Thalaimuraigal(Generations):Tamil FIlm: Nobility, Intent, Conception and Execution, Pure Ecstasy

As the world melts into one global village redefining several aspects of our life and lifestyle, and as we continue to add complex dimensions to our fundamental needs and perpetually edge towards unhappiness, the need to revisit the fundamentals of life, the intrinsic strength of our cultural fabric, our good old values, the role and responsibility of our elders in being the relay processors and preservers of our great heritage needs to be visited again and again, probably needs to blare and honk in every nook and corners of this country lest we forget who we are. A pride that is necessary to feel good and serve as a beacon for our journey.

And how better could you narrate it, interactions of an innocent child with his grandfather. Salutations to the mother who chooses to opt to live and serve by her ailing father-in-law and prefers her son to grow up with his grandfather and study at the village. Salutations to the grandfather for imparting the mother tongue and helping the grandson understand the basic value system.

Our own treasures lying within Striking distance!!!!

As the beauty unfolds through magically created slices of moments, embellished by the soothing strains of an extraordinary re-recording of the Maestro, there walks the grandfather whom we know as an cinematographer par excellence, but little did we realize, an actor who could have given seasoned actors a run for their money.

Yes, it Balu Mahendra the actor who will give Farhan Akhtar(Bhaag Milka Baag), Irfan(Lunch Box), Dhanush(Mariyaan) a run for their money. I suspect Balu Mahendra will be the first among equals.

Balu Mahendra, at your age, instead of senility, I felt my heart pounded with adrenalin, with your agility and craft. You join the elite club of Clint East wood, who after becoming seventy acted and directed with flair and fervor.

Balu Mahendra, Sir, Can we look forward to some more?

The Ten Best Hindi FIlms I saw and liked the most in 2013

Reflections/Reviews of the best ten Hindi films I saw in 2013

  1. The Lunchbox, the movie
 

      Man's elusive search for happiness amidst the vicissitude(s?) of life, has been evocatively captured, sending the viewer both into introspection and raptures.

Real People, in real trouble, seemingly helpless situations, battling perceptions and baggage. My dear friend, trouble, Hope, Humour and empathy still is amply present with us. It is within striking distance for us to exercise it.

As your you get tossed around the letters, and get introduced into the reflection of our own lives, there are so many poignant moments, that need to be savoured and only mutliple viewings alone can enable that.

A rare gem of Indian Cinema.

Recommended highly for the discerning.
                                                                                          
.   2. Ship of Theseus

The narrative is a reflection of our very own journey, exploring the myriad contradictions of creation, the restlessness within, the myopia of our own vision, which all get submerged in the overwhelming magnificence of creation.

An extraordinary experience.

   3.      Kai Po Che

Not to be missed

Is set amongst real people like us and amidst real events. While the tale of love and forgiveness lingers in the backdrop, the movie is a tribute to the innate inability of mankind to accept defeat. Such is the design of creation.

The narrative is paced to savour the journey of the protagonists. Gentle, Coherent, Subtle, Optimal, Clever and Responsible.The blood and gore of the aftermath of the riots are very sensitively portrayed. An object lesson for the other film makers who believe violence brings home their bread.

Congratulations to the entire team for pulling this 'unsensationally' sensational film.

4.       Madras Kafe, Half a review

With Madras kafe release being banned in Chennai, I just could not but resist the opportunity of getting a peek at the film while I was in Bengaluru, but unfortunately I could not withstand the air condition and bad headache, a pity, I had to to walk out a few minutes after the second half of what is a very important film that had to be made.

At the outset, Congratulations to Shoojit Sircar for attempting to make a film with the civil war as the background.

It is important that this generation of Indians know about this chapter of history. However while Shoojit has well researched and been earnest in the narration of events, unless people have an idea about the history it may be very difficult for them to follow the Sri Lankan part of the story. The India big brother angle and the diplomatic gaffe however has been very clearly captured.

While the screenwriter has the artistic liberty to make tradeoffs, conspicuous by absence is the Sri Lankan Army and the Sri lankan Government. The sole Sri Lankan representative seems to be a silent Buddhist monk who seems to be taking a walk(stroll??) while people are being shot dead all over the place. The Indian Army seems to be able to decide to pick and choose location to strike in a foreign territory as is their wont.

It seems to be suggestive that the genocide seems to be triggered in 1980s(or may be blame it on my headache, I am not too sure), the seeds of the Lankan problem probably date back to 1964. Shoojit could have taken a leaf out of the movie" The Kingdom" where the narrator at the beginning of the movie beautifully explains how the oil was discovered in 1932 and the impact of the discovery. This could have been a golden opportunity to chronicle the trials and tribulations of a race which had an unfair share of sufferings.

We need not identify with the Tamils of Sri Lanka as Indians who migrated with them but as human beings who live very close to our borders, as a country have we collectively done anything worthwhile to help them over the years?
Except for a few movies like Kannathil Muthamittal which actually explores the impact of civil war, and a few other movies, a million stories on Sri Lankan's Tamil problems are waiting to be told. I guess with the wealth of talent that Tamil Cinema has, I have always been surprised how the Tamil fraternity have not used the power of cinema to voice the feelings of Tamils.

 I hope Chennai gets to see Madras Kafe and we all engage in healthy debate and educate the  GENX.       I have always believed we can learn from the lessons of the past and not commit the same mistake again.

 Congrats Shoojit for this brave attempt

   

            5.  Shahid:

By the Brothers for the Brothers

The last time I felt hope for this country was during Kumbh Mela stampede, when the photographs of unidentifiable deceased were published in major dailies, by the government machinery, across the length and breadth of this country, to reach out to the relatives of the deceased to help them claim the bodies of the deceased.

In any harm resulting out of any ideological difference, it is always, the poor and downtrodden that get affected, irrespective of race or religion. History has been replete with instances of injustice. Such is creation.

It also requires courage to empathize with the situation and stand up for a cause.

The indoctrination: If you want to change the system, Be a Part of it.

Shahid Azmi puts behind the years of incarceration, conquers his devils and dedicates 7 years of his life to get 17 acquittals for the unfairly convicted, a fantastic ratio, in our system.

A story that has to be told.

Mr. Hansal Mehta: Am touched and moved. Thanks for your conviction to bring this to the screen. I am proud to be an Indian.

            6.  D-Day

A simmering desire for a tough state

For some of you, who may have forgotten, the rescue of the hostages at Entebbe, a clinical operation by Israel, which left Uganda clueless. The Israelis flew over several country's air spaces and raided Entebbe by surprise and released the hostages. The world admired the audacity of Israel.

Creative artists help in triggering thought processes that helps influence the cultural fabric of any country.

After Wedenesday, comes the riveting D-Day, which reflects a simmering desire for a tough state. Inspired by Zero Dark Thirty and premise from Inglorious Basterds, Nikhil Advani weaves a taut thriller that leaves you asking for more.

Wish Nikhil had avoided the violence and gore, added a lot of 'one line' conversational humour, worked on the climax and eliminated some needless sentimentality.

A painstakingly made film with competent contributions from all round.

I wish Nikhil manages to sow a few seeds which will help this country evolve into a more serious and respected one.

  

7. Matru Ki Bijli Ka Mandola, wafting in the rustic Haryanvi Dialect, served in "IShtyle". Do not miss this incredibly delightful flick.

      8.   Ranjhna

The "Could and Should" have been classic.

Kolaveri could have been providential. Dhanush, the clever and thinking pro that he is, acutely aware of his limitations, times and chooses a script that will help him get accepted in main stream National cinema. A dream Debut.

Happy for Sonam, she been for quite a while, as much as Ranbir, probably lands up a role, that should get her recognition and better roles. While she breezes through the role with a bewildering array of emotions, she is best when her innocence gets exacerbated by her beautiful smile.

The third star of the movie of course is A.R. Rahman, who keeps you intoxicated with a high octane numbers and background score.

The first half is sheer movie making magic and the second half makes this movie as a "COuld and Should" have been classic. From nowhere the thinking caps seem to have disappeared until the climax which has been beautifully adapted from American Beauty.

Last not but not the least for the cinematographers and the dialogue writer for capturing the flavour of Benaras/Varanasi!!!!!

May be you could just walk out after the interval and feel exhilarated.

9                    9. Table No. 21

While there is no denying that this movie is probably adapted from number of films, Table No. 21 manages to hold its viewer’s attention for most parts. Fiji forms a beautiful background as the bizarre events unfold with style, with actors and technicians contributing to a fairly well packaged product. With so much of capability, I am sure, we can start thinking of criminal motives beyond retribution!!!

At the expense of spilling some beans, but with good intention that some of the readers of this post who may be interested in catching up with good cinema, do not miss Ketan Mehta's, Holi!!!, It seemed like I just saw Holi probably around 1985 in Shankunthalam at Pragati Maidan. A heart wrench er!!!

10. Special 26

Blame it on the Genre, Special 26 just misses the special grade as you probably can guess the ending.

However credit to Neeraj Pandey, for making this unpretentious, taut and fun filled narrative.

It was a joy to see the ensemble cast of Anupam Kher, Manoj Bajpayee, Akshay Kumar and Jimmy shergill breezing through their roles.

Dhoom:3 : Et Tu Aamir?

After Amitabh Bachan, in his yesteryears, it is only for Aamir Khan that I do the honors of gracing his first show.

Aamir over the last decade has such high standards for himself that he has earned that love and respect of not only me but a million others.

My expectations of Aamir are that he would and should probably position him like Clooney,  Brad Pitt, Clint Eastwood, Ben Affleck or Matt Damon. He belongs to that class.

But time and again one wonders how gifted and self aware people can make such grave miscalculations.

Five Decembers earlier he tried to enlighten the entire country with his idiots. It seems that he has become truly become one of the three himself.

It's festival time folks. The mob is here. Let us lap it up. Why should SRK and Salman Bhai!!! alone have part of the spoils. Let me mop up the mob. Rs. 200 crores is just waiting to be spent.

This is certainly not walking the talk.

Dhoom 1 was not very very bad, Dhoom 2 was in fact a big improvement and slick in large measure.

After the promising first ten minutes, Dhoom 3 has Abhishek Bachan flying in mid air defying gravity, like Vijay Kanth in Amma Nagar.

It is high time Bolly wood stops making fun of Amma Nagar and Amma Nadu and everything Tamil.  Tamil Cinema has gone far ahead in terms of quality and quantity. May be you might want to dump your big brotherly attitude in the Arabian Sea and learn how the Tamil Cinema technicians are pursuing excellence and learn a thing or two instead of aping the west and plagiarizing in the most distasteful manner.

BY the way, it is Amma and only Amma who honoured film personality from all over the country and durng hundred years of cinema.

Derisive representations on the basis of colour and language are representatives of extremely narrow outlook.

This is a clarion call for my brother's all over country. We cannot be taken for granted.



Can we give a big thumbs down to such films which take us for granted?

Kalyana Samayal Sadham

 

                            KALYANA SAMAYAL SAADHAM

                                                                     

As times and technology evolve, we acquire better lifestyle at a certain cost. The movie discusses stress and its delicate manifestations. Probably a first for Tamil Cinema and may be Indian cinema. UA certification??? I think an Adult certification should have been mandatory.

The writing for Lekha Washington is most beautiful, Modern, Honest, Frank, Assertive, Sensitive, understanding, rational(!!) and wonderfully vulnerable. Prasanna dazzles as usual.

What is really required to make a marriage successful is discussed with humour and flair.

Whenever I visit a wedding, I see the extraordinary amount of money wasted. The cacophony is amplified by the hollowness of relationships. Do we see any of those hundreds of friends and relatives really concerned and involved when you are in real trouble? (Estimated spend on Weddings 2000 crores!!!)

Kalayana Samayal Sadham, questions the relevance of modern weddings, the associated glitz, revelry and rituals.

And thank you so much for saying good bye to Hypocrisy

Irandam Ulagam, Tamil Film

A Grand vision that goes awry

A monumental effort that needs our support and encouragement. 

This is Selvaraghavan's second expedition into fantasy and he is indeed able to create the far and distant land with a distinct charm. 

Selva is in sublime form until interval when he tastefully interweaves the two parallel stories with effortless ease.

The scene where Arya cleanses and his father getting tickled is a testimony to the possibilities that Selva is capable of. Three minutes of screen space/time is enough to create a loveable and memorable father.

Alas, Selva's concentration in the distant land is focused on pouncing lions, looming vultures, magnificent moons, medieval castles, nomadic, barbaric and moronic tribes( except for the hero, heroine and the reverend mother!!!!) A few supporting characters in the distant land, could have built in a resonance between the two parallel lines.

When you were ecstatic in the interval that this was probably going to be  Selva's best work, little did I expect a free fall. Well to be honest I could not exactly digest the disappointment. Extraordinary hard work gone awry.

Selva seems to have certainly seemed to have mellowed down after his marriage and his vision of life seems to be getting brighter.

My fervent hope is that Selva remains ambitious and infuses the same amount of excitement in film making as he did in Ayirathil Oruvan and Mayakkam Enna.

Pizza 2: The Villa, A Tamil Film?

This franchise is here to stay.

Understated and Classy. At the outset, big hurrah!! for the producers to have the guts to produce this film in a regional language with a small market size.

While there have been several Aha! moments for Tamil Cinema in the last several years, even though there has been a quiet revolution, even movies like Vazhakku En 18/9 had to include an emotional climax to appease the sensibilities of a regional market. 

I cannot remember any Tamil/Indian film which has been so understated and more importantly adopt a very minimalist approach to sentimentality.

While Pizza did manage to bring the house down with audience screaming in a high point of the movie, The Villa departs from Pizza, in fact saunters all along and as the pace builds up, teasingly, does not gallop!!!, remains faithful in spirit to the franchise and leaves you asking for more!!!!

Yes, We Want some more, we want some more!!!!

P.S: New director, New Hero, All round technical competence, brilliant casting and hero heroine do not run around the trees. We have now come to expect this from Tamil films. 

Well the sartorial sense seemed to have improved too, with the hero distinguishing himself sporting impeccably tailored chinese collar shirts throughout the film!! Wow!! It just added to the elegance of the overall experience.

And Santosh Narayan(an), your piano strains are hauntingly are embedded within!!!

Pandianadu

Style and Substance, Sizzles

Not Just another revenge drama...

The protagonists are ordinary mortals who accept their limitations, yet decide to get even with the powerful mafia.

What is noteworthy about the narrative is that the sequence of events are highly plausible lending a lot of credibility and realism to the narrative.

For people who have watched the execution of Jayaprakash in Nan Magan Alla, you are in for equally brilliant show down at a bus station. The narrative technique used for the entire seven to eight minutes at the bus station is the reason why we watch cinema.

The brainy narrative leads to a brawny climax, realistic and satisfying.

With less explicit violence and with a one song less, the movie could have risen a notch.

Director Bharathiraja, as Vishal's father, is a treat.

Actor Vishal, needs all our support. For having produced good cinema, he deserves a fair share of patronization. 

Easily the pick of the releases during Diwali. This movie will be remembered for many of the improvisations for a long time, especially the showdown at the Bus Station

Shahid (film)

By the Brothers for the Brothers

The last time I felt hope for this country was during Kumbh Mela stampede, when the photographs of unidentifiable deceased were published in major dailies, by the government machinery, across the length and breadth of this country, to reach out to the relatives of the deceased to help them claim the bodies of the deceased.

In any harm resulting out of any ideological difference, it is always, the poor and downtrodden that get affected, irrespective of race or religion. History has been replete with instances of injustice. Such is creation. 

It also requires courage to empathize with the situation and stand up for a cause. 

The indoctrination: If you want to change the system, Be a Part of it.

Shahid Azmi puts behind the years of incarceration, conquers his devils and dedicates 7 years of his life to get 17 acquittals for the unfairly convicted, a fantastic ratio, in our system.

A story that has to be told.

Mr. Hansal Mehta: Am touched and moved. Thanks for your conviction to bring this to the screen. I am proud to be an Indian.

Captain Phillips

The Somali Ultimatum

Before going to the film, it may be a good idea to catch up with the wikipedia on Somali Pirates

As with many challenges that plague the world today, this could also be a classic case of treating the symptom than the cause.

Permit me to now to share the flutters of joy and a wonderfully liberating evening.

Consider this, a giant liner, however fast it goes, against the expanse of ocean is a picture of static magnificence. Out of nowhere emerge two skiffs (a small boat, Also check out on the methodology of the Somali pirates in Wikipedia) which begin chasing the giant liner. The giant liner revs up and increases its speed, still it remains a piece of static magnificence. With these constraints it is difficult to capture this chase visually. What does the director do? Inventive enough to convert this into a riveting chase by magically mixing it with his signature shots, smart editing and some extraordinary music.

Paul the director, nay a magician, builds an illusion of dynamism and carves a movie out of a documentary with verve, skill and panache. Bill Ray, the screenwriter must get an equal share of the credit.

I just loved the background score and Oh! Boy, those adrenalin pumping percussion score, (African I suspect). They just go for the jugular.

Last but not the least, Captain Philip(Tom Hanks). This captain is smart, thoughtful, cunning, daring, unrelenting, patient, concerned, nervous, fidgety and vulnerable. Hanks surprised me with a slice of Denzelesque(Captain Boon, Remember the Titans) assertion.

Fifteen years back, Hanks, was the uber cool English Teacher turned Captain in Saving Private Ryan. My reverence for Captain John Miller, lies in his magical parting words to private Ryan, "Earn it, Captain".

Maybe Hanks was a straight choice for this role, but somewhere in my heart, I felt Hanks should not have done this role and left it to someone, just out of respect for Captain John Miller!!!!!

Gravity

Thriller in a Planetarium

You cannot but help get  a feel of having watched a thriller in a planetarium!!!!

Since the movie has been reviewed already with the choicest adjectives,  All I can say, this movie is a sweeping spectacle and requires, multiple viewing to get  a grasp of the thinking that has gone into the making.

For its ambition and detailing, the bar has just been raised a notch higher!!!.

Sathyam Cinemas, PVR CINEMAS AGS Cinemas Fame Cinemas Warner Bros. Pictures

Getting rid of the interval in India

The only request to the cinemas that screen this movie, for the love of cinema, can we please get rid of that mandatory interval in India. The movie is just 90 minutes long and for the first time I heard a standing ovation for a film during the interval!!!, which was incidentally missing at the end. The entire experience of watching this film got diluted, the rhythm and the flow was lost.

The interval is the greatest disservice to Gravity!!!

A must watch!!!!

Itharku Thana Aasaipattai Balakumara

Roughly translates into, Was this not that you desired, Balakumara?

In 1978, during Vinayaga Chaturthi, I had wanted my father to reserve for the Kamal Hassan blockbuster, Sattam En Kayil, instead he brought tickets for Mullum Malarum. I was upset, had half a mind not see Mullum Malarum. After seeing Mullum Malarum, I could feel that Rajinikanth, the star had arrived. 

In the case of Vijay Sethupathy, I have now seen and enjoyed all his films till date and I was able to accept and appreciate him as an actor. But today, Vijaya Sethupathy as "Sumar Moonji Kumar(Ordinary Faced Kumar), the antics of endearing vagabond amalgamated with verbal chatter and tomfoolery almost meandering without any direction was able to improvise and dish out inexplicable magic as the movie progressed, especially towards the end. Sheer magic to be experienced. Vijay sethupathy is already has established himself as a star with a huge fan following, including a lot female following including my daughter who are upset that he is already married!!!! The Good News: This Star is here to stay!!! 

Not bad for an actor who started his career as an Accountant at the venerable Koothu-P-Pattarai

A great cameo by M.S. Bhaskar is another standout.

This probably one of the first comic adaptations of Amorres Perres, with three stories intertwined by an accident. Creative, painstakingly constructed, but the plethora of characters builds discreteness to the narrative, and you are therefore left with laughs in spells.  

We have another capable director who has the thinking cap on and am sure he will learn from this experiment and go on to make good and better films.

Remembering the Genius of Sivaji Ganesan

Murasu TV telecast "Uyarntha Manithan" on the birth anniversary of Sivaji Ganesan today.

As the timeless Sivaji crooned "Antha Naal Gnabagam Vanthathey..."(Nostalgia about good old days), I was transported to the train rides back from school to home between 1978 - 1980, between Perambur and Korattur, when there fierce arguments between my class mates Ravichandran and Shamiq Hussain arguing for and against Sivaji respectively, the party included Narayanan Vedartham Seshadri and Puthigai Venkatagiri and a few others.  While Ravi would extoll the virtues of Sivaji, Shamiq would brush aside Ravi's arguments with disdain and would find it very difficult to digest Sivaji's brush with overacting, until he saw the highly artistic and romantic Thillana Mohanambal.

We all grew up watching Sivaji Ganesan and MGR and in reality, they were fundamentally responsible for attracting people in droves to cinema in Tamil Nadu and  to the credit of Sivaji he has had a lasting influence on many actors including Kamal hassan, who proclaimed his legacy as Sivaji's successor with Devar Magan.

When Parasakthi was released in 1951, people seemed to have remained in their seats in hushed silence during the interval.

A certain section of people could accuse Sivaji of being loud but Sivaji remains a treasure.

For the current generation of people and for people from other states, who would like to understand and experience the versatility and genius of Sivaji Ganesan, I would like to recommend, Antha Naal(one of the best suspense thrillers of all times), Kappolotiya Thamizhan, Thillana Moganambal, Thiruvilayadal, Muthal Mariyadai and Thevar Magan. The list I have chosen is a very small sample and which the current generation can easily relate to and appreciate the genius of Sivaji. 

In our household lies an old sofa set, which my twenty-year-old son would never allow us to dispose. Why? Incidentally, the sofa set was used in 1972 to seat Sivaji Ganesan who had come as a Chief Guest for a play, Mohini Theevu, staged by our uncle's troupe. 

I am happy to see the enduring appeal of a great genius whose potential was never put to full use by our industry

Is it not a travesty of justice that Sivaji has never been a recipient of a single best actor award.

Ironically it is the French government which conferred one of their highest awards to Sivaji!!!

Prisoners

Dark, Depressing and Disturbing, Oh! yes, but Delectable Cinema.

While Melancholy is a state in which Alejandero Inarritu rejoices, Denis Villeneuve is comfortable in looking deep into the disturbing reality with consummate ease.

My first introduction to Denis Villeneuve is through Incendies,a French film, made in Canada, which was nominated for the best Film in foreign film category. A masterfully crafted film with a suspense which will shock anybody. A heart wrenching film. Highly recommended for all the film lovers who have a certain patience a nd strictly for the discerning and strong hearted!!!

When you see a movie like Incendies, watching his next work, is not a matter for choice.

While the scope for this film presents it with a limited canvas, Denis goes about his task building the plot and the tension for nearly 90 minutes before cutting loose. Who are the prisoner's? 

The World has become dark, deadly and UGLY. Just cannot wait till 11th October, to see how Anurag Ji, paints the picture of how Ugly the world has become, which seems to revisit the theme of Kidnapping in Prisoners.

Oh! God, Certainly there seems to be light for cinema!!!.

Onaiyum Aatukuttiyum - ஓநாயும் ஆட்டுக்குட்டியும், Tamil Film

Roughly translates into The Wolf and the Lamb!!

After a disappointing Mugamoodi, the prodigiously talented Myskkin, sets the tone of the movie with the roar of lion, propels you to the edge of the seat, dextrously manages to weave the taut narrative with intensely brooding characters, long spaces of silence, the magical mixture of Ilayaraja's music and his trademark lament about the insensitivity around.

The narrative fluidity helps masks the flaws. A thumb rule for the fugitive on the run movies is that the fugitive manages to be just one step head of the guys who are trying to get hold of him. Neither the bad guys or the good guys here seem to have any specific plan to zero in. They just seem to be moving around in Brownian motion all round. 

I hope Mysskin revisits his own Anjathey and works towards a better climax. With so much of craft in hand, he has the necessary intelligence to do away with violence and also his fixation with knives!!!!.

The Lunchbox, the movie

Man's elusive search for happiness amidst the vicissitude(s?) of life, has been evocatively captured, sending the viewer both into introspection and raptures.

Real People, in real trouble, seemingly helpless situations, battling perceptions and baggage. My dear friend, trouble, Hope, Humour and empathy still is amply present with us. It is within striking distance for us to exercise it.

As your you get tossed around the letters, and get introduced into the reflection of our own lives, there are so many poignant moments, that need to be savoured and only mutliple viewings alone can enable that.

A rare gem of Indian Cinema.

Recommended highly for the discerning.

Moodar Koodam (Tamil Movie) , Fools Gathering

Oozes with Creativity

Moodar Koodam, heralds yet another new director, Naveen, in Tamil Cinema, who once again reiterates that good cinema needs no stars. Natarajan Shankaran, the debutant Music director is just as exciting as the director himself.

One of the greatest contributions of MGR, are his timeless "Thathuva Padalkal" (philosophical songs). The reach of those songs have been extraordinary and they have stood the test of times. That has been the power of medium.

In a mad mad mad mad world, where the herd reigns supreme, comes a young man wanting to pause and reflect on the IMportance of the journey.

The director packs the movie with zany characters and hilarious situations and drives home the message.

Using the Silent movie in black and white to narrate Jayaprakash's flashback, the cartoon song to narrate one of the fool's story and inegeniously plugging the haunting Yesudas song from Bommai in the climax, I fervently hope and pray, Naveen, these are just glimpses of Genius. As a lover of good cinema, I hope these are only a tip of the iceberg

Thanga Meengal

The Best Movie of 2013

A lament narrated with poetry, humour and crackling energy driven by nerve wracking tension set amidst extraordinary grandeur of a quite little village bursting with beautiful lakes, mystical valleys, adorable little insects and lovely children.

The movie takes of like a helicopter from the first scene, takes your breath away and by the time the movie is over you are emotionally drained.

You could get a bit upset with the director that he does not allow you to relish the innocence and the poetry. However in all fairness the narrative requires the palpable tension to enable the viewer to introspect.

The greatest loss of humanity is the loss of innocence. It is a lament that needs to be voiced at the highest decibel. The message is loud and Clear.

Ram, This is responsible Cinema at its best. We are proud of you and there is certainly hope for India.!!!!

Neelakasham Pacha Kadal Chuvanna Bhoomi

A Pleasant, relaxing and intoxicating road trip from Kerala to Nagaland.

This is the first time I am watching Dulquer on the screen, I was reminded of Mamooty and later discovered that he is indeed Mammooty's son. Wow!!! Precocious talent and amazing charisma. I am huge fan of Mammooty, but  I am hoping that the son will surpass his father. 

Dulquer has it within him to send the viewer into a tizzy.

All the best Dulquer....

#AdhalalKadalseiveer(AKS), Tamil

When Juno converges to  Pudhiya Padhai

AKS, roughly translates into, Therefore, Thou shalt Love!!!!

To Abort or Not to Abort? That is the question!!!  Ellen Page in Juno(the Teen protagonist) valiantly decides to have the child and when she breaks the news to her Dad and Step Mom, she has the approbation and admiration of her step mom, who ecstatically refers to her as a Viking!!!!(Nordic Warriors). While the family helps her cope with the dilemma and helps her to deal with the delivery, Jason Reitman(the director) sensitively examines the related Social issues with wit, humor and concern.

Susheendran brilliantly adapts Juno almost perfectly to the Indian scenario. And by improving the climax to explore the impact of reckless actions, he has just delivered a movie that must be seen by every teenager and parent in India.

Worthwhile investing 106 minutes of your life.!!!!

Ainthu Ainthu Ainthu

A well crafted suspense thriller intertwined with a beautiful love story narrated with taste.

The director takes his time to set up the story and then accelerates the story in top gear.

Your heart will flutter in joy when the logic for the title is arrived at.

Bharat has worked incredibly hard, looks Arnoldish(Schwarzengger) and sounds Deolish(Our own Sunny Paji) in many sequences, also dances elegantly and sweeps the heroine and our hearts with his quaintness as a romantic hero!!!! Watch out for Bharath, ooze with emotion when he hugs a hoodlum(who has come to execute him) in delight on making a discovery. Way to go Bharath!!

The vivacious heroine(Mrithika?), a plane Jane who lights up the screen with her wonderful smile. We shall certainly see more of this natural.

The choreography and the song picturisation of the song after interval is one of unalloyed joy. 

The movie could have benefited if the last twenty minutes of violence had been avoided.

The film had to be released suddenly without any publicity. I hope the word spreads around quickly and the people are treated to some good entertainment.

Ship Of Theseus

The narrative is a reflection of our very own journey, exploring the myriad contradictions of creation, the restlessness within, the myopia of of our own vision which all get submerged in the overwhelming magnificence of creation.

An extraordinary experience.

Judgement at Nuremberg

One of the best Court room dramas that can leave you emotionally drained and yet leave you with the most pertinent questions that every individual needs to ask themselves, especially about their professional lives.

Replace Hitlers Enterprise with the Enterprise that you work in. What is the impact of your decision on the stakeholders in your organization? Where is your conscience? Can you afford to just walk along and just execute your organization's directives, the Pontius Pilot way?

Spectacular performances by Spencer tracy, Burt Lancaster, MOntgomery Clift, Maxmilian Schell and Marlene Dietrich can just send you into raptures and you can be guaranteed of ecstasy several times in this painstakingly constructed film which is nearly three hours long.

Salvation is guaranteed for every man who owns up.

It is tons of Accountability and a clear conscience which is the need of the hour.

Recommended for every professional and aspiring professional.

Genesis of M.S. Subbulakshmi's rendition of Annamcharya Krithis

Reproducing a long mail from a friend. Truly moving. Could not hold back tears.

Worth going through this fairly long post.

GOD's ways are mysterious.

A wonderful article brought to us from Sri Sundararajan, a great devotee of Sri Kanchi Mahaperiyava.

This goes to prove that when you are serving for a higher cause, all other material benefits will stand in the queue to serve the person.

  ============================================ 

“The noble couple of M.S. Subbulakshmi (MS) and Sadasivam is in a serious financial crisis and need some urgent help. Please plan something to bring them out of this crisis immediately”. In the beginning of 1979 PVRK Prasad, the Executive Officer Of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) received two such urgent telegram messages from His Holiness the Paramacharya of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati and from His Holiness Bhagwan Sri Satya Sai Baba Of Puttaparthi.

Messages like that from holy giants can unnerve any mammoth personality and the poor Prasad was no exception. But what shocked Prasad more at that moment was not the status of the senders but the content of their message.

“What happened to MS and why did she land in such a situation that demanded the intervention of divine personalities?” and why do the divine personalities want Prasad to help?

MS has millions of fans all over the world and they will not keep quite if they come to know that their beloved music queen is going through such a bad financial crisis. However, the noble couple will not accept any unsolicited favor and it is now for the TTD to plan something for her and see that she’s adequately compensated for that. TTD has done that earlier and something similar should be done now and that is also what the holy giants are expecting Prasad to do.

However again, it is not as simple as it sounds and there is no better person than Prasad to understand that.  Prasad conducted an immediate inquiry through his official sources in the city of Madras, where the noble couple lives, and found out that “MS and Sadasivam have sold off their Kalki estate in Madras and moved into a small rented house in Valluvar Kottam, a desolate place those days in the suburbs of old Madras.Sadasivam was running a newspaper by name Kalki that unfortunately ran into huge losses forcing the couple to resort to such an extreme measure of selling their huge asset to clear off a large amount of loans”.

This unpleasant information really saddened Prasad, a great fan of MS. Wiping off his tears he stood in front of the huge portrait of Lord Venkateswara with folded hands and made a very humble submission. ”Swamy, singing your bhajans all over the world this great lady served you with utmost devotion so far in her life. Organizing everything for her in time Sadasivam was always there with her at every point.

Although she could have demanded any amount of money from the organizers of her concerts she was always happy with whatever was offered to her. Above all, she has donated most of her earnings to charity and now at this stage of her life is this what you offer her Swamy ? Don’t you think this is unfair? They are also couple of high self esteem and do not seek favors from anyone not even from God.. How do you expect them to lead a normal life hereafter? I am really feeling sad for them now and don’t know what to do. Swamy Venkateswara, it is for YOU to guide me properly and help me in doing something for her immediately.”

Without wasting any more time Prasad called for an emergency meeting of the TTD Board and sought measures from its experts to provide whatsoever relief possible to MS immediately.

Almost all in one voice all the members said “Sir, we are very unhappy and sad to hear about the pathetic state of Smt.MS and Sri.Sadasivam.  However sir, it is our duty to remind you that she is already the  Asthana Vidwan of TTD and is as such enjoying some honorarium and privileges from us. Although we are all eager to help her in this hour of crisis, we are afraid, there’s nothing more we can do at this juncture sir. TTD is answerable to the ministry of endowments and is not empowered to take certain decisions on its own.”

A real tricky situation arose for the government run body to offer some relief to a great personality like MS who definitely deserves a better and more appropriate attention. But quite miraculously and almost immediately that appropriate attention came from none other than The Holy Lord Sri Venkateswara Himself. And this incident is a standing testimony to that.

That evening a much disturbed Prasad went to offer his last prayers of the day to Lord Sri Venkateswara, the presiding deity of the holy Tirumala temple. After offering his prayers, Prasad was walking out of the main temple and exactly at that time a very small incident occurred there…Quite miraculously; this small incident later heralded a golden era in the history of Indian classical music. As he was walking out of the main temple Prasad found a small group of poor singers sitting right in front of the temple singing bhajans in praise of the holy Lord. As though halted by an invisible hand Prasad stood there for a few minutes. He was spellbound by the amazing talent of those folk singers and more so by their rustic style of singing.

After a few more moments of silent listening Prasad smiled and smiled with a great sense of relief and smiled with an amazing feeling of satisfaction. Watching Prasad smile the holy Lord smiled and watching the holy Lord smile the whole of Tirumala smiled and watching the whole of Tirumala smile the five elements of Nature too smiled. And later those historic smiles scripted an epoch making chapter in the history of Indian classical music that not only provided immense relief to MS forever but also launched her into immortality in the world of devotional music that later earned her a well deserved highest civilian award of India, the “Bharat Ratna”.

The very next morning a much more relaxed Prasad left for Kanchi and met Kanchi Paramacharya in His holy abode. After he was granted private audience by the Paramacharya of Kanchi,Prasad explained Him in detail about his plan of action to offer assistance to MS . Prasad said “Swamy, after receiving your telegram about MS amma I was very disturbed.I called for an emergency meeting of the TTD executive board and asked for suggestions but nothing concrete came out. With a disturbed mind, the same evening I visited Lord Venkateswara and sought His guidance and blessings in helping MS amma immediately. As I was coming out of the holy sanctum sanctorum I saw a group of poor singers sitting in front of the main temple singing Annamacharya keerthanas in praise of the holy Lord. Not only was I spell bound by their devotional singing but also felt immensely light and happy as a great idea to help MS was born in my mind at that moment. I have then decided to visit your Holiness and explain in detail about my plan of action”

As though He knows what Prasad was about to say, Paramacharya smiled and asked Prasad to continue. Prasad continued “Centuries ago Saint Annamacharya wrote and composed a number of keerthanas (raaga based devotional songs praising the divine qualities of Gods) on Lord

Venkateswara but only a few of them have seen the light of the day..However there are many more gems groping in darkness that need to be brought out and publicized further. Earlier TTD has done some work in this direction but there is a lot more that still needs to be done now”

Prasad continued “According to my plan, your Holiness,TTD will now identify a few unknown keerthanas of Annamacharya and I on behalf of TTD will personally visit MS and request her to sing those keerthanas for TTD.So far in her career she has only recorded Saint Thyagaraja’s keerthanas and never attempted Annamacharya keerthanas. That way, I am sure she will be impressed with my proposal and will agree to record Annamacharya keerthanas for us. Later, TTD shall sell those records to millions of devotees who visit the holy Tirumala every year. This will generate a lot of revenue and will help MS a great deal as she becomes eligible to enjoy the royalty generated from the sales.After that, her family will never need to look around for their survival”

Pleased with what Prasad has said the ever smiling Paramacharya stated  

”Prasad, God expresses Himself in many inexplicable forms and exposes His presence in many mysterious ways. May be the Lord Venkateswara Himself appeared before you in the form of those poor singers you say you have seen in front of the temple..May be the group itself was an optical illusion created by Him.May be those singers are Gandharvas in human form and sang those Annamacharya keerthanas only for you to give you an idea about what needs to be done for MS. May be you are the only one who has seen them or heard them singing. May be those singers have disappeared after you smiled and left the place. Who knows? ”

Unable to believe what the Paramacharya was trying to convey a frozen Prasad remained speechless as His Holiness continued. “Dear Prasad, everything in this world is part of Nature’s cosmic scheme and every worldly act, whether good or bad, has a divine purpose behind it. Do you think God will keep quite when someone who served Him for decades is suffering from pain..?? Since He cannot present Himself before us, He uses tools like you and me for getting His things done..God knows His job pretty well Prasad so don’t be ignorant and do not ever blame Him for anything.”

Still unable to believe what he had experienced, a visibly shaken Prasad prostrated himself before the divine feet of Paramacharya who is revered by many in the world as an AVATAR”  (reincarnation)of Lord Siva. 

Blessing Prasad, the Paramacharya said “Your idea is brilliant Prasad.. MS has millions of fans all over the world and they will come running to help her in this hour of crisis. But MS and Sadasivam are a very reserved couple with an unimaginable degree of high self esteem and honour. So far they lived life on their own terms and will never accept any unsolicited favor not even from God. So be careful. They should not think you have come to them to offer financial assistance. If they smell it they will reject your offer outright. This is a sensitive situation, so handle carefully. Good luck” Later things moved in quick succession and it didn’t take much time for Prasad to get the necessary approvals for the proposed Annamacharya music album project from the TTD Board. Ramesan, the then chairman of the TTD board was very much pleased with his executive officer’s idea as he felt that it will not only empower the TTD Board to help a legendary divine singer like MS in her hour of crisis, but will also provide a great deal of publicity to many hidden melodious keerthanas of Saint Annamacharya… One fine morning, carrying a neatly packed portrait of Lord Sri Venkateswara,Prasad along with Ramesan and a couple of other officials went to the small rented house of MS in Madras. First, MS’s husband Sadasivam came out. Ramesan handed over the portrait to him and Sadasivam very happily received it with a warm “thank you very much”. Then Prasad explained Sadasivam in detail about the reason behind their visit to the house of the noble couple.

Prasad said “Maastaaru,you know pretty well that TTD does quite a lot of promotional activities to promote rich Indian culture and traditional values. Now we want to actively promote many Annamacharya keerthanas that are so far unknown to the world..Our plan is to bring out a five volume LP records (Long Play microgroove record used for recording sound in analog format for gramophone records in olden days) containing some rare Annamacharya keerthanas. Each volume may have up to ten keerthanas and all in all there may be about fifty keerthanas in the whole album.”

Initially Sadasivam felt very happy with the offer but rejected it when he came to know that the keerthanas are written in Telugu language. He said “Our sincere thanks to TTD for coming up with this offer but you know pretty well that M.S likes to have command over the language she sings in. Though in Telugu, she has still recorded many Thyagaraja keerthanas earlier as she was practicing them since her childhood. However, to do the same now at this age will be very difficult for her since she never practiced Annamacharya keerthanas so far and it will be a herculean task for her to do it now..She needs at least one week time to practice one Telugu keerthana and you say there are about fifty keerthanas for which she may need almost an year…At this age of sixty three it’s not fair to trouble her with such a strenuous job…It doesn’t work Prasad and am very sorry for that.”

As the problem came back to square one, Prasad started feeling jittery and nervous. With all the helplessness in the world he gave a blank look at Lord Venkateswara in the portrait lying in front of him. And it was exactly at that moment, the Great Music Queen walked In Prasad and other TTD officials quickly got up in her honor and greeted her with folded hands. Requesting them to feel comfortable she then looked at the portrait of Lord Venkateswara that was kept on a small table in front of her.

What happened later was a scene to be seen to be believed. With extreme devotion MS immediately picked up the portrait with both her hands; closed her eyes for almost a minute; offered silent prayers to her beloved Lord Venkateswara in the portrait; later with tears running down her cheeks she gently placed her head at His holy feet saying in a low tone “Perumaal,ennai aasirvadhikka ithana dhooram neengale vandhuttela .. ??” (Tamil) (Oh my Venkateswara did you come all the way to bless me).

What a voice?  What a devotion? And what a total surrender to her Lord Perumal? How did she get it and where did she get it from..??But why is that hidden pain in the great singer’s  voice..??What happened? Is it due to the poor and stress filled conditions this evergreen queen of music is forced to live in for some time? Hey Bhagwan, what a painful time for this great lady?

Prasad who has grown up listening to MS’s devotional songs could not stand the pathetic condition of his favorite music queen, who in her times of glory walked many Red carpets around the world, now standing in front of him in a simple cotton saree.He was finding it extremely difficult to control his emotions but a tear drop still emerged at the right corner of his left eye, which he silently erased before someone else noticed it.

In the meantime Sadasivam gave a brief explanation to MS in Tamil about the Annamacharya music album proposal from TTD. She immediately said”..It’s a God sent opportunity to me and am ready to face any hardships to accomplish this task.I have got a chance to offer my services to Perumal and I will not let this opportunity go” With her firm statement MS brought smiles on everyone’s face there.

After a lot of deliberations it was decided not to burden the music queen with too much of practice and confine Annamachaya keerthanas only to first three LP records and then fill the rest of the two records with great Sanskrit literary works of other divine personalities.

Thus according to their revised plan the Annamacharya music album shall contain three LP records with rare Annamacharya keerhanas like Brahma kadigina paadamu, Naanaati batuku naatakamu,Jo Acyutananda Jojo Mukunda,Sri Mannarayana and a few more gems.

The other two LP records shall include Ganesha Pancharatnam, Madhurashtakam, Gita Govindam, Nama Ramayanam, Hanuman Chalisa, Lakshmi ashtotram, Sri Venkateswara Karavalamba Sthotram, Govindashtakam, Kanakadhara Sthavam, Durga Pancharatnam, Ranganadha Gadyam, Dwadasa Sthotram and Sivashtakam.

After all the discussions related to the music album are over, then came the most crucial phase of finalizing remuneration to the music queen which Prasad was feeling very nervous about.

Since that was the main motive behind their gathering there, Prasad mustered some courage to initiate the dialogue by saying “Amma,we are all very happy that you have agreed to take up this assignment. .May your Perumal’s blessings be with your family forever..Now with your kind permission Ammaa, I would also like to discuss about the remuneration” Prasad has not yet completed the sentence…

The music queen quickly interrupted him saying -”What remuneration? ? No remuneration .It’s a service to Perumal and am honored to get this offer.Don’t bring money in between. I will not take a single rupee for this work.”

A fully sweat filled Prasad looked worriedly at every one of his colleagues. They were all looking at him with a request to carry their burden too. Prasad knows pretty well that these are the most crucial and sensitive moments the Paramacharya cautioned me about. Folding his hands and silently offering his prayers to Lord Sri Venkateswara, Prasad started saying in a very humble tone “Amma,I agree fully that you are offering your services to your Perumal and who am I to put that to question..I also have a great respect for your feelings and your devotion towards Perumal. However Amma,I have a very humble submission to make and I hope you appreciate and understand me for that..”

MS was listening to Prasad quietly. Prasad continued.”Amma,TTD is not going to donate this album free of cost to every devotee visiting Tirupati..In fact TTD is planning to promote this album in a commercial way by selling it across all its counters in India and abroad.This will generate a lot of money for TTD and we are only requesting you to take a little amount of money from it as you are legally entitled to receive that. The holy body of TTD is not in a position to take the services of a great devotee like you free of cost and later be blamed for that”

As everyone was listening to him, Prasad continued with folded hands. “Amma, as the executive officer of TTD am also a humble servant of Lord Venkateswara and will always be answerable to Him for every work done in the organization..I also feel that this album is the design of your Perumal Himself and that is why we are all here today. Anyways Amma, I am like your son and I said what I wanted to say. Please forgive me Amma, if you find anything wrong in what I have conveyed, I now leave the decision to you and your Perumal.”

The absolute honesty in Prasad’s emotion filled voice impressed everyone there including the noble couple of MS and Sadasivam. There was an echoing silence there for about a few minutes with blank faces staring at each other.

Finally, the ice was broken as the music queen smiled and agreed with Prasad’s view point. Prasad looked thankfully at the portrait of Lord Sri Venkateswara that is there in front of him. After discussing a few more points the historical meeting concluded on a positive note leaving every one there with utmost satisfaction.

Finally, Prasad shot the million dollar question.”What should be the title of this Annamacharya music album?” Prompt came the reply from the music queen-“Balaji Pancharatnamala” EPILOGUE

Later HMV recording company entered into an agreement with TTD to market the proposed music album “Balaji Pancharatnamala” and agreed to bear with all its recording expenses. As part of their understanding TTD immediately deposited rupees four lakhs in the name of MS, two lakhs in the name of Sadasivam and one lakh in the name of their daughter Radha Viswanathan who will also be taking part in the music album project. This amount will be kept in a fixed deposit and the accrued monthly interest will be going to them as long as they so desire.

After successfully completing its recording in 1980, the album”Balaji Pancharatnamala” was simultaneously released all over India in an unprecedented fashion…While the first LP was released by the then President of India Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy, the second was released by the Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Rest of the three albums was released by the chief ministers and governors in their respective states. The fifth album was released by the Peetadhipathis of various Peethams spread all over India.

In the very first year of its release the “Balaji Pancharatnamala” album received tremendous response from all over India generating a record amount of revenue recovering the entire money spent on it. This album went on to break all the previous records in India making MS a household name all over the country.

In 1998 the government of India honored MS with the country’s highest civilian award the “Bharat Ratna” for revolutionizing devotional music in India and also for earning global recognition to Indian classical music. Unfortunately Sadasivam was not there to witness this once in a life time event as he passed away just a year before that in 1997.

Most of the literary masterpieces by great sages would have remained unknown to the world if they were not given that magical touch by the mellifluous golden voice of MS.

Finally on 11th December2004, leaving behind a legacy of devotional classicism and leaving every music fan in an emotional sea of tears and melancholy, music queen MS left this human world and entered the holy abode of her beloved Lord Perumal and remained there rested in peace at His divine Lotus feet.

Conclusion

“Puttutayu nijamu,povutayu nijamu… Nattanadi mee pani natakamu..

Yettanedhuta galadi prapanchamu.. Kattakadapatidhi kaivalyamu..

Naanaati batuku naatakamu..Naatakamu..Naatakamu..” – Saint Annamacharya

D-Day

A simmering desire for a tough state

For some of you, who may have forgotten, the rescue of the hostages at Entebbe, a clinical operation by Israel, which left Uganda clueless. The Israelis flew over several country's air spaces and raided Entebbe by surprise and released the hostages. The world admired the audacity of Israel.

Creative artists help in triggering thought processes that helps influence the cultural fabric of any country. 

After Wedenesday, comes the riveting D-Day, which reflects a simmering desire for a tough state. Inspired by Zero Dark Thirty and premise from Inglorious Basterds, Nikhil Advani weaves a taut thriller that leaves you asking for more.

Wish Nikhil had avoided the violence and gore, added a lot of 'one line' conversational humour, worked on  the climax and eliminated some needless sentimentality.

A painstakingly made film with competent contributions from all round.

I wish Nikhil manages to sow a few seeds which will help this country evolve into a more serious and respected one.

Mariyan - 2013 Tamil Movie

Discordant and Flawed, yet brilliant

The extraordinary hard work and talent that the team displays is mind blowing.

Between Rahman, Mark Konnicx, Dhanush and Parvathy, there is a feverish competition to hog the limelight and then there is the director who pays attention to infinite number details and falters while trying to convert a poetry into a ballad.

Yes, Mr. Bharat Bala, this attempt of yours create of Ballad of Love, is a truly wonderful effort.

It does have gnawing gaps and holes in its narrative and does test your patience several times in the second half, and triggers derisive reactions amongst the audience.

The gifted and beautiful Parvathy, with her wonderfully expressive eyes and chiseled nose, seems to steal the thunder from Dhanush. However it is Dhanush with his extraordinary subtle variation of his Ranjhna character, surprises us with his restraiint, variations, hard work and imagination. Dhanush excels in the scene adapted from Rescue Dawn, where Christian Bale expresses his craving for a burger and combines it with a premise from Sivaji Ganesan in Muthal Mariyathai and freaks out. His imagination surfaces again when after being in incarceration, emaciated and hungry speaks to his lover in a weak tone. I wonder how that was achieved.

Well after Soodhu Kavvum, here is another effort that Tamil Film industry can be proud about.

Anatomy of a Murder

While Alfred Hitchcock demonstrated in "Frenzy", how a sensitive and responsible film maker can shoot a rape scene with dignity, Anatomy of a Murder is a remarkable film on a Rape trial handled with extraordinary decency and dignity.

Consider this

Attorney

"Did you find anything there pertaining to the story Mrs. Manion told you?"

Witness

"We looked for a certain undergarment of Mrs. Manion, but did not find it?

Judge

Will the attorneys for both the sides approach the bench, please?

Once the attorneys approaches the judge, the judge asks them in a hushed tone asks them,

" What exactly was the undergarment just referred to?"

Attorney

"Panties your honour"

Judge"

"Do you expect this to come up again?"

Attorney

"Yes, Sir"

Judge

"There is a light connotation, attached to the word panties, Can we find another name for it?

Another Attorney

" I have never heard my wife call them anything else"

After some deliberation and having found no other substitutes, the Judge declares,

"For the benefit of the jury, but more especially for the spectators, the undergarment referred to in the testimony was to be exact, Mrs. Manion's panties"

Spectators laugh, once the spectators get done with their laughs

Judge continues

"I wanted you to get your snickering over and done with. This pair of panties will be mentioned again in the course of this trial and when it happens, there will not be one laugh, one snicker, one giggle or even one smirk in my courtroom. There isn't anything comic about a pair of panties which figure in the violent death of one man and the possible incarceration of another"

Anantomy of a Murder is an education in several aspects, most importantly in how leaders bring respect to institutions especially through their conduct. One of the best Judges I have seen in films.

There is so much to learn from this film, but watch out of George Scott, "x-raying" his witnesses standing as close as possible to them, with an intensity that cold unsettle even the viewer of the film. 

While justice might look grey in the end, there seems to be hope for poetic justice.

Recommended for every professional who aspires for even an iota of professional excellence.

Ranjhanna

The "Could and Should" have been classic.

Kolaveri could have been providential. Dhanush, the clever and thinking  pro that he is, acutely aware of his limitations, times and chooses a script that will help him get accepted in main stream National cinema. A dream Debut.

Happy for Sonam, she been for quite a while, as much as Ranbir, probably lands up a role, that should get her recognition and better roles. While she breezes through the role with a bewildering array of emotions, she is best when her innocence gets exacerbated by her beautiful smile.

The third star of the movie of course is A.R. Rahman, who keeps you intoxicated with a high octane numbers and background score.

The first half is sheer movie making magic and the second half makes this movie as a "COuld and Should" have been classic. From nowhere the thinking caps seem to have disappeared until the climax which has been beautifully adapted from American Beauty.

Last not but not the least for the cinematographers and the dialogue writer for capturing the flavour of Benaras/Varanasi!!!!!

May be you could just walk out after the interval and feel exhilarated.

Yeh Jawani hai Deewani

Yeh Jawani hai, Budapa.  Film ka Raftaar Ithna Dheemi hai, Ki, Interval Athe Athe, Aap Bude Ho Jainge!!!

Bai Wah!! Purane Soch, Ka Award, Jaroor, Karan Johar ko Milne Chahiye. Kabi Zindagi Na Milege Dobara, Kabi 3 idiots, Kabi Dil Chahta Hai, and Han!! Ab Bhi, Ham Aapke Hain Kaun Ko Hum Kabhi Bool Nahin Sakthe Hain!!! 

Ranbir, 'Nerdish' looks ke sath, first half me jawaan nahi Lagthe Hain!!!!

Sid to Jag Gaya, Ab Aapka Baari Hai, Wake Up Ayan!!!!

PS: In all fairness to Ayan, the viewer can walk in to the second half and enjoy, Rich production values, good music, Choreography, Competent performances. The ladies Kalki and Deepika steel the show. And Oh!! yes, watch out for Deepika's smile adorned with dimple.

When I watched Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Kajol was made to look like a 'Behanji' with jeans. And here Deepika exmplifies the Behenji with a 'mini skirt' which pales in comparison with an equal "lengthed" "shorts" worn by Kalki!!!

The Reluctant Fundamentalist Film

The Pearl Harbour Attack, the formation of Israel and 9/11 will continue to affect us and our fortunes for the rest of our lives.

The audacity of 9/11 attack exposed the vulnerability of the United States. We are all aware how the US reacted.

In an interconnected world, it is not enough if God blesses America alone, God has to bless all of us.

After My Name is Khan, comes another important film which addresses, the view point of a moderate Muslim.

There are lots of people who have been hurt and therefore the works like Reluctant Fundamentalist have great importance.

MIra Nair, executes a highly ambitious film with extraordinary responsibility, restraint, sensitivity and most importantly without any overt violence.

I think Mira Nair does her bit in not only dedicating this work to her Lahori father but also does her bit in enhancing the Indo Pakistani relationships and more so articulating the moderate Muslim's viewpoint.

The world could benefit more from a dialogue than blood shed.

The experience would not have been complete without Riz and Mike.

Riz Ahmed, you sweep me of my feet with your charisma, authenticity and sensitivity, without you the spirit of the reluctant fundamentalist would not have not been realised.

Michael Andrews, for your most soulful music and background music, infusing the soul into the narrative, a big thank you.

Ethir Neechal(Swim against the Tide), Tamil Film

Amongst the greatest works of K. Balachander  was Punnagai, remake of Satyakam, relevant and timeless classics for the youth. Ethirneechal, probably comes a close second, relevant, timeless and uplifting.

When you decide to even consider a title, there has to be some reverence.

Quite an Ethirneechal to sit through

Frivolous, inchorent, insulting and eminently bad

Soodhu kavvum

Over the last two years, Tamil Cinema, has consistently produced at least 30 good films with little or no star power. The screenwriter and the technicians have been firmly in grip. Not  sure if Bollywood or Hollywood have attempted so many quality films without stars.

Soodhu Kavvum, is one such effort, with the screen writer working overtime to give us pure and unadulterated entertainment. While the story seems to skirt along similar themes in the past, the screenwriter keeps the viewer surprised till the end. 

The movie while being hilariously tense with its zany characters and plot, is peppered with a lot of creativity,  great music and BGM from Santosh Narayanan. Ever since I have heard Santosh in Attakthi I am a great fan of his. While the Sax is joyous and you get to hear it in the background, he freaks out with the Gana and Rap mix and then surprises you with the out of the world, MGR "Thathuva padal"(Philosophy) song in the end. 

I think professionals in all walks of life may learn from the Tamil Film Technicians, who continue to set new standards of excellence.

Way to go.

Udhayam - NH4

Beautifully concealed in this Movie is Ashritha Shetty, who lends authenticity to the movie. The writing for Ashritha is wonderful. The lady who has a crush, juvenile and possessive, displays extraordinary maturity and rationale while choosing her partner, the reassurance and the faith in her partner seeming to remind you of Mariel Hemingway, the seventeen year old in Wood Allen's Manhattan.

A lovely moment of person who is passionately in love, especially when she visits Siddarth has been captured with wonderful restraint by the screenwriter/director. There is so much palpable excitement in this sequence that the action sequence seem to pale in comparison.

Siddarth while being quite earnest and competent in his role looks aged along with the adolescent  Ashirtha. Not very sure if the writing Kay Kay Menon's role  has meat. Seems to be superficial, loud and definitely not menacing. Imagine what could have been the impact if there were some of Tommy Lee Jones in Fugitive infused into Kay Kay Menon's role. May be the depth and attention paid to the love story was not paid to the action elements.

A smart ,coherent and cerebral narrative flatters to deceive with an insipid and a brawny climax.

Chennayil Oru Naal

Rips From Mexico and Los Angeles with Love.

Concepts, sequences and premise have been cut from Ammores Perres, Babel, 21 Grams and Biutiful and mixed with the premise of Speed and pasted on to Mollywood assembly plant and exported to Kollywood.

The director has managed to recreate Innaritu's magic partly and has been imaginative enough to add the premise of Speed but has not been inventive enough in recreating the adrenalin rush of Speed.

In all fairness to the director, the narrative is engaging, philosophical and thought provoking, except for a pathetic climax. A lot of competent actors and a standout performance from Jayaprakash. With whatever little space he gets he manages to pull the carpet from under my feet!!!! I do not have any explanation for the sheer joy of seeing him on the screen.

Django Unchained

An appalling Free Fall

With an Oscar, Golden Globe and a BAFTA for original Screenplay tucked under its belt, its is only natural to go with soaring expectations. Have the standards for the revered awards become so pathetic?  Watching the movie is a horrifying free fall that takes you to undiscovered abyss in movie making.

Jamie returning to rescue his wife in the climax has all the smacking of 'B'  Grade Tamil movie, especially after he walks out of out of the house after blowing it seems straight out of a Vijay or Vijaykanth  film.  Sando Chinilnappa Devar would have been happy to have seen the horse dancing at the end in Tarentino movie. Curiously Jamie Fox also does well to imitate Thalaivar Rajini's shtyle of cooling glasses.

Will Smith seems to have been the initial choice for Jamie Fox, and he seems to have turned it down. Smart Will. The characterization and the writing for a protagonist could have never been more inept.

Caprio, Jackson and Christoph have definite meat in their roles. Christoph Waltz verbal chatter had some resemblance with the more clever and intense Hans Landa in the Basterds. Caprio is in his inimitable style and carries himself with his usual charisma. However I thought Samuel Jackson's character was brilliant. 

Yes, there were some special Tarentinesque moments like the one involving the Ku Klux Klan and a Gladiator like sequence packed.

A long ultra violent movie raking in 413 million dollars at box office and bestowed with all possible honorary awards, Where is this dear

Kumbh Mela, 'Aravaan' and The National Film Awards

While the newspapers and TV Channels explode with stories of distress and our journey on this planet hurtling towards an abyss of hopelessness, there was an extraordinary story of a glimmer of hope that the Indian ethos of empathy and value of life still exists.

In a corner of The Hindu, in Chennai, there was an Advertisement of significant size, 15 days after the incident, that two bodies of  dead people in the recent stampede in the Kumbh Mela remain unclaimed by the relatives. Significant resources must have been spent by the Kumbh Committee to advertise far and wide in all parts of the country to try its best to enable the relatives to claim the bodies. 

This sequence a real life incident,  reminded me of the similar sequence in 'Aravaan', a Tamil Film, based on Su. Venkatesan's Kaval Kottam which went on to win the Sahitya Academy Award. The concern displayed by the elder in the village and the intense effort to ensure that the dead body to the family of the deceased remain etched in your memory. 

Incidentally Su. Venkatesan's play covers 600-700 years of the people who safeguarded the city. Vasanthabalan's effort was to adapt a slice of that history.

What has this got to do with the National Film Awards? I was quite disappointed that such a monumental effort of Vasanthabalan went unrewarded, the sweep and the scope of the epic effort, in terms of adapting such a huge novel is monumental. While OMG was quite enjoyable, the best adapted screenplay should have gone to 'Aravaan'.

I would have also hoped for "Vazahkku Enn 18/9", "Paradesi", "Arohanam", "Eega" and "Gangs of Wasseypur" to win some more awards.

Vathikuchi

Tamil Cinema, Just One Step away from arriving.

In Tamil Cinema, The technicians are firmly in grip, there are no great need for established heroes. IN the last two years, even Appu Kutty(For people who do not follow Tamil Cinema, he is a character actor who is reasonably non descript)  has managed to earn the hero's spot. The only reason Appu Kutty donned the role was because the role demanded it.

Tamil Cinema has also displayed a great understanding of the common man, their aspirations  and their lifestyle, The locations are authentic lending a realism to the narrative.

You can also experience a conscious effort on the part of the filmmakers to bring a fresh narrative style to each of the films.

Vathikuchi simmers with extraordinary potential and few of the action blocks are directed with pin pointed precision to the jugular. 

What stops Vathikuchi from realising its potential is the obsession of Indian/Tamil films with the Mandatory Love Story. 

Lakshmi Ramakarishnan set an example of making a film in 77 minutes with Arohanam. Wednesday was just 90 minutes.

If only Vathikuchi was between 80 to 90 minutes plus the climax improved, this would have been one helluva of a movie!!.

Mother's Day Out

Some of you may remember that in my posts, I had been critical of Life of Pi. However, my sister who lives outside Chennai has been in raptures after seeing Life of Pi and insisted that my Mom see Pi. Hence I had to make it a reluctant second time.

Surprise 1: The movie is running in two screens in Chennai. I did not get a ticket for the Sunday show. I just managed to scrape through and got the tickets at PVR today, At Escape I could not get tickets for a Monday show. For an art house movie which is almost running for the last four- five months, the full house was a big surprise.

Surprise 2: The appeal of Pi. Given that it is a visual treat and aesthetic in many ways, one wonders, how a film which is so subtle, sophisticated, literary, with very little twists and turns, with almost zero drama and phenomenally verbose and boring climax has managed to strike a chord with such a large section of people.

In my last review, I had dismissed the movie as Pi converges to zero. There are few revisions in my observations, I do not think I was turned on by the first forty minutes as much as I did when I saw the movie the first time, neither was I as bored in the second half as I felt the first time.

I was quite touched when Pi has the almost dying Richard Parker, the Tiger on his Lap. The lament of Pi about the several untold Good Bye's was quite touching as well.

An earnest and sincere effort which seems to have gone down well with me the second time(The climax however remains a monumental letdown).

Having said that I am still in mourning for Steve not winning the Best Picture and the Best Director award for Lincoln.

Oh! yes. My Mother did quite enjoy it!!!!

Paradesi

I endorse your Anger nay Rage, Bala

I was quite iffy about seeing this film since there were widespread reviews of the movie dripping in melancholy.

Thematically this may not be a period film, this quite contemporary.

Has colonialism not been replaced by neo-colonialism? Have the Microsofts, the Googles, Apples, and the other technology companies not taken the place of East India Company? Our New 'Kanganiars" are represented by the large IT and ITES service organization. What is the environment under which most of the employees work in large corporations. Indians remain servile. We do not create value. We capture value.

Commerce rules the roost and the stock markets determines the fates of cogs in the machines. Financial performance quarter on quarter is the prime determinant of existence and survival. Therefore most of the employees live in servitude and insensitivity is a rampant world wide phenomenon. Everything is commerce including Religion.

Bala lays a beautiful foundation in a flawless first half to set up a brutal no holds barred display of unadulterated rage in the second half. Remember, Bharati's saying, Even if a single man does not have food, let us destroy this universe. With the kind of madness around, anybody with an ounce of sensitivity is bound to cut loose and Bala, blessed with tonnes of it, does so in style.

GV Prakash music is very very special. It kind of intertwines with narrative elegantly and adds to the mood. One will have to listen to it over and over again to digest the magnificence.

For the courage and conviction to craft a movie of great quality and with no commercial element in it, for the tremendous thought process and the extraordinary work, for the wit, sarcasm, sensitivity and infinite rage, Hats of to you, Bala!!!!

For me there was not an ounce of melancholy, I was quite delirious with Joy.

Kai Po Che

Not to be missed

Is set amongst real people like us and amidst real events. While the tale of love and forgiveness lingers in the backdrop, the movie is a tribute to the innate inability of mankind to accept defeat. Such is the design of creation.

The narrative is paced to savour the journey of the protagonists. Gentle, Coherent, Subtle, Optimal, Clever and Responsible.The blood and gore of the aftermath of the riots are very sensitively portrayed. An object lesson for the other film makers who believe violence brings home their bread.

Congratulations to the entire team for pulling this 'unsensationally' sensational film.

Oscar awards, 2013, as Arbitrary as they can be...??

Saw Lincoln, one more time yesterday and was in raptures. Hope to see the film again and again. 

Was very confident that Lincoln would win the Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Screen Play, Best Picture and Best Director.

Needless to say quite disappointed, especially very 

upset about Tony Kushner not winning the the Best Adapted Screenplay for Liincoln. Not recognizing Kushner's work is unpalatable.

As far as Steve is concerned, I only hope he is immortal and  can direct for as long as he can. That would be our greatest blessing. 

Having Michelle Obama come and address for the best picture, for hardcore Lincoln fans like me, was a sad and bad joke!!!!!

After the disappointment, just checked with Wikipedia about the measures taken  by the Academy to maintain standards and fairness....(For your consumption.......But do the measure really reflect the fairness in results, the history is replete with unfair results???.)

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), a professional honorary organization, maintains a voting membership of 5,783 as of 2012.[22]

Academy membership is divided into different branches, with each representing a different discipline in film production. Actors constitute the largest voting bloc, numbering 1,311 members (22 percent) of the Academy's composition. Votes have been certified by the auditing firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (and its predecessor Price Waterhouse) for the past 73 annual awards ceremonies.[23]

All AMPAS members must be invited to join by the Board of Governors, on behalf of Academy Branch Executive Committees. Membership eligibility may be achieved by a competitive nomination or a member may submit a name based on other significant contribution to the field of motion pictures.

New membership proposals are considered annually. The Academy does not publicly disclose its membership, although as recently as 2007 press releases have announced the names of those who have been invited to join. The 2007 release also stated that it has just under 6,000 voting members. While the membership had been growing, stricter policies have kept its size steady since then.[24]

In May 2011, the Academy sent a letter advising its 6,000 or so voting members that an online system for Oscar voting will be implemented in 2013.[25]

Ammerin Aadhi Bhagawan

Why this Kolaveri, Kolaveri Di?

Lemmings are arctic rodents, which decide to jump of a cliff in hordes and decide to end their lives. This is a random inexplicable phenomenon.

After the extraordinary Paruthiveeran, it is extremely sad to see some real hard work(both by the actors and technicians) wasted and drowned by a torrent of violence and an unimaginative screenplay.

Aamir's effort reminds you of the Lemming.

It may be  a good idea that many of our directors who spew violence with such venom, may benefit with a visit to a Psychiatrist.

Lincoln

What happens when the world's greatest director and the world's greatest actor come together?

Results in a movie that is extraordinarily evocative and sublime.

What hits you hard is not what  you see on the screen but what really went behind the screens.

The clarity of Spielberg is stunning. 

The biopic does not focus on Abe's life but a slice of his life.

The drama behind passing the 13th Amendment in the US constitution which will abolish slavery.

We therefore get to see the empathy and the emotional intelligence as a human being, the deep convictions, the Machiavellian instincts of a politician, the shrewdness of a practising lawyer, the vision and responsibility of a leader, the strategic intent,  the awareness of the powers available at his disposal and the urgency to get through with the amendment.

Daniel Day Lewis(DDL) Converts Speilberg's vision into reality. DDL, must have literally starved his way into the role. With sunken eyes and  no fat around the cheeks, with a drooping shoulder, a calm voice that resonates from deep below, DDL recreates Lincoln with authenticity that blanks out any images of the angry characters in either Left Foot or There Will be Blood. Yes there is the occasional regrettable slap or the pounding of the table exerting himself as the President, but, DDL breezes through a historic personality emoting a innumerable emotions with extraordinary ease. 

Most importantly this is a must watch for every student and professional. This is an object lesson in communication. Whether it is the vocabulary, diction, effective usage of words, putting forward a point of view, debate or disagreement.

To understand this movie completely, multiple viewings are recommended.

This movie is strictly for the serious and discerning movie goer!! This is not for time pass movie goers..

Special 26

Blame it on the Genre, Special 26 just misses the special grade as you probably can guess the ending.

However credit to Neeraj Pandey, for making this unpretentious, taut and fun filled narrative.

It was a joy to see the ensemble cast of Anupam Kher, Manoj Bajpayee, Akshay Kumar and Jimmy shergill breezing through their roles.

Kadal - Mani Rathnam's Film

Made with Care and served with taste

With the kind of bashing kadal has received at the press, went to see Kadal with very low expectations.

However to the credit of the film maker, this story of love and forgiveness has been shot with thought and beauty. You can feel a strong literary undercurrent. The principal characters have been etched with clarity. While enough care has been taken to set up the drama, it is in the resolution of conflict is where the director could have faltered(Screenplay?)

With a large ugly nose, Asymmetrical little eyes, a very uncommon face, Gautham could even look ugly, but when he smiles, his innocent face lights up with radiance and beauty. Thanks to Mani, Gautham is a sensational find and literally explodes on the screen. Whether it is guilt, remorse, hatred, fear or just amazement, he kind of breezes through like a master. Watching Gautham assist in the delivery of child with myriad emotions running through his face was a delight.

Gautham is ably supported by Arjun and Arvind Swamy.

The other 'Wows' for the movie are stolen away by the entire technical crew and our dear Rahman.

Wait for 'Anbin Vasale' as the credit scrolls down and savour the beautiful procession!!!!