Aadujevitham (Movie) – atrocious

I watched the cinematization of [[Aadu Jeevitham – Benyamin]] this evening. The most enjoyable part of the movie was deep in the second half of the movie. Someone’s phone rang and played the IPL trumpet hook. A few people in the movie hall laughed. They finally had that bit of relief from the monotony of the dreary movie.

The movie is by far the worst movie that I have watched in many years. And this includes the B-type sci-fi movies that I find on streaming platforms. The only part of the book that was interesting got about five minutes of screen time in an overall one hundred and seventy minutes of it. This part happens in the start of the book, but in the movie, it is at the end.

So let’s see what was wrong with the movie. Soundscape, songs, script, screenplay, (over) acting, casting, editing, and direction. What was good about the movie. Some photography, but that’s because it is the desert.

Prithviraj Sukumaran might have acted well according to how the director might have wanted it, but I thought the only good acting came from the primary human antagonist in the movie, played by Talib Al Balushi.

Earlier this morning, I read news stories on the movie. The general sentiment was about Malayali cinema making movies deserving of international audiences. A random non-commercial Malayali movie will make a better impression than this. This is an atrocity.

Cherry Wine day

A few months ago, I asked my friends to send me a list of songs that I would perform for them. One of the songs sent in by a friend was Hozier’s Cherry Wine.

I hadn’t heard Hozier’s work until I started listening to the song. It was sweet, sad, and had a difficult rhythmic singing style, which I thought will be difficult for me to pull off in a few days. But the song stuck with me.

I eventually did a few lines of the song, albeit poorly, on the night of the performance. Then I forgot about the song. Until this morning.

Jay and I were at his country home, and I had spent an interesting morning.

I had read a chapter of The Coming Wave by Mustefa Suleyman & Michael Bhaskar, a chapter of Hercule Poirot – The Complete Short Stories by Agatha Christie, rehearsed my cricket bowling action, rescued a bird caught in a volleyball net, and read some wonderful/sad prose in Just Kids by Patti Smith about Robert Mapplethorpe.

It took me a few seconds to get into the song, but sure I did. Now the rhythm was way more natural, and my voice was more accepting of the melody. I rehearsed it a few times and I recorded it once, and I was impressed at what I had achieved.

That song is what today sounds like for me. I hope some of my work can sound as fresh and non-cookie cutter like his.

Four streams

Some experiences in life are overrated, and such statements are understated. Bombay Canteen, I’m talking about you.

As Thomas, Teresa and Sabina stumbled their way into a dysfunctional relationship, The Czechs for fighting for their nation and the Russians were revelling in their totalitarianism.

When Najeeb finds a way to live among the goats like a goat, he finds containment and the sense security. Only a walk across the desert without water or food over several days, will make him want to go back to that life of slavery.

Henry, Jo, and Alice experience duality and drive their friends and family nuts. Walter Olivia and Peter look at them over a decade and half of television.

Night and day

Is the last few seconds of the flickering flame of the solar lantern. The nagging buzz of mosquitoes spoils the evening. The moon creeps up behind the buildings, one of which wears a red light on the roof.

A rectangle of celebration stares at me through the reflections on the window pane. It’s the fourth of the workweek that lies ahead. There’s a hint of sadness in the tiredness that rears it’s head.

Memories of a melody float past you, as the clouds float past the moon. The tinkle of the bell and the ubiquitous trill. Another day gone. Soon it will be another week, then a month, and then a year.

It is a she

In attempting to do something too right, you end up doing lot of things wrong. Some of these wrongs add up and negate your original intent. They turn you. You turn on yourself. You started off at a better version of this bad state. Repeat.

This is life. Life in the hands of someone who has been told they are doing things wrong back in the time when one is supposed to explore and discover.

The person who’s saying this is no more. They appear in your dreams. They continue to make you guilty even in their passing.

They were a she.

Squeaks

Squeaking in.

Not mice. Me. I’m squeaking in.

I’m squeaking in life. In the little holes of non-life.

What’s wrong with the world

This kind of juxtaposition – AP Week In Pictures

3 Body Problem

If you haven’t, you must. On Netflix.

And unlike Foundation, it’s not as disappointing for a fan of the original source material.

The only thing I’m worried about—will Netflix renew the series and cover all the three books?

The Goat Life

Earlier today, I finished a book whose movie adaptation is releasing next week.

The book is ആടുജീവിതം | Aatujeevitham by Benyamin (GoodReads), meaning “Goat Life,” and the movie is titled such (Wikipedia).

One of my friends said he was not impressed by the book. After having read it, I agree. The start was great but once you get to the main story arc (survival/slavery drama), it meandered and felt pandering.

Yet, I am intrigued about the movie. I guess I will watch it.

Motivation

Make something new. Keep at it.

Never lose the sight. Look to it.