Re: Rajini and Kamal appreciation thread.

[plum]

grouch - kamAn brilliant pieceA? I think he is grazing the surface there and it seems more like an article for hire.

Dont mistake me - I know brangan inside out. I know when he writes passionately and when he writes just for commission.
This article seems like it was commisioned and done in haste.

Nerd- konjam vivaramA flaws ellAm poiint paNNunga.

[groucho070]

Hallo, I said excellent, not brilliant. He said he wrote it for Rajini's birthday, enikki manasulAyee athu ayyAlunda assignment-nu (being a journo myself), and he wrote well within the space given (usually two page piece, 1000 to 1200 words), he made some relevant points on why Rajini is the last of them all. Ithu mudiyapOguthu-nu solli sanggadapa vachAru manusan, athukkuthAn....

[equanimus]

[Late reply to k_g with regard to the Hey! Ram discussion.]

But isn't it more refreshing than the other ideo-centric reviews that buttress it to a paranoiac, 'Oh MY GOD, HE is AGAINST US!!'.

Sure. And as I said, nothing wrong per se with having these views. But I think Geno 'acquits' Kamal of all sorts of critical examination and invariably makes a eulogising case for him as a radically anti-establishment figure, which I find mostly uninteresting and flat. Take for example this post where he's responding to a (commonly made) criticism on thEvar magan: http://www.mayyam.com/talk/showthread.php?10099-**-UlagaNaayagan-UlagaiyE-Kalakka-Varum-Viswaroopam-**&p=991422&viewfull=1#post991422. Keeeping aside the question of sincerity of the criticism itself, isn't it more truthful to simply agree that the portrayal of the condition of Dalits is out of the film's scope? It's just that I think Geno's responses when responding to criticisms/discussions on the politics of Kamal's films are too pat. That's all.

You questioned and answered it yourself.

Your last line of the last paragraph is what he is, as a filmmaker. He is self-critical, without having to invoke the other, without having to substantiate.

Well, my intention there was to insist we ought to recognize his mainstream instincts for broad strokes (in terms of representation of voices of various sociopolitical segments of the target audiences), the penchant for epic arcs and so on. Thus to read some elements in his films too specifically (not that there's anything wrong with it) is to miss the point IMO. Which is how I see this particular reading.

The key here is "What's the brouhaha.. WE(from vantage point of Saket) DON'T BELONG HERE" (without having to make that the key strand of the film, but still quite essential). I'm not quite comfortable with 'don't belong here', it is little more complex about 'WHERE WE BELONG TO' (and what is Homeland), but I wouldn't quibble over semantics much here.

But isn't it far more complex than that? I don't think raising this question is quibbling with semantics.

I think KH specifically maps it to the 'trenches' (resembling a war), and the pair of skeletons (from another war), 'this is where we come from'. But as students of archaeology and history, after evolution of so many thousand years, Saket-Amjad, good as friends, one would have to thrust a spear (never mind Mauser C96) to another's head.

Hmm, interesting. (I didn't feel that way. And what do you mean by "from another war?") I thought the double burial site (which is typically done for a married couple or lovers?) Saket and Amjad examine kinda prefigures the larger graveyard shared by Hindus and Muslims Indeed Saket makes such a link when he jokes: "ஒரே குழியில ரெண்டு பேரு. நாம இல்ல, இவங்க."

[app_engine]

Digital / DTS 16 vayadhinilE

இளையராஜா மீது நம்பிக்கை

சில காட்சிகளில் ரீ-ரிக்கார்டிங்கை புதிதாக செய்து கொடுப்பார் ராஜா என்ற நம்பிக்கையில் உள்ளார்கள் தயாரிப்பு நிறுவனத்தினர். ஆனால் இளையராஜா இன்னமும் முடிவு சொல்லவில்லையாம்.

[app_engine]

Happened to see the vinyl cover of nAyakan today.

All the songs got penned by Pulamaippiththan!

He has displayed quite some mastery over a variety of situations / genres!

thenpANdichcheemaiyilE (very famous lullaby, theme song of the movie, often talked about as to how different melodies got composed etc - but I've never noticed anyone talking about the pAvam lyricist IR-MR-Kamal totally stole the limelight & unfortunately away from that pulavar! Just imagine the hype media would have created for the lyricist had it been VM for this song!)

nAn siriththAl deepAvaLi (50's - early 60's kind of nostalgia)

nellA adhu vAnaththu mElE (themmAngu / dappAnguththu / western - depending upon how one looks at it)

nee oru kAdhal sangeedham (romantic lines to suit the sweet melody reminiscent of the 70's)

andhi varum nEram (MGR / Sivaji style kondAttam...one gets thrown back to 'engaLukkum kAlam varum' 'kadavuL ennum mudhalALi' kinds).

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.] to the lyricist!

(I'm ashamed for doing this so late Well, better late than never!)

[app_engine]

The nAyakan vinyl cover will eventually get posted in the corresponding thread in the IR section...still, as an acknowledgement to the lyricist who didn't seem to get much praise for this "TIME" tested movie & songs, let me place them in this thread as well!

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

[V_S]

Wow! Didn't know who was the lyricist. Yes, he had written some terrific lines.

[app_engine]

Just noticed an error in my post about nAyakan

'nelA adhu vAnaththu mElE' was not by Pulamaippiththan

That was penned by IR it seems (look at that vinyl cover pic above)...

[HonestRaj]

yes, app.. i was about to post this yesterday itself.. missed it..
titles will clearly show IR's name for "nila adhu vanathu mela" .. rest all Pulamaipiththan

[app_engine]

Honest,



BTW, look at the "Vinyl cover pics" thread - 5 movies of 1985 of Vijayakanth got posted there today

[HonestRaj]

yesterday i saw that
copied the pics to upload in facebook

[app_engine]

mahA nadhi

chit fund & sOnAgAchi together in news

[app_engine]

Watched first parts of nAyagan (after watching that idiotic "super singer" show where they want to showcase only 60's songs of Vaali, keeping the 70's singers Vj & TLM & an 80's singer Mano as the judges - stupidity to the core).

Anyways, whatever irritation that generated in me towards TLM got wiped out watching 'andhi mazhai mEgham', one of the FINEST EVER SONGS in the IFM history (in every aspect, especially on-screen)!

My eyes were full for the most part - watching from titles to this song tonight again!

One of the finest movies ever - and a major contributor (as much as Kamal / MR / Balakumaran etc) is IR!

That film would have been a joke without BGM, IMVSO!

Now, watch this 'andhi mazhai mEgham' song, by PS & TLM :

[dilbert]

App sir to begin with what is there to appreciate about both of these guys ??

Both struggled , both succeeded , both toy with their respective fan base and continue to make money of'em.

we shouldn't put either of them beyond what they are worth.

As per me Indian cinema is yet produce an actor who is internationally recognized for his / her work.

[app_engine]

App sir to begin with what is there to appreciate about both of these guys ?? 

Actually, that is a groucho kostin

[dilbert]

App sir to begin with what is there to appreciate about both of these guys ?? 

Actually, that is a groucho kostin

 looks like grouchoboy is in diapernation mode (pl read as hibernation)

[2040]

As per me Indian cinema is yet produce an actor who is internationally recognized for his / her work.

 small doubt:
why should an Indian cinema actor be internationally recognized?

[app_engine]

As per me Indian cinema is yet produce an actor who is internationally recognized for his / her work.

 small doubt:
why should an Indian cinema actor be internationally recognized?

Because ARR got golden globe / Oscar

[dilbert]

As per me Indian cinema is yet produce an actor who is internationally recognized for his / her work.

 small doubt:
why should an Indian cinema actor be internationally recognized?

Because we live in Global Village. Just like a lungi wearing guy in viveknanda kurukku therru can recognize Brad Pitt, leonardo dicaprio (ditanic hero-ba).
A country guy in utah, should be able to recognize Vijay / Ajith. Makes sense No??

[2040]

As per me Indian cinema is yet produce an actor who is internationally recognized for his / her work.

 small doubt:
why should an Indian cinema actor be internationally recognized?

Because ARR got golden globe / Oscar

J/K'naalum chumma reply panren..
i think he got it for an English cinema not Indian...
thamizh cinema'va ulaga tharatthula seyyanumnu nenakkiradhu Ok... trying to improve our audiences' tastes/sensibilities by doing a better cinema ok... but why should we expect the so called internationals to recognize us? avinga yaaru namakku approval/certificate kudukka..
just my humble opinion in this sAndrOr niraindha avai...

[dilbert]

i think he got it for an English cinema not Indian...
thamizh cinema'va ulaga tharatthula seyyanumnu nenakkiradhu Ok... trying to improve our audiences' tastes/sensibilities by doing a better cinema ok... but why should we expect the so called internationals to recognize us? avinga yaaru namakku approval/certificate kudukka..
just my humble opinion in this sAndrOr niraindha avai...

 Nayakar - Tone..

Thambi - Approval illappa Appreciation is the one, someone should seek (A global appreciation). Oh btw Oscar for Jai Ho is still a j/k nothing against ARR, just the way the whole judging process of nominees across the categories. ARR got lucky / had good lobbying / good set of Brits around.

Thaliavar ARR BeeCeeYum department-la paadu weaku-ba , (having said that there are few exceptions) But movies like Lagaan , Jodha Akbhar are much better work compare to Slumdock.
# Lungidance..coconut mixing with lassi ya !!

[plum]

adhAn international killAdi Dilbert appreciation/approval irukkE - atleast Rajinikku. adhu pOdhAdhAnnEn!

[dilbert]

adhAn international killAdi Dilbert appreciation/approval irukkE - atleast Rajinikku. adhu pOdhAdhAnnEn!

 Wow Finally -- Plum master in flesh and blood !!  Aare nee yanna solludu !  yenngalkku Thaalivaar  rajini chinna vayasillea irunnduu theareedhuu
(Brain wash pannudhu)

[app_engine]

Co-worker shared this comedy youtube - many  moments!

[crimson king]

Because we live in Global Village. Just like a lungi wearing guy in viveknanda kurukku therru can recognize Brad Pitt, leonardo dicaprio (ditanic hero-ba).
A country guy in utah, should be able to recognize Vijay / Ajith. Makes sense No??

With due respect...who says we live in a global village.  We live in a world where culture is sought to be subverted by a mass entertainment medium based on the Anglo Saxon norm.  The reason for this is financial more than anything.  Thanks to the legacy of the British Empire, English is the most widely used language in the world and entertainment products made in English are extremely marketable.  Ergo, an English educated Tamilian in Erode will appreciate an English film but an educated white American in Utah is not likely to appreciate a Tamil film however well made it is because of the language barrier.  I know devoted fans of cinema live with subtitles to appreciate films made in diverse languages but the fact is that Hollywood still puts them all at a disadvantage because it is far more accessible for a global audience irrespective of the relative merits of say a Turkish film vis a vis a Hollywood one.  

It is at the most possible that say the Oscar committee for Best foreign film might one day recognise a good Indian film (provided our wonderful Oscar selection committee looks beyond mere entertainers).  But it is very unlikely that a person living anywhere in the planet would be aware of the work of an artist WORTHY of recognition if he does not communicate in English because the English entertainment industry has distorted the very basis of recognition and confused it with popularity.   Discerning art lovers are only a small minority at best and do not influence overall perceptions of where artists stand in terms of influence....again, irrespective of merits.

Mind you, I am not your "Pasangalla angilam yen padikanam" guy.  I consume a lot of English fiction/movies/music *gulp* but I am not willing to buy their subtle attempts to impose the Anglo Saxon norm as the only worthwhile form of art.

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