Cinema that instructs

Best Letter: 
Films can be a power-ful educational tool. They act as an inspi-ration for children who are disabled and are from underprivile-?ged backgrounds (No Class Act, Jan 29).
They encourage these kids, inspire them, and show them that there is hope for them. Many real life incidents have taken place about disabled children who are now famous, but came from nothing to start with; they are now successful and well-known.
Nowadays, movies are much more than just entertainment. They have become a medium of instruction. Every film has a moral or an inspiration behind it. The film Taare Zameen Par acted as a source of hope for children with dyslexia. It showed that with the right guidance, even kids with this learning disability could go on to do and achieve great things.
Some films also aid in teaching, and others have the power to make emotional connections, which entertain and inspire at the same time. The film 3 idiots acted as such a source of inspiration to me, teaching that it's not just enough to pass out with good grades or on top of the class, but really imbibe the knowledge that's imparted to you.
- Behlah Joheri Agashiwala 
» Going Ms. Solo
I absolutely loved the article The Travelling Sisterhood (Jan 29). It not only helped lessen my fear of travelling alone, but also boosted my confidence about taking a sojourn. Many of us are "steady Eddy" folks who cannot imagine travelling alone, preferring to go with family, or join an organised tour trips.
Not so long ago, a solo woman traveller ?was an oddity, sometimes encountering incomprehension, cultural prohibition and inconvenience. But now the world is more open to the phenomenon of women travelling alone. When women have made amazing strides ?in politics, business, technology, culture, why not take the plunge and savour the joy of solo travelling too?
Jayashree Kulkarni, Abu Dhabi 
» Dear diary
Haven't we all grown up hearing that keeping a journal is a great idea? It gives you a place to vent when there's no one to listen. A diary is a companion you can carry around with you wherever you go. Sounds perfect, doesn't it?
But I've tried so many times to keep a diary, starting in the fifth grade, with a great big blue notebook. I started each time with deter-mination, but as the weeks passed, writing would become more and more of a chore, until I just gave up. That left me with a pile of unfinished notebooks and then my mom nagged me about the "clutter".
Digital journaling is the perfect solution to this. I can write in the metro or on the bus, utilising time that usually goes waste. The entries won't fade or get lost and I don't need to think of creative hiding places for my phone - just add a pass code!
Aditi Kumar, by email 
» Super spuds
I really enjoyed reading 6 Healthy Ways To Delicious Potatoes (Jan 29). And all this while, I thought potatoes made us fat! But then, I guess it's because potatoes are mainly associated with junk foods like potato chips, french fries, wedges, etc.
But the featured recipes are amazingly delicious; I did try some of them. They are extremely light and can be consumed even if you are dieting. My personal favourite is the Slim-Belly Baked Potato Bar, easy to make ?but taste's like chef's cooking. Also, these recipes are suitable for vegetarians like me.
Siddhartha K S, by email 
» No longer the ex-files
Mulder and Scully are back! David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson reprising their roles on The X-Files brings back great old memories (The Truth is still Out There, Jan 29).
The X-Files remains one of the best, iconic shows of its time; it only makes sense then, to bring back its tried and tested screen formula. Very few shows today can boast the popularity Mulder and Scully enjoyed.
It will be interesting to see the pair going about their work again, as it was with the F.R.I.E.N.D.S. cast reuniting recently. As Duch-ovny says, "Amor Fati"!
Valiny Rodrigues, by email