Partly Yours, Partly Lost

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Some places stay with you long after life has moved elsewhere. There is something strange about destiny. You just cannot overcome it, but at the same time, you cannot simply do nothing because something is destined to happen. In India, it is not uncommon to have your horoscope charted about a year after birth. Grandparents wait with bated breath to hear how well the stars were aligned, and what remedies might be needed to appease the Gods. So when I was a year old, my grandmother took my birth date and time to Dharmaraja Ghanapadigal, one of the most revered astrologers in Pudukkottai. He apparently told her that I would do reasonably well in studies, travel to multiple countries, and eventually live abroad. Here was an old lady asking about her grandson from a small town. My parents were then living in Gobichettipalayam. This was the eighties, long before economic reforms had changed the country. My grandmother thanked him politely, but quietly wondere...

Simple but effective

Nagesh Kukunoor has this uncanny ability to generate the best out of "The Common Man". His themes are effectively simple and reflects the day to day activities of an officegoer, householder, student or any other from a similar walk of life. Hyderabad blues, Bollywood Calling and others portray a story that is very much inherent within the masses and for the masses.

Iqbal is a heart warming story of an individual who wants to make it big in the world of cricket. In today's competitive world, it is very difficult to stick to a goal. It is as easy to forget what you want in life when you realise what you want. Perplexing sentence but that's the truth. A vision encompassed within your mind should not just be confined there but forced into action. How many of us live for a cause? Nagesh Kukunoor depicts the life of a deaf and dumb individual who fights against all odds and pursues what he wants devoutedly. Hailing from a typical Indian middle class rural background, he has to find his way through the drudgeries of poverty, corruption, influence and affluence to realise his dreams. How does he end up doing it forms the backdrop of this brilliant movie.

I have no idea of the actors except for Girish Karnad and Naseeruddin Shah. Both are talented and versatile actors and there is nothing much to say about them. They have essayed their role just as they normally do. Perfect and slick! But what about the guy who plays the role of Iqbal. He is Shreyas Talpade. One gets the feeling that he is a seasoned actor and this is his nth movie. Iqbal's sister is played by Shweta Prasad. The first scene that she entered I wondered who this girl was with those horn-rimmed spectacles. But her love for her brother with her crisp dialogue delivery left me wishing for a sister! The background music is fantastic and so are the lyrics for the songs.

Overall a brilliant movie with fine acting display. Not the usual run of the mill kind and definitely a movie with a message. This movie definitely conveys a positive message unlike...

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