Firstly, I wanted to blog about Endhiran. But then I decided otherwise, as it would bring in a lot of arguments. But then I read an article/blog from a tamil writer Chaaru Niveditha. He was bashing from line one to the last, which I thought was not at all fair. Again, there is a huge concept of freedom of speech or opinion. I have no rights to stop him saying things that are not fair. I would write a blog in Thamizh very soon and it will be mostly about his blog and not just about Endhiran. :)
And now I would go on dragging about Man+Madan+Ambu. I use the word dragging because many people felt that the movie was dragging. :P But I was totally comfortable throughout the movie.
The movie should not be compared with Kamal's earlier comedy movies like Pancha Thanthiram, MBBS, PKS or Dasavatharam. Neither it should be compared with a movie like Anbe Sivam. This movie is totally a light hearted romantic movie, where there are few subtle comedy moments. But then, I got to admit that the romance part was not convincing and it has nothing to do with the age difference between Kamal and Trisha. As Kamal, portrays as Major R. Mannar a widower, a retired Army and Trisha as Nisha aka Ambujashini who is a tamil cinema actress. This clearly shows the age difference and the writer was not trying to show Kamal as a youngster or at least did not want to show as young as Trisha.
Madavan was at his best. He had the opportunity to be the best performer in this movie and he grabbed it rightly. One must watch and enjoy his acting rather being described in a blog.
Usually we would feel the dominance of Kamal in almost every thing that he do. But he was very subtle and Madhavan impresses a lot than any one else in this movie. It was a fun movie with a very strong message about TRUST in a Relationship.
Except that the blossom of love between Kamal and Trisha was not so clear, screen play was at its best. Many complained that screen play was wobbling in the climax scenes. I did not feel any bit of wobble in the screen play. In fact, it is really a very difficult screenplay, which was very well directed.
Songs were rightly placed and was there an only dissapointment that Kamal's Kavidhai was taken off. Screen Play sucked only at that time and Kamal had no other choice I reckon.
To me the best dialogue I have ever heard recently is when Kamal relates his War and the accident that his family and Trisha's is involved. I liked it very much. It was so simple unlike Kamal's usual philosophical/sarcastic dialogues. :P There were many sarcastic dialogus as well. Come on, his fans are never disappointed. :)
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
What is wrong in a Masala Movie?
It's been a long time since I wrote here. Well, whenever I come back here, blogging after a long time, it would be only for a movie review.
However, this time its not exactly a movie review, but just in general about movies. To be precise, about Masala Movies.
I have no intention to hurt anyone or offend any one's thoughts here. But I always wonder why people (read as "A class people" in terms of Cinema Industry) do not appreciate masala movies. They fail to understand that Masala Movies are one of the genres and a major revenue earning source for Indian Cinemas. I never liked Sci-Fi movies, but I dont go and watch all those movies and start cribbing about them. I simply dont watch them. I expect such a thing from these so called "Quality Audience"
I would like to introduce who these people exactly are: The ones who watch all mani ratnam movies, bala's, kamal's etc. But again, I am the one too, who watch all these guys' movies. But they are different. They watch only these people and these kinda movies. They dont give a damn about others. I know that you all understand whom am talking about.
"A" Class people get to see many non-English foreign pictures nowadays and they see a lot of English movies as well. But when they come back to see our Indian movies, they never appreciate the very local, national, commercial, typical masala movies. They fail to understand that those movies are of different genre. They may not see Al Pacino, Rober DeNiro, Marlon Brando, Jack Nicholson, Diane Keaton, Samuel L Jackson kind of actors in these movies. In fact, most of these actors have acted in few so called action movies in hollywood. Those movies would definitely fall under Masala if they were dubbed to Thamizh or any regional movies.
People fail to understand that creativity is involved in making Masala movies too. The creators need to understand the pulse of crazy fans and get the movie reel go in favour of audience.
Lots & lots of effort have been put to make these kinda movies as well. More than the efforts, belief, faith and more than anything a lot of M.O.N.E.Y is spent on these movies. The most irritating behaviour of these people is that, they talk rubbish about all these movies just because they don't like watching these movies. They fail to realise that there are people who would want to watch movies of this genre or at least, who would not complaint watching movies of this genre.
When a movie in Hollywood had nothing but simple comedy and romance in it, people praise and categorize the movie as 'Simple, light hearted movie'. Whereas, if the same was done in our regional languages, these people categorize as 'Not worth a penny', 'Waste of time' and what not? May be 'Not at all a movie'. :)
I wonder why they don't simply ignore the genres they don't like. Instead, they keep cribbing about those movies. And the worst part is, it is them who book the tickets in the very first weekend the movie is released and comment on each and every scene they watch. It would be absolutely irritating when you are in the hall and if your intention is just to while away the time by watching such movies. I would also blame these die hard fans of Masala heroes. ( I would rather not mention those names, cos they are always known to all). It is those die hard fans who do so much of hype for those movies and probably these people get irritated and start flagging against these movies. Flagging against each and every scene is some what boring you know. Some times such comments get boring than the actual movie. :P
We all know and have seen Samuel Jackson in lot of quality movies. But then, I have seen him in worst movies like Snakes on a plane. I would never forget to mention about Clive Owen's Shoot 'em up in these arguments. I have seen the best comedies like 'Hangover' and not so good comedy like 'Hot Tub Time Machine' or take ' Confessions of a shopaholic ' for an example.
People appreciate movies like American Pie, but complaint about movies like Boys. I simply don't understand why.
People must understand that an every day meal is made of all ingredients. We don't eat all sugar meal for breakfast or all spicy meal for lunch or all salty meal for dinner. We mix them all for every meal. Movies, as well, are like that. When you are in mood to watch Mani Ratnam, watch his movies. But do not forget that Sankar is not so bad either. It is just that his genre is different.
If you could appreciate Bala, dharani is second to none when it comes to pacy, action packed masala movies.
One must understand that there is someone always better than the one we think of. If someone say Balu Mahendra's July Ganapathy is good, I would say Rituparno Gosh's Raincoat was better than that. Leave alone that July ganapathy is purely a remake of an English movie. But then these people say that the movie has been inspired by the director. :)
But its just don't end here. I would say movies like Forrest Gump or Terminal are far better than Raincoat. It goes on and on.
I can compare any number of directors/movies like this on and on. But then, Too much of anything is no good. Too much of praising masala movies is not good either. :D Take this blog as a light hearted movie. :) Chill now. :D :D
However, this time its not exactly a movie review, but just in general about movies. To be precise, about Masala Movies.
I have no intention to hurt anyone or offend any one's thoughts here. But I always wonder why people (read as "A class people" in terms of Cinema Industry) do not appreciate masala movies. They fail to understand that Masala Movies are one of the genres and a major revenue earning source for Indian Cinemas. I never liked Sci-Fi movies, but I dont go and watch all those movies and start cribbing about them. I simply dont watch them. I expect such a thing from these so called "Quality Audience"
I would like to introduce who these people exactly are: The ones who watch all mani ratnam movies, bala's, kamal's etc. But again, I am the one too, who watch all these guys' movies. But they are different. They watch only these people and these kinda movies. They dont give a damn about others. I know that you all understand whom am talking about.
"A" Class people get to see many non-English foreign pictures nowadays and they see a lot of English movies as well. But when they come back to see our Indian movies, they never appreciate the very local, national, commercial, typical masala movies. They fail to understand that those movies are of different genre. They may not see Al Pacino, Rober DeNiro, Marlon Brando, Jack Nicholson, Diane Keaton, Samuel L Jackson kind of actors in these movies. In fact, most of these actors have acted in few so called action movies in hollywood. Those movies would definitely fall under Masala if they were dubbed to Thamizh or any regional movies.
People fail to understand that creativity is involved in making Masala movies too. The creators need to understand the pulse of crazy fans and get the movie reel go in favour of audience.
Lots & lots of effort have been put to make these kinda movies as well. More than the efforts, belief, faith and more than anything a lot of M.O.N.E.Y is spent on these movies. The most irritating behaviour of these people is that, they talk rubbish about all these movies just because they don't like watching these movies. They fail to realise that there are people who would want to watch movies of this genre or at least, who would not complaint watching movies of this genre.
When a movie in Hollywood had nothing but simple comedy and romance in it, people praise and categorize the movie as 'Simple, light hearted movie'. Whereas, if the same was done in our regional languages, these people categorize as 'Not worth a penny', 'Waste of time' and what not? May be 'Not at all a movie'. :)
I wonder why they don't simply ignore the genres they don't like. Instead, they keep cribbing about those movies. And the worst part is, it is them who book the tickets in the very first weekend the movie is released and comment on each and every scene they watch. It would be absolutely irritating when you are in the hall and if your intention is just to while away the time by watching such movies. I would also blame these die hard fans of Masala heroes. ( I would rather not mention those names, cos they are always known to all). It is those die hard fans who do so much of hype for those movies and probably these people get irritated and start flagging against these movies. Flagging against each and every scene is some what boring you know. Some times such comments get boring than the actual movie. :P
We all know and have seen Samuel Jackson in lot of quality movies. But then, I have seen him in worst movies like Snakes on a plane. I would never forget to mention about Clive Owen's Shoot 'em up in these arguments. I have seen the best comedies like 'Hangover' and not so good comedy like 'Hot Tub Time Machine' or take ' Confessions of a shopaholic ' for an example.
People appreciate movies like American Pie, but complaint about movies like Boys. I simply don't understand why.
People must understand that an every day meal is made of all ingredients. We don't eat all sugar meal for breakfast or all spicy meal for lunch or all salty meal for dinner. We mix them all for every meal. Movies, as well, are like that. When you are in mood to watch Mani Ratnam, watch his movies. But do not forget that Sankar is not so bad either. It is just that his genre is different.
If you could appreciate Bala, dharani is second to none when it comes to pacy, action packed masala movies.
One must understand that there is someone always better than the one we think of. If someone say Balu Mahendra's July Ganapathy is good, I would say Rituparno Gosh's Raincoat was better than that. Leave alone that July ganapathy is purely a remake of an English movie. But then these people say that the movie has been inspired by the director. :)
But its just don't end here. I would say movies like Forrest Gump or Terminal are far better than Raincoat. It goes on and on.
I can compare any number of directors/movies like this on and on. But then, Too much of anything is no good. Too much of praising masala movies is not good either. :D Take this blog as a light hearted movie. :) Chill now. :D :D
Friday, January 29, 2010
காத்திரு...
This picture was shot and uploaded by my wife's uncle in facebook. There were few poetic comments on this. Apparently they were really good. I was trying to comment on it, I was unable to do it. There were many reasons, I am not as good as those writers. May be I am not as spontaneous as others. But one thing kept my mind busy. I knew the inner thoughts of those comments and my feelings did not match. No offence meant, Every one has their rights to expose ones' opinion. Well, enough of reasoning and excuses for not writing a comment there. I thought I should write my inner thoughts about the photo. I had no other option than writing it here.
This is how I see the photograph. As a very small story...
Those eyes of children were waiting for their friends from the school. The friends come out and play in the trunks of such a big banyan tree. They play swinging, hanging and falling down from the tallest trunks. These kids who wait for their friends, play along with them. When the lunch break bell rings, those kids goes back to their classes. Those eyes would start waiting again.
One fine day, while they were waiting, the girl asked her elder brother, why should they wait for their friends and not to go inside the school. The boy who knows the situation says that they can only wait for their friends to come back, they cannot go to their friends.
There are millions of eyes waiting like this, not just to play with their friends. Also, to get back to classes with their friends.
On Pongal, Vijay TV was screening about Agaram. A small organisation started by actor Surya and his friends. They would personally help few students who could not continue their higher studies due to lack of money. Few stories of those students, made me shed some tears. But kids like in this photograph, got no help even to start their studies. Agaram helps them to continue their higher studies. But how would one go till higher studies?
This is what I thought when I saw this picture. That was totally instant. I had no other thoughts even after reading other comments which had other stronger inner thoughts.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Aayirathil Oruvan
Firstly, Before giving some credits to the director to have tried a different genre for Tamil Cinema, One must appreciate my guts to have gone to watch this movie with my family. When I say My family, that includes my wife and MY PARENTS.
Well, I have been hearing all negative reviews about the movie Aayirathil Oruvan. I have no idea why people expect something clean from Selva. Probably the promotions / teasers misled the audience to believe that the movie is a fiction, fantasy or all other genres that I hate to watch in a Hollywood movie. Probably people expected it to be like Harry Potter series or a time travelling story. Yes, Whatever the genre could be, but the movie is hand written by Selva. You just cannot get rid of his own glamorously-appealing-style. Be it a whatever-genre-movie it is.
Things one must appreciate:
1. To have thought about such a perplexed story & present it with this genre.
2. To have granted this story to our Tamil Audience.
3. Music, especially the BGM, by GVP.
4. Cinematography.
5. Parthiban's acting. I guess all these days he has been wasting his efficience.
6. For not casting his brother Dhanush. lol. Trust me, I am not kidding. Trust me again, I liked Pudhupettai. I still would rate Pudhupettai as #1 of all Selva's movies.
7. Few comedy scenes.
Things that were really bizarre:
1. Stunts were not at all professional. I dont know which decade Selva is in now. Cos, even for a 100% commercial movie, people hire professional stunt crew.
2. Could have avoided few Selva kinda scenes.
3. Could have explained the 7 dangers at least in the end.
Though the hostile comments from me are very less in numbers, few blunders were too obvious and easily noticeable. During the audio launch speech, he was irritatingly saying not to match tamizh movies with hollywoods'. Rather, he wants hollywood to match with thamizh. Dude, you must not make those blunders in stunt sequences, if you want to match with someone or someone else want to match with you. I would not say those blunders were unintentional, rather I call them careless errors.
People say he has given the pieces of many English movies. Come on, even few scenes were like Avtar. But the movie was done long before Avtar was released. Have some heart and try to appreciate movies of this genre.
People whom I know very well, would know that I would have not even cared to watch this movie if it was an English movie. Only reason I watched this movie was cos this was for Tamil Audience in tamil from Tamizh people.
Final word is, it is definitely not a bad movie. It comes under the category, can watch it once.
Well, I have been hearing all negative reviews about the movie Aayirathil Oruvan. I have no idea why people expect something clean from Selva. Probably the promotions / teasers misled the audience to believe that the movie is a fiction, fantasy or all other genres that I hate to watch in a Hollywood movie. Probably people expected it to be like Harry Potter series or a time travelling story. Yes, Whatever the genre could be, but the movie is hand written by Selva. You just cannot get rid of his own glamorously-appealing-style. Be it a whatever-genre-movie it is.
Things one must appreciate:
1. To have thought about such a perplexed story & present it with this genre.
2. To have granted this story to our Tamil Audience.
3. Music, especially the BGM, by GVP.
4. Cinematography.
5. Parthiban's acting. I guess all these days he has been wasting his efficience.
6. For not casting his brother Dhanush. lol. Trust me, I am not kidding. Trust me again, I liked Pudhupettai. I still would rate Pudhupettai as #1 of all Selva's movies.
7. Few comedy scenes.
Things that were really bizarre:
1. Stunts were not at all professional. I dont know which decade Selva is in now. Cos, even for a 100% commercial movie, people hire professional stunt crew.
2. Could have avoided few Selva kinda scenes.
3. Could have explained the 7 dangers at least in the end.
Though the hostile comments from me are very less in numbers, few blunders were too obvious and easily noticeable. During the audio launch speech, he was irritatingly saying not to match tamizh movies with hollywoods'. Rather, he wants hollywood to match with thamizh. Dude, you must not make those blunders in stunt sequences, if you want to match with someone or someone else want to match with you. I would not say those blunders were unintentional, rather I call them careless errors.
People say he has given the pieces of many English movies. Come on, even few scenes were like Avtar. But the movie was done long before Avtar was released. Have some heart and try to appreciate movies of this genre.
People whom I know very well, would know that I would have not even cared to watch this movie if it was an English movie. Only reason I watched this movie was cos this was for Tamil Audience in tamil from Tamizh people.
Final word is, it is definitely not a bad movie. It comes under the category, can watch it once.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Whats in an anonymous post?
I seriously dont understand why there is a way to post comments anonymously?
It is really suprisingly stupid to allow anonymous posts or have an option to allow anonymous posts in blogs or in any online forums.
And people who makes use of anonymous posts are the real cowards. I hate to write this here. But at least seeing this, someone would try revealing the identity when there is something sensible at all to convey.
I always hated anonymous calls, texts and letters. These online forums are no exceptions. Phew. I never thought I would write something here about this.
It is really suprisingly stupid to allow anonymous posts or have an option to allow anonymous posts in blogs or in any online forums.
And people who makes use of anonymous posts are the real cowards. I hate to write this here. But at least seeing this, someone would try revealing the identity when there is something sensible at all to convey.
I always hated anonymous calls, texts and letters. These online forums are no exceptions. Phew. I never thought I would write something here about this.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Kandasamy - Purely an Entertainer ( If you dont expect anything else)
Ahem...
On Sunday morning, I started getting SMSs saying Kandasamy is not up to the mark or a total waste of time. Then I thought I should watch it on the same day, cos people start saying a lot about the movie and things that they did not like. That makes me to learn more about the story. I did not want that to happen. Luckily I did get tickets to watch that movie.
You all know what? It is not an easy task to write about a movie for which a lot of people have already criticized against it. Probably I may not even know whether I liked this movie. There are many reasons that I liked this movie:
1. A lot of bad comments about the movie. This made me to watch the movie with the least expectations.
2. I like all kinds of movies. I mean all genres. Let it be drama, comedy, horror, action, entertainer (we can call it pure masala). etc etc.
3. Concept of the story was really good.
4. I always have this faith in few good directors. Susi Ganesan is one of them.
5. There were not lengthy lectures (particularly in the climax) by the lead role justifying all his mistakes since the story began.
6. Justification of flying stunts.
The last 2 reasons would be accepted only if you guys watch the movie.
I am not marketing, This movie can definitely be watched once.
I would definitely not say this movie is a must watch or flawless or has best screen play.
Following could be the flaws from the movie:
1. Unwanted Vadivelu scenes.
2. If vadivelu's were not good, Charlie's was even worse.
3. Few erotic scenes of Vikram and Shreya.
4. Extra songs like Meow Meow, that pizza selling song ( These extra songs makes us to feel that the current directors are still coward or they still think that the present audience likes those masala stuffs. This goes for having an idea of including Vadivelu scenes)
5. Screen play could have been little better than this. I wont say it is totally bad.
These mistakes are quite common in this Genre of movies. Yeah, When it is said entertainer, there are possibilities of having such negative points.
The director reveals a lot of secrets at the first half of the movie itself. This shows his confidence in carrying the screen play forward. However, I was disappointed with his confidence level by having few extra songs and including a separate comedy track. Extra songs are somewhat understandable. Yeah, these songs are included for business purpose. The music album should be equally profitable. But having a comedy track that do not gel with the movie is totally weird. After all, I did not expect from the standards of Susi Ganesan.
My final one line comment would be, If Anniyan was too good, Kandasamy deserves at least a GOOD.
On Sunday morning, I started getting SMSs saying Kandasamy is not up to the mark or a total waste of time. Then I thought I should watch it on the same day, cos people start saying a lot about the movie and things that they did not like. That makes me to learn more about the story. I did not want that to happen. Luckily I did get tickets to watch that movie.
You all know what? It is not an easy task to write about a movie for which a lot of people have already criticized against it. Probably I may not even know whether I liked this movie. There are many reasons that I liked this movie:
1. A lot of bad comments about the movie. This made me to watch the movie with the least expectations.
2. I like all kinds of movies. I mean all genres. Let it be drama, comedy, horror, action, entertainer (we can call it pure masala). etc etc.
3. Concept of the story was really good.
4. I always have this faith in few good directors. Susi Ganesan is one of them.
5. There were not lengthy lectures (particularly in the climax) by the lead role justifying all his mistakes since the story began.
6. Justification of flying stunts.
The last 2 reasons would be accepted only if you guys watch the movie.
I am not marketing, This movie can definitely be watched once.
I would definitely not say this movie is a must watch or flawless or has best screen play.
Following could be the flaws from the movie:
1. Unwanted Vadivelu scenes.
2. If vadivelu's were not good, Charlie's was even worse.
3. Few erotic scenes of Vikram and Shreya.
4. Extra songs like Meow Meow, that pizza selling song ( These extra songs makes us to feel that the current directors are still coward or they still think that the present audience likes those masala stuffs. This goes for having an idea of including Vadivelu scenes)
5. Screen play could have been little better than this. I wont say it is totally bad.
These mistakes are quite common in this Genre of movies. Yeah, When it is said entertainer, there are possibilities of having such negative points.
The director reveals a lot of secrets at the first half of the movie itself. This shows his confidence in carrying the screen play forward. However, I was disappointed with his confidence level by having few extra songs and including a separate comedy track. Extra songs are somewhat understandable. Yeah, these songs are included for business purpose. The music album should be equally profitable. But having a comedy track that do not gel with the movie is totally weird. After all, I did not expect from the standards of Susi Ganesan.
My final one line comment would be, If Anniyan was too good, Kandasamy deserves at least a GOOD.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
BREAK TIME COMMERCIALS.
I have been reading few blogs in the past two weeks. I do read random blogs just to get inspired. Yeah inspirations to write :). I read few blogs for which I had to reply immediately. For few of them I did not. I kept those points in my mind and thought I would write a blog in my own space. Yeah, one such thing is about Commercials.
All of us feel bored whenever we get that break thing during our favourite shows, movies etc. Thanks to many creative minds who keep entertaining during breaks as well. I read many blogs where the bloggers have always complained about commercials. Commenting on the content. Of course, few commercials are too sick and makes me to scream. I dont know what my wife would think whenever I crib about such sick commercials. Probably she might think what I would have done if had given a chance to create one. Yes, if she had thought like that, it is a wise thought.
There are many good ones which simply takes us away from our fav show or a cricket match. I would love to list the recent commercials that made me to say WOW.
All Airtel Ads
All Vodafone Ads
I guess Airtel started following Vodafone style recently, where the small gal makes a paper boat and it starts raining and her friends helps the boat from drowning.
Forget if they are following their competitor's style or not. The videos are good.
Amaze health drink powder has impressed me in a different way. The mother asks her son about INTERNET. The kid starts explaining her and not even more than a line has come out from him, the mother starts worrying about the stress of the son's brain. She thinks that the technology world needs better and active brain. She stops listening to her son and starts thinking about the health drink which might help his son to be active and smart.
I like this ad very much. I thought what a typical mother. Isnt it true?
Ads are really a good break nowadays. Few years back, may be a decade back they were truly a nuisance. Though the number of commercials are more, they are made interesting and a lot of hidden talents are brought out to public eyes.
Models, Photography, choreography, Musicians and a lot of behind the camera talents are made visible.
I may not have made a point out of this blog. However, I thought I shared whatever I have had in my mind.
All of us feel bored whenever we get that break thing during our favourite shows, movies etc. Thanks to many creative minds who keep entertaining during breaks as well. I read many blogs where the bloggers have always complained about commercials. Commenting on the content. Of course, few commercials are too sick and makes me to scream. I dont know what my wife would think whenever I crib about such sick commercials. Probably she might think what I would have done if had given a chance to create one. Yes, if she had thought like that, it is a wise thought.
There are many good ones which simply takes us away from our fav show or a cricket match. I would love to list the recent commercials that made me to say WOW.
All Airtel Ads
All Vodafone Ads
I guess Airtel started following Vodafone style recently, where the small gal makes a paper boat and it starts raining and her friends helps the boat from drowning.
Forget if they are following their competitor's style or not. The videos are good.
Amaze health drink powder has impressed me in a different way. The mother asks her son about INTERNET. The kid starts explaining her and not even more than a line has come out from him, the mother starts worrying about the stress of the son's brain. She thinks that the technology world needs better and active brain. She stops listening to her son and starts thinking about the health drink which might help his son to be active and smart.
I like this ad very much. I thought what a typical mother. Isnt it true?
Ads are really a good break nowadays. Few years back, may be a decade back they were truly a nuisance. Though the number of commercials are more, they are made interesting and a lot of hidden talents are brought out to public eyes.
Models, Photography, choreography, Musicians and a lot of behind the camera talents are made visible.
I may not have made a point out of this blog. However, I thought I shared whatever I have had in my mind.
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