The Godfather

The best ever movie, i would dare to say, and most of you would obviously agree..!! '"I'm going to make him an offer he can't refuse" , is one of the best quote so far...!!! The performance of Marlon Brando and Al Pacino cannot be termed as performance even, they have lived through the life of Vito Corlene and Mikey. Not only them, but all the characters have contributed their best for making the the Classic. Every other movies that has been considered as great movie, since after the time of The Godfather, has been some or the other way being influenced by this movie. Remember, Kamal Hassan scrapping his head in 'Nayyagan'..??? It is also a take away from the movie. Style of Mani Ratnam's 'Thalapathy' is also largely on this movie. Even the lighting, scene flow, the dialogues and the only-lightly emotional nature of the main characters is also attributable to this movie.

If You consider the movie is irresistible, try reading the original book written by Mario Puzo. Simply Awesome. Except for the details and the slight variation of more concentration to the Movie Star's life, the movie is generally following the book. The movie, as everyone would accept has an impeccable flow. Even the most important scenes are in the same flow, think of the scene of Don being shot outside his office. Except for the (relatively) fast moving characters and scenes nothing would suggest You the kill. But still these small variations are enough to suggest that something important is to happen.

I remember reading this somewhere regarding the selection of Marlon Brando for the character.The Francis Ford Copola team of the Movie went to Marlon Brando, who was having a sloppy side of his career, and gave the brief of the character to be played by the Hero. After hearing the brief, Marlon went into his closet and took a very long time to come out. The team was getting bored and was about to leave, when Marlon came out of his room with full make-up, perfectly matching the character told to him and asked when are You going to start the shooting..!!! That was the dedication and eagerness showed by Marlon Brando which is well visible is in the movie. The second part of the movie is also good, but the third part is comparatively bit less, in impressing the Critic lobby.

The movie is simply a great feast to watch, relish, remember and recommend.

TITANIC

The movie that impressed a lot of people. Obviously it had impressed me also, with a lot of attributable memories...!! I have a lot of remembrances to that movie..!! when the movie was to be released a hell a lot of hype about the movie and the Ship itself, broke out. I started collecting and learning details of the Titanic. Wonderful details to know and relish. Obviously You would also be knowing the impressive dimensions and the various details of the impressive vessel. The luxury shown in the movie is actually an understatement, believe me...!!

The movie has some spectacular shots...!!Great Dialogues in the movie, by the way..!! According to me two scenes are afresh in my mind, one because of the photography and the other because of the importance of the scene itself..!! When the diamond falls into the ocean, OMG, the scene is spectacular ....the way the necklace floats and drowns...mmmmm...i love it ..!!

The other one is, when Rose calls for the Rescue boat..!! At first she let it go and starts to count her final seconds and then remembers the words of Jack and lets him go Him down and then whistles for the help...!! Nice picturesqueness ...!! I am sure that many of you would also have a lot of favorite scenes..!! I remember one of my friend saw that movie for 'that' particular scene..!! Yet another was deeply into the love in the movie...!! Yet another friend, TG Karthy (yeah, the spelling is right), saw that movie six times in the theatre just to see the Pistons of the Titanic engine....crazy guy....but he is one of the few practically intelligent guy of our batch and one of the very few, of our batch to be employed in a core company..!! I remember the last count of me watching that movie as 26...happened to see it again in STAR Movies tonight. Lot of memories....mmmmm, as rightly quoted, Memory is Joy, Remembrance is Fun..!!!

World Classical Tamil Conference

First ever World Classical Tamil Conference....that too in my home town (if one considers 40 km is nothing, due to global expansion). Watched it with great eager, amidst few ignoring the Conference due to obvious reasons..!!! The acceptance speech of Asko Parpola, first recipient of the Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi Classical Tamil Award was meaning full. But….!! I am a typical Tamilian with similar interest in the language. I am a guy who looks at the credits column of the softwares and search for the Tamilian names (of course among Indian names) and feel proud and satisfied. Mr Asko Parpola, I am sure would have done a lot of creditable work to the language that is why he has been nominated, vetted and awarded this award by the Award committee. I am aware of his works, happened to have known the article before some time. But I would have been really satisfied if the First ever WCTC KK award was given to some known Tamil figure. I am sure that there would have been few language veterans here also.

The arrangements done, what the city has gone through is mind blowing. Proves again, if the Govt wants, anything can be done. Due to the big family circle, which happens to be in few Govt Offices, I happen to know the furious attitude with which the Govt machine has worked to make this event possible. Saying Rs 1500 Cr as the expenditure would be an underestimation. The EB Dept has zero pending projects. All the lines of the Telephone Dept re-laid. PWD itself can’t believe the speed with which it has completed the works. The Police Dept has once again pulled out a mammoth job. (There may be few exaggeration, but forgive it as out of exuberance). One friend in the Telephone Dept was joking, 'U never know, if u have power cut, please try your landline, u may get a clean AC supply between the mouth and ear piece'. Another in the pvt sector said that he was thanking God for this Conference in Coimbatore, otherwise his dying Company would have laid him off. Anyway, if the Avinashi road is going to look good for some more time, I am with all these. If other roads of Coimbatore are also to look like Race Course Road, I am with all these.

Coverage of the program needs mention. DD Podhigai, as usual messed it up, except for the Opening Day. Even in the Opening Day, why is that the Govt Broadcasting Organisation limp with only one Camera angle? (Only one camera angle or only one camera..???). Working on Fixed Salary, so Camera in Fixed Line..?? During Kaviarangam...., God , somebody was teaching me, how to cook according to old Tamil methods. On a larger scale, SUN Network gave good coverage. Their three window view of the 'Iniyavai Naarpathu' with the attribution to Tamil.....I loved it ..!! Kalaignar Network due to the obvious closeness to the Govt, was always close to the central stage and the Chief Guest, but they messed a lot with the coverage as well as their sound system. I can say atleast 40 names of the people who were around the camera.

I heard from the people about the locations of the various Halls and the stalls. It was bit tiring and near to impossible to visit all of them, because of the distance and the crowd. Crowd understandable, but distance, somebody could have put his bit more of brain. The CODISSIA ground could have been partitioned with absolutely separated and isolated entry and exit points and still could have done the crowd management. The land there extends upto and behind SITRA and even beyond, if one has bunked classes and roamed there, he would know. Walking in same compound for a mile rather than moving between facilities at different location for a 1 km, is better.

Overall, as a Tamilian I am proud to certain extent due to few obvious other places of concern. One of the National News Channel described the event as Rs 325 Cr party by and for the CM. Other was mentioning it as the final stage of handing over the reign to the heir. To certain extent I am with, both the view. When a joint family is slumbering in some difficulty, a function would rejuvenate or help to overcome the sorrow for atleast a brief time, if not permanently. So, let us be positive, we have got one opportunity to get to see some good research paper-type works and disclosures (if that is the right word). Let us enjoy it and rejoice to the maximum. As said by few, if you dont know classical music atleast to enjoy it, one is missing one taste of the life, same way, if one does not know to enjoy one's own language's literature, I would say, they are missing one important and essential taste/part of their life.

Puravipalayam Kottai.!! (This is a personal know-about, personal views. May not be factually accurate.)

Puravipalayam is a village about 12 km from Pollachi. I remember going to this village first when I was in my 3rd standard. This village is known for its Zamindar family, and it happens to be the place where the Godman, Kodi Swamiyar, dwelled, blessed people and now sleeping to eternity. Had gone to village with my elder brothers, as the guest of VAO, and hence the guest of village itself. The son of VAO was my brother’s classmate. I vaguely remember having visited the Godman and being blessed by him, roaming around the typical village street and playing and fishing in the ponds there. I still remember carrying back a polythene bag of fishes (some ‘Jelabi’ variety fish), and en route, back due to some mysterious reasons, all died one after other (later I learnt that if we carry 25 fishes in a small bag, they will die).

That was the age of rumors and the facts held no reason or value. “When the Kodi Samy sleeps in the night, his hand, leg and neck separates from his main body, thus helping his soul to move out to God, and en route fulfill all the prayers. If you try to see him in the night, you are sure to be eaten by vampires.” I used to dream of peeping in to his bedroom, to find his hand moving out of his body. “The Godman, shall have what he desires to have, so if he asks for your Gold Chain, pl do give it”. Since I had gone to some friends house in village, to celebrate the occasion, had carried one of my favorite dress and a new dress, not to mention the BATA Chappals (costing Rs.109.95). Was worried to go to him, what if he likes my dress of chappal..??? I did work out a plan, how to run fast covering myself with the inner wears only.

Memory is joy, remembrance is fun.

During this trip home, I had decided to visit Puravipalayam and have a look around. I had gone and alas. The Zamindar family reportedly did not have proper blood line to continue the name and had fallen into ‘remembered stories’. That part of the Palace, which used to be occupied by ‘Kodi Swamiyar’ was in a dilapidated condition, the rest of the Palace was like the one shown in initial scenes of ‘Manichithrathazhu/Chandramukhi/Bhool Bhulaiyaa.The portion which was in a bit good condition, seemed to be renovated and was occupied with modern symbols like Dish TV, Willow Wind Chimes, Kann Thirusti Ganapathi, Mark 4 Ambassador Car, Powder Coated Sheets fitted in most of the portico and porches.

Had gone around and stole the palace into my mobile camera. Seeing the places, I was feeling, “Oh, this would have been the main entrance, there comes the Zamindar in his Double Horsed Chariot”, “this would have been the Darbar Hall, he would have used to meet the people”, “Oh this was the place ‘Kotti Samy’, used to be seated”, “these are staff quarters”. “Mm, look at the vehicle sheds, imagine the number of chariots and horses he would have had” (Effect of Aiyarathil Oruvan..?? NO) It was a nice trip around. Had a mixed feeling, while coming back. There were no live ponds. Only few pump sets, open wells, mm..!!! Where are we heading ..??

Always looks like, Green across banks..!!!

Sometimes, rarely sometimes, I used to think, should I change from my present profession to the Police Service. There are options for changing to State Police with same rank or to IPS Cadre with one rank down. It is not for the Pay or the satisfaction, for the first doesn’t amuse me much, while as of the second, I am more than Satisfied. But for, Respect.

Don’t mistake me, for my present profession, is deemed to be very high, for they both are not compared only. But by ‘respect’, I mean the power, Recognition. So very rarely, I used to think of switching. Few instances/news now and then would make me to shy off from such thoughts, but a recent incidence has confirmed my thought of staying with ‘the Organisation’.

It was a function to dedicate the statue of the ‘Indian Architect’ to the Nation. A state CM, who happens to be the senior most ‘serving’ Politician, Minister, who is in charge of the Law and a thorough gentleman holding the office as CJI were present there to witness the outbreak of few segments of a particular entity of the society. Due to the outbreak of violence, the available articles became weapons and were flying across with speed of BrahMos. In the scene is the DGP, TN, stranded and totally taken to the task personally. DGP, means a rank equivalent to the Head of one Arm/Service of an armed Force, contained with Power and reach inside a state. Look at the pathetic state rendered to a DG.., DG of the fifth largest state Police?? Should I be in my Uniform, and if it happens to be my responsibility, I am sure, no more BrahMos would have been launched. I am not saying regarding the qualifications of the DG, but of the state, the Officer heading a State Police Organisation, has been placed. The Officer would surely not have been aware what to do, what not to do. Thank God, I am never in this kind of situations. To be heading an Organisation, without knowing what to do, shouting, ‘Hoi’, and letting people do atrocities in front of your uniformed eye, is not my baby. I am happy, I have not switched.

How Many more..???

86 in one go.

A team of a Para Military Force was coming back from a long and tiring operation. They were not aware, that the operation was far from getting over. Those unattended troops were caught unaware of the situation, only to be aware of being Martyr.

Yes, they are troops who have not been attended to, in both the time horizons, that is past and present time. And unfortunately they were caught napping in certain basics of security aspects.

Both these statements are 'interrelated'. Atleast now somebody should realise the need for 'taking care' and giving them their due. This does not mean increasing pay and allowances. It means giving their due respect, training, basic fighting and surviving requirements. Then 'take them to the task'. You will see the result. Army is magnanimous in committing to train the PMF. Why shouldnt one be ready to accept that 'i am not good enough, but i am not inferior. So i need some more training to improve myself'. People has to overcome their Egoistic shortcomings to fulfill their real life deficiencies. This is in house problem which can be done away with anytime. How about the responsible outsiders ?

'Something serious has gone wrong!'

'This incident has given strength to our will of fighting them!'

Are these the expected comments from the High Office bearers..???

Aren’t they supposed to use proper words..?? Don’t they have the suitable Officer’s support to provide them properly worded statements to make? One of the above statements was made by a Secretary itself. Where are we heading ..???

In one way the statement by HM ‘The buck stops in my desk’, is atleast confronting to some extent. Aren’t they a just Reserve Force for the Central Govt..??? If so why are they employed in such hard core fighting and if they are not then why are they treated like on…??

Why all these serious mistakes take place..?? Lack of Will. Lack of Will on the Govt's part...!!! Decide for sure, what one has to do, and pl stick on to it.

One particular state announces Rs. 5 lakhs for a martyr family….!! Hufff God, please make the people realize the cost of life, that is laid down fighting for others….!!! What is the Govt conveying to the public…??? Is it that ‘Thambi, you are making a mistake by going to serve the nation. Stop it, don’t do it. Please study computers and fly off to US and keep spoiling the Indian Economy..??’ This is the Govt that pays an one time grant of Rs. 5000 for being decorated by ‘Sena Medal’ of the Army, for which the individual leads without any hesitation regarding loosing own life and taking few weed's life from killing hundreds of people…!!

They are the people giving their today for other's today and tomorrow.

Please learn to respect the souls.

Internal Summation

First, What is Internal Summation?

Internal Summation is the single digit summation of all the digits of a number. For example take this number, 9797796032. The internal summation of this number is

9+7+9+7+7+9+6+0+3+2 = 59;

5+9 = 14;

1+4 = 5;

So, the Internal Summation of 9797796032 is 5.

Application:

This Internal Summation is used almost everywhere, right ‘calculating’ whom You should marry (Horoscope) to confirming the origin of Your mobile (Digital Computation of Mobile).

Any Easier Way?

Well if you are calculating Internal Summation of a small number, as cited above, it is easy to do directly. But, what if you are in between some complex calculations all involving higher end single digits? There is a simple way, I think I have formulated. Not sure if it is not already followed, as at least I don’t know.

Here it is.

Calculate IS of 99999999999999999994.

Answer: 4.

How: Remove all the ‘9’ first and remove 9 from the sum of all the digits left.

Given Number: 99999999999999999994.

Remove all ‘9’.

Start removing ‘9’ from the sum of rest digits.

The single digit finally got is the IS of the number, that is 4.

Try,

(i) 686868686868684

(ii) 2010939203593

(iii) 24050439298590303048389

Answers?

(i) 3.

(ii) 1.

(iii) 8.

Easy …..???

KALKI’S SOLAMALAI ILLAVARSI

It is unfortunate of me to have never gone beyond ‘Ponniyin Selvan’, ‘Sivagamiyin Sabatham’, ‘Alai Osai’, ‘Paarthiban Kanavu’ and few other short stories, as in reading the works of Kalki. Recently I happened to read few more of his writings and no need to say about them, they are absolutely typical Kalki’s works. In those, the ‘Solamalai Ilavarsi’ is what I am about to say.

For those who have read the ‘PS’, ‘SS’, ‘AO’, of Kalki, there may have been this thought lingering in the mind : There is a some gap between ‘PS’, ‘SS’ on one side and ‘AO’ on the other. Every Writer’s human mind evolves and travels over the time line. The works put on paper may not be following the chronological order, but the overall picture gives that evolution. There is this time gap between ‘PS’, ‘SS’ and ‘AO’, the gap of jumping from ‘Periodic Time’ to ‘Social/Present Time’. The ‘Solamalai Ilavarsi’ is that Time Evolver. Read it and you will realize that the transition from old times to the Freedom Struggle/Early Post-Independence days for this ‘Amarar’ is through this Novel.

First, the Work. Kumaralingam is on a rampage by protesting and revolutionizing around the villages against the East India Company Rule in India. He lives only with his new-found freedom thirstiness. Running away from Police after a protest-turned- violence, he finds a safe house in a ruined castle. He imagines/lives thro the incidences that happened there a century ago. The End…?? Pl read.

Now, my views. The first chapter gives the hint of the people’s mind during the 1940s. The book easily shuttles between the old age and the present days (1940s). the shuttling way is, absolutely good. Those who seen the movie Rang De Basanti (Hindi movie starring Aamir Khan), will understand the term ‘intertwining characters’. Kalki has done that so very well, makes You think Kalki has copied the idea from the movie and refined it.

The work closely examines about evolution of the British in India. It describes in milder words about their Visiting, Settling, Exploiting and Ruling of the Sub Continent. There is no mention of the Present Day differences, which is really encouraging to recommend the book. As of the saying ‘you should earn it, to know it’, this book is a treat to read knowing the various time events in details. (Sometimes back one of my friend critiqued the works of Kalki as ‘only for the elite/learned groups of the society.)

The flow, sincerity in words and the narration of the incidences and environment (especially the present day- 1940s scenario) giving a view of the various people’s thoughts, regarding the Company rule in an unbiased terms, never-able-to-lift-eyes-off descriptions and the ending (although bit dramatic if one views with 2010 time frame), everything is Typical of Kalki and I may say nothing to justify if You know him. Kalki is one of the few writers, who is able to satisfy most of the study groups (none of the constituents at improper proportions). Solamalai Ilavarsi too does that. It is the missing link between the Time frames as mentioned earlier, evolving from the Periods to Present Day.

Strangers on a train

Yet another thriller movie by Alfred Hitchcock. No need to say, it is a well made movie. A common problem with old movies is that they are very slow and quiet outdated for the present day movie lovers. But Hitchcock movies somehow don’t have this drawback. They are generally out of world for old time frame and only a bit slow/exaggerated for the present mind set.

First, the Movie. Two completely strangers, a public figure and a rich spoiled brat meet in a train journey. The public figure is an upcoming Tennis star, having problem with his wife as he is looking a Senator's daughter and is eager to get rid of his 'outgoing type' wife. The rich guy is fed up of his Dad, who wants him to know the pain involved in making riches. They have a small talk in the train and it is leaded to speak about murder, by the rich guy. The rich guy makes a stunning and plain offer to murder the tennis star's wife in exchange of which he has to kill the rich guy's Dad. These chris-cross murders will leave both with no motive to murder, and so they can escape the law. Tennis star refuses the offer. Being fancied by his own plan, the rich guy murders the wife and demands the tennis star to return the favor as per the plan. What happens then is told in typical Hitchcock style.

Review. U r stunned in the first scene, unable to digest such a plain offer to a stranger, because that character is not portrayed according to the present day definitions, but in same old Hitchcock style, the character itself narrates about his interest and activities, eventually making u to understand his mental offsetness. The murder and the following scenes are 'fashionable'. The tennis match and the Villain retrieving a lighter are shown parallel, increasing ur heart beat. Some may feel it a mockery, but please consider the movie's time. It would have been a mind blowing innovation then. Seeing the movie, one doesn’t feel that the cast has acted, they have lived in the movie. The Heroine is very charming.

Overall, if you have passion for movies, pl watch it, you will be elated.

DOSAR : The Companion

After a strong suggestion from a friend and even more strong recommendation from a Bengali friend, I settled down to watch the movie. First of all let me clear it, I am not a Bengali and I can understand only a little of it, if at all people speak in front of me (obviously the environment and assumed connection method). Nevertheless, I saw the movie. As soon as the movie started, I was tampering my system and the player, thought some problem with them as they were showing Black & White pictures. Only to find later that the movie itself was shot in B&W (I realized it by seeing the CD maker’s title in color). One more problem, no sub titles..!! Gosh….still I managed the movie and here is my, kind of view/review (This is out of what ever I understood/interpreted)

As soon as the movie starts with a kind of sonnet, a well doing man holding the hand of a lady, followed by a car accident, one kind of realizes the track of the movie (may be due to the expertness achieved after watching movies for so many years). Cast selectors need a huge appreciation. As the language was not the conducting the medium, I was able to feel the thoughts and the expressions of most of the characters. Considering that the movie has very less to express for me (like language, body language (remember Pesum Padam??)), the complete Cast was fantastic. Konkana Sen is excellent once again. Especially at these scenes: 1. MD of the hero visiting the Hospital; 2. She restraining/refraining from a breakdown in the bathroom; 3. The initial buildup of the climax. Wow, She is wonderful. The hero (as I don’t know his name) was also good.

Now, as a movie, the Dosar tries to play a middleman, which is not giving any personal opinion to the Extra marital Affair, its basic story line. According to me, this is brilliant. Seeing things and presenting the things in the same way without adulteration is good. Calling a Cat, a cat, nothing more nothing less, takes a lot of courage. I feel, except for the flow (which obviously should not be expected), rest everything was in their place. I don’t know what is the idea behind B&W concept, but it is a change. It is actually more than that. Sometimes the color shows the irony and no-future-but-only-doom of the centre concept; sometimes it helps to depict the characters. I am not good in colors, but I felt, I saw a lot gray shades, adding a documentary tinge to the movie. The two physically emotional scenes, shown could have been avoided. The BGM, I saw the movie in laptop without external speakers, so wont comment on it. I felt that the lady lead character is caught in between her life’s EMA and in supporting/being-silent-witness of her friend’s EMA. Bit a confusion.

Otherwise the movie was good, not for the movie-watchers or movie-goers, but certainly good for people having, passion for movies. I could not avoid being remembered of few movies.