Bloggable!

* I have been suffering from a syndrome more troubling than "writer's block".I get this unsettling feeling to write on whatever is going on around me.Even a trivial smile or shaking of the head feels "bloggable" to me.Hence,I go into a shell within myself to deeply analyse the efficacy of the post on such minor issues.Everytime, the answer I get back is "Better don't blog on it".There is the classic dilemma of a writer :"should my writing enlighten or merely entertain?". Should I do a Arundhati Roy crusading against anything that the regime does? or Should I do a Baradwaj Rangan by writing lyrical reviews of movies I love ? or Should I do a Khushwant Singh writing about all things un-publishable that has happened in my eventful life ? or Should I do a Ram Guha writing on what would have happened if Jinnah had died earlier and Gandhi had lived on ? or Should I do a Rahmaniac analysing whether there is a musical undertone to Rahman's cough? or should I be a humble chronicler of all these remarkably engaging friends I have ?
I am a writer with an identity crisis. Further introspection can help things get better. A writer who does not write often simply because he does not know to decide what to write on cannot make a good one. Indecision,that criminal who lurks his ugly head in every deed I commit, is creeping into my writer's side too and am worried.



*Three disparate movies made my semester holidays week."Nandhalala", inspites of accusations of unconfessed plagiarism, is a brilliant celebration of love,maternal affection ,hope and all other values that enrich life. Every director has his own "touch"es to impart.(Mani's brevity, GVM's "daddy daddy" English, Shankar's extravagance, Bala's morbidity , Rama.Narayanan's cricket playing Elephants et al). But this is a movie full of director's touches and idiosyncrasies.
The yellow sportscar, the red vehicle,the bike with two obese guys,12-seconds appearing Nasser,single-shot narration of a prostitute's life,the tractor-driving school girl,the police officer who struggles with English, the caste-conflict affected woman,a worry-ridden honeymoon couple,a handicapped guy who is frustrated about life ,a handicapped doctor who saves his life, candles stolen from Mary and Lord Jesus- brilliant haikus have been sprinkled across the movie as per the director's whim.Ilayaraja's sound and silence work brilliantly.Jeyamohan has gone overboard calling it the "First Tamil film" over. But it is definitely the First Tamil film without a single commercial compromise. Maybe,thats why it's release saw so many roadblocks.



*A remarkable mistake in "Nandhalala" is the choice of the protagonist.Mysskin's act feels so raw and incomplete.A veteran like Vikram would have done better. This tendency of the directors to don the "Hero" mask is reaping no fruit. "Mandhira Punnagai" has a decent script,strong twists and remarkable dialogues. Karu.Pazhaniyappan has done his directing part well but falters pathetically as the hero.He does not know to laugh,cry,get surprised,talk smart dialogues with ease or dance.Someone should stop Sundar.C from acting in gangster movies. Gangsters suddenly feel timid and sterile. It is surprising that people behind the camera who make others act feel so naked in front of the camera.



*"Raktha Charithram" is a lame RGV film with loads of uncalled-for violence.I should see the old classics of RGV to realise how great a fall it has been.A kills B, B's son kills A,A's son kills B's son.The movie ends with A's son shining in politics and a shot focussing on B's grandchild suggesting that the Revenge drama will continue.There is a voiceover (GVM!) proclaiming that the movie is dedicated to all those who died facing the wrath of revenge.They must be turning in their graves.