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  • September 28, 2004

    Imagine there’s no hell

    You may say Im a dreamer,
    but Im not the only one,
    I hope some day you’ll join us,
    And the world will live as one
    – John Lennon

    John Lennon who penned these lines in his masterpiece Imagine is a legend. Some fans of John Lennon across the world are vowing to take action on Mark Chapman who gunned down John Lennon in 1980, after his release. It’s close to 24 years since Lennon was shot and these retribution vows talk about the love on Lennon and why Mark should have never shot him.

    However, twenty four long years is too much for any dude to go through the guilt over and over again behind the bars. And its time there should be some time and space for Mark Chapman to live in this world.

  • September 26, 2004

    Moonshine and Skytoffee – A Magic Lantern Play

    I knew whom Vaikom Muhammed Basheer was. He was a well known Malayalam writer of yesteryears. But I had no idea that he was such a great dude. If the Magic Lantern group’s play named Moonshine and Skytoffee had a standing ovation, one significant part of the applause goes to the writer Vaikkom Mohammed Basheer. Basheer’s two short stories, Love Letter [Premalekhanam, 1943] and The Cardsharp’s Daughter [Muchcheettukaikkaarantaey Makal, 1951] were intelligently combined together into one play and they both had bold themes. If he could be such a radical thinker then, I am sure his works must make a worthy read.

    While I hate to re-tell the story in a review, this one should be an exception for not many may get a chance to see the play for themselves. Moonshine and Skytoffee revolves around the lives of two pairs of lovers and father of a bride. The story is set in Kerala during the 1940’s. Kesavan Nair[Bala], a 20ish geeky guy falls in love with his house owner’s daughter Saramma[Aparna]. While Saramma is a christian, Kesavan Nair is a Hindu. Similarly, in their neighbourhood, in a Chai shop, Zainaba[Taruna] a Muslim girl, falls in love with a pickpocket ‘Mandan’ Muthapa [Jagan a.k.a Vijay TV fame Nandu]. Zainaba’s dad ‘OttaKannan’ Pokker is a street juggler who fools people into his three card poker game and makes a living with that.

    While Kesavan Nair hesitates and finally pleads to Saramma to love him, Saramma makes a deal of twenty rupees a month to love him. Kesavan Nair who is deeply in love with her agrees to the deal. His salary being just 40 bucks a month. Saramma seems to question him too much about their lifestyle if they are married and also extracts the huge sum of twenty bucks without any consideration to Kesavan Nair’s financial trouble. She challenges the concept of love. Meanwhile, ‘Mandan’ Muthapa who is a sidekick of ‘OttaKannan’ Pokker turns back on him one day challenging his three card trick and also vows to marry his daughter Zainaba. What happens finally for both these lovers is told in a rib tickling manner that would make you feel good for the rest of the day.

    Everyone has convincingly become the character themselves and it really amazes me to see such talented actors not getting noticed in the Kollywood. I am simply stuck to mention any one of the character first. If I wish to mention Aparna as Saramma as the best, I recollect Hans Koushik as ‘OttaKannan’ Pokker , not to mention the versatile Bala and multi-faceted Jagan. These guys are simply at their best. Be it the way Saramma asks for a Dungudoo bag or how Kesavan Nair gets frenzy over the name Skytoffee or how Mandan (meaning Idiot) displays the pickpocketing technique or even the first act where OttaKannan Pokker teaches Muthapa to smoke with the nostrils the actors executed the job well. The best part was the play was so grippingly comical that two hours rolled over so easily.

    Hats of Rajiv Krishnan who has directed this play. Rajiv has done a lot of research and good work to weave both these stories together into a play. He deserves to be noted. Also the slick simple sets that brought out the rural Kerala as it was in the 1940’s was a big plus. Just a tea shop and cardboard which wad made into the lead actor’s house were the only sets in the play.

    This is one monster of a humor play. A must watch if you are Chennai, because rarely we get such nice stuff like this.

    P.S : This play is on stage in Alliance Francaise, College Road. The last shows are at today. With popular demand, they might have it going for a few more weeks. If you need to get in touch with the play troupe, here’s the number, Rajiv 98410 99435 and Surya 98840 37938.

  • September 26, 2004

    Rajini starts Chandramukhi, shelves Jaggubhai

    rajini in bhairavi
    [Pic : rajinifans.com]

    With speculations all over, that Jaggubhai will start on the Vijayadasami day, Rajini’s fans were all set to make that day a big event. Now, with a turn of events, the news of Rajini starring in Sivaji Films Chandramukhi, starting on October 1st, will have them in a state of euphoria. Jaggubhai which was set to be directed by KS Ravikumar gets shelved amidst all this hungama.

    The news reports say, on the event of Sivaji Films celebrating, 50 years, Chandramukhi has been planned. Chandramukhi will be directed by P.Vasu. Vasu has already directed Rajinikanth‘s silver jubilee flick Mannan produced by the Sivaji films itself.

    Be it what, Rajini is back and thats enough for his fans around. Not to mention the media who will appoint special chandramukhi correspondents whose job will be get news, insights and insider news on Chandramukhi. So the next few months everything is Chandramukhi in Kollywood. I am not sure if it is Chandramugi or Chandramikhi. BTW, expected the news report doesn’t say who will tune for the movie. I hope it will be Illayaraja. A R Rahman is on a different plane and may not go well with this crew.

    P.S : The above image was from Rajini’s 70’s hit Bhairavi. It was Rajini’s first film as a hero and took Rajini’s career to different heights. Like Bhairavi, this Chandramukhi also comes with a female name in the title. Should that tell you something ?.

  • September 24, 2004

    Blame it on who ?

    Night Shyamalan‘s Village has finally arrived last week to Chennai. Probably thats one film that I would have expected to release parallel to its hollywood release given the proven audience for Night’s films.

    Steven Speilberg’s The Terminal which has won accolades around the world is yet to release in Chennai. Or has it released and gone out of theatres without my knowledge. Can’t comment on that, anything is possible. A similar thing did happen to Steven Spielberg’s Amistad. It released and on the first weekend, less than 20 odd people were found themselves aloof inside the theatre. If that’s funny, here’s more. The 1996 Oscar winner, The English Patient, is yet to release in Chennai. Why would someone release it when you have such a small audience for good films. Blame it on the audience and they blame it back on the distributors.

    If Shyamalan’s Village could get kollywood audience amused, we will have some more Shock movies in Tamil. Can’t stand those bad adaptations.

    Update : Latha has some nice things to say on herself and also on bloggers [Indian Bloggers especially] in the Guest Blog. Read her blogpost – I, Me, Myself.

  • September 24, 2004

    I, Me, Myself.

    [ by Latha (lathsmail@gmail.com) ]

    Hey Latha, here’s to u. Way to go dear, a pat on my back. Well, no one can blame me for respecting myself now, can u? Here pals, hold my hand and I shall lead to this wonderful world of self realization. I am a best eg for puliya paarthu poonai soodu pottu kondathu. Inspired by the enormous creativity of bloggers all around, the schizo in me jumped awake and said that I can do it too after all isn’t all talents hidden initially. Armed with a laptop and so called self proclaimed hidden talent, I started (or is it ended?) to pen my thoughts into words. Starting from the stuff that I don’t like (isn’t it comparatively easier to vent out our frustrations and dislikes). I guess all of us are just waiting for an opportunity to take it out on someone what better place to do that than in a blog. But first, tried to check the latest posts of all fellow bloggers(?!)- (hey, come on, I have started to write, so the guys who are presently writing are my fellow bloggers, surely, I can claim that). Feeling inwardly happy that Maximus is a little out of form and what aNti writes about goes only 20000 feet above my head (he isn’t in my league, u see), and since is KG is busy scaring people out of their wits with his flashy antics and Anand having chosen specific subjects to write about. I thought that I will definitely have my share of readers. The huge looming threat seemed to come only from a jujubi one time Indiblog winner Lazy Geek, but me thinks I can charm him into stop writing about simple things in life and getting into some other hobbies like maybe deep sea diving or bungee jumping or something less adventurous like traveling by PTC footboard on Monday morning, when his only focus wud be on hanging on to the window rod and not drooling over Sonia Agarwal over Kodambakkam bridge. Hey, come one, give me a big hand. I did manage to write so much now, didnt I?

    Now, I dedicate this piece of my writing to my earlier attempt(the first, actually hee hee hee) at writing something which I presumed would make the world sit up and look at me with respect (and a little weirdly too). This writeup is inspired by the reaction I got for my previous article. Profound silence! Isn’t silence supposed to be gold and talk silver and all of u know that I cant be anyone else than a typical Indian girl who knows the true value of gold. Well, I should say that my dogged determination (read arrogance) to make my fellow bloggers and readers(?!) life miserable is also inspired by my all time fav Kamal Hassan who cant be anything but himself at any point of time. Trust me guys, Narcissm helps atleast it definitely doesnt harm.. if we cant blow our own trumpets then how will we even be able to the tell the world that we have trumpet in the first place. Well, this logic cant be beaten now, can it?

    In addition to dedicating this piece to myself (hey, only I read what I write), this also goes to all those people whose talents are trying to break free to set the world right, and those who are basking in the glory of their skills. 3 cheers to all you bloggers out there for enlightening ignoramasus like me about this world’s achievers and dreamers, the explored and unexplored, interesting trivia’s, right up to bringing back nostalgic memories of pleasant yesteryears, lightening speed todays and positively wild tomorrows.

    A special note of thanks to Lazy Geek. For identifying the writing bone in me, its ok lazy, relax everyone is allowed to make one mistake in life and you made yours 🙂

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