I have always felt that regional cinema the most under rated form of entertainment in India. Though we boast about our unity and *diversity*, there is strong resistance from the media to any form of regional art.
I was bored yesterday and wanted to watch a movie, and believe it or not, Pyaar Impossible was house full at Gaiety. So I reached Bhayandar and went to this local multiplex (it's bloody good for a place like this). There was a 10:30 show of Pyaar Impossible and the same time show for a marathi film, Natrang. I had heard a lot about this movie and I wanted to watch it because Atul Kulkarni had posted so much about it's success on Twitter!
So I sat in the theater, which was surprisingly half full (surprising for a marathi movie in it's second week). I was amazed to see the movie turn out the way it did on the screen. Some times, having absolutely no knowledge about the movie before you watch it, helps in appreciating it more. I sat there as the story unfolded in front of me and shocked me with every scene.
Here's a little gist so that you know why I was *So* fascinated.
Tamasha : A marathi rural form of Mujra
Nachya: The 'ladyboy' of the Tamasha who acts well, and is necessary in the whole act so he can be the laughing stock.
Atul Kulkarni is a farmer by profession and a body builder by hobby. One fine day, his employer decides to fire all the laborers and appoint machines in their place. This leaves Atul and his friends out of work. Atul's group's greatest source of passing time is the Tamasha that comes to the village every once in a while.
Hence, when they are out of a job, Atul's group decides to start their own Tamasha group. They manage to get everything... instruments, learn to play, learn to act... but the only thing missing is the female lead dancer. When they do find one, she tells them that a Tamasha is useless without a Nachya... for he has to be the laughing stock of the group and the audiences should come for his humour.
After searching for days together, they are unable to find a man who will dress up like a woman and act femininely on stage. Hence, to avoid the whole idea getting canceled, Atul decides to take the role up and becomes a Nachya.
Now the whole movie revolves around the society's view and how a Nachya is considered to be gay. Atul's wife leaves him, he's raped by a politician, his masculinity is threatened and his confidence is lost. He loses his father in the bargain. The movie is about his fight for his career and his fight for himself.
You have to watch him to believe him. He's one of the finest actors of the industry and yet so down to earth! I love him and his acting!
Last night was an experience of a lifetime. I have now decided to watch as many marathi movies as I can!
Friday, January 8, 2010
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Why Watermelon?
Okay. So after 3 failed attempts at blogging, here I go again! I like to write and I *definitely* like to rant about random things and people are getting pretty used to my verbal means of cribbing now. Besides, I have made a New Year Resolution to NEVER crib. So might as well crib on the blog :P
When I started to think about my blog's name (and I loved my first one... it was called 'Life Via My Keyboard) I thought of having a more mature name this time. I know Watermelon world sounds anything but mature, but here's why it's called what it's called:
1. Watermelon integrates my two most favorite colors in the world. Red and Green.
2. I like the URL :p "enterthewatermelon"
3. (the main reason) I realized how this world is an exact replica of a watermelon. How u ask? It's round to start with. The world is full of people who are all green on the outside, i.e. seem very warm, pretend to be accessible, act all good, call themselves your friends, say that they are always there for you, basically, give u the green signal and allow you into their lives. But if you really think about it, everyone you know has a certain Red area inside them. They are full of anger, disappointment, they are jealous, they have bad intentions, they are manipulative in a certain way and are very inaccessible. They then start giving you the Red signal and cut you out of their life.
Hence like a Watermelon, people are green on the outside but red on the inside.
SO, I got carried away with thought and thought that at least this attempt at blogging can be 'fruit'ful :) So keep coming back here and reading if you want to find out whether I am giving out a green signal or a red one :)
When I started to think about my blog's name (and I loved my first one... it was called 'Life Via My Keyboard) I thought of having a more mature name this time. I know Watermelon world sounds anything but mature, but here's why it's called what it's called:
1. Watermelon integrates my two most favorite colors in the world. Red and Green.
2. I like the URL :p "enterthewatermelon"
3. (the main reason) I realized how this world is an exact replica of a watermelon. How u ask? It's round to start with. The world is full of people who are all green on the outside, i.e. seem very warm, pretend to be accessible, act all good, call themselves your friends, say that they are always there for you, basically, give u the green signal and allow you into their lives. But if you really think about it, everyone you know has a certain Red area inside them. They are full of anger, disappointment, they are jealous, they have bad intentions, they are manipulative in a certain way and are very inaccessible. They then start giving you the Red signal and cut you out of their life.
Hence like a Watermelon, people are green on the outside but red on the inside.
SO, I got carried away with thought and thought that at least this attempt at blogging can be 'fruit'ful :) So keep coming back here and reading if you want to find out whether I am giving out a green signal or a red one :)
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