Until We Meet Again, My Beloved Grace

Grace (Gracie)

My sweet little Grace crossed the rainbow bridge today. I am absolutely devastated and still struggling to come to grips with the suddenness of her loss.

She arrived at our house on December 19, 2025. Although she stayed with us for just over 34 days, she left an indelible imprint on my heart and memories worth a lifetime.

I can never forget the moment she arrived at our house. My brother rescued her and brought her in, and immediately she jumped onto my lap and became comfortable. And then something special happened. She stared at me with her angelic eyes, without interruption, for one whole minute. It was the most beautiful, innocent, and priceless expression of love I have ever experienced. I kept asking her, “Why are you looking at me like that, sweetheart?” And when we finally broke our gaze after what felt like an eternity, I was so overwhelmed by her display of love that my eyes welled up. We created an instant bond that will last forever.

I affectionately called her Crazy Gracie because she was an absolute bundle of energy and chaos, and nothing was safe in her path of destruction. In terms of behaviour, she was more orange than most orange cats, and I loved her to death because of it.

She used to overwhelm Bowie, who is usually calm and laid-back, with her interminable energy and compel him to lash out at her. But she was fearless and made him run around the house in sheer terror. It was so entertaining to see Bowie, who has fought and defeated all the male cats in the neighbourhood, run for his life, chased by a kitten half his size. However, we knew he was humouring her, and deep down, he loved playing tag with her. Eventually, she wore him down, and they were on the verge of becoming inseparable. Unfortunately, fate had other ideas. I'm heartbroken for Bowie, who lost a dear friend and hasn't even realised it yet.

Bowie and Grace

Sleeping on my chest was Gracie's favourite place to rest. As soon as I sat or lay on the couch, she used to jump onto me and playfully bite my fingers, toes, or arms. After calming down a bit, her soothing purrs engulfed my heart and ears before she slowly drifted off to sleep. This was our routine every day.

Gracie and Me

I will fondly remember our playtimes together. She didn't need expensive toys; a neatly folded plastic cover held together with a rubber band was all it took to keep her occupied for hours. She was a clever girl who mostly made me run around the house and pick up her toys. It was almost as if she was playing me, and not the other way around.

Within a few weeks, she had become an irreplaceable part of our lives. But our happiness was fleeting. On January 19, she refused to eat her favourite creamy lickable treat, something she usually couldn't wait to eat off my hand. That night, she vomited multiple times and completely stopped eating food or drinking water thereafter. Over the next three days, we made several trips to the vet, who treated her for severe dehydration. On the second day, the fever had subsided, and the bile vomiting had almost stopped. However, she was still dehydrated and refused to eat or drink anything. My family and I tried everything to get her to eat, but our efforts were in vain.

Around this time, she started vocalising. They were neither her usual meows nor cries of pain. The haunting sounds she made are still ringing in my ears as I write this. It was almost as if she knew her time had come and was preparing us for the inevitable.

After the third day of tests and treatment, we brought Grace home. She started moving gingerly around the house. A mere six hours before her departure, she jumped onto the bed and slept on my lap for a few minutes. She then slept beside me for a while. I could see her struggling as she twisted and turned, trying to find the right position to lie down. Sometime later, she lay down next to my mother's feet, burying her face in her saree. Grace loved playing while curled up in my mom's saree. In hindsight, I believe she was saying her goodbyes.

At the stroke of midnight on January 23, she became completely disoriented, and her movements turned wobbly. We were absolutely shattered to see her in this state and broke down in tears. This spirited kitten, who ruled our hearts, climbed every window, curtain, and cabinet in an instant, and reached every nook and cranny of the house in a jiffy. Her energy was infectious and chaotic. It was devastating to see her deteriorate so badly in a mere three days.

Even though we knew she wasn't going to survive the night, we tried everything to hold on to her a little longer. At 12:50 a.m., I lay on the couch with Grace resting on my chest. As her breathing became laboured, she failed to respond to my reassuring words. I kept telling her to keep fighting. For some reason, I thought that if she survived the night, she might get better in the morning and start eating again. I was hoping a miracle would save my precious baby.

For forty minutes, I held her on my chest as she took her last few excruciating breaths. Her breathing pattern is still fresh in my mind: three to four fast breaths, followed by a big heave. In her final moments, her survival instincts kicked in, and she started kicking with her hind legs and made a running motion with her front legs. As this motion stopped abruptly after three intense seconds, her front paws hung briefly in the air. That image will haunt me for the rest of my life.

Immediately, I sat up on the couch while holding her. At exactly 01:29 a.m., Grace took her final breath and passed away gracefully in my arms. It felt as though my entire life came to a standstill for a fleeting moment. In the morning, we performed her last rites and cremated her at a local pet crematorium.

I love you, Gracie. Your brief existence made a profound impact on my life and left a huge void in my heart that will never be filled. Thank you for the memories. Rest easy, my baby, until we meet again!

Evaluating Team India's Defeat in Hyderabad

In the '90s and, to an extent, during the 2000s, the common notion—when India toured the SENA countries—was that we were poor travellers because our batters struggled on fast-and-bouncy pitches while their bowlers consistently bounced us out of contention. Our medium-fast bowlers were not up to the mark in threatening the opposition batters and were further hamstrung by the insufficient number of runs to defend. Agarkar's 6-for at Adelaide was a standout performance, and young Irfan and Ishant shone brightly on their debut tours. But these performances were few and far between.

The 2002 tour of England was a turning point. In the unforgettable Headingley Test, the legendary trio of Dravid, Tendulkar, and Ganguly showed the world that India could be competitive on fast-and-bouncy wickets and dominate the opposition. That series, and the tour Down Under in 2003/04, went a long way in dispelling the notion that we are poor travellers. It made us believe we can win against SENA countries on their home turf, irrespective of the pitches they prepare for the visitors. Since then, we have won Test series in Australia (twice), England, and New Zealand. And we have won multiple Tests in South Africa. It's only a matter of time before we win a Test series against the Proteas on their home turf.

 

Unlike the '90s and the 2000s—when we had just a Srinath or a Zaheer—we now boast of world-class fast bowlers like Bumrah and Shami, who can single-handedly destroy an opposition on a given day. To a lesser extent, Ishant and Siraj have been successful too. After Sachin and Dravid's generation laid the foundation in the 2000s, the next generation of batters built on that success to continue Team India's competitiveness in hostile batting conditions. Today, our top-order is more adept at playing the hook and pull shots. They can comfortably counter the short stuff unleashed by the Aussies, the Proteas, the Black Caps, and the English bowlers.

 

Although India has always been dominant at home, the pitch became a central topic of discussion in the 2010s and 2020s due to the rank turners that awaited the visitors. Ashwin and Jadeja bamboozled the batters and usually skittled them out in a session or two. The ball started turning a mile from the first session on Day 1, and the batters had no answers to the questions posed by India's world-class spinners. The matches usually ended in two or three days, which gave the opposition an excuse to blame their shortcomings on the pitches.

After a decade of domination on rank turners, Indian spinners are no longer destroying the opposition like they used to. In the recently concluded Hyderabad Test, the English players out-batted us and outshined our esteemed spin trio.

 

Just like the early 2000s, there is a paradigm shift happening at the moment. The overseas teams are adeptly handling Indian spinners on turning tracks and producing young spinners like Hartley, who recently delivered a match-winning performance. Based on statistics, Indian batters have struggled when facing pitches that offer significant amounts of spin. Therefore, if the opposing teams have high-quality spin bowlers, they stand a good chance of not only being competitive but also succeeding in India, as was demonstrated in the Hyderabad Test.

It remains to be seen if the outcome of the Hyderabad Test will have the same positive impact on England's performance in overseas conditions as the Headingley Test had on India's. If India fails to address the challenges posed by the visitors, it could result in a situation where overseas teams become strong enough to win a Test series in India consistently.

The Final Day of the Streak

Sadly, my amazing walking streak, which began on June 30, 2018, will be coming to an end. It was a tough decision, but it had to end someday.

From June 30, 2018, to February 24, 2023, I walked a minimum of 10,000 steps every day. Walking has helped me overcome various obstacles in the past five years and kept my Avascular Necrosis under control. The pain in my knees, which was at its worst in 2016, disappeared after I started walking actively. A recent X-ray showed that the deterioration in my hip bones has been minimal over the past eleven years.

I have always fought hard to not let pain define me. That's why walking and hitting my daily target of 10,000 steps means everything to me. Ironically, I am pain-free and at peace when I am walking.

Today, I completed 1,700 consecutive days of walking a minimum of 10,000 steps per day. It's a testament to my sheer psychological will that I have persevered despite numerous obstacles.

A few months ago, I started having respiratory issues that were diagnosed as Bilateral Ethmoidal Polyposis. Due to my medical history, I opted for Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS) instead of oral steroids. The surgery is scheduled for February 25th, and I will need to rest and recuperate afterwards, bringing my incredible walking streak to an end.

Although I plan on starting my second streak as soon as I am physically able, I am proud of my accomplishment and amazed by the longevity of the streak. Doing it every day for almost five years is no easy feat.

I wanted to create a new record to make the final day of the streak memorable. I have been trying to walk 10 kilometres in under an hour for over two years. Tonight, I achieved my personal best by completing my fastest kilometre ever at 6'14'' - four seconds faster than my previous best. Although I couldn't keep up the momentum and fell short of my personal best by almost four minutes, I am thrilled to have broken one record on the last day of the streak.

This marks the end of the most significant era of my life, during which I achieved incredible success in my personal and professional lives. I have never felt better—physically, mentally, emotionally, and psychologically.

Thank you, streak. ❤️

The Day of the Operation - Ten Years Later

Date: March 5, 2022

The wind played a gentle but gusty tune on a relatively quiet Saturday night. The dimly lit park, sparsely occupied by a few septuagenarians preparing for their evening walks, couples engaged in public displays of affection on park benches, and parents playing with their kids, created a unique ambience. For over a year, I had envisioned how this day would unfold, and I was mentally and physically prepared for it. Yet, a hint of nervousness lingered as I embarked on something entirely new—a challenge that, if successful, promised to make it one of the finest nights of my life. Conversely, failure would mean risking everything.

Exactly ten years ago, on this day, I endured the most difficult night of my life. Reflecting on the past decade, it's been a journey marked by both trauma and triumph—the initial half marred by despair, failures, loneliness, and chronic depression, and the latter half witnessing a remarkable resurgence of happiness and success.

In the early years of the decade, walking was a painful experience, limited due to the worsening condition of my hip bones. Despite utmost caution, the pain persisted, eventually affecting both my knees with Avascular Necrosis by 2016. Unexpectedly, a minor car accident four years ago, though aggravating the knee condition, served as a catalyst for me to break free from a sedentary lifestyle and embrace active walking. This significant development changed my life forever.

On June 30, 2018, I initiated my 10K streak—committing to walking a minimum of 10,000 steps every day. As of March 5, 2022, the streak boasts of a record-setting 1,345 magnificent days. I meticulously plan my walks and work diligently to maintain the streak. It is the most significant accomplishment of my life thus far.

Being an active walker for nearly four years now, I understand that the briskness of steps matters more than just the numbers. Progressing from eleven minutes per kilometre in 2018 to slightly over six minutes per kilometre in 2022, my journey has been both gradual and significant. To commemorate the 10th anniversary of my Core Decompression procedure, I set the audacious goal of walking 10 kilometres in under an hour—an endeavour fraught with challenges. Although I fell just over five minutes short of my target after surpassing my 10K records throughout 2021 and early 2022, it stands as a testament to my determination and perseverance.

A second ambitious objective was to complete a distance of 21.0975 kilometres in a single session—a Half Marathon. Until March 5, 2022, I had never walked more than 12 kilometres in one go. Acknowledging the risks of putting my hips and knees under such pressure, I embarked on a breezy Saturday night with the goal of etching this day in my memory forever.

During the Half Marathon, the pace was deliberately slower, gradually increasing as the race progressed. Guided by the inspiring music of the love of my life, I surpassed walkers of various age groups during the initial hour. By 9:30 PM, most park-goers had left, leaving me as the sole occupant.

After an hour and forty-five minutes, I realised this was the longest I had ever walked in a single session. The job, however, was far from done; nearly an hour's walk still lay ahead. The windy conditions spared me from profuse sweating, but fatigue set in. At the two-hour mark, having covered 16 kilometres, exhaustion was palpable. Yet, determined to overcome physical limits, I summoned every ounce of strength to complete the remaining distance through sheer psychological will.

The culmination of this marathon effort occurred after two hours and forty minutes—an overwhelming victory in the form of completing the Half Marathon. Waves of emotion swept over me as I reflected on the pain and disappointment of the past decade.

As the day concluded, fatigue and pain prevailed, but nothing could alter the fact that I had just lived through one of the greatest moments of my life.

Squid Game - A Review

"I am not a horse; I am a human."

Amidst the brutality and violence, Squid Game, at its core, is a social commentary on human beings' ethical and moral ambiguity. It makes us question our existence. Who are we? What values do we stand for during our lowest points? 

The theme of Squid Game is not new—we have seen such dystopian themes in films like The Hunger Games, Battle Royale, or 13 Tzameti. But the compelling, diverse, and relatable characters—and the tenderness of their bond—will make you root for them. 

A group of desperate individuals, in dire financial straits, are manipulated into participating in children's games with a cash prize of roughly $40M. But, they leave out one tiny detail—the games have deadly consequences. The commentary on the class divide and the perils of capitalism are apparent throughout the series. 

After the horrors of Red Light, Green Light, the participants unanimously quit. Not only they're compelled to return but are made to believe they did it voluntarily. 

During the course of the series, Seong Gi-hun, a gambling addict in serious debt, tries hard to be honest and self-righteous in a place of continuous moral decadence. 

Oh Il-nam, as Player 001, is delightful. During the initial few episodes, he was my favourite character, and I wished to have his zest for life despite suffering from a terminal ailment. 

Kang Sae-byeok is the most enigmatic character among the main characters. She begins to open up during the latter half of the season after she is paired with another girl with a tragic past, Ji-yeong, who helps her open up. 

Cho Sang-woo is a selfish person who will descend to any depth to survive and win the game. On the other hand, Abdul Ali is a kind-hearted, easily manipulated, but physically powerful immigrant. 

Episode 6, Gganbu, is one of the finest hours in the history of television. This episode wrecked me and moved me to tears. The set-up of Game 4 reminds Il-nam of his childhood home and is disinterested in playing the marble game, but Gi-hun eventually convinces him to play. With Il-nam on the verge of winning, Gi-hun takes advantage of the former's dementia to cheat, even though he feels guilty about it. The scene—where Il-nam reveals he was aware of Gi-hun's betrayal but allows him to win anyway—is absolutely gut-wrenching. 

Meanwhile, Ji-yeong and Sae-byeok discuss their lives before playing the marble game. After their poignant interaction, Ji-yeong loses the game on purpose and makes the ultimate sacrifice as she believes Sae-byeok deserves to live more than her. 

Ali, who unwittingly gets the upper hand in the game, is made to believe by Sang-woo that both can survive the game. He deceives Ali into giving up his marbles. Sadly, Ali's innocence eventually leads to his downfall. 

I loved the tug-of-war episode too, which had one of the best cliffhangers. Despite lacking physical strength, Gi-hun's team comes out on top—thanks to Il-nam's experience and Sang-woo's quick thinking. 

After the sixth episode, the quality of the series dipped a tad due to the introduction of VIPs. Acted horribly, the VIPs sounded like poorly dubbed American characters in old Chinese movies where the dialogues were written by someone with Chinese sensibilities. In this instance, the dialogues of the VIPs were written in English with Korean sensibilities. And, that's why they sounded more like caricatures instead of normal people. Also, the actors playing these characters were horrible, and that didn't help either. 

That twist, in the end, involving Il-nam was unexpected and it ruined that wonderful moment in Gganbu to a certain extent. Overall, I enjoyed the show. It was my first K-Drama, and I had a wonderful experience. 

My Rating: 9/10

A Journey of 1,000 Days

March 5, 2021

June 30, 2018, marked the beginning of the 10K streak—a journey culminating in a significant milestone: completing 1,000 consecutive days on March 25, 2021.

During this period, I logged an impressive tally of steps and kilometres, totalling 11,101,932 steps and covering 8,605.5 kilometres.

Several months before initiating the streak, I grappled with the challenges of Avascular Necrosis for over six years. My hips were a constant source of discomfort, with a clicking sound accompanying every step, signalling the inevitable collapse of my hip joints. Concurrently, my knees endured immense pressure, overshadowing the pain in my hips.

On March 24, 2018, a minor car accident exacerbated the condition in my knees, intensifying my discomfort. Rather than succumb to despair, I opted for a radical approach—active walking. Starting with a modest 1,000 steps daily, I swiftly progressed to consistently achieving over 8,000 steps within months, undergoing a profound lifestyle transformation from a sedentary existence.

By the conclusion of June 2018, I routinely achieved 10,000 steps, prompting me to challenge myself to maintain this benchmark throughout July of that year. With unwavering determination, I surpassed this initial hurdle and sustained the streak month after month thereafter.

Walking amidst persistent pain became my norm for nearly a decade, but the strain I imposed on my legs during the streak far exceeded prior thresholds. In the initial stages, my body struggled to acclimate to this rigorous physical regimen, resulting in inflammation in the heel tissue and agonizing bouts of Plantar Fasciitis. Despite these adversities, I persisted.

By October 2018, not only had I consistently attained 10,000 daily steps, but I also began to derive enjoyment from my walks. Engaging in weekly 5 km GPS challenges injected a competitive edge into my routine, facilitating my progress from an 11-minute kilometre pace in July 2018 to under 9 minutes by January 2019.

Around the 200-day mark, a pinched nerve in my left foot presented yet another hurdle, compelling me to persevere through weeks of discomfort. Overcoming these obstacles bolstered my resolve, ultimately enabling me to partake in the TCS World 10K race on May 19, 2019, where I earned my inaugural medal in the Majja 5K Run category. Brisk-walking and briefly running amidst a sea of people is an experience I will never forget.

The summer of 2019 witnessed another milestone when a routine indoor walking session transitioned into a full-fledged running session. I ran for an hour without a break, achieving my highest step count in an hour (close to 8,800) and likely covering 10 kilometres in under an hour—an accomplishment unimaginable a year prior.

The year 2019 proved monumental, with statistics reflecting over 3,000 kilometres walked and 4 million steps taken, setting a remarkable benchmark.

Despite the onset of the global pandemic, which necessitated lockdowns and confinement, my walking streak persisted. The challenges posed by the pandemic failed to deter my determination, and for the second consecutive year, I surpassed the milestones of 3,000 kilometres and 4 million steps.

On March 5, 2021, commemorating the ninth anniversary of my Core Decompression procedure, I embarked on a new challenge—walking 10 kilometres in a single GPS session, a feat I had yet to attempt outdoors. Reflecting on the events preceding my surgery imbued this endeavour with profound significance, evoking a torrent of emotions upon completion.

Embarking on such a journey requires not only courage, motivation, and determination but also an unwavering commitment to consistency. I am immensely proud of my mental and physical fortitude, having endured pain and overcome formidable odds throughout this remarkable 1,000-day journey.

600 Days

TCS World 10K - May 19, 2019

Eight years ago, on the 8th of March, I was discharged from the hospital. As I was wheeled out, a rush of emotions engulfed me - I felt profoundly insecure and helpless.

The following four years proved to be the toughest of my life. I grappled with anxiety, chronic depression, and loneliness and battled countless inner demons.

However, a turning point arrived four years ago when I made a pivotal decision - to fight back. Determined not to let depression dictate my life any longer, I embarked on a journey of self-restoration.

Despite facing a setback in 2018 due to a car accident, I refused to succumb to despair. I was not willing to forfeit four precious years of progress.

Thus, I devised a simple yet radical solution - to walk more every day. Counting my steps became a beacon of hope and a symbol of resilience.

With steady determination, I gradually increased my daily steps until I consistently achieved 10,000 steps. This commitment led to an astonishing milestone - 600 consecutive days of meeting this goal.

The impact on my physical, emotional, and psychological well-being has been profound. I find myself happier and more content than ever before. Where once there was despair, now there is hope - a testament to the unpredictable nature of life.

My journey serves as a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is always a glimmer of hope. By embracing resilience and perseverance, we can overcome even the most formidable challenges.

I am immensely grateful for the transformation I've experienced and am determined to continue walking, fighting, and inspiring others along the way.

Revisiting Independence: A Critical Examination of Freedom and Tolerance in India

Image Courtesy: Google

Seventy-five years ago, we urged the British to Quit India. Now, seven decades since we attained absolute independence, it's essential to reflect on whether we've truly achieved freedom. Do we enjoy the liberty to express our views openly, especially on sensitive topics like religion, superstitions, and certain violent traditional practices, without the looming fear of arrest or worse, violence? Regrettably, the answer to that question seems painfully clear.

Women’s Safety

"The day a woman can walk freely at night, that day we can say that India has achieved independence."

~Mahatma Gandhi

Tragically, Gandhiji's dream remains distant. Shocking statistics reveal that a woman falls victim to rape in India every 20 minutes. Ensuring the safety of our women should be a top priority, yet not enough is being done by our governments and law enforcement agencies to protect them. From college girls to single mothers, women across all strata of society face harassment, molestation, rape, and even murder under the pretext of family honour. Moreover, incidents of acid attacks, human trafficking, domestic violence, and domestic rapes add to the grim reality.

Will we ever realise Gandhiji's dream of making India a safe haven for its women?

Attack on Rationalists

In recent years, particularly since the ascension of the new government in 2014, there has been a concerning surge in attacks on free speech in India. Those daring to challenge such practices have been systematically silenced.

In 2015, M.M. Kalburgi was fatally shot on his doorstep for his longstanding criticism of idol worship among Hindus. Similarly, rationalists like Govind Pansare and Narendra Dabholkar met similar fates for questioning religious superstitions prevalent in India.

Secularism lies at the heart of India's greatness, differentiating it from its neighbours. However, these attacks pose a serious threat to India's secular fabric, marking a dangerous trend.

Cow-related Violence and Jallikattu

I have been a lifelong vegetarian and proud animal lover, yet I have never imposed my beliefs on others. Every law-abiding citizen should have the freedom to follow their dietary preferences without scrutiny. While cow vigilantes claim to protect cows and prevent their slaughter, the reality tells a different story. The alarming number of Muslims and Dalits targeted and killed under the guise of cow vigilantism speaks volumes. The 2015 Dadri mob lynching exemplifies this, where a Muslim man was lynched based on a mere rumour of storing beef.

Respecting each individual's religious, cultural, and traditional beliefs is vital. However, harming and exploiting animals in the name of tradition is unacceptable. We must advocate for the voiceless and refrain from exploiting them to perpetuate personal superstitions.

Censorship in India

Censorship, particularly in the realm of film and television, has taken a concerning turn in recent years. While the role of the Censor Board is to certify movies based on their content, the intrusion of religious and political biases by its leadership threatens freedom of expression. Numerous instances underscore this troubling trend.

Parting Thoughts

India can truly progress towards independence and prosperity if:

- Women are treated as equals and provided equal opportunities.

- Everyone enjoys the freedom to express their beliefs without fear of backlash.

- Personal choices regarding love, attire, and life partners are respected.

- Individuals are treated with kindness and dignity regardless of gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, religion, or caste.

Seventy-five years ago, we demanded the British to Quit India. Now, it's time to proclaim, "Intolerance, Quit India," and strive for a more inclusive and tolerant society.

Oscars 2015: Predictions, Tweet Reviews and More

Courtesy: The Oscars

It’s that time of the year again! (Ah! It feels great to come out of my self-imposed hibernation after almost two years, by beginning the post with a cliché). I am very jaded, and this post will probably make you cringe. So I apologize and thank you in advance for putting up with this post.

The Oscars are around the corner, so now might be the perfect time to reflect upon some of the best movies and some of the best performances in the past year. When the nominations were announced on 15^th of January, the members of the Academy received criticism because of the lack of diversity in the nominations – not a single Black actor/actress was nominated in the main acting categories. This is the third instance in the past 20 years where no Black actor has been nominated in the four main acting categories – 1995 and 2011 were the other two instances when all the nominees were White actors. Nevertheless, throughout the awards season, many favorites have emerged but there are bound to be a few surprises when the awards are announced on Sunday.

The 87^th Academy Awards will take place on Feb 22, 2015 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles. Neil Patrick Harris aka Barney wait-for-it Stinson will be hosting the awards for the first time, this year. Last year’s show, hosted by the super-hilarious Ellen DeGeneres, is famous for that iconic Oscar Selfie. NPH being equally talented and funny, we can surely expect some memorable moments when he hosts the awards this year.

Except one; I have watched all the movies nominated for Best Picture, this year. After watching each nominated movie, I review them in a series of tweets that nobody bothers to read. So, I decided it was a great idea to coalesce all those mundane tweets, and post them here - where no soul has stepped foot in almost two years. Genius, I say!

I initially intended to embed the tweets to this post, but that proved to be logistically infeasible. Hence I have posted only the screenshots. Please click on the name of each movie to read the complete review.

So, along with my tweet reviews, here are my predictions for the Oscars 2015:

Movie: Boyhood

Nominated For: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, and Best Original Screenplay.

My Prediction: 3 Wins - Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Supporting Actress

Although I loved Boyhood, it is not my favorite movie of the year. But it is the best-reviewed movie of the year, appears No. 1 on more critics’ annual “Best-of” lists in 2014 than any other movie, and in all probability, will go on to win Best Picture. Director Richard Linklater is tipped to win Best Director and he most probably will. The race for the Best Supporting Actress is between Patricia Arquette and Meryl Streep for Into the Woods – Patricia is tipped to win this race. In the Supporting Actor category, Ethan Hawke will probably lose out again, this time to the outstanding J.K. Simmons for Whiplash.

Movie: The Theory of Everything

Nominated For: Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Original Score.

My Prediction: 1 Win - Best Actor

The race for the Best Actor award is between Eddie Redmayne and Michael Keaton for Birdman. Redmayne has pretty much swept all the awards in that category, this season. So unless there is an upset, I expect him to take home the coveted Best Actor award for The Theory of Everything, this Sunday.

Movie: Still Alice

Nominated For: Best Actress

My Prediction: 1 Win – Best Actress

Julianne Moore has received widespread critical acclaim for her outstanding portrayal of a patient with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. She has pretty much swept all the awards this season, and she’s going to win big at the Oscars too.

Movie: Whiplash

Nominated For: Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Adapted Screenplay

My Prediction: 1 Win – Best Supporting Actor

Whiplash, in my opinion, is the best movie of the year. It deserves to win Best Picture, but it won’t. On the other hand, J.K. Simmons will go on to win Best Supporting Actor.

Movie: Selma

Nominated For: Best Picture and Best Original Song

My Prediction: 1 Win – Best Original Song

Selma was unfairly snubbed for Best Direction, and in the two main Acting categories. It is however a favorite to fetch an Oscar for both John Legend and Common for their song, “Glory.”

Movie: Birdman

Nominated For: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Original Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing.

My Prediction: Will win the technical awards but may lose out on the main ones.

Technically, this movie is brilliant. I especially expect it to win for Best Cinematography. But the main race is for the Best Director and Actor awards. Alejandro González Iñárritu’s direction is excellent; he deserves to win Best Director, but will probably lose this race to Richard Linklater. But I wouldn’t be surprised if Iñárritu wins it though. There’s probably a much closer race for Best Actor between Michael Keaton and Eddie Redmayne. And here too, Redmayne will probably pip Keaton. Edward Norton was fantastic in this movie, even overshadowing Keaton for the most part, but he too will lose out on the Best Supporting Actor trophy to J.K. Simmons.

Movie: The Imitation Game

Nominated For: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, and other technical awards.

My Prediction: No Wins.

Benedict Cumberbatch acted his heart out in this insipid movie, but he is not tipped to win Best Actor. The movie might still win one or two awards in the technical category, but I am not expecting much.

Movie: American Sniper

Nominated For: Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Adapted Screenplay, and other technical awards.

My Prediction: No Wins.

Considering the track records of the legendary director Clint Eastwood and the movie’s lead actor Bradley Cooper, American Sniper was always going to be nominated big. Also, it may go on to become the highest grosser at the domestic box office for the year 2014. But I don’t see Sniper winning any major awards.

Movie: Gone Girl

Nominated For: Best Actress

My Prediction: No Wins.

Rosamund Pike was absolutely brilliant in Gone Girl, deserves her nomination. The movie should have also been nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay, as it had won several awards in that category in various award functions, but it failed to get an Oscar nod.

Note: This obviously is not the most comprehensive post about the topic as I am yet to watch a couple of other nominated movies, and so my opinions are based solely on the movies I have watched so far.

Come Sunday, there will be the usual glitz and glamour associated with the Oscars with the who’s who of the entertainment industry assembled at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. There will be some amazing performances, many memorable moments, some heartbreaks, but mostly joy for the big winners of the night.

So, see you at the Oscars!