Ma kasam, filmy hoon

Just watched Nalpathiyonnu (41) - a Malayalam film and story unlike any that I have seen in my life. What a story and film by Lal Jose and team in his 25th outing. In my view, his best so far. Must watch. 10/10 for the unusual storyline, plot twists and tension in the heart till the last but one scene before the climax. Great casting, acting, direction, music and location shooting in Shabarimala pilgrimage centre in Kerala. Nimisha Sajayan continues to be my favourite actress for her clear convictions and choices as an actress, human being and as a role model, inspiration and courage for women who don’t fit the traditional notions of beauty. This would count as among Biju Menon’s best performance in a serious role besides the one in the recent national award winning Ayyapanum Koshiyum (2020). This was my first experience of Sharanjith who plays one of the pivotal roles of Vavachi Kannan. What an actor and memorable performance when you compare his turnout to his normal photos on Google...

Should you watch Laal Singh Chaddha? My suggestion is: NO! … … … Not if you think you are supremely intelligent. Not if you think you are smart. Not if you think you have figured out the world. Not if you think you have figured out your place in the world, your purpose and destiny. Not if you are caught unawares or purposely in the bipolar world of right and wrong. Not if religious and political ideology is more important than the idea of humanity. Not if being right is more important than being wise and compassionate. Not if you hate Aamir Khan for whatever reasons including intellectual, ideological, religious and political because of the questions he has taken the risk to ask of us and ask for us. Not if you think that as a failure at the family level he shouldn’t do anything else. Not if you don’t like crying happy tears. Not if you think only the weak sissies cry. Not if your self-worth, self-importance and self-esteem depend on pulling other people down even though there maybe ma...

Usually I am not a fan of mindlessly violent films. They leave me disturbed and wasted. But then there are some films that are a class apart for their message and the way they are made without glorifying violence. In 1989 came one of the all time cult classics of Malayalam cinema - a movie named Kireedam (meaning Crown) starring Malayalam cinema's pride possession Mohanlal who celebrated his 60th birthday just a few days ago. Kireedam was then remade in Hindi by Priyadarshan as Gardish starring Jackie Shroff and the late Amrish Puri in a son-father role with Mukesh Rishi as the villain. That movie was all about a duel between the straight, good and righteous Sethumadhavan and the villainous Kireekadan Jose. It was a straight-forward film with characters who were black and white in what appeared to a relatively black and white world. 31 years later comes this movie Ayyappanum Koshyium (Ayyappan and Koshy) which is so much more layered and nuanced. While I can sit and writ...

I was putting together the design of a brief session for a prospective client on 'Handling Emotions at Work'. As I created the preliminary mind map around the session and then went onto list the stories I plan to share in the session before concluding with a powerful 6 question process that brings out the inherent, internal motivation of each of the participant as to why they would like to start their life long journey of handling emotions, I was struck in a moment by this famous dialogue from Dabangg. After my brief chuckle settled down, deeper insights began hitting me from this dialogue about the times we live in and principles of influencing we need to keep in mind. I will certainly facilitate them with the participants in my session. Ma kasam, filmy hoon. Par kya karoon, films do help me tremendously in my work as a trainer, facilitator and coach.

While I cannot claim to be an encyclopedic authority on national and multiple other award winning Malayalam film director Shri Sathyan Anthikad but needless to say he continues to be one of Malayalees' all time favourite directors and story tellers. He has a cult following among die hard Malayalees who appreciate his style of cinema which are simplicity and wit personified. As you watch this episode on Film Companion with the director who has done 56 cinemas so far from 1982 onwards, one cannot but wonder and admire at the parallels between him and the traits of a Growth Mindset as elucidated by Dr. Carol Dweck in her breakthrough book called 'Mindset'. I often talk about the insights from her work on Fixed Mindset vs Growth Mindset and as you watch this interview one realises that Shri Anthikad has the humility to continue learning even after all these years of accomplishments. He continues to learn from and admire the good qualities of new generation Malayalam...

Let me begin by saying that I am no particular fan of Shah Rukh Khan. But then this is one time I am happy to have been proven wrong. This is one time I am really grateful to my friend who in his own genteelest way persuaded me to watch Zero. But I didn’t give in that quickly. I spent quite a good amount of time in the morning searching if any theatre in Delhi-NCR was playing Badhai Ho or Andhadhun or even Greenspot simply because I didn’t want to watch a Shah Rukh Khan film. Even though the teaser and trailer looked great and the trailer did raise my curiosity with the rocket lifting off towards the end, I didn't want to watch a SRK film  even with the great gutka and sperm dialogue . The only Shah Rukha Khan films I have ever admired are Swades, Chak De and Kal Ho Na Ho. But then my friend insisted that we watch at least Zero for our annual year end catch up over lunch and a movie. Last year we had a ball over Fukrey Returns and if I were carryin...

https://youtu.be/dA4n1F0ksPI