'Amma..I want to drive the car'
'But you do not have a license Raksha - Only amma has the license'
'But I have raisins Amma! '
Her dad - 'Do make sure you tell that to the traffic cop darling!'
-----------------------------------------
'Amma you have 'nosy' cheeks!'
'Amma..you are a pretty girl.. I like your dress.. you look Fabulous!' (Made my day I tell you!)
-------------------------------------------
I am nudging her to go fast as I am getting late for work..
'Don't push me Amma! Hold my hand nicely! There you are!'
-----------------------------------------------------------
I am angry with her over something..
'I dont want to be Raksha's mummy..I want to be Scarlett's mommy'
'No amma, you really want to be Raksha's mummy, you dont want Scarlett..she is not a good girl like me!'
--------------------------------------------------------------
I have taught her ' Poruthar bhoomi Aalwar' and 'Patience is a virtue' to teach her to be patient.
First Raksha-ism..'Poruthar bhoo bhoo.Ghoomi aazhwar!' (This after repeating it is not Ghoomi but Bhoomi!)
Second Raksha-ism..'Raksha get ready..quick quick quick..'
Raksha - 'Wait Amma.. Poruthar bhoomi aazhwar!'
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
What more reason do I need to get out of bed! :)
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Wednesday, June 03, 2009
The Lives of Others - Das Leben der Anderen
Back after a long hiatus.. actually it is this movie that moved me to write..I do not want to forget it's layered, explorative, richness..the questions it raised in my mind and the answers it provided to queries I did not know existed there. Its take on 'the burden of free will' in an oppressed environment..and it's dominoe effect on lives.
The movie is by writer and director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck. The film involves the monitoring of the cultural scene of East Berlin by agents of the Stasi, the GDR's secret police. It stars Ulrich Mühe as Stasi Captain Gerd Wiesler, Ulrich Tukur as his chief Anton Grubitz, Sebastian Koch as the playwright Georg Dreyman, and Martina Gedeck as Dreyman's lover, a prominent actress named Christa-Maria Sieland.
That is the context. Now for it's resonance.What moved me the most is the movie's ability to communicate deeply with what is being unsaid. By choosing not to act or react in a given circumstance, each of the characters reveal the emotions, that define them and their lives.
For Captain Gerd Wiesler - his black and white world slowly moves to the grey and for a very brief period dabbles in a riot of colours. He grapples with this new burst of light in his otherwise colourless soul but slowly and surely moves to nourish it. Alas, his sincere attempt at a symphony between beauty and his conscience ends in a tragic requiem.
Does he love Christa-Maria or is he, as he frequently positions himself before her - simply her adoring audience? How does he reconcile his perception of beauty and dignity in her- with her penultimate 'betrayal'..the ultimate one being her death?
Sad but true for so many is the fate of Christa-Maria.. a thing of beauty, grace and love - that is lusted after and destroyed by the unscrupulous - worshipped and protected by the others - albeit with the subject itself almost never in a position to appreciate or take courage from it. Be it democracy, dignity, commitment or valour - the above seems applicable in reality.
Dreyman's final tribute to his secret spy - ' Sonata for a Good Man' - honours Wiesler's attempt to find his conscience knowing fully well that the consequences will be dire. But, what we are left wondering is this - where a rat like Hempf assimilates and metamorphises in a unified Germany, where a reluctant convert like Dreyman can rise again like a pheonix,where a mere audience like Wiesler is ultimately so personally honoured - why isn't there a place for Maria - the one all the above three once coveted though each for a different reason?
Was her crime beauty,love,ambition or just her conscience that wasnt as elective as it was for the others?
Finding an answer to the above, will I think , for me - crack the puzzle of life.
My rating : 8/10
The movie is by writer and director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck. The film involves the monitoring of the cultural scene of East Berlin by agents of the Stasi, the GDR's secret police. It stars Ulrich Mühe as Stasi Captain Gerd Wiesler, Ulrich Tukur as his chief Anton Grubitz, Sebastian Koch as the playwright Georg Dreyman, and Martina Gedeck as Dreyman's lover, a prominent actress named Christa-Maria Sieland.
That is the context. Now for it's resonance.What moved me the most is the movie's ability to communicate deeply with what is being unsaid. By choosing not to act or react in a given circumstance, each of the characters reveal the emotions, that define them and their lives.
For Captain Gerd Wiesler - his black and white world slowly moves to the grey and for a very brief period dabbles in a riot of colours. He grapples with this new burst of light in his otherwise colourless soul but slowly and surely moves to nourish it. Alas, his sincere attempt at a symphony between beauty and his conscience ends in a tragic requiem.
Does he love Christa-Maria or is he, as he frequently positions himself before her - simply her adoring audience? How does he reconcile his perception of beauty and dignity in her- with her penultimate 'betrayal'..the ultimate one being her death?
Sad but true for so many is the fate of Christa-Maria.. a thing of beauty, grace and love - that is lusted after and destroyed by the unscrupulous - worshipped and protected by the others - albeit with the subject itself almost never in a position to appreciate or take courage from it. Be it democracy, dignity, commitment or valour - the above seems applicable in reality.
Dreyman's final tribute to his secret spy - ' Sonata for a Good Man' - honours Wiesler's attempt to find his conscience knowing fully well that the consequences will be dire. But, what we are left wondering is this - where a rat like Hempf assimilates and metamorphises in a unified Germany, where a reluctant convert like Dreyman can rise again like a pheonix,where a mere audience like Wiesler is ultimately so personally honoured - why isn't there a place for Maria - the one all the above three once coveted though each for a different reason?
Was her crime beauty,love,ambition or just her conscience that wasnt as elective as it was for the others?
Finding an answer to the above, will I think , for me - crack the puzzle of life.
My rating : 8/10
Friday, May 30, 2008
Pyar hua iqrar hua
Every couple have a song(s) that mean something special to them. This is one of our two! Truly timeless..I always feel lyrics are as important as the score.. could never enjoy a song with bad lyrics however good the score might be..Cant really spot the difference between Latha Mangeshkar then and now! The male lead is Manna dey, score is by Shanker Jaikishan and lyrics by Shailendra. Posted by Yours Truly ;)
Stanley and Iris by Martin Ritt
A movie I never wanted to end but go on and on.. Starring Robert De Niro and Jane Fonda. A simple story about a working class woman and a man who doesnt know the letters. The movie brings home with sensitivity the kind of a silent world that an illiterate man resides in - something very close to how a person who cannot speak will go through. Robert De Niro's struggle with himself and his illiteracy is poignantly presented. Jane Fonda is the gentle and encouraging teacher, who refuses to judge him but sees the best in him that he himself doesnt see.
The lesser said about the movie the better enjoyed it is.
A lovely evening watch.
My Rating: 8/10
The lesser said about the movie the better enjoyed it is.
A lovely evening watch.
My Rating: 8/10
Thursday, May 29, 2008
The Titanic
I recently chanced upon the tales of the Titanic passengers on this site. There are several interesting thoughts that came to my mind
a) Even in acts of God, there is some amount of control given to human hands. For example, some men even after the first jab of the iceberg made a bold decision to get on to the lifeboats whereas some others thought it was safer on the Titanic since it was supposed to be 'unsinkable'. Thus the first lifeboat only had 28 people on it - half its capacity. Now, at this point , getting on to the cold black waters vis-a-vis the still relative comfort of the Titanic is a calculated risk. Those who took it survived and those who didnt perished. And it is a change from the status quo. An action. In most high-pressure situations, it is easier to lay still and let fate unfold. That is what some seem to have done, only to pay a heavy price later.
b)If you go through the biographies of all those who escaped and those who perished - you will find a mix there. Noble ones ( Like the woman who let her friend go since she had 'Children waiting back home') when there was only one last place left, or the gentlement who helped all the woman and children on board - they perished. But those who dressed as women to escape and those who even later in life cheated and swindled public money went on to live a 90+ years. But even this is not black and white. Good ones like 'Molly Brown' also survived to live a good life. So there really is no reason or logic! I know.I know. It is foolish to seek for logic in God's handiwork but couldnt help looking for one!
c) There are survivors who beat the odds in any situation. There is a business man who - not waiting for the life boats - vacuums out his suitcase, wraps a fur coat around it, ties it with a belt and buoys himself in the water - till one of the Carpathia boats / other life boats could afford to help him! A man who truly took his fate into his own hands.
d) A man who's mother was born on board a ship in almost the exact same place 82 years ago, drowned there. One of the ladies had an egyptican prophecist tell her that she will face a sinking ship, an earthquake and a motor accident and she will die in the last calamity. She did. One 62 year old woman declared to 'Molly Brown' that she could feel an ill omen foreboding her even before she boarded the Titanic. She was proven right!
Truth is, at most times, stranger than fiction.
a) Even in acts of God, there is some amount of control given to human hands. For example, some men even after the first jab of the iceberg made a bold decision to get on to the lifeboats whereas some others thought it was safer on the Titanic since it was supposed to be 'unsinkable'. Thus the first lifeboat only had 28 people on it - half its capacity. Now, at this point , getting on to the cold black waters vis-a-vis the still relative comfort of the Titanic is a calculated risk. Those who took it survived and those who didnt perished. And it is a change from the status quo. An action. In most high-pressure situations, it is easier to lay still and let fate unfold. That is what some seem to have done, only to pay a heavy price later.
b)If you go through the biographies of all those who escaped and those who perished - you will find a mix there. Noble ones ( Like the woman who let her friend go since she had 'Children waiting back home') when there was only one last place left, or the gentlement who helped all the woman and children on board - they perished. But those who dressed as women to escape and those who even later in life cheated and swindled public money went on to live a 90+ years. But even this is not black and white. Good ones like 'Molly Brown' also survived to live a good life. So there really is no reason or logic! I know.I know. It is foolish to seek for logic in God's handiwork but couldnt help looking for one!
c) There are survivors who beat the odds in any situation. There is a business man who - not waiting for the life boats - vacuums out his suitcase, wraps a fur coat around it, ties it with a belt and buoys himself in the water - till one of the Carpathia boats / other life boats could afford to help him! A man who truly took his fate into his own hands.
d) A man who's mother was born on board a ship in almost the exact same place 82 years ago, drowned there. One of the ladies had an egyptican prophecist tell her that she will face a sinking ship, an earthquake and a motor accident and she will die in the last calamity. She did. One 62 year old woman declared to 'Molly Brown' that she could feel an ill omen foreboding her even before she boarded the Titanic. She was proven right!
Truth is, at most times, stranger than fiction.
Monday, May 19, 2008
St Paul's Cathedral, London
Visited StPaul's Cathedral on Saturday. It was an amazing experience. The beauty of the Cathedral with its expanded style, the stained glass paintings, the etched images, the gate of tijou, the American Chapel, The light of the world image.. it was overwhelmingly beautiful. The minute you enter the cathedral, there is a settling feeling of peace. The tall and wide structure - as intended by Christopher Wren,the architect- opens your heart wide open and lets it free. If you ever visit the place do not forget to opt for the audio guide. It is non-intrusive and very well directed. At appropriate places, the audio stops to play some music that so soothes and refreshes you. When we went there was a marriage in the Cathedral plus a crowd of atleast 500 people. But there was such a silence except for the wedding march that nobody would have guessed such a crowd was inside. I plan to visit again for the place is really something. It also takes a good half a day - if you really want to appreciate every inch of the place. You could sit in front of the American Chapel and the Light of the world image for a good half an hour just absorbing their beauty and richness of detail.
Very well maintained, well organised by the admin and finely appreciated by the visitors.
Click below for a virtual tour for you to get a sense of what I am saying..
http://www.sphericalimages.com/stpauls/virtual_tour.htm
Can't deny the sense of regret at the thought of our ancient Indian architectural marvels, that - if only appreciated and looked after as much as this one, would inspire as much awe and respect- if not more.
Very well maintained, well organised by the admin and finely appreciated by the visitors.
Click below for a virtual tour for you to get a sense of what I am saying..
http://www.sphericalimages.com/stpauls/virtual_tour.htm
Can't deny the sense of regret at the thought of our ancient Indian architectural marvels, that - if only appreciated and looked after as much as this one, would inspire as much awe and respect- if not more.
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
Moham Ennum - Sindhu Bhairavi
One of my most favourite pieces of music..Ilayaraja and Jesudas - an eclectic combo. The lyrics, the score and the action have set a level that cannot be crossed. A rare score that allows a man to feel, to give voice to his struggle between conflicting commitments, without being effete.Dont know if you can as finely appreciate it if you cant understand the lyrics or the context. But I wouldnt be surprised if you did!
Thelma and Louise by Ridley Scott
A poignant movie about the unrelenting friendship between a housewife and a waitress. Starting out on an innocent weekend trip the pair's life takes a dangerous turn. One evil man's interruption in their lives dooms them forever. But in those 24 - 48 hours between the time they start on the trip to the heart-breaking finale, these two women live a life that they hadnt in their entire lifetime before those hours.
As different as chalk and cheese, they bicker, they are prejudiced against each other, they tear each other into pieces but are fiercely committed to their friendship without ever having the need to say so. Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis do a brilliant job - surprising that they lost out on the Academy awards. The movie has won one for the Screenplay though. The movie wonderfully captures their metamorphosis like an amoeba in directions they themselves havent fathomed before..
Brad Pitt - the cowboy petty thief- didnt realise he was used in movies as a 'dish' even back then ;)
No woman will come back from this movie without missing their closest friends..past and present..and identifying themselves as Thelma and Louise seperately and together.. No man will be able to resist saying ' pfffff.. women! what were they thinking..'
My rating 8/10
As different as chalk and cheese, they bicker, they are prejudiced against each other, they tear each other into pieces but are fiercely committed to their friendship without ever having the need to say so. Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis do a brilliant job - surprising that they lost out on the Academy awards. The movie has won one for the Screenplay though. The movie wonderfully captures their metamorphosis like an amoeba in directions they themselves havent fathomed before..
Brad Pitt - the cowboy petty thief- didnt realise he was used in movies as a 'dish' even back then ;)
No woman will come back from this movie without missing their closest friends..past and present..and identifying themselves as Thelma and Louise seperately and together.. No man will be able to resist saying ' pfffff.. women! what were they thinking..'
My rating 8/10
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Coming Home..
Coming back from a stranger's arms
To mum's own
Rushing from school
To find mom and sis and bros and dad and hot bhajjis!
Returning from an exhilirating inter-collegiate programme
To the hostel
To familiar room-mates
To banter through the night
Looking forward for the weekend
To catch up with by now scattered friends
And old books that remind you of the carefree days
In a far way city that is home to your job
And now..
Just closing the day
With somebody who knows-not to judge you in anyway
And where 'Being You' makes you endearing and a delight to be with..
'Coming home' is truly a pleasure..
Knowing this will further evolve..
And hoping that
I will be 'Home' too someday to somebody..
Is one of the few reasons..
Tomorrow looks promising and worth planning for..
To mum's own
Rushing from school
To find mom and sis and bros and dad and hot bhajjis!
Returning from an exhilirating inter-collegiate programme
To the hostel
To familiar room-mates
To banter through the night
Looking forward for the weekend
To catch up with by now scattered friends
And old books that remind you of the carefree days
In a far way city that is home to your job
And now..
Just closing the day
With somebody who knows-not to judge you in anyway
And where 'Being You' makes you endearing and a delight to be with..
'Coming home' is truly a pleasure..
Knowing this will further evolve..
And hoping that
I will be 'Home' too someday to somebody..
Is one of the few reasons..
Tomorrow looks promising and worth planning for..
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Good Fellas by Martin Scorsese
My first ever Martin Scrosese movie was The Taxi Driver. Bad choice for somebody who had no clue. The movie disturbed me to no end.Since then I have consciously kept away from his movies. Until now.
If you can cross the first three scenes in this movie without barfing.. then congratulations..you have passed the litmus test to handle the rest. I think what is most disturbing is the gore and blood is so matter of fact. No loud background scores, no close-up shots, no nothing. Three guys on a road, a banging noise from the boot, loads of profanities and before you realise it, the guys get down, check the boot, realise that the half-dead man is throbbing, one of them pulls out a knife and whack, whack,whack.
Now for the not-so-faint hearted.. the story.The movie is through the eyes of Henry (Ray Liotta) who has 'as far as he can remember, always wanted to be a gangster'. He takes us through his growth from a teen flunkie of the gang to one of its 3 very powerful members. This 3-some also includes his one-time idol Jimmy (Robert De Niro). Paul - the head guy keeps warning them to keep of the drugs business but they just dont. In the end it destroys their friendship, themselves and their families. The movie draws you in and leaves you with regret as though you have been part of the gang and all that they have been through. I have seen Ray Liotta perform better though his scope in this movie is quite huge despite the other talented cast. De Niro is understated and just right for his part. I personally found the head guy Paul funny though he is meant to intimidate. He has what Sidney Lumet calls 'Search light' eyes that take aeons to pass from one person to the other! Karen (Lorraine Braco) Henry's wife - seems the smartest of the lot - except for her loose possessiveness for her husband. You keep an eye out for her in the movie and you realise she is more rational and shrewd than the whole gang put together!
My Rating : 7/10
If you can cross the first three scenes in this movie without barfing.. then congratulations..you have passed the litmus test to handle the rest. I think what is most disturbing is the gore and blood is so matter of fact. No loud background scores, no close-up shots, no nothing. Three guys on a road, a banging noise from the boot, loads of profanities and before you realise it, the guys get down, check the boot, realise that the half-dead man is throbbing, one of them pulls out a knife and whack, whack,whack.
Now for the not-so-faint hearted.. the story.The movie is through the eyes of Henry (Ray Liotta) who has 'as far as he can remember, always wanted to be a gangster'. He takes us through his growth from a teen flunkie of the gang to one of its 3 very powerful members. This 3-some also includes his one-time idol Jimmy (Robert De Niro). Paul - the head guy keeps warning them to keep of the drugs business but they just dont. In the end it destroys their friendship, themselves and their families. The movie draws you in and leaves you with regret as though you have been part of the gang and all that they have been through. I have seen Ray Liotta perform better though his scope in this movie is quite huge despite the other talented cast. De Niro is understated and just right for his part. I personally found the head guy Paul funny though he is meant to intimidate. He has what Sidney Lumet calls 'Search light' eyes that take aeons to pass from one person to the other! Karen (Lorraine Braco) Henry's wife - seems the smartest of the lot - except for her loose possessiveness for her husband. You keep an eye out for her in the movie and you realise she is more rational and shrewd than the whole gang put together!
My Rating : 7/10
Friday, April 18, 2008
abhi na jao chodkar
Magic is such as this one created by Sahir Ludhianvi, Jaidev, Mohmd Rafi and Asha Bonsle. The fond mischief in the lyrics and the score is what is so endearing.. note the mischief -' jo roj yun hi jaaogi..tho kis tarah nibhaogi?'
Marriage Compass!
I keep telling my K that the only reason I married him is 'coz he can make me laugh - no matter what the circumstance..and he re-affirmed it yet again!
Yesterday he innocently asked me if he could have an Egg dish the next day..In view of the fact that it was a Friday and we had mutually decided long back that no egg dishes would ever be cooked on tuesdays and fridays.. i went on a tirade of how it was just like him to be insensitive and not take such things seriously and so on and so forth.. he let me run my steam and said 'ok.. that means no egg dish tomorrow' - and went back to what he was doing..
The best part is that today - on Friday - I forget it is a Friday and ask him if he would like an egg dish - he turned fully towards me and repeated every word, re-enacted every intonation and every head thrust and stopped exactly where I did yesterday!.. and I burst out laughing uproariously.. Was I indeed so melo-dramatic, so hysterical and petty for such a small misdemeanour? Why, I never thought of myself to be such a drama queen! Next time, for sure I shall stop and think before I work myself into a temper!
You know that the Marriage Compass is pointing right - if as a couple you laugh more than once a day and more so if you are laughing at one of yourself or both!
Yesterday he innocently asked me if he could have an Egg dish the next day..In view of the fact that it was a Friday and we had mutually decided long back that no egg dishes would ever be cooked on tuesdays and fridays.. i went on a tirade of how it was just like him to be insensitive and not take such things seriously and so on and so forth.. he let me run my steam and said 'ok.. that means no egg dish tomorrow' - and went back to what he was doing..
The best part is that today - on Friday - I forget it is a Friday and ask him if he would like an egg dish - he turned fully towards me and repeated every word, re-enacted every intonation and every head thrust and stopped exactly where I did yesterday!.. and I burst out laughing uproariously.. Was I indeed so melo-dramatic, so hysterical and petty for such a small misdemeanour? Why, I never thought of myself to be such a drama queen! Next time, for sure I shall stop and think before I work myself into a temper!
You know that the Marriage Compass is pointing right - if as a couple you laugh more than once a day and more so if you are laughing at one of yourself or both!
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Ram from Mars
All you modern girls
Raise your voices
In indignant haste
At my unjustified silence
Against Ram's silly rambles..
Sita! You silly girl..
I hear you squeal..
Fight for your rights woman!
My dear fellow women..
Years from now
When you are married
For the first few years
You will question and question and question your spouse
And receive no answers or worse
Receive answers that are tangential to a tangent
And post stepping past the threshold of that initial hope for wisdom
From year 5 if not sooner
You would just give up and listen
'Coz as he puts question after question to you..
Your mind will - like a lazy dog in the afternoon
Get up, look sulkily and go back to sleep on screen-saver mode..
Murmuring only to you..
'Whats the point?
He will never understand
Let me go home to mum!
And let this Martian be..'
Raise your voices
In indignant haste
At my unjustified silence
Against Ram's silly rambles..
Sita! You silly girl..
I hear you squeal..
Fight for your rights woman!
My dear fellow women..
Years from now
When you are married
For the first few years
You will question and question and question your spouse
And receive no answers or worse
Receive answers that are tangential to a tangent
And post stepping past the threshold of that initial hope for wisdom
From year 5 if not sooner
You would just give up and listen
'Coz as he puts question after question to you..
Your mind will - like a lazy dog in the afternoon
Get up, look sulkily and go back to sleep on screen-saver mode..
Murmuring only to you..
'Whats the point?
He will never understand
Let me go home to mum!
And let this Martian be..'
isko hi jeena kehtein hein tho yuhi jee lenge...
Play the song. Close your eyes. Listen to the lyrics. Go over them line by line.
S D Burman's background track will allow you to listen to those rich lyrics. He even manages to somehow enhance their meaning through the haunting score. Hemant kumar goes straight for the emotional jugular and S D Burman facilitates it mesmerisingly.. I for one never developed a liking for Guru Dutt's self-pity oriented themes.. but his rendition of these themes.. oh,the honest rendition .. with the rough edges left deliberately unpolished.. just phenomenal! Just think of a moment when you were at your weakest, drained, tired, misunderstood - and his songs will pay homage to your emotions - in the most graceful manner possible.
Click here for the song..
http://youtube.com/watch?v=dkKt8cGZPz4
S D Burman's background track will allow you to listen to those rich lyrics. He even manages to somehow enhance their meaning through the haunting score. Hemant kumar goes straight for the emotional jugular and S D Burman facilitates it mesmerisingly.. I for one never developed a liking for Guru Dutt's self-pity oriented themes.. but his rendition of these themes.. oh,the honest rendition .. with the rough edges left deliberately unpolished.. just phenomenal! Just think of a moment when you were at your weakest, drained, tired, misunderstood - and his songs will pay homage to your emotions - in the most graceful manner possible.
Click here for the song..
http://youtube.com/watch?v=dkKt8cGZPz4
Friday, April 11, 2008
Heat by Michael Mann
Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Val Kilmer, Jon Voight.. an impressive cast. I rented the movie with great expectations. Turned out to be an out and out guy flick.. Lots of 'GO,GO,GO! ' and shoot outs and macho dialogues and what not.. full masala! Al Pacino's flamboyance in this movie reminds of the Tamil hero Vijaykanth! Hubby says am free to call Al -'Al Kanth' just for this one!
Now, dont get me wrong.. am not against flamboyant characterisation..if I think flamboyance suits a guy.. it is John Travolta.. I totally fell for that guy's ability to pull it off in 'Get Shorty'. With Al.. somehow it doesn't fly..
My Rating : 5/10
Also saw Frankie and Johnny by Garry Marshall ( Al again and Michelle Pfeiffer) and The Dirty Dozen by Robert Aldrich ( Lee Marvin and a whole others am not familiar with..)I have nothing much to say about either!
Now, dont get me wrong.. am not against flamboyant characterisation..if I think flamboyance suits a guy.. it is John Travolta.. I totally fell for that guy's ability to pull it off in 'Get Shorty'. With Al.. somehow it doesn't fly..
My Rating : 5/10
Also saw Frankie and Johnny by Garry Marshall ( Al again and Michelle Pfeiffer) and The Dirty Dozen by Robert Aldrich ( Lee Marvin and a whole others am not familiar with..)I have nothing much to say about either!
Thanksgiving!
Here's to somebody who..
Let go of you completely
But still when you are down..
Knows to write to you..
Exactly what will help you deal with it..
Lives with you day in and day out..
And still has it in him to be ok with all that you are..
And finds it possible to check in on your comforter
In the middle of the night - despite a raging fight
Worries, hurts and celebrates
As much as you do and tries to take some of your part
As only a mum can..
Adjusts, accepts and guides
Shares lessons from her own life
And helps you relate to someone important through
Milestones in her own struggle to relate and understand..
Comes over to your house to chill
And still cooks for you 'coz she is fond of you..
Though a happy-go-lucky person
Shows a rare but much appreciated, unexpected sensitivity
To what you may feel
Shares his vulnerabilities
Pulls back when hurt
But gets back with no grudges held
Is generous enough to take the time off
To write something nice
About an 'out of sight' person
Just pops out of nowhere
To connect again
Like there was no break inbetween
Always delighted to hear from you
And not shy to show it..
Uses you as a sounding board
And listens to you with respect
Is willing to go a step further
To understand and empathise what is not being said..
Digs you out of bales of others
And tells you day in and day out
What makes you special and
Gives you an opportunity to prove it..
Sits across the table cutting all heirarchies
And values your opinion
Communicating the reason why you are valued
So you make no mistake of false humility..
Calls you from a land very far away
At the hint of a crisis
And spends hours to guide and empathise
When there are absolutely no stakes left
But 6 years of seniority in a similar life and a growing fondness..
Knows when you are disturbed
And takes you to a Ghazal lunch
And cracks jokes that ensure you smile..
Stands by you like a rock
And more importantly
The person that is dear to you..
Despite the pressure that it brings..
Even while taking those tentative steps as an acquaintance
But crossed and boldy morphed into a friend
When the need suddenly arose
Always treated you with class like you were the most graceful of them all
Even when you werent sure exactly what that meant..
There..
I have attempted to count my infinite blessings!
Like somebody said
For the sake of the those above
Next time when there's a problem
I shall not tell you guys how big my problems are..
But
I shall tell my problems how great you guys are!
This is for each one of you who have made my life more beautiful..
By just being who you are..
Let go of you completely
But still when you are down..
Knows to write to you..
Exactly what will help you deal with it..
Lives with you day in and day out..
And still has it in him to be ok with all that you are..
And finds it possible to check in on your comforter
In the middle of the night - despite a raging fight
Worries, hurts and celebrates
As much as you do and tries to take some of your part
As only a mum can..
Adjusts, accepts and guides
Shares lessons from her own life
And helps you relate to someone important through
Milestones in her own struggle to relate and understand..
Comes over to your house to chill
And still cooks for you 'coz she is fond of you..
Though a happy-go-lucky person
Shows a rare but much appreciated, unexpected sensitivity
To what you may feel
Shares his vulnerabilities
Pulls back when hurt
But gets back with no grudges held
Is generous enough to take the time off
To write something nice
About an 'out of sight' person
Just pops out of nowhere
To connect again
Like there was no break inbetween
Always delighted to hear from you
And not shy to show it..
Uses you as a sounding board
And listens to you with respect
Is willing to go a step further
To understand and empathise what is not being said..
Digs you out of bales of others
And tells you day in and day out
What makes you special and
Gives you an opportunity to prove it..
Sits across the table cutting all heirarchies
And values your opinion
Communicating the reason why you are valued
So you make no mistake of false humility..
Calls you from a land very far away
At the hint of a crisis
And spends hours to guide and empathise
When there are absolutely no stakes left
But 6 years of seniority in a similar life and a growing fondness..
Knows when you are disturbed
And takes you to a Ghazal lunch
And cracks jokes that ensure you smile..
Stands by you like a rock
And more importantly
The person that is dear to you..
Despite the pressure that it brings..
Even while taking those tentative steps as an acquaintance
But crossed and boldy morphed into a friend
When the need suddenly arose
Always treated you with class like you were the most graceful of them all
Even when you werent sure exactly what that meant..
There..
I have attempted to count my infinite blessings!
Like somebody said
For the sake of the those above
Next time when there's a problem
I shall not tell you guys how big my problems are..
But
I shall tell my problems how great you guys are!
This is for each one of you who have made my life more beautiful..
By just being who you are..
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
The Sixth Sense
Chat
Mail
Skype
Orkut
Linkedin
Facebook..
How can you possibly miss anybody?
You ask.
Knowing that when she says that particular comment he'll smirk -
Turning around to catch that predictable reaction..
Catching her eyes across the room to wink about girly secrets ..
Secretly listening in as a group to a mundane telephone that is suddenly hilarious ...
Hearing their guttural laughter and joining in..
Teasing about her not-so-secret crushes..
Till its me who blushes and not she..
Oh.. it is very much possible to miss a lot of people
Despite a complete access to their electronic avtars..
Now, You get off G- talk
And come home to me.
Skype
Orkut
Facebook..
How can you possibly miss anybody?
You ask.
Knowing that when she says that particular comment he'll smirk -
Turning around to catch that predictable reaction..
Catching her eyes across the room to wink about girly secrets ..
Secretly listening in as a group to a mundane telephone that is suddenly hilarious ...
Hearing their guttural laughter and joining in..
Teasing about her not-so-secret crushes..
Till its me who blushes and not she..
Oh.. it is very much possible to miss a lot of people
Despite a complete access to their electronic avtars..
Now, You get off G- talk
And come home to me.
Monday, April 07, 2008
Dog Day Afternoon by Sidney Lumet
Again a real life adaptation, this movie is simply brilliant. The plot is fairly simple. An amateurish bank robbery that 'Sonny' almost pulls off..or so he thinks... Al Pacino is brilliant as the young and inexperienced 'Sonny' who wants desperately to satisfy everybody around him but fails at it every time. On a 'Dog Day Afternoon' he tries to rob a bank so that his boyfriend can afford to have a sex-change operation. The relationship between his boyfriend and him is potrayed as naturally as possible.. in Sidney's own words ' as conflicts in any relationship are.. only these are normal people in a bizarre situation'. There is no exaggeration or stereotyping of the relationship.
There are several brilliant scenes that stand out for their most un-melodramatic rendition of humane emotions.
a) The top scene has to be 'Sonny's' dictation of the will.. ' To Leon.. the only man I ever loved' and 'To Angie.. the only woman I ever loved'
b) 'Sonny's' spontaneous screaming of the anti-establishment chant 'Attica' that is soon picked up by the gathered crowd
c) 'Sonny's' mom trying to convince him to surrender or run.. without listening to a single word he says. A single scene that tells us the exact relationship between him and the authority figures in his life
d) His telecons with his wife and Leo.. the rage, the love, the generosity.. Al outshines himself several times over!
There is not a single studio-shot in th entire movie and the effect is phenomenal.. you feel part of the crowd watching the action..only you have closer access to Sonny's real and self-exaggerated predicaments. Like in 'Donnie Brasco' where you cannot but grow fond of 'Lefty' despite who he is.. here you can't help feeling sorry for Sonny and what becomes of him despite the fact that he took an option that shouldnt have been one for him in the first place..
My Rating : 8/10
There are several brilliant scenes that stand out for their most un-melodramatic rendition of humane emotions.
a) The top scene has to be 'Sonny's' dictation of the will.. ' To Leon.. the only man I ever loved' and 'To Angie.. the only woman I ever loved'
b) 'Sonny's' spontaneous screaming of the anti-establishment chant 'Attica' that is soon picked up by the gathered crowd
c) 'Sonny's' mom trying to convince him to surrender or run.. without listening to a single word he says. A single scene that tells us the exact relationship between him and the authority figures in his life
d) His telecons with his wife and Leo.. the rage, the love, the generosity.. Al outshines himself several times over!
There is not a single studio-shot in th entire movie and the effect is phenomenal.. you feel part of the crowd watching the action..only you have closer access to Sonny's real and self-exaggerated predicaments. Like in 'Donnie Brasco' where you cannot but grow fond of 'Lefty' despite who he is.. here you can't help feeling sorry for Sonny and what becomes of him despite the fact that he took an option that shouldnt have been one for him in the first place..
My Rating : 8/10
Google Google
Being soooooooo used to 'Googling' whatever I want.. it is strangely comical that my mind desperately wants to Google when..
a) I misplace my reading glasses/letter from home/internet banking password somewhere in the house and need to find it in a hurry..
b) I cant remember the name of the guy from office who is supposed to be processing my PF papers..
c) My little Nephew's birthday is coming up and I cant remember the exact date!
d) When am lost on my way back home and dont know which turn to take ..
Google guys! Pls get a palmtop version that can access our memory( like the 'Harry Potter' silver veins that can be poured into a flask!).. and help us search for sense when we need it badly!
a) I misplace my reading glasses/letter from home/internet banking password somewhere in the house and need to find it in a hurry..
b) I cant remember the name of the guy from office who is supposed to be processing my PF papers..
c) My little Nephew's birthday is coming up and I cant remember the exact date!
d) When am lost on my way back home and dont know which turn to take ..
Google guys! Pls get a palmtop version that can access our memory( like the 'Harry Potter' silver veins that can be poured into a flask!).. and help us search for sense when we need it badly!
Sunday, April 06, 2008
Serpico by Sidney Lumet
A much acclaimed movie by the director who had directed the 12 Angry Men and Dog Day Afternoon amongst many others. Based on a real life incident, the movie stars Al Pacino as the idealistic Franc Serpico alias Paco. The movie faithfully records his angst, frustration and final disillusionment with the corruption within the American Police Department. What leaves me cold is Serpico's naivete and refusal to see the big picture. Forget a Police Department, wherever you go, if there is widespread corruption, it would be prudent to assume that it could not have possibly grown to such proportions without the support or indifference of the higher-ups. Point 2, if you want to change a system from within, to expect to do that without encountering any enemity is too far-fetched. Thirdly, when you are in the system and want to go to outsiders especially the media to wash dirty linen within - no senior is going to take too kindly to that. This is true anywhere - be it Politics, the Corporate world, the Movie industry or anywhere. And lastly, after being warned openly about the possiblity of mortal danger, to register shock at being shot in the face - is simply lack of reality orientation!
Franc's idealism though initially appealing, the naivete and dogged angst after 5 years in the system is frustrating, not just to his girlfriend but as an audience to me as well. If he was anyway planning to give up on the system and move to Switzerland he could have done that without getting shot in the face!
Anyways, Al Pacino as usual turns in a brilliant performance - so it wasnt after all a complete waste of time. And may be, me being a cynic couldnt relate much to the character. Somebody else might find Franco highly endearing..So not completely a bummer..
My Rating : 4/10
Franc's idealism though initially appealing, the naivete and dogged angst after 5 years in the system is frustrating, not just to his girlfriend but as an audience to me as well. If he was anyway planning to give up on the system and move to Switzerland he could have done that without getting shot in the face!
Anyways, Al Pacino as usual turns in a brilliant performance - so it wasnt after all a complete waste of time. And may be, me being a cynic couldnt relate much to the character. Somebody else might find Franco highly endearing..So not completely a bummer..
My Rating : 4/10
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