that is how it is for a majority of girls.

Aditi is also realistic. Her love, Avi, doesn't even consider the fact that she is a girl. Neither did he look into her eyes even once. She was the quintessential girl pal, the one who is wooden at heart, at least for him. So there was no point in craving and waiting around, and she settles in life with the potbellied rich guy, for the reason that he loved her. Not for his BMW or the Antilla type home he probably lived in. And for this choice she made, we should applaud her, because tomboys are realistic. They live in the present and not in lacy dreams.

Why I am vouching for this character is because once upon a time I was Aditi too. I had those pretty girls for friends, and the boys asked me for their phone numbers. I was a wooden bridge that connected them to a book of phone numbers of pretty girls. However I was realistic too. We girls are born attention seekers, so am I, and I got the attention, albeit in a different light. That was when the tomboy in me was born. I am guessing that’s how tomboys are born everywhere.

There are no tomboys by choice. Tomboys are born when some level headed girls, who don’t think that wearing nail polish and getting manicures is the sole objective of life. They are the ones who dare to think beyond the men’s hostel. They are the ones who are logical. That doesn't make us less feminine. That doesn't make us feminists either.

At some level Kalki was the Anjali from Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. Except that, Anjali ran away when her feelings were not reciprocated, whereas Aditi was rock strong and dared to choose her own life without any regrets. 

Let there be more Aditis.


P.S: After I wrote this post, I tweeted the link to Kalki Koechlin, impulsively. Just like that. And see what I got ! And of course, I've been screaming from my rooftop about this ;-)


Photo Courtesy:Google.

26 comments:

  1. loved it :) I am yet another Aditi i shud say... even now when i goto office... when i see picture perfect gals with perfect hair and face makeup.. and i look at me to see.. how messed up i am :P but hmmm who cares.. i just giggle.. be messy tats all.. cos tats the way i am .. and yea to tell abt school and college days when guys considered me as one among them and made me a messenger... i hadnt bothered... but yea to think of it now.. i stand out and have come way ahead of all those pretty gals in college and school... wats the fun in life if u cant have fun after all :) being tom boyish was fun.. i feel its still funny... i love the louder side of me much more than my feminine side :D not sure if i have any girly side yet ;) ;) good read Anita :)

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    1. Correct ! I was also like you and still am.. I do not regret not wearing matching nailpolishes and accessories..I had lots of fun messing around and playing tomboy! I treasure that a lot !

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  2. "That doesn't make us less feminine. That doesn't make us feminists either."

    Absolutely. From one Aditi to another. :)

    I dated many, but I married the man I love at 26. The man who accepted the Aditi in me wholeheartedly.

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  3. Replies
    1. Ya Deepika's. For the guys who like the ones in short skirts.

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  4. Loved it. "I had those pretty girls for friends, and the boys asked me for their phone numbers. I was a wooden bridge that connected them to a book of phone numbers of pretty girls. " . Been there. Totally get it. I was always the one whom people discuss about the girls they want to propose to..

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    1. Seriously why dont guys understand that we do not feel the same way about the girl they are discussing about? :D

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  5. sob sob.. The blogworld is full of people like me who guys talk to about their crushes :P *HUGs to everyone who has a pack of beautiful friends and who stand out*

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  6. There are some guys like me out there who like the tomboys more than those girlish girls, if you know what I mean. So i full heartedly agree to your proposal: let there be more tomboys!!

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  7. I was never a Tom Boy. I was never girly-girly as well. Wonder where that leaves me :/
    And yes, I loved Aditi as well!

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    1. Okay I am also confused now :-/ You're still good :D

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  8. She is a fine actor (Aditi) Had seen her in an earlier film too (with Abhay Deol) OK got the movie now - Dev D

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    1. Yes. She is a refined actress. Unlike the regular ones.

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  9. i WAS A TOMBOY....Now I am not..appearance wise, But I guess inside m still one! AND ADITI ALLLL THE WAY!

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  10. I am a fan of Kalki. She's performs at an altogether different level. All her movies proved what she's capable of. From Dev.D to YJHD - what a journey!

    And yes, I agree with Aditi's character. Remaining rock solid in her decisions is something plucked right out of real life.. Infact, I enjoyed Aditi's role better than Deepika's since we knew how her story will end. Aditi's was the surprise..

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    1. Correct ! Hers was the story which made YJHD what it is. And I'm sure most women who saw it would have related more to her than to Deepika. Because Deepika's role exists only in movies.

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  11. Wah wah!! You became famous!!
    Kudos!! ;)

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    1. hahaha not really but I like to think like that too :D

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  12. And I was the girl who scared guys away with her sarcasm :D

    On a serious note, you can be a tomboy with an "I care two hoots" attitude, but you still hurt like any normal girl.

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