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 →
இரண்டு இனிய பாடல்கள்
1990களில் நான் BetzDearborn கம்பெனியில் பணிபுரிந்த கொண்டிருந்தபோது Tony Askew நிர்வாக மேலாளராக இருந்தார் (MD). சற்று கசப்பான நகைச்சுவைக்கு பெயர் போனவர். இங்கிலாந்தில் பிறந்தவர் என்றாலும் அமெரிக்காவில் பல வருடங்கள் வசித்தவர். அதனால்தான் சற்று மெலிதான பிரிட்டிஷ் நகைசுவையை அவரிடம் பார்க்க முடியவில்லை என நினைக்கிறேன். இந்தியாவில் சில காலம் அவர் பணிபுரிந்த காலத்தில் அவரிடம் பல விஷயங்களை கற்றுக் கொண்டோம். ஒரு நாள் காலையில் அவரது அலுவலகத்தில் நுழைந்தபோது, "ரமேஷ், இந்த bollywood (ஹிந்தி)... Continue Reading →
Two Songs For The Weekend.
Tony Askew, my super boss at BetzDearborn had an acerbic wit. Although he was British, he lived most of his life in America, and I guess, this was the reason, his humour was not the understated kind one normally sees with British people. He spent few years in India and we were fortunate to learn... Continue Reading →