Peace-ology

Why Alaipayuthey Still Speaks to My Heart After 20+ Years

There are movies that you watch, and there are movies that stay with you, that seem to understand the way you feel before you even know it yourself. For me, Alaipayuthey (Sakhi) is one of those rare films. I first watched it years after it released, (partly because i wasn’t born back then)and yet it felt like it had been waiting for me all along, like a quiet friend whispering to the 8th grader me watching this film, “This is how life, love, and peace can feel.”

A Love That Feels Real

I still remember the way Karthik first sees Shakthi at the train station, just a glimpse, and somehow, the whole world seems to pause…for them, and for us too. Later, when she walks into his house function in that simple saree, it’s like the air shifts, he can’t look away, and honestly, I couldn’t either. That moment, the way it’s captured, the cinematographic excellence, the music behind and most importantly…the simplicity! it makes you feel the flutter in your chest, the kind of blush that sneaks up without warning, and you just get why love can be so quietly powerful.

Karthik and Shakthi’s love isn’t a fairytale. It’s messy, stubborn, and imperfect but it’s also honest, tender, and alive. I remember sitting there, watching them fight, laugh, and chase each other through trains and streets, and thinking: this is what love really looks like. Not grand gestures or over-the-top drama, but connection, care, and the courage to keep showing up for each other. Even now, thinking about station scenes or the way they sneak moments for each other makes me feel the thrill and warmth of genuine love that feels almost lost in today’s movies.

Music That Lingers

Then there’s the music. Rahman didn’t just compose songs; he painted emotions. Pachai Nirame fills me with a sense of wonder, like life itself is vibrant and endless. Snehithane whispers quietly, reminding me of moments of calm, intimacy, and understanding. And Kadhal Sadugudu… the youthful romance, that wild energy, the rebellious pulse…still makes my heart race like I’m part of their world. I mean I am definitely one of those who imagined myself in the songs and danced in the bedroom. But as I grew up,these songs are no longer just tracks on a playlist, they’re emotional anchors, a soundtrack that has seeped into my memory and stays with me in quiet moments.

The Peace It Gives

What makes Alaipayuthey my comfort movie is the peace it brings, even in chaos. Watching Karthik and Shakthi navigate family pressures, misunderstandings, career ambitions, and mistakes, I feel a strange calm. It reminds me that life doesn’t have to be perfect to be beautiful, that conflict, struggle, and growth are part of being human, and that peace comes not from avoiding mistakes but from learning, forgiving, and moving forward.

What makes Alaipayuthey so real is how it doesn’t shy away from showing growth. Watching Karthik eventually realize how he could be a better partner, taking responsibility for his mistakes…hit me in a way that felt personal. And Shakthi, navigating through her own storm of emotions, guilt, frustration, fear, and love, reminded me that being human means struggling, reflecting, and slowly learning to balance your heart with life’s chaos. Seeing them grow alongside each other made me realize that love isn’t just about moments of joy like how it’s glamourised to be. It’s about choosing to grow, even when it’s hard.

A Forgotten Kind of Love

I think what makes me so attached is also what makes it timeless: the kind of love it shows us feels rare now. Today relationships can be often referenced with the two minutes Maggi ad. It has become a selfish place and the sanctity is eventually fading away.

Today, films often focus on instant drama, superficial romance, or fleeting thrill. Alaipayuthey reminds me that love can be patient, real, human, and yet still exhilarating. It’s a love I didn’t know I had been missing until I saw it, and that makes it unforgettable.Its the love I often manifest for myself and for everybody around me.

My most favourite scene has to be when Karthik’s neighbour explains to him what love really means not the rush, not the drama, but the everyday patience, care, and effort it takes to truly be with someone. It’s such a simple conversation, yet it hits deeper than all the grand gestures, and even today it feels like the most timeless definition of love I’ve ever heard.

A Complete Package of Excellence

The story, the performances, the music, the energy. they all come together seamlessly. Let it be Mani Ratnam’s direction, P.C.Sreeram’s cinematography, A.R.Rahman’s music(the background music has my entire heart),Madhavan’s effortless charm and Shalini’s quiet grace…Isn’t all this summing up to perfection already? Alaipayuthey isn’t just a love story, it’s a reflection of life itself: growing up, chasing dreams, making mistakes, handling conflict, finding peace, and discovering joy. For me, it’s a movie I can return to over and over, a safe place that still excites and comforts me.

Even after 20+ years, Alaipayuthey isn’t just a film, it’s a reminder of what cinema can do at its best. It shows the magic we’ve all been missing.It shows me what we’ve forgotten about love, life, and peace, and why some stories are timeless.

Embracing the Journey: Trust and Divine Intervention

Life has a way of surprising us. At times, we find ourselves navigating unexpected challenges, unsure of what lies ahead. But as we keep going, we start to notice how things gradually fall into place. The moments that seemed confusing or heavy begin to make sense, and we realize how beautifully everything has been woven together. It’s in these moments that we begin to understand the power of trust, and sometimes, the importance of letting go.

Letting go can be tough—it’s about releasing what no longer serves us, whether it’s struggles, doubts, or the comfort of the familiar. Holding on too tightly can weigh us down, and by letting go, we make room to move forward and find peace. It’s a quiet shift, but one that allows us to grow, without trying to control every little thing.

I felt this on a deeper level at a recent CRY event. Meeting people who had faced unimaginable odds but still chose to rise above them was humbling. They showed me that embracing our challenges, letting go of fear, and trusting the journey isn’t just an individual act—it’s a collective strength. When we choose to let go, we not only find our own peace but create space to uplift others, offering hope where it’s needed most.

Patience, positivity, and spirituality are the quiet forces that guide us through it all. Patience gives us the strength to sit with uncertainty, trusting that things will unfold in their own time. Positivity helps us see the light, even on the darkest days, and spirituality reminds us that we’re part of something much bigger than ourselves. It’s like the 99% hard work we put in—building, learning, and doing our best—and then that 1% of divine guidance or grace that completes it. That final nudge, that small miracle, that reminds us we’re not alone, and that we are being guided toward what’s meant to be. With these in our hearts, we find the courage to keep moving forward, knowing that each step, no matter how small, is part of a greater, meaningful path.

Eat Pray Love

So basically I recently had a short yet amazing vacation in Goa. The three fruits of life that I have stated above, I was able to note the significance of them throughout. It seemed perpetually worthy of attention. Which is why I brought myself to write this today. So here are a few principles that I have latched on to. A few learnings that have transposed certain parts of my life. A few memories I’ll forever hold on to.

Eat

Sometimes we need to realise that we can be in the bliss of nothing, just simply experiencing the moment of noting is a gift. We must let ourself pour gratitude for the gift of food. I regained my love for cuisines. For appetite. I learnt to embrace life as it is through it. A balanced diet goes a long way. In a way it teaches us how to balance certain necessities in the plate of our life. Let it be any aspect,as long as it is in equilibrium nothing can curb our mental peace. Coming back to the diet, its not just a balanced diet that’s enough but also healthy practices of eating. I went on a farm tour and saw different spices that grew in them. As enticing they might seem,when consumed in right proportions,they prove to be beneficial as well. So to summarise,eating a balanced diet,accompanied by regular exercise is essential in maintaining physical and mental health and well-being.

Pray

To us, “Pray” doesn’t just indicate faith in a strict God sense. It’s about finding something to believe in and be passionate about—and that includes your own life. When you shine, you are doing His will. You are the true essence of who He created. Spirituality doesn’t mean becoming blind in submission. It means submission to ourselves and to the one that created us. Having belief that whatever’s taking over your will and way,might lead you somewhere for your betterment in this quest of life. The churches in Goa were enlightening enough to reach the point of peace and nothing but that. The moment I wake up, prayers start flowing. I feel peaceful and comforted when I start the day this way. I truly sense that someone is listening. Connecting with silence on a daily basis can be life changing as stillness provides the answers to our questions. Sometimes the noise that surrounds us keeps us stuck in a certain unwanted phase. But as you close your eyes to entwine yourself to nobody but you,you realise that all your answers…they lie within you.

Love

This can be a challenging topic. For love usually get implied by the relationships we share with others. Let it be any kind. Some relationships can drain into downright heartaches while others prove to stand and provide significant lessons that might lead us for the rest of our lives. But the kind of love I realised,self love. Love is special when it comes to finding yourself. If we don’t practice self love,we will search for that love elsewhere. We assume that the love we crave is in the hands of other human. We will betray ourselves,put others on a pedestal and lower our self worth just to grasp at scraps of affection.My parents taught me to be a lady. For them that means to be your own person,be independent. Just like how the waves in the sea embraces whatever comes ahead and flow freely,embrace your beautiful spirit and be able to love freely. Shine light for those who may be living in the dark.I was reminded that one should never settle or give in when comes to matters of the heart. For every human being, there is a sacred union for you. Please remember your worth and know that there is magic occurring on your behalf:)

Kill em with kindness❤️

We are all challenged to refrain from losing our cool when faced with disagreements and unpleasant behavior on the part of others. I reckon a good start would be practicing humility and kindness these skills will never fail no matter what company we find ourselves in and will only do us and our future company good without trying too hard to be something we may never succeed. I was listening to this song by Selena Gomez. The following verse touched the very void in me that needed answers.

The world can be a nasty place
You know it, I know it, yeah
See, we don’t have to fall from grace
Put down the weapons you fight with. And kill em with kindness.

What I understood from this is the power of words. Wars and conflicts could’ve been avoided if the right path of communication was traced. I think what people fail to recognise these days,is the impact befallen by the simple things they say. The literal translation of this song is, “treat everyone kindly, even those who have hurt you.”

All my life,my mom always taught me that resilience goes a long way. Our reaction overpowers the actual problem statement. We fail to understand that our immaturity at the nick of the moment might collapse the whole foundation of respect and trust we’ve built. How beautiful it is to mind our own business and empower ourselves whilst healing,while negativity and rage is expected. This is the reason I keep telling myself,my dad has raised me to be a queen,not a princess.

Here I’m attaching a quote from a woman I absolutely idolise. Audrey Hepburn.

Self appreciation

The last 3 weeks have been nothing but a load I decided to carry on my back for valid reasons. My initial motive for pushing myself into everything was to let my mind focus on anything other than negativity that was flowing freely within. But I’m proud of how I surpassed whatever came ahead. It wasn’t easy. Sleepless nights,tiresome days,hungry stomach and zero time for any break. But I realised that I fell in love with what I was doing. With my work. At one point it felt oddly settling to be tired. I started to embrace whatever my gut asked me to do. When something came ahead,I was taught to face it with dignity and grace whatsoever it was. I decided to deliver myself a kickass result. A satisfactory one.And by god’s grace and by the required support,today when I look back…I see nothing but effort that beautifully blended into love for what I was doing. Now I realise that my primary relationship is with myself-all others are mirrors of it. As I learn to love myself,I automatically receive the love and appreciation I deserve. If I am committed to myself and to living my truth,I will attract others with equal commitment. Just a self appreciation post because I become so busy trying to improve that I forget to appreciate what I already am🦋a KICKASS amazing yet psychotic mess.

A love letter to myself

Dear me,

Why do you hate yourself so much? When will you realise that the amount of love and affection you are capable of giving at this moment you deserve it and more than that you need it the most for yourself. Heal baby. You have so much to look forward to ,so many more adventures to embark on. Whatever happened you don’t need to pressurise yourself to give a name to it . The problem wasn’t you,get that in your head first. Your intentions and feelings are so pure and transparent. You never run away from anything-expressing,problems ,feelings ,pain and forgiving. You stand as tall as a tree. But sometimes believe that god wants to take you to a better and a safer place. That you actually deserve. Trust the intuitions. Believe in yourself. You deserve all the love ,happiness and peace in the world. You deserve choosing and prioritising yourself right now. You deserve peace for your battling self that is exhausted right now. You deserve surety and consistency. Don’t ever feel guilty for trusting something. Trusting was your choice… keeping up with it isn’t in your control anymore. Believe what’s happening. Accept what’s happening and eventually let go of any hope that is holding you back. Don’t force yourself to uncomfortable places. Trust your journey. Know that eventually you will reach where things are written for you.If certain things are meant to happen they most definitely will. Thats time’s responsibility not yours. Know that you didn’t deserve any wrongdoings but you have people that love you. Who stand right by you. Be proud of the way you have carried yourself and still are carrying yourself with so much dignity and grace. Now it’s your time to replenish all the broken parts to become better than before. Work on ,for and with yourself. Continue believing in what you stand by. You have the biggest gift of giving so much love. Treasure it for a while and spend it on yourself. I have trust on your strength and tolerance. You got this. And you will make it through❤️

Love you so much,

Me🤍

Choices

Very recently, I’ve watched this Hindi film. Gehraiyaan. Although the movie chose a dark path to explore as its main genre, there was this particular scene(*spoiler*)where the lead actress asks her father whether her choices matter anymore.That was where I could connect to her in every way possible.When somebody comes and tries to enforce their will and decisions on you, it suffocates you.It brings breathlessness.They call it emotional pain, but the pain is nothing less than somebody strangling your throat.All of us are the main characters in our own lives.But we don’t wish for somebody to come and direct our story. We come to a particular point where we doubt the importance of our presence. Whether it matters anymore.We tend to question our choices and everything else. We wish for reassurance.That we do matter. And nobody can swipe that away.Thats how the lead character’s father responds.We don’t know whether we matter unless we give ourselves another chance.We decide to be patient and tolerant for every Tom,Dick and Harry. But when it comes to us and when we need it the most,why do we wait for somebody else to do it? Why wait for somebody else to choose us when we aren’t being able to do it for ourselves? Why don’t we be there for ourselves before being there for everybody else around? When it comes to us…Why do we decide to take ourselves for granted?