The Extra Terrestrials are here..

Just as us Chennaites know that come December it is time for the Carnatic concerts, come June I know it is time for ET WOW.. What is ET WOW you ask? Tsk Tsk, what a question!! It is the coolest event to hit Chennai every year and a must watch!

The Extra Terrestrials as they are called are a set of acts put together by Show Space, they hand pick 8-9 acts out of 50-60 they sift through. These selected acts are brought down to the country and they perform across cities wowing audiences.. 

I have attended this show every year and it has been one amazing experience always!! More than me, my mom loves it. So this year, she saw the ad in the paper 10days ago and had begun asking me when I was taking her for it.. So, last week Friday was when the show launched in chennai after touring coimbatore. I took her along with my uncle and 9yr old cousin for the show. 

All of 75 mins, the event features 9 all new acts from 6 different international countries .. The evening opens with a man and a woman defying gravity using nothing but a pole, and then come the others, each of who dazzle you with their amazing talents .... 

For all the FIFA fans, there is a slice of FIFA in Chennai courtesy Zhora, the crazy goalkeeper who not only stands on a giant football but also juggles multiple smaller ones.. He is just WOW.. But then I could go on and on about each of the other acts, for each one is unique and amazing in its own unique way!! 

The other acts are, Duo Valeri- 2 men who use 2 straps and go high up in the air, Duo Brise- a couple who perform hand stands like none you have seen before. And audiences get quite a few rib tickling comedy with the Roll on Comedy act, the fat man who becomes a hunk by the end of his act.. lol.. 

If you thought you have seen it all, wait till Wang fei gets on stage and twirls em umbrellas and then a few mats... Sleek, graceful and chic.. she is all of 26yrs of age..

Wait, there is more.. The extravagant beam also called the Russian Bar  - an act performed by 3 guys, where one of them flies high in air while the other two hold the bar between their shoulders. Phew!! Hold your breath, hold on to your seats while Vik and Fabrini leave you speechless with their Illusion act- the man and the dummy and some magic.. buhahaha...

The grand finale is reserved for this high energy duo who juggle pins, who come in wearing suits and end up exhcanging their suits while juggling- they are Strahelman & Sohne, the Trial Room Jugglers... Yes, you read it right... Cant believe what you are reading? Well, go watch them live to see what am talking about!! :D

I also got the chance to spend time with them outside the show and they are all so chilled out and sweet.. most of them are in Chennai for the 1st time and say they love it here, "the food is good [ not the usual oh it is so spicy] and people are warm", they say! :D

If you havent caught them live, time to go book your tickets on wowet.in and go attend the show.. They perform in Chennai from 27-29th June and then head over to bangalore to perform at Phoenix Market city [ special air conditioned marquee] on 5th, 6th, 12th and 13th July!! 

Promo video.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZSTjNCrVOs

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Chennai International Film Fest

So, the CIFF this year was a super duper hit. Why? How? Cos i managed to attend, and not just attend a few, but saw 14 movies. Yes, you read it right. I had made up my mind to not only register, but to make it a point to attend as many as possible this year since last year was a bit of a wash out.

Oh, and the cherry on this cake is that I got featured in an article in the New Indian Express as well.. Check it out-

Link to the article

Rules Kidaiyathu... 180.. Nootri Enbathu

Couple of days back, 25th June to be exact saw 3 good friends, bloggers march into Escape Cinemas in Express Avenue and get all set to watch the movie 180- Nootri Enbathu... We had all seen trailers, all but me had been tripping on the music and now we were curious about the story, the plot, the acting, etc... 

Cast: Sidharth, Priya Anand, Nitya Menon, Mouli, Tanikella Bharani, Gita, MS Narayana, Laskhmi Ramakrishna, Janaki Sabesh, Sricharan, Misha Ghoshal, Cees Van Toledo, Xango Henry, Manager Cheena аnԁ others
Director: Jayendra

Music: Sharreth

Here is how the movie went... 

Ajay or Aj (Siddharth) is sitting on the foot steps of Ganges river in Varanasi while a small kid performing the last rites for his father plays around with a toy car... We then come to know that Ajay has come to India when he moves into a space in Mouli-Geeta's house.. He pays them 6months rent in advance and says he is going to be there for only 6 months. He befriends the paper boy, is one day seen ironing clothes, the other day racing an auto driver who demands an exhorbidant amount from an old lady... No one really knows who he is or what he is upto? It baffled us to see him throw around money like he was a millionaire and yet not see him do any work.  

One day, Vidya (Nithya Menon), a photo journalist spots Siddharth, is fascinated by what she sees and tracks him down. They get friendly, start hanging out, pretty soon Vidya falls for him... Every now and then we see Ajay go into a blimp, spaced out and lost in thoughts. It does make us wonder what the story behind that is, but we are kept captivated by his naughtiness and liveliness.... 

All is well till Mouli tells Ajay 6months is up and the very next day, he is off with his bags packed, ready to scoot off into the horizon.. And then, there is the photograph that the ironwala kid hands over saying he found it in Ajay's trousers.. 

You can also listen to Rules Kidaiyathu here

The 1st half is quite enthralling, with amazing visuals and fun songs.. The photography is simply wow.. As my friend Gils said, we were getting 3D effect at 2D rates!! :D

Anyways, let me not digress...

Ajay is off to the bus stand when Vidya comes looking for him, to profess her feelings. She chases him on her bike, and as we watch, she meets with an accident.... This is where the past is revealed and we learn more about this elusive Ajay..  Vidya has a spine injury and Dr Ajay kicks into action, taking charge and getting his Chief in USA to be prepared to operate on her. 

His past involves his friend Sam and sweetheart Renuka(Priya Anand). He's a well accomplished doctor in USA who falls in love with Renukam marries her and has a fairy tale life till things take a turn completely. This is the stage where we understand why the movie is called 180. It signifies the 180days he has left to live...  

As he discovers news of his illness, he distances himself from Renuka

Decides to disappear from her life

Packs his bags and leaves the country...................... 

he almost fakes his death and remains invisible to all those he knew in USA! 

And now, because of Vidya's injury he was back in USA... Was he ready to reconnect with Renuka? or will he choose Vidya and start a life with her? Does he live or does he die? The director decides to take us on a journey so long and winding that at the end of the movie, we felt like we had been sitting in the theater for 180hours!!  uff....

My Analysis:
The movie starts off light and fun, but suddenly goes through a tunnel and comes out after what seems like forever. The director got caught and dint know how to cut the chase... Wish the movie was crisper and shorter, more to the point... 

The visuals are amazing... it shows that the director has an Ad background.. The colours, outfits, camera, photography are simply amazing.....  

Positives:

Camera work.
Siddharth, Nithya, Mouli, Geeta, Priya have all acted very well... 
Rules kidaiyathu song picturisation was fun!!
The final Climax.

Negatives:
The story.
Dragging 2nd half

Unnecessary twists...
Overacting in some places... 

Overall rating: 2/5 [merely for the camera work] 

Wait for it and watch it on DVD or TV!!

[Movie] Wake up Sid

Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Konkona Sen Sharma, Anupam Kher, Supriya Pathak, Rahul Khanna

Director: Ayan Mukerji

Music: Shankar Ehsaan & Loy

Rating: ****1/2

Verdict: Good light fun movie!!


“Wake Up Sid” was one delightful movie. The movie has a constant smooth flow throughout; no over the top or understated drama scenes; no ultra emotional strangulation of the audiences; absolutely no hippie-yuppie cool dude acting by Ranbir; and last but not the least, a very realistic, and refreshing story.

 
  A movie that reminds you of those fun college days,  where there is one guy who is the rich brat, not worried about anything in life, always surrounded by money and fancy stuff. Wake up Sid is the story of how Sid transforms from a spoilt rich brat to a responsible young man.. and the journey is so real and so so much fun, the audience is with him through the way!!!

 
While the film actually becomes really engrossing in the second half, the first half facilitates an adequate groundwork for the story to progress. As you watch Sid mature, and by the time he returns to his dad (Anupam Kher in a short but effective role), you realise that the destination was eventually met even as the journey wasn’t quite ‘on your face’ or ‘over the top’.

 Meanwhile Konkona gets yet another complex role for herself. She is absolutely brilliant. Watch out for her in the interview scene with Rahul Khanna and the emotional outburst when Ranbir decides to go back to his parents’ house. Her irritation is so utterly believable and so are the tender ways in which she looks after him, and the slow process of falling in love with the guy she thought was her total opposite.... :)

 The beauty of ‘Wake Up Sid’ lies in the honesty with which all the characters have been portrayed, bringing them so close to the real life. Be it the problem of English-speaking Sid not being on the same wavelength as his Punjabi-speaking Mom or the Sid who is simply wonderful with his friends, we identify with him completely. The simple dialogues of the movie make it all the more easy to relate with.The good part about the ‘transformation’ that Sid undergoes in the movie is that it comes over a period of time, not overnight or within the space of a song.
 
Yes, the character of Sid has various similarities to Hrithik in Lakshya, Aamir / Saif in Dil Chahta Hai but this movie will leave an imprint in your heart, and you will walk out of the theater humming Wake up Sid!!
 
Fav songssssss that i've been tripping on multiple times during the day... -- Kya Karoon?', 'Iktara', 'Wake Up Sid'
 

[Movie] Achchamundu Achchamundu

Debutant director: Arun Vaidyanathan

Cast: Prasanna, Sneha, John Shea; 

Music: Karthik Raja; 

 Achchamundu Achchamundu  is a one of a kind movie, infact i dont think i've seen any other on this subject made in the Tamil movie industry!!  What is it about you ask ? its about child abuse and paedophiles!!! Yes.. no, dont shirk away and say "Chee, i aint gonna watch this movie"... You need to... Its a kind of an eye opener for people who think anybody who smiles and is nice to their child is simply being loving and caring.. yes, most people are, biut there are the other kind who we ignore.. or are unaware of!!

Set in New Jersey, its the story of Senthil Kumar (Prasanna), and his happy lamily-- wife Malini (Sneha) and child Rithika [Akshaya]. They have all acted well, except most scenes the accent and style portrayed seems very fake and just doesnt sit well with the audience. During the first half hour, i kinda got bored, the movie seemed to be in bits and pieces, untill it progressed eventually giving us no clues where it was headed...

This is where, a painter Robinson (John Shea) enters the story, he is a psychotic paedophile[For those who dont know the meaning, pls click on link -- they are people who lust affer children.and sexually abuse them]  . The minute he agrees to paint their basement for a throwaway price of $1000, the couple trust him with not just their home, but the security code to their home alarm system. He is sweet towards Rithika, and so she spends time with him unaware of his ulterior motives.. Through the movie, there are subtle hints here and there on Robinson's character.. A child is shown tied up in the boot of his car, another boy goes missing after Robinson gets him an ice cream, but because of his external portrayal, he gets away with it!! 

Meanwhile, Malini gets pregnant and it is time for Senthil to go to Florida for a conference, but the night before that he spots a thief of sorts trying to attack his house. He then takes Malini's fears seriously, cancels his trip and decides to stay put at home with his family [ figuring that is the only way to protect them] . 

Unable to resist further, Robinson decides to make his move into their home, and  how Senthil saves his family from the clutches of the psychotic child abuser forms the climax.

Arun Vaidyanathan has to be applauded for choosing such a sensitive theme. and presenting it well. Not in one scene do we feel wierd or disturbed.. Towards the end, there are news /newspaper clippings, and statistics on Child abuse across the world shown on the screen...

The movie is not gripping or has some mind blowing scenes, nor have the actors been utilised to their max, but  the way the director handles his theme leaves much to be desired.!! 

[Movie] Masilamani

Maasilamani by RNR Manohar

Starring- : Nakul, Sunaina, Pavan, Karunas, Santhanam, M S Bhaskar, Raj Kapoor, Santhana Bharathi, Delhi Ganesh and many others.

Music: Imman

The movie opens with Nakul chasing a man down the streets and getting sentenced to fine or term in jail. Masilamani [Nakul], living in Rani Anna Nagar is not the usual romeo or run of the mill hero. He is a social activist goes after anyone who does wrong, be it a case of eve teasing on the bus, cheating an old couple in a property sale or chain snatching. One day, he catches sight of Divya [Sunaina] confronting some guys who tease her students, and in the process he falls head over heels in love with her.

However, the hunky dory romance hits a dead end the day he causes mayhem at her dance concert, when all he wanted was to meet their area MLA requesting for assistance in clearing up a sewage problem. One look at his angry face and Divya lables him "Rowdy" . She mistakes his character and assumes he is a crook, despising him from that minute on!

Invariably from thereon, everytime their paths cross it is when he is beating someone up or chasing a thief. He even jokes to her about this. Knowing there is no way Divya will love Masi, he adorns the role of Mani, a soft spoken sophisticated guy.

With the help of his two friends, he stages the whole drama and wins over Divya's family and subsequently her as well. This is where,Bhupathi [Pavan] comes into town taking over as the Sub Inspector of Ashok nagar police station. After a run in with Masi, he vows revenge, but is left confused whenever he tries to prove Masi and Mani are one! Infact, the residents of Rani Anna Nagar, where Masi resides come together to establish that Mani is different from Masi. The day Divya decides to test him, a simple text message has his friends jumping into action and helping him strengthen ties with Divya!! It is one amazing scene that leaves us all stumped. So, is the one at the hospital when Bhupathi brings in the Masi's sister's daughter, while Masi is pretending to be Mani and the way the situation is handled deserves a lot of praise.

As the movie progresses, Divya comes to know that indeed Masi and Mani are one. She must now decide who she loves and if she will marry Masilamani!

Laced with sharp dialogues, plenty of action, and romance, the movie goes on tell the tale of how Masi as Mani convinces Divya he is a good samaritan and truly loves her. The entire plot has been beautiful crafted by the director and executed very well by Nakul and rest of the Rani Anna Nagar residents!

With every scene, Nakul has proved that he can act, dance, do comedy and is good at it. Suniana looks beautiful, and there is a certain grace in her acting as well. In certain scenes, she does come acrss flat, but overall good performance. Bhaskar , Santhanam, Karnas and Srinath provide just the right amount of comedy, without going overboard!!

Music by Imman is enjoyable, especially ‘Odi Odi’ track, it is quite a peppy number. The other songs have variety and vigour to keep the audiences glued to the seats; however all of them are a tad too long. Song locations and cinematography was good.

All in all, Masilamani is a romantic thriller, filled with intense moments and rib tickling comedy!!