Oru Cheru Punchiri

“Relish love in your old age! Aged love is like aged wine; it becomes more satisfying, more refreshing, more valuable, more appreciated and more intoxicating!"  ~ Leo Buscaglia

Every once in a while,you come across those hidden gems of rare beauty.The beauty ,of which lies,not in its intricate design,but in the underlying simplicity of the whole thing.This is one of those rare films,which portrays the beauty,enjoyed in simple everyday things.For that matter,it ceases to exist as a film and turns more into a celebration of life.When I first watched "Oru cheru Ponchiri",I was taken unaware,because I did not expect any film to portray the depth of actual relationships as this film does.By the end,I was in tears and the hardest thing was,I did not know if I cried tears of joy or sorrow.
It portrays the life of a couple Krishna Kuruppu and his wife Ammalukutty,well into their old age and who are enjoying a peaceful life after finishing off all their responsibilities and seeing their children well settled.They keep themselves engaged and touch the lives of those who come in contact with them.There is the little boy Kannan,who is the helper at their house and whose education Krishna Kuruppu sponsors.There is the neighbor who is a window,with her daughter.Krishna Kuruppu helps her find a job and later on helps in fixing the marriage of her daughter to a boy who he helped find a job,in real estate company where he was employed.The film is filled with moments of fun and those shared glances and unsaid emotions which can only exist between a couple who have been together for so long and know everything,there is to know about one another.Then there are the family scenes,where the couple is clear that they are comfortable living on their own,in their house rather than selling their property and moving to the city with their children.
Just when you have gotten used to the very real life-like moments portrayed in the film,there is an unexpected turn.One fine day,after the couple have helped in the marriage of the neighbor,they played a part in arranging,Krishna Kuruppu lies down saying that he had a good meal.There is a conversation about the time,when they were newly married.The next scene is of him having passed away in his sleep.
How his wife accepts it and is clear on her decision to live in their house,on her own,with the memories of her husband Krishna Kuruppu,brings tears to your eyes.Also,there is a dialogue,which touched me.I will try to translate it for you.
Ammalukutty is seen simply stating "It is lucky that he passed away before me.Many would consider it lucky,if the wife passed away before the husband...But,had I gone before him,who would have taken care of him,as I have.He had his preferences in everything...He would have suffered."This is not the exact translation,but it is the gist of what  she says.
I recall having watched this film 2-3 times,and I can say that,each time,I was crying at the end.

If you are into what they call masala films,I do not know if this is one of those.The story itself is contemporary,in its being down to earth and simple.
It is a must see,if you enjoy good Malayalam movies.If are looking to see a film,because you just love cinema,it is a one of those "stays in your mind for a while" kind.Also,you will get the chance to grasp the culture of Kerala,so enticingly portrayed here.

Film name:Oru Cheru Punchiri Aka "A Slender Smile"
Language:Malayalam
Written and Directed by:M.T.Vasudevan Nair
Cast:Oduvil Unnikrishnan,Nirmala Sreenivasan,Vijayan Peringode,Sreedevi Unni,Lena,Manka Mahesh,Aliyar,Jayakrishnan

The Third day - Padmarajan Classics

Most of us, I suppose, are a little nervous of the sea.  No matter what its smiles may be, we doubt its friendship.  ~H.M. Tomlinson

There are instances,when even cinema leaves us feeling a nostgalia,which lasts more than a day.If it is truly a moving story,it makes you reflect deeply on what might have been.It is only a skillful director,who manages to evoke such primitive emotions in his audience through his fantastic story telling.There are quite a few  such films,which are known to me.I will try to capture the magic of one such film called "Moonram Pakkam".Directed by Padmarajan,this is a beautiful Malayalam film,which evokes such deep connection with the psych of the viewer,that somewhere around the middle of the film,you cease to see it as a film and actually relate to it as if it is hapening to someone dear to you.

Thambi is an 80 year old man,living alone in a beach town.he receives news that his grandson is coing to visit him.He has not seen him in 5 years,since his son's death.His grandson Bhaskar visits with three of his friends and they all have a wonderful time in his grandfather's house.One day,they go to swim in the beach.The waves wash away Bhaskar and this is when the true story unfolds.
There is sadness.But rather than lengthy dialogues or tearful scenes,the scenes consist of haunting music portraying the sea.There goes a saying that if the sea has taken a person,it will leave the body on the shores within three days.As Bhaskar's body is not immediately found,everyone clings to the hope that maybe he is still alive.The friends feel guilty that they are alive and the grandfather has hope that somehow his grandson is still out there somewhere.They all wait  those three days to hear the sea's decision.strange as it may sound,the sea plays the pivotal role in this flm.

Its one of those films,which makes your hair stand up,even while narrating it to someone or putting it in paper.After seeing it,you are left with restless emotions mingled with sadness and acceptance that "this was fate".Director padmarajan manages to bring the best in all the actors.Thilakan excels in his performance as the grandfather and Jayaram suits the role of the grandson to a "T".

Anyone,who sees good cinema,this is a jewel for you to treasure.

Film name:Moonram Pakkam aka "The Third Day"
Language:Malayalam
Directed by:Padmarajan
Cast:Jayaram,Jagathi Sreekumar ,Thilakan ,Rahman ,Ashokan

Watching "Anego"

I will write to say all that's on my mind on this one.Or so I thought while starting.I love watching the japanese - korean - taiwanese dramas,especially because they are short and sweet...and this one is no exception.While searching for something,this name came up and I sat through the whole of this japanese drama with english subs,in the hopes of watching something different.To say that I was satiated,will be an understatement.

"Anego" means "older sister".Rather than being just a story with the title "Anego",this is a delicious slice of life  drama with just the right amount of everything.I wanted to write my evolving thoughts while taking a break between each of the episodes,because this story was truly engaging in the matter of fact way,in which the characters are portrayed here.
There were no frills or unnecessary nonsense.Rather,the amazing Shinohara Ryoka,who plays the character of "Anego" makes us fall in love with the dreams and hopes of the  32 year old woman,who seems in search of the idea of happiness.The younger man played by Akenashi Jin does not seem to have the scope for a complex or major chunk portrayal in the drama,as that of Kato Masaya playing Sawaki Shoichi,with whom "anego" has an affair with.To leave out the superb acting of Tomosaka Rie as Sawaki Erico would do serious injustice to the serial.
All I would say is that this sweet,sentimental drama had me hanging on right till the end and kept me guessing what was going to happen next.

Seducing the Audience

I had long ago started my foray into the Korean-Japanese_Taiwanese drama with a whole long list of tear-jerkers.I will get to that part later.What I really want to rave about is this one of a kind comedy....the Korean comedy film"Seducing Mr Perfect" starring Uhm Jung-hwa and the super hot Daniel Henney. If you see this film,you will definitely get addicted to "the whats going to happen next element",though the whole plot is the something,which every romance fan would have read a million times in a million different books.


There is a certain secret to making a romance a success....some ideals,some misunderstandings,some craziness and somehow making the jigsaw fit to have "the happily ever after ending".And what's different about this film is that it is uniquely an "English-Korean" film with the lady speaking korean and the boss lord speaking English,though he does understand Korean.
You must see this to appreciate it.And I do not for one moment say that it has an excellent plot or a heart warming ending.This is the craziest whacky one I have ever seen in cinema.But truthfully,its one of the many which held my attention from the beginning to the end.Now the plot as I understand it.....Min-joon(heroine) has just broken up with her boyfriend or rather the other way around.Her day at the office,being introduced to the new boss man Robin Heiden,whom she has already met on the way to her office by accident(it really is an accident on the road ,btw),leaves her with her full antenna of defences sticking up her ears.Robin has clear cut ideas on everything...from work to relationships and though you do not see a whole range of emotions on his face.....Who seriously needs them,when you have a body to die for ....ah....
While Min-Joon  asks him for advice on relationships,Robin unwittingly falls under her spell,though he acknowledges it very much near the end of the film.One of the scenes which had me howling with laughter is the fight scene between Min-Joon and her brother,which Robin interrupts and promptly misunderstands as something else.....

This is one film you do want to see if its a cheesy ending you are after...And what better way than to go for a Korean film that's intent on seducing the audience like this one.

Strangers in the night

“And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music.”    
                                                                                                                -Friedrich Nietzsche





Strangers in the night....This darling song,for there is no other way to describe it,was one of the best,which Frank sung.His music...there is no better way to describe it other than as honey pouring all over your senses,sinfully sweet and drowning.The words are special as  it  could happen to you as well.Actually it is a dream waiting to happen to all of us.The  sensual scene of strangers meeting up at night,to find true love and how it all ended so right....

Beutiful words ...these....

"Something in your eyes was so inviting,
Something in your smile was so exciting,
Something in my heart told me I must have you"
Its definitely one of those songs you want to dedicate to your girlfriend or lover,especially if you met up at a party..Listen to this song and you will understand where I am going.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbnNr4FzPXg

Akira's High and Low

One of the best films I ever saw.What has made this one stand in my memory even after 2-3 years of watching it?    I will come to that in a while.As for how we saw it...we actually took this movie to watch with a couple of friends after dinner.And needless to say,the pace of the movie was so riveting that at one point,all of us were reluctant to take a well needed break even to go to the loo.I have fond memories of this film.I have never seen such a movie as this and nor do I hope to find such a complex portrayal of human emotions intermingled with the thin lines of conscience....of right or wrong...

Whatever I write here,it can never do justice to the artful mastery with which the director Akira Kurosawa proceeds to narrate the story.Still I would attempt to record my memories for my later recollection.The story is pretty simple.
Well...would'nt you say that all great masterpieces are the artful telling of simple tales? So here goes....This is the story of a wealthy industrialist,Gondo. Gondo is contacted by a group of kidnappers,who inform him that his son has been kidnapped.They demand that he pay a ransom...an amount so high that it will leave him bankrupt.Gondo prepares to pay the ransom,when he finds out that his son is safely home and it is his driver's son who was kidnapped by mistake.So what does he do...Should he still pay the ransom to save a life or just ignore the kidnappers as it is no longer his son's life on the line.Further,he faces a financial crunch,due to which his decision will have a huge impact on his business and life.
How he struggles with his conscience,each time after talking to the kidnapper,the decision that he makes,the reactions of everyone around him...all these are so beautifully portrayed.The actor Toshiro Mifune,who plays this character is at his best and conveys all the struggles of the complex character,most astutely.
The reason for this name" HIGH AND LOW" though is because,of the vast difference being portrayed between the have's beng Gondo and his family and the have-nots being that of the driver and his family.
I will not spill the beans and give any spoilers here.In fact the full story is there in Wikipedia to check out.So if you ever get your hands on this one...it is a must see....

Further film details:It is a 1962 film by the japanese name "Tengoku to jigoku",directed by Akira kurosawa,written by Ryuzo Kikushima, Hideo Oguni, Akira Kurosawa.

How Schindler gave hope ...

I fell in love with this film,the first time I had a chance to see it.I am not much into war films.But my husband is a great fan of war films and films based on Germany portraying Adolf Hitler's regime.With him,I have turned into a steady fan of these films.And what better film to start the foray into this topic than the most renowned film "Schindler's List".
The story is simple.Oskar Schindler,a German businessman,acquires a factory in the hope of making his fortune as a war profiteer.He recruits Jews from the "Kraków Ghetto",which comprises of Jews relocated from Poland.They are not paid anything,of course.But in course of time,Schindler develops a conscience,causing him to procure as many Jews as possible with the sole aim of saving them from execution at the various concentration camps,mainly the Auschwitz concentration camp.He uses his money to bribe officials at various levels to falsify documents allowing him to retain a number of Jews.The way he succeeds in convincing various officials of the use of each and every Jewish member he retains,is indeed laudable.
For me,What made this one of "the must see films of holocaust" was the stark portrayal of the conditions of the then "Ghetto" along with the sensitivity that Oskar experienced after witnessing the execution of the many jews who were not in his list.There comes a time,when he willingly gives his fortune to save a few more lives from the sea of depleting Jews,being shipped to the Auschwitz.The scenes portraying how the workers of his factory in turn,gift him a ring and their future generations remember him with gratitude for their lives,brings tears to my eyes.
What is most touching is the hope it brings,during the darkest hours,the world ever witnessed.