Pazhassi Raja

Kerala Varma - Pazhassi Raja

The buzz of this Malayalam movie, also the star studded team that it had, did generate curiosity. I had decided to watch it in the theatre, the week that it releases. Realised, it was running house full in all the theatres. Waited till the second week, much to my comfort, the movie was playing at 'Fame lido.' So closer home, and it just that it adds to the whole experience of weekend watching.

Movie has 'Mammooty' as the main protaganist who plays the role of 'Kerala varma, Pazhassi Raja.' Its a period film, set in the late 17th century. Yes, it is a film about the freedom struggle and all the fight between the goras and the natives of Kerala. I did not know that such a king existed in the Kerala history, always thought in my childhood why we dint have any famous freedom fighters from Kerala. Ignorance indeed, but thanks to these film makers for making such a magnum opus. Many would be aware of it now.

More than just the lead, the supporting cast involving Sarath Kumar, Manoj K Jayan, Jagadheesh, Padmapriya, Thilagan and the others is terrific. I always felt, that good movies always had a good supporting cast. This would show the Director's ( Hari Haran ) ability to have imagined and picked the right people to essay such roles. its not about getting to play meaty roles, its about being part of such a historic cinema, and giving your best. Malayalam Cinema has gone through rough patches, a time when Malayalam cinema had the best of everything to nothing. This movie is an example of reviving it back again.

So what is great about the movie? It is shot in some beautiful locales, breath taking screen play also the music and most importantly, an amazing script. Alright, its not AR Rahman, we have Illayaraja instead. I am glad we have Illayaraja for a change and he brings in more than the necessary change. He was apt for giving music to such a period film. He still has the charm of striking a chord, he hasn't been disappointing many a times. The sound recording by Oscar winner Resul pookutty adds to the affect of each scene. The fight sequences involving those 'Matrix' inspired stunts could have been done away with. That was someting which I thought did not fit into this otherwise very natural, real cinema.


Many scenes where we see, the goras being given a retaliation and all that patriotism gets fueled up in me. Every time I see the goras getting beaten up or killed during freedom struggle, gives a feeling of pride. And yes, there are lot of counter views of how the British changed India all that. The scene where the tribals take over the British army with their archery skills was great. Sarath Kumar I thought was outstanding, I really have to pick him out of the rest of the cast as someone who surprised me with his acting skills.There were few moments, where the movie loses its pace but it picks up soon and keeps you engaged.

Wayanad, is shown in its true sense with the thick dense forests and the rainfall there. That was breath taking, for me being from Kerala and so far from the roots. There was an inner call to get back to where I belong from, a need to know more about the place and also appreciate it.

More about the King Pazhassi Raja : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pazhassi_Raja

This movie will be coming in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu as well. Watch it with English sub titles, if you do not get to watch these versions.

Then and Now!

Usual glance through the newspaper today, news about how are neighbours are so united to fight against us. I have a feeling; we will have a “WAR”

I was reminded of what once a friend of mine, whose dad is in the Army said. When these Maoists topic was being discussed, he was telling how China was funding all these activities also helping Pakistan to gear up for a fierce battle against us.

Amidst all this, found an interesting article. I mean interesting for me, certain characters of the past, their present was being tracked. What caught my eye, was ‘Arvind Swamy’ 
Remember, how my school friend was crazy about him, and now his latest pic! Oh gosh!! She dare not see it..hehe..

Alright, then came the surprise..one of the four whom they were checking the past and now, was Mr.Reny George. Name sounded very familiar, also the pic. Then reading the article confirmed, he was the same person whom we happened to meet during one of our Spoorthi activities. We had visited a ‘Home for Prisoner’s Children’ and the caretakers were the exact family that was mentioned in the newspaper.

Reny George was a famous criminal of yester years, got into limelight for brutally killing his Uncle and Aunt for drugs!! And when I happened to compare, what he is doing now.
Oh man!! One famous script for a movie I thought, a reformed man..Reny George now runs an orphanage and spends his life looking after them.

Mal movie already made on this person, and definitely “Reel is sometimes actually Real”

Feel like Voting now??

I had decided not to vote, even if I have to vote against. Then one of my colleagues happened to share this thought 'If my name is listed on the electoral rolls and I do not vote, smone else definitely will'

Hmmm...so we came across this site:
http://stg1.kar.nic.in/searchfinalroll_2009/Search.aspx
( Strictly for ppl frm Benagaluru and whose name must be on the electoral rolls already) Checked here, my name is listed. My Part Number, Address details listed in here.

So now I am told, I can show any of my adress proofs and walk into the Election booth and cast my vote. Not a bad idea at all. And if u want to know which constituency ur area falls under, use this link
http://bangalore.clickindia.com/areas/central.html


Next step dunno who is standing for elections here?
http://ibnlive.in.com/politics/statecandidates/Karnataka.html

That shud help, and the elections are on April 23rd, Thursday.
Do share in ur views abt ur experience of voting!!!

Flush out terrorists, but terrorism???

Tragedy can occur to anyone, anytime..
There are no preferences for the terror attacks or a favourable time. Thiruvallavur, the tamil poet had said "The moment you step out of your house, the death bells start ringing." Currently even if we stay home, we can't be assured that we wont face death.

This can happen to you and me in any place, any time.Indian, African, American..all that matters is how well quipped are we to handle such a dreadful act of terrorism? And how do the people in power react to such a situation. Now we have bomb blasts happening across the length and breadth of our country and elsewhere too. There have been many tragic incidents that have disturbed us. Has it made an impact on the Jokers who run the system?? The politicians, they still want to make sure their vote banks are safe! During this time, when there's a need for security for people around, these old men and women(so called people in power) enjoy Z-Category of security and what happens to ppl like you and me?

Are we still looking for these Jokers to tackle terrorism? Our forces need to be trained and supported well to handle terrorists. With just revolvers in their hands, what could the cops do? That's why they had to just lay down their lives. Its a shame, its a mistake but when will the Government learn that we need to invest in a more better and oragnised method to tackle terrorism? The enemy is no more across border, they have come into your own territory and the age old methods of nabbing petty robbers wont work anymore.

Jokers still running the show? Aah yes...Opp Leader already in Mumbai, rest are to follow. Remember, the General elections around sometime??

Jolt of adventure....

The usual days of my life which begins with getting the cab ontime for work and ends with the thought of getting up early to get into the cab next day. U sense me need to do smthin different, i did too..So I decided to find what can be an alternate profession other than an IT job for me, so a good friend of mine suggests that me should try my hand hosting some travel show and the second option was to become an Arms dealer.Says that would wrk best for a person that I am.

So to get a jolt of adventure into my otherwise SSDD, I am taking this option seriously but the problem now is just to find which of the travel programmes would need a person like me? For sure, I can't taste an awful dish and claim "Ohhh amazing, these green chilies look so green!!!!" Pretty obvious me dont fit in there too with my frank opinions. Or mebbe u knw wot? Me just suffering from quarter life crisis. Need to find another way out ppl...

Lot can happen over a team meeting! ;-)

Notepad and a pen..and the conversation tht followed...

Me- This looks like a Project demo at college..
HL- Those were good, we used to goof up a lot

Why didn't 'G' answer to "How are you?"

He generally won't. I have noticed many a times

The data is minimal. This is just like basic draft rite?

Yes a skeletal representation man

End of presentation: Appraisal 4/5?

5/5 :D

S gave credit only to 'Sh' what happened to D's role?

S is dominating so D gave up, he told tht yesterday

End of the session..

G says, send a mail to the onsite team and lets hope, all the Dans and Glorias will not come back with just one question for a lengthy mail, saying "What did you exactly mean by tht?"

Namma bengaluru....