Movie Review: Munnariyippu

Munnariyippu, A very pragmatic, under-rated Malayalam movie. Munnariyippu means Warning. It is sad that  mediocre films earn well and  we miss out on such a beautiful cinema.

The film follows the journey of 2 protagonists - a female journalist and a criminal convicted for 2 murders. The movie is about how their worlds merge for mutual agenda. One is struggling to make a mark in her respective field and the other who even after completing his term in jail, is happy to be within the confines of the jail. Anjali, a freelance journalist meets Raghavan, an interesting inmate, who outstays his jail sentence for a crime he vehemently claims to have not committed. His vastly different views interests Anjali who wants to desperately document his life and happenings. Here's Anjali who is giving in to the demands of the pragmatic and competitive world and then, there's Raghavan, who is not able to inscribe his words because he believes original thoughts can not be bound under the deadline of ruthless time frames. 

With a fine cast of Nedumudi Venu & Prathap Pothen in small, but significant roles along with a cameo by Prithviraj, but Venu is exceptional. However, the film belongs to Aparna as a character we identify with, in our daily life, struggling to make a mark and not letting go of that opportunity that she believes  that it could be a defining moment in her career. 

All the applauds should to Mammootty for giving a performance that will actually amaze you with sheer astonishment during climax. Mammootty truly underplays his emotions so effectively. The character of Raghavan is easily one of the most important characters ever written and no better artist to do justice to it than Mammootty.

Now, I understand what the hoo-haa about the movie was all about. We watch cinema all across the country; but there are films that go unrecognised, for reasons unknown and this is one of them. 

Movie review: RAAZI

Raazi is the story of a simple as any other college girl whose father is a core member of the intelligence bureau of India. The relations between India and Pakistan are on the verge of war. The story revolves around the sensitivities and volatile situations on both sides of the borders. The father who is under the disguise of a friend to the military officials of Pakistan decides to sacrifice his daughter’s life by getting her married to Brigadier’s son. Before getting married, she gets trained by the best Intelligence personnel.

Sehmat, the girl, sacrifices her everything to move to Pakistan and spy for the intelligence bureau. Living amongst them, Sehmat risks her life every day, to gather all the confidential information needed, in order to give India an upper edge in case war erupts. Dodging the risks, how her life changes when she falls in love with her husband Iqbal and what she has to endure all through, in order to protect the pride of her nation is what forms the crux of the movie.

Shankar Ehsaan Loy’s music is good. Less dialogues mean, more emotions beautifully captured. First half was not satisfactory on many aspects. Introducing Sehmat as a sensitive girl and then, portraying her as a strong-willed girl was not convincing enough. The girl accepts her father’s decision (to have become a member of IB, and in turn, the girl needing to become one is not convincing enough in the first place). Editing was poor. Alia Bhatt has grabbed a role of a life-time and she has done justice to it. Meghna Gulzar, daughter of legendary Gulzarji has made him proud with her directorial ability. Costumes, especially, Kashmiri embroidered outfits and the sets look good truly reflecting periodic story.

I told couple of friends that when so many people rave about a movie so much, I tend to walk out from the theatre feeling “”MEH””. This was one such movie. Nevertheless, a good attempt!

A day to remember!

Oh! that very special day; A day to remember!

The day you walked into my existence

You effortlessly captivated my heart.

A chance to see your soul through your smile

A chance to look in to your eyes

That look that said I love you..

Each night when I went to bed

I lay my head back down, and would pray

Lord, don't let this be a dream!

There was an empty place inside of my soul

It's the place I tried to fill repeatedly, a void

And then that day my day to remember,

You walked into my life to fill the void

And made my life complete.

ஊகிக்க சொல்லாதே

ஊகிக்க சொல்லாதே..
ஊகம் மிக எளிதன்று..
ஊகமெல்லாம் வேண்டாம்.. வேண்டாம்..
சொல்ல வேண்டியவை அனைத்தும் சொல்லிவிடு..
புராணங்கள் கூறும்படி ஆன்மா ஆனபின் தெரிந்துதான் என்ன பயன்?
அது பதில் கூறுவதைத்தான் அறிவதும் சாத்தியமா?
இருக்கும்போதே சொல்லிவிடு..
கவிதையாய் கசிந்துருகி,
கதையாய் கொட்டித் தீர்த்து,
வார்த்தைகளாய், வாசகமாய்,
பாட்டுக்களால் அல்லது மெட்டுக்களால்..
அடிக்கடி அள்ளித் தெளித்துவிட்டு போ!
போவது நம் கையில் இல்லை..
ஆயின் வாழ்வது நம் கையிலுண்டு..
வாழ்க்கையை வாழ்ந்து, ரசித்து பார்ப்போம், வா!

நிஜம்!

பல நாட்கள் உன் பதிலுக்கு காத்திருந்து..
பல பொழுதுகளாய் உன் வரவுக்கு காத்திருந்து..
பல நேரங்களில் உன் அன்புக்கு காத்திருந்து..
பல இரவுகளில் உன் அணைப்பிற்கு காத்திருந்து..
பூவிழி பூத்துப் போய்,
மனம் மரத்துப் போன
எனை ஏளனமாய் பார்த்து,
எள்ளி நகைத்தது நிஜம்..

Have I ever told you?

Have I ever told you that if I sit really still and silent, sometimes, I like to think I can hear your heart beating in time with mine?

When I watched you speak to me through lines and cords, I imagined
your voice, whispering into my ear..

Have I ever told you that I wait each day in anticipation, wanting
just a second in space and time, to feel close to you once more?

There are times, when I ache for you, ache for you so badly, that the emotions overwhelm me..

Have I ever told you that sometimes, I reach out, touching your name, your face too, on this cold screen before me, wishing I could reach in and pull you to me?

After the first time I heard the sound of your voice, I sat up all night, turning the conversation over and over in my mind.

Have I ever told you that I would love to be with you just for one night, to be able to lay near you,
to feel you & touch you, only to make sure you are real?

Have I ever told you that I think of you often, I want you to reach out and touch my hand gently, simply to let me know that you are there,
and everything is okay?

Life, a beautiful experience!

Life has a way of throwing a googly at you, every time you make plans, when you think you have everything under control. It has the capacity to pull you down, give you pain, heartaches, you name it, it does. Then again, it is the best teacher one could wish for all things it teaches you. When something bad or sad happens, should we give up or should we go with the flow, blaming on everything and everyone or even better, should we fight against all odds and come victorious in the end, with another experience up our sleeves and many more lessons learnt? That's a choice you need to make. Giving up is easy; sulking and crying foul is even easier, but facing and fighting against all odds is next to near impossible, but it is worth a choice to make. 

First 18 yrs of my life have been perfect. I was brought up like a Princess with people at my beck and call. Everything was handed over on a platter to me. I had no exposure to the outside World. If my luck would have it, I could have lived like that, but Alas! It was not meant to be.

My luck ran out, once I completed 18. I was thrown in the deep end and ended up swimming to the other end of the spectrum. I learnt to swim, slowly but surely. I learnt the art of handling people’s emotions, and managing them. I learnt what humiliation was. I found out how lonely one can be, though surrounded by people all the time. Being an only child, I learnt that what’s mine, is never mine; I had learnt the art of sharing and giving. I also learnt (the hard way) that no matter what you do for people, they would have only their vested interests in mind. Their families mattered more than you, though you were part of their families. I learnt that there’s no one who cared more for you than your parents. The most valuable lesson I learnt in life was that, in utmost distress and tragedies, you were all alone and that you needed to be stronger and face everything head on.

Do I have regrets? Absolutely not! "Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny - CS Lewis” When something bad happens, you have 3 choices. You can let it define you; let it destroy you or let it strengthen you.

What do all these life experiences do to you? They humble you; make you stronger; teach you the real meaning of life; break you but then build you up stronger and taller; bring out the humility in you; make you aware of, to appreciate and be at peace with your surroundings;

Go on! Don’t succumb and sulk! Face life boldly. In fact, life is so beautiful to sit and sulk or give up!