127 HOURS (2010) - ENGLISH

I am surprised that I did not yet write a review of this film that is true honest and uncompromising.

It's a bore, un engaging, we saw this many times, yeah he is triumphant but we lost our time. These were the words I heard most from those who saw it coz that's not what it is for me.

It is one of the honest stories I have seen all through last year and even as I saw it now, I could not hold myself from scratching my cheeks hard when the amputation scene came. It's one of the best voyages undertook and our hero Aron has not actually won it but he had to lose something to win life. And that something is priceless.

Aron is an adventurer who frequently ventures into the national parks of UTAH(that's one state of USA I missed last visit and in fact the state that has most national parks.) UTAH is known for it's very Red Indian life style, it's very lively people. But here, most of the movie is shot in canyon, the whole movie is shot in landscapes and specifically only one cliff in the Blue John Canyon.

The way it is shot is so very thrilling that I got everything for minuscule to a macro, just by camera movement.
The camera is everywhere, coz we get to know of the tape moving in the video recorder and the drops sprinkling inside the water bottle. Man, the camera work is a lesson to learn and will let us know how to make a simple movie interesting with such great work. Also, the shot has to be placed perfectly placed so I credit the editor for this for he had a very sharp scissor.

Major Credit must be given to James Franco who played the role of the real life star Aron Ralston. The scene in which Aron reaches for the sun light when he is stuck is so terrific and the emotions are so very well portrayed. I can see the pain and the joy at once.

Now, this is one of the very best Blu-rays I have and it's because all the landscapes, the slot canyons, the water jumps, the background music are made so terrific by two things. 1) Cinematography 2) Audiography.

Now, Danny Boyle who perceived this film and made it with conviction has to be praised for bringing out a triumphant story and triumph is actually what we crave for in every story we watch. If the whole of the movie did anything, it just touched me and moved me. Thank you Danny for bringing to light a story worth telling yet again to screen. Thank you very much.

It's 4/5 for a movie that's a must watch without a pause or a break.

MIDNIGHT IN PARIS (2011) - ENGLISH

Travelling on streets is good but travelling in time is marvelous.

I have heard of time travel in the film Shining but saw it happen one time after another in this film. Aptly titled, this film is about the mysterious life in paris that revels in nostalgia. It still has the fragrance of those great artists that adored this great city from a Picasso to Hemingway to so many.

Now there is our protagonist Gil Pender who loves the 1920's  and very fluidly travels to 1920 and makes connections with the artists. Actually, there is not much of a story, but everything pops up in between, there is an artistis desire, there is infidelity there is an envy about another man and there is love for multiple woman. But all of that said, it's a journey of an artist.

Oh, did I mention that this is a Woody Allen film, yes it is and its very Allenish. Now there can't be a movie without Allen so our hero Gil Pender (Owen Wilson) is the Allen of the film who is very subconsciously driven and speaks out long sentences that make little meaning to others (but I could make out what he meant). He dreams, and when he realizes he seems so very lost, he does not know what to do and again gets lost. He just knows, he wants to stay in Paris. His every move evokes love for the great city.

The art direction if anything is superficial and I envy every bit of it coz the hollywood for every story have superb technicians and the way they use technology is simply superb. The cinematography is simple for few scenes like a chat between the characters and terrific when it has to bring paris alive. Yes, certainly Paris is a character of the movie and right in the first few frames I realized this and in fact those first shots were the best of the movie in terms of showing paris. Did I tell there is infidelity as common theme as in an Allen movie.

All through, I can see Allen and his hope for bringing out yet another film that says Art for Art's sake and he succeeds yet again and he cannot fail coz there is a protagonist so strong in him that we can vie for and woo for. We surely want him to simply follow his dreams.

It's a charming and an enchanting film nevertheless but it's not a story that we shall for long remember I believe. It did not engage me much in terms of screenplay or characterization to say so except for the enticement caused by the camera.

Hail Allen, I give it 3/5. A good one to go for sure.

FALL IN NEW HAMPSHIRE

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CITY OF GOD (2002) - PORTUGESE

A very very terrific brazilian film that is completely raw in characters, language and depiction.

This is a crime movie about the hoodlums in Brazil and the drug mafia and the background of each case. How gangs form, how they get lost, are killed, what fate do they give to future and all that you cannot even imagine at times. This is the most raw film I ever saw and I can smell everything from the streets stinking to the perfume of the girl to the drugs taken. It's so very well taken that I even forgot all this was done by a camera. So fluid is the movie and hats off to the cinematographer, the art director and the director.

Written extremely tightly and completely driven by various characters and is narrated by Rocket, our protagonist who is an observer, yes he is a cameraman in the movie and captures all he could about the mafia. Each character takes the story forward and each scene just keeps you as engrossed as the earlier one. There is no one frame that could have been cut in this extremely well edited movie. 

It's a rarity to see all things knit well up in this movie and I appreciate and would yearn for more such movies. The milieu, the slang, the topography all are so well compiled and choreographed.  And to bring all this together, I would hail the director Fernando Meirelles who has brought raw energy into a film and makes it extremely powerful and in fact the most powerful movie for generations to come.

This is a movie that one must quickly watch it. I cannot exactly tell what I liked coz I liked everything and this again is a must experience movie.

Thanks Fernando extremely grateful for giving such a great movie.

It's 5/5 and is a must see movie.

AND THE THREE MEN I ADMIRE MOST

"And the three men I admire most,
The father, son and the holy ghost" - American Pie Song Lyrics

Well there is no father or son or holy ghost but this blog is exclusively about three men I met last October 6th and whom I admire the most for that they have given me and what I learnt from them.

Last October 6th, I landed in Mexico and was called upon to office and been there, on that very day, I met these three men and forever these will be etched in my memory and my mexico stint as an onsite coordinator is the best professional thing that ever happened to me. I was there from October 6th 2010 till May 6th 2011 and I relished every bit of it professionally.

These 3 men, vary very much in personality and in their execution and even professional beliefs but still they have taught me one thing "Believe in yourself and just do it" and this is what I exactly did all through the while.

1. His name is Srinivas Lakshman (I better make it Shrinivas as he stresses on SH), the HTS Sub director, who was my client before I knew him and now I would say he is a Godfather kind of person to me and yes I can simply call him a POWERHOUSE, who has given me the best professional advice I ever received that was to stay focus on work, "bas kaam karo baaki sab hojaayega" was what he used to tell me and it meant a lot to me and even now it means a lot.

I was so happy in his company and he backed me up for everything, be it for solving issues or going after the non performing teams, I still remember what we used to talk in the project Bravo when few other teams did not do what they were supposed to and he used to just go laughing about it. Also, I can still hear the wobbling of his voice when in one bravo status call he just put it like "this is our one chance, if we have to it should be this october end, else it will be tough, guys I am just telling you this, one final chance we have" I least expected such a modulation from a man who is know for his strength and that call made me adore him more for his passion for work more than anything else.

Yes, he was a powerhouse and he still is and I shall rever him for that, only if had not been there for Bravo and for the other projects, they woud have not met the deadlines they were supposed to. I have never met a client who is as passionate and devoted for his work as he is. Also, the way he used to get things done is just stupendous, he can push you to any extent to just get it done. Man for many he was a tough guy and for me I took it like it was my responsibility to do it and if I am being pushed then let me challenge myself if I can deliver and I must say that if not for anyone, I used to work only to deliver it to him, what this man had done to me is what no one else could do or even do it. He backed me in the toughest of situations and I in gratitude had to do the simplest of the things, that is to do my job and that is what I learnt, when you do your job all else will fall in place.

Of all that, there was only one aberration that I myself caused by dropping him a mail when he is requested for discipline I still think it was a grave mistake for doing a thing that was completely uncalled for. Srini sir, I completely and sincerely apologize for that all thru my life.

Even I liked the way he used to call me "Kaminey" over the phone, it was like a dearest friend calling you and indeed he is one of the greatest friends I have, though we talk less we still substantiate our friendship and I respect it very much. He says after advising me, "I am just telling you, but you may not like this" and in reality I liked his every advice and to very great extent followed it coz those were the most viable professional advices I ever got.

No gratitude, how much ever I show shall fall short of what Srini has done for me and I shall ever be grateful for. Sir, please apologize me if ever I had hurt you. I shall always be indebted for your trust and faith in me and hope that again I will be given a chance to stand for that. It was my utmost pleasure working with you and given a chance will work for you again.

2. Prashant Tayal, my Capgemini manager whom I met on the first day in mexico, just to convey my wish of quitting the organization and he was the first manger whom I met approved it and said, boss yes please do it. Now, neither did I quit nor did I come back soon but the way he conveyed and backed the team and all the onsite coordinators is something I never looked in any of the managers all my career. Most mangers work on the line "work according to what client says, he dictates, we follow" and Prashant "Senor" as I fondly called him said "Client is the boss, but no need to push ourselves, lets push back the clients" now this should an intent that I had not seen prior to this. It was clear, that we have to work for a certain number of hours and not more, and the whole intention was to protect the work-life balance for every associate under him. Man, he honestly tried it in every sense and achieved it in his own way to an extent.

I have never seen a manager who said "Escalation is a tool to get things done" or "Do what you think is right even if its against few people and never think of consequences" or "Never worry what you hear or think of what you see, be worried and think of what you do". He indeed was a people's manager and that's what is an unlikely characteristic, he may not be like by the core management guys, be he will surely be liked by those who are under him and I have my utmost respect and admiration for him.

Also, I had not seen any other indian speaking Spanish so authentically as he did. It was very great working with you and Muchas Gracias Senor for being there helping me out deal with things.

3. Sumeet Biyani, now he was in fact the first of the guys whom I met and who took me to HSBC Torre office, the war room where I met Srini Sir and the bravo team. He was a man behind me for many things, firstly to understand how mexico work environment is, and how exactly you have to get things done. I learnt one thing and in fact the most important thing "If you know how to do it, then do it if you do not know then you must know who will do it". He helped me a lot technically to setup the major connectivities in Bravo project and providing me right contacts and time to time making me realize what my responsibility and thus, finally all this enabled me to achieve the common goal which was successful execution of project. Without him, I would not got in touch with Akash Tayade, (a great man, whom did not have the pleasure to meet yet but will look forward to the same) who was th man behind the unix automation (and yes there was another guy Rajesh Madaye who was very instrumental too). Also, he provided direction for me to establish connectivities between mainframes to facilitate the data flow.

After bravo project, he was made my functional line manager by Srini Sir, and it was the right thing to do so coz I respected him for his knowledge of the system and his way of doing things, though very strict and tough to follow was very result oriented and a successful one. Before him being the manager, there was a lot of noise between me and my offshore management but once he took over, I was happy to be silent coz he handled it and I just had to abide by what he said.

He was in fact on the right side and always used to tell me "forgive and forget, leave all that to me" he took care of every heat that was pointed to me and always defended me for which I am very grateful. He at times differed from me too and what he did was right thing, coz I was way too fickle and unfocussed at that time and thats where his wisdom worked. He was the most wise dealer of people, who used to tell something straight but in the politest of the manner "agar kisi ko maarna hai, toh makkhan lagaake maaro" he told me once and what that actually meant, I learnt it later on.

Sumeet Anna, it was of tremendous help working with you and shall always relish the time we have been together. Yes, he also was the guy who took me to first Mexican Pub and used to call me up whenever he was going.

So this was about the three men I cherished most working and shall be in my memory forever.

There are many great friends whom I met as a part of my endeavor in mexico like Muthu, Prasobh, Sunita, Swaroop, Swapnil,  and many others but these three are the ones I worked with the most and respect the most. I deeply thank everyone who was acquainted to me and made my trip to mexico, the most memorable one.

BICYCLE THIEVES (1948) - ITALIAN

The quest is for identity, a job, a better life and that's all in a bicycle.

One of the most realistic films made in times just after world war where everyone in Italy was after a job and beg borrow or steal get a job coz that's the way for better living. Our hero is Antonio Ricci, married has a wife and a kid and gets a job that needs a bicycle. He affords a bicycle and it's stolen now his run to get it back makes the whole movie. He devises ways, catches in fact the thief too, but did he succeed? See it to know it. We all know, that a heart once lost cannot be found again and a life once lost can never be gained again. But if we lose a bicycle, there is a hope of getting it again and it's proved here that hope drives a human being more than anything else.

The movie camera moves to and fro into the frames to bring in emotions out of the extremely heart broken but still hopeful Ricci and camera itself acts as a character by bringing out the milieu of the times and the locales. What beautiful thing to know that times then were so very hopeless and still hope is what  drove everything in each one.

It's easily one of best directed and acted films that has no histrionics but simple plain real life portrayals. The music is simple and there is not much to edit in the movie which means it's perfect as it is. Loved, the way it was made, it was then un compromisingly made and hats off to that.

Easily one of the best movies ever. It's 5/5.

THE LIVES OF OTHERS (2006) - GERMAN

You can sacrifice anything but yourself and your love and love filled with guilt is better to be dead.

The theme of the movie is complex to construe coz it has many layers, its very humane as a theme and brings very gross realities as a human being. Setup in the 1980's germany where it was still divided and it was in East Germany about an artist couple, a writer and an actress being watched over by the Stasi, by HGW XX/7 the code name of the Policeman who wil note the records of what the couple does all through. This policeman played by Ulrich Muhe is the protagonist of the film. Now, the whole movie drives with his writings, his listenings and what he makes out of them. Truth is kept alive by this man and that is what he lives for, for truth. 

Now, few movies have a very engrossing screenplay from first frame and this one has it and deservingly is one of the best films in terms of story and screenplay, the direction is so well done that never for a slightest moment did I feel that something was out of place or it is uncalled for, everything went as per the script which is the true hero. There are no aberrations as such as each character is etched out superbly. You cannot write characters as black and white coz there is a flaw in each and that's what is shown. 

It's one of the few films that is supremely human and music too has it's own place to bring out humanity, like reference of Lenin's quote on Betthoven's symphony. Watch it to know it, I cannot comprehend in mere words what this film is. 

One of the superb films in recent times. I make it 5/5.

CASABLANCA (1942) - ENGLISH

To begin with a review for what is considered a great movie of all time by many, I would say, “Play it again, Sam”. The line is in the movie itself.

This movie is revered by many and indeed comes out as a great love story, but in fact apart from few minutes of a montage or a flashback, it never really revealed how they did fall in love, they here is the hero and the heroine. The protagonist, is apparently not a human here but they are the transit papers that drive the whole story and to get hold of them will be each character’s will. Played extremely well by all the characters involved, the acting is a text book for many aspiring actors even today and shall be there forever. Ingrid Bergman as Ilsa Lund just paints the screen with her eyes, so well captured those eyes are that they made me desire for them and to have a faint touch of those to wipe those tears. This movie shall always be a tribute to her. Humphrey Bogart as Rick Blaine has done well and what I learnt from him was how to be expressionless and to derive an expressionless face also needs an extremely tough expression.

The writing is pretty accurate but the reasoning’s are minimal, why a certain character behaves in a way is not completely revealed in the film. It is highly unconventional a love story for 1942 coz, Ilsa is seen kissing Rick many a time as he is the one she loves but is not by Victor Laszlo, the man whom she is married to and the man who loves Ilsa the most. That is an irony and brings an uncertainty to the way characters act. One scene where Ilsa and Rick are in Paris, embracing each other breaks up where they have to part and another scene turns up that Ilsa is manipulating Rick later to escape the country and even then she says that she loves Rick only. That is an inconsistency I observed but nevertheless, the story she reveals to Rick as to whom she was and what has actually happened to her makes up for it.  But for today’s viewers most scenes may seem like to have been cooked up and not so fluid and even I felt the same, the climax escape which Rick sets up is a bit truly altruistic and actually not very much appreciated by me. If I love a woman, she comes back I would rather stick with her then let her go again. My love is of prime importance to me but here, Rick has other plans so I did not like the climax much had it been the other way portraying a selfish human being as protagonist, surely the movie may not have received this much appreciation.

The music is excellent and the one song As Time Goes By is poignant and relevant to the movie narrative and even for normal reference. That is a high point apart from the acting of the film. The cinematography was simple and so are the settings which are mostly shot within studio.

So thus, I would say, this movie accounts as a great one by many and is loved by many more and I would love Ingrid play the role again and again too. But writing should have been tight and the characters should have been driven by selfishness rather than selflessness.

My Rating 3/5. A good one to watch for sure but not the greatest for me.

HIMALAYAS TO BAY OF BENGAL

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CLEARWATER - AGAIN

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DELHI BELLY (2011) - HINDI

And truly, shit happened.

What is delhi belly? Its about having bad belly in Delhi. It's as simple as that. I could decipher in 5 minutes what was happening, I surely right in the first frame that it was about the package and then how could they get it was the rest of the movie, but hey did they get it, watch the movie please. It's all fin filled and neatly embedded some may say, but for me it was more forced coincidences and puerile humour. Yes, we call each of our friends with the F word, but that does not mean it has to be a language of the movie. Also, the hinglish version uses bad words for every reason it has. I am Okay with this, but what was the point all this movie was about is what it makes predictable.

Tale written well but surely not told efficiently as per me. It just had 90 minutes and with the unnecessary flips like Arup's girl friend and his imagination, Niitn's sting stint for his owner were ot so much needed and the plot would have better focused with the goons and the mischief. If a movie is trying to be cool, then it is very un cool and this movie tries very hard to be. I was reminiscent of Lock Stock and two Smoking Barrels and even and old hindi movie like Ek Se Badhkar Ek. Of course many crime comedy movies have been made and for sure this has a very realistic appeal and feel, thanks to cinematographer and the art director to have created that. 

Acting if any was done by Vijay Raaz and he stood out while others just chipped in. No special mention for other actors is needed and the one line everyone did their piece aptly should suffice. Music, was good and for me I was happy that this not include much of music and all it had was pieces. 

A good one to many and an instant cult film to many more, but for me it was just another movie that was spun out of the mill that surely gave many memorable movies. It was average and it's not as fluid as so many have claimed, it tries hard by digressing but it's just an attempt thus far. For me it's 2/5. (I would be the first one to criticize this movie may be, but I am just being honest with myself).

GRAND CANYON

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DOOKUDU (2011) - TELUGU

Never waited so much for a movie ticket ever. I waited for nearly 2 hours at Sridevi theatre and finally was given the entry to the movie. Thanks to my friend Rajender for ensuring that we had a watch on the first day of release.

A good commercial entertainer that could have been a bit shorter.

A very well acted movie by Mahesh Babu and the credit of using him the right way goes to Srinu Vaitla, the director of the movie. The story though does not have novelty as I take it as an amalgamation of Pokiri (Mahesh's earlier movie) and Goodbye Lenin  and even a tinge of character was taken from Khaleja (Mahesh's previous movie), it was well combined to make a pot boiler that is entertaining thoroughly.

The movie brings out many layers of Mahesh, starting with comedy and ending with emotion he has done action, emotion and comedy very well and I sincerely believe that he is the finest actors that we have around today and should he stick to Commercial cinema, I would embrace every such movie. Please do not make art movies with him and corrupt him, let him be as he is and he is the best certainly. 

Technically, I loved the background music and the re recording work done by Thaman, though I could not appreciate the cinematography much as in few frames, the head or hair was cut and while few frames just seemed to capture dialogues blandly. Of course, direction was top notch but editing wise, 2 songs could have been cut. Also, the stunts should have been a tad short as they are actually pretty long.

Overall, I would say this , in India and specifically in Andhra Pradesh or Tamilnadu, movies are heavens and the film stars are demi gods and everyone, from a rickshaw puller to a CEO of a company go to watch a movie with similar mindset that is to have fun and forget everything else. This movie, sure made me forget everything else and just made me laugh with it's comedy.

Just liked it, and would watch it again for Mahesh Babu. It's a 3/5 for me. The movie could have been better with a better scissor of the editor.

MY TO DO LIST BEFORE I DIE

I watched two movies 1) Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara 2) The Bucket List.
Both had many things in common and the message was similar just the context was different.

"Live your life now, we never know when we shall end" and I strongly believe in this and though I had discussed and made up my mind to do things right away or at least as soon as possible. I would go with this list. You can call it my Bucket List, the list I ought to complete before I Kick the Bucket. and believe me this would mostly comprise of travel and 5 years later I would revise it.

1) A trek to Machu Piccchu
2) A trek to Kailash Mansarovar
3) A visit to Paris and a night in a hotel nearest to Eiffel Tower.
4) A visit to Taj Mahal on a full moon night and see it glow under the moon.
5) An African Safari where I will see the Lions and Tigers wander near by my vehicle
6) Learn Swimming and do a scuba dive. You know what, I am very apprehnesive of water and that's a fear I need to come out of.
7) Visit to Spain and a road trip to many places. Go Barcelona and watch a football match there.
8) Visit to Brazil's carnival.
9) Visit to New Zealand's North Islands.
10) Visit to Germany and Greece. Germany for witnessing and being the epicenter for whole of the last century and Greece for it's mythology and the architecture and sculptures that it has.

So done with travel. Now my personal plans.

1) Have a 500 square yard plot (not more, not less) and within that have a wonderful study room and room to watch movies. That is either have a Bose TV or a wonderful projection system which ever is convenient. Dont worry about the kitchen and bed room as taking care of study and the TV room.
2) Have a lush green lawn and a small swimming pool within the plot.
3) Buy a small convenient car that can take you to a good place if you want to just leave home.
4) Marry a girl who will vow to two things a) It will be very strict register marriage with no invitees.     b) Children shall not be born and shall be adopted. (if she is OK with just one girl but adoption is a must).

And now here come my professional plans.

1) Complete and get out BABU KOSAM asap - target date for now October 9th.
2) Take up the next script and do it by end of next year.
3) Take up either of the remaining 3 scripts and then do it.
4) Finish the pending stories I have.
5) Post first feature film, get the poems published.

Many more things to do and many more things to write. I know only one job and that is to write. Good or Bad, I ain't gonna judge, I just shall keep on writing.

THE BUCKET LIST (2007) - ENGLISH

Death can be hopeful if thought in the right way.

I liked this movie but could not fall in love with it. It's very well made and exquisitely shot and the characters have all the right notes to make you empathize for them. Yet, this film has the missing element the soul of a movie comes not by good dialogues or relatable characters or even great cinematography, it comes when you start rooting for a character. When you think that Carter Chambers would return from the operation when you think that edward Cole would complete the rest of the journey. My heart did not go out for either coz it was all very predictable. A bit of unpredictability would have made this go hay wire and too much of it right from first frame made me just a spectator to an event rather than making me involve. 

The two protagonists touch all the right chords at the right time when they just realize that end is all pervading death and there is no escape. But they loose when they start to plot for each other like Edward Cole sets up a girl for Carter and Carter wants Edward to get back in touch with his daughter. These points digressed the movie and though it made the movie realistic, I must confess they just made the movie miss the point. The point is to get things done which a man wants to do before he ends his life.

It's surely a good one to watch and if there is movie that had an urgent message which says "There's no time left out, just do in this life" and that has been made in last 5-10 years then here it is. I am going with 3/5 for a movie that had all the good things in the bucket but the list should have been completed before the end.

HAVE A HAPPINESS POINT

Originally written – February 10, 2010

Now, for the first time, I will preach (were my other blogs doing something else?). Preach something that I do in spirit(all preachings need not be followed by the preacher either).

All I am going to say to you guys (hey, whom am I addressing to, there are no readers to this crap I write each time) is just have a happiness point and do strive to reach that each day. 

What's this happiness point? It's something that you do and derives happiness as a result. I derive happiness in writing (how much crap it may be) so I just keep doing that as many times as possible coz the process of writing gives me happiness.  

Similarly, you choose what you like to do and just do it. This may not be the same task, I just don't write all through the day at one point I love taking photographs, at another, I love listening to music and so on and so forth. So just have something to do that you love and just have a smile and do. Have a fetish towards something and just go for it.

Remember, just see that you don't lose that smile ever. Coz a smile can light up more than your life (oh, what a thought Aristotle would frown, should he listen). Anyways, I am done with my crap again and just posted it cause I did not blog much recently and just wanna keep what's going in my dirty mind that has sick and filthy thoughts but churns out and throws these crappy pathetic things knowing many may say it's not even worth a read.

PHOENIX - GRAND CANYON

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SINHAGAD

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ZINDAGI NA MILEGI DOBARA (2011) - HINDI

If I want to go on a trip then it would be something like this.

This is, in fact, the best boys trip that I had seen in Bollywood. Though it reminisces of Dil Chahta Hai, the other cult movie made by Farhan Akhtar who also acted in this one as Imran, the movie is very very good and is easily one of the best feel-good movies that have been made this year. This movie tells the very old philosophy to Live Each Moment to the fullest or Seize the moment etc with the three friends telling this to each other. They are joined by girls, one is the instructor and the other is her friend and another is for Kabir who is already engaged to Natasha. 

It begins with three guys getting decided to go on a journey that they have decided 4 years ago and now the time has come coz Kabir will be married soon. It shows ironies too like Arjun the busiest of all, who believes that he will make so much money that he will retire at 40 and then start living will forget what he has to do today, Imran has a tragic past where his father has left him and he tries to confront him. Kabir's future is in jeopardy as he is engaged even without him committing to a relationship. So it's like Past of Imran, Present of Arjun and Future of Kabir and how they confront the past, disown the future and try to live in present is what is shown. Also, though unimportant is that the friends are Hindu (Arjun), Muslim (Imran) and Christian (Kabir). 

The movie has the best of adventure sports in the world be is scuba diving, skydiving or bullfight all these are shot memorably and each one's emotion before and after the same is so ecstatic. One moment where Arjun who is afraid of water, completes Scuba diving comes up and just emotes silently with eyes. That one scene conveyed how powerful an actor Hrithik is. Also, Abhay Deol as Kabir is just as natural as himself and Farhan Akhtar as Imran brings out the comic moments all through the film.

There are many positives and the movie is superbly shot by Carlos Catalan and I thank him for showing Spain as it is. So enticing and so beautiful. Surely, I would go there soon sometime with my friends too. 

The narrative is simple yet very well structured and it has the perfect pace. The one scene of Naseeruddin Shah was just on top and as always once again confirmed, he is one of the best actors we have. It's a 4/5. This is a delightful journey to take on.

SCHOOL OF ROCK (2003) - ENGLISH

If there was an inspirational rock movie then here it is. 

All through my engineering that is from 2004 October (when I first saw) till the end of my studies and even today, this movie inspires me with its flamboyance of the JUST DO IT spirit. It's a well written tale and extremely well directed. To take this screenplay and bringing it to life and to extract such great acting from the kids is a serious director's job and kudos to Linklater for having done that so well.

It's a tribute to all those rock bands that have inspired over the years and this movie played a big part for my introduction to Rock music. A bunch of school guys form a band with the help of their teacher. Rather the teacher forms a band with help of school kids assigning them a job and its their journey from becoming a band to making songs. Passionate is how I would say the acting of Jack Black was as he lead the film all through bearing the weight solely on his shoulders.

There was no big star cast except Jack Black in the movie and this modest film budget did not allow the movie to explore may be. However, this movie is extremely well made in all departments. Production deign, editing must be given appreciation. The music selection is also top notch with apt songs coming at the right time.

It's 4/5 for one of the best musical movies ever.

WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION (1957) - ENGLISH

A gripping tale of murder and one of the best judgements given ever on celluloid.

Written by Agathe Christie (the master teller of suspense stories) and directed by Billy Wilder (an incredible director who has given very memorable films in 40, 50 and 60 decades) as an adaptation of a play by the same name, this is a masterpiece of a courtroom drama. A very intense thriller (if one may call so) that is embedded in high drama. The movie has plethora of exemplary dialogue that has the touch of Wilder. Like when the nurse says to Wilfred, "Lets get on to bed and get undressed" its very funny but has also is right in the context. On the whole the movie is extremely witty filled with the vital thrilling points. 

I have not read Agatha Christie's story but for sure I believe this could have been the best possible adaptation of the written work.

This movie ain't about anything except for a murder that is committed by a man accused of it and till the very end we do not know if he is guilty or not. It begins with him being guilty and ends with, Umm,  please watch to know this. Filled with dialogues and shot very simplistically as every wilder movie, this tries to permeate into the view point of an audience (as even director and so is every character a viewer except the accused as he and only he knows the truth). Now the choice of a protagonist is a tough one here, coz the one who drives the story is the accused and his wife helps plots a few things but all through movie its Wilfred, the defense lawyer who is shown from first to last frame and how he makes the case out. 

It's a wonderful case that has to be seen to decipher the mystery.  All actors have done well as Billy Wilder has the knack of extracting the right emotions from the cast but specifically, Charles Laughton as SirWilfred is just outstanding.

Superb drama that is concisely and precisely written as the screenplay though nearly 100 minutes seems to run very quickly.  This will standout as a masterpiece for many more years to come. Its 5/5.

DAYTONA

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CAPTIVA ISLANDS

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NASA

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GRAHANAM (2004) - TELUGU

I have watched this movie a month ago and writing a review now which is against the practice I adopt to write a review as an when I watch it. Still, the whole movie is very vivid for me coz its an unforgettable story and the images linger long time after we have watched this. This movie may jolt the beliefs and also make a few question what we stand for actually.

Based on a Chalam story 'Doshagunam' this movie is very placid in narration and slowly but surely enters deep into the mind. No escape can be made from past memories if they were those of Kanakaiah the boy whose story is told. The main protagonist as per me would be Saradamba though as she is the one who drove the story and its more important to know what happens to her.

Chalam, my favorite Telugu writer and trust me there are very few writers in other languages who can match his sensitivity. He has already given such a great story that we just need a bunch of actors and a camera to capture the acting. Taken up by Mohan Krishna as his first directorial venture he should be lauded by telugu film fraternity that has been putting lackluster runs all through last decade with screenplays that either lackadaisical or languid.

Acting is top notch by all who have done but outstandingly it is by Bharani which can be expected as he has the valor in him to carry any character but the best comes from Jayalalitha as Saradamba. She was quite a revelation and it's sad to know that telugu film industry that they were not able to give her apt roles.

The entire film was in black and white and when I watched the movie in CIEFL (now EFL) hyderabad in 2006, the director was specifically asked said why was it in B & W for which the director answered that it was a matter of pure choice whether he wants Black and White or color and it was a just a button he had to play with. I was not i agreement with the answer as the reason seemed to abstract. I would have rather thought that the film wanted to stick to the story and black and white helps enhance the story and the emotions of characters as the colors and the cinematography are less observed also only dreams are in color which would rather substantiate a thought that reality is all in black and white its either good or bad but dreams are colorful as its how we perceive dreams.

Also, a mention to the title music that will haunt anyone. Kudos to K.Vijay, the music director.

I am going with 4/5 for a story thats a gem.  Its rare that it has been made in Telugu, an industry that revels in heroes histrionics and heroines exposure more that the content of the story.

IJAAZAT (1987) - HINDI

Gulzar is the best teacher of subtlety and sensitivity The movie that has such an enormous array of emotions and the trauma associated, is dealt with matchless subtlety and sublime sensibility. This movie brings smiles and also tears along but those come from heart as after a few minutes into the movie, my mind stopped and it was only heart that saw it unfold.

A story that's bound in a waiting room on a railway station is interesting but make no mistake, this is not one of the typical sob sob dramas, its hugely realisitic and highly authentic. Mahender stands as epitome of fickle mindedness but is getting to lead a normal married life that does not involve Maya. In one dialogue, he says I love Maya, this is truth and I am trying to forget her and this is right. Sudha is the epitome of a normal house wife but also is very extremely open minded too and believes to do what heart likes is to do the right thing. Maya is an aberattion who is very strong minded and very firmly believes that marriages ruin lives. So the characters itself are so strong and different that it is really hard to correlate to anyone but still the story as a whole is very relatable to those who have been in an affair prior to their marriage.

Though the film is supremely indifferent to modern day mindset it still roots for tradition and the importance of human values. There is a price we need to pay if we take anyone for granted and that can be our own life  is what the essence I can make out of this movie. 

Technically though, the movie had its share of flaws. Now, in a very low budget movie that is based between hardly 5 characters and 2 or 3 locations these can be afforded but if these were taken care this would have been just so better. Like double shadows of Rekha while is in waiting room, and though the power has gone in railway station, the faces of Rekha and Nasseruddin and clearly visible which would have been better if it was just dialogue in the dark.

Apart from the technical flaws, the movie is still great coz it has a very sensible story. I am very critical of Ashok Mehta, the cinematographer and highly appreciative of Gulzar.

This is 4/5 for a story that is very very poetically told.

MY POEMS ARE ABOVE

For everything, why should there be a reason?
And why does nature change every season?
Why does each poem, need to have a rhyme?
Isn’t it fine, even if it’s not worth a dime?


Sure, my poems do have their own place
But not on mother earth, I must say
Coz, they are taken by stars in space
But not all are stars in our Milky Way

MEXICANO

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LOHAGAD

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WHAT TO ASPIRE?

So there he goes into the sands

To see the lands being ripped off by airs

And then he walked into hearts of men

Most were destitute others had despairs

Some had plenty few were empty

Some tidy some dirty 

All were not alike in attire or thoughts

But same were needs and desires

Some wanted money, some women, some needed powers.

Then he explored hearts of women too

Hardly he found a common desire

One wanted a match another a flame

One to brighten her stove other her life

While one wanted to sleep with many

Another aspired to be a good wife

If one wanted gold

Other wanted iron be it sold

If one to wear then other to clean up the husband

Too weird these women are he thought to retire

As he forgot what he sought to aspire