Kanthasamy - Action entertainer.

Kanthasamy

Tamil bloggers praised the movie Nadodigal,Pasanga blindly. I had checked the same in theatre and was disappointed as they were just average movies. Similarly, for Kanthaswamy - I prepared myself to watch this movie without much interest, in a theatre. Surprisingly, the movie was not as bad as it was presented in the reviews or in blogs. Moral of the movie is

எப்ப‌ட‌ம் எவ‌ர் விம‌ர்ச‌ன‌ம் ப‌டிப்பினும்..

Let me keep this review short [ த‌ப்பிச்ச‌ம்டா !]. Some mythical characters are always attractive. One such character is Robin hood. The concept is catchy - stealing from the rich and serving the same to poor. Fighting injustice and doing good. Till date, we have so many movies based on this concept. In fact, all the movies [ ending with 'n' ] of Shankar had the same old concept of Robin hood. It started way back from Kongu nattu thangam, Neelamalai thirudan, Malaikallan, Karuppu Panam. So don't worry about the story.

The movie fan should not search for same Will Smith of 'Enemy of the state' in the other film 'The pursuit of happiness' or vice-versa. They are different. Kanthasamy is a fantasy thriller type [ like Ayan]. For me, a good film never makes me to check for time or look for killing time in the theater. Neither Ayan nor Kanthasamy did that. It was good.

Plot

If you have already seen Guru, Gentleman, Ramana, Sivaji, Anniyan that's more than enough. The making and looks, make the film to watch it interestingly.

View

The film got a good script and interesting sequences. The screen presence of Vikram is convincing and good in this film. He is basically from modelling and that helps him a lot in this kind of 'looks' based movie [ like Billa 2007 ]. He works as CBI officer and the robin hood who does the money distribution part. He fit the role perfectly and could have done even more rich dressing.[ the best costumes, I have seen is in 'Oceans 11' - Classic ].

Interestingly, the Thiruporur temple has been used in this movie. It's a risky theme to play with temple and people's belief in the system. Fortunately, Susi Ganesan has handled the game cleverly, convincing the audience. He easily got the possible elements of a spy/action thriller. For the first time, the director justifies the way all the gimmicks done by a hero - logic's of flying, make-up and using intelligence. The same old characters of a Don film follows the story like CBI Director, another higher rank police officer, Villain, Villain's secretary, club dance [ அட‌ ..அட‌.. :) ].

Interestingly, Sreya looks far better in this movie [ A mole in the left cheek too ! - padam review ezhudhudaannaa :) ]. Don't think very cheap about me praising Sreya for " Miyaav Miyaav" dances. [ முமைத்கான் பேர் போட்டாங்க‌.. ப‌ட‌மே முடிஞ்சிடும் போலிருக்கே ! :) ]. I consider the work of Devi Sri Prasad as not up to the mark. I could still remember the songs/re-recording of Haris Jayaraj in Vettaiyadu Vellaiyadu - It was so apt as having an ATM in the entrance of a big shopping mall [ Ha..ha..]. DSP lacks the interest in the BGM and only 2 songs were good. Otherwise he depends on loud music [ high decibel hindrances. ]. Had the movies got a better music director, the output might have been entirely different. DSP's music is not matching the movie - they look detached as the vibuthi kungumam stand in Anjappar hotel [ ஆமாம் .. அது எதுக்கு அங்க‌ வைக்க‌றாங்க‌ ?!? ]. The technical part of the movie is good - especially, the Mexico sequences.

Don't ask for logic in action movies. It's sad that our critics also ask for a "message", after watching the eye catching dances of Sreya [ இப்ப‌ தான்டா புரியுது !]. I don't want to get into the collection statistics, Vikram, Dhanu or Abirami Ramanathan [ Chennai distributor for this film ]. Because, I was disheartened to see 150 days life size flex banner for the movie 'KURUVI' in Sathyam theatre [என்ன‌ கொடுமை சர‌வ‌ணா இது]. I neither liked Anniyan nor Sivaji [ except Songs and Rajini ] but Susi Ganesan has definitely done a better job than Shankar. Actor Prabhu has become Tamil cinema's sentiment as the films were hit with him doing a support role [ Billa, Ayan ]. I liked the SUVs used in the Mexico sequences [ Toyota Prado, Nissan Armada - wonderful one ]. Have you seen 'Cadillac Escalade' ? That's mine :)

Yes ! There are flaws in this film like Vikram's unnecessary/forced getup(s) like the lady, old man, etc., First, I was wondering why Susi Ganesan did a small role in this film. It's a budget reason - instead of taking an artist to Mexico, they might have felt the director can do the role :) .Susi ganesan in an interview said that instead of taking the same Rowdy/Madurai /Village/Thiruvizhaa Avyinga/Ivyinga based movies, he has tried the repeated story with 30 new scenes ! Though I disagree with his statement, I can say it's a good entertainer. The only caution is if you have grownup kids, the glamour part is too much. [ not for us :) ]. For kids, I would suggest 'ICE AGE 3' the 3D version in Sathyam theatre.

:)

-Toto.

50th Post :)

I sincerely thank all of my friends & followers involved and reading the blogs. Thank you for making this to happen. [ Click the image to see the actual version ].

:)
Toto.

Shadows of my cycle.

அமாவாசையும் அவ‌ர் சைக்கிளும்

If someone asked me in 6th or 7th std about the goal in life, I would have said nothing but owning a BSA SLR. Nobody in our families owned a bicycle, those days. My uncle was the only person in the family who knows how to ride a cycle [ he rents ]. That too he uses that only based on business requirements [ buying lico coal for his machine shop furnace :) ]. He was not patient enough to teach cycling to us. We mostly depended on the teenage seniors in this situation. Don't imagine that our teenage seniors going to college or doing better things in life. They work in either workshops or a store at the maximum.

The presitigious jobs in my hometown were - a salesman in any textile shop [ javuli kadai alla kadal ] , conductor, high school teacher or an accountant sitting in the store with a listpad and a wooden ball point pen without cap [ வ‌ழ‌ வ‌ழ‌ன்னு எழுதும் ]. The workshops I told about, run through out the month except on new moon days. New moon days were special to me because that's when the families used to have some special tiffin in the night [ except idli :) ]. Due to traffic in Chennai, I was not allowed to try cycling till my 5th std. As a Chennai based kid, I felt very insulting to run a single tyre or a cycle wheel [ upper class :) ]. So we used to wait for new moon days.

In new moon days, family outing happens and the workers union meeting happens. The workshop teenagers go out to Kanchipuram for watching the new films. And most importantly that's when the seniors help us in teaching our cycle lessons. It all starts from saving money for a period of 15 days. We used to make friendship with "Jamaal" brother [ ஜ‌மாலுத்தீன் சைக்கிள் வாட‌கை நிலைய‌ம்] to just develop a rapport. And on the D day, we have to wait for the cycle. All the rival children group fight for the same cycle [ there were only 2 small cycles ]. After checking the time repeatedly, we finally used to get the cycle. After taking to our street by just moving the cycle, we start our cycle lessons.

A sub-plot story.. [ பெரிய‌ ஸ்க்ரிப்ட் ரைட்ட‌ர் இவ‌ரு..]. One of family friend used to visit us regularly. I somehow request and convince him to take his cycle away - it was a BSA SLR ladies cycle. We used to roam in that cycle for a longer period and come by the time our conductor uncle is about to leave. One day, for a change we took the cycle to a ground and ended up with 6 punctures in the back wheel. After that incident, he never gave the cycle to us. We too neither questioned him why nor asked for the key again.

Mahalingam annan [ working in my uncle's workshop ] was my senior relative who taught me cycling. It was a bit tough learning cycling without dashing on the wall or running into the houses. I never liked monkey pedalling [ arai pedalling ] - the ugly way of cycling. So we tried our classes with the small cycles and bribe as much as possible to Mahalingam to get the trick of cycling. I wonder how Mahalingam could ride a cycle hands free. That was the highest trick I could imagine. Days passed by and I was on the same stage. Mahalingam scolded me heavily on one new moon day and i was very upset. He laughed at me stating that I never can learn cycling. With that disappointment, the same day I tried multiple times and finally rode it well. I managed to stop and get down too. But I noted that remarks of Mahalingam deeply.

Then I skipped visiting my tutor and started cycling on my own. Mahalingam didn't worry about that. He continued his work and dreams with cutting metal sheets and joining them. I was a great fan of comics [ Muthu, Lion and Rani comics too ]. We the children gang, used to search for something always and I am fond of reading the bit pieces of paper. One fine day, I found a letter written by Mahalingam and about kidnapping my aunt's daughter and settling with his own workshop in Kallakuruchi. We cannot expect much from a person whose life was just made up of metal sheets. My cousin [ அத்தை பொண்ணும் க‌ஸின் தானே [ பின்ன‌ என்ன‌ அஸின்னா இருக்கும் ]] started crying that somebody really would kidnap her and marry. To convince her and Keeping my vengeance in mind, I have handed over the letter to my uncle directly. I never knew the consequences.

It was as good as informing about Aiswarya [ Pechiyammal ] and Mechanic Murugan to the Dindugal wine shop owner Rajendiran [ காத‌ல் ப‌ட‌ம் பார்க்க‌லையா ??!! ]. My uncle smashed Mahalingam in pieces. He begged that he comitted a mistake. For a workshop owner with a single daughter, that letter looked like a life time crime. They hit him heavily and packed him back to Kallakuruchi. Everybody started calling me as a CID. By the time, I realised my mistake, much damages has happened to Mahalingam already. I never met him in life, again.

Few years later, in my 10th std my father bought me a BSA deluxe cycle with white washed tyres. The very first day we did some rituals to the cycle and decorated. I couldn't even sleep that day out of joy. For me, it was a life time dream coming true and for other school mates it's just a cycle. Madhan already owned a BSA Mach then [ அதை ஓட்ற‌துக்கு விர‌ல் தெரிய‌ற‌ க்ள‌வுஸ் வேற‌ :) ]. The next morning, I went to my early morning maths tuition. One the way back, in a junction suddenly, I felt a interruption in the flow and fell down [ முனி அடிச்சிருக்குமோ ??!! ]. I checked riding the cycle repeatedly and fell down fewer times. As Sujatha said in "Arisi" short story my "thinai arivu" was different from cycle mechanism [ அவ‌ர் திணை ப‌த்தி பேச‌லாம்.. நீ ?! ]. I took the cycle to "Jamaal" and explained. He laughed at me saying that I was not eligible to own a cycle. He went out for a ride and while coming back he was strolling the cycle with a mark in his knee. I laughed back at him.

The technology with BSA deluxe cycle was that it had a special feature called forelock [ பெரிய‌ ABS break system ]. The forelock was open and in reacting to any jerk, the forelock automatically gets locked. That's the reason for the sudden stoppage [ முனிக்கு வேற‌ வேலை இல்லை ?! ]. This is what explained by our cycle GDNaidu Jamaal. Due to his anger, he permanently broke the forelock.

I returned back home and said this to my mother. While I was washing the face, my mother asked me whether Mahalingam might have thought about me and my new cycle. After washing my face [ I cannot open eyes with froth in face - my cousin does :) ], I said 'Certainly not'. I know my cycle guru very much - he was a very good person.

Do u know Mahalingam's address ?

-Toto

Banlieue 13 ultimatum - Jumplingam

Parkour [ டுபாக்கூர் இல்லைங்க‌ !]

In my early days, I used to wait for 'Fights' in the title card and walk away if I don’t see the same. I convince sometimes 'Stunts' or 'Action' in the title card too. I was happy to see Judo rathnam, Hayath, Shyam Sundar (shetty), Kirubaa, Vikram Dharma in the title card. We used to fight with sound effects [ Dishkaal ] with our friends :). In Telugu films, I never wait for the stunts in title card - because by default the film starts with a fight. Our super advertiser Kalaipuli Dhanu advertised for his Vijaykanth starred movie "Nallavan" that 'South India answers to Jackie Chan :) [ எல்லான் ஒரு வெள‌ம்ப‌ர‌ந்தான்ணே ! ]

Then it's the days of Jackie Chan - he is the real master in fights which are choreographed almost like a dance with perfect timing. Bruce lee fights more like a monk. The later arrivals like Jetli and co spoiled my interest towards the fight movies and also the Chinese movie Crouching tiger, hidden dragon.

After a long time, I interestingly watched the chase n fights in 'Bourne identity' series. Then came the superb chase n fight sequence in 'Casino Royale' - that's the real fight in Bond movies - a classic 8 mins chase. First time, Bond ran for a full length jumping n diving without an ultra modern car. The fight was a real treat to watch. Later, I liked the fights in 'Vettaiyadu Villaiyadu' [ Stun Siva ] and Ayan. Ayan had this good fight sequences in Congo. Though the stunt master is Kanal Kannan, 2 South African stunt coordinators were used in Ayan. Seeing the response, Sun pictures has hired them in 'Aadhavan' [ the new Surya film ] too. Watch the title cards in the ads.

Our gentleman Kathir told me that it was Parkour and introduced this new form of sport ! Parkour came from a French word parcour meaning 'go fast'. Parkour is a free style running, jumping, climbing, diving immaterial of the place where they do it. It requires a very high standard of physical flexibility and mental fitness. No wonder, British and US marines introduce parkour as part of their military training. The different between a normal chase and parkour chase is that the normal chase ends when a dead end [ a locked high rise fence :) ] comes up but the parkour chase has no obstacles.

Banlieu 13 ultimatum

The story starts after 3 years from the first part. The government authorities try to settle down the area called 'District 13'. Not many changes happen to the place; instead the place become more worse with guns, drug trafficking, garbage and violence. Also they have so many groups divided by the races and nationalities [ underworld gangs ]. Arabs, Chinese, African American, Mexican and native French warlords share the place.

There's a good guy from the cops and one from the local rogue gang. They team up against all the odds to save the district 13 from troubles. For a parkour stunts based movie, the plot is more than enough to run, dive, jump, twist, swing, climb, roll, drop, leap and what not !!

View

Just take away your age, go back to your school days and enjoy. The film has the perfect elements of fights, suspense, 2 unstoppable and physics defying heroes with a mission. Also, they are accompanied by the perfect teams of small groups and their heads [ typical supporting roles that you find in Telugu movies ]. What you get is 'Gilli' like action packed thriller. The music played a very good match [ rythmic beats ] just accompanying the tempo of the movie.

David Belle has acted as the local rogue - You know what.. He is one of the founders of Parkour and is a treceur. This is actually the second part of Banlieu 13. There are more movies based on Parkour sport. Yamakasi [ உத‌ய‌ம்‍க்கு அடுத்த‌ ஸ்டாப்புங்க‌ளா ?! :) ], Bourne ultimatum, Die hard 4.0. The good part is that all the stunts are original and not cheated with rope stunts or computer graphics. True fight film freaks never liked those cheap n rope techniques for fights.

Thanks to my friend Crankx who suggested this movie. His comment to this film was ' Just dub this in telugu and release it directly '. I second him.

:)

-Toto.

Big Fish - Story-teller's story

Big Fish [ க‌தை சொல்லியின் க‌தை ! ]

In any friends’ gang, we might have come across one interesting and convincing story teller. They cannot tell anything straight but with vivid explanations. It might have been a simple accident - but the way they explain is like some spectacular miracle has happened. The important thing about this type of character is their tolerance to insult.

I remember one of my aunts used to tell the story of Thooku thooki, Thangap padumai with e every dialogue and song in the afternoons of the summer vacations. She memorized by hearing the same in LP records. My schoolmate was a master story teller - he used to take me in his hero majestic bike to a remote place and explain the films he saw. The first film he explained was 'Chanakya' Kamal's mallu movie - he freely takes almost the time of the movie except songs n fights. He narrated me the furious story of those times 'Shiva' ad the most sweet love story 'Geethanjali'. In fact, he is my first contact for films - he was the one who started giving film lists for me. [ என்ன்ன்னா ப‌ட‌ம்டா .. பெஜாராயிட்ட‌ன்மா :) ]

Nobody can forget the brilliant story telling of Oho productions Chellappa to his father. Chithralaya gopu was inspired by the way Dada mirasi narrates the story with less dialogues and more expressions [ he is a film maker from Marathi; Director of Pudhiya paravai ]. One of my old time friends used to narrate the story with utmost profanity [ 'ச‌ங்கிலி முருக‌ன்' குடும்ப‌ம் டோட்ட‌ல் டேமேஜ் :) ]- otherwise, he can't take the story forward. I still can believe whatever Sujatha writes and whatever Nellai Kannan speaks [ த‌மிழ‌ருவின்னு இவ‌ரை சொல்லி இருக்க‌லாம் !! ]. One such story teller is our 'BIG FISH' [ foreword is lengthier than the review :) ]

Trivia : Once AVM Saravanan told in an interview that the only director impressed him in story telling was KBhagyaraj - He narrated Mundhanai mudichu in Palmgrove hotel in 2+ hrs without a single reference or a paper. He explained the story with all dialogues [ including placement of songs ] with an interval too [ KBhagyaraj took a puff in the break :) ].

Plot :

The story is based on the book with the same name 'Big Fish', written by Daniel Wallace. It was a novel of myths and fantasy illustrations. The film starts from the frustration of William Bloom, a young man who couldn’t understand his father because of his story telling abilities. As a kid, he was convinced by his tales and as a grown-up, he couldn't. Nevertheless, his dying father Edward Bloom talks to everyone with always a story inside.

Narrated in flashbacks and present, William used to recollect his father's fables. The stories about his brought-up in Ashton, involvement with a giant, circus company, meeting his lover and then turned wife. Thus with these unbelievable stories, William decides to disconnect from his father and stays away from his father. However, Will's wife Josephine is attracted to the tales of her father-in-law. Time rebinds Will back to his father who becomes seriously ill. The final part of the puzzle is left and Will decides to join the puzzle game. What happens then is the end.

View :

The movie is combination of drama and fantasy. The story is just filled with unbelievable people, places and happenings. The main character Edward Bloom resembles a few other characters from other films, Forrest Gump, Guido from life is beautiful. The story flows to and forth with change over in the narration with either senior or junior Edward.

As in any fairy tale, this story introduces so many unusual characters like giant, twins, werewolf, mermaid, dream village and of course 'Big fish'. The interesting part is the sub-plots that comes in different stages of his narration. I liked the status of a poet changing into something else in Texas. The way the old doctor explaining about his father to William in his understanding - though everybody knows about the stories they just accept it. Can we go back to our grand mothers or aunts and say whatever you said was not true !

The best part is the senior's love story ending in a marriage. But the happenings in between goes just like a fairy tale. The characters are so interesting to a giant, circus owner, Korean twins, and a poet. They even touch the Texas real estate and Wall Street humorously on the flow.

The way the film ends was fabulous. A perfect climax of the story teller. The BGM needs a special mention in this movie and was so soothing. Especially during the climax, the BGM enhances the movie watching experience. This is one of the kind where you just believe what happens in the story and don't ask for logic [ like Mr Magorium's wonder emporium ].

Remember the S.Ramakrishnan's title 'Eppodhumirukum Kadhai' ?! - That's story of Big Fish.

-Toto.

Children of men - acceptable science-fiction

"In 20 years, women are infertile. No children. No future. No hope. But all that can change in a heartbeat"

Can we imagine a world without any children ? In fact, "Veenapponavan" may stop writing poems, if there are no children in the world. Science fiction doesn't always mean to chase some atomic or nuclear bomb. The knot of the story should be compelling or attracting to get into the film, first. In olden days, you can see the poster and tell a story of an action film in Tamil or Telugu. But seeing the above quote of the fim, once can't conclude anything and keeps the interest about this film, live.

I'm scared of Sci-fi movies usually, as the story can traverse in any direction. Remember, in old Jaishankar films, RSManohar acts as a villain and with the help of a rubber mask, he'll become any character in the story [ அட‌ப் ப‌த‌ர்ங்க‌ளா..! ]. Similarly, a science-fiction can show anything and put the blame on science. But this movie attracted me because the director said the technology would hit a ceiling along with an increased level of pollution [ wall-E ! ], pandemic diseases and increased problems. As days pass by, the cities we live definitely stink more than we expect it to be better. [ Bangalore was greener ! ]. That' a nice way of depicting the future as the science fiction usually takes the brighter part alone [ showing expressways and 1 seated cars ].

The story handles a sensitive issue - child ! That's the most mysterious part in life, where mostly we don't know how to react. A fine moment in life where emotions take over the science - we can't ignore the child birth just as a scientific happening. What happens when the human race stops and take a break ?! Watch Children of men.

Plot

The knot is in the year 2027, women can't give birth to. The story starts with the youngest kid alive, is shot dead, collapsing the hope of human race. The youngest inhabitant of the planet has just died at the age of 18, and all hope for humanity has been lost. Theo is a common man who lives alone after getting his divorce and loosing his daughter to flu pandemic. He reluctantly gets in to a mission of saving and transferring a refugee who is the real challenge for this issue of mankind. The refugee has to be handed over to the care of a secret organization known as The Human Project.

The story is loosely based on the novel with same name. It's written by P.D. James's gripping 1992 novel.


View

First about the hero Clive Owen.. acted in Derailed, Inside man; he has played the common man role, swimmingly. I like him for his looks and familiarity. He doesn't possess any super natural powers , martial arts etc., He is a divorcee and has the intention to save a refugee girl from a problem. He takes the responsibility and moves forward without knowing what the next step is. The more relevant thing is that he had a flashback of his daughter out of some flu pandemic [ Swine flu is also pandemic - not endemic or epidemic ].

The truth is the future has more pollution, health hazards, wars and of course, technology ! the director has studied psychology and cinema before making films. He has boldly taken a story which most of the directors wouldn't try to. His briliance starts in the first scene, itself. The opening sequence is as shocking as 'Die hard 2' - Manhattan sequence.

This is neither a fiction nor a thriller. It's a combination of fiction, future, mankind told in a thriller fashion [ like the book title told by Vivek.. cosmic energy coupled with atomic energy in the evolution of mankind programmed by java ]. The realistic fiction shows a grim and gloomy futuristic world with unknown attacks. In a way, the happening resemble the world war periods and the camps.

I need a special mention about the photography - I need this because I was wondering for few shots inside a car during a chasing. The camera rotated in 360 degrees showing the incident happening behind, inside and through the front side of the car. The DVD got footage of explaining how they achieved this. Marvelous piece of technical work. Also, this film engages lengthy shot sequences taken in one take [ like the opening scene in Anjaathey ]. Also the sound effects used in the movie is fantastic.

I haven't come across a thriller which deals with this kind of peculiar requirement. I stopped in between to take a break as if I was watching some kind of horror movie - U'll definitely feel the same when Theo and Kee travels in a bus to cross the border. I paused the movie out of anxiety.

Every new scene leasds to a twisted problem which we can't even imagine about. I couldn't resist remembering "Naan Kadavull" by director Bala. I saw "Children of men" as an antidote for "Kadavull". When I finished the movie, I thought of recommending this film and 'Colour of paradise' to director Bala. The literature and art forms always try show the hope and faith. This is one of the fine movies which shows the same.

Conclusion

One of the nice films, which has fiction and faith. It's remebered for its brilliant direction adn techniques. I add Clive Owen's performance also as a factor to watch this movie.

:)
-Toto.

Video Cassette days

ஊராட்சியும் மாந‌க‌ராட்சியும்

Due to enormous emails and requests from friends [ ப‌ச்சைப் பொய்.. ஒரே ஒருத்த‌ன் தான் கேட்டான் :) ], I share about the video experiences during the school days. My school days were of mixed experiences - ranging from a town to city. I have had the opportunity of watching street plays, Mahabharatham oration [ 18 days - க‌ர்ண‌ மோட்ச‌ம் கேட்டா சில‌ருக்கு 'சாமி' வ‌ந்துடும்..]. Of course, the all time favorite cinema was major entertainment [ even now ! ]. In the evolution, we had spent some time with video cassettes too.

In my Amnijikarai ‘Kaathaadi’ days, I was the first point of contact for any TV schedules. Though our home didn't have one, I had the complete information. Movies/Songs were so attractive those days that we used to wait for the Friday, Saturday [ hindi movie ] and Sunday. We used to run to Mohan's house or 'Mala' akka's house for watching some Tamil movie [ Anandha ragam, Nellikani - Sivakumar ]. Pon Chandrabose was my friend's father and he had big bound books claiming them that were his scripts. He is acting in some serial it seems.

I remember 'Adade' Manohar was staying in the next street [ Vellala street - Aminjikarai ]. Aminjikarai memories deserve more blogs [separate one for Murugan stores and kaathaadi experiences ! ] to share. Sometimes, strangely we have seen 'Roopavahini' too [ Srilankan channel ] with news in a different dialect of Tamil and some movie. Antenna [ Aluminum fish bones :) ] setting needs special skills and coordination [ இப்போ ?.. இப்போ ?... இப்போ ?...ஆன்ன்ன்.. அப்டியே உட்று :)].

In my hometown, we watched TV in even more distorted pictures [ ம‌ண‌ல் ந‌திக‌ள்! ]. Basha bhai's wife used to collect entrance fees to watch the movies [ 15 paise, 25 paise ] - We fight for the place and watch some junk films like Vadai malai [ Bhakthi film - Srikanth acted :) ]. No guarantee if it rains. Then we shifted our place to Jabbar teacher's home. They used to tease me asking the film and actor details. Without knowing their intention, I used to explain whatever I know right from the cast to the director. They were really worried that whether I really study and show the same interest in studies. My school has my name in the achievement board [ then it was history.. சொல்லி வை.. ha.ha. ].

For any of my early experiences, they come in 2 flavors .. one as in Chennai-29 and the next as in my town.

Chennai

We had a neighbor in the first floor [ lived in flats in the 80's itself :) - G1 is ours.. but deviamma or umaamma veedu was the identification. The Marrati neighbour owned a video shop in Shenoy nagar and they get the deck during the weekdays for their family. I still remember the rexin container bag for the video player, with red velvet inside. They never allowed me inside to watch movies - Never care of insults when you are after something, seriously. Mostly, I win by getting in and watching some movie. We had another family in the street where they rent movies and screen with entrance fees [ mostly less than a rupee ].

I can say the movie names even now [ Namma ooru nalla ooru, 36 chambers of shaolin, Naan sigappu manidhan [ useless trivia : SriBrindha, Permabur theatre, started its operation with this film - they regularly screen Rajini movies ]. Shaolin temple, Mandhirap punngai, Poo vizhi vaasaliley, many Jackie chan movies ]. Myself and my younger sister used to sniff anywhere a video deck is rented.

We used so many techniques to get into any video screening place. It was little bit tough if it was night. My mother used to locate me with the chimes sound of Nayagan film. She used to close her eyes and look for me. I was a good friend of my school master [ Prem - He ws like 'Alfredo' in cinema paradiso for me]. He used to give special treat during christmas and new year.

A sub-plot story - I used to roam with him during weekdays. He took me to Shenoy nagar in cycle, bought ice-cream, showed ICF ad then we work for fun in Venkateswara Bhavan in Aminjikarai [ State bank sandhula ]. Then we have our lunch - on the way back I used to buy cut films [ Sivappu suriyan - மிஸ்ட‌ர் மிர‌ண்டா.. எதிரி எவ‌ண்டா ஸாங்க் வேற‌.].


Hometown

It’s the other extreme in my life. I watched theru koothu, Silambam, Poo Garagam, thee midhi [ rewinding when I saw last week the advt of Rayiladi Nagathamman thee midhi thiruvizhaa poster :) ]. We used to check the sky for stars during the video screening days. That’s a signal that video function will happen without any issues by rain. The tradition in our home town is to screen first 'Kafhaa' – a documentary on Muslim’s pilgrimage. It’s about a journey towards Mekka n madina. And then the variety of Tamil films [ Kaalaium neeye maalaiyum neeye, urimai geetham, nayakan, Manithan, pickpocket, tick for treat, evil dead [ evil dead was not a horror movie instead it was awkward ].

Nayakan was the only film which I have watched enormous number of times in different forms Cinema,deck, tv, vcd and dvd. I still remember telling to my cousin that the photography was really good in Nayagan. We saw that in a dark night and open street.

It was a real bad culture of that time that they screen 3 films in night for any damn functions at home - right from 'kaadhu kuthu' to the final journey. Mostly they organize this in streets with magnifiers sometimes or white screens sometimes. Mostly the crowd favour for an action or comedy film.

I'll end it up with a poem from Na.Muthukumar's collection.

க‌ட‌ந்து வ‌ந்த‌ பாதைக‌ளை

காற்றுட‌ன் பேசிக்கொண்டிருக்கிற‌து

குடிசைக் கூரையில் சைக்கிள் ட‌ய‌ர்.

:)
-Toto.

Double indemnity - Insurance crime

Double indemnity

A claims man, is a doctor and a blood-hound and a cop and a judge and a jury and a father confessor, all in one. - Barton Keyes.

I coorelate the experience of watching a thriller as standing in the doorway of an express train. And, I can equate the twists in a thriller equal to the passing bridges. It's thrill! The two most inconvincible professionals are tax auditors and insurance clearance agents. It's not only the attribute of police to investigate a crime but also for an insurance officer. There are few films associated where the crime is based on insurance. I remember one Tamil movie which followed this theme - Kei Niraya kaasu with Nagesg acted in dual roles.

Double Indemnity - 1944/Thriller
Adapted & Directed: Billy Wilder
Based on a novel by John Cain.

Plot

The entire story is narrated by Walter Neff, a charming insurance agent. Phyllis is rich man's wife who happens to meet Neff once in her home. They slowly develop a friendship and gets into a relation. They get slowly into a dangerous and an almost perfect plan to murder the rich man. In turn, they plan to get the insurance money and lead a new life.

The plan looks easy but complicated as much as a big mess. Neff's boss Barton Keyes, an outstanding insurance investigator who has a little guy inside him [intuition] leading him to crack any great case. With these elements, what happens is the plot for a perfect thriller. The story moves in flashbacks from Neff's view and involves the clash of different fates of all the characters involved. That makes this movie a super thriller.


View

Alfred Hitchcock movies were the eye opener for me, which stated that black & white movies were not slow movies. There are certain films which move at the speed of a bullet train [ Tamil example : Gilli ]. There are many examples of this genre.. Spellbound(1945), The killing(1956), Strangers on a train are few to quote for now. This film is a classic example of a fast executed script.

The BGM is an inevitable part of storytelling - even I remember we used to narrate the action films with sounds and BGM.. In fact, even when we fight in childhood we make sounds [ Dishaaal, Dishyum :) ]. That's the power of BGM. This movie got the perfect BGM which enhances the thrill and increases our temptation to look for what happens next.

I liked the light and shadows part of this thriller. More'shadows' are used in this film to represent the darkness of the events involved in the story. Somehow, this movie resembles 'the strangers on a train'. The best part is the characterization of Barton Keyes. He is one of the sparkling and brilliant characters in the story. His dialogues are rally outstanding and soundly convincing. That's the reason I used his dialogue as quoted in the beginning.

Conclusion

A perfect thriller for a Saturday night movie time.

It wasn't an accident.. it wasn't a suicide.. What it was then ?


-Toto.

Thirai Gaanam - 2008

திரை கான‌ம்

Let us listen to some songs for a change [ ha..ha.. DVD தீந்து போச்சா :) ]. I have been collecting and listening to music for a long time. Right from my school days, I used to move with slightly elderly friends and hence I was attracted to the songs they listened that time. I remember listening to 'Poondhaliraada' from 'Paneer pushpangall', in Ungall viruppam. I remember in UKG [ yei.. Yei.. Mister.. என்ன‌ இதெல்லாம் :)‌ ], I listened to this 'Mayile Mayile' from 'Kadavull amaitha medai'. Slowly, I grew with All India Radio programme on on film songs - உங்க‌ள் விருப்ப‌ம், திரை கான‌ம், ஒலிச்சித்திர‌ம், ஒரு ப‌ட‌ப் பாட‌ல், சிறுவ‌ர் சோலை, தேன்கிண்ண‌ம்.[ sometimes, Hindi songs used to come 'aap kee parmaayeesh' !].

I spent a lot in recording songs [ in empty 90 mins cassettes ] in my early days of my career. I had a box full of 90mins Maxell/Sony cassettes. I had a friend who owned a music shop with very rare collection. The shop was filled with LP records - I found that as a treasure.. Nandu [ Manjall veyil maalayitta poove ], Mudhal Iravu [ Manjall nilavuku indru ], Karumbu Vil [ Meen kodi theril ], Kazhugu [ Kaadhal ennum Kovil ] are some of the rare gems ! . I even recorded MNM songs in a 90 mins cassette - just for fun [ Crankx knows what is MNM :) ]. I'll recollect more in a separate blog [ இது வேற‌யா ! ] .

The only topic I am comfy and confident talking with Mysskin is Tamil film music and films [ not much on books :( ]. He introduced instrumental music like Santoor [ Pt Shivkumar Sharma ] ,Ramana malai, English film soundtracks [ Braveheart ] to me.

Slowly, my music gadgets changed from Sony walkman, CD - MAN player and now it's a ZEN mp3 player with FM Radio. Now, I have settled with FM radio [ around 9 channels in Chennai ]. The beauty of FM channel is it's unpredictability. Suddenly, you hear the prelude of 'Poo maalaiye' from Pagal nilavu or the mesmerising flute start in 'Siru Thoduthalile' from laadam ; just like a heavy n sudden rain. In my Bangalore life, I missed this beautiful option of hearing songs in radio. After I returned to Chennai, I'm delighted to hear songs almost all the time. The best one's are from Vairamuthu neram - in aaha FM.

This blog is about the female singers of 2008. Though I am not convinced to restrict the songs by year or by any other category, I wanted to share the frequent songs that came in FM.

1. Madhushree - Marudhani / Sakkara katti / ARR

In the outlook, it looks like a simple song. However, during the saranam, the song travels on its own way. [ Kaadhali kei nagam ellaam ] along with a wonderful rendering of ARR. The beauty of Vaali is that he doesn't dominate the song with his poetry skills. Madhushree is a gift to music fans. Without much explanation [ rather himsai :) ], try listening to this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbzBJY-kSVA


2. Bombay Jayashree - Yaaro manadhile / Dhaam dhoom /Harris Jayaraj


The chemistry of Bombay Jayashree in Harris's music started way back in 2000 [ Vaseegara in Minnale ]. A trivia about Vaseegara song - it's the only Tamil song which has the word 'Mudivili' - infinity. [ காத‌லெனும் முடிவிலியில் க‌டிகார‌ நேர‌ம் கிடையாதே !!].

The initial lines are sung by Singer Krish. Her voice travels in a different orbit, unexplored by the regular singers in Tamil. A real good one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxeRnmr7DWc

3. Swetha Mohan - Manasukkull / Anjathey /Sundar C Babu

For some people, music is in genes and a big YES for Swetha Mohan. She is the daughter of singer Sujatha. Manasukkul song comes in Anjathey for a short while, showcasing Uthra's unexpressed love. Cool n beautiful song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fp0RgRoym3I


4. Sudhaa Ragunathan - Anal mele pani thuli / Vaaranam 1000 / Harris Jayaraj.

What a fantasic start for a song ! Sudha's voice is fresh to tamil film music. Another combination of a carnatic singer, Harris and the poetic poet [ அட‌டே ! ] Thamarai. I like the lyrics of Thamarai in par with any great lyricist in Tamil. She is the sole song writer in all Gautham menon movies - right from Vaseegara days. The only restriction for me is to listen this song instead of watching the video [ Divya Spandana-vai kandaa enaku allergy ].

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAiWz-q3uZE

5. Sadhan Sargam - Mukundha Mukundha / Dasavatharam / Himesh


Just for the voice of SS.

Best duets of 2008
1. Kangall Irandaal - Belly raj/Deepa mariam - MD:James vasathan - Subramaniapuram
2. Naan varaindhu vaitha - Hariharan/Madhushree - MD:Vidyasagar - Jayamkondaan
3. En anbe - Sadhana Sargam/Benny dayal - MD:Harris - Satyam
4. Ragasiya kanavugall - Hariharan/Madhushree - MD:Harris - Bheema
5. Adiye kolluthey - Benny dayal/Krish/Shruthi hasan [ Terrific voice !!]- MD:Harris - Varanam 1000
6. Mundhinam - Naresh Iyer/Prashanthini [ Daugther of Malaysia Vasudevan ]- MD:Harris - Vaaranam 1000
7. Machaan machaan - IR / Belashinde - MD:YuvanShankar - Silambattam. Bela Shinde is also a winner from Sa re ga ma program along with another gen singer Shreya ghosal.
8. Lesaa parakudhu - Karthik/Chinmayi - MD:Selvaganesh - Vennila Kabbadi kuzhu.

Happy listening.

-Toto.

Chennai - 600029.

Daily 4 shows - II [ Chennai : 600029 ].

This post is dedicated to Kathirvel - my only friend from 'Arumbakkam' area.

The period is set between 1981-85 [ 1st to 5th std - Skipped 2nd std - double promotion :) ]. I was taken [ obviously ! ] by one or the other senior at home. Everyone had their own way of watching movies. My father used to take me to Sivaji / Kamal/ K.Viswanath/ KB/ Vittalacharya [ u know what - V.Acharya is a Kannadiga ] kind of movies. My mother had her own circle of friends. My chithappa and his friends were the film freaks who took me to the cinemas, most of the time.

Director Vincent Selva [ Selvam ] was my classmate's elder brother; they stayed just 6 houses next to us, in Aminjikarai. V.Selva was a good artist. He drew us a few pictures on our science notebook. I used to watch 'olliyum oliyum' and Sunday movies in his home [ BW Solidaire with sliding doors - Remember Subramaniapuram TV :) ].

Lakshmi

Lakshmi theater is an important landmark of Aminjikarai and it's a small world on its own. It has so many small shops, lodge and the theatre behind. It's the bus stop too. Lakshmi has been the same since my childhood days. The same 2nd quality pictures used to come [ even now ]. We watched Sakalakalavallavan, Thanga magan, Thalaimagan, Pudhuk kavithai, uyirullavarai usha, Bhaktha pragalatha, Shaan, Payanangall mudivathillai, Mann vasanai etc here.

For "Sakalakala vallavan", my mother took me daily to Lakshmi and we returned without tickets. We were successful on the 3rd day. I am curious to see how this theatre is now. But it's still screening the best possible junk in the list.

Muralikrishna

It's the class A theatre for Chennai-600029 people. The good thing is that it's close to Lakshmi so that we can easily choose between these standing in front of Palace or Gowri Shankar hotel. I ve seen the Nenjathai Killadhe, Theeradha villayaatu pillai, Paayum puli, Naalai unadhu naall, Thoongathe thambi thoongathe, Nanayam illadha Nanayam [ இந்த‌ ப‌ட‌த்தை எடுத்த‌வ‌ங்க‌ளே ம‌ற‌ந்திருப்பாங்க‌ :) - First screen appearance of Judo Rathnam ]. I have collected all these useless trivia and became a blogger. Ha..ha..

Once, my father grabbed me out of my tamil exam [ half-yearly ] in my 4th std. I didn't have the least clue about where I was running towards. My father took me to "Muralikrishna" theatre and we went in - some news reel was going on with Indra gandhi speaking something furiously in hindi [ Most of the times, I remember seeing "Neenga nallaa irukkOnum" MGR song before movies]. The movie was Salangai Oli. I still remember the large banner where Kamal bows his head to the ground level and watching the dancing foot.I was madly dancing [ நென‌ப்பு தான்.. ! ] the next 2 weeks.

Pazhaniappa

We were taken to this theatre in a short cut from the back side of Vellala street [ too many buffaloes :) ] passing on the koovam wooden bridge to the theatre directly. Pazhaniappa is the 3rd class theatre [ the theatre started it's operation with "Pallaandu Vaazhga" ] - you can understand by the list of movies. Thooral ninnu pochu, malaiyur mambatiyaan [ Hindi remake Rajini's 'Gangwar' was screened in Ega -ஐயா.. ஸாமி ஆளை விடு.. நீயும் உன் த‌க‌வ‌லும்.. :) ].

Ellaam inba mayam - The best of those times. In return after 27 years, I took my father to Dasavatharam in PVR - Bangalore. Ellaam inba mayam was far better. மாம‌ன் வூடு ம‌ச்சு வூடு.. ப‌ரிச‌ம் போட்ட‌து குச்சு வூடு :)

I never wonder why I remember all these things. There are only 2 ways to remember a thing - either you like it very much or you do it repeatedly [ once I read this in Kumudam ]. I like cinema - simple.

Ega and Sangam were high class theatres and we used to visit them, once in a blue moon. I skipped Sindhu Bhairavi [ in Ega ] and watched Mard [ later remade by Rajini as Maaveeran in Tamil ]. I watched Velaikaran, Andha 7 natkal, African Safari, My dear Kuttichathan in Ega.

GRAND- I have seen only one movie - Lolita [ 1997 ] directed by Adrian Lyne. Don't get afraid that I have mentioned about the director - Wrong n atractive posters technology :). Anna nagar badly needs a Theatre - I still wonder why none has tried building a theatre there.

My friend Crankx watched 3 shows in a day in the same Abirami theatre complex. :). The sad thing - Roxy has been demolished and getting replaced by Saravana stores. People are too busy in buying rather than spending time with family in entertainment. Too busy to fill up gas :).

-Toto.

Daily 4 shows

தின‌ச‌ரி 4 காட்சிக‌ள்

Cinema should make you forget you are sitting in a theater - Roman Polanski

Disclaimer:
This is definitely not an autobiography to test your patience [ ச‌த்திய‌ சோத‌னை ‍ - ப‌டிக்க‌ற‌வ‌ங்க‌ளுக்கு :) ]. Just registering my thoughts about my hometown theatres.

Gents, Ladies, bench, chair, balcony, fire, exit, projection room, காலைக்காட்சி, இப்ப‌ட‌ம் இன்றே க‌டைசி,வ‌ருகிற‌து, வெற்றிக‌ர‌மான‌ இர‌ண்டாவ‌து வார‌ம்– All these words resemble my glorious movie days.

The movie experience is considered best, only when it is watched in a big theatre [ I am not a fan of mini, cine, baby kind of theatres ]. The psychology of watching in the big screens is that it controls us rather we controlling the film with a remote. We completely loose the control watching a movie in a theatre [ that's the key of entertainment - forgetting the EMI/assignments/family/office ]. The DVD or home theatre experience is just a bogus alternate to cinema, where you pause the video, skip a song, conscious about fan/AC speed, some sound in the kitchen [ கேஸ் வாஸ‌னையா வ‌ருது ?! ], tea break, kid running out with remote [ BOLT ப‌ட‌ம் போடுப்பா :) ]. The worst form is watching a movie in the TV channel with 50 advertisements in between, in an omni bus or a car DVD system. That's not the true cinema experience, I call. Let me recollect some of my movie hall experiences in the past.

My hometown didn’t have many places to spend time for entertainment. Either the place had to be a temple, school ground or a cinema theatre. By default, our first choice in a free time was movie and most of the time we were free :). We didn't have biased views, filtering, preview, review[ tortures like film4thwall :) ] talking about the movie. We just experimented whatever the junk it was. It was the glorious late 80s where so many films were released in a month. That's when IR was scoring for all the movies. We used to watch any flicks ranging from 'Karimedu karuvayan' to 'Kaaki chattai', 'Selvi' [ Devar films with dog in it ] to 'SriRagavendrar'. We used to applaud for just showing Rajini photo advt card in the interval [ Skylab tailors :) the first card used to be தின‌ச‌ரி 4 காட்சிக‌ள்- Sathya arts followed by புகை பிடிக்காதீர்].

If Sundara Vinayagar crosses our bus stop, that’s the final warning for us to run towards the theatre. [ we used to tell the time by seeing the bus - பெரிய‌ விஞ்ஞானி இவ‌ரு ]

Srinivasa :

It was the class A theatre [ Bench – 1 Rs., Chair Rs.2.50 The school teachers used the balcony Rs. 3.50 class ha..ha..]. Any new movie [ at least 4 months old ! ] comes to this theatre first. I watched all the movies in my school days sitting in almost all the rows of the theatre.. We preferred the first 10 rows. I need to watch the movie from the white screen to white screen. I can't digest getting into a movie that was already started. [ I was glad to see Woody Allen saying the same dialogue in ANNIE HALL – என்ன‌ ஒரு க‌னெக்க்ஷ‌ன்.! ]

The beauty of this theatre was the morning shows were dedicated for classic films like Moondram pirai, Naadodi mannan, Manohara, Vee.Pa. Kattabomman etc., The regular shows were the new films of that time like Udhaya geetham, Vaidehi kaathirundhaal, Mudhal mariyadhai, Maapillai [ Some examples.. For the full list, I may need the help of Film news Anandhan :) ].

"Thaai veedu" was the first film, we [ I had a great company - my cousin ] started watching by going to the theatres on our own. Till then, we were taken through the ladies counter and then get shifted to the gents. That's how I ended watching enormous number of movies in my school days. We were allowed to see almost all the movies. However, only married couple used to go to Bhagyaraj movies in the 2nd show [ ரெண்டாம் ஆட்ட‌ம் ].

I remember all Kamalhassan, Rajini, Mohan movies were released in Srinivasa. The uniqueness of the town was everybody liked Rajinikanth movies and never allowed a Kamal movie to run for more than a week [ except some real blockbusters like Aboorva sagodharargall, Kakki chattai . Guna ran just for 3 days.. Think about Hey Ram ! ]. On the contrary, Rajathi Raja ran 5 weeks houseful in all the 3 theatres, simultaneously.

Due to ill fate, the theatre is converted to a marriage hall. I don't know whether the groom thinks that his marriage is going to be like an action thriller in the future. :) . I couldn't digest that news and started avoiding that area, when I visit my hometown.

Balan

It's the typical old type theatre which has got front elevation looking like a glorious building and on the back side it's the usual rice mill model of cinema hall. This is class B theatre wherein medium films were screened [ Rama.Narayanan, TRajendar, Suresh, Murali ] and sometimes old movies were screened [ re-release ]. Before renovation in the 80s, it had the parapet wall running between the ladies and gents section [Remember the fight scene in the film 'Kozhi koovudhu' ]. It's highly inevitable that I use examples from cinema to explain anything :). The small boys who sell snacks [ அர்ஸ்ஸ்ஸீ முறுகேய்ய் ] and 'goli' soda [ I used to collect 'soda' goli ] in a wooden crate, used to easily jump between that great wall of the hall [ சோடாய்..க‌ல‌ரேய் ].


I remember watching 1000-il oruvan, Billa, Kazhugu [ காத‌ல் என்னும் கோயில் பாட்டு கேட்டிருக்கீங்க‌ளா ?] Thillana moganambal, Rathak kanneer, Vijayakanth kind of action movies in this theatre. The other good thing was this theatre was the next compound to our great [?!] school. Next to the Kabadi ground, we had a small tree on which we climb and listen to movies in the lunch break [ it was some funny noises – mostly climax fights ]

Rajalakshmi

It's a class C theatre where nobody had a clue what the film screened in that theatre [ even if you watch the movie, you can't understand :) ]. It's the place where typical Thiyagarajan, telugu dubbing, animal based action movies, revenge flicks were screened. I watched Andha oru nimidam, Solla than ninaikiren, eeety [ Extra Terrestrial இல்லை‌ங்க‌.. இது Vijaykanth padam ].

My Uncle had a habit of watching movies in this theatre especially the last day of a movie. The identification is that they paste " இப்ப‌ட‌ம் இன்றே க‌டைசி" on the existing poster. His logic was that he'll get a chance to watch the trailor for the next movie. [ வெவ‌ர‌மான‌வ‌ராமாம் ]

Touring talkies :

The evening show starts with a MGR song "1000 கைக‌ள் ம‌றைத்து நின்றாலும்" and then some songs till the crowd gathers. It had low class [ sand ], bench, aluminum chairs as the high class and the rags as the side doorways. The entire family was once taken by my father for "Bhaagap pirivinai" [ Ada che ! ]. In fact, I was compelling him to take us to 'Vikram' that day. I stopped asking him then. I remember seeing Viduthalai, Bala nagamma, Kaali, Mullum malarum, Maya mothiram in that theatre.

I have been watching the fall of theatres and highly disheartened by the same. Slowly, my childhood theatres started including English movies [ not the good ones ! ]. They didn't get the mass as they used to get. I remember people coming cycles from the villages a few KM away from the town. Rajalakshmi was gone long back and it's still not demolished/reused. Similarly, for Balan – it’s just bushes there.

The only theatre which is still live is Padmavathy [ mini theatre ] – recently, we were just 15 people watching the movie TN07 4777. I was not watching the movie [ crap ] and started rewinding the list of movies, I saw in that smallest theatre of my town [ Idhayathai Thirudadhe, kodi parakudhu..]. I remember they started the first show sentimentally with திருவிளையாட‌ல்.

I’ve watched movies in theatres ranging from touring talkies to the theatre in New York [ PVR screens in Bangalore is a real good experience - Pudupettai, Vettaiyadu Villaiyaadu ]. Films are not only just about entertainment but the memories associated with theatres, the friend(s) we go with and other things matter a lot. I still remember seeing 'Aboorva sagodharargall' multiple times along with the Kamal narpani mandram friends [ They distributed Kamal photo and candies to the audience ].

That's why I became very emotional when I watched ‘Cinema Paradiso’ - I saw my hometown in the Italian town "Giancaldo ". It's a masterpiece.

'Theatres in Pondicherry' is another nostalgic topic where 22+ theatres were running and now there are just 6 theatres existing in Pondy. That's a separate story.

-Toto

My plan is to have a theatre in some small town or something and I'll be manager. I'll be the crazy old movie guy. - Quentin Tarantino [ His life is also completely made up of movies ! ]

List of thrillers.

List of must-watch thrillers from my DVD collections.

The easiest category of movies to watch is Action/Thriller. I started collecting DVDs when STAR MOVIES aired the entire series of Bond movies [ it was promoting Casino Royale then]. That's where I started my DVD list. Then the Hitchcock movies fascinated me, which I was under a wrong impression that old movies weren't so interesting. I am delighted to watch fast paced movies based on robbery, secret agent, murder mystery, serial killing, nerve-racking chases, prison escapes etc.,

Consciously, I have avoided the too famous films like Termintor, Mission Impossible, Speed etc., This list is to enable our friends to have the list of actoin movies to be watched.

This time, I would like to list out the best thrillers, which I came acoss. I am damn sure that this is not the comprehensive list of thrillers to be watched. However, it'll be a good start here to move on for movie collections. Don't worry if you have covered only a part of this list. I still have the unfinished movies list. After all, we need some pending things in life to keep it ticking :)

Film & Director

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

1.Silence of the lambs --Jonathan Demme

2.Rear Window --Alfred Hitchcock

3.The French connection --William Friedkin

4.North by North west --Alfred Hitchcock

5.The usual suspects --Bryan Singer

6.Seven --David Fincher

7.The Manchurian Candidate [ 1962/2004] --Jonathan Demme

8.Fargo --Coen Brothers

9.Chinatown -- Roman Polanski

10.L.A.Confidential -- Curtis Hanson

11.Reservoir Dogs -- Quentin Tarantino

12.Vertigo -- Alfred Hitchcock

13.The Departed -- Martin Scorsese

14.Memento -- Christopher Nolan

15.Eastern Promises -- David Cronenberg

16.Cape Fear [ 1962/1980 ] -- Martin Scorsese

17.The fugitive -- Andrew Davis

18.Blue velvet -- David Lynch

19.I confess -- Alfred Hitchcock

20.Spellbound -- Alfred Hitchcock

21.Broken arrow -- John woo

22.Face off -- John woo

23.Clear & present danger -- Philip Noyce

24.The Jackal -- Michael Caton-Jones

25.Bad boys I & II -- Michael Bay

26.Rope -- Alfred Hitchcock

27.Fight club -- David Fincher

28.Inside Man -- Spike Lee

29.Escape from alcatraz -- Don Siegal

30.Apocalypto -- Mel Gibson

31.Frenzy -- Alfred Hitchcock

32.Topaz -- Alfred Hitchcock

33.Shadow of a doubt -- Alfred Hitchcock

34.Flawless

35.Italian job -- Gary Gray

36.Eagle eye -- DJ Caruso

37.Birds -- Alfred Hitchcock

38.Thick as thieves -- Mimi Leder

39.Pulp fiction -- Quentin Tarantino

40.Jackie Brown -- Quentin Tarantino

41.Death proof -- Quentin Tarantino

42.Eraser

43.Derailed --Michael Hafstrom

44.The Peacemaker -- Mimi Leder

45.88 Minutes

46.The Training day -- Antoine Fuqua

47.Carlito's way

48.The Killing -- Stanley Kuberick

49.Body of Lies --Ridley Scott

50.Brother -- Takeshi Kitano

51.Taken -- Act:Liam Neeson

52.After the sunset -- Act:Pierce Brosnan

53.Cloverfield

54.Dial M for Murder -- Alfred Hitchcock

55.Strangers on a train -- Alfred Hitchcock

56.Ronin

57.Minority report -- Steven Speilberg

58.Family plot -- Alfred Hitchcock

59.Kill Bill 1 & 2 -- Quentin tarantino

60.Catch me if you can -- Steven Speilberg

Happy watching !

-Toto.