Originally posted 16 Aug 2006
In the midst of all the packing we did these past 2 weeks - we found time to watch two tamil movies; quite a feat considering each movie is about 3 hours long. Of course, we did end up fast forwarding songs and other chunks from the first movie.
The one thing both movies had in similar was that the hero was not the traditional epitome of virtue, but was instead a flawed twisted character shaped by the evils of modern society.
The similarity ends there.
Thiruttu Payale was a confused and drawn-out peice of cr*p. It was as if the director could not decide if the protoganist was a hero or not. Accordingly the guy alternated between murdering people and singing songs for the heroine and lecturing about true love to others. It was as if they were trying to define the boundaries of his evilness and that in my opinion was kind of unnecessary. Of course the torture of watching the movie was exacerbated by the fact that none of the actors could in fact act! The ending was forced into being moralistic and preachy. Cheaters never prosper, right?
Or do they? This was the premise of Pudupettai, one of the best tamil movies I've seen in a while. The camera angles, the way the scenes were lit, the way the dances were choreographed.. it was a visual treat; one that I didn't know tamil cinema was capable of delivering. The dialogues were simple and realistic. Dhanush portrayed the central charecter Kokki Kumar rather well. There were no euphemisms and endless justifcations of why K.Kumar behaved the way he did (apart from the background info already woven into the story). The premise might have been a little cliched, but the way it was handled definitely wasn't. This movie, we didn't fast forward. It was fast paced enough on its own.
One of the biggest weaknesses in this movie was the music. The music was 'borrowed' from several English movies, most notably from 'The Godfather'. The ending was a bit weak and confused as well, although I did like the cynical note on which it ended.
If you must see a tamil movie anytime soon, I'd recommend 'Pudupettai' over 'Thiruttu payale', unless you prefer soppy melodrama over fast paced action.
Monday, August 28, 2006
More on books
Originally posted on 9th Mar 2006
A couple of books I read and liked recently: Towelhead by Alicia Erian and Maps for Lost Lovers by Nadeem Aslam, in that order. While Maps is a considerably better written book with very lyrical language, I liked Towelhead more simply because I could empathize with the lead charecter more.
I've recently (yesterday) discovered that the books I liked the most had charecters I could empathize with. This does not mean that the books be about someone situated similarly in life (South Indian, immigrant, woman, educated, married etc.)...That would restrict my reading considerably! It does not even mean that the charecters and I should have had the similar life events at some point in our lives. I think it depends on the skill of the writer in conveying the emotions, feelings and experiences of that person so convincingly you start to believe that you would behave the same and think the same under similar circumstances even if they may never happen to you. I like to think it also to some extent depends on the imagination of the reader. How willing are they to transcend their immediate experience and see themselves in another person?
Thus I could empathize with Teresa and her vulnerability (Unbearable lightness of being) even though my husband is no philanderer; with Maman and her overwhelming love for an only son (Life is elsewhere) even though I've no children yet; with Becky Bloomwood (Shopaholic), Kaukab (Maps for lost lovers) and most recently Jasira (Towelhead). Looking at the list though, maybe I am all wrong about the whole skill-empathy thing. Maybe I only like books with neurotic women! :-)
More about Towelhead: Jasira is a pretty 13 year old with a father prone to violent tempers and a mother who couldn't care less. Her parents are divorced and cannot agree on anything except when it comes to disciplining Jasira for her 'misdeeds' such as wearing a tampon or kissing a black boy. Starved of affection and confused by her changing body and harmones, Jasira decides the only reliable indicator of good and bad was her body itself... and if her body liked her neighbor's touch, that must mean that she was in love with him. The neighbor himself is no horrible monster - merely a conflicted man who takes advantage of a pretty girl inspite of his misgivings.
It is a good read and conveys the viewpoint of the girl quite effectively. One of the reviews of this book called it an erotic read. For the most part this is not true. It is more of an abuse story with a redemptive feel-good end.
A couple of books I read and liked recently: Towelhead by Alicia Erian and Maps for Lost Lovers by Nadeem Aslam, in that order. While Maps is a considerably better written book with very lyrical language, I liked Towelhead more simply because I could empathize with the lead charecter more.
I've recently (yesterday) discovered that the books I liked the most had charecters I could empathize with. This does not mean that the books be about someone situated similarly in life (South Indian, immigrant, woman, educated, married etc.)...That would restrict my reading considerably! It does not even mean that the charecters and I should have had the similar life events at some point in our lives. I think it depends on the skill of the writer in conveying the emotions, feelings and experiences of that person so convincingly you start to believe that you would behave the same and think the same under similar circumstances even if they may never happen to you. I like to think it also to some extent depends on the imagination of the reader. How willing are they to transcend their immediate experience and see themselves in another person?
Thus I could empathize with Teresa and her vulnerability (Unbearable lightness of being) even though my husband is no philanderer; with Maman and her overwhelming love for an only son (Life is elsewhere) even though I've no children yet; with Becky Bloomwood (Shopaholic), Kaukab (Maps for lost lovers) and most recently Jasira (Towelhead). Looking at the list though, maybe I am all wrong about the whole skill-empathy thing. Maybe I only like books with neurotic women! :-)
More about Towelhead: Jasira is a pretty 13 year old with a father prone to violent tempers and a mother who couldn't care less. Her parents are divorced and cannot agree on anything except when it comes to disciplining Jasira for her 'misdeeds' such as wearing a tampon or kissing a black boy. Starved of affection and confused by her changing body and harmones, Jasira decides the only reliable indicator of good and bad was her body itself... and if her body liked her neighbor's touch, that must mean that she was in love with him. The neighbor himself is no horrible monster - merely a conflicted man who takes advantage of a pretty girl inspite of his misgivings.
It is a good read and conveys the viewpoint of the girl quite effectively. One of the reviews of this book called it an erotic read. For the most part this is not true. It is more of an abuse story with a redemptive feel-good end.
Confessions of a Bookaholic
Originally posted on 24th Jan 2006
Probably the only New Year resolution that stands a good chance of being kept up is my resolution to read more books. Good thing, I didn't specify what kind of books!
I cannot really count the Shopaholic books among the quality books I've read this year... just like I wouldn't count 'Seinfeld' or 'Everybody loves Raymond' as quality TV. That didn't stop me from enjoying the books though. The books have the same addictive quality as the sitcoms - good narration that requires little effort on part of the reader/viewer to understand what is going on, an interesting storyline that holds one's attention and they are extremely funny! No wonder I took less than a week to finish reading 3 Shopaholic books and have placed a hold in my library for the 4th (Never mind the list I'd made earlier this month).
When I started reading the first book, I felt like I was reading yet another Bridget Jones book. The heroine is British, somewhat flutter brained and even has a handsome, serious and successful boyfriend. While this may be true of the essence, the actual plot differs considerably. For starters, Becky Bloomwood does seem to have more of a head on her shoulders than Bridget while being just as adorable. She does seem to fix the messes she finds herself in, instead of relying purely on circumstances to do it for her (although circumstances DO cooperate in a nice way as well). The heroine is not really allowed to get away with her excesses completely, well except maybe in the 3rd book.
Above all, just as I could empathize with Bridget's drawer full of knotty pantyhose, so I can empathize with Becky's wild justifications on spending money. After all, I did fill my apartment with tons of candles, loads of cosmetics (most of which I never used), cushions, candle stands, books and a whole lot of other things, during my days of singledom. I didn't run into debt like Becky, but I didn't save anything either... Now that I have a husband who theoretically holds me in check, things are somewhat improved. I still fantasize about winning the lottery and spending it all at Pier1 though. ;-)
Would I recommend this book? Absolutely if you're a woman (or a man who likes chick-lit), love to read humour and/or love to shop.
Probably the only New Year resolution that stands a good chance of being kept up is my resolution to read more books. Good thing, I didn't specify what kind of books!
I cannot really count the Shopaholic books among the quality books I've read this year... just like I wouldn't count 'Seinfeld' or 'Everybody loves Raymond' as quality TV. That didn't stop me from enjoying the books though. The books have the same addictive quality as the sitcoms - good narration that requires little effort on part of the reader/viewer to understand what is going on, an interesting storyline that holds one's attention and they are extremely funny! No wonder I took less than a week to finish reading 3 Shopaholic books and have placed a hold in my library for the 4th (Never mind the list I'd made earlier this month).
When I started reading the first book, I felt like I was reading yet another Bridget Jones book. The heroine is British, somewhat flutter brained and even has a handsome, serious and successful boyfriend. While this may be true of the essence, the actual plot differs considerably. For starters, Becky Bloomwood does seem to have more of a head on her shoulders than Bridget while being just as adorable. She does seem to fix the messes she finds herself in, instead of relying purely on circumstances to do it for her (although circumstances DO cooperate in a nice way as well). The heroine is not really allowed to get away with her excesses completely, well except maybe in the 3rd book.
Above all, just as I could empathize with Bridget's drawer full of knotty pantyhose, so I can empathize with Becky's wild justifications on spending money. After all, I did fill my apartment with tons of candles, loads of cosmetics (most of which I never used), cushions, candle stands, books and a whole lot of other things, during my days of singledom. I didn't run into debt like Becky, but I didn't save anything either... Now that I have a husband who theoretically holds me in check, things are somewhat improved. I still fantasize about winning the lottery and spending it all at Pier1 though. ;-)
Would I recommend this book? Absolutely if you're a woman (or a man who likes chick-lit), love to read humour and/or love to shop.
Prepped
Originally posted on 22nd Dec 2005
Lee Fiora is a 14 year old from South Bend, Indiana, who goes to a snobby boarding school in New England. I am twice her age, stayed at pretty much the same school in my hometown in India when I grew up, and am now old and married. So what do I have in common with Lee?
Nothing, it would seem on surface... and yet, so much, judging by how much I loved the book - 'Prep' by Curtis Sittenfeld.
Lee is me in high school, shy, withdrawn, painfully self-conscious, always wondering what people are thinking about her, worried that her parents may embarass her in front of her friends, worried that she may be saying too little or too much, not knowing what to do or how to behave but terribly lonely nevertheless, wanting a friend and longing....aching for a boyfriend. She has a crush on her classmate but she is too terrified to ever take it beyond the realm of her imagination on her own initiative. She feels happy whenever someone acknowledges her existence since she is pretty certain that no one notices her (when she is not busy being terrified that everyone is noticing her). I know exactly how that feels!
Lee has a reason for her behavior though- she was not weird in Indiana. She became this way, because she was a poor hicksville girl in a school filled with rich sophisticated people. She did not fit in and she desperately wanted to. The book ends with Lee finishing school and leaving for college. She ends with the note that college and life thereafter was not as difficult and in fact seemed boring compared to her travails at boarding school.
However, I didn't really need to be like Lee to have liked the book. I liked Sittenfeld's introspective style of writing with her startling but so true observations about people and about life. I am definitely looking forward to her next book due this summer. I started reading this book under the impression that it was a teen read ( like 'Harry Potter' or 'His Dark Materials' meant for teens, but appealing to adults like me). While some teens might read this book, I believe an adult would appreciate it better, having had some time to look back on their own teenage years and reflect, as I did.
Lee Fiora is a 14 year old from South Bend, Indiana, who goes to a snobby boarding school in New England. I am twice her age, stayed at pretty much the same school in my hometown in India when I grew up, and am now old and married. So what do I have in common with Lee?
Nothing, it would seem on surface... and yet, so much, judging by how much I loved the book - 'Prep' by Curtis Sittenfeld.
Lee is me in high school, shy, withdrawn, painfully self-conscious, always wondering what people are thinking about her, worried that her parents may embarass her in front of her friends, worried that she may be saying too little or too much, not knowing what to do or how to behave but terribly lonely nevertheless, wanting a friend and longing....aching for a boyfriend. She has a crush on her classmate but she is too terrified to ever take it beyond the realm of her imagination on her own initiative. She feels happy whenever someone acknowledges her existence since she is pretty certain that no one notices her (when she is not busy being terrified that everyone is noticing her). I know exactly how that feels!
Lee has a reason for her behavior though- she was not weird in Indiana. She became this way, because she was a poor hicksville girl in a school filled with rich sophisticated people. She did not fit in and she desperately wanted to. The book ends with Lee finishing school and leaving for college. She ends with the note that college and life thereafter was not as difficult and in fact seemed boring compared to her travails at boarding school.
However, I didn't really need to be like Lee to have liked the book. I liked Sittenfeld's introspective style of writing with her startling but so true observations about people and about life. I am definitely looking forward to her next book due this summer. I started reading this book under the impression that it was a teen read ( like 'Harry Potter' or 'His Dark Materials' meant for teens, but appealing to adults like me). While some teens might read this book, I believe an adult would appreciate it better, having had some time to look back on their own teenage years and reflect, as I did.
Friday, August 25, 2006
Creation
The first few posts here will be lifted from my other blog, in an attempt to re-classify the different tones and motivations of each blog.
The other blog deals with the internal - the well and the frog itself and this one will attempt to look out of the well and into the world yonder.
The other blog deals with the internal - the well and the frog itself and this one will attempt to look out of the well and into the world yonder.
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