Letter to Bala (after seeing Mayaavi)

Letter to Bala (after seeing Mayavi)
Originally uploaded by theiyer.

Dear Bala
The main reason for choosing Mayavi last week as part of the customary Friday night movie outing was very simple - the potent combination of Bala (albeit as a producer) and Suriya coming together again. But i must say, the film misses the Bala touch which one got to see from the master craftsman in you through movies like Sethu, Nanda and Pithamagan.

But tell me Bala....
- Just because Shankar hit the jackpot with "S" Films, were you tempted to produce Mayavi through "B Studios"?

- Why were you tempted to make a movie which was a lethal confusion of slapstick comedy and sentiments, just because you wanted to prove a point to Crazy Mohan who has mastered the above art?

Whatever was the motive, it didnt really evoke the necessary response, making us yearn for the next film of Bala and Suriya (actually waiting for "Gajni" going by the impressive trailors).

If only "Sparks" flew at the Ad Club Awards...

When its the annual Chennai Ad Club Awards "Sparks 2005", one would definitely look forward to a great evening of excitement and creativity. But then it was a let down, like the staid Indian advertising which is probably going through one of its roughest patches of creativity.

The awards event was a classic reminder of the typical MBA class discussion - Does good advertising mean great creativity or does it refer to a great way to sell a product. Ads of brands which were hardly visible in the market walked away with awards. Hmmmmm quite debatable

Except for the concept of firemen walking on stage with the awards, there was nothing really hot about the whole event. Copywriter Senthil (never heard of him) and Mirchi Suchi were the MCs..ok can we avoid talking about their unworthy coordination and off the cuff remarks which hardly lacked any creativity, leave alone humour (btw Mirchi Suchi was in O&M earlier..knew it much before the awards event)

Sharad Haksar's two year old agency One Point Size bagged the Agency of the Year, Art Director and Copywriter of the Year Awards..virtually stealing the show. Guess thats a clear sign that creativity is completely sucked out ......

Incidentally Anantha who won the Best Copywriter Award is the son of BJP leader Jana Krishnamurthi..used to bump into him during quizzes when he was in Mudra..

Halle "Rasp" Berry Awards

Halle%20Berry
Originally uploaded by theiyer.

It was one of the stunning piece of news that struck me on the eve of the Oscars. The Annual Raspberry Awards for the worst films and performances were given away this year too, a day before the Oscars. What suprised me was not the fact that the worst performance (male) went to George Bush for Fahrenheit 9/11. What was also not suprising was the fact that the worst actress award went to Halle Berry for Catwoman. What was truly stunning was the fact that the the ex Bond girl actually went to receive the award, when the global film world fraternity would actually avoid being seen even a mile from the scene of the awards event. Hats off to Halle for accepting her unacceptable performance in public. Just hope such gutsiness is exhibited by her compatriots in Hollywood, Bollywood and Kollywood.

Mani Talk

maniratnam
Originally uploaded by theiyer.

Jostling for space in a jampacked Landmark bookstore and straining to catch a glimpse of the genius and hear the faintest pearls of wisdom being spwewed by Maniratnam, is definitely some experience. Its not often that Mani Ratnam gets to be seen interviewed, both on and off screen. With the creme da la creme of the intelligentsia crowded at the basement of Apex Plaza on a Saturday night, it was definitely an experience worth reminiscing , especially while watching the collage of his best works and while listening to his experience of working with Ilayaraja and Rahman. But when Ilayaraja was compared to Mozart by the interviewer, I just wondered whether the dream combination of Mani-Raja-Kamal will ever combine?? Guess geniuses always have egos bigger than the self. But then why not?