In fact it kept going to the underdog ‘Slum Dog Millionaire’. The heart rooted for India but the mind kept telling me well this is not a 100 % Indian movie. A kind of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) version of a movie. It made me think why is that we go over the top when there is something that is India-inspired, or India-linked, or a India-backdrop but are always sceptical about anything that is indigenous or 100% Indian and world recognition is hard to come by especially in the tinsel world. If Slum Dog Millionaire could win this many Oscars why didn’t a Lagaan or a Kalaa Paani. Slum Dog portrayed the other India through the eyes of a Brit while movies like Lagaan or a Kaala Paani was a portrayal of the dark colonial days through the eyes of an Indian. Some questions probably will remain unanswered. Well let’s enjoy the moment for what it is now.
Looks like people with uncommon monikers like Omanakuttan and Pookutty are the flavour of the season. The acceptance speech by Resul Pookuty was what impressed me the most, a speech that underlined the cultural diversity of India. Resul said and I quote ‘’I come from a country and civilization that gave the world the word that precedes silence and is followed by more silence. That word is 'Om', he continued ‘’I dedicate this award to my country. This is not just a sound award but a piece of history that has been handed over to me,” Those were some words of wisdom from the man of sound. The mallu community will soon stake claims to their son of the soil but it’s a shame that it took a Danny Boyle all the way from Manchester to fetch him the laurel. And by the way he is yet to make his debut in a Malayalam movie.
Strange are the ways of the world…A R Rahman is from a state which not so long ago were seen as anti Hindi but here he was holding the most important trophy for a Hindi song and spoke in Tamil in his acceptance speech. Suddenly I could sense the bhai bhai feeling or simply put the world was really getting flat. Oh what a great leveler music is. Congrats to the entire Slum dog Team but still waiting for a day when a 100 % Indian produced, directed and cast movie will go on to win an Oscar.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Friday, February 13, 2009
The Surangani Song...
If at all there was a song that spoke of cross cultural healing then it is Surangani the Sinhalese song which made its way into the hearts and tongue of every Tamilian. A song that was a regular fixture in any bus carrying a bunch of School children or College folks on an excursion or for that matter even a general family picnic. As the bus passed by carrying the revellers one could savour the trails of Surangani…reverberate in your ears.
Last night I googled it up and made my seven year old daughter listen to it and believe it or not, I found her humming to the tunes of Surangani this morning as soon as she woke up. For all you lovers of this song please find below the link to the Sinhalese version and the oldest known Tamil version. As they say ensoooy!!!
Surangani - Sinhalese
Surangani -Tamil
Last night I googled it up and made my seven year old daughter listen to it and believe it or not, I found her humming to the tunes of Surangani this morning as soon as she woke up. For all you lovers of this song please find below the link to the Sinhalese version and the oldest known Tamil version. As they say ensoooy!!!
Surangani - Sinhalese
Surangani -Tamil
Thursday, February 12, 2009
‘Barber’ ruffles up quite a lot of hair…
The recent uproar over the term Barber in the movie ‘Billu Barber’ being derogatory is incomprehensible. I thought until recently I visited a barber shop and have been doing so since the time the locks of hair on my head needed a trim. Though I should admit that barber shops in India have witnessed an image makeover in keeping with the changing times.
I remember the days when I used to visit a barber shop which had a rather noisy chair and the only source of entertainment while waiting was a 2 week old ‘India Today’ or an equally old copy of the ‘Ananda Viketan’ and for the movie buffs it would be a month old copy of ‘Screen’ or ‘Stardust’ with the All India Radio cranking up the good old ‘Ungal Viruppam’. On entering it all I had to say was ‘Summer Cut’, irrespective of it being Winter, Autumn or Spring. Unlike today when we receive a catalogue from which to choose the hair color and the contours you require to be shaped. The rickety chairs have been replaced with plush ones which swivels with hardly any noise, the ‘India Today’s’ are of the latest edition and the Radio has been elbowed by their swanky successors, the MP3’s with a top of the range audio system connected to it… and yes... what I failed to notice was that they are no longer Barber shops…they are Salons, or Hair Dressers or Hair spas. I need to learn to be more politically correct when I address certain professionals.
A piece of trivia which most of you from Chennai might be aware of will act as an anecdote on how we have embraced ‘Barber’ as a part of our life. The oft-repeated story is that Hamilton Bridge, just north of San Thome, was named after a British official called Hamilton and that in local usage it became Ambattan Bridge and, thereafter, Barber's (ambattan = barber) Bridge. Looks like that this bridge might be soon in for another round of name change and would probably be called a Hairstylist's Bridge in the near future.
I remember the days when I used to visit a barber shop which had a rather noisy chair and the only source of entertainment while waiting was a 2 week old ‘India Today’ or an equally old copy of the ‘Ananda Viketan’ and for the movie buffs it would be a month old copy of ‘Screen’ or ‘Stardust’ with the All India Radio cranking up the good old ‘Ungal Viruppam’. On entering it all I had to say was ‘Summer Cut’, irrespective of it being Winter, Autumn or Spring. Unlike today when we receive a catalogue from which to choose the hair color and the contours you require to be shaped. The rickety chairs have been replaced with plush ones which swivels with hardly any noise, the ‘India Today’s’ are of the latest edition and the Radio has been elbowed by their swanky successors, the MP3’s with a top of the range audio system connected to it… and yes... what I failed to notice was that they are no longer Barber shops…they are Salons, or Hair Dressers or Hair spas. I need to learn to be more politically correct when I address certain professionals.
A piece of trivia which most of you from Chennai might be aware of will act as an anecdote on how we have embraced ‘Barber’ as a part of our life. The oft-repeated story is that Hamilton Bridge, just north of San Thome, was named after a British official called Hamilton and that in local usage it became Ambattan Bridge and, thereafter, Barber's (ambattan = barber) Bridge. Looks like that this bridge might be soon in for another round of name change and would probably be called a Hairstylist's Bridge in the near future.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Lip lock strictly after wedlock…
Or else you will find your self in the lock up is what a court in India has ruled.
Just as a married couple had their obscularis muscles juxtaposed the cops in Delhi picked them up and booked them under charges of PDA or Public display of affection.
On a legal note though, a lawyer got them out claiming thus
"Obscenity charges get attracted when the act is so obscene that it encourages depravity or annoys the public. In this case both these contents are missing because the chargesheet is silent on any passersby as originally claimed,"
So better don’t kiss your wife unless you are carrying several copies of your marriage registration.
From being booked for kissing up north to being molested for a pint of beer. Strange things have been happening in India in the recent past. The Raj and Ram Senas created havoc in different parts of the country whipping up regional and religious sentiments. While the Raj sena is trying to beat up the Northies back to the north, the Ram sena is targeting spaghettis, no not the Italian delicacy. A mug of beer and spaghetti are against the Hindu and Indian culture claims Muthalik who now shares the dais with eminent anti liberal fanatics of the likes of Mulla Omar of the Taliban. We may soon see Muthalikinisation of B’lore and M’lore. He has gone a step further by announcing he would marry off all the ‘dating’ couples on Valentines Day. So all you to-be-married’s step on to Brigade Road in Bangalore on Valentines Day with a signboard ‘DATING’ and Sir Muthalik will ensure you are happily married, not a bad deal though in these times of recession, some cost saving on marital expenses.
I’m happy I grew up learning to respect and enjoy each others cast, religious, regional and gender orientations. I wish to recollect a play which all of us friends irrespective of caste or creed watched and laughed at, ‘Mahabarathil Mangatha’ a spoof on the epic Mahabharata where the Pandava brothers play poker against the Kauravas with their wife Draupadi (mind you wife & not wives) as the stake and the Kauravas even go to the extent of disrobing Draupadi. It is a much narrated event from the epic Mahabharata…Can the Muthaliks claim that this act represents Hindu / Indian culture?
Just as a married couple had their obscularis muscles juxtaposed the cops in Delhi picked them up and booked them under charges of PDA or Public display of affection.
On a legal note though, a lawyer got them out claiming thus
"Obscenity charges get attracted when the act is so obscene that it encourages depravity or annoys the public. In this case both these contents are missing because the chargesheet is silent on any passersby as originally claimed,"
So better don’t kiss your wife unless you are carrying several copies of your marriage registration.
From being booked for kissing up north to being molested for a pint of beer. Strange things have been happening in India in the recent past. The Raj and Ram Senas created havoc in different parts of the country whipping up regional and religious sentiments. While the Raj sena is trying to beat up the Northies back to the north, the Ram sena is targeting spaghettis, no not the Italian delicacy. A mug of beer and spaghetti are against the Hindu and Indian culture claims Muthalik who now shares the dais with eminent anti liberal fanatics of the likes of Mulla Omar of the Taliban. We may soon see Muthalikinisation of B’lore and M’lore. He has gone a step further by announcing he would marry off all the ‘dating’ couples on Valentines Day. So all you to-be-married’s step on to Brigade Road in Bangalore on Valentines Day with a signboard ‘DATING’ and Sir Muthalik will ensure you are happily married, not a bad deal though in these times of recession, some cost saving on marital expenses.
I’m happy I grew up learning to respect and enjoy each others cast, religious, regional and gender orientations. I wish to recollect a play which all of us friends irrespective of caste or creed watched and laughed at, ‘Mahabarathil Mangatha’ a spoof on the epic Mahabharata where the Pandava brothers play poker against the Kauravas with their wife Draupadi (mind you wife & not wives) as the stake and the Kauravas even go to the extent of disrobing Draupadi. It is a much narrated event from the epic Mahabharata…Can the Muthaliks claim that this act represents Hindu / Indian culture?
Sunday, February 1, 2009
A Tragic Day for the World of Comedy.
Nagesh is no more.
A person of moderate looks and all of skin and bones, but the fact was most of those bones were funny. A legend initially in the line of Jerry Lewis but later went on to leave an indelible mark of his own style.
He was as quick footed as he was quick witted. He was a delight to watch when he shook a limb or more... his jives, twists, taps and simple stretches thanks to his bony structure were some display of gracefull dancing sans the pelvic thrusts that you see these days. His dancing skills would definitely outclass his imposters (including his son) of the break dance crazy generation of 80’s and 90’s.
As for his acting skills I am yet to see a better scene to match his histrionics in 'Kadhalika Neramillai' as an ambitious wannabe movie maker who narrates a horror story line to his dad Ballayya to wheedle him to finance his project.
I managed to post the link to this immortal clip in memory of this legendary comedian.
A person of moderate looks and all of skin and bones, but the fact was most of those bones were funny. A legend initially in the line of Jerry Lewis but later went on to leave an indelible mark of his own style.
He was as quick footed as he was quick witted. He was a delight to watch when he shook a limb or more... his jives, twists, taps and simple stretches thanks to his bony structure were some display of gracefull dancing sans the pelvic thrusts that you see these days. His dancing skills would definitely outclass his imposters (including his son) of the break dance crazy generation of 80’s and 90’s.
As for his acting skills I am yet to see a better scene to match his histrionics in 'Kadhalika Neramillai' as an ambitious wannabe movie maker who narrates a horror story line to his dad Ballayya to wheedle him to finance his project.
I managed to post the link to this immortal clip in memory of this legendary comedian.
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