Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna

I would say, thought provoking. KJ's best work till date. He tells about relationships in a very mature, intriguing manner. We are forced to think about what's wrong and what's right even hours after the show.

A word about the characters. Dev (SRK) is the protagonist and the not-at-all-lovable guy (for me) in the story. Dev never deserves any sympathy. He is unsuccessful to the core, failure in everything, as a husband, as a son, as a father and also as a footballer. He is the only reason for their broken marriage. Riya (Priety) is a good wife, daughter-in-law, a mother and a professional. Maya (Rani) is a simple wife. She has her own dreams but has to obey others. Perhaps tats why she married Rishi. Rishi (AB Jr.) is the most lovable guy in the story. He is Maya's hubby and he loves her so dearly. I felt really sorry for the guy. He hasn't done anything wrong in his relationship with Maya. But he is the sole loser. Rishi's father (AB Sr.) is the man who brings everything in the open. He finds out the relationship between Dev and Maya. But he is the one who makes this movie a thought provoking one, perhaps because he has the one thing others in the story doesn't have- experience of living.

Now, the performances. My favorite is Amitabh. He is the star he is. Nobody can match him. Abhishek is really good in the movie. The real surprise. And with this movie I've started to hate SRK, perhaps because his character is such. But he fails to match up with others. Rani and Priety disappoints with their lackluster performances. The music is good and catchy. Dialogues are just what you cud expect from a KJ movie.

The movie makes the statement that if we are not happy in a relationship better we move away from it. After all, all what we need from a relationship is happiness. If relationships start hurting us, we better break it.

Achanurangatha Veedu

The movie is good. The subject it deals with is contemporary. A bold attempt to portray the society of our times, I would say. The story is not what has happened in place x or y. but in many places, many times. But still something is missing. The fizz is not there. To me, Lal Jose is not matured enough as a director for this subject. Or he hasn't delivered to his potential. This could have been made better.

This is a brave portrayal of the sex scandals which were the 'order-of-the-day' in recent times in Kerala. The film is well shot, but still fails to bring out the emotions as it should have done. Salim Kumar has delivered his best performance to date. He shows that he can handle character roles too with ease. All the performances are good by any standards.

The film makes us think about the present state of the system. How corrupt people are! They can stoop to any levels to fulfill their needs. And who is responsible for the plight of such young innocent girls, after all? Is it the 'anti-social' elements of the society? Or is it sheer necessity? It cud be the school authorities, too who are adamant about their 'reputation'. It cud be the parents, who bring loads of responsibilities on to their children and make them helpless. Whatever, the movie is a bold take on the society and kudos to everybody behind this.

I Have Everything, But Still....

I don’t know if everybody feels the same, but I do. I am not happy with what I have in hand, with what I have achieved. "Yeh dil maange more". But what? And why? I don’t know. All I know is that I need kuch extra.

" Mera mann yeh bataa de tu
Kis mod chala hai tu
Kyaa paya nahin tune
Kya doond raha hai tu "

Once upon a time, there was a kid who would get up after much persuasion in the morn, go to school, do his work and come back, get immersed in his books and toys and then go to sleep only to get up again the next day. Those were days when studies used to be his main duty. His books were his best friends. His secret toys were his fav pals. Studying used to be his way of forgetting tensions. When he was scolded, for some reason or the other, he used to find solace in his textbooks and homework. He was most contended with what he was. He always wore a smile around his face. And he was always ready to lend a helping hand to fellow students. He used to be the teachers' favorite. And was the quietest and most well behaved boy in his class.

Now, that the kid is no more a kid, he has grown up, books have ceased to be his companion. He finds comfort in other stuff. Computers have a definite place in his life. Music was, is and always will be his favorite pastime. Only the times have changed, but the kid is no longer happy with himself. Now, I don’t have to tell you that this kid is the very same me. I have all things, as a 24 year old, I could long for. I have good parents, a fab brother, lovable relatives, cousins, good friends, and all the gadgets and gizmos I could have. I now have innumerous ways to kill time. Listening to music, getting hooked to the internet, television, video games, DVD player and what not! Yet, I get bored easily. Still there is something missing.

I wasn’t ambitious at all. All I wanted to do when I finished my pre degree was a Govt job. But I couldn’t think of studying physics or chemistry again. And so I went after computers which I had always loved. Even after graduation in computers I wasn’t into doing a post graduation. But I did, nonetheless. And now that I am on the verge of finishing my PG, I am a bit greedy. I want a lot of money to spend. I have some dreams to chase. Now I want to do something for my family, for my friends and all those around. I want to make thing better around me. I want to make everybody around me happy.

But to make others happy, I should be happy with myself. I should be contented with myself. To believe in others, I should, first of all, believe in myself. So what is it that is missing in me? Or is it that I feel so? Maybe! Things haven’t changed much after all. Still I am the same person who needs much persuasion to get up from bed. I am lazy to the last bone. Of course, books have been replaced with things that are the fad of the day. And what’s wrong in getting hooked to the internet, in watching TV and movies. Nothing! Yes, tats it! I haven’t changed much. I still love music, films and books. I still like to spend time at my home. I am still the same kid whom I was talking about. And if anything has changed, it is for the good. At least I like to believe so. And I am contended indeed, with what I have. What I am today, what I possess is all because of myself. No, I am not taking away others credits. They have done their part. But all decisions have been mine. Whether wrong or not, whether those have led to failure or success, all decisions have been mine. I have nobody to be blamed. Or to be obliged to. What I am , and what I am not is all because of me. What else do I need to be happy?

Keerti Chakra...The First of its Kind...

Keertichakra is a very brilliant movie. This is by far truly a nationalistic movie, perhaps the first in Malayalam. I don't know of any Malayalam movie which has depicted the life of army men so well.

This morning, when I watched the interview with the director, Major Ravi, I felt here was a man who wanted to tell something through the movie. That was when I decided to watch keertichakra. and I wasn't dissppointed. I cud feel the diretor's passion for cinema as he was talking and he has done a great job. Only he could have made it this well.

Our very own Mohanlal comes of age in this movie. This is the Lalettan I wanted to see. Now the time has come for him to take up roles he hasn't ventutred into, neither has his counterparts. His performance is just fabulous. But, I shud say, he's a bit too fat to be a commando. But, the great actor that he is, he has performed very well.
The tamil actor, who portrays Jay, has done well. Shammi Tilakan's role is worth mentioning. The music is good in this movie. There is a tamil song, a hindi song, which for me is the best in the movie and a Malayalam song too. This film could have been directed by any other, more experienced directors, but none other than Major Ravi could have succeeded in bringing out the emotions so well. The background music is good, the cinematography is good, and by all standards this is a first of its kind movie.