Happy beginning :)

There is a marriage hall across my office. As with every other marriage hall in the country, this one is also booked almost on all days. I seriously wonder these days, if this can be the best investment. Build a marriage hall and customers will come to you. What more do you want :)

Anyway, today as I was crossing the hall, I saw a girl with teary eyes come out with a few relatives. I could not help stopping myself for a few seconds. I so dearly wanted to give her a tight hug and say – "Do not worry dear. You are not losing anyone. You are going to add a few wonderful people to your world. Life will be happier."

Have you seen the Tamil film "Mouna Ragam"? It is one of my favorite films. I would have watched it over 50 times. There is a scene where Mohan, the hero says,

"குழந்தை ஏன் அழுதுட்டே பிறக்குது தெரியுமா? இந்த உலகத்துக்கு வர பிடிகாம இல்லே, புது இடம் புது மனுஷங்க அதனால"

[Translation: "Do you know why a new born baby cries? Not because it does not want to come to this world. Because the place, surroundings and the people are new."]

I am sure anyone listening to these words, will feel much better about the change. That's the power of words. A few positive words at the right time can bring the much needed comfort.

So, my question is – What will be your words to the newly married girl / boy?

I would say – "You are going to share your life with him/her. It will be beautiful. Spread love and affection and you will get it back. Also, if there is any misunderstanding, don't regret. Misunderstandings are needed to understand a person better. Live life happily. God bless!"

But in reality what do we say?

• "From now on, he is everything for you. Whatever happens, be patient. Even if someone hurt you, don't reply. Ensure you respect your husband and his parents. Behave properly so that they are happy."
  

Isn't this a negative thought? Why cannot we give him/her the confidence that life will be happier and marriage is truly a bliss?

The film that reminds me of Fountain Head

Inspired from this post.

Reading the last paragraph on Tamil films that reflects Ayn Rand's Objectivism, I am reminded of "Velli Thirai" (Translation: Silver Screen) which is a close resemblance to Fountain Head. I have seen the film more than 5 times and every time I am in love with the characterization of the hero. In the points below, I have provided my reflections on the film.

• Saravanan – An aspiring director, confident of his stories and scripts and is not willing to compromise. I believe his characterization is based on Howard Roark.
  
• Mythili – A heroine who meets Saravanan as a assistant director and falls in love with him. She marries him later. At one stage she realizes she is becoming a burden for Saravanan and leaves him so that he can concentrate on fulfilling his dreams. Doesn't it remind of Dominique?
  
• Kannayan – Saravanan's roommate. An aspiring actor. He realizes that for him to become a big actor, he has to write a strong story and make him the hero of the story. So, he steals Saravanan's story and claims it to be his story. He finds a producer who produces the film and makes him the hero of the film. Yeah, reminds me of Peter Keating.
  

And here is the best of all.

At one point, Saravanan directs a film in which Kannayan acts as the hero. Because of ego clashes, Kannayan refuses to continue the film. To complete the film, Saravanan uses his intelligence and with the help of few of his friends, fools Saravanan and captures his real life emotions and uses it in the film. I am again reminded of the scene in Fountain Head, where Roark uses his intelligence and designs a project for Peter Keating.

PS: I have not seen the Malayalam original version of the film or the English film from which the story is inspired.

Bindhu!!

My tears - Tribute to the Legend

How can we truly accept someone as a great performer?

My answer would be, if someone performs and you can not take your eyes off him (even when your mobile rings), the performance has to be great. Because it has made an impact on you... If someone can give you that performance every time you watch him, he has to be great. One such great is Nagesh.



Be it the films he acted in his 20s or 60s, be it the films you watch for the first time or 10th time, even if the supporting cast includes other greats of the industry, you can not and will not miss a single expression of Nagesh. Thats the command he has over his audience. Rarely can someone with his physical presence stand with other greats and still make you look at him and only him.



Have we given Nagesh the respect he deserves? May be not is my reply. But there are millions like me who actually shed a couple of tears hearing the news of his demise. What made me cry? I donno, because I am not actually an emotional person. May be thats the impact that he creates.



I am not going to mention the names of the movies or his performance that I have watched 100 times, because it needs no mention. Each one of us have had the privilege of watching it.



Nagesh, One of the rarest gems of Indian cinema...... I hope others look at him, not just as a performer, but also as a lean man who succeeded in this film industry where looks are given more importance than man's ability. Long live his genius..



Bindhu.