May The Force Be With You....

Of late I have been learning a lot about the Star Wars Extended Universe, i sometimes stay amazed at the Sheer luck of George Lucas, none of his earlier movies did well but the moment he completed Star Wars, the Original Movie later named as "A new Hope" became an almost cult movie thus laid down the path for him to create the two sequels and the Three Prequels later. But he did not even stop at that! he continued to release animations as well as comic books one after the other depicting heroic tales both prior and after the events depicted in the six films, thus the entire Universe of Star Wars came to existence along with its myriad species both humanoid and non......

There is a detailed Wiki in Wikipedia called the Wookeypedia on the net check it out!

Although I found some of the adventures to be repetitive and taking strong support from the original films in their making also that some concepts are a bit too overstretched which sometimes do become a bit hard to swallow, and are possibly done to cater to the fan's desires and wishes, there is no doubt about the fact that George Lucas has outdone himself as he did everything with a vibrant passion and with such a vision which he had the imaginative capability to dream up first.

Also the inlaid philosophies depicted in the concept is definitely commendable along with the clear distinction of Good and Evil which is so rare in this days of shady super heroes and psychologically challenged cynic mutants and the nihilistic attitude towards the future which the popular culture gives us today.....

Coming back to the point I find Star Wars to be a captivating experience and no matter what he discrepancies it might have I am, after all, and would always be a die hard Star Wars Fan, my dad showed me the first film when i was but a kid and it caught my imagination right away!

Oh! How many happy hours did I ran around the house with a toy sword in my hand(it was real lightsabre then!) and gesturing towards articles which actually flew(in my mind!), I cannot say (In fact I still do it occasionally when I am absolutely sure no one's looking!).....Well, after all I was and still am the greatest Jedi who ever lived.....

To you all I say this

as master Yoda said,"Meditate on this, I will." "Meditate on this, You Should."

The Greatest Jedi

I finish with this simple thing once again said by the venerable Jedi master

"For my ally is the Force. And a powerful ally it is. Life creates it, makes it grow. The force surrounds us and binds us. Luminous beings are we not this crude matter. You must feel the Force around you."

Although a long time has passed still Lord Darth Vader is Considered to be the Face of Star Wars.

Got a new Book...

Hey guys got hold of a new book!

"The Religion" by Tim Willocks, it is a real page turner, and the guy has a strange way story telling, its a historical fiction set in the last stages of crusades in the 16th Century a gargantuan battle between the Ottoman Turks and the The Knights Hospitallers and pretty good one too, from what I could find out from the reviews...

here I'll paste a pic of the book here..

looks nice isn't it?

The "Gulaal" couldn't help it to bring color!

I recently watched Gulaal, this guy Anurag Kashyap seriously needs to come out of his Dev D phase, the first half was turning out to be something which promised almost a second Yuva and was really making the audience wonder(with considerable interest) what was going to happen next but suddenly the second half transformed into an all too familiar plot of loser who is a bit unrealistic, really regarding the girl who used him and never sees the other girl who had been there in front of him all this time, also along with all that he kills of a big shot later finding out that the bad guys were using him to kill that guy all along(he was the only one who was dumb as not to understand that), all to predictable and very stale sub plot, which takes the predominance from the second half, in fact after watching the entire film it makes one wonder whether the entire film(even the good parts) were made just so as to enable that fool of a hero to reach that awfully predictable end.

The initial concept of this a looser lover has, of late, become so very tiring and this film had so much scope of becoming an outstanding movie in all it's aspect, but it was as far as that...

However, the Songs were a different story altogether, the lyrics were so very realistic, with regards to the fact that they are extremely close to the satirical folk-ish songs that are created all over rural India. I was supremely impressed, but that's it....I mean one can say as much about the film and nothing more.

The only other thing I would like to point out is the fact that the actors were extraordinarily good and I mean all of them right from the silent mimic to the brusque and barking oratory of Kay Kay Menon.

Changing Believes...

I watched a pretty nice movie a few days back, it's a new film called 13B, this film made me think that perhaps it is high time that one should look at the art direction and the art directors of the "modern" Bollywood in a new light, the Bollywood along with the Indian TV has always made me very "itchy" whenever it comes to the factor of at direction, it seems it becomes a hurdle which they seem never be able to cross but for a few days I am seeing a real change in that concept and this particular film made me really stop and think...MAN! our art directors have learnt a lot1 although it is not something to be extremely proud of as they should have caught on decades ago...what I hate the most in the callous art direction is discontinuity, right from the era of Devanand right up to the Generation Dhoom, the Hindi Film Hero is always prone to pick up a pistol from the floor and shoot at the bad guys with it which, by that time would have miraculously transformed into a revolver(and some times an air pistol)...but in this film 13B I strangely noticed the change of a hammer, which I had noticed earlier but dismissed with the usual disgust toward the laxity of art direction, was an intentional act I really thought whether I should change my opinion regarding this short coming of our directors then thought, what the hell? They have been getting chances of correcting themselves from the very day Indian Cinema started, let them have all the time in the world, they need!

Then.....

.....Now!


The only thing we can hope is these people would actually use those wonderfully active brains a bit more, it's just they are too miser to spend a little more of it....I don't know why?

My Favourite Poet!

The wonderful world of poems has always eluded me, I have always been one of those unlucky one's who have never quite fully understood the beauty of the poetic verses, although it is quite a break from tradition as all of us in our family are pretty much attached to poetry. I have read a few of Tagore's poems but they strangely did not reach my heart (except a chosen few), I know this confession may make me eligible for a very violent and long drawn sneer from the entire Bengali community (whether or not they have actually read any of the great author's works!), but strangely they will not defer when they smugly make a completely misplaced theory that Tagore had this illicit relation with his sister-in-law, these comment s are made by the same ill informed and intellectually deformed Bengalis who possesses a number strong and strange albeit wrong beliefs regarding some topics.

To these people causing an uproar against people who does not find Tagore's poems to be the most appealing is as natural as making slurs about his personal life!

However, moving forward, I found the poems of Jibananada Das to be much more gripping as he creates distinctly different worlds through his poems, where it is never clear about the exact meaning, but the mysterious story that is woven by the wonderful and picturesque use of language is really soul touching. One of his most famous Poems "Bonolota Sen", portrays the mysterious beauty who the poet dreams of and and he has been meeting her since time immemorial and that timeless beauty has been the instrument behind the poet's inspiration more than once.

The poet is in deep love with the beauty of Bengal and the little yet magical beauties of everyday Bengal village takes a forefront in many of his works......

yet.....

when he muses, his imagination knows no bound, be it time or space and he can visualise existences which have passed eons ago and he renews those promises, those pepole and their hopes bringing out the beauty from the old frayed down colours f the past and repaints them with the masterful strokes of a genius to give them a modern life.

I respect and bow before Tagore for his songs for his poems for his art for his literature but I love jibananada......

Love and Respect!

World Within Worlds....a thought...

Hi guys I was going through the blog of the Creator of Spiderwick Chronicles today(by the way I have not yet watched the movie, and couldn't get my hands on the books as of yet!), but I found almost everything there is to know about the Spiderwick Chronicles and I couldn't help myself wonder the various way people create their own imaginary worlds just to bring back the the adventure that has so much gone from our lives, sometimes I do envy our ancients, they did not know about the real of the World and had a lot more to dream on, than even our kids have today, let alone grown ups! I find this disconcerting as what would the condition of our next generation be if there is no food for imagination available...

But why am I talking about this? I planned to write something else...!...SO....

You know the concept of a secret world within Worlds was first successfully created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, in his novel called The Lost world(The name is borrowed for the second Jurassic park Movie, but the story is completely different and believe me much more entertaining!) it was one of the various adventures of professor challenger. Sir Conan Doyle also wrote a very gripping but not very popular short story called The Horror Of Heights, where a scientist discovers a secret world high above in the air , which was a sort of Jungle and when he reaches it he gets killed by the Predators of the Avian forest.

Jonathan Swift also created a number of secret World within worlds in the adventures of Gulliver.

Then came a wide variety of writers who were fascinated by the concept of a secret world residing within our own, in fact the Fantasy Genres started developing by the handful solely based on that eerie plot of having a secret world where one can travel back and forth, live a comparatively mundane life in the real world and have adventures in the exotic, slowly the so called real and definitely mundane world fades into the back ground making the exotic world real as it is there where the characters can live like they always dream of living and have a meaningful life. Usually it is the children who visits these worlds as they are the ones who doesn't want to be bound by the rules of the physical world and rather be free in their dram worlds, sometimes even the adults can go there if and only if they remember how they too were once kids and could imagine. But it is always the kid's prerogative to be heroes in these worlds. it has always been portrayed that these kids who are misunderstood at first becomes a far better person than many and do far more good than one can possibly hope and they do it out of their good hearts and instinct and not from the tuition's given to them regarding what is good or bad!

However, coming back to Spiderwick and Conan Doyle's lost World...did you guys know that Sukumar Ray , father of Satyajit Ray, a master in creating satires and literary nonsense had made a pun of The Lost World and created the novella professor Henshoram Hunshiarer Diary! it is too funny if you could get your hands on a collection of Sukumar Ray read it once, you would find the most interesting combination of humour mixed with adventure and also a clean fun parody of the Lost World and the dark fun of the Secret World!

A World Within Worlds!!

My new Books!

I am reading a book called the Black Jewels Trilogy, by Anne Bishop off late and it has a peculiar flavor the author, she has brought the dark side of every fantasy genre in the good light! really, the Darkness has some truely amazing colours once seen in a proper light! I"ll right some more about the books as I go on...Oh! i also bought Frederick Forsyth's The Negotiator... I am sure it"ll be a good read!

That's The Book Cover! This One Is The other!

We won an Oscar!...Or did we?

They say We've won an Oscar! How come ? It's not an Indian Film, it's just an American Point of View of how dirty, criminal infested, immoral and poverty stricken India is.

Our "Hero" is a Slum Dog! representing us at the so called highest platform of Motion Picture Art. A Slum Dog with a dream of becoming a millionaire(a fantasy at the most!),

We won an Oscar, how proud are we! If someone says "but they are trashing our country", we like the hypocrite pseudo-intellectuals we dismiss him, "but he doesn't understand art,and you can't accept the truth"!

I really don't have problem accepting the truth but is that all India has to offer? I don't say keep your eyes turned away from that which is bad, but don't glorify it? Let us not make the slums our national symbol and a slum dog our mascot!We must not stay in a world of Self-delusion and overlook what we lack but in no way should we glorify our faults and portray that in front of the World and what more be proud of it?

It is almost like being naked in front of the public and be proud of the lack of clothing. Ii f we continue this then we are nothing but a bunch of unpatriotic, shameless, masochists BASTARDS...yes BASTARDS...for are we not glorifying the life and origin of a Slum Dog?

Yes Gulzar and A.R.Rahman has won an Oscar, but really is that the best they can do?

Gulzar with his lyrics can actually weave spells(listen to "mera wo saamaan laotado")

A.R.Rahman, have you listened to Roja or Bombay? The maestro who has made the sound track of one of the greatest piece of Hollywood movie soundtracks(The Lord Of The Rings), does "Jay Ho" does honour to his genius?

I only laugh upon the fools who celebrate this "victory", in effect they are celebrating their loss!

SLUM.....

DOG.....

MILLIONAIRE ??

Is this our Destiny???

Funny Pics

I got absolutely nothing to do today and I am sooo happy about it. Right now am sitting here doing nothing nodding off to sleep and just passing the slow afternoon, I plan to go to Shopper's Stop today let me see if I could find a pair of nice black corduroy Trousers. I have been wanting them for a long time and the one I already have is just too tight for me ;-P

I got a few nice pics let me upload them for you guys!

I hope you guys liked these little Caricatures, now let me give you some action heroes........................

Now For the Action Heroes......

And after this My favourite The Good The Bad And The Ugly...TADAA!!

The Master...of the Indian Cinema...

There are many who can be called "The Master" of the Indian Cinema, but for me there is but one soul who deserves that post, it is one and only, Styajit Ray. born in a family of literary Geniuses, Satyajit Ray, was a great artist in make right from his childhood, His grandfather Upendra Kishore Roychowdhury, was the father of child literature in India, while his father Sukumar Ray took it another level by creating social satires fused with childish gibberish, Satyajit Ray was a writer and Director of the finest quality produced in India. He really had the eye for creating magic on screen, although i am not a crazy fan of his Feluda Stories as some other Bengali s are, I however am a fan of Professor Shanku, but the most importantly I am crazy about his Movies...I mean that guy knew how to shoot and he really how to portray people and the REAL way of presentation.

In this Post I will only concentrate on the movie portions of the Master, and how he created magic over the years...however I would not add the most important of his creation The Apu Trilogy, as I have already written a little something about it i might elucidate on it sometimes...So here goes ..Hope you guys like it.

India's First Fantasy Film! Gupi Gayen Bagha Bayen, written by the Master's Grandpa...he brought it to the forefront(although I dare, say he did change the story quite a bit!). And he did not stop at that ! he created a sequel which was equally filled with social satire as the first one, yet wonderfully delicious.

Hirak Rajar Deshe!

like almost all Bengali, he was also attracted by the works of Rabinranath Tagore, and who else to make them best representation of the great poet's vision on silver screen, than the Master? Charulata and Jalsaghar are just two of the many adaptations made by the Master.

The master was always on a look out for good materials for his films and he need not go very far for that as Bengal proudly hosts a humongous amount of classic writers of almost all genres of literature, and he took all of them head on! Thus the end result was there was not a single human emotion for which he hadn't set a standard for from cinematic point of view. The most interesting part of his movies were however, he made movies which would be critically acclaimed as well make a box office hit! It was extraordinary!

The Master never failed to make magic on screen!


Satyajit Ray continues to a legend amongst all film makers not only in India but Globally, in his last days he was awarded with the prestigious honorary Oscar as a tribute to his great film making!

Mafia! terror of reality an inspiration in fiction

Mafia! The Cosa Nostra! The Brotherhood of Evil!.......but brotherhood nonetheless...

Although, one of the most fearsome and ruthless outfit of organised crime in real life, Mafia, in the world of fiction and movie, however, has predominantly taken a rather positive attitude, not only have they actually taught values which takes a lifetime to learn, though not very moral every time, although practical no doubt, but have also lead to a life which may be lived in a sort of Code of Honour:

The Mafia teaches to be a true friend:

"I am ready to show my friendship first", although said with a slight touch of threat is, nonetheless, a phrase which may not be heard much these days.

The meaning of a responsible and caring family man:

"A man who does not take care of his family is not a true man", is not a phrase coming from a Sociologist, but a semi-literate Sicilian peasant who can cut your head off without batting his eyelids once.

The true spirit of professionalism:

"It's not business, it never was, everything is personal, that's what my father taught me" and "I shall make him an offer he can't refuse", this comes from a young mob lord taking over the family business.

Very important, Leadership:

"There are men in this world who go about demanding to be killed, such a man is a powerful weapon and the trick is to make yourself the only person in the world he truly desires NOT to kill him"

A Mafia Gang lord even gives his piece of specific philosophy:

"every man has but one destiny", now does that seem coming from a half educated murderer?

Discipline:

"Omerta".....need I say anymore?

And last but not the least, a thieving scheming murderous ruthless and cruel Mobster even gives his millions of readers and viewers a lesson in politeness?:

"I am just being reasonable."

For generations now, people have been stimulated by these stories, as they have found a strange sense of romance in these blood thirsty Criminal warlords. I find the Mafia tickles the imagination of the people. They are like the chivalrous knight errants of old but suited to meet the needs of the day.........now now don't get agitated!

I'll explain...

They belong to a secret order within their families; they have their own kingdoms to defend and their own king, minister and generals in Don, Consigliore and Capo Regimes respectively; their swords are their tommy guns and their horses an assortment of cars. They live in the world by their own code of honour and allow no one to go against that. They constantly, even by the way of forging treaties of such excellence and sophistication,which would shame many a statesman, strife for peace as only peace enables them to rule and earn well in their world.

Thus it comes to that, if the criminal aspect is left aside; Mafia, the ancient brotherhood of Sicily is, in fact a parallel world order which have taught millions how to live a life with courage and with their heads held high and how to be loyal and respectful to their loved ones.

No matter how cruel and ruthless these Mafiosos may be, one is thing certain that they have taught many of us an unique way of life, how to face our fears and work as a team and most importantly how to keep our heads cool.

The Great Don

Lord Of The Rings...Yeah Yeah I know!!

This is the first of the many blogs that I would be writing relating to This fine piece of Literature\Cinema.

One of the greatest storytellers of the world who took his strong social believes, molded into a great tale of magic and miracle, spiced it with the gloomy expectations of impending doom to mesmerise the adults, who normally wouldn't listen to fairy tales as they are too embarrassed to accept their inner child, in lowering their guards in the expectation of a sad and sombre tale, infused the entire thing with his childhood feelings and memories, then customised it with his intense knowledge of language(After all he was one of the greatest philologists of the world!) and gave the world an excuse to believe that there might just be a slim chance that this alternate world once existed after all(one more reason to look more frantically for hints of elves' and dwarves' existence!)

To be continued.............................

One of my favourite trilogies...

This is rather strange, although I am not particularly fond of this particular piece of literature, yet when I watch the movies, I seem to love it, must be the awe inspiring thought ,that it is one of the master's finest works which makes me like it so much.