Author name: bhuvaneshchandar

Cinespecs

​MONA LISA SMILE (2003) & DEAD POET’S SOCIETY (1989)

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MONA LISA SMILE (2003) & DEAD POET’S SOCIETY (1989) People who have watched these 2 wonderful movies will agree to me if I say that both these movies, stories of which are set up at schools, are like 2 beautiful stones with similar appearances, yet with different distinct characteristics. When I watched Mona Lisa Smile (2003), I was able to connect a lot of it with the Robin Williams starrer, Dead Poet’s Society(1989), and was amazed at the contrasting features that the movies had which made them overcome the similarities and stand tall as 2 unique pillars in world Cinema. The story revolves around a teacher (Keatings / Katherine) and a group students. The biggest positive these movies share is the wonderful characterisation they have. The characters of the students (5 boys in DPS and the 5 girls in MLS), in both the movie strike a resemblance, with their activities as the movie steers forward. Here are some of the similarities. Neil Perry ( DPS) and Betty Warren ( MLS) are like puppets to their parents. They had to follow the instructions to fulfil their parent’s wishes/dreams. In Betty’s case, towards the end of the movie, she voices out against her mother and files for a divorce with her husband and hence the character trail seems to end quite happily. But with Neil, even though he does voice out against his father, nothing seems to work his way towards breaking his shackles, and the character ends up on a tragic note. Knox Overstreet and Connie Baker are the romantics of the 2 movies. Both their Love Stories seems to travel almost the same way, except for the fact that, in Connie’s case, the director ends it up with a direct happy ending , while in Knox’s case the story hints out at a positive ending, yet ends up abruptly. The characters of Charlie Dalton and Giselle Levy are like that of a spoilt brat. Their naughty, grey characteristics travel right till the end of the story. The base of the story of both these movies is about a teacher who goes about in his/ her own style of teaching, even if sometimes it is against the standards of the institutions and about how these teachers affect the lives of a group of students. All through our lives, we would have seen characters that are so unique in their way of doing things amidst a world that runs in set patterns. These people become underdogs and they are not usually celebrated, but something about them inspires us. Either it is our jealousy about their unique characteristic or about their courage to go up against the stereotypical notions posed by the institutional doom above their heads, or it is the charisma and confidence they have in their way of doing things. In these movies, John Keatings and Katherine Watson are those characters, who are fortunately celebrated towards the end by their students. John Keatings, an English professor wants to teach the true essence of poetry. He wants his students to understand that poetry is something beyond what they know it as. He tries to “suck the marrow out” of their views about Poetry. He goes on instructing them to rip off a page about a graphical theory on poetry from the book as he feels that such theories are too stupid that it restricts people to enjoy the true essence of poetry. Katherine in MLS wants her students to understand the true essence of Art and understand the Art of Life. The scenes depicting Keatings explaining “Carpe Diem : Seize the day” to his students and Katherine asking them to observe a modern piece of Art shows how unique their teaching styles are and how much they want to impart about the subject, not constraining to the Syllabus in hand. Both Keating and Katherine have affected the lives of their students so much. Keating helps Todd come out of his Shell and advices Neil to follow up with his dream of becoming an actor. Katherine advices Joan to join Yale University and pursue Law, and states that marriage is not the end of the world. In the above cases though the subject matter differs, the nature of their activities seems to match. Both the movies have imageries which seem to have a link with their titles too. The Mona Lisa’s picture, the scene between the Betty and her mom, the scene where they’re discussing about the Mona Lisa Smile shows us how much the imagery of Mona Lisa fits inside the theme and story line of MLS. The imagery in DPS is the 1st page of a book gifted by Keatings to Neil. It has verses about sucking the marrow out of life, which is to be recited at the start of every Dead Poet’s Society Meetings. Another thing to notice, During the send-off scene at the end, it was Todd who starts off the send-off gesture by standing on top of his bench and spelling out the phrase, “O captain , my captain”. In MLS, it was Betty Warren, who seems to lead up in the send-off gesture, another important character that seemed to be affected a lot by the teacher. The screenplay and narration of the movies are quite similar too Even through such similarities both these movies seems to have quite contrasting elements which I leave it up to you to ponder over. If any of you haven’t seen both these movies, let me give a suggestion. After you finish watching the movies, ponder over how much it would have taken to cast these actors to these characters. The Casting in these movies, according to me, is a benchmark. Wonderful actors, playing extremely great characters in 2 very beautiful stories.

Cinespecs

Rocky 4 & Ip Man 2- Analysis

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  “If i can change, if you can change, then everybody can change” and that’s how Stallone (Rocky Balboa ) ends his speech after the final bout with Russian muscle tank, Ivan Drago in the 4th sequel of the Rocky series. A very connecting and inspiring quote. It has been a well-known fact that over the years Sports Films have had a deep, long lasting impact on the minds of the audience so much so that over the decades a different kind of sports film is something of a rarity, given the number of such film we get. But to fans across the globe if they take a survey on the top 5 sports movies they ever watched, I’m dead sure at least one of the films from the Rocky series will be there. Today I felt why not let’s write something about these sports movies and about my stand on the saying that “sports teaches life” or “sports films are a metaphor of life” and I’m going to do that with reference to 2 of my most favourite movies, Rocky 4 and Ip man 2. Firstly, about whether “Sports films are a metaphor of life”. And i would say yes, very much of a metaphor of life. One thing that everyone should understand is that any pictorial representation gives us freedom to directly derive whatever you want from it. Be it a painting or a movie. And sports movies actually lay down the characteristics of life quite directly. If the movie was to be made without this base or objective, there can be no other objective with which it can be done..I will explain taking the example of Rocky 4. Now the story of Rocky balboa is itself a very relatable and grounded one. You are a successful person, happy guy who likes the life you’re living and suddenly a bad thing affects a friend of yours and it snatches him right away from you (death or separation) Now you’re are sure of the fact that whatever happened to your friend is going to happen to you too and that you have to fight for it. Come on if you say you haven’t faced similar situation, then i would say you haven’t actually felt the least unfortunate “gifts” that life can give. You can replace the Friend with any relationship and it will suit you. The reason be it death, separation, or anything. The character of Ivan Drago is a direct shot at our minds to understand most of the things about ourselves. He’s a sportsperson who at mind thinks is very strong, but in truth he is boosted up only because of the steroid he takes in. The difference between him and Rocky is that Rocky has a pure heart and he has no Ego about the phenomenon he is. We all would have felt at many instances that maybe we are so good in faking our strength. And many a times that’s supplemented with Ego. The film shows a lot of emotional relationships, like how a partner should be and how a partner should not be, etc. The final bout shows us so much about the importance of mental strength and confidence. We can understand this from the changing opinion about the characters on one another. At 1st Ivan says that he can break Rocky and that he’s soft. Rocky, at that juncture, feels that Ivan is winning. Later on, Ivan quotes that “He is not a human. He is like a piece of iron” and Rocky realises from his coach that indeed, Ivan is a Human and not a machine. And that’s where Ivan starts to lose the fight. The way Rocky falls down and gets up at the start of the 12th round like a lightning, brings a feel of tonnes of testosterone filling up your body. The natural boxing cinematography showing the trading of punches with a synchronised music itself shows a lot of messages to take in. And hence i would say that yes sports movies (which need not necessarily be a biopic), can a called as “metaphors of life” Secondly i want to show some interesting Similarities between these 2 movies, thereby to bring out a conclusion on whether it depends upon the so called “template” which depends upon the fate of a sports film.. So here are the Similarities. Both the films are revenge stories. The ultimate fight in the climax is between the lead and an opponent who is of a different national, and the lead wants to avenge the death of a friend (who also was an opponent earlier) who was killed by the very same opponent in the early portion of the film. Before the fight, both the heroes would have sacrificed their time with their families so as to prepare in Solitude .The set up and the events in the last match too seem to match. There will be a huge change in the mood of the crowd before and after the match, so much so that they will give a standing ovation to a lead hero who just defeated a person from their own soil. Both the films will end up with a speech by the hero in his mother tongue, about how important it is to respect each other. Both the films end up with a scene or shot which later turns out to be a historic event or the base for another sequel, ie. In ip man 2, the final shot is about a young cocky kid named Bruce Lee, asking ip man if he would teach him wing chun and ip man refuses him and asks him to come back when he is older. In the case of Rocky, he tells his son who his back home that he loves him so much and Rocky Balboa (5th sequel) has a base theme which is about the love between him and his son.. So if both the films are so similar, what makes

Poetry, தமிழ்

அவளும் நானும்

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​மாலை 4.30 மணி. மொட்டை மாடியில் அவளும் நானும். ஓடிக்கொண்டே இருக்கும் சென்னை மாநகரின் நடுவே நொடிகளை ரசித்துக்கொண்டு நானும் அவளும். ஊதாப்பூ தாவணி தென்றலுக்கு நடனம் ஆட, கவர்ந்தன கண்மணியின் கண்கள். பேசிக்கொண்டே இருந்தும் பேசாமல் இருப்பதைபோன்ற உணர்வு. உலகில் முதல் முதலில் இசை தோன்றிய தருணம் தானோ, அவள் அவ்வப்போது இசைக்கும் அமைதி. அவள் பேச்சில் நான் மயங்க, சில நொடிகளில் அவள் மடியில். அழகு எது என்று மனதில் யுத்தம் வர, கடவுள் இது என்று கண்களில் ஏக்கம் வர, “என்னை முத்தமிடு கண்மணியே.”

Short Stories

When The Universe stood still

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” and sadness was the only scent felt in that kingdom and as villagers would recall, the princess ever since then, would just sit at the veranda all night gazing at that lone star above the Eastern part of the empire. As the ancient records suggest, people believed that the star came just to take a glimpse of the princess and would vanish when the sun comes up..” and he stops reciting the story due to an interruption A young girl, from the audience raises her hands and with the consent of the story teller proceeds to ask him “But my teacher told me that stars will move because of the rotation of earth. How come that star alone won’t move? “, And the audience start giggling Understanding the situation, he responds by saying that, “That night the whole universe stood still for the princess, my dear” And the girl quickly replies with another question “Does that happen in real life? ” To which he answers, “Well, it did happen to me when i saw your mother for the 1st time in the college corridor ” and the whole crowd starts applauding the story teller’s reply and the girl , with a confused look and a shy smile sits down and he continues to recite the story.   After the event, at the backstage, the girl asks him “When will the universe stand still for me?” Puzzled by this, he replies saying “My dear, Universe won’t stand still for anyone. It’s nature and nothing can stop it” “Oh. But during the event you told me that it did stop for you “, she asks “My dear, back on that stage I’m a poet and a story teller, but right now I’m a father.” He answers Hearing this, the girl takes out a flower from a bunch and with the brightest smile of the evening, gives her dad saying “You’re the best papa, the story was good”. Being touched by this gesture, the story teller hugs his daughter. “Okay, now mommy must be waiting. So let’s go” he points out and both of them went to the cemetery where the girl places the bunch of flowers on the grave of her mother and whispers “Mommy, to me, you are my universe. Universe does stop right?” And continues narrating to her mom, about the events that happened in her life that week.

Short Stories

Always Mine

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  He applies the brakes hastily and the car stops near the police booth in the beach road She looks confused. The scent of negativity in the air is evident from the look on her face as she turns and stares at him. “WHAAT? Why are you staring at me right now? “ He asks her in a very loud voice And adds, “I’m the one who is angry and I’m supposed to be. Okay tell me, did you really send her that text during the summer vacations?” She gasps with fear and tears roll down. After some moments, in a very low voice with no confidence, she tells him, “Yes i sent that text to her. I did it out of affection. Not just in this case, in almost everything they accused me of, i did it for you. ” “Oh so you pretended to almost everyone that you were in a relationship with me?. Wow you’re a genius i should tell you” he hits back.   “What else was i supposed to do? That was the only way i could keep you ‘single’ till i graduate. I was scared. With all your, so called “fans” trying everything they could to get close to you, i had no choice. And you never told me about your other female friends. I couldn’t tell you my feelings baby. We were in a really good phase in our friendship and i did not want to stop the fun. I’m really sorry about it. I’ll apologise to all those people if you want me to”   He couldn’t resist but smile at her innocence. “Do you remember the fight in the canteen with David?” He asks “Yeah? Why are you reminding me that? “She asks as her mind plays back the whole scene one more time “Why do you think i hit that idiot?” He asks with a wide smile in his face “Why? …..For me? “She asks excitedly. “Actually the 1st punch was because i didn’t like the egoistic walk he had and then, the fact that he barged inside the room and took a bite from my cheese pizza, angered me. But yeah, the 2nd punch was for you and almost all the fights i got into after that was for you” he grins. As they look right into each other’s eyes, she leans forward and whispers ” I’ll add “extreme possessiveness” to the list of things we share” and they kiss each other as the argument , like any other casual day, turns into a very lovely moment..   “Ohhh  another one? Why don’t they just put up a bigger sign board?” sighed a traffic policeman from a distance, as he walks towards the car which was parked in a “No Parking” area.

Short Stories, தமிழ்

நொடிகளில் வாழ்வாயோ

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இசைஞானியின் தென்றல் வந்து தீண்டும் பாடல் அந்த தெரு ஓரத்தில் இருந்த டீக்கடையில் ஒலித்துக் கொண்டிருந்தது. பாடலுக்கேற்ப வண்ணங்களும், மனிதர்களும் அந்த தெருவை அலங்கரிக்க, கருமேகங்கள் நகரத்தை சூழ்ந்தன. ” ஐயோ மழை வரப் போகுது போலயே, துணி காய போட்டுருக்கேன்” என்று அந்த தள்ளு வண்டி பாட்டி பதறிக்கொண்டு வீட்டிற்கு கிளம்ப, எண்ணங்கள் அந்த தெருவில் ஆங்காங்கே தூவப்பட்டன. மழை, அது வரும் முன்னே தனது வேலையைத் துவங்கியது. மக்கள் கூட்டம் அதிகரிக்க ஆரம்பித்தது. எல்லோரும் வீட்டிற்கு புறப்பட ஆரம்பித்தார்கள். எத்தனையோ மக்கள் இருந்தும் , அந்த சமயத்தில் அழகாய் தெரிந்ததோ ஒரு தந்தை தனது மகனை பள்ளியில் இருந்து அவசர அவசரமாக அழைத்து வரும் காட்சி. ” எப்போ பாத்தாலும் விளையாட்டு. இப்போ பாரு மழை வர போது, நாம நனைய போறோம்” என்று தனது மகனிடம் கடிந்து கொண்டே வந்தார் அந்த தந்தை. அதே நேரத்தில், அதே தெருவின் எதிர் திசையில், ஒரு கர்ப்பிணிப் பெண்ணும் , அவரது தாயாரும் மருத்துவமனைக்கு சென்று வீடு திரும்பி கொண்டிருந்தனர். ” ஐயோ மழை வரப்போகுது . ஆட்டோல போலாம்னு பாத்தா அதிகமா கேக்கராங்க. “என்று வருந்திக்கொண்டே வந்தார் அந்த தாய். களைப்பான தினத்தின் வெளிப்பாடு நால்வர் முகத்திலும் தெரிந்தது. காற்று பலமாக வீச, மேகங்கள் தனது இசையை வாசிக்க துவங்கியது. இடிச்சத்தம் அதிகரித்து செல்ல, இந்த இரு ஜோடிகளும் சந்திக்க ஆயிற்று. ஒருவரை ஒருவர் பார்த்தனர். சோர்ந்த முகங்களில் புது வருத்த நெடி தெரிய ஆரம்பித்தது. இரு ஜோடிகளும் அந்த ஒரு நொடியை மனதில் படியவைத்து , தாண்டி சென்றனர். சிறு தூரம் கடந்தபின் “நான் கருவில் இருந்தப்போ என் அம்மா கூட இப்டி தான் நடக்க கஷ்டப்பட்டுருப்பாங்களா ” என்று தனது மனதை அந்த கர்ப்பிணிப்பெண்ணின் மேல் வைத்து, தன் அப்பாவிடம் கேட்கிறான் அந்த சிறுவன். திகைத்துப் போன அந்த தந்தை, மகனின் கையை இறுக்கிப் பிடித்து, இறந்த தன் மனைவியை நினைத்து , அவள் கர்ப்பமாய் இருந்த காலத்தில் மலர்ந்த காதலை எண்ணி வருந்தி, மகனிடம் எதுவும் கூறாமல் நடந்து சென்றார் இன்னொரு புறம், சோர்ந்து போன முகத்தைக் கண்டு, ” ஏன் மா சோகமா இருக்க?” என்று தனது மகளிடம் கேட்கிறாள் அந்த தாய். ” அந்த பையனை பாத்தீங்களா? எவளோ சந்தோசமா அவன் அப்பாவோட போறான். என் குழந்த இதே மாதிரி அதோட அப்பாவோட இருக்க முடியுமா? என் வயித்துல இருக்கும் குழந்தை காகவாச்சும் என்ன விட்டு அவர் போகாம இருந்துர்க்கலாம்ல? ” என்று கூறி வருத்தத்துடன் கண்ணீர் விட்டால் அவள். ” என்னமா செய்றது, நல்லவங்களை தான் அந்த இறைவன் சோதிக்கிறான். அழாத மா.. வா..” என்று கூறி கொண்டு, வெளிநாட்டில் வாழும் தனது மகனையும் பேரனையும் நினைத்துக்கொண்டே சென்றார் அந்த தாய். நால்வரின்  மனநிலையையும் , அதன் நிறத்தையும் அந்த மேகங்கள் பிரதிபலித்தன. மழை பெய்ய துவங்கி சில மணி நேரத்தில் நின்றது. சூரியனும் நம்பிக்கை ஒளியை வீச துவங்கினார். இயற்கையும் , வாழ்க்கையும் கைகோர்த்து அந்த தெருவில் நடந்தனர். “திங்கள் வந்து காயும் போது என்ன வண்ணமோ நினைப்பில வந்து வந்து போகுதம்மா எண்ணமெல்லாம் வண்ணமம்மா எண்ணங்களுக்கேற்றபடி வண்ணமெல்லாம் மாறுமம்மா “

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