Raavanan, Epic Failed!

Dear Mani,

You create movies in a unique and inimitable style. The cinematography is always classy and contemporary. Never mind that people always joked that you shot in only in the dark.

In an age of melodramatic dialogues, your characters spoke only in monosylables, yet conveyed the emotion and meaning.

Of course, music in your movies was always, as a Tamilian would say, a plus.

Yesterday, I went to Ravanan. Yes, I was put off by too much of negative publicity through this damn Twitter and blogs. I wanted the dust to settle. I wanted to be fair, not influenced by the negativity.

It was all there, your usual style of cinematography, music and the dialogues. But like that model in Tata Manza ad says, something was missing. It just didn't appeal. It didn't touch my heart. I couldn't feel anything for any character. Not for Vikram, who in Sethu wrenched my heart. Not for Aishwarya. Forget her, I have never liked her as I think she is plastic and fake-y. Maybe a bit for Prithviraj, though I don't like him much. And Priyamani! You know I always thought she won the National Award for the climax rape scene in Paruthiveeran. No, despite the fact that she gets gang-raped in Ravanan, too, didn't get any sympathy. 

Actually, it is not about these actors, it is how you have etched the characters in this movie. Quite shallow!

I know you are an MBA graduate. Am sure you must have heard about the power of feedback. Here are some which you may want to consider. No, I am not an expert, just a consumer of your product.

1. There are four Ps in Marketing, you must have read. Remember, product comes before packaging. Stylish packaging doesn't help a poor product. Like in chemistry, the elements must react with each other. But in your film, the characters stood out, aloof, like the elements on the extreme right side of periodic table of the chemical elements. This problem is faced when actors attain larger than character profile. Exception to a small extent was Prithviraj.
2. New Brand Ambassadors: I know you seem to have a liking for certain actors. Aishwarya, as I have already said, looks plastic. Revathy, Manisha Koirala, Shalini, Saranya, Madhubala, Shobana, Bhanupriya...were not as beautiful as the former Miss World but they looked true. Ok, Aishwarya may have a larger visibility and you may 'like' her. You have used her in three movies, now. See even MF Hussain's taste change. There are new beauties in market. Considering your choice, I think Deepika Padukone will fit your taste best. Actually, you don't need big stars to work your magic. Arvind Swamy, Raghuvaran and Madhavan were not big stars when you used them. I don't have a solid data to back-up but my intuition says avoid Junior B and his wife for sometime.
3. I tend to agree with the Telegraph reviewer who said that you tend to fail when you try to make a pan-India movie. As long as you made Tamil movies you had a pull effect. Now, you try to push hard and movies are failing. Roja and Mumbai are glowing examples.

But I realize you are just a human being and cannot be expected to not fumble. See, now I know that from observing your fascination with the breasts of your leading ladies. Or at least know what men get attracted by. You are just like I am or for that matter any other man. You have in a way immortalized Manisha Koirala. She will always be remembered for her 'bumpy' run. Now, I love all those, but there was this too much unwanted panning to Aishwarya's chest. Do try to avoid those in your next movie. 

At this juncture remember the strategy of consolidation and stick to your strengths.

I was reading this interview of Viswanathan Anand by Chandra Ranganathan of ET NOW. Very nice read. I want you to read the Question No. 3 and Vishy's response. It has profound message for you, for me and for everyone who strives to be successful.

And finally, we know you are a thinker and you resolve to deliver movies with a lot of depth. And I am very sure you wanted Ravanan also to be one such. It's ok, if your dream didn't fructify into a concrete reality. You still are the most talented Director in the country and no one can deny that. I have nothing much more to say.

Wishing you very the best.

Love,

Ganesh, the consumer and a loyalist

Kalavaani, Life Cycle Reversed

Usually, Indian parents advise children to settle in life before setting up a family. And that is also what youth, educated or otherwise, who nurse ambitions do.

But then not everyone has ambition or aspirations in life. Many prefer to set up a family even before they stand up on their legs. Kalavaani is story of one such youth.

A romantic comedy, the movie is set in rural Tamil Nadu. While the hero's father slogs in Dubai, son invests the resources and time in drinking with his friends and flirting with almost every other women. Then it happens, true love. Our man falls for a girl from the neighbouring village. Unfortunately for him, his nemesis happens to be the brother of the girl.

To make the matters worse, under the influence of alcohol, hero makes a failed attempt to kidnap a girl who also happens to be related to the girl's family. The movie thereafter is the attempts made by the hero to transform. The movie ends with how he manages to elope and get married to the girl. And finally, thinks about settling down in life.

The movie has nothing new to offer except for the fact that it holds your attention and makes you laugh. And I think that is good enough.

Tragedies I Avoid!

It was 1982, I was only about 5. I was already a Kamal Hassan fan. I still remember that evening when I watched Moondram Pirai which was later dubbed and release in Hindi as Sadma. I was disturbed. I couldn't digest Kamal's transformation in the climax. After returning home, I kept asking my dad if Kamal would get well. I dreamt about it for the next two days and finally fell sick. I didn't go to school for a week but Kamal went on to win a National Award!

Now after so many years, I still don't have the courage to get myself to watch the climax. In fact, I avoid the movie all together. No, the movie is brilliant. Sridevi is fantastic. But it is Kamal. Interestingly, he has a very subdued and subtle role till the very end. But that one scene in the end, he shows what he is capable of. And I hate that part.

The other movie that I avoid watching is Ek Duuje Ke Liye, a Hindi movie directed by K. Balachander, starring Kamal Haasan, Rati Agnihotri. It was a remake of the Telugu movie Mano Charithra. Ah, there's Kamal again.

Is it the bitter end? Or is it the actors to whom we get 'attached' to?

Is there a tragedy that you don't like to watch?

Songs & Nostalgia

Digressing from reviews but not deviating from movies. Have you ever wondered the effect of songs, especially movie songs, on our lives? For example, Pudhu Vellai Mazhai from Maniratnam's superhit flick Roja which also was the debut for Oscar winner AR Rahman reminds me of my stay in Tanjore. It was in 1992 that we moved from Tanjore to Chennai. So everytime its played, I am reminded of my friends, the house we stayed in, the street and times in the town of Big Temple.

Not necessary that it has to be a film song. Way back when I was in 4th grade, my best friend that time, Sanjay Kumar Yadav, left Delhi to Ranikhet upon his father's transfer. The vacuum created by his absence in the class haunted me badly. So much so that I used to cry in the class. That point of time, my parents had bought a cassette of devotional songs sung by TMS. Pullanguzhal Kodutha Moongilgale was hot favourite. Though a nice song, it distrubs me badly. The song makes me feel very sad. It reminds me of the terrible time I had in my life.

On the positive note, AR Rahman's composition Hey Hey Enna Achu Unakku for the Tamil flick Kadhal Virus was my favourite during the time I was dating my Savitha. The song was picturised on a group of girls, one of whom, reminded me of her.

Little before that, during my MBA days, I fell for a girl. Unfortunately, the girl already had a boyfriend and I never figured out how to handle the situation. And to lighten up, I would sing the song from Kamal Hasan's superhit movie Aboorva Sagodargal, Unna Ninaichen, Paatu Padichen, to myself and to my friends. When a friend became closer to her during that period, I used to sing Dost Dost Na Raha, Pyaar Pyaar Na Raha. Reflecting back, it all looks funny to me, now.

Then there are songs that connects me to my parents. Not living with them, now, songs like Amma Endru Azhaikatha Uyir Illiye from Superstar Rajnikanth's Mannan and Kaalaiyil Dhinamum Kan Vizhithaal from SJ Suriya's New, constantly remind me of their presence and their contributions to my life.

Dil Chahta Hai was certainly a cult movie and I have nothing more to add that. But the song Dil Chahta Hai where the trio go on a road trip kindled the desire to own a car and go on a long drive with friends. Thankfully, Manoj bought an old Premier Padmini pretty soon and along with Navin, we did go to Pondy. The fact that it broke down during our return and we drove at a menacing speed of 20 kmph from outskirts of Pondy till Mahabalipuram is a different story. That one journey can never be forgotten.

There is a song for every emotion. Some songs make me go sad while others charge me up. There are some which help relax. Makes me think what would life be without film songs!