The two faced coin

Thursday 17th March 2011,  7:03 pm


From : abhinaya.karthik@mailsnip.com


To : karthik.abhinaya@mailsnip.com


Subject : empty


Hi. Its high time we talked about stuff Karthik. I have certain things to share. I have been waiting for the right time and now I feel I should be telling all this, for I fear the right time may never come.

***

Thursday 17th March 2011 7:03 pm.


From : karthik.abhinaya@mailsnip.com


To : abhinaya.karthik@mailsnip.com


Subject : empty




Hello. Its high time we talked about stuff Abhi. I have certain things to share. I have been waiting for the perfect moment and now I feel I should be telling all this, for it may be too late.

***

I don't know how or where to start. I thought we'd go on without talking about this but its getting more and more burdensome. By the way did you check the bills that were on the dining table? Last night's pizza is in the fridge. Its been 17 hours since I left home. I don't know when I will be back.

***

I have so much to say and I am not sure where to begin. Its getting heavier by the day. I had the leftovers of last night's pizza. And the bills have been taken care of. I came back an hour ago. The trip was a success. I don't know when you will be back.

***

Karthik, how could you do this to me? After all that happened. How? Do you even understand how I feel?

***

Abhi, how do you even do this to me? Do you feel the same way? I wish you go through this too.

***

Its suffocating Karthik. You know those times when you would go on and on and on? I wish you hadn't talked at all. Those times when I had to talk and keep waiting for your response. I wish I hadn't talked at all. Every time Karthik, every time. Whenever we danced I had to lead. Whenever we kissed I had to be the one who initiated. Come on! What were you even thinking? There are days when all I needed was a hug and a shoulder to cry. And all you would do was stand and stare. Like I conveyed nothing! What were you even thinking? 

***

Its overwhelming Abhi. You know those times when I used to talk and you listen like a baby? I just loved how much you valued putting up with me. You know those moments you talk about everything under the sky? I wish I could make you feel how I feel at those moments. Whenever we danced I let you lead. I didn't attempt to kiss you whenever you didn't want to. I wanted to be different. I wanted to make you feel special. You remember those days when all I did was to sit and look at your face. Those moments were filled with silence but I believe those are the times when we had the deepest of conversations.

***

That cover full of stuff under the bed? What was that? It started stinking. I feel like I don't even know you anymore. Check if the maid had cleaned that. Fuck! Why am I even bothered about that house. I don't want to come back Karthik. It sucks to know that there's no other place to go.

***

I can't find the bouquet under the bed. So I assume you got it. Hope you liked the card too.

***

I don't even know why I'm mailing you all this. I tried telling all this to your face. Then I thought I should be talking to the same face that doesn't react at all.

***

I don't even know why I'm mailing all this. I would love to tell all this to you directly. But you render me speechless, every single time.

***

I wish I never get back home. I don't love you anymore Karthik. Bye.

***

Waiting for you to knock the door anytime. I love you Abhi, more than ever. Missing you. Bye.

**************

Thursday March 17 2011 7.31 pm


The mail service provider was probably flipping a coin to decide whose heart to break first.

தமிழ் இனி மெல்லச்சாகும்.

புதிய நண்பர்களிடம், பழக ஆரமித்த சில நாட்களில் "தமிழ் படிக்க தெரியுமா?" என்று நான் கேட்பதுண்டு. பலரும் 'இல்லை' என்ற பதிலையே தருவார்கள். மற்றவர்கள் எழுத்து கூட்டி படிக்க நேரம் ஆகிறது. பேச தெரியும் ஆனா பள்ளியில் பிரெஞ்சு படிச்சேன் சமஸ்க்ரிதம் படிச்சேன் என்றெல்லாம் கூறுவது உண்டு. வேறு மொழி தெரிந்து கொள்வதில் தவறில்லை அதுக்காக தமிழ் நாட்டில் பிறந்து, வீட்டில் தமிழ் பேசி வளர்ந்துவிட்டு தமிழ் படிக்க தெரியாது என்று சொன்னால் வருத்தபடதான் முடிகின்றது என்னால்.


இன்றைய கட்டத்தில் நம்மில் யாரும் தமிழ் படிப்பதும் இல்லை, தமிழ் படிப்பதும் இல்லை. பல காரணங்கள் சொல்லலாம். அரசாங்கம் மிகச்சிறப்பாக தமிழ் வளர்க்கிறது. சோகம் என்னவென்றால் அது டில்லியில் மட்டுமே. சட்ட சபையில் சட்டை அவிழாமல் இருக்க தமிழைப்பற்றி பக்கம் பக்கமாக பேசுகின்றனர். நம்மூரில் தமிழ் மாநாடு என்று ஒன்றை நடத்தினார்கள். ரகுமான் இசை அமைத்த பாடலெல்லாம் வெளியிட்டார்கள். அரசாங்கம் மாறியது, முதல் குறிக்கோளாக அந்த மாநாட்டை மக்கள் மறக்க வேண்டும் என்பதைக்கொண்டு அதை பற்றி புத்தகத்தில்கூட இல்லாதவாறு செய்ய முயற்சிகள் நடந்து கொண்டிருக்கின்றன. வெற்றி தமிழக அரசுக்கு. தோல்வி தமிழுக்கு.

"என்னடா இவன் பெரிய திருவள்ளுவன் மாதிரி  தமிழ் தொண்டு பத்தி பேசறானே தமிழ் பாடத்தை எடுத்து படிக்க வேண்டியது தான?" என்று நீங்கள் கேட்பது வாஸ்தவம் தான். வயத்து பொழப்புன்னு ஒன்னு இருக்கே! தமிழை பாடமாக எடுத்து படிக்காவிட்டாலும் பொழுது போக்கிற்காக தமிழ் படிக்கலாமே? 

அனால் அதற்கும் வழி இல்லாமல் போனது. 

விழுக்காடு- என்ன அருமையான வார்த்தை. இந்த ஒரு வார்த்தை சொல்லிவிடும் ஒன்னாம் பகுப்பில் இருந்து பன்னிரெண்டாம் வகுப்பு வரை ஒரு மாணவன் எதற்காக வாழ்கையை செலவிடுகிறான் என்பதை. விழுக்காடு விழுக்காடு என்று மதிப்பென்னுக்க்காகவே வாழ்ந்து பாடம் படிக்கிறான். வாழ்க்கைப்பாடம் நடத்தும் தேர்வில் தோற்றுவிடுகிறான். பள்ளிக்கு பின் விழும் காட்டை தான் விழுக்காடு என்ற வார்த்தை அறிவுருத்துகிறதோ என்னவோ.

எட்டாம் வகுப்பு வரை தமிழ் கட்டாயமாக படிக்கவேண்டும் என்ற விதி கொண்டுவந்தார்கள்  அதையும் ஒழுங்க செஞ்சாங்களா? இல்ல. வள்ளுவனும் தொல்காப்பியரும் எழுதின பாடல்களுக்கு நடுவே "ஒவ்வொரு பூக்களுமே" னு சினிமா பாட்டு. அதுல இலக்கணமும்  தப்பு. கவிச்சுதந்திரம் னு மழுப்பிடுவாங்க. எட்டாவது படிக்கர பையனுக்கு தெரியுமா அதெல்லாம்? யோசனை என்பதையே மறந்தாச்சு.

கலப்புத்தமிழ் உணர்ந்து  திருத்தம் செய்க னு ஒரு பகுதி. ரெண்டு மார்க் வாங்கலாம். ரெண்டு மார்க் தான னு படிக்க முயற்சி கூட  செய்வதில்லை ஒருத்தனும். இப்படி இருந்தா தமிழ் எங்க வளரும்? 

தமிழ் பாடல்களில் தமிழை விட ஆங்கிலம் அதிகமாக உள்ளது. வயலின் னு ஒரு இசைக்கருவிய மறந்தே போயாச்சு. ஒன்னு குத்து பாட்டு இல்ல மேற்கத்திய இசை. கவிதை என்பது வேற ஒருவன் காதலிக்காக வடை மடிச்ச குமுதம் பேப்பர்ல பாத்து  சொல்றதோட முடிஞ்சு போச்சு. தமிழ் செய்தித்தாள் வாசிப்பது அவமானமாம். இதெல்லாம் யார் வளத்து விடறாங்கனு தெரியலை.

தெரிஞ்சே தான் சொன்னாங்க போல இருக்கு 

தமிழ் இனி மெல்லச்சாகும்.

Avan Ivan - a class apart.

Title: Avan Ivan.


Director: Bala.


Cast: Vishal, Arya.

Bala promised us a total comedy script. And he is such an evil minded person. You can never find someone as ruthless and with so much hatred for man kind. What does Bala do in the movie? he makes you laugh. From frame one. Makes you laugh so hard that eventually tears roll down your cheek. And even after that you continue laughing. And then, and then he makes you cry. CRY! 


The story-line is a simple one liner. My guess is he wouldn't have taken more than 30 minutes to narrate the story to the cast. But the screenplay should be appreciated separately. This is not another 'Nanda' or 'Naan Kadavul'. But this movie will stand apart in Bala's career as a unique milestone. Calling this script a complete comic element would be like calling Anbe Sivam a quickie. I don't know how deeply Bala was involved while designing Vishal's character. Bala puts the epic in epicness.


I should say Arya plays a smooth secondary role in the movie. We should recall how big a milestone Naan Kadavul was in Arya's career and Bala has polished the good actor shield of Arya again after movies like Chikku-Bukku and Boss.. which killed the actor in Arya. I have always thought Arya should be made to act and he on his own will can not. I am not blaming his skills but Bala has played the role of the teacher who makes the student study in his life. Excellent timing in the scenes involving humour. And Arya has let himself loose in this movie.


The guy who played the role of 'Highness'. Thamizh cinema will remember this guy for long, rally long. He may not have used his acting skills much but he lives with us through out the movie. He has been bold. Bala uses one such character in almost all his films. I just can't find words to describe how pivotal a role this guy has pulled off. Watch the movie for this guy.


VISHAL: 


Its Bala's nature that he works hard on a character, writes up a narrative and kills us by showing everybody that he will change the image of an actor upside down. Bala can make Charlie Chaplin cry and give us a hit. Vishal's introduction is one of the high points of the movie. A brilliant take off. And then it starts. Its a riot throughout. The sentimental scenes of Arya blow us away. Brotherhood takes a different meaning. Simply put, there are two scenes I will never forget in my life. Who can?! Vishal demonstrates 'Nava-rasam' in a scene. Go for a cardio test if you don't cry in the end. And then the block before the climax and the climax. I personally thought Vishal couldn't act to save his life. And then the Bala phenomenon happened. If Vishal doesn't get an award, not one but many, I would say his standards have grown ahead of the awards. I would watching not once, not twice but thrice at least for Vishal.


Yuvan has done what Raja did to Naan Kadavul. Music that defines and doesn't disturb. The Vishal-Yuvan combo will make you cry in the scene aforementioned. 


I'm dividing the rating into 5 parts. Story, screenplay, Arya, Vishal and the guy who played the role of 'highness'.



Story - 15/20. Screenplay - 17/20. Arya - 18/20. 'Highness' - 18/20. Vishal - 20/20.


Overall the film scores an 88/100. Which gives it an 8.8/10.

Bottomline:

Bala has risen to a level from where there is no coming back. He should never stop writing. Never stop to surprise us. I'm sorry for all the accusation Bala. You are godlevel, probably beyond. 


Thamizh cinema needs stories. Stories need good actors. Actors need Bala.

Aaranya Kaandam - A new chapter 'also' in Tamil Cinema

Aaranya Kaandam ( Translating to Jungle chapter) is the third chapter in the epic Ramayana. It deals with Raavan kidnapping Sita and the beginning of Ram and Laxman's search for Sita with the help of so many.

The USP of this particular chapter is deception. How Raavan employed Mareech to deceive Ram/Laxman in order to kidnap Sita. And the movie that released with the same name today lives up and does justice to its title.


Title : Aaranya Kaandam.

Director : Thayagarajan Kumararaja.


Cast : Jackie Sheroff, Sampath, Ravi Krishna and Yasmin Ponnappa.

The movie was launched with a great backing from the South Asian Film festival. It won the Grand Jury award at the said function and my hopes were high on this movie and now I'll try to put into words how far it remained true to the hype. I was sitting there taking notes and wrote a rough review of the first half during the interval break. Yes, I was impressed.



The movie starts with the introduction of Singaperumal (Jackie) and Subbu (Yasmin). The first half is racy like you want any fast movie to be. There are no stereotypical fight scene introductory scenes to insist that the plot is over a group of gangsters. Pasupathi's (Sampath) role comes off as a good person among the bad ones. Someone who is smarter than the rest. Ajay Raj of Chennai-28 fame pulls off a comic stint as Chittu. The kid Kodukkapuli and his dad were one of my favorite additions. The dad guy showing innocence, the kid playing a role way above his age and the couple of scenes where the father-son intimacy are shown leave a mark in your mind.  First half is a relatively short one compared to conventional Tamil Cinema and it moves twice its pace and before you even know you hit the interval block. The first half gets interesting in the first fifteen minutes with a number of parallel plots. The interval block couldn't have been better. The cock fight just before the interval block will remind you of the one in Aadukalam, only here its real and graphics were not used. The first half will already leave you guessing the climax. If only it was the usual Tamil cinema story your guess would most certainly come true in the second half and that's where the script scores.

The chase in the beginning of the first half is a remarkable attempt at innovation, at both camera and screenplay. I should say that we all got used to watching the hero being chased by a group in almost one in three movies differing only in the location or the distance or both. This chase focused more on the story and I should say the path on which the story is to travel for the next one hour or so is decided during that chase. All this while Ravi Krishna who played  the character Sappa remains a vestigial character in the movie excepting a few scenes which of course were important. A few scenes in the second half involving Yasmin and Ravi were the ones pulling the reins tight on the horse. They could've let it loose a bit.

The movie then races to the climax. A plan unfolds in front of your eyes, a simple but effective one. Something that will make you go 'bravo'. Before you know the movie reaches the climax. And man, this is one unexpected climax. I waited for my guesses to come true and the script laughed at me every time it proved my guesses wrong.

The dialogues need a special mention. They are raw, crude and exposes the lifestyle of the most primal class of people. And it makes you stick to the movie and relate to the characters.

Now I have to mention Jackie Sheroff separately. He has pulled off a role that none else could. I should say not that none can but none will. The introduction scene indicates the character's impotency and I bet any actor would think twice before saying yes for the inclusion of such a scene.

The Kamalhassan, Rajnikanth, Vijaykanth joke was indeed well played.

And the music. The best thing about this movie was the exclusion of songs. I was glad. There were too many strong scripts that faced criticism because of the inclusion of ridiculous songs. Being a gangster subject one would expect an item number with the mobs dancing and drinking around her. But the director has scored yet again in that area. Yuvan's music did not intervene the  movie at any point. The subtle violin made the dialogues and the monologues even more clear.



A very special mention to S.P. Charan for having believed in the script and for taking a bold attempt to carry the movie on his shoulders. I think he will be paid back with good criticism and sadly this movie doesn't promise commercial success.

The movie ends with THAT character walking away voicing out THAT line and THAT says all about the movie in one line.


To sum up, I think I'll give it a 9.5/10. The 0.5 being taken off just to keep the crew on their feet. I really don't know how Thyagarajan Kumararaja will handle his next movie after having set such a high benchmark for himself.

Bottom line:

I can gladly say we have got a near perfect movie in a very long time.