Ma kasam, filmy hoon

Spadikam: Mirror. I am sure that the producer-writer-director team of one of Mohanlal’s cult action-drama hit films from the early 1990s were not aware of the pioneering work being done at the same time in the US by Dr. Donald Clifton and his team of scientists. Nor were Dr. Clifton and team aware of this movie. Nevertheless, being a double buff of movies and strengths psychology I can say that it’s a must rewatch movie for all Malayalam and Mohanlal movie fans to understand the significance of the key principles of Strengths psychology. Even though the movie had a bitter sweet ending to the father-son cum teacher-student relationship still; true to the meaning of the film title, it’s a continuing reflection on the way we as parents and teachers have messed up children’s lives and the grave consequences thereof. Even though the great actor Shri Thilakan who immortalised Chacko Master, is no more but I see that Chacko Master’s spirit lives on in many parents that I see around me leading...

Unfortunately and sadly this film did not do well at the box office when it released in 2016. Many people may dismiss it as a mishmash of a light, breezy, slapstick comedy and a bit of drama and fleeting romance. But through my eyes, it's a great example of the strengths psychology philosophy. And of course I loved the film.

He was one of my favourite actors. He had a great voice and a face that was naturally chiselled for acting and which could emote a 1000 emotions, expressions and nuances. I had always silently nursed an ambition that destiny would give me an opportunity to meet and direct him with a close up on his face and voice alone with the appropriate use of light and shadow to bring out the best on his face. Who can forget him in Jab We Met, Kai Po Che and Freaky Ali?!! I truly liked him in the Titan watch ad that he did with Rajkumar Rao and I so wish that he was alive to gift us many more of those expressions. Here's the link to him from a group on Facebook from where I took this picture: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=838655141750660&set=a.440732024876309

Very happy to see the Malayalam film Aattam (The Play) in the list. Must watch movie for a number of reasons. I can use this movie to teach so many things about human beings, our minds, the tricks it plays, prejudices and our insecurities and temptations. It can also be used to illustrate the Ladder of Inference model as well as on listening skills besides of course a separate course on movie making. Men must certainly watch it. Recently I was talking to a client and he said that having watched it, he would dare not watch it with his wife. Watch the movie and you will understand why he said so. To some it might look a little similar to 12 angry men but that’s where the similarity ends and it’s much deeper than that. And you will understand why only in the end. Brilliant movie that stays with you in your mind questioning us and also stays in our heart long after it’s over on the screen. And of course what a performance by the lead actress Zarin Shihab besides the rest of the cast includ...

First written on 26th May 2013: I haven't written or shared much in the last 2 weeks. The run has been amazing in terms of the people who've been through my life and the experiences life has gifted me to grow tremendously. I still haven't got around to documenting all those amazing experiences I've had so far. Hope to have them done soon. Here's sharing one - Last year on 2nd October I wrote that I was lucky to have been alive to see 'Barfi'. Today I write the same for this amazing film in the annals of Malayalam and Indian cinema - 'Ustad Hotel'. I had possibly one of the most unique experience of watching a cinema in a peculiar environment. I started watching it as my flight took off today afternoon from Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala on its way to Mumbai on my way to Jaipur. And I write this as I wait to board my flight to Jaipur at the Mumbai airport. I started watching it from 30,000 feet above sea level and completed it on coming back to terra fi...

The coincidence dawned on me about 15-20 minutes into the film and I was very happy that I got my wife and daughter to watch this film on 8th March yesterday - the International Women’s Day. And what a film for me to rewatch in less than a week than this one. There are some films like Gandhi, 1942: A Love Story, Forrest Gump, Invictus, Jana Maitri, Laal Singh Chaddha, Vellimoonga, Sam Bahadur, 12th Fail and some more that I can watch any number of times. And to that list gets added this beautiful gem of a film by Kiran Rao - Laapata Ladies. What a writing, casting, directing, acting, dialogues, editing, music and subtle yet clear messaging with absolutely the perfect tadka of humour!! When I watched it the first time with my two friends last Saturday the 2nd of March, I was left so touched that I wanted to believe that reel life should turn into real life, just like I felt when I watched Forrest Gump for the first time in December 1995. And I have reason to believe that reel life can a...

Hi Dilipji, Just finished watching Kadak Singh on Zee5. From the time I saw the glimpse of you as the doctor trying to resuscitate Abhishek Bachhan in Delhi 6 to the scary Col. Zaidi in Mukhbir to now as Jeetender Tyagi in Kadak Singh, I’m of the view that you are among the most under known, underrated and most talented actors in the world. In fact you were so scary for me in the Mukhbir trailer teasers that I couldn’t dare to watch the series even as I know the most understanding and compassionate human being that you are. There are moments from your acting that are masterpieces in understated and subtle acting with just the intent showing up clearly on your face and eyes with no need for any dialogue or voice modulation to deliver the point. Hats off to you and your craft. Humbled and inspired to have known you a little bit over the last so many years. 😌😌🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗