Project Hail Mary: A Journey of Hope, Sacrifice and Humanity

"And when nobody wakes you up in the morning, and when nobody waits for you at night, and when you can do whatever you want. What do you call it, freedom or loneliness?" Quoted by Charles Bukowski, this statement delves into defining what loneliness can be. To truly feel loneliness and understand how hopeless life can become, I would say, pick up the book Project Hail Mary and find out for yourself. (Kudos to Andy Weir for giving this masterpiece to humanity.)

Imagine being struck in a situation where you are embarking on a suicidal mission of no return (death being your endgame). Wait, the scenario doesn't end here. Of course, it is a suicidal mission, but you are also burdened with the responsibility of saving mankind before you die. So, what would you do? (I would be in a state of confusion, wondering why I am stuck in this plight.) For our protagonist (aka Ryland Grace), this is his harsh reality. As if to add fuel to the fire, this is revealed at the very beginning (Andy Weir laughs evilly).

As if all this were not enough, our hero is in constant turmoil throughout the book. Before he can take a proper breath, he is thrust back into the trouble zone (Andy Weir, a little mercy was all we expected, but you made him endure). As you flip through the pages, you are immediately drawn into the plot, and what can I say? Mwah! Just pure goosebumps stuff.

In terms of suspense, if I were a book critic, I would give it full marks (no doubt about it). The non-linear story structure, in particular, gives it an extra punch. I think I may be going a little overboard (maybe more) with my praise rather than offering a profound analysis. Darn it! The book deserves it. One thing about Grace’s character that truly influenced me is how his use of foul language is formal and devoid of vulgarity. With all the exciting elements packed in, what would stop it from being the ultimate page-turner?

Adding to its glory, the book is being adapted into a film, starring Ryan Gosling as the lead. I don't know how the film will turn out, but the adrenaline rush and the vivid imagination the book offers are something I doubt the film can match.

After finishing the book, I had a chat with a friend about it. He brought up an interesting point: if we had been introduced to this book during our early education, it might have inspired us to explore science and become science nerds. I completely agree. So, I strongly recommend you grab a copy or find a way to read it. I promise you won't be able to put it down until the end. Happy reading. Take care and adios.

Breaking Bad: The Chemistry of Crime

Imagine being a 50-year-old chemistry teacher, barely making enough money to sustain your family. Suddenly, you’re diagnosed with stage 3 inoperable lung cancer. You’re overwhelmed by the abysmal thought of leaving this world and, even worse, leaving your family with nothing. Then, out of nowhere, an opportunity arises—one that could secure your family’s future. But to seize it, you have to break bad.

That’s the genesis of today’s recommendation: Breaking Bad. It is, without a doubt, the greatest show ever made—period. From the pilot to the season finale, it’s the most thrilling experience one can have. The brilliance of this show lies in its ability to build suspense and the intensity grows exponentially with each season.

If you have a knack for gangster films like me, then this show is a must-watch. Ever since I was introduced to gangster dramas through Martin Scorsese’s films (by the way, you have to check out Scorsese—this guy is a legend), I fell in love with the genre itself. What sets Breaking Bad apart is that it never fails to captivate its audience with its masterfully written drama. That very drama was crucial to the show’s immense success.

Vince Gilligan (the show’s creator) crafted a story that seamlessly blends the world of drug cartels with gripping family drama. Another fascinating aspect is how much appreciation for chemistry you develop while watching the show. A friend of mine once finished three chapters of his chemistry textbook in a single sitting after watching just the first season! That’s the kind of impact it can have.Breaking Bad may be about drugs, but trust me the show itself is a drug.

Now, let’s talk about the characters. Their arcs are so intricately designed that no one can be classified as purely good or evil—every character has a mix of both. Walter White and Jesse Pinkman’s journey is nothing short of phenomenal. At first, you might judge them too quickly, but as the show progresses, they shed their true colors, making their transformation all the more compelling.

I won’t spoil any more details for you, but I hope you got the essence of what makes Breaking Bad a masterpiece. This show follows the transformative journey of an ordinary high school chemistry teacher as he becomes one of the most feared drug lords.

As I wrap up this blog, I just have one thing to ask: "Say my name?"

Just kidding. Peace out, folks!

SEETHAMMA VAKITLO SIRIMALLE CHETTU: A guide on the art of living

If there is a guaranteed recipe for a film to be a success at the box office, as per my assumption, I would condense it into the following steps:

1. You need a grand intro scene for our hero and heroine.

2. A story just enough to get by.

3. An interval bang.

4. A pre-climax twist.

5. A happy ending, where the hero wins.

6. And finally, the secret ingredient of the recipe—add an item song somewhere in between.

Finally, you have a blockbuster film.

But consider this: Can a straightforward, no-nonsense film, with genuineness in its every frame, mint profits while also entertaining the audience?

Welcome to SEETHAMMA VAKITLO SIRIMALLE CHETTU (SVSC).

Just before proceeding with the proceedings, I need to inform you, guys, that we have some homework this time. Don't worry, I won't be asking you to solve any mathematics problems—just consider it as some fun activities.

HOMEWORK 1: Watch SVSC. Repeat if you have already watched it and refresh that old memory of yours. And if you haven't still watched it, "WERE YOU GUYS LIVING UNDER A STONE OR WHAT?" Watch it ASAP.

You shouldn't just watch this film—the trick is, you need to feel it.

As I go back down memory lane and think of myself watching SVSC for the first time in theaters, sorry to say, I was pretty disappointed.

(Fans of SVSC: "RUKO JARA, SABAR KARO." (I, myself, am a huge fan of it, now.))

Don't judge me or rage at my past opinion because I was just an innocent nine-year-old kid, just getting myself acquainted with the ways of the world. And being a 'pakka commercial' audience member back then, I was looking for bone-breaking fights in a sweet and simple, to-the-core family drama.

HOMEWORK 2: Stop for a minute and just reminisce about a memory of yourself being in my shoes—looking for the right things in the wrong places.

As all my milk teeth were replaced by permanent teeth, I cracked the code. This film absolutely captured my pure admiration and love. (WHAT MORE DOES AN ARTIST EXPECT OTHER THAN THIS FOR THEIR WORK!)

The characters in the film weren’t just some 2D figures; they were down-to-earth, relatable, with their unique mannerisms and special character arcs aiding in making the film a masterpiece.

Now, watching this film, for me, meant being on a journey of how to lead a content life and be a good human being. (At this point, I'm literally contradicting the ideology of Relangi Mamaiah that humans are already good beings, but I believe we need to make ourselves worthy of it.)

Is it hard to just greet a person you know with a smile on your face?

Is it hard to say something good to a fellow stranger?

Is it hard to spend some quality time with your family?

I say, these things seem simple on the outside, but we have been strictly living a life of ignorance and making huge mistakes on our part. So next time, whenever you are around strangers, take baby steps—why don’t we talk a thing or two about something good, wearing a glowing smile?

A love letter to SVSC - An evergreen life story

HOMEWORK 3: Try it and analyze the results for yourselves.

Before closing the curtains on this show, I want to drive home a point to everyone: It is never wrong to be good to others. In fact, the good you give returns as even more good to you.

HOMEWORK 4: Stop scrolling the nonsense on your phone, spend time with your family, and possibly, make them laugh.

Signing off,

Member of Vitaphile Club.