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Reviews
Doctor Who: The Doctor Falls (2017)
Glorious Season Finale that Capaldi truly deserved.
This is Doctor Who at its most beautiful, an entire series coming to a well poised and rewarding conclusion with every character finding its place, well done Steven Moffat, we had wonder, sadness, questions and answers and a little bit of something in our eyes.
10 Seasons down the line in the reboot, which had its ups and downs and on his final bow before the Christmas Special Moffat decides to play with emotion and character than swashbuckling action. Oh, and what a glorious treat.
Was it as good as World Enough and Time? I don't know. All I know is at the end of the hour long run, I was satisfied beyond words. There was closure and wonder in equal measures and this is what Doctor Who is all about.
Rachel Talalay's measured direction and pace are reminiscent of Heaven Sent and Murray Gold continues to make the show musically brilliant.
Season 10 has not been the most consistent one for me, nowhere matching the stakes set by Season 9. But the last two episodes summarize the Moffat era - daring, inventive and not shy of breaking rules or going the extra mile. Say what you may - but the man will be missed.
And then there's Capaldi - do we have enough words? What a Doctor he's been. There's really little left to say.
We have an hour more of Moffat and Capaldi (with a surprise) left and all we can do is enjoy it in all it's glory come Christmas before the show moves on to newer territory.
There is a feeling of foreboding, but not without appreciation for the brilliance of the Season Finale. Feels like an era coming to an end. Thoroughly satisfying. 10/10.
Ulidavaru Kandanthe (2014)
"Ulidavaru Kandanthe" – An artistic masterpiece.
I've seen people utterly confused and disappointed after the movie (no doubt) with the only tiny consolation in offer being "It was different". I've read reviews in Kannada Newspapers (*Gives Aaron Eckhart's two-face look of Harvey Dent from 'The Dark Knight'*) horrendously regarding the movie as a "waste of time", going to limits so as to say that "the only death that happens in the movie is that of the audience". But I have only one thing to say. Rakshit Shetty – you incredibly talented out of the stars oh-we-needed-this-so-very-badly- marvelous beauty ! I have to admit, at the end of the movie, I sat there on my seat, unwilling to walk out, wanting for more, before the fading lights reluctantly forced me to leave the theatre. Yes Rakshit Shetty, such was the ecstasy of watching MY Udupi come to life, in arguably one of the best movies I have ever watched.
I've never been an avid admirer of Kannada movies, though I always keep an open mind. Since the likes of Lucia, I've always been looking forward to eventful ventures in the industry. And the moment I had seen the trailer, I knew, that "Ulidavaru Kandanthe" was what I was looking for.
I'm not going to give out spoilers, for this is a movie each one ought to savor from his/her own perspectives. I'm going to tell you why "Ulidavaru Kandanthe" is such a masterpiece and why it will go down to be one of my favorite movies of all times (Beating Pulp Fiction).
To begin with, the very first scene. Fishermen Singing their coastal rhymes as they labour on the machinery to fit a huge wooden piece into place, the video being focused on the wood . To me, the most memorable moments in the whole film. For there was a meticulous sync in the video and the audio creating a rhythmic chant, a near-apocalyptic heartbeat, a countdown to the epic journey that was to come. I felt a stroke of genius in that and realised I couldn't just rest back on my seat, for this was to be a movie of detail, and boy was I right! Secondly, Ajaneesh B Lokanath. The last time I kept humming the background score weeks after watching a movie was with "The Good The Bad The Ugly". Not just the songs, the entire movie is as much an enchanting musical experience as it is a magical visual delight.
And then, the performances. Well, Tara, in her tiny role is just brilliant ( sorry, short of words here). Achyuth is absolutely adorable and Richi so elegant and genuine. "Democracy" is cute, entertaining and marvelous at the same time. Everyone does a spectacular job, which is definitely one of the real highs of the movie.
Rakshit Shetty's direction gives Kannada Industry new hope. Clearly, a lot of things have been inspired by Tarantino ( in caps "INSPIRED" not plagiarised), but I can hardly think it could have been bettered. Mixed with some brilliant cinematography, superb camera-work and an indomitable background score, the intricate details and some sheer genius "stuff" like depicting the very same scene from different camera angles, the brilliant scene where tara prepares to cook her sons favourite "Meen Curry" for example, stand out.
And being a resident of this coastal town of Udupi, the very sound of "Malpe" is tantalizing. Having lived here from the day I was born, I couldn't help but admire the artistic mastery with which Rakshit Shetty portrays the cultural heritage of coastal Karnataka, like I said, a visual delight.
But what makes "Ulidavaru Kandanthe" stand out in an industry dominated by item songs and sequences shot in luxurious foreign sites, is the importance the director places in the beauty of simplicity. You don't need a rich and pompous location to shoot a movie, you just need to know that every location is rich and pompous, given you depict it from the right perspectives. The entire movie has a non linear storyline, a confusing and unsure first half, slow mid way, but that allows you to discern the characters better, and I think that's what Rakshit wants you to do, rather than try to solve the mystery, which exists or not, depends on the viewers perspective as well.
All in all, "Ulidavaru Kandanthe" is an affably ineffable tale, a saga, an unforgettable experience, the beginning of a new era, every (Dakshina) Kannadiga's pride. An artistic masterpiece, matched only by its own ingenuity to leave the viewer ascertain his own storyline, his own ending, through his own perspectives. Its a movie you wouldn't want to miss.
Lucia (2013)
Lucia : Has the wind of change hit the Kannada industry ?
Lucia. The title doesn't ring a bell does it ? But there is one thing it tells you. "This sounds different" . That's exactly what this movie is.
Out of nowhere, Pawan Kumar has come out with this absolute gem amid all the entertainment centered movies in Kannada cinema. He has chosen a path never taken before, so bold, that you like the movie or not, you are bound to applaud the effort.
Lucia is the kannada's first crowd funded film, and well, it's sure to boggle your mind. There is a definite aura to the movie. A tone that drives it. Its beauty is in the simplicity of its characters and the complexity they render. The music, unlike other Kannada movies doesn't damage or influence the movie plot, indeed they are cleverly and intelligently placed.
Some might say it is similar to 'Inception', maybe. But Lucia has a uniqueness of it's own, and should a Kannada director attempt a movie as this, makes it even more special.
It is quite fitting that Pawan has chosen two completely new faces as lead roles, constantly reminding us that he wants to show us something new. The movie is authentic, low on unwanted drama (though Yogaraj Bhat's lyrics are dramatic). The visual aids have been perfectly utilized to captivate the audience, there's a pakka Kannada flavor and everything a good movie should have.
It might not be the best movie ever made, or a movie that would shatter the box office, not a movie orthodox entertainment loving fans would like. But this is a movie that will fuel the wave of change, one which Kannada industry badly required . All in all, an exceptional effort, brilliant execution and a movie every kannada cinema lover would savor and everyone else would remember for quite some time.
Thank you, Pawan Kumar for giving kannada cinema a new breakthrough. Lucia indeed, is Pawan Kumar's Lucid dream come true.