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All that discussion on Munshiji in Pavan Jha’s post made me rewind down the memory lane to my plus one class when we had short stories collection for language (both english and Thamizh) non-detailed. The English non-detailed had some regular O Henry stories. The Thamizh non-detailed story had one interesting story by ‘Pudhumai Piththan’. The short story was titled ‘Paalvannam pillai’.

I have forgotten the story as such - what happened to the character etc., However the sketch painted by pudhumai piththan still stays with me. It is an awesome recollection of a typical Indian householder working as a lowly ranked clarke in a government office who speaks only in monosyllables in the office - and that one syllable is usually ‘Yes sir’ to his superiors. At home though he is terror to his wife and children. An absolute monarch who never has heard his wife or children say anything contrasting …

4/5. WOW… Fantastic Story… and some brilliant hard hitting dialogues…
IMDB

This could be one whacky comic - thriller. But then everything good in the movie may have been stuffed in the teaser below and perhaps we may have watched all the highs of the movie. Nevertheless with a perfectly acidic Alan Rickman and with some heavyweights (former) in the movie like Bill Pullman, Danny DeVito and Ted Danson… this could be a nice October ride. Movie release October third.

July 31

One of the most talked about film of the year, Kuselan (Kuselan in Tamil, Kathanayakudu in telugu) is releasing today.. The film makers and distributors are eyeing at a bumper opening as Pyramid Saimira has already bought theatrical rights for more than 60 crores. What makes Kuselan an extravagant affair is just one name Rajanikanth. The film is remake of last year’s critically acclaimed Malayalam film Katha Parayumbol and though Rajanikanth is just doing a Guest appearance of a Super Star (played by Mammootty in original), the film is customised to cash on each and every frame that Rajani appears in.. (Check out the trailer which confirms this). The film is produced by K Balachandar and being directed by P Vasu, a Rajani Regular.. The biggest superstar of India though is just playing a guest role, …

iView Author: rusted rick (Kolkata, India)
EMAIL: ritchick.mozumdar [at] gmail [dot] com

Title: LEATHERHEADS (2008) : a failed dig at screwball comedy

I remember those days from my childhood, those warm summer afternoons when it was too hot to even put your feet outside. Summer vacations were on and stuck at home I had nothing to do all afternoon but get bored until its was 5 o’clock and I was finally permitted to go outside and play.

Well not being of the habit of sleeping on afternoons ever, I used to sit and watch films with my uncle, who by that time was a retired unmarried man. Every time he went on tour abroad he used to bring home these video cassettes of Hollywood films. Mostly classic Hollywood blockbusters, dramas and comedies. They had the most beautiful looking actors, with perfectly shaven face and curled hair, …

4/5 Atom Egoyan’s masterpiece. One of the best adaptation I have seen in years.
IMDB

Harry Potter fans can start stretching and warming up. The next Potter teaser is here…

THANK YOU Navketan, Dev Saab and Vijay Anand to give us Jewel Thief. Your film, Jewel Thief, denies to loose its charm even after 41 years. 41 years is a time period long enough to forget even the places where one enjoys the formative years in the childhood. Lovers of Jewel Thief exist in all the age groups. It does not matter at which age they saw it, film remains in the list of their top favourite films after that one watching. Years don’t matter here. Some saw it 41 years ago when it was released in 1967. Some saw it in later years but one fact remains true for all the generations of the different audiences and that is the adhesive power of the film.

Ideally, Jewel Thief can not be discussed as it fulfils the dictum, “Sweet of …

iView Author: Santosh Kumar.T.K (U.S.A)
EMAIL: santydolby [at] gmail [dot] com

Title: 3 Idiots

Rarely have I seen such a film poster with so much simplicity yet with so much to say, visually at least!

Is it the colors, is it the font, is it the guy’s close hair cut or is it the t-shirt in its multiple folds?

or is it the name right at the bottom?

If only the film lives up to the promise.

I am reminded of the some of the most beautiful words I had come across, and something which I have believed in, and said in my own style quite often.

1. Purists/elitists read book.
2. Purists/elitists love book and praise book.
3. Purists/elitists find that common man too likes book.
4. Purists/elitists hate that common man likes book.
5. Purists/elitists hate …

When I had to write a post in a hurry with a nailgun pointed at my temple, I decided to do away with analysis, or insights and resorted to the tried and tested solution of the intellectually bankrupt. The List post.

We all know that the beginning sets the tone for the film, letting the audience know what to expect etc., and some even use it as a bookmark and mirror it in the last scene of the film to make some kinda statement. For my list, I shall use shots (single camera setup), scenes (single location/time with multiple shots), and sequences (scenes united by causality of action or theme) interchangeably freewilly without justification so that I may shoehorn some favorite moments in film that happen somewhere in the first 10 minutes of a movie.

But before that, a public service wank.

I am often amused when people compare their spontaneous experience …

Phoenixnu points to the trailer release of Naseeruddin Shah & Anupam Kher starer Wednesday. The movie traverses the story of a man (Naseer) planting bombs around the city with the cops (Anupam Kher) hot on his pursuit. Though I don’t expect the story to go deeper into the inner psyche of the terrorist or the ground zero tension or the push and pull in the cop command center… still, this one may surprise us all. The trailer though doesn’t go beyond the oscillating between trying to springboard a tense punch with Naseer’s opening shot making the phone call… and… trying to package it as a thriller with cops packing guns and sunglasses…

Everyone in Southern California ok? Since phones are down, and you need to communicate to anyone, please use the comments to send in your messages. The earthquake hit 5.8 at around 11:42 am (PST) and went on for about 15 seconds and was followed by about 10 aftershocks between 1.8 to 3.8.

No damage to PFC -HQ, though it shook for more than 15 seconds.

One of my friends believes that poetry is the master of all art and if it is created by Gulzar then it automatically drives us in a different world. Though Gulzar’s poetry has been released in various forms and are mostly sung by Jagjit Singh, still there are some in which Gulzar has recited his own poetries. “Udaas Paani” is such an album in which there are eight musical tracks which are weaved into the recitation of Gulzar’s poetry. Abhishek Ray has done the music. The album has some amazing poems. One of them is called “ek nazm” which goes like.
nazm uljhi hui hai seene me
misre atke hue hain seene me
lafz kaghaz par baithte hi nahi
udte firte hain titliyon ki terah
kab se baitha hoon jaanam
sade kaghaz pe likhke naam tera
bas tera naam hi mukkammal hai
isse behtar bhi nazm kya hogi
The other one is called “alaav” from …

(3/5) Powerful performances from Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett. Dench creates a superbly creepy portrait of isolation.
IMDB

X-Men Origins : Wolverine, expected to hit theaters next year, had a teaser show at Comic Con. And boy Oh Boy!!! The excitement it generated! A video copy of the teaser show has leaked out and here it is… The screening hall filled up with cheers, claps, whistles… the viewers just couldn’t get enough of it!… Here’s a copy of the leaked out trailer.

iView Author: Zia (Lakshadweep, India)
EMAIL: ialak [at] gmail [dot] com

Title: Cinema impact on society

“The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles”. The communist manifesto (1848) argued that capitalism will produce internal tensions which will lead to society distruction. Many agreed initially but was absolutely vanished off the picture later though still prevails in some countries. He argued for a sytemic understanding of socio economic change. The communist manifesto past all the records then.

It was an inpiration. Many adapted/followed/believed to the content of the book. They praised Karl marx. Many worshipped.

Now let us come to a cram of the influence made by movies. How far can a change happen based on cinema? And if happened, how long would it last? Like i said above, when a single book can make huge impact on generations why not cinema can’t? …

Hi Folks,

Attended the press conference of the promotion for Singh Is King, by it’s producer and lead actor, Akshay Kumar, on Friday, July 25th at the Universal City Hilton. Here is the text of the press conference. Questions were asked by the various journos in attendance. Mine are in bold. (Have not published a couple of real dh–uh..questions)
Q) How do you intend that a film which is titled “Singh is King” is going to appeal to the Non Sikhs/Non-Punjabis?
 
AK) Akshay pointing to the cross that he wearing. I don’t believe this film is only for a certain segment or sect, it is a film about a person from Ludhiana and it is about his positive attitude. What …

PSji sends in this info. A film festival to help support the movement towards the release of journalist, filmmaker and human rights activist Ajay TG, who is being held in the Chattisgarh jails for over 3 months.

If you are in Mumbai, then please come forward to support the cause and add your voice to this growing movement against injustice and gross misuse of the law and legal system against the democratic freedom of an individual.

Time and Place of the festival
Date: Monday, July 28, 2008
Time: 7:00pm - 11:10pm
Location: Prithvi House, Janki Kutir, Juhu
Contact Info : vikalp.prithvi [at] gmail [dot] com

iView Author:Rusted Rick
(Kolkatta, India)
EMAIL: ritchick.mozumdar [at] gmail [dot] com

Title: THE GRADUATE (1967) - Graduation, Life AND Plastics

In many ways THE GRADUATE is one of the most important films to come out of Hollywood in the last 40 years. It was the first ever teen comedy to receive both critical as well as box office success. It started the trend of using songs which are already released in the film. It brought to light the singers Simon and Garfunkel. And in many ways it was the coming of age of the director Mike Nichols. But more than any of that it is important because it truly introduced to the world for the first time DUSTIN HOFFMAN. Hoffman who prior to this had done mostly television work was cast in the lead role of Benjamin Braddock, the nerdy college graduate being seduced …

There is a folk wisdom in Bollywood that says never make a triangle love story with new comers and avoid making a straight love story with established stars..First part of this folklore has some rationale behind it..In triangle love story it is basically a question of who will get the girl(mostly) ..Its two versus one..And both the heroes are generally equally balanced..And that balance to be justified requires a sort of an image, a star value..Audience roots for their favorite star and wants him to win over the girl..If two freshers are taken to compete for a girl, its kind of Lays chips packet that seems full but when you open its not even half filled..Lots of air surrounds the content..Because the debutantes have no image, no character that can only be gained over a period of time, so their fight over a heroine seems undeserved and unworthy.

I …