Kazhcha: Worth A Million Looks

I recently had the good fortune to see probably one of the best movies I have seen in recent past. The movie is called "Kazcha" (meaning Sight). It is a Malayalam movie starring Mammootty. This is a 2004 movie which I hear was a success in Kerala. But all that is irrelevant. It is the story of a man who makes a living showing roadshows of movies around a small town in Kerala. He stumbles upon a little boy who somehow lands in Kerala after the earthquake in Gujrat 2002. He is become a streetside urchin and is found by the character of Mammootty. Both of them do not speak in langugages each can understand (the boy speaks in Kutch and Mammootty speaks in Malayalam) too but develop a bond after the boy rescues Mammootty's daughter from drowning. He becomes a part of the family but beauracracy intervenes and he is to be sent back to Gujrat. What follows is the search for his parents and the heartbreaking conclusion. That is the story part.

Although this movie is on the surface about the relationship between the boy and , it is a thinly veiled attack on the corrupt system in our society. One gem of a scene involves Mammootty and his family visiting the boy in the government hospital, they have to wade through a narrow alley in hospital of hazardous substances thrown. Mammootty's daughter even complaints about the stench. Other than that they don't mention too much about the horrendous conditions in the government hospital but is there for all to see.

It has been a long time since I have seen a movie that works well on so many levels. It is also one of the most beautiful looking movie that has come in sometime. It is well acted by all the lead and supporting actors. There are minor quibles I have about the movie, like the opening sequences (the editing and sound was a bit jarring) and of course the songs which I feel are not necessary for a movie like this (the songs by themselves were pretty good). But then again, these are minor quibles.

The film's director is Blessy. I hope to see more of his work in the future (his latest movie "Thanmatra" is about an alzheimer's patient). I had been disillusioned that new movies these days (and I mean all languages) that I really like and could identify with. Finally, I have found one that did.

Return

"They're a great people Kal-El, they wish to be. They only lack the light to show the way. For this reason above all, they're capacity for good, I have sent them you, my only son."

The rasp voice of Marlon Brando as Jor-El booms over a symphony of light.
(click play to view the video)


Superman has returned.

The Last Walk

With the exception of golf, almost every other sport is almost always the dominion of the young. Only in professional sports would anybody around 30 year be considered old. Seeing the sportsmen during the last stages of their career is probably the hardest thing for a fan.
During the 90s, Tennis had some of greats of the game at in their prime - Pete Sampras, Steffi Graf and Andre Aggasi. I used to root for Pete Sampras in almost all his games. But towards the end of his career seeing him play and loose was one of the most heart wrenching experience. To see him loose meekly to a lesser player only because of his age was a sad experience. And when he won the 2002 US Open, and walked away with the trophy everybody knew it was his last walk from the center court and professional tennis. The last walk is probably the most painful journey a sportsman can make in his career. Pete Sampras was lucky to have left on a high note.
But not every sportsman could do that. The Late Great Donald Bradman could not score any runs on his last match and went out for a duck (although he did get a standing ovation since he had announced previously that it was his last match). But Sunil Gavaskar did not even have that luxury. He booed out of the stadium in his last match for scoring low, as he made his last walk. Similarly, Ravi Shastri was decried for batting slowly by having his photo was paraded with bathroom slippers around his neck. Saurav Ganguly was recently publicly humiliated by his coach (much of it due to his own doing).
And of course, Sachin Tendulkar was booed out by the Mumbai crowd for getting out soon. Nobody is to be blamed for this. It is just the natural order of things where the old is replaced by the new. Some leave a legacy while others are forgotten.
But as they say, the show must go on.

That Poor New Guy Playing James Bond

So there is a new James Bond, Daniel Craig. I haven't seen much of him in any movies so would not comment on his choice as the new James Bond. I have seen only some publicity photos of him as James Bond. I hate to say it but somehow the critics attacking him as a choice for James Bond maybe having a point (See the photo). The guy is with 2 hot babes and actually seems bored (almost asexual). As Austin Powers would have said "He needs to get his Mojo, baby".

I will wait for Casino Royale to come out before I pass any comments about him. But this guy is having the worst possible time. There is an online group devoted to removing him as James Bond (http://www.craignotbond.com/). To make matters worse, he broke 2 of his teeth during the shooting of the movie. Imagine, James Bond smiling with his 2 front teeth missing.

It is quite ironic that I actually pity him. When was the last time you actually felt pity for James Bond?

Back to Life

Like the phoenix, my blog page has also risen from the ashes. I had in fact lost interest in writing on my blog page. But a walk in the park over the weekend has renewed my interest in everything. The last 2 months have been really cold which numbed everything including my brain. I guess I was hypothetically brain-dead this winter.

But this Sunday, as I walked along the moat surrounding Matsuyama castle, I noticed that the buds of blossom have begun to appear. That trees have new leaf sprouting. All signs point to - Spring. I have never looked forward to Spring as I have this year. I have had to contend with a very dull winter of inactivity. The hibernating animals have it good. At least they get to sleep the winter and not face the brunt of the cold wind.

In India, at least the northern part of it, this is the time for Holi - the festival that welcomes spring. People throws color and water at each other, drink bhang and have a good time. I wish they could merge Holi, the Mardi Gras and the Rio carnival. That could be the ultimate festival, if you ask me. During my childhood days in Delhi, I used to hate Holi. Actually scared. Somehow the idea of getting color on my face and getting wet, scared the hell out of me (my other phobia was the eunuchs or "chakkas" - somehow I got this idea that they were out to kidnap me). But now I understand why there are so many festivals for welcoming spring.

So this year more than any year I welcome the Spring with open arms. Thanks for coming. You were missed sorely.