This is what happens when one goes through a bad...i mean really bad phase of movies..Silence...I guess that is what Chandramookhi does to all Thalaiva fans. Not to forget though, I did manage to see a South Korean movie -'Oldboy'. Vengence is the name of the game, a game being played since the dawn of time- is the thread running through the story. Amidst all the gory scenes, the director does manage to come up with some excellently composed scenes. The use of obtuse angles has also been done really well. You cant not have a real bad tummy after you realise the plot...something worth watching--- Even though I know I am a beast cant I have the right to live!!!!!

Dusk neared.It was like any other day he had lived, going about his life as if it were a chore.The day was to be different, he was heading to the town, it was to be his initiation into an oriental way.He had gathered along with a few other townfolk in a small ill lit hall. He had hoped this stint would be for the bettrement of his life, an eastward ho they said, was always for the better.

With a few strokes on the blackboard began the lines like an untrodden path waiting to be tread. Amongst the laughter and the quizzical looks at the new sounds and sights being thrown, there entered a set of woman, cheerful and bright , full of ideas and life. They were like the many he had seen, except for one.

Untill then it has been just another evening now it was an evening like no other. His mind raced at the speed of light, wondering whether this was just an ordinary sight. She looked around with the airs of a queen, it was unlikely that he would be seen. Dusk had suddenly become dawn, he felt his blood go warm. With a hypnotic gait she moved, his eyes following her every move. Her lips parted in a smile asthough clouds parting to reveal the radiant sun.

As pure as a crystal peak, as radiant as a thousand suns, as calm as outerspace, as effervent as a geyser , as pristine as a drop of dew on a blade of grass. He thought all this in fractions of seconds, he wondered at the greatness of the mind.

Suddenly as though lightning, lines cut through his thoughts. Lines of the orient cutting his path like the strings of many kites. Back to reality he came , curious again he bacame of the sights and the sounds.

uncut.....first edition

Maniratnam, one if India's premier film directors had carved a niche for himself. Not only are his stories original and refreshing they are also visually appealing. In a country which produces more number of films than any other county in the world , the bulk of them purely commercial, Mani sir (as he is commonly known) has managed to make movies that have the elements of a good commercial movie and also that have a good sense of film technique. Now the question that arises is what is a commercial movie, according to Indian standards? Well ...in short a movie that is predominantly a musical with a couple of foot tapping numbers, that has the bloodiest action sequences and that had a nice plump heroine against (mostly) an aged looking hero. Also the audiences can be ruthless if one of the above elements is amiss. Then how is it that Mani sir manages to get away with it? Well....for starters, he is a director by passion and interest and not in it with family interest. I think this says it all. He is in a profession that he likes, not for the fame or the money. A thing to notice in most of his movies is the lighting. Lighting is most well used and in most cases it is natural lighting. He prefers the outdoors. Another very interesting fact ..his interests are truly very nationalistic. Addressing the current situation at hand he has been making movies which has been well received. Roja,Dilse, Bombay, Kanathil Mutthamitaal have all been related to terror, interestingly they are each based in the North,East,West and South.Gitanjali, Nayakan-voted by time as one of the 100 best movies,Anjali have all been about people. Some of his best light sequences are that in the pic above from Aayutha Ezhuthu and pachaai nirame from Aalaypaauthey. I wonder what it will be like if he comes up with an noir film.

What is Ram Gopal Verma up to these days? Apart from the fact that he is obsessed with the mob rather the underworld, he seem to be justifying for it. He started capturing this love/obesession of his very early on with Satya...a very refreshing movie, back them. Then after what seemed as a long haitus it was followed by Company, undoubtdely his best underworld flick. The film is one of his best as it manages to cover the entire life of a mobster, in true bollywood ishtyle..packed with a song too (a catchy one might i add) , but then u may ask....most of the mob movies depict the rise and eventually the fall/reforming of the gangster...so whats different about company. Here in lies the 'genius' of the movie. The becoming, rise , the differences.....all recognized as the various stages of a gangster's life...are not all packed into just one character...but TWO...and their lives depicting the various stages simulatneously.

There in lies the crux of the movie.But I draw the line there...he should have drawn it too. The following up of Company with 'D'..which is cast with loose dialogues and motives...just does not fit in. These movies represent indirectly the life of underworld kingpin Dawood Ibrahim. Now the screening of 'Sarkar'...which he attributes to all time great 'Godfather'...is very obviously oozing the present life of Bal Thakrey, the aging Shiv Sena leader. It is also a well know fact that the D company and the sainiks have been at war since the 93 blasts that rocked bombay. Though the movie was slick...i couldnt help but think....why is he coming up with a film based on Bal Thakrey's life? Is he trying to be just by making a film eachfor the rivals . In making these movies he is partonizing the characters as people larger than life.....with nerves of steel.....is this what he is doing? Trying to justify each ones cause, elements which have led them to their respective life styles.

Megha Dhake Tara (Bengali)- A cloud capped Sky. A movie by one of India's lesser known Bengali directors , overshadowded in the brilliance of fellow director Satyajit Ray. Overshadowed I say because of the fact that only upon searching on google as a lesser known director does his name appear. A true experimentalist- with the characters, filming and music. The movie is about a poor family in Bengal , Father an aging educationalist- who finds solace from his medeocer life in Wordsworth and Keaet's , A mother who admits to 'rotting of the brain' in such circumstances, the eldest daughter (Neeta)- the protogonist-becomes the bread winner, sacrifices her life for her deserving / some wasteful , three other siblings.

What stands out in the story is the simplistic and fluid storytelling. The technicality is flawless. As was put by Satyajit Ray - in striving for technique one must make sure it is not visible. Beautifully composed frames leaving haunting memories. This is a melodramatic moive, in saying that it is the father of melodarmatic movies will be too little. The excellent soundtrack...very clever insertions of music to run over the ensuing conversation. In doing this the director leaves all to be implied by vision , which is amazingly done. A most striking feature is the usage of a shrill whip sound which is ment to cut through ones thought and feel its sting. The usage of close low angle shots to heighten the emotions is done brilliantly. All in all a must watch movie for any buff.........

There is a popular story saying that wherever you go,you will find atleast one *Rajinikanth* fan. Here is an interesting new story.... *Rajinikanth* was bragging to Jayalalitha one day, "You know, I noweveryone there is to know. Just name someone, anyone,and I know them."Tired of his boasting, Jayalalitha called his bluff, "OK,*Rajini* howabout Tom Cruise?" "Sure, yes, Tom and I are old friends, and I can prove it" *Rajini* said. So *Rajini* and Jayalalitha fly out to Hollywood and knock on Tom Cruise's door, and sure enough, Tom Cruise shouts "Thalaiva! Great to see you!You and your friend come right in and join me for lunch!". Although impressed, Jayalalitha is still skeptical.After they leave Cruise's house, she tells *Rajini* that she thinks *Rajini* Knowing Cruise was just lucky. "No, no, just name anyone else" *Rajini* says. "President Bush", Jayalalitha quickly retorts."Yes", *Rajini* says,"I know him, let's fly out to Washington". And off they go. At the White House, Bush spots *Rajini* on the tour and motions him ,saying, "*Rajini*, what a surprise, I was just on my way to a meeting,but you and your friend come on in and let's have a cup of coffee first and catch up".Well, Jayalalitha is very shaken by now, but still nottotally convinced.After they leave the White House grounds, she expresses his doubts to *Rajini* who again implores her to name anyone else. "The Pope", Jayalalitha replies. "Sure!" says *Rajini*, "My folks are from Poland and I've known the Pope a long time". So off they fly to Rome. *Rajini* and Jayalalitha are assembled with the masses in Vatican Square when *Rajini* says, "This will never work. I can't catch The Pope's eye among all these people. Tell you what, I know all the guards so let me just go upstairs and I'll come out on the Balcony with the Pope." And he disappears into the crowd headed toward the Vatican. Sure enough, half an hour later *Rajini* emerges with the Pope on The balcony. But by the time *Rajini* returns, He finds that Jayalalitha had a Heart Attack and is surrounded by paramedics.Working his way to Jayalalitha's side, *Rajini* asks her, "What happened?" Jayalalitha looks up and says, "I was doing fine until you and the Pope came out on the balcony and the man next to me said, Who's that on the balcony with *Rajini*?"

Mark had just got back from Chennai, he was describing his experience in one of the local theaters

screen fades away.....slowly....
amidst all the incense.....there apperars....Man and Woman...sitting in lotus position before their god deep in worship, slowly begins as deep resounding chanting of some sort, reaching a hip pitched creshendo....screen fades away...Music...asthough coming from a road side ill fitted band of some sort

...pee..ppp..pee...ppp...

neon lights blind the screen for what appears to be hidden , the sillhoute of a think dark man...immediately what follows below

.......S....U.....P.....E.....R.....S.....T....A...R.......

...swish.....R.....swish...A...swish....J....swish...I...swish...N...swish....I...swish...K...swish....A....
swish....N...swish...T....swish....H

What follows in the theater is some what undescribable. There is frenzy in the audiences, with prefetti and hats being thrown about, suddenly I get this feeling that I can smell milk, lots of milk. To my dismay..they seem to be bathing the screen with milk. I wonder what the F*** is happenig here. I can just sit back and wait for the movie to get started and get on with it..but hey...why is it taking so long....geee.....the guy form the projector room seem to be preciding over the funfare....I wait for 15 min for the movie to begin.

The crowd has fallen silent and the movie begins....Screen opens....Pumpkin thrown in the air....the man who had apperared in the sillhoute arrives...jumps.....breaks open the pumpking with his head...gives this wide smile and folds his hands in greeting.....claps and whistles all around......

....then I say Mark...
"Did'nt u see me whistling in the seat ahead of you"...."Thalaiva"