Gravity......

Set solely in space and with only two characters worthy of note, Gravity is a tense, gripping, beautiful, tight and nerve shredding movie experience that deserves to be seen on the big screen, and especially in 3D. There are points in the movie where you, like the lead character Ryan (Sandra Bullock), will stop breathing because the tension Cuaron creates gets to be too much. Telling a story of this nature required a skillful hand who wasn't affraid to play with 'normal' cinema conventions which is where Cuaron is able to shine. His script isn't exactly daring but his style is captivating.

As with Children of Men, Cuaron is a director who is not afraid to hold on a single shot where other directors would have used ten. Shooting coverage does not seem to be in his manifesto but this is part of what makes Gravity so fantastic. The scenery presented throughout the movie is magnificent and the opening shot (which appears to go for 10+ minutes) is visually stunning. Never has the empty and vastness of space seemed so impressive, like a cinematic version of Space Oddity. Of course, this is all done through green screens and camera trickery and is therefore less impressive than the long takes in something like Rope, but the fact that Cuaron never shies away from the option of lingering on a single shot immerses you in the environment which only helps build on the nail-biting tension.

In a sea of horrid conversions and pointless attempts to exploit the gimmick, Gravity is the first movie since Avatar to make use of 3D for something other than an excuse to charge you extra money at the ticket booth. But unlike Avatar that used 3D to seemingly distract from its boring story, Gravity uses it to create a genuine and almost realistic atmosphere of space and the emptiness of it. Like its use of long takes, the 3D is an immersive element of Gravity and although it uses the tried and tested 'things flying at the screen' technique, it never feels cheap and is justified in the story it's telling. 

As an audience, we see these events through the eyes of Sandra Bullock's Ryan Stone who is on camera for 95% of the movie. And while the idea of Miss Congeniality as an astronaut is akin to Meg Ryan as a helicopter pilot in terms of believability, Sandra Bullock never misses a beat and gives the best performance of her career as the panicked first-timer who is low on oxygen. We panic with her, we struggle to catch our breath with her and try to remain calm with her. It's spellbinding how good she is. The always reliable George Clooney turns on the charm as the talkative veteran Matt Kowalski and he acts as the much needed calming influence to Stone (and therefore the audinece) as she tries to regain her composure. The two bounce off well together, but it's Bullock who steals the show.

Much like In Fear, Gravity excels in the 'what's going to happen next' stakes and there are only a few moments during the movie where you feel totally at ease. During some of the more tense scenes, you'll find yourself gripping the armchair and nearly crying in pure terror at the spectacle on display and Cuaron never lets up on this. Some shots are extremely difficult to look at, but Cuaron forces you to see the horror to make sure that you are on the same emotional ride as his lead. Many have posited that the trailers have given way too much of the movie, but even on the big screen they do not do the whole experience justice. 

Gravity is simply a masterpiece in filmmaking. The acting is sublime, it's gorgeous to look at, the 3D is incredibly immersive and the tension is almost unbearable at times. There is a point during the movie in which it feels like it loses its nerve and jumps the shark, but luckily Cuaron isn't the sort of director to bow to 'Hollywood' conventions. The hype and critical praise of the movie may seem like a touch too much for some, but its earned every ounce of it. This is pure cinema and a science fiction experience like no other. Movie of the year? Quite possibly.

Do not miss it.

Chennai express took off from Dadar finally...

Dear Shahaa Ruukh Anna, 

You are really a "kalakkals" character.  Got the cheese (out of your guts) and poured it on screen.  Exemplary work of Shetty guy.  And this girl Deepika Padukone, didn't have to do anything unnatural .. all she did was speak her natural Yindi.... guess Hindi or whatever it is... and I have no wherewithal to understand how its spoken in some parts of the Dravidian belt ( we don't speak Yindi in the dravidian belt you know)... 

I remember one of the famous dialogue of Satish Shah in a Televised Serial called "Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi"... ( don't second guess if I got the spelling right or diction right.. that's the only way I am going to explain it anyway... period ) " Nagpur Ke neeche tum sab log .. saala madraasi hoten hain".... A true mistaken identity and quite chaotic in that too. 

I am a Tamil Brahmin myself.  Would have loved to do the Rasam Part with my wife even today ( I am completing 18 years of my married life this August 30th  and she is still featherweight) if someone would have told me that's the part of our culture.  I checked with some of my living ancestors and some none living too ( you see we all have a spiritual connection... damn good in predicting and a bit of clairvoyant too - didn't we predict after you completed the rasam part - that  in the end of the movie you will join hands with Deepika and will be her pair for the next seven 7 births).... apparently no one seems to remember where did the rasam part originated from. 300 steps is quite steep Anna. You did a wonderful job. I was told you insisted no double for this scene for you.  Since its Deepika you agreed to carry her all the way up and they shot the scene for three days with 78 takes and some reshoot to get the perfect shot.  Its still a mystery how did you manage to keep the  "Sandanam Pottu" ( its the Thilak in your forehead Anna ) intact after such a tedious 300 steps climbing that too carrying Deepika in your hands. Bravo Anna......

Shetty should have done some research on the basics about the cultural root.  Typifying comes very naturally to - we Indians. He is so confused with a dravidian dress sense - most of the henchman and his people wore what we call ( please for heaven sake don't call it a Lungi or Dhoti.. both are in correct...  ) " Veshti"(adorably and a decent adage too..)  but with all sorts of Thilak on their forehead which is not part of Dravidian identity. I bet you can learn the pronunciation of " VESHTI"in another couple of years of so. 

Some of them woman in those dravidian village ( Anna they are mostly known face in Tamil " Chinna Thirai" meaning " Small Screen" and " Velli Thirai " meaning " Silver Screen" - quite an ensemble Anna.. no wonder the movie costed a bomb in producing) are a great ensemble to start with and how on earth would they know they will wear such a colorful dresses and mix up of all sort of Kerala Tilak in their foreheads, Karnataka Sutra's on their neck and north Indian Sindoor on their foreheads ( Anna this Sindoor thing - remember your own Om Shanti Om -  is quite a fascinating point in Indian cultural integration which the likes of your Bollywood did to those hapless misplaced "anything fair" is from North believers. No jokes about it Anna, We even call our Bengali and Oriya brothers as North Indians. No offense meant. But a true Bengali calls a non Bengali as " Hindustani" thats a different story).  Not your mistake though.  After all you are an entertainer without social consciousness or responsibility and the disclaimer in the beginning of the movie that all said and done in this movie is a work of fiction does it all.  

My wife kept nagging me while watching the movie ( or should I say FILUM..) even the subtitles couldn't help as to what were you talking in Tamil in the end of the movie... very touching scene anna .. you told Deepika/Meenamma to keep quite...(the Yindi "talking subtitle") and took the mantle of sorting it out yourself through a " heart - to - heart" language comprising Yindi ( which poor Deepika/Meenamma's clan don't understand) Hinglish ( dont assume we Dravidians don't tease your English ) and in your superlative Tamil. Since you wanted to have a heart to heart conversation with Meenamma's  father you stopped her from doing her role of a "Talking -  Sub Title" which she was doing quite efficiently throughout the movie with some added  Antakshari every now and then. With all those running around adventurous trip with Deepika/Meenamma you managed to learn Tamil too. Anna thanks ... The way you said ... Ennamma Kannu .. should have been enough for Sathyaraj to forget his tamil and to tell you ..... the way your were known in many parts of our country with your famous " I love you.. KKKKKKKKKKKK.........KIRAN" remember your Dar movie, Sathyaraj's trade mark dialogue is "Ennama Kannu".  I can only think of one thing - that he thought you were actually talking something in Yindi... otherwise he wouldn't have continued acting in the rest of the movie if somebody would have told him that what you spoke was Tamil and that too his own trade mark dialogue. 

I was half expecting you will be given a chance to eat in a Banana leaf, sing suprabatham, clean cow herds, make filter coffee.. no such luck.  Shetty  instead let you drive an open jeep through the hilly roads of Munnar ( I was told you went to the shoot in a chartered flight and got stuck in Cochin airport for 4 hours.. OMG) and in the back ground traditional Kerala dancers dressed in their ethnic dresses of course all for a Dravidian emphasis Song.  Anna you also learnt to topple a huge jeep using a typical kill weapon used by our Dravidians down South in our movies called " ARIVAAL" ( I don't know whats the near name of this killing weapon other than specially made curved sword like thing)... it was far believable than the " CYCLE RICKSHAW" chase you did in a memorable " Mein Hoon Na" (movie without showing your bare chest to us - which become symbolic after Om Shanti Om Six packs Anna). 

But Anna.... forget you trying to remember Deepika's/Meenaamma's  father's name. Many of us cannot even say his name. But you made a good comic of it even when you were serious.  Quite applauded in the end. ( You know there is letter " Zha" in Tamil which has no near or similar letter in any other language and we can learn it only through Gurukul method ... passed on from one generation to another generation as to how its pronounced.... majority of us dravidians cannot even pronounce it correctly so we take no offense on your diction. Even the super hero from down south actor Surya .. the original Singam Star cannot pronounce it correctly... so no issues)

But Anna .. this common man could summarize only one thing for sure.   It's a full entertainment.  We forgive the ignorance of the makers of this movie and their firm belief that anyone from below Nagpur are Madrasis....( I mean our India map )  At least in your scripts you have united all the four southern states ( I am getting confused now should I say 5 or 4.. Telangana should be considered as well isn't it). 

Don't worry about anything else.  Let Dhanush of our filmdom rock your Bollywood.. ( He got a cheese to attend one of the parties specially invited by Sonam Kapoor ... to appear in our traditional " Pattu Veshti" and " Angavastram" in spite of someone telling him that the dress code is formals but forget to mention Western formals... he firmly turned out in the typical Dravidian formals... all gleaming to the horror of the onlookers. See you need to specify the specifics always) and you continue to eat noodles with Curd. Grow curly hair and improve the coconut oil market in India. ( Anna remember Coconut oil and its usage is patented by our neighbors called Keralites... for you it doesn't matter...... all are - Madrasis only no....)

No matter how one may attempt to write a perfect script... A Punjabi will always have a Bhangra music in the  background when he appears on the screen, a Tamil Character will have a Kerala ' Sandanam' pottu on his forehead,  generally all madrasis are dark ( by the way I thought " Kamal Hassan" is also a Tamil by birth - whom we once used to call Kamalahasan... but after his debut in Hindi with Ek Tujhe Ke Liye - he split his name into two -  is not so dark). You can take shot at Rajini the power of Indian Cinema ... by thanking him sincerely in the title card.  I still wonder what was he doing in RA - One as "Chitti" ( that too when he was sick and the 6 crores plus Tamil Nadu was praying for his recovery and Kareena attempts to make all sorts of so called Tamil Yindi making fun of him - on screen in the movie). God... regrettable appearance. 

But down south we do say " Hey that Robot was a grosser and RA - One ..... Oothikichu.. ( No I am not translating that). When I say down South I mean Tamil Nadu. 

Anna for one minute, I was confused whether the Madrasis are from the pre Nitish Kumar state called Bihar ( against all the odds of statistics that the law and order in South is somewhat better compared to other parts of India) when you stopped the train in the picturesque "middle of nowhere village" to let yourself out of the train... (See perceptions are hard to change) forced by the henchmen who escorts you by pulling the chain to stop the train. But the " Veshti " gang ( for heaven sake don't ever call it as Lungi.... its called "Veshti") brought me back to my senses that indeed it's the dravidian belt .. of course but shot in Kerala... Or Konkan.. Or some part of South or simply shot at some picturesque location.  The best helicopter shot I have seen in any Bollywood movie Anna. Thanks to Deccan guys. 

Thanks Anna.  Some of us folks can understand both the language .... The Yindi and Tamil.. which helped to decipher your Tamil without the subtitle and in a rare given occasion I had the privilege of making my wife listen to me when I was talking ( I was the subtitle for your Tamil though it lasted for very few seconds) which I enjoyed. 

Wonderful movie.. far far better than many of your earlier attempts in the recent past.  So what if some reviews gave you two stars ( Mumbai Mirror for example ).  I give you five stars. ( It doesn't matter I know... still I wanted to rate the movie).  And to think of it -  I am going to watch the movie again for the second time tomorrow ... my elder daughter missed the movie when we watched it the first day first show ( I used to do this only for Thalaiva Rajini Sir movies and for the first time did it for your movie Anna) therefore she might need my sub title services for your Tamil while watching the movie.

Thank god Shobha De didn't take any lead to talk about the movie so far... but she lashed out on Dhanush like a crazed and caged restless animal for his performance in Raanjhanaa... and she thought its was a South Indian way of calling Love the word ' Raanjhanaa' coz she didn't understand the meaning of it... how can she take a pot at King Khan .. Anna. Will she survive if she does. But she has no such fears about a hapless son in law of Rajini Sir - the talented Dhanush. You know Anna - he is the youngest actor to have won a National Award for best actor and he rose from ranks to where he has reached now.  The brand Rajini didn't help him to have instant fame, he worked hard to reach where ever he is now Anna - like you.   He is going to be the next Super Star down South Anna.  I mean in Tamil Nadu. 

Keep up the good job.  Btw next time when you go visiting South ( Oh Sorry Chennai) for any film award function ... ( I was mildly surprised when they bestowed you with Chevalier Sivaji award recently) please go in a casual jeans and a white tops - like your Vijay Sir does Anna. That too only pure white cotton shirts Anna.  I can't bear to see you undressing one piece at a time of your three piece suit.  At one point in time when you were asked to dance with Vijay Sir during the award I thought you are going to strip down completely like your close friend Salman Khan does. See your producers and director are smart. They make you shoot you for a movie in which Tamil is an important element but never took you around within real Tamil Nadu ( In Tamil Nadu most of us sweat most of the time) and shoot in cool Munnar and some other hill stations. 

And Anna - for all we know Chennai Express might be the biggest grosser of your ventures.  Calculated. Very well planned and marketed. Enjoy the success Anna.

Chill Anna.  Keep up the good work.  Chennai Express finally left Dadar Station. 

Ravi Venkatraman

Raanjhanaa...

The sole purpose of attempting to watch the movie "Raanjhanaaa" was on two accounts. A) The national award winner actor - Kolaiveri Dhanush is starring for the first time in Hindi. B) Shobhaa De - musing about the movie.

I lost all respect to the columnist and took offense to her remark - "Raanjhanaaa' (I had no clue what the title stood for... I assumed it was the heroine's name spelt South Indian style)" - absolutely said in a sad taste and making a comment about South Indians and generalizing them would warrant a more severe reaction from people of intellectual worthiness.  Unfortunately people from down South are not even close to the figment of element of her imagination and she is not even worthy countering in any which manner.  None of her C grade musings were sold off the shelf from Higgins Bothams is a different issue but that's the respect we carry for her down South.  As a South Indian I felt offended by her comment. Let her make one statement about Raj Thackeray's English accent and see how she survives in Mumbai.  The worst is a respected daily like TOI got the audacity to publish such rubbish without qualms. Oh they might argue it as freedom of expression. 
 

Let's talk about Dhanush later.  What turned out to be an interesting piece of write up by the renowned columnist - (I believe she is not only highly biased and I guess forgets her own writing couple of decades ago) was nothing but a farce and harsh review..  clearly written with some personal vendetta. This movie for that matter any movie which is made in India or in Hollywood is not about changing people or life styles or culture or remotely expected to touch the society at large in any which manner. If she thinks otherwise I guess we are continuously misinformed or ill informed by the likes of her. She was not only harsh and through her writing she has definitely influenced tons of her readers ( one of them happens to be me) who would enter the movie hall with a biased opinion about the movie or for that matter some would have chosen not to enter as well.  Thank god in my case - the Southern actor is a good performer in his own way and some of us strongly believe - winning a national award at an young age of 26 is not a kids game.  He has proven his worth as an actor and fairly a good return on investment in terms of box office success - as well.

 

The review piece written about the movie was so harsh... I was forcing my daughter who is a teenager stating that its not a move worth watching and lets skip it.  She stood her ground firmly and she won finally. The movie is no where near the harshness of the stalking logic which was condemned as and its about an innocent infatuation happens at an young age - people like her those who lives in high rise many not believe in such things may be - in an environment like Kashi - experiences.  Its not an end of beginning of banishment to society and to call the director and cast are confused and comparing them to acid throwing Romeos.  God give me a break.  Its a pure entertainment. Set at the back ground of Varanasi and a brilliant performances by everyone in the movie.  Forget about the teary eyed part about the audience leaving the theatres said at sarcasm... it was the story of a human who needed to live with a guilt and was not willing to fight back to live again and gives it up.

 

Dhanush on his part with his limitation with the language done an extremely a great job. Sonam has finally arrived as an actor.  No body talks about - Abhay Deal - who did a cameo but a powerful performance.  The whole movie is a different feel from the run of the mill Hindi movies. 

 

One should not take all these reviews seriously and should watch movies without bias. 

 

When people fall in love, ......they eat, sleep, drink, walk, run, chase the person they love. They pursue their love to its destination. Neither is Sonam a celebrity in the movie and nor Dhanush's character a mad fan of some movie star who night falls in his dreams. Its a simple love story of how boys and girls fall in love all over the world. Call it stupid ....whatever....but that's how it happens !!!! for gods sake.

 

Or simply as I hear from one section of the press - Shoba de and Sonam do not see eye to eye.  A person of her stature is not expected to write such a crap about a movie which in Chennai on the day of release - though its a dubbed movie - is a roaring success and in Hindi all across the country. It connects with your ordinary senses.  And none would have taken a leaf from the movie to turn themselves into a stalker or worst - acid thrower.  That was not only harsh but unwanted.

 

People like her should stand as an example about honest writing and reviews specifically.

 

The movie is worth a watch and undoubtedly a good entertainer with substance.

 

Great job Dhanush....:-)  

The truth of life..

"I maintain that truth is a pathless land, and you cannot approach it by any path whatsoever, by any religion, by any sect. That is my point of view, and I adhere to that absolutely and unconditionally. Truth, being limitless, unconditioned, unapproachable by any path whatsoever, cannot be organized; nor should any organization be formed to lead or to coerce people along any particular path. If you first understand that, then you will see how impossible it is to organize a belief. A belief is purely an individual matter, and you cannot and must not organize it. If you do, it becomes dead, crystallized; it becomes a creed, a sect, a religion, to be imposed on others "

J.Krishnamurti

The Indian Sense of Freedom... Viswaroopam...

No where in the world one would dare to make a mockery of a artistic sense of freedom except in India in the name of secularism.  World Cinema celebrates every attempt of an initiative which is never attempted before and in the name of religion and its so called purist who god knows what they want guard can stand against a movie from being viewed by one and all and can declare it against the sentiments of a religion.  Who are these guardians of India can vehemently deny the right to view the movie in a country watching a movie is a culture. Who are they?.

As NDTV reported its more than the eyes meet.  An insider reveals over the distribution rights of the movie some vested interest playing possum in a democracy and absolute talent like Kamal Hassan cannot fight against such idiosyncrasy.  I am at a pain to understand how many more times one will divide India in the name of religion and we the public will stand to watch it and accept it.

Is the will of the people of India is small in front of the religious miscreants?.

Is it justified?.

A. R. Rahman Chennai Concert and " KADAL" motion Picture Album..

I have already written about ARRs Chennai Concert.  I cant stop myself from writing some more.  If any of us seen the MTV Un Plugged Season 2 - which kick started with A. R. Rahman's unplugged songs - also featured one Shaktisri Gopalan singing the song called " Nenjukulle" which went Viral in the internet within hours of its telecast.
The energy this album displays is of different kind.  A sort of divine serenity... which touches you more than one way.  I am not even referring to lyrics here which elates you to a different level altogether which some of us can understand and follow. In the Chennai concert ARR - presented almost all the soundtrack of "Kadal".  His proud " Guru " Maniratnam was all smiles.  Undoubtedly this duo has mesmerized the Indian audience with their work - individually as well as together.
I was in a flight from Delhi to Mumbai this afternoon and had the good fortune of traveling with the lesser flamboyant Khan called Irfan Khan ( the Life of Pi fame ) who was once referred by Shoba De in her column " the most over rated actor in India is Amir Khan and the most under rated actor in India is Irfan Khan" - also heard my praises for this album and promised to download this album as soon as he access his iTune store.  Yes he was using a Apple Pro lap top. :-).
This album is going to be another trend setting methodology in the music industry for India. Many will struggle to cope up with the changing times and the composition of ARR which clearly moved from the set path. Only an ARR can take such a risk.  He learnt is formula quickly and dominates the Indian music industry for over two decades now. A pathetic Blue and Jab Tak Hai Jaan - are of course need to be forgotten. His acknowledgement openly for Maniratnam as his guru proves a point a creative mind needs the freedom what he deserves. No one would have thought a rejected " Jay ho" by Subhash Ghai would have made it to Oscars through Slum Dog Millionaire.
Jaya TV did telecast this event twice during the PONGAL celebrations.  The grandeur with which the concert was executed, the super director Shanakar's presence, amicable Hasini and Maniratnam, Mass hero Kartik in the front row and a young crowd breaking into frenzy.... in our own soil one experienced an international concert .. probably first of its kind.
ARR welcome back. Every change is good and I am sure you will rock for decades to come.

 

Finally returning to my blog...

Returning to my blog pager after a very long time... it has two objectives to express. One I was mesmerized by the grandeur of A. R. Rahman's concert in Chennai. Two his new motion picture album " Kadal" yet another winner the Maniratnam & ARR duo combo. Seldom one would have seen such a frenzy in this Southern capital of Tamily Nadu - Chennai. An audience who not only went crazy but stood the test of even rain god to watch their favorite Mozart of Madras performing live. Little did people know of this maestro when he began his journey with the trend setter " ROja" again a Maniratnam & ARR duo combo. The freshness which he brought to the audience to a nation which was routinely getting no fresh ideas, ARRs entry was a welcome change with a bang. Even today he is learning and re learning himself without boundary. Kadal is one good enough proof. Amazingly rendered by all young voices, Rahman choose to experiment once again. I will not get into much details of which song is better and which one is superb which I am sure every one who listens to it will realize on their own. I was remembering the day I picked up the audio cassette of Roja in Chennai, how mesmerized I was. I had a Sony Walkman and now I have a iPod Classic 160. I still carry my music as I travel and move and cant stop from listening to Kadal again and again. In the past two decades or so the young population of India had doubled. An estimate says by 2020 the below 25 year population in India will 51% of the total population of India. And the demands of this generation is different. A global audience who not only lives in an era of information explosion but who also learns to deal with it on daily basis. Both a common man and a learned man together are learning a process of evolution which are so different from what it was some two decades ago. Why a Musician should be different. For those who frown let me assure you there will never be another R. D. Burman or there can never be another Ilayaraja. A. R. Rahman is a living legend who will stand the tests of time against all odds for the simple reason he has never stopped learning in his life and even today in the concert he played a new electronic instrument which had the our traditional instruments as a bank. He was so humble that he even went to the extent of making an appeal to the audience to forgive him if there are any mistake since he was learning the instrument and not fully conversant with it. This is the Oscar pride of India. He still talks like a kid on an exploratory trip. He does not talk in circles which will make most of us wonder what does he mean or what he doesn't mean. No nonsense and non complicated communication and to the point. He lets his music talk. The Chennai concert was almost ruined by the rain gods. Even the rain god decided to let her favorite child play the music and in the end the maestro acknowledged the prayers of the audience and allowed an eruption of smiles on all those faces. A true inspiration to watch performing live. Great gong ARR. Keep it up. The millions who loved your music when you started have only quadrupled now and some of us fading in the back ground with age. Your music makes us feel different. Current. Connected. Thanks a ton.