Comparative piece on Raavan/Raavanan (Abzee)

Having seen the Tamil Raavanan thrice and the Hindi Raavan twice, I strongly felt that I must put my thoughts to writing on these twin efforts by Mani Ratnam. So, despite the fact that in the pieces by Goodfella, Satyam and Qalandar, the movies have already been explored, understood and dissected in great detail; I offer my views on this unfairly dismissed Herculean endeavour by possibly India’s finest contemporary filmmaker. A special shout-out and thanks to Sandy for compelling me to write this piece.

I had already reviewed the Tamil Raavanan for Sakaal Times. I reproduce the review below, followed by my comparative piece on the films.

Almost a perfect 10

Raavanan
Dir- Mani Ratnam
Cast- Vikram Kennedy, Aishwarya Rai, Prithviraj Sukumaran, Karthik Muthuraman, Priyamani Iyer, John Vijay and Prabhu Ganesan
Rating- ****

Krishna has always triumphed over Rama in our films. The staid, if steadfast, ideal God appears too dull for the times we live in. The multifaceted Krishna thus, serves fittingly as a modern God. And by extension, Mahabharata, the text he features in, seems more privileged to address our collective positives and failings. Perhaps why, the Ramayana, of which this Mani Ratnam flick (and its Hindi twin) is an adaptation, can be afforded to be told today not by extolling the deadpan virtues of its colourless God, but in humanizing the hastily vilified antagonist of that piece- the ten-headed demon Ravana.

I Hate Luv Storys, Raavan & Rajneeti (ongoing) and more box office muck!

last week’s thread

Beautiful People with Javed Akhtar

Bachchan — 796 & 797 & 798 & 799 & 800 & 801 & 802 & 803 & 804 & 805 & 806 & 807 & 808 & 809 & 810 & 811 & 812 & 813 & 814 & 814(i) & 815 & 816 & 817 & 818 & 819 & 820 & 821 & 822 & 823 & 824 & 825 & 826

Kareena Tehelka interview

thanks to IamThat..
LINK

When did you become aware of the fact that you were born to ‘film royalty’?
Ever since I became aware of the world, I’ve known that I belong to a film family, I was always aware that the attention my family was getting was because of my grandparents and Karisma. There was a lot of attention on me too — through my teens everyone knew I would join the industry one day, that all the directors would work with me. But we’re pretty normal. It just means the industry is home. We are all very opinionated when it comes to cinema. My mother loves films like the Golmaal series, Singh is Kingg — the real masala. Karisma is more mushy (laughs), she likes films like Love Aaj Kal, Jab We Met. I’m very drawn to good performances — I enjoyed Kaminey and 3 Idiots… I act in films that are highly ‘masala’ but I’m not into those films at all. I like Vishal Bhardwaj and Rajkumar Hirani’s films more.

I Hate Luv Storys trailers (updated)

thanks to Mansi..

Images from I Hate Luv Storys (updated)

Patiala House at Lord’s, the Oval and Trent Bridge

LINK

Three of England’s top cricket grounds have opened their doors to Bollywood for the first time. The Oval and Lord’s in London and Trent Bridge in Nottingham will be the locations for Akshay Kumar’s Patiala House. The film will release post Diwali, alongside Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows.

Let’s make a prediction! [I Hate Luv Storys] (earlier post updated)

Images from Khatta Meetha (updated)

Quick note on KRANTIVEER-THE REVOLUTION (Hindi, 2010)

I had no hopes for Mehul Kumar’s sequel to his 1994 Nana Patekar-Dimple Kapidia-Dany Denzgopa-Paresh Rawal blockbuster KRANTIVEER, which not only had a fiery cast, but a tight knit story and fiery dialogues by K.K Singh. The sequel is a nail in the coffin for Mehul Kumar who now comes across as pathetic and as sorry as Manoj Kumar in JAI HIND-THE PRIDE.

Read the rest from HERE

Single Screens and Multiplexes of Jalandhar

thanks to Doga..

LINK

With the last show of Punjabi film ‘Yaarien” Friends Cinema has closed down much to the dismay of Cine goers. Cinema’s manager Kahan Chand cited heavy taxes and falling revenues as the reason for closure. Friends had started in 1975 with release of Big B starrer ‘Deewaar’.

Gulzar on R D Burman

thanks to Iamthat…
LINK

It has been 16 years since he left the world but R D Burman continues to live in the hearts of people through his unforgettable compositions in Indian cinema. As music lovers celebrate Pancham’s 71st birth anniversary on Sunday, some of the closest people to the maverick musician, including his wife and legendary singer Asha Bhonsle, have come together to recall their memories of Burman with a coffee table book and documentary

Another Model Down: Viveka Babajee Commits Suicide

Bollywood actress and Indian model Viveka Babajee, 37, was found dead today, Thaindian News reports. She allegedly hanged herself from a ceiling fan in her suburban Mumbai apartment. According to The Calcutta Telegraph, the former Miss Mauritius titleholder and one-time face of Coca-Cola and Kama Sutra ads in India, suffered from severe depression.

Does Bollywood thrive on controversies? ((NDTV panel including Mahesh Bhatt and R Balki)

Thanks IAMTHAT

Does Bollywood thrive on controversies? – Video

Outlook opinion piece on Rajneeti

LINK

There is a revealing observation at the end of the film Rajneeti by Prakash Jha. Samar, the character played by Ranbir Kapoor, when asked by his sister-in-law why he will not stay in politics in India rather than return to a quieter academic life in the US, he replies that politics unleashes the demons inside him, demons that he prefers not to show. That line, to my mind sums up much about Jha’s take on politics – it is not about ordinary people, the Indian state is absent except to anoint new leaders and social movements are easily hijacked. Ultimately is an overwrought soap opera about an Indian family in politics. The title Rajneeti is therefore entirely apt.

On Ranbir Kapoor

LINK

Fake Ranbir Kapoor wants to get under the skin of Kishore Kumar for his new movie. He’d like to research the role with Asha Bhosle. On Twitter, he asks the legendary singer if he can drop by her home, adding, “Aapke haathon ka khaana khaane ke liye betaab hoon. (I long to eat your home-cooked food)” The artiste then graciously invites Fake Ranbir over, promising to ‘cook up a storm’.

Inception trailers & images (updated)

thanks to Tony2Montana..

An interesting blog post on Peepli Live

thanks to Iamthat..
LINK

In 2004 the Indian government announced a program to provide cash payments to the family of farmers who had committed suicide because of crippling debt. The federal government would provide 50,000 rupees ($1,136), in addition to the 150,000 rupees ($3,400) compensation provided by the state government.

The ballad of Ravannan…

On their way to Panchavati,
Perched on a big tree,
Jatayu, the giant vulture,
They met this huge figure.
“Sita I shall look after,
When alone you leave her
For the hunt you go for, ”
The vulture made a voluntary offer.

A predatory bird, perched on the canoe that Ragini sits in looks around the swirling muddy river. It then swoops, screeching in its flight towards Veera who is on a bigger reed boat, casting a sinister apparition on the brown waters. Alas, this Jatayu is the harbinger of Ragini’s fate to come, playing the role of a herald and not a protector. But, there was no need for Jatayu to protect Raagini from the clutches of Veera for Veera was Raginis’ protector in her battle for dharma.

Read the rest from HERE