kirukkal.com

August 17, 2005

Kamal Hassan, the poet

Rumors were also abuzz that the actor has decided to revive his dream project Marudhanayakam and hence he had a meeting with Karunanidhi to discuss about the storyline and script.

Since Kamal wanted to come out with a book of his own poems, he had called on the latter and read out few lines to him and also urged him to take part in a function to be held later to release the collection of poems.

– More from India Glitz

For a minute, I thought the rumor of reviving Marudhanayagam was true. Yet, its a sweet news. A book by Kamal Hassan was set to be released even during Ananthu‘s days. It was never released.

Finally, I think he has decided that tamil folks can read his writings. Though we have already read his screenplay of Hey Ram and also the shortstory[Aalavanthan was based on this shortstory] that was published in Kumudam, a couple of years back, this full fledged collection of poems would be magnum opus for Kamal’s fans.
August 17, 2005

aMangal Pandey

** There are no spoilers here or in any other review of Mangal Pandey. Whats written below as story is just history. So cool off and read ahead even if you haven’t seen the movie.**

Either they exaggerated a dude called Mangal Pandey, in my high school history textbooks or they just minisculed a great warrior in Ketan’s Mehta’s flick. Mangal Pandey falls short in every other area and gets sandwiched between classifications of mainstream masala flick and a artistic period movie. Rahman and Ketan Mehta fighting to walk away as weakest link of the movie title alongwith a host of other technical crew who have supported them in pulling down a movie of high expectations.

Or the whole of previous paragraph is an outcome of the arm chair critic in me, trying too hard in stopping me from enjoying this typical masala movie. Whichever be the answer, without Aamir Khan the movie wouldn’t have even deserved a mention. And we know that a fort called Aamir Khan can carry the weight of a movie effortlessly.

I’m surprised how the movie which was called The Rising throughout the production of the movie suddenly became to called as Mangal Pandey – The Rising. That’s probably when Ketan Mehta clearly saw he wasn’t making a movie on The Sepoy Mutiny of 1857. He was just trying to document the history of a warrior called Mangal Pandey whose death triggered the Sepoy Mutiny. It was a personal account of Sepoy Mutiny’s trigger from the view of the man who kick started it with a handful of gunpowder and infinite dhill.

I completely upset not even by the movie but by A R Rahman’s background score. Nearly non-existing. While some songs were great to listen, they were not-so-well-picturised. Himman Dammija’s camera angles didn’t bring in the required grandeur. You might have to search for sensational sequences and be happy if you find a couple of them along the way.

With the Brits talking hindi more fluently that they wouldn’t have problem in repeating, Ek Ghaav Mein Ek Kisan Rahta Tha, like many southies. I have to admit the movie wasn’t boring at all. The screenplay was clean, the characterization however lacked depth. It had a potpourri of sentiments that a typical Indian movie need to be successful. From the mangal sutra, friendship, betrayal, romance and even a item number. If only it wasn’t called Mangal Pandey, I would have enjoyed it more. The yearning to enjoy a patriotic hero’s history stopped all that. Who’s to be blamed for that. Me, who drove 10 miles to watch it or someone who made it over the last few years.

A huge bunch of deceived souls eagerly await the next patriotic experiment. Why shouldn’t it be him ?
August 16, 2005

Yep !! true

You can’t make up anything anymore. The world itself is a satire. All you’re doing is recording it. – Art Buchwald
August 16, 2005

Maitrim Bhajata Akhila Hritjaitrim

A few minutes back, was listening to Maitreem Bhajata. Not the vocal version of MSS but the veena rendering by Gayathri. The veena version is played in the Yaman Kalyani raaga. I am not a geek of raagas but from what little I’ve listened to, Yaman Kalyani derived from Kalyani is used to play some of most melodious songs.Veena is one of the sweetest instrument for the ears. Anyone who has listened to Chitibabu’s Bells of Joy would accept that.

Accompanied with a solo mirudhangam, Gayathri veena rendering just blew me away. Even during the last Marghazhi music festival, I had been to Gayathri’s veena kutchery but with all the smell of bondas and nei pollis sneaking into the music hall, I didn’t enjoy the show completely.

On a not-so-cold evening, like today, with the lights switched off in a room, you’ve to listen to the veena playing to agree with me. I’m not setting ideal situations to enjoy the veena but it was as though she played a personal kutchery in the house, just for me.
August 15, 2005

Independence? That’s middle class blasphemy.

Independence? That’s middle class blasphemy. We are all dependent on one another, every soul of us on earth – As quoted by an old wise man called George Bernard Shaw.

Please pass the quote to these dudes.

Kamal Hassan, the poet

aMangal Pandey

Yep !! true

Maitrim Bhajata Akhila Hritjaitrim

Independence? That’s middle class blasphemy.