R-O-B-O-D-A

I have never been that much of a Rajini fan as I have been of Mani Ratnam's but those two were my favourite tamil movie genre. I have grown out of both of them now, and to a large extent started even critiquing them. Mani Ratnam's movies probably dont feature in my top ten list of favourite movies anymore but still the excitement and mood both of them set off are a world apart. There is something in common. From the initial posters to the audio release and figuring out the story line we almost live with it until we watch it. Everyone is excited about it. It gives a feeling of oneness amongst tamils from California to Japan.

We watched a preview show at Cary town, which is relatively a "small tamil settlement". So every single tamil was present. From the gopuram restaurant owner to the random amway mama we keep bumping into was there. So the crowd was alive. Much needed for a rajini movie. The movie did not disappoint me. Like all other Rajini movies logic has to be kept aside. And to a certain extent the over analyzing husbands needed to be kept aside too. But if you let go, then the movie is a lot of fun.

The movie has brought out certain points very well. Simplistically well. Like how technology can be good and bad. How human beings are always dumped with emotions. That was the big message. I think Rajini has a knack of getting it through without muddling it up with God, details or Tsunami complications. Thats when it reaches.

Like all tamil movies, a one hour editing would have made it brilliant. It had the potential to become better than a Spielberg made sci-fi. A little under used resources and catered to suit commercial big hit.

I also missed watching it in Madras. The high pitched "Thalaivaaaaaaa" screaming and not being able to hear the first half of the movie is an experience in itself. Here everyone screamed and whistled for a while. Then they shut up. The crowd considered themselves too civilized to get up in a theatre and dance for Kilimanjaro or applaud when "Ivan per sonnathum perumai sonnathum kadalum kai thatum". Which I along with a couple of others did.

Now, rajini. Rajini was out of the world. He looked great and acted great. Who can believe that man? No words. The villain rajini brought out in between was brilliant. He is a great actor probably a little under used. The effects were again awesome. But probably over used. I did not think Aishwarya Rai or rajini's house needed to look like that. Most research labs dont look like that. But again when needed they did a great job.Some of the songs were filmed really well. Kilimanjaro, I heard was filmed in Peru. Its beautiful. Without A.R.Rahman's soundtrack Rajini's style or shankar's effects would not have been half as good. Aishwarya did her part of being a nothing more than a doll and a little annoying as usual. She is starting to show her age and hence made an excellent pair for rajini.

The movie had a simple story line for a complicated sci-fi subject, a little exaggerated effects and brilliant acting. It needed a little more editing (less masala?). But probably caters to every single tamilian to watch atleast one. But to me the whole movie was definitely worth watching - atleast twice. Both times for Rajini.

Verdict: Super hit

PS: There cant be any spoilers for the movie, except for some brilliant dialogues. So I will not go into them.

Routines

Monday: Bland rasam rice

Tuesday: Somewhat palatable dhal

Wednesday: Take out food. (We believe in not eating refrigerated left overs - so we eat out!)

When I put the salty sour rasam, I cursed myself for not waking up a five minute early to bring a snack or a small treat along. I could think of a hundred things sleeping in the fridge that got in as part of our "intelligent grocery shopping" but failed to enter the bag. And by day 3 of a 5 day week we had given up cooking and cleaning.

From kindergarten through my MSc excepting a brief hostel period, there was not a single day that I had not taken - A lunch, a healthy snack, a salad and a container with yogurt in it. All most all of them. Every single day. I have no clue what the other three in the family took. I was the picky one. I wouldn't eat my food with a scrunchy vegetable on the side. Not a single day went when we did not have food at home.

After consistently picking amma's brains, she gave away the secret - Routine. Get used to it and fall in love with it. Apart from our "Evening tea" and our friday "evening out" aka our date, we dont have any routines. Slowly the salad on the dinner table has creeping in (sincere efforts to make it stay). I hope we get better than that. Hoping some of the healthy habits I had as a kid like yoga, reading and waking up early show up again. I don want to become a fat, stressed out and irritated aunty too soon.

PS: Amma is God.

Herman Hesse

Siddhartha] had begun to feel that the love of his father and mother, and also the love of his friend Govinda, would not always make him happy, give him peace, satisfy and suffice him. He had begun to suspect that his worthy father and his other teachers, the wise Brahmins, had already passed on to him the bulk and best of their wisdom [but] his soul was not at peace.

Chapter1, Page3

After a long time, I felt the need to read. To read nonstop. It was a small book, "Siddhartha" by Herman Hesse. I was recommended this book way back in 2005 or 2006. It took a good 5 years to get to it. The book is about the spiritual experience of Siddhartha I think the book is an experience. To start with, the writing is beautiful. It flows, and leaves you with a solace after every page, every line almost. Some of the verses are for keeps. Like,

"Slowly, like moisture entering the dying tree trunk...so did the world and inertia creep into Siddhartha's soul; it slowly filled his soul, made it heavy, made it tired, sent it to sleep. But on the other hand his senses became more awakened, they learned a great deal, experienced a great deal"

There is a lot to this book. Surpasses human emotions or those that I was aware of till now.It helps unwind from a lot that we have accumulated in the name of "growth" and "education". It brings back a wee-bit of the child like enthusiasm that is somewhere down there. And the element of friendship between Govinda and Siddhartha was brought out beautifully I thought. Before I go totally off, I shall sign out and dwell in the after thoughts of the book.

PS: This blog is dedicated to one of my dearest friends.