The title phrase Vinodhaya Sitham seemed familiar when I heard it first but, could not place it immediately. Then it dawned upon me that Vinodaya Chittam is a phrase in the Sanskrit shloka – ‘Bhaja Govindam’. But here, the title Vinodhaya Sitham meaning “Strange desire/will” in Tamil is based upon a Tamil play with the... Continue Reading →
Ilaiyaraaja – The Marathon Maestro!
This piece was written for the News site – The News Minute and was carried on the 2nd Jun, 2021. It can be read here: https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/happy-birthday-maestro-ilaiyaraaja-still-king-tamil-music-149943 If you are active on social media discussions relating to the south, you wouldn’t have missed the teaser of the upcoming Divya Pasurams by Ilaiyaraaja. This is Ilaiyaraaja’s latest initiative... Continue Reading →
Master – My Flash Review!
First of all, it was a pleasant surprise to see Master dropping on Amazon Prime video within just 15 days of its mega theatrical release! Having skipped it in theatres, I caught up with it on OTT in two sittings between yesterday and today. Yes, the film is 3 hours long and finishing it one... Continue Reading →
35 Years of Muthal Mariyathai!
This piece was written for the News site - The News Minute and was carried on 15th Aug, 2020. It can be read here: https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/35-years-muthal-mariyathai-why-sivaji-film-bharathiraja-classic-130796 In a scene in the film Muthal Mariyathai, the lead character Malaichami, an aged village chieftain, catches up with Kuyilu, a very young girl who has just recently shifted to the... Continue Reading →
K.Balachander at 90! Avar Oru Thodarkathai!
(This piece was written for the news portal The News Minute and and was published first on 9th of July, 2020 and here's the link for the same: https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/k-balachander-90-why-directors-films-still-appeal-women-128265) Back in the ‘70s, in my middle class household of five members, the only person who would watch movies was my mother. She would do that... Continue Reading →
20 years of Rajiv Menon’s ‘Kandukondain Kandukondain’: Time for a sequel?
(This piece was written for the news website thenewsminute.com and was first published on the 24th Mar, 2020 and can be read here: https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/20-years-rajiv-menon-s-kandukondain-kandukondain-time-sequel-123891 Another day, another anniversary of a film release and another hashtag. Amidst this clutter though, few films deserve to be remembered and celebrated. Rajiv Menon’s Kandukondain Kandukondain (KK), which completes 20 years today since its... Continue Reading →
Sillu Karupatti – My (late) Flash review!
I had heard some good feedback on this film when it had released few months ago. I have not seen any previous work of the director of this film ( Halitha Shameem) and had not heard of her either. So, started watching the film without any baggage or expectations. As the film opened, realised it’s... Continue Reading →
30 years of Apoorva Sagodharargal
(This piece was written for the news website thenewsminute.com and was first published on the 16th of April, 2019 and can be read here: (https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/30-years-apoorva-sagodharargal-why-kamal-haasans-film-unforgettable-100133) Directed by Singeetam Srinivasa Rao, Kamal Haasan’s blockbuster film – Apoorva Sagodharargal hit the theatres in April 1989, exactly 30 years ago. This was a phase when Kamal, post the success of Nayagan, had started experimenting... Continue Reading →
Looking forward to Shankar 2.0!
Director Shankar’s upcoming film 2.0 we hear, is going to hit the screens finally on the 29th of November, this year. This film featuring none other than the Superstar Rajinikanth has been awaited with bated breath by the director’s fans for quite some time now. That will be a in a long time that a... Continue Reading →
Bringing Carnatic music to mainstream Tamil cinema, the K.Balachander way!
(This piece was written for the news website thenewsminute.com and was first published on the 9th of July, 2018 - https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/bringing-carnatic-music-mainstream-tamil-cinema-k-balachander-way-84430 In one of the most impactful and memorable scenes in the Tamil film Sindhu Bhairavi, the male protagonist, who is a famed Carnatic vocalist, is shown rendering a Telugu kriti ‘Mari Mari Ninne’ in a concert. The assembled audience in... Continue Reading →
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