"Onamaalu" Movie Review (Telugu)

"Onamaalu" in Telugu is an expression used for learning the first letters of the alphabet in school. It is the latest film starring veteran actor Rajendra Prasad. He is an actor who has always had a time-neutral following from NRIs and Indian Residents alike because of associating himself with the most celebrated directors of creative cinema. He has worked with Bapu, Vamshi, Jandhyala, EVV, Krishna Reddy and Krishna Vamshee and has starred in some of the most preciously-revered DVD films of all time in Tollywood. According to me, his defining work in the second avatar as a mature, aged artiste came in the last four films - One, was "Aa Naluguru" (literally means, "those four people who carry our corpse after we are gone"). Second, "Mee Sreyobhilaashi" ("Your Well-Wisher"). Third, "Quick Gun Murugan" (which became a flippant Hollywood co-production that got him international fame). "Ayyare" came and went, but not so much adulation greeted him because he was hardly present in the first half. Now, "Onamaalu" is a fitting fifth film that will enshrine Rajendra Prasad forever in the hearts of Telugu audience. It is a different film and requires a context and patience thats hard to come by in today's multiplex and theatre-controlled environment where the big star movies alone run.

What's the story all about? Its about the scorching pace of Urbanisation and its undermining influence on the source of our values rooted in village. So, Rajendra Prasad is a retired master who gives holistic value-based education in a village in AP and trains batch after batch of students. He is happy being part of a village ecosystem where everyone from Sarpanch to the Post-master live in simple living and high thinking and more importantly, benevolent sharing of the good and the bad, rising above religious and sectarian difference. Time flies and we cut to the scene where, after the passing of his wife Kalyani, he is persuaded to re-locate to the US with his son's family. As he yearns to come back to re-visit his roots in the village, he returns only to find the idealistic world of his former village turned upside down - mass migration of the young generation, deserted look at the school where he taught and apathy of the village folks to what's going on at large. Technology drift has put a spanner in most careers like that of a postman and the teacher, while there's no more large-heartedness of the people and the rustic charms were visibly absent. Does he recreate the old magic? Can he connect with today's generation in loving their roots and going back to the source? That takes the brief climax of the film in a narrative that's reasonably good with occasional flashbacks and cross-flashbacks - take it like "pitta kathalu" (short-story within long story).

There are some hard-hitting dialogues by Mohd Khadeer Babu on the current scenario of nuclear families, hitech lives with low-touch approach, our continuous debasement of everything traditional thinking its not modern.Director K.Kranthi Madhav has characterised well a gentle story of a teacher who teaches all his pupils to be good samaritans without caring about monetary gains. The highlight of the film is the flashback with one batch of pupils taught by Rajendra Prasad - who are quite apart from each other but end up with the value system thats fallen on deaf ears today. Koti has given excellent songs and BGM score. He lifts off the tunes from Adimieus and "Secret Garden" albums, embellishes them with Indian instrumentation to give a memorable feel to the mood of the film. If you want to see a different film with some preachy content, the film will surprise you with the depth and the tearsjerker - you will have to use the handkerchief many times - the content is that touching even if sometimes didactic. Movie length is ideal for the theme - just 125 minutes in all. But watching the film made me nostalgic about the village life. Its heartening to see some memorable old artists like Giri Babu and Chalapathi Rao get meaty and affectionate roles. Rajendra Prasad steals the thunder, yet again  - he has reinvented himself to stay relevant for the times. Comedy is intertwined with the narrative and quite okay.

There are some exceptional scenes in the film which promote tolerance of all religions. No wonder, most sectarian violence or acts of religious hatred and bigotry happen outside of villages in India Today, in cities and towns, hardly ever in villages. The movie also makes fantastic commentary on the generation of NRIs and RIs who, on one hand, send off their kids to opulent schools without knowing what they teach and whether what they teach is relevant to our society or not. On the other hand, they either pack off their parents to Retirement Homes or Old Age Homes or send them lumpsum remittances to upend their maintenance needs while staying apart. The result: they are running away from the source of their origins (parents) and making kids alienated from the very source that made their worlds. Both these trends are gnawing at the roots. There are some soul-searching questions on what constitutes modernity and what is the end-use of all modern-day-living which will go well with the elite. Powerful statements are made on the way some hi-tech schools teach our kids - that milk actually comes in sachets, water actually originates in bottles and rice comes in sacks. Many years ago, Uncle Anant Pai told us that it is important to know the route to your roots through the history and value system thats relevant in India - thats what got him interested to combat the onslaught of Marvel comics  - of Batman and Phantom and Superman comics with relevant and man-making content of Indian stories through Amar Chitra Katha. This movie is closest to that attempt on celluloid. Though there have been movies like "Devasthaanam" etc. in recent past, this movie is more effective. But I doubt, producer and director Kranti Madhav will make enough money. But some movies are always made with the heart- not with an eye on satellite rights. A movie like "Aa Naluguru" or "Sankarabharanam" was never made with a lucrative motive - that they are still watched and count amongst classics is all that matters. Watch this movie too with that expectation - it is far better than "Devasthaanam" because Rajendra Prasad, unlike SPB doesn't over-act. And it makes far more relevant points, despite being didactic.

London Olympics 2012 - The Empire Strikes Back!

London Dreams woke me and my wife at 1.20 pm yesterday night. It was definitely worth a watch. The opening ceremony of 2012 London Olympics was smashing and stylish and proved to be a recession-free demonstration of everything that is British - that strikes a chord in colonial cousins in India or anywhere else they ruled for 200 years. I liked the whole theme engineered by Danny Boyle - the man behind "Slumdog Millionaire". He has chosen the most enduring British Icons that stood the test of time and created a brilliant, concise, ravenous and thoroughly stylish ballad thats almost putative to the viewers at large. The stiff upper lip, the sophisticated humour ( I dare not use "humor" here), the organised rehearsals behind those generous expressions and the general sense of Old world British Pride was all there in PDA format (Public Display of Affectation of being an Imperialist). Everything was precisely spick n span, prim n proper.

I can sense a lot of reading and meticulous brainstorming went into the selection of the icons and idioms that flowed after one another starting with River Thames, Origins of English people across Ireland/Scotland/Other "shires", Birth of the English language, Lord Nelson, William Shakespeare, Magna Carta, the unrivalled British Navy (which ruled the sea shores since Napoleon was defeated), the Industrial Revolution, British Royalty, Cricket, Charles Dickens, Winston Churchill, Humprey Boghart, Peter Pan, Harry Potter, James Bond, members of Beatles, Eurythmics/The Queen (Annie Lennox), British Queen Elizabeth, the movie industry here - call it BAFTA or Lollywood (London's Hollywood). The juxtaposing of Mr Bean with London Symphonic Orchestra was almost magical and rhapsodic. Loved the scale and the execution of all things considered British at the most picturesque ceremony. Yes, 2008 Beijing Olympics was still grander and vulgar display of Affluence by a growing Superpower, but London Olympics Ceremony was a spirited display by a nation that ruled the world once. London hosted Olympics in 1908 (when even my grandfather was not born, the 3rd Modern Olympics) and in 1948 immediately after the World War. In the period since 1948, Britain's pound and sterling pride only dwindled and diminished in value. This was a perfect opportunity to showcase the British phenomenon that as Niall Ferguson wrote in his epic book on "The Empire" gave modern living a chance through a language that thrives from incorporating expressions from other languages, a democracy that paved the way for many others to follow and a business culture that is engraved forever. Whoever thought that Britain is just the 54th state of the United States should re-view the Youtube clippings of the Opening ceremony and re-read history of the world that Britain made.

"Turning Points" by APJ Abdul Kalam: Glimpses of a People's President (Book Review)

Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam was India's eleventh President of India and also recepient of Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan and also Bharat Ratna. Like Abraham Lincoln of the United States, he was famous even before he ascended to the Presidency, first as a rocket-missile man and later as an upright President - probably, the best the country has ever known. It was also one of the rockiest tenures for any President with the exception of probably Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy and Babu Rajendra Prasad.  Now, after serving as one of India's best-loved Presidents, APJ Abdul Kalaam has released a highly-readable memoir of his journey through the greatest challenges of his life and career - "Turning Points". Its a worthy sequel to "Wings of Fire"  - the first book that created publishing history. The royalties that acccue from the time the book was released can make it one of the best-selling books by a public figure in India - reaching the commanding heights of success.

"Turning Points" is a sparkling and stimulating read from APJ. In less than two hundred pages, the books covers all the milestones of his remarkable career without repeating much of what he said in earlier books - some of which are million-dollar best-sellers. He covers in fourteen chapters all that he wanted to say with a simplicity that marks his personality that now bears his writing out. Eight turning points, seen before Presidency and one after demitting his office, are covered in one chapter with a childlike innocence. Most of the facets that are covered only go to highlight and extend his astonishing ability to connect to the masses - especially middle-class, elites and children of India. He toured 21 states during his Presidency with the exception of only Lakshadweep, has brought Rashtrapathi Bhavan into the e-governance framework that he had grander designs to revitalise and recast for bringing greater accountability.

Its meant to be a tell-all, threadbare account of some of his most controversial decision - the dissolution of the Bihar Assembly, the returning of the bill relating to Office of Profit, the capital punishment decisions of Afzal Guru (on which he was silent), the decision to invite Dr.Singh in 2004 when it could have swung in favor of a foreign citizen Sonia Gandhi. Again, APJ is stoically brief in his analysis of those days that set the country's opposition on fire against Sonia's nomination to the Prime Ministership. Some of these chapters are weakest - in the sense that the ex-President tries to put a non-controversial treatment, choosing to be concise rather than be elaborate and hence, controversial.

History will always remember Presidents and Public figures who are courageous and sterling torch-bearers of integrity, honesty and competence. On that count, APJ scores the finest in recent memory of how a President has conducted himself in public life. Whether it is in meeting more Parliamentarians, State Ministers and Governors, or returning every gift, every single gift he ever received. Talking about why he is reluctant to receive gifts from anyone, he recalls the lasting influence in this matter was his father.  Quoting extensively from Manu Smrithi and holy works of Musllim saints, he quotes that, "When the Almighty appoints a person to a position, He takes care of his provision. If a person takes anything beyond that, it is an illegal gain." He paraphrases Manu again on why one must not accept gifts: No individual must accept gifts for the reason that it places the acceptor under an obligation to the giver and ultimately results in making a person commit immoral or illegal acts. Thats an exceptional value system for any Public figure and APJ has inspired a generation with his behaviour at Rasthrapathi Bhavan.

"Turning Points" is sure to climb the top-seller list because of a very balanced and yet erudite rendition of a productive and inspirational life. APJ has been engagingly fluent in many aspects that are seldom discussed by one public figure - be it education, technology, scientific pursuits, religious tolerance, raising standards of governance and accountability for Parliamentarians and Ministers, Anna Hazare movement, world peace and disarmament. He has a view on most aspects that are bordering on world citizenship and egalatarianism and altruism. All this, with a sense of humility and positivity thats infectious. Even if he hasn't been re-considered for the post of Presidency this time around, APJ's words of wisdom and his vision for making India a Developed Superpower by 2020 resonate well with India's public. I only wish his books get widely translated and read in all languages of the country. The books is not perfect to a fault, but it will not disappoint you, dear reader, whatever be your age or qualification. More power to you, APJ.

Turning Points: A Journey through Challenges by A.P.J Abdul Kalam. Pub: Harper Collins, pp.182, price Rs.199.00

Rajesh Khanna R.I.P. The Original Superstar

Rajesh Khanna. Usually Anand. Kabhi Kabhi Gum. Made blockbusters out of living life for others. Became the First Superstar and encouraged the Next Superstar big time. Shows his large-heartedness at the time. Gave Musical mileage to Kishore Kumar, RD Burman and lyricists. His taste for music was so great that his solo songs with melancholic touch are still playing at cocktail parties and get-togeth...ers with karoake mikes. His band of music goes magically well with nostalgia and single-malt whiskey parties. Without an iota of remix temptations - so much for his blend of music. Rajesh Khanna. Anybody with such a rich timber-sounding filmy name ought to have a whole generation of fresh graduates, housewives and self-employed abide by his name. And so it was with many in my family - my parents and closer elders included. He has taken the pre-liberalisation era of limited opportunities to new cinematic highs by taking a dagger to the hearts of men - and endeared himself to the ladies as a forlorn lover. Of course, this may have encouraged alcoholism and primitive brands of Teacher's whiskey - jocularly called "preacher's whiskey". Rajesh Khanna - also pushed the door open for South-Indian producers and directors and artists (other than heroines) who are not usually mobile. He was also protective of his persona till the very last - similar to Shobanbabu in Tollywood - not acting much in roles below that of the main protagonist. He has his lows in personal life but the highs make it a life worth being celebrated and remembered for. RIP.

 

 

"Cocktail" (Hindi) Movie Review

"Cocktail" is another experiment that brings back the genre of metrosexual romance with the chemistry of a much publicised starcast - Saif Ali Khan, Deepika Padukone and debutante Diana Penty. Homi Adajania is the director and he ropes in the writer-director Imtiaz Ali and another writer to pen the story. Imtiaz Ali is quite unpredictable in his scripts; most of his movies in the past from "Jab We Met" or "Love Aaj Kal" or "Rock Star" have been fluent opuses on love that remains unrequitted till the very end. In this movie, "Cocktail", Imtiaz Ali harnesses his talent at tweaking emotions of love a bit further, he creates a rapport between two girls - Deepika and Diana - then creates a rift between them later through Saif because both the girls want all of him. All this with some common and some bizarre family extensions for all the three.

The treatment is different and title-apt. Homi Adajania uses the laisse~z fare settings of London to weave the characterisations of the three principal actors the way he moulds the story - Deepika as bold and tempestuous, Diana as cautious and conservative and Saif as the quintessential Don Juan - till they all decide to do a flip-flop, in the interest of a happy ending that comes after 146 minutes of a cocktail of emotions. Pun intended. In between, the roles of Bomman Irani and Dimple Kapadia which could have infused variety and connectivity with elderly audiences had they stayed on course a few more minutes. There is also a constant tussle between the BGM score of the impressive duo Saliem-Sulemaan and the intermixed loud jingles of Pritham - despite one or two sonorous songs by Pritham towards the climax, BGM by SS is defining the key moods and moments of the film.

All the three Deepika, Saif and Diana get their share of hogging the limelight but Diana's character is weakest and inconsistent - it is because she is a looker and not an actor. Deepika shines brightest in the second half and tries to carry the film as if it is hers - with audacious dressing, bikini, uninhibitive acting. But at crucial competitive camera movements, our ageing hero Saif Ali Khan shoots from the hip every line that lingers. What he delivers with his eyes and face make it one of his best - he dominates even the hyperactive Bomman Irani sometimes. On the whole, the movie is a multiplex biopic with fast music, good visuals from London and Cape Town and easy fun that is a little more complicated. Could have been shorter - wonder what the Telugu Editor Sreekar Prasad was doing.

"The Intouchables" (English) Movie Dubbed from French

"The Intouchables" is a remarkable French film that swept the top honors last year at all film awards. The standi outside the screen reminds viewers that this film has collected Rs.2000 crores from 40 million viewers world wide - that means more people than what the entire India pay to watch any movie made in India paying per ticket Rs.18 to Rs.500 on any given day. I went without any idea what it was about except that it is a dubbed film from France. No known actors or crew to kill for. The result was hugely satisfying and worth watching. Its a tale of a bond developing between an aristocratic Parisian Phillipe who is quadraplegic (meaning unable to move hands or legs) and his assistant Driss, an African-origin janitor who is reluctantly pulled into the job.

After the movie rolls on, with English subtitles (whose tenses and verbs sometimes do not tally with the audio version of language), the story-telling is vivacious and infectious - the first joke comes within two minutes, then another and another and before you realise that sparks are flying between the two men, the laughter gets uproarious and roof-top-blowing kind. Don't get me wrong, the sense of friendship between the two men is pretty straightforward - they connect to each other's world and discuss everything under the sun - including women, sex, paraglidiing, modern art, parenting, spending habits, theatre and music. They bat for each other despite huge class, wealth and race inequalities.

Its quite incredulous that this movie should have been made in one of the most racist countries in the world. The hilarity of the film can't be emphasised in few sequences - it hits with a frequency that surprises you. There is a shot in which Driss accompanies Phillipe to an Art Exhibition - and Philippe stares at an artwork that has a splash of red in white background and agrees to buy it for 30,000 Euros (not that the French regard Euros as worthwhile currency). Driss says, as if to make a statement on how arbitrary art valuations abound these days, he could paint the same painting for same amount or more, and give blue additionally. In a twist of poetic justice, Driss indeed works on an abstract painting that Philippe pushes in the art mart for 11000 Euros, more out of affection to cheer up Driss.

Scenes like this make the film a charm. What endears the film to the audience, evidenced by the huge audience count so far worldwide, is the universality of the emotions - fear, tears, laughter, sense of achievement, sacrifice, learning from mistakes, serendipidity, fear of trying something for the first time.

The two lead characters are played dexterously well by Francois Cluzet and Omar Sy. Francois Cluzet is the diffident, depressant patient whose limbs are lifeless, so he can only speak and animate his face - he does it masterfully. Omar Sy as Driss, becomes the arms and legs for Philippe - he steals the thunder often, lights up the screen with occasional wisecracks, experiments with boredom and breaks out of the shackles of the mind more than Philippe. His acting resonates as well as the screen presence of guys like Eddie Murphy, Will Smith.

Music  by Ludovico Einaudi is another asset to the film - you get to hear almost all the classical masterpieces from Vivaldi to Beethoven. In between chatting up at the chateaus, lovely piano music is at play most times when the scenes shift to the picturesque French countryside. On the whole, the movie is fun and inspiring - if you have elders who are of restrictive movements because of whatever reasons and can't do without a daily dose of Prozac and Restil, take them to this movie - it will cheer them as an Indian Masala film. I am told that in 1914, ninety percent of all films distributed worldwide were French Films. By 1928, eight five percent of all films distributed were American films. Thats how Americans killed the heart of Euro cinema. Movies like this will help buck the trend.

"David Billa" (Tamil/Telugu) Movie Review

"David Billa" is supposed to be a prequel to the "Billa" franchise. Directed by Chakri Toleti. Telugu folks should know this guy. He was the smiley kid who waits for Kamal Hassan's perfect "Bhangima" in "Sagara Sangamam". Yes, the sa me guy grew up and made "Eenadu" (Remake of "Wednesday"). And now, "David Billa" with Ajit Sir. To be fair, the movie has got everything on the face of it - a kill...er app franchise, excellent technical team of editors, screenplay writers and cinematographers. And some terrific music by Yuvan Shankar Raja. It has a less obese Ajit who is seen as less conceitful than what the character demanded in "The Gambler". To top it, a bevy of villains from Rahman to Sudanshu Pandey. Sudanshu Pandey is definitely a find - he is suave, intense yet subtle and stylish - combines the looks of Kabir Bedi with Mukesh Rushi. He is one of the reasons to see the film. But Ajit does monotonous acting - there is no improvisation and no new swagger and chutzpah that he usually embellishes his portrayal with.

The story unfolds the usual way a Don emerges - a refugee from Sri Lanka, odd jobs of smuggling, working as a retainer, and then climbing up the ladder. We have seen this movie before, you get the feeling. Chakri Toleti, no doubt, has got the talent for intelligent film-making but his sensibilities are more shaped by Hollywood than by native touches. So, the movie seems like a concise procession of stylish visuals with fancy massage girls, slush money, drug-levelled suitcases, and slick gunshots and neck-stabbings. The biggest drawback is lack of entertainment. Romance is also hugely amiss - atleast one of the two girls is good-looking but apart from giving avuncular glances and dont-mess-with-me looks, Ajith comes a cropper there. There seems to be some problem of re-inventing himself for the masses and plots like that of a Don wont help. Chakri Toleti should attempt varied plots to show his talent. The only redeeming feature for me has been Yuvan Shankar Raja - his BGM music is outstanding. You can give the movie a miss because its all gloss and no substance.