Today morning, when I woke up. I thought nothing moves without a kickstart. So, here I am. Back to my space of thoughts.

By the way, this is my first post from NID (National Institue of Design). What am I doing here? Well, I have come to live my student life again and pursue my passion in filmmaking, doing my PG in Film and Video Communication. Oh! talking about my course, I have a lots to write on the list of movies I have been watching, the history of cinema I have been exposed to in my first week and communication explained in a different spectrum altogether, that I have never seen before. My mind and intellect has been taken by a storm for a big good jolly ride where everything is fun and surprise. Don’t I sound happy, for a fact, I AM! Yeah, post college hours there is a whole new world I am living in with great new friends, interesting batch mates, yet-to-know seniors, brilliant campus nature, 3 floor climb to my room and lots more…

I promise ‘again’ to be regular on this space of mine.

I am off now for my classes on communicative studies.

I would like to inform that the Studio Interview (Final Round) has been scheduled from the 24th April, 2009 – 26th April, 2009. It is being conducted at the Main Campus, which is located in Ahmedabad.

As I have been selected in the initial round, I will have to attend the final round of examinations at the same on the above mentioned dates. I would also like to inform that, the travel duration to Ahmedabad by train is 38 hrs.

Therefore, I would like to request a leave from the 22nd April, 2009 – 29th April 2009 including my travel duration of 4 days – to and fro.

Kindly oblige and hope you will grant me permission.

Warm Regards,
Hari Prasad
Graphic Designer

THE BEST REPLY,  ever written to me:  GURURAJ RAO , Director, ANIMIKA STUDIOS replies:

We are a family and we need everyone to grow.

Best Regards

Gururaj Rao

Director – Business Development

Animika Studios Pvt Ltd

Well, the reply says it all. Will add no more to deter the essence of the reply. KUDOS to you, Raj! Thank you, is all I can add.

The devil scared me
With the thought of darkness to come
Me answered, with you beside
It is gonna light up my minutes
At every tick of the clock

Good morning.

In these Chilling nights, homeless children and women lay on the unclean pavements in the slums. It is now that we have to express our compassion and support to their basic needs.

Contribute as many NEW Blankets as you can, so that we our fellow human beings can sleep a warm night in the chilling winter.

Contact me:

hari.dats.me@gmail.com

twitter: hariprasd

gtalk: hari.dats.me

In association with: APD – India

Additional info:

Each NEW Blanket costs Rs. 90.00 (Indian Rupees Ninety only) and i’m sure all of you will campaign and raise as many, as soon as possible.

I wish to quote that became my favourite, here:

“All you have shall some day be given; therefore give now,

that the season of giving may be yours and not your inheritors.”

–Kahlil Gibran, Lebanese Poet and Novelist, 1883-1931

Another brilliant cinema from director Gautham Vasudev Menon, after not-so-noticed Pachaikili Mutthucharam ( starring Sharath Kumar and Jyothika).

Vaaranam Aayiram which means ‘fleet of a thousand elephants’ a metaphor for the ‘force of emotions one goes through which is as forceful as of the elephants fleet). This movie stars Surya, Simran, Sameera Reddy, and Divya Spandana aka Ramya. Should not forget to mention the not-so-noticed sisters role who played to be a great support character.

I loved this movie personally. It connected to my life, or the story of someone else’s really well. Should agree it does not have a story line as with a start, a middle and an end. But is a sensitive capture of the life of two men- a father and his son, on how they influenced eachothers life. An autobiographical  depiction of directors real life emotions with his father and his demise.

This movie captures all flavors of life from petty fights, love, parenting, parental love, depressions, realization, achievements, focus and finally death in a span of three hours. Brilliant cinematography, especially the intro shot of the Young Surya in an Helicopter in the sky, on a rescue mission. Just spell bounding shot to me. Surya as an actor has set a benchmark and great expectation for other actors of the industry. Phenomenal performance and his portrayal of emotions are just a class apart. The music is a great asset to the film, now that I listen to this song atleast twice a day. Simran plays her role gracefully. SAMEERA REDDY – Man! I am in love with her smile, no wonder he fall in love with her so much in the movie. Well done by her after a real long time. Ramya does not have a great presence but sure is a important character of the film who makes a difference in a man’s life.

Gautham Menon as a director still is a school of filmmaking. So much to learn from this man. The way he handles parallel subjects in the same film, is stupendous. And his portrayal of the female/women in his films are wonderful. They are simple, elegant, and confident. This makes his films more broadminded and worldly. This film surely a new perspective of Gauthams ventures from all the cop stories and love stories he’s made in the past.

In the end, A WONDERFUL FILM, which I loved.( I don really expect the same from any other spectator, as each one connects at a different level to a film)  Great work Gautham. Learning from every frame.

A brilliantly captured, sensitively thought and immensely felt,

fleet of emotions which are lost and found in every man’s life.

Rating: 3.5/5

On favoritism: 4/5

P.S. There is so much more to say about this film. But I am just thinking, I shall keep this short and let you all watch the movie.

THE PERFECT BOOK

The colors shone bright

Saw them fill colors into my life

Whispers hushed across

Listened to them speak a million words to me

Words wrote pages in my memory

Read every line like a new word, I learnt when born

Pictures flashed before me as I read this book,

The colors of the whispered words created life

Created you in them

Breathing love into pages,

Making my life a perfect book.

BESIDE ME

Was walking my path alone

You bloomed by the way the sun shone

Was glad to see you, that is true

As time parted us

Don’t walk beside me, I asked.

I don’t want to get used to you.

Was reading the same story

Life read to me some moments ago.

Never realized those minutes

were a few years and so.

The same smile that made me happy

Never wished, it flew out of my will.

Wanted it to last, this time

Unfair I am as ever

the smile should always belong to you.

Don’t walk beside me, I asked.

I don’t want to get used to you.

Just to see it last, I agreed

You and I walk by till time gets busy

Accepting things has always been my destiny

Memories of minutes with you

Treasure it just like, I have to care of a dew.

I still wished….times unspoken,

You did’nt walk beside me.

I don’t want to get used to you.

Beginning with a juxtaposition of Jagjit Singh’s “Apne Aankhon ke samandar mein…” with “Udhaya Udhaya” By Chinmayi Sripada ( Of  Kannathil Muthamittal  / Tere Bina Fame). What a talent and the title says it all. FANTABULOUS!

After her followed by two contestants of Airtel Super Singer 2008. Creatively phenomenal with their rendering of ‘Malargale’ from “Love Birds” – Composed by A R Rahman. Its must mention! Great work guys!

Spirit’- This is a new painting is by Yamini Menon and an addon by me- Hari.

An experiment of how we could collaborate on a single painting painted at different instances, at different point of time and different state of mind. And VOILA! this was it ended with when our minds met. Let us know your thoughts on this. As always we are happy to know new perspectives of a painting which we might have missed seeing it in.

Hoping to hear from some readers!

Watched this film on a Monday, wrote about it on a Tuesday and publishing it on ‘A Wednesday’ . Watched it in FUN Cinemas, Bangalore.

A sleek, cutting edge, fast, interesting story with two veteran actors namely Naseeruddin Shah and Anupam Kher in the lead. A movie which conveys the thought of a common man on terrors he faces and taking an extra step further of what happens when the common man turns back to face realities he’s been adjusting to as a part of his daily life. A very well narrated film which keeps you at the edge of the seat till the very end of the film with the suspense. Keeps you glued with interesting dialogues used at the right intervals. The editing is surely an asset to this film which supported the narration and gave it the required pace. Jimmy Shergill’s performance was a ‘JOB WELL DONE’ I must say.

A Brave and Intelligent take on Terrorism from the point of view of the COMMON MAN.

Rating: 4/5