The Last Lecture - Randy Pousch

I was moved by the way Randy Pousch delivered his last lecture. I did not know it until my sister forwarded me the link to his last lecture. Though he is not with us now, we need to learn something from his last lecture. Hope is one thing which never dies. Here is the link to his last lecture if you have not listened to it before. May his soul rest in peace.

Story of Stuff

A friend of mine had posted a link in one of his social networking website. An interesting seminar on Production and Consumption of goods. The host of this website is Annie Leonard. Some facts and information about the utilization of the resources or in short, materials economy. The 20 minute seminar is fact-filled and interesting. Thought of sharing it.

Here is the link Annie Lombard's Story of Stuff

Jodha Akbar Review

With expectations, not very high and not very low, I finally sauntered into a cinema hall to watch Jodha Akbar. I was a little relaxed because the reviews were encouraging from all quarters. The theatrical trailer of "Race" started racing and to be honest, I was really not interested to see it, though it looked more racy and slick. (Well, for that matter, even the movie "Cash" looked the same with the theatrical trailer and everyone know what happened with that movie.) Finally, Jodha and Akbar's story unveiled on screen.... Slowly, beautifully, and Poignantly!

The brilliance of the movie lies in its story and screenplay. Ashutosh brings in the necessary ambience for the movie in the first few reels of the movie. Once we are used to seeing the forts, palaces, battlefield, and the characters, he slowly succeeds in transporting the viewers to the historical world completely. The drama which unfolds also creates a huge impact and adds a different angle to the proceedings. The entire movie rests on three strong shoulders war, romance and drama as pointed out in the making of the movie. But to me, each of them have their own prominence at necessary places. It would be 50% love, 40% drama and 10% war.

I enjoyed all the love scenes between Jodha and Akbar. If I had to select one best scene, I would choose the scene when Akbar sees Jodha for the first time unveiled. While in his court, he hears the melliflous voice of Jodha, and he walks out of the court towards her palace, dispersing the courtroom. Such is the magic of her voice which pulls him towards her. And when he sees her, he is completely mesmerized. The background score is absolutely stunning at that point when Jodha stops singing and Akbar watches her from above. The silent gestures that follow after this scene is also well executed. The next best sequence would be the sword fight between Jodha and Akbar. All the other love scenes have been deftly executed.

The unique bond that Akbar and Mahamanga, his wet nurse, share is also brought out beautifully. The possessiveness of Mahamanga's character is brillaintly showcased. The interaction between Jodha and Mahamanga in the kitchen when Jodha prepares food for the peer din completely shows the madness of the character, as to how possessive she is about Akbar. Same can be said about the relationship shared between Jodha and Sujamal, Jodha's cousin brother. Sujamal as the overtly protective brother of Jodha, ends up meeting Jodha cladestinely once he gets her letter from a wrong hand. It shows the extent to which a brother can forsake things for his dear sister. The war sequences are well handled especially War of Panipat and the climax sequences. The action sequences between Sharifuddin and Akbar in the climax is very good.

Music is soulful. My favorite has to be In Lamhon Ke Daman which comes at the right place, when the love reaches the pinnacle between the lead pair. The next will be Mann Mohana, which has a brilliant orchestra as its trump card (in the interludes). Not to forget, the background score of Mann Mohana at many places will make you want for more. Third will be Jashn-E-Bahara, Khwaja and Azeem-O-Shaan together. Jashn comes at different places and the melody is used in harmony with the scenes. Azeem is magnificient, lot many people dancing to the tunes looking very realistic. Khwaja is superb with the three lead vocals (all rahman’s incidentally, yet it looks like 3 people singing it) syncing properly to the sounds. The background score is excellent and there is this particular sound which comes when Jodha shows her calligraphy to Akbar. The theme for Mahamanga is also beautiful. Overall, a dedicated and an excellent effort by Rahman.

No one can imagine anyone other than Hrithik in the role of the Shehanshah Akbar. For a minute, I felt that he is Akbar. His body language, demeanor, walking style and his physical appearance just makes Akbar alive in front of our eyes. Be it the scene with Jodha in romance or with his courtiers in the Diwan-E-Azam or in the battlefield or while taming an elephant, Hrithik pitches in his best performance to date, a performance he will be proud of. Aishwarya Rai Bachaan as Jodha defines what a Rajput Princess should look like. She looks bewitching in all those jewelry and outfits. She is outstanding in many scenes but the scene when she looks schemingly at Mahamanga for having triumphed, was gorgeous. Sonu Sood is effective as Sujamal who becomes fixated at only one thing, throne to Amer. His sequences in the climax is first rate. Ila Arun as Mahamanga gives in a splendid performance. Watch out for the scene when she is caught guilty for planting the seeds of misunderstanding between Jodha and Akbar. I was moved by the way Ila Arun enacted that scene, looking helplessly at Akbar's mom and then walking away from the scene, as Akbar vows not to see her face again for her misconduct. Brilliant portrayal. The other characters Poonam Sinha as Akbar's mom, Khulbhushan as Jodha's dad, Suhasini Mulay as Jodha's mom are noteworthy. The others are apt.

As the beacon of light flashes on the Emperor Akbar, he slowly integrates with the sufi singers and becomes one with God. He respected his religion and did not force anyone to follow his steps and ideals. Religion doesn't define any rule. As long as you believe in the God. Akbar had a secular mind and hence he created a Secular Hindustan. Look at where we stand now.

PS: I had a lot of distractions in the name of audience (esp. the one, seated next to me) while I was watching the movie. It is historical and you ought to treat it like a 15th century tale. I am really not sure what people had in mind when they came to watch this movie.

A New Beginning

The morning sun filled the town with its radiant brightness. The town became busy with its bustling sounds of automobiles and trains. The crowded train pulled into the platform and hoards of passengers squeezed inside, and within minutes, the train whistled its way out of the platform.

Close from the platform from where the train just departed, a little boy, about 8 years old, in his loose outfits, stands gazing at the busy traffic inside the station. His eyes are red with sleeplessness and his body, weak to even walk a few yards, trembles with fear. He has eyed something in close distance and walks towards his destination. Just then, a tea vendor passes by, almost knocking down the boy, but ends up dropping his tea can and the glasses. It doesn't take much time for the tea vendor to bring the boy back to reality as he shrieks out aloud almost scaring the poor creature.

The boy, suddenly shaken, looks up at the vendor, who is furious at him for bringing his morning business to a standstill. He pulls the boy by his collar, demanding explanation. The boy, almost frightened, tries to free himself from the clutches of the vendor. Once free, he begins running to his destination. The tea vendor realizing the predicament, drags the boy away from the platform to a safe place. Just then, an express train buzzes through the platform with a loud siren.

The vendor is shocked and comforts the sobbing boy who is almost in a dizzy state. The vendor realizes that the boy has not eaten anything and buys him bread and tea from the nearby railway canteen stall. The hungry boy gulps down the food and looks up at the vendor with a faint smile. He feels satiated with the food and quenches his thirst with the tea. He apologizes to the vendor for spoiling his day and sobs. The boy had been starving for the past few days and wanted to put an end to his misery. Neither did he have a family nor a job to take care of himself. At such a small age, the little kid had decided to end his life. The vendor moved by the boy's story takes him by his hand and walks out of the station.

Next day, the busy train pulls into the station and as it whistles its way out of the platform, the little boy, now a tea vendor sells tea in the station and feels proud of being alive and thanks the Almightly for rewriting his fate.

PS: Writing inspired from Mira Nair's "Salaam Bombay"

Jodha Akbar Music Review

As a connoisseur of music, I always lend my ears to hear the intricate sounding arrangements that ARR uses in all his songs. I was listening to his album "Rhythm", and was a little surprised by the way he had been used the sounding pattern in the songs. The blowing wind in Kattre En Vaasal, the comparison of water drops and the female hum in Nadiye Nadiye as the song draws parallel connotation of the similarity between water and female. I was altogether taken to a different world. There is dexterity in his usage of sounds which makes him a class apart.

Jodha Akbar, one of the most awaited soundtrack of the year, comes as a great package. The soundtrack has a brilliant extravagant opening track, a mellifluous restrained track, two strikingly dissimilar devotional tracks, a melodious orchestrated track and two bonus instrumental tracks.

Azeem O Shaan Shehanshah is the most opulent, extravagant track, completely suiting the grandeur of the movie. This brilliant track has melody, classical alaaps and praiseworthy lyrics as supporting pillars. The arresting beats and the chorus goes on to introduce us to the Emperor Akbar pouring praises for being the Shaan of Hindustan. Especially the line "Tera Ho Kya Bayaan" line takes the song to dizzy heights. The "chan chana nana" and the "Marhaba" chant are used excellently throughout the song. The love of the people for Akbar is brilliantly expressed in the male/female humming done in the second stanza of the song after the line "Kitne Dilon Par Teri Hukumath". If this song cannot grow on a listener immediately on first hearing, then the album can be skipped. No point in listening to it further.

Jashn-E-Bahara is a restrained track with the melody seamlessly flowing into the listener's ears. The accompanying beats complement the song very much and is used ably to suit the melody. The lyrics by Javed Akhtar and the vocal by Javed Ali adds an extra sheen to this beautiful song. The lyrics flow in like a poetry. The Jashn-E-Bahara (Instrumental) is an enchanting piece with a flute piece playing the main melody. When a person like Naveen is at the helm of affairs, nothing can go wrong. Loved the instrumental more than the original song as it is more soothing and can make you forget the world.

Rahman's "Tera Diwana Hoon Maula" from Mangal Pandey is one of my favorite song, as the energy and devotion with which he sings that song, cannot be explained by words. I would rate Khwaja Mere Khwaja, one step above. I liked the way the song builds slowly to its melody in the beginning. The tabla beats supports the song throughout. The second interlude is haunting and the stanzas are engaging. The way ARR melts and renders his voice for this devotional song is another reason why this song clicks. This song might need some time to sink in and once it does, it is addictive. Khwaja Mere Khwaja (Instrumental) is impressive. I don't know much about the Oboe instrument but the instrumental has a soothing effect just like the previous instrumental.

In Lamhon Ke Daman Mein, is the second melodious number which is brilliantly orchestrated, with a chorus which elevates the song to a different peak altogether. There is a clean balance between the high pitched chorus and the melodious singing by Sonu Nigam. When Madhushree enters the scene, the song becomes heavenly. A brilliant composition by Rahman who breaks norms of how a love song should be composed.

Mann Mohana, the second devotional track in the album, is rich in melody. Bela Shinde has a great pitch and her vocal is an added asset to the song. The first and second interludes are just outstanding. The song might sound ordinary when it starts, but the interludes elevate the song first and then the stanzas create an impact and the song slowly gets hooked onto you. I loved this song for its sheer interludes.

Rang De Basanti in 2006, Guru in 2007 and Jodha Akbar in 2008. There is no stopping Rahman to break new grounds in the bollywood arena. Jodha Akbar is a must-listen for music lovers.

Scintillating Child Prodigies

The post-effects of TZP instigated me to write this post. Over the years, there has been an evolution in terms of projecting a child character on screen. There has been some scintillating child performances which has touched every heart and I am going to list some of the memorable ones which I am aware of.

Last month, I watched Salaam Bombay. I had been vying to watch this movie of Mira Nair. And it happened. It is a story of a lost child, who is homeless, and ends up in the streets of Mumbai amidst drug peddlers, prostitutes and other homeless kids making a living out of any job. The story basically revolves around the little boy Chaipau, and his journey. To me, Shafiq Syed as Chaipau (a.k.a Krishna) was marvellous from take one. His urge to return home by saving money, his friendship in Chillum, his infatuation with Sola Saal, his companionship with Manju, his exhibition of fury once inside the children jail etc. were brilliantly showcased. The scene when he tries to save Chillum, a drug addict and his friend, when he tries to commit suicide shows what an amazing discovery Shafiq Syed is.

Imagine a child, barely 2 years old, and who cannot even walk properly, can walk into the hearts of millions and create a huge impact in the minds of the cine-goers. The child artist Shamili, in Mani Rathnam's Anjali, was a revelation. She was barely 2 years old and portrayed the character of a child with mental disability. Even today, I watch the movie for her rather than for Mani Rathnam. Shamili as Anjali displayed finesse in handling the character, that nobody till date had ever dared to. At such a tender age, portraying a complex character is not an easy task. All her sequences with her screen mom Revathy in the movie was an amazing display of histrionics which is impossible to expect from a two year old. Shamili was a unique discovery.

Keerthana, as Amudha, in Mani Rathnam's Kannathil Muthamittal, is another child artist who can bring the most complex nuances in a character and exhibit it with precision. Amudha's character in the movie, was about a girl who is in search of her biological mother to Sri Lanka with her adopted parents. From her introduction as a naughty, bratty girl to her slow transformation into a girl who comes to know that she is an adopted daughter, the flow of emotions in Amudha's character is worth-mentioning. The distortion caused because of this truth, the way her mind thinks, her expressions and distaste in life, and her determination to find her real mom and ask one simple question as to "why she left her"?, Keerthana was brilliant and deserved the national award.

Essaying a role of a blind and mute girl is a challenge in itself. I am talking about Ayesha Kapur in Black. The role had absolutely no dialogue to start with. But Ayesha infused so much life into the character that it looked real. I would say that hers was the best performance in the movie compared to Big B and Rani. She simply stole the show in the limited screen time that she had. A confident performance.

The post is incomplete without Darsheel Safary. His is what is called a bravura performance. He is the heartbeat of the movie. Ishaan's character will remain etched in people's memory for a long long time. It is a realistic portrayal of a complex character.

Taare Zameen Par

At last I saw Taare Zameen Par (TZP) in theatre after almost a month. Better late than never. I had been trying to watch this movie but couldn't make it due to some unavoidable reasons. But I am happy that I saw it, finally.

It might sound clichéd if I say that the movie is a classic. 9 out of 10 people have given positive review about the movie and have termed it a masterpiece. The movie really moves you and the main reason being Darsheel Safary. I am still thinking about the kid even after the show has ended 3 hours before. That speaks volumes about the impact created by the character. After Ayesha Kapur in Black, here is another child artist who takes your breath away with a breakthrough performance. Darsheel as Ishaan, has an amazing body language and beautiful expression needed for a character suffering from Dyslexia and is so convincing that for a minute you think that the kid is really suffering from Dyslexia. He deserves all the accolades for portraying the character and pretty much carries the entire movie on his shoulders. In short, he deserves a national award for his performance.

Ishaan can bring laughter with his antics and at the same time make you cry. His antics in the school when he is thrown out of the class for not reading out the sentences are funny. When his family leaves him in the boarding school and he stands there crying is painstaking. The background song "Maa" is a wonderful composition by SEL. The scene and the song can melt even the stone-hearted. Ishaan and Nikumb's relationship is developed properly. I loved the scene when Ishaan looks at Nikumbh after making the water airplane. So much conveyed with eyes without a dialogue? That is what Ishaan does throughout the movie. His self-realization through Nikumbh and his love and respect for the teacher is beautifully portrayed when he hugs Nikumbh thanking him from his heart for making him what he is from what he was. Again, no dialogue spoken but everything is expressed. Impeccable performance!

Aamir Khan is splendid as the angel art teacher who connects Ishaan back to the world. I especially liked him in 2 outstanding scenes where he shows what his caliber is. First when he visits Ishaan's family and tries to explain them the situation and second when Ishaan's father comes to meet him and his Solomon Island reply. Aamir and Ishaan share a great camaraderie which shows on-screen. As a director, he succeeds in transporting the viewers to Ishaan's world. His victory in the climax is very well depicted with his eyes.Ishaan's mom and dad are very well cast and the lady who plays Ishaan's mom,Tisca Chopra, is amazingly expressive in the scene when she leaves her son in the boarding school and when she looks into the scrapbook created by her son which shows the moral fear the kid had, separation from his family. Ishaan's dad's character is also beautifully portrayed when he sees his son trying hard to study the flyer. He, walking out of the place with shame for not having taken care of the kid is a wonderful depiction. Ishaan's brother, friend and others play their role with ease.

The best is reserved for the end and the climax is the best part of the movie. Ishaan slowly coming out of his ambush when his name is called out in the climax is analogous to him coming out of the world of confusion into a new world. When he stumbles, Nikumbh supports him which draws an analogy that Ishaan always has a pillar of support in Nikumbh. You cannot control the emotions seeing the last few frames of the movie.

Kudos to the director for not falling for the commercial factors and bringing the talent of the kid as an arts genius. That makes the movie all the more realistic.

I would just say one more thing. Go and watch the movie! It speaks for itself and doesn't need a critic. But as a movie buff, it becomes necessary for me to spread the good word-of-mouth. Hence the review.