Why this Hypocrisy ?

Alright, this might sound like a ranting, because it is but this issue, that I am about to write has been bugging me for a long long time. Seriously, just because someone is of a different gender doesn't give them the right to behave in a dominant/submissive manner. It shouldn't matter, whether you're a man or a woman for you to raise your voice, does it? Honestly, I believe that purpose, reason and genuine intent should determine the way a person behaves, not because the person you are talking to is a man/woman!!!

A lot of people talk about equal rights and all that, but when it comes to certain situations/issues, they tend to incline to the other side and I have no idea why. Being a woman is just as hard as being a man. I seriously feel that people underestimate the potential or the abilities of a woman when they compare a 'her' to a 'him'. And all these new generation thingy that people talk about, nope, I don't think anything has changed much. There are people who give valid credit to woman, but there are still millions who fail to change their mindset about woman.

Before you go on thinking that I am being a typical feminist, just consider the fact that everyone, each and everyone of us here are first and foremost, humans. And, humans should be treated like they are without any sort of discrimination based on their gender whatsoever.
I don't know much about the other parts of the world, but here, in this part of my world, hypocrisy is abundant. Women talk about equal rights, the way they should be treated, and all that, but at certain point, they themselves become slaves to the absurd believe that men are superior. This just goes on to show that truly, a woman is another woman's worst enemy!

Why do we have all these hypocrisy??? I have yet to find out the real reason for this. Is it because, woman are taught to perceive men in such a way? Or is it simply the way the world works that people have just forgotten their stands?

My Favourites of 2008 (Tamil Movies)

Yes, I am back and this time, once again, with another post on movies, specifically, Tamil Movies. My blog, which I started of to be sort of a place to express my thoughts and all, seem to be centralized mostly on movies...well, I guess I am pretty much a movie lover....
Anyway, let's get to the topic now....I am going to list my top-5 favourite Tamil Movies that were released last year (2008) and just to inform, I have not watched all the movies that came out in 2008. I watched quite a number of films based on their popularity and critical acclaims.So here goes the list, in no particular order...

• Anjathey : I remember mentioning this movie here under one of the movies that I really wanted to watch and let me be clear that I was not at all dissapointed!!! After watching this movie, I was so wow-ed...seriously...I wanted to post a review, but didn't and can't remember why anyways. Btw, this movie is by the man behind "Chithiram Pesuthadi", Mysskin. I loved this film so much and it's because of the simplicity and the real and engaging theme that the movie handled. It's basically a cop story, intertwined with a rather creepy and extremely saddening crime issue with the cops looking for the culprits. But, the main theme dwelved on friendship and how fate,ignorance and misunderstandings could just destroy something that you have build with so much love. For those who are reading this right now, this is a MUST-WATCH and please, please go and watch it if you have not!

• Santhosh Subramaniam: I remember ranting about it here that I got very much irritated by Genelia ( who plays Hasini) after watching this movie for the second time. But, hey this movie was seriously fun and entertaining. A feel-good family entertainer to say the least. Again, it was the fourth movie of the Raja-Jeyam Ravi duo and did become a huge hit. Anyways, Jeyam Ravi and Prakash Raj were awesome and Genelia was quite alright too. Songs were good and I enjoyed it thoroughly as it was based on a lovey-dovey theme which although is quite common in Tamil Cinema, here in this film, was handled in a different way. Again, go and watch this on a weekend if you have missed it. The comedy aspect with Premji and Santhanam around can definitely help you relieve some stress!!!

• Vaaranam Aayiram: One of the few movies which released with some huge expectations, and quite expectedly turned out to mixed reviews and thoughts from people around. The huge PLUS of the movie, even before its release was the audio by Harris Jeyaraj, which is perhaps, easily the best album of 2008 (Remember Mundhinam, Anjale & Nenjukkul Peithidum???). Surya without any doubt was clearly amazing in the two roles he essayed, as both the father and son, with believable body language and genuine emotions. But, as I mentioned in my review, the movie worked only in parts for me. Anyway, it's definitely one of the better movies that came out last year. To check out my review, Vaaranam Aayiram (click here).

• Saroja: This movie is from the same team that churned out the suprise-hit of 2007, Chennai 600028. Saroja is a thriller with a lot of fun attached to it due to it's four lead actors, Premji, Vaibhav, Saran and Siva. Vaibhav is a newcomer but the others are the same faces from Chennai 60028. What about the other 7-some who were in Chennai-28 you may ask...they all appeared in guest-roles throughout this movie, including Jai (of Kangal Irandal fame). Since, this is a suspense thriller, I can't reveal much of the plot, but it certainly revolves around the four-some that I mentioned above. All through the movie, you can expect fun and a lot of fun, right from the beginning till the very end. And, that's precisely the strength of the movie. The comedy and the way their characters (Premji,Vaibhav,etc) were played was simply awesome. Overall, this is another MUST-WATCH. Oh, also worth mentioning is Yuvan's youthful songs and almost-perfect background scores.

• Dasavathaaram: Again, one of the most awaited movies of last year...this one was another milestone in Kamal's already wonderful career. With 10 unique characters, Kamal was really good and essayed all the characters well. The story and the theme was different and the way everything was connected certainly made it a good for view. I have said a lot about this movie, so I would suggest to check my review, Dasavatharam : It's all about Kamal! (click here).

So, if you missed any one, please go and watch it asap.

Chao!

Thank You '08 & Welcome '09!!!

And, yes.... we have arrived to the inevitable end of another year, where some just celebrate the new beginning while the others just pray and hope that the next day will be better than yesterday.

For me, it has been sort-of a year which can be described as not-so-happening, I did learn a lot though. The same old lessons that life and people around me remind me of and yet, I don't really do much to change. So, this time I really hope I do something, as in less talk and more action...something which is almost impossible yet so much possible!

Anyway, I just wanna thank everyone, family,friends and strangers (yes, strangers are not so strange u knw!) for making 2008 a wonderful year! And here's wishing everyone a bright New Year!!!!

Take Care & chao!

I am irritated.
I know that I should do something about it.
But, I am just lazy,super lazy.
I know that I am going to regret if I don't do anything,I already am regretting.
But, why must people just conclude about things that only I would know how I feel about.
It's annoying.
I can just go on ranting, but choose to end this here.

Vaaranam Aayiram

I have always been a Gautham Menon fan and I was definitely looking forward for this movie to hit the screens. After reading a few reviews with mixed opinions, I went to the cinema with no expectations today morning.Before I point out the plusses and minus's of this movie (in my opinion), let me just talk a little about the movie generally.
As most of you all would have known already, Surya's donning two roles, as a father and the son. Simran comes as the mother and Sameera Reddy and Divya Spandana also form an important part of the movie.

The story is simply about how a father influences a guy's life, in the son's point of view.
Naturally, one starts comparing this with Cheran's Thavamai Thavamirunthu (TT) as both these movies deal with the same theme. But, it must be noted that Cheran and Gautham are two different directors and they treat and direct their movies differently.
Unlike TT, Vaaranam Aayiram (VA) focuses on the son and his life and how the father makes an impact in his life. Dialogues by the father like, "Pursuit what your heart wants" and "Whatever happens, life must go on" are nice to hear,watch and is definitely motivating and cements the fact that Krishnan is such a positive father. But, unfortunately, that's the most the father does. He encourages Suriya (the son) to do what his heart desires and motivates him, helps him when he needs him the most but something was just not there. The part where he advices Suriya (the son) to focus his energy in a positive way and when he asks him why he has build his muscles for (trying to say that he should fight back) were good. Still,I am not sure what, but I just felt that they could have exploited their relationship a little more, may be.

I must say that the movie was NOT bad, it was quite good, but in parts. As in, I enjoyed the movie in parts. It was nice to see a collection of different stages of a man's life. I loved Suriya's younger days, in his teens on how he retalliates when a senior beats him up and after he loses his love, the way he mourns and calls his dad and informs him what had happened. These were certain scenes/parts that moved me a little. Also, once Suriya turns to drugs to continue living. All these were potrayed in a very realistic manner.
Yet, something was lacking,missing in the movie. I am not sure what but it could have been more intensed may be.
Anyway, lets look into the positives/plusses in this movie:

1. Surya: He has always performed well post-Nandha and once again, he is simply amazing in this movie. Right from the old father,Krishnan, the 17-year-old Suriya (the son), the lover-boy Suriya, the drug-addict Suriya and the army-man Suriya....he is simply awesome. He has really put in so much of effort not only on his expressions and body language but also his physique. He seriously looks like a 17-year-old during that period of the movie and with a six-pack, he looks so much more convincing as Major Suriya.On the whole, Surya has basically done a fantastic job.
2. Songs/Music: Harris Jeyaraj scores yet again. I have written enough about the songs, in one of my previous posts but let me tell you once again, Harris rocks!!! The background score is also good. Songs have been picturised well and my pick of the lot would be Mundhinam,Yethi Yethi and Ava Enna.

Yes, after watching the movie, I had only 2 reasons to recommend it to others.

Now, let's move on to the minus points.

1. Star casts: I have no complaints on Surya but just wish Gautham had chosen someone else than Sameera and Divya. Simran did a splendid job as the mother but the other two, were just off the mark. Sameera looked sweet in certain angles but didn't quite play the role fittingly. Divya too, failed to do much in a role that offered quite some opportunity to shine. She looked dull and plain and was just there doing nothing more than delivering her dialogues just as that,mere dialogues.
2. Theme potrayal: The father-son relationship theme is a noble one but I just felt that it was not exploited deeply. The emotions and sentiments were there, but they were not engaging and gripping enough. As I mentioned before, the struggle of Krishnan (father) was not shown much and everything associated with the father as in his love story and all were shown in a very short amount of time. But, I must say that watching how the son is influenced by the father in each and everything he does was good. I was only moved a few times through out the movie and one of the scenes which were pretty touching was the beginning of the movie.

People tend to compare this movie with Gautham's previous ones but we must realise that this deals with a different theme. VA is a nice movie, but got draggy in the second half and a lot of elements were not convincing enough. Overall, it's a must for Surya fans and thats much about it.

That's all for now, chao!

He has done it!

I am happy, elated, delighted, pleased,content and what ever the word is, I am just HAPPY!!!
Barack Hussein Obama has been elected as the 44th President of the United States of America. Now, I am not an American but nevertheless am I proud to see a fellow man achieve what was once predicted as something impossible.

I know he would not be reading my blog (obviously!!!), but I would like to congratulate him for making each and every human being on earth proud today. Wishing him all the very best!!!

:D, chao!

Not So Awesome...

Yes, as I mentioned in my previous post, here I am with a post, once again on my views regarding some of the movies I watched recently.

Dhaam Dhoom: This one is a major DISSAPOINTMENT. Songs as usual, are awesomely awesome...simply because they're by Harris Jeyaraj. But, why the movie has not lived up to the expectations??? Here's a few reasons...First of all, the whole movie lacks logic...simple logic!!!
I know that one cannot expect logic in movies, esp. Tamil ones, but this one simply has no logic at all. A guy who's being chased by the ever-inevitable Russian cops, actually walks around the city with his lawyer, who actually falls in love with him!!!.And have I mentioned that they even have a sort-of-a-duet in between???
Okay, leave that. I am still amazed how the director came up with the idea of having Kangana Ranaut play the role of a village-belle! But, the only positive thing about this movie other than the music is the theme taken up by the director. Anyway, in short, this movie is not worth anyone's time/money.

Jayam Kondaan: This movie was a surprise to me. Frankly, I wasn't planning to watch this movie. But, after watching a few scenes featuring Vivek, I rent the DVD. Starring Vinay (Unnale Unnale fame) and Bhavana this movie was fun to watch. Again, this movie deals with a different,rare theme one can find in Tamil movies, of the relationship between a guy and his step-sister. Vinay is the hero and Lekha Washington,a newcomer plays the step-sister. Songs are okay, and my favourites would be Sutri Varum Bhoomi and Naan Varaindhu Vaitha. This one is a family entertainer and I would recommend it to everyone.Bhavana has dubbed for herself, and what can I say...her voice suits her and her Tamil is not bad! Overall, this is a feel-good film.

Sakkarakatti: Let me be frank here. The only reason I watched this movie was for AR Rahman's songs. And, clearly, that was the only exciting thing about the movie. Even that, the makers of this movie have managed to pull down a few notches by over-the-top graphics for the songs with not-so-nice picturisations. I was eagerly waiting to watch 'Marudhaani', my favourite song in the album, and I just skipped it. It was that dissapointing. One thing that dissapoints not only me, I believe many Tamil movie fans would agree is that, ARR's songs are generally not so good visually as much as it deserves to be. The last time ARR's songs got justice was in Sivaji. Anyway, in short, Sakkarakatti is a movie with nothing much but crap. Shanthanu (Bhagyaraj's son) has done okay for a debut but other than him, the other main star casts are simply crap, to say the least. As the poster on the left suggests, it's nothing but a musical treat by AR Rahman.Please skip this one.

That's all for now. Chao!