Ok, so its probably not a great idea to write the second post in my blog about something which I have very little knowledge of.
I don't understand Tamil, and probably never will. Dont get me wrong..I think its a great language, very deep, very meaningful, culturally rich and with a fantastic history behind it..just like my mother tongue Malayalam. However, not even to save my life could I ever speak it..again just like my err.. mother tongue..I guess I'm..linguistically challenged?
However I'm NOT visually challenged..and while the finer nuances of the language may be lost on me..the magic of sight has enabled to make very astute observations about Tamil movies and its songs, actors etc...vis-a-vis .. they were AWFUL.
Lets take a trip back in time..to somewhere in the 70s or 80s..or maybe even as late as the early 90s...lets face it, more often than not, watching those movies, or even snippets, made one want to cry one's eyes out...
Leading men, who continued to play leading mean..err..men , well past the ripe old age of 60..AND thats not the best part; what truly bewilders, is that they played those roles opposite nubile nymphets of 16...I'm not going into lurid details here (for the benefit of those who may have just eaten or may be going to eat)..but whats comes to mind is "AAGHHH..MY EYES! MY EYES!" Anyone who may have had the misfortune of seeing 'Sivaji', will agree with me, that seeing Rajnikanth instantaneously multiply into 20 of himself..is NOT pretty. Songs picturised amidst 567 clay pots of every perceivable shape ,size and color, and the lead actress wearing something suspiciously similar to peacock feathers and pearls, with 237 dancers in the background, dressed in exactly the same costumes, didn't help either.
Which makes you heave a sigh of relief, when you see Tamil cinema today. Talented actors, good looking actors, but most importantly , YOUNG actors, are a veritable pleasure to watch. Its quite refreshing to see performances by people who DON'T look like their hair stylist and fashion designer conspired against them,who DONT have mustaches that look like bicycle handlebars, and who haven't escaped from a home for the elderly. Actors like Siddharth, one of Tamil cinema's newer acquisitions, in my opinion, have revolutionised the image that a majority of India had about south Indian men. I mean, I'm not one to drool in public....but yumm! ;)
I digress, but to veer back to the topic, south Indian cinema today is much more striking than it ever has been. Great storylines, mind blowing music, good performances and pleasant looking actors make watching these movies an experience, that DOESNT leave one's psyche scarred for life.
Lets hope the trend continues, or as my dear north indian best friend says "NOT BAD for a southie yaar!!"
Amen to that.
I don't understand Tamil, and probably never will. Dont get me wrong..I think its a great language, very deep, very meaningful, culturally rich and with a fantastic history behind it..just like my mother tongue Malayalam. However, not even to save my life could I ever speak it..again just like my err.. mother tongue..I guess I'm..linguistically challenged?
However I'm NOT visually challenged..and while the finer nuances of the language may be lost on me..the magic of sight has enabled to make very astute observations about Tamil movies and its songs, actors etc...vis-a-vis .. they were AWFUL.
Lets take a trip back in time..to somewhere in the 70s or 80s..or maybe even as late as the early 90s...lets face it, more often than not, watching those movies, or even snippets, made one want to cry one's eyes out...
Leading men, who continued to play leading mean..err..men , well past the ripe old age of 60..AND thats not the best part; what truly bewilders, is that they played those roles opposite nubile nymphets of 16...I'm not going into lurid details here (for the benefit of those who may have just eaten or may be going to eat)..but whats comes to mind is "AAGHHH..MY EYES! MY EYES!" Anyone who may have had the misfortune of seeing 'Sivaji', will agree with me, that seeing Rajnikanth instantaneously multiply into 20 of himself..is NOT pretty. Songs picturised amidst 567 clay pots of every perceivable shape ,size and color, and the lead actress wearing something suspiciously similar to peacock feathers and pearls, with 237 dancers in the background, dressed in exactly the same costumes, didn't help either.
Which makes you heave a sigh of relief, when you see Tamil cinema today. Talented actors, good looking actors, but most importantly , YOUNG actors, are a veritable pleasure to watch. Its quite refreshing to see performances by people who DON'T look like their hair stylist and fashion designer conspired against them,who DONT have mustaches that look like bicycle handlebars, and who haven't escaped from a home for the elderly. Actors like Siddharth, one of Tamil cinema's newer acquisitions, in my opinion, have revolutionised the image that a majority of India had about south Indian men. I mean, I'm not one to drool in public....but yumm! ;)
I digress, but to veer back to the topic, south Indian cinema today is much more striking than it ever has been. Great storylines, mind blowing music, good performances and pleasant looking actors make watching these movies an experience, that DOESNT leave one's psyche scarred for life.
Lets hope the trend continues, or as my dear north indian best friend says "NOT BAD for a southie yaar!!"
Amen to that.
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