It has been quite a while I have blogged (barring yesterday's forwarded post) and I would like to attribute Kalki's "Ponniyin Selvan" as reason for the lag. I am majorly hooked to this voluminous historical novel that I couldn't resist carrying the book everywhere I go. This is the second time I am reading this novel and it is fresh even then. Other than 'Ponniyin Selvan', I caught upo with few moviez I missed this year's release. Santhosh Subramanium, Saroja (simply refreshing), Subramaniyapuram (All starting with 'S') and have the DVDs of Race, Jodha Akbar, Jaane Tu.... yet to be seen. Of late I noticed that positive buzz about the offbeat hit 'Poo', and an extensive promotion for it. When I saw Parvathy crying uncontrollably even after the shot was over during the making of the movie, I realised how much truth is there in Parvathy's claim that she worked hard for the movie. And... this lady, who is a self appointed critic, named Suhasini Maniratnam raved about the movie in her show, described Parvathy's performance as exaggerated, spoke with her for just a couple of minutes but singled out Srikanth as revelation, chatted with him for lengths and awarded him as "Champion of the week". Too much recognition for a junior artiste.. (என்ன பண்றது... மணிரத்னத்துக்கும் வயசாச்சு இல்ல?) - {oshits} readers for this chunk...

’பூ’ என்ற இந்த படத்தின் பெயரை பார்வதி என்றே வைத்திருக்கலாம் என்று சொல்லும் அளவுக்கு பின்னி எடுத்திருக்கும் பார்வதிக்கு எல்லோரும் ஜோரா ஒரு தடவை கை தட்டுங்க..... ’சொல்லாமலே...’, ‘ரோஜாகூட்டம்’, ‘டிஷ்யூம்’ என காதலை மட்டும் விதம் விதமாக சொல்லும் இயக்குநர் சசிக்கு வேறு எதுவும் தெரியாதா என்ற என் ஆதங்கத்தை கூட ரொம்ப நேரம் மறந்துவிட்டேன். பார்ப்பவர்களின் மனதில் நினைவுகளை கொத்து நெருஞ்சி முள் போல தைத்து, காயத்தின் வடு போல நம் மனதில் ரொம்ப நாள் தங்கியிருக்கும் இந்த வாசனை ‘பூ’. படத்தின் ஆரம்பத்தில் கணவனுடன் இத்தனை சந்தோஷமாக இருக்கும் மாரிக்கு தன் முறைமாமன் தங்கராசுவுடன் அத்தனை தீவிரமான காதல் இருந்தது, இருந்தாலும் எப்படி சந்தோசமாக இருக்கிறாள்? ”ஒருத்தரை கட்டிக்க முடியலைன்னா அவங்களை மறந்திடனுமா?” என்ற மாரியின் கேள்வி தான் படத்தின் உயிர் நாளம்.

ஓரு regressive கே. பாலசந்தர் படத்தை எதிர்பார்த்தவர்களுக்கு இந்த படம் ஒரு இன்ப அதிர்ச்சியாக அமைந்திருக்கும். யதேச்சையாக online-இல் இதன் கதைச்சுருக்கத்தை படித்தவுடன் இந்த படத்தை பார்க்கவேண்டும் என்ற ஆர்வம் உண்டாகியது. எதிர்பார்ப்பு பொய்க்கவில்லை. ஒரு கல்லூரி பேராசிரியர் மீது அவர் மாணவி கற்பழிப்பு புகாரை வீசுகிறாள். கிணறு தோண்ட பூதம் புறப்பட்டது போல சரமாரியாக அடுத்தடுத்து இரு பெண்கள் மேலும் புகார் கூற பேராசிரியரின் பாடு திண்டாட்டமாகிறது. உலகமே அவரை கைவிட்டுவிட்ட சமயத்தில், அவருக்கு நிச்சயிக்கப்பட்ட பெண் மட்டும் அவரை உத்தமன் என்று நம்புகின்றாள். படத்தை காப்பாற்றுவது நல்ல விறுவிறுப்பான திரைக்கதை. அனாவசியமான பாடல்களோ, தேவையற்ற பில்ட்-அப்களோ இல்லாமல், நேர்க்கோட்டில் வேகமாக பயணிக்கிறது இந்த கதை. ஸ்ரீவித்யா, லட்சுமி, விஜயலலிதா என மூன்று நாயகிகள் இருந்தும், நம் மனதில் பதிவது என்னவோ விஜயலலிதா தான். கே.பியின் வழக்கங்களான ஜெமினி கணேசனும், ஜெயந்தியும் வந்து போகிறார்கள். ‘உன்னை வாழ்த்தி பாடுகிறேன்’ பாடல் ஒவ்வொரு ஃப்ளாஷ்பேக்கிலும் நுனுக்கமான ஆனால் முக்கியமான வித்தியாசங்களுடன் வருவது நல்ல யுக்தி. ஆங்காங்கே கே.பியின் நாடகத்தனமான டச்சுகள் தெரிந்தாலும், ‘நூற்றுக்கு நூறு’ ஒரு வித்தியாசமான அனுபவமே!!!

இதை படித்த {oshits} வாசகர்கள்களில்... எத்தனை பேர் இந்த படத்தை இனிமேல் பார்க்கப்போகிறார்களோ தெரியவில்லை.

This Satyan Anthikaud directed Mohanlal-Revathy starrer is a long pending due for me, until I catched up with Moserbaer's series. Scripted by Sreenivasan, 'Varavelpu' is more of a satire, than a routine Satyan Anthikaud comedy, taking digs at the rampant labour unions that prove to be a nightmare for the capitalists in Kerala. This movie is a micro level testimony for why there is no big industries coming up in one of the most literate states of India. 'Varavelpu' is about Murali (Mohanlal) a Gulf returned NRI who blows up all his bank account to start his own business - a bus transport. More than making money, his venture lands him in trouble thanks to the unfriendly labour unions, forcing Murali to reconsider his options & opinions about the people around him and leave back to Gulf for making money. The best part of the movie is that it not only makes you laugh but pinches at the same time with hard hitting truth. Also 'Varavelpu' makes you to see the other side of the fence - the plight of investors in Kerala. At the end we all empathise with Murali's state of affairs. A lovely movie to watch that holds relevence even after 20 years of its theatrical release, that's why it is still hailed as a classic. Revathy has very little to do but the supporting cast by Janardhanan, 'Oduvil' Unnikrishnan, Murali and KPAC Lalitha floor you with their overwhelming presence. With good picture quality and simple English subtitles and a throw away price of Rs. 34/-, please give it a try.

{oshits} people might catch up 'Varavelpu' on DVD or TV

If I am asked to describe the new version of Mahabharat in one word, I would say - "sexy". This Ekta Kapoor's version of Mahabharat called as "Kahaani Hamaaray Mahaabhaarat Ki".... notice her 'K' sentiment and the effects of numerology's effect on the title..... This new version of Mahabharat is no different from the regular mega serials, but it stands apart from the crowd by its presentation. Not only the visuals are rich, but the costumes of the characters are definitely different. Admitted that the costumes came under heavy criticism that the serial looked more like a greek mythology (even my mother felt the same), but as a normal viewer I found the dresses subtle, sensible and sexy. All the boys and girls in the serial had amazing hot bodies. Even the set prop men like ministers, security guards had a well toned body and the girls were sexy in near topless costumes. If you ponder over the dresses, as somebody who keeps watching the ancient dresses through sculptures, I think this the way the people might have draped themselves...

If you want to see good thrillers in India, you must straightly head towards the God's Own Country. Many of the best thrillers in Indian cinema I had seen are from the stable of Malayalam cinema. 'CBI series', 'The King', Commissioner, Ekalayvyan, Pathram and many investigative movies I had seen are honest to the plot with no mundane comedy or with item girls gyrating their wet pelvic on bar or at villian's den, even though there were ample scope and sex bombs to perform them. After a lull, there came an investigation thriller 'Nadiya Kollappetta Raathri', which was novel in quite a few ways. This K. Madhu directed Suresh Gopi (who else???) flick follows the cliched path of thrillers in the characterisation, scenes as well as dialogues delivery. Still "Nadiya..." is watchable for power packed performances of Kavya Madhavan, Suresh Gopi (even though he goes quite overboard). What makes 'Nadiya..." work?

Subhash Ghai - A.R Rahman coming together after (almost) a decade... The initial promos manage to pump up the adrenaline, especially 'Tu Meri Dost'. Sometimes piracy mills work overtime... The audio was released on Oct 16th morning and the downloads were available by evening itself. I will definitely but this CD as the orchestration is of high quality. There are 9 songs and all the songs are immediately catchy. Best part of this album is that it uses many of South Indian voices - Srinivas, Vijay Yesudas, Benny Dayal, Karthik. I still hadn't got into the songs completely as you know that AR Rahman's songs take sometime to grow on you. So it is an injustice to pass judgements on the first hearing itself. I want to write my views on the songs after enough hearing. I have added the songs playlist in the post. Hear it for yourself.

Recently Sify.com posted an article on the dismal show of Vidyasagar this year. It also had raised concerns about Vidyasagar's future in this 'Nakka Mukka' generation. We have to admit that Vidyasagar is going through a rough patch, his creativity running out by rehashing his old tunes and malayalam works. They say success and failure defies everything... Some of the nice songs of Vidyasagar is going unnoticed. This playlist has the collection of Vidyasagar's recent songs, that lives true to his reputation - Melody maker. We just hope that Vidyasagar bounces back with soulful songs without buckling to the peer pressures. All the best Vidya!!! My playlist contains the melodies from Abhiyum Naanum, Raman Thediya Seethai and (undeserving flop) Alibaba.

நமக்கு சில படங்கள் எத்தனை முறை பார்த்தாலும் அலுக்காது & என்னுடைய அந்த வரிசையில் இடம் பெற்ற ஒரு திரைப்படம் - ‘சதி லீலாவதி’. கமல்ஹாஸன் - கிரேஸி மோகன் கூட்டணியின் முத்தான படைப்புக்களில் இதுவும் ஒன்று. படம் சீரியஸான படம் போல இருந்தாலும், இதில் வரும் காமெடி காட்சிகள் ஒரு நகைச்சுவை சுரங்கம். கமல்ஹாஸனின் சொந்த பேனரிலிருந்து வழக்கம் போல இதுவும் ஒரு ஹாலிவுட் படத்தின் தழுவல் - மெரில் ஸ்ட்ரீப் நடித்து 1989-ல் வெளிவந்த ‘She Devil'-ன் தமிழ் பதிப்பு. இருந்தாலும் அதை ஒத்துக்கொள்ளாமல் ‘கதை - அனந்து’, ’திரைக்கதை - பாலுமகேந்திரா’ என்று போடுவதிலிருந்தே காமெடி ஆரம்பித்துவிடுகிறது. நிமிஷத்துக்கு 100 காமெடிகள் வருவதால் ஒவ்வொரு முறை பார்க்கும் போதும் நமக்கு புதிதாக இருக்கும். அதிலும் கமல்ஹாசனும், கோவை சரளாவும் வரும் காட்சிகள் அத்தனையும் எனக்கு மிக மிக பிடித்தவை. எனக்கு சோர்வாக இருக்கும் போதெல்லாம் நான் அந்த காட்சிகளை போட்டுவிட்டு குழந்தைகளை போல ‘கெக்கே பெக்கே’ என்று சத்தமாக சிரிப்பது வழக்கம். இந்த பதிவு என் பார்வையில் ‘சதி லீலாவதி’யின் விமர்சனம் அல்ல, எனக்கு பிடித்த ஆனால் அதிகம் கவனிக்கப்படாத சில காட்சிகளின் குறிப்பு.

Oflate I have stopped writing music reviews - simple... that no today's music intrests me, or compels me to record my opinion about it. Infact lack of soul in today's music either in Tamil or Malayalam or even Hindi had made me revisit the golden period of Indian Film Music i.e late 70's - mid90's. With Maestro Illayaraja making a rapid stride in comeback with small budget films like "Kangalum Kavi Paaduthey" or "Mallepoovu (Telugu)" or "Vinodayatra" & "Innathe Chinta Vishayam (Mal.)", my playlist is filled by him only. So I just thought of how to share my playlist with you, suddenly I remembered my old account with "IMEEM" that I signed up 9-10 months ago. Like weekly Top 10 programmes, I have decided to share my playlist (mostly melodies) with you all. Hope you'll like them. No need of hanging around in the same page, just launch the stand alone player and continue your browsing. Happy music..

I wanted to see this movie but couldn't in theatre as well as DVD. Last weekend I received this surprise package from Filmfare - a collection of 10 DVDs including KKC. The movie by Sudhir Mishra is brilliant in parts but a hogwash on whole. The sheer maginificance of 60-s era recreated by Art director Gautam & Sachin Krishn's cinematography blows your mind in awe, Shantanu Moitra's compositions rooted in melody soothes your ears. Besides these I couldn't remember what we had seen for previous 2 1/2 hrs. The movie set in the early 60s of Bollywood gives a sense of disgust that it is all about casting couch. When Nikhat remembers her first casting couch (rape) at the age of 14, it leaves a lump in your throat. But Nikhat using the same method with reigning superstar to reach the stardom is not something that we sympathise with her. Also some characters are hazy - is Superstar Prem a lecherous creature? or who just takes advantage of the ambitiousness of Nikhat? When Zafar goes to bed with his new muse Ratanbala, we couldn't differentiate him from Prem. Nikhat sleeps with Prem, then with Zafar, on the other hand Zafar sleeps with Ratanbala.... grrrrr!!!!

Ram Gopal Varma's (favouritely Ramu) marketing acumen accrued from his video library days is evident in his campaigns. The caption of Phoonk (whiff of wind / breath) reads "It's superstition until it happens to you". A clever way of arousing the curiousity towards the product. In 'Phoonk' Ramu charters into the least treaded territory of Black Magic. He admitted in his blog that he is clearly inspired by Endamoori Virendranath's "Thulasidhalam (Tamil) / Kashmora (Telugu)", but the screen version is credited to Milind Gadagkar. The movie is clearly a case of inspiration - you are reminded of the original but couldn't lay hands on similarities". The real hero of the movie is the DOP - Savita Singh. Just through the soft toys the spooky ambience is set in the first half, but sometimes going overboard. Among the cast Ahsaas Channa as the possessed kid steals the show and Sudeep's subtle expressions in agony loaded eyes make an impact. Ashwini Kalsekar as eccentric black magician woman goes over the top towards the climax. Phoonk can't match the standards set by Ramu himself with 'Bhoot', but that's the problem with Ramu he sets his benchmarks higher in each genre that he himself fails to match up with later projects. Shiva, Kshana Kshanam, Deyyam, Ghayam, Rangeela, Satya, Bhoot, Company just says the same. On the whole a worthy entertainer.

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