2017, was a great year, when it comes to Literature & Cinema, for me!! One Book and One movie; that are poles apart, had a profound effect on me.

Read Arundhati Roy’s The Ministry of Utmost Happiness (from the end of August 2017 to March 2018), yes – am a slow reader; which now happens to be my all time favourite novel. Sorry City of Joy by Dominique Lapierre (now you’ve gone down to 2nd place). AND Call Me by your Name (2017) directed by Luca Guadagnino (which I watched twice this year, so far); happens to be my favourite movie of this century. Sorry Mike Nichols’ Closer (2004); although Closer still remains my favourite from the previous decade (i.e. the Noughties “00”). In fact, Call Me by your Name, I feel is now my 2nd All Time Favourite Movie, after Roman Holiday (1953) directed by William Wyler (which grabbed the No. 1 spot in June 1994; and shall remain there forever, for me)!!! This is the 1st movie, from this century, to make it to my TOP 10!!!

Neither did, previous Man Booker Prize winner, Arundhati Roy, win the Booker Prize, for The Ministry of Utmost Happiness, this year; nor did Call Me by your Name, nab the BEST PICTURE Oscar, at this year’s (90th) Academy Awards (though the film won for it’s beautiful screenplay in the BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY category; the award went to the renowned James Ivory, making him the oldest recipient of an award, in the competitive Oscar category). YET, they are both winners, of the highest accolades; for me!!

Also see my posts; Photograph no.5 from November 2017, & Why “CALL ME BY YOUR NAME” deserves to win ‘Best Picture’ at this years OSCARS!!!!! from February 2018.

Nuwan Sen (Art, Literature, History & Cinema)

28th March 2018