Stranger in a train...

Stranger in a train

It’s been one year since I identified ‘the traveller’ inside me. Instead of asking leave for a month, I preferred to quit my job and began my journey. It’s a blessing to have friends across the country.

Ahmedabad was my first destination. It was Diwali day. My friend picked me from railway station, freshened up and he took me to his travelling gang. We began a road trip to the coastal area of Gujarat. I was surprised by the variety of topics we discussed. Everything under the sun came in our conversations and I was a silent listener. Others had opinions and views about everything. All well informed. Walk in the sea in low tide, sleep in the beach camp, boat ride to see dolphins, etc were first time experience for me. And the main mantra I learnt from them is ‘journey matters, not the destination.’

From there I went to Goa to meet another friend. I carried e-ticket and a checker asked for my id proof. I showed copy of driving license. He asked, “Can you travel in flight if you show copy of your passport?” I said no. He said he want an original proof. I showed him my press id. He didn’t mind it. He was ready to put fine on me. Most of the money I had in hand ended to him. A family next to me knew my situation.

Later in the night I had no money to buy food. I bought some cheap popcorn. A man in that family asked me whether I had any food. I said I am on a diet. He laughed and went to the pantry, came back with rice and chicken curry. I couldn’t say no to it. I was hungry and didn’t feel to reject it. Next day, when I was about to alight in Goa, he asked me whether I had money for auto/taxi. I said yes. The good thing was he and me never asked names. To give food, or offer help to an unknown person is not a small thing. That stranger in the train taught me a lesson of humanity.

So a headline turned my head’s line (thala vara)!!

So a headline turned my head’s line (thala vara)!!

By completing 8 months as unemployed (actually I was waiting for another call) one day I suddenly felt to make an enquiry. I was earlier informed about arrival of a leading English newspaper to Kerala. I just googled and tried its office number and asked about it.

“You are very late. Interviews are going on,” was the reply. But he gave me contact number of HR and asked me to try (thank you Mr.anonymous).
I called HR Manager, introduced myself and asked about recruitment. She asked me to reach Kochi next day with CV. When I boarded train, the only lines played in loop in my mind was, ‘an idiot bargained for an elephant. He may lose a word, but may gain an elephant.’

So I went to get my elephant and asked to take a test. Some usual ‘name the followings, prioritise the given news items, etc’. Then came my favourite section. Give suitable headlines to the following news stories. Out of that, one caught my special care. The question goes like this: “A Bollywood actress secretly undergoes abortion in a hospital in Europe. Her co-star in the previous movie is rumoured to be responsible for this. The heroine and hospital officials denied this.”

What should I write for this?? Suddenly some old filmy lines came to mind, thanks to Farah Khan’s Om Shanti Om. Then I wrote, ‘Main tumhari bachche ki maa nahin banoogi..’ I enjoyed writing that line and started giggling. I decided to keep it and went ahead.

The interview began after the test. After usual introductions, they were evaluating my answer sheet. Why I chose this, Why I wrote like this, etc. Then they came to my HEADLINE. When one person read it others started laughing. I joined their laugh. I didn’t realise whether they were teasing me or praising me. Then another person said, It’s the best line they got for this question. I felt ‘OK’.

Two days later, I got my offer letter to join the company as trainee journalist. An offer I couldn’t refuse at that time.

After a month, I was sent to Chennai for training and went to meet the Resident Editor there. I then realised he was the same person who praised me for that headline during my interview. Later, he came to my workplace. Unexpectedly, he started to describe that ‘headline story’ to my colleagues. I wondered how he still remembered it and started feeling embarrassed. He added, that headline made your entry to this company.

Mammootty & Prithviraj to clash in Amal Neerad film

Mammootty & Prithviraj to clash in Amal Neerad film

Two stars of Malayalam cinema are set to join hands again, this time against each other. Amal Neerad had casted Mammootty as his hero and Prithviraj as villain in his next Malayalam movie produced in the banner of August Cinema. Shanker Ramakrishnan will handle the script for this movie after his much acclaimed epic drama, Urumi. Early reports indicate that the movie is set in 50s and 60s. Amal Neerad himself may roll the camera. This untitled venture will go on floors by this year end and is expected to be a big Vishu release for the next year.
This combo of Mammootty and Prithviraj is hugely expected to become a money spinner as their previous venture, Pokkiriraja.

Funful college & Boring school

Funful college & Boring school

Disclaimer :- This is not a review or criticism. Just some random thoughts on two movies.

Four Friends deciding to go back to their college after 12 years for doing PG. This single line is so attractive and catchy to bring audience to theatre. This is the point where SENIORS score the most. But when you try to justify their comeback with an illogical reason, it destroys the whole spirit of movie. This may be the high and low points of the movie Seniors directed by Vyshakh (Pokkiriraja fame) and written by Sachi-Sethu. But the director has handled the subject so fast pacingly, that there is no room for thinking until the end credits. The suspense with a so called psychological reason is so childish and unbelievable, but the making of the scene using a stage drama compensates with some tension until the end.

Now coming to Manikiakkallu. This is the story of a government high school notorious for zero pecent success in the board exams. A young, good hearted, determined teacher joins the school and turns the impossible to possible. Good intention and honest effort should be appreciated. But the movie turns dry and preachy. A common man’s patience will be tested for sure unless he feels empathetic to the subject.
Two movies, both based in educational institutions. One treated as a masala commercial flick. The other is a straight from the heart social film. People will watch the college fun in theatres with claps and whistles and recommend the school story for awards.
No wonder why MASALAS repeat. Because it has ruined the taste or created a new taste.

KO & Ayan - a 'loose' connection

KO & Ayan - a 'loose' connection

Disclaimer: This is not a review or criticism. Just an interesting fact which felt like sharing.

As many know Ayan had a storyline which goes almost like this – a young man attracted in smuggling carrying movie cds, other valuables except drugs. In the end everything turns around and he decides to join customs for his mother.

The hero is also a movie buff. In a scene one of his friend comes to him asking help to impress a director (who has come to buy foreign film dvds) by recommending some movies according to the situations required for him. Bank robbery was one situation the director asks and the hero recommends some titles.

Now coming to KO. The opening scene of the film is a BANK ROBBERY!!!
Also Pia’s character speaks to a director on phone. The director asks her to give five star in review of his movie which has a story line of ‘a young man attracted in smuggling carrying movie cds, other valuables except drugs. In the end everything turns around and he decides to join customs for his mother.’

K.V.Anand (director of both the movies) has presented an interesting ‘loose connection’ in these movies (just pun intended). After the success of KO, K.V.Anand has become one of the smart & talented directors who whose films are worth waiting for. Great going…

INDIAN RUPEE – Ranjith & Prithviraj again…

INDIAN RUPEE – Ranjith & Prithviraj again…
The master & protégé is joining hands again after Nandanam & Thirakkadha. Director Ranjith’s next flick titled INDIAN RUPEE will star Prithviraj. The movie is based on the urge for youth to make fast bucks. Prithviraj plays the role of Jayaprakash alias JP whose idol is Faris Abubaker & other money makers. Ranjith’s Capitol Theatre is producing this movie and S.Kumar will handle the camera. Music : Shahbas Aman. Shooting will commence in May.

Mammootty turns Gangster

Mammootty turns Gangster

Remember Alexander from the movie Samrajyam??Mammootty fans will always cherish this character. Mammootty is all set to gear up for another gangster movie directed by Aashiq Abu. The director who marked his directorial debut with Mammootty in Daddy Cool is very much thrilled to be with the star again in this movie titled The Gangster. Ahmed Sidhique and Parthan Mohan is handling the script. The movie will commence when Aashiq's another directorial venture SaltnPepper releases.

Dr.Love - poster

Dr.Love - poster

After the success of Hallo and Mummy & Me, producer Joy Thomas Sakthikulangara begins his next venture which marks the directorial debut of K.Biju who was a long time associate director in Malayalam industry (screen name Biju Arookkutti). This movie titled Dr.Love has Kunchako Boban in the main lead with a bunch of young stars and new faces. This campus story is projected as 'The Twenty 20 of youngsters'. Shooting is scheduled to begin in April.

Dhoom 3 - teaser poster

A film which has not yet started (may begin filming by year end) has started to create waves just from its announcement. Aamir Khan will join the most celebrated Dhoom series in its latest offering. Writer of the early movies in this series Vijay Krishna Acharya (Victor) will wield the megaphone this time. His directorial debut Tashan was a forgettable fare. Abhishek Bachchan & Uday Chopra will reprise their characters from the original. Aamir Khan, whose winning spree created ripples around the globe may steal the whole show (or it is what expected).

Mohanlal - Priyadarshan new Malayalam film teaser poster

The most successful and awaited combo in Malayalam cinema is about to grace the screens again. Priyadarshan-Mohanlal duo magic is once again expected to take the audience for a roller coaster ride. Interestingly titles 'Arabeem Ottakom P.Madhavan Nairum' will be shot in Abudhabi this summer. The movie is slated for Onam release.