"Vaazh"( LIVE when translated in English), Tamil Movie, streaming on Sony Liv

A frenetic climb to the top of a steep cliff and then a liberating free fall.

That is how I felt after watching the exhilarating film making of " Vaazh"

Finally after a long long time, a good Thamizh film that breaks beyond the petty boundaries imposed upon themselves. Vaazh  explores the human identity with gay abandon.

The film almost plays like as if it played from a dream. Discrete, seemingly not comprehendible, flickering on and off, and hurtling at a break neck pace. Erupting emotions, a short fuse, a hyperactive kid and insanity propel the movie to a tension that diffuses  the undercurrent of comedy. 

We are on the razor's edge with the protagonist caught between the choices of the most interesting ladies that you could come across. The pscyho lover, the controlling mother, the distraught wife and the wonderful "Sakhi", friend.

The movie is powered  by its editing, and the music is so creative, that you really wished the tension in the movie allowed you to savour the music  a bit more. The rendition of the Muruga song, from Kandhar Anubhooti signals the commencement of free fall, a descent of joy and discovery.

You know what to do this weekend, Don't you?

Watch 'Vaazh" and enjoy a slice of life!!

Malik, Malayalam, streaming on Prime Video

An extremely well written screen play aided by scintillating film making.

Probably one of the 'God Father' variations in India which has  tragic  undertones, running right through the movie.

It is an old wine, but packed in a nice new bottle

Great acting performances, but Joju George's expressive eyes reflecting an ocean of kindness in his first interaction with Fahd Fasil was the 'goosebump' variety.

This is an intense movie that is gritty, melancholic and may be even heart wrenching.

Certainly not for the people looking to relax.

Remembering Dilip Kumar

Celebrating a Super Star

What endeared us to Dilip Kumar?

Was it his relaxed gait? Was it his evocative eyes which could alternate between kindness and sadness that would haunt us? Was it the restraint in his speech, a restraint that could unleash so much power beyond comprehension?

I decided to revisit with Shakthi which I had seen in Devi Paradise in 1982.  Wanted to understand how Bachan had performed in the company of Dilip Saab. 

I was not really disappointed with the movie, except that the background sound was completely out of place.

Dilip Kumar's control of varied emotions is punctuated by restraint. Whether it was responding to the demise of his wife or rebuking his son or ecstatically welcoming his would be daughter in law home, the man is in perfect control of his craft.

Surprisingly Bachan was a tad heavy and loud, probably miscast, with Rakhee as his mother and Smita Patil as his wife. The ladies are in great form.

There are different versions, some say the movie has been adapted from Sangram some say, Thanga Pathakkam, but in true Salim Javed style, no credit to anyone.

We have always believed that Shakti was a remake of  "Thanga pathakkam". The writers were more sympathetic  to Amitabh in the way the misunderstanding developed between the son and the dad. But what was interesting to note that Amitabh's character arc is directly lifted from Deewar.

The climax sequence clearly gave away that "Indian" (Hindusthani )core has been lifted from Thanga Pathakkam/Shakti.

I decided to savour one more of Dilip Kumar's movie, the one in which he acted first and then Gemini remade with Sivaji in the lead. Paigham and Irumbuthirai.

Understand that Dilip Kumar is not supposed to have charged  SS Vasan for acting in Paigham.

The kindness of Dilip Kumar's eyes and his body language were a treat. Paigham is available on Prime. A predictable fare. But  Dilip Kumar and the onscreen chemistry with Vyjaythimala is worth watching.

Since I got a taste what Dilip did  in Shakti, I wanted to check out how Sivaji had reprised Dilip's role in Irumbuthirai. Did he overact?

Here is a sample of how Sivaji acts. I could not get the equivalent footage of Paigham on Youtube. For people who are seriously interested in understanding the geniuses of two different actors in a simple similar scene, can be instructive.

May your soul rest in peace. Thanks for entertaining us and several moments of bliss in our  lives

Aanum Pennum, An anthology in Malayalam streaming on Prime

Rani, the last of the three shorts

It is wild, wicked and whacky.

Adults may not want to miss this short.

Be assured of a smile!!!!

P.S; It qualifies to be the seventh short in The Wild Tales

Kappela, Malayalam movie, streaming on Netflix

A lovely slice of innocence

" Will you take me to the sea?" requests the damsel

" Why not?" retorts the handsome young man

And as the damsel views the magnificence of the ocean unfold in front of her moist eyes, she ambles forward to feel the splashing waves, she lingers on to wet her feet and experience the quirkiness when the sand under the feet gets washed away by the receding waves. She savours and consumes the vastness of the ocean, in the process filling us with an undefinable experience.

If you can accomplish  all this about 90 seconds and in about 14 shots, the world of cinema can't get any better.