The Magic Lives Forever

Today is Harry's birthday - and quite apt to launch Pottermore to the fans far and wide. While it all ended in 2007, I am still mulling over the Deathly Hallows part 2 movie. It does a fantastic job of taking us through the finale of a journey into the world we have come to learn and love. To ardent Potter fans, it is indeed an empty feeling that the movie ends with - "What next?" would be the most obvious question. Again, being an ardent Potter fan, the end could not have been any better. A review of the movie of the book series for that matter, is meaningless. Albeit delayed, this post is thus a tribute to Potter-World and relives some of the fascinating moments (IMP) that have made it an everlasting phenomena. When my dad reads this, he would think I have all the time in the world to pen such stuff, yet the hope is that he would atleast read this post if 'nothing-Potter'.

As I reminisce some of the moments of this series, I wonder where to begin. While several scenes flash in my mind, the one dear to me (especially after watching the movie) is that of Snape's dying words, "You've your mother's eyes". Being the under-dog of the entire series, he never really gets the recognition that he truly deserves, especially when alive. His purpose of being thus serves as a classic example to strive for greater good.

I also loved Harry and Dumbledore's brief interaction 'in between Heaven and Earth' (is how I had portrayed it): "Professor, tell me one thing", said Harry. "Is this real? Or is it happening inside my head?" Dumbledore, with his voice strong and clear, "Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry. But why on Earth should it mean that it is not real?" Dumbledore, to me, epitomizes the sanctity of being - a perfect Godfather for life.

Harry never really excelled in any specific activity and epitomizes the normalcy of a hero in him. Yet, he shows the true spirit of heroism - when every challenge brings in him the goodness factor - saving his fellow competitor or tipping them off prior to specific challenges - an advantage he could have clearly kept to himself. Why would he save his enemy from day one? Malfoy, left to die in the Deathly Hallows, "could not be left behind" during the fire in the Room of Requirement. This itself reaffirms our faith in righteousness and is only restored all the way through.

The bond between Harry and Sirius simply cannot be described and wish it could have been better justified in the movie. Even Sirius' death was abruptly shown in the movie while it would have been worth it to give some due to the times they spend together, considering the relationship they share.

The word 'detention' itself gives you shivers and worse of all, when it comes from none other than the most artfully crafted character Professor Dolores Umbridge. While she comes in much later in the story, the character who plays this role has performed the task flawlessly - and does a fantabulous job of letting the viewers naturally hate her to the core. Hence, "we must not tell lies" does go down well for all the Potter fans.

"Dobby has come to save Harry Potter. Harry Potter must not go to Hogwarts". This character comes to life in a form that defines the very essence of the story - friendship, courage, love and above all, respect. This right to be free has existed in us living beings since time immemorial, and is reflected well through our little elf.

To go through more minute details of this epic is futile - covering Hermoine, Luna, mirror of Erised, Elder Wand, and so on. Overall, Potter symbolizes a cultural imagination that has provided an entire generation not just entertainment but also a movement encompassing spells, charms, hoarcruxes and more. Hope K enjoys this fantasy world like the way his parents do.

Finally kudos to J.K.Rowling for creating such an epic story - a story of life less ordinary, of courage, fear, friendship and above all, love. The magic does live forever!

Watch out for..

Post the Slumdog fever, and surely a tough act to follow, I am keenly looking forward to the Road, Movie. Not sure if the movie should be considered 'ahead of its time' like all movies by Dev Benegal - English August fame - yet, Road, Movie promises to bring out a surreal movement within Indian cinema. Abhay Deol once again sets higher expectations - Ek Chaalis ki Last Local, Manorama Six Feet Under, and Oye Lucky among others. Take a sneak peak before we get to see it on the 35mm -

Jai Ho

It was written....indeed!

"All my life I had the choice between hate and love. I choose love and here I am"
- A R Rahman

Perfect 10!

Best Director - Danny Boyle
Achievement in Cinematography - Anthony Dod
Best Motion Picture - Christian Colson
Best Sound Editing - Tom Sayers
Sound Mixing - Ian Tapp, Richard Pryke, Resul Pookutty
Best Screenplay - Simon Beaufoy
Film Editing - Chris Dickens

And finally, three nominations for A R RAHMAN for:
Original Music Score
Original Song: Jai Ho and O Saya (two nominations)

Slumdog Millionaire deserves the above nominations - Cheers to that!

And while this may not be Rahman's best (we all agree), he puts it well:

"There is a wealth of music and rhythm in India. People outside have noticed it a bit late. But they have noticed it"

Kudos to you Mr. Rahman!

Contrary to the recent uproar in India over banning Slumdog Millionaire/Slumdog Crorepati as the Hindi version (ban where? globally?? Try hard), the movie is infact not just about the slums of Mumbai or poverty-stricken India but rather echoes the grandeour and power of story-telling that makes issues of poverty, child abuse and gang wars a happy and heart-rendering experience. Visual richness, splendor in the simplicity of settings and the earnestness in the music score make the movie real than ever. So those trying to make this movie an issue to fight, kindly take a break, a back-seat and go enjoy this flick for its pure innocence.

Slumdog Millionaire

*******May include spoilers*******

While it is fun to watch movies of books that are read prior, the flicks rarely do justice to the author’s rendition of characters, stories and genre. ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ is this rare film that has not only captured, in perfection, Vikas Swarup’s interpretation of Q&A but also depicted the underlying authenticity of ‘developing’ India ranging from unacceptable forms of poverty, child abuse, gang wars, ethnic uprising to hero worship, outsourcing, ever-increasing skyscrapers.

In the middle of it all is our hero – the protagonist Jamal Malik (aka Ram Mohamed Thomas from Q&A) - and his roller-coaster journey of brotherhood, humanity, acceptance and most of all, love. “Come with me”. “And live on what?” “Love”. Such daring conversation in the movie but with extreme simplicity and in true earnest is the essence of the movie. One question away from winning Rs. 20 million at the popular game show ‘Who Wants to be a Millionaire’ but accused of cheating, our Jamal is tortured by the Mumbai police (entirely different arena of existence!!). In response, he narrates, to each question on the show, how he simply knew every answer. So for every question on the show is flashback account of occurrences that has led to Jamal knowing the answer. Worth Rs. 1,000/2,000/20,000, stories of these questions transport us to Jamal’s (and our very own) reality of clutching lifestyle in the poverty-stricken regions of the urban phenomena. With misfortune in each of the incidents, one would only wonder if it made Jamal less righteous and also wicked (like the path his brother chose) but his penchant for taking the ‘right’ path as opposed to the ‘wrong’ (as we are made to believe) was indeed the result of his inspirational faith and love for his childhood mate Latika. No matter where instances took her in the movie, or the situations she was faced with, Jamal has a pious adoration for her that, we see, does not go in vain. He is the Forrest Gump in the movie, on the run throughout, with her always! This is also what leads him to take part in the show, not for the money but for love.

Heart-rendering percussion from A.R.Rahman fits well with each of the scenes in the movie. While there is portrayal of sadness and calamity, there is equal amount of humour in all of that which never ceases. With scenes of urban India, one aiming to rise and shine in the 21^st century and the other grappling with the daily existence, Slumdog Millionaire is by far one of the finest movies of the year.

It is written.

Khuda Ke liye - In the Name of God

I am not sure what was more moving about this movie – the plot, the characters, the sensitive issues of atrocities on women, Sufi soundtrack or the overall take on the abuse of Islam. With a fetish for the true (read = NOT fanatic) Islamic culture, this movie highlights to me, in the most objective and impartial manner, the essence of being a Muslim. Through the characters, different aspects of Muslim lifestyles are brought into the foray. Without any intentions of revealing the plot of this movie, several problems are addressed with due space for each of these to grow into the minds of the viewers. While on one hand is the violence women face by their fellow-Muslims, on the other are the stark changes in the mind of the young blood, who tends towards fanaticism, wrongly influenced by the self-proclaimed ‘Islamic-know-it-all’! There is also another who falls prey to injustice due to racial discrimination.

Set across three countries (continents) – Pakistan, England and USA – the time spans between pre 9/11 and ends around end of 2002. It depicts various facets of Muslim lifestyle - rich family in Pakistan with a mix of traditional and liberal values, double standards of a UK-settled Muslim, stuck to his orthodox beliefs and status symbol, conditions of women during the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, radical (fanatic) Maulana and his sermons on the dos and don’ts in Islam, American investigator whose perceptions of Muslims are clouded by 9/11 and brilliant characterization of a spiritually elevated Maulana (played by Naseeruddin Shah) whose understanding of the religion paves way for the viewers to comprehend. He is shown to be a renowned Maulana, who has a pragmatic approach to Islam and is in love with his Islamic wel-being. Some of the best dialogues come from him. Below is the one of the scenes that best portrays various angles on the misuse of Islam:

His dialogues represent the hypocrisy that exists not only in the religion but more so, those who interpret it without any true knowledge. Creating a lasting impact among its viewers, the makers of this movie illustrate the role of Islam in present day. While the world is witness to the battle between Islaam and ‘Other Religions’, this movie attempts to objectively define the religion per se and points out what it theoretically lacks. It does not provide all the answers but sets the agenda for the audience to question.

A Little Sweet, A Little Sour...

A Little Close...Not too far;
All I need, is to be Free!

That is how the song 'Mera Jahaan' goes, from one of the best made movies in recent times - Taare Zameen Par (Stars on the Ground).

This song reminded me of those little things that we all left behind in our childhood. I wonder why I was so struck by this song in the movie (apart from various other elements in it); may be because I could so relate to it. A little sweet a little sour – is what everything in life indeed is! A life with its mixture of sweet and salty moments; the happy and sad times that we all deal with. That apart, the picturization of this song particularly made me want to go back to my childhood and revisit those flashes. Not that I had a troubled childhood or that I was under constant pressure while growing up. It was purely the beauty and surreal nature of this song showing various facets of childhood (not much connection to the overall story).

So while on the surface the song focused more on the protagonist – Ishan – bunking school and wandering along the streets of Mumbai (in its natural environment), on the inside some of the scenes make me want to experience the same – To let a paint drop stick out of the brush, fly onto my face and feel tickled by it (and not dirty), lick colors of the Gola, stop by at a construction site or merely marvel at the pace of development at the cost of all that is lost, observe the vast ocean circling around us, swing out of the double-decker bus or simply stop and watch the world go by!

Udne Ko Sau Pankh Diye Hai (Have 100 wings to fly)

Chadne Ko Khula Aasmaan (Open sky to Climb)

Mudne Ko Hai Karwat Karwat (Different sides to turn)

Aur Badhne Ko Mera Jahan (And my entire world to march ahead!)

Blood Diamond

Saw the movie 'Blood Diamond' and was inspired by a thought-provoking dialogue:

"Sometimes I wonder, will God ever forgive us for what we have done to each other. I look around and realize that God left us a long time ago".