What a superb film.
The memory game…
Helen of Troy or Helen of Bombay?
Saw it again last night at the Ray fest. Not very smart of the organisers, was it, to screen the films sans subtitles? Added to which, the sound was bad and there were frequent stoppages.
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hey uma, thanks for stopping by! glad you liked the blog… i enjoyed yours too, especially all the goopy bits - it’s my favourite children’s movie ever!
Comment by anita — May 20, 2007 @ 11:01 am
Simi as the tribal woman. Strange casting choice on the great man’s part, but such a terrific film.
Comment by km — May 20, 2007 @ 8:34 pm
Though many complain I find subtitles somewhat distracting..
The subject period of the movie along with its several interruptions in screening, literally took me back to my childhood days when we’re quite used to watch movies on a single projector that allowed us have at least half a dozen intervals!
A wonderful juxtaposition of highly disparate and water tight compartmentalized characters. Kaberi Bose’s (Jaya) expressive face making suited her seductive role.
Attention to detail perhaps is only expected. Though the cream on coffee forming a layer was quite well shown to strengthen Sanjoy’s saying “you may have to take cold coffee”, the friends apparent finding their way to the guest house on their own despite enlisting an usher into the car is interesting!
Ashim’s bafflement was wonderfully picturised when his query of “which Kennedy?” receiving a firm response “Bobby Kennedy!” in the picnic scene. However, one can’t stop wondering why every character almost displayed the same degree of seriousness in the game with the possible exception to some degree by Jaya.
With diagonally opposite value systems towards illicit sex and with four disparate personalities it’s a wonderful depiction of a fact that there need not exist a common factor to be friends, perhaps even as a couple!
Sudden transformation of a somber mood in an increasingly intense conversation to instantaneous exhilaration with the sudden spotting of a gazelle pair is quite realistic and thoughtful and perhaps a great director’s way of terminating a scene on a positive note.
Photography was very good; however, when the camera moves fast at the intended pace of the beholders’ eye, unless the space between the targeted object and the camera is not long enough it produces a blurred picture- a strain on the eye of the viewer- which is characteristic of Indian cinema even today despite all the advancements in technology. For example, the picturisation of shrubs by the side of the road from a moving car intended to show the speed of the car is a strain on the eye of the viewer. A real viewer in a moving car actually, moves his eyes by fixing his gaze for an extra moment thereby giving the object a momentary stationary effect. Actual viewing from a fast moving object is in fact in a staggered manner than a continuous swift movement.
Comment by Naveen — May 22, 2007 @ 9:32 am
What a wonderful blog you have hosted here! Much to learn, much more to enjoy.
Comment by Prashanth — May 22, 2007 @ 2:56 pm
Anita: thx and nice to see you here :)
km: yeah, it seemed weird the first time i saw it..but now i’m used to it :)
naveen: thx, that’s a very detailed comment! i liked the “which kennedy” moment too :)
prashant: thx, do visit again :)
Comment by Uma — May 23, 2007 @ 12:28 pm
Hi. I loved this film too. Didn’t enjoy the sequel - Abar Aranye - nearly as much though.
Comment by ss — July 12, 2007 @ 9:44 pm
Hi. Came here from Sujatha’s … I loved this film. The sequel, on the other hand, left a lot to be desired. They play the memory game once again in the sequel and the names this time around … you realise how times have changed.
Comment by ss — July 12, 2007 @ 9:47 pm