The Jungle Book

Absolutely stunning and spectacular is how Walt Disney Pictures developed live-action/CGI adaptation with Justin Marks penning the screenplay and Jon Favreau directing the film, released on 15 April 2016; version of much edited or adapted by way of book, TV serials, movies - animated and otherwise on Mowgli and 'The Jungle Book' by Rudyard Kipling can be described. The film's cast includes Neel Sethi as Mowgli, Bill Murray as Baloo, Idris Elba as Shere Khan, Ben Kingsley as Bagheera, Christopher Walken as King Louie, Giancarlo Esposito as Akela, Scarlett Johansson as Kaa and Lupita Nyong'o as Raksha. There are a handful of moments that make you jump out of your seats.

"I have always been a big fan of Mowgli and his friends from the jungle." - even I had written here in 2009.

http://arunoday.blogspot.in/search?q=Mowgli

It is not right to dismiss Rudyard Kipling's masterpiece as literature for children considering the philosophical insights that it offers.

1. The Law of the Jungle - lay down rules for the safety of individuals, families, and communities;
2. The need is bare necessity.
3. It is not good to be alone.
4. How man prosper controlling the red tourch.
5. Need to respect and bow down on seeing others.
6. Mother's Love and the need to set free, what you love.
7. The Manager - Baloo

Set your love free, you will have it, if it is your's.

Disney indeed felt bullish about Jon Favreau’s live-action remake of The Jungle Book, is well evident from its conclusion, and there are chances for its sequel soon.

Where the original 1967 animated feature ended with Mowgli being seduced into returning to the “man village” by a pair of feminine eyes, Favreau’s film sends the boy hero (played by newcomer Neel Sethi) back to his wolf pack in the wake of vanquishing the menacing tiger Shere Khan (Idris Elba), while his animal pals Bagheera (Ben Kingsley) and Baloo (Bill Murray) look on proudly. For now, at least, Mowgli intends to enjoy the bare necessities of jungle life, rather than try to adapt to living around other humans.

There is the less-remembered elements of the original Mowgli stories penned by Rudyard Kipling.

Picking up from the moment when Bagheera and Baloo lead an unwilling Mowgli to the gates of the man village, this version of events has him laying eyes not on a girl but on a gruff older man holding a musket. This is Buldeo, a character Kipling introduced in the Jungle Book’s fourth story, “Tiger! Tiger!” Innately distrustful of anything wild, Buldeo fires a warning shot when he catches sight of Bagheera. The panther pushes Mowgli forward, telling him, “Get going, man cub!” As Mowgli rushes towards Buldeo, the older man takes aim again, until his gun is knocked away by another villager. Buldeo claims that the child is “bewitched,” but he’s overruled by a woman who takes a closer look at Mowgli and says disbelievingly, “Nathoo … can it be you?”

There are many other differences as well - basically being new tricks and thoughtfulness of Mowgli and his boomerang being absent, Kaa the python being a foe and not a friend, and there are some of his other friends missing as well.

Amar, Akbar, Antony/Anarkali & Pavada

Got to watch 3 malayalam movies during the past three days; - first I could not digest...

The multi-starrer , Malayalam movie; "Amar Akbar Anthony", the debut directorial venture of Nadirshah, ran successfully in India and abroad. The film has Prithviraj, Sukumaran and Jayasurya in the lead roles. Songs and the child artist; Baby Meenakshi as Fathima are excellent - but the main story and message is haunting.

His directorial debut Amar Akbar Anthony, starring Prithviraj, Jayasurya and Indrajith, exactly follows the pattern of the mimicry films of yore.

His leading men are not jobless but doing jobs that are considered lowly.

Amar (Prithviraj) drives battery-operated toy cars and gives joyrides to kids in an upmarket mall. He gives his girlfriend an impression that he is a pilot.

Akbar (Jayasurya) is a lift operator in a posh hospital.

Anthony (Indrajith) is a pizza delivery man.

They live in a slum with their families.

The pivot of the story is that these three youngsters are saving their hard earned money to make a trip to Pattaya and how the difficulties of daily living create hindrances in making their dream trip.

They are also vying for the attention of their neighbour, Jenny, a dancer.

The narrative is punctuated by humour, mainly at the expense of the leading trio, who are presented as dim-witted and slapped by the fairer sex every now and then.

Today, the villains are not the traditional loan sharks or the bank managers; they are the migrant labourers with criminal pasts and paedophiles.

This being a multi-star entertainer, the director successfully maintains a fine balance among the three leading men. Yet, it is Prithviraj who shoulders the weight of the film on his beefed-up biceps.

Jayasurya looks more of a hunchback than a polio-afflicted person, who uses his brace to get even with one of the villains while standing erect as a pole.

Indrajith's Anthony is the butt of the jokes and he does not mind cracking jokes on himself too. It really makes him most likable character of the three.

Namitha Pramod is under-utilised as the leading lady.

Amidst this fun and life, there is another story - which is poking; Their perceptions and beliefs get shattered with an unexpected event and the resulting story forms the plot of the movie.

Police verifies that girls under the age ten are missing from surrounding area and several of their abused dead-body is found in various places. Police suspect a habitual pedophile Bengali who was convicted for similar charges in Bengal and might have relocated with the migrant working community to Cochin, after his release. Identity of this man is confirmed by the trio and they find him. However, before invoking their final vengeance they are intervened by the Police and to their shock are informed that it wasn't the Bengali who killed their Fathima but the colony's beloved Sir (V. K. Sreeraman), he was outed by a victim of his pedophilic abuse. Both the Bengali and the Sir are brutally murdered as a social justice and cleansing of the community by the people of the colony. The police knowing the legal protection that these criminals would have turns a blind-eye condoning to the people's justice.

The movie is story narrated by Faizal - (Asif Ali), in hospital. Faizal was their travel agent for Pattaya tour and the trip for ₹25,000 was a lie for him to get ₹25,000 and it had resulted in his accident that broke his leg as the proverb says "If the dumb is cheated by the miser, the miser gets cheated by God".

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"Anarkali" (Courtesy : http://www.ibtimes.co.in/prithvirajs-anarkali-movie-review-feel-good-romantic-love-story-654822) delivers a simple message: Sincere love stays forever even if there isn't any communication between the individuals; fate will unite them no matter what, if the love is true.

Directorirector Sachy's "Anarkali" narrates the story of young navy officers Shanthanu and Zacharia, played by Prithviraj and Biju Menon. Shanthanu falls in love with Nadira (Priyal Gor), daughter of Rear Admiral Jaffer Imam (Kabir Bedi), and certain incidents change their life.

Years later, Shanthanu arrives at Kavaratti as a diving instructor and Zacharia as a system engineer of the island's light house. "Anarkali" is all about love and friendship.

Coming to the performances, Prithviraj has done a good job as a smart young naval officer and later as a matured individual who trains divers in Kavaratti. However, Biju steals the show with his remarkable comic timing and witty counters. Kudos to Suresh Krishna for speaking in the island's native language, Jeseri.

Unlike other language actresses, Priyal Gor has a good chemistry with Prithviraj as her acting looks natural and impressive.

Kabir Bedi needs a special mention for the role of a strict navy officer, and he looks convincing. Miya as Sherin Mathew, medical superendant of the island, Sudev Nair as navy officer, Arun as Prithviraj's friend, and Samskruthy Shenoy as a native of the island have done their parts well.

Filmmakers Ranji Panicker, Madhupal, Shyamaprasad, Major Ravi and V K Prakash have also appeared in cameos in "Anarkali".

The film's climax is predictable, but thanks to Biju for handling the situation well by creating a laugh riot in theatres.

Vidyasagar's music has synced well with the intense love theme of the film, but Miya's lip-syncing in her intro song wasn't right at some places.

Sujith Vasudev's cinematography should be given full marks as he has captured the beauty of the island in all ways possible. The use of helicam to shoot an aerial view of Lakshadweep makes us fall in love with the place each time.

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Pavada - The movie subtly deals with two very important themes - drinking and sexuality, It flows with the story and hence the denouement feels natural. The lives of two drunkards - Pavada Babu Sir and Pambu Joy are brought into focus. Performances from Prithviraj, Anoop Menon and Nedumudi were outstanding.

The plot in summary is: An alcoholic duo, met at a de-addiction center helps each other to arrange their lives back together with their persistent illness. Pambu Joy's married life is in a muddle due to his alcoholism. Pavada Babu's life is in pieces due to a film he produced, in which Sicily was the heroine, Joy's mother. For financial gain the film was adulterated by Eldho. Eldho intends to re-release the film's 3D extended version. Both Pambu Joy and Pavada Babu fights through their alcoholism to stop the re-release of the film due to the added pain that will cause for Babu and to Joy's mother Sicily.


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Which is your favourate among this three? - All 2015 release Prithviraj movies - The guy is back in form in Malayalam...

Sarangi

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Enjoy the specially hand designed jewellary from my Friend - Proud of you dear, and all the very best in your venture. Go and grab yours...

Love, Marriage & Depression

Choose your Lady/Man wisely.

Life seems to be complete when you have someone to share it with, though Solitude has its own bliss. Blessed are we, if we find a person who is a mirror of us. Only in another person's heart you can truely see yourself and the presence of God within you.

Age is just a number for true lovers; at a time when life is witnessing the turbulence of ‘happily never afters’, there are some who adheres to the notion of 'Till death do us apart’.

Electrified admirer do all it takes to woo the man/woman of their dreams.. But not everything would work out. Marriages have to survived the ups and downs for decades. No marriage is perfect. How can it be, when as human beings we are not perfect? It is mutual love, respect and adoration that keeps a marriage ticking.” Years passes by, love remains.

Mourning Pratyusha's death, Karan Johar tweeted, “This is just so sad...and a wake up calm to families and friends who don’t consider depression a medical condition...RIP.”

When marriage/love fail, people get into derpression. So it is important to make wise decision, as you need to take care of your life.

Missie and Mr. Clean

Studious Missie, with her long thick hair plated into two, traditional, from a typical middle class family; dreamt of how lucky it was to be placed in the booming IT sector company soon after college. Having done her schooling from a vernacular school of South India, she thought it was beyond her talent; and expected that people working there had to be hifi. Her joy knew no bounds, when she finally got a placement out there, in one of the companies. What better gift she could give to her parents, whom she loved dearly - more than anyone and anything in her life; only other person being her lovely sibling?

As always, before anything auspicious, she went to the temple, asked God to shower blessings on her, and started with her dream career. The corridors, the door to the office, the reception, chairs, paperless office, computers everywhere with duel monitor; she kept wondering where she was. Delightful journey began in her life. She had new 'friends' - and as she was a person who thought with her heart, presumed and trusted every one as her friend, and did not realise that they were mere colleagues.

Within few days of her joining, there was a trip planned. They were to leave soon after office hours, which followed US timings. As they were about to leave; an email popped up her screen:
"Missis, please reserve the seat next to you, for me" - she was spell bound, it was quite unexpected. But there was a spark in her mind, a smile on her face. Well, what could go wrong? After all, the message had come from Mr. Clean, who joined few days, after she did; though at a senior level being an IIPM product; Mr. Clean - The handsome young man; whom she had been training. How well he spoke English, and with the clients overseas in calls; indeed a gentleman.

Unfortunately though she reserved the seat next to her; it was occupied by another colleague. Mr. Clean in a polite way asked if the seat could be swiped; and finally they were together the whole night, sitting next to each other. There was an electric wave passing through her. As they spoke to each other the whole night, she saw traces of her father in him. That was the kind of life partner she expected to have; if ever she had one. When the team was busy watching movie, she was staring outside. He asked her what was wrong, and she said - she was missing her family. He reassured her that in his presence she did not need to, and they started exchanging words and heart. Next day she had a sprain in her leg, and could not go around, and had to take rest and be in the bus. He accompanied her in the bus and stayed behind - in the pretext of giving her company in case she needed anything. So continued their long chats - hand in hand for hours; all heated up. Well the time had come for the first trip to end, and he just got down, as if nothing had happened. She felt sad at the bottom of her heart. As she was heading home, she kept thinking, about all that happened, and what it meant. She wondered if she had met her soulmate; the partner of her life. On reaching home she was shocked and could not understand the message she got - "Was'nt the presex feeling great?" What did it mean? Nothing made sense, she wanted to end up everything. But was not sure, if it was part of life. She liked him, and started falling for him; while he told her it might be just infactuation and they needed to give some time.

During client visit outings, she learned from him how to use spoon, fork and knife to eat; though with boss and seniors around, while returning, he would sit in cab hand in hand with hers. She asked him if he loved her, and he said he was not sure. As they lived along the same route, they at times shared cabs enroute home, after office hours. Some of these were noted by the cab drivers, and she became the Dirty girl. He went to onsite for transition. She had a new friend in office. A Hindu Nair girl, who was in love with a Christian boy. Seeing them together made her want to have someone in her life as well, and she felt there was nothing wrong in going forward with her relationship. Whenever Mr. Clean was in office, they would lock their eyes, but never speak to each other. When something would go wrong, or he would try to ignore her, she would spend hours in the restroom crying. There she would find that she was not alone, there were more than handfull of girls, going through similar emotions. A smart clean and gentle boy, as he was; knew how to make use of the available opportunity.

The first of their private meeting was during office hours, soon after her father dropped her near office, he picked her from there and took her to an isolated place; touched her and kissed her on her private parts, boobs, stomach; and asked her to return his 'favour' by touching his pennis. Twice he took her to isolated houses, one his cousins; and another a flat where he was supposed to introduce her to his family - but on reaching home no one was there; he repeated the same action. Soon after he derived his pleasure he would just hurry off. The last was on the pretext of dropping her home after a friends wedding reception; when at night, he took her home, and said he would want to suck her breast. Though she said that was for her kid, and not for him, somehow he finally managed to do it.

All these four incidents happened, intermittently as they continued being just colleagues, friends, in a relationship - different faces, at small intervals. She kept getting into depression, started having medicines for depression; soon her family got to know about this. She was at times ashamed of herself, and thought how could she betray her family, and love someone more that everyone she has every loved. She did not realise Love was blind. Love was the king of all emotions, and she had the painful need to be with her lover. She loved him with all hear heart, but for him, it was just a time pass. She and her family were innocent. She even went to his home and confessed her love for him to his parents.

Here I remember the beautiful lines - "Adjustment & Compromise are 2 crucial sides of the same coin called relationship. Adjust when someone wants to be with you & Compromise when you want to be with someone." This is exactly what happened and what she did; not realising what she was doing. Also it is said that, when you love someone set them free; if if comes back to you, it is your's; if it does not, it was never yours. She just could not let her Love free, and wait to know if there was something genuine; but wanted him desperately; and he did not miss the opportunity he had.

He told her, he was kind to her, by not having sex with her, and thereby not spoiling her! What did that mean? Also he accused her of being a third rated Ezhava, who wanted to have an affair with a Nair boy, to belong to a higher caste....A modern educated boy; where did the feeling of caste go, when he had momentary pleasure with her? It became a matter of concern, only when it was time to make life time decisions?

She trusted only one person, whom she thought would support her, and give her the adivse that she wanted. Every coin has two side, and this might be partly one side of the coin; but a lesson to learn, remember and not to be repeated.

Indeed " The bravest thing she ever did was continuing her life, when she wanted to die"; she was victim of circumstances; anybody could have been at her place; and she wanted to warn the gen. next to be carefule; not to fall in a trap partly woven, partly pulled into, as she had fallen into the trap.

1. Never tolerate any injustice and never compromise on self-respect. Value your values.
2. Life is not safe out there, Take care.
3. Depression is deadly, don't let yourself into that mode.

KaFa

Had been waiting to meet her….today for almost 2 hours, but it was worth it…was very excited. We would be meeting after 5 years…Was it too long? Well with the advents of social networking sites like Facebook it appeared to be just yesterday that we had departed, but emotionally there was so much missing.

She was the same both physically and mentally; appearing to be strong but within a cry baby. She kept telling me I will be there in 10 minutes, and I kept walking around the mall – window shopping as well as doing some real shopping; thinking if it was okay to come early – though mom and sis had asked to stay home till evening, and we had plans to go and watch the jungle book.

Finally the cry baby, my Rams did turn up – handing over to me a finely woven Sarangi ear-rings from her new venture, with a smile on her face and undercurrent of emotions flowing beneath. First thing she said was – Chechi I should not have married. Don’t know why, and what was beneath that statement, but superficially she appeared to have a good companion in life. Who was there for her. Though very much different.

She had been going through a very tough face in life. Like every woman, she wanted to be a mother, have her own baby. The day was just one year, after she lost her carrying baby to be born and had to undergo a DNC. Wanting to have another, and expecting one, she got her monthly periods which added to her vow.

Kalli – Anger was beneath her – we managed to get into the corner of the Bloomsbury – to nibble something as she was fasting since morning, and to catch up with some private chat. Her mother was going through her last stage of cancer; and spoke to her as well. They did remember me. She said, the day her mom is no more – she, her father and sister too will leave this world, as this is not the place for innocent people like them. My dear Ram, you are educated, strong and woman of today – you should be the strength to your sister and father – it does not suit you speaking this. Be strong.

True only a handful of men if at all any could be good; but most of them are bad; it is not at all acceptable that anyone use a girl for days after marriage and leave her back home – my heart goes out to your sister; let her have the courage to go through this phase in life.

Fanna – this was what surprises me the most about you. Inspite of so much going on – saw in you – Fanna – You were still not out of your first love – and Indeed how could one easily forget someone whom you wanted to be your life partener, loved more than the best family you had; and thought of sharing a life with; who promised to marry only ‘Ramya’ if he was not a bastered; but ended up marrying another ‘Remya’? – First things are always dear to our heart – But life goes on, and we must move on – Twice he ditched you, and you have moved forward – please don’t look back my dear – The past is history, future is a mystery - Live today. Love your Life.

We walked around the mall for sometime – I had never been there for so long – more than 5 hours, but it was not enough – she could just go on and on – and she wanted me to write about her – well I knew just 1/10 or even less; and by no means were I a writer – but as she desired – so I do. And because of her Kalli and Fanna – Call this KaFa…This is her story.

Trip to Pondi and Mahabhalipuram

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Trip buddies, me with Jisha again set out for our next tour - this time around the only plan being - We start Friday 25th evening. Bus - Kallada travels to pondy from Edapally at 5:30 pm. Reach pondy Saturday morning. Booked hotel Abirami for saturday. Checkout on Sunday and proceed to Mahabalipuram. Hotel booked till Wednesday. 30th wed checkout and proceed to Chennai. Evening 4:20 flight to Kochi. Best thing is I had to know of nothing; Mera Jisha arranged for everything - The best birthday gift I ever had.

It is said that Well begun is half done - we did start well, but the beginning of the trip was not that very well.

Hotel booked in Pondi was:

Hotel Abirami Residency – Pondichery
No. 92 Anna Salai, Pondicherry - 605001.
+91 0413-2229881 to 83

Yes, mentioning the full address, because they cheated us. We had booked this hotel via Makemytrip - but when we reached the hotel there were no rooms. Thank fully an auto driver helped us find another one.

Sathishni joined us soon. It was so nice meeting her after years - 8 years to be precise - spend some time chatting and we were very hungry.

Had good lunch from A2B - Adayar Anand Bhavan. Met Surjith, Kajori and family there. Visited Manakula Vinayagar Temple;Sri Aurobindo Ashram; Matrimandir (Aurovilla),
Gandhi statue, Promenade Beach, Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Aayi Mandapam (monument), Gateway to Pondichery -

Next day had been to 'Kaasha khi Asha' & Bharathi Park.

Also indulged in the variety of cuisines available in this town during Pondicherry tour. From South Indian to authentic French and Vietnamese delicacies.

From there took a local bus to Mahabalipuram - where everything welcomed us with open arms and joy. Hotel Pallava Dynesty was a good one. We spend that evening in the shore temple 

and beach. Loved being into the seawater - which I missed in Pondi.

Next day we went to Dakshina Chitra where tradition came alive; 

and on return went site seeing to the rest of Mahabhalipuram viz:
• Pancha Rathas (Five Chariots) – five monolithic pyramidal structures named after the Pandavas (Arjuna, Bhima, Yudhishtra, Nakula and Sahadeva) and Draupadi. An interesting aspect of the rathas is that, despite their sizes they are not assembled – each of these is carved from one single large piece of stone.
• Light House, built in 1894 - we did climb the 93 steps untill the top. 

The first light was commissioned here in 1887. With a circular masonry tower made of stone, it became fully functional in 1904. Its source of light comes from dis-chargeable lamps, which rotate in bowls of mercury. Beneath it is the old light house, also known as Olakkanesvara Temple, it is India’s oldest lighthouse, built around 640 CE during the reign of Pallava king Rajasimha. This lighthouse/temple is categorised as one of the “Group of Monuments” at Mahabalipuram that were designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984. Currently, the Pallava era lighthouse is a protected monument, maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India. Like the Shore Temple, the Olakkannesvara Temple is a structural temple. Its name translates to “flame eye.” It is situated directly above the Mahishasuramardini mandapa on a hillock which provides scenic views of the town. Prior to the construction of the new lighthouse at this site in 1900, the roof of the Olakkannesvara Temple served as the lighthouse. The climb is not too steep. Stone steps have been chiseled out of the rocky hill to assist visitors. On each of the four walls are chiseled different avatars of Shiva. On the exterior walls, there are two sculpted images in the niches of the ardha-mandapa. Enclosed within pilasters, these images of Shiva as Kalari killing “Kaala” (Yama) are later additions, not attributable to the Pallavas. On external walls of the main shrine, there are other niches or devkoshtas; on the south wall the sculpture is of Shiva as Dakshinamurthi under a tree in seated posture, on the west face an image of Shiva and Parvati seated on Kailash Mountain with Ravana trying to shake the mountain. There is another image on the north wall is of Shiva in the posture of Nataraja. I heard hat sometime towards the end of the eighteenth century, the sivalinga was stolen from the temple.

 

• Krishna's Butter ball. - One of my favourate spot since childhood. 

Mahabhalipuram, not sure why, has always been one of my most favourite places in the world. 

The day after had been to the 'City of Thousand Temples'; the second holiest place in India next only to Varanasi. Had been to Kamakshi Amman Temple, dedicated to Devi Shakti; Ekambareshwarar shrine - where Lord Shiva is worshippe in the form of Prithvi (earth, the Ulahalanda Perumal temple representing the 'Vamana Roopam' sacred Vishnu shrine of Vaikunta Perumal - which also had golden lizarad, also visited a SSI where hand-woven silk fabric was being manufactured, and did buy some sarees as well; a memorable product of Kancheepuram craftsmen.

The samosa and crispy Jilebi from Mahabalipuram bus-stop on returning was really yummy - taste still lingers.

The days away from the real life was over very soon with good memories, and had to return to real life. We started early - but did visit Mylapore - reminising the good old times - with food from Sangeetha - covering Ramakrishna Mutt,

 Kapaleshwara Kovil, St. Thome church (only church in India, and one of the three in the world - to be build on the apostel of Jeasus - others being in Rome and Spain); Luss church, and Marina Beach; enroute Chennai airport for our return flight; 

Loved to see that even Chennai airport paid tribute to the Majestic Mahabhalipuram. 

via. Tvm. Well - did not know that there was still something awaiting us, first flight over the mighty meeting of three seas - all this ended with yummy dinner prepared by Jisha's mom - the best of all the food we had.