Show business

As an aspiring teenager in show business, Tina’s life had been difficult from the start. Her young blood had boiled every time money took precedence over talent. Her self-respecting self had cringed when industry’s leading names called her names and demanded unreason from her. Fifteen years it had taken for her to take her stand, to sparkle with pride, to face an audience and accept the globe she so deserved.

The glory, the globe, sat between her palms as she carried it off the stage, and all the while, the auditorium applauded the best actor of the year—the temporary identity she’d assumed on behalf of her costar. He was filming the next globe winner halfway across the globe.

Never Let Me Go

Sometimes we have the habit of volunteering for sadness. That’s how I watched this movie.

This is not the kind of movie you’d watch on a lazy Saturday afternoon with the best tasting food on one side and some bitter beer on the other. It’s far from a romantic comedy that would help you relax and probably fall into a deep sleep.

It’s not the kind of movie you’d watch in the theatre, or on a chilly Friday night, with friends looking for adventure.

This is one of those good movies that tug at your heartstrings and make you feel bad about yourself.

It makes you hate yourself — it’s one of those movies people say would change the way you see the world.

True that; it does. But it also makes you realize how evil we are as humans.

The story is of three friends who are a part of the National Donor Program. A program that raises children in isolation, monitors everything from their food intake to their life choices, and ensures they are healthy enough — until they are old enough to fulfill their purpose. Their purpose: to donate vital organs to save the lives of people they’d never meet.

Every donor goes through multiple donations until they complete — or die, in simple terms. Some complete after four donations, but most do sooner than that.

‘Never let me go’ is the story of Tommy, Kathy and Ruth – three youngsters who fall in love with themselves and then into life’s greedy hands.

This movie will leave you miserable. The music – the violin solo – will painfully clench your heart and will render you speechless.

It did for me.

The Game, Is On

What is it like to successfully help the government on a top-secret mission for years, and then be sentenced by the very same government?

What is it like to be forced into suicide, and have all your achievements kept secret for over 50 years?

Benedict Cumberbatch will give you a vivid image. In The Imitation Game.

What if machines couldn’t think — ? Well, the world wouldn’t be what it is today, that’s for certain.

Once again, I was stunned into silence by Cumberbatch’s performance on screen. But this time, it wasn’t only him.

Powerful, aren’t they? Words?

Every conversation goes deep into your soul, and makes you question yourself.

Why do people enjoy violence?

What is normal?

Why do people conform to normality, and punish those who aren’t?

What is indecency?

What’s a better marriage?

If you’re looking for answers, then the movie isn’t for you.

There are no answers in the movie. But you will find yourself wondering about everything society has ever taught you about normal. And that, can keep you awake for hours into the night.

I’m at a loss for what to say without quoting the entire script here. I enjoyed this movie like no other, and after a long time too.

Keira Knightley was beautiful. Which is not much a surprise. But what is, is that both Keira and Benedict had a wonderful chemistry on screen. A chemistry with the absence of fleeting passion and rapid breathing.

You don’t often see love depicted as in this movie. It’s both sad and nice, that two people who are so unlikely for each other, are perhaps best suited together.

“We’ll have each other’s minds. That sounds like a better marriage than most.”

For some reason, I could see a lot of resemblance to the Benedict’s characterisation of Alan Turing and Sherlock.

Arrogance. Soft chuckles. Total loss of sociability.

And, The Game.

You need to watch this movie, alone. To understand, to revere, and to appreciate the power of simple words.

And some badass acting.

What I Learnt from Fast & Furious

Sometimes you learn some great lessons when you’re least expecting them. I was watching Furious 6, and this particular dialogue hit me hard. Not only the truth in it, but also the conviction with which the character delivers it.

That’s when I realized; in all my stories so far, I have never been able to create a character so strong and powerful as this one. It’s one of the things that make a character stand out, and be remembered. It’s the self-belief, the conviction, and – to an extent – arrogance that defines a character.

Between a character like this and a character that remains silent in that exact situation, I’d always prefer this one.

That’s a writing lesson I’d never forget; for a character to linger, she must display powerful attitude.

What say you guys? Any other lessons from movies?

Giving Thanks, the Tamil Way

I am a South Indian and my mother tongue is Tamil.

I just said that, because today is a special day for us Tamils. It’s called Pongal.

Pongal is also a famous food item prepared with rice. It could either be sweet – prepared with jaggery, and ghee roasted cashews, or savory – prepared with lots of black pepper.

It’s the day farmers thank the Sun for a good year’s harvest and pray for a better harvest the following year. It’s like Thanksgiving Day for them. It’s only their special day, farmers who work so hard to fill our plates – but as things go on the real world, we all get a public holiday.

Ironically though, while the rest of us relax and rest, farmers spend the day making pongal and offering it to the Sun god. The following day, is a celebration for the cattle that helps in farming. They bathe their cattle, feed them grandly and thank them too. The following day is when they take meat – and in grand fashion too! Generally, it’s a week-long celebration for farmers.

Students celebrate this holiday as much as the farmers; all schools and colleges close for a whole week. And with the weekend just around the corner, most people have gone home to family to celebrate the holidays. They make pongal early in the morning, offer it to the various gods they worship, and spend the whole afternoon watching the back-to-back movies telecasted on TV. A typical holiday at a typical (modern) South Indian home.

Did I mention Pongal is one of the most auspicious days of the Tamil calendar?

Thought you ought to know.