Kalabandhar inside us...

Is there a kala bandhar within us? are we failing to see it? It might be apt for the director to chose monkey to represent some of those people problem, which simply requires introspection and some kind of self act to correct them, rather than looking for a systematic solution. I am happy that Rakesh used it through the maniac, and later Abhisheik mentions it to revolting Hindus and angry Muslims during that scene... For some reason, it strikes the artists around Abhishiek and even some of the audiences themselves that, is there a real bandhar within us.?? Kala Bandhar or another form of Bandhar?

Some may argues, cut the crap... its only a movie, abhisheik bachan is an artist, the character in the movie who carries the mirror through out the movie is a maniac already.. it is not practical and there are valid reasons for the situation around us and the cause and effect...

Another argument could be yes, we can make that difference by identifying the kala bandhar with in us on larger world issues like terrorism, climate change (how many accept and follow green movement) or taking a stand on palestinian/iraq/afganisthan/tibet/srilankan people cause... it is not valid for smaller topics or issues. are we failing to see with in us on other general topics...

i am only saying the bandhar is google searched and found not for grave and serious issues or issues in which we are in receiving end. it exists every time. we either ignore it or fail to see it.

If i look back in years, i remember many instances in which i reflected different emotions just as situation expected...

Some Happier moments...

1. Welcoming Balaji and Priya manni into our family through the twin marriages in our home.
2. Welcoming Vaishanavi my niece the day after diwali.. For a long time that day, i was thinking how to create a sound proof hospital for her to sleep OK?
3. Recently i and Vaishnavi came to our home in a BMTC bus... entire bus heard her voice from the last seat.. she made new friends... every one reflected her mood in them...

Some Not so happy moments...

missing relations.. call it death or their freedom from this careless\unfriendly world..

1. i am missing Karthikeyan Sir, 18 years he had been to Palani on new year day... 19th year end it half way... i should have gone along with him on that day as he wanted me to accompany him for that day's temple visit...
   
2. i am missing my Grand mother even today.... after her second heart attack, she survived more than 12 years in her life with perfect living all by herself, taking care of children, grand children, managing things within her small earnings of her husband's pension. People who know her, know what i am talking about, this reflection is certainly seen in others as a mirror.
   
3. I am missing Praveen's Father Subramanian... He breathed his last in my own hands... it is difficult\different feeling in you when someone dies beside you...
   

See, by now its obvious for people to say that yes, you also reflected same emotions what situation presented.... Its not about happier or sad occasions or those social / political situations that requires right response from us... all situations carries a mask of our face (aka bandhars) and it resides inside us... the day we accept this, identify the mask in us... we can bend our response to the situations in any ways we want...

Do you know what color is your current mask?

Naan Kadavul by Bala

Another splendid screen play from master director Bala... A movie which was in waiting for a while... intense, comical and comes with lot of human emotions as usual from Bala.... Just wondering how Bala can repeat his mastery film after film...  Arya is good...  

It was first day today, still i saw sections of movie already cut (may be to avoid too much violence)... worth watching in theater (without kids)

-Raghu

Visits to Hampi n Badami

I m back from Hampi.. i will be writing about this trip as well.. to give you glimpse of whats coming up... some images for your attention...

Next visit

Guess what, still i havent finished writing about my vacation, i am visiting Hampi this weekend. Nagesh is here in town and wants to visit places in Karnataka. 

the trips are not stopping...

-Raghu

TheChristian?

Every one know about "The Hindu" and its style of writing. i am taken by surprise by today's news on Magh Mela. The news paper mentions about the feud and not mentions about the action by christian missionaries... may be for them it is right act by christian missionaries... 

Small acts like this when mentioned in the front page, can lead to bigger news and create misunderstandings. Modern day media should either avoid and participate proactively and pass the right message... 

http://www.hindu.com/2009/01/19/stories/2009011957040100.htm

Looking at this, it makes me feel, should we even rename this daily from "The Hindu" to "The Christian"?

Father Movies in Tamil

We know about those mother/sister sentiment movies in Tamil, the two recent movies has introduced new concept of story narration around father. 

I am referring to Soorya Starrer Vaaranam Aayiram by Goutham Menon and Prakash Raj home production Abhiyum Naanum by Radha Mohan.

I have seen them both. 

Vaaranam Aayiram is a good movie but i guess has too much content in its screen play. May be Gowtham started with something and ended with another. Personally i feel he has touch of Manirathnam in screenplays related to romance. This one also doesn't fail on this part. it is worth watching it in theater once...

Abhiyum Naanum is recent movie around father subject. It is better than Vaaranam Aayiram in its subject scope and plot, but will go down among audience as another silent Radha Mohan movie. Remember Azhagiya Theeye! I am sure every lovable father and their daughters will enjoy this movie. 

these movies have opened up section of under screened subjects in tamil film industry. Pls welcome such innovation by watching these in theaters!

Exploring India #8 - Trip to Jaiselmer

dhak! dhak! this was a wake up call by the cleaner boy of our bus around 6 PM. After a day full of travel, good food at Green Park, an hours play of card games, we slept, slept to the core without realizing that Barmer had arrived. It was me who got down to enquire, by the time the bus was empty!! told myself, not all wouldn't have got down for tea!! ;-) woke up Badri and Balaji, who were asking the wake up call question, " where are we?"

The night journey was comfortable despite heavy rains with 2-3 pit stops in the high way, journey was quite comfortable on the highway. Barmer is the biggest city on the high way towards Jaiselmer. we did not get direct bus from Ghandhidham. As soon as we landed in the bus station, rain picked up pace again, we ran for shelter. first inside the railway station and then took an auto to official bus stand. We bought tickets to Jaiselmer and got into one of the stoned buses (i do not know how to describe such a bus, there was water all over the place becz of leaks, holes in the windows and on the top of bus).  the travel was colder. for the first time all our winter clothes are out from the back pack, still it wasn't enough!! with few stops, the bus finally reached Jaiselmer around 10.30 AM...

Thanks to www.wikitravel.org website, we had booked a room in artist hotel. People from that hotel received us in the bus stand, took an auto to the hotel, had tea and were preparing ourselves for a fun filled day in the desert city...