1000 days

Sai Aparna
May 1
7 min read

There’s something sacred about sitting down with a heavy heart and an open screen — letting the thoughts spill, the memories resurface, and the feelings take shape. Over the past few months, I’ve realized that writing isn’t just something I do — it’s the most honest way I feel. Whether it's a movie that leaves me wrecked, a solo trip that shifts something in me, or a goodbye that lingers longer than expected, this little corner of mine is where I try to make sense of it all. It started as random scrolls on X, nostalgia edits, and quiet evenings with my favourite soundtracks — and slowly became a ritual. Now, it's a place where I write about films that move me, friends who anchor me, and moments that remind me why I want to live fully — for at least 1000 days at a time. Not because I’m counting, but because I’m learning to cherish. To feel deeply, live slowly, and document the things I never want to forget.

Mumbai, i was there not once, but twice back to back!

Arjun'36 - A Jersey re-release would fix my Soul

36 year old man who is shy to express his happiness in public goes to railway station and waits for the train to come, so that no one can hear his scream and see his tears of joy. The perfect moment and the best cinema ever made!

One of my all-time favourite films. One of my forever favourite actor — There’s something about how this film begins and ends — it’s a full circle of love, loss, dreams, and the quiet madness that comes with trying to be someone your child looks up to.

Jersey at its core, is a sports film — yes. But to me, it's so much more. It’s about giving your all during your prime, watching life pass you by when the world doesn’t play fair, choosing love when everything feels broken, and holding on to fatherhood like it’s the last purpose left. It’s about redemption, in the most human way possible.

I still think no one but Nani could’ve carried Arjun’s pain with that much sincerity. And Anirudh’s music? Some of his finest work. There are nights I’ve played the OST on loop — “Spirit of Jersey”, “Adhento Gaani Vunnapaatuga”, “Arjun and Sarah Theme” — and just let it wash over me. My brother’s a cricketer too. And for the last two years, his ringtone has been the Jersey theme. Every time it plays, it brings a certain calmness to both of us. Maybe because we both know what the film stands for — chasing something with your whole heart, even when the world’s moved on.

It’s been six years since Jersey was released. And still, no matter how many films come and go, this one remains special. Not for the twist. Not even for the game. But for the kind of man Arjun becomes — quietly heroic, painfully real. Its talks so subtly on giving up on something that means to you. A sport that thought you life, made you travel all around India, gave you those high moments, made you cry, sleepless and you give up all this to pursue something, may be thats what Jersey is all about!

1000 days

A tiny, soulful bucket list entry

This little project has been on my mind for a while now. It’s nothing grand — just a small corner I want to create for myself, a space where I can keep writing, reflecting, and documenting whatever moves me. Over the past few months, I’ve slowly found my way back into writing — not for anyone else, not for validation — but purely to feel. To feel everything a little more deeply.

And maybe one day, these scattered pieces will form a story. Or maybe they won’t. But either way, writing is the most honest expression I have. Even if I don’t let the world read my most vulnerable parts, this is where I feel most like myself.

This blog won’t be about daily updates or 1000 posts in 1000 days. But "1000 days" has become a little marker for me — a metaphor, a reminder. I want to live my life like it matters, and I keep telling myself: I want love that lasts at least 1000 days. I want friendships that stay longer than just a passing season. I want to travel, to feel, to make memories that stretch across a thousand sunsets.

So this is where it begins — a quiet promise to myself to keep showing up, to keep writing, and to never take life for granted. Because if I’m here, I want to be here, fully — for at least a thousand days and everything they hold.

How It Feels When a Friend Goes Miles Away

April 6, 2025 — we were all sitting together, having a nice dinner at my friend’s place. Nine of us, loud as ever, laughing, teasing, sharing stories. After dinner, we headed out to Ibaco for some ice cream — it was around 9:30 PM. What was supposed to be a quick trip turned into a full-blown nostalgia fest. We ended up staying till 11:15, sitting on the footpath outside the shop, revisiting our school days — the short films they made, those ridiculous photo shoots, traums and full blown comedies, and all the memories that only made sense to us. We laughed like we hadn’t in years.

And just like that, at 7:00 AM on April 7, we were at the airport. Waving goodbye to one of us. The very next day, he’d be waking up in another continent.

I don’t even know what to write. Maybe I don’t want to say too much because i dont want to put so much of myself here as ours was very short. But here's what I know: H wasn’t just a friend. He had a group of boys — really — who’ve been with him for over 15 years. The kind of bond you don’t even try to describe because words can’t do justice.

I think most friendships here used to be so simple for us — a quick call, a random meet-up, picking someone up or dropping someone, watching a random movie at night, its everyday you meet someone kinda friendship. Life was flowing in this comfort bubble. That night, outside Ibaco, it felt like nothing could ever break that. But by sunrise, it already had.

And that’s the thing — we talk so much about growing, chasing dreams, moving away, but no one talks enough about the ache that comes with it. How confusing it is to leave behind something so secure, something that feels like home. How it feels to say goodbye to friendships that were never just casual but deeply rooted. It’s overwhelming to even imagine what it must have been like for H — the one actually stepping away from all this.

So, to you, H —Thank you. For the spontaneous adventures, the filter coffee conversations, for pulling me out of dark moments without ever asking questions, and for being that safe space when I needed it the most. I may not have said this enough, but thank you for being there — really there. Now go, make the best of what’s waiting for you out there. We’ll hold it down here till you come back, and when you do, nothing’s gonna change — not the jokes, not the love, not the Sashwatha cafe.

My best friend always does this

Home might be shit, situations might hurt, breakups may come uninvited, but here’s the truth — the world is a wildly malleable place. And if life sucks, the only thing that really matters is being stubborn about finding ways to have FUN.

Don’t romanticize the struggle. Don’t let pain make you bitter. Be defiant in the face of sorrow. No matter what happens — Have fun Loudly and Happily.

MOVIES OF APRIL

Seeing Red by Shalini Vijaykumar - A Film That Screams, Laughs, and Stays With You

https://youtu.be/OZYLe-6KHuI?si=p-PFutTLDGLCIgem

I’m gonna say this loud and proud: I will shamelessly promote my best friend’s film. But trust me, Seeing Red deserves every bit of the spotlight. This isn’t just about friendship; it’s about witnessing something genuinely powerful come to life.

I had the chance to be on set for a day, and let me tell you, the amount of effort that goes into capturing a single scene is immense. Watching the final product, it all looks so seamless, but behind the scenes, it's a whirlwind of creativity and hard work.

What makes this even more special is the journey of my friend, Sahana, seeing her film premiere at MAMI Mumbai Film Festival, with industry giants like A.R. Rahman, Vetrimaaran, Rajisha Vijayan, and Konkona Sen Sharma appreciating her work, was nothing short of inspiring. Her win was pesonal!!

It showcases a new generation of creators breaking boundaries and bringing fresh perspectives to cinema. So, if you haven't watched Seeing Red yet, do yourself a favor and check it out. It's more than just a film; it's an experience that stays with you.

Allapuzha Gymkhana

I’ve always been a huge Khalid Rahman fan. He might technically be one of the most impactful commercial filmmakers we have today, but like many in the Malayalam industry, he never boxes himself into that label. What drives him — like so many brilliant minds from that space — is the urge to create good cinema, rooted in soul and storytelling.

This film? It caught me off guard in the best way. A sports comedy with a coming-of-age undertone — but not the kind that’s loud or on-the-nose. It’s subtle, playful, unexpectedly raw. A side character who gets the kind of elevation you rarely see. A protagonist who isn’t glorified or idealized — no fake morality, just a very real, flawed human being navigating life in quiet, relatable ways.

The Tourist Family – A Film That Took My Heart and Didn’t Give It Back

Sat down for the 9:05 AM show on Day 1, already sold by the trailer, the soulful music, and especially that emotional proposal video by the director. Just kept thinking—how many times would he have imagined this moment in his sleepless nights, the speeches and more? From the second it started, I didn’t want it to end. There was something so raw and beautiful in the way it unfolded. Every character had their moment. But what really hit me was how the love was shown—so subtle, so real, like it wasn’t even trying too hard, just existing quietly and deeply.

The writing? Solid. The kind that makes you clap in the middle of the movie without even realizing. I found myself laughing out loud, tearing up, getting goosebumps—all of it. It’s rare to walk out of a movie feeling lighter, warmer, and kinda broken in a good way. But The Tourist Family did that. It really did.