Cécile Rischmann's Blog
May 15, 2023
From a report card that could stop trains to achieving several distinctions – the incredible journey of my French student, Eric.
In late August 2022, I received a call from an anxious mother seeking my help in teaching her son French. The boy was preparing for his public exams and was not performing at his best. The extended period of the Covid lockdown had affected his motivation, and his report card was a cause for concern. His parents worried about his future prospects.
Given the limited time I had – just six months – and the fact that he couldn’t attend classes every day due to other subjects, I faced a challenging task. However, I have always embraced challenges, so I assured the mother that I would meet Eric before making any decisions.
Eric arrived at my place in his school uniform and conducted himself respectfully. His thoughtful answers and scrutinizing gaze made me feel like I was under examination. Something about his bright eyes reminded me of myself at his age. Hadn’t I been written off, too, by my teachers? What if it was the same for him?
And so our French classes began, held twice a week for an hour or two, sometimes extending to three or four hours. I initially worried about Eric’s playful nature, lack of retaining skills, refusal to revise, and never taking notes. Eric’s mother impressively managed his demanding schedule, tirelessly shuttling him from one class to the other. I admired her dedication.
Two days before the public exams, I was asked to take on Eric’s friend, who was an exceptionally bright student alongside Eric. Initially, I declined the request, anxious about Eric’s progress. I feared that the presence of this highly talented student would adversely affect Eric, potentially undermining the months of training we had invested in. I proposed teaching them separately, but they wanted to be together. Eventually, after much persuasion, I agreed.
That day taught me a valuable lesson: never underestimate your student, as they can surprise you. Before the academically gifted student could even form a sentence, Eric confidently and swiftly answered questions, leaving me astounded. His playful demeanour had vanished, revealing a side of him brimming with self-assurance as he outperformed his friend effortlessly.
We went from lesson to lesson, doing grammar exercises and practising question papers, and it was Eric who shone like a bright star in the night sky. There came a moment when Eric magnanimously said, “Ma’am, let my friend answer first, and if he can’t, I will.” I was like…what?
I then assigned them compositions, letter-writing tasks, and dialogues. When I read Eric’s work, I was amazed to find that he had mastered the usage of complex tenses, including the Subjunctive, Imparfait, Plus Que Parfait, Conditional, Future, Imperative and the “Si” Clause.
I felt an overwhelming sense of pride for my student and thanked God for bringing him to me. Eric didn’t just pass his French exam; he achieved an outstanding score of 76%.
Praise God.
Given the limited time I had – just six months – and the fact that he couldn’t attend classes every day due to other subjects, I faced a challenging task. However, I have always embraced challenges, so I assured the mother that I would meet Eric before making any decisions.
Eric arrived at my place in his school uniform and conducted himself respectfully. His thoughtful answers and scrutinizing gaze made me feel like I was under examination. Something about his bright eyes reminded me of myself at his age. Hadn’t I been written off, too, by my teachers? What if it was the same for him?
And so our French classes began, held twice a week for an hour or two, sometimes extending to three or four hours. I initially worried about Eric’s playful nature, lack of retaining skills, refusal to revise, and never taking notes. Eric’s mother impressively managed his demanding schedule, tirelessly shuttling him from one class to the other. I admired her dedication.
Two days before the public exams, I was asked to take on Eric’s friend, who was an exceptionally bright student alongside Eric. Initially, I declined the request, anxious about Eric’s progress. I feared that the presence of this highly talented student would adversely affect Eric, potentially undermining the months of training we had invested in. I proposed teaching them separately, but they wanted to be together. Eventually, after much persuasion, I agreed.
That day taught me a valuable lesson: never underestimate your student, as they can surprise you. Before the academically gifted student could even form a sentence, Eric confidently and swiftly answered questions, leaving me astounded. His playful demeanour had vanished, revealing a side of him brimming with self-assurance as he outperformed his friend effortlessly.
We went from lesson to lesson, doing grammar exercises and practising question papers, and it was Eric who shone like a bright star in the night sky. There came a moment when Eric magnanimously said, “Ma’am, let my friend answer first, and if he can’t, I will.” I was like…what?
I then assigned them compositions, letter-writing tasks, and dialogues. When I read Eric’s work, I was amazed to find that he had mastered the usage of complex tenses, including the Subjunctive, Imparfait, Plus Que Parfait, Conditional, Future, Imperative and the “Si” Clause.
I felt an overwhelming sense of pride for my student and thanked God for bringing him to me. Eric didn’t just pass his French exam; he achieved an outstanding score of 76%.
Praise God.
May 17, 2022
Broken Pieces, Turkish Series, a detailed summary and review by Cecile Rischmann
A wealthy family and a poor one have something in common; their surname starts with the letter G and is almost identical. Gulseren Gulpinar from a poor neighbourhood is heavily pregnant and doing some fruit and vegetable shopping. A car hits her, and she is rushed to the nearest hospital. She delivers a baby girl, Hazal.
Dilara Gurpinar, the wife of a wealthy businessman, Cihan Gurpinar, also gives birth on the same day to a baby girl, Cansu. The babies are swapped accidentally in the ICU and given to their mothers.
Fifteen years later
Hazal Gulpinar grows up to be a vain, selfish, arrogant girl who always seeks to be noticed. From the very first scene, she is discontented with her poor surrounding, runaway father (Ozkan), poverty-stricken neighbourhood and her hardworking mother, who never seemed to have enough money to satisfy this girl. Hazal is spoilt rotten by her aunty from the paternal side (Keriman), who makes life very difficult for Gulseren.
Cansu Gurpinar, on the other hand, is a beautiful, soft-spoken girl who has excellent character and always wants to please her parents. Although she gets along famously with her father, Cihan, she cannot satisfy her mother’s strive for perfection. One day, disturbed beyond her ability to cope, she leaves the stadium where she is an equestrian and runs out without looking and is knocked down. She is rushed to the hospital. While taking her blood test, Cihan and Dilara discover she is not their child.
All hell breaks loose, and they discuss the matter in high tension. Cansu overhears them. She cannot accept that her parents are not really her parents and that her attractive brother (Ozan) is not really blood-related. She is determined to trace her biological mother.
Hazal Gulpinar is trouble with capital T and loves hanging out where the rich kids frequent. She pretends she is one of them and tries to blend in. A boy takes her out for the night, and Hazal is frightened and makes such a scene that he drops her off on the road in the dead of night and roars away in his flashy car.
When Hazal doesn’t return home, Gulseren goes in the pouring rain hunting for her daughter after learning from Hazal’s friend that they had been in a particular restaurant. Gulseren comes to Cihan’s restaurant, and since they don’t allow her in, she flings a stone and breaks a vitrine. Cihan sees the distressed woman and goes forward to help and learns that her daughter was frequenting this restaurant before she disappeared. He drives the beautiful Gulseren until they locate a trembling Hazal taking shelter by a bus stand. Gulseren thanks Cihan, and he drops them off at their house.
Cansu Gurpinar manages to get the address of her biological mother through the hospital records and follows Gulseren around. At first, Gulseren is kind, but when Cansu becomes her shadow, she tells her to go away and leave her alone. Instead, Cansu tries to forge a relationship.
Hazal Gulpinar continues her trouble-making journey and barely bothers with Gulseren and her money problems. Keriman tries to do her bit for Hazal, but the girl wants more and more. Ozkan returns from prison and tries to woo Gulseren, encouraged by his sister Keriman, but Gulseren has an aversion to him. She also remembers that her ex-husband did nothing for her and her child and left them with his sister, who tortured Gulseren physically, mentally and emotionally.
In the meantime, Dilara and Cihan are having issues and heading for divorce. When Cansu is discovered making a breakthrough with her biological mother, Dilara is upset and searches for her biological daughter Hazal. Hazal is in seventh heaven as she is taken to the best boutiques and bought beautiful clothes, shoes and accessories. She loves her rich entourage and the beautiful car in which she is driven around. Hazal is most excited to discover that Dilara is her biological mother. There isn’t a doubt she will go and live in that mansion with her rich folks and abandon her poor mother.
Cihan feels bad for Gulseren, who loves Hazal to bits. He tries to tell Hazal that she must also consider her mother’s feelings, but Hazal is adamant. She cuts off ties with her family and adopts an affluent lifestyle. She is now sent to private school and has rich, cultured friends. She is glowing.
Cansu is more often with Gulseren and consoles her with her presence. She even hits it off with her runaway father, Ozkan, and both are sharing a meal in a run-down joint. Cansu hates what Hazal is doing to her folks, and her love for Gulseren makes Dilara jealous.
Dilara does not vibe with Hazal, and she finds her superficial and puts her in her place. The maids, Cihan’s father Rahmi Gurpinar, and Ozan (her brother) cannot stand Hazal. She lords it over and makes them feel she is the boss. She even ignores the poor aunt Keriman who gave her all she had to keep her happy and smiling.
Cihan feels that Cansu cannot live with Gulseren in that poor, run-down apartment, so he gets a fully-furnished apartment in a residential area and has Cansu and Gulseren living there. Gulseren’s ex-husband Ozkan tries to get Gulseren back and is fiercely jealous of Cihan’s wealthy lifestyle. Dilara is extremely upset with the happening; not only has she lost her favourite daughter, Cansu, she is now losing her ex-husband to Gulseren. He is practically living at her place under the pretext of meeting with Cansu.
Hazal is trying hard to win her mother’s affections, but she is snubbed at each point. Dilara cannot tolerate her behaviour with the staff and everyone else. She doesn’t know what to do with Hazal, and it comes to a point where she regrets having made a move to get her. She teams up with Cihan’s gambler father Rahmi (whose debts she pays off), and they try to hoodwink Gulseren. Poor Gulseren falls for it. Cihan comes to her aid and confronts Dilara about her folly. He tells her she is not the person she used to be. She will never get him back because he is in love with Gulseren.
Cihan courts Gulseren with love and adoration, and Cansu is ecstatic with the reunion. Hazal detests her mother for what she is doing and refuses to speak, leave alone meet her. Gulseren’s ex-husband is enraged too. On the day of their marriage, Gulseren is shot. The bullet is for Cihan’s son Ozan (who had an affair with a married woman, and Dilara paid her to leave him). The husband comes to avenge him. The bullet hits Gulseren. She dies. Cihan turns crazy.
Cansu is broken inside. When she was getting to know her mother, fate took her away. She returns to the mansion, much to Hazal’s distress. Competition starts, and both girls are strong contenders; however, Cansu is natural and is loved genuinely, whereas Hazal pretends and wins friendship. Ozan cannot tolerate Hazal, but he loves Cansu to bits.
Dilara teams up with female Attorney Candan, and the two take over Cihan’s company, thanks to Candan’s ex-husband Yildirim (Cihan’s most trusted attorney), who Candan hoodwinks. Candan also hooks up with Gulseren’s ex-husband Ozkan and the two share intimacies.
Dilara has a sister Asuman who suddenly lands up and makes life difficult for Dilara. She pretends to love Dilara, but Dilara has sized her up a long time ago and knows her inside. In the meantime, Hazal is getting along famously with the aunt. Asuman has one best friend, Candan; the two have been in touch for years. When Dilara and Candan fall out, Asuman and Candan’s friendship gets deeper. Candan is now having an affair with a tycoon, Harun, who has returned to Turkey to avenge Cihan.
Harun’s sister had been in love with Cihan, and Harun was a secret lover of Dilara in the past. But because they weren’t doing so well, Dilara’s folks got her married to Cihan. So, Harun’s sister takes her life. Harun is in Turkey and is BIG trouble for Cihan. They are both famous businessmen, the only difference being Harun is in the money laundering business since his partner is Damir, a mafia boss.
Harun courts Dilara in style, and she flips for him. He treats her like a princess and is desperately in love with Dilara. Dilara, however, is torn between Cihan (ex-husband) and Harun. Dilara becomes pregnant, and Harun marries her. Dilara’s sister Asuman discovers a secret that turns Gurpinar’s family upside down. Cihan and Dilara’s attractive problematic son, Ozan, is actually Harun’s son, not Cihan’s! But the bigger surprise comes when Cihan admits to knowing before he had married Dilara. Dilara is shocked and embarrassed about having lied to Cihan. Ozan hates Cihan for not revealing this earlier and pretending to be his father. Harun is trying to win Ozan to no avail.
Cihan, in the meantime, stays close to Dilara when she has an accident and is in a coma because her son Ozan plays “difficile”. Dilara loses memory and thinks Cihan is her husband and Cansu, her daughter. She doesn’t remember Harun or Hazal. Asuman tries for Harun, but apart from helping her financially, he is not interested in Asuman. Hazal and Harun bond.
Dilara’s biological father has been searching for her for decades and finally finds out that his daughter is the beautiful Dilara Gurpinar. By this time, Cihan has fallen for a psychiatrist, and she is accidentally killed when she comes in the way of a fight between Cihan and his father, Rahmi. Cihan is totally shattered and believes he is a misfortune to the womenfolk.
Dilara is at first very rude to her father and thinks his return is linked to her wealth. But her poor father is a sick man, and it is his last wish to be reunited with his daughter. Dilara’s father-in-law Rahmi had befriended him in the past, and so did Asuman and Candan; the latter tried to get him to claim Dilara so that Asuman could steal the wealth. But Dilara’s father refused.
Cansu falls in love and runs away with Deniz (a poor boy with big dreams living with his sick mother), and they marry. They are ecstatically happy. Deniz discovers his father is a gangster, and because of him, his mother dies. Although his father reunites and loves him, Deniz wants nothing to do with him. The father feels let down. In a confrontation with the police, the father dies. Deniz inherits his wealth but doesn’t want it. Cihan is impressed with Deniz’s capacity for learning and gives him a lead position in the company.
Cansu falls in love with a baby in an orphanage, but before she can go for it, it is too late. Another couple adopts the baby. Dilara pays one million to the greedy adoptive parents and gets the baby for Cansu. When Cansu is diagnosed with Parkinson’s, she cannot take care of the baby but loves it so much that she cannot be apart.
Deniz longs for a child of their own, but Cansu cannot conceive and is 24/7 occupied with the adopted baby. Worse still, she loses control of her faculties, and the baby is almost drowned on one occasion. On another, she is strolling with the pram when she is seized with trembling. She lets go of the pram, and it is almost crushed by ongoing traffic. Deniz calls Social Service, reveals the inside story, and gets the baby taken away. The biological parents are penalised for selling the child, and Cansu is distressed and divorces Deniz.
Harun and Cihan are meeting for forced business collaboration with Mafia boss Damir. Damir’s presence is a threat to the Gurpinar family, for he has kidnapped Dilara and Harun’s little son Alan and promises to do more as Harun tries to cut ties with him.
On the day of the signing, Damir excuses himself under the pretext of fetching a pen, and the entire conference is attacked by gunshots. Harun protects his biological son Ozan and dies in the gunfire. Ozan regrets not having accepted Harun as his father. As Harun’s rightful heir, Ozan is Damir’s partner. Ozan has no idea that Damir is behind the killing of his father as Damir has covered his tracks well and cleared all spies, and police allies, who were on the point of discovering his business. One of those spies was Hazal’s love.
Damir is introduced to Hazal by Asuman at a nightclub, and Damir is so fascinated that he barely knows what he’s doing. He forgets all he’s done to Hazal’s family and courts Hazal with cars, paintings, etc. Hazal is captivated by him and the fact that he is a tycoon. Cihan and Dilara come to know too late, and by that time, Hazal is adamant about marrying Damir. She has no idea the kind of man he is, nor does she want to know. On their wedding day, Dilara shoots Damir, nearly killing him. Her father-in-law, Rahmi, takes the blame and goes to prison.
Dilara’s biological father almost commits suicide, and Rahmi saves him. He promises to get Dilara and him together. Finally, the opportunity arrives when Rahmi takes the sentence due to Dilara and goes to prison. Dilara feels obligated when Rahmi requests she meets her dad. Dilara not only meets her dad but brings him home and introduces him to her family.
Cansu is cured of Parkinson’s after her treatment. Hazal meets up with Damir, and the two spend a night together. She and Damir enjoy some intense romance. She is packing to elope with him.
Ozan gets into one scandal after the other, the last one almost costing him imprisonment. His so-called friend had links to Damir, and Ozan had been set up. The girl with him is killed in her sleep. Ozan calls Cihan for help, and Cihan finds a way to bail him out. Ozan discovers that his biological father Harun’s death was not a freak accident; Damir arranged it. Asuman also tells Dilara that Damir was linked to the killings. Asuman has this privileged information because she is dating Damir’s right hand. Hazal faints in shock.
The police take Damir in.
Dilara and Cihan are getting married again. On their wedding day, Damir has bailed himself out and has set up his men around Cihan’s place. Cihan had once told Damir that if Damir marries Hazal, he must die, or Cihan must die. But as long as Cihan was alive, he would never let his daughter marry Damir. So, on the marriage day, Cihan has his men overtake Damir’s men and kill them.
Damir is in his office, confident that everything is going according to plan. However, he hasn’t a clue that he is about to meet his death. Under the disguise of a waiter, a spy man brings him a drink, and as Damir is sipping it and looking out of the window, he shoots him in the head. Later, in the lift, Damir’s right hand is also killed.
The Gurpinar family and the Gulpinar family are happy. All is well.
Broken Pieces is one of the best series I have watched, and I have seen quite a few. What is fundamental for the success of a series, in my humble opinion, is that the movements should be natural. Conflicts emerge from characters without external interference. The characters are three-dimensional, meaning we have the backstory about them, not in grand doses but little revelations at the right time. We need to understand why characters behave the way they do, what motivates them, their social standing, who they frequent, what turns them into beautiful and awful beings, etc.
Broken Pieces has done their homework, gave us 97 fabulous two-hour episodes, and kept us on edge. Every actor was in their element, be it a minor or major role. They had a presence and were believable, keeping us inside the loop and not looking from the outside.
Gulseren gave an award-winning performance, and it was a pity that she died. But had she not been taken away, we’d not discovered Dilara in her splendour. Cool, elegant, sophisticated, Dilara turns heads as she walks into the room. Although a mother of three, she is slim and hot in every outfit she wears. Her frosty reception of the people she couldn’t tolerate, how she shuts them up with a glance and a few words, is admirable.
Cihan and Harun were fantastic. Both took their roles of businessmen/lover/father/ and appealed to our senses. We were involved in their characters, concerned about what happened to them and loved, applauded and hated them.
Cansu and Hazal were excellent too, but I must say, I didn’t care for Hazal much as she was self-centred. Although we have seen her background and know why she is what she is, I could not tolerate her actions. The only moment I felt her pain was when Gulseren takes away all Hazal’s designer clothes, which Dilara buys her and goes off in search of Dilara. Hazal is sitting on the doorstep of her poor neighbourhood, clinging to a shoe or top (I’m not sure) that has fallen on the road and cries. Splendid performance. She never shed a genuine tear when her mother, Gulseren, dies. But there again, she is in her character – her love for wealth and her sophisticated parents.
Ozan is fantastic looking; however, like Hazal, he was a troublemaker. At times, how he treated Cihan, Harun and Dilara made me want to knock him down.
Rahmi, Kerima, Ozkan, Engin and Kerima’s friend were great comedians. They were entertaining even in serious situations and kept us in splits.
Asuman and Candan were sensational. I loved the scene when Candan and Dilara walk into Cihan’s office in their professional get up. Their stride, confidence, and beauty were unrivalled. Hats off to the costume designer and make-up artists.
Deniz and his mother also played their part well. Deniz, the attractive and dutiful son, later father’s boy and Cihan’s son-in-law. As Cansu’s husband also, he was formidable.
Damir has played the villain in several Turkish series; however, he projected a besotted lover and a ruthless villain excellently in this one.
I’d rate Broken Pieces a 5/5.
They scored on plot development, characterisation, conflict (internal, external and interpersonal), storyline and language. The subtitling was good. The music was pleasant. Great direction and cinematography. Hats off to you all.
Dilara Gurpinar, the wife of a wealthy businessman, Cihan Gurpinar, also gives birth on the same day to a baby girl, Cansu. The babies are swapped accidentally in the ICU and given to their mothers.
Fifteen years later
Hazal Gulpinar grows up to be a vain, selfish, arrogant girl who always seeks to be noticed. From the very first scene, she is discontented with her poor surrounding, runaway father (Ozkan), poverty-stricken neighbourhood and her hardworking mother, who never seemed to have enough money to satisfy this girl. Hazal is spoilt rotten by her aunty from the paternal side (Keriman), who makes life very difficult for Gulseren.
Cansu Gurpinar, on the other hand, is a beautiful, soft-spoken girl who has excellent character and always wants to please her parents. Although she gets along famously with her father, Cihan, she cannot satisfy her mother’s strive for perfection. One day, disturbed beyond her ability to cope, she leaves the stadium where she is an equestrian and runs out without looking and is knocked down. She is rushed to the hospital. While taking her blood test, Cihan and Dilara discover she is not their child.
All hell breaks loose, and they discuss the matter in high tension. Cansu overhears them. She cannot accept that her parents are not really her parents and that her attractive brother (Ozan) is not really blood-related. She is determined to trace her biological mother.
Hazal Gulpinar is trouble with capital T and loves hanging out where the rich kids frequent. She pretends she is one of them and tries to blend in. A boy takes her out for the night, and Hazal is frightened and makes such a scene that he drops her off on the road in the dead of night and roars away in his flashy car.
When Hazal doesn’t return home, Gulseren goes in the pouring rain hunting for her daughter after learning from Hazal’s friend that they had been in a particular restaurant. Gulseren comes to Cihan’s restaurant, and since they don’t allow her in, she flings a stone and breaks a vitrine. Cihan sees the distressed woman and goes forward to help and learns that her daughter was frequenting this restaurant before she disappeared. He drives the beautiful Gulseren until they locate a trembling Hazal taking shelter by a bus stand. Gulseren thanks Cihan, and he drops them off at their house.
Cansu Gurpinar manages to get the address of her biological mother through the hospital records and follows Gulseren around. At first, Gulseren is kind, but when Cansu becomes her shadow, she tells her to go away and leave her alone. Instead, Cansu tries to forge a relationship.
Hazal Gulpinar continues her trouble-making journey and barely bothers with Gulseren and her money problems. Keriman tries to do her bit for Hazal, but the girl wants more and more. Ozkan returns from prison and tries to woo Gulseren, encouraged by his sister Keriman, but Gulseren has an aversion to him. She also remembers that her ex-husband did nothing for her and her child and left them with his sister, who tortured Gulseren physically, mentally and emotionally.
In the meantime, Dilara and Cihan are having issues and heading for divorce. When Cansu is discovered making a breakthrough with her biological mother, Dilara is upset and searches for her biological daughter Hazal. Hazal is in seventh heaven as she is taken to the best boutiques and bought beautiful clothes, shoes and accessories. She loves her rich entourage and the beautiful car in which she is driven around. Hazal is most excited to discover that Dilara is her biological mother. There isn’t a doubt she will go and live in that mansion with her rich folks and abandon her poor mother.
Cihan feels bad for Gulseren, who loves Hazal to bits. He tries to tell Hazal that she must also consider her mother’s feelings, but Hazal is adamant. She cuts off ties with her family and adopts an affluent lifestyle. She is now sent to private school and has rich, cultured friends. She is glowing.
Cansu is more often with Gulseren and consoles her with her presence. She even hits it off with her runaway father, Ozkan, and both are sharing a meal in a run-down joint. Cansu hates what Hazal is doing to her folks, and her love for Gulseren makes Dilara jealous.
Dilara does not vibe with Hazal, and she finds her superficial and puts her in her place. The maids, Cihan’s father Rahmi Gurpinar, and Ozan (her brother) cannot stand Hazal. She lords it over and makes them feel she is the boss. She even ignores the poor aunt Keriman who gave her all she had to keep her happy and smiling.
Cihan feels that Cansu cannot live with Gulseren in that poor, run-down apartment, so he gets a fully-furnished apartment in a residential area and has Cansu and Gulseren living there. Gulseren’s ex-husband Ozkan tries to get Gulseren back and is fiercely jealous of Cihan’s wealthy lifestyle. Dilara is extremely upset with the happening; not only has she lost her favourite daughter, Cansu, she is now losing her ex-husband to Gulseren. He is practically living at her place under the pretext of meeting with Cansu.
Hazal is trying hard to win her mother’s affections, but she is snubbed at each point. Dilara cannot tolerate her behaviour with the staff and everyone else. She doesn’t know what to do with Hazal, and it comes to a point where she regrets having made a move to get her. She teams up with Cihan’s gambler father Rahmi (whose debts she pays off), and they try to hoodwink Gulseren. Poor Gulseren falls for it. Cihan comes to her aid and confronts Dilara about her folly. He tells her she is not the person she used to be. She will never get him back because he is in love with Gulseren.
Cihan courts Gulseren with love and adoration, and Cansu is ecstatic with the reunion. Hazal detests her mother for what she is doing and refuses to speak, leave alone meet her. Gulseren’s ex-husband is enraged too. On the day of their marriage, Gulseren is shot. The bullet is for Cihan’s son Ozan (who had an affair with a married woman, and Dilara paid her to leave him). The husband comes to avenge him. The bullet hits Gulseren. She dies. Cihan turns crazy.
Cansu is broken inside. When she was getting to know her mother, fate took her away. She returns to the mansion, much to Hazal’s distress. Competition starts, and both girls are strong contenders; however, Cansu is natural and is loved genuinely, whereas Hazal pretends and wins friendship. Ozan cannot tolerate Hazal, but he loves Cansu to bits.
Dilara teams up with female Attorney Candan, and the two take over Cihan’s company, thanks to Candan’s ex-husband Yildirim (Cihan’s most trusted attorney), who Candan hoodwinks. Candan also hooks up with Gulseren’s ex-husband Ozkan and the two share intimacies.
Dilara has a sister Asuman who suddenly lands up and makes life difficult for Dilara. She pretends to love Dilara, but Dilara has sized her up a long time ago and knows her inside. In the meantime, Hazal is getting along famously with the aunt. Asuman has one best friend, Candan; the two have been in touch for years. When Dilara and Candan fall out, Asuman and Candan’s friendship gets deeper. Candan is now having an affair with a tycoon, Harun, who has returned to Turkey to avenge Cihan.
Harun’s sister had been in love with Cihan, and Harun was a secret lover of Dilara in the past. But because they weren’t doing so well, Dilara’s folks got her married to Cihan. So, Harun’s sister takes her life. Harun is in Turkey and is BIG trouble for Cihan. They are both famous businessmen, the only difference being Harun is in the money laundering business since his partner is Damir, a mafia boss.
Harun courts Dilara in style, and she flips for him. He treats her like a princess and is desperately in love with Dilara. Dilara, however, is torn between Cihan (ex-husband) and Harun. Dilara becomes pregnant, and Harun marries her. Dilara’s sister Asuman discovers a secret that turns Gurpinar’s family upside down. Cihan and Dilara’s attractive problematic son, Ozan, is actually Harun’s son, not Cihan’s! But the bigger surprise comes when Cihan admits to knowing before he had married Dilara. Dilara is shocked and embarrassed about having lied to Cihan. Ozan hates Cihan for not revealing this earlier and pretending to be his father. Harun is trying to win Ozan to no avail.
Cihan, in the meantime, stays close to Dilara when she has an accident and is in a coma because her son Ozan plays “difficile”. Dilara loses memory and thinks Cihan is her husband and Cansu, her daughter. She doesn’t remember Harun or Hazal. Asuman tries for Harun, but apart from helping her financially, he is not interested in Asuman. Hazal and Harun bond.
Dilara’s biological father has been searching for her for decades and finally finds out that his daughter is the beautiful Dilara Gurpinar. By this time, Cihan has fallen for a psychiatrist, and she is accidentally killed when she comes in the way of a fight between Cihan and his father, Rahmi. Cihan is totally shattered and believes he is a misfortune to the womenfolk.
Dilara is at first very rude to her father and thinks his return is linked to her wealth. But her poor father is a sick man, and it is his last wish to be reunited with his daughter. Dilara’s father-in-law Rahmi had befriended him in the past, and so did Asuman and Candan; the latter tried to get him to claim Dilara so that Asuman could steal the wealth. But Dilara’s father refused.
Cansu falls in love and runs away with Deniz (a poor boy with big dreams living with his sick mother), and they marry. They are ecstatically happy. Deniz discovers his father is a gangster, and because of him, his mother dies. Although his father reunites and loves him, Deniz wants nothing to do with him. The father feels let down. In a confrontation with the police, the father dies. Deniz inherits his wealth but doesn’t want it. Cihan is impressed with Deniz’s capacity for learning and gives him a lead position in the company.
Cansu falls in love with a baby in an orphanage, but before she can go for it, it is too late. Another couple adopts the baby. Dilara pays one million to the greedy adoptive parents and gets the baby for Cansu. When Cansu is diagnosed with Parkinson’s, she cannot take care of the baby but loves it so much that she cannot be apart.
Deniz longs for a child of their own, but Cansu cannot conceive and is 24/7 occupied with the adopted baby. Worse still, she loses control of her faculties, and the baby is almost drowned on one occasion. On another, she is strolling with the pram when she is seized with trembling. She lets go of the pram, and it is almost crushed by ongoing traffic. Deniz calls Social Service, reveals the inside story, and gets the baby taken away. The biological parents are penalised for selling the child, and Cansu is distressed and divorces Deniz.
Harun and Cihan are meeting for forced business collaboration with Mafia boss Damir. Damir’s presence is a threat to the Gurpinar family, for he has kidnapped Dilara and Harun’s little son Alan and promises to do more as Harun tries to cut ties with him.
On the day of the signing, Damir excuses himself under the pretext of fetching a pen, and the entire conference is attacked by gunshots. Harun protects his biological son Ozan and dies in the gunfire. Ozan regrets not having accepted Harun as his father. As Harun’s rightful heir, Ozan is Damir’s partner. Ozan has no idea that Damir is behind the killing of his father as Damir has covered his tracks well and cleared all spies, and police allies, who were on the point of discovering his business. One of those spies was Hazal’s love.
Damir is introduced to Hazal by Asuman at a nightclub, and Damir is so fascinated that he barely knows what he’s doing. He forgets all he’s done to Hazal’s family and courts Hazal with cars, paintings, etc. Hazal is captivated by him and the fact that he is a tycoon. Cihan and Dilara come to know too late, and by that time, Hazal is adamant about marrying Damir. She has no idea the kind of man he is, nor does she want to know. On their wedding day, Dilara shoots Damir, nearly killing him. Her father-in-law, Rahmi, takes the blame and goes to prison.
Dilara’s biological father almost commits suicide, and Rahmi saves him. He promises to get Dilara and him together. Finally, the opportunity arrives when Rahmi takes the sentence due to Dilara and goes to prison. Dilara feels obligated when Rahmi requests she meets her dad. Dilara not only meets her dad but brings him home and introduces him to her family.
Cansu is cured of Parkinson’s after her treatment. Hazal meets up with Damir, and the two spend a night together. She and Damir enjoy some intense romance. She is packing to elope with him.
Ozan gets into one scandal after the other, the last one almost costing him imprisonment. His so-called friend had links to Damir, and Ozan had been set up. The girl with him is killed in her sleep. Ozan calls Cihan for help, and Cihan finds a way to bail him out. Ozan discovers that his biological father Harun’s death was not a freak accident; Damir arranged it. Asuman also tells Dilara that Damir was linked to the killings. Asuman has this privileged information because she is dating Damir’s right hand. Hazal faints in shock.
The police take Damir in.
Dilara and Cihan are getting married again. On their wedding day, Damir has bailed himself out and has set up his men around Cihan’s place. Cihan had once told Damir that if Damir marries Hazal, he must die, or Cihan must die. But as long as Cihan was alive, he would never let his daughter marry Damir. So, on the marriage day, Cihan has his men overtake Damir’s men and kill them.
Damir is in his office, confident that everything is going according to plan. However, he hasn’t a clue that he is about to meet his death. Under the disguise of a waiter, a spy man brings him a drink, and as Damir is sipping it and looking out of the window, he shoots him in the head. Later, in the lift, Damir’s right hand is also killed.
The Gurpinar family and the Gulpinar family are happy. All is well.
Broken Pieces is one of the best series I have watched, and I have seen quite a few. What is fundamental for the success of a series, in my humble opinion, is that the movements should be natural. Conflicts emerge from characters without external interference. The characters are three-dimensional, meaning we have the backstory about them, not in grand doses but little revelations at the right time. We need to understand why characters behave the way they do, what motivates them, their social standing, who they frequent, what turns them into beautiful and awful beings, etc.
Broken Pieces has done their homework, gave us 97 fabulous two-hour episodes, and kept us on edge. Every actor was in their element, be it a minor or major role. They had a presence and were believable, keeping us inside the loop and not looking from the outside.
Gulseren gave an award-winning performance, and it was a pity that she died. But had she not been taken away, we’d not discovered Dilara in her splendour. Cool, elegant, sophisticated, Dilara turns heads as she walks into the room. Although a mother of three, she is slim and hot in every outfit she wears. Her frosty reception of the people she couldn’t tolerate, how she shuts them up with a glance and a few words, is admirable.
Cihan and Harun were fantastic. Both took their roles of businessmen/lover/father/ and appealed to our senses. We were involved in their characters, concerned about what happened to them and loved, applauded and hated them.
Cansu and Hazal were excellent too, but I must say, I didn’t care for Hazal much as she was self-centred. Although we have seen her background and know why she is what she is, I could not tolerate her actions. The only moment I felt her pain was when Gulseren takes away all Hazal’s designer clothes, which Dilara buys her and goes off in search of Dilara. Hazal is sitting on the doorstep of her poor neighbourhood, clinging to a shoe or top (I’m not sure) that has fallen on the road and cries. Splendid performance. She never shed a genuine tear when her mother, Gulseren, dies. But there again, she is in her character – her love for wealth and her sophisticated parents.
Ozan is fantastic looking; however, like Hazal, he was a troublemaker. At times, how he treated Cihan, Harun and Dilara made me want to knock him down.
Rahmi, Kerima, Ozkan, Engin and Kerima’s friend were great comedians. They were entertaining even in serious situations and kept us in splits.
Asuman and Candan were sensational. I loved the scene when Candan and Dilara walk into Cihan’s office in their professional get up. Their stride, confidence, and beauty were unrivalled. Hats off to the costume designer and make-up artists.
Deniz and his mother also played their part well. Deniz, the attractive and dutiful son, later father’s boy and Cihan’s son-in-law. As Cansu’s husband also, he was formidable.
Damir has played the villain in several Turkish series; however, he projected a besotted lover and a ruthless villain excellently in this one.
I’d rate Broken Pieces a 5/5.
They scored on plot development, characterisation, conflict (internal, external and interpersonal), storyline and language. The subtitling was good. The music was pleasant. Great direction and cinematography. Hats off to you all.
April 3, 2022
Chengalpattu Vanalakshmi
In November 2021, I’d participated in StoryMirror’s most coveted competition: A Story with a Twist, where we were asked to write a sequel to ‘A (Really)Stolen Election’ by Mohan Kannegal.
So I bought his book, read and enjoyed it, picked a character from his story, and wrote a comedy: Chengalpattu Vanalakshmi.
Well, it appears that Chengalpattu Vanalakshmi has bagged the first prize!
Mohan Kannegal
https://winners.storymirror.com/winne...
So I bought his book, read and enjoyed it, picked a character from his story, and wrote a comedy: Chengalpattu Vanalakshmi.
Well, it appears that Chengalpattu Vanalakshmi has bagged the first prize!
Mohan Kannegal
https://winners.storymirror.com/winne...
March 4, 2022
Dangal
A Review by Cécile Rischmann
In a little village in Bhiwani, Haryana, a sturdy middle-age could-have-been gold medalist, Mahavir (Aamir Khan), obsesses about making his future sons Olympic Wrestling Champions. Only his wife bears him FOUR daughters.
Mahavir packs up his awards and dreams and locks them in a trunk, never to be reopened.
Life continues for the next thirteen years. Mahavir works part-time at a local wrestling ring and rewards promising wrestlers with a coin. His wife keeps the pot boiling, and his daughters grow into beautiful young girls with long hair and ample wear, probably to protect them from the roving eye.
One day, a woman comes over to Mahavir's place to complain about her sons being beaten black and blue. Mahavir, without hesitation, scolds his nephew, thinking he is responsible. His wife, however, points to the culprits. Mahavir startles as his eyes shift on two medium-size kids with their heads bent and their long braids almost touching the floor.
Surely not Geeta and Babita? He wonders, sending the village woman away after reassuring her that it will never happen again. Then he turns to the girls and makes the mistake of asking them how they attacked their victims. Geeta and Babita are only too happy to demonstrate on their cousin, and by the time they are finished with him, the poor boy is crawling out.
Hope rekindles in Mahavir's heart, and despair flies out. He is ready to turn those sweet little darlings into daring robust wrestlers who walk the planet glaring and scaring everyone under the sun.
However, Geeta and Babita are pretty upset to be woken up at dawn to jog, jump, skip, run, and strengthen their slender limbs. They complain about everything and trigger their father so much that he brings in a local barber and has their heads almost shaved! After all, they did say they were collecting lice because of Mahavir's designer manure in the pit! As if that is not enough, he has his nephew's clothes altered for his daughters so that their traditional wear does not hinder their practice sessions.
The angels are not only exhausted, but they are also fed up with Mahavir and his training, so they tamper with the alarm clock and set it behind schedule. Then, when Mahavir finally gets out of bed, the brats sprinkle themselves with water and pretend to be exercising hard. They even secretly attend their best friend's wedding and are dancing to the beat…until Mahavir comes upon them. Geeta and Babita freeze in their dancing pose. Mahavir slams out, disappointed.
Bride Sunita (a 14-year-old girl) advises her friends, citing herself as an example, making them understand that their father wanted their best, unlike hers, who was marrying her off at 14! Geeta and Babita return home revitalised.
Mahavir now has their full attention, and his training becomes more demanding and challenging. He changes their diet to non-vegetarian and promises the Chicken Vendor (Badrul Islam)fame and name in the future if he supplies them at discounted prices.
Geeta and Babita are now 200% invested and work relentlessly until they are ready to compete.
Mahavir pitches Geeta in a competition uniquely male. He faces strong protests from the organisers; however, they finally agree as the fight will draw large audiences. The entire village is present to see the show, and Geeta, very bravely, chooses the most muscular male of the lot. Unafraid of his abs, Geeta repeatedly knocks him down, and the whole village is screaming in excitement. Unfortunately, she loses the match but wins much in prize money than the boy. However, Geeta cannot bear the thought of having lost and urges her father to set up another contest. This time she wrestles like a maniac and defeats not only him but every boy that comes against her.
There's no stopping Geeta and Babita after that as they compete extensively and are impossible to defeat. Mahavir is finally earning respect, and the Chicken Man's posters of the young champions are turning more prominent.
When Geeta is selected for the National Level Wrestling Competition, she must shift to Patiala, Punjab, for further training. The new coach Pramod Kadam has a different approach to the sport that clashes with Mahavir's instructions and training. Geeta gets carried away with the exciting life, makes friends and begins to grow her hair, paint her nails and go shopping.
Her personality turns somewhat arrogant when she returns home. She starts to think that she knows much more than her father and begins to contradict his style. Mahavir challenges Geeta, and Geeta, fired with attitude, doesn't hesitate to knock him down without the slightest concern for his age and health. Babita looks in shock as their poor father struggles to get up and warns Geeta not to lose focus.
When Geeta returns to Patiala, she competes in International matches but loses every one of them. Slowly, she starts to fear. Babita, in the meantime, has also reached the National Level and is competing and winning. When Geeta despairs, Babita encourages her to contact their father, and perhaps he will guide her once again.
Mahavir is only too happy to take over Geeta's training and moves to Patiala with his nephew. By this time, Geeta is told that she must reduce her weight and compete in the light-weight category. Mahavir moves near the NSA Training Centre to help her stay in the 55-kg category. He trains both daughters in their old early-morning routine without disturbing the NSA Training.
One day the girls are spotted in the wee hours of the morning and are taken to task. The coach complains, and the authorities ban the girls from competing. Mahavir pleads with the management and shows them the album he'd made over the years of his daughters' prize money. Much to Mahavir's relief and the Coach's dissatisfaction, they lift the ban, provided Mahavir doesn't interfere.
Intelligent Mahavir finds a way to help Geeta by watching recorded videos of her in international competitions and pointing out her technical flaws.
When Commonwealth Games 2010 is organised in New Delhi, Geeta participates in a 55-kg group, and Mahavir sits in the audience screaming instructions. Geeta disobeys her coach and follows her father's advice and WINS. Geeta gives full credit to her father in a press conference.
The coach turns vindictive and has Mahavir locked in a room during the finals. Geeta fights courageously despite her father's absence, but it is not an easy feat. She seems to be wishing her father was there rapping out instructions. Emily Bensted, the Australian champion, is a formidable opponent, and Geeta is almost despairing. Suddenly, she remembers her father once told her that he cannot always be around, and in a flash, she recalls an instance where she was thrown into the deep swirling waters and challenged to swim or drown. She swam.
Revitalised by her thoughts, Geeta bucks her opponent like a savage bull… lifts her in the air… and throws her down with a thud. In the meantime, Mahavir, who had been struggling for hours trying to get out of the room to watch his daughter's match, is now hearing the Indian National Anthem. He cannot stop smiling as he knows that Geeta has won the feat. Finally, a man unlocks the door, and Mahavir scurries to the stadium, right in time to hug his daughter and say, "Well done."
Aamir Khan never fails to impress with his performance, and he has us teary-eyed and emotional. He doesn't need to dramatise situations and add song, dance and comedy to distract the audience; he weaves all three in his story and makes it seem right to be there. His strict, no-nonsense approach to wrestling is so "authentique" that you wonder if he is a champion wrestler in reality! His striking physical transformation from a fit 29-year-old muscle-man to a flabby father of four leaves us in awe. There are so many aspects to discuss that this review would go into pages; however, let's just say that Aamir Khan is the KING OF KHANS!
Talking about Kings, we might have to delve into the women behind their existence. In this case, Phogat's wife Shobha (Sakshi Tanwar). She is the silent sufferer of her husband's dogged efforts to turn two dainty daughters into powerful wrestlers. Tolerant and understanding, Shobha propels her husband gently, rebukes silently, and supports fiercely.
Young Geeta (Zaira Wasim) and Young Babita (Suhani Bhatnagar) entertain us and keep us laughing time and again. Their cousin, Omkar (Anmol Charan), is their punching bag, and we almost feel sorry for the boy as the girls toss and throw him like a sack of potatoes. His expression when Aamir teaches some complicated moves to his daughters and his "run-for-life" when they turn to him for a demo keeps us in splits. All three youngsters give us a performance laced with comedy.
Elder Geeta (Fatima Sana Shaikh) is so quick on her feet and supple in her moves that she has us glued to the screen. We feel like we are watching the Commonwealth Games LIVE. How do they manage to train the girl to such a great extent that she has us sitting on the edge of our seats holding our breath until we see her knock her rivals down?
Elder Babita (Sanya Malhotra) has an equally mesmerising presence and leaves us breathless too.
Dangal, in my opinion, is one of Aamir Khan's finest movies so far. Congratulation to the team. They deserve the credit for bringing forth a meaningful film that provokes thought, raises questions and renders hope.
In a little village in Bhiwani, Haryana, a sturdy middle-age could-have-been gold medalist, Mahavir (Aamir Khan), obsesses about making his future sons Olympic Wrestling Champions. Only his wife bears him FOUR daughters.
Mahavir packs up his awards and dreams and locks them in a trunk, never to be reopened.
Life continues for the next thirteen years. Mahavir works part-time at a local wrestling ring and rewards promising wrestlers with a coin. His wife keeps the pot boiling, and his daughters grow into beautiful young girls with long hair and ample wear, probably to protect them from the roving eye.
One day, a woman comes over to Mahavir's place to complain about her sons being beaten black and blue. Mahavir, without hesitation, scolds his nephew, thinking he is responsible. His wife, however, points to the culprits. Mahavir startles as his eyes shift on two medium-size kids with their heads bent and their long braids almost touching the floor.
Surely not Geeta and Babita? He wonders, sending the village woman away after reassuring her that it will never happen again. Then he turns to the girls and makes the mistake of asking them how they attacked their victims. Geeta and Babita are only too happy to demonstrate on their cousin, and by the time they are finished with him, the poor boy is crawling out.
Hope rekindles in Mahavir's heart, and despair flies out. He is ready to turn those sweet little darlings into daring robust wrestlers who walk the planet glaring and scaring everyone under the sun.
However, Geeta and Babita are pretty upset to be woken up at dawn to jog, jump, skip, run, and strengthen their slender limbs. They complain about everything and trigger their father so much that he brings in a local barber and has their heads almost shaved! After all, they did say they were collecting lice because of Mahavir's designer manure in the pit! As if that is not enough, he has his nephew's clothes altered for his daughters so that their traditional wear does not hinder their practice sessions.
The angels are not only exhausted, but they are also fed up with Mahavir and his training, so they tamper with the alarm clock and set it behind schedule. Then, when Mahavir finally gets out of bed, the brats sprinkle themselves with water and pretend to be exercising hard. They even secretly attend their best friend's wedding and are dancing to the beat…until Mahavir comes upon them. Geeta and Babita freeze in their dancing pose. Mahavir slams out, disappointed.
Bride Sunita (a 14-year-old girl) advises her friends, citing herself as an example, making them understand that their father wanted their best, unlike hers, who was marrying her off at 14! Geeta and Babita return home revitalised.
Mahavir now has their full attention, and his training becomes more demanding and challenging. He changes their diet to non-vegetarian and promises the Chicken Vendor (Badrul Islam)fame and name in the future if he supplies them at discounted prices.
Geeta and Babita are now 200% invested and work relentlessly until they are ready to compete.
Mahavir pitches Geeta in a competition uniquely male. He faces strong protests from the organisers; however, they finally agree as the fight will draw large audiences. The entire village is present to see the show, and Geeta, very bravely, chooses the most muscular male of the lot. Unafraid of his abs, Geeta repeatedly knocks him down, and the whole village is screaming in excitement. Unfortunately, she loses the match but wins much in prize money than the boy. However, Geeta cannot bear the thought of having lost and urges her father to set up another contest. This time she wrestles like a maniac and defeats not only him but every boy that comes against her.
There's no stopping Geeta and Babita after that as they compete extensively and are impossible to defeat. Mahavir is finally earning respect, and the Chicken Man's posters of the young champions are turning more prominent.
When Geeta is selected for the National Level Wrestling Competition, she must shift to Patiala, Punjab, for further training. The new coach Pramod Kadam has a different approach to the sport that clashes with Mahavir's instructions and training. Geeta gets carried away with the exciting life, makes friends and begins to grow her hair, paint her nails and go shopping.
Her personality turns somewhat arrogant when she returns home. She starts to think that she knows much more than her father and begins to contradict his style. Mahavir challenges Geeta, and Geeta, fired with attitude, doesn't hesitate to knock him down without the slightest concern for his age and health. Babita looks in shock as their poor father struggles to get up and warns Geeta not to lose focus.
When Geeta returns to Patiala, she competes in International matches but loses every one of them. Slowly, she starts to fear. Babita, in the meantime, has also reached the National Level and is competing and winning. When Geeta despairs, Babita encourages her to contact their father, and perhaps he will guide her once again.
Mahavir is only too happy to take over Geeta's training and moves to Patiala with his nephew. By this time, Geeta is told that she must reduce her weight and compete in the light-weight category. Mahavir moves near the NSA Training Centre to help her stay in the 55-kg category. He trains both daughters in their old early-morning routine without disturbing the NSA Training.
One day the girls are spotted in the wee hours of the morning and are taken to task. The coach complains, and the authorities ban the girls from competing. Mahavir pleads with the management and shows them the album he'd made over the years of his daughters' prize money. Much to Mahavir's relief and the Coach's dissatisfaction, they lift the ban, provided Mahavir doesn't interfere.
Intelligent Mahavir finds a way to help Geeta by watching recorded videos of her in international competitions and pointing out her technical flaws.
When Commonwealth Games 2010 is organised in New Delhi, Geeta participates in a 55-kg group, and Mahavir sits in the audience screaming instructions. Geeta disobeys her coach and follows her father's advice and WINS. Geeta gives full credit to her father in a press conference.
The coach turns vindictive and has Mahavir locked in a room during the finals. Geeta fights courageously despite her father's absence, but it is not an easy feat. She seems to be wishing her father was there rapping out instructions. Emily Bensted, the Australian champion, is a formidable opponent, and Geeta is almost despairing. Suddenly, she remembers her father once told her that he cannot always be around, and in a flash, she recalls an instance where she was thrown into the deep swirling waters and challenged to swim or drown. She swam.
Revitalised by her thoughts, Geeta bucks her opponent like a savage bull… lifts her in the air… and throws her down with a thud. In the meantime, Mahavir, who had been struggling for hours trying to get out of the room to watch his daughter's match, is now hearing the Indian National Anthem. He cannot stop smiling as he knows that Geeta has won the feat. Finally, a man unlocks the door, and Mahavir scurries to the stadium, right in time to hug his daughter and say, "Well done."
Aamir Khan never fails to impress with his performance, and he has us teary-eyed and emotional. He doesn't need to dramatise situations and add song, dance and comedy to distract the audience; he weaves all three in his story and makes it seem right to be there. His strict, no-nonsense approach to wrestling is so "authentique" that you wonder if he is a champion wrestler in reality! His striking physical transformation from a fit 29-year-old muscle-man to a flabby father of four leaves us in awe. There are so many aspects to discuss that this review would go into pages; however, let's just say that Aamir Khan is the KING OF KHANS!
Talking about Kings, we might have to delve into the women behind their existence. In this case, Phogat's wife Shobha (Sakshi Tanwar). She is the silent sufferer of her husband's dogged efforts to turn two dainty daughters into powerful wrestlers. Tolerant and understanding, Shobha propels her husband gently, rebukes silently, and supports fiercely.
Young Geeta (Zaira Wasim) and Young Babita (Suhani Bhatnagar) entertain us and keep us laughing time and again. Their cousin, Omkar (Anmol Charan), is their punching bag, and we almost feel sorry for the boy as the girls toss and throw him like a sack of potatoes. His expression when Aamir teaches some complicated moves to his daughters and his "run-for-life" when they turn to him for a demo keeps us in splits. All three youngsters give us a performance laced with comedy.
Elder Geeta (Fatima Sana Shaikh) is so quick on her feet and supple in her moves that she has us glued to the screen. We feel like we are watching the Commonwealth Games LIVE. How do they manage to train the girl to such a great extent that she has us sitting on the edge of our seats holding our breath until we see her knock her rivals down?
Elder Babita (Sanya Malhotra) has an equally mesmerising presence and leaves us breathless too.
Dangal, in my opinion, is one of Aamir Khan's finest movies so far. Congratulation to the team. They deserve the credit for bringing forth a meaningful film that provokes thought, raises questions and renders hope.
February 28, 2022
The Game of my Destiny
The Game of my Destiny
A Review by Cécile Rischmann
The story revolves around a dazzling-eyed down-to-earth hardworking married woman, Asiye, and two minor children (a teenage girl, Nergis and a little boy, Ugur). Asiye is left to fend on her own when her husband, a young handsome, ambitious truck driver Cemal (supposedly in love with her), finds a beautiful, wealthy woman, Helin and takes off for a more satisfactory life.
Asiye knows nothing of his whereabouts, nor does she understand the reason for his departure as theirs was a love marriage with many beautiful memories. Of course, in his last call, Cemal confesses that he cannot continue with the harsh, pitiless life and has to find greener pastures.
Emotionally shattered and financially struggling, Asiye bravely fights hardships single-handed and keeps the boat afloat with the pittance of a salary she earns. Cemal, in the meantime, has become a part of the elite society and is running his father-in-law Harun Demirhan’s company successfully. Helin, his second wife (unaware that her newly-acquired husband is a married man with a family of his own), is desperately in love with him and is bending backwards to please him. They have a son, Umut.
The story takes a turn when an unsavoury character assaults Nergis, and she stabs him, and he dies. The family has to run for their life, and without money, they cannot run far. Intending to reach her only relative, Asiye and her children are heading miles away in a stolen car when they are almost seized. Fortunately, a kind stranger, Mahir, offers to drive them to their destiny. On the way, Asiye learns that her relative is leaving for Germany to be with her daughter and hence Asiye and her children have no roof, money and nowhere to lie down and rest.
Mahir, sensing Asiye’s despair, questions her. She confides briefly about her situation, and he offers to help her. But disaster strikes again, and their car collides with a truck. All of them are hospitalised, and Mahir is in the ICU.
The police come to investigate the accident and take a statement from them. Asiye, Nergis, and Ugur panic and claim they are the family of Mahir. In the meantime, Mahir’s mother Emine, brother Fikret and sister-in-law are in the hospital. Imagine their shock when they learn that Mahir is married with children. But since Mahir has lived in Russia for a while, they accept that perhaps he had his reasons.
Asiye and her children are welcomed warmly into Mahir’s family and are taken to the Demirhan Mansion, where they live in the servant’s quarters and work for the Demirhan family.
The Demirhan family has a troubled atmosphere right from their first appearance. The head, Harun, a strong-willed but kind man, has a dishonest and unworthy son, Raci, who runs a secret casino in the hotel without his father’s knowledge. His daughter-in-law Zahide is even worse; she cannot help but meddle in everyone’s affairs, make disgusting comments, wasting her time bringing the house down. His lovely teenage granddaughter is on a 24-hour shopping spree. But his daughter Helin is beautiful inside out and adores her husband and son. She stands up for what is right and doesn’t hesitate to put people in their place but in a kind way.
Harun’s wife, Nedret, is another tragic addition to his life. She holds a grudge against him for an affair years ago resulting in a child and forces him to give up his son to Maid Emine, Mahir’s adopted mother. It was the main reason why Mahir left for Russia.
Harun, towards retirement age, has a life-threatening illness and decides to make amends with his estranged son, Mahir, and calls him back from Russia. He intends to adopt Mahir legally and give him his rightful inheritance, much to the horror of the Demirhan family. Except for Helin, none of the family members is willing to share their name, let alone their fortune.
When Mahir becomes conscious in the ICU, he discovers he has a wife and children, but instead of shock, he is delighted. Secretly, he has fallen for the exquisite-eyed Asiye and idolises her children. He hopes that they can be a real family.
The day he returns from the hospital (after a secret agreement with his make-believe wife and children that he will not reveal the truth), they come face-to-face with a man Asiye never hoped to see — her run-away husband, Cemal. Gone was the truck driver in a sweatshirt and blue jeans and enters a sophisticated, suited and booted man, who escorts his pretty wife and cute child. However, when he comes face to face with Asiye, there is shock, alarm and disturbance in the air. Nergis, seeing her father, faints in distress. Ugur is unaware that the man in front of him is his father, as Cemal had left when he was born. Moreover, he has adopted Mahir as his father and loves him to bits.
Chaos begins as truck-driver-turned-elite husband Cemal cannot leave Asiye alone and keeps harassing her emotionally, bombarding her with memories of their happy times – all this in secret. In public, they behave as if they don’t know each other.
Asiye is battling against Cemal’s roguish charm, trying to do justice to Mahir, who has taken over her family, supporting them to unbelievable extents. She sometimes feels guilty that they are not giving Mahir his due.
Nergis quickly replaces Mahir with Cemal, believing Cemal’s fatherly love and concern gestures. She behaves arrogantly with Mahir as she feels that he hinders her parents from getting back together.
Asiye stands up to Cemal and tells him to take a flying leap and that she has found someone worthy of being loved.
However, Cemal doesn’t seem to be getting the message and continues to chase her and annoy us with his relentless pursuit of a woman he had once given up for a better life.
The storyline is exciting and keeps us on edge as we wait to see how the conflicts resolve and the plot unfolds. Asiye portrays a woman of substance who doesn’t fold in crises but rises and shines.
Mahir is a fantastic actor who tugs at our heartstrings as he stands by Asiye and her children, trying to do his bit to keep them smiling.
Cemal’s character lacks depth and emotion. We cannot participate in his pain as we do not have enough backstory. We are most aggravated by his crying spells as we cannot understand why a man who has vowed fidelity and was so happy with his wife should leave like a thief and marry someone else. Also, if he loved Asiye and the children the way he seemed to project, would he have not sent a little money to help them through? Considering that he was earning and living an elite life, could he have not wondered how his wife was doing, whether she and the children had food on the table? How could you claim fatherhood when you haven’t done anything that merits that label? His character sketch has not been adequately treated; thus, his performance doesn’t live up to expectations. By the time crucial details are revealed towards the end, it is already too late as we have formed our opinion.
Nergis is a disappointment too. Her swings from loving sensitive daughter to arrogant sharp tongue one startle us. Her outbursts are too unexpected, exaggerated and grate on our nerves. Just as we are absorbing her character, she pulls another stunt, and we are like…what the heck?
Zahide’s character also leaves a lot to be desired. Apart from mischief-making, she doesn’t seem to contribute much to the story. Her disdain for the lowly and her below-the-belt comments make us cringe with embarrassment. Perhaps if we know why she behaves that way, we could empathise with her character.
On the other hand, Raci is in his element as the rascal of the Demirhan family. He does everything under the sun to make us hate him; however, we identify with him because he plays a convincing role and makes his character believable.
Ugur and Umut are fantastic as child artists and very promising. Helin, too, plays her role well as the loving, faithful wife who sees no wrong in her husband or anyone else for that matter. Harun and Nedret are poles apart, but we can empathise with them. Fikret, his wife, son and mother are adorable. Harun’s granddaughter has a stunning presence, and Asiye’s best friend and her cousin from the small-town neighbourhood also play their roles well.
Overall, I enjoyed The Game of my Destiny and hope to see more of Asiye (Oyku Karayel). She is simply breathtaking and continues to impress with her performance. I first saw her in Heartbeat, and I must say she astounded me.
Hats off to the team behind the series: Director, Scriptwriter, Music Director, Singer, Cinematographer, Editors, Make-up Artistes, Stylists – you all have made the series stand out. Bravo!
A Review by Cécile Rischmann
The story revolves around a dazzling-eyed down-to-earth hardworking married woman, Asiye, and two minor children (a teenage girl, Nergis and a little boy, Ugur). Asiye is left to fend on her own when her husband, a young handsome, ambitious truck driver Cemal (supposedly in love with her), finds a beautiful, wealthy woman, Helin and takes off for a more satisfactory life.
Asiye knows nothing of his whereabouts, nor does she understand the reason for his departure as theirs was a love marriage with many beautiful memories. Of course, in his last call, Cemal confesses that he cannot continue with the harsh, pitiless life and has to find greener pastures.
Emotionally shattered and financially struggling, Asiye bravely fights hardships single-handed and keeps the boat afloat with the pittance of a salary she earns. Cemal, in the meantime, has become a part of the elite society and is running his father-in-law Harun Demirhan’s company successfully. Helin, his second wife (unaware that her newly-acquired husband is a married man with a family of his own), is desperately in love with him and is bending backwards to please him. They have a son, Umut.
The story takes a turn when an unsavoury character assaults Nergis, and she stabs him, and he dies. The family has to run for their life, and without money, they cannot run far. Intending to reach her only relative, Asiye and her children are heading miles away in a stolen car when they are almost seized. Fortunately, a kind stranger, Mahir, offers to drive them to their destiny. On the way, Asiye learns that her relative is leaving for Germany to be with her daughter and hence Asiye and her children have no roof, money and nowhere to lie down and rest.
Mahir, sensing Asiye’s despair, questions her. She confides briefly about her situation, and he offers to help her. But disaster strikes again, and their car collides with a truck. All of them are hospitalised, and Mahir is in the ICU.
The police come to investigate the accident and take a statement from them. Asiye, Nergis, and Ugur panic and claim they are the family of Mahir. In the meantime, Mahir’s mother Emine, brother Fikret and sister-in-law are in the hospital. Imagine their shock when they learn that Mahir is married with children. But since Mahir has lived in Russia for a while, they accept that perhaps he had his reasons.
Asiye and her children are welcomed warmly into Mahir’s family and are taken to the Demirhan Mansion, where they live in the servant’s quarters and work for the Demirhan family.
The Demirhan family has a troubled atmosphere right from their first appearance. The head, Harun, a strong-willed but kind man, has a dishonest and unworthy son, Raci, who runs a secret casino in the hotel without his father’s knowledge. His daughter-in-law Zahide is even worse; she cannot help but meddle in everyone’s affairs, make disgusting comments, wasting her time bringing the house down. His lovely teenage granddaughter is on a 24-hour shopping spree. But his daughter Helin is beautiful inside out and adores her husband and son. She stands up for what is right and doesn’t hesitate to put people in their place but in a kind way.
Harun’s wife, Nedret, is another tragic addition to his life. She holds a grudge against him for an affair years ago resulting in a child and forces him to give up his son to Maid Emine, Mahir’s adopted mother. It was the main reason why Mahir left for Russia.
Harun, towards retirement age, has a life-threatening illness and decides to make amends with his estranged son, Mahir, and calls him back from Russia. He intends to adopt Mahir legally and give him his rightful inheritance, much to the horror of the Demirhan family. Except for Helin, none of the family members is willing to share their name, let alone their fortune.
When Mahir becomes conscious in the ICU, he discovers he has a wife and children, but instead of shock, he is delighted. Secretly, he has fallen for the exquisite-eyed Asiye and idolises her children. He hopes that they can be a real family.
The day he returns from the hospital (after a secret agreement with his make-believe wife and children that he will not reveal the truth), they come face-to-face with a man Asiye never hoped to see — her run-away husband, Cemal. Gone was the truck driver in a sweatshirt and blue jeans and enters a sophisticated, suited and booted man, who escorts his pretty wife and cute child. However, when he comes face to face with Asiye, there is shock, alarm and disturbance in the air. Nergis, seeing her father, faints in distress. Ugur is unaware that the man in front of him is his father, as Cemal had left when he was born. Moreover, he has adopted Mahir as his father and loves him to bits.
Chaos begins as truck-driver-turned-elite husband Cemal cannot leave Asiye alone and keeps harassing her emotionally, bombarding her with memories of their happy times – all this in secret. In public, they behave as if they don’t know each other.
Asiye is battling against Cemal’s roguish charm, trying to do justice to Mahir, who has taken over her family, supporting them to unbelievable extents. She sometimes feels guilty that they are not giving Mahir his due.
Nergis quickly replaces Mahir with Cemal, believing Cemal’s fatherly love and concern gestures. She behaves arrogantly with Mahir as she feels that he hinders her parents from getting back together.
Asiye stands up to Cemal and tells him to take a flying leap and that she has found someone worthy of being loved.
However, Cemal doesn’t seem to be getting the message and continues to chase her and annoy us with his relentless pursuit of a woman he had once given up for a better life.
The storyline is exciting and keeps us on edge as we wait to see how the conflicts resolve and the plot unfolds. Asiye portrays a woman of substance who doesn’t fold in crises but rises and shines.
Mahir is a fantastic actor who tugs at our heartstrings as he stands by Asiye and her children, trying to do his bit to keep them smiling.
Cemal’s character lacks depth and emotion. We cannot participate in his pain as we do not have enough backstory. We are most aggravated by his crying spells as we cannot understand why a man who has vowed fidelity and was so happy with his wife should leave like a thief and marry someone else. Also, if he loved Asiye and the children the way he seemed to project, would he have not sent a little money to help them through? Considering that he was earning and living an elite life, could he have not wondered how his wife was doing, whether she and the children had food on the table? How could you claim fatherhood when you haven’t done anything that merits that label? His character sketch has not been adequately treated; thus, his performance doesn’t live up to expectations. By the time crucial details are revealed towards the end, it is already too late as we have formed our opinion.
Nergis is a disappointment too. Her swings from loving sensitive daughter to arrogant sharp tongue one startle us. Her outbursts are too unexpected, exaggerated and grate on our nerves. Just as we are absorbing her character, she pulls another stunt, and we are like…what the heck?
Zahide’s character also leaves a lot to be desired. Apart from mischief-making, she doesn’t seem to contribute much to the story. Her disdain for the lowly and her below-the-belt comments make us cringe with embarrassment. Perhaps if we know why she behaves that way, we could empathise with her character.
On the other hand, Raci is in his element as the rascal of the Demirhan family. He does everything under the sun to make us hate him; however, we identify with him because he plays a convincing role and makes his character believable.
Ugur and Umut are fantastic as child artists and very promising. Helin, too, plays her role well as the loving, faithful wife who sees no wrong in her husband or anyone else for that matter. Harun and Nedret are poles apart, but we can empathise with them. Fikret, his wife, son and mother are adorable. Harun’s granddaughter has a stunning presence, and Asiye’s best friend and her cousin from the small-town neighbourhood also play their roles well.
Overall, I enjoyed The Game of my Destiny and hope to see more of Asiye (Oyku Karayel). She is simply breathtaking and continues to impress with her performance. I first saw her in Heartbeat, and I must say she astounded me.
Hats off to the team behind the series: Director, Scriptwriter, Music Director, Singer, Cinematographer, Editors, Make-up Artistes, Stylists – you all have made the series stand out. Bravo!
April 5, 2021
CRAZY by Cécile Rischmann
https://kitaab.org/2021/04/04/short-s...
When Bradley James returns after a five-year absence to resurrect the past, he sees his ‘Becka’ transformed into the beautiful, sophisticated Rebecca. She hasn’t forgotten how he’d abandoned her, and nothing will make her soften towards him.
But when Bradley requests for their favourite song, ‘Crazy’, Rebecca’s eyes start to glisten with tears. In a flash, she’s gone back to her teenage years, where she and Bradley had spent an idyllic summer in an abandoned villa. She sees herself strumming her guitar against the backdrop of a storm-tossed ocean while Bradley cooked fish on fire coals.
Will Rebecca let her wistful memories take her down the path of destruction again? Or will she bid Bradley goodbye?
When Bradley James returns after a five-year absence to resurrect the past, he sees his ‘Becka’ transformed into the beautiful, sophisticated Rebecca. She hasn’t forgotten how he’d abandoned her, and nothing will make her soften towards him.
But when Bradley requests for their favourite song, ‘Crazy’, Rebecca’s eyes start to glisten with tears. In a flash, she’s gone back to her teenage years, where she and Bradley had spent an idyllic summer in an abandoned villa. She sees herself strumming her guitar against the backdrop of a storm-tossed ocean while Bradley cooked fish on fire coals.
Will Rebecca let her wistful memories take her down the path of destruction again? Or will she bid Bradley goodbye?
October 15, 2020
Wishing for The Moon by Cécile Rischmann
Synopsis
Ric Coelho—the handsome, green-eyed, twenty-six-year-old CEO of Coelho Estates is about to wed!
Like any wealthy Manglorean family, his parents choose the beautiful elite Reshmi, of similar age, community and status to grace Ric’s arm.
Tanya Lobo, middle-class, thirty-year-old Goan works as a secretary and lives with her aged bedridden mother with no money to build dreams, no father to pay bills.
And then one day, Ric knocks on Tanya’s door.
Wealth and status lose meaning. Fire and passion ignite. Ric wants the impossible. Tanya wants the moon.
Will their love transcend barriers?
Read and find out.
https://www.joaoroqueliteraryjournal....
Ric Coelho—the handsome, green-eyed, twenty-six-year-old CEO of Coelho Estates is about to wed!
Like any wealthy Manglorean family, his parents choose the beautiful elite Reshmi, of similar age, community and status to grace Ric’s arm.
Tanya Lobo, middle-class, thirty-year-old Goan works as a secretary and lives with her aged bedridden mother with no money to build dreams, no father to pay bills.
And then one day, Ric knocks on Tanya’s door.
Wealth and status lose meaning. Fire and passion ignite. Ric wants the impossible. Tanya wants the moon.
Will their love transcend barriers?
Read and find out.
https://www.joaoroqueliteraryjournal....
July 24, 2020
Reviews, JULIE, Cécile Rischmann
http://indianperiodical.com/2020/07/j...
Susan Fernandez
on July 12, 2020, at 7:24 pm
Congrats Cecile held my attention throughout! Exactly the kind of romance that takes place in the simple South Indian neighbourhood. Took me back to my own High school days when we thrived on Mills & Boons ! And romances like this were happening ! Very captivating! All the best!
Madhav Das
on July 13, 2020, at 4:36 am
So very realistic a story. Almost reads like a part of the author’s own life. Keep writing.
Wayne C
on July 13, 2020, at 6:52 am
Well written. Enjoyed it thoroughly. I often wonder about mixed marriages and the quest for a perfect match based on our cultural heritage.
Caro D’cruz
on July 13, 2020, at 6:56 am
Cecile, loved your captivating writing style and the story based on an award-winning movie, Julie, which you can offer to the highest bidder, as a sequel or more appropriately as an interesting alternative ending, where true love triumphs over teenage romance.
I love the authenticity applied to the novella which captures the real-life madras in that era of Goli soda, Gulab bands and eating spicy nuts under a tree as opposed to Pepsi at a high end cafe, elaborate weddings by event managers and home-delivered pizza, as is the case with the Chennai of today.
Short stories prove to be a challenge to write even by experienced authors as the brevity needs to encompass all aspects of a regular novel but within a much shorter word frame.
I must say that you have achieved this very well in keeping the reader engrossed to the end.
I wish you all the best with your future novellas and encourage you to keep writing and publishing. 🙂
Subhash Sehgal
on July 13, 2020, at 7:23 am
Too good. Read in one breath. Cecile, you are a master storyteller.
Jerry fernandes
on July 13, 2020, at 12:09 pm
Congratulations Cecelia remind s us of the nostalgic days gone by. All the best.
Rachel Nigli
on July 13, 2020, at 4:43 pm
A lovely story Cecile which captured my interest throughout. The story is very realistic. Kudos to you 👏👏👏
Jennifer Lobo
on July 15, 2020, at 11:42 am
Captivating story Cecile, your style of writing instantly transports the reader to that era. I get mesmerised and can’t stop until I reach the end. You are so realistic in your writing. I wish you all success, and please continue to write and keep those memories alive. God bless you.
Natasha Fernandes
on July 17, 2020, at 5:02 pm
So many emotions…loved it! I was smiling until the end when all of a sudden, the story twists in the last few lines. Oh My!
I have not watched the movie “Julie”, but I plan to give it a watch now after reading this.
Nostalgic, heartfelt and realistic. Reminds of the simpler times. You are a great storyteller!
Suzanne Reinhardt
on July 18, 2020, at 8:12 am
That was a lovely story. It felt so real. I loved the mention of Gili soda brought back memories.
Cecilia
on July 21, 2020, at 2:55 pm
Awesome Cecilia.
Amuthini
on July 21, 2020, at 3:14 pm
Very nice, you portrayed it so well. Best wishes
Bettina D’Souza
on July 21, 2020, at 5:24 pm
This short story took me back to the good ole days of Madras, Goli Sodas, Madras heat & the pomp & splendour of the way of life in the south.
Romance blooming, with the touch of innocence.
The writer takes me down memory lane as I read & capture every detail so well done, that I want to know more of the forbidden love…. if I can call it that. Let this short story rekindle in you that love can prevail if you only let it be.
Christopher Pinto
on July 21, 2020, at 6:18 pm
This took me through the realistic romantic time that we had enjoyed (my past mix marriage!!!!!!!). Well written filled with romance, emotion, fragrance in the air……..very captivating. Story ends with a perfect climax at the end…..love it. Perfect timing your writing during this time of crisis. Wish you all the best and success. Take care and stay safe……☺☺☺
Dr Asra
on July 22, 2020, at 9:00 am
Only few are blessed with such captivating narration. Keep up the good work..
Susan Fernandez
on July 12, 2020, at 7:24 pm
Congrats Cecile held my attention throughout! Exactly the kind of romance that takes place in the simple South Indian neighbourhood. Took me back to my own High school days when we thrived on Mills & Boons ! And romances like this were happening ! Very captivating! All the best!
Madhav Das
on July 13, 2020, at 4:36 am
So very realistic a story. Almost reads like a part of the author’s own life. Keep writing.
Wayne C
on July 13, 2020, at 6:52 am
Well written. Enjoyed it thoroughly. I often wonder about mixed marriages and the quest for a perfect match based on our cultural heritage.
Caro D’cruz
on July 13, 2020, at 6:56 am
Cecile, loved your captivating writing style and the story based on an award-winning movie, Julie, which you can offer to the highest bidder, as a sequel or more appropriately as an interesting alternative ending, where true love triumphs over teenage romance.
I love the authenticity applied to the novella which captures the real-life madras in that era of Goli soda, Gulab bands and eating spicy nuts under a tree as opposed to Pepsi at a high end cafe, elaborate weddings by event managers and home-delivered pizza, as is the case with the Chennai of today.
Short stories prove to be a challenge to write even by experienced authors as the brevity needs to encompass all aspects of a regular novel but within a much shorter word frame.
I must say that you have achieved this very well in keeping the reader engrossed to the end.
I wish you all the best with your future novellas and encourage you to keep writing and publishing. 🙂
Subhash Sehgal
on July 13, 2020, at 7:23 am
Too good. Read in one breath. Cecile, you are a master storyteller.
Jerry fernandes
on July 13, 2020, at 12:09 pm
Congratulations Cecelia remind s us of the nostalgic days gone by. All the best.
Rachel Nigli
on July 13, 2020, at 4:43 pm
A lovely story Cecile which captured my interest throughout. The story is very realistic. Kudos to you 👏👏👏
Jennifer Lobo
on July 15, 2020, at 11:42 am
Captivating story Cecile, your style of writing instantly transports the reader to that era. I get mesmerised and can’t stop until I reach the end. You are so realistic in your writing. I wish you all success, and please continue to write and keep those memories alive. God bless you.
Natasha Fernandes
on July 17, 2020, at 5:02 pm
So many emotions…loved it! I was smiling until the end when all of a sudden, the story twists in the last few lines. Oh My!
I have not watched the movie “Julie”, but I plan to give it a watch now after reading this.
Nostalgic, heartfelt and realistic. Reminds of the simpler times. You are a great storyteller!
Suzanne Reinhardt
on July 18, 2020, at 8:12 am
That was a lovely story. It felt so real. I loved the mention of Gili soda brought back memories.
Cecilia
on July 21, 2020, at 2:55 pm
Awesome Cecilia.
Amuthini
on July 21, 2020, at 3:14 pm
Very nice, you portrayed it so well. Best wishes
Bettina D’Souza
on July 21, 2020, at 5:24 pm
This short story took me back to the good ole days of Madras, Goli Sodas, Madras heat & the pomp & splendour of the way of life in the south.
Romance blooming, with the touch of innocence.
The writer takes me down memory lane as I read & capture every detail so well done, that I want to know more of the forbidden love…. if I can call it that. Let this short story rekindle in you that love can prevail if you only let it be.
Christopher Pinto
on July 21, 2020, at 6:18 pm
This took me through the realistic romantic time that we had enjoyed (my past mix marriage!!!!!!!). Well written filled with romance, emotion, fragrance in the air……..very captivating. Story ends with a perfect climax at the end…..love it. Perfect timing your writing during this time of crisis. Wish you all the best and success. Take care and stay safe……☺☺☺
Dr Asra
on July 22, 2020, at 9:00 am
Only few are blessed with such captivating narration. Keep up the good work..
July 13, 2020
JULIE, Cécile Rischmann
While listening to two songs of the 1970's Blockbuster movie, Julie, I found myself penning a nostalgic love story. I'd sent it off to three magazines, and one of the three replied. The story was featured on Sunday, 12th July 2020.
http://indianperiodical.com/2020/07/j...
I've shared with you the link so you could read the story and travel with me on Julie's journey and relive her emotions.
I hope you'd leave me your feedback.
Thank you.Cécile Rischmann
http://indianperiodical.com/2020/07/j...
I've shared with you the link so you could read the story and travel with me on Julie's journey and relive her emotions.
I hope you'd leave me your feedback.
Thank you.Cécile Rischmann
March 17, 2020
Dr Oscar Nigli's Review, Visa to Paradise, Cécile Rischmann
Dr Oscar C. Nigli is a former two-time M.L.A. representing the Anglo-Indian Community in Tamil Nadu. He is also the Senior National Vice President and Governing Body Member for the All India Anglo-Indian Association handling 16 branches independently in Tamil Nadu. Holds a Doctorate in PhD Economics and was the former Dean of Loyola College, Director of the Foreign Desk and a Senior Professor. He is now involved with research. Holds many portfolios viz Board of Trustees at St George's, Ketti, Nilgris, Vice President of the Madras Christian Federation and a visiting I.M.P. Professor to London, France, Singapore and Australia. Here's what he has to say about my book.
Visa to Paradise is a differently thinking story by Cécile Rischmann. I would consider it a novel which makes easy reading which is something novel these days. Language is lucid and comprehensible. The style of writing is direct to the point and conveys tersely but subtly feelings that lie latent in the minds of many who are actually seeking change although they put on an exterior that doesn't indicate so. The author has been able to give special life to her characters weaving in different aspects of human life. "Love is many a splendoured thing", the great novel by Han Suyin many years ago would resurrect in parts what the author Cecile is portraying. The search for love goes on and on and whoever finds it, finds a treasure because they have found it in a person in a pragmatic way. Kudos to the author for this portrayal.
Visa to Paradise is a differently thinking story by Cécile Rischmann. I would consider it a novel which makes easy reading which is something novel these days. Language is lucid and comprehensible. The style of writing is direct to the point and conveys tersely but subtly feelings that lie latent in the minds of many who are actually seeking change although they put on an exterior that doesn't indicate so. The author has been able to give special life to her characters weaving in different aspects of human life. "Love is many a splendoured thing", the great novel by Han Suyin many years ago would resurrect in parts what the author Cecile is portraying. The search for love goes on and on and whoever finds it, finds a treasure because they have found it in a person in a pragmatic way. Kudos to the author for this portrayal.
