Saturday, February 26, 2005
Narein in F1
Now its time to change our focus to Narein. The fastest Indian. With Sania slowly moving out of the lime light its really good that there'a always someone. There are a lot of more names popping up now in sports particularly.
The work on the Bridge near my office has been completed and it has come as a big relief for all the people who cross Bangalore East daily. Oops it was so horrible to cross when the work was going on. Now the travel time is reduced to half because of this completion.
Been quite busy with work. Should be able to post the coming week.
The work on the Bridge near my office has been completed and it has come as a big relief for all the people who cross Bangalore East daily. Oops it was so horrible to cross when the work was going on. Now the travel time is reduced to half because of this completion.
Been quite busy with work. Should be able to post the coming week.
Sunday, February 20, 2005
Expectations and our movies!
I have been writing about only movies for quite some time. But this time I need to write about Gajini and the expectations that has risen because of the stills. I came across and this one has sure made me write this post on a free Sunday evening.
Releasing stills have quite an effect on the movies. Mani Ratnam never releases the stills of his new ventures, Bala releases a lot when the movie is ready(Example: Pithamagan. He didnt do so for his first movie "Sethu") . I was struck when I saw the stills of "Hey Ram". Even though the film didnt do well commercially, it sure was a treat in photography. The stills of Gajini has the same tint and texture as of "Hey Ram".
Pic:Galatta.com
I also read that Gajini was rejected by Vikram stating that the subject is too violent.
Releasing stills have quite an effect on the movies. Mani Ratnam never releases the stills of his new ventures, Bala releases a lot when the movie is ready(Example: Pithamagan. He didnt do so for his first movie "Sethu") . I was struck when I saw the stills of "Hey Ram". Even though the film didnt do well commercially, it sure was a treat in photography. The stills of Gajini has the same tint and texture as of "Hey Ram".
Pic:Galatta.com
I also read that Gajini was rejected by Vikram stating that the subject is too violent.
Thursday, February 17, 2005
Ji !
It was because of a friend of mine that I went to see "Ji" movie on a Sunday again(You will understand this line, if you read my previous posts. Dont mind! Uh!). When compared with Ajith's previous flops, "Ji" is much better(only for Ajith). But for the audience, it is the same old story, same old plot and presentation.
But the movie opening(where Ajith walks slowly to a cycle workshop and the next scene with Manivannan) does make you sit up and expect something new is going to surprise you from the director. But thanks to screenplay, the director loses grip on the movie as it moves towards the interval and finishes with the climax with the usual stunts.
I was just comparing some scenes from "Ji" with some good old movies. The scene in which Ajith's flash back starts with a song(traditional) and the way the flash back starts in "Oorkaavalan", a Rajinikanth starrer and the flash back in "Anbe Sivam" by Kamalhaasan(this also opens with a song).
And the scene in which Ajith comes back to Trisha after his jail term and when they embrace all the lamps are lit automatically.(I tell you there was a such a laughter in the cinema hall that would make a vivek or vadivelu comedy go unnoticed) and the scene in which Kamalhaasan proposes to Sridevi in "Varumai Niram Sigappu" in the song "Sippy irukkudhu" (Boy! can you ever forget that song and its picturization?)
...and the scene in which Sridevi proposes to Rajinikanth in "Johnny"...and oh, there are still a lot.
After "Anandham" multi-starred by Mammooty, Abbas, Murali, Sneha etc. and "Run" starring Madhavan and Meera Jasmine(yes! the national award winner this year for the malayalam movie Padam Onnu Oru Vilapam) which did reasonably well in all centres, I expected "Ji" also in the same level if not much better. I think that Ajith's star value forced the director to make adjustments in the screen play. Hope Lingusamy has another ace up his sleeve and he will not disappoint in his next film.
But the movie opening(where Ajith walks slowly to a cycle workshop and the next scene with Manivannan) does make you sit up and expect something new is going to surprise you from the director. But thanks to screenplay, the director loses grip on the movie as it moves towards the interval and finishes with the climax with the usual stunts.
I was just comparing some scenes from "Ji" with some good old movies. The scene in which Ajith's flash back starts with a song(traditional) and the way the flash back starts in "Oorkaavalan", a Rajinikanth starrer and the flash back in "Anbe Sivam" by Kamalhaasan(this also opens with a song).
And the scene in which Ajith comes back to Trisha after his jail term and when they embrace all the lamps are lit automatically.(I tell you there was a such a laughter in the cinema hall that would make a vivek or vadivelu comedy go unnoticed) and the scene in which Kamalhaasan proposes to Sridevi in "Varumai Niram Sigappu" in the song "Sippy irukkudhu" (Boy! can you ever forget that song and its picturization?)
...and the scene in which Sridevi proposes to Rajinikanth in "Johnny"...and oh, there are still a lot.
After "Anandham" multi-starred by Mammooty, Abbas, Murali, Sneha etc. and "Run" starring Madhavan and Meera Jasmine(yes! the national award winner this year for the malayalam movie Padam Onnu Oru Vilapam) which did reasonably well in all centres, I expected "Ji" also in the same level if not much better. I think that Ajith's star value forced the director to make adjustments in the screen play. Hope Lingusamy has another ace up his sleeve and he will not disappoint in his next film.
Saturday, February 12, 2005
Aero India 2005
Atlast I took time this year to visit the Aero India 2005 in the Air Force Station in Yelahanka, Bangalore. The show was good but not the traffic. I was wondering why something cannot be done for this. With lot of patch works going on the roads and flyovers in these areas, it was evident that the traffic police were also clueless of diverting the traffic and reducing deadlocks at the siganls.
Friday, February 11, 2005
A memoir by Illayaraja
A memoir - When trying to read something on Thiruvasagam, I came across this very interesting article in which the Maestro explains about his close work with Conductor Laszlo Kovach(in pic.) from the Budapest Symphony. A must read article for all those aspiring musicians and followers of Illayaraja to hear from Raaja (as he is called in the cinema circiuts) himself explain some moments during his composing of tunes, writing notations and chords. Both Tamil and English versions can be read.
This article also throws some light on the way why Raaja is still considered the best. Am searching the same kind of details on our ARR but think there's not much this kind of details where ARR had spoken on his compositions and on his work. |  Pic : RaajaNGAHM |
Thiruvasagam by Illayaraja
For all those die hard fans of Illayaraja- Thiruvasagam by Illayaraja is to be released on April 14, 2005. With big names like Stephen Schwatz, Richard King(5 time Grammy winner for sound) performed by Budapest Symphony Orchestra produced by Tamil Maiyam (TAMIL MAIYAM, 1/45-1A Mount Poonamallee High Road, St.Thomas Mount, Chennai 600016. Ph: (44) 55873355, 25012634, 24672217, 24993314 . Email : tamilmaiyam@eth.net)
I am not sure of the email ids and the phone numbers.
Two other names behind this project are Fr.Jegath Gasper .Mob: 91-9444072217 and Fr.Vincent Chinnadurai from Tamil Maiyam. Hope this would be another treat from Maestro since Illayaraja himself has told that he was born to do this. You get complete details on here. Almost broke my head to get this address.
Note : All the profits from this album is going to be donated to the educational rehabilitation of children orphaned or affected otherwise by Tsunami.
I am not sure of the email ids and the phone numbers.
Two other names behind this project are Fr.Jegath Gasper .Mob: 91-9444072217 and Fr.Vincent Chinnadurai from Tamil Maiyam. Hope this would be another treat from Maestro since Illayaraja himself has told that he was born to do this. You get complete details on here. Almost broke my head to get this address.
Note : All the profits from this album is going to be donated to the educational rehabilitation of children orphaned or affected otherwise by Tsunami.
Sunday, February 06, 2005
Kaadhal !
Kadhal !
For a change, this week it was a Saturday I chose to go for a movie and it worked. There are few a movies that have made me silent and think. Previously it was "Sedhu", "Nandha" and now "Kadhal".
All these movies have a striking resemblance among them. Being simple. Very simple and straight. No exaggerations. No fight with villains. No graphics and just real. That should be the success behind "Kadhal" also. Even though "Kadhal" has been occupying in all cinema review columns and a lot have been written about the movie, there are many places where the director's touch is evident.
the scene in which Sandhya walks past Bharath's workshop and the shot rewinds and plays again with the voice over of the Bible sentence written on the wall of the church opposite the workshop.
the way in which the director has reduced unnecessary explanations by leaving the scenes themselves to speak
the way Bharath rides the bike like a typical mechanic
Sandhya and her character and her classmate
with lot of small shots the movie does not slow down even a bit
There are a lot more characters that needs mentioning in the movie. But there are certain small things that the director should have taken care of. Dubbing in some places particulary when there are more characters filling up the screen is one among those.
Music is another strong aspect of the movie. Joshua Sridhar has played his role to perfection. 7 songs in the movie but the topper is the slow number "Unakenna irupaen" which has been shot in the such colours which reflect that mood.
Its true that some part of the movie would touch you deep in your heart somewhere and will make you dwell there for sometime.
For a change, this week it was a Saturday I chose to go for a movie and it worked. There are few a movies that have made me silent and think. Previously it was "Sedhu", "Nandha" and now "Kadhal".
All these movies have a striking resemblance among them. Being simple. Very simple and straight. No exaggerations. No fight with villains. No graphics and just real. That should be the success behind "Kadhal" also. Even though "Kadhal" has been occupying in all cinema review columns and a lot have been written about the movie, there are many places where the director's touch is evident.
the scene in which Sandhya walks past Bharath's workshop and the shot rewinds and plays again with the voice over of the Bible sentence written on the wall of the church opposite the workshop.
the way in which the director has reduced unnecessary explanations by leaving the scenes themselves to speak
the way Bharath rides the bike like a typical mechanic
Sandhya and her character and her classmate
with lot of small shots the movie does not slow down even a bit
There are a lot more characters that needs mentioning in the movie. But there are certain small things that the director should have taken care of. Dubbing in some places particulary when there are more characters filling up the screen is one among those.
Music is another strong aspect of the movie. Joshua Sridhar has played his role to perfection. 7 songs in the movie but the topper is the slow number "Unakenna irupaen" which has been shot in the such colours which reflect that mood.
Its true that some part of the movie would touch you deep in your heart somewhere and will make you dwell there for sometime.
Subscribe to Posts [Atom]