Thursday, June 21, 2012

The Third day - Padmarajan Classics

Most of us, I suppose, are a little nervous of the sea.  No matter what its smiles may be, we doubt its friendship.  ~H.M. Tomlinson

There are instances,when even cinema leaves us feeling a nostgalia,which lasts more than a day.If it is truly a moving story,it makes you reflect deeply on what might have been.It is only a skillful director,who manages to evoke such primitive emotions in his audience through his fantastic story telling.There are quite a few  such films,which are known to me.I will try to capture the magic of one such film called "Moonram Pakkam".Directed by Padmarajan,this is a beautiful Malayalam film,which evokes such deep connection with the psych of the viewer,that somewhere around the middle of the film,you cease to see it as a film and actually relate to it as if it is hapening to someone dear to you.

Thambi is an 80 year old man,living alone in a beach town.he receives news that his grandson is coing to visit him.He has not seen him in 5 years,since his son's death.His grandson Bhaskar visits with three of his friends and they all have a wonderful time in his grandfather's house.One day,they go to swim in the beach.The waves wash away Bhaskar and this is when the true story unfolds.
There is sadness.But rather than lengthy dialogues or tearful scenes,the scenes consist of haunting music portraying the sea.There goes a saying that if the sea has taken a person,it will leave the body on the shores within three days.As Bhaskar's body is not immediately found,everyone clings to the hope that maybe he is still alive.The friends feel guilty that they are alive and the grandfather has hope that somehow his grandson is still out there somewhere.They all wait  those three days to hear the sea's decision.strange as it may sound,the sea plays the pivotal role in this flm.

Its one of those films,which makes your hair stand up,even while narrating it to someone or putting it in paper.After seeing it,you are left with restless emotions mingled with sadness and acceptance that "this was fate".Director padmarajan manages to bring the best in all the actors.Thilakan excels in his performance as the grandfather and Jayaram suits the role of the grandson to a "T".

Anyone,who sees good cinema,this is a jewel for you to treasure.

Film name:Moonram Pakkam aka "The Third Day"
Language:Malayalam
Directed by:Padmarajan
Cast:Jayaram,Jagathi Sreekumar ,Thilakan ,Rahman ,Ashokan

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Watching "Anego"

I will write to say all that's on my mind on this one.Or so I thought while starting.I love watching the japanese - korean - taiwanese dramas,especially because they are short and sweet...and this one is no exception.While searching for something,this name came up and I sat through the whole of this japanese drama with english subs,in the hopes of watching something different.To say that I was satiated,will be an understatement.

"Anego" means "older sister".Rather than being just a story with the title "Anego",this is a delicious slice of life  drama with just the right amount of everything.I wanted to write my evolving thoughts while taking a break between each of the episodes,because this story was truly engaging in the matter of fact way,in which the characters are portrayed here.
There were no frills or unnecessary nonsense.Rather,the amazing Shinohara Ryoka,who plays the character of "Anego" makes us fall in love with the dreams and hopes of the  32 year old woman,who seems in search of the idea of happiness.The younger man played by Akenashi Jin does not seem to have the scope for a complex or major chunk portrayal in the drama,as that of Kato Masaya playing Sawaki Shoichi,with whom "anego" has an affair with.To leave out the superb acting of Tomosaka Rie as Sawaki Erico would do serious injustice to the serial.
All I would say is that this sweet,sentimental drama had me hanging on right till the end and kept me guessing what was going to happen next.

Saturday, June 2, 2012

Seducing the Audience

I had long ago started my foray into the Korean-Japanese_Taiwanese drama with a whole long list of tear-jerkers.I will get to that part later.What I really want to rave about is this one of a kind comedy....the Korean comedy film"Seducing Mr Perfect" starring Uhm Jung-hwa and the super hot Daniel Henney. If you see this film,you will definitely get addicted to "the whats going to happen next element",though the whole plot is the something,which every romance fan would have read a million times in a million different books.


There is a certain secret to making a romance a success....some ideals,some misunderstandings,some craziness and somehow making the jigsaw fit to have "the happily ever after ending".And what's different about this film is that it is uniquely an "English-Korean" film with the lady speaking korean and the boss lord speaking English,though he does understand Korean.
You must see this to appreciate it.And I do not for one moment say that it has an excellent plot or a heart warming ending.This is the craziest whacky one I have ever seen in cinema.But truthfully,its one of the many which held my attention from the beginning to the end.Now the plot as I understand it.....Min-joon(heroine) has just broken up with her boyfriend or rather the other way around.Her day at the office,being introduced to the new boss man Robin Heiden,whom she has already met on the way to her office by accident(it really is an accident on the road ,btw),leaves her with her full antenna of defences sticking up her ears.Robin has clear cut ideas on everything...from work to relationships and though you do not see a whole range of emotions on his face.....Who seriously needs them,when you have a body to die for ....ah....
While Min-Joon  asks him for advice on relationships,Robin unwittingly falls under her spell,though he acknowledges it very much near the end of the film.One of the scenes which had me howling with laughter is the fight scene between Min-Joon and her brother,which Robin interrupts and promptly misunderstands as something else.....

This is one film you do want to see if its a cheesy ending you are after...And what better way than to go for a Korean film that's intent on seducing the audience like this one.