V for Vaaranam Aayiram (Guest Post)

Today’s post is a guest post by a very dear friend of mine Deepa Duraisamy, who owns a blog called FictionPies. Writing short fiction is her heartfelt passion. I love reading her posts, and her short stories. They are humorous and quirky but in a good way as they are different. 

 

So, now let’s hear from her about her favorite movie for today’s alphabet and why she loves that movie. 

 

Vaaranam Aayiram (Language: Tamil, Release: 2008)

 

Thanks to Aparna doing her A-Z on film recommendations, we discovered some English, Hindi, and Marathi gems here, and reaffirmed some of our all-time favorites as well. So, I thought why not bring in something completely new here? My recommendation for today is a Tamil movie called Vaaranam Aayiram (translated: A Thousand Elephants). 

 

The younger Suriya plays an army officer, and the movie outlines his growing up years, circumstances that lead him to join the army, personal tragedies that he goes through, finding love, re-finding love, and comfortable solace, all the while with the support of his mother, played by the beautiful Simran and of course, his father played by – Suriya again! 

        Playing both the son and father in this movie, emoting, and acting out the characters physically and emotionally going from 10 to 72 with such aplomb and ease, you can see why Suriya is so well-liked. 

 

The reason I pick this movie is for a few reasons. Firstly, the way it covers a gamut of relationships, emotions, and phases in life. And I can say with much confidence, if you re-watch it at different ages/stages in your life, you’ll relate to it differently every single time. What warms your heart consistently is the beautiful, emotional strength-filled father-son bond throughout – even when both characters are not sharing screen space, the faith and knowledge that his father is there for him, shine through – this is the stuff fathers are made of. 

 

The second reason is more personal, but then I suppose more shared too. Watching this movie, especially the parents – older Suriya and Simran (their younger love story is also shown!) I kept catching glimpses of my parents so much in the movie, once the movie ended, I ended up making an ISD phone call just to talk to them and tell them about it, and at that moment, I missed them so much! Parents usually are such an emotional safety net, even when they don’t make it obvious, even when they don’t spell it out, the silent confidence that they are around to catch you if you fall – it’s a Godsend. 

 

Gautham Vasudev Menon does a fabulous job with direction, and Harris Jayraj’s music is amazing. A couple of numbers stay with you! I still hum them from time to time. This isn’t a teary-eyed emotional drama (well, a little maybe) with lots of lectures or ‘gyaan’ as they say. There is no social message. Except what it leaves you with is happy emotions and warmth filled heavy heart. And isn’t that something really good? 

 

As of this writing, you can watch Vaaranam Aayiram on Voot, Zee 5, Hungama Play, MX Player, and VI movies. 

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U for Udaan and Uri

 

In this post, too, I am writing about two movies that I loved watching and belong to the great movies list: Udaan (2010) and Uri: The Surgical Strike (2019).

 

While Udaan is a coming-of-age kind of movie, Uri is an action film based on true events. Both films are different and yet unique in their own way.

 

Udaan

 

We all know how dominating and controlling Indian parents, especially fathers, can be. But some are so dominating and hot-tempered that life becomes hell for the kids as the amount of physical and verbal abuse takes a mental toll on them. 

 

Udaan is a story of such dominating father and his two sons. We always blame upbringing for any kind of abuse or bad habits a person has but then how come one sibling Bhairav Singh is alcoholic, abusive, and dominating while his younger brother Jimmy is completely opposite. This film is about Rohan, the elder son of Bhairav, and his struggle. 

 

I loved the picturization, the acting, and the actors; in other words, it’s a good watchable movie with loads to understand and tell.

Uri

 

Uri, on the other hand is an action film based on true events. I can’t write much about it because one blog post won’t be sufficient for it. Whenever I watch movies or web series based on intelligence officers, the army or such, my heart swells with pride in their brave heartedness while my eyes cry on their sacrifice.  

 

Plus, the music of the film is awesome. Hats off to Sashwat Sachdev, for creating such a piece of brilliant music. 

 

What’s your take on both the movies? Please do let me know. 

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T for Taare Zameen Par

        

         Taare Zameen Par (2007) was a movie that made a special place in my heart as it was released when we were coming to terms and accepting our daughter’s condition. Even today couple of songs make me cry, while each dialogue of Aamir Khan as Ram Shankar Nikumbh screams truth and reality and facts.

        This 2007 movie is about a child Ishaan lovingly called Inu, who is suffering from a condition called Dyslexia but his parents and teachers label him as ‘lazy and careless’ as they are unable to understand his condition. It’s a common notion that ‘such’ kids can be reformed by severe beating/scolding or by being strict. Why doesn’t anyone understand not every child wants to be a doctor or engineer? Each child has a different capacity. Just like all fingers in our hands are not the same and equal similarly it is not necessary that both the kids of the same parents have to be equal in academics. When will Indian parents stop comparing one child’s achievements with the other and vice versa? 

        Some of the dialogues are hard-hitting and also heart-touching like the ones below. 

And this song breaks me down completely even today amongst other songs of the movie.

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S for Sky is Pink

 

This movie is special for various reasons. It has showcased the mental, physical and the emotional struggles of a mother who is taking care of a child with special needs or who is a caregiver or a caretaker of that child. Most of the films portray or showcase the difficulties that a child faces and how society sees that child but no one acknowledges or shows what a mother is going through. But in the film Sky Is Pink, Priyanka Chopra, who plays the role of a mother (Moose aka Aditi) has beautifully and very aptly shown and expressed her trauma, her frustration, her distress of what she's going through when she is struggling to bring up and find what is best for her daughter who is suffering from a very rare disease called SCID(severe combined immunodeficiency). In other words, the film is shown from a parent's point of view.

 

One of my friends who saw this movie told me that instead of Priyanka Chopra told me that she saw me instead because she has been seeing me for a couple of years taking care of my daughter. So it's not because she told but anyone who is a caregiver or who has observed a caregiver closely will relate to this film. No one sees the struggle a mother or what she is going through while playing the role of a caregiver. Everyone takes the mother for granted because she keeps hearing, "you are a mother so you have to do it. It is your duty". There is no such written rule that because I'm a mother I have to do it.

 

We have no other choice, we do a lot, we give away a lot, we sacrifice a lot, and many things go through us when we see our child suffering. A part of ours shatters and bleeds when we see other kids living normal life whereas we can't do anything except look at our children helplessly because we are just not able to do anything to reduce their suffering and drive away their pain.

 

But this movie is one of a kind movie that I would say everyone must watch and understand that living a life of a mother who is a caregiver be it for her child or parent or sibling or anyone it is not easy. It takes a huge toll on her physical, mental, and emotional health. She also undergoes a lot when she is playing that role, willingly or unwillingly.

 

Next time you come across any caregiver, don’t sympathize or preach because that is not what we need. Also, don’t put us on a pedestal, we don’t want that too. We are doing our best. And just as one pill doesn’t cure all illnesses, one treatment doesn’t suit all conditions. 

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R for Ratatouille

 

Ratatouille (2007) is an animation film that I love because of its unique theme. The film is about a rat Remy, who has a sense of smell and taste and aspires to become a chef. But since he is a rat he cannot achieve his dream. One day he comes across the famous Chef Gusteau’s restaurant whose only motto in life is “anyone can cook”.

 

 It is a well-known fact that French people are very possessive about their food, cuisines and techniques, and everything related to food. They believe it is an art that only special people or a few people can achieve or master. But Chef Gusteau stresses the point that anyone can cook.

 

The film is about the journey of Remy and Linguini. It is an enjoyable, humorous film that brings out a potpourri of emotions. According to the film, it is not a rule that a person has to be what his lineage is. For example, Linguini’s father is a well-known three star chef but he can't cook at all, whereas Remy is a rat who can cook wonders all he has to do is believe in himself. So I feel that it applies to every human being that we need not be typecast in the role due to our lineage or society we need to believe in ourselves and be what we want to do and not because the society wants or our family wants but what we want to do, what we like to do is important than anything else. 

 

We need not be typecast in any role or occupation just because we belong to that family or caste or creed. It isn't a rule that a politician’s son has to be a top politician or an actor/actress's offspring has to surpass their parents in the same profession. What is your opinion about it?   

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Q for QSQT

Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1988) is a special movie for me; because it was the first film we watched on our VCR in those days; it was such a unique experience in those days. Secondly, the songs in this movie are so soothing that one can hear them for hours, it's like a balm to an injured soul. Why don’t they make such songs anymore? Sigh!

When this movie was released, girls had a crush on the cute chocolate boy Aamir Khan who made his debut in this film while boys swooned over the cute, innocent-looking Miss India, Juhi Chawla. This film was one of the best and super hit movie of that era, that makes you feel good and can be viewed with the whole family.

 

This song is special for me because my brother used to hear it in the loop.

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P for Pagglait

Pagglait (2021) is one such movie that made me laugh, cry and ponder over a lot many things, all at the same time. 

 

        Surprisingly, in her lifetime a female has to don so many roles and responsibilities, and she is expected to carry that burden without a whimper or cry. After marriage, she is suddenly a stranger in her own parental home and her husband’s place she is always treated as an outsider. So where does a female belong to? A girl is expected to get educated so that it looks good on her marriage resume. Why? Why make her work so hard academically when she is expected to slog in the kitchen and produce and raise kids? 

 

Why do females, don’t get to say anything while decisions are being made about their own life?

 

I loved the film, for many reasons; first because the main lead is a female. Now that female-centric movies are being made, the change is happening and people love that change. Secondly, Sanya Malhotra’s acting as Sandhya is appreciable. I won’t point out a particular scene which I liked because I loved the whole film. 

 

What’s your opinion on this film, do let me know. 

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O for OMG: Oh My God!

         We Indians are highly superstitious and spiritual. We don’t believe in our deities, but we fear them. We follow innumerable rituals, prayers, fasts, and whatnot to appease our God and Goddess to make them happy and so that, we get our wishes. But who made those rules? Who told us that if we fast for 'n' number of days we will get a good husband? Who said if a wife fast for a whole day it will give long life to her husband? If all that was true how come many wives who had observed that fast became widowed at an early age? And why are all rules and fasts laid down only for women?

 

My parents always say if we want to discontinue any (monthly) fast which we have been doing for a long we have to go to some particular temple and do poojas and then we can discontinue. But my question is when we start to observe that fast do we take permission or do any pooja? Then why do we need to do pooja and take permission to discontinue? I am not an atheist but I don't believe in some of the rituals and rules laid down in name of God.

 

OMG: Oh My God! (2012) is a comedy-drama movie that questions such beliefs and is a perfect mirror to all our superstitions and blind belief. I loved this movie and would like to say hats off to the director, writer, and the whole team for making such a mind-blowing film. 

 

I have posted link to one of my favorite scenes below. 

 

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N for Natrang

Natrang (2009) is the only Marathi movie that I am able to write in this challenge. Not because I don’t watch Marathi movies, but because I can't recollect the names of the films that I have watched, while others failed to leave an impact on me. 

 

The main point why this movie stayed in my mind is because of Atul Kulkarni's acting and the body transformation he has done for this movie; from a well-built farmer to a slim "pansy" character, (a man who acts in an effeminate manner). Such a transformation is a huge thing. Not only the body transformation but, also his acting is top-notch; being it a villain or be the main lead he has portrayed it to the T and impressed his audience. 

 

Also, it has showcased an aspect that no one believes or even talks about it; man’s rape. Yes, no one even in the real world speaks or believes but the trauma is the same as it is for a female. But seldom does anyone acknowledges it. 

 

The songs are foot-tapping, and the fabulous star cast and their acting make the movie watchable and impactful.

 

What is your take on this movie? Please do let me know in the comment section. 

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