tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2309362817539389132.post127234181894645190..comments2024-03-24T08:18:33.058-04:00Comments on Conversations Over Chai: Perumazhakkaalam (2004)Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2309362817539389132.post-80663672116367111162011-11-03T16:45:12.077-04:002011-11-03T16:45:12.077-04:00I hated both the women leads - the whole thing see...<i>I hated both the women leads - the whole thing seemed so superficial without any sense of urgency that the plot demanded.</i><br /><br />Precisely my beef with Dor! Not to mention the manipulation that Kukunoor indulged in. Do watch 'Perumazhakkalam' though - you have seen an alternate viewpoint down below. So come back and tell me what you think about it. It's available online, but there aren't any sub-titles that I could spot. The DVD does have sub-titles, though, so if you can buy it, then you have a better chance of understanding at least *some* of the dialogues.Anu Warrierhttp://anuradhawarrier.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2309362817539389132.post-59992214955365991232011-11-03T14:35:57.744-04:002011-11-03T14:35:57.744-04:00I hated Dor. I remember having an argument with on...I hated Dor. I remember having an argument with one of Rishi's cousins about it - she seemed to take it as a personal affront that I didn't like it. :( I hated both the women leads - the whole thing seemed so superficial without any sense of urgency that the plot demanded.<br />This is available on DVD, you say? I'll tell you what I feel about it after I see it!Tinanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2309362817539389132.post-5953618528549924192011-11-03T14:18:53.466-04:002011-11-03T14:18:53.466-04:00That's an interesting point. I didn't see ...That's an interesting point. I didn't see it that way because I saw their anger *also* as natural. I saw their wanting nothing to do with her as something that was very apt to the situation they were in. And while I sympathised with Raziya's plight, I thought Kamal did a good job of showing us Ganga's - especially that scene where her husband's widowed grandmother (aunt?) tells her that the verdict has come and that Akbar has been sentenced to death - there is anger and relief, even happiness in Ganga's eyes - and I thought to myself, 'Well done!' because if I were in that position, that is probably how I would feel. That vindication that there *is* justice, after all. <br /><br />Biju's character even says that - when Raziya complains about Ganga avoiding her - he says "They are right to do so. They have lost a son, a brother, a husband. But you cannot give up!" I thought the script made us feel sympathetic to both women - and their relatives. You can understand why they feel the way they do. And no one is painted evilly black, not even Raghuram's brother who insults Raziya.Anu Warrierhttp://anuradhawarrier.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2309362817539389132.post-8946265608347272482011-11-03T14:05:53.564-04:002011-11-03T14:05:53.564-04:00As a conflict between the two women it works but t...As a conflict between the two women it works but the way the side of the other relatives was handled was almost meant to force us to empathize with Raziya, which we would probably have done in the given circumstances. Clearly, there is a sense of anger in their hearts, but I'd saw there was an attempt to fuel the fire just for the audience to feel it further. Maybe they could have done away or reduced the relative side and focus more on the relationship between the women..E Pradeephttp://epradeep98.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2309362817539389132.post-42156271888820446192011-11-03T13:56:20.183-04:002011-11-03T13:56:20.183-04:00Pradeep, welcome. I think the switch from Megh Mal...Pradeep, welcome. I think the switch from Megh Malhar or even Madhuranombarakkattu was because in this, the pressure on the characters is so much more, no? In a sense, Raziya is fighting time as much as she is fighting fate. And the issue was so much more emotional - how do you forgive a man who has killed your husband? (Ganga) and How can you not fight for your husband's life, even if it means begging for it in front of the victim's wife? (Raziya)<br /><br />Loved the other two movies too, by the way. I just think this would stand scrutiny even in comparison to them. :)Anu Warrierhttp://anuradhawarrier.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2309362817539389132.post-14182190684656504392011-11-03T13:53:55.031-04:002011-11-03T13:53:55.031-04:00The characterisations of the two women, for instan...The characterisations of the two women, for instance, Ruhi. You are a woman whose husband has been accused of murder; you have a fortnight in which to locate the widow of the slain man, persuade her to sign a mercy petition on your husband's behalf, and then give it to your husband's friend who is leaving within ten days. So, what do you (Gul Panag) do? You show absolutely no sign of grief or desperation, coolly make your meandering way to Rajasthan with only the slain man's grainy newpaper photo in hand, make friends with a conman on the way, and then, when you finally locate the woman, and manage to talk to her - what do you do? Why, take her to see a movie. Of course! Why didn't I think of such an obvious thing! <br /><br />On the other hand, you're a young woman on the threshold of adulthood; you have been widowed before you even knew what marriage and life were all about. What do *you* do? Cry? No, of course not! You make friends with the woman who is your husband's murderer's wife, make her take you to a movie as price for your signing a mercy petition and *then* <i>you sing and dance and laugh</i> - <b>less than a month</b> after your husband died. <br /><br />Apart from that, unnecessary characters (so Kukkunoor could put in an obligatory appearance, songs that do not fit in *anywhere* in the narrative, Shreyas Talpade's *very* irritating character....<br /><br />Pffft! Don't get me started!Anu Warrierhttp://anuradhawarrier.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2309362817539389132.post-72343881727521427172011-11-03T13:46:52.871-04:002011-11-03T13:46:52.871-04:00*Definitely* miles better than the remakes, Sridha...*Definitely* miles better than the remakes, Sridhar, no question about it! Watch Manichitrathazhu vs Chandramukhi / Billo Barber for instance; or Vellanakalude Naadu vs whatever-trash-Priyadarshan-foisted-on-the-unsuspecting-viewer. Priyadarshan is of course, single-handedly responsible for the dumbing down (and worse) of classic Malayalam films for the benefit of the Hindi viewer.Anu Warrierhttp://anuradhawarrier.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2309362817539389132.post-67050187455544491052011-11-03T13:26:57.536-04:002011-11-03T13:26:57.536-04:00While I agree that this is a very well made movie,...While I agree that this is a very well made movie, I think it made a deliberate attempt to push us to empathize with the characters; not as understated as in Kamal's attempts like in 'Madhuranombarakkaattu' or 'Megha Malhar'...E Pradeephttp://epradeep98.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2309362817539389132.post-32737864022017154072011-11-03T12:18:45.291-04:002011-11-03T12:18:45.291-04:00Coming late to the post; I'm one of those who ...Coming late to the post; I'm one of those who thoroughly enjoyed Dor, Anu; why do you say it was a bad imitation? I haven't seen the original, so I cannot comment on it, but from what I read here, Kukkunoor followed the plot pretty closely. What am I missing?Ruhinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2309362817539389132.post-55102121349851245802011-11-03T12:08:00.757-04:002011-11-03T12:08:00.757-04:00I watched Dor before a Mallu friend of mine showed...I watched Dor before a Mallu friend of mine showed me Perumazhakkaala, and I was totally blown away by this movie. So much more intense than the Hindi version, I thought. I'm beginning to understand his anger at the 'remakes' which he claims are usually a travesty of the original.Sridharnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2309362817539389132.post-11250825221549197042011-11-02T10:39:06.354-04:002011-11-02T10:39:06.354-04:00Madhu, this is available on DVD, with sub-titles. ...Madhu, this <i>is</i> available on DVD, with sub-titles. I do not know where in Delhi you will get it, though. It's unbelievable the films that come from languages that are not 'mainstream'. Some more coming your way. :)Anu Warrierhttp://anuradhawarrier.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2309362817539389132.post-9143833952351032432011-11-02T01:58:39.979-04:002011-11-02T01:58:39.979-04:00This is unfair, Anu! :-( This film sounds like suc...This is unfair, Anu! :-( This film sounds like such a winner - that story had me rivetted all the way - and I am almost certain I won't be able to get hold of it with subtitles. Do you remember, you gave me a list of good films, Tamil and Malayalam, that I should look out for? I've got it saved on my laptop, and I go off and check my DVD rental service's catalogue every now and then, but no luck. Boo-hoo!!dustedoffhttp://dustedoff.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2309362817539389132.post-71447064912926579182011-11-01T18:13:14.796-04:002011-11-01T18:13:14.796-04:00Harvey, I said I was taking a break from writing r...Harvey, I said I was taking a break from writing reviews of good <i>Hindi</i> films. :) This is available on YouTube - without sub-titles, unfortunately. It is available on DVD, though.Anu Warrierhttp://anuradhawarrier.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2309362817539389132.post-24420218834053851422011-11-01T15:27:50.364-04:002011-11-01T15:27:50.364-04:00I meant Madhu!I meant Madhu!Harveyhttp://harveypam.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2309362817539389132.post-12017945056443386352011-11-01T15:27:30.921-04:002011-11-01T15:27:30.921-04:00I thought you are taking a break from writing revi...I thought you are taking a break from writing reviews of good films!!!!! *rant*<br />Now, I'm thirsting to see this film!!!! <br />WANT FILM RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!<br />*sob*<br /><br />I thinking having the hairline fracture is not going to help much, you will spend more time in front of your computer!<br /><br />Like Mahu would say: Hey Bhagwan!Harveyhttp://harveypam.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2309362817539389132.post-71149585644340528502011-11-01T14:13:09.502-04:002011-11-01T14:13:09.502-04:00I didn't know that Kamal had first cast Salim ...I didn't know that Kamal had first cast Salim Kumar in a serious role, though I have seen Achanurangatha Veedu. Navya is another actress who I think is really, really good. She has a very natural style of dialogue delivery, very reminiscent of Manju Warrier. (I used to hate Salim in those OTT 'comedy' roles.)Anu Warrierhttp://anuradhawarrier.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2309362817539389132.post-82654041224086730562011-11-01T14:10:40.633-04:002011-11-01T14:10:40.633-04:00There was a time in Malayalam Cinema, when you wen...There was a time in Malayalam Cinema, when you went to see the movie based on who the director was - *even if* it starred Mohanlal or Mammootty. It's sad that that soon deteriorated into the 'superstar' system where the stars became bigger than the script. With directors like Kamal, Ranjith, Lal Jose etc., I think that era is returning. I really like Kamal's movies - they are usually original, well-scripted, and *everyone*, irrespective of screen time is cast according to the need of the script and are equally important.Anu Warrierhttp://anuradhawarrier.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2309362817539389132.post-43295333819957932952011-11-01T12:57:02.473-04:002011-11-01T12:57:02.473-04:00Also, it was Kamal who first dared show the 's...Also, it was Kamal who first dared show the 'star-struck' Malayali movie audience the calibre of Salim Kumar, till then relegated to loud, over-the-top slapstick and buffonery in Gramaphone. He repeated him with this brilliant role in Perumazhakkaalam. It wasn't soon that Lal Jose, Kamal's favorite disciple, cast him as the lead in the heart-wrenching tale on child prostitution and sex-slavery, Achanurangaatha veedu in 2005. And now Adaminte makan Abu. truly deserved, i would say.cinemattersnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2309362817539389132.post-50785783767148598612011-11-01T12:51:32.993-04:002011-11-01T12:51:32.993-04:00Hi Anu,
Beautiful. Perumazhakkaalam, to me, is one...Hi Anu,<br />Beautiful. Perumazhakkaalam, to me, is one of those little, complete movies that Kamal, comes around with, once in a while. As you mentioned, he has always employed these delightful 'characters' across movies - the raggedy wind in Madhuranombarakkaattu, the ubiquitous Grandpa's beard ( Appooppan thaadi aka Calotropis Gigantea) in Kakkothikkaviley.., the traditional Malabari ghazals in Ghazal..) In a recent interview, he was asked what he considered a good movie. He said, "I just cannot answer it offhand. But, to me, it has to be a complete artform, hence along with execution, appreciation and assimilation are equally important. In the audience, a movie for me has to touch my heat, my mind, my eyes, my ears and move them." If only more thought that way. After all, the tutelage under PN Menon, Lenin Rajendran and Bharathan ought to have done some good, aint it? :) I too watched Dor, and came away feeling empty. It was more akin to being cheated.<br />keep it coming..regards..cinemattersnoreply@blogger.com