Ponniyin Selvan trailer is here

Ponniyin selvan trailer is here. 

Honestly, as much as I am a Mani fan, the last few of his films have been pretty much misses with rare hits. Starting with Ravanan. I  have only liked kaatru veliyaadai without agreeing to the ending.  CCC was too run of the-mill to comment on.

And Jeyamohan, the writer, has contributed heavily to Ponniyin Selvan. I am a fan of his online writing, but when kadal failed, JM blamed Mani completely. Not sure how the collaboration would work. 

Karthi - Mani previous collaboration didn't work either. 

 But the core material - Kalki's historical fiction-is pure gold. A page turner now that I am re-reading or probably reading it properly now, the historical and geographical details stun me.

 Then there are expectations.

1. Initially, some people seemed to have commented on the graphics, and Mani seems to have relied on more live locations. I can't comment on this because it's not an aspect I am usually drawn too.

2. It is a historical FICTION. I see some people arguing, not realizing the fictional aspects. For eg, vanthiyathevan hardly appears in two or three lines on any stone inscriptions or copper plate from that era. But in the novel, he is the main character and such a delight.

Nandini, the core of the novel, didn't exist in real life. She is purely fictional. 

But now the trailer is here!!!

https://youtu.be/D4qAQYlgZQs?t=183 

There are obviously scenes that I imagined very differently. Like Aishwarya and karthi in the trailer, jayam ravi and trisha are a bit underwhelming. 

But the joy of seeing the scenes that you have only read about is amazing. 

 Sothapidathinga, is my request!

PS: I am re-reading the novel after many years, but I don't think I will be anywhere near completing it before the release.

You bleed blood while others its tomato ketchup or what?

From the time I was born there has always been wars going on.  A lot of it oppression from military actions of the western nations. aka white nations. 

But none had received the unprecedented response from the western countries like ukraine's case. 

Literally none. Leave aside the white people media coverage, I am talking about the unprecedented sanctions.

As much as Putin is unreasonable insane leader but Russia atleast has legitimate reasons of security with respect to ukraine. I still dont understand why US waged a war against Iraq(which US still mispronounces I ROCK) and destabilized the entire region giving us ISIS. They could have instead concentrated it all on afghanistan.

US thinking of sanctioning India is laughable. US wouldnt give defense equipment while it has been arming/sponsoring rogue nation pakistan for many many decades. 

India isnt in a great place,between India and China, Russia will align with china. Knowing this, it still doesnt have an option. 

But US wants to sanction India -For what?  For India choosing its billion plus population's defense. That is not a matter to US or its media( and some opposition party supporters, random woke but not really woke individuals) even. Because brown people?

 This racism and hypocrisy is what has been on my mind for past week. Irrespective of however big this calamity unrolls, the racism and hypocrisy of white world, its governments, its media and coconuts of east( brown outside, white inside) is how I will view this.

 

 

Munawar Faruqui shouldnt have been Jailed but is a bigot and pyschopath

I do catch up with news late. I am not sure if I have ever heard about this before but today I learnt that a standup comedian called Munawar Faruqui was jailed for 37 days in India. 

It is completely wrong because freedom of speech is an absolute.

If it isn't constitutionally guaranteed it should be. Be it Saudi Arabia  or Pakistan or India, it is wrong on a country's part not to provide this basic right to a human being. India has freedom of speech and is much much better than the other two nation's mentioned but it isn't an absolute. There are quite a few caveats when there should be none. ( except probably personal slander?).

But my vent up isnt only restricted to the arrest. Clearly,  Arrest was wrong and shouldn't have happened in the first place.

 

But I also see the left wing portrayed him as something he clearly isn't. He has made very distasteful jokes.

1. He has made a joke on 57 people being burnt alive in a train. When Barkha in an interview with him claimed he has already apologized about this bad incident, he clarified he hasn't apologized but removed it as it made people uncomfortable. He even defends he was only 5 or 6 when this happened, but he was 29 when he narrated  and clearly should have realized 57 people being burnt alive ( or a single person or 2000 people killed in riot) is not something to be joked about.  Only a psychopath wouldn't know.

2. In another joke of his, he has God Ram using the F word and Goddess Sita using the B word. His defenders says he has made jokes on Islam too. I did look through, there have been Muslim lifestyle jokes but none on Muhammad or anything related to him. 

He even stated in an interview about how he is a believer and he will never degrade other's religion because then others could attack his religion. 

Except he has degraded other's faith. 

Does he have a right to do that? Yes.

But has he been respectful of other's religion as he claims - no.

3. There are also articles about how he has apologized, there has been no apology from his side for the Ram/Sita joke as well. 

Do I think he has to apologize? No.

But is it OK for others to claim he has apologized? No. 

 - "“I disagree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it” Evelyn Beatrice( apparently). We all know this.

PS: He has also complained about how he and his family has received death threats. Those bigots now they have to be arrested. Doesnt look like that happened.

Respected Coronavirus

 In Tamil land, people usually wouldnt even say ammai( small pox/chicken pox) lest we anger/disrespect the goddess that causes it. 

I have always felt corona is similar. It demands respect.  Boris Johnson didnt treat it right,  he got it. So many ppl on twitter, one day would call the virus fake and next day they will report positive for the virus. Logical explanation would be that these people dont follow the precautions against the virus and the virus being as contagious as it is, latches on. 

It just the respect theory is more fun for me.

And Trump has been disrespecting it for a long time. But Trump is a germophobe too..  ....he is anyway cautious against all the viruses. 

People, respect Corona  that is all I can say. Address it as Mister, Miss or mademoiselle even.

Masaba, Mindy Kaling

In the netflix show of her name, Masaba acts really well. First timer or not, she is a real good actress.

Quite a while ago, I read an interview(either neena's or masaba's) about how Masaba really wanted to be an actress. And at that time her mom said it isnt going to happen in India because of skin color. 

Neena was right though. Its true. 

Similarly, I think Mindy kaling wouldn't have gotten any chance in India however talented she is. I am not a huge fan but her work is good. It is so her and very well done. Actually with "never have I ever", she is path breaking in her own way. And she is popular.

But in India she wouldnt be the celebrity that she is today.

I mean we all know India is racist. Most of the world is. But asian countries are openly racist. There is not even the lets hide it and only show it in our votes like the way it is in US.

When I think about it more, this look check( which sometimes people fail only coz of racism) is only for women. Similarly talented men would be celebrated. 

So far to go. so so far.

To regular blogging

Back to regular blogging. should help in these pandemic times.

Been reading so many reactions to Sushant Singh's death by suicide. Have only watched couple of his films and it still shook me quite a bit.
Before I go any further if anyone is battling these thoughts, please please please take help. You owe yourself to get help.

1. From whatever I know, Sushant did have a good career going from him. He had few hits. Even his last film chichore was a hit.

So not sure why people are posting about career failures and on dealing with it etc. Those are good stories to share in general. But posting in relation to his death.... doesnt feel right.

 2. About reaching out to friends: Years ago, a friend mentioned about someone else have a sibling with mental issue and How he has given up. I judged the guy ( i hadnt even met the person or the brother but... ).

But I do now know it isnt easy. I don't have first hand account of facing someone with clinical depression. From what I hear, it is not easy cheery one  time conversation like lot of posts recommend. It is multiple years of battle that this person goes through. Family and friends are up against  a wall.

More often than not, lot of people would do things all wrong in this scenario.

Right thing would be to keep prodding to make them get medical help.

3. We dont know what made him this extreme step or if there was someone who pushed him towards it. It isnt right to blame anyone without knowledge. 

4. Grief Mafia - I have been noticing this for quite a few years. How people grieve is very very personal. Not everyone grieves through crying nonstop. It is not for random strangers to comment.  Family has to face rest of their lives without their loved ones. People commenting on how this person isnt crying enough or dressing badly enough... just stop. ( been noticing it from the time when Arjun Kapoor lost his mom).