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, 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
2020, Malayalam, Amazon Prime, 8.3/10 IMDB, Directed by Mahesh Narayanan A peek in to the virtual world of a handful of characters, resonating our own during the pandemic, that fortunately leaves us gratified, just when it was getting too tedious. The film opens to a Tinder chat of a random couple Jimmy (Roshan Mathew) and … Read morec u soon
2020, Malayalam, Netflix , 7.7/10 IMDB, Directed by Musthafa A simple movie with an outstanding story telling and some scintillating performances. The opening shot with the rain pouring down from above with the opening credits rolling behind, the cameras are set in a such beautiful angles, that you feel as if you are in the … Read moreKappela
2020, Tamil, Amazon Prime, 6.8 /10 IMDB, Directed by J.J. Fredrick A direct OTT release, potential thriller, packaged in social awareness wrap and spiced up with a little women empowerment – completely derails with its sitcom characterisation and soapy direction. To start with, Jothika and Suriya, needs to be lauded for their initiative in constantly … Read morePonmagal Vandhal
Hindi, Amazon prime 7.2 /10 IMDB, Directed by Anubhav Sinha A strong content, told from a weak person’s perspective. Somewhere the powerful message fails to touch the audience, the way it ought to. The movie starts with Amrita, pampering her husband in his everyday involuntary chores, right from waking him up with a drink as … Read moreThappad