Updated: April 29, 2020.
Watched ‘Lunch Box’ this evening in memory of the fine actor Irrfan Khan. I remember him from ‘Life of Pi’ and ‘Talvar’ and of course ‘The slumdog millaionaire.’ His role in Talvar that I watched once in flight made me change my opinion on the notorious (real life) Delhi murder case. Even today’s picture was such a gem. Irrfan’s character so original like the script. Well crafted. No other actor could have fit in. Just too perfect. That’s what I was thinking.
Mother Goddess cherrypicks the best always from Her Garden.
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India is on total lockdown since mid March except for essential services.
How do most of us spend our time.
Watching pix in tv, Netflix and Prime of course. Besides cooking, cleaning, mopping, washing, drying that is.
I am on a picture-watching spree as well. I recommend the following Mallu pix (based in Kerala) plus some Tamil films.
MUST WATCH. You will learn the difference between third rate Bollywood and true and original/authentic Indian cinema which is regional, that way. I just can’t stand Hindi pictures, sorry. To me, Hindi filmdom died with Sanjeev Kumar, Rajesh Kanna, Vinod Mehra and Shashi Kapoor. I miss the charm of Hindi films of the ’70s when Dharmendra and Amitabh Bachchan were the heartthrobs of ladies. Now I feel like throwing up looking at Kareena Kapoor and co. Can’t get more gross.
All the same, the south Indian films have been getting better and better. Tamil cinema of the 70s was matchless and far ahead of times. Groundbreaking pictures were made. Heavy subjects. Please catch ‘Apoorva Ragangal’ starring a very young Kamal Hasan and Rajni Kanth and Sri Vidya in black & white, in K Balachander’s direction, in Amazon Prime. Comes with subtitles. But knowing Tamil sure helps. Because certains idioms and puns have to be heard in local language.
Growing up on south Indian films, I can hardly stand the hollow pictures churned out by Bollywood. With superficial heroes. Heroes shaving their chests ugh omg!!! Rajni Kanth and Chiranjeevi may be overrated superstars down south, but they are a mere 10% of south Indian film scene. The rest, you have to discover. The magic called Indian cinema can work wonders for you,
I will post the flicks that I have watched since lockdown. Highly and heavily recommended:
- Trance (Mallu)
- Charlie (Mallu)
- Driving Licence (Mallu) (good)
- Anveshanam (Mallu)
- Uyarae (Mallu)
- Lunch Box (Hindi)
- Silsila (Hindi)
- Ghar (Hindi)
- Kumbalangi Nights (Mallu) (sweet)
- Ayyappanum Koshiyum (Mallu) (the best best best, go for it)
- Amar Prem (Hindi)
- Vikruthi (Mallu) (good)
- Thappad (Hindi)
- Lift Boy (Hindi) (good)
- Kabhi Kabhi (Hindi)
- Anand (Hindi)
- Captain Philips (Hollywood)
- Avatar (watched a 1000 times)
- Choti si baath (Hindi)(sweet)
- Kaadhalum Kadandhu Pogum (Thamizh)
- Nadigaiyar Thilagam (biopic Tamil)
- Khatta Meetha (Hindi) (sweet)
- Padman (Hindi) (unmissable)
- One Child Nation (documentary)
- Helen (Mallu)
- Unda (Mallu) (one of the best)
- Badla (Hindi)
- Sui Dhaaga (Hindi) (one of the best)
- Life in a metro (Hindi)
- Wild wild country (documentary) (Netflix)
- To Let (Tamil)
- Varane Avashyamund (Mallu)
- Chandana – the daughter of the Elephant whisperer (Sinhalese) (documentary)(for elephant/wildlife lovers) (Prime)
- Mahout: the Great Elephant Walk (Documentary) (Prime)
- Mom (Hindi)
- Palm trees in the snow
- Visaranai (Tamil) (violence content)
- Sillu Karuppatti (Tamil) (sweet, unmissable)
- Rajnigandha (sweet)
- Shakuntala Devi (Hindi) (by far the best, best, best)
- Sufiyum Sujathayum (Mallu)
- Aakaashantinte Niram (Mallu) (slow pace)
- Good news (Hindi)
- Parineeta (Hindi)
- Stories by Rabindranath Tagore (Netflix)
- A suitable boy (Netflix)
- Soorarai Potru (Tamil) (inspired by true story)
- Koob surat (Hindi)
- Masaba Masaba (Netflix)
In my watchlist:
- Bangalore days (Mallu)
- Super Deluxe (Tamil)
- Joseph (Mallu)
- Lucifer (Mallu)
- Thanmathra (Mallu)
- Hindi Medium (Hindi)
- Anjaam Pathira (Mallu)
- Maheshinde Prathikaram (Mallu)
- Thannir mathan dinangal (Mallu)
- Thondi muthalum drikshashiyum (Mallu)
- Pranjiyettan and the saint (Mallu)
- Nandhanam (Mallu)
Other Tamil flicks I recommend: (no Art/Award film):
- Papanasam (2016)
- Sindhu Bhairavi (1985)
- Anbe Sivam (2000s)
- Saivam (recent past)
- Vinnai Thaandi Varuvaayaa (2000s)
- 96 (2018)
- Kaadhal (2000s)
- Asuran (caution: violence content) (latest)
- Kalyana Agadhigal (1980s)
- Poove Poochoodavaa (1980s)
- Autograph (2000s)
- Pirivom Sandhippom (2000s)
- Aval oru thodarkadhai (1970s) (b&w)
- Avargal (1970s) (b&w)
- Apoorva Ragangal (1970s) (b&w) (print not good)
- Aval Appadi Thaan (1070s) (b&w)
- Oru Nadigai Nadagam Paarkiraal (1970s) (b&w)
- Sila Nerangalil Sila Manidhargal (1970s) (b&w)Thanneer Thanneer (1980s)
- Raja Parvai (1980-81)
- Thunai (1980s)
- Keladi Kanmani (1990s)
- Kumki
- Thillana Mohanaambal (never tire of this classic) (1950s) (eastman colour)
After watching these, let me know why we need Hollywood at all. None of these come under Art film category. Rather, box office hits. Indian regional films can be real good. Sensitive and sensible portrayal of characters. Screenplay and direction a cut above the rest. Great editing with class cinematography. For the art of story telling, you only have to watch ‘Charlie.’ We don’t make sci-fis here sorry. We live in the present, logical world. Not imaginary, illusory. South movies not to be judged with Bollywood eyes. Let me say this, most of the nice and agreeable Hindi pictures have been remakes from south. But I do love mega movies of Bollywood like Padmaavat, not denying. For relaxation at home without headache, for making you pause and think and self-reflect, to be at peace with yourself, to feel good about yourself – you need the south Indian pictures. Bollywood to me mostly is junk. There have been some nice, thoughtful ones like those of Vidya Balan for instance, but a vast majority is utter crap. I am used to watching tanned mustached unruly Tamil heroes with dusky oily haired heroines because, that is how my folks are. I can’t palate the ‘Zindagi na milegi dho barah’ nonsense sorry. It is not my world. I will never belong there.
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