The magical world of the movies interpreted in my way. Its a simple expression of ‘How I feel about the Film’ and ‘Why I feel that way’.
As Adoor Gopalakrishnan says, Work of art will feel differently to different people depending on their outlook of life‘, I am humbled in sharing my feelings about the film and attempt to express the reasons behind it as honestly as possible. My interpretation is ‘time bound’ and is limited to my life’s experiences. As I grow and my horizon’s expand, my view my stand different.
But I am happy to create this ‘time capsule’, to record how I feel right NOW, to interestingly to go back and compare it later.
Glad you are part of this journey.
Happy watching.
2020, Tamil, Anthology, Netflix, 8.3/10 IMBD Directed by Sudha Konkara, Vignesh Sivan, Gautham Vasudev Menon, Vetrrimaran An Anthology on ‘honor killing’, that houses extreme emotions ranging from humor (yes) to sending some chills down the spine. A northern girl in her 20s, asked me, “How can honor killing happen in the south with such high … Read morePaava Kadhaigal
2020, Tamil, Netflix, 7.9/10 IMDB, Directed by V. Vignarajam A technically mesmerizing suspense thriller that masters parallel editing and extends a surreal experience, that overrides the mundane supernatural phenomena, through its convincing ‘willful suspension of disbelief’. The supernatural phenomena of the dead communicating through an interesting medium is the theme. The audience are sucked in … Read moreAndhaghaaram
2019, Marathi, 5.1/10 IMDB, Netflix, Directed by Aruna Raje A beautifully choregraphed film, that claims love and sex are two different things by adorning feminism and redefining chauvinism while at it. A seemingly simple story of a feminist lawyer, Sunandha played by Usha Jadhav, has many layers to it. She is a dalit rape victim … Read moreFirebrand
2020, Tamil, Disney Hotstar, 8.1/10 IMDB, Directed by RJ Balaji, N.J . Saravanan A ‘cautiously’ made satire film, that ends up a tad preachy and not as fun as the director’s previous outing in spite of ‘Goddess’ Nayantara. The much hyped trailer, dulls the first half hour of the film. As expectation had soared high … Read moreMookuthi Amman
2020, Tamil, Amazon Prime, 9.3/10 IMDB, Directed by Sudha Kongara An ambitious fictional version of a revolutionary biopic, showcasing some intense acting. A worthy attempt, but for the tiresome monotone, that irks a disconnect. The story credits it’s inspiration to the book, ‘Simply fly’ A Deccan Odyssey, by G.R.Gopinath. Its partly a dramatized version like … Read moreSoorarai Pottru
2008, English, Netflix, 7.3/10 IMBD, Directed by Sam Mendes An edgy intricate drama, detailing the conflicts of an unhappy marriage of a couple that inflict heartache in them both. Apart from being emotionally draining, it urges to look within. Adapted from a 1961 novel by Richard Yates, this period film set in the 1950’s. It … Read moreRevolutionary Road
1957, Hindi, YouTube (Tommydan55 Channel), 8.5/10 IMDB, Directed by Guru Dutt A tale of a poet in a wistful society. A society that pretends in making the dead immortal, rather than acclaiming the talents of the living. Pyaasa (Thirst), is about a remorseful poet Vijay (Guru Dutt), who tries to publish his Urdu poems. None, … Read morePyaasa
2020, Tamil, Amazon Prime, 7.6/10 IMDB, Anthology Directed by Sudha Kongara, Gautham Menon, Suhashini Manirathnam, Rajiv Menon, Karthik Subbaraj. An anthology with a common backdrop of COVID lockdown, falls short in creativity. It seemingly strikes parallels to our ‘lockdown mood swings’ in testing our patience at many instances. Pooling across an anthology, during testing times … Read morePutham Pudhu Kaalai
2018, Hindi, Netflix, 7.5/1 IMDB, Directed by Onir An unassuming film that caress you with the subtlety in its making and the warmth in its poetic recitals. Its been a while, since a romantic drama with no noise and pomp turns up your way. Its a rare coincidence when its backed by a decent script … Read moreKuchh Bheege Alfaaz
2020, Tamil, Zee5 pay per movie, IMDB 7.9/10, Directed by Virumandi A protracted documentation of the ordeal of the villagers, whose menfolk are forced to go aboard on menial works, would have otherwise glisten, had it been subjected to precise editing and concise writing. From the ancient story of Sathyavan Savithri to that of Manirathnam’s … Read moreKa. Pae. Ranasingam
1966, Hindi, YouTube, 7.9/10 IMDB, Directed by Basu Bhattacharya A sincere depiction of the life of a female theater artist, who boldly demonstrates her passion for the art over her love for a naïve and honest man. A theatre artist Hirabai (Waheeda Rehman) falls for the innocence of the bullock cart driver Hiraman (Raj Kapoor), … Read moreTeesri Kasam
2019, HIndi, Voot.com, IMDB 6.3, Directed by Vikas Chandra https://www.voot.com/shows/shortcuts/1/100255/maya/753131 A fine take on the mother-daughter relationship that leaves you wishing well for them both. The film opens with Maya realizing that her mom is missing. The film scrolls to the happenings of a week ahead and reveals that Maya is dating a potential groom … Read moreMaya
2013, vimeo.com, Hindi, Directed by Kislay A tight slap on the affluent, who viciously entraps the full-time house helper’s families for generations, in a disguise of providing a livelihood for the under privileged. A 30 odd minute film, that firmly talks about the innate qualities of the middle income family’s mindset that exploits sub consciously … Read moreHamare Ghar
1979, YouTube, Malayalam, 7.6/10 IMDB, Directed by G. Aravindan A striking interpretation of Ramayana’s Uthara Kandam- endorsing the humanness of the mythological characters and disintegrating our conditioned imaginations of the epic that disturbingly leaves us contemplating. Director G. Aravindan’s adaptation of C.N. Sreekanthan Nair’ play, stands tall for its personification of ‘Nature’ as Sita, its … Read moreKanchana Sita
1956, French Short Film, 8.2/10, YouTube, Directed by Albert Lamorisse An endearing story of a little boy and a red balloon that leaves you in complete wonderment, of the technique and narrative in personifying the red balloon The film starting with the deep focus shot with sun shining through and a little boy (Pascal), it … Read moreThe Red Balloon
1979 Polish, 7.5/10 IMDB, Directed by Krzysztof Kieslowski A drama of an individual’s new found passion of motion camera that slowly consumes him, until it costs him his dear family and overrides his meaning of happiness. The film in turn consumes the viewers with its illustrative making as the character unearths his passion that he … Read moreCamera Buff
1948 Italian, 8.3 /10, YouTube, Directed by Vittorio De Sica Italian Neo-realism of unemployment and the hardships of the working class people after the world wars, catches your attention and leaves a void in the viewer’s mind, through realistic depictions of the mammoth ordeals of people after the man made wars. The film opens to … Read moreBicycle Thieves
1990 Persian, 8.3 /10 IMDB, YouTube, Directed by Abbas Kiarostami ‘Based on a true story or a true’- we are familiar with that title credit. Interestingly ‘Close-up’ features real people of a true story, playing their original parts and it stays close to your heart when Abbas Kiarostami distinctively captures the events in an investigative … Read moreClose-Up
1981, Hindi, Television Film, YouTube, IMBD 8/10, Directed By Satyajit Ray https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRpaPV3QayY Categorical depiction of untouchability, distinct from the abstract versions we are familiar in the 21st century mediums, that ends with a tone of a sharp cynicism. Sadgati, meaning deliverance or salvation, based on a short story by Munshi Premchand, is a story of … Read moreSadgati
1959, Hindi, YouTube, 7.3/10 IMBD The cruelty of untouchability seen through a rare lens of an orphaned lower-class girl baby who is chanced to grow up in a Brahmin household. Based on a Bengali short story by Subodh Ghosh, its Bimal Roy’s directorial touch that brings the best in his artists, especially the female lead, … Read moreSujata