Kahaani 2 - Could Have Been Sharper

Went to Kahaani 2 with lots of expectation but returned with a feeling that the movie could have been sharper and shorter.  Like in earlier Kahaani, Vidya Balan is in almost every frame and has carried the movie single handedly.

Movie starts off showing the strong bond between Vidya Balan and her teenage kid who is confined to wheelchair.  All of a sudden, child goes missing and in ensuing panic Vidya Balan gets hit by a car and goes into Coma.  Then comes the dramatic twist about Vidya's past in a Kalimpong school.  All these does keep the momentum of the movie, but after a while scenes become predictable and one could also predict the next scene.  

Also,  I wish the story kept the focus and not branch out into to subplots.  Storyline should have just focussed on Vidya and the kid.  Instead, it starts veering into the first marriage of Vidya and the police officer, an unnecessary twist which just 'slows' down the story telling and doesn't contribute to the main thread.

But, I liked 'realistic' cinematography.  Art department hasn't tried to create perfect visuals, but has let the narrow streets of Kolkata and Kalimpong speak for itself.

Overall, enjoyed the movie and would give 4 stars out of 5. See it for Vidya Balan. (Rating - ****)

ps: For the first time, went to INOX theaters in Chennai Citi Center.  While getting in and out of the movies was relatively easy (unlike Satyam complex), sound system left much to be desired and definitely needs an upgrade.

Also, got to experience the playing of national anthem after the recent Supreme Court order.  My only gripe is that anthem version played was too fast.  It should have been slower.. lot slower.

#Kahaani2 #Movies 

நான் பேய் பேசுறேன் - போகாமலே இருந்திருக்கலாம்

நான் பேய் பேசுறேன் - போகாமலே இருந்திருக்கலாம்

Sundar C & Kushboo must be really 'courageous' to produce a movie like this.  I don't know if this venture is 'profitable' for them, but for industry veterans like them to 'invest' in a movie like this beats me..:-)

Not only for the producers, but also for everyone associated with the movie from director to actors, they all must be applauded for being 'courageous'...

Irony is that, this movie got 'U' certificate and Jungle Book was given 'U/A' certificate by the Censor authorities of India.  While the later is a out and out kids movie, நான் பேய் பேசுறேன் has liquor dripping from every scene and dialog.  In fact, the leading characters make fun of 'statutory liquor warning' and start binging.  I wonder what the board officers were 'drinking' when they certified this film (and Jungle Book).

Now for the rest of the movie review..
We couldn't stand the movie beyond a point.  So we decided to cut our losses and get out at interval.

ps: This is the first time I booked tickets using bookmyshow.com and the whole experience was really smooth.  Usually, I book tickets via spicinemas.in, but since tickets were not available per our choice, I decided to try bookmyshow and was pleasantly surprised, not only to have better user experience of booking tickets but also at Luxe theater.  Overall, two thumps up for bookmyshow & Luxe.

சென்னையின் மனிதர்கள் - ஆனந்தம்மாள்

சென்னையின் மனிதர்கள் #19 - ஆனந்தம்மாள்   (சுமார் 65)  

இடம் - சாந்தோம் சர்ச்   / தொழில் - பிரார்த்தனை புத்தகங்கள் விற்பனை  

" முப்பது வருஷமா இங்க கடை போடறேன்  ஞாயிறு ஆனா இங்க சர்ச்க்கு எப்படியாவது வந்திடுவேன், திரும்பி போறப்ப யாராவது வீட்ல விட்டுடுவாங்க ....."

ps: I met this lady in one of my Sunday runs.  We helped her get to Santhome Church by walking with her for about couple of kms.  All along, she kept talking about all kinds of things, but not once did she crib about anything.  When my running buddy offered her some cash, she refused to accept it gratis.  She took it only in 'exchange' for some religious books she sold him.  True to her name, she is fully of Ananadam and it is infectious. 

A short discussion with Anandammal

More Photos here

How is the 'random' check done?

With major parties grouping and regrouping, Tamil Nadu is reeling under serious election fever.  Only thing that is hotter than the election fever is the mercury outside.  But just the mercury is rising, so are all the election gossips and exchanges.   Leaving the alliance circus apart, I am always intrigued about the 'cash seizure' stories that comes out almost every day.   Who carries wads of cash around and how?  How are they caught?.  I got a glimpse of it yesterday.

As I was coming out of my office in TTK Road, I saw a bunch cops stopping vehicles.  By then, word has spread and people were talking in hushed tones about 'crores' of rupees being confiscated.  I don't know about monies part.. but I did observe a pattern.  

There were about 4 or 5 policemen along with 2 others in plain clothes and one videographer.  They were flagging down all small enclosed trucks going south on TTK Road.  Drivers were asked to come out and open the back doors for inspection.  What I liked was the entire process was filmed.  All the trucks that were stopped while I watching were let go in a couple of minutes leading to me conclude no 'illegal' cash was found.

I don't know how long cops were checking and if they found anything at all.. but it was entertaining... albeit for a few minutes.

Tags - #TNElections, Chennai

Kapoor & Sons - Different

Sunday Movie Review - Kapoor and Sons

I am a movie buff but have not been regular for several reasons with the main reason being the availability of tickets.  With the limited multiplex options in Chennai, one has to book tickets for the weekend by the previous Wednesday, when the reservation opens.  Otherwise, options gets limited and even 'bad' movies become unavailable.

I am slowly learning this trick of booking tickets by Wednesday.  So far, I have been successful for the past one month and at my daughter's prodding, I am trying my hand on reviews as well.  Let's see how long I keep up with it.

Kapoor and Sons is a different kind of movie on many fronts.  It's dialogs are bold and pushes the envelope unheard of in Tamil movies. (yeah, its a Hindi movie and I could most of the dialogs.  I admit my Hindi is not that great but do follow 'Ek Gaon me ek kissan raghu thatha').  Director has taken three generations 'Kapoors' and have woven a complex relationship story where everyone has something in their 'closet'.

It's a low budget movie and to my surprise was based in a Coonoor, Tamil Nadu.  This may be because, Rishi Kapoor (Grand father in the movie) must have been associated defense services.  My Hindi isn't that good to catch this nuance!!!.  

Talking about Rishi Kapoor, he has done a marvelous job of playing that role.  Though his makeup could have been better, Rishi does an excellent job of waiting to die but not 'actually' dying.  In fact, one of biggest 'non event' in the movie was Grand Father's Death.

Another interesting twist to the story was about the death of someone I didn't expect.  Just as I kept expecting Grand father's death, a twist occurs in form of sudden death of his Son.

While the death of the Son give a sudden twist to the movie storyline, it does have a 'happy ending'.  Movie does have several other stars, including Alia Bhatt, but I enjoyed Rishi Kapoor the most.

Verdict - Feel good, enjoyable movie.  Watch it for Rishi Kapoor.

3.5 stars out of 5

Random Act of Kindness

Today, I received 'random act of kindness' from a total stranger.  More than our run today, this gesture by total stranger made my day.  Read on for the rest of the story..

Shirtless (one of us), phone-less and penniless, three of ambled along to Marina beach from our usual start point in Abhiramapuram.  There, I wanted to take our usual selfie with Gandhi but none of us had our phone to take our ritual snap.  Reconciled to not being able to take selfie with Mahatma, we headed back, but soon discovered we were penniless as well.

As we were heading back, saw a small boutique coffee shop and decided take a coffee break.  The 'genius' bunch we are, we first set our eyes on coffee and then discovered we were penniless.  None of us had carried any emergency cash to quench our coffee thirst.

We had a hearty laugh and decided to move along.   That's when we became recipients of random act kindness.  Total stranger heard us talking about our 'peculiar' bind and politely offered to buy us coffee.  We accepted his offer and enjoyed freshly brewed Vivekananda Coffee.

Thank You Venkatachalam, wherever you are... Your random act of kindness made my day..  

Flex with Flex

Flex poster printing industry must be a lucrative business in Tamil Nadu as anyone who has anything to say says with flex banners.  It does give easy publicity at others' expense.  There are flex banners for every possible occasion.  From birth to death and everything in between there is a 'case' for flexing flex muscle.  These posters mushroom from nowhere overnight and are a public nuisance in most cases.  They take the precious road space and hinder vehicular movement.  Needless to say they are a big nightmare for pedestrians.  Madras high court did pass strictures on flex banners in public places few years back, but nobody seems to care..

Rather long flex banner found in Peralam.  I didn't count, but it is a safe bet to say it has 67 images of Ms. Jayalalitha.. 

Flex industry must have made a killing this week with the birthday of AIADMK supremo Ms. Jayalalithaa.  Her party workers made sure everyone knew about Ms. Jayalallithaa's birthday by going overboard with flex banners across the state.  I wonder who paid for all these banners and if they got permission to put them up in public places.  Well, who dares to ask?  It is Amma's birthday after all..

Tags #Chennai, Politics