Movie Review: 'Virrudh'

Mahesh Manjrekar's 'Viruddh' is a beautiful movie with giant like presence from Big B and Sharmila Tagore. She is still as fresh and beautiful as she was in her golden era. John Abraham has brought his charm throughout the movie. Not a lot of drama, including in the court room, where Hindi Movies take you for a major ride.

Stars: 3 1/2 out of 5

Blogging can get you fired

Now that is a strong statement. Is that right?

Well, look at.Blogging can get you Fired!

Also Sir Tim Berners-Lee, creator of WWW and a GOD to the online world says that blogging fulfills his original intention of creating the WWW. Sir Tim

Peter Jennings is dead

Whenever I tuned to ABC News during major news events, there was one face that would assure me and inform me - Peter Jennings. Now he is no more. The viewers will miss you, Peter. Your calm and assuring toned delivery of news will be remembered for ever.

Peter was ailing from Lung Cancer. I hope it was not because of his smoking habit (left long long ago but resurfaced after the Sept 11 attacks).

May his soul rest in peace and strength be provided to his family.

'Rhapsody in August'

Watched 'Rhapsody in August' by legendary Japanese Film maker, Akira Kurosawa today on the AZN channel. This film is a brilliant representation of the trauma faced by the Nagasaki A-bomb survivors. The message of peace is well communicated by Kurosawa.

Richard Gere has a good presence in the film. People who have been affected by Hiroshima/Nagasaki,Jallianwallah Bagh, Holocaust, Indo-Pak Partition, Armenian Genocide, African Genocides in war torn countries etc have died, are alive and will be born again. Many of them are just silent sufferers of the wishes of a few military decision makers. What did all these political maneuvers achieve for mankind, apart from pain, suffering and indelible marks on souls/human memory.

Wish Children are taught the horrors of war and taught the significance of freedom/democracy and Human Rights.

'Swades' and Ashutosh

I watched 'Swades' recently and was enthralled by one lady from the movie: 'Gita' or Gayatri Joshi. What grace and the elegance shown as a debutant?. Good movie to watch except the potboiling electricity generating stunt (Ashutosh Gowarikar's TM style). Remember the lagaan style cricket match. For once, SRK has not overacted and is a down to earth player. After Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa, first time, Badsaah SRK seems like a real actor. You were good in 'Main Hoon Naa' too.

Kaveriamma or (Kishori Ballal) has brought the grace and greatness she has displayed in the Kannada entertainment industry.

AG's script to be close to Shivaram Karanth's "Chigurida Kanasu". Atleast AG should have credited Dr.Karant for inspiration.

A fellow blogger's thoughts on Swades. Swades Blogged

Shah Rukh Khan in 'Duplicate'

After maybe 5-6 years of release date, I got an opportunity to watch 'Duplicate' starring SRK - Directed by Mahesh Bhatt, produced by the Johars (Yash and son, Karan). I should say one of the worst movies I have watched. Of course, Javed Akhtar's lyrics had enthralled me for the last 5 years because I used to listen to 'Duplicate' soundtracks in my car.

PLUS Juhi Chawla is fat as hell. Sonali has shaken her stick like body a lot (good presence/work from her). Fareeda Jalal is awesome as SRK's Bebe (mother). Apart from this, shame on the whole movie crew. How did Bhatt,Johars and SRK make such a lousy movie??

Rating: 1 out of 5. (1 for the songs by Javed Akhtar)

Good Movies to watch

I have started to watch Hindi movies from India again. I did try out a lot of foreign films in the last couple of years. Here are some movies that I recommend.

Hindi Films:-
1. Black.
2. Sarkar.
3. Main Hoon Na. (Indian audience)

Foreign Films:-
1. Closely Watched Trains. [Czech]
2. Ararat. [Armenian]
3. Fellini's movies from Italy. (Just watch any)
4. Akira Kurosawa's movies from Japan. (Just watch any).
5. City of God. [Brazilian] -Absolute beauty.
6. Cinema Paradiso. [Italian] [Get the newer edition]

More later.

Currently considering:
* Central Station. [Brazilian]