Bangalore Days: My Perfect Getaway

Dulquer Salmaan (Arjun), Nivin Pauly (Kuttan) & Nazriya (Divya) in Bangalore Days

I was introduced to this movie by a friend, Karthika, who used to pester me during Tamil Literature lessons to watch Malayalam movies. This was a time when I thought Bollywood was the best thing that could’ve happened to me. Frankly, I still don’t know why & how I got to it. But I did. Today, I thank her for so many reasons that I can’t even count with my fingers.

Bangalore Days is that film that makes you laugh, cry tears of happiness and eventually jump and squeal in joy. Yet, every time I watch this movie I sob and I continue to do it umpteen times.

I chanced upon this film during a pretty dark phase in my life. 2015-16 was a pretty rocky time. A lot of mess, emptiness, hopelesness, a lot of Ds & Es on my report card. More like only Ds & Es. 😃 Movies have been my coping mechanism since 2013 and it comes as no surprise that I tugged onto Bangalore Days when I saw it for the first time.

For someone who can’t fully enjoy a movie without breaking into 3-4 songs, Bangalore Days satisfied that very weird interest of mine. For someone who absolutely dislikes emotionally intense scenes, Bangalore Days packaged it in a very nice pill for me to swallow.

Dulquer Salmaan (Arjun) & Parvathy (Sarah) in Bangalore Days

Basically, this film baby sat me (an 18 year old) for the longest time. Fun fact - I still have the full movie downloaded in my phone. You never know when you’ll feel like crap, beaten down by this very unpredictable, sometimes ruthless, world. But you’ll always know that Divya & Das will eventually fall in love, Arjun will find his way back to Sarah and Kuttan will find the girl of his dreams. This was all I needed to feel better for several nights which felt really dark deep in the ditches. I knew that Sarah was going to grab Arjun’s hand and make him stay at the party. I knew Kuttan’s mum was living her life to the fullest. Most importantly, I knew there were happy endings for people who weren’t prancing around in 35kg lehengas with 20 layers of make up.

I remember “chancing” upon the actress who played RJ Sarah that same year. I had so much to say and all I said was, “I lovshc u”. I hope she got the message.

I continue to tear up even now as I watched the movie for the 2821th (May differ by a few thousands) time. Not because this film is a sob story but because it reminds me of the times that I smiled even when I thought I couldn’t. It reminds me why films will always be a part of me. Films that shape the way I think, breathe, eat and walk.

And that my friends, is how my love affair with Malayalam films begun.

Thank you Anjali for this film.