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July 10, 2006

Book from Chennai – 2

Couple of weeks back, yet another nice soul, got a bunch of books from Chennai. This bunch didn’t contain any Sujatha books except for Katrathum Petrathum 3.

Ashokamithran’s Ottran was the highlight of this bunch and I’m currently at the fag end of this book. I think its a great book. One of the finest from Ashokamitran. Ottran is partly fiction, partly memoir. Ottran chronicles seven months of Ashokamitran’s stay in the Iowa University during the 70’s. He was invited to stay there as a part of global writers program. Ashokamitran makes some fantastic-yet-simple observations of the desi life in the US which hasn’t been registered in tamil literature until now. Being written in the first person style, this is a gripping and down-to-earth slice of a writer’s life.

The other books included two more from Ashokamitran. Karaindha Nizhalgal – a novel based on Chennai filmdom and Azhivatrathu, collection of Ashokamitran shortstories written after the millennium. This bunch also included two of S. Ramakrishnan’s series, Thunnaiezhuthu and Kathavilasam that were published by Vikatan. Ra. Ki Rangarajan’s Naalu Moolai was also one of them.
July 10, 2006

Masalaman Returns !!

Watched Superman Returns in the IMAX with selected scenes on 3D. It’s an 85 foot screen with some fabulous sound system. And its probably the biggest screen a cinephile gets to watch in his lifetime. Still…Read ahead.

Kevin Spacey did disappoint. Why did he ever accepted to do the movie in first place ? That tells you I didn’t expect too much out Brandon Routh, in the first place. He has the perfect nose of a superman and he fits into the role. Atleast physically. More than helping the plotpoint of the movie, he serves as Mr.Droolover for the chicks. You could hears Wows and Aahs in the theatre.

Didn’t impress me much like Spidey 2.
July 8, 2006

P C Sreeram TALKS !!

[Source – Vikatan]

Usualy a quiet guy, PC Sreeram, in this small interview to Vikatan, actually talks.

And to my joy(!!), he also reflects his worries on the information overload thats prevalent in the contemporary society. Boy, I’m just about too convinced that information overload should be curbed. Starting from this blog.
July 7, 2006

Arun Vaidyanathan’s The Seance

How would write a two-minute review for a short film that only runs for six minutes and two seconds, to be exact ? You could. If the movie is well made. Not just because the maker is your friend. This isn’t written because I know Arun for sometime now. Arun‘s The Seance is truly a good shortfilm. Like many other shortfilms, at the first viweing, there is a chance that you might not understand the story behind this movie. Any shortstory or shortfilm should considered as a slice of life. So there can’t be a three act structure for a shorty. Even with a single act, you could bring in the formulaic movie structure. Arun does it convincingly well.

The Seance could be classified as a horror shorty. It has superb production values and it doesn’t look or feel like an amateur film. Not even for a moment. The lighting and cinematography are just about immaculate. There is enough darkness as much as the available light. The music goes with the mood of the movie and is very scary at ‘that’ single moment. The actors are spot on. BTW, there are only two actors[Tom Cappadona and Rick Pisarro] in the whole movie. Bearing few shots where one would feel that the editor could have sliced just an extra frame, the editing puts up a neat show.

The execution of the script is the highlight. Honestly, superb direction. This is probably the best of Arun till date and it will go a long way in showcasing his talent. Having a great product on-hand, it’s now with Arun and his team to take this movie to film festivals and see how it fares. For that’s the only way for an independent movie can get noticed. The Seance is already getting rave reviews in Kevin Spacey’s Triggerstreet. I think you could watch the movie online if you register there. I got a high quality version sent from Arun but that shouldn’t matter. Do mail Arun[arun[dot]filmmaker[at]gmail.com] on your views. He is all ears now.
July 7, 2006

Chithira Chirukki, Suthura Porukki !!

Has anyone turned a listening ear to Yuvan’s remix of Kalyanaraman’s Ahaa Vandurichu for Vallavan. While its a so-so remix it’s spiced up with 50 Cent’s In Da Club and folky dandanakka that reminds of Rahman’s Errani Kurrani Gopala. Above that what makes this remix interesting is the original song. Reminds us of how we much we miss Illayaraja. Instead of Malayasia Vasudevan who performed the original, this remix version is sung by Simbhu himself. I should say I’m impressed more than what I expected.

Loose Pennae…Loose Pennae is also well sung and orchestrated. This one reminds me of KK’s rendering of Kaathal Valarthen in Manmadhan. There is an original and remix version for this number. The original version is slow and is probably the best of all the numbers in the movie. This one is also rendered by Simbhu. Again, a good number with some naive lyrics. It’s actually those naive lyrics that adds color to this song. Blazee is becoming stereotypical. But atleast in this his number, his rap actually gels with the song.

You gotta listen to both the numbers to believe what I just said. Here you go.

Book from Chennai – 2

Masalaman Returns !!

P C Sreeram TALKS !!

Arun Vaidyanathan’s The Seance

Chithira Chirukki, Suthura Porukki !!