there is a new way - always!

The thing with art is that there is always a new way of conveying something. Just when you think you have heard every form of love song, there is a new one that makes you think - wow - that's it.. that's exactly it! Just when you have seen every kind of a war movie, there is a new one that makes you rethink the whole concept of war. This amazes me because I have always wanted to write, but have strongly believed that I have nothing new to say. But when I feel this about a new song/movie/book, I have to remind myself that there is scope for me to say one new thing too or rather one old thing in a new way :)

Such a song is this relatively old one here, but one that I heard only recently. Chakkarai Nilave (moon made of sugar, that dissolves into the sky even as one gazes at it!). The entire lyrics is very deep and makes me feel like the lyricist has truly experienced this in his life, but the second para in particular is very sweet.

November maadha mazhaiyil naan nanaiven endraen

Enakkum kooda nanaidhal miga pidikkum endraay

I said I get wet in the November rains, you said you like it too!

Mottai maadi nilavil naan kulippaen endraen

Enakkum andha kuliyal miga pidikkum endraay

I said I enjoy bathing in the terrace moonlight, you said you like it too..

Sugamaana kural yaar endraal suseelavin kural endraen

Enakkum andha kuralil yetho mayakkam yena nee sonnaay

You asked whose voice is sweet, I said Suseela, and you said you also find her voice intoxicating..

Kangal moodiya buddhar silai

En kanavil varuvadhu pidikkum endraen

Thyakkam enbadhe siridhum indri

Adhu enakkum ennakum dhaan pidikkum endraay

I said I loved it when I see a statue of Buddha with his eyes closed in my dreams, and without even a second's hesitation you said you liked it too!

Adi unakkum unakkum ellaam pidikka

Ennai yaen pidikkaadhu endraay?

If you like everything about me, why did you say you didn't like me?

Kavidhai paadina kangal

Kaadhal pesina kaigal

Kadaisiyil ellaam poigal

En pinju nenju thaangumaa

The eyes which spoke poetry, the hands which spoke love,

in the end its all a lie, how will my tender heart take this?

The other thing too is that having been quite into the Bronte sisters these last few weeks, I realized that if I can be so into these books written 170 years ago by two Yorkshire women, there is still scope for folks to exceed these ladies in literature!

Introversion/extroversion

I have been researching on this topic in the spare time that I didn't have today. But you know how you create time for things you really really want? Like useless topics of psychology and how happy celebrities are?

Anyways,  I have long been confused by these words because I do live a lot in my head, and don't like crowds, but I also need company and don't like to be alone. The tests say i more introverted than not, while most of my friends say i am very extroverted. So I had to put an end to this puzzle.

What I found was that this is really a very stupid theory put forward by a dubious psychiatrist called Carl Jung who everybody takes seriously because he was a put forward some new words in the english dictionary - like synchronicity and extroversion!

Look here, everybody like to be heard, to be understood, to be praised, to feel connected. There is nothing introverted or extroverted about it. It takes effort to take center stage. If you don't want to - then that's what it is. If you want to and can't, then you are shy. If someone does it easily, you think that they did it easily - but they probably overcame that same shyness you have. Please don't use your behavioral issues to do's as a handicap to not do something and then append the label "introverted" to it!! Go out and make it happen. Or sit tight because you like. If you said no to someone, it is because you didn't like them or their group - not because you are introverted! That's not an excuse to be rude. It's bullshit!

Yet another post on SRK!

Ok - going through a brief period of obsession here which for those who know me is a perfectly normal state of existence for me.

So - what makes shahrukh khan such a legend - here is my take below:

1) High EQ - I think the guy has phenomenal emotional intelligence and is a keen observer. His acting is so spot on and he makes you empathize with his character so much. It is so hard to make someone laugh loud - i have laughed loud at his movies even after having seen it several times!

2) Mobility - Everything about SRK is very mobile! His eyes, mouth, nose, body! All of his parts move and keep your eyes glued to the screen! It makes repeat watching of his scenes possible because there is so much going on with him that you have to watch at least twice to appreciate his acting fully!

3) Warmest eyes ever - He has a warm heart. I have no doubt about it. Look at the warmth in his eyes! It just shines through! With his melting eyes, and cute dimples, he will always remain my cine idol :)

4) Wit - If you have never seen his interviews - please do. He is phenomenally witty and spontaneous. This is now high IQ territory.

5) Focus on reflecting his thoughts - He is not macho. His shirts are not tucked. He is not handsome. His hair is not perfect. He simply focuses on phenomenal acting and not on how he looks. His charisma carries the day - not his looks. That's why, even old, I still love his movies!

Anyways - I love shahrukh khan - I think that sums it up nicely :D

To Dil Se

There is something about the ages 16-18 when if you have had a secure childhood, then everything that you admire becomes the ideal of perfection. The movies you saw at 16, the music you listened to at 18 and the actor you admired at 17 become your favorite of all times.

This yardstick of artistic perfection for me was this movie Dil Se. Each and every movie of Mani Rathnam is embellished in my heart as the very definition of romantic perfection. Superimpose SRK's extraordinary acting to this classic setting created by Mani Rathnam, not to mention the subject matter of the movie being obsessive love, the three ingredients easily make it my favorite movie of all times. And to add this  already magical mixture, AR Rahman's haunting background score, what results is a new benchmark of best cinema.

Below are my thoughts on some of the best scenes of cinema - ever!

The very first scene of this movie is captivating. Shar rukh's first glimpse of Manisha is scene worth watching many times - how can he act like that? Bring that kind of emotion to his face - as if the whole muddled purpose of his existence just dawned on him in that very instant.

One of the best scenes of this movie is where they exchange their favorite things in life. Where SRK takes the same three things that he dislikes about her and converts it into three things that he loves about her! At the end of scene, I can bet there would not be one person in the theatre who is not lulled into that same sense of romance that the Rathnam, Rahman and Shahrukh create together.

The next scene that kills me in the movie is his dialogue with Preiti when he says he feels like throttling her for deserting him. The intense sadness is so palpable.

The one that shows how well Shahrukh can act is his engagement scene in front of Manisha. It is the last thing he wants to do with her standing in front of him. But he has to do it. She didn't leave him a choice.

The scene where he asks her "Kuch be hamdardi hai kya tujh me?" Honestly, I don't know the meaning of this question - I don't know what hamdardi means. But i think he is asking her if she has even an ounce of pity on him. Even a rock will shed a tear for him in this scene.

And then the very last scene - where his obsession is clear. He accepts it. Is willing to die with it. Willing to die for it.

I don't believe any other actor could have come close to him in enacting these scenes and doing them such justice.

There - I have let it out. I saw this movie yesterday, and just like churning buttermilk has to yield butter, the churning thoughts in my head had to become a blog :)