Now for some replies, briefer than I want to give but so little time, so much to do 😒 Will try to expand them soon as I can... until then:
@ Shivang bhaiya - of course, I agree with every word you wrote on the Drishtadumn question... besides the fact that it was excellently expressed and left no questions to be asked, in Karm/destiny discussions I usually stick with whichever argument puts more responsibility on the individual... to scare myself into being good 😆 j/k... even in this case, it applies - if not the action itself, his attitude towards it was under control. As you had said about Kumbhkarn in the convo we had after you posted his words to Ravan, that it's confusing how he went into the battle with such gusto, such dambh despite knowing the truth and the outcome (I don't know if I responded to that point in particular, there's so much to get out of that topic that we'll surely be back on it anyway), similarly he also had the choice of whether to let the his destiny play out neutrally during the war, or to dwell on it and fill himself with that hatred and bitterness he lived in. The comparisons to DaShalya's putra-kaameshti yagya and Shri Ram's life, along with the superb HP reference really drove the point perfectly - he was no bechaara, akaaran or otherwise 😉
@ Debi di - beautiful inputs into the Bhishma/Amba/Gandhari discussion di, thoroughly enjoyed them 👏👏👏👏👏 I'd already addressed the Gandhari point if I remember correctly, and we were in agreement - she was in charge. As for the Amba side of the story, here's my take, the short version at least - though Amba's follow-up actions were not justified, Bhishma was wrong in this case. No amount of self-respect/patriotism as a motive or chivalry afterward can make up for abducting those girls against their will... throughout the Rukmini Haran track I just finished pic updt'ing on, BRC kept on emphasizing that this whole leela was about respecting people's wishes regardless of gender. Bhishma was all about protecting the throne and whoever was sitting on it, but if he really went about it the right way he'd also concern himself with the protection of the duties that came with the throne i.e. the protection of dharm. His priorities proved to be problematic not only during the Cheer Haran and the war, but IMO right in the beginning with this Amba mess. More later, maybe.
@ both Shivang bhaiya and Debi di - as for the choice of actors, my preferences are a bhelpuri of both you guys' picks... both Girija Shankar and Renuka Israni's performances put me off cuz she was too stop-and-go with the dialogues and pushed them out too hard, and he was sooo whiny all the time 😔 LOVED Gufi Paintal though, Shakuni scenes are some of my favs!!! He was good at everything, be it the hilarious sarcasm we saw most of the time, or the anger and intensity moments, or the rare quiet ones like when Ulook came for a visit... brilliant actor 👏
and thanks for all the songs and lyrics guys 🤗 I could listen to Jhanak jhanak and Manva madhur all day long 😍 Also love BRC's Maharaas song, had a different appeal than SK's so I can love each in it's own way 😆
@ Janu, the Henna req is GORGEOUS!! perfect pics and text, love it!!!
@ Ashi - yayyyy you're back Still waiting for those chavannis in the discussion though 😛 j/k 😆
Glad to be back, lets take this CC on the road!!! Did I miss anything?