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Sat, Dec
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All the media were raving about the malayalam blockbuster - "Cycle' as refreshing, a whif of breeze etc.. But I was least carried away by those eulogising epithets showered at the movie. This Friday we chose to see 'Cycle' as a weekend movie. We started bit late... around 11:00 p.m, I thought that I can stop the movie in the middle and resume it on the next morning. But I couldn't resist watching the movie at a single stretch, despite feeling drowzy at times. The movie really deserved those praises it garnered during its theatrical release. Surprisingly the theme of the movie was also in line with my previous post - money alone is not the key to happiness. What is this 'Cycle' all about?

காதல் வேதம்90-களின் இறுதி இந்திய (ஹிந்தி) பாப் இசையின் முக்கிய காலக்கட்டம் என்று சொல்லலாம். அந்த சமயத்தில் Non Films எனப்படும் திரைப்படம் சாராத இசை வகை ஓரளவுக்கு பிரபலமாக விளங்கியது. திரைப்படத்தின் சூழலுக்கு ஏற்ப மட்டுமே இசையமைத்து ஒரு கட்டுக்குள் இருந்த இசையமைப்பாளர்களுக்கும், independent இசையமைப்பாளர்களுக்கும் ஒரு விடுதலையாக இருந்தது இந்த இந்திய பாப் இசை. எனினும் தெற்கில் இந்த பாப் முயற்சிகள் பெரிதாக நிகழவும் இல்லை & வெற்றி பெறவும் இல்லை. அந்த சமயத்தில் வெளிவந்த ஹரிஹரனின் கஜல் சார்ந்த ஆல்பமான ‘ஹல்கா நஷா (மெல்லிய மயக்கம்)’, ஹரிஹரனின் தெற்கத்திய மவுசை கணக்கில் கொண்டு ‘காதல் வேதம்’ என்ற பெயரிலும் வெளிவந்தது. அழகான உயிர்ப்புள்ள பாடல்கள் இருந்தபோதும் பெரிதாக ஹிட்டாகவில்லை. நேற்று அனீஸிடம் இருந்து அந்த ஆல்பத்தின் பாடல்களை பெற்றவுடன், இதை உங்களோடு பகிர்ந்துக்கொள்ளவேண்டும் என்று தோன்றியது. இதோ இந்த ஆல்பத்தின் பாடல்கள் உங்களுக்காக...

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Thirakkadha (Screenplay) is quite an apt title that 'we all live our lives like actors who are not briefed their roles and acting under a directionless director'. I wanted to watch this movie for a long but it was destined for me to be watched in Dubai with my friend. The movie was supposed to be based on the affair of Kamal Hassan and Sri Vidya in 70's. The story is about the search by Akki (Prithviraj) for Malavika (Priyamani), once demi Goddess on screen and the startling facts he comes across during his research. In the zenith of her career Malavika had married AjayChandran (Anoop Menon) and gave up her glorious career. Their marriage breaks and Malavika fades into oblivion. What happened to her? The story has strong resemblences of Sri Vidya and the ending had been tweaked because the 'other party' is still alive and famous. This is the only jarring factor of this otherwise well made movie. Priyamani pitches in an award winning performance, especially after when she resurfaces. Regarding Priya's performances, one could wish that the 'age factor' & 'illness factor' should have been considered. A stellar performance indeed. Prithviraj's intensity in his eyes and sensibility echoes in his performance through out. Again an effortless performance by Prithvi. Anoop Menon as Ajaychandran is a welcome addition. - {oshits} readers

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I was pleasantly surprised to catch up the Rajshri's classic 'Chitchor' on Zee Aflam last night. Watching this sugar sweet flick was a thrilling experience because I was not sure when the channel will be changed as my housemates felt it as outdated. A case of mistaken identity where the prospect groom's friend (Amol Palelkar) was misunderstood for the actual groom, while he falls in love with the simpleton heroine (Zarina Wahab) and how it got solved. As usual Amol Palelkar was completely natural, heroine's kid friend deserves a special mention and I was completely bowled by the small town girl charm of Zarina Wahab, who later got married to actor Aditya Panscholi. Yesterday only I realised that the movie had some classic songs like 'Jab Shaam dhale aana' & 'Aaj se pehle..' other than the very famous 'Gori Tera Gaon bada pyara'. When I return back to India I should get a DVD of this simple story told in a so simple fashion. Surprisingly the remake of this by same Rajshri productions resulted in a debacle called 'Main Prem Ki Deewani Hoon' contributed by over the top performances by Hritihk Roshan and Kareena Kapoor, without realising that simplicity was the forte of 'Chitchor'. If possible, catch up 'Chitchor' in DVD. Spicy Gossip: Aditya Panscholi was rumoured to have an affair with Kangana Ranaut and it is no surprise because Kangana Ranaut resembles a lot.. vey much of Zarina. - {oshits} reads

ஆனந்த தாண்டவம்

நேற்று மாலை சுஜாதாவின் ‘பிரிவோம் சந்திப்போம்’ நாவலின் இரண்டு பாகங்களையும் ஒரே மூச்சில் (பல நாட்களாக தான்) படித்து முடித்தேன். இந்த நாவல் ‘ஆனந்த தாண்டவம்’ என்ற பெயரில் படமாகிக்கொண்டு இருக்கிறது என்றும், இதில் சித்தார்த், தமன்னா, ருக்மிணி (’பொம்மலாட்டம்’ புகழ்) மற்றும் கிட்டி ஆகியோர் இதில் நடித்திருப்பதாக படித்து இருந்ததால் இம்முறை இந்த நாவலை படிக்கும் போது எனக்கு அந்தந்த முகங்களே முன்னின்றது. ‘ஆனந்த தாண்டவ’த்தின் நடிகர் நடிகையர் தேர்வை படித்தவுடன் எனக்கு தோன்றிய சில apprehensions இம்முறை விலகியது. குறிப்பாக ரத்னா கதாபாத்திரத்துக்கான ருக்மிணி ஒரு அற்புதமான தேர்வு. இந்த நாவலின் மிகச்சிறந்த கேரக்டர் என்று பார்த்தால் அது நிச்சயமாக இந்த ரத்னா கதாபாத்திரம் தான். அதனால் தான் நான் இந்த கதாபாத்திரத்துக்கான நடிகர் தேர்வை மிக ஆவலுடன் எதிர்பார்த்துக்கொண்டு இருந்தேன். இந்த பெண்ணும் ஒரு NRI & நாட்டிய தாரகை ஆனதாலோ என்னவோ, she looked every inch of Rathna. ஒழுங்காக நடித்திருப்பின் இந்த starcast அற்புதமான அனுபவத்தை பார்வையாளர்களுக்கு கொடுக்க கூடும். இந்த படத்தை ஆர்வத்துடன் எதிர்பார்க்கிறேன். தமிழிலும் தெலுங்கிலும் ஒரே நேரத்தில், ஒரே பெயரில் வெளிவருகிறதாம்.

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Sometimes back after reading my comments about the rape scenes in Arundathi, Ananya had mailed me that all the rape scenes in Indian movies are like that, why single out Arundathi alone. She was right and in our Indian movies rape is more used as a provocative element to titillate the animal instincts of average Indian movie viewers. In the 80's movies almost all the movies had a hero's sister character who was created just to get raped and commit suicide following that gory incident. Thankfully that trend phased out eventually when the heroines took over the part of seducing the male audiences from the vamps and rapes. But there are very few rape scenes that gave me goosebumps when I even think about them. Those were vital for the story to move on and those scenes disturbed me for weeks. Recently when I read 'Kane and Abel' there was this gang rape scene after which I literally stopped reading that novel until Vaidhees assured me that no more such scene will come in that novel.

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Despite knowing that it is a multiplex hit, the Hindi movie 'A Wednesday' caught my attention as soon as Kamal Hassan announced his intentions to remake it in Tamil and Telugu. Quite a poigant tale told in a gripping way, 'A Wednesday' captures the common man's angst against the beaurocratic / red tape involved in government's way of dealing with terrorism. No top stars, no jingoism, yet the director Neeraj Pandey manages to get the audiences a feel of their own angst translated effectively to the big screen. Brilliant performances by the lead players Anupam Kher and Naseeruddin Shah, especially the latter playing the role effortessly, the last dialogue Naseer mouths just makes the anger of the public seep through the blood, give a hair raising experience. Neeraj's clever way of masking the community which Nasseer belongs to is a master stroke deserving a critical applause. 'A Wednesday' - movie that shouldn't be missed by the discerning viewers at any cost. Hope Kamal Hassan retains the same feel & essence and the doubts are basically for (i) he had chosen stars with larger-than-life, himself along with Venkatesh [Telugu version], Mohanlal [Tamil], for the regional versions, (ii) the story revolves around the Mumbai bomb blasts and terror attacks, which the Hindi audiences could identify with but for those in South such terror attacks are another news. All the very best for Kamal Hassan & the crew involved in the South versions. - {oshits} reads

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It is too late to write a review for Telugu superhit 'Arundathi', so just jotting down my opinions of the movie. This Kodi Ramakrishna directed Anushka Shetty starrer is very rich in production values (Producer MS Reddy), some high quality graphics (Vaishak Nambiar) but gives a sense of deja-vu through out. Kodi rehashes many scenes from his old hit 'Ammoru' and updated with new visuals. The first half was good whereas the second half makes you restless in seat - when this movie will come to an end. Anushka was good in the royal look displaying her hourglass figure but looks jaded in the modern scenes. May be the ambience is highly exaggarated that sometimes you feel like she had performed well. Sonu Sood is menacing as womaniser Pasupathi while Arjan Bajwa is a gap filler. Best comedy is the rape scenes of the movie... the rapist and the victims are cladded to the toes, moaning and shouting during the action. They just evoke laughter, no sympathy or scary feeling. If you have watched "Ammoru (Amman in Tamil), give Arundathi a skip. Atleast 'Ammoru' had a high sentiment quotient. If you still want to see 'Arundathi', it can be done for its SFX. - {oshits} reads

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Just now watched his 'Pakal' on DVD to kill sometime till I update my iPod software. Pakal (the dawn) is a realistic movie on the backdrop of farmer suicides in Wayanad, Kerala. The movie deserved a better reception at the box office for its noble intentions. Quite consice (1:45 hrs) with an abrupt ending, 'Pakal' tells the heart wrenching tale of farmers affected by globalisation, modernisation and falling in the wicked hands of money lenders. Prithvi's honesty in portraying the role, of a TV journalist who comes to that village, is evident in every scene... esecially his helplessness while watching the protagonists crying and his dilemma to let them continue or stop the camera... He had best used his powerful assest - his eyes. Give it a try on moserbaer DVD collection (Rs. 34/-). I know that malayalees doesn't like Prithviraj much as they think he is bit 'jaada' (throwing attitude), but after seeing / reading his interviews and choice of movies, I really fell in love with Prithviraj... So much to the extent that till date by seeing any on screen hero I never felt "God wish I was like him... have a passion like him", but I couldn't resist feeling so with Prithviraj. - {oshits} reads.

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Just now I finished seeing all the 20 episodes of "Sorna Regai" from the old Raj TV's "Marmadesam" series at a single stretch (took about 6 hours). It is really a short and spooky series as usual by Indra Sounderrajan, who is a specialist in superstition / sprituality based thrillers. In this series Indra had taken the 'palmistry' as a backdrop and topping it up with a dacoitry and conspiracies. Surprisingly only in the last episode I noticed that it was directed by CJ Baskar, not by Naga. However the style of lighting, shot composing had so much of Naga's influence. The cinematography by Sakthi Saravanan deserves a special mention. The performances by the lead - 'Poovilangu' Mohan, 'Thalaivasal' Vijay, Suresh Chakravarthy, 'Delhi' Ganesh and Mahima were a class apart. The story drags a bit in the middle with Anwar's flashback episodes throwing spanner in the otherwise sonic speed story, but regains its pace towards the end. By the time I am writing is 12:30 a.m and I an going to sleep tonite with lights on..

Take a look at this serial on 'Rajshri' site. {oshits} reads for this retro article

{mosimage}It is raining in the yards of AR Rahman's fans... The 'Madras Mozart' had been dishing out chartbustsers at alarming intervals as if they are an assembly line product. The versatility of the scores of period drama "Jodhaa Akbar" to " funky "Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na" to techno "Ghajini"... the journey this young maestro took last year is incredible. The Golden Globe awards for "Slumdog Millionnaire" came as a diamond in his crown, validating his popularity across the globe. ARR's music for Rakeysh Mehra's "Dilli-6" came in the heels of his Golden Globe awards only to become a smash hit. But this album, Dilli - 6, has the potential to burn the speakers no matter when it was released. I couldn't resist lending my ears tothe songs of "Delhi - 6" every morning, evening and whole day through my iPod. Here is the playlist for those who hadn't heard it still...

{mosimage}மிகுந்த எதிர்பார்ப்புக்களுக்கு பிறகு இன்று தான் ‘அபியும் நானும்’ படத்தை பார்த்தேன். படம் தொடங்கப்பட்ட நாளில் இருந்தே நான் மிகவும் எதிர்பார்த்த படம் என்பதால் படம் பார்க்கும் வரை விமர்சனங்களை படிக்கவோ / பார்க்கவோ கூடாது என்ற வைராக்கியத்துடன் இருந்து பார்த்தேன். படம் முடிந்தபோது கொஞ்சம் ஏமாற்றம் தான். இயல்பான படம் என்றபோதும் அந்த அழுத்தம் ’மிஸ்ஸிங்க்’. படம் முழுவதும் வியாபித்து இருப்பது பிரகாஷ்ராஜும், ஐஸ்வர்யாவும் தான். அபத்தம் நெ.1 இதன் நாயகி த்ரிஷா. இத்தனை வருடங்கள் ’நடித்தும்’ இன்னும் நடிக்க தெரியாமல் தின்றுகிறாள். சிறிய வயது ரேவதி போல ஒரு நடிக்க தெரிந்த துறுதுறு புதுமுகத்தை தேடி போட்டிருக்கலாம். அபத்தம் நெ. 2 புதுமுகம் கணேஷ் வெங்கட்ராமனின் பாத்திரபடைப்பு. லாஜிக் என்பதை முற்றிலுமாக துறந்த பாத்திரம் இவருடையது. மூனாறு லொக்கேஷனும், பிரீதாவின் கேமிராவும், இயல்பான வசனங்களும் தான் படத்தை கொஞ்சமேனும் காப்பாற்றுவது. பிருத்விராஜின் கௌரவ தோற்றம் ஜிலீரென்று குளுமை. வித்யாசாகரின் பாட்ல்களில் ‘வா! வா! என் தேவதையே’வும், அதன் சோக பதிப்பான ‘மூங்கில் விட்டு..’ பாடலும் மட்டுமே தேறுகின்றன. பெண்ணை பெற்றவர்களுக்கும், பெண் பிள்ளை வேண்டும் என்று ஏங்கும் என்னை போன்ற கணவர்களுக்கு இந்த படம் ரொம்ப பிடிக்கும், ஆனால் சராசரி ரசிகனாக பார்த்தால் படம் ‘டப்பா’. - {oshits} வாசகர்கள் இந்த பதிவை படித்துள்ளனர்.