Wide Angle with Natarajan Ramji : A feast for the movie trivia geeks

 

Mr. Natarajan Ramji is known as the "Location Guru" of Indian cinema who has travelled to over 140 countries and helped shoot movies in 80 of them. This interview is what I would call a hidden gem. It gives an overview of the whole location scouting process for movies and also gives a lot of trivia about really popular movies, the locations they were shot in and how the location was decided upon.

If you are a movie geek, you must watch this interview. He spoke about the key details that help in deciding the location.

1. Keeping himself updated in his area of expertise and learning about the world everyday.
2. The foreign exchange rate at the time of shoot which helps to reduce the cost of the movie. For eg: an opera location in France which would cost Rs.40 crores was completed in 1/10th the cost by shifting the location to Macedonia for the movie Mersal.
3. The ability to find multi-national extras required for the movie.
4. Weather. For eg: He speaks about how during the 90s and early 2000s there was a trend that started to shoot songs in Switzerland in Tamil cinema. However, it was not suitable during the winter months but the producers wanted to keep shooting throughout the year. That's when he discovered the beauty of New Zealand which has completely contrasting weather. This helped in keeping the shooting on through out the year.

Here are some of the trivia from this interview to draw your interest.

1. RRR's Natu Natu song location : Ukraine

2. Enthiran - Kilimanjaro  : Brazil

3. Dilwale - Gerua : Iceland

4. I - Pookkalae Sattru Oyivedu

5. Kaapan song : Indonesia and Russia

3. 

Dear Zindagi : A must watch for all youngsters for years to come

 

So yesterday I saw Dear Zindagi on Netflix for the 2nd time. The first time I saw it when it had released years ago. This time, the movie left a deep impact on me for some reason. Maybe I am a different person after all these years which is why the movie spoke to me and made so much sense. I also felt slightly guilty for not having appreciated this movie when it released. But it's better late than never. So here are some of things that caught my attention in this movie.

1. Alia Bhatt's performance. This movie was released in 2016 and at the time, she was just 4 or 5 years into the industry. But that did not stop her from portraying such a complex character with so much ease. She showcases so many emotions such as rage, anger, innocence, desperation to feel loved and belong, etc with such conviction that you are convinced that this person Kaira really exists.

2. Shah Rukh Khan as Dr. Jehangir Khan was just right. The role needed a superstar like him for the message that was conveyed to reach the masses. Hats off to King Khan for picking up such an unconventional role for a super star.

3. The portrayal of what goes through a person's mind before going for therapy and the fear of judgement from the society was on point. Even today, there are a lot of people who suffer silently due to the fear of what judgement of going to a therapist. People immediately label you as "Mental" if they hear that you are seeing a therapist of psychiatrist. The movie shows what therapy is and tries to normalise it.

4. There is a subtle message that perhaps is most important in my opinion - "Forgive your parents if you were wronged by their decisions in your childhood." That message is absolutely need and so different compared to typical Hindi movies that put parents on a pedestal and showcase that they can never be wrong. But the truth is, they are humans just like us and fallible. A lot of people keep blaming their parents for their career, marriage and just life in general and keep that spite in their heart. This movie tells you to bring them down from the pedestal and see them as mere humans.

Thank you Gauri Shinde for making this movie.

 

#Varisu - Old wine in a new, shiny, stylish bottle

 

Varisu is one of the Pongal 2023 releases. It's a typical south Indian masala movie filled with family drama, comedy, colorful songs, high-end cars, palatial houses and unbelievable hero fight scenes. The trailer of the movie tells you the whole story, there is no unexpected plot twist. However, there are still some scenes which make it a compelling watch on the big screen especially for the family audience. 

Here are my favourite scenes from the movie - 

1. Rashmika and Vijay meeting scene. 

This was a very funny scene and instead of the usual boy stalking girl love story that the old Indian movies used to show case as love, this was rather fresh where the girl has a crush on the boy and that blossoms into love.

    2. Yogi babu telling about the dining habits of the family to Vijay

Almost every scene with Yogi babu and Vijay was funny, this one was just a notch higher for me.

   3. Vijay's imitation of Redin Kingsley's characters

This was totally unexpected humour from Vijay. If I were Redin Kingsley, I would be really happy and elated for having made such an impact in such a short span. This mimicry during the fight scenes was very entertaining and had the audience in splits.

   4.  Jaya Sudha and Vijay's combo scenes in the first half.

There was one scene where Vijay tells his mother how she has just been assigned to be in the kitchen and there also, she has to cook food that his father (Sarath Kumar) approves. The mother-son combo worked out very well and the bond felt very real.

   5.  The chairman selection scene in second half

This was the most hilarious scene in the whole movie which has very interesting callbacks to Vijay's older movies - Bigil, Kathi and Master.

  6. Grandeur and colors in the movie

The movie's look and feel was very rich and colorful. It transported the audience to a larger than life setting after a long time. Grand mansions, rolls royce cars, helicopters and grand offices. Every scene's set looked like a million dollars.

There were several other small things that were memorable about the movie like - Vijay referring to #LoveToday , callback to #Ghilli, great action scenes filled with humour, etc. 

Ultimately, watching the movie felt like going back to a place of comfort and happiness. The audience came out entertained.

Hats off to the team of Varisu for making a movie with full conviction despite all the criticism.

Conventional dance songs are no longer welcome in movies ? #Vaarisu #Thunivu

 

I had an opportunity to watch both the Pongal releases this weekend - Vaarisu and Thunivu. Both were quite entertaining and completely different genres which was great for me as an audience. One was a family story filled with comedy and family drama while the other a layered bank heist story full of high paced action.

The theatre was packed and both movies were cheered by the audiences with full vigour. 

However, while watching Vaarisu, I saw that this popular song Ranjithame which has 140M+ views on Youtube, had a very luke warm response in the theatre. The problem was that this song was just stitched into the 2nd half of the movie very abruptly. While the audience were engrossed into the story, this felt like a very unwelcome interruption. Though it's a very nice song with great energy, it just didn't go with the flow of the screenplay. 

On the other hand, Thunivu did not have this unnecessary cut to a song in the middle of the story. The dance number was safely put at the end of the movie. 

This seems to be the trend that a lot of movies have been following for years now which is quite welcome by the audience. 

I wonder why Vaarisu makers did not do the same.

HIT 2 : A distant cousin to Goodachari and Evaru

 

Last night I started watching HIT The 2nd case with very high expectations on Amazon Prime. The premise was quite promising and I was pulled into the movie in the first 20 minutes. As the movie progressed, I felt there were a lot of loose ends that I couldn't convincingly comprehend myself from what was shown on screen.

At a high level, it is a good watch. However, having seen much better movies from Adivi Sesh (such as Goodachari and Evaru), this was weak in comparison in terms of how the mystery unfolds.

For the benefit of the makers and other movie enthusiasts here are the questions I had and how I comprehended some of these basis the movie. Let me know in the comments if you have differing opinions to these. I would be happy to consume a varying perspective. 

Resolved questions

Unconvincing but still I resolved these questions with some logic shown in the movie.

Q1. Why was KD pro live-in before marriage?

Ans: His parents were apparently a couple that fought a lot and now were on some world tour to reconcile. This was his reason to not get married without having lived in with the person maybe. 

Q2. Why was KD shown as someone with a very nonchalant behaviour initially during the first few scenes and suddenly his complete behaviour changes after this lady's murder case ?

Ans: Perhaps this was the most gruesome case he had seen so far and hence his confidence was lower than usual at solving this case. Also, he was not able to build a hypothesis as quickly as he was able to do in other cases given the nature of crime and hence it was natural that his behaviour and attitude changed to a more serious one.

Q3. Why was it necessary for KD to be angry with Varsha?

Ans: From the story's point of view, not sure why they had to show that KD was not trusting of Varsha. The only reason for that seems to be the need for her to put a tracker on KD's vehicle and save the day during the climax scene at the clinic. 

Q4. Why did Raghav commit suicide?

Ans: You could argue that he was depressed at being jailed, but it seems more of a convenience for the plot so that there can be escalation in the conflict between KD and his boss, the DGP. This makes the DGP spiteful and he fires KD and removes the protection for Arya leading to the kidnap of Arya and then the climax.

Q5. In the climax it is shown that Kumar used a teeth set to make the bite mark. Why didn't forensic think of that hypothesis? There shouldn't have been any saliva given that it was a teeth set. Also there was no other proof of an assault, so why would the killer just have bit the victim? 

Ans: The bite mark was more important than the heroine for this plot to be honest. The bite mark was the reason for Raghav's entry into the story, the conflict of KD and his boss and the eventual kidnap of Aarya.

However, it seems odd that the forensic team missed the hypothesis that it could have been a teeth set. 

Open questions

Q. Why does KD live in such a palatial house? What is his background?

Q. Why was there some callback to HIT 1 Vishwa and Vikram? What was the significance to this story?

Q. If KD got fired, why was the security immediately removed for Aarya? She still had threat and it is the job of the police to safeguard her.

Q. How did KD know how to whistle in the climax to call Max? In the beginning it was clearly show that he didnt have that skill.

Q. Why was Raghav's encounter planned? What was the minister's role?

Q. What was the need to show Raghav's workplace (steel factory) during his capture?

Q. How did Kumar know of Raghav and how/why did he plant the shoes in Raghav's house?

Q. How did the journalist air such a news of the encounter at such short notice and such short time?

Q. Why did KD not investigate Kumar's background and profession? Why did he simply believe that Kumar was unemployed and just spending his dad's money?

Cobra: Does not meet expectations

 Cobra started off like an extremely promising assassin story with multiple locations, multiple getups and high-fi assassination techniques. 

Alas! The joy was short lived and the story kept branching deeper and deeper into Mathi's(Vikram) personal story and his past life and traumas. At one point, the villain who was introduced in the first scene as some arrogant & cruel beast, was just left out from main plot line after a point.

There were just too many cinematic liberties the writers took that almost felt like they were writing it for children who would believe anything. For a movie that spoke so much about math and game theory, logic in the story and scenes was a basic that one would expect.

Here are a few things that kept me dissatisfied throughout the 3+ hours of watching the movie.

- The love angle between Bhavana(Shrinidhi Shetty) and Mathi(the Math teacher Vikram) was completely pointless to the whole story. The was a very weak connection via a student who is working on following Mathi's assassinations along with Interpol. At the end of the movie, I felt that we need not have seen known about this character and relationship at all. There were so many scenes and characters surrounding this love plot line that could have been cut out saving the movie a lot of money and reducing the movie length significantly.

- The mathematician student Judith(Meenakshi) who explains the Orissa CM's murder case just conveniently follows Interpol officer Aslan(Irfan Pathan) everywhere -- literally following him in interrogation chambers, shootouts, meetings with Russian defence team, etc. That character need not have been there at all, she could have disappeared after giving the theory. I do not know who in the right mind, let alone Interpol, would keep carrying civilians to all important discussions and risky operations. 

- The villain was rendered toothless and conveniently killed off when the story needed to end. There was no logic or reason as to why the villain who was initially sending assassins to kill would in the end himself go to shoot Mathi and eventually get killed. Also, I did not understand why they had to show so many naked white girls and this villain abusing some girls in the background. Just pointless and added nothing to the story!

- The movie explains that Mathi/Kathir is a genius mathematician. However, they failed to establish how a kid who has hallucinations, keeps doing math can aim and shoot at his target so well. How is he so good at hand combats and climbing large structures with such ease?

- There were so many smaller flaws that were hard to ignore like dubbing for Bhavana's and Jenny's characters was not lip synced well. There was a fight in Kolkata with Bengali goons chasing Mathi/Kathir but they were speaking fluent Tamil. They were on a conference call with Mathi/Kathir for some reason and it was baffling as an audience to understand what was happening.

In totality, Cobra is a movie with a great start which did not follow through till the end. I was very disappointed to be honest. The story had so many complex and ambitious ideas, I expected better from the writers.

Thiruchitrambalam: A Breezy watch

 

   Thiruchitrambalam is a movie that will take you back to Dhanush's VIP days. The nonchalant, emotional, boy-next-door character that everyone routes for. Yes, it is that kinda movie -- no plot twists, no jumping to long flash-backs. Just a simple story which keeps you deeply involved with all the characters till the very end. 

Here are a few notable moments from the movie that really struck a cord.

- The scene where a paralyzed Prakash Raj calls out for help to go to the bathroom. The struggle that he portrayed felt so real. The hesitation that Dhanush showed to go and help his dad in that scene with whom he hadn't spoken to in years, you could feel that emotion. This scene was very powerful and will definitely move one to tears.

- The moments that Dhanush and his grandfather (Bhaarathiraja) shared felt like eating an ice cream on a hot day.

- Dhanush and Nithya Menon's characters reminded me so much of Rahul and Anjali from Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. 

- Lots of funny and enjoyable scenes through out the movie

This movie is an easy-breezy watch for a lazy Friday afternoon. Enjoy!! 

RRR : It's all about extremes

 

The movie RRR (Rise Roar Revolt) just works. Here is why I believe it worked and continues to work for so many people across the world (yes, I believe it is pan-world and not just pan-India). It is a movie about extremes - some of which you get to see in super-hero movies of the west. The Indian movie offers a lot more extremes due to the rich culture and history of India and S.S. Rajamouli's grand story-telling.

Here are some of the extremes you get to see in this extremely entertaining movie -- 

- Extreme patriotism for the country and the community : This is the obvious thread that connects Ram and Bheem - both are on a mission owing to the patriotism for their country and tribe.

- Extreme friendship : The lengths to which Ram goes to save Bheem from the death sentence and vice-versa what Bheem does to free Ram from the prison and the death sentence are what you can only see in movies which is why your heart melts seeing this extreme friendship, almost yearning for a similar friendship in your own life.

- Extreme dedication : The dedication Ram has for the job he has taken up - to put a gun in the hands of every freedom fighter and the Bheem has for his mission to bring back Malli to the Gond tribe. 

- Extreme selflessness: Without being extremely selfless, Ram, Bheem and their respective friends and buddies would not be able to do what they did in the story. Be it Ram's villagers training for years to fight back the British or Bheem's tribe capturing wild animals to help with Malli's rescue mission.

- Extreme arrogance: If not for the extreme arrogance of Governor Scott Buxton, the story wouldn't have had the same impact on the audience in rousing the emotions of anger.

- Extreme mental strength and focus: Ram and Bheem's extreme mental strength and focus on the goal was aptly portrayed when they were getting tortured by the British in the prison and beaten up with the whip.

- Extreme karma: There was some sort of poetic justice in the way Governor Scott Buxton's death was portrayed. Wrapped in a barbed wired fence and dripping blood -- the same which she devilishly subjected Bheem to when he was captured by the British - her wish for Bheem reversed onto her during her death.

Well, on the whole, RRR was as a roller-coaster of an experience emotionally which is why I believe it has enthralled audiences across the world and become the success that it is today.

Thank you S.S.Rajamouli for penning the story and Ram Charan and Jnr NTR for bringing Ram and Bheem to life. 

Piku : Just too real

 

Piku is one of my all time favorite movies. It's a comfort film that I keep going back to when I feel a little down. There is a kind of comfort in the music and story of Piku. Here are some of the reasons why I recommend everyone watches Piku at least once.

- Piku is a very relatable movie for single women living with ageing parents and grand-parents.

- There is a Baba in all our houses who is slowly getting old and grumpier and needier by the day. They ask for attention indirectly and blame you if you do not pay attention to their health condition every hour.

- As a successful woman finding a partner who respects you and understands all the responsibilities you shoulder is very hard.

- You become the parent to your parent after a point in time and get just as irritated when they do not listen to you as they did when you were an adamant kid years ago.

- There is something about long road trips or long journeys that brings people together and for a while they stop bickering with each other.

Piku is streaming on multiple OTT platforms including Amazon Prime and Netflix. Go and watch it and let me know what you liked about this movie.

Major : All heart ❤

 

Last week I had the opportunity to watch 'Major ' which is a biopic on Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan. It was a heart-melting movie. There are five things that one can takeaway or experience during the course of watching this movie.

- Life of Major Sandeep and a deep dive into his personality

- Beyond the ultimate sacrifice that a soldier is prepared for while serving the country , there are so many little things they sacrifice each day This was beautifully brought out in the movie.

- The roller coaster of emotions that goes through the family of an army man who has set out into the field. The uncertainity of not knowing whether they will get to see their son alive after the battle was one of the side tracks you get to witness in addition to the actual terror attack on the Taj Hotel.

- Performance by Adivi Sesh and the way he immersed himself into Major Sandeep's personality was a delight to watch.

- The disservice that media did to the nation during the attack by unintentionally and indirectly aiding the attackers.

The movie is currently streaming on Netflix in Telugu, Hindi and Malayalam. Go ahead and watch this movie and let me know what your takeaways were from this movie.