Korean Drama Spotlight: Happiness

After a long stint with romantic Korean dramas, I watched two horror series back-to-back – one being The Revenant and the other one, Happiness. To be honest, I selected the latter because I had read wonderful things about the chemistry between the lead pair. I was not left disappointed!

Disclaimer: This post shouldn’t be treated as a review because I am far from qualified to give an objective and professional take on cinema. It should be treated as a subjective viewpoint of a cinephile who loves to watch movies and dramas purely for entertainment. I have only one criterion – I shouldn’t get bored. The film will be judged on that factor alone.

What’s It About?

Happiness is not a typical horror or zombie series, as the trailer might make you believe. It’s about a medical drug gone wrong, causing severe side effects, leading the infected to develop zombie-like symptoms.

Thoughts

“Happiness” is anything but happy. It is frightening, frustrating, and emotional. Either the makers were playing games with us by choosing that title or maybe there is a deeper meaning to it (“Be happy today, because tomorrow you might turn into a zombie”). Or, maybe, for them, zombies equate to happiness (who am I to judge?). The meaning is left to the viewer’s discretion.

Supernatural stories often feel artificial, but when the horror elements are scientific, you can’t help but sit back and ponder its possibility.

The series takes inspiration from the recent pandemic, especially the human psyche. I almost wanted to pull my hair out because of the irrational behavior of the residents who wanted to venture out when they were given explicit instructions not to. No one followed the rules. Sounds familiar?

When I set aside my annoyance, I realized this is precisely how people behaved during the pandemic. Many flaunted rules by avoiding masks and ventured out even if lockdowns were imposed in the country out of sheer frustration, ego, loneliness, and desperation. You saw people quick to call out, ostracize, and shame others infected with the virus but were notoriously silent when it concerned their own family members. You see glimpses of these traits (and more) in Happiness, and you can’t help but applaud the reality of it all.

The quiet romance between the leads is not the main plot, but it still makes a mark. Park Hyung Sik and Han Hyo Joo have fantastic chemistry, and I wish they act in a full-on romantic story in the future. The way they have their moments, with that beautiful melody playing in the background, makes it a wholesome treat overall.

I would definitely recommend the series. Streaming on Netflix.

An Ode to Paving Your Own Paradise

I went on the road that I was told not to take,

I did things I was told not to do,

I wanted things I couldn’t want, I got hurt and hurt again;

You can call me stupid, then I’ll just smile

I don’t wanna succeed by doing things I don’t wanna do.
Wings by BTS

I came across the above verse by RM (kindly translated by a Reddit user), and it made me think of my own life decisions. The words resonated with me a lot – taking the path that isn’t the norm because it feels right. It could be a path filled with mistakes, it could be stupid or nonsensical, ridiculed by others, but it does not matter because the path is authentically mine.

I went against the tide when I was young and still am – living as a 40-year-old single woman in a society that emphasizes marriage and having a family is not for the faint-hearted. I am bang in the center of all the guilt-tripping and moral policing, but I still am going strong because there is no other way I would have it.

There are other things I do that aren’t considered ideal, like not being ambitious or wanting to race to the top. I am generally content in life. The new world requires you to be on your toes, aiming for the best always, and be in a constant state of restlessness. That streak was missing in me since childhood. I enjoy the slow life and the calmness and peace that it entails. I knew doing anything else could only result in me being unhappy.

How do we stay true to ourselves when the world wants us to go the opposite way?

They tell you not to live your life through your feelings, but that’s how I have been till now. I do not get into something half-hearted just because it is the norm. It may or may not seem like the best way for others, but it sure as well keeps me sane. It took me a long time to accept this side of me – I spent more than 30 years thinking something was wrong with how I felt. Considering I’m in my 40s, that’s a very short period of me feeling a sense of normalcy.

Don’t do that to yourself. And don’t let anyone make you spend more than 75% of your life thinking you are “weird” or “out of place” or an alien. Your feelings are valid. I don’t think people realize this when they are young because we are competitive and constantly comparing ourselves to others. But over time, you will realize there is only one authentic, wholesome, happy way to live your life – and that’s yours.

Ending with a beautiful song by BTS, titled Paradise. It’s a lyrical video, so sit back, relax, and enjoy the words of motivation:

It’s alright to stop

You don’t need to run without knowing why

It’s alright to not have any dreams

If you have moments where you can feel happiness

It’s alright to stop

Don’t run without knowing where you’re going anymore

It’s alright not to have any dreams

All of the air you breathe out is already paradise

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Photo by Gabriel Hohol

An Ode to the Two Best K-Thrillers of 2023 (So Far)

As you might already know, I am big-time into romantic kdramas. But as of now, I am on a short break and experimenting with other genres to detox my system from the sugar overload.

I enjoyed two Korean thrillers recently. One is a movie and the other a kdrama.

Revenant

If you are into horror mysteries, this is a must-watch. Kim Tae Ri gives a superlative performance (as usual), but so do the others. No one is out of place. You will find yourself completely immersed in the story, taking in the characters, their miseries, thoughts, and feelings, almost becoming one with them.

Kim Tae Ri plays a food delivery girl struggling to juggle her many responsibilities. She has to work, study, and, last but not least, deal with her reckless single mother, who is a handful in more ways than one. One fine day, she learns that her mother has lied about many things, including her father’s life story. Supernatural events unfold, leading to the discovery of hidden secrets.

The series is fast-paced and lures you in with its many twists and turns. The jump scares are comparatively less (I can only remember one), so that’s a big plus. The horror element is conveyed brilliantly through the character’s subtle change in expressions and body language. Nothing is over the top.

Streaming on Disney+ Hotstar.

The Childe

Kim Seon Ho brilliantly portrays a quirky killer who is out to get a Filipino-Korean boxer in search of his wealthy father.

The cat and mouse chase was super fun, and it helps that the main lead does all of it impeccably dressed in well-fitted suits. Kim Seon Ho oozes charm in the way he talks and moves. But he also has the most sinister smile. How this beautiful man from Hometown Cha Cha Cha managed to play such a twofold character is beyond me. Like Kim Tae Ri, Kim Seo Ho is perfection.

The movie gets violent at times but will not stop you from completing it. Take it from someone who hates violence and bloodshed.

The Childe is fast-paced, like Revenant, so I highly recommend the two to people with a short attention span (like yours truly). You can catch the movie at a theatre near you.

Why You Should Read Non-Fiction

Recently, I came across a proficient Bollywood actress saying, “I don’t read non-fiction. My mind is fine as it is. I don’t need to learn anything more.” I was a bit taken aback by her statement. Not because she said she didn’t like non-fiction, which is entirely her personal choice, but by the fact that she thinks there’s nothing more to learn.

When we stop learning, we stop growing. I don’t think we ever reach a saturation point when it comes to knowledge. There’s always something new to study – be it from our own experiences or others. It’s impossible to learn everything by ourselves, which is where non-fiction comes in. Such books expand your horizons, even if they demand a certain amount of mental effort from us.

Not many enjoy non-fiction. It makes you feel like you are studying in contrast to a fictional book that offers a more relaxed, entertaining vibe. We have always associated non-fiction with our school textbooks. So it’s no surprise why many detest reading the genre. Personally, I find myself having to work my grey cells more when I am reading an autobiography or a self-help book. They require you to think and retrospect, which does not qualify for “easy reading.”

But to never read non-fiction, in my opinion, is a sin. You have some of the world’s best documenting their experiences and learnings on a subject of interest in the most compact form possible to help others who would otherwise have spent countless hours trying to learn the same. Why miss that golden opportunity?

Here are some reasons why you should consider reading non-fiction:

It allows you to learn from other people’s mistakes. The people who have written the books have more experience than us regarding certain subjects, so why not trust them? When you read through their mistakes, you get to learn what to avoid.

Some points stick. When you read non-fiction, you can be assured some valuable points will stick. You will end up discarding a lot of info that doesn’t align with your thought process. Still, you will unknowingly absorb valuable insights for future use. When the time comes, these tidbits will hover over in the background, helping you make the right decision. You might not remember which book you got the idea from, but the important thing is you retained the information for personal use. This can be very useful, be it at work, studies, or even personal day-to-day interactions.

They give you a new perspective. When I go through self-help books, I am almost always gifted with a new way of perceiving things, which I wouldn’t have if left to my own devices. The people around me are echo chambers, and we often hear the same viewpoints repeatedly. This is why people tell you to travel – so you get to experience different cultures, values, and insights. A more accessible, affordable option is to read non-fiction. It broadens your horizons, making you understand that yours is not the only way to live. There are many different kinds of people with different stories, unique experiences, and beliefs. Non-fiction helps you explore all of it in the comfort of your home.

I agree you can do all three by watching YouTube videos or listening to podcasts, but there’s only so much you can include in video and audio formats. In comparison, books are able to contain a lot more information. Plus, scanning or searching for info in a book is easier, especially if you own a Kindle.

So, do give non-fiction a chance by picking a topic of interest. You do not have to finish everything in one go. Try five pages, a chapter, or even one page instead. Each page you finish takes you that much closer to developing a new mindset.

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Photo by Gu00fcl Iu015fu0131k

9 Key Takeaways from Dr Vanita Rattan’s Guide for Skin of Colour

I recently finished reading Dr. Vanita Rattan’s Skin Revolution meant for people of color. It was an eye-opener, especially when she said most skincare products are formulated keeping Caucasian skin in mind and are not exactly suitable for skin of color. Dr Vanita Rattan is a cosmetic formulator of Indian origin. She is a doctor who decided to pursue cosmetology to help people of color care for their skin better.

Here are some key takeaways from the book:

If you are more likely to tan rather than burn in the sun, you are considered to have skin of color.

Oily skin: After a few hours of washing your face, your skin looks and feels shiny.

Dry skin: Skin feels tight and uncomfortable.

Combination skin: Skin is often drier on the cheeks and oilier on the T-zone.

Non-comedogenic – a label may indicate that it won’t clog the pores. However, this is an unregulated term, and in fact I struggle to find a non-comedogenic cream without comedogenic ingredients.

Natural – another unregulated term. Natural ingredients often need to be synthesized to be useful in a product.

Start your PM skincare routine at least 2 hours before bed so you have time for actives to penetrate before your face hits the pillow and the product comes off on your sheets.

Ideally, you should introduce only one new ingredient at a time, just once a week, to see how your skin tolerates it.

Purging is when skin cell turnover increases and cells come to the surface faster. This means clogged pores also come to the surface faster so you see a fresh new crop of white heads, black heads and pimples. They were already in the skin and would have shown up in their usual cycle four weeks later, but rapid cell turnover (due to skincare) accelerated the process, so you see it all at once.

I have also seen natural products without preservatives, which leads to mould in your skincare products. This is not safe.

People sometimes feel that if the skin is tingling and burning the product is working, but actually the opposite is true, especially for skin of colour. We should not experience any burning with cosmetic products. If you do, please stop straight away and seek advice.

If you are a person of color, I highly recommend purchasing the book as Dr. Vanita Rattan gives detailed skincare and haircare solutions/tips for all kinds of issues that people of color go through, including hyperpigmentation, acne, dermatitis, and eczema. The book even has dedicated skincare chapters for men, kids, and pregnant women, making it a good reference book for the entire family. I would definitely refer to the book in the future before buying a new product or if I want to treat any particular skin issue.

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Photo by Riya Kumari

An Ode to Playful Adults

I am a new k-entertainment fan. I have started bingeing kdramas, kpop, kceleb interviews, and variety shows. I adore BTS and absolutely love all the members. As someone in her 40s, I am not ashamed to be a fan, though many people think k-entertainment is primarily for young adults. I feel art and music transcend all generations, and everyone, irrespective of age, should be able to enjoy creativity in all forms.

One thing that strikes me, especially in BTS, is how playful even the eldest member (Jin) is. That got me thinking – why don’t we see more adults being playful? Almost every adult you see has a serious, practically poker-faced sense of humor. They express their happiness less and worry more. I find it true in India, where I live, but I am sure it’s a practice across the globe. Probably because we relate seriousness with maturity. The more serious you look, the more mature you are considered to be.

Why can’t we be playful as we age instead of becoming no-nonsense adults?

Why do we have to lose our childlike qualities when we grow up?

Why can’t we look at the world with the same curiosity and wide-eyed wonder?

Most of these questions have one answer: life experiences. What we go through in life tends to sober us down and take some of that effervescent energy away. I look at my posts and realize how I have become more serious over the years. I kind of miss the younger, quirkier me. Friends who had the most incredible sense of humor have mellowed due to the pressure that age brings with it. When older people say that school and college offer the best days of your life, they mean it – you get to enjoy things with abandon when you are young. “Maturity” is a sham that can drain that enthusiasm away – we smile less, joke even less, and constantly worry about what the future will behold.

Another reason is society. People expect you to be serious and leave your childlike qualities behind when you turn older; otherwise, you’re deemed immature. It does not matter if you do your duties meticulously and perform all your responsibilities. If you project any playful traits, you are looked at with judgment.

Blessed are those, in my opinion, who get to retain their childlike playfulness in this world that tends to be a spoilsport. The ability to joke around, laugh wholeheartedly many times a day, and find happiness in the smallest things is a skill that many of us would do better to possess. Such qualities make the world a happier place to live in, for our own selves and the people around us.

So, to people who bring joy to those around them with their playful antics, instead of preaching, “Be more mature. This is not the age for such things,” I would like to say, “Please stay the same! You bring joy just the way you are.”

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Photo by Godisable Jacob