Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Must watch films - 2

Another Italian film in the same genre. It is "La Strada" literally meaning "The Road" or "The Street". One of the notable films made by famous director Federico Fellini.


A rude guy with no emotions.An innocent girl with day dreams. Relation between them. This is the storyline.

Anthony Quinn, one of my favorite actors plays the lead role Zampano (rude guy) and Giulietta Masina (innocent girl) plays the role Gelsomina. I'm not going to tell the story of the movie here. Anthony Quinn had lived his character in this movie. What to say about Giulietta Masina? She delivers different expressions in her face just like that in a minute. Perfect characterization.



Last scene will leave you in tears. That music is awesome. I would love to watch this movie again.

P.S. Trailer

- NSR.

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Must watch films - 1

As most of the Cinema lovers, Me too love watching Italian films, the mother of Neo-realistic movies. The first one I watched in this genre is "Bicycle Thief(ves)" by Vittorio De Sica.

It starts in the period where unemployment is at its peak post world war. The Protagonist Antonio looks for a job and he gets a job with a must have requirement of Bicycle. He gets it by selling the blankets in his house. While on his work pasting posters in the city, another person steals Antonio's bicycle. This makes Antonio's job in stake. Antonio roams around the city with his friends and son to search it. What happens in the end? Its better to watch it in the screen.

Characterization in the film is awesome. Acting of that little boy is superb. Screenplay of the film simply ties the viewer with the movie. I couldn't believe that this movie came in 1948.

P.S. Trailer

- NSR.

Sunday, November 08, 2009

India Vs Australia

This series is going interesting in the way nobody including the Indian team knows how the drama of the game ends. If bowlers do well, batsmen flops and vice versa. But the way we lost 3 matches in this series is horrible. Losing is not at all a problem hoping that the team takes away the lessons from it.

In the 6th ODI played at Guwahati, I think the mistake was in electing batting first. Winning the toss, knowing the damp conditions of the wicket in the early hours, having a team which can play spin bowling well during the chase, why should they chose batting first? Only Dhoni knows..

But the credit goes to bowling and fielding of Australian team. Whoever comes new to the team is capable of performing well in the international level from the beginning. Quality matters!! Also, the captaincy of Ponting really matters here. He has a great cricket mind and encourages the young players.

There are positive things in this series. Like Suresh Raina playing a crucial knock in 5th ODI (Oh man, what a knock from Sachin!! I've to write a separate blog for this), Praveen kumar playing important knocks including this 6th ODI..

P.S. I've never seen such a funny way of getting bowled (Yuvraj's wicket) in the game so far.

Tuesday, October 06, 2009

In the mood for love

When I get a chance, I'll write on this movie. This film has wonderful music throughout. Especially the last scene in Angkor Wat is simply astonishing. For now, the main theme of movie below.



- NSR.

Monday, September 28, 2009

Dark Matter

An excellent presentation which gives a brief overview on Dark matter / Dark energy.

Thanks to Dr.T.V.Venkateswaran for presentation and to Badri for arranging and sharing.

- NSR.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Younis Khan

He is a captain cool for sure. He supports the youngsters and cheers the team. Among the captains of Pakistan team I've seen so far, this guy is different.
An excerpt from his interview with Cricinfo here.

"When I leave, I want to leave behind some bowlers, some batsmen, and a team that can stand for itself, like Steve Waugh did, or Imran Khan did"

I've always wondered how Pakistan is able to produce world class bowlers (fast and spin) all the time.

- NSR.

Saturday, September 19, 2009

தென்கச்சியாருக்கு ஒரு அஞ்சலி

ரேடியோவில் "இன்று ஒரு தகவல்" மூலமாக பரவலான ரசிகர் கூட்டத்தைப் பெற்ற தென்கச்சி கோ.சுவாமிநாதன் அவர்களுக்கு எனது அஞ்சலி.அவரது குடும்பத்தார் இந்த பிரிவிலிருந்து விடுபட இறைவனை பிரார்த்தித்துக் கொள்கிறேன்.



இவரது எளிமையான கருத்தாழமிக்க பேச்சு, எழுத்து என்னைக் கவர்ந்த ஒன்று.பகிர்ந்தமைக்கு நன்றி.

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Cinema Paradiso

Will write a blog on this movie later. This music cast a spell on me. Listen below.



-NSR.

Charlie Chaplin

Nothing special to say about this Genius.In his time, he was well ahead of that. Here is a small boxing clip from his movie "City Lights". This movie (as well some of his others) is my all time favorite.

About this boxing event: Charlie wants to get some money for his lover to pay the house rent. He was forced to enter this boxing event where he is about to fight with a guy. They makes an agreement of 50-50 sharing irrespective of whoever wins. But that guy leaves the place as the cops are behind him. Finally, the organizers arranges another person who is a good boxer. Charlie wants to make agreement but that person says "Winner takes it all". What happens in the fight? See it below.



Must see movies of Charlie Chaplin:
- City Lights
- The Great Dictator
- The Kid
- Pay Day


- NSR.

Friday, August 07, 2009

Nagulan !



Nagulan-Kavithaigal

மேலே விடுபட்ட, எனக்கு பிடித்த சில கீழே..

என்னைப் பார்க்க வந்தவர்
தன்னைப் பார்
எனச் சொல்லிச் சென்றார்!

=============================

ஆர்ப்பரிக்கும் கடல்
அதன் அடித்தளம்
மெளனம்; மகா மெளனம்!
=============================

வெளியீடு : காவ்யா பதிப்பகம், சென்னை.

- NSR.

Sunday, August 02, 2009

Atomic weekend

Atom (A-Z)
The Clash of the Titans - part 1
The Key to the Cosmos - part 2
The Illusion of Reality - part 3

This is one of the best informative and interesting documentary I've seen. You will surely like it.

I think our high school teachers should see this before taking classes on Atomic physics, Elements, Astronomy etc.

P.S. Thanks to BBC for producing this documentary and Badri for sharing this information.

- NSR.

Sunday, July 26, 2009

La Jolla Beach

Just trying out the slideshow from Picasa here. Some photos taken during visit to UCSD and La Jolla (pronounced "Oya", a spanish word) Beach.



- NSR.

Friday, July 24, 2009

Twins

Thala got French open and Wimbledon this year..Vaazhthukkal!!
http://www.rogerfederer.com/en/rogers/news/newsdetail.cfm?uNewsID=939

- NSR.

Monday, July 20, 2009

Vantage Point

I've seen "Amores Perros" sometime back which starts with a car accident where three persons are present in that incident. Then the story expands from there with how the three persons joined there telling the past events. You would have seen the same style in Manirathnam's "Aaydha Ezhuthu". But this movie has 8 connecting points.

"Vantage Point" starts off with a political meeting taking place at Spain. US president is getting assassinated and bombings followed by that. Press (GNN in this movie) is covering it live in its professional(?) way. Wait, this is the first view. After this, there are some more views (7) remaining describing the incidents from different starting points. All this are shown starting from 11:59am till that bombing.



What has happened in the background and what is the climax? Please see it in the screen. Otherwise, you cannot enjoy it.

This movie has an excellent car chase scene like those in "Ronin" and "Transporter". An excellent action thriller!!

- NSR.

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Being still, without thought

A Conversation with JK..It is difficult but important one.



You can watch JK's discussion with Allan Anderson (18 titles) here.

- NSR.

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Ashes..

A wonderful test encounter between two old rivals. First match itself began with such thrill and huge batting display.

Till the last moment, Aussies had a chance and English crowd is cheering up the players for every ball.. They surely miss the killing combination of Warne and McGrath who would have packed up easily. Jimmy and Monty had a good last wicket partnership to save the match.


It's always a wonderful experience watching tests played abroad, especially in Australia and England.We cannot have such experience when a test match is being played in Asian subcontinent. They won't give the bowlers an edge and the match will not head for a result. But that's the fun, right?.

Testing player's abilities not only in batting, bowling but standing in the field with a concentrated mind. If you lose the focus even for a single moment, you will lose the wicket. Every session will change the course of the match.

Apart from the brilliant centuries from Aussies in the first innings, Paul Collingwood stood out in the second innings with his brilliant 74. He is such a gutsy player like Steve waugh.

I'm surely relieved of seeing T20 matches in IPL and World cup. They cannot give the enjoyment of watching Test match. It's a different cup of tea, indeed!!

- NSR.

Thursday, July 09, 2009

MJ



Watch his last rehearsal (2 days before his death) here.

- NSR.

Monday, July 06, 2009

வாசிப்பு - 2

எஸ்.ராமகிருஷ்ணன், தற்கால எழுத்தாளர்களில் முக்கியமானவர். ஆனந்த விகடன் மூலமாக தான் இவரது எழுத்து எனக்கு பரிச்சயமானது. அதில் வந்த கதாவிலாசம் பல எழுத்தாளர்களையும் அவர்களது முக்கிய படைப்புக்களையும் அறிமுகப்படுத்தியது. தேசாந்திரி பயண அனுபவங்களை தந்தது. அதை தொடர்ந்து அவரது கட்டுரைகளையும், சிறுகதைகளையும் அவரின் இணையத்தளத்தின் மூலமாக படித்து வருகிறேன். எழுத்தாளர்கள், பயணங்கள் மட்டுமல்லாது அயல் சினிமா பற்றியும் இவரின் கட்டுரைகள் ஒரு நல்ல அறிமுகத்தை தந்தது. என்னை போல பல வாசகர்களுக்கும் இவரின் எளிய நடை வாசிப்பிற்கு உறுதுணையாக உள்ளது.

வாழ்வின் எளிய,முக்கிய தருணங்களை படம் பிடித்து காட்டும் இவரின் எழுத்து ஹைக்கூவை போல ஒரு பரவசத்தினை தருகிறது. என் மனதிற்கு நெருக்கமான் எழுத்து இவருடையது.

எஸ்ரா தற்போது எழுதி வரும் "சிறிது வெளிச்சம்" தொடரையும் படித்து வருகிறேன். ஒரு ஆழ்ந்த வாசிப்பானுபவம் பெற இவரின் எழுத்துகளை இங்கே படித்து பாருங்கள். இவரின் புத்தகங்களை வாங்க உயிர்மை தளத்தை அணுகவும்.

Sunday, July 05, 2009

Record break

What a match !!

Roddick deserved everything to win this match. Unlike the previous encounters, he had played exceptionally well. His movement and backhand shots are exceptional improvements. No need to mention his serve and forehand.



In many circumstances, it seemed that Roddick is going to win. But the resistance Roger gave in the second set to save four set points made the change. Asked them to play five sets, these guys played two sets extra. Serving at will is the plus point for Federer in important points and he did the same here. Thanks for finishing the match at 16-14 :) If it is anyone other than Roger, Roddick would have won the match in direct sets.



Congrats Roger on winning this record 15th title.
A Tribute from ATP here.

Images courtesy: www.wimbledon.org

Tuesday, June 02, 2009

Update

I happened to see these movies being produced on two great mystics. I am waiting to watch them. First one is on OSHO and the second one is on JALALUDDIN RUMI. You can have a look at these sites.

www.oshothemovie.com
www.therumifilm.com

You can read most of the discourses of Osho here.
You can read some of the Rumi's poetry in the rumi film site. See one of them below.

I roamed the lands of Christendom from end to end
Searching all over, but He was not on the Cross.
I went into the temples where the Indians worship idols
And the Magians chant prayers to fire… I found
No trace of Him.
Riding at full speed, I looked all over the Kaaba,
But He was not at that sanctuary for young and old.
Then I gazed right into my own heart:
There, I saw Him… He was there and nowhere else.


I'm getting addicted to Delhi-6 songs especially "Tere Arziyan" and "Masakali". I just loved Rahman's score in "Khwaja mere Khwaja" from Jodha Akbar (both song and instrumental version).This creates an interest to listen more on Sufi music and Qawali. Its not a comparison though this is his best than Slumdog millionaire.

** There is a screening of world movies at chennai. This is organized by the bloggers at chennai and entry is free for bloggers*.. The first movie to be screened this sunday is my favourite "Spring Summer Fall Winter and Spring" by Kim Ki Duk.

Friday, March 27, 2009

World Movies

I saw these 3 movies sometime back. All are having a good screenplay and silence is the main dialogue in many places. These movies depicts the human feelings superbly and the directors used this as a medium to portray the message they wanted to.

CHILDREN OF HEAVEN

The story line is simple. Ali lost his sister's shoes in a market. He could not find them after searching. Since they are poor, they don't want to tell their father about this and starts sharing the brother's shoes (School timings are different for boys and girls). When they come to know the shoe is with another girl, they don't want to ask her after seeing her family's condition. Ali helps his father in doing some gardening work for earning money. At that time he tells his father that new shoes has to be bought for his sister. His father confirms that.Ali participates in a race where the third prize is a pair of shoe. Does he wins the race and the girl gets a new shoe? Beautiful screenplay, acting by the kids.
Watch it..



SPRING, SUMMER, FALL, WINTER AND SPRING

The first Korean movie I saw. This is directed by notable director Kim Ki Duk. Again this story line is simple explaining the life cycle. This film somehow reminds me the Siddhartha by Herman Hesse. Excellent (I mean it) cinematography and music. Especially the film is shooted in the same lake all the seasons. The Silence interludes the movie superbly and it gives a wonderful experience.

THE WAY HOME

Another Korean movie. But the language doesn't matter to watch this kind of movies. You can realize this when you finish watching. It has very few dialogues and less conversation. It is a story (near real life experience in modern world) between a boy and his grandmother. This boy is from city (urban background) and his grandmother lives in a remote hilly area. Initially he doesn't like that place and his grandmother, who is dumb. Finally how he gets changed (Metamorphosis) is the story. He couldn't bear the separation from his grandmother at the end. I simply loved the wonderful location in this film. There are few incidents in this film which portrays the humanistic nature and unconditional love. How simple and straight forward their life is.

A Must Watch..

A must watch for movie lovers.. Thanks to Chezian, S.Ramakrishnan for introducing this movies in their articles.

- NSR.

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Malgudi days

One of my favorite books..I also loved watching this as a serial episode those days in Doordarshan and later in Sony. Illustrations of R.K.Laxman are simply superb and the background music of L.Vaidyanathan is pleasant.

Watching these episodes now is a favorite pastime for me :) This is lot a better than those crap TV shows which are shown these days monotonously in all TV channels.

View it online or buy the DVD and recapture those memories!!

- NSR.

Thursday, February 26, 2009

A.R.Rahman & Oscar

Congratulations to Rahman for winning Oscar.


I personally felt that Rahman had composed better music than this earlier. They were not recognized in the world arena.

I have come across couple of good writings on ARR's life and shared below.

Shaji(Tamil)
Shaji(English)
Pa.Raghavan

- NSR.

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Naan Kadavul

Though this film has a controversial story line, the narration of the film is excellent. Bala went to a different level in direction. There is no character or shot irrelevant to the film. Ilayaraaja's music is outstanding and the sound of udukkai is still in the ears. Arthur wilson's camera work is excellent and we are running along with it during fight scenes. Jeyamohan's dialogue supports the film well.In Bala's films, the notable one is the natural fight scenes. I dont know how they shooted the scenes among the crowd. Everything seems realistic. They are not hyped but seems to be happening in a real life.
Thaandavan's character is outstanding. By seeing him, you could get to know his character. Arya and Pooja did a great work and I think this is the film of their life. They cannot get more than this. Somebody asked "Can you imagine Ajith in Rudran's character?". I doubt it.


Bala's Rudra Thaandavam..Marvellous effort by the team.Hats off..

Watch it!!

- NSR.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Nagesh


A Tribute to a Veteran actor whose timing cannot be matched by any.

http://pitchaipathiram.blogspot.com/2009/01/blog-post_31.html
http://idlyvadai.blogspot.com/2009/02/blog-post_08.html

- NSR.

வாசிப்பு - 1

சமீபகாலமாக எனது பெரும்பான்மையான வாசிப்பு வலைத்தளங்கள் மூலமாகவே உள்ளது. பலர் சிறப்பாக எழுதி வருகின்றனர். அவ்வாறு வாசிக்கும் எழுத்துக்களை இங்கு பகிர்ந்து கொள்ளலாம் என்று நினைக்கிறேன். இவற்றில் எந்தவிதமான மதிப்பீடலும் இல்லை.

முதலில் பத்ரி. இவர் கிழக்கு பதிப்பகத்தின் நிறுவனர். பன்முகம் கொண்டவர். அரசியல், அறிவியல் , கணிதம் என்று பல தளங்களில் எழுதுபவர். இவர்அறிவியல் கட்டுரைகளை சிறப்பாக தமிழில் எழுதுகிறார்.
இவரும் மற்றும் சில நண்பர்களும் தற்போது அறிவியல் என்று ஒரு தளத்தில் எழுதுகின்றனர்.

இப்போதைக்கு இவ்வளவே..

பி.கு. தமிழில் டைப் செய்வது இவ்வள்வு சிரமமாக இருக்கும் என்று நினைக்கவில்லை. பழகிவிடும் என்று நினைக்கிறேன்.