Sakkarakatti

Alright, can someone explain the meaning of the first line from the song “Marudhaani” (Sakkarakatti)? I mean, when translated to English, it reads “Are you Marudhu?”
My guess is that the main character’s name is Marudhu (a retro name; cool, these days). He dies, gets lost or something. And his girlfriend, daavu, whatever sees someone who [...]

Kuseludu

Kuselan’s failure is a huge victory for Tamil cinema.

Random

Another of those old poems struck me this morning. I think this is from a collection of poems called “Naanmani kadigai”, and I first read this poem when in class 7. Without intending to be boastful, I really am amazed at how many (useless) things I can remember so many years later. I do not [...]

Poignant

While the time at which the song was played was ironical, the lines are captivating. These are the pick of the lyrics.
“நல்ல பொழுதையெல்லாம் தூங்கிக் கெடுத்தவர்கள்
நாட்டைக் கெடுத்ததுடன் தானும் கெட்டார்.
சிலர், அல்லும் பகலும் வெறும் கல்லாய் இருந்துவிட்டு
‘அதிர்ஷ்டம் இல்லை’ என்று அலட்டிக்கொண்டார்.
விழித்துக்கொண்டோரெல்லாம் பிழைத்துக்கொண்டார்;
உன் போல் குரட்டை விட்டோரெல்லாம் கோட்டைவிட்டார்!”
Roughly translates to “Those who wasted the time at their disposal harmed not just themselves, [...]

Saadhu Miranda

… is like Pokkiri, except it is much better, because it is done right.

Anjaathey

Anjaathey (2008) is a modern classic!
And Mysskin is a great director. Tamil cinema has a good future.

Vaazhthugal

Vaazhthugal is the stupidest movie ever made. EVER!

Suryan FM live

Suryan FM 93.5 is streaming their Chennai radio programs live online. Just go to their website, register for free and start listening (kELunga, kELunga, kEttukittE irunga!).
I had already written about Aahaa FM which streams live online.
In case you are interested in the URL for the streams:

Aahaa FM — mms://74.54.85.4/AahaaFM or rtsp://74.54.85.4/AahaaFM
Suriyan FM — mms://66.180.172.26/suryanFMchennai or [...]

Yaaradi Nee Mohini

Watched this movie over the weekend. A few people had recommended this movie, and I also saw that the Telugu version (the original) was a huge success. Well, even if you went in with no expectations at all, you would feel let down. This movie was terribly boring!
It seemed to me that the crew had [...]

Random video

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Calendar blunder

I came to know recently that our Chief Minister has passed a law in the Tamil Nadu Assembly which declares January 14 as the Tamil New Year’s Day from 2009. While this is absolutely, totally, completely whatever-ly ridiculous, it gives rise to an interesting confusion.
Surely, some of our paguththarivu pagalavans will follow the Chief Minister’s [...]

Aahaa

When Aahaa FM 91.9 hit the airwaves back in Chennai, I was part of a crowd that felt nothing but disgust towards its ad campaign that had lewd undertones.
A year later though, starved of Tamil film music, I bump into Aahaa’s website that provides 24-hour live streaming audio of its programming. Must say I quite [...]

Mozhi

Listening to the Mozhi soundtrack after a while. I still am amazed by the movie and the songs. Wah! A piece of art that just could do no wrong.
And pray don’t tell me there was a better song in 2007 than this.

Pesugiren… Pesugiren…

Of all the many beautiful songs of 2007, this one from Saththam Podaathey is probably the most haunting; even when taken out of context.
pesugiren pesugiren un idhayam pesugiren
puyal adithaal kalangaadhu naan pookkal neettukiren
edhai nee tholaiththaalum manadhai tholaikkaadhe
adangaamale alai paayvadhen? manam allavaa…

Judgment Reserved

Over the past few days, I chanced to watch some of Cho’s dramas on Google Video. It doesn’t require a long time fan like me to inform you that Cho’s dramas are a tour de force. My personal favorite is Mohammad bin Tughlaq, which I have watched many times over on screen and as a [...]

Poem

For the past few days, I have been trying to recall a poem I read ten years ago (in my 9th standard Tamil textbook). It was one of my favorite poems, but I had trouble recollecting it. I don’t even know why I was thinking about it. Yesterday, though, I was able to recall it, [...]

I demand…

That the movie Malaikkottai be renamed “Kaadhile Poo”.

Surya - the next superstar

It is very clear - Surya currently leads the race to become the next superstar of Tamil cinema. One can arrive at no other conclusion after watching Vel.
Surya’s introduction scene in the movie is cliched - and he uses even more cliches when he talks about how to hold the aruvaal. But once the dust [...]

Virginity - the curse of Tamil cinema

Today I chanced to watch the movie Azhagiya Thamizhmagan. I was surprised that I found myself liking it, when everyone who had spoken to me about this movie had trashed it. Even more surprising because I didn’t like the songs very much, yet basically everyone trashed my music review.
The movie reminds me of MGR’s Ninaithadhai [...]

What’s his name?

I’m looking for the name of an actor in S.Ve. Shekar’s Natakhapriya. He has a distinct voice, and features in almost all of S.Ve. Shekar’s pre-2000 dramas. Generally he plays a cameo, but very memorable ones.
Some of his most enjoyable roles are as S.Ve. Shekar’s father in Crazy Thieves in Palavakkam (”Maargazhi thingal…”), and as [...]