Murder on the Orient Express (Film - 2017)

(No/Minimal Spoiler alert) 

Agatha Christie's greatest creation, the Belgian detective 'Hercule Poirot' continues to enthrall readers in an addictive grip. Over a period of time, many film adaptions were made. The latest to join the  bandwagon is 'Murder on the Orient Express', basing on the crime novel of the same title, that pits Poirot's famous stubborn insistence on balance and truth against the grotesque reality of perceived revenge-justice. For the simple reason that I'm too much of a loyal fan, biased towards the book, I cannot even attempt to write about such a masterful book. So, strictly it's all about the film.

Kenneth Branagh as Hercule Poirot is nothing like the Hercule Poirot which Agatha Christie described, at least physically (egg shaped brain, tilted sideways). Yet he is suave, different and aesthetically pleasing to watch (what with the accurate description of the legendary eccentricity i.e, 'two oeufs', straightening the tie etc). Staying true to the original book-plot,  an ensemble cast of who's who spread judiciously over the film ensures it's a treat to watch.

Unfortunate & unnecessary comparisons with book may belittle such a wonderful film, yet it deserves a respect for aesthetic authenticity.  On the whole, a well done project and watch out for the witty intelligence of Branagh (Poirot), when he says "I'm at my happiest alone."

As a fan, I've left the theatre saying to myself in Poirot's true style - 'Mais, Oui...More films, please. Merci'.

Film - 'Murder on the Orient Express' (2017 by Michael Green)
Link - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_on_the_Orient_Express_(2017_film
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3402236/

An Enigmatic Half-Lion (Thoughts on book 'Half-Lion')

"He's a hero that Gotham deserves, but not the one it needs right now. So, we will hunt him. Because he can take it."

A resemblance, however hyped and uncanny, on Batman from the film 'The Dark Knight' keeps coming to my mind as I read about India's former Prime minister, PV Narasimha Rao in Prof. Vinay Sitapati's 'Half-Lion - How PV Narasimha Rao transformed India'.

Time and again, I self-checked rather guiltily, whether I succumbed to the traps of Caste and Region in admiring a wily politician, genius and polyglot, of whose paradoxical life - I never understood beyond the basic sketch and that too, first in my home, after his passing away in 2004. Reading the Half-Lion, thus, out of fascination was a great experience in knowing about perhaps India's Greatest Prime Minister, as yet, given the practical constraints he faced.

Dealing judiciously with various events (Liberalization, Babri Masjid, Repeated No Confidence Motions, Nuclear Bomb, Relations with Nehru-Gandhi family), the book vividly describes Rao (who famously 'suffered with lack of ambition') surviving and thriving full term as a Prime Minister,despite a plethora of problems. How this Monk turned Monarch was responsible for a great deal of change in the garb of continuity, reacting as 'Lion/Fox/Mouse' a la Chanakya, Machiavelli is an interesting read.

He had his flaws, and some of his decisions did come to haunt him, but unlike many other transformational leaders like Margaret Thatcher, Ronald Reagan, Deng Xiaoping, he did not had to face crippling odds. Salman Khurshid laments, 'Rao is remembered for so much that went wrong, and for nothing that went right', but as Natwar Singh rightly pointed, 'Vinay Sitapati has resurrected Rao'.

Today India is a nuclear power and an economic heavyweight, miles away from an India that was deficit-financing driven and politically unstable in 1991. Thus, the legacy of the enigmatic Half-Lion lives on!

Book - HalfLion - How PV Narasimha Rao transformed India by Vinay Sitapati

Arjun Reddy

నా పంతం ఎంతా? ఈ విశ్వం అంతా! 

How do you judge a film in India? Should it confirm to the model standards of morality set forth by the society, whatever they are and indulge in message orientation to an already exasperated and unwilling audience? Should it mimic the mundane aspects of everyday life, the celebration of living? Do films inspire people to commit crimes or indulge in vices like drugs, drinking etc?

Beyond all the questioning and brouhaha, aren't we just forgetting the basic element of watching a film ? Aren't they just a source of enjoyment, however intelligent and inspiring they purport to be?

And then comes 'Arjun Reddy'. What a film it is! The 3 hours! While I would never dream of being or mimicking an angry young man like that, there are elements of the film which offer a raw, undefined connect. Despite the unusual positive end (our obsession with 'Subham cards'), the film delves deep into issues which are rarely scratched in films. While it indeed is a love story, it mirrors the frantic frustration in a bold way, when life does a U turn for us, taking away all the things we deserve and desire.

Sandeep Reddy Vanga, I shall remember the name. Martin Scorsese is famous for combining pleasant and popular music with violent scenes, and you did remind me of that effective technique. When all the hype surrounding the rather bad-taste speech and drugs and alcohol dies down, Vijay Devarakonda got his best role, which he aced with elan. Especially the eyes - hate to do it, but comparisons will be surely drawn and already made, rather unfairly, but nevertheless, with Al Pacino in the Godfather, especially the dining scene in the later film. The cast did an assuredly good job, especially Shalini Pandy and Rahul. And, what of the music & BGM score - haunting!

And, isn't it time for me to check the new app where i can print my name in the film's bold red in the black back ground style!

Film - Arjun Reddy (Telugu) (2017)
Link (Wiki) - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arjun_Reddy

13 Reasons Why....

Teen Suicide dramas never appealed to me. Better yet, I should say, I've never been aware or am completely ignorant of their very existence. Until....

One of the chat web sites I was active with was overflowing with the users swooning over the new netflix series '13 Reasons Why'. Like many great shows, it was based on a book. So, it was this book that I delved into on a return journey to home by rail. Just curiosity? Succumbing to popularity? Something appealing in an unorthodox subject?

At it's core the subject is that a teen girl (Hannah Baker) explains why she had to take the drastic step of committing suicide, in 7 audio cassettes, blaming 13 friends, class mates, acquaintances - call it whatever or whoever they are. As the train chugged with inconsistent pace, sometimes slow, sometimes fast, contrasting the 'snow ball' effect of Hannah Baker and the sheer helplessness of Clay Jenson (One of the 13), I was amused at the story and reasons at first.

But by the end, the book did show a refreshing perspective, tackling the subject of suicide. I could go on to say, maybe if she's a little brave or 'if onlies' and 'for buts', but one's suffering should never be a cause of ridicule, whether real or perceived.

There's a raging controversy about the netflix series, as it allegedly encouraged a few teens to commit suicide across the world, but I can not judge as I did not watch an episode of it.

As for the book, it was anything but suicide-inspiring, fast paced and unputdownable!

Book - 13 Reasons Why
Author -Jay Asher
Link -https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/13_Reasons_Why

     

' కన్యాశుల్కం ' కి 125 ఏళ్ళు

"Such a scandalous state of things is a disgrace to society, and literature can not have a higher function than to show up such practices and give currency to a high standard of moral ideas. Until reading habits prevail among masses, one must look only to the stage to exert such healthy influence."

-Sri Gurajaada Venkata Apparao Pantulu,

First Preface to Kanyasulkam, c.1892

తెలుగు భాష ను గ్రాంధికం నుంచి వ్యవహారికం వైపు పరిగెత్తించిన వారిలో గురజాడ వారి స్థానం చిరస్మరణీయం. 1892 లో వారు వ్రాసిన 'కన్యాశుల్కం' బహుశా తెలుగు లో అత్యంత ప్రజాదరణ పొందిన తొలి సాంఘిక నాటకం. హిందూ మతంలో కొన్ని వర్గాలలో పరిఢవిల్లుతున్న ఆడపిల్లలను అమ్ముకునే దురాచారం పై కలం తో  వారు ప్రకటించిన యుద్ధం గానే చెప్పుకోవాలి ఈ నాటకాన్ని. అసలు మత విషయాలలో జోక్యం మనకెందుకులే అని బ్రిటిష్ ప్రభుత్వం నాడు అనుకుంటున్నా, చాందసులు వ్యతిరేయకంగా వితండ వాదం చేస్తున్న , ఈ నాటకం ద్వారా, కొంత వ్యంగం తో, జనాల్ని చైతన్యవంతులను చేశారు గురజాడ వారు. 

కన్యాశుల్కం రాసి, ఈ ఆగష్టు మాసం తో 125 ఏళ్ళు గడిచాయి. అయితే అప్పటి పరిస్థితులు వేరు అయినా, ఈ నాటకం, అందులో పాత్రలను ఎప్పటికి  మరచిపోలేము. 

It is women that seduces all mankind అని గొప్పలకి పోయే మేకవన్నె పులులైన మాస్టర్ గిరీసాలు మనకు కద్దే కదా.
విషయం ఏదైనా , కారణం వున్నా లేకపోయినా, తప్పు ఆడవాళ్లదే అనే అగ్నిహోత్రావధానులు వంటి ఉద్ధండులు మనకు అన్ని ప్రాంతాలలో, అన్ని మతాల లో అన్ని వేళలా కనిపిస్తారు, వినిపిస్తారు (ఉదా -  Talaq e Biddat)
 నమ్మి మోసం చేసే రామప్ప పంతులు మన పొరుగింట్లోనో, మిత్రుడు రూపం లోనో ఎదురవుతువునే వుంటారు. 

నేను ఇంటర్మీడియట్ లో ఉండగా ఒకసారి చదివిన 'కన్యాశుల్కం', కేవలం 125 ఏళ్ళు కాదు, తెలుగు భాష ఉన్నంత వరుకు వర్ధిల్లుతుంది!


Book - 'కన్యాశుల్కం' (c.1892 & 2nd Version - c.1909) by Sri Gurajaada Venkata Apparao Pantulu
Link - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanyasulkam

Not just another war film (Thoughts on film 'Dunkirk')

(Note - Spoiler Alert)

Yesterday, along with my family members, I watched the film, 'Dunkirk' at Geeta Multiplex, Bhimavaram. War films always enthralled me, especially on the second world war. Viewed from the prism of genius directors, they offer a glimpse of no escape from the hard reality and an element of the inevitable and the grotesque. Christopher Nolan, one of my favorites, being a master of his own craft, is new to this genre, yet justifies the 'master' tag.

Set as a non-linear story, the film revolves around the disastrous Dunkirk evacuation (Miracle of Dunkirk, as dubbed by Sir Churchill). Three different sub-plots are woven into an endearing tale of life and death. With the riveting music score by Hans Zimmer, every scene has something to offer - be it the depths of emotion, a base instinct for survival at all costs or the celebration of the 'never-say die' spirit of the British.

There are the technical aspects of the film and the visual effects (The Minesweeper being destroyed and caught in the resultant oil spill even as survivors are being rescued) as well as tear-jerking humane element (muffled voices of the drowning). The end is even more riveting - Farrier, the pilot (Tom Hardy) apparently caught after a gloomy, yet 'mission accomplished' sort of look on his face, tears of joy of Captain Bolton (Kenneth Branagh) and his 'wait for the French', and triumph over disaster as the evacuees are welcomed by the British Public.

The ensemble cast includes Fionn Whitehead, Tom Glynn-Carney, Jack Lowden, Harry Styles, Aneurin Barnard, James D'Arcy, Barry Keoghan, Kenneth Branagh, Cillian Murphy, Mark Rylance, and Tom Hardy - a wonderful job, well done! Although there are many war films, this stands out, not just as another war film, but a masterpiece celebrating hope over despair, in a true British way, contrasted by the stark reality and inevitability of war


Frankly, I've expected a scene of Sir Winston Churchill and one of his celebrated generals/admirals, but Nolan was spot on when he said he did not want this film to be 'bogged down in the politics of the situation'.



Film - 'Dunkirk' (2017) 
Link - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunkirk_%282017_film%29
IMDb Link - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5013056/