CLASSICAL NIGHT WITH BOMBAY JAYASHRI AND RONU MAJUMDAR

DATE : 25th NOV 2012

VENUE : RAVINDRA BHARATI, HYDERABD

It was the last day of NOVEMBER FEST 2012 and a concert of Jugalbandi by one of my most loved classical singer Bombay Jayashri and flute by Ronu Majumdar , I know so little of Ronu till I heard him yesterday.And what a night it was, full of poetry and divinity rendered through the voice and flute of divine souls accompanied aptly by Suresh Narayanan at Mridangam and Ajit Pathak with Tabla.

We went in nearly 30 minutes before the show to the venue (RAVINDRA BHARATI) and it was full so there were advertisements of sponsors to begin with.So a word about the sponsors, BOSE and FRIDAY REVIEW (a Friday edition of THE HINDU).BOSE gives us the best sound and that being the sponsor, I was sure of going to hear the perfect acoustics in BOSE speakers, so thanks to BOSE. Now  when cultural news is fading away to the commercial fanfare (politics and entertainment) that occupies most of the columns in newspapers, we have a special edition by THE HINDU in FRIDAY REVIEW and this very edition has always given out very precious and valuable information and is it's own way has been the torchbearer for the cultural and arts news in INDIA.I respect this edition and mostly go through it. While there were other substantial sponsors that helped this event. 

About Bombay Jayashsri : She is one of my most favourite classical singers and I am privileged to have known her through an A R Rahman composition "Sasivadane" and then through many songs and the very very popular "Zara Zara". But my most favourite of her renditions is Subramanya Bharati's "Suttum Vizhi Chudarvaal". And well she has learnt music from Lalgudi Jayaraman, a legend and a genius. 

About other artists, I have not known much so not writing much here. OK, now let me revisit those divine 2 hours of the concert (kutcheri with a jugalbandi) and what a heavenly feeling it was. It began with the Aalaap of Raaga Saraswati in Ek Taal (Rupakam in Carnatic Music). The Aalaap was agreat opening with the austerity and poise of something great, it took the audience to a trance, Wow, to Ronu Majumdar for sustaining at few places. Can you believe one note being sutained for more than a minute in flute, it was just stupendous and magical. And the rendition by Bombay Jayshri was exemplary. The Aalaap was followed by a "Saraswati Namostute" a great composition and it was rendered as if Saraswati Devi herself was singing a song for herself. Such was the divinity there.

Next, was the Tyagaraya Krithi  "Sara Sama Dana" in Kaapinarayani and the flute was done in Jhinjhoti. Now, the Kriti was preceeded by the Aalaap and then the Jodi (taal) and what a soulful Aalaap that was, mellifluous. When the Kriti began,  I believed there was a strong resemblance to the song "Raghuvamsa Sudha" in Kadanakutoohalam, and only now I found out that indeed that there is a similarity. Look at the Aarohana (Aa) and Avarohana (Av) of both and one can understand. 

Aa: S R2 M1 P D2 N2 S

Av: S N2 D2 P M1 G3 R2 S

For, Kadanakutoohalam

Aa: S R2 M1 D2 N3 G3 P S

Av: S N3 D2 P M1 G3 R2 S

If that was beautiful, then the romantic number was yet to come and it came as "More Mandir Aaj Woh Nahi Aaye" sung in Jaijaiwanti while the flute was rendered in Bageshri/Desh. It was beautiful and Romantic the Aalaap, the song, it was just a perfect song for a romantic night, just that romance was happning through music. The god was with his flute and the goddess rendering this. It gave the most happiest feeling, just loved it. 

This song, was followed by the "thaniyavarthanam" a percussion contest of Mridangam and Tabla. It was indeed a contest and both had to outplay each other and by the end, we were all thrilled by the talented musicians came to their own and gave us something great, they felt like they were speaking and lsitening to each other then they swayed their daggers and finally called peace. Also, I noticed a few rasikas walking away, may be they thought that was the last item. 

Then, came a request by Ronu Majumdar, that he wants to perform "Krishna Nee Begane" so can we stay there for a few minutes more, for sure everyone wanted more and then began what I can say, the best rendition of this song, it had taken a long time to reach that sangam (confluence) and the path of the river was just fluid. To merge into the ocean, this song was the right one chosen and indeed it's Pandit Ronu's most favourite song as this is about Krishna "The God of Flute"  

And then, came the applause that had been heard many a times all through this great concert, now this applause had come with a standing ovation and I stood there bowing my head in salutation to the God and Goddess and to the heaven, the stage that has given me divine pleasure. It's a night that I shall never forget. 

WAKE UP NOW

Each night, there was a light

Of hope and happiness that shone brightly

Now, it's gone dim

Sleeping in tears, weeping in fear

Walking under vigil, talking of own peril

On what shall we rely?

When God has not come to save

While he took the offerings we gave

And love is hard to be born

In such times when we are torn

Yet we must make a way to fight them

And give back the terror they have given

But how could it be done?

When we can't be one, on mother earth

When egos cannot gel and, for compassion

There is a dearth

Wake up now for you may not live next moment

In vain shall go, the hardships you underwent

And the time spent to realize your dreams

They would turn to nothing but screams

So get up, my sisters and brothers

Stand as one and leave other bothers

To live and to fight those who feel

Its right to take our lives

So get up and light the light

That shone brightly in the night

So get up to run free again  

And have fun under the sun

TERRORISTS

With a motto to kill

They come through seas of Mumbai,

Airs of New York

And kill at own will

Life for them has no meaning

The heart is devoid of compassionate feeling

Fear or faith, want or need

Excuses for these are, of their own

Some for money and some for food

So to gun their brothers down

What a pity and what a shame?

Hope they hear this world’s blame

And think before they take a life

As it’s a crime that has a penalty

And before they are by a gun or knife,

Shall be killed, I wish by their own guilt

***Written for 26/11 Mumbai Attacks. Just very recently, Ajmal Kasab, the lone terrorist who was caught was hanged.

SOME LIKE IT HOT (1959) - ENGLISH

This a laugh out loud film we can enjoy with our families.

Now, again we have Billy Wilder at the helm as director and he turns Men into Women and makes a fun ride. Now, why this makeover, they need job and women are given job, so they turn into women, funny isn't it? Yes indeed this is a fun ride. This is a kind of movie that can be watched with a family or friends and can be laughed at. It's a great movie to watch with just that we have to keep our brains out.

Billy Wilder had earlier debuted with a movie called MINOR OR MAJOR where a woman becomes a minor to get a ticket at half price, so these kind of funny things are not new in Billy Wilder movies, just that they get funnier here. We have the ever young Marilyn Monroe here and wow, the way she walks is worth a watch and only few can kiss like Marilyn does on screen. There is certain kind of enigma to her personality I think that kept her the highest paid actress then. 

The technical aspects of this film are good, just that we don't care too much of it because of the constant laughs we get. Yes look at the scenes between Josephine and Daphne (the men turned women) and they are the best. There is a certain kind of comic timing that is just so hilarious. There is lot of running around too, chases in vans, cops, mafia dons, women, music all come together in this film. 

Above all that, it's the dialogue that makes it more lively, the last scenes where Daphne says "I am a Man" to which his male supposed fiancé says "Well, nobody's perfect" and there is THE END of this film. 

I am going with 4/5 for a great fun movie. And as always Billy Wilder film is worth a watch and this one makes up more than that. 

WILL I?

Will I ever?

Get one who can hold onto me for days along

Sing with me in the moonlight,

And under the sun write a song

Will I, in the days to come?

Get one who can share my pain

When all my work has gone in vain

But to make me smile again

Will I ever find the one?

Who shall bear me in arms

When I am too happy

And have no more qualms

Will I, in this imperfect world?

Find a perfect face that is pleasant

And in that place, I seek solace

Will I ever?

Find a shrine that I can call as mine

Residing there,

I shall love and make the goddess mine

WILL YOU?

Will you want me?

When I become Old,

When the hair is grey

Will you move me?

When I walk slowly,        

When the feet are dying down

Will you make me up?

When I wrinkle

Will you kiss me?

When my lips are thin

Will you hold?

When my cheeks are down

Will you feed me mellowed things?

When my teeth are less

Will you, as my love?

Sing me to sleep and take

The last breath in peace

And make me feel happy

As you send me to grave with your sonnet

SUNSET BLVD (1950) - ENGLISH

Oh what a tragedy that was not supposed to be there.

It's a kind of movie that you can call cult because there were many such kind of movies later. Where, a man or woman wants to redeem their career or try hard to look younger or anything like that. To name a few, I get "American Beauty" and that woman in "Requiem for a Dream" in my mind. Where people want to go back to their younger days and just want to start again. 

Now, this not just the story of a woman trying to get young, it's also about a man who wants to make his career. It begins with this man, accidentally driving into this woman's mansion and just trying to act as a busy man. Now, as many other Billy Wilder movies, it starts as an accident that happens between two people, here it's between this writer and a middle aged woman. Now, that is where the film takes on, and that is the what gets us interested. 

This movie has a fine performance by Joe (William Holden) and other actors but it is Norma Desmond (played by Gloria Swanson) that this film belongs to and wow, she has made it her own by bringing a certain kind of wicked insanity that is rare even in today. Yes, many have tried to emulate this kind of wicked emotion as done by Swanson, but I believe she was just great at it. 

And hey, Gloria Swanson played out an near autobiographical role here as she had worked with Cecil DeMille in those silent pictures in true life and played that very character who just wants to get back to cameras. Wow, Billy Wilder has got the right woman as Norma Desmond.

You have to watch this movie for more than one reason, it is believable, intriguing and yes it has a kind of suspense that will make us sit and see who is that man and what he is up to?. The protagonist here is not that lady though, it's the man and this is his story. The writing is simple yet great and each scene is lit well and shot well so cinematography is good in here. The audio, yes it's mostly dialogue with the big background suspenseful score filling a few gaps, music is good too. 

Having said all that, it's not my kind of drama and it is not my favourite yet. Though, I give it 4/5, I am not sure if I am going to sit through this movie one more time.

SMOKY

We breed them to burn them
We treat them as our luxuries
In turn, it burns us when we churn them
Giving us smoke from its ripe bellies
Yes, we kill ourselves like this
Yeah I know, many do not like this
Matches in the hand Cigar in between the lips
We play with it and get some great kicks
But what's life for just to fill time
And we are doing it our own way
Smoke we do to kill some time
And let others have a healthy say
No smoking I would never say
As it gave some moments to sway
Let's have it not at the cost of others lives
Let's face it that it is not liked by our own wives

NOTHING

Let me see. Where is he?
Others say that he is everywhere,
but he seems to be nowhere
Have my eyes gone blind?
Or is it that the others don't have a mind
Sat in a cave but not to find even a grave
Went to the mountains, found a water fountain
Who has made these or, are they self-made?
Who has put myself here or have I come by myself?
Questions so many and answers nowhere
In search here and there, can’t see them anywhere
What have I done to myself in the quest for the unknown
Became a clown, a moron and also unknown
What a sick situation is this or a great retrospection?
Seen everywhere but have not done introspection
All the power is within, I just realized
I can be whatever I want, from a clown to those unrealized
Yet, when I ask to make myself who am I?
I get the answer as a son to parents and a friend of many
when I again asked who am I?
I got the answer as a human, like others so many
who said this to me? Myself or is that unknown,
whom I wanted to know be it an intellect or a clown
Then again came an answer from a mind so blown,
An answer came as nothing when I felt to be something
I was happy and wanted to be something
But not so much as I am nothing
Now I want to be left from the quest to know,
That unknown and unseen as I realized he too is nothing

ఈ దూరం

మధుమాసపు వేళ మరుమల్లెలు తాకగా
నీవేనేమో అని పులకించా
అది నీవు కాదని తెలిసినప్పటికీ
నీ స్మృతుల్లో జీవించా
నిన్ను కలవాలనుకున్నా ఈ క్షణం
కానీ కలవకుండా బంధించింది ఈ దూరం
నీ నామమే పలికింది నాలోని మౌనం
అది తెలిపింది నీ నామ స్మరణ అతి మధురం
ఎంతో భారంగా అనిపిస్తున్నా ఈ దూరం
నీ తలపులతో అయ్యింది గాలి కన్నా స్వల్పం

AM I WORTH?

To be held in your considerate heart

Am I worth?

For this brute, has just one thought,

That is to kill discipline, tradition, and God

To be recited in your mellowed words 

Am I worth?

For my name has no fame, it is a shame

It is too complex and too broad

To be in your shrine though for a moment

Am I worth?

For my abode isn’t so pure to allure you

It is too stinky with love to endure you

To be looked upon by your looks

Am I worth?

For my figure is too lean and mean

That a look cannot capture it

To be with you, tell me this

Am I worth?

For I have no money or gold

I just have the love that never ruptures you

LIFE OF PI (2012) - ENGLISH

A silly dumb adventure that sails on sea for most part and left me with seasickness.

At the end of the movie, I was hearing claps in the theatre and I was wondering what have they liked so much in the film because I did not like anything. Yes, the visual effects were good, but nowhere near a movie like JURASSIC PARK. Don’t even compare with AVATAR please. The plot, oh, where is the plot, a boy gets lost in a sea because of a thunderstorm and he takes a trip with a tiger and for the good part of it, both are struck together in sea. The episode was too long for me and just made me feel like it's giving me seasickness. 

Now, where did it go wrong? If I may say so, then in the writing itself that does not involve audience much. That is, it did not do anything to me. It neither thrilled me nor moved me nor made me laugh out loud. It went on and on and got me drowsy by the end. 

The only good thing is special effects that are good, but I am sure many movies in recent past have come with better effects and better ideas. Hailed by many as one of the best films of this year, I would rather say, it's a boring adventure. It is good for the first half hour or even an hour I would say, but after that it goes on and on and the sad part is it has inevitable end. It's not a kind of movie that could have ended anyway, the adventure has to end and the boy has to grow and the big Pi (Irrfan Khan) is going to tell this to his friend. 

Hey, now there is a twist, he tells this adventure and he tells a believable story while normal people stick to his believable story, his writer friend likes the adventure. So I as audience, had to give in to something and I was rather interested in the story he told than this adventure. 

The best moments are done in the first half an hour itself with Pi and his family in Pondicherry, once he gets on a ship, and gets lost, it stays for sometime, but man, those jelly fish, those whales, even that royal Bengal tiger that was made in CGI did not help me liking it. So I disliked it to the core. Once, he said Richard Parker (Tiger) was gone at the end, I fell into sleep, I just couldn't take that. Damn, we had been there at the very night of a day (Night 11 PM show) and with all the pains taken, we see an adventure end just like that. 

It meant nothing for me, and I am going with a 1/5. This 1 rating is for the special effects and the gorgeous titles that were good but not great. Ang Lee, you squeezed me in to this film and you gave me a bad film so this is what I give you back, a negative review. 

I suppose I among the very few who are going to criticize this movie as most others are going gaga over this. It's okay; I have my own mind anyways.

GOOD WILL HUNTING (1997) - ENGLISH

My seek solace movie of all time. This is great and it has been working for me for over 10 years now.

I saw it first time in college and in last 10 years numerous number of times and it gave me an inspiration always. Now what kind of an inspiration, this differs each time. Now, I am angry with myself and pissed of coz one of my scripts was rejected by my director (rather he said politely, let's make this one later) . So I had to get back to this spirit lifting film and again it made me rise from the pitfall and made me stand erect. 

This is a kinda of film that is rare, it's about friendship one can say, it's about knowing oneself someone else may say, but it's great anyway you look at it.The simplest question "What do you want to do?" is the toughest one to answer. At times, we need someone to help us along with that question.Here Will is helped by Sean. 

The movie works for it's writing and acting by all. Moreover, the way it is directed, makes it completely authentic and believable  Will Hunting (Matt Damon) does not exist in many, there are a few and yet he can be related to, we all have talents but we need direction.We need someone to say. Son, go do it and that's what precisely Sean (Robin Williams) does with Will. 

Written by to brains, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, this is for sure a great script by those then youngsters but I need it needed direction and that's what Gus Van Sant did to this. Look at the scene at the end where the car just goes away and keeps going away, tells us that this movie is something else from the commercial rot. This has got great dialogue to match it up with and well, the cinematography is commendable. 

Well, acting by Robin Williams is worth a mention, coz he did take the whole role to a new level. Just take that "Fart Scene" where he confesses his wife used Fart is something that can make anyone into splits with a subdued amount of tears coz there is tragedy involved.Also, I can relate Sean to my good brother "Vinay Anna" whom I have met over a year and made a great bond with. He is a man, who used to tell me "Just do, what you want to do, we will for sure back you up" His words, made me pursue what I believe in, and I am still doing it. 

I have no crib whatsoever with any technical department be it art direction, production design, music, editing or even costumes. They are simply great as they are very apt for this movie. All the 5 thumbs up for this 5/5 movie. Will get back to this many a time, just hoping, I will neither be angry or down going forward when I watch it again.

అతిశయం

సంధ్యా సమయాన సముద్ర తీరాన
చూసాను ఒక మధుర సన్నివేశం
అదే నీ రూపం, అది కలిగించింది నాలో పరవశం
మనసు నీ కోసం తపించింది
మది కేవలం నిన్నే తలచింది
అల లాగా ఎగసిన హృదయానికి నీవే తీరం
తనువు నీదై పోయింది, కావాలనుకుంది నీ సమీరం
ఇది మోహమో వ్యామోహమో తెలియదు కానీ
అందంగా ఆనందంగా ఉంది ఈ అనుభవం
నీతో మాట్లాడాలని ఉన్నా ఏదో తెలియని భయం
ఈ వ్యవహారం మొత్తానికీ నీవే కారణం
ఇది మాటల్లో చెప్పలేని అతిశయం

TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY (2011) - ENGLISH

An espionage film that is gripping for sure, but might not work for everyone.

Now, here is an espionage (spying) film that is based on the cold war spies of 1970's. Based on the novel of the same name by John Le Carre, this film has a great screenplay that I must say is great as a screenplay but it's very technical at the same time. This film begins with mole in the circus, now what is mole and what is circus here, to get that itself, I had to sit through the whole film and well, it was not such a pleasant revelation either. 

Well, in this very film we have actors such as Colin Firth, Tom Hardy and the Sherlock guy Benedict Cumberbatch along with Gary Oldman at the helm. So we have got the best ensemble cast in recent years for a movie. About their performances, everyone does it with such rare understanding of their roles that even I as audience was astonished as to how was that emotion conveyed, when we have not known much of him yet. 

The production design is awesome and so is the art direction, above all I liked the background music and the sound design, wow kudos to those guys, and cinematography was right in every place as the scenes are well composed. The performances keep you glued, the direction is great and the whole look is great I must say. Yet, there is something that is missing, there is something that is just not right, I can attribute that to editing as I do for other movies, but for this I can't say even that coz all those details are absolutely necessary to conclude the story. So the missing element is the story in itself, it's a story that's specific to an age, to an incident and it's not very universal either, Despite that, it's an intense brain exercise that may even make you watch multiple times just to understand it. 

There is very little action, rather mostly words and dialogues that are tough to decipher. For me, I had no knowledge of such spies and this story and it came as a bouncer in the first viewing, I took the help of few links and then a second watch made me admire this. So for all the guys who are interested in the cold blooded, spy films this may be it, for others, they may of may not like it. This is a test for patience and fizzles out soon if one is not aware or admiring such stories. But if you know or even have a faint ide of what this film is about, you may fall in love with it. Now, thanks to wikipedia that helped me learn a good deal about this movie.

So, I can appreciate this movie yet I may not just recommend for everyone. So, a 4/5 for a good movie that's great in it's own way but needed a prologue and epilogue to help a layman understand. 

खयालों की परछाई

वफ़ा से खौफ्फ़ होगया आपकी बेवफाई से

मोहब्बत से नफरत होगया आपकी रुसवाई से

फिर भी हम कैद है सलाखों मैं, एक तमन्ना से  

बस, रिहा नहीं होना चाहते आपके खयालों की परछाई से

నా శ్వాస నా ధ్యాస

నా శ్వాస నీవేనని

నా ధ్యాస నీవేనని, తెలిపింది నా హృదయం

నీ కోసమే నేనూ, నీ రాకకే నేనూ

ఎదురుచూసి అలసి సొలసి

విసిగిపోయా అలసిపోయా ఎందుకీ దూరం?

మాటలాడాలని ఉన్నా ఎందుకీ మౌనం ?

ప్రియా నీ రూపు చూస్తున్నా కనిపించ లేకున్నా ఇదే నా మోహం?

ప్రియా నీ ప్రక్కన కూర్చున్నా దగ్గర లేకున్నా ఇదే వ్యామోహం

TORMENTED WINDS

In your tormented winds, I spent all my solace

Now I have just lamented that make some sense

The winds have gone to settle down at a different place

Leaving me in pain, making my life tense

The lowly breeze that I once felt upon

Still fresh in memory and the only thing I reminisce

In thy winds, though tormented, I rejoiced

I just had joy and therein I found my peace

Want them back, but the chance of their return is bleak

For they are afar, from my hollow space

Another breeze alike is what I seek

If I cannot find it what shall I do?

Nothing but walk into past with receding steps

SINCE YOU HAVE GONE

I am so happy since a while 

Since I lost you and your smile

I am a loner now and can do what I want to

I can go on a trek with a rug sack

There's no one to hold me back

And walk into the high tides of the sea

To swim and have a nice bath

Oh, I am really happy 

As I am not thinking of you

And I am living my life alone

Since my dear, you have gone

DARK KNIGHT RISES (2012) - ENGLISH

A good action film but it disappoints in a big way. 

So what's there in this that's better than the other Chris Nolan films, is style and the magnanimous production design where now, we have exceptional aerial shots and many of them hovering over the fictional city of Gotham. But what's missing is the soul of Nolan, the screenplay. The music by Hans Zimmers is OK OK and more melodramatic than action packed. The editing is too very bad coz too many details that lead to nothing are presented in this 2 hours 25 minute saga that could have been done in 2 hours, only if the extra characters of the board members and others were cut down and those many aerial shots were cut down too. The dialogues are way too bland for Bane (Tom Hardy). Bane is not anywhere close to be menacing but at the end he turns out to be doing, what Miranda Tate (Marion Cotillard) says. No, great villain either. And coming to our batman, he fails in a fight and he has to redeem his freedom, he takes an ordeal of doing a climb that takes more than 10 minutes of screen space. Was so much necessary is what I ask now. Also, there are identities revealed only at the end like that of Robin or Talia, ah too much suspense being held till the end is not a good thing, we don't need oil when the food has been cooked up. 

The saddest part turns out that Alfred who has protected Wayne for such a long time, cries for he has failed Bruce Wayne. The much sad part is Bruce Wayne has to now live in exile as he is presumably dead just to be shown in a frame to reveal that Batman cannot end. Ok, yes so he used autopilot too but that's so impertinent at the end coz we would have been exhausted by dialogue after dialogue for a large part of the film which take away the sheen. The dialogue I must say, is very cliched and even amateurish from a man who has written Dark Knight and Inception. 

Now, remember this is a sequel for Dark Knight so we do expect a big ride, so nothing like that anywhere, this is rather a slow paced dramatic and less action packed turmoil that takes us through the torture of being a superhero. The blessing in disguise, although is Catwoman (Anne Hathaway) oh, she comes up with some good acting skills and is in fact our hero, coz she killed the villain. Yeah, we know that 'he who kills a villain is hero'. 

So, it has got good things but they are far away from each other. It's an okie dokie kinda ride and a 2/5 would be apt as per me. But if you have high expectations coz it's NOLAN you are a welcome aboard member to a disappointment group. 

PULP FICTION (1994) - ENGLISH

It's what you called showing in a culture or rather re emphasising a culture. 

It's an important film and no doubt one of the most important ones to have come in the last 20 years. Not many films, threatened to change the rules of the game, as this film did. In terms of writing, it's non-linear, now non-linear in the real sense, it does not have a proper line of scenes or proper interpretation either, but they are connected by characters. This film has some iconic scenes which you will never forget. Like that, adrenalin shot scene to Mia (Uma Thurman) or reciting Bible's Eziekel 25:17 by Jules (Samuel Jackson).

Though, it's nearly 2 and hours, its not long and seems short as they are many questions unanswered. So, is Vincent dead or not? What is there in that briefcase to Marseilles? And these are left unanswered. 

With just 7 scenes, you make a 2 and half hour movie that redefines in it's own way the perspective of the audience. So, I am amazed more than anything even as I watch it for nearly 10th time and the surprise keeps coming each time I see this. There is something that always works in PULP FICTION. But, what makes this film work is it's writing. It's writing like madness, there is no proper thing called this is it. It can be referred to anything and you may be right. The righteous man and the evil man interpretation is just a tiny example that can be taken out for how we can interpret a character. 

If I want to write one favourite scene here, it's gonna be the whole movie coz I like everything in it. Technically, I like the cinematography, sound design and costumes. But above all, I liked performances and dialogues. 

Thanks to Quentin who has given us more memorable movies in the last 20 years that are far superior in writing than anyone else. But for me, this is is my favourite Quentin film and I will stick with this till he out performs himself by writing something much more weird than this.

A sure 5/5 for one of my favourite films, no less ever. 

LITTLE DRAGON FLY

The little one in the grass was caught at lake in GHATKESAR near HYDERABAD. 

THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION (1994) - ENGLISH

A prison escape that is technically so much better than other prison escape stories.

A man wanted freedom, he redeems his life by escaping for the Shawshank prison and the man's name is Andy Dufrsne. This film is dramatic take of a man, and in a way it is similar to Escape from Alcatraz and The Great Escape. The similarity is that the above mentioned films are also prison escapes and the similarity ends there. This movie is more about hope and redemption than anything else and this is what sets this film above the other escape stories. 

For a man, freedom is highest value and he would do anything to get it. Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) is such a nice fellow that we would for sure like him for the way he is, when he chuckles at the warden when music is played in prison or when he asks for beers to his friends without having a sip. We like him coz he is selfless, humane in nature. But more so, he is selfish and works towards his freedom at the same time. Now, in terms of character he has company n the firm of Red (Morgan Freeman) and what a great character, RED was, is understood, by the way he narrates the story. And thus, it's not surprising for Morgan Freeman to have garnered more best actor award nominations than Tim Robbins. 

The novel, written by Stephen sets it up in 1949 - 1966 period in a prison called Shawshank in Maine, USA. Frank Darabont made it into a film that's great to see but also tests our patience. It's great in terms of cinematography, lighting and costume design and even art direction, but greater was the acting by two lead characters. Just because of their acting, I was compelled to see this story of HOPE, that ends in a good way.

The sound design is great and worthy of a special mention as a realistic sound the prison of 1940's to 60's was created. Editing though, I believe could have been done by cutting short a few scenes,  or rather cutting out a few scenes, just like say one week of hole for Bogs. 

I have seen this thrice and, since I knew that this is the best rated picture on imdb, but the more I see it, the less I started to like it, may be I know the story too very well. Maybe, I am finding fault with reasons of a prison escape done too trivially, by crawling in gutter for 500 yards or by creating a hole in the room. Or maybe, I think that Andy was just too easy and too casual on what he did. These are all my own reasons that put me down each time, I see this. Yet this has a good place in my memory and heart for I see this, just because there is hope, and HOPE IS A GOOD THING. I just love the dialogues of this film and thanks to Stephen King and Frank Darabont for that.

It's a 4/5 for a movie that may not be the best in my view yet is a good one to be watching. Go listen dialogues like 'you get busy living or you get busy dying'. They are like music to ears.

SPLASH OF LIGHT

Thanks to the guy who had such crackers. Taken for DIWALI 2012 at DD COLONY, HYDERABAD.

LIT UP SKY

The sky is lit up coz of Diwali. Taken from my Uncle's home in DD COLONY, HYDERABAD

FORREST GUMP (1994) - ENGLISH

Here, we have a story that is worth being told for generations to come.

A story of a man, who had everything going against him and yet he did whatever best he could. And when you do your best in whatever you have taken upon, you would mostly succeed. And there in lies the story of FORREST GUMP. When you are determined, even Gods would come down embracing you. Look at that scene in which there were no shrimps and after the hurricane there is plethora of shrimps and they become millionaires.

Yet, most of it is untrue and even hypothetical, like running coast to coast for 3 years. Even such fabrications will be loved and embraced, if we love this man called Forrest Gump. He does everything from meeting the president to running the whole of America to being a war hero and setting up his own business and becoming a millionaire. And did I say, this was against all the odds, he had, yes, he did not have legs and he got them back by running, he is human of below-average intelligence (as described by wikipedia), yet he proves all of them wrong by being successful in everything he does. 

Tom Hanks as Forrest Gump, has given us one of the best performances ever and this is a great character in itself. I have learnt from wikipedia that Robert Zemeckis the director, deviated from the novel written by Winston Groom. Now, what he did as a the director was a good thing and that is what I strongly believe. I did not read the novel though, but I loved Gump the way he is, so I think the changes were good. 

Technically, I liked the editing, though nearly 2 and half hours long, it was not at all so boring. Also, the screenplay by Eric Roth was good. The direction, I loved it. Look at that feather fly from skies to Gump's feet and then fly away at the end, just a glimpse of what direction is. Special effects were great specially in terms of putting Gump with the presidents and even John Lennon, I just liked the way it was all done. Also, I loved the dialogue and what a piece of writing this was, you can turn simple things interesting by saying them in an interesting way, and this movie does that through dialogue.

Above all, I loved Forrest Gump as he is and more than anything, I loved Tom Hanks as Forrest, this is a great portrayal of a character. From dialect, to walking style to costumes, everything was appealing and interesting about Forrest Gump.

It's a 4/5 for a movie that is great in terms of characterisation of a man who has a "JUST DO IT" spirit and for Tom Hanks who has given one of the best performances.

NETWORK (1976) - ENGLISH

Have you ever seen an assassination right in a TV studio? If not you can witness in NETWORK.

There is a scene in which the news presenter Howard Beale says "We're as mad as hell, and we're not going to take this anymore." And most of the nation does it, and this immediately is a hit. So they want to continue this Howard Beale show, to rake in money and recover a dying Network studio.

Ok, so what is NETWORK all about, it's a satire I must say and a good one indeed on the existing TV Network system that would go to any extent, even to kill a man to gain it's TRP's and get its share in viewership. Mind you, this was made in 1976, where we did not have satellites channels as we had then, there was no digitization or no great money then, yet TV had a great following, for that was the only source of entertainment at home as Personal Computers did not yet come in. Despite all that, there was greed in the Networks, to gain their own share and they would get it any cost. 

Poor man, Howard Beale (Peter Finch) of whom this film is all about, becomes a scapegoat and his life is at the mercy of media barons. Diana Christensen (Faye Dunaway) does take over and programs the Howard Beale shows and start controlling the network and that turns out good only to be lost at the end. Now, she is a maniac, about her programs, that even in Bed when in love, she keeps talking and talking about the shows that she plans to show on her network. I loved Faye Dunaway's portrayal of Diana and she does an awesome job. She made that ultra obsessive TV Network programmer come alive and she made me believe f the existence of people like her. Along with her, I liked Max Schumacher (William Holden) for his subtle portrayal of a man who is set out to be living as per norms and steps away for his love and gets back to his normalcy as what the audience expects.

All in all, it's a well-written film whose screenplay and dialogue is worth a note and can be used many a time as reference points. Now, Paddy Chaefesky should be given most of the credit for writing a bold script in 1976 and he did write what he wanted. Sidney Lumet, the director picked up the script and made it his own by making it in a way, that he only could. Sidney is not brutal or enigmatic as other directors like Scorcese of Coppola, he is subtle and downplayed and yet is impactful, just like in 12 angry men style, I may say.

It's an important film in many ways, and I say it's must watch for many still in our generation and a definite watch for all in the TV or film business. It's 4/5 for one of the best-written work directly for the screen. Thanks, Chaefesky and Sidney Lumet for what you have given us. 

RENDU RELLU AARU (1985) - TELUGU

Just can't say it's a laugh riot, but it's not a bad one either. Good and definitely watchable.

It's the story of mistaken identities, and I am not sure if the story is original or just taken from somewhere and built it's nativity, but is a good one. 

Now, we have two characters in Sadguna Rao (Chandramohan) and Madhav Rao (Rajendra Prasad) and both are in love with girls and both get married respectively. Ok, most of it is predictable but it's not just a simple un entertaining love story, we got Jandhyala at the helm as Director and now he turns it in his own way and creates characters who are eccentric, different and mostly memorable. Like, Srilakshmi, trying to learn singing to please her husband, Sutti Veerabhadra Rao. Wow, that was a memorable act and my favourite one too. 

Ok technically, Jandhyala's films are not great, like cinematography, art direction or even sound, they are just as they are and it's his dialogue and his characterisation that keeps us glued for the most of the time. And even in this film his dialogue alone stands out. 

And yes, acting is good by Rajendra Prasad and Chandramohan and my favourite was Srilakshmi, the way Jandhyala used her is many of his movies, is just unforgettable, and few others even emulated him, like EVV Satyanarayana.

I am going with 3/5 for a good movie and yes a one time watch for sure.