Crash

Usually i try not to write during working days. That is from Monday to Friday because after hours and hours before computer i don't want to come back home and sit before one again. But sometimes the urge get better of me. Im quickly running back to this pages after watching this fantastic movie called Crash. I dont really remember how i got hold of this dvd. But honestly i started to play this dvd after looking at sandra bullock's name among the cast.

but wow what a film. The film tracks about 36 hours of several individuals from different backgrounds and how they touch each other's lives. The characters are from various backgrounds and ethnic groups. There were white, blacks, persians, chinese and koreans. These were real life people who face problems of insecurity and racism. The story also examines how each character react to this common thread. The film show how action of one person changes the course of another person. It shows weaknesses of the common man in terms of how powerless situation makes one and what does he do when he bursts. Some rise above the others showing regret remorse and the deeds they do in redemption.

This film is different from other films i watched recently because along the movie we actually start to feel together with the characters. The director and the score successfully connect the audience with the cast. The dialogues were very simple and easily relates back. I could actually see the film in the backdrop of Malaysia. Where common misconception towards a particular race is thrown at face without mincing the words.

I own both a motorcycle and a car but i like to ride in motorcycle because i find it easy and fast. But whenever im on bike i cant help but notice that people around me become wary and looks at me by the nick of their eyes. I would throw them a look like "yeah im a indian dude on bike, so what". But sometimes i pity them and try to stay as far as possible because i know the presence makes them feel insecure. They will hold the hand bag a bit tighter and so on. Also the common misconception that indians are always at the wrong side of things.

This film which goes about 2 hours is one such film. Its not preachy. Its intense and captures the true feel of the community with a mixed racial situation.

The screenplay is exemplary. You could basically relate the first scene with the last scene. Its that clear and does not mislead you or bore you in a way preachy films tends to do. The film strikes a good balance with conveying a sensitive issue with entertainment. 

Films i watched recently Part 2

Hi there. This is the second part to my earlier composition.

The English movies which i watched were The men who stare at goats, the blind side, the invictus and the place beyond the pines.

The man who stare at goat have a stellar cast of George Clooney, Ewan McGregor, Kevin Spacer and Jeff Bridges. The story is a narration by Ewan McGregor who was a lame duck reporter who gets dumped by his wide and thereafter he gets into a journey to report something which would take him off and prove his wife wrong. A linear watch may seems like this is ridiculous film. But i felt the film was good because it touches the challenge that every working adult face sometimes. Bored and think of something to brave on. It also discusses about humanity on a lighter note. The film is not exactly an art film nor a comedy film. Its not very entertaining but certainly leaves some impression.

Now, the blind side was one of the watch of the year. The one liner of the film is that a black abandoned youngster who has huge body is adopted into a white family and how the youngster changed the life of the family and vice versa. The film's casting was headed by Sandra Bullock. Im a fan of Sandra Bullock. Who can forget her performance in Speed. The film was engaging and at end credit i realised that the film is actually based on a true story. They put real photographs of the characters in the films during credit. The film really have some moving scenes. Its inspiring and kept my fire of being part of solution for some problems alive. Its

Next we have invictus which is another true story. Its an old film but i only managed to watch it recently. Its essentially about how newly elected President Nelson Mandela faces challenges of uniting country divided by apertheid and how he uses the rugby world cup of 1995 to unite his people. Morgan Freeman was Nelson Mandela and Matt Damon payed the captain of the rugby team. Its a classic film of acceptance inspiration and jubilation. The film was technically sound. The score could have been better especially during the final match where that was the defining moment in not only the film but of an African Nation. The narration of the story also could be more focused. But all in all it was not such a bad watch.

Then the place beyond the pines. The film is of two generation. The film talks about decisions people make and how it changes their life. The film also talks about redemption and forgiveness. It was a soothing watch. The film was really carefully made and deserve an oscar. The casting was great especially Bradley Cooper who wore the serious role. The one liner of the film is that a carefree biker learns that he has a child with a lady he spent a night and how it changes him. He finds that to be defining and try to take responsibility ut face issue of finance which lead him to wrong decisions and how that decision affect his life and the other characters.

Ok thats all for now.

Tamils films i watched in the near Past

I like observing films. Films are wonderful technology which allows humans to imagine and aspire about the world tomorrow. A serious and important message can be conveyed soothingly via films. For me films inspire, allows me to emote and gives me perspective. So, i like observing films.

When i say i observe films, i actually mean that i dont merely watch films. Apart from appreciating the creativity in putting up a story on the canvass, i asses casting. I like to watch and take opinion in the chemistry between the artists. I look at the score, screenplay, mood, lenses being used, the color tone given, the angling and other stuff.

Of course, i hope every film that i watch worth the while. Worth the dear time that i am giving away. Over the week i watched quite number of films and i would like to discuss about it here. I dissect the films i watched into Tamil films and English films. 

The Tamil films i watched were Thalaiva the Vijay starrer, 555 the bharat starrer, Annakodi of Bharathiraja and Mariyaan. Thalaiva was the worst of the lot. It rehatched the beaten to death story line. Vijay who was doing well with films like Nanban and Thuppaki made a u-turn to do his usual Aathi and Sura ala film. The score was very average and the director is clearly does not have what it takes to do an action film. His romantic scenes were superb. But other than that, it is really a forgettable movie. 

Next i watch 555 which was directed by Sasi who gave Poo. Poo was one of the films i appreciate alot due to the compelling story, the concise and clear screen play, and superb acting by the female lead. So, i eagerly watched another product from Sasi. However, i was least impressed with the film. The on liner of the film is that the Protagonist involved in a accident with his girlfriend. However, after several months when he started to recover, everybody denied the existence of the girl firend. Our Hero went nuts and try to find out what really happens. The movie does have its moments but other than that you left to wonder whether this was the same guy who gave Poo. The story was not very creative and the promised twists were stale and predictable. 

Than i took up Annakodi of bharathiraja. I was moved to watch this film because i read somewhere during the pre production of the film that Bharathiraja mentioned tha this film would be a challenge to the young directors in the industry. The story was quite ok but the casting was very very poor. APart from Manoj who played the antagonist nobody stays in mind. The lead pair did not justify the characters. The par on country side stories for male is Paruthiveeran and female is Poo. Its very surprising to see an experienced director such bharathiraja did such a blunder in casting. The music could have been better. The screenplay was sporadically engaging. The story is not entirely fresh but it stays thanks to wonderful performance by Manoj.

Then finally we have Mariyaan. This film in my opinion consists of the best casting in the recent time from Thanush to Parvathy Menon to Appu Kutty. The music is needless to stay out of this world. I really enjoyed the song sequences. It was crafted like a poem. Mesmerizing work by Bharat Bala and the cameraman. But the screen play was a big let down because it was not engaging and slows where it should speed up and go too fast when it was supposed to be slow. The story is quite nice but the weak sceenplay made it unconvincing and irritating in parts.

Overall i think Tamil films should be more creative. Technically, i think they are sound but story lack in depth.      

கயமையிலும் கயமை அபத்தத்திலும் அபத்தம்…

பிள்ளைகளுக்கு  பிரதான தொடர்பு மொழியாக  தமிழ் இருக்கும் பட்சத்தில் பிற மொழிகள் குறிப்பாக ஆங்கிலம் சிறப்பாக ஆளுமைக்கு உட்பட்டு விடும் என்று நண்பர்களுடன் பல முறை விவாதித்து இணக்கம் கண்டு உள்ளேன். இது ஏறத்தாழ 10 வருடங்களுக்கு முன்பு. அப்பொழுது நான் இன்னும் மாணவ பருவத்தை கடக்க வில்லை. நண்பர்களும் ஏறக்குறைய  அப்படித்தான். மொழியின் மேல் அன்பும் காதலும் கொண்ட ஒரு கட்டம்.

10 வருடங்களுக்கு பிறகு பல விடயங்களுக்கு மத்தியில் இந்த மைய கருவை அலசி பார்க்க ஒரு இரவு நேரம் கனிந்தது. பொருள் தேடி பணி  செய்து, தேய்ந்து கொண்டு இருக்கும் இந்த கால கட்டத்தில்தான் நண்பர்கள் பலரும் திருமணம் புரிந்து இருந்தனர். அதில் குறிப்பிட்ட ஒரு நண்பர் தனது மகளது முதலாம் ஆண்டு பிறந்தநாள் விழாவுக்கு என்னையும் அழைத்திருந்தார்.

இந்த நண்பரை எனக்கு ஏறத்தாழ 23 வருடங்களுக்கு மேலாகவே தெரியும். நல்ல தமிழ் குடும்பத்தில் பிறந்து தமிழ் வழி கல்வி கற்று தமிழ் மொழியை பிரதான மொழியாக கொண்டு வந்த ஒருவர். மகளுக்கு தேடி எடுத்து மிகவும் அருமையான நல்ல தமிழ் பெயரை சூடி இருந்தார். சொல்லும் போதே இனிக்கும் ஒரு பெயர். சொல்லி கேட்டு ரசித்து இருந்தேன்.

பின்பு நெருடலை உணர தொடங்கினேன்.

இன்னும் பேசஅறியாத அந்த குழந்தையிடம் மருந்துக்கு கூட தமிழ்   தராமல்  சீராட்டினார்கள். ஆங்கில மொழியிலே கொஞ்சுதலும் சீராட்டுதலும்  நடந்தேறி கொண்டிருந்தது .சற்று பதறினேன். தட்டி சொல்லும் அளவுக்கு உரிமை கொண்ட நண்பர், ஆகையால் சற்று கடிந்து கொள்ளும் தொனியில் தமிழுக்கும்  கொஞ்சம்  இடம் கொடுக்கலாமே என்று  சொன்னேன். அருமையான  நண்பர் என்பதால் அசடு வழிய கேட்டு கொண்டார். 

இருப்பினும் இயல்பாகவே அவருக்கும்  குழந்தையை அணுகும் மற்றவர்களுக்கும் தமிழை தள்ளி வைத்தே இருந்தனர் .

இந்த சம்பவத்தை கடந்து அலசி பார்க்கும் பொழுது குழந்தைகளிடம் ஆங்கிலத்தை திணிப்பது  இளம் பெற்றோர்கள்  மத்தியில் எளிதாக காணப்படும் ஒரு "நாகரீக" பழக்கமாக இன்று காணப்படுகிறது. பிறந்தது முதல் இந்த இளம் பெற்றோர்கள்  மழலை மொழியாகவும்  கொஞ்சல் உரையாடல் மூலமாகவும் தம் குழந்தைகளிடம் இந்த திணிப்பை ஏற்படுத்துகிறார்கள். 

இந்த மோகம் எதனால் ஏற்பட்டு இருக்கும்? வேற்று மொழயில் பிள்ளை கரை காண ஏற்பாடா? அல்லது  தம் சுய ஆணவத்தை விளம்பர படுத்தி கொள்ள இந்த குழந்தைகள் கருவிகள் ஆகின்றனவா?

என் பல கருத்துகளில் முதன்மையான கருத்து, இயற்கையோடு ஒட்டி வாழ்வதுதான் சரியான வாழ்வியலாக முடியும் என்பது அறுதியிறுதியான கருத்து ஆகும். இப்படி இருக்கையில் தமிழ் மரபில் பிறக்கும் குழந்தைக்கு அதனுடைய டீன்எ-இல் இயற்கையாக பதிந்து இருக்கும் தமிழை புகட்டுவதுதானே இயற்கையான வாழ்வியலாக இருக்க முடியும்?. அதோடு  பிறக்கும் அந்த குழந்தைக்கு உரியவர்கள் அந்த பெற்றவர்கள் மட்டும் அல்ல, அதன் மூதாதையர்களும் தானே? அப்படி இருக்கையில் அந்த இயற்கையான தொடர்பை அறுத்து எறிவது அந்த குழந்தையின் உரிமைக்கு செய்யும் ஒரு துரோக செயல்  தானே?

அந்த நண்பர் சொன்னே ஒரு ஆறுதல் " சின்ன வயசுலே ஆரபிச்சாதனே?".

எனக்கு மௌனத்திலே தோன்றியது …கயமையிலும் கயமை அபத்தத்திலும் அபத்தம்…

-வேல் முரளி-