“The mind’s eye.”

This mythical retina of our imagination is all you can employ when you are immersed in the world of books. You use this eye to create the setting, to imagine what the characters look like and to visualize the action in moving pictures even as the story unfolds as words on a page. And, especially, when you consider a massive, magical tome of the likes of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, you come to rely pretty heavily on this eye to corporealise the enchanting - and often wildly imaginative - yarn that Rowling weaves.

So how does one compress an 870 page novel into a 2 1/4 hour movie? Screenwriter Michael Goldenberg talks about the adaption process:

It’s a translation process from one medium to a very different one. Ideally you want people, especially fans of the books, to walk out saying it was just like the book — even if, when they think back on it later, they realize there were lots of differences. The challenge is in finding the best equivalent way to tell the story. My job was to stay true to the spirit of the book, rather than to the letter.
- Salon (via Etcetera)

And in that endeavor he succeeds and, consequently, so does the movie. Sure, entire episodes are left out - there’s no mention of Quidditch and the St Mungo’s episodes are completely absent. What is present, though, is the underlying spirit of the book: the growing up of kids into adolescents, the alienation of being “The Chosen One”, the sheer joys and pitfalls of school-life and the eventual rebellious union against the authoritarian, enforced order.

From the dark openings of the dementor attacks in a little English village to the showdown in the Ministry Of Magic, first-time-Potter-director David Yates does a pretty good job of capturing the essential elements of the story while at the same time trying not to get very involved in one particular sub-plot. If the movie has a disjointed feel at times and seems to jump around, this could well be the cause.

Artistically, directors have always been allowed the license to deviate from the book a little. While it little matters who discovers the Room of Requirement or who sneaks about the DA meetings, one thing emerges slowly as the movie progresses. Harry’s friends gain a new-found respect for and belief in him. Their progression from disbelief and sometimes downright belligerence toward Harry to acceptance and training under him are all well-captured. And finally, when Harry says it’s too dangerous so he will go alone to fight the Death-Eaters and his friends confront him together asking if all the training and preparedness they underwent was just talk, you just know that the transformation is complete: they are together in this and it’s good versus evil now.

The show-stealer, however, was the mildly coughing, always pert-in-pink, deliciously wicked Professor Umbridge (Imelda Staunton in a well-executed role), the new Professor at Hogwarts. Her portrayal of the strict disciplinarian who exerts an authoritarian influence on the school is a treat to watch and that you detest her very presence is testament to her ample histrionic abilities. Another surprise was Evanna Lynch’s Loony Luna Lovegood. She really had that goofy, butt-of-all-jokes look on her face, but finally comes through as a thoughtful and insightful ally to Harry’s group.

Yes, compared to The Goblet Of Fire, this movie is even darker in nature and that can only be expected as the plot thickens and the seriousness of the return of Voldemort slowly sinks into everyone’s minds. But Yates never lets you forget that these are still kids who are trying to be men under very difficult circumstances. Darker scenes are sandwiched by humorous ones like when Hermione teases Ron about having the emotional range of a teaspoon or when Fred and George feed another of their sickness-inducing treats to an unsuspecting junior.

Visually, the movie brings in some pretty spectacular sequences. Of course there is the broom-flight over London, the mumbling house-elf Kreacher and the metamorphmagus Tonks who amuses everyone by changing her appearance. But the artistic license I mentioned earlier has been put to good effect to give you even more than your mind’s eye could have imagined. There is the ludicrous sight of the caretaker Filch tottering on a tall ladder as he nails decree after ridiculous decree on the school walls (”Students should stay at least 8 inches away from each other”!). There’s the brilliant display of fireworks during the O.W.L.s as Fred and George decide enough is enough and leave Hogwarts leaving behind a large “W” in the sky. And of course the Hall of Prophecies: rows and rows of shelves with their gleaming prophecy-containing glass-spheres - all of which have been shot with a sense of grandeur and which evoke the same sensations of elation or mystery you feel when you read the sequences in the book. Even the pseudo-narration-using-newspapers technique has been used with great effect especially since The Daily Prophet contains photographs with subjects that can move around in the picture. (”POTTER changes back and forth to “PLOTTER?”)!

The mind’s eye: every movie that’s based on a book strives to please this very finicky (and very individual) lens. While I might not go so far as to say this is the best movie of the series, The Order Of The Phoenix certainly does an admirable job of keeping close to the plot-line yet deviating enough at times to give your visual and auditory senses a real treat.

Definitely worth a look-see.

harry potter, order of the phoenix, movie

It deals with something you thought you learnt when you were 5: how to cross the street. Now if you are starting to get that familiar smug look on your face (you know what I mean) and chanting right-left-right-cross, then read on. You might be surprised.

On an average day there are about 14.2 million people shopping on Nageswaran Road in T Nagar. Now that statistic alone would not be surprising until you realise that Chennai’s population is only about 7 million. If the tourism and advertising industry ever got to hear about the massive influx of shoppers to this little area, all hell could break loose - oh wait, too late - that has already happened.

But first, a little history of Nageswaran Road. This little road borders Panagal Park and is home to such stores as Kumaran Silks, Nalli Silks and T.B.Jewellery. There’s two way traffic on this road (I mean pedestrians walk in both directions on the road) and vehicles weave around what little space is left. All this chaos leads to the quintessential question: how does one cross this road? There are two ways to do this and I will be kind enough to number them so you won’t miss them:

1. Look right, look left, look right again and then cross the road when there is no oncoming vehicle in either direction. That is indeed sage advice and probably made sense in the “days of yore”. Today, too, you can certainly try this method but after 3 days of swiveling your head and looking in both directions only to still find yourself on the same side of the road, you will realise that a new tactic is in order. Which brings me to the next interesting characteristic of Nageswaran Road: Have you ever wondered why all the big stores are on the same side of the road?

It all started when Nalli built its first store here circa 1560 A.D. (shortly after Akbar The Great ascended the throne in Delhi). By that time the population here was already in the millions and parking spots for horse-drawn buggies were fast becoming a rarity. Legend has it that many smaller stores set up shop on the opposite side of the road as Nalli (today that would be considered sheer idiocy). These smaller store-owners quickly realised the obvious: most people came to T Nagar to shop at Nalli and once they got off on that side of the road, that was that. After several unsuccessful attempts to cross the road, most people resigned themselves to shopping some more at - you guessed it - Nalli!

This prompted an increasing number of larger stores to setup shop on the same side as Nalli while those on the opposite side simply closed shop. Today this “loser” side of the road has as its residents only the descendants of the original store-owners who since gave up on crossing the road and spend most of their time gazing wistfully across the road at the various jewellery and silk saree stores. Once a month some aboriginal lunatic on this side who just can’t take it anymore will make a mad rush across the road only to be smashed under the wheels of the new breed of “black-smoke-emitting-people-carrying-green-boxes” - which we simply know of as “Managara Perundhu Buses”.

Of course things are not so great on the Nalli side either. It simply consists of two kinds of people: those inside the stores and those outside trying to get in. After a while both sides get tired of what they are doing and swap places. A very small percentage of this population has finally perfected the art of crossing this road and one of them was kind enough to explain the procedure to me and I shall number this method 2:

2. Close your eyes and slowly start crossing: You might think this is a recipe for disaster but if you follow exactly this procedure you will reach the other side safe and sound. No one knows how it works but the typical modus operandi is as follows:

Close your eyes and pray to your favorite Gods that you will break a hundred coconuts in their temple if you make it across (most people don’t pray this hard even before their management CAT exams or before taking an international flight). Next step: slowly start walking across the road.

This apparent act of suicide will be met with a plethora of violent reactions from the vehicle-drivers but each is a sign of recognition of your presence so you should be happy. First is the set of loud honks followed quickly by the choicest words in the Madras-Tamil langauge. If you hear “Saavugraakki” (Death-wisher?) and “Ootla soltiya”? (Written the suicide note yet?) then consider yourself successful.

You might also feel loud gushes of wind as autos and call-taxis whiz by, but if you are scared you are grossly underestimating the driving prowess of the average Madras driver. Also, if you are carrying bags of purchases, now would be a good time to either put them on your head or simply swallow them to reduce chanes of injury. The good news is that before long you will find yourself on the other side.

Of course, the aboriginals on the other side will then proceed to systematically rob you of everything you own and you can begin this whole road-crossing operation once again.

t nagar, panagal park, chennai, madras

]]> http://www.prash.net/archives/2006/12/08/how-to-cross-nageswaran-road-in-t-nagar-chennai/feed/ http://www.prash.net/archives/2006/10/10/spb-live-s-p-balasubrahmanyam-in-concert-at-connecticut-tamil-sangam/ http://www.prash.net/archives/2006/10/10/spb-live-s-p-balasubrahmanyam-in-concert-at-connecticut-tamil-sangam/#comments Tue, 10 Oct 2006 11:53:36 +0000 prash http://www.prash.net/archives/2006/10/10/spb-live-s-p-balasubrahmanyam-in-concert-at-connecticut-tamil-sangam/

“Athindhom!”

As the sonorous voice rang out inside the crowded auditorium, a collective cheer erupted from the eager throng. The king of playback had begun what would turn out to be a memorable evening for a packed audience at the Newington High School in Connecticut on Sunday, 8th October 2006. With wonderful accompaniment from his orchestra, S P Balasubrahmanyam went into his usual flourishes and variations in the Chandramukhi song keeping us thoroughly entertained.

In his welcome message to the audience, who had gathered for the annual Connecticut Tamil Sangam Deepavali Celebrations, I was stunned to find that he had sung 36000 songs in his lifetime over a career spanning almost 40 years! He turned 60 in June this year, but when he started the next song with a soft and melodious “Ilaiya Nila” (Payanangal Mudivathillai), the crowd again went crazy - this sounded nothing like a 60-year old’s voice and it was difficult to believe he had just performed at another concert in New Jersey just a couple of days back and even though he mentioned he had a bad throat, listening to his voice, we could only wonder what his good days must sound like!

He then went on to perform various songs from his vast repertoire including “Sundari, Kannaal Oru Sedhi”(Thalapati), the magical “Sippi Irukkudhu Muthum Irukkudhu”(Varumayin Niram Sivappu) and the ultra-melodic “Malare Mounama” (Karna).

Sometimes, even more interesting than the songs themselves were some of the comments and informational tidbits from SPB. For example, apparently Thalapathi’s “Sundari” was performed using RD Burman’s orchestra in Mumbai and after just the first few notes, the musicians simply laid down their instruments to applaud the genius that is Ilaiyaraja.

He also mentioned the magnanimous gesture of MGR who waited almost a month for SPB’s typhoid illness to subside so he could record “Aayiram Nilave Vaa”(Adimaippen). You can read the whole story on Saravanan’s page on Dhool.

[...]

Exhausted by the strain, yet filled with happiness, SPB gathered the courage to ask MGR why had they waited for him, for with the shooting schedule already set, the movie had now got unnecessarily delayed. MGR’s gentle reply was he had waited for SPB to recover, because this was SPB’s first big break, and SPB must have already informed his family and friends proudly that he was singing for MGR. After all this, if the song was sung by someone else, SPB might become the object of their derision. And more important, his career would be in jeopardy as word may go around that his singing was not satisfactory and that was why he was replaced. Words failed SPB as he stood choked with emotion at the large-heartedness of MGR; his eyes brimmed with tears of gratitude. A smiling MGR shook his hands, and took leave of SPB, wishing him well in his future endeavours. To this day SPB salutes the memory of the charismatic leader with admiration and love.

Read the full story (scroll down to the section “Song # 3: aayiram nilavE vaa from adimaippen”) and even listen to the song on this page.

-Via SPB 60

When he broke into “Aayiram Nilave Vaa” after this touching tribute to MGR, we could appreciate the song even more.

SPB placed his tongue firmly in cheek when he commented about the sorry state of affairs with some of today’s music - “Ippo vara paatungala kaetta - idhu padathula illenaalum periya loss-illennu thonum” he said slyly (Listening to some of the newly composed songs, one ends up thinking it would be no great loss if they didn’t feature in the movie!)

SP Shailaja sang a few numbers too including the beauifully composed “Ninaithu Ninaithu” (7G Rainbow Colony - SPB made a special mention of YSR’s upcoming talent) although at high pitches one could detect the strain in her voice. But the real stealers of he show after SPB were the two newcomers - Mallikarjun and Gopika.

Mallikarjun really did a great job with songs like “Uyire”(Bombay) and “Appadi Podu”(Gillie) (and yes, he did a mean dance on stage too, getting the audience up on their feet!), while Gopika startled us with her lovely accompaniment to “Sippi Irukkudhu” - even though SPB ragged her quite a bit on stage. When she said “Ippo Paarkalaam - Thanana nana nana”, SPB responded with “I am an old fellow trying to sing with a bad throat, why challenge me with ‘Ippo Paarkalaam?’!”



In the obligatory other-language-songs category came the Telugu “Shankara”(Shankarabharanam) and “Malli Malli” (Raakshasudu), the Hindi “Tere Mere Beech Mein”, SPB’s national award winning effort from K Balachandar’s Ek Duuje Ke Liye and a Malayalam song (I think it went “Ee Kadalum Maru Kadalum” - not sure of the movie, but SPB did give thanks to Devarajan Master for helping him along in his career).

Watching and listening to SPB brought back a flood of memories for me as he has always held a special place in my heart since I ws a young kid. My all-time favorite song is “Bharathi Kannamma” from “Ninaithaale Inikkum” and over the years I grew up mesmerized by his obvious mastery over the art of konjifying (I still can’t a proper English word for this - coddling, maybe?) - especially obvious in songs like “Malare Mounama”. My other favorites include “Manadhil Enna Ninaivugalo” (Poonthalir) and “Kamban Emaandhaan”(Nizhal Nijamaagiradhu).

Full List of songs performed (most of these can be found on Raaga for download for a small fee):

1. Athindhom - Chandramukhi
2. Ilaiya Nila - Payanangal Mudivathillai
3. Sangeetha Megam - Udhaya Geetham
4. Ninaithu Ninaithu - 7G Rainbow Colony
5. Shankara - Shankarabharanam (Telugu)
6. Sundari - Thalapathi
7. Tere Mere Beech Mein - Ek Duuje Ke Liye (Hindi)
8. Uyire - Bombay
9. Malli Malli - Raakshasudu (Telugu)
10. Sippi Irukkudhu Muthum Irukkudhu (Special twist: Mayakkam Thandadhu Yaar? Kaviyo, MSV-yo, Kannadasano!)
11. Mannil Indha Kaadhal - Keladi Kanmani
12. Koncha Neram - Chandramukhi
13. Jeeva Veene Needu Miditada Sangeeta - GeetaPriya (Kannada)
14. Aamani Paadave - Geethanjali (Telugu)
15. Devuda Devuda - Chandramukhi
16. Kurukku Siruthavalae - Muthalvan
17. Kadavul Amaithu Vaitha Medai - Aval Oru Thodar Kathai - I have to mention here that SPB did ALL the mimicry by himself - listen to it and you will realise what an effort it can be! Simply a splendid performance!
18. Ovvoru Pookalume - Autograph
19. Aayiram Nilave Vaa - Adimaippen (like I mentioned above, after his glowing tribute to MGR’s magnanimity, this song had an even greater effect)
20. Ee Kadalum - (Malayalam)
21. Appadi Podu - Gillie (Mallikarjun did a better kuthu on stage than most dance masters I have seen!)
22. Malare Mounama - Karna
23. Finally with a mention of the obvious fact that it would be impossible to sing all of his favorties in one evening, SPB entertained us to a medley of some of all his alltime hits (just the first couple of lines in rapid succession):

1. Avaloru Navarasa Naadagam - Ulagam Suttrum Vaaliban
2. Pottu Vaitha Mugamo - Sumathi En Sundari
3. Ae Aatha Aathorama - Payanangal Mudivathillai
4. Andhi Mazhai - Raja Paarvai
5. Ilamayenum Poongaattre - Pagalil Oru Iravu
6. Kamban Emandhaan (Aah!) - Nizhal Nijamaagiradhu
7. Nilaave Vaa - Mouna Raagam
8. Aayarpadi Maaligayil (No better lullaby on this planet, I say!)
9. Enna Satham indha Neram - Punnagai Mannan
10. Ore Naal Unnai Naan - Ilamai Oonjalaadukirathu
11. Mandram Vandha Thendralukku - Mouna Ragam
12. Vannam Konda - Sigaram
13. Oruvan Oruvan Muthalaali - Muthu

The evening was wrapped up with a musical instrument medley from the orchestra as they went around inturn displaying their prowess. The tabla, flute and bass guitars were particularly good.

An autographed program guide from the king himself and the last strains of his booming voice still echoing in my ear are all I have left of a thoroughly satisfying and memorable evening.

Here’s wishing him many more years of successful singing!

SPB Concert, S P Balasubrahmanyam, Connecticut Tamil Sangam

]]> http://www.prash.net/archives/2006/10/10/spb-live-s-p-balasubrahmanyam-in-concert-at-connecticut-tamil-sangam/feed/ http://www.prash.net/archives/2006/06/05/youre-hired/ http://www.prash.net/archives/2006/06/05/youre-hired/#comments Tue, 06 Jun 2006 03:24:42 +0000 prash http://www.prash.net/archives/2006/06/05/youre-hired/ looks like double-o-7 is not the only brit who finishes the job, floors the car and gets the girl.
]]> http://www.prash.net/archives/2006/06/05/youre-hired/feed/ http://www.prash.net/archives/2006/04/10/keep-laughing-daddy/ http://www.prash.net/archives/2006/04/10/keep-laughing-daddy/#comments Mon, 10 Apr 2006 12:35:06 +0000 prash http://www.prash.net/archives/2006/04/10/keep-laughing-daddy/ when my dad first told me he had started a ritual of waking up early in the morning, jogging to a nearby park and laughing out loud for no apparent reason, i thought the time had come to call the people in the white coats. but when year after year his health started to improve, his weight came under check and the size of his laughing-coterie increased, i realised he was onto something.

the mini forest laughter club began as a small exercise in putting into practice the adage of laughter being the best tonic. today it is practised in multiple locations across bangalore and many other cities.

the washington post has an article on the bangalore mini forest laughter club and my dad is proudly featured as one of the laugh-leaders:

After the introductory bout of “executive laughter,” the group warms up with more-traditional yogic routines. Led at first by K.R.L. Narayanan, a 59-year-old chemist in khakis and running shoes, they rub their abdomens in a circular motion while repeating “Om,” the sacred Hindu mantra, then extend their tongues and pant like dogs.

Then the laughers step up the pace, running toward one another and slapping high-fives, clapping and marching in circles like soldiers in formation. “Go for the mobile jog!” commands Narayanan, urging the group into a gentle trot.

kudos daddy! continue to spread the laughter.

]]> http://www.prash.net/archives/2006/04/10/keep-laughing-daddy/feed/ http://www.prash.net/archives/2005/10/13/it-just-keeps-getting-better/ http://www.prash.net/archives/2005/10/13/it-just-keeps-getting-better/#comments Thu, 13 Oct 2005 15:06:48 +0000 prash http://www.prash.net/archives/2005/10/13/it-just-keeps-getting-better/

now it’s video on your ipod!
just one word: sweeeeet!

]]> http://www.prash.net/archives/2005/10/13/it-just-keeps-getting-better/feed/ http://www.prash.net/archives/2005/04/18/amditd-episode-4-bovine-intervention/ http://www.prash.net/archives/2005/04/18/amditd-episode-4-bovine-intervention/#comments Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.prash.net/archives/2005/04/18/amditd-episode-4-bovine-intervention/

nope - no long drawn out complaints about traffic and pollution - hey the city is spitting out 45 new cars every day and some things can be expected, even lived with; but not the mooing speed breaker we encountered sitting calmly on - believe it - airport road, no less.
there was one difference though: the bovines had become smart enough to leave a small gap for passing vehicles, while they continued to chew the cud and watch us with those soulful eyes as if to say: use the dimmer, please.

]]> http://www.prash.net/archives/2005/04/18/amditd-episode-4-bovine-intervention/feed/ http://www.prash.net/archives/2005/04/18/amditd-episode-3-saar-give-tonty-fie-rupees-saar/ http://www.prash.net/archives/2005/04/18/amditd-episode-3-saar-give-tonty-fie-rupees-saar/#comments Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.prash.net/archives/2005/04/18/amditd-episode-3-saar-give-tonty-fie-rupees-saar/

hardly does one need to step out of the customs queue and onto the final mile to that welcoming door that leads to the great country that is india, than one is accosted by a group of well-wishers. these people will help you greatly by providing extremely difficult services, such as:
1. pointing out the exit: “that way out saar; taxi?”
2. giving you the weather update: “india becoming very hot, saar”.
3. making minor adjustments to the luggage which you had to heave onto the cart yourself.
of course these invaluable services come at a cost. “saar, give tonty fie rupees saar” will echo in your ears all the way to the door.
finally by around 1:00 a.m. on 18th we were out. whatever happened to the 17th of april? just lost in transit…
after a flight where mantra had to be on my lap almost the entire time (no, i won’t even bother explaining what happened to our bassinet row seats), it was a welcome relief to step out into the cloud of dust that was once called the garden city of india.
home sweet home!

]]> http://www.prash.net/archives/2005/04/18/amditd-episode-3-saar-give-tonty-fie-rupees-saar/feed/ http://www.prash.net/archives/2005/04/17/amditd-episode-2-the-long-red-line/ http://www.prash.net/archives/2005/04/17/amditd-episode-2-the-long-red-line/#comments Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.prash.net/archives/2005/04/17/amditd-episode-2-the-long-red-line/

there it is on the screen again - that long red line on the big blue ocean relentlessly tracing the path of our 747 as it made its way across the atlantic. once again there was talk about why the line was not straight from new york to frankfurt and once again we discussed the great circle line - after all what international travel is complete without discussing such interesting topics.
thankfully, mantra was quite relaxed during this journey since most of it was night-time (EST). we were treated to a showing of spanglish and i thought it was pretty good.
we already knew we had a very short transit at frankfurt but nothing could have prepared us for the walk-out-of-one-plane, climb-up-a-flight-of-stairs, climb-down-a-flight-of-stairs, walk-into-another-plane that greeted us.

just another 10 hours to go …

]]> http://www.prash.net/archives/2005/04/17/amditd-episode-2-the-long-red-line/feed/ http://www.prash.net/archives/2005/04/16/amditd-episode-1-life-in-the-bassinet-row/ http://www.prash.net/archives/2005/04/16/amditd-episode-1-life-in-the-bassinet-row/#comments Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.prash.net/archives/2005/04/16/amditd-episode-1-life-in-the-bassinet-row/

and so the journey to india begins …

lufthansa crew: sir, you asked for bassinet seats so we put you on row 41 and your wife on row 34 - they are both infant rows.
me: huh? but me and my wife need to be in the same row with our infant.
crew: sorry sir, only one bassinet row per family.
me: ???

and so we had to become the center of attraction on the flight as we juggled some seats around with other passengers and finally settled down.
actually “settled down” is probably the wrong term to use when you are on the same row as 5 screaming toddlers but thankfully everthing quietened down after awhile and we managed to get some sleep - only to be woken up in the middle of the night to be given breakfast.

ah, the little joys of international travel …

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