Movies...that sing
Ram has started to blog with frightening regularity. He writes on movies and you can find his blog here. For me, books are where I can lose myself completely. But movies come in a close second. I haven't watched too many English movies but Malayalam, Hindi and a smattering of Tamil, I am right in there.
Seeing Ram's blog, I thought I will put in my bit about the movies I have seen and admired and lost myself in. I am socially outcast because of the number of times I forcibly bring in Mohanlal in conversations. People (All Indians except Mallus, a few Tamilians and a minority of North Indians who have somehow liked Mohanlal in 'Company') just cannot understand, leave alone appreciate, how a roly-poly, obese actor is allowed to star in movies and how someone can possibly like him. His name of course, does him no favours either.
But I admire him. The way he never overplays a character. The way he becomes the character. If he plays a kathakali dancer, it seems like he has learnt kathakali all his life. If he plays a football player, it would seem that he used to play with Maradona in Napoli. The versatality of Mohanlal (Comedy, action, pathos..you name it) is unmatched in India. For me, he is definitely the best actor in India. Period. He has grown portly and he hasnt taken care of his physique. But the 80s and a major part of the 90s saw Mohanlal at his peak. There are still occasional flashes of brilliance. Udayanaanu thaaram (Udayan is the star) and Thanmathra (Molecule) are those sporadic flashes. The only thing that Mohanlal has done wrong is to be born in Kerala because no one outside this small state watches Mallu movies.
Carrying on with Mallu movies, I have to talk about Padmarajan, my favourite director. He died in the early 90s. He hasnt made too many movies. Out of them, the ones I have seen are
Mohanlal & Padmarajan
Koodevide (In search of a nest)
Namukku paarkan mundhiri thoppukal (The vineyards are our home)
Thoovanathumbikal (The dragonflies of the spring)
Innale (Yesterday/The Past)
Desadanakili karayaarilla (The migratory bird does not cry)
Moonampakkam (On the third day)
Anybody who can think up such names is a poet. It is no coincidence that his movies sing to you.
Seeing Ram's blog, I thought I will put in my bit about the movies I have seen and admired and lost myself in. I am socially outcast because of the number of times I forcibly bring in Mohanlal in conversations. People (All Indians except Mallus, a few Tamilians and a minority of North Indians who have somehow liked Mohanlal in 'Company') just cannot understand, leave alone appreciate, how a roly-poly, obese actor is allowed to star in movies and how someone can possibly like him. His name of course, does him no favours either.
But I admire him. The way he never overplays a character. The way he becomes the character. If he plays a kathakali dancer, it seems like he has learnt kathakali all his life. If he plays a football player, it would seem that he used to play with Maradona in Napoli. The versatality of Mohanlal (Comedy, action, pathos..you name it) is unmatched in India. For me, he is definitely the best actor in India. Period. He has grown portly and he hasnt taken care of his physique. But the 80s and a major part of the 90s saw Mohanlal at his peak. There are still occasional flashes of brilliance. Udayanaanu thaaram (Udayan is the star) and Thanmathra (Molecule) are those sporadic flashes. The only thing that Mohanlal has done wrong is to be born in Kerala because no one outside this small state watches Mallu movies.
Carrying on with Mallu movies, I have to talk about Padmarajan, my favourite director. He died in the early 90s. He hasnt made too many movies. Out of them, the ones I have seen are
Mohanlal & Padmarajan
Koodevide (In search of a nest)
Namukku paarkan mundhiri thoppukal (The vineyards are our home)
Thoovanathumbikal (The dragonflies of the spring)
Innale (Yesterday/The Past)
Desadanakili karayaarilla (The migratory bird does not cry)
Moonampakkam (On the third day)
Anybody who can think up such names is a poet. It is no coincidence that his movies sing to you.
Labels: Movies
posted by Rajesh | 12:42 PM
3 Comments:
Mohanlal and Padmarajan were the perfect combination. I think the best was Thuvanathumbikal..who can forget the introduction scene of Mohanlal.
Dear Rajesh
I stumbled upon your blog while searching for info in Thoovanaththumbikal movie. I am one of the rare Tamilians who fell in lobe with Mallu movies particularly Mohanlal's and Padmarjajan. Me too quite often treated outcast for my frequent assertions that good films come only in Kerala. Thoovanaththumbikal is simply fantastic.
Regards
Rajan
Rajan
Its really heartening to know that. I can understand a Mallu saying that but when you say it, why do I feel so much more vindicated? Great to hear from you.
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