Ageing, Piku style

It shows how difficult old age is, not just for the person ageing, but for those around them as well.

Ageing, Piku style
Society and media place immense pressures on us to stay young these days. We're constantly &being bombarded with images of young, flawless models and actors and this fosters a distasteful image of old age.
The film Piku, as mentioned in The Age of Living Dangerously (May 22), is a slice-of-life film. Besides the general sense of bonhomie, the film conveys a powerful message without being preachy. Piku presents a very realistic view of a typical Indian family. It shows how difficult old age is, not just for the person ageing, but for those around them as well.
Our society is obsessed with pointing out the negative aspects of growing old. It's true that ageing brings hardships, but the truth is, getting older is an accomplishment in itself and it becomes easier with the right support from family. As the film depicts, 'Piku' and her father adore each other, sing songs and work together, which I think portrays ageing in a whole new light.
Trying to understand what ageing parents are going through is often difficult, especially for those who are younger. We may develop more patience and greater empathy for our parents as we grow older, but we'll never know what it's like to be old until we are old ourselves. The hardest thing is realising that there is no cure for ageing; taking care of ourselves and eating healthy is the best we can do. Eating unhealthy foods, consuming the wrong kinds of fats, smoking and not exercising - for people who have such &unhealthy lifestyles, healthy ageing is unachievable.
It was heart-warming to watch Piku's father's other idiosyncrasies (like hiding the salt so that no one in the household gets high blood pressure, and riding a bicycle to keep fit).
Piku offers no masala but neither does it bog you down with preachy monologues or talk about how children should always be responsible for their old parents. These are the kind of entertainers Bollywood should be making more of. 

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» Tender love and care
I was truly touched after reading the article Love Me Tender (May 22). These mothers have not only brought happiness and light into their children's lives, but also to the lives of other children and parents.
It is absolutely heartbreaking to think of parents isolating themselves from society when they hear about their child's 'special needs'. The solution to this problem is acceptance; accepting your special child and having the courage to believe in his/her abilities. Parents should remember that every child is different, and that in the end, they are all gifts from God. They may be incapable of expressing love like other children, but then again, as the famous saying goes, love has no language. Parents should always be prepared to protect, support and fight for their children.
Sometimes, as parents run around chasing different treatments, doctors and medicines, they forget to let their children have a childhood.Let them breathe fresh air, play a lot, laugh and then laugh harder still. The children the article mentions are special. but so are their parents.
Sreelakshmi Sateesh, by email 

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» daddy dearest
I enjoyed reading the parenting article Yes, Sire (May 22). It is indeed true that fathers play a major role when it comes to contributing to their child's development. I also agree that kids who have their dads helping them as they grow have fewer behavioural problems when they are young, and a lower likelihood of delinquency rate as adults.
Furthermore, as the article mentions, baby bonding studies have revealed that dads show an increased level of oxytocin during the first week of their babies lives which is also called as the  'love hormone'! In the end, both mothers and fathers play a very important role in their child's overall development. If they have a harmonious relationship, I personally believe that the child will grow up to be a confident, loving, responsible human being.
Maanjju Asarpota, via email

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The article on fathers being important (Yes Sire, May 22) was a very endearing read and gives fathers a sense of reassurance about their importance in a child's life. Sometimes, we fathers get an expendable feeling, though, evidently, that is far from the truth. After reading the article I started to reflect on my own journey as a father and realised how true some things mentioned in the article were, like how our presence during pregnancy goes a long way, especially when it comes to all those midnight cravings! Also, the father's presence during childbirth itself, which is said to comfort the wife and help relieve labour pain. I found that interacting with kids during infancy and early childhood gave them a stronger vocabulary. Dealing with teen years are yet to be explored as I have not actually reached that milestone, but I go ahead with a sense of confidence that no matter what their age, my presence in each stage will always have its own value.
Amin Schahzad, via email