This movie is all about betrayal, love and murder staged in the rustic madurai of the 80s. The fulcrum of the film is a couple of youngsters that get guiled into becoming rogues, eventually end up committing cold blooded murders for which they themselves fall prey to and lose their lives. The major part of the movie takes place in 1980, shuttling between present day and back, for a few minutes. What forms the end of the film is something you'll not be prepared for.
A bold theme and a clear screenplay walks us through the entire length of the movie with awe striking reality. Since all (or atleast most of them) are new actors, its a breath of fresh air that fills up the entire characterization. The director himself debuts in an important lead role which incidentally marks his debut directorial venture as well [He has also produced it]. The 80s madurai has been wonderfully portrayed, especially the songs played on the radio and the release of super star's hit film "Murattu kaalai". Other little nuances that are visibly explicit like the costume of the male characters, the lambrada scooter, the TV model and the video of the old songs playing on it are well thought out. The director definitely deserves appreciation here.
Laudable performances form the movie's forte. Stunning revelations are Samuthirakani who plays the antagonist and Ganja karuppu who has acted in a supporting role that has more than humour in it. Jai (of chennai 28 fame -rockers raghu) who plays the lead shines but only in certain scenes. One instance when he cries out loud that he is instilled with the fear of death and another in the climax when he learns (in his dying moments) that he is turned in by none other than his own love are notable observations. The female lead played by a new face swathi too deserves a praise here when she wails out loud realizing the mistake that she has done. [what happens to her in the end is not told]. Otherwise she walks in and out of every frame like a doll.
James vasanthan (who we all know as a tamil tv comperer) scores music for this film and has come out with bright colours in his debut. The song "Kangal irandal" bears testimony to that and james has done a commendable job in the background score too.
Overall this is a gripping story that binds us to the movie. Worth a watch for its bold approach and refreshing story line. Simply put, this is a no nonsense movie and will be ranked among the good movies. 4 stars out of five.
Ta
Monday, July 28, 2008
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Once upon a time, when i drove a car.......
A friend of mine read my post on my passion for driving. We caught up with each other in a chat online and he reminded me of an embarassing experience. This post is the result of that. Though i had forgotten about this incident, he apparently didn't seem to have. You'll know why, when you are done reading this post.
My office was in perungudi at that time and it was a make-shift arrangement before we permanently would move to a new building further down the old mahabalipuram road.My driving was still in its nascence and I wasn't quite comfortable yet driving a car at that time, though i was looking forward to every chance that i could bargain. This is one of them.One of my colleagues(lets call him Mr M) drove to office everyday in his santro and i asked him if i could drive his car once. Refusing at first, unable to put up with my persistent nagging he gave in. Conditionally.
Mr M agreed to let me drive, with him besides me and certain conditions.....i should drive slow and not try anything silly on the road....and blah blah blah blah....... The industrial estate roads around the office were a perfect fit for 'child' drivers like me, with not much traffic on it. I started driving the car with a lot of pride and care (very slowly), like an astronaut driving a shuttle to the Mars. The car rolled on pretty smoothly and i was getting comfortable with it. After a couple of lefts and rights we hit a dead end. The road wasn't wide enough to make a turn around, so M asked me to back up so that we can turn left and then return back to office(he must have had enough of baby-sitting my driving). Now reversing a car isn't my cup of tea, but i put the car in reverse (gear) and very reluctantly stepped on the pedal, looking behind. The car started moving back and as i was beginning to think if i have backed up too much, THUD -- there was a sound as if to say 'Yes' !! and one side of the car was buried into the road. There was a ditch on the side of the road and one of the rear wheels went into the ditch causing the car to precariously hang in balance on the side (Driver's side !!) .
Mr M was so mad at me for driving the car into a ditch and was shouting at me to get off the car. He tried to drive it back up from the ditch, but the engine power wasn't enough to bring the wheel of the car out of the ditch. We tried to push the car out from the ditch, but failed miserably. Eventually we had to seek the help of a passer-by to move the car and the wheel out of the ditch. With the assistance of me and the passer by pushing the car from behind, M was at the steering wheel giving all the throttle. After a few frantic moments, the car climbed out of the ditch, much to our relief. M vowed to never ever let me drive his car again. Though there was no public embarrasment as there was no one else on the road, in an effort to prevent any damage to my reputation, i begged M to keep this from everyone at office. Somehow he agreed.
To this day this has remained a secret. It has seen the daylight now, thanks to this post and my friend's reminder. He'll be a happy soul now, laughing at the dent on my image, whatever little i have.
Ta
My office was in perungudi at that time and it was a make-shift arrangement before we permanently would move to a new building further down the old mahabalipuram road.My driving was still in its nascence and I wasn't quite comfortable yet driving a car at that time, though i was looking forward to every chance that i could bargain. This is one of them.One of my colleagues(lets call him Mr M) drove to office everyday in his santro and i asked him if i could drive his car once. Refusing at first, unable to put up with my persistent nagging he gave in. Conditionally.
Mr M agreed to let me drive, with him besides me and certain conditions.....i should drive slow and not try anything silly on the road....and blah blah blah blah....... The industrial estate roads around the office were a perfect fit for 'child' drivers like me, with not much traffic on it. I started driving the car with a lot of pride and care (very slowly), like an astronaut driving a shuttle to the Mars. The car rolled on pretty smoothly and i was getting comfortable with it. After a couple of lefts and rights we hit a dead end. The road wasn't wide enough to make a turn around, so M asked me to back up so that we can turn left and then return back to office(he must have had enough of baby-sitting my driving). Now reversing a car isn't my cup of tea, but i put the car in reverse (gear) and very reluctantly stepped on the pedal, looking behind. The car started moving back and as i was beginning to think if i have backed up too much, THUD -- there was a sound as if to say 'Yes' !! and one side of the car was buried into the road. There was a ditch on the side of the road and one of the rear wheels went into the ditch causing the car to precariously hang in balance on the side (Driver's side !!) .
Mr M was so mad at me for driving the car into a ditch and was shouting at me to get off the car. He tried to drive it back up from the ditch, but the engine power wasn't enough to bring the wheel of the car out of the ditch. We tried to push the car out from the ditch, but failed miserably. Eventually we had to seek the help of a passer-by to move the car and the wheel out of the ditch. With the assistance of me and the passer by pushing the car from behind, M was at the steering wheel giving all the throttle. After a few frantic moments, the car climbed out of the ditch, much to our relief. M vowed to never ever let me drive his car again. Though there was no public embarrasment as there was no one else on the road, in an effort to prevent any damage to my reputation, i begged M to keep this from everyone at office. Somehow he agreed.
To this day this has remained a secret. It has seen the daylight now, thanks to this post and my friend's reminder. He'll be a happy soul now, laughing at the dent on my image, whatever little i have.
Ta
Saturday, July 19, 2008
A baby's learning power
Today i was playing with Vijay's 6 months old kid Prithvi,[Vijay is my colleague and neighbour] and i was watching him try really hard to grab the pepsi can that i was holding. He's not on his 4 feet yet, and just about manages to crawl to whatever he wants. I learnt that it'll be another month or so before he can move on all fours......he makes sounds like he is talking to us and wants to tell us something......it made me wonder what must be going through the brain inside that little head......Does he really know that whatever he wants to say is not understandable by any adult ? Well... the vice versa is something we'll never know, i'm sure.
He's not going to grow up and say "Look, you told me this one day when i was a 6 month old baby and this is what i understood" right ?
When he learns to speak from the people around him, his glossary would have built up and the accent his speech would take, would be that he hears most.......Its really surprising to see the capability of the human brain to learn so much in a short time. He's definitely learnt a lot and does a lot of things that he didn't 4 months ago......I've always had this thought whenever i play with babies like these.
Ta
He's not going to grow up and say "Look, you told me this one day when i was a 6 month old baby and this is what i understood" right ?
When he learns to speak from the people around him, his glossary would have built up and the accent his speech would take, would be that he hears most.......Its really surprising to see the capability of the human brain to learn so much in a short time. He's definitely learnt a lot and does a lot of things that he didn't 4 months ago......I've always had this thought whenever i play with babies like these.
Ta
Friday, July 18, 2008
Eeemineee.....Eeemineee
Got to listen to this new song from the movie 'Sakkarakatti', sung by chinmayi, 'I miss u da' and it starts with the words "Eeemineee.....Eeemineee" - An alluringly crazy humming that made me like this song. Like all ARR songs, this too is slowly growing on me and is increasingly becoming difficult to take it off my mind.......Oh yeah, this film has music by AR Rahman.
I'm stumped with the way chinmayi goes about rendering the song with all the oomph.... makes me wonder if she is under such an emotional travail in reality. Hard to believe that its her singing, with all the husky tone to the song.
Way to go, chinmayi !! One more inch closer to the pinnacle !!
Ta
I'm stumped with the way chinmayi goes about rendering the song with all the oomph.... makes me wonder if she is under such an emotional travail in reality. Hard to believe that its her singing, with all the husky tone to the song.
Way to go, chinmayi !! One more inch closer to the pinnacle !!
Ta
Thursday, July 17, 2008
With your two eyes
No i wasn't trying to hit bull's eye with an attractive title here, just a bit too lazy to think of a title for this post. Translation of the two words the song starts with...... Thought it was apt for the song i'm gonna talk about.
Kangal irandal - a new song from the movie Subramaniyapuram, has been on a loop on my system for the last couple of days since last week. Its a brilliantly composed song and well sung, all credits to the male and the female voices (supposedly their debut). James vasanthan, the only anchor on tamil TV channels that i know of, who speaks unblemished tamil, is the composer.
The song had me mesmerized since the first time that i listened to it. Such captivating orchestration and amazingly soothing lyrics that blend together, melts your heart like creamy ice cream.....No points for guessing what i'm listening to at this moment, as this post is taking life........
P.S. : Learnt that this song is on a raaga called reethigowla (carnatic purists, beg your pardon if i didn't spell that right :) ), there have been songs before composed using this raaga. here's the list....
1. Chinna kannan azhaikkiran - kavikkuyil by Ilayaraja
2. Thalayai kuniyum thamaraiye - By ilayaraja
3. Azhagana ratchasiye - Mudhalvan by AR Rahman
4. Meetadha oru veenai - Poonthottam by Ilayaraja
Ta
Kangal irandal - a new song from the movie Subramaniyapuram, has been on a loop on my system for the last couple of days since last week. Its a brilliantly composed song and well sung, all credits to the male and the female voices (supposedly their debut). James vasanthan, the only anchor on tamil TV channels that i know of, who speaks unblemished tamil, is the composer.
The song had me mesmerized since the first time that i listened to it. Such captivating orchestration and amazingly soothing lyrics that blend together, melts your heart like creamy ice cream.....No points for guessing what i'm listening to at this moment, as this post is taking life........
P.S. : Learnt that this song is on a raaga called reethigowla (carnatic purists, beg your pardon if i didn't spell that right :) ), there have been songs before composed using this raaga. here's the list....
1. Chinna kannan azhaikkiran - kavikkuyil by Ilayaraja
2. Thalayai kuniyum thamaraiye - By ilayaraja
3. Azhagana ratchasiye - Mudhalvan by AR Rahman
4. Meetadha oru veenai - Poonthottam by Ilayaraja
Ta
Monday, July 14, 2008
Driving cars & bikes
I like driving. Driving cars, driving bikes.......For the same reason, i like racing games.
Driving pleasures me unlike anything. The sense of satisfaction and the instant gratification is unparalleled to anything on earth. I can't remember since when i took to driving with such passion. I didn't ride a cycle till i was 15. Amidst a lot of embarrasment, I was pushed to learn cycling in the vaction that followed my 10th board exams. Within a year i could drive a geared motorcycle sans help and there's no looking back since then. Bought myself a Discover 125 Cc after i started to goto work. Office was 25 kms from home and hitting 100 kph on a regular basis on my bike, on the way to office and back was never going to be surprise. God smiled at me when the IT corridor was extended and relaid with more lanes to make it a speedway. I had to travel back home pretty late in the night most of the time and i preferred it too. That way i got to keep trafffic and house chores away. Made sure there is just enough time for me to sneak in , eat something and hit bed, for a good night's sleep !!
I would wade through all the traffic from Anna arch to choolaimedu through nelson manikam road and then hit tnagar via mahalingapuram. Out of tnagar onto mount road through venkatnarayana road and then it is chamiers road headed to kotturpuram. One straight road till the cancer institute[where you hit 80 comfortably] where its a dead end and then skid onto madhya kailash, where the whole city is waiting for you, or..... well.. for the traffic to clear, of course. From then on its another 10 kms of IT highway to office, bliss as i would call it.
Would take me anywhere between 45 to 90 mins for the entire journey.
Its a lot less on the way back home - same route though. One night, I reached home in 22 mins flat.
Well, you may wonder if i was never caught speeding. I was, once. Its another story what happened at that time, but its, proportionately, way too less for 10 years of driving in the fast lane.
I miss it a lot now....Driving back home at such a high speed....with headphones tucked in my ears, inside my helmet. With the radio on, listening to all the good(new) songs and the RJ that somehow keeps me awake. (Thanks to the RJ, i was still on the road)
Later on, I began to goto office by the new santro that dad bought. [he seldom went to office by car]. I enjoyed driving a car to office too, but never as much as i enjoyed a bike. Now i own a civic, but then rules of the game have changed here.
Ta
Driving pleasures me unlike anything. The sense of satisfaction and the instant gratification is unparalleled to anything on earth. I can't remember since when i took to driving with such passion. I didn't ride a cycle till i was 15. Amidst a lot of embarrasment, I was pushed to learn cycling in the vaction that followed my 10th board exams. Within a year i could drive a geared motorcycle sans help and there's no looking back since then. Bought myself a Discover 125 Cc after i started to goto work. Office was 25 kms from home and hitting 100 kph on a regular basis on my bike, on the way to office and back was never going to be surprise. God smiled at me when the IT corridor was extended and relaid with more lanes to make it a speedway. I had to travel back home pretty late in the night most of the time and i preferred it too. That way i got to keep trafffic and house chores away. Made sure there is just enough time for me to sneak in , eat something and hit bed, for a good night's sleep !!
I would wade through all the traffic from Anna arch to choolaimedu through nelson manikam road and then hit tnagar via mahalingapuram. Out of tnagar onto mount road through venkatnarayana road and then it is chamiers road headed to kotturpuram. One straight road till the cancer institute[where you hit 80 comfortably] where its a dead end and then skid onto madhya kailash, where the whole city is waiting for you, or..... well.. for the traffic to clear, of course. From then on its another 10 kms of IT highway to office, bliss as i would call it.
Would take me anywhere between 45 to 90 mins for the entire journey.
Its a lot less on the way back home - same route though. One night, I reached home in 22 mins flat.
Well, you may wonder if i was never caught speeding. I was, once. Its another story what happened at that time, but its, proportionately, way too less for 10 years of driving in the fast lane.
I miss it a lot now....Driving back home at such a high speed....with headphones tucked in my ears, inside my helmet. With the radio on, listening to all the good(new) songs and the RJ that somehow keeps me awake. (Thanks to the RJ, i was still on the road)
Later on, I began to goto office by the new santro that dad bought. [he seldom went to office by car]. I enjoyed driving a car to office too, but never as much as i enjoyed a bike. Now i own a civic, but then rules of the game have changed here.
Ta
Date
Me : Excuse me !!
She : Huhm...ya ?!
Me : Hi, i need to talk to you for a moment. Will you have the time ?
She : You want to talk to me ? What about ?
Me : I'm afraid i can't say that here, in public.
She : (Rises slowly from her chair smiling mischievously and gestures to her friends on the table that she'd be back)
At the Far east desolate corner, we stand facing each other.
Me : I wanted to ask you out. Out for a date......
She : what ?.... Are you a jerk ? (surprise).......you don't even know me.....i don't know you.....And...
Me : [Isn't that reason enough to go out on a date ?] That's precisely one of the reasons we have to go on a date. I need to know more about you and you about me.
She : is this some kind of a joke ?
Me : No its not. Let me explain. I know that your father works in this(un-name-able) institute and you also stay in the same campus. I found out your mobile number and your landline. I learnt that you wrote the [DOG ?!?!] exam, made it to the shortlist of this-famous-business-school, but didn't get through.
She : Don't be a freak ! Tell me why you are doing all this.....
Me : I like you. I think you are pretty. You have captured my imagination like anything.
She : what made you think i'll go out with you.....
Me : Actually, nothing. We all live in perpetual hope and its the same hope that pushed me to do this today.
She : What hope ?!?!? i don't want to go out with you, esp. on a date !!
Me : why not ?
She : I dont want to answer questions like that !! I dont have to !! I can't believe i'm talking to you !! nonsense you are......
She : Huhm...ya ?!
Me : Hi, i need to talk to you for a moment. Will you have the time ?
She : You want to talk to me ? What about ?
Me : I'm afraid i can't say that here, in public.
She : (Rises slowly from her chair smiling mischievously and gestures to her friends on the table that she'd be back)
At the Far east desolate corner, we stand facing each other.
Me : I wanted to ask you out. Out for a date......
She : what ?.... Are you a jerk ? (surprise).......you don't even know me.....i don't know you.....And...
Me : [Isn't that reason enough to go out on a date ?] That's precisely one of the reasons we have to go on a date. I need to know more about you and you about me.
She : is this some kind of a joke ?
Me : No its not. Let me explain. I know that your father works in this(un-name-able) institute and you also stay in the same campus. I found out your mobile number and your landline. I learnt that you wrote the [DOG ?!?!] exam, made it to the shortlist of this-famous-business-school, but didn't get through.
She : Don't be a freak ! Tell me why you are doing all this.....
Me : I like you. I think you are pretty. You have captured my imagination like anything.
She : what made you think i'll go out with you.....
Me : Actually, nothing. We all live in perpetual hope and its the same hope that pushed me to do this today.
She : What hope ?!?!? i don't want to go out with you, esp. on a date !!
Me : why not ?
She : I dont want to answer questions like that !! I dont have to !! I can't believe i'm talking to you !! nonsense you are......
Turns her back and walks away from me quickly to her table.
So the dream ends.........This too isn't real, but i'm awake.
Ta
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Yes, madam
Have you had a woman boss at work ? I have. Almost every alternate project that i worked on were led by managers who were women ....Incl my current assignment.....
what's with these woman bosses ? The ones that i have met so far were all aspiring, career oriented and dominating.....they would have the last word, any day. No matter how irrelevant they talk.....They've had, and will have, men nodding in silence, thanks to the organizational hierarchy, inspite of completely knowing that these eves dont make any sense at all.
My previous project manager got promoted thrice in three years.... This rarely happens in our company....Its even harder to believe that coz she hardly works....never seen her interested in any kind of work....She never had the knowledge or the ability to learn and work.......she never fails to delegate most of our managerial tasks to her subordinates and stays at home half the time, with a "Working from home" notice.......she's wastes her time (and everybody else's)in meetings to discuss or learn about what happened or is happening in projects. For all the above reasons, she's despised by everyone in the account. Constantly in pursuit of any kind of feather that she can add to her hat.......you tend to hate such people and wish you never see them again, but you don't have a choice.....
Another manager of mine was as dominating and arrogant as this one, but atleast not as bad. This one was technically sound, but was a bit too pushy........Women bosses are pushy......Climbing the ladder in one's career is what everyone would wish for.....but hey, not at the cost of other people, especially those that work hard and go unrewarded just because you took the credit away from them for your selfish ulterior motives.
Women bosses, listen !! be open minded......don't just cut people off with your self righteous attitude and arrogance.. Its time you appreciated people working under you and and their work, and respect them. Allow people to grow with you !!
I wish i never have to work under women bosses again, atleast not such dominating ones......
Ta
what's with these woman bosses ? The ones that i have met so far were all aspiring, career oriented and dominating.....they would have the last word, any day. No matter how irrelevant they talk.....They've had, and will have, men nodding in silence, thanks to the organizational hierarchy, inspite of completely knowing that these eves dont make any sense at all.
My previous project manager got promoted thrice in three years.... This rarely happens in our company....Its even harder to believe that coz she hardly works....never seen her interested in any kind of work....She never had the knowledge or the ability to learn and work.......she never fails to delegate most of our managerial tasks to her subordinates and stays at home half the time, with a "Working from home" notice.......she's wastes her time (and everybody else's)in meetings to discuss or learn about what happened or is happening in projects. For all the above reasons, she's despised by everyone in the account. Constantly in pursuit of any kind of feather that she can add to her hat.......you tend to hate such people and wish you never see them again, but you don't have a choice.....
Another manager of mine was as dominating and arrogant as this one, but atleast not as bad. This one was technically sound, but was a bit too pushy........Women bosses are pushy......Climbing the ladder in one's career is what everyone would wish for.....but hey, not at the cost of other people, especially those that work hard and go unrewarded just because you took the credit away from them for your selfish ulterior motives.
Women bosses, listen !! be open minded......don't just cut people off with your self righteous attitude and arrogance.. Its time you appreciated people working under you and and their work, and respect them. Allow people to grow with you !!
I wish i never have to work under women bosses again, atleast not such dominating ones......
Ta
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Sweet sweat
I don't know if that title makes sense or not, but it kinda gists what i have been appreciating for the last 10 mins or so. This is what happened.
Today is yet another hot day, I was just driving back home for lunch when i was listening to my ipod in the car and like a cold breeze, the lyrics .....
Female voice : Un vizhigalin veyilil yen viervai inikkudhe..
Male : Un punnagai ninaivil yen thookkam tholaindhadey.....
Wow, I couldn't help appreciating these lines !! The meaning and the affection that it brings about.....I never gave attention to these lines all this long..... I liked some other lines of this song when i heard them the first time......
Male : Yennai pola yevarum unnai kaadhalikka mudiyaadhu
Female : Mudiyum yendraal kooda avanai kaadhalikka mudiyaadhu
And this has been a favourite song of mine, for various reasons..... It only got better.......
Nice.......
Ta
Today is yet another hot day, I was just driving back home for lunch when i was listening to my ipod in the car and like a cold breeze, the lyrics .....
Female voice : Un vizhigalin veyilil yen viervai inikkudhe..
Male : Un punnagai ninaivil yen thookkam tholaindhadey.....
Wow, I couldn't help appreciating these lines !! The meaning and the affection that it brings about.....I never gave attention to these lines all this long..... I liked some other lines of this song when i heard them the first time......
Male : Yennai pola yevarum unnai kaadhalikka mudiyaadhu
Female : Mudiyum yendraal kooda avanai kaadhalikka mudiyaadhu
And this has been a favourite song of mine, for various reasons..... It only got better.......
Nice.......
Ta
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