Thursday, May 01, 2008
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
6th Pune International Film Festival
Films with dialogues. Films without. Films about war and rapes. Films about love and children. Dry films. Melodramatic films. Sweet films. Silly films.
My first International Film Festival has been quite an experience. I've seen so many films that my waking and sleeping hours are filled with images from them.
For those interested, the official site is here. The fest ends tomm.
Some of my favorite were:
Cherries (Chinese): tells the tale of a retarded woman who brings up an abandoned child and the journey of this parent-child pair
Khuda Ke Liye (Pakistani): an intelligently developed and well thought out plot around a family that struggles with their Islamic identity, both in Pakistan and the US
Someone to run for (Isreali) a sweet story about the runaway teens in Jerusalem - a girl's search for her brother and a boy's search for this girl!
Some really crappy ones were: Because of Love, Hukkle, Kika and Pareethuvaliam.
My first International Film Festival has been quite an experience. I've seen so many films that my waking and sleeping hours are filled with images from them.
For those interested, the official site is here. The fest ends tomm.
Some of my favorite were:
Cherries (Chinese): tells the tale of a retarded woman who brings up an abandoned child and the journey of this parent-child pair
Khuda Ke Liye (Pakistani): an intelligently developed and well thought out plot around a family that struggles with their Islamic identity, both in Pakistan and the US
Someone to run for (Isreali) a sweet story about the runaway teens in Jerusalem - a girl's search for her brother and a boy's search for this girl!
Some really crappy ones were: Because of Love, Hukkle, Kika and Pareethuvaliam.
Friday, January 11, 2008
Taare Zameen Par
Ishaan is 8 years old. In the third grade, he's a pretty good mix of your average kid that age - he creates mischief, pulls out fish from the school drain, laughs a lot, paints, plays with the street dogs, blows into his glass milk.... nothing unusual there right?
But there is. He doesn't spell well. And is in the third grade for the second year consecutively.
For the vast majority of this ignorant world, Ishaan is just stupid and insolent. What this vast majority doesn't understand is that he suffers from a disorder called dyslexia. Its not something that can't be fixed, but it needs three things to overcome it - love, patience and support.
None of which, ofcourse, were extended to Ishaan by his parents or teachers or the society in general. They didn't know what dyslexia meant. They only knew that he wasn't performing like the other children. And they knew of only one solution around that - force, humiliate, intimidate, threaten, abuse till he ... ? spells right? How?
The tale is told in a heart-wrenching manner. Darsheel Safary who plays Ishaan (Inoo for some) moves effortlessly from naughty, angry, desperate, arrogant, helpless, happy, petrified and a range of emotions that a misunderstood and lonely child might go through. He is indeed a gifted child actor and has been chosen well.
Inoo is sent away to a boarding school after his parents give up on disciplining him. At the new school, the child's sense of self goes from bad to worse. He battles with the guilt of being a punished child and the pain of being separated from his family. He recoils into himself and tumbles into a well of depression and withdrawal.
While Ishaan continues to be a 'gone case' for most, there is someone who sees through the failure and investigates. Ram Shankar Nikumbh, played by the ever reliable Mr. Khan enters the scene and breathes some fresh air into Inoo's life - recognizing his weaknesses, but more importantly, acknowledging his strengths - his genius artistic ability.
Slowly, patiently the teacher works with student, loving, supporting and helping him scrape through the other subjects, but encouraging him to develop his real talent.
The movie might have picked a topic and focussed on a particular issue. But there is a universal message in the film for all of us who interact with children - they are special. In their world, magic, laughter, dance, love - happens all the time. And we have no right to take that away from them. In fact it is we who need to learn from children - how to see miracles in the mundane, how to create, how to live in innocence and trust.
Thank you Taare Zameen Par - good lessons for us adults there.
Saturday, January 05, 2008
I am Legend - Review
I wonder if movie stars often claim a film to be entirely theirs?
I have no doubt they do :)
With I Am Legend, Will Smith can make that claim unhesitatingly. For one, he's pretty much the only character in the film. And two, he does a pretty neat job of being that one solitary character.
As usual, America is in trouble. The time is 2012. The place NYC. This time its an unstoppable virus that plagues humanity - infecting and annihilating the world's population. But as the film's promo says - 'The Last man on earth.. is not alone' (spoookkky trailers -check out one here and another here) there are survivors, but they aren't human anymore. Infected by the virus, they now survive only in the dark, and yes, you guessed it, scrounge for human blood to keep alive.
Robert (Smith) is immune to this virus, and as a virologist, struggles to find a cure to reverse the deadly and deathly infection. He also makes valiant (though discernibly hopeless) attempts to reach out to any human survivors in the city - broadcasting everyday on radio, keeping supplies etc. On the personal front, he tries to retain his sanity, in a place with no sign of life around him. A job he's carried out very impressively.
Oh and I almost forgot, he has a dog, who's partly immune too. One really funny moment is when Smith is scanning the calender and exclaims 'Sam, its my b'day!' and Sam the ever loving pet, cocks her head in acknowledgment - tongue out and everything.
The movie shot around a dilapidated and desolate New York, esp Brooklyn Bridge, does a tight-rope walk between thrilling and rattling - springing the viewer to anticipate what's coming next, or putting them off with wild images of the zombies who are downright ugly.
The real turn of events takes place when Smith does finally encounter real survivors - a woman and a child, the former of whom is convinced that a refuge camp exists. Robert, by now devoid of social skills, is adamant that there is no such thing and insists on staying put and figuring out a breakthrough to the virus.
Although the movie keeps you riveted and wanting more, I was less than happy with the ending. Why kill a hero when he can be saved, I ask? I don't think that would have taken anything away from the astounding flow and presentation of the film.
But then, maybe survivors don't get to be legends.
I have no doubt they do :)
With I Am Legend, Will Smith can make that claim unhesitatingly. For one, he's pretty much the only character in the film. And two, he does a pretty neat job of being that one solitary character.
As usual, America is in trouble. The time is 2012. The place NYC. This time its an unstoppable virus that plagues humanity - infecting and annihilating the world's population. But as the film's promo says - 'The Last man on earth.. is not alone' (spoookkky trailers -check out one here and another here) there are survivors, but they aren't human anymore. Infected by the virus, they now survive only in the dark, and yes, you guessed it, scrounge for human blood to keep alive.
Robert (Smith) is immune to this virus, and as a virologist, struggles to find a cure to reverse the deadly and deathly infection. He also makes valiant (though discernibly hopeless) attempts to reach out to any human survivors in the city - broadcasting everyday on radio, keeping supplies etc. On the personal front, he tries to retain his sanity, in a place with no sign of life around him. A job he's carried out very impressively.
Oh and I almost forgot, he has a dog, who's partly immune too. One really funny moment is when Smith is scanning the calender and exclaims 'Sam, its my b'day!' and Sam the ever loving pet, cocks her head in acknowledgment - tongue out and everything.
The movie shot around a dilapidated and desolate New York, esp Brooklyn Bridge, does a tight-rope walk between thrilling and rattling - springing the viewer to anticipate what's coming next, or putting them off with wild images of the zombies who are downright ugly.
The real turn of events takes place when Smith does finally encounter real survivors - a woman and a child, the former of whom is convinced that a refuge camp exists. Robert, by now devoid of social skills, is adamant that there is no such thing and insists on staying put and figuring out a breakthrough to the virus.
Although the movie keeps you riveted and wanting more, I was less than happy with the ending. Why kill a hero when he can be saved, I ask? I don't think that would have taken anything away from the astounding flow and presentation of the film.
But then, maybe survivors don't get to be legends.
Dus Kahaniyan - Review
Bold, short and rare. That would be Dus Kahaniyan in a nutshell.
Bold because it touches on some seemingly taboo issues such as (hold your breath!) sex, AIDS, extra marital affairs, death, drugs.
Its also refreshingly short and crisp. Each of the ten stories gets its due 15 minutes or so. Short enough to hold attention. Long enough to detail a story well.
Rare because a concept such as this is indeed unheard of in Indian cinema. I hear its a rip-off from an English movie titled The Ten. The Internet tells me that one's a comedy based on the ten commandments (mental note to rent and watch!)
On another note, I think such a concept augers really well for aspiring directors who are capable of making short films well. Often they have no platform to air their work. This could potentially be one such space for the lesser known, equally talented movie makers in India.
Back to the movie.. err movies - some were just plain silly, such as High on the Highway and Sex on The Beach. I forget the name of the one starring Neha Dhupia but it was pretty lame and misrepresented as well. Rise and Fall, the finale to the ten was see-able only because it had the stalwarts Sanjay Dutt and Suniel Shetty pulling a weak script through (ok, the rain effect definitely added to the drama). The others were fairly well executed and some managed to even shock you with their ending.
In all, not a dull moment with the ten stories - even if some were feeble, they kept you guessing and glued till the end.
Bold because it touches on some seemingly taboo issues such as (hold your breath!) sex, AIDS, extra marital affairs, death, drugs.
Its also refreshingly short and crisp. Each of the ten stories gets its due 15 minutes or so. Short enough to hold attention. Long enough to detail a story well.
Rare because a concept such as this is indeed unheard of in Indian cinema. I hear its a rip-off from an English movie titled The Ten. The Internet tells me that one's a comedy based on the ten commandments (mental note to rent and watch!)
On another note, I think such a concept augers really well for aspiring directors who are capable of making short films well. Often they have no platform to air their work. This could potentially be one such space for the lesser known, equally talented movie makers in India.
Back to the movie.. err movies - some were just plain silly, such as High on the Highway and Sex on The Beach. I forget the name of the one starring Neha Dhupia but it was pretty lame and misrepresented as well. Rise and Fall, the finale to the ten was see-able only because it had the stalwarts Sanjay Dutt and Suniel Shetty pulling a weak script through (ok, the rain effect definitely added to the drama). The others were fairly well executed and some managed to even shock you with their ending.
In all, not a dull moment with the ten stories - even if some were feeble, they kept you guessing and glued till the end.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
The Big Deal with Poker
Last night, a bunch of us got together to cook, eat and play poker.
We'd planned to start by 830 and wrap up by 12 or so, given that most of us have jobs and/or early morning yoga/meditation classes.
We ultimately finished at 6am.
I'm yet to figure this out. What is it that keeps gamblers (amateurs included) hooked to the game in a way that defies all logic and sensibility? Greed appears to be the most likely candidate. Its probably also the sheer luck factor that makes one hope for a better deal with every passing game.
From a meditation POV, I feel nothing takes one farther away from staying centered than gambling. The mania that grips and takes over allows no space for watching/witnessing.
Anyway, these get togethers have been a good source of fun for us - with my friends, I constantly seek bonding on different levels/ways. Clearly this has become one more addition...
Ok, I fold for now :)
We'd planned to start by 830 and wrap up by 12 or so, given that most of us have jobs and/or early morning yoga/meditation classes.
We ultimately finished at 6am.
I'm yet to figure this out. What is it that keeps gamblers (amateurs included) hooked to the game in a way that defies all logic and sensibility? Greed appears to be the most likely candidate. Its probably also the sheer luck factor that makes one hope for a better deal with every passing game.
From a meditation POV, I feel nothing takes one farther away from staying centered than gambling. The mania that grips and takes over allows no space for watching/witnessing.
Anyway, these get togethers have been a good source of fun for us - with my friends, I constantly seek bonding on different levels/ways. Clearly this has become one more addition...
Ok, I fold for now :)
Sunday, October 07, 2007
Grace and Grit
I just finished reading Grace and Grit (yes, I ALWAYS read great books pretty late. I read the Da Vinci Code, Shantaram and some other huge bestsellers a good 4-5 years after they were released! but better late than never I say eh?) by Ken Wilber and I'm still reeling from the affect the book has had on me.
Treya is dying. And with her, on this journey walks Ken Wilber. The book is like a tapestry woven with the most intricate, intimate details from both Ken and Treya about what it means to have death staring you in the face. The guilt of having 'created this reality', the slow and painful deterioration of the body and its faculties, the affect of this eventuality on their marriage, the fear of dying, the hope of living....
For me the book brought so many insights. Treya writes often about the male-female duality - the male nature of doing versus the female nature of being and how often women struggle with this: living their natural truth in a male-oriented world where doing, accomplishing and achieving are important. The love between Ken and Treya - the pain, the anger of dealing with imminent death, the strain it takes on both of them as individuals and as a couple - is both awe-inspiring and heart-warming.
And then there is meditation - the preparation for death - of the mind and body. Treya's narrative has so much value for everyone on this path. Sooner or later, we all are going to die. Treya knew when. And she knew she didn't have much time. So what did she do? She dove into life and decided to experience every moment fully, with more meaning. Osho talks abouts this ALL the time, infact I feel he spent all his life trying to drive this point home. Every single day, at the Evening Meeting, he prepares us for death....guiding us through the process of dis-identifying with the body and mind... and letting the spirit and soul remain. He also urges his people to live in the moment, with a sense of urgency so we don't look back and regret not having done this or that.
After finishing the book, I felt immensely grateful towards the two writers who, through their difficult period, took the time to chronicle their processes, their feelings and experiences, for all if us to benefit from.
A good reminder that death does not mean the end :)
Treya is dying. And with her, on this journey walks Ken Wilber. The book is like a tapestry woven with the most intricate, intimate details from both Ken and Treya about what it means to have death staring you in the face. The guilt of having 'created this reality', the slow and painful deterioration of the body and its faculties, the affect of this eventuality on their marriage, the fear of dying, the hope of living....
For me the book brought so many insights. Treya writes often about the male-female duality - the male nature of doing versus the female nature of being and how often women struggle with this: living their natural truth in a male-oriented world where doing, accomplishing and achieving are important. The love between Ken and Treya - the pain, the anger of dealing with imminent death, the strain it takes on both of them as individuals and as a couple - is both awe-inspiring and heart-warming.
And then there is meditation - the preparation for death - of the mind and body. Treya's narrative has so much value for everyone on this path. Sooner or later, we all are going to die. Treya knew when. And she knew she didn't have much time. So what did she do? She dove into life and decided to experience every moment fully, with more meaning. Osho talks abouts this ALL the time, infact I feel he spent all his life trying to drive this point home. Every single day, at the Evening Meeting, he prepares us for death....guiding us through the process of dis-identifying with the body and mind... and letting the spirit and soul remain. He also urges his people to live in the moment, with a sense of urgency so we don't look back and regret not having done this or that.
After finishing the book, I felt immensely grateful towards the two writers who, through their difficult period, took the time to chronicle their processes, their feelings and experiences, for all if us to benefit from.
A good reminder that death does not mean the end :)
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Partner - the movie
The last David Dhawan movie I saw was when I was 18. Those days, I used to be highly opinionated and dismissive about things and people that didn't seem intelligent enough (I think it was called 'attitude' :)) . I rolled my eyes, screwed up my nose and made my displeasure known in several ways. A friend then told me 'Puja, when you grow older, you'll LOVE the lack of logic, the idiocy of these films. Its what you will want to do at the end of the day.' I promised him I definitely would not.
So when Puch (she, on her part confessed she'd leave her brains behind) booked tickets for Partner, I laughed at myself and wondered how this one would turn out. And oh! was I surprised.
Like a lot of Hindi movies, the story is not original. Infact it is oh-so-not-original that you even know what'll happen next if you've seen its English counterpart Hitch. But also like most Hindi movies, it has its own, very original dash of drama, dialogue and dance. And this is the part to be enjoyed I realize: the wild imagination, the troupe of colour-clad men and women appearing from nowhere to charm the heroine, the twists and tweaks that give it an endearing Indian flavor, the love-sickness everyone in the film suffers from, the final wedding-crashing-bride-stealing routine... you might have seen the original but this one is worth a dekko too.
Salman and Govinda don't do so many films anymore, so watching them was fun. Yes Salman takes his shirt off often enough and YES, Govinda does his silly-goose-maddening-jokery often enough too. Katrina is charming as ever and the perfect choice for the dainty heiress played by Cameron Diaz in Hitch. Lara Dutta is sexy and steady. The music is fantastic, mostly band-baaja types, no soft romantic stuff there, you have to get up and dance. That's the message.
There wasn't a huge turnout, but its also the middle of the week. I recommend the movie, if you're looking at some fun and funny entertainment.
So when Puch (she, on her part confessed she'd leave her brains behind) booked tickets for Partner, I laughed at myself and wondered how this one would turn out. And oh! was I surprised.
Like a lot of Hindi movies, the story is not original. Infact it is oh-so-not-original that you even know what'll happen next if you've seen its English counterpart Hitch. But also like most Hindi movies, it has its own, very original dash of drama, dialogue and dance. And this is the part to be enjoyed I realize: the wild imagination, the troupe of colour-clad men and women appearing from nowhere to charm the heroine, the twists and tweaks that give it an endearing Indian flavor, the love-sickness everyone in the film suffers from, the final wedding-crashing-bride-stealing routine... you might have seen the original but this one is worth a dekko too.
Salman and Govinda don't do so many films anymore, so watching them was fun. Yes Salman takes his shirt off often enough and YES, Govinda does his silly-goose-maddening-jokery often enough too. Katrina is charming as ever and the perfect choice for the dainty heiress played by Cameron Diaz in Hitch. Lara Dutta is sexy and steady. The music is fantastic, mostly band-baaja types, no soft romantic stuff there, you have to get up and dance. That's the message.
There wasn't a huge turnout, but its also the middle of the week. I recommend the movie, if you're looking at some fun and funny entertainment.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Smack in the middle....
..of the road. That's where our cows like to stand and chew the cud. Content, unperturbed, silent. Oblivious to the traffic and the noise. I like :)
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Let it Rain
Amanda Marshall didn't mean this to be a happy springy song.
But where I am - nestled into a sofa with a blanket, looking out at the grey sky, listening to the rain on the balcony roof, feeling the coolest, freshest breeze on my face, reading Vikram Seth, sipping chai, munching bhakar wadi, lazing it out in the middle of the week as if it was Sunday - trust me, its a song that fills me with delight. Its all I can wish from existence right now.. to just let it rain :)
But where I am - nestled into a sofa with a blanket, looking out at the grey sky, listening to the rain on the balcony roof, feeling the coolest, freshest breeze on my face, reading Vikram Seth, sipping chai, munching bhakar wadi, lazing it out in the middle of the week as if it was Sunday - trust me, its a song that fills me with delight. Its all I can wish from existence right now.. to just let it rain :)
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Fact of the half-year
I've ignored it. Wished it would go away. Stuck my tongue out. Made 'z' and 'x' sounds. Walked around like a peahen with my nose extended in the air and neck stretched. But the truth, whether I want to accept it or not, is that I'm stuck with a double chin. Thanks Papa. Got your brains, got the little spot on your face, got your deep brown eyes. Got your double-chin. Shit.
Saturday, June 16, 2007
BlogCamp - Pune
With a 'Plenty to blog about inside' banner greeting attendees at the SCIT gates, the trip that seemed to take us 'beyond bombay' (quote Abdul Qabiz) to Hinjewadi felt well worth it! There we were, tongues firmly in cheek and pens/laptops/smartphones firmly in toe for a real feel of the blogosphere.
Tarun and Parag were clearly at the forefront of the show (A big thumbs up to them!!) with a host of volunteers making arrangements and mixing around.
The unconference was 'interesting' :) the turnout was impressive - easily over the predicted 250. The unorganizers were a cheery, helpful lot and the energy was up. the food was fantastic! B-U-T. A poor wi-fi connection ensured some presentations could not happen smoothly. The sponsors' agenda was clear: pitch, pitch and oh god, yes, pitch. Big put-off. There was a presentation by Melody and Sakshi about the negatives of blogging. Tarun Dua blogged live from the event, miraculously typing and contributing to the discussion at the same time!
Hitesh and Pranav captured a lot on video and we should hopefully have a screencast on TechSutras up soon.
Oh and we got t-shirts which said 'I blog, therefore I am'
Therefore....
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Strum a dum dum
My relationship with music generally and the guitar specifically has evolved and seen some changes off late. 9 years ago, in college, I took guitar classes, bought a super-expensive guitar, tried and then failed/lost interest. Now, I've signed up for guitar classes again and bought another guitar (not so expensive though). In my former music life, I was tight, under a lot of pressure and very hard with myself for not getting it. This ensured that I didn't get it :) and eventually I quit...
Now, and I think meditation has changed many things in me, I'm more relaxed into myself, more patient and accepting... and that has allowed for a whole new world to open up for me. I'm enjoying the nuances, I'm not rushing to get anywhere and in that relaxed space, the music inside is allowing itself to be discovered... its one of the many things that can't be described but experienced.. and cherished.
I have class today. Ta da dee dee dum :)
"When you are creating something - a song, a dance - you are also creating yourself. You are discovering new dimensions of your own being" Osho
Now, and I think meditation has changed many things in me, I'm more relaxed into myself, more patient and accepting... and that has allowed for a whole new world to open up for me. I'm enjoying the nuances, I'm not rushing to get anywhere and in that relaxed space, the music inside is allowing itself to be discovered... its one of the many things that can't be described but experienced.. and cherished.
I have class today. Ta da dee dee dum :)
"When you are creating something - a song, a dance - you are also creating yourself. You are discovering new dimensions of your own being" Osho
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Cheeni Kum
There are romantic comedies and India hasn't seen too many of them. At least not the really funny ones anyway. So when a film like Cheeni Kum comes along, it makes you sit up and take notice. And laugh.
Buddhadev is 64, grumpy and obsessive about his role as chief chef in London's exclusively authentic Indian Restaurant - Spice6. Living with his mother, his existence is devoid of both spices and cheeni. Predictably then along comes Nina, a 34-year old Indian visiting her friend in London. And amidst spicy Indian-meals and unpredictable London-showers, love blossoms.
R Balki, a veteran in the Indian advertising world, as writer and director has made love a crisp, no-nonsense recipe in the film. The repertoire shared by Buddhadev and Nina is amusing and Balki could not have picked more gifted performers to play them out. The dialogues are witty, trite, sarcastic and hilarious, defying all ideas about sweet love as we've known them, in Indian films.
Just as the first half rocks, the second half sucks. Yes the delicious rebukes between the love birds continue but when the issue of talking to Nina's father for marriage crops up, the movie rolls into melodrama that makes you want to walk out and leave. Paresh Rawal, as Nina's dad - a hardcore Gandhi-lover, has done a fantastic job given the role he's assigned but yet the movie loses its quintessential credibility as things get sillier by the second.
In all, a must-see for the different flavors it offers, but if you're hoping that Balki has broken free from the Bollywood mould and created a really realistic, unique movie, then prepare to be disappointed.
Buddhadev is 64, grumpy and obsessive about his role as chief chef in London's exclusively authentic Indian Restaurant - Spice6. Living with his mother, his existence is devoid of both spices and cheeni. Predictably then along comes Nina, a 34-year old Indian visiting her friend in London. And amidst spicy Indian-meals and unpredictable London-showers, love blossoms.
R Balki, a veteran in the Indian advertising world, as writer and director has made love a crisp, no-nonsense recipe in the film. The repertoire shared by Buddhadev and Nina is amusing and Balki could not have picked more gifted performers to play them out. The dialogues are witty, trite, sarcastic and hilarious, defying all ideas about sweet love as we've known them, in Indian films.
Just as the first half rocks, the second half sucks. Yes the delicious rebukes between the love birds continue but when the issue of talking to Nina's father for marriage crops up, the movie rolls into melodrama that makes you want to walk out and leave. Paresh Rawal, as Nina's dad - a hardcore Gandhi-lover, has done a fantastic job given the role he's assigned but yet the movie loses its quintessential credibility as things get sillier by the second.
In all, a must-see for the different flavors it offers, but if you're hoping that Balki has broken free from the Bollywood mould and created a really realistic, unique movie, then prepare to be disappointed.
Monday, May 07, 2007
Of sneezing cats and twittering birds
Found this on mashable (albeit a bit late!) It is downright hilarious. Now I almost wish I had a cat to blog/vlog/twitter about :) but hey! the pigeon in the office window that spends all day hatching her eggs might be great-muse material huh? hahaha. Hurrah for the Internet and all its funny people!
Monday, April 30, 2007
The Long trip to Long Cheng
This is the beautiful thing about the guys at lonely planet: they HAVE to find that nook that as been untouched by tourists... and in that quest they managed an adventurous trip to the formidable Long Cheng. Read all about it here.
And here's a pic of southern Laos. So what if Long Cheng isn't taking visitors, atleast the rest of it is waiting to be explored and admired....
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
