A short promo of my website http://www.whatsonsidsmind.com.
We are all the connected through our stories and my endeavor is to tell stories that appeal to regular human beings like you and me.
Hope you like it!
Thanks,
Sid.
All rights reserved by whatsonsidsmind.com
Pic credit: deccanherald.com
By Siddhartha Krishnan . 4 min read:
I fondly remember those days, when an iconic opening tune would start playing and a black and white sketch of a railway station appeared on our TV screens. At once, we abandoned everything and sat in front of the TV with the whole family, to find out what is happening in Malgudi? Those were the 90s, when things were a lot simpler and laid back.
Even after all these years, whenever I think about this TV series, invariably a smile comes onto my face. I’ve often wondered why?
Perhaps, it’s because “Malgudi Days” is like a box of assorted chocolates – disparate episodes, each with its own unique flavor, but all set in one fictional town, showing the struggles of regular people, like you and me. This is what differentiated this iconic television series from the rest because it managed to directly connect with its audience, by telling fictional human stories in a realistic but engaging manner, the credit for which must be given to the great Indian writer R. K Narayan.
For all my readers, who are based out of India and who have not heard about this TV series, let me give you some context. “Malgudi Days” is based on a collection of short stories by the same name, written by R.K Narayan, which was first published in 1943 by Indian Thought Publications. The book was later republished outside India by Penguin Classics in 1982. However, some episodes of the TV series are based on Narayan’s later works eg. The Horse and Two Goats.
Pic credit: wikipedia.com
R.K. Narayan’s great ability was to tell the story of ordinary people, in a simple and unpretentious manner. Whether humor or melancholy, he managed to pull both off with subtlety and nuance. It is because of this realism, which he managed to bring in his stories, that some critics have compared him to the great Russian short story writer Anton Chekhov. He has also been compared to Guy De Maupassant because of his great ability to compress a narrative without losing the story, which the Pulitzer prize winner Jhumpa Lahiri, has also testified.
Pic credit: wikipedia.com
The TV series which is an adaptation of R.K Narayan’s book, was mostly shot in Agumbe village in Shivamogga district of Karnataka and was directed by Kannada actor/director Shankar Nag. The first episode was premiered on Doordarshan on 18th March 1987. Shankar Nag directed the first 39 episodes of the series. Each episode was around 20-25 minutes long. In 2006, another 15 episodes were aired on Doordarshan, directed by Kavitha Lankesh, who had replaced Shankar Nag. The music score, including its much-loved opening tune, was composed by Carnatic musician L. Vaidyanathan.
The other standout feature of the TV series was its sketches, which were done by the famous cartoonist R.K Laxman (R.K Narayan’s younger brother). A stellar cast including the likes of Anant Nag and Girish Karnad, expertly portrayed complex characters on screen, which we fondly remember even today.
Pic credit: pinterest
Back in the 90s, neither did we have the comfort of private viewing on mobile phones nor the luxury of digital entertainment platforms like Netflix or Amazon Prime Video. During those days, watching a television show used to be a family affair and, in the villages, it used to be a community affair. There was bonhomie and camaraderie among people, since everyone seemed to have a lot more time on their hands.
Although, the Indian mythological epics – the Mahabharata and Ramayana were the most popular TV shows during those days, I for some reason grew a fondness for “Malgudi Days”. This is not to say that I didn’t like those TV shows, but I was somehow able to connect more naturally with this TV series. This I assume was because of its realism. The characters somehow felt like the next-door neighbor or the shopkeeper down the alley or a friend at school. Simply put – people I could relate to.
To illustrate this point, let me take you through some of my favorite “Malgudi Days” episodes (my top 3 – not in any order). It will give you a taste of what to expect from the TV series, in case you haven’t seen it:
Pic credit: hotstar
A Horse and Two Goats – Muni, a poor Indian goat herder, is in desperate need of money, but is too lazy to make any significant effort, to change his destiny. He opts instead, to get into a sly transaction with a foreigner, who mistakenly thinks that an ordinary horse statue is of considerable value. The inability of the two to communicate with each other due to their language barrier, makes for some interesting viewing.
Pic credit: ultrabollywood
Iswaran – a young man harbours a strong desire to get into university but is unable to clear his intermediate examinations, despite multiple attempts. Due to constant societal pressure, he starts to doubt his own abilities, and is ultimately driven to insanity.
Pic credit: ultrabollywood
Roman Image – is the story of an extrovert who gains the trust of a renowned archaeologist. Thus, begins an excavation wherein he finds a statue on the bed of the Sarayu river, supposedly of Roman emperor – Tiberius II. This generates a lot of media attention, but later the protagonist finds out that the statue is from a nearby temple and it is not as old as he had thought. The story attempts to expose the incompetence of experts and the foolhardiness of superstitious people.
The above is just a glimpse of what is on offer. From humor to melancholy to satire, different tones are employed, to tell a compelling story on a range of topics, all set in one fictional town.
Pic credit: ultrabollywood
Another unique characteristic of these stories, is that their message has universal appeal, due to which these tales have become timeless classics. In R.K Narayan’s own words, Malgudi could have been a town anywhere in the world because its characters are people everyone can relate to.
In memory of this TV series, the Arasulu railway station in Shivamogga district is being renamed as Malgudi railway station and a “Malgudi Days” museum is being constructed near it. Artist John Devaraj is heading this project to ensure that the desired result is achieved.
Pic credit: indiatoday.com
Sadly, today for some reason there is a dearth of good human stories, be it books, television or movies. There is a lot of negativity which is being spewed in the name of entertainment; reality TV shows (some of them) being a good example of it. Also, news has become a form of entertainment where inconsequential but polarizing debates are sold to the public. The result is toxicity which is not good for society in the long run.
I can understand that negativity sells but are there no good stories to tell? There are a lot of good people out there, aren’t their stories worth telling? I’ve become bored of this business of hate and desperately want the good stories to return to our books, television and films.
Maybe, it’s time to take a leaf out of “Malgudi Days” and be inspired by it, once again. It’ll be like a breath of fresh air or should I say a box of assorted chocolates?
For those who wish to see this TV series, the entire series is available on Amazon Prime Video with English subtitles. Most episodes are also available on YouTube in multiple Indian languages.
(If you are interested in more such content, please subscribe to www.whatsonsidsmind.com or follow the Whatsonsidsmind FB page to be notified whenever new content is uploaded)
Source:
wikipedia.com
economictimes.indiatimes.com
Had been toying with this idea for a while now. Don’t know if this is an adventure or misadventure? 🤔😂.
I am not a professional singer by any stretch of the imagination hence this is just a humble attempt.
That said, singing is an old passion of mine and they say it is a good stress buster, hence I decided to give it a go.
Throwing caution to the winds!
Do check it out. This is a Hindi song called “Bekhayali” from the movie Kabir Singh. It was a chart buster in the year 2019.
1 Min read:
Let me take you back to those days,
When things were a lot simpler and laid back.
Next on http://www.whatsonsidsmind.com, is an article on one of the most iconic works of art on Indian Television.
This will be the first article of my “Back to 90s” series, dedicated to all the kids who have grown up in the 90s in India, like me.
Do check out the video.
Article will be out soon!
All rights reserved by http://www.whatsonsidsmind.com
Pic credit: rankmylist.com
By Siddhartha Krishnan . 8 Min Read
I was introduced to Ray very early in life. Growing up in Bhowanipore, within the heart of Kolkata, amidst some of the city’s iconic historical and cultural landmarks, the chance that he wouldn’t have sneaked into our lives, in some way or the other, was an impossibility. You could blame it on the Kolkatan’s love for “Adda” (intellectual discussion), but Ray has this nagging habit of stealthily creeping into our conversations, be it at a tea shop early in the morning, the football ground at dusk or at the dinner table late at night. The discussion could be on any topic, not necessarily about cinema – from politics to religion to art, Ray found a way to stay relevant in our lives.
Pic credit: euphoriandesi.com
It was at a children’s film festival, hosted by Nandan cinema, where I got to watch my first Satyajit Ray film; Sonar Kella (The Golden Fortress). I was 8 years old then. It was a detective story about a young boy who has vivid memories of his previous life and becomes a target of miscreants after he mentions about hidden gems at a Golden Fortress. I remember being hooked onto the story, from start to finish even as a child. Later, I watched the film multiple times on television and took something new from it each time. This was my first introduction to the genius of Ray.
Pic credit: timesofindia.com – scene from Sonar Kella (1974)
However, my understanding of Ray’s genius stayed limited to his children’s films, namely Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne (1969), Sonar Kella (1974) and Hirak Rajar Deshe (1980). In fact, for most of my childhood, I regarded him as a filmmaker who made movies, exclusively for children. All the intellectual discussion on Ray and his other films were left to the adults, while I listened attentively to their engrossing conversations. But by overhearing their conversations, I realized, that even his so-called “children’s films” were steeped in subtexts, deeper meanings and universal messaging. Hence, I couldn’t garner the courage to watch some of his most iconic films, because I knew, I wouldn’t be able to fully appreciate its details.
It would take me many more years, to finally take that plunge and delve into his cinema with honesty. But when it happened, it felt like natural progression. Now, when I think about it in retrospect, I feel that it was a good decision. I say this because Ray’s films are simple in its technique and execution, but flawlessly capture, perhaps the most complex thing in the universe with extraordinary precision – human emotions.
Pic credit: lassiwithlavinia.com – scene from Apur Sansar (1959)
While researching on Ray for this article, I came across many of his interviews, where he refers to a certain film, which had kickstarted his journey as a filmmaker. Hence, I thought it was important for me, to watch that film, to understand the man and his cinematic sensibilities. The film was – The Bicycle Thief (1948) made by neorealist Italian filmmaker Vittorio De Sica. It is a story of a poor father who is searching for his stolen bicycle across post World War II Rome, without which he would lose his job and thus not be able to provide for his family.
Let me first admit that it was a brilliant film, a must watch for lovers of good cinema. But my intent was to look for scenes from the film, which might have inspired Ray. It was apparent, that although there aren’t any direct references to Ray’s films, it was how the film conveyed its message that might have inspired the great man.
Hence, the use of cinematic language instead of over-the-top dialogues, precise framing of shots, use of camera angles, apt use of music and the art of being simple yet effective, all traits of Ray’s film making, are features of this film as well.
Pic credit: pinterest – scene from Aranyer Din Ratri (1970)
The most common mistake people make, when they first harbour thoughts of watching a Ray film, is to go for his most famous work first. Let me assure you, this could turn out to be a blunder!
This is because all of Ray’s films are different and they appeal to all kinds of sensibilities. They cut across genres and so, what appeals to your best friend may not appeal to you. Hence, when starting off, you should choose his films wisely. In this article, I will tell you the story of how I went about exploring Ray’s films.
I was in my late twenties when I began exploring Ray’s work and started off with a 12 min short film called “Two” (1960). The film shows an encounter between a rich kid and a street kid, through the rich kid’s window. Surprisingly, not a single word is exchanged between the two throughout the film. Ray makes for some gripping cinema by employing clever camera positions, angles and movements, an effective background score and deriving natural performances from the child actors. The result is spectacular.
I would urge all my readers to watch this film (link below) to get your first taste of Ray, in case you have never been exposed to his films before.
Leonardo Da Vinci said, “Simplicity is the greatest sophistication” and this philosophy, resonates with Ray’s style of filmmaking. Many of Ray’s films were made on shoe-string budgets and in a way, he had no choice but to use clever, simple and innovative techniques to tell a story. This is illustrated in the next film that I watched called “Pratidwandi” (The Adversary) – 1970.
Pic credit: rediff.com – scene from Pratidwandi (1970)
The film is widely regarded as one of Ray’s best. It is set in the backdrop of political turmoil in Bengal, at a time when corruption and unemployment was rampant. It was also a time when the Communist and Naxalite movements were gaining strength. The protagonist is a middle-class man; educated, intellectual and idealistic. He is desperate to find a job but is caught in this social unrest. Thus, he is forced to make a choice between his ideal and his necessity.
In the following 4-min job interview scene from the film, at the very onset, we know what to expect and a conflict between the interviewers (capitalist) and the interviewee (leftist) is imminent.
However, Ray manages to make this scene riveting, by intelligently crafting its sequence – interrogation, negotiation and acknowledgement. The absence of a background score surprisingly adds to the tension. Despite being an interview scene, the dialogues are minimal, and a lot is conveyed through body language. Its these delicate nuances which makes this scene so memorable. In the end it was how he portrayed the transition of the protagonist from being powerful (due to his knowledge of things) to being vulnerable (due to his urge to stay true to his ideals) which caught my attention.
The dialogues are in English, so readers will not have a problem understanding what is being said.
Pratidwandi job interview scene ( Click link to watch the scene of YouTube)
These two films gave me an understanding of the man’s thinking and style of storytelling. Hence, I was now comfortable to watch some of his other famous works like (source: Wikipedia) –
Mahanagar (The Big City) – 1963 – story of a housewife who battles the ideology of her conservative family by getting the job of a saleswoman.
Nayak (The Hero) – 1966 – story about a superstar actor who is on a train journey to receive an award. During the journey he reveals his mistakes and insecurities to a young journalist, who realizes that behind the arrogant facade is a troubled man.
Aranyer Din Ratri (Day and Nights in the Forest) – 1970 – story about four friends, educated but coming from different layers of society, who head to a jungle to escape the grind of daily life.
Jana Aranya (The Middleman) – 1976 – story about a young man with moderate academic results who makes numerous unsuccessful attempts to find a job. Hence, he decides to start his own business as a middleman.
As, you might have realized, Ray offers you a platter to pick and choose from, based on your tastes. (Click here for a complete list of Ray’s films)
Another, fascinating aspect about Ray’s filmmaking is that he does not push anything down your throat, despite the subtexts and layering. He allows for multiple interpretations from a scene on the part of the audience. However, if you like to study filmmaking and its intricacies, then here is an interesting video from a YouTuber, who has studied Ray’s camera angles and movements.
The Apu Trilogy, arguably Ray’s most famous work, comprising of three films, Pather Panchali (1955), Aparajito (1956) and Apur Sansar (1959) were the last films of his, that I watched. These I must admit are not easy films to grasp, but there is no doubt that each one is a masterpiece. Pather Panchali, perhaps Ray’s best film ever, which also happened to be his first film, won the Best Human Document award at the Cannes Film Festival in 1956. It features in the lists of the best films ever made and is a part of the curriculum of film schools.
You must remember that Ray made movies at a time when we didn’t have big budgets, marketing expertise and social media promotions. Yet, he managed to win all the awards including the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival and 2 Silver Bears at the Berlin International Film Festival. In fact, he beat some of the directors who had inspired him, to win these prestigious awards. Today, Indian film makers have the budget to market their films at these film festivals, yet we don’t manage to win any awards. Ray proves through his films that you don’t need money to make a good film, what you need is skill, talent and honesty.
In 1992, the year in which he passed away, Ray was awarded a honorary Oscar for Lifetime Achievement. He was also awarded the Bharat Ratna (India’s highest civilian award) in that year. Ray is also the recipient of the Legion of Honour (France’s highest civilian award) and the second person in history to have received a honorary doctorate from Oxford University for his contribution to world cinema. The first and only other person to get that honour was the great Charlie Chaplin!
Pic credit: hindustantimes.com – Ray delivering his Oscar speech from a hospital in 1992
Ray put Indian cinema on the world map and inspired a generation of filmmakers after him. I see his references and inspiration in the work of many of the Indian filmmakers today. But not many know that some of the great Hollywood directors of today, have also been inspired by his work. Also, his contemporaries had spoken very highly of him. Here’s what some of them had to say about Satyajit Ray (source: bookmyshow.com):
“The few interactions I had with Ray are memories I treasure” – Martin Scorsese, director – Taxi Driver (1976) and Raging Bull (1980).
“Whenever someone speaks from Kolkata, I remember Satyajit Ray’s call, praising me for the Godfather” – Sir Francis Ford Coppola, director of The Godfather series.
“Not to have seen the cinema of Ray means existing in the world without having seen the sun or the moon” – Akira Kurosawa, legendary Japanese filmmaker and a great master of cinema.
“If he were in Hollywood, he would have proved a tough challenge for all of us” – Elia Kazan, maker of classics like On the Waterfront (1954) and A Streetcar Named Desire (1951).
“I’ve had the pleasure of watching Mr. Ray’s Pather Panchali recently, which I hadn’t seen before. I think it is one of the best films ever made. It is an extraordinary piece of art” – Christopher Nolan, director of the Dark Knight Trilogy (2005-2012)
“I was honoured that one of the world’s greatest directors was eager to direct me” – Richard Attenborough, director of Gandhi (1983), on his role in Ray’s film Shatranj Ke Khiladi (The Chess Players) – 1977.
When Ray was awarded the honorary Oscar, the crew which had to put up the clip package of his films for the award show had struggled because they realized that a freak fire accident had burnt the reels of some of his greatest films. Hence, the Academy began a restoration project to preserve his work. Their efforts in this regard deserve a lot of praise, especially from Indians. The following is a video on the restoration effort:
I’ve been writing short stories for the last two years and in my writing I try to imbibe Ray’s approach of being simple and subtle with art. These are the two great qualities of his which have inspired me immensely, apart from his originality. Whenever, I get stuck with my writing my first instinct is to watch a Ray film. This article and the short video tribute that I had posted on my blog last week, is my way of saying thank you to the great master.
Pic credit: mubi.com
The video tribute was well received and garnered 1000 + likes on Instagram. To my surprise 90% of the people who liked that video were between the age of 18-24. This only reinstated my belief, that Ray through his work is still alive and relevant today and he still manages to mysteriously creep into our conversations and inspire writers and artists.
The above is a short video to introduce my article on the great Satyajit Ray and through it, I will be paying my humble tribute to an artist, whose work has left an indelible mark on me and my artistic leanings.
Coming soon.
All rights by http://www.whatsonsidsmind.com
Thank you all, for reading my posts and extending your love and support. Your words of encouragement and constructive feedback have been extremely helpful.
I have just got started on this blogging journey and it’s been an exciting and challenging one so far.
However, there is lot more to explore and achieve on this creative odyssey.
Wishing all my fellow bloggers and writers the very best in the New Year. Happy New Year to all!
Poster of Jallikattu
By Siddhartha Krishnan . 7 Min Read
Ever since the trailer of “Jallikattu” had released on YouTube it had captured my imagination. I was eagerly waiting for its release because in my opinion its director Lijo Jose Pellissery is bit of a genius!
An 11-minute continuous shot constituting the climax (watch the making) of his 2017 film “Angamaly Diaries” (its on Netflix) will forever remain etched in my memory. It was unlike anything, I had seen before – original, audacious, innovative and visually spectacular.
Post this, Lijo came to be known as the “master of chaos”. You will have to watch Angamaly Diaries (2017) and Jallikattu (2019) to understand why he has been given that title?
Poster of “Angamaly Diaries”
I knew that the chances of watching this film in a theater were very slim given the number of screenings Malayalam films get outside of Kerala. Hence, I had to wait till the film released on Amazon Prime Video. And, as soon as it did, I watched it.
I will try to keep this review as spoiler free as possible.
Note: there are links in this article in case you are interested in diving a bit deeper into the topics discussed.
The Story:
The premise of the story is very simple. A buffalo which is about to get slaughtered escapes from the slaughterhouse and unleashes havoc. It runs amok on the roads of a quaint little town, on the outskirts of a forest, ravaging property and gravely injuring the locals. Everyone who becomes a victim of its wrath, turns vengeful and selfishly wants a piece of it. Thus, begins a massive bull hunt. Sounds simple? – Well, in a way it is!
However, as with any good cinema there are multiple layers, nuances, sub-plots and symbolism attached to all what is unfolding on-screen.
A mesmerizing scene from “Jallikattu”
The story moves at a break-neck speed. In the beginning it is humorous and satirical and towards the end it becomes dark and murky, as the lines between man and beast, start to blur. The locals become increasingly desperate due to repeated failures and are overcome by greed, mistrust and finally rage.
At times, it felt, with each passing scene the director is peeling a layer off to show what we humans truly are at our core – “Animals”.
You might be driven to think at this point that this is art house cinema. Boring and too nuanced. Well, let me assure you, that it is not. The movie is just 94 min long and from start to finish it is a roller coaster ride.
Moreover, the director is not shoving anything down your throat. You can take whatever you want from the film and derive meaning out of it basis your understanding of the world.
By the way the title of the film, just like it’s trailer, is a bit misleading and purposefully so. The film has nothing to do with a traditional sport played in Tamil Nadu except for some symbolic references.
Technical Aspects:
Cinematography:
This movie is quite literally carried on the shoulder of its DOP. Cinematographer Gireesh Gangadharan is undoubtedly the hero of this film. It is quite evident that the director came up with some insane demands and the DOP said “yes” to all of them. Some of the shots in this film will compel you to think, “How the hell did they shoot this?”, given the fact, that Malayalam films like these are made on small budgets. It is clear, Lijo and Gireesh, are a great team.
One many of the many spectacular shots in the film
Some scenes in the film reminded me of “The Revenant” and the pairing of director Alejandro González Iñárritu and cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki. Not that this film has anything to do with “The Revenant” but the sheer audacity to imagine certain scenes – like the famous bear attack scene or the scene where Leo falls off the cliff with his horse (a top down shot), is where I find the similarities.
The “Bear Attack” scene from “The Revenant”
Much like “The Revenant” there are many jaw dropping scenes in Jallikattu albeit not of the same scale. This is essentially a sound and light show. For most parts, you will see massive crowds running through the forest, holding torch lights, passing by waterfalls and mountain streams creating anarchy in a jungle. Its a minimalist approach (with no or very less CGI) yet it keeps you hooked throughout. An animatronic buffalo was used to shoot some of the bull attack scenes, where you see the chaos through the bull’s eyes.
The climax scene just like in Lijo’s “Angamaly Diaries” will leave you stunned! I can’t give that away as it will be a massive spoiler.
Sound Design and Background Score:
The other stand out feature of this film is the background score by Prashant Pillai and the sound design by Renganaath Ravee. Again, very simplistic yet arouses the desired response within the audience.
There isn’t much music at the first place. Just chants of “Hoo” and “Haa” but perfectly in sync with the mood of the crowd and the intent of the scene. The overall effect is guaranteed goose bumps.
Editing:
The opening scene of the film testifies the contribution of editor Deepu Joseph to this project. At the crack of dawn, the bulbs switch on, the clock ticks, eyes open, ants crawl and the characters are introduced. Their jobs, their routines and their lives in perfect sync with the stellar background score and all of this happens in 8 minutes straight. The world of “Jallikattu” becomes crystal clear to the audience. Everything moves at a fast yet required pace.
Production Design, Action Choreography and Costume design:
The production design by Gokul Das helps you stay engaged with the place, its people and happenings. The scene (spoiler alert), where the crowd works in unison to pull the bull out of a well is worth mentioning here.
But the way the movement of the crowd was choreographed within the jungle, at night, and the subsequent anarchy that unfolds, is simply breath taking and more than made up for some of the flaws.
The costume design by Mashar Hamsa was apt for the characters of the film. It was rustic, raw and relatable.
Writing:
The film is based on a short story named “Maoist” by S. Hareesh who is the screenplay writer of this movie along with R. Jayakumar. Research suggests that creative liberties have been taken with the original story to make it more cinematic and engaging.
The final product is crisp and packs a punch.
Direction:
A Scene from “Jallikattu”
I think enough has been said already about the technical know-how and craft of Lijo Jose Pellissery.
To add, I’d just like to say this, that when you can make the simplest of things like the opening of eyelids, crawling of insects, cutting of meat or the dripping of sweat, cinematic and immersive, you know that there is someone gifted managing the show.
From there, when you take the story forward and mount it on a grand scale what you end up getting is a visual spectacle. Lijo proves again that you don’t need big bucks to make a good movie. What you need is honest intent.
Acting
Although, known faces like Chemban Vinod and Anthony Varghese are part of the cast, they are also part of the crowd.
In many ways the crowd is the only actor.
Hence, you cannot really pin-point, one great acting performance, because actors keep coming and going out of the frame within the blink of an eye. Moreover, it does not feel that the actors are really acting. It’s as if a real bull was let loose and their reactions were being captured.
Criticism:
It is not that the movie has no flaws. All you need to do, is to ask, what these people were chasing at the first place? It was just a buffalo and not a tiger or leopard!
So, what was the fuss all about? To add to that, when you know that 90% of this film is based on this premise you might be inclined to question the logic of it all. In a way, I do agree that this criticism is justified.
A gripping moment from the movie
But the counter to this point is that the writers may have had no intention to take you through this chaos into a real world at the first place. Maybe, it was all meant to be a bit surreal.
Towards the end there is a scene (spoiler alert) where an ailing old man looks out of his window and finds the buffalo with a halo around its head. A case to support the surreal theory or was it just my imagination? I will leave it up to you.
Verdict:
Let me assure you that I can be very critical when it comes to cinema. I usually choose not to speak about movies which I didn’t like and let them pass. Also, I am very choosy with the movies I watch and the books I read. So when I do venture to see a movie, I expect the makers to respect my time and money. My only demand is to be entertained.
Furthermore, I don’t believe in classifications like art house and commercial cinema. I think there can only be two classifications – good and bad cinema. Language, country, state, region etc don’t matter to me because I like good cinema and watch all kinds of movies from around the world. I think only people who are okay with mediocrities, associate with these kinds of meaningless classifications.
So, did “Jallikattu” entertain me?
I think it did – with its creativity, innovation and originality along with a nuanced and layered story line. It has its flaws but the vision of the director and the craft of the DOP keeps you engaged and invested till the end. I will give 4/5 for Lijo Jose Pellissery’s “Jallikattu”. It is a visual spectacle and an immersive cinematic experience not to be missed!
Before I end:
The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2019, where it got a standing ovation from the audience. It was also showcased at the BFI London Film Festival and the Busan International Film Festival and got widespread critical acclaim. The film released in India on 4th October 2019. It has been given a 7.7 IMDb rating and you can watch it on Amazon Prime Video with English subtitles.
Siddhartha Krishnan is the author of “Two and a Half Rainbows – A Collection of Short Stories“. He is also an enthusiastic blogger and on his website www.whatsonsidsmind.com, he regularly puts out his essays, articles, travelogues and film reviews.
All rights reserved by whatsonsidsmind.com
Pic credit: Imax.com / Copyright: Warner Bros. Pictures
You must be wondering, why am I reviewing a movie, which released a month back and has a million reviews, already in the market?
Well, there are 2 reasons for it –
It was that good and compelling!
Before I start, let me tell you, that I am not a movie critic, nor do I have any significant experience of reviewing movies. But I am an admirer of good cinema and whenever I get to see some good work, I feel compelled to talk about it.
Disclaimer: I will try my best to keep this review as spoiler free as possible, because my intention is to reach out to those who have not yet seen the film and are contemplating watching it this week. But that said there might be some spoilers ahead.
The Story and Characterization:
In the Dark Knight (2008), Michael Caine’s character Alfred, recalls an anecdote from his life, which he narrates to Bruce Wayne (Batman). He does so, because Bruce (Christian Bale) is unable to comprehend, why the Joker behaves the way he does? Alfred tells Bruce, that he may have failed to understand the Joker and substantiates his point, by recalling a certain incident from his past and says, “Some men aren’t looking for anything logical like money. They cannot be bought, bullied, reasoned or negotiated with. Some men just want to watch the world burn”.
Pic credit: knowyourmeme.com / Copyright: Warner Bros. Pictures
In one of the ending scenes of Joker (2019) post the climax (spoiler alert) – Arthur Fleck (Joker) is arrested and is in a police van. The policeman, driving the van, points out the anarchy that is unfolding on the streets and blames him for it. Arthur (Joaquin Phoenix) responds by saying, “It’s beautiful. Isn’t it?”, while subtly paying tribute to Heath Ledger’s portrayal of the Joker (watch the movie to get this point).
But this is where, the similarities between the two movies end. What I am trying to get at, is that, the Joker is not your typical DC movie. It’s anything but that. This is a dark character study, into the mind of one of the most iconic villains in Hollywood history, told through a riveting and intelligently written origin story. In many ways, it is a slow burn, but ironically it keeps you at the edge of your seat, cringing at one moment and despairing in another. You are left to marvel, at the sheer brilliance, with which the arc of this character, has been portrayed on screen.
Let me warn you that the “Joker” is a difficult watch. It is entertaining, but this is a different kind of entertainment. It is dark and it will take you to a dark space, whether you like it or not! It also compels you to have conversations with your dark side. I felt this on multiple occasions, while watching the movie.
Pic credit: dailymail.co.uk / Copyright: Warner Bros. Pictures
It’s the tale of a man, desperately trying to make ends meet, but fails miserably each time. He is constantly shunned, abused, unappreciated and discriminated, which leads to his gradual disintegration, thereby transforming him to an unrecognizable self. During this transition the film becomes dark and violent and some of the scenes can be disturbing to watch.
Some critiques have said that, the writers might have unconsciously justified the violence, given the nature of the screenplay. But this argument did not resonate with me. In my opinion, the movie only depicts the violence and does not advocate it. The process of disintegration of Arthur’s original character is so organic, that you cannot help but sympathize with him, while not fully agreeing with his violent methods, to relieve himself from the misery.
Also, the movie does not end, showing Arthur happy. It shows him relieved, but that relief is momentary. He is slipping into an abyss, sometimes even without his approval. You as the audience know that he needs help, but you also know that there is nobody who can help him. It’s this apathy and hopelessness which makes the character relatable.
Pic credit: variety.com / Copyright: Warner Bros. Pictures
But I do partially agree, that different people could perceive, what is unfolding on screen, differently. For instance, after the scene (without giving away too much), where Arthur gruesomely murders his ex-boss, and then cracks a joke, discomforting his colleague (an innocent onlooker) even further : some in the audience were laughing, some were shocked, and some were secretly sobbing. Need I say, anything more to clarify my point. Your actions and reactions, just like the Joker’s, is dependent on what you are feeding within you. The director is just telling you a story – it’s up to you, what you take away from it.
Technical aspects:
Technically, the movie is brilliant. Especially, the cinematography by Lawrence Sher was noteworthy for me. The colours are mostly dark and dull, perfectly in sync with the mood of the film. The use of fog (outdoors) and smoke (indoors) was also interesting to create the gloom.
Pic credit: denofgeek.com / Copyright: Warner Bros. Pictures
The production design by Mark Friedberg complements the cinematography brilliantly by showing Gotham city, filthy, saturated and in constant turmoil.
The writing by Todd Phillips and Scott Silver is near perfect, because it manages to show the complete journey of Arthur’s character and yet keeps you engaged till the very end, without falling into the trappings of a regular commercial movie.
The only criticism could be, that some scenes in the movie were inspired from Scorsese’s Taxi Driver (1976) and King of Comedy (1983). Since, I have watched both these cult classics, I cannot deny the fact that there are some references, but these are clearly a tribute by the director to the genius of Scorsese, as he himself has pointed out in some of the interviews, prior to the release of the film. Moreover, art will always have its inspirations.
For me, this movie was highly dependent on two things – the vision of the director and the execution by the actor because it is carried single-handedly by its protagonist from start to finish. When, I was watching the movie, I couldn’t help but imagine the kind of conversations, the actor and director would have had between takes. I am sure there were a lot of improvisations, which would have eventually led, to making the scenes so mesmerizing.
The Acting:
As said earlier, this movie rests purely on the shoulders of Joaquin Phoenix. What do I say about his performance?
If ever there was a masterclass in acting. This is it!
I mean, this was as close to perfection that an actor could get to. Every tissue, bone, sinew and muscle on this man’s body, was complementing the expression on his face, the pain in his eyes and thought in his mind.
The transition from being depressed, defeated and lost to being cruel, vengeful and insane has been portrayed so beautifully, that never did anything feel rushed or overdone. It was just right.
Pic credit: nbc15.com / Copyright: Warner Bros. Pictures
To quote an example to illustrate this point – it was fascinating to watch, how Phoenix gradually created the Joker’s infamous laugh over the course of the movie. Although, the backstory to the laugh is a medical condition, it begins as a cough, which turns to a smirk, then into a chuckle and finally into the signature evil laugh in the end.
Joaquin, you hit the ball out of the park with this one! This performance will be remembered for years to come.
However, any comparison to Ledger’s performance is not justified, because both movies belong to completely different genres. What is common though, is that both actors managed to own this character and offer something new to it.
Verdict:
I would like to end by saying, that the Joker is undoubtedly a masterpiece. If you are still in a dilemma, whether to watch it or not – don’t be foolish and don’t miss the chance to watch it at a theater near you. I will give 4.5/5 for Todd Phillip’s – Joker. It is an engrossing dark character study, impeccably written and masterfully portrayed by its lead actor.
At Baga Beach, North Goa
We go on long vacations to unwind, explore, bond and rejuvenate – everyone has a different and unique reason. But one thing, which we share in common, is that, we come back with stories to tell. Apart from some photographs and souvenirs, these memories are all that remain to share with others over a cup of coffee or a glass of wine.
In this last chapter of the Goa Diary, I am going to share some of my stories. I thought that this travelogue would be incomplete, without sharing these experiences because they capture the essence of what this vacation meant to me and my family. I am going to call this chapter, “The Tiny Tales”.
So, let’s get started …
A nice place to sit – Baga Beach
This was the first time my four-year-old was going on such a long road trip (approx. 1600 kms over the course of 9 days). We knew that being a hyperactive child, he was going to get bored on several occasions. Hence, we had a big checklist for him. Toys, story books, YouTube videos, snacks, chocolates etc. We had it all covered. Yet, my wife and I, were apprehensive.
The first leg of this journey was from Bangalore to Belgaum (510 kms, which meant 12 hours on the road with breaks). This was going to be a tall ask for my son, given his nature. We started early at 6 am and crossed the first toll by 7 am. I was relieved and excited to have crossed the toll, and the driver within me was eager to hit the highway.
My son, who was quiet all this while, asked, “Papa, have we reached Goa?”.
I looked at my wife bewildered because she and I had spent enough time explaining to him, prior to undertaking this journey, that this would be a long one. Hence, he would have to be, patient and well-mannered. He had agreed. Thus, this question came as a surprise, and that too so early.
We reiterated what we had told him at home. He nodded in agreement.
An hour afterwards, I got excited upon seeing a beautiful landscape on my right. My son asked again, “Papa, have we reached Goa?”.
I was puzzled. This kept on happening repeatedly, despite continuous reminders.
But there was a catch.
I realized, that he was asking the question every time I was getting excited and that’s when I finally managed to connect the dots. He was equating my excitement to us reaching Goa. The beautiful scenery, alluring roads and exotic locales – were all inconsequential to him. He just wanted to reach the intended destination.
He couldn’t understand, why his father would get excited at anything other than reaching Goa. He was wondering – what the fuss was all about?
I realized, that I was the one who was deceiving him!
Advay’s perception of Goa
We reached Goa in the afternoon and checked into Tranquility Cottage Resort which was 1.5 kms from Baga beach the biggest tourist hotspot in North Goa. But thankfully, the chaos and euphoria, unfolding just a mile away, did not manage to trickle into our quaint little wooden cottage. It was just what we wanted – proximity to the famous beaches, yet solitude when we called it a day.
Upon entering the cottage, my son seemed very excited and explored every nook and corner of it. He was happy that there was a swimming pool just outside our room. He loves the water and is always ready for a swim. His frenzied behaviour continued, until food went into his belly.
Post lunch, we got into the bed for a quick nap and my wife asked, “Advay, did you like the cottage?”.
“Yes”, replied my son.
“What did you like about this cottage?”, asked my wife.
“It’s like home”, he replied. His answer surprised us.
“But we live in an apartment and not a cottage like this”, said my wife.
“Yes, but we are going to stay here for the next few days. Isn’t it? So, this is like our home”, he replied.
We got the point. There was silence.
Then my son asked curiously, “But where is Goa?”.
We were puzzled.
“This is Goa. All of this. We are in Goa!”, I assured.
“No this is not Goa. This is home”, he replied, visibly annoyed.
“Where is Goa then?”, I asked, bemused.
“It’s at the beach. Where is the beach?”, he asked, fuming.
I smiled and replied, “Don’t worry, we will go to the beach in the evening”.
And, we did at 5 pm, after a siesta for few hours.
The sun was beginning to set. The wind had become cooler. There was also a light drizzle for just a bit. When he finally saw the sea, my son’s euphoria knew no bounds. He pulled us both and dragged us towards the waves.
When the waves hit our feet, he shouted ecstatically, “This is Goa!”, pointing his tiny finger towards the sea.
At Cavelossim beach, South Goa.
My wife and I had been desperately yearning for a long holiday for some time. Our holidays would never match because we worked across different time zones and in different industries. Hence, we would usually restrict ourselves to doing short trips.
But this time everything fell in place and a 9-day long adventure was on offer.
“It’s family time!”, my son would say, every time he wanted us both next to him. We got plenty of that without any hindrance, and we made the most of it. When I look back now, ironically, it’s the little things that we did which have been the most memorable. Like the early morning conversations over coffee, a dip in the pool at noon, building sandcastles, collecting seashells or just eating together. Simple things, but they were undoubtedly the most joyful moments of the trip.
Conversation over a hot cup of coffee – Tranquility Cottage Resort, North Goa.
Our lives are so mechanical that we are physically present for each other, but mentally never there. Thus, reinforcing the need to go on holidays like these. It helps immensely to declutter the mind and let positive thoughts pervade it. Thereby, reinvigorating us to make new beginnings.
Infinity pool at MayFair Hideaway Spa Resort, South Goa
Out for lunch in South Goa
I am usually the one guilty of chalking out daily itineraries when on holidays. Once done, I can be a bit pushy when it comes to sticking to a plan.
This time, however, my wife repeatedly reminded me, “We have time!”. I smiled in agreement whenever she said that.
The mountains call out to some and the sea calls out to others. My wife and son are fond of the sea while I am fond of the hills. It’s very rare that on a holiday you get a taste of both and more. Well, a road trip to Goa gives you a taste of everything – hills, jungles, waterfalls, rivers and beaches.
On the way to North Goa – Chorla Ghat road.
I am so happy that I got the opportunity to go on such amazing road trips during this vacation which truly rejuvenated me. These were long trips, but never did I feel anxious or stressed because what I got in return for the labour was highly satisfying. Some of the glimpses of nature that I got to see during this journey were simply spell binding.
I’ve always felt that entering the wilderness is like entering a temple. Everything seems to just blank out – my thoughts, doubts, fear and me. When within the arms of nature I am always at peace with myself. It’s as if a dormant corner of my mind has suddenly become active and its radiance has engulfed my body, mind and soul.
Building sandcastles.
There is something about the sea that is so alluring. The waves kiss your feet and leave, only to come back again. Seducing you to stay a bit longer. The sea has the uncanny ability to bring out the child in you as well as the philosopher.
My four-year-old had enjoyed himself thoroughly in all the six beaches we had visited. The joy and ecstasy on his face whenever he saw the sea, was priceless. He would yell in excitement when the waves touched his little feet.
But once he was done playing with the waves, he would pick up his beach set to build a sandcastle. This would happen every time we went to a beach.
“Advay, why do you build sandcastles every time you are on a beach?”, asked my wife curiously.
“Mumma, the beach is a giant sandpit. It’s much bigger than the one at our apartment. I can build millions of sandpits here!”, he replied.
Well, that’s the innocence of a child. I wish, I could borrow some of his simplicity and zest for life.
If I am destined to, I will go on many such wonderful vacations in the future. But this trip to Goa will always remain special for me.
I’d like to end, by thanking all my readers and fellow bloggers, who have supported me immensely, by reading chapter 1 and 2 and sharing their thoughts on it. I had a great time sharing my experiences, through this travelogue. Thank you very much for your support.
Photo credits:
Kavita Joshi Krishnan
Siddhartha Krishnan
Siddhartha Krishnan is the author of Two and a Half Rainbows – A Collection of Short Stories. He is also an enthusiastic blogger and on his website www.whatsonsidsmind.com, he regularly puts out his essays, articles, travelogues and film reviews.
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