Topic started by Sathish (@ 64.222.80.91) on Sun Nov 18 12:18:33 EST 2001.
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.
Dear Friends,
I happened to step on the review on "Abhay" in www.rediff.com and hope most of the viewers might have been able to read it. I couldnt digest the review , but a review on "Tera mera saath rahen" the next day in the same webpage has aggravated my opinions about these reviews. I just wanted to know if you people have a similar kind of opinion. Why are the south indian talents being disregarded? Why is this double standard?
My friend wrote back to rediff.com and I am also including the contents of his letter. I am just curious to know people here have similar views.
Dear Sir,
It is with great regret that i am writing my opinion on this review. I had rediff's views as one of the most respectable so far, but this article definitely made me have second thoughts, to put it vry very mildly. If the writer does not have a clue abt the hard work which went into Abhay, he can probably refrain from talking about a genius like Kamal Hasan. It is different issue if the movie is not interesting or if "you dont like it", but when you talk in an oepn forum, its better you know what you are talking about. It is sad to note that movie like Hey Ram, Abhay and Asoka dont get their due, while senseless and the so called make-me-feel-nice movies like HAHK, DDLJ and all those bunch of movies with meaningless storylines and stupid acronyms catch the eyes of not only the viewers but the so-called movie intelliengetsia of the country. I can understand the author not accepting the efforts of someone from the South, but there sseem to be so much of hypocrisy in the reviews- again to be extremely mild- a movie like Asoka which was probably one of India's technically best movies gets a review from Rediff that its a "typical hindi movie" ( to quote you exactly) and Tera Mera Saath Rahen gets the movie of the year. Kamal's effort in Hey Ram/Aalavandhaan, Santosh Svian's genius in Asoka and Maniratnam's techincal mind in a Dil Se are "good", but Ajay Devgan's performance in TMSR ( i am just trying to be a part of the latest fad!!) is "nothing-shotrof superb"!!! So, what are you guys trying to say, that a normal hindi movie is upto the quality of a "Saving Private Ryan" or a "Schindler's List" when it comes to the script, a "Beethoven's 5th Symphony" when it comes to music and a "Jurassic Park, "Termintaor 2", when it comes to technical brilliance" , or is that there is "more " to it that meets the eye in Hindi Cinema that i cant see???
They ways of the Indian Film committee in deciding the National Awards is nothing short of a spoof of the Oscars. When A.R.Rahman comes up with a list like - Kaadhalar Dhinam, Alai Payudhey, Mudhalvan, Kanduknden Kandukonden in Tamil and then to please the National (Bollywoo, i thought this might be a better title for the awards) awards committee he comes up with a Taal and Thankshk- the whole world expets him to wrap up the awards- and lo and Behold the "critics" have the ears of a Mozart where they can feel Ismail Darbar's "Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam" to be a class apart from all the movies quoted above. I want to make sure this mail doesnt fall into deaf ears... I hope i am representing a huge representation of people here in the US who really appreciate Indian Cinema, that these so called critiques. If you can respond to this one, then i would be more than happy to find out the "magic" of Bollywood ,correct my eyees ane ears but never become a part of this cabal of senseless movie-watchers.
With deepest regrets,
Responses:
- Old responses
- From: K.I. (@ 203.199.231.36)
on: Tue Nov 20 22:20:12 EST 2001
ha ha OVERSEAS ASOKA MADE HUGE COLLECTIONS and in all Indian territories it is doing well for the price tag it had Refer bollywood on web .com
Sharukh has depth where as Kamal is monoacctor with lots of over acting Both can not be compared In Hindi Heyram who stole the show in acting everyone knows....K.I.
- From: suresh (@ 202.88.155.34)
on: Tue Nov 20 23:33:58 EST 2001
KI(D)
If you want references to prove what a disaster 'Asoka' has been for Shahrukh, and how it might lead to the closure of his production company, all you have to do is look at more reliable sources than your bollywoodonweb.
Asoka might break even because of the skewed way film marketing works today, but just as Subash Ghai made money on "Yaadein" which was a total washout. SRK's production company is in choppy waters, his next movie will get devalued to the level of a Akshay Kumar starrer. When was the last SRK hit?
And your comparison of SRK and Kamal is not even worth a joke!
- From: nvd (@ 161.142.78.83)
on: Wed Nov 21 01:22:01 EST 2001
There's always something better in HeyRam than in Alavandhaan. A-ram is more classical with good BGM, costumes and locations compared to the undefined fighting scenes and musical locations in Alavandhaan.
- From: cosmician (@ 194.170.127.161)
on: Wed Nov 21 04:53:13 EST 2001
Hi Senthil...
You are right...sorry it has been quite some time since I'd read Syd Field's book on Screenplay Writing.
But this kind of grand or gripping openings are common in many Hollywood flicks...what comes to my mind right now is "Gladiator"...any James Bond film like "Goldeneye"...
I feel that the musical theme "2424" which is very hummed I think by Nandini (Africa Kaatupali) should have opened the film and should have played during the titles while the camera roves over the children's room and the objects therein - the diary..the phantom on the wall...the beedis....the father's belt..toda relics..
this would have set the mood for the film....this kind of style is what the film lacked..just seemed like a bunch of sequences pasted together...
- From: cosmician (@ 194.170.127.161)
on: Wed Nov 21 04:54:36 EST 2001
That humming should have been used wherever required to give the whole film a cohesive theme...
- From: cosmician (@ 194.170.127.161)
on: Wed Nov 21 06:01:53 EST 2001
DIGRESSION :
Senthil..I've not watched Pearl Harbour....after the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki..no one in their right minds would watch it..
- From: WhyNot (@ 203.24.100.137)
on: Wed Nov 21 08:18:38 EST 2001
Digression:
A humble qn to you cosmician? What has the bombing of Hiro and Nagasaki got to do wit watching Pearl Harbour now? I watched Pearl Harbour and I am very much in the right frame of my mind.
Lest u forget, the Japanese committed terrible atrocities, and having grandparents who lived in japanese occupied Singapore during WWII, I know tat the terrors they committed have left behind horrible memories and permamnent scars, on many. Living in British occupied spore was faaaaarrrrr better in comparison.
- From: WhyNot (@ 203.24.100.137)
on: Wed Nov 21 08:20:00 EST 2001
typo: permanent scars
- From: K.I. (@ 203.199.231.83)
on: Wed Nov 21 08:33:36 EST 2001
Hi Suresh
I am in teens comparing contemperory things...
Yaadeen was a flop in overseas from 4th day....where as ASOKA was in top20 in USA and top10 in UK for two weeks Sharukh is negotiating the dubbing rights in Japanese,Chinese,Korean languages for big amount...Asoka is golden goose for him
Again Dilseflopped but Kuch kuch was Mega hit
Phir bhi flopped but Mohabatein is abig hit
One two ka flopped Asoka is hit which will be followed by Kabhikushi....Hence Sharukh is there for ever
Enga college il many boys ASOKA vil Kareena vai parkkum podhu dhan Vayasukku Vandhanga.How can such film will be a flop..
For a teen ager Sharukh was better than Kamal in Heyram,Jayaram was better in Tenali and this Actor Kamal who is nearing 50 is Lousy in Alavandan...
Yes I can not compare this guy with Sharukh Only Hirtik and Ameer are Sharuka's Peers....
- From: cosmician (@ 213.42.1.244)
on: Wed Nov 21 09:14:20 EST 2001
Why not :
The British were far better eh ?...I'd prefer to get tortured and die sooner than lose my self-respect and maanam and mariyathai and be a dog like slave.
Just bcos u tortured me, if my big brother goes and bombs your house and all its inmates... - i think it would make sense to u...that is the world today...send ur hate mail to cosmician@excite.com ....let's not continue this here.
- From: cosmician (@ 213.42.1.244)
on: Wed Nov 21 09:16:22 EST 2001
>>>, I know tat the terrors they committed have left behind horrible memories and permamnent scars, on many. <<<
Just like the scars are still left in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
- From: unmaivilambi (@ 63.75.49.120)
on: Wed Nov 21 10:30:56 EST 2001
K.I, However you try to justify Asoka all magazines have reported that it is a disater. It could not hold on against a mediocre Indian. Sharuk is on the verge of closing down his company. Mohabatein was not a hit due to Sharuk, it was due to a variety of reasons primary being Yash chopra's banner and curiosity about Big B's comeback. KKKG will be a hit because of it's casting. Let us see the fate of Devdas. All said and done Sharuk is a not an actor like Kamal or to an extent Aamir but a guy hammer who thrives on mannerisms.Sharuk's only noteworthy performance came in HeyRam and we know the reason behind it.
- From: KALPANA (@ 203.199.231.12)
on: Wed Nov 21 12:47:17 EST 2001
Kamal....kamal Mr UNMAI
Enaku Ninaivu Thrrinju
1997....Saachi420...Flop
1998....Kadhala Kadhala Flop
1999....Heyram....Washout in award fronts also
2000...Tenali ...Hit for various reasons including Kamal
2001....Alavandan...heading for doom..
2001...Abhay.....Washout on very first day...
Ennangada aachu ungalukkum...unga Hero vukkum
- From: Abhay (@ 192.19.194.27)
on: Wed Nov 21 13:21:50 EST 2001
KALPANA,
I think like Abhay you are in the hallucination world. Enna Ecstasy saaptingala.
Follow this link for Abhay's collection.
http://indiafm.com/boxoffice/collections.shtml
- From: unmaivilambi (@ 63.75.49.120)
on: Wed Nov 21 16:21:02 EST 2001
Kamal has survived more than 25 years in the industry having seen his share of hits and flops.
Sharuk is barely 10 years and is already in danger of being swept away, the difference being Kamal is an actor and a star unlike Sharuk who is a hyped up star who cannot grow beyound his mannerisms. Kamal has a significant presence in telugu,malayalam and hindi in addition to his own turf which is proved by the box office triumph of Chachi 420(check it out),Swathi muthyam and Chanakyan.
- From: k (@ 203.199.231.63)
on: Thu Nov 22 03:25:56 EST 2001
CORRECTION...Abhay wash out on very first week....Mumbai has enough tamils to give 100% opening for Kamal starrer...What happened subsequently from Monday has already come out in Bollywood news.KALPANA.
- From: WhyNot (@ 203.24.100.131)
on: Thu Nov 22 05:07:48 EST 2001
Digression Again:
cosmician, i did not know u had such strong anti-west sentiments. I'm sure u'd rather be tortured than be treated like a slave. But if i had to choose btwn the two, i'd rather send my kids (if i had any) to the schools built by the british and have my parents employed by the british than to have my kids and parents mecilessly tortured and murdered in schools-turned concentration camps.
Well, well, anyway, all said, I must assure you that the movie was based on facts, except for the dumb love story that came inbetween. And they portrayed the Japanese in a very admirable & respectable light. (i'm serious) And my jap friends liked the movie too.
Just to add, if I tortured u, I hope my inmates will have the good sense to kick me out, especially when I've been torturing my inmates as well.
- From: cosmician (@ 194.170.1.66)
on: Sun Nov 25 13:14:24 EST 2001
Digression :
Why Not..
"Anti-West ?" Why do you make such broad generalizations when all I had done was raise a rather strong objection to the military methods and devilish underhand methods of creating chaos and conflicts in the Third World by the US administration which has cost millions of lives...
the US mainstream media never publishes the truth about what their govt. does abroad. Read what prominent US journalists have to say at www.zmag.org - their articles are rejected by the mainstream media bcos the truth hurts..so u take cover by calling the "Terrorists", "Communists", "Pacifists" and what not !
AMOF I admire the Arts and Music of what you call the "Western" world.
- From: WhyNot (@ 203.24.100.132)
on: Sun Nov 25 14:39:36 EST 2001
cosmician, i didn't mean to offend you by stating "Anti-West" I know how US ticks and how their media indulges in propaganda as well as one-sided reporting to hide or ignore the truth.
That is the reason why I pointedly avoid CNN, Fox News, Bloomberg etc in preference for BBC, and other non-US networks for news.
My whole point in the first place was that japan wasn't all that great in the first place and Pearl Harbour was not a movie to avoid simply bcos of the atomic bombs. I also personally feel tat though the japs made a mistake in attacking PH, US also deserved it for pretending to be neutral while blocking their supply lines.
I apologise for any offending statements and thanks for the link, I'll check it out.
Hopefully that ends the digression.
- From: cosmician (@ 194.170.127.157)
on: Wed Nov 28 00:57:00 EST 2001
Hey WhyNot
Happy to hear that you avoid CNN etc....I do it like the plague too except for some sci and tech news..
Well..accept my apologies too if I had sounded too offensive :)
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