Chak De!

I saw Chak De!! Yes I did.

And I really liked the movie. For once I cannot explain why but I liked the movie. It was a brave movie and a well made one.

I liked Shahrukh. Yes I did. I admire the fact that he chose to come out of the mould. He was hamming alright and some other person could have done a better job alright. But I dont think any other person would have been able pull the crowds to this movie.

That was important. People should see such movies and more of these movies should be made. Without Shahrukh it would have been left in the dumps, in some corner in some multiplex.

So my hats off to him. It is the same Shahrukh whom I liked so much in Kabhi Ha Kabhi Na - a movie which sealed my love. He came to my rescue when I had no cards left in my chest. So Chak De! was like meeting a long lost friend. Both of us have moved on in life. Each on his own course. But without Kabhi Ha Kabhi Na I doubt I would have ever been able to marry my wife.

I also realised that life should not be about personal biases. Who cares who is doing what. One cannot close one's mind just because of some preconditions and some bad experiences. Thereby one would continue to close oneself to so many things one after the other.

One cannot have biases. Or one loses out.

Moviemaking is a creative medium and everyone has right to do what they want. I know Shahrukh will continue to make movies that will not be closer to my heart. But who cares. He has a right to do what he wants. And people have a right to enjoy what they want.

But I also hope he does more Chak De!s in future. So that I can enjoy as well.

And I promise not to stay away from any movies just because they have Shahrukh. I stayed away from Kill Bill because of the violence. It turned out to be one of the most expansive love tales that I have seen. I stayed away from Chak De! because it had Shahrukh and it turned out to such a super movie.

So thanks once again. Thats one less bias to deal with. One less baggage and a more freer mind.

Kill Bill

Because of my penchant to avoid movies which are overtly violent I avoided Kill Bill for 3 long years.

Recently I watched the two volumes back to back and I was left gaping (No Opu, Kill Bill is not about two parts its one great movie). I also discovered that there are other discerning people with whom I should watch more movies and who will help me to reach to more good movies and there by reach my soul.

Kill Bill is about the end - the lioness getting reunited with her cub.

The Lion, who cared for no one but himself, kept the lioness away from her cub for 6 long years. I pondered why so much violence? It apparently looks overplayed. But how else one could show the vengeance inside the lioness?

I would not even try to do a critical appreciation of Kill Bill. I dont have half the intensity or the knowledge of cinema to try and do that. But I have my takeaways from Kill Bill which are very important for me.

Kill Bill points a finger at the failure of women to keep atleast one big secret to themselves. When women give themselves up to the man they love they do it in totality. Thats the biggest mistake they make. Because when it is necessary for them to hit back and assert they dont have any cards left to play. Beatrix kept the "5 point palm exploding heart" technique to herself.

Someone argued that Bill had his reasons to do what he did. I do not agree. Bill was a man too full of himself. Any such men are intoxicating but they are extremely dangerous. Their relationships are always flawed.

So was Bill's. His swordmaker broke an oath for life just to make a sword which would be good enough to kill him. His master refused to trust him with the five point technique. His own brother (the only man he ever loved) lied to him about his sword. And lastly Bill kept a mother away from her child for 6 long years all because of himself.

At one point when Bill is with his daughter making her a sandwich I wished he was not killed. The three could live happily ever after. But I think Beatrix was right in moving away from a life of violence for her daughter's sake. She recognized herself as a natural born killer even before Bill did. And thats why I think she was right in killing Bill.

So it was not about vengeance. She didnt kill Bill, she actually killed the killer in herself finally. And with that she buried her past to guarantee a future for her daughter.

Another thing. I am fascinated with Superman but I could never explain why I like Superman more than any other Superhero. Bill explained. Because "Superman didnt become Superman. Superman was born Superman." I wish I too was born a Superman.

Beatrix was a certainly born one. I wish all woman will be like Beatrix who could triumph on her man if that is practically more necessary. Beatrix had the guts to decide to walk away from the life she was so good at. Because she thought that life would not be the best for her child. A life of death.

For her that was just her profession. For Bill that was his life which allowed him to release his intensity and thereby release himself. He would never have been able to walk away from that and would have passed it to his progeny.

Lastly, Uma Thurman. I couldnt imagine anybody playing the part of Beatrix Kiddo. But it was interesting to think about who else (if Uma was never born) the role could have gone to. May be Monica Belluci, I am not sure. Ashley Judd?? Carrie-Anne Moss?? But certainly not Angelina Jolie. Anyone any other guess?? This is one reason no one will ever dare to remake this movie in Bollywood.

For me Kill Bill is a landmark watch. An experience which is going to shape the way I decide how to watch movies and what movies I watch from now on.

I end with this video about the lioness meeting her cub and my favourite song. I wish I am allowed to watch Kill Bill in the same circumstances again.



Sometimes violence is necessary, especially in love, life and securing the future.

Dada!!

I wrote of this man off, like so many others including his fans and his haters. The two posts sums up what I felt at that moment.

Oh Captain! My Captain

Goodbye Dada

I wanted him to leave cricket and take up something else where he could use his leadership skills best.

But thankfully I was wrong. If you read the above posts you would know why I like this man. But these days I like the calmness that he exudes. Like all purple patches this will not last but while it lasts I hope the team has a good series in Australia.

These bunch of cricketers deserve a victory in Australia. I hope they play out of their skin to do that.

Seven

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Press the play button first. Let the music roll. Ready? And then read or else please dont. Respect my feelings for atleast this occasion.

Today I (no, we) complete 7 years of married life. We married after completing 7 years of non-married life before that. So its an major landmark. The first seven year itch was saved by getting married. So can we remarry again to beat it? Or is there some other trick?

I was wondering what gift I can give her. After the internet "being in US" is no excuse for not gifting something to her. But money can buy almost anything. It doesnt take much effort to send a gift and make person feel good. It is just a few clicks away.

By the way is the music rolling? If its not you are the wrong person on my blog. Switch on or phase out please.

So for the last week I was thinking what can I to give "her". Something special. And bingo I found this song yesterday. It might look easy but it was a lot of hard work.

So this is for "her". And I hope she hears till the end.