Ala Vaikuntapurramlo

There are few movies that I have admired in all aspects (that are not manirathnam's that is!).. but recently this Telugu movie made that list of timeless movies in my book.. Below I will explain why..

a) Allu Arjun - Of course, he carries everyone of his movies single handedly on his shoulders... (just like a Rajini and SRK does).. and he does the same in this movie.. fluidly changing expressions, insane dance moves and dialogues that are pure mass.. the movie is watchable again and again for allu arjun alone - Allu, I am your eternal fan girl ;) 

b) BGM score - The movie has dark scenes, emotional scenes, romantic scenes, fight scenes and funny scenes.. the music adds to all of this by telling its own story.. One of the few movies not by ilayaraja (think Mudal Mariyathai) where the BGM tells its own story!

c) Fight scenes - There are a couple of fight scenes in this movie that are more artistic than testosterone driven.. The one with the scarf getting washed - I don't think I have seen another fight scene on repeat in the last decade!!

d) The female boss - Let's be honest, I just love the idea of a female boss falling in love with a male secretary (Proposal is one of my all time favorite movies). This movie has the same vibe with the hero calling the heroine "Madam" and getting liberally punched as he slowly but surely makes the her fall hard for him. 

e) Casting - I loved the casting in this movie! The dad, mom, ARK, grandfather even the police guy.. they were all amazing! 

Hats off to Trivikram Srinivas from giving us a funny, moving, romantic, mass movie that really shines!!!

Tamil fan girl of Allu Arjun

Ok.. finally had to write this. I have a HUGE crush on Allu! If by any close to non-zero chance of his reading this, my request to him is to make a Tamil movie! Arjun, you act, dance and look better than all tam actors combined.. one movie, and Tamil film industry will be at your feet! 

As a Rajini lover, I can confidently say that you are the only other actor South Indian film industry that comes close in terms of acting and charisma. YouTube and Twitter has made film stars appear so much closer than they really are and so the fandom blurs the line of reality! Anyhow, I am enjoying this feeling and so thanks for being a great actor and a beautiful human being ;) not to mention a fantastic dancer!! 

I love the way you enjoy your daughter the most!! It's so cute.. and your high pitched laughter.. you look so beautiful when you laugh!! You and I are the same age, and you probably left Chennai just when I got there (studied in adyar only!! IITM).. well here is one fan who will look forward to your movies and pray that you remain healthy and young always :) 

It feels so weird to be highly educated and having a dream job to be nursing a crush on an actor at age 37!! It's weird.. but that's the best part about blogs... You can write stuff and just put it out there and hope that someone might enjoy it someday! 

Thalapathy!

So this is one of my all time favorite movies.. and yes, it's made by Manirathnam! So what makes this movie amazing? Let me attempt to explain!

1) Ilayaraja's background score - The poignancy that Ilayaraja is capable of eking out of his music, very few directors can manage. Especially Chinna Thayaval - what has got to me an academy award deserving music!! I found this blog on this topic: https://rajamanjari.blogspot.com/2011/06/ilaiyaraaja-simple-and-esoteric.html that explains more.. but this song makes my cry till my nose turns red at any given moment!!

2) Casting - Rajini's uncanny ability to show the sorrow of an abandoned orphan, a guilt ridden rowdy, a compassionate lover, a considerate father figure, a loyal friend and a protective brother.. wow, the number of roles he has taken on and does it so naturally!! He is a super star for a very very very good reason. And his charisma in spades!! While Shobana (with her playfulness) and Arvind swami (with his elitism) add their uniqueness to this mix, to me the real stars of this movie are Jaishankar and Srividya!! I love how Jaishankar is this quiet, solid, supportive presence to Sri Vidya and how he accepts her broken heartedness. Not everyone will have this patience - but he shows his consideration so beautifully. And Sri Vidya - the eternal mother figure by which I judge all mother figures! Her salt and pepper hair, her youthful beauty and her bottomless sorrow at giving away her first born... my god, it moves me every single time. 

3) Story - This is loosely based on Mahabharata and the characters Surya (based on Karna), Arjun (based on Arjun) and Devaraj (based on Duryodhan) are all there. But Bhanupriya's character - Pure genius on Manirathnam's part! How can one emote so much with just her eyes? And her baby does the talking for her! 

4) Lighting/staging - This is a gory tale at best. It's about slums, gangs, prisons.. but Manirathnam blends in the temples and the water and sunsets to add a mystical beauty to this movie. There is a reason he is a genius. 

5) Last but the not the least - This is a through and through creation of Manirathnam. It has his elevating touch! I am so thankful to the few geniuses that have elevated my own world - Jane Austen, Manirathnam, Gandhi and Lincoln - probably the 4 people I consider a genius from whom I would love to emulate!!

Gap years

You know my happiness in life is inversely proportional to how much I write in this blog!

2011-13 - years I didn't write a single post, was when my baby was born until she turned 3.. those were wonderful years.. wonder years.. she sucked me in completely.. I was a goner.. in a good way :)

2018-19 - nothing was missing in my life.. i had my friends, my life.. hope.. a meaningless hope.. and I forayed into tamil books.. which was amazing.. my best friend got married.. a siblings married or a best friends marriage is always a shock to one's system.. they are no longer free.. they have entered a contract that has nothing to do with you..

2020 - the year started great.. it was a dream come true.. i was in india.. but i realized very soon that this year was going to be different.. i have to let things go.. really let it go.. nothing is more pathetic than feeling unwanted.. being unwanted.. but you still have to move on.. know that you are born on this earth, you have to live in it.. do what you have to... find what satisfaction you can.. and survive.. find acceptance and peace..

here's 2020 - the beginning of a new decade, the morning after youth sleeps, the month after love breathes farewell.. to a new home, new life, new friends, new place, even new babies :).. this is going to be the year of good byes and the year of welcomes... all in all a year of change.. 

i wish i could be like the trees here.. they become bare with no leaves come winter.. and sprout anew come spring.. they look so desolate one month.. and so beautiful the next! nature purges and rebirths.. i want to be purged and reborn too.. 

My all time favorite proposal scene :)

This is my all time favorite proposal scene. 

The background score is just magic - the kind that only ilayaraja can dream up!

Sri Devi is the very picture of a progressive lady - a woman who is daring enough to achieve fame and success and propose to a man, but insecure enough that she takes his rejection as a pronouncement on her character! And Rajini, the very picture of a tortured man in a helpless dilemma... who respects her more than anything in the world but doesn't want to lose her respect by owning up to who he is.. how he can balance the act of being a criminal but also a gentleman in the truest sense - just amazing.. I can never get tired of watching the play of emotions in these two excellent actors' faces.. her shyness, frankness, shame, anger, vexation and finally the tiny loving smile of victory!... and his fear, shock, resolution, and finally his own acceptance that he cannot hurt her.. and that he has to accept her proposal... and figure out his mess. What a situation! What acting! What a resolution!! Art at its best!!

ey sandakkara - my latest favorite song..

just for context this song is sung by a young boxer who is in love with her master.. he is really young and this is her first love.. the master is older and has had tough life experiences.. and he is single..  he treats her like his protege.. has no idea of her feelings.. 

the song is directed by an alumnus of my school :) (rsk trichy) my most favorite part of the song is the singer's voice and the music.. without much ado here is the translation!

Ei Sandakara Kundu Muzhiyila

Rendu Uyira Thedi Paayuthu

Oh fighter, your big eyes is searching to strike at 2 lives (like a missile)

Kuthu Sanda Ithoda Nippatu Pothum
Mutha Sanda Ennoda Nee Poda Vendum

Stop your boxing right now and let's start kissing [as you can see, I don't like this line] 

Thanimai, Thoratha, Alayura Naanum
Manasa Theranthe Enna Kaapathu

I am [not proper translation for alayara - its a roving mad] chased by loneliness. Will you open your heart to save me? 

Thedi Kattika Poren

I will find and hug you

Thaavi Ottika Poren

I will jump on you and stick to you

Thaali Kattika Poren – Aama

I will wear your thali

Mothi Mochika Poren

I will bump into and become a part of you

Paathi Pichikaporen

I will tear half of you..

Paavi Vechikka Poren – Aama

Paavi (this sinner, its a state of self pity) will keep you..

Ethurana En Azhagalaney
Unna Vandhu Urasama Othingi Nadanthen

Even though you are so beautiful in front of me, I walk next to you without touching you..

Edhu Mothina Edam Marinen
Thadumari Mulicha Na Unakulla Kedanthen

But something bumped into me and when I woke up, I was inside you!

Kan Katti Vitha Kaati
Ena Epo Katti Potta

When did you trick me and tie me up? 

Naan Enna Ezhudhi Neeta
Athil Vetkam Mattum Keechi Potta

When I wrote myself on a paper and gave it to you, you just tore the shyness from me  [Love this line!]

Siru Odaiyil Oru Odama
Manasoda Oru Kadhal Methanthoduthada

Love is like a small boat that floating in a corner of my heart

Unna Parthathum, Vazhi Orama
Uyiroda Oru Paathi Kalandoduthada

as soon as it spotted you, one half of my soul got disconnected and is going its own way [think of a car tire that has gone off the axil and going its own merry way]

En Aasa Romba Paavam
Konjam Kan Eduthu Paru

my desire is most pitiable, please look at me a little

Nee Mosa Parva Veesi
Mathi Katti Theriyum Madhiya Paaru

Look at this mathi [her name, meaning sense] who has lost her senses by the mean look in your eyes..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywaT2bNkDcg

Best Vijay movies

Ok - I have indulged in Vijay's movies for the last 2 weeks now. I have seen about 40+ films I think! this is definitely Vijay overload, but his movies are super entertaining - so this was hardly a hardship :) I thought it would be nice to list my favorite movies and why they are great below FWIW! Get an einthusan membership and a bucket of popcorn and you are all set to enjoy thanksgiving :)

1) Kadhalukku Mariyathai: I have another post on this movie, and as I said, this was a defining movie for me and at 15 made a deep impression on me. Loved his rare smile even then! And his cultured voice and graceful dance movements!

2) Pokkiri/Sivakasi: Loved both these movies for the comedy and his total rowdiness! If all you want to do is to letch, I highly recommen Pokkiri - he looks edible in this one :)

3) Theri: For some reason, I loved this movie (and also have a post on this below). Vijay as a lover, husband, son, father, IPS officer, murderer, brother - the movie has it all!

4) Sachein: An extra cute tamil rom-com. Vijay and Genelia are a great pair and this movie has some amazingly cute scenes!!

5) Gilli: Love it for the fast pace of the movie! And of course Vijay Prakash's Chellam. The movie shows how Vijay can carry the story single handedly! The other thing I like about the movie is that he doesn't even look at Trisha the entire movie until he drops her in the airport, when it dawns on him that he actually likes her. He has done this very very naturally, and I love that!!

6) Thalaivaa: A godfather remake, serious tone, but Vijay delivers as usual. Love his vanga vanakkamna song

7) Thuppakki: Love the songs in this movie! And Vijay and Kajal Aggarwal are such a great pair!

I still haven't quite figure out why I like so much. My best bet so far is his cute smile, great acting, amazing comedy, his height/figure, his extra-ordinary dancing and his ability to switch between gentlemanliness and rowdiness!