Monday, 21 September 2009

The Window Project: Old Man Walking

(Click image for large size view)

Saturday, 19 September 2009

nowhere man

He's a real nowhere man,
Sitting in his Nowhere Land,
Making all his nowhere plans
for nobody
Doesn't have a point of view,
Knows not where he's going to,
Isn't he a bit like you and me?
Nowhere Man please listen,
You don't know what you're missing,
Nowhere Man,
the world is at your command!

Monday, 14 September 2009

Movie Review: DISTRICT 9: Edgy action drama

An alien gets eviction orders at the refugee camp
At the cinema hall, what finally matters is the experience. It goes beyond getting the ticket's worth, or killing time. 

The story
District 9 is the name of the refugee camp in Johannesburg, South Africa for more than 1 million prawn like aliens who were shifted there after their mother ship was found lost, hovering over the city twenty years ago. Now, a weapons manufacturing company, MNU, that shifted them in search of alien weaponry, plan to shift them to a new location away from the city due to the nuisance that wandering aliens have caused among the human population. What unfolds when MNU eviction representatives are send to the impoverished camp makes up the rest of the story.

What works
The 'real' documentary adds 'authenticity' to the lie that fiction is. The characters, their vulnerability, and the breaking away from the formula, all work in the film's favour.

Wednesday, 9 September 2009

Movie Review: Quick Gun Murugan: Miserly Fun

Quick Gun Murugan first came on our TV screens on Channel V about 15 years ago. It was funny then in its five minute (or less) format. Now they have a 90-minute movie that does have the potential. Dr Rajendra Prasad is spot on for the title role, Rambha is vivacious and apt as Mango Dolly and Naseer is competent as the villain - Rice Plate Reddy.

It is the meandering story that plays the spoiler here - the real villain, for as the novelty wears off, there is very little to laugh at. Quick Gun has the heart at the right place, the stereotypical South Indian accent, the self-righteous and bullet-biting hero but it is genuine humour it lacks. Still, at 90 and odd minutes, it is not a bad watch. It isn't great, probably they could try again in a sequel, perhaps?

Wednesday, 2 September 2009


A still from the 1983 performance at Motown 25: Yesterday, Today and Forever
Billy Jean is one of the most intricate songs that Michael Jackson ever sung. A glance at the lyrics will tell you how out of sync the lines read, like broken words, not flowing as song lyrics usually flow. Yet it is in the rendition that Jackson creates magic.
What is the song about?
As legend goes, the song is said to be inspired by an insane female fan claiming that Jackson is the father to her unborn son. The producer Quincy Jones took some convincing for the song to be included into the record-breaking, bestselling album - Thriller (1982). Here is an attempt to translate some parts of the song lyrics to Hindi (English script), for the absurd effect it creates ........

Billy Jean meri premika nahi hai
Woh bas ek ladki hai jo kahti hai main 'woh' hu
Par woh baccha mera beta nahi hai
Woh kehti hai main 'woh' hu,
par woh baccha mera beta nahi hai....
At the 1983 US television special - Motown 25: Yesterday, Today and Forever, Jackson gave a breathtaking performance of the same song, the first glimpse of the moonwalk apart from the enthralling dance steps that were to make him legendary. The youtube link to the performance is