Indu
a cinema greenhorn, writer and story teller.

 

Indu Raman's Blog

  • FILM FEST FEVER –MAMI 0 9-6
    DISGRACE-DIRECTOR STEVE JACOBS The screenplay is a visual tapestry of contrasts and contradictions that is a reality in post-apartheid South Africa. The film reveals the changing social scene where blacks reinforce their new status in society. The views held by the daughter and father symbolise the old and the changing new values. The intellectual side of his personality...
    by Indu Raman at November 8th, 2009 at 08:11 am
  • FILM FEST FEVER –MAMI 09-4
    MAN ON WIRE- Documentary By James Marsh It is no wonder that this film has won a spate of awards. Rarely does one come across a documentary which has thrills, wit, nostalgia, a sense of wonder, beauty and bravado. The story of Phillipe Petit the high-wire walker is recounted with all these elements making it the most riveting story. James Marsh has made this a thriller...
    by Indu Raman at November 3rd, 2009 at 05:11 pm
  • FILM FEST FEVER –MAMI 09-3
    LIGNES DE FRONT (BLACK OUT) DIRECTOR JEAN CHRISTOPHE KLOTZ War did not end in 1945 with World War II. There are wars out there in the world where it never stops raining bullets. Hundreds of men, women and children are killed or die of starvation. Thousands of young soldiers sacrifice their lives every year. Unknown heroes work relentlessly with the UN, the Red Cross and...
    by Indu Raman at November 1st, 2009 at 08:11 pm
  • FILM FEST FEVER –MAMI 09-2
    Helloo, its Halloween time! The second day of the fest seems planned to shock- and- awe viewers who were lambasted with raw violence, explicit sex and convoluted exposition of religious fervour. As predicted the theatre started filling up 45 minutes before the show. Within minutes enthusiasts began to plonk themselves on the steps in the aisles. The expected delay notwithstanding,...
    by Indu Raman at November 1st, 2009 at 04:11 pm
  • Film Fest Fever-MAMI 09-1
    The fever of thirsting cine buffs rose to a pitch as the eagerly anticipated festival opened on 29 October. To rub shoulders with powerful personalities like Anurag Kashyap, Amol Palekar and such surcharges the air with an extra delicious tang. Then you are brought down to earth by the clamouring for printed schedules (which arrive late and get snapped up in an hour),...
    by Indu Raman at October 31st, 2009 at 11:10 am
  • Elizabeth Taylor – A Living Hollywood Legend
    Does the name Elizabeth Taylor immediately remind you of Cleopatra, her famous seven husbands and the enormous rocks she wore on her finger and around her neck? Yes, but what few fans know is her unstinting charitable and pioneering work for AIDS awareness. In 1985 her co-actor and close friend Rock Hudson was diagnosed with AIDS and many of her friends were HIV positive....
    by Indu Raman at October 9th, 2009 at 04:10 pm
  • Lauren Bacall Named for Honorary Oscar
    The Hollywood actress Lauren Bacall famous for her sultry looks and film noir roles will be awarded an honorary Oscar for her contribution to cinema. Here are some interesting highlights from her autobiography ‘By Myself’. “The Tony nominations were announced-… I was so excited! I couldn’t believe it. At last my first nomination for anything, anywhere… And...
    by Indu Raman at September 14th, 2009 at 05:09 am
  • Understanding Cinema
    There is a story I often quote in my lectures on classical dance. It unfailingly brings out a spark of understanding in my students’ eyes. In an ancient text called Vishnudharmottama there is a story about a king who desires to learn dance. He approaches the venerated court acharya of dance. The guru tells him ‘go and learn the art of sculpture first.’ The king obeys...
    by Indu Raman at July 25th, 2009 at 11:07 am
  • Casting Ouch! A Star is Found (Book Review)
    A film stays with you when you begin to identify n actor with a role he played in it. Marlon Brando becomes synonymous with Godfather. What if Ernest Borgine and Ryan O’Neal played the roles of Marlon Brando and Al Pacino? Humphrey Bogart was not the first choice for Casablanca-George Raft was. Critics who sniggered that Daniel Craig was a loser as the new James Bond...
    by Indu Raman at July 10th, 2009 at 01:07 pm
  • What an Idea Sirjee! (Humour-The plight of a script writer)
    I looked at my script again. A bracket here. Maybe the comma should be removed. Ok. Shit .I am fed up. These characters have aged in these five years. They look old and haggard after waiting in these files for so long. The online computer copy might just decide to commit hara-kiri. The CD disk copy will spawn a virus. Anything can happen. Everybody loves the story....
    by Indu Raman at June 29th, 2009 at 12:06 am
  • Museum For Cinema in New York
    A Museum for Cinema in New York The Museum of Moving Images was high on this writer’s priority list on a visit to New York this spring. After savouring the glass and metal super structures across the city, and hoping for a fantastic Hollywood experience, the museum was disappointing. It is located in the down-market area Astoria, Queens, making it a long trip from...
    by Indu Raman at June 18th, 2009 at 08:06 am