Viswaroopam

"Viswaroopamage", A Homage to one of the greatest Son's of Cinema

"Phew", The wait is finally over. Caught up with Viswaroopam at Rockline Cinemas at Jalahalli, Bengaluru today.

Kamal is one of those rare son's Cinema who is probably dear to all the muses.

People like Orson Welles, Clint East Wood, Tim Robbins, Denzel Washington, Raj Kapoor may have acted, directed and produced movies, but I am not sure if they have Danced, sung, written lyrics and been involved in all the facets of Cinema.

Most importantly pursued his passion consistently over fifty years and think loftily with constraints imposed by a small market.

He is a "Pokkisham"(treasure) therefore deserves a very special place in our hearts and deserves the greatest respect.

Will we continue to live in regional glory or recognize that the World has gone flat and position ourselves as  forces to reckon with in the Global era?

The last year was extraordinary for Tamil Cinema and Indian Cinema. We had 'Naan EE' release about the same time as Amazing Spider Man and The Dark Knight Rises and was more entertaining and inventive.

While Zero Dark Thirty is supposed to be the hunt for Osama, Kamal uses the Obama speech after Osama's hunt is successful to question Obama's observation about a single act weeding out terrorism. 

I am quite proud about the Thought Leadership that a regional film is able to provide effortlessly.

Viswaroopam manages to take the viewer beyond comfort zones. 

It also addresses the grave need to address the anger zones of a lot of people. People are hurt. World Leaders need to address issues at a sufficient level of depth and Identities need to melt and be redefined.

With so much of skill at hand, the graphic violence in the film could have been avoided. 

A more well conceived climax, would have enhanced the overall experience by a few notches.

A special word of praise for the Afghanistan Sets.

With a large canvas, great performances, excellent production and technical values, Viswaroopam not only dazzles but just raised the bar.

We are proud of you, Kamal

Reflecting on the Viswaroopam discontentment

Shah Rukh Khan used Cinema to represent the Muslims in the most beautiful way in "My name is Khan". I am not sure if he got his due recognition. According to me, that is his greatest contribution.

Cinema is a wonderful medium. There are 1.4 billion Muslims all over the world and they have made incredible contributions to the world.

Will it not be a great idea to show case the great contributions made by Muslims all over the world.

The greatest Indian living legend Janab Abdul Kalam is respected across this whole country and is a role model to all of us.

Why not celebrate great leaders like Abdul Kalam?

When you have powerful medium and great people, what is stopping you to unleash the powerful stories of Muslims who have made a difference to our lives.

Is it not a more powerful force that can drown the stories of these terrorists hovering around incessantly?

The ball is in your court and with the kind of talent and money power at your disposal, we would like to be regaled with the most beautiful Islamic stories heard and unheard of.

Viswaroopam

Sorry for the inconvenience, Kamal 

I am not sure if people are aware that you bequeath your name from your father's close Muslim friend.

If you have entertained and gladdened the hearts of millions of fans around the world, it is because you sought excellence and pursued anything that you have done with great dedication and sincerity.

You have always wanted to share the best of your cinematic experiences by enacting and serving them with a lot of taste to your Tamil brethren.

An evolved artist is a "rasika' and is incapable for hurting anybody.

I am not sure if people recognized that you displayed the greatest empathy for our Muslim brethren when you included the dialogue, "Mecca Vai  Parthu Namaz Pannaravanallam Terrorist Ayidamattan" in Dasavatharam.

If after entertaining us for fifty years and your motives should be doubted, it is indeed a sad day for all of us.

The meaninglessness of this whole exercise leaves a very bad taste.

We are there to support you.

For all the trouble that you have gone through, we hope and wish that Viswaroopam will be an extraordinary movie in the annals of Indian Cinema.

Kanna Laddu Thinna Aasiya

This is a 'Kalay Fest' all the way!!!!!

Nobody seems to be taking credit for the dialogues. The dialogues are tongue in cheek, combined with melodious remixes, interlaced and paced cleverly with a fast moving screenplay, clever enough to mask the incoherence of the second half.

In an era of instant gratification, even though you may have a feeling of watching an SV shekar play, the screenwriter has got formula right, with humor rising above slapstick in several places. Special marks for using Power star effectively, especially with his Powered Wooden face. Some special marks for the music director, BGM, which helps Power to tickle the funny bone.

Even though I have not seen Indru Poi Nalai Vaa, with extraordinary success of KLTA, it looks as if IPNV is timeless.

Should we look forward to the remake in 2043??

Aranya Kandam telecast on Star Vijay

STAR Vijay, At the outset I would like people to know that I have great respect for Star Vijay for bringing in a rich variety of shows not based on Movies. Star Vijay can boast of the least amount of Movies telecast and yet captivate extraordinary viewership.

But I was aghast that 'Aranya Kandam' was telecast today between Noon and two today. Despite the censorship this dark subject does not deserve a telecast especially on a festival holiday when it would have been consumed by a large section of people. 

Forget about rules and regulations, should we all not exercise self restraint about what is the impact of our decisions. On one hand, STAR VIJAY unapologetic-ally  uses game shows like "Neengalum Vellalam Oru Kodi"  to demonstrate grave concern for fellow human beings.

Can Star Vijay really measure the innumerable children who lost different levels of innocence after watching 'Aranya Kandam'? today?

Lord Mammon, thou art our driving force, there is no greater force than thee and we can see your  monstrous glee with which you are devouring our souls and our very existence. We prostrate before thee.

Long Live Lord Mammon!!!

Samar Tamil Movie

For all the hype that surrounds a movie before its release, here is a good movie which seems to have literally sneaked during Pongal, almost as an afterthought.

A racy commercial thriller with excellent production and technical values, I really hope people do not miss out this film with a script which is fairly  coherently and narrated with some suspense.

Set in Bangkok for most parts, RIchard Nathan captures the mood and spirit of Bangkok with authenticity. Vishal essays his role with verve and panache. Trisha neatly executes her role which has some meat in it.

I am just surprised why the producers are not marketing this film. It has all the ingredients of Entertainer and is slickly packaged!!!!

Pick up your Pop Corn!!! and enjoy the evening.

Unforgettable Cinematic Moments

Just finished watching the climax of "Kannathil Muthammittal" on K TV the nth time. Like wine the climax seems to be getting better with every viewing.

A child with her parents who have adopted her travels to Sri Lanka to locate her biological mother.

When the child locates her biological mother she is all excited and with enthusiasm opens up the sheet of paper containing twenty questions for her biological mother.

The first one, matter of fact question as to why she was abandoned, has her intensely and expectantly looking at her biological mother, the eyes of her biological mother drifting away from her child and has her guiltily confessing her reason.

The second question about her fathers whereabouts is left unanswered.

The curious child then proceeds to inquire whether the biological mother, took her in her arms after her birth. The biological mother, just admits to her fingers fleetingly touching her. The disappointed child closes the sheet of paper and decides to wrap the interview.

Seeing the disappointed child, the mother who has brought up the child, suggests to the biological mother, " Ippo Neega Edutakalamey?"(What is stopping you from taking her into your arms now?).

As the biological mother hugs and caresses the child, the rain breaks out and it an excuse for the director to get the mother, the father, the child and mother under an umbrella in one frame. With Rahman in top form, with some extraordinary BGM, great cinematography and editing, the universe just froze for a few moments.

Varun and Nithya, Moments of Love

Quite some time before I caught up with 'Nee Thane En Pon Vansantham(NEP)', the Tamil Flick released along Kumki.

Partly flawed, Partly Experimental, Partly mystical, partly magical and partly intoxicating, NEP, subtly nuanced, grows on you as you watch it.

Samantha, dominates the proceedings with an effortless and  stunning acting performance. Her emotions magically Cris crosses mischievousness, infatuation, possessiveness, enigma, defensiveness, hurt, blind love and reality disconnect with extraordinary ease.

When she whimpers and collapses into her sister's arm, at the prospect of having lost her love due to her foolishness and vain glorious pride, not only does your heart go out to her, but also you know that there is an extraordinary actress who will essay some unforgettable roles in the future. Watch out for this  petite, radiant, glowing and beautiful actress!!!

Maestro's music works, adds to mystic and magic. Cleverly used in the narration.

What made the movie noticeable the first time I got to see the movie was not Samantha'a acting and Ilayaraja's music but an Eureka moment of life when a boy recognizes his responsibilities and is born as a man, every father's prayer and dream. Devar Magan examines this transformation more graphically. The director could not be more closer to reality and not have handled this more subtly. A special thanks to Gautham Menon for addressing a very critical aspect of life.

The first forty five minutes probably in a linear narrative could have made this into a classic.

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 viewers 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!!!