Mackenna's Gold was the first Western Movie I watched, as usual with Shivaji. We were planning to watch a Tamil Movie and knew getting ticket was not going to be easy. One of Shivaji's elder brothers suggested, if we didn't get tickets, we should try Mackenna's Gold and watch out for Omar Sharif and his... Continue Reading →
Sholay et al – Movies With Shivaji.
Sholay was the first movie I saw with Shivaji. OK Let me start at the beginning. The KMR family migrated to Chennai from Mahabalipuram in the summer of 1973 and we joined Anjuham High School (Vasanthy, JK and I) and Mohan joined a primary school nearby. I joined in the seventh class and soon became... Continue Reading →
Sivaji (Ganesan). An Actor for the Ages.
For me, Sivaji Ganesan is the greatest actor the world has seen. Period. Of the 288 films he has acted, more than 80% movies are probably trash. But in the remaining movies, he has left a legacy which cannot be even matched let alone surpassed. First the name. Only people who were contemporary to him,... Continue Reading →
Chasme Buddoor & Kathalika Neramillai – Two Best Comedy Films.
Kathalikka Neramillai (1964) Tamil, and Chasme Buddoor (1981) Hindi, are two of the best comedy movies made in hundred odd years of movie making in India. Period. These movies are not just contemporary. After 4 decades for CB and 57 years of KN they would still make you laugh as much as you laughed when... Continue Reading →
Tora Tora Tora – 1970.
Few years ago, I sat down to find out the best of World War II movies and collect them. This was much before Netflix had come to India so the idea was to buy Blu-ray disc. Couple of movies I had seen, had figured in the list and many did not. I was thinking that... Continue Reading →
Famous Final Acts – From Movies.
This is one blog, I debated for a long time, with myself, should I write or not? What good will come out of it, if one writes only about the last scene in a movie. People who had watched already, know about it, and for the ones who have not, it is not a just... Continue Reading →
Operation Day Break – 1975.
Ramakrishnan, my uncle, took me to Safire Theater to watch this movie when I was in Class VIII. This was the first English movie I watched and also first time I stepped into a place which had air-conditioning. This may sound like an old Peter Pan lingerie ad, "The first time I wore Peter Pan,... Continue Reading →
Taxi Driver – 1976
I started watching Hollywood movies in the mid seventies when I was in high school. So, all the movies I watched are still etched in memory. Though it is tenth in the series, the first Bond film I watched was 'The Spy Who Loved Me.' I was into watching action blockbusters ala Enter The Dragon,... Continue Reading →
Rubber Head – Rajesh Khanna.
Rajesh Khanna was a very popular Actor, probably the first Super Star of Indian Cinema. He produced fifteen solo hit films in a span of three years. I don't think this record is matched by anyone. Young women adored him; his songs were hummed by everyone. He became a member of the parliament and won... Continue Reading →
Cook Leaves Rice Behind.
Mike Grundy, my mentor and my boss for many years and I were taking an early-morning flight many years ago. Those days, the airlines (Jet and Air India mostly) would keep a newspaper in the front pocket of each seat. Mike grabbed it, saw the name 'The Hindu' and asked me, if it was a... Continue Reading →