Mediocre Perspectives

"Well, Dmitri, every search for a hero must being with something every hero needs, a villain." - Dr. Nekhorvich from Mission Impossible II When I watched Avengers: Endgame I was prepared for an engaging movie primarily because of the directors - the Russo brothers. But I have got to admit that the movie was far more emotionally draining than I expected it to be. Founded with time travel and peppered with nostalgia, the movie was a three-hour rollercoaster. The movie gave a fitting end to one of the longest series in movie history, wrapping up 21 movies in style. It was a classic good and evil tussle which became larger than life because of the heroes who adorned the screen, or should I say the ultimate antagonist. The entire Marvel series was essentially a tussle between the tech-genius Tony Stark aka Iron Man and War Lord Thanos. The other characters, in my opinion, are mere distractions as the foundation of the conflict is between these two powerful men. The ulti...

Rarely do movies give you a sense of fulfillment when you walk out of the screen and Lucifer gave me that. It was the first Malayalam movie which I had watched on screen with Mohanlal in the lead and I definitely would not be able to understand the references to his previous movies. But watching the film brought me feelings which I experienced while watching  Petta . Mass The only connection between the two movies which were from different genres, directors and even language was the Super Stars who adorned the screen. In Indian Masala movies, there is a term which is used often but rarely defined - Mass . Mass is a status which most aspiring actors like to achieve. There are innumerable names who after a successful run of a dozen films try to make the transition to a Mass hero but only a few succeed. Mass is an element which represents the connection with the masses in general which only a few actors are above to achieve. An Experience The limitations of vocabulary negate...

When the Joker trailer popped up in my YouTube recommendations it was hard to resist. Three minutes later my lips exhibited smiling scars for multiple reasons. Apart from appreciating the glimpses offered by Joaquin Phoneix, the trailer flashed archival memories of tongue-flapping Joker seen in the movie 'Dark Knight' cemented by the late Heath Ledger. I was happy that after a long time, a superhero movie will not follow textbook codes for success and that there will be peppered elements of artistry. Nevertheless, it mostly brought back the only person who has the power to withstand the savagery of the Joker - The Dark Knight himself. When the two characters were sketched by Artists for the very first time it is quite doubtful whether they knew that these characters will become an epitome for one of the most unsolvable philosophical questions - the meaning and purpose to life. The different shades of the grey cast over Batman and the Joker is an interesting study in existent...

I still wonder what would have been going on in the mind of    Nadia Comăneci when she scored a perfect 10 in gymnastics. Happy and elated are words too simple to describe something when you crystallize a performance as good as anything can ever be. It wouldn't be the first time and she would repeat it six more times in her career. And she would not be the first person to do that a few others would follow. But the fact that only a few had achieved it in gymnastics tells a lot about the score or does it? Photo Courtesy: Steven Rasmussen There were moments of sporting greatness which any ardent viewer would be able to appreciate. I still remember how Sachin positioned himself to play a Straight drive that got him past fifty in his last innings. The ball and the bat were in a rhythmic symphony, the body was in line with the ball and the eyes religiously watched as the ball kissed the bat and glided towards the boundary. In terms of sporting achievement, perfection ...

Photo Courtesy: Liz West I light up the fire To burn myself here This is not the first And it won't be the last. As heat invades Skin Pores hollow, Only will prevails I know that follows. Air would fail,  To rival fire In bringing flail As it burns me dire. Sparks fly over Feeding extreme pain. There is no cover, Seething agony rains. Nothing is true As pain. Not everything is pure As affliction. Fire is a blessing And also a curse It leaves you screaming Yet saves you from worse It leaves you  With a weak body But awards you A strong mind The body recovers In some time, The scar Glitters, In Sunshine.  The Mind is Stronger For better battles The next fight is now Eager As I am to turn tables. Fire is not evil, Only sinners Know. I burn by will, It makes me Grow.  Photo Courtesy: (External Link) Liz West

I do not wear Jeans pants. They are heavy, sweaty and uncomfortable. Living at 13.0827 degrees north of the Equator I do not see a sensible reason why they should be worn unless you want to fry your thighs. Well, that does not mean I am comfortable with a dhoti either. Though dhotis are the most suitable attire for tropical-humid-skin-burning-head-aching-sweat-dripping Chennai climate, I am comfortable with pants. I still remember writer Sujatha narrating the comfort of pants in his book Katradhum Petradhum – they are versatile when compared to dhotis from climbing stairs to catching buses on the run. Though you might contest the above statement that Chettans from Kerala comfortably do those stunts with their dhotis on, let me just say that I am not as talented as them. Further, adopting a new habit at the age of twenty-five seems very odd. Enough said, as a strong proponent of Tamil identity I diligently decided to purchase pants for this Pongal which is due in ten days. I ...

Signing off is an important part of few scenes in movies, especially the ones involving intense conversations where the one who wins the talk, usually leaves like a boss. That is not to be so in the real world. It is especially true for men irrespective of their age. The art of saying a poor good-bye is ingrained in men so strongly that I have rarely seen one take off without a fuss. I have personally done it so many times possibly more than the number of twinkles in a starlit sky. The number of things a man carries when he leaves a place never crosses the single digit. The mobile phone in one pocket, wallet in the other and key in third are the principal items. Yet there is always one which is let off and he has to return to fetch it.  Photo Courtesy: Brian Evans When he leaves for the first time he does it like a hero, thoroughly prepared, ready to face it be it day or night, so confident that he is ready to take on the world felt through the ‘bye’ he recites wh...