Thursday, November 19, 2015
Thoongavanam
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Traffic
It’s been more than a year since I wrote. Friends who used to be around me to argue about a movie are not there with me anymore. All of us are in different parts of the world in different places and time zones. We no longer have time to sit and argue like we used too. Frankly all these arguments had been a big trigger for me to write. Now that it is no longer possible, let me just try to write a decent stuff myself.I was updating movie news for the website I work for and I came across this article about International Film Festival. This year there are quite a bunch of Malayalam movies gets screened. I should also mention that I am a die hard fan of Malayalam Film Industry.I thought I should catch up with them though I have seen a few already. This movie Traffic is one of them. I didn’t have any idea when I started watching the movie.
Traffic, directed by Rajesh Pillai starts with the narration of Sreenivasan. The casts include Sreenivasan, Vineeth Sreenivasan, Kunchakoban, Asif Ali, Sandhya, Roma, Rahman, Ramya Nambeesan and lots more. It involves lots of characters and how each one is linked and what makes them to meet. The movie gives you mixed emotions anger, fear, sorrow, pain , luv, hate, trust, betryal , shame, fame, friendship, responsibility and lot more.
The director has beautifully carved the characters and the importance of each is realized. The story involves around an accident in
Rahain’s parents initially refuse to donate the heart. But later they are convinced by his friends. The pain of the parents to digest their son is no more stays in your mind. On the other end the kid’s father is a super star (Sidharth played by Rahman) in Malayalam industry. The super hero becomes totally incapable to save his daughter and he is incapable to convince Rahain’s parents.
Finally when they are ready to do the transplantation, comes the question of how to transport the heart from
A complex story neatly presented. The editing is fantastic in final sequences. Good camera work and logical hurdles while transporting the heart. There is one song in the start which helps in establishing the characters. Background score is excellent. Each and every object gets neat link to the scenes and in the end forms a complete story.

There is also a similar real incident which was done successfully in Chennai. There are also dialogues in the film discussing the same.
Hats off to the crew and director for presenting a good film!
A must watch film!
P.S - I just read that the film is going to be remade in Tamil and Hindi.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Ritu - Seasons change... Do we....

Ritu is a story of three youngsters grew up together and how their life changes over time and their separation. The film is directed by Shyam Prasad, a promising director with his diverse and excellent stories like agnisakshi, akale, Orae Kadal and Ritu. The director has again proved his versatility in this film…
Sarath, Varsha and Sunny, the inseparable trio grew up together since childhood. All of them have dreams to pursue in life. Sarath wants to write, varsha wants to do voluntary work while sunny’s interest is music. Sarath had to move to US with his brother in law and ends up in a software industry while varsha and sunny also joins a software job in Bangalore. Sunny and varsha moves on with the changes in life. Varsha ends up flirting around with everyone and sunny becomes a gay. Sarath is caged completely with the memories and dreams of friends. Remembering his childhood and his friends, he returns back to india to excel in his passion and work together with friends. While they start working together Sarath realizes the changes with his friends and moves on separating himself both from his childhood memories and his friends.
Rithu is a beautiful film which happens to us or among us. We all commonly have two problems.. Either we stick on to dreams and live n fantasy or in the name of moving on, we forget what we are. Our tradition,our values and even our purpose of lives. Today through an IT job our wallets are full and v don’t realise the value of money. We end up n night outs, pubs, parties and what not… where goes the real talent? Passion? Relationships?values? we search one after the other which is virtual and just end up in depression and frustration.. At the end of the journey we haven’t done anything for benefit ourselves or to the society. Rithu is one such self realization of the characters in the film. An entrepreneur sacrifices her family life for her career. She is proud to achieve billion dollars project. But is life dedicated for professional life or personal life??? A perfect person should ideally balance everything.. profession … personal.. social… there may be ups and downs n the ratio… too much of one thing will always spoil the other…. The film also talks about the homeless and humiliated people when the IT villages are developed in the city outskirts. There are no details on that though. They are left to struggle and survive like in reality.
Rithu is one such film of life… Time to wake up and protect our values, passion and the real talent…
Seasons change.. do we….
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Independence Day !!!!

Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Angadi theru
It’s been quite a while since I wrote… Hope I can complete this successfully. First, loads of thanks to Prasanna who actually inspired me to see the movie and write a review on it. This post is dedicated to you Prasanna, I think you are one person who never misses any of my post. Thanks !!!
Angadi theru – Directed by Vasantha Balan starring Mahesh and Anjali is a reality movie. Tamil cinema can be proud of having a handful few directors who really dare to work on such a script. First hats off to the director and thanks to his guru Director Shankar for encouraging his assistants with such films. Veyil from Vasantha Balan under the production of Shankar has given him a break and a new recognition in the film industry after his first debut Album.
The movie is about people working in shops in Ranganathan street, T Nagar and reality around it. Youngsters from remote villages are brought to Chennai to work in these shops. With heaps of desires and compelled by situations to work they come to Chennai as sales persons. To their disappointment, they end up in differnt situation. They are tortured and gals are abused by the supervisors. Employers treat them as slave and black mails them. They are forced to lead life like slaves in a jail. The shop is has lodging place and mess for food. We find they cant even stretch properly and sleep. Staffs mess can never be worst. After the movie I couldn’t eat my lunch without thinking about this mess scene. Wake up alarm is beatings from a supervisor. Amongst all these pressures and worries they start searching for happiness among them. When they fall in love, the situations worsen. Management punishes them and forces them to quit the job when they are caught. Jothi lingam – Hero (Mahesh) and Kani – Heroin (anjali) are one of the staffs in a such shop. They are also not exceptions from these. After distrust they start liking each other and they fall in love. When they are caught. How they face the problems and come over is the story.
Don’t expect our Hero to become a super human to take revenge on Owner of the shop and save all the people. If it’s a commercial movie you can expect such screenplay. But this is a reality movie. It is simply how they escape from the clutches and saves their love.
The story also has few small time sellers in the street who completely depend on this street for the survival.The script actually starts from present and goes back.
The star cast is very neat. Mahesh, Anjali, Black Pandi and A. Venkatesh performance are impressive. Anjali is not like a routine heroin who just plays glamour roles and comes only for songs. She is simply superb. Background score is neatly done. They have not forgotten to even add train sound in bg keeping in mind that Ranganathan street is near Railway station. Cinematography by Richard and edited by Sreekar Prasad.
Vasantha Balan has definitely proved again in this film. I am actually shocked to see the background research made in each every detail in the frame. Though this is not a complete entertainer but this is a film which will be cherished.
Angadi Theru is a must watch for cinema lovers.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
I, me, myself and movies
Off late I have been seeing quite a few Indian movies which can be classified under different genre. One was technically awesome with a neat screenplay, one had nice script, one had a beautiful making, and one was colorful and what not………. During my college days I did a research thesis on editing in art films and commercial films. For the thesis when I met an editor (I don’t want to mention his name) he said,” According to me there are no classification in films called art and commercial films. For me it is only good and bad films. Editing doesn’t change based on art or commercial it changes based on the biggest factor or hero is the STORY “. At that time I was little shocked to hear this and acknowledge the fact he said because my entire research thesis would go meaningless. Since my final result was based on the facts analyzed from these interviews.
Now after two years, when I think back I realize that what he said was true. When I was watching a few films recently I was engrossed in it completely and was excited. Movies like Dil Bole Hadippa had no logic, still u enjoyed the film. Wakeup Sid story sounded very much similar still u enjoyed. These are a kind of feel good movies. You enjoy while watching and forget it once you move out of the door. Just to while away time or when u wanna relax from a hectic day. If u indulge into the logical or story part u will seriously be disappointed. May be it was even bcoz of cricket. Games always excite you on screen.
Next set of movies or movies which has everything in proper proportion and you really feel happy for watching a good movie. You really appreciate it and preserve it to watch again. I will call it as good movies. 3 idiots, eeram, pasanga, nadodigal etc.
Next are reality movies. These are movies which take a real life situation, draw a story around it. They reflect the culture of the society. Even in reality movies we can split them into two, ones which are raw and ones in which fantasy are mixed to reach the audience. Raw movies don’t reach all class audience. Only a closed set of people watch them and have a taste to appreciate them. These movies are called as art films and new wave films. Movies like page 3, traffic signal, kalloori, nan kadavul, water, mirugaam etc.
Last but not the least some movies you literally wait for the exit door to be opened and rush out of it crying Please leave me alone. I have no comments on these movies.
I personally like reality movies. But considering the audience perceptive it’s a must that we reach max no of audience. So it would be great to watch realistic movies with little story and mixed emotions. This doesn’t hurt your feels and gives the message too. Taarae Zameen Par is one best example I could think off. You feel satisfied for spending 200 bucks for the ticket.
All these are just perceptions of me as an individual. It may be right or wrong. I would be really happy to receive your inputs and comments.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Ninaithalae Inikum…. With moderate sweetness…
Kumaravelan has taken the crux rather important scenes of classmates and remade it in Tamil relating to Tamil culture and incidents. Movie starts with the reunion of 2000 year pass outs. After 8 years, we travel back with them to their nostalgic college days. Prithiviraj and Sakthi are close friends. Prithviraj always comes first for any problem and tries to solve it by all means be it worst college hostel food or fighting with Karthik for forcing a girl to love him. This develops serious grudges between them. Prthviraj falls in love with Priya Mani, a MLA’s daughter. Students fight for college students union and manage to get permission for the same. Later it so happens that Priya Mani and Prithviraj stand for the same Chairman posts due to various reasons. This leads to a serious of incidents leaving deep grudge and pain in their hearts. This reunion discloses series of mysteries.
Since I had already watched the Malayalam movie I knew the story and I was literally looking out for the differences and similarities between the movies. After a long time u happen to see a movie which is properly remade without damaging the original script and as well suiting it to the different culture and period. It’s a good feel when u see good movie remade properly. Though there were few flaws and I would say it’s negligible. Not to forget the nostalgia it takes you back to your own college days......
Songs are fast and choreography is good. In the flashback the movie was completely colorful which I liked the most… The movie had a style in the making... I really liked the style of the movie… it was colorful. When I saw Love aaj Kal I felt so bad why Tamil films aren’t made that cool and colourful. They had such a simple (not so good) story but there was a style in the movie... you never took off your eyes off the screen. We have wonderful stories and excellent technicians still we fail to reach the style and a grand look on the screen. Grand doesn’t mean Shankar style of movie making.. Grandness comes with simple properties, costumes and location also... Nanbanai pola song had a beautiful locale... Good Work!!!
Sreekar Prasad is the editor, but I don’t feel his touch in the movie… probably one of his assistants did it… there was some prob when it came to mixing the mis en scene portions.
Opening scene in the classmates movie is kept in the interval block which is indeed shocking for the viewers. Azagai pookuthae was the best song…. Each and every song had a diff style and diff feel….
Prithviraj has done a good job.. and one of the best movies for Sakthi so far in his career. Karthik in negative role. After a long time a movie is taken with more than one hero with equal importance to all the characters in the movie. Tamil industry had always problem in taking a movie with more than one hero. In this movie in fact the story is the hero. Heroine doenst come inwantedly. There was no good chemistry. Priyamani can never replace beautiful Kavya Madavan… Her eyes would talk in the entire song to show her love in Kathirunda pennalae song in Classmatees. Prithiviraj has proved he can also dance well…
If I write a few more lines I might reveal the suspense in the story… So I stop here…. I have somewhere lost the touch of writing review… Good or Bad????
Will catch you up soon with yet an other mokkai review of mine…. J
Ninaithalae inikum with moderate sweetness…
Eagerly waiting for Eeram release :D
Monday, August 24, 2009
Kandasamy
Its been really a long time since I updated my blog.. Today after watching kandasamy I thought its time to do it….Kandasamy starring Vikram, Shriya, Prabu and lot more is directed by Susi Ganesan. An assistant director of Manirathnam started his directorial debut with Virumbugiraen, five star, thirutu payalae and his recent film being kandasamy. I am not going in detail of the story because that you can catch up with any review in a newspaper or a magazine. This is a typical Robin Hood story, where hero loots money from the riches and distributes it to the poor and the needy. I felt that the director pulled the script from Shankar’s desk and directed it.. The story has shankar’s style of theme in it. Dhanu has depleted his money lavishly in each and every shot. But the producer failed to buy a decent costume for Shriya. She roams around with Bikini kind of costumes the entire film. Vfx and graphics are used in almost every shot but output is not seen effectively on the screen. Very high coloring in the scenes especially the Mexico part is too warm that even the skin tone of the actors are changed. An highly increased level of R in RGB..

Worst editing…. Too much of lag in the movie… U feel bored in the middle of the film and u even get shocked that still even interval block haven't come.
Devi Sri Prasad had composed peppy songs. The cuts don’t go with the beat especially in Alaigra song… too many songs and you get bored of it and visuals are not as expected. If you are going with a family, you better walk out for Meena Kumari song.. too much of vulgarity in the steps and ultimate is the pole dancing of Mukesh Tiwari.. You would laugh out till you roll on the floor. Shriya comes and goes out as a glamour doll the entire film. Vikram looks hotter than shriya in the lady get up.. :P Not to forget the Suchi's voice for Shriya. it doesnt suit her at all..
Vikram has as usual done his role perfectly. His cool attitude and casual style makes you glue with him. The portion where Vadivelu comes is annoying. It would have been much better without him. Prabu plays a role as a police official. Theme of the film is really good and screenplay is also done well except in few parts. But the takings aren’t up to the reach. Maybe it was even because we have always seen these kind of movies with Shankar touch.
In his movies we would love we visualize an India without corruption, in Kandasamy you feel at last the movie got over. Director has tried his best to reach that level but failed badly. With everything available in ample something is badly missing in the film which doesn’t fullfil the hype created among the audience…..
After watching the movie you definitely need a cup of tea to relieve you from headache. In simple words, Mothathil Kandasamy Bandasamy ( Doesn’t fulfill the hype created)....
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Bucket List….

I don’t have words….. It’s a stunning movie about two aged men suffering from cancer. Having their end date fixed, they find time to love and care each other. Bucket List is list of things these old men wishes to do before they die.
Two protagonists, both old aged men rock the movie, Carter and Edward. They are forced to stay in a same room and undergo treatment for cancer. Carter is a family man who has led a life like any other father in the world, disciplined in nature. Edward is a rich businessman who leads a lonely life. Being put in the same room they become friends without their knowledge. Edward finds carters bucket list and convinces him that they should be doing all these before they die. With the list in hand Edward spends all his money going around the world fulfilling the wishes. Carters loving family demands his presence but feels he has to be away from them. Carter also finds Edwards love towards his daughter who had been separate for years. After roaming all around Carter decides to get back home. He takes Edward to his daughter. But Edward refuses to meet her. While having a feast with his entire family Carter falls sick again. He is taken to hospital and dies there. He laughs out until he cries on his death bed fulfilling his last wish. Carter also forces Edward to visit his daughter. Unable to refuse Carters last words Edward visits his daughter, when he does go there he fulfils his greatest wish to kiss the most beautiful women in the world, his own grandchild. Finally they are buried after death on the top of the month fulfilling all the wishes in their bucket list.
Though the movie is completely centered between the two men you don’t get bored at all and you do know that they both are going to die still you continue to watch the movie. It has an interesting character Tommy, Edward’s assistant. He keeps typing something on his Apple Laptop and receives all sorts of insults from Edward still loves to work for him and does everything for him. Carter’s wife keeps fighting with Edward to leave her husband back to her. You feel her love when she comes to know that he is no more. Accepting the unbelievable fact she silently comes near him and kisses him passionately. Without any words without any one shouting you are in tears without your knowledge.
The movie is absolute.
Every one of us has goals in life. We run behind money, goals and other materialistic things all life without finding time to take care of ourselves and our loved ones. When you realize this and turn back everything is gone. You will not be able to rewind time to redo what you have done. In between your busy schedules, tension, deadlines, recession, meetings, etc just take 5 minutes a day to care for your loved ones. They might need it desperately. When you finish all your work and get back they might be no more. Even the smallest things make a big difference. Life is short enjoy it too the fullest without hurting anyone and disturbing others principles.
I have started writing down my bucket list ;)
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Yaavarum Nalam

Stunning camera work by PC Sriram and splendid editing by Sreekar Prasad which makes the movie complete. This suspense thriller directed by Vikram Kumar starring Madhavan, Neethu Chandra and a lot more. The important highlight of the movie is that we never get to see the ghost. It’s a well scripted thriller. You even have a lot of traces of English horror movies here and there. But not to deny the fact that after a long time tamil industry has come with very good movie.
The story is about how a joint family leaving in a flat comes across various problems with a presence of ghost in their home leads to reveal murder of a family of 8 members in the same location 30 years back. Here the women at home are addicted to TV serials. At a particular time the TV stops in a channel and a new serial is starting. The women start watching it because the serial is also based on horror. But later Maddy finds that all the events happening in the serial are real which is going to happen in his own home and to his family members in minutes. Maddy struggling to save the family, finds the hidden murder 30 years ago. How the ghost take revenge on the murderer and how maddy solves the problem and protects his family is story of Yaavarum Nalam.
This is a bilingual movie also released in Hindi as 13B.Movie does have few continuity errors here and there which are negligible and many won’t even notice it. Mind blowing camera work and lighting without which the movie would be zero. I don’t think anyone else apart from PC could do justice to the movie. Editing is also excellent but only in the climax I felt they could have rearranged a few shots. I also do feel that they had done it knowingly to reveal the assassin and to divert the movie into anothe
r direction how Maddy is going to save his family.First half was really funny and you get pissed off in the intermission asking your neighbor is this a horror movie I came in? But it is worth waiting in the second half which is too good. They could have avoided the duet song between maddy and neethu which broke the pace of the film. This film also has quite a few small screen artists. Guess this would be good opening for them in big screen. But the director could have avoided them because they stick on in our minds when the film gets over. You feel you had a watched a serial because they are much assessable to all of us every day in TV. May be he even wanted it to divert audience mind. If he had used some new faces the impact would have been much stronger.
Do take a break and watch the movie. I am sure you would enjoy it completely though it doesn’t scare you. You would like it. Congrats for the director. Radiantly scripted and offered in a smart package.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Aham Bramhasmi…….
Nan Kadavul a movie directed Bala casting aarya(Rudran) and pooja(Hamsavalli). The movie starts in kasi. A father goes in search of his son who he had left behind in Kasi 15 years back because the son was considered as a bad omen in the family. First 20 min to 30 min was completely shot in kaasi. The father brings back aarya who has become an agori to malaiyoor in south Tamil Nadu. This is the place where Thandavan also runs a mafia gang. He earns through making the disabled people beg. Malaikovil is where the group of beggars under Murugan begs on routine. Murugan works for Thandavan. Though Murugan forces the disabled to beg, he his kind hearted and a good will for the disabled. He makes tries to keep them happy in a way he knows. Thandavan is completely behind money. He tortures disabled physically and lives on their earnings. Pooja is a blind beggar. She goes around begging in trains. Murugan accidently sees pooja. Using his business tactics he takes away pooja from her original group to the Thandavan gang with the help of a local inspector. Pooja initially fears and struggles to mingle in a new place and group. Kind heart of the other beggars makes her feel comfortable and she starts leading her life. Aarya in turn stays in a cave on the top of the hill moving out of his family. His only routine is to smoke ganja and meditate. He only opens his mouth to say Aham Bramhasmi. His mother tries to convince him to come back home. But he refuses. She realizes that he is no more her son and leaves him behind. Meanwhile a Nair from Kerala comes to meet thandavan for business. He wants buy few of the disabled beggars under him and take them to kerala. Murugans team gets affected here. They all are separated and taken to Kerala.
Nair finds a scary guy to marry pooja. He looks highly scary so he wants to marry a blind who wil serve him lifelong. And he is ready to pay even ten lakh for her. Pooja comes to know this and goes to aarya for help. Aarya being an agori has the capability to different good and evil men. As soon as he sees Nair he identifies him to be evil and kiils him. He is arrested by police and even taken to court. Police inspector a friend of Nair and thadavan fails to find the truth from aarya so he changes his verdict saying that there was no person called Nair. Thandavan literally waits for aarya to be released to kill him but aarya identifies him to be evil and murders him. Pooja realizing the power of aarya request him to kill her. So that she will never have rebirth. Realizing her pain and her in ability to survive aarya kills her and goes back to his guru. Opening shot for Aarya is extremely good (he meditating upside down), which clearly depicts his character. The movie comes to a logical end with the similar shot and later aarya goes back to his guru.
Bala has done his best in bringing the other side of life skillfully on screen. The beggar’s lifestyle gets used to us. So when aarya kills her we neither don’t have an emotional feel nor an anger to ask why she has been killed. I wished he could have concentrated much more on the kasi parts.
Both aarya and pooja have done a splendid performance equally. I liked aarya’s performance. He has followed the body language perfectly. Not even in a single frame he had lost the body language. His eyes don’t show any emotion. His eyes shows only anger when he sees someone evil. Pooja had scope to show various emotions in the movie rather aarya. Also being blind is known character which we have seen many people on screen. Wish they had concentrated more on the kasi portion. When the movie ends we forget to realize their pain. Because we feel that this is their way of life. My colleague also said the beggar story was inspired by the novel Ezavadu ulagaam. Its really a movie worth watching. I really felt somehow I am blessed to be born healthy. If you have been cribbing around just make yourself free to watch the movie.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
En arumai tamil makkalae………
Bommalattam, a suspense thriller directed by veteran director Bharathirajaa starring Nana Patekar, Arjun and Kajal Agarwal. I have to be careful before writing the review because I don’t want to reveal the suspense. Everyone thinks that this movie is no way different from his other movies like kallukul eeram or manvasanai. Bommalattam is an art film or a film about movie making it is what people say. Everyone forgot that he is the man behind Sigappu rojakkal, kaidiyin dairy and tik tik tik which were big hit thrillers.
If you had not seen the movie better stop reading here. The story revolves around the murders happening in the shooting spot of Nana Patekar, a very famous movie director in the movie. Arjun, a CBI officer investigates these murders. His girl friend Kajal Agarwal is a craziest fan of Nana Patekar and she becomes a good friend to him eventually. Arjun hates her going behind Nana Patekar. All the witness proves that Nana Patekar is the murderer. Who is the murderer and how it is proved is the story in short. The story starts from the present and goes to the murders in between as Arjun interrogates Nana Patekar.
I think the flashback travelling to the shooting spot reduces the suspense of the movie. They could have actually gone in a story flow. I also felt the suspense created was broken immediately. In one scene we conceive the evidences and in the very next scene suspense is revealed. It was too quick and fast to digest the facts in the movie. They could have built the real suspense without the flashback. Of course the twist was superb and unimaginable.
There is no big role for arjun. Anyone could have done the same role. No big investigations. How arjun finds the truth is not explained later also. Only if you had watched the film zealously and only if u can pull all those facts you actually understand how Arjun would have found out. Our people really don’t have the patience to think so much to understand. I feel that editor didn’t play his role well. If he had reworked or somehow convinced the director we could have got a better output. Some shots are repeated and you feel jump here and there. I shall put it as no continuity in editing. 
When the entire tamil film industry is busy making all masala, action and romantic movies. A thriller like this makes you realize there are also different genres in film making. With last few movies of the director becoming a flop, Bommalattam proves his proficiency in film making. Unfortunately this movie has failed to reach the audience effectively.
Monday, December 29, 2008
Chennai International Film Festival…..
I was so thrilled to watch the films. I got special permission from my reporting manager Prasanna to bunk office now and then to watch films. Thanks Prasanna. But all my thrills and expectations turned out to be a big disappointment. This was the 5th year I had attended the festival, I am sorry to say but this was the worst of all. The standard of movie screened every year is going down drastically. You could say only very few movies were good. Out of 120 movies screened I would say not even 20 movies were worth watching. Though story was horrible few had beautiful cinematography. Retrospective movies of Kim ki duk were good. These movies also fall within those twenty movies I mentioned.
2nd International film Festival was the first festival I attended. It was organized in collaboration with NFDC, National Film Development and Corporation. They got extraordinary movies then. In that period hardly twenty movies were not worth watching. They could never get back the standard again. NFDC didn’t take part in the later festivals.
This year Tamil Nadu government had given 25 lakh for the festival, each delegate had paid 500rs and a member paid 300rs to watch movies. Above all they had got hell a lot of sponsors. With all the fund raised they failed to bring in good movies. Movies from France and Germany dominated the festival. Other countries had hardly 1 movie just for the sake of having the count of the countries. To my surprise only 2 Iranian movies were screened.
Movie screening happened in woodlands and woodlands symphony with a time difference of 15min. digital screening was going on in Film Chamber. First people used to sit for the first movie. Within 15 min they realize it’s not worth imme they move to the second movie. I always tried sit there in the hope to learn something. Most people inside the theatre doze off and you could hear people snoring. When you walk out of theatre after the movie you could see lot people waiting out for the next show. They found the second movie was also a waste. In short people sat outside the theatre hoping to see a good movie than inside watching.
The organizers of the festival apart from enjoying the money they receive. They should also concentrate on movies which are being screened. I don’t know on what basis they select the movies for screening. They can organize a committee to select the movies to be screened. In that way they could increase the standard of the festival as such and also a satisfaction to the viewers. Everyone makes it to the festival in between their hectic schedules with lot of expectations. It’s the duty of the organizers to provide them excellent movies. Hope they at least do something in the coming years. I also found the regular festival goers were missing and the response was very low from the film industry. They had tried to fill the hall by providing free passes to students. In short it was dreadful.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Another unforgettable weekend in the history of EM64...
I am an electronic media student from Anna University. It’s a 5 year course after you finish your 12th and we were the first and biggest batch in the department with 64 members in class. We were always referred as the 64 batch by all the staff members and even juniors. When we completed our course we tagged ourselves as EM64. Like everybody else in the world my happiest days were college days. I used to go to college even if I am not well because I might miss the fun happening there. 1st year of my college life was little dull or standby for me. It was very difficult for me to get used to the new atmosphere, friends and people who were grown in different atmosphere. I had studied in same school from my 5th standard we were in same culture. College was big change. It took a lot of time for me to get used to it. Once I got used those were unforgettable. I changed into a new person.
Our class was like what you see in movies. People used come late and walk straight into the class even when lecturer is standing. When a b’ day boy or gal steps inside the class, the whole class starts singing happy birthday when the lecturer would be lost teaching the subject. It would take a few minutes for him to understand or realize what’s happening. One good thing was we never used to bunk classes to go to a movie. We used to cancel the classes the classes to go to movie. We didn’t have worries, pressure, problems, commitments, duties and money… Still we had the best time sitting on the Anna University pavements, red platform, kutty suvaar, canteen, gallery, gurunath and every other place.
By the time we finished college we were like a family, so attached to each other. We wanted to make sure all of us meet at regular intervals though people moved to different cities and countries for job, studies and few got married also. We meet at least once a month to celebrate b’ days and also when people come down to Chennai from other places. Every 6 months we try to go outing for 3 or 4 days. This weekend was one such occasion.
It was bakrid and our friend Jaheed used to take guys to his home town to erode, he used to avoid taking gals because most of us were veg and he thought we won’t be comfortable when the goat was sacrificed which was important event of the occasion. This time we thought we had to join. So we combined the bakrid celebration with a trip to yercaud over weekend. Monday we go to black thunder and return back to Chennai on Wednesday. We had people coming down from delhi, pune, Hyderabad and Bangalore for the trip.
As usual the trip was excellent, fabulous and it was good to be with friends and to forget every other thing else in life. It was time to fun fun fun and only fun. I was desperately waiting for the trip. I wanted a break from everything.
The trip was actually very very different. We had to walk walk and walk throughout yercaud to visit ladies, gents and children’s viewpoint. Next day we went to kilianur falls. It was like trekking but we climbed a shorter distance. It was adventurous for me. This was the second time I went for trekking. We had to walk down a narrow path similar to othai adi pathai and a small slip we might fall down. At some points it was little tricky too. Few got drenched in the falls happily. After few foto sessions there in falls we decided to get back. We were the only group with gals other people in the falls had come with beer bottles. So our organizers felt it is better to move out soon. We started to climb back.
Once we reached back to the hotel we had lunch and took vans from yercaud to salem bus stand as the buses were full. We wanted to climb down the hill in lorry together for a change. The lorry drivers were shocked and refused to take us. So we didn’t have any option we had to climb down in 3 vans. Van journey was amusing. We were rating the adult content in the songs and argued for the scores each song got out of 10. From salem we boarded bus to erode to reach my friend Jaheed home where we planned to have the bakrid celebration. As soon as we got down we started shouting Jaheed…... Jaheed……. That was the usual trend we follow when we visit one’s house in our class. It is something similar to thanking them and also to show a small trailer for our naughtiness. When we reached his home his entire family was standing out to welcome us. That crowd was literally bigger than us and we ourselves were shocked and silent for few minutes. It’s a nice big joint family with lots of kids to play.
After dinner we spoke to jaheed parents and family members, played lock and key and red letter with the kids. We explored and remembered all the games we played as kids with them... We were very tired and next day we had planned to go to black thunder. So we tried get some sleep. Kumaran had fever and he wanted to go back to his home town somehow we convinced him and took him with us to erode.
By the time we reached erode, jaheed family had got appointment with the doctor for him and they immediately arranged a van for the black thunder trip. We had planned to take the government bus initially. Next day was ultimate in black thunder. We went two times in all the rides. We didn’t know where kumaran’s fever went that day. He was literally in the water whole day. Lazy River was the ultimate. We were floating and playing around pushing everyone for almost an hour. One of the black thunder staff saw it got tensed. He came down into the water and started pushing us to reach the destination. And of course we were the last person to leave the place. Mani and satish were waiting outside for us. They had come down finishing the MBA semester exam in coimbatore Anna University to join us. We retuned back to erode tired and almost drained out. Next day we got up late and found even the youngest kid in the family was neatly dressed for the festival. After fighting laziness and for bathroom we got ready. We had a splendid briyani for lunch. We went around walking and made little shopping trying to digest the food we had. At 8 we left jaheed home with heavy heart and thanking the family members for their hospitality and tolerating our nonsense for the two days. Ashiq and Akila were celebrating their b’day that week. We had a small cake cutting celebration for them. The kids were so attached to us and they came to station with their parents to send us off.
The family was really glad to treat us guest. They were surprised and even jealous to see us all together. They wished they had friends like that too. We were very happy to hear that. We prayed that our friendship should continue forever even though we moved to different parts of the world. We reached Chennai early morning at 4.30 after playing Ass and talking all night.
The trip didn’t end there. Pain of going to office next day struck us hard. Most of them decided to bunk office. I had to go. I had work. That evening they all met in Spencer. I joined them late after finishing my work. Again with a small chat we went back home getting ready for the routine work and hoping that I will join the next trip too…
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Is it black because of rain or smoke???
Today as soon as I switched on the TV, I saw the beautiful, magnificent Taj Palace smoking. I still remember the day my classmates planned to take up the last boat from elephanta caves in Mumbai just to see Gateway and Taj in night and in lights.
It was so shocking. Next thing that came into my mind was my friends living there. I called everyone and confirmed that they are safe. They were all at home or in office. Relaxed…I started to get ready for office. It had rained all night in Chennai. The roads were flooded. I didn’t want to take leave also. On the way I heard the news updates in radio.
The office was almost empty. Everyone started coming in only around 11.30 due to heavy rain they all had struck in traffic or their vehicle had stopped because of water. I was not ok. Something was disturbing me. I didn’t know what. I thought may be the shock early morning was the reason. I was not able to concentrate. I opened all the news channels on my desktop and kept reading about the attack and updates. After lunch I found everyone was too engrossed in their own work. Nobody bothered to know what’s happening. No one spoke about the attack or even the rain. They had bug to be checked out, they had issues with connecting to the database, and they were waiting for a client mail to proceed on work. This attitude is even more shocking. Just half an hour back my friend Arun found out that Hexaware Mumbai has also closed down only the corporate marketing team was working.
People are too busy. May be they had watched everything in TV today morning and forgot about it on the way to office. May be that is the idle way of life to lead for any common man. As a media student any crisis we are always on full swing to find out information. We have had arguments, ideas and solutions on all crisis at college. I had grown discussing it in detail. This looks very different for me. May be that’s why I felt odd all day at office. May be they are leading an IDEAL life and I stand somewhere in between not knowing where to jump in…whether I should also be cool or I should do something. If I am not going do something on my own, I will surely play my role at least to change make some difference. This doesn’t mean that you have to jump in and help people. Just do your duty and work for the nation.
In that case you need not worry too much about Obama becoming President of US. It wont affect your bread and butter. Rather you will start worrying about the brothers and sisters who are killed right here in Mumbai for no reason. Everyone wants to sit and comment on police or politicians for being careless and irresponsible. What have you done to nation? What have you done to change yourself?
I do know you alone can’t change everything in front of u. but obviously you can be the change what you want to see. Wish and hope they solve the crisis soon.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Whatever Happens Life has to MOVE ON……
I always prefer watching a movie with an open mind. Like a clean black board. May be that’s why I always wanted to rush to a movie soon after it releases. I don’t read any reviews before watching the movie and also before writing the blog. Before I went for this movie I heard only two comments from many people. They said,’ I liked the movie’ and ‘I don’t like the movie’.
Vaaranam Aayiraam simply says whatever happens life has to move… This is a movie about a son who gets inspired by his dad at every stage in his life. The story is narrated by son surya. We actually see his stages in life and how the father surya supported him at each stage. I felt the bond between father and son was not established that deep. Son had in particular grabbed his father’s love story as a greatest inspiration. Importance is given to the son surya, his love, his failure, his difficulties, his expectations, and his disappointments in life.
All most all the songs were with Sameera Reddy. She looks good in jean than in salwar. My friend Arun also said Gautham’s touch was seen only in the scenes taken in United States. I also felt he was right. Simren though she plays a small role she is as always the best... Divya comes just for the sake of having a heroine.
Army scenes and scenes in which Surya goes in search of the kid is fast and Gautham has carved his niche for it as usual.
Brilliant cinematography… The cinematographer Rathinavel has captured beautiful shot in each and every frame... Either its Kashmir or US or even LIC building it was cool. Music by Harris was kind of ok... You feel you had heard some tunes somewhere in his own composition. Still you don’t feel bored. Lyrics by Thamarai was mindblowing I had only heard words like andadi, tharagai and lot more only in tamil literature. She has really given a feast to tamil lovers as always.
Editing… I still don’t believe it was antony who edited the movie. I am a big fan of him. Still at some places I don’t like his fast cuts. If you see a song you can straight away tell that it was edited by him. This movie doesn’t give a feel that it was edited by Anthony himself. You never felt that the movie was edited. All the best for ur directorial debut too Anthony sir.
Vaaranam Aayiraam is a life story of a person. Gautham’s personal story. Surya has taken over the movie completely. It is his own film. Gautham could have avoided English dialogues and too much of daddy in it... It gave an Anglo Indian feel for me.
Though it had many problems and people didn’t like it much. Technically the movie was mind-blowing. For instance, you can actually feel the difference in both the father and son’s physique. If you had noticed keenly you could feel the father is losing his strength and he also loses his weight and looks terribly weak on his death bed… Body language actually showed the difference... The movie is scripted and planned perfectly by Gautham... Bravo…. I really understand how much of home work the movie had taken. If he even misses to take a single shot it would have been a big problem… Continuity, set, co artist placement were all in proper place especially when both the surya come in the same frame… It made me awe mainly because both the characters would have been shot at different periods to match the physiques… We really have to say Hats off for the work and involvement by the crew as such.
I personally found a few messages in the movie. I don’t know how far others understood.
Whatever happens life has to MOVE ON
Love like mad
Do the craziest stuff in the world
Express yourself clearly
Work hard
Whatever you do, give ur hundred percent
Enjoy every moment in your life.
Don’t hurt others
Respect the next person’s feelings
Be sincere
And what not to……… You can also add points to the list…….
Monday, November 10, 2008
Strangely Intimate….

We may not be able to find a life partner with similar thoughts, likes etc. This generation is facing a war between love and arranged marriage. In both we don’t find our partner having similar thoughts in each and everything in life. We can surely learn to love those differences. He may not dance with you, he may not get beautiful flowers for u, he may not be romantic or she may not enjoy watching cricket with u, she may not cook your favorite food deliciously, she may not stop complaining about your mom. Still you patiently listen to her. Still she silently waits for you at door for u to return back from work.
Despite all these differences and clashes you still love each other. Just stop searching yourself within the other…trying to change them the way you like…wanting them to understand what you wish. Because you are gonna fail trying to change. Even if they change, it is just temporary or nam ke vaaste just to pose in front of you. Behind you they continue to remain the same. Instead of forcing yourself to change for others or changing others for you, learn to enjoy the differences. Enjoy the fights. Enjoy the tears. Enjoy the laugh. Only then you are unique, you don’t loose yourself.
Generations back our mothers or our grandmothers sacrificed themselves, their desires to satisfy their husbands need some times in other way around. But now we don’t want to give away our desires and dreams. Everyone wants to fly.
In tamil literature there is a beautiful word called oodaal. Oodaal is anger between the couple which will be solved at any moment. Oodaal is due to love on each other. Fight is something which can’t be solved.
So oodaal is a must in a love and not fight. Oodaal strengthens the bond and fight creates a crack. These cracks don’t join perfectly once it’s broken.
Marriage or love is a three legged race. We have one of our legs tied together and one free. With the one free we must explore our individuality, our uniqueness. And with the one tied together we must realize what intimacy is. To win the race, we need to balance both – our separateness and our togetherness.

We would be happy if we are able to understand individual desires and dreams. Thus we can avoid unnecessary fights and heart breaks. Live and let live. Because most of the problems comes from not wanting to see things as they are.
This not only works for couples but also to any relation existing in this world who is close to your heart.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Meghamalhar

Meghamalhar was close to my heart of the movies I saw. This movie has beautiful songs and excellent background score which are synonymous to the title of the movie. Biju Menon as Rajeevan an advocate and Samyuktha Verma as Nanditha a writer meet each other accidentally and a friendship develops between them. This friendship becomes a strong liking towards each other. Nandita finds that Rajeevan is none other than her childhood friend. They had always had a liking towards each other as kids. Due to unavoidable situations rajeevan had move with his parents and they lost track. After so many years they get back their same liking and affection. So the story moves like how Nandita tells rajeevan that she was his childhood friend and how they decide to move on in their life keeping their families and kids in mind.

It is beautiful poetic love story from the Director Kamal. The movie is edited by my favorite editor Bina Paul. She is one of the best Indian female film editors. As I have always said audience should never feel the movie is being edited. Bina Paul is the best in it. She has a rhythmic and poetic way of cutting her movies in style.
Meghamalhar is an excellent movie and it stays close to your heart. The nostalgic childhood and the attraction portrayed in subtle and powerful than the usual romantic love we see on screen.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Me and Kill Bill

I just finished watching the first part. Yet to watch the second part L... First almost two months back I tried to watch the movie. That time I didn’t have the guts to proceed after 5 min... Action movies are too sickening to watch with a head phone. My speaker had a problem then.
Now after repairing my speakers I had the guts to watch the movie second time. I have always wondered why my best buddy was so fascinated and thrilled while he was talking about kill bill or abt the director. Now after watching the movie I too got thrilled to talk about the movie. Generally I am not comfortable watching action movies. Today I seriously thought I should take the risk. Yes I did it...
Before proceeding further I should clearly tell you guys that I am not gonna type the review of the movie. I don’t deserve to do it. First time I gonna share my experiences while watching a movie in this blog.
My experiences while watching kill bill...
As I said before I don’t have interest in watching action movies. I grew watching tamil movies. When it came to foreign movies I grew watching festivals. So action movies are almost nil in festivals. Even if I find a action movie in festival I pester Navin, my well wisher and my movie companion to shift to another screen to check out the movie screened there. He often used to get irritated still he had to go for me because he knows well that I wont let him watch it peacefully
What a movie!!! Action!!!! Cuts!!! Camera!!! Screenplay!!!! Mind blowing!!!!

All our kollywood heros always like to be a kunda, fight, fly do everything. They enjoy doing it in movies because it is not be possible for them in real life. Who knows if I was one of them I might also prefer doing action movies.
Coming back to Kill Bill... the movie not only had action it had all emotions. Most violent scenes were shown in black and white and in 2d animation. Straight away showing blood makes you sick after a certain point. The director has easily balanced it. Since you don’t see the red color u r comfortable to watching it.
The director had violence in his movie but u don’t feel it... Rather u like in watching it. That is where the ability of a director stands communicating to the audience what is there in his mind without affecting the principles of the audience watching it.
I was inspired watching the movie... It was technically a excellent movie. As an editor I was completely awestruck at the work. It is the editor who has made the movie successful. I have always felt that a good editor is person who always cheats the audience. He should make the audience realize that he had made a cut. Editor has done his beat… All these fast cuts and ramps doesn’t certify an editor as the best one.. wish tamil industry understands that soon.

