iReview - The kings speech

The biggest takeaway for me from this flick was the most sensitive way in which the topic of public speaking is dealt.

A problem such as this that many face very early in life, has been picturized with such simplicity and élan that it's difficult not to empathize with Colin fareth's position, especially if s/he knows what it means to fumble in front of a large gathering, let alone stammer like the protagonist.

The speech therapist tells the protagonist how important it is to practice and not worry of failure. Come to think of it the king didn't have a choice to fail, neither does the commoner, but then multiple efforts are luxury kings can't afford. Nothing beats practice, it builds self confidence.

In all there is something very engrossing about period English drama, don't miss it.

Cheers
Sanju

Movie: Manmadan Ambu

I should probably not call my posts about movies, 'reviews' anymore as most often than not, I end up writing only about movies I enjoyed watching. That said, I'm sure you have got a hint of what I'm going to talk about this one.

After a whole lot of nice tweets retweeted by @actormadhavan I made up my already sure mind to go ahead and watch this one. I would have missed this one for no reason, after failing to watching the tremendous Kamal Haasan -Madhavan chemistry in 'Anbae Sivam' on the big screen.

Shot across various regions of Europe including Paris, Barcelona, Rome and Venice, the movie is never short of fantastic locations and beautiful shots. I especially liked the flashback song featuring Kamal and his French wife  picturised very intricately. The whole concept of running through the memories chronologically is amazingly synchronized with the pictures on the screen. I also liked the way the plot progressed till the intermission which ends with a punch.While rest of the movie sequence post intermission sort of mellows down the drama and builds into a loud comedy, it is never out of order. 

Trisha is as beautiful as ever, but her role does not demand much of her acting prowess. I wonder if it's actually difficult to act drunk when sober, because if Maddy isn't drunk in half of the movie he has done an amazing job with it. Kamal makes the movie work. Enough said. Respect for the man.

Through the movie I was thinking Manmadan Ambu was actually Man(Mannar-Kamal) Madan(Madan-Maddy) and Ambu(Trisha). Only after reading online realized that Manmadan Ambu meant cupid's arrow if wikipedia is to be believed.

Before signing out "the cupid's arrow has struck this time right on target", says the cupid man....

Sanju

Image Credit: http://apnews360.com

One movie I can't get tired of - 2

Like you might have probably guessed I am on a movie diet these days. The movie that I wish to talk about this time is Zakhm, a 1998 classic directed by Mahesh Bhatt. The movie is based on the contentious issue of Hindu and Muslim harmony or must I say dis-harmony in those times.

Movies dealing with such issues, always have a happy ending with the side oppressed getting their dues at the end. The movie deals with story of a mother, who by societal pressures conceals her faith and religion. Her's is a story of selfless love towards her husband-to-be, who fearing for the society fails to marry out of his religion.  It is also a story of a single mother who brings her son up more as a confidant, than a son. It is pure power of story telling which makes the movie gripping and has moments that send shivers right down to the spine. 

While Pooja Bhatt plays the role of the mother, Ajay Devgan plays the role of the protagonist 'son'. Kunal Khemu essays the son's childhood role with remarkable aplomb. Of the few moments that stand out, I recollect some moments that are key to this movie. 

The sensitive scene in which Ajay's mother is offering her 'Namaaz' (prayer) before Ajay wakes up in the morning, is something that has to be seen to be explained. The sheer confusion Mahesh Bhatt succeeds in bringing out in the eyes of the young Kunal Khemu is commendable.

Another scene at the end of the movie, when Ajay wants to fulfill his mother's last wishes of a burial according to her religion about which she has revealed only to her elder son Ajay. He faces communal tensions over the last rites fueled by a Hindu politician with vested interests. For Ajay's dismay, even his brother Anand who has some political aspirations under the corrupt politician wants her last rites to be conducted as per the Hindu religion. The situation transpires further with the politician almost succeeding, but for a push that has Ajay carrying his dead mother in his arm, sends him tumbling towards the ground only to be supported by his younger brother Anand just in time. They come together as if signifying politics of hate becomes irrelevant when it concerns the matters of heart.

Do watch this movie, for the beautiful portrayal of all the characters by everyone involved and some sensitive moments fabulously cinematised.


Image source: Wikipedia

One movie I can't be tired of

Sunday afternoon couldn't have turned any better with DD playing Masoom, this is one movie I can't get tired of watching. While I have no intention of attempting to review this, I was thinking about one of my recent posts titled Books or movies and learnt that the movie Masoom is a screen adaptation of Erich Segal's Man, Woman and Child. I haven't read this book till now, but I have a feeling that I might not read it further too because I am very sure the screen magic can't be experienced on paper in black and white.

There are some thrilling emotions I experience every single time i see this movie. 

The song "Tumse Naaraz nahi Zindagi hairaan hu Mein" penned by the gifted Gulzaar and sung by Anup Ghoshal gives me goosebumps. The song is like a reflection of the plot its characters and the underlying emotion.

The scene when the impeccable Naseeruddin Shah playing the role of DK Malhotra, asks Master. Jugal Hansraj playing the role of his illegal son Rahul, "Kya aapke ke paapa Chashma Pehente hai"[Does your father wear spectacles]? looking at one of the paintings by Rahul and then immediately realizes he himself wears one. DK's expression depicts the complexity of the relation he shares with Rahul, he is the father of a son who doesn't know that who he calls him his uncle is indeed his father. Thats exactly when the second stanza of the song is played in the background making the scene beyond brilliance.

DK's wife Indu played by Shabana Azmi is a character of a woman who has a mother's heart, but her womanhood prevents her from being the foster-mother she can be or wants to be with the song's female version voiced by Lata Mageshkar This dilemma is so sensitively etched out by the Shekhar Kapoor, the director of the film and Gulzaar's music is like icing on the cake.

But the biggest cogs in the wheel is the casting of the kids played by the then Child artists Urmila Matondkar, Jugal Hansraj and Aaradhana. 26 yrs after being made, this movie still has the relevance today and How?

Kudos to the whole team of Masoom. Why don't they make movies like this anymore???

image Source: Harsamay.com

Books or Movies

I am watching Kite Runner while this sudden thought struck me and made me write something while i'm still thinking. I know i'll not be doing justice to any of the three activities involved, viewing the movie, thinking about the thought and writing about it. But i have decided to be unjust for the time being. (ok, i agree it was a bad one!)

Coming back to the topic.. well, again not quite. A friend suddenly pings me and asks if i could do the needful. "Do the needful" Alright you ass, remember you are onsite, hence your request is considered. 

So, thinking about great books made into movies don't always turn out to be great ones like the books. Or for the sake of refining my sentence may I say, they don't have the same emotions we go through in the book.  I remember reading the kite runner in the first week of joining my second company. I couldn't close the pdf file for once until i finished it. Of course open were all other technology documents too. Wow I gushed, 'What a story' !!!

Before the movie began, i told my friend that HBO is playing this particular movie, and he said it's not great, he'd watched it already. But I don't feel so now, when Amir Jan becomes the kite runner for Sohrab, the last scene in the movie. Friend, I somehow like it.

I wonder what all those Harry potter readers might wish to say, consider scores of them have been made into movies. Looking at it now, it's got something to do with averages. Some ordinary books make for great movies while some great ones don't. Also impacting are some parameters like who makes the movie, how s/he does, who plays in it etc.

I guess I should close this post by continuing to wonder what kind of a movie will 'Shantaram' by Gregory David Roberts be made into.

Book Review – The White Tiger

Apart from being the famed 'Man-booker prize' winning novel for 2008, 'The White Tiger' has a Kannadiga author Aravind Adiga, reason enough for me to buy a hard paperback from one of the book fairs in Bangalore. No-no! I'm not one with any regional biases, but just like how 'familiarity breeds contempt', 'proximity breeds choice'.

If there is one thing Adiga really succeeds in, it is his sheer knack of keeping his readers engrossed right from page 1 waiting for what's to come next. It must be the sheer talent in story telling that makes travel from the darkness of Dhanbad to direction of light he felt in Bangalore. There is a certain tempo which Adiga has maintained throughout the book which makes the wit more satirical, dark and fearful all at the same time. The portion where he compares his father's spine to a rope was one such instance which first made me laugh, then made me visit the line once again and then literally sent shivers down my spine when I imagined it. 

The story beautifully woven over seven days is a startling mirror that he holds to show the kind of India we live in. The depiction of characters is so simple, yet so detailed that, it for sure made me think about people in a different, vein whom we generally choose to conveniently ignore. 

Many a times I have this feeling of remorse of having spent days together on a novel and gain nothing. But then, having read this without anything else to do, I had my own moments with it, all through. It is definitely worth a read!!!

Cheers, 
Sanjay