Wednesday, 31 December 2025

Life in Frames - December 31, 2025


 

Around India Through Stories - 52/100


 

Best Movies of 2025 - 25 Day Challenge 5/ 25


Sentimental Value is a 2025 Norwegian drama film directed by Joachim Trier, co-written with Eskil Vogt. The film stars Renate Reinsve, Stellan SkarsgĂ„rd, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, and Elle Fanning. Exploring themes of intergenerational trauma, nepotism, and suicide, it centres on a celebrated filmmaker whose strained relationships with his two estranged daughters deepen when he begins creating a deeply personal film about their family’s past.

Tuesday, 30 December 2025

Summary of Langston Hughes's Still Here - 1.2



Langston Hughes wrote Still Here

The poem is about African Americans

They suffered because of White people

They were treated badly

They had no proper home

They faced beatings and cruelty

They were not allowed to be happy

They were told not to enjoy life

But they did not give up

They still have hope and pride


Langston Hughes is the author of the poem ‘Still Here’

This poem is about African Americans living in the United States.

The poet says that Black people have suffered and been hurt by White people.

They were treated badly and made to feel hopeless.

They had no proper home — they lived in the cold and in the hot sun.

White Americans were often cruel, hitting and beating them.

They wanted Black people to live without hope or happiness.

They told them not to laugh, not to love, and not even to live freely.

But the poet, Langston Hughes, says that they will not give up.

Black people still have hope and live with pride and self-respect.

Personal Mastery - Visual Summary


 

Personal Mastery by Robin Sharma


Robin Sharma is a leadership expert and bestselling of “The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari.”


Personal Mastery - A way to grow, improve, and become your best self.


Excellence — Doing your best and achieving very high quality.


Mastery — Complete skill and deep understanding in something.


Self-doubt — Lack of confidence in yourself.


Fear of failure — Worrying about making mistakes or not succeeding.


Distractions — Things that take your attention away from what matters.


Self-awareness — Knowing your thoughts, feelings, and actions.


Positive thinking — Focusing on good possibilities and outcomes.


Gradual growth — Slow but steady improvement over time.


Discipline — Doing what is needed even when it’s hard.


Consistency — Showing up and doing it again and again.


Lifelong learning — Continuing to learn throughout your life.


Relevant — Connected to or important for the situation.


Adaptable — Able to adjust to changes and new situations.


Purpose — The reason why you do something.


Priorities — The things that matter the most to you.


Decision — A choice made after thinking.


Habits — Actions you repeat until they become automatic.


Goals — Targets you want to achieve.


Robin Sharma’s"On Personal Mastery" offers a comprehensive framework for achieving

personal excellence.


Self-discipline is key to personal mastery. It helps you stay focused on your goals and avoid distractions. Sharma points out that consistent and disciplined actions lead to great results. Without these actions, your goals may not be achieved.

Lifelong learning is essential for staying relevant and adaptable. It improves skills, broadens outlook, and prepares one for challenges.

A clear sense of purpose helps you set priorities and make decisions, reducing confusion and improving your focus.

Internal barriers, like self-doubt and fear of failure, can hold you back. Sharma advises overcoming these barriers through self-awareness, positive thinking, and gradual growth. By working on these issues, you can unlock your true potential.

Finally, good habits, such as setting daily goals, are essential for success. Sharma's principles provide a strong foundation for achieving excellence. 

Around India Through Stories - 51/100


 

Life in Frames - December 30, 2025


 

Best Movies of 2025 - 25 Day Challenge 4/ 25

 


One Battle After Another (2025) is a black comedy action thriller written, co-produced, and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, inspired by Thomas Pynchon’s novel Vineland. The film stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Benicio del Toro, Regina Hall, Teyana Taylor, and Chase Infiniti, and follows an ex-revolutionary who must protect his daughter when a corrupt military officer hunts them down. Anderson, long interested in adapting Vineland, blended the novel with his own ideas and filmed in California using Vista Vision. 

Monday, 29 December 2025

Around India through Stories - 50/100


 

Life in Frames - December 29, 2025

 


Best Movies of 2025 - 25 Day Challenge 3/ 25

 


Happyend (2024) is a science fiction drama film written and directed by Neo Sora. Starring Kurihara Hayato and Hidaka Yukito, it premiered at the 81st Venice International Film Festival and was released in Japan in October 2024, followed by a U.S. release in September 2025. Set in near-future Tokyo, the story follows two best friends whose prank at school triggers a new surveillance system, leading them to face the consequences in different ways.

Sunday, 28 December 2025

Numbers Lie: The Corruption Behind Research Rankings








Around India Through Stories - 49/100



 

Best Movies of 2025 - 25 Day Challenge - 2/ 25

 


Caught by the Tides (2024) is a Chinese drama film directed by Jia Zhangke and co-written with Wan Jianhuan. Combining fiction and non-fiction, it uses footage shot over 22 years, including material from Jia’s earlier films. This approach showcases the natural ageing of characters, such as Qiao Qiao, played by Zhao Tao, Jia’s wife. Parts of the film are set in Fengjie, the same location featured in Jia’s Golden Lion-winning Still Life (2006).

Life in Frames - December 28, 2025


 

Saturday, 27 December 2025

Best Movies of 2025 - 25 Day Challenge 1/ 25


It Was Just an Accident (2025) is a thriller film written and directed by Jafar Panahi. A co-production between Iran, France, and Luxembourg, it follows former Iranian political prisoners as they confront a man they suspect was their torturer. Made without permission from Iranian authorities, the film premiered in the main competition at the 78th Cannes Film Festival, winning the Palme d’Or and earning widespread acclaim. It made history with Golden Globe nominations in major categories and was selected as France’s entry for Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards.


Around India Through Stories - 48/100



 

Life in Frames - December 27, 2025


 

Thursday, 25 December 2025

Ten Main Ideas from Why I Write - George Orwell

 

The author of this essay is George Orwell. 

He is famous for works like Animal Farm and 1984. 

He discusses the major influences on his work.

He says that art is mixed with political & social issues. 

The essay is an example of personal reflection.













The four main reasons for writing:  


SE - Sheer Egoism: 

A desire to be noticed and remembered. He loved words and books. 


AE - Aesthetic Enthusiasm: 

A love for beautiful language and form.  


HI - Historical Impulse: 

A wish to truthfully document events for future readers. 


PP - Political Purpose. 

Writing to reveal lies, fight injustice, and advocate for fairness.






Words of the Year 2025








 

Around India Through Stories - 46/100




Life in Frames - December 25, 2025