19 December, 2009

The new USA, our very own Johnnie Walker and the latest Wood in Indian Cinema

Everytime desi parents visit their software geek kid in US on those three month tourist visas, the second day will invariably be punctuated with the expression "Hope India some day becomes like USA"

Voila!That dream might get fulfilled soon with just a few men's efforts. With orchestrated teams of political leaders bartering fasts and feasts, what we might have are two sub states Telangana and Coastal Andhra that will represent our very own USA - The United States of Andhra.

When there are scores of farmer suicides because of lack of means to food in Vidharbha, the answer to that is to host International Cricket matches in Nagpur. That is how innovative our Agriculture Minister gets. However the equation is altogether different when the political honchos go for a few days without food. ~Ye Jo desh hei mera~
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The other visual hogging Indian news channels is a certain Jairam Ramesh who is always walking while talking to the press at Copenhagen. It is ironic as he paces through the Convention Centre and says "today is a wasted day and we don't have much to do!". Keep Walking! Not a bad message though delivered unintentionally.

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After Bollywood, Kollywood and Tollywood, here is the possible new entrant! For a change we are not talking about a certain Tiger Woods. The string of films that have released over the last few months and are shortly to bless the screens offering the other perspective to terrorism might just point to the emergence of a new film fraternity called Da-wood! Somehow it is tough to fathom how true Indian financiers who are grappling with aftermath of terror attacks right here would in their right mind fund such films. No offence to any religion but offering counter thoughts doing pseudo justice to terror thoughts is just not cool.

16 December, 2009

Maargo Maargo Maargazhi

So, it's that time of the year when all the silk sarees, ranging from Benares to Kanchivaram varieties spill out of the wardrobes;the month when Alwarpet and Mylapore have all the sabhas booked. RmKV and Pothy's will get adequate coverage in the TV channels for hosting mahotsavams.
Make up artists can make a fortune to make a 60 year old singer look like 40.
Welcome to the December Kutchery season in Chennai. This is the time when rookies would be praying to get atleast a noon time concert alloted in Music Academy. NRI Parents who have invested heavily on classical music for their kids would be making frantic calls to sabhas and vidhwans. This is the time when vidhwans can ask for return favours in the form of accomodation during foreign trips.
One thing I do vividly remember is how in our neighbouring Asthika Samajam, the secretary would be effusive with his praise for all the performing artistes; so much that I remember him only as 'Asaadhyam' Mama.
The concert format has improved over the years with interactive Q and A sessions and lucky draw winners. One has to be thankful to the efforts of TM Krishna, Soumya, Vijay Siva and other exponents of that generation to have revived the interest in youth for South Indian classical music.
With or without Arusuvai's canteen outside Music Academy, Chennai is most happening during the Maargazhi month.

13 December, 2009

Paa-th breaking effort

There have always been comparisons between Amitabh and Kamal as to who is THE actor who rules the scene.
Kamal with the versatility he has displayed over the last couple of decades and Amitabh's roaring comeback post the KBC era kept the two veterans tied in the race.
Then out of nowhere arrived this 12 year old progeria affected kid. He has redefined what acting is. Try to spot Amitabh in the film and you will have to wait till the last when the tired eyes sticks to a faint hope of reuniting his parents.
What a performance! What a poignant tale! Apart from Auro, Vidya Balan has shown the world yet again that dress sense at Page 3 parties is not the key to glory in Bollywood. The chemistry between her, Auro and Bum is awesome.
Abhishek Bhai - Please yaar - thoda to Acting seekh le yaar. Thankfully the others have put in a supra human effort to make sure that your lack of talent is covered up adequately.
Ilayaraja's music is nothing short of what only a Maestro can offer - Delicate, sensitive, a throw back to his Golden 80's.
In the last decade, there are a couple of categories of people who are trying their hand at cinema - The critics (yeeks) and we know what the famed popcorn munchers have contributed - Khalid Mehmood's shot at so called meaningful cinema ran dry after three attempts. Samir Karnik - The best 'behind the camera' comedian whose affinity to the Deols and Sohail Khan has only plummeted him further down in the box office charts. When is Mr Masand going to wield the megaphone? Atleast then the stress might reduce his ever explanding waist line.
The second - the ad gurus. And yummy, what a whiff of fresh air they have been. Prasoon Joshi's style of belting out lyrics is stunning - such effortless and practical poetry.
Finally, the man who is going around town saying this movie is less about progeria and more about the novelty of having Abhishek play the role of dad to his dad - R Balki.
Though I just do not agree with this premise - I am only thankful that someone of his calibre has directed a movie as moving as this.
So final analysis
Amitabh's Auro +1
Arundati and Vidya +2
Ilayaraja +1
Abhishek -1
PC Sreeram +1
Balki +1
So total 5
So here is the proof that Paa is really special :)