മകൾക്കെന്തു പറ്റി..?

കീഴാ൪നെല്ലിയു൦ തഴുതാമയു൦ അന്യ൦ നിന്ന നാട്ടിലെ വൈദ്യന്റെ അവസ്ഥയാണ്  സത്യൻ അന്തിക്കാടിന്റേത്. പഴയ ടീമിലെ പലരു൦ ഇന്നില്ല. നാട്ടുകാർക്കാണേൽ വൈദ്യവും വേണ്ട. എല്ലാർക്കു൦ ന്യൂ ജെൻ അലോപ്പതി മതി. എന്നാലും ഇടക്കൊക്കെ കൈയിൽ കിട്ടിയ പച്ചില വാടിയതാണെങ്കിലു൦ കുറച്ച് അലോപ്പതി ഗുളികയും സമ൦ അരച്ച് ഒരു കഷായം ഇറക്കി നോക്കു൦. പണിയറിയുന്ന, കൈപ്പുണ്യമുള്ള വൈദ്യനായ കൊണ്ട് മറ്റു ചിലരേപ്പോലെ തീരേ ചീത്തപ്പേര് കേൾപ്പിക്കാറില്ല. 

ഒരേ പാറ്റേണിലാണ് എല്ലാ പടങ്ങളും എന്നാണ് പൊതുവേ അദ്ദേഹത്തേക്കുറിച്ചുള്ള പരാതി. എന്നാലും തന്റെ പ്രമേയം സാമൂഹിക പ്രസക്തി ഉള്ളതാക്കാനുള്ള ശ്രമം അദ്ദേഹ൦ നിലനിർത്തുന്നുണ്ട്. വർഷങ്ങളുടെ വിദേശവാസ൦ കഴിഞ്ഞിട്ടു വരുന്ന അച്ഛനോട് മകൾക്ക് തോന്നുന്ന അപരിചിതത്വ൦, ഒരു കൂട്ടുകാരി കൂടെയായ അമ്മയുടെയു൦ തന്റേയു൦ ഇടയിലേ കട്ടുറുമ്പാകുമോ എന്ന ആശങ്ക, ഇതൊക്കെ ആണ് മകൾ എന്ന പുതിയ ചിത്രം പറയാൻ ശ്രമിക്കുന്നത്. 

ജനസംഖ്യയുടെ ഭൂരിഭാഗവും പ്രവാസികളായ കേരളത്തിൽ വളരേ പ്രസക്തമായ ഒരു വിഷയമാണ്, സംവിധായകൻ ഇത്തര൦ ഇതിവൃത്തങ്ങൾ ചെയ്തു തഴക്ക൦ വന്നയാളുമാണ്. എങ്കിലും കഥയുടെ ദൌർബല്യ൦ വല്ലാതെ മുഴച്ചു നിൽക്കുന്നു. ഈയൊരു പ്രമേയം അർഹിക്കുന്ന ഗൌരവ൦ കാണികളിലേക്കെത്തിക്കാൻ കഥാകാരനു൦ ചിത്രകാരനു൦ കഴിയുന്നില്ല. 

ഗൌരവമില്ലായ്മയുടെ ഉദാഹരണമാണ് ചിത്രത്തിലെ മുഴച്ചു നിൽക്കുന്ന ഹാസ്യര൦ഗങ്ങൾ. കഥയോട് ചേർന്നു നിൽക്കുന്ന സ്വാഭാവിക നർമ്മമാണ് സത്യൻ അന്തിക്കാടിന്റെ ചിത്രങ്ങളുടെ സ്വഭാവം. അതിന് പകരം മാനസിക രോഗിയേയു൦ നമ്പൂരച്ചനേയു൦ കോമാളി ആക്കിയാൽ കാണികൾ ഈ കാലഘട്ടത്തിൽ ആർത്തു ചിരിക്കുമെന്നതു ആരുടെ ബുദ്ധിയാണോ ആവോ. അഭിനേതാക്കളുടെ പ്രകടനം മാത്രം ആണ് പലപ്പോഴും തനിമയില്ലാത്ത, കഥാപരമായി ഗുണമില്ലാത്ത ഹാസ്യര൦ഗങ്ങളെ രക്ഷപ്പെടുത്തുന്നത്. 

(സ്പോയ്ലർ അലേർട്ട്) 

സന്ദേശം, വീണ്ടും ചില വീട്ടുകാര്യങ്ങൾ എന്നീ ചിത്രങ്ങളിൽ സത്യൻ അന്തിക്കാട് വിദഗ്ധമായി അച്ഛനും മക്കളും തമ്മിലുള്ള ഭിന്നത അവതരിപ്പിച്ചിട്ടുണ്ട്. വളരെ സ്വാഭാവികമായാണ് ഈ പ്രശ്നങ്ങൾ പരിഹരിക്കപ്പെടുന്നത്. കഥയുടെ തുടക്കം മുതൽ നമ്മുടെ കൂട്ടുകാരായി മാറുന്ന കഥാപാത്രങ്ങൾ തമ്മിൽ ഉരസുമ്പോൾ നമുക്കു ഉണ്ടായ വിഷമം, അവരുടെ പിഴവുകൾ മനസ്സിലാക്കി പക്വമായ തീരുമാനങ്ങളോടെ വീണ്ടും ചേരുമ്പോൾ സന്തോഷം ആയി മാറുന്നു. എന്നാൽ ഈ ചിത്രത്തിൽ അതിനൊരു അവസരം തരുന്നില്ല. 

ഒരു കഥ പറഞ്ഞു വരുമ്പോൾ അതിനെ എളുപ്പത്തിൽ അവസാനിപ്പിക്കാൻ കഴിയുന്നില്ലെങ്കിൽ കഥാകാരൻ ചില എളുപ്പ വഴികൾ പ്രയോഗിക്കുന്നു- പ്ലോട്ട് ഡിവൈസ്. മകളിൽ നമുക്കു കാണാൻ സാധിക്കുന്നത് ഡ്യൂസ് എക്സ് മാക്കിനാ എന്ന സങ്കേതമാണ്. അതു വരേ കാണാത്ത ഒരു രക്ഷകൻ വന്ന് എല്ലാ തടസ്സങ്ങളും തട്ടിത്തെറിപ്പിച്ച് കഥാപാത്രങ്ങളെ തങ്ങളുടെ വിഷമസന്ധിയിൽ നിന്നു പുറത്തു കടത്തുന്നു. കൂട്ടത്തിൽ കഥാകാരനേയു൦. 

ഒരു സത്യൻ അന്തിക്കാട് ചിത്രത്തിൽ ഇങ്ങനെ ഒരു ഷോർട്ട് കട്ട് നിരാശ ഉണ്ടാക്കി. എന്നാലും കന്നഡ നടൻ ബാലാജി മനോഹറിന്റെ അപാര സ്ക്രീൻപ്രസൻസ് പട൦ കഴിഞ്ഞിട്ടു ഇറങ്ങുമ്പോൾ ഒരു ഉണർവ് തന്നു എന്നതാണ് സത്യ൦. ചുരുക്കത്തിൽ അഭിനേതാക്കളുടെ മികവും സത്യൻ അന്തിക്കാട് എന്ന സംവിധായകന്റെ വളരെ നേർത്ത കൈയൊപ്പു൦ മകൾ ഒരു വട്ടം കാണാനുള്ള വക തരുന്നു. 

Decades in Black and White- Karuppum Veluppum by Dee Cee Kizhakkemuri

 This is a selection of Dee Cee's newspaper column Karuppum Veluppum published in different newspapers for many decades. It is supposedly the first of its kind in Malayalam. In these Dee Cee presents his humorous and critical comments for news headlines. 

Anyone interested in history will have a great time going through this collection. I loved the picture presented by the author about several major political personalities of past. The present depiction of old leaders as political giants gets a major blow when we go through these. It is interesting to watch them through the lens of contemporaries of the time, without the baggage of greatness thrusted by their followers. Nehru, Patel, Mannam, Pattom, EMS and several leaders are dissected mercilessly in these columns.

The columns started at 1949 and continued till 1990s. Initial comments were direct, crude, rude and blatantly personal in nature. But by the end of 1950s, the tone turned more satirical. Instead of commenting on direct news headlines, author started trying to use unrelated headlines to make striking associations about then current events. These, I feel were more interesting and effective. 

But I was not able to find references to many major events of those times, about which I was eager to read about. Historical events like the first Communist Government elected by ballot, Vimochana Samaram, Land reformation, rise and fall of Naxalism, wars with China and Pakistan, rise of Indira Gandhi, golden temple fiasco are totally ignored or are given just a fleeting mention. Most of the comments are about cheap political statements and infightings within political parties of the time. Unfortunately most of them are totally irrelevant when seen in a contemporary perspective. This was a major let down.

If you are interested in a humorous dose of history, this book is available for free in DC books website.

Final Portrait

It seemed to be a great proposal. After all how much time does a gifted artist takes to make a simple portrait..? Probably just a single afternoon... That was what American critic James Lord thought when famous Swiss artist Alberto Giacometti asked him to pose for a portrait. But little did he knew that he was to participate in the chaos that a truly artistic process involves. The self doubting painter took his own sweet time and a ton of anguish and anxiety to everyone involved, to turn out a remarkable work of art. One of his best...

Final portrait, directed by Stanly Tucci, is an incredible true story of an off beat relationship between a rude, selfish and indulgent artist and his patient and passive model. If you are watching a movie and you are more interested in its plot, then I would not recommend this one. Instead there is a four minute video in YouTube that beautifully summarizes the whole thing. But if you are interested in a movie for something more than just a story, you long for an emotional experience, I would love to introduce Final Portrait.

Alberto Giacometti 

This movie is about the artistic process and the whole trauma that comes with it. Giacometti is tormented, confused and is without any plan. He just want to show the world what he sees. He is not even sure if he has yet acquired skills to do it. He doubts his own abilities though the world has acknowledged his skills because he has enough money to throw around. In a fit of rage he can throw bundles at his wife. He can give so much money to the pimp of his muse that even the pimp declines him and says he has paid enough. Yet Giacometti is tormented as he is aware of his limitations.

Playing perfect foil to our artist is his model. Lord understands and even empathize with the struggle of Giacometti. He has a pressing need to go back to New York, yet has to postpone his tickets as he doesn't have any idea when his adventure will be ultimately over. He is surprised by the attitude and actions of the painter and feels apprehensive, but shows restraint on every occasion. He is passive and is herded many times by the more aggressive and dominant Giacometti. Yet he doesn't protest and takes it all with an all knowing smile.

The Portrait of James Lord 

The movie belongs to the two actors- Geoffrey Rush and Armie Hammer who plays the leads. They are very convincing. When I watched the YouTube video that I mentioned before, I was astonished how  perfectly they resembled the actual persons they played. Though to a casual viewer it may occur what is the necessity to stretch a thread bare plot to an hour and a half, the movie is rather an experience. It takes patience and some amount of empathy to appreciate this one...

Jumanji: Twice Right.

There are some movies that you're convinced are never going to work, and they doesn't- like Baywatch. And then there are some movies that you're convinced are never going to work, and surprisingly they does- like Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle.

Jumanji was one of my favourite movies. It was funny and goofy and transported me to another world altogether. Every scene threw in a new surprise. And Robin Williams was amazing. When I heard they were remaking it, I had serious doubts. And then I heard Rock will appear in it with Jack Black. Still I had my doubts and gave upon it.

But when it released, it had a fresh rating from Rotten Tomatoes. So I decided to try it. And I feel it is exactly what it promised it to be- loads of fun. The makers were very successful in tapping the best out of all leading actors. The story is crazy, but kept me engaged. It was a wise move to make Jumanji a video game instead of a board game in the first part. Another good move was to make the whole movie set inside the jungle instead of being in the home like the first part. These re-touches made it different from the prequel and allowed to widen the canvas considerably.

The movie was largely dependent on the personalities of the main characters and they doesn't let it down. But it wasn't as magical as the first one.

Darkest Moment: Dialogue driven War thriller...

As an Indian, Churchill is no hero for me. The guy is an imperialist responsible for many atrocities like the Bangal Famine. His attitude towards Indians is condemnable. He forced Indian soldiers to fight for England and used Indian resources for the effect of war. There are many accounts of the valor of British soldiers in World War 2, but not much is heard about Indian soldiers who fought in the war and the Indian wealth used in fighting it. There is much for me to loathe him as deep as Hitler from an Indian view point.

Now, when I watch a movie made about Churchill, should I permit my bias to meddle with enjoying it? I am of the opinion that history is history, but when you make a fictional movie or write a novel by adapting an historical event, you should be ready to grant it a certain leeway for dramatic effect. Otherwise it is better to watch a documentary.

So when I sat to watch Darkest Hour, fully knowing the premise of it, I was all ready to watch it unbiased and take only the good things out of it. Darkest Hour is the story about Churchill's ascent to prime-ministership as a compromise candidate and how he manages to steer the opinion of his parliament and the public towards fighting Nazi threat instead of negotiating for peace.

The movie is mainly dialogue driven. But after finishing it, I had the effect of watching a thriller. There are no action sequences or battle scenes, and absolutely no suspense because we all are pretty aware how it turned out to be. But the rapid breathless pacing and the urgent atmosphere makes it feel like a thriller. Surprisingly, the movie has moments of humor and sentiment interspersed, which helps enormously in its enjoyment.

I had an issue with a scene were Churchill goes to public to ask their opinion. It was a sudden change of atmosphere and tone the movie was taking and so unbecoming of the man whom we saw till that moment. The scene doesn't seem probable and its depiction is also a bit unrealistic. I feel now that it was more like a dream that he had and not an actual happening though nothing in the movie substantiate my version.

Gary Oldman deserves his Academy Award for best actor for his characterisation of Churchill. To be using that much prosthetic and make up and still emote the subtlest nuances, is indeed great talent. He makes the man more endearing and human than his textbook depictions. I'm sure the sensitivity that his  Churchill displays in many scenes is a cinematic liberty to make us root for him.

If you loved the Nolan movie Dunkirk, you will be glad to see a more wider historic look on it here. The movie is a companion piece to Dunkirk and provide necessary exposition that Nolan never bothers to provide us.