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Southern Spice
I was most amused (and delighted) to see one particular commercial on air yesterday. Maybe it is the fact that da BOSS a.k.a. ’sooperstar Rejini’ is ruling the roost in box-offices around the country, I feel particularly close to my roots at the moment. And as the only South-Indian on the panel of contributors to this blog, I feel compelled to make a point of it….errm, is that correct incidently, feel free to sock me if I claim wrong!
Coming back, here’s the ad I saw….it is for a product called Krd Rys. Before you think that’s some exotic East European brand of clothing, try saying it out loud. Yup. So finally the humble ‘thair sadam‘ gets its due credit while some smart marketers put it in a neat box and stick a smart-alecky brand name onto it. The ad shows a guy (played by actor Prakash Raj) receiving a call from his wife who says she forgot to give him lunch. He whoops for joy with a telling “This is what I’ve been waiting for!” and trots over to the nearest shop to pick up his favorite meal - the manna for Tams world-over - Curd Rice!!!!
Banoo Main Teri Dulhan on Zee
This is a programme that appears on 8 PM weekdays on Zee. Like most hindi serials, it has stretched too long and should have set a mission of ending when things seemed to be on a clear track, but apparently not. I remember a time on Doordarshan when serials were assigned 13 episodes, and then given extensions if required, but then came some soap operas such as Hum Log and Buniyaad that had open ended stories, meaning that you could stretch the serial for decades if you wanted. 2 serials, Kyunki Saas Bhi Bahu Thi and Kumkum on Star seem to be heading for that goal.
This serial also has the same standard things, a young idealistic sweet girl gets married into a rich family, and then has to suffer for some reason or the other. The plus points about this serial are that 2 newcomers, from the talent hunt Zee Cinestar ki Khoj have been selected for the main parts, the couple who are at the center of the who going-ons.
Sultan: Super Star Turns Super Hero
While all the media hype focuses on Sivaji, the Thalaivar has made sure that he will not go off the loop completely once the buzz over Sivaji dies down. This is surprising, given there is usually a big lull and uncertainty about the next Rajni movie until it, in fact, gets announced. People speculate if he is actually going to act in another movie and such. This time when we went to watch Sivaji, the Sultan trailer greeted us prior to the opening credits. Something that is sure to ensure a good buzz, once the excitement over Shankar’s latest offering dies down.
It was both surprising as well as refreshing to see an actor feature in an animated movie. Well, we know Shahrukh Khan, did some voice overs in the Hindi dubbing of The Incredibles, but this one is an entirely novel concept - where the animated character is modeled on the actor. One that gives yet another endorsement of his demi-God status.
Cheeni Kum: A Nice Sweet Movie
Cheeni Kum had been released more than 2 weeks back ago, but it was fairly busy on the weekends, and I was somewhat busy on the weekends, unable to go see the movie. Well, I finally found time last weekend, and I did not regret it one bit. The hall was House full, although there were only 2 shows during the day.
It is also a different kind of movie, given that I have never seen a successful movie in India giving a romance between 2 people with an age difference of 30 years, Amitabh Bachchan being shown in the movie as a 64 year old man, and Tabu as a 34 year old man. In a normal movie, you might have expected to see a romance develop, but then shear off since the age difference is too vast. Not so. This movie is sure to give a flip to our older citizens, telling them that life is not done beyond the 60’s.
Ghar Ki Lakshmi Betiyaan
This is the popular 10 PM weekday serial on Zee. It also clashes with another programme on Star Plus, on the same theme (Betiyaan, Apni Ya Paraaya Dhan), namely that of a household having a strong patriarch (father) and of more daughters in the house than sons. And this in a household that values sons much more daughters. So, with 2 serials of the same nature, there was bound to be a clash, and it happened in the nature of a legal skirmish between Zee and Star before the serials started. Anyhow, there was an out-of-court settlement, and now both serials are ongoing.
Ghar ki Lakshmi Betiyaan is about the sexism that occurs in a number of families in India, and shows this in a form that is truly horrific. I don’t know whether the intention of the serial was to be so blatant about it, but the first few months of the serial were an absolute horror to watch, what with a father being so blatant about his preference for a son over the daughters that he has. He is shown favoring his son in everything and absolutely uncaring about the wishes of his daughters. Is this a realistic portrayal of things happening in India? In urban areas, among the families I have seen, I don’t remember any family having such a warped mindset, but with such prevalence of dowry and female infanticide, it is quite possible that such things happen a lot.
