I - Few Observations.

After Boys, Shankar's 'I' takes the credit for getting trashed from fans to media. Pre-release, the movie didn't create much expectation from me. Just for the Brand-Shankar, I (pun unintended) had some hope of watching the film. Luckily or sadly, that too washed off after reading the scathing reviews coming from all-sides. Thankfully, it did save me few hundred rupees. No worries, after all within next two months I could come alive in Jaya TV.

Well, I am writing this piece is to share my angst against certain myths prevailing in Tamil Cinema, which have been brewing in my mind for years :

Tamil Cinema nurtures few absurd myths that I'm wondering who started or where it came from. If I'm not wrong KT Kunjumon encouraged this trend in his films-Gentleman, Kadhalan, Kadhal Desam, Ratchagan- by erecting lavishing sets, rich-milieu, glossy songs, aerobatics done by the cars and bikes in the climax.

1. Influenced by his first producer, Shankar supplemented this trend in each of his films except the ones he produced. Consequently, it has become a custom for both media and fans to go hysterical whenever a Shankar's movie is heading for a release. No complaints but when one closely observes these discussions, he could easily conclude what's the fuss about-filming in the great locations hitherto which weren't explored in the Cinema, CG works, grand sets, glitzy costumes specially made for the heroine.

I really wish to know that how far these extra decorations help a movie in its story-telling? Ultimately, creativity and the art of film-making takes a back-seat when a director tries to capitalise too much on the technical stuffs. Just because a film's budget exceeded 100C doesn't guarantee a bit for its quality esp.when it comes with no aesthetics.

2. Changing a get-up doesn't mean an acting. A great actor justifies his role by appropriate dialog-delivery, body language, underplaying/overplaying emotions based on the sequences. Donning various appearances, shedding 20 kgs or raising six packs are useless when there is no soul in acting. In the name of acting, already we've seen enough fancy dress competitions in the movies like Dasavatharam and Citizen. Some of the great performances that has come of from Tamil Cinema are all simple down-to-earth roles - Varumayin Niram Sigappu,Mullum Malarum, Uthiripookal, Aadukalam.

As Sujatha says in Boys : Don't make music, take it from life. - Don't make movies/acting, take it from life.

The Shadow Lines - an unfinished experience.

Since the time I've started reading English Fiction, hitherto I've left only 5 books unfinished.

1. Madame Bovary.(Novel was engaging, still, I dunno why I suddenly dropped the novel after 40+ pages.I would like to resume some time)

2. Catch 22.(Loved the Black humour but couldn't like to continue after some pages. I really wish to complete this year)

3. Narcopolis. (Tedious read in the Stream-Of-Consciousness style, I would never return to it for few years)

4. The Life and Times of Thunderbolt Kid.(Bill Bryson's humour didn't work for me and I considered the book terribly boring)

5. To Kill a Mocking Bird.(Didn't work for me;in fact I liked the movie better than the novel)

Don't jump into a conclusion that I'm averse to serious literary fiction. I've completed the huge 500+ pages "My Name Is Red" with much interest and its one of my all-time-favt. Another novel which had a strong impact on me was The Remains of the Day. Though I read the novel two years back, still my mind, occasionally, recall the brilliant character-study of Mr.Stevens and the vivid descriptions of his country-side travel in England. But some books didn't work at some time either due to my immaturity in understanding the author's POV or the novel itself turn into a boring read or it might be not be my cup of tea.

Now I'm happy to say that there's a new entry to the above list. And the credit goes to Amitav Ghosh's "The Shadow Lines". Since last few years I've been waiting for the right time to get started with any of his novel. And then came the 25'th anniversary of his acclaimed "The Shadow Lines". From that point my eager doubled but at the same time I was deeply engaged in Non-Fiction titles like "India after Gandhi" followed by gossipy "Durbar" with some occasional deviations from my most loved Ruskin Bond's titles. But predominantly, I stayed on with Non-Fiction.

Throughout the last year, I read some best Non-Fiction books like Patriots and Partisans, The Elephant,The Tiger & The Cellphone, My Years with Apu and most importantly, Gandhi's Autobiography, the book which left me shattered with its profound thoughts on diet and his experiments with satyagraha. After completion, I was wandering in the church street bookshops(Blossom Book Store and Bookworm Store) for my next prey. "Editor Unplugged" caught an interest but the price - 480rs for 288pp - doesn't seem good for me, but compelled to buy any other title. Hence my eyes fell on "The Shadow Lines" which I grabbed at no time thanks to its hefty discount - 350Rs offered at 175 Rs.

Actually, the book started off well with an interesting character Tridib but slowly it turned into a dense read with the past and present coming back and forth in successions through the narration of an young boy; somehow I adjusted and went on but not more than 100 pages where I meekly surrendered to its complex and unenthusiastic prose. When checked for the reviews, I did find many who shared the same response as like me. Leaving a book unfinished makes painful and puts me in guilty but I felt helpless. For the next two days, my mind was so dense as the novel with I couldn't even read a weekly magazine or any other book. Then, I concluded, I should never come back to Amitav Ghosh for some months if not years and should take the risk only when I am loaded with lots of patience and tons of reading experience.

For the time-being, adios Amitav Ghosh.