Kabali

Most of us would have seen the famous The Invisible Gorilla video; it startlingly exposes the extent of influence of selective attention in our thought process. Simply put, when you keep looking for something keenly, you end up missing many other things, some of them significant too. So when a long-time Rajni fan enters the theatre he restlessly keeps looking for - style, punch dialog, trademark comedy, high voltage fights, etc., in short, the 5-songs 5-fights template of Rajni. And rightly so, as these are the very things that have defined the Super Star. But in the process, Kabali, a don's story told from the heart, is likely to be missed. (Has been missed). As I write this, in spite of my best attempts to insulate myself from the instant reviews across social media and smart phones, it is clear more and more seats are remaining vacant across the halls in Tamil Nadu and the erstwhile-AP running Kabali. It is unfortunate. (Blame also lies in the trailer that focused only on the action-part, with a special stress on Neruppu da!).

The movie has one of the best performances of Rajni in the recent times. And as a film, Kabali is a well-packaged drama that has a Tamil leader as the central character. The movie opens with a high level meeting of Malaysian cops about release of the Tamil don (leader) Kabali who had completed a 25-year sentence. Then the famously leaked release scene. Rajni sparkles as the old don, who blooms again on getting united with his family, and who dashingly reclaims his space from a menacing Chinese don. The first half is beautifully written and performed. The very first action block that ends with Rajni freeing a multi-coloured parrot from one of the cages in a pet shop - is just the dictionary meaning of style. Also the next one, where  in a ship-breaking yard, Kabali crushes a baddie with his black Merc. Classic instance of star power and style. Such seeming subtle stunts, as against the usual 1 Vs 100 Rajni-fights like in Sivaji (2007), purely bank on the star's screen presence - and they have in deed delivered. Soon after the release, and the following stunt, Kabali comes to his house. This is a a well-written, highly emotional sequence, where the don is seen missing his wife terribly. Rajni has pulled it off with a highly matured performance. You feel his pain. 

Intermittently, the Chinese gangster Tony Lee (Winston Chao) appears. Perhaps, this character is the weakest link in the movie. More than a dreaded evil, Tony looks like a cross between a caricature and cartoon. Tony deserved more depth, better style, and definitely more brain. Veera (Kishore), a traitor-Tamil, is Tony's sidekick. Veera too deserved better dialogues, and more dignity. Nasser as Tamilnesan does justice to his limited footage in the flashback. Yes, the flashback sequence is going to be the most disappointing scenes for the fans, who were eagerly, and obviously looking for a Baasha-like (1995) experience. It is not going to happen anymore. Dot. But if you look at it, the flashback scenes are intelligently presented in the form of Kabali's answers to his students' queries. Perhaps, the makers were sure that it would be tough for us to endure the youth-look Rajni for 20 minutes at a stretch. (They were right). Here again, Rajni sparkles with exactly the right level of performance. The issues of Tamil labourers in Malaysia serves as the backdrop for the episode, in which a small-time leader transforms into a full-fledged don. Now comes the retrofitted ideology of the director, Pa.Ranjith. In  his earlier outing, Madras (2014), it was about the wall and who controlled it that symbolised social power; now it is a western attire. Nothing is left to imagination. Out of the blue, Kabali talks about why Gandhi shed his Western attire, and why Ambedkar was seen in suit and a tie.

In the middle of an action sequence where dozens of bullets keep flying in all directions, Kabali gets to know his daughter was alive, and that she was right there with him. Here again, the Super Star excels as an actor. You got to give it to him. Dhansika (as Yogi) as the daughter has carried out her task well. More emotionally loaded is the sequence wherein Kabali goes in search of his wife, finally lands up in Auroville and spends a night in the vicinity where presumably his wife was living right then. The entire block has been made from the heart, and it is just not possible to ignore Rajni's performance here. Radhika Apte (as Kumudhavalli) bowls us over with her acting. Very rarely, we have come across such genuinely emotional rides in a Rajni movie. Something last seen in Thalapathy (1991) perhaps, where Surya goes to see his mother.

The second half has good action, and for the old Rajni fans there is a lot in store in the climax sequence. (Lot of bullets, blood, etc. in the time-tested 1 Vs. 100 format). Strictly not for the kids and pregnant women! While the first half is about the old don finding his beliefs and roots, the second half is about his comeback and ascension with style. A few days back, this was my FB post:

"I think it is going to be Option (4) for Kabali. *** Endings for a don movie: (1) - The don gets killed - Nayagan, Thalapahty. (2) -The don forgives the villain and continues with his normal way of life - Baasha. (3)- The don fades into oblivion, and dies as a loner - The Godfather III. (4)- The don dies a natural, near-happy death - The Godfather. "

The end lies somewhere in between. It appears so.

Rajni has carried the movie on his shoulders with inimitable elan. But not in his usual form, but in a new, welcome avatar. Here is where the problem lies, possibly. But this is the only way forward for the Star. Next may be a family drama, or a powerful role for 30-40 minutes in  movie with someone else as the hero. But from the script perspective, the main issue lies with what looks like a forced insertion of caste colours in the story. What was projected as a fight for Tamil labourers right to begin with, is all of a sudden revealed as a clash between the genes, groups and castes within the Tamils. And this is kind of awkward for the story, though immensely relevant for the society. Given this point of view, it is easy to appreciate why our man Tony was made to behave like a long-faced fool. Anthony (in Baasha) looked deadly, even without uttering a single word; and that amplified the strength of the hero, the Super Star. But here, Tony behaves like our next-door Tommy in spite of his indiscriminate killings and infatuation with bullets.

Rajni has tried to adapt himself to the changing times by going with a young director, much like I desired. A bold but inevitable move. Hats off! But if there is one man whom team Kabali has to thank next to the Super Star, it is definitely Santosh Narayanan, the music director. The songs are at the top of the all charts. The back ground score is melodious, mysterious, peppy, dazzling, and electrifying - all rolled into one. Music, in fact, is the soul of the movie.

Kabali will be remembered as one of the landmark movies of the Super Star.

Magilchi!

(I hope I have not missed any gorilla).

Divine inspiration

Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada is one of the best albums by ARR in the recent history. And special credits to GVM for beautifully packaging the numbers - with a series of what seem to be shooting stills, self-indulgent photos from his personal album and video nuggets of the singers performing - and releasing them over a period of time right from the first month of the year. While the firstly launched single Thalli pogathey.. with all its beats and deep lyrics, is a high-voltage melody that is never going to truly leave you, the soulful rendition of Pavendhar Bharathidasan's Avalum naanum.. is bound to take you to a higher level of calm and is not generally advised after a good lunch. But the most interesting song, if it may be said so, is Rasaali.. And more than a song, with all its liberal adventure across the genres, it qualifies to be a fantastic medley (Ha! Don't throw stones at me). And the greatest and enjoyable medley till date.

But in spite of the best attempt at a dazzling musical collage for a bike journey by the leading pair, the moment I hear Rasaali, though the youthful Simbu and the simple Manjima flash in my mind, very soon I can only see, hear and think of - TMS. (With the occasional image of a chubby boy jumping around with a vel in his hand and crown over his head). Composed by Arunagirinadhar, a saint-poet, Thirupugazh is a collection of Tamil hymns in praise of God Murugan. And the popularity of one of the songs, Muthai tharu..., should have skyrocketed after TMS lent his voice for the verse in a movie about the poet that was released more than 50 years ago. Till this date, TMS' Muthai tharu.. reverberates from the old-fashioned loudspeakers throughout the days of Shasti even in the remotest villages of Tamil Nadu (Yes, I have not actually checked all the villages). And what a lyrics man! It is a real tongue-twister that takes support from the richness of the language. There have been many attempts at the song by different types of singers; and the genius violinist Kunakkudi Vaidyanthan too has rendered it. In a way, I am happy that ARR has got a Divine (Devotional?) inspiration for a GVM movie. Thirupugazh is getting more famous.

When Murugan, the second one of the Siva-Parvathi family, has a Kollywood duet number to his credit, can the elder one, God Pillayar be missed out? No. Our composers have maintained parity. I come from a school that is like a Hindu island amidst an ocean of Christian missionary schools run by different congregations like the CSI, Jesuits, etc. It means that in our school, we had prayers (mainly the Sanskrit ones) for every conceivable occasion: the commencement of the day-before the first bell of the day, the start of the day's classes in your classrooms, before breaking for lunch, just after the final bell of the day-end of classes, etc. One of my favourite Gods during those day was Pillayar a.k.a Ganesha, and it was mainly for the reason that he had the powers to grant what you wished for (Usually, 5-7 extra marks in Physics and some coconut-rich kolukattai). Mudaa-Karaatta slogam, from Ganesha Pancharatnam, extols the elephant-headed God and calls every one of us to surrender to Him. Though it was not frequently sung in my school, I have heard it sometime during the school days. Kollywood has paid its salutes to the elder brother in its 1990 Parthiban-starrer, Thalattu Padava. At the start of the song (the scene) the hero, a pious man, is seen singing Mudaa-Karaatta with folded arms and closed eyes, standing next to a black Ganesha idol resting under a tree. Just when he is about to start the third verse or so, the lady enters, takes it forward from where she snatched, sings the next verse for him and goes on to complete the hymn. Soon, overcome by inexplicable, romantic emotions, while maintaining the tune of Pancharatnam, she makes her own verses - and starts signing in praise of her man. Wow! And soon, Raja sir bowls us over with an interlude. Quickly, after some top angle and tracking shots, we see the pair in different costumes running up and down the green hills. Check it out, you will feel good.

Again, its Murugan's turn now. But it is awful this time around. Kanda Shasti Kavasam (the version by the Soolamangalam sisters) is one of the most famous devotional songs of the state; it is also one of the most popular Tamil hymns. Every living thing in the state would have heard the song (in praise of Murugan) at least once in its lifetime. It is like the filter coffee and idli-chutney. Omnipresent. May be omnipotent too. Composed by Deva, Kollywood's tribute to Shasti Kavasam was in the blockbuster Suriyan (1992). Getting inspiration (Divine) for a tune is one thing; but to know to make use of it in a somewhat dignified manner is something else. In this song from Suriyan, the legendary poet Vaali perhaps just forgot the source of the tune and went on to write a jolly, duet song, happily. The song starts with something like this: 

'The teenage, tender heart yearns for the bed..' 

And it is just the beginning. I hope (unlike I remember TMS on Rasaali), the young kids don't imagine of actress Roja while chanting Shasti Kavasam in the evenings. 

In Hari's Thaamirabharani (2007), singer L.R.Eswari's soulful Karpoora Nayagiye Kanagavalli... on Goddess Amman was picturised in his usual pace with lots of mass and colours, in short - like a kuthu paatu. Who comes up with such thoughts, of mixing kuthu paattu and Shasti Kavasm! The lead pair, surrounded by hundreds of group dancers (assembled like a TCS 5K run), dance wildly with a lot of facial and body expressions. The lady is clad in the basic essentials, while the hero has a touch of tradition. And true to Hari, there is technically no costume change, there is only change in colour of the costumes. You get to learn a lot form this song. Among other things, you will also understand how  to pack the maximum number of side artists in a duet song. I think there are around a million of them, easily. The cinematographer has made his own contribution by way of tilting the camera and creating a roller-coaster effect, and enveloping us in a spell of dizziness. Salutes to the dance master too - just checkout the hero around the 3rd minute (3:01 - 3:08) of the song. I just hope none of these images comes to you while you get to hear the devotional version next time. 

Back to ARR. There was a glimpse of a Divine inspiration in his May Madham (1994). Back then it was something fresh. Enjoyable. The embryo days of tradition meeting technology.

(c)The video songs presented here are purely for educative and reference purposes only; 

there are no other commercial motives.)

The study of a plant and sunshine

This time around the TN elections have been extra interesting, unlike the usual mechanical exercise of wiping out the ruling party and welcoming the opposition with a thumping majority. No landslide victory now. Though the predictions are tilted in favour the DMK-front, you just have to give a call to anyone in the state to be informed that it was a neck and neck fight. No one is talking about a chunk of 180 or 200 seats to a group, out of the total 234 seats. Looking at the narrow gap expected between the winner and the runner up (going by many exit surveys), it may also happen that the difference in the number of seats won by the two leading parties may reduce pretty low, perhaps to even single digit figures. Or what if the EVMs decide to play dice and throw up exactly the equal number of seats to the top two parties tomorrow? ADMK 116 seats; DMK 116 seats. 

It would be a state and country-wide amusement show, like a cricket world cup final match that results in a tie. Soon, the attention would be on the two assembly constituencies where the polling has been postponed by a week. The entire band of Delhi and Mumbai news channels, would camp in Aravakuruchi and Thanjavur till next Monday; all the leaders of both the parties would be made to round up every single eligible voter alive in these two places. (It is a different story that only because of extremely intensive campaigning by the parties, the ECI had postponed the polling in these two places). Perhaps the political parties might even assist terminal patients getting treated in the ICCUs to exercise their democratic right and bring them to the booths in the safety of 108 ambulances; Perhaps the parties might even resort to man-to-man marking, and the parties may allocate a dedicated party worker for every single eligible voter in the vicinity. And if both the parties do the same thing, every voter in these two constituencies would end up being stalked by two people in dhotis of two different border colours. Some of the voters may also start enjoying the limelight, the heightened attention. The entire country would be watching them, waiting for the suspense drama to unfold and more importantly, to conclude. Stress level of the party workers is bound to go up, and it may affect their normal lives. 

It is like one of those decider balls in a cricket match. The equation would be: the party that wins both the seats forms the new government. But - if the EVM decides to play dice one more time? What if each one wins just one seat? The result: ADMK 117 seats; DMK 117 seats. 

It has never happened in the history. In the past.

Soon there will be some sort of commotion, squabble, altercation, quarrel, fist fights, petrol bombs, and a degree of enjoyable suspense too, everywhere. The elections would turn into a case study in Indian democracy and hot topic for thesis students of psephology. And if even after the Governor's intervention the exact 50:50 ratio continues, there is no other way but for the ECI to announce elections afresh. Afresh! Yes, there seems to be no other provision in the Constitution, Supreme Court decisions, ECI Regulations, etc. to handle such dramatic possibilities. At least I am not aware of them. But are we really okay with fresh elections? I don't think so. It is a massive exercise that puts a lot of lives out of gear, especially the lives of all the state government functionaries and the common men and women dependent on them. Sample this - there is this old, widow waiting for the government to release her old age pension; it has been put on hold due to the elections; already a delay of more than a month; she is getting increasingly frustrated and helpless. And this - the schools, colleges, offices, teachers, police, and all other associated premises and people, are to be disturbed again; to be pulled out of their routine work and lives. And this - the election gossips and results forecast in the media, and among all of us would continue for some more weeks, without allowing us to focus on anything else, anything else seemingly more productive. And this - conducting elections in a free and fair manner is a costly job; it also takes really a lot of efforts. And finally this - one of my friends is said to have flown down from Honk Kong to cast his vote; I'm sorry, he has to come again. 

So what remedies we got? 

• Perhaps we may go in for a tie-breaker. A constituency may be chosen randomly and with maximum vigil a repoll may be conducted there. Whoever wins the seat, gets the mandate to form the new government. Or just to be sure, instead of in just one assembly seat, the exercise may be conducted in five randomly chosen seats. Randomisation exercise may be performed by a mainframe in IIT Chennai or in a karumaari amman temple by way of throwing 234 lots and picking five of them right in front of the deity's eyes.
• The winner may be decided on the vote share garnered by the two parties. Assuming, if even that is going to be equal at the state level, again the method of random seat selection may be  resorted to, and the vote share may be compared in those seats. 
• The parties may be asked to rule the state together for five years. God save us! Or one of them may be asked to rule for the initial 2.5 years, and the other one may be asked to follow. Or to give a level playing field, the government may be formed on a monthly basis, alternate parties. Can't you sense the odd-even formula staring at you?
• As it is the time of unified entrance exams, and rigorous selection processes even for the children, the winning candidates from both the parties may be administered some kind of a test (intelligence tests or aptitude tests or even blood tests), and the party that scores the highest may be allowed to form the government.
• The winning margins (number of votes) of the candidates belonging to the two parties may be summed up and the party with the more number of votes (winning margin) may be given the baton. It is simple maths; no statistics. So, it is safe.
• The top five leaders of the two parties may be invited for an open debate among them (on social and governance issues only), to be held before a 1000-strong crowd of school kids of Class XI and XII, picked from schools across all the 234 constituencies. Just immediately after the debate, like they do in some TV dance contests, the school children may be asked to register their votes. The party that finds favour with the kids gets to rule the state. Let them get a chance, I'm sure the kids will do a better job.
• Finally, and most importantly - the people may be asked to explain why they did it.

These are some of the indicative methods to avoid reelection and save the associated time, money and efforts; while some of the options may look like the cup of tea they serve in our trains, and a few others may incur the wrath of Constitutional luminaries - what is required is a new government without any more suspense. And it will be a bonus for the people if the government performs too.

But for all that you may know, tomorrow could be just one more day.