కొన్ని రోజుల క్రితం సిరివెన్నెలకు అరవై నిండాయట. ఊహలకు వయసుమైలురాళ్ళేంటో,పూల తోట లో గడియారం ముళ్ళ బాటలా. ఏది ఏమైనా, ఇది ఒక మజిలీ అని ప్రపంచం కోకిలై కూస్తుంది గనక, నావి కొన్ని జ్ఞాపకాలు. రాంగోపాల్ వర్మ ద్వారా నేను సీతరామ శాస్త్రి ప్రైవెట్ (అంటే అప్పటికి సినిమాల్లో రాని) పాటలకు అభిమానిని. వాటిలో కొన్ని తర్వాత సినిమాల్లో బలంగా చొరబడ్డాయి: 'సురజ్యమవలేని', 'నిగ్గదీసి అడుగు', 'జగమంత కుటుంబం'. పోయెట్రీ కీ సయెన్స్ కీ చుక్కెదురని … Continue reading సీతారాముడి షష్ఠి
Category: Cinema
Sri – A sweet melody, sadly interrupted
He wasn't quite 30 when I first met him. He wasn't quite 50 when he breathed his last. Some of my happiest moments were the Little Soldiers composing days. And the music director, Sri, was the magical creator of that joy along with Seetharama Sastry. He had created many unforgettable melodies. Many, but not quite … Continue reading Sri – A sweet melody, sadly interrupted
I totally agree with the Censor-in-Chief; Why do you need 36 cuss words when 1 dirty one will do: ‘Pahlaj-Nihalani’
I usually refrain from using foul language in my writing or movies, especially for the protagonist. But this is one instance when I would root for every person who tweets a profanity attached to Pahlaj Nihalani’s name. Like, “Pahlaj #@*^#* Nihalani”. I wish the whole nation tweets this twerp out of the country. He claims … Continue reading I totally agree with the Censor-in-Chief; Why do you need 36 cuss words when 1 dirty one will do: ‘Pahlaj-Nihalani’
ANR Award to AB
This was probably the grandest ANR Award ceremony. But there was a poignancy about the evening. He was not there. This was the first award conferred since Mr. Akkineni Nageswarar Rao left this world. Nothing would have made him happier than the award being given to Amitabh Bachchan. Mr. Nageswara Rao admired his talent and … Continue reading ANR Award to AB
K Balachander – This Neer Kumizhi (Water Bubble) is Forever
His name may mean ‘new moon’, but Balachander was a full moon of the Indian film firmament that hardly waned for fifty years. His silver glow reflected on over a 100 films in 5 languages. Incredibly, he directed nearly 80 of them; some makers may have done more films, but none grappled with such varied … Continue reading K Balachander – This Neer Kumizhi (Water Bubble) is Forever
‘Little Soldiers’ English Screenplay
I had started writing 'Little Soldiers’ in 1982. The idea was simple: in the movies if the hero had a problem he solved it by bashing up the baddies; what if someone who was physically weak had a problem? Say kids. From this little thought developed the screenplay of Little Soldiers. Writing it wasn’t easy, … Continue reading ‘Little Soldiers’ English Screenplay
Indian Panorama at IFFI
Recently I had been on the jury of the Indian Panorama for the International Film Festival of India, 2014. I have seen more well-entrenched biases than well-made movies. Panorama Jury biases can take many forms. The most glaring is calling an entertaining movie ‘commercial’ in a denigrating tone. They don’t realise that every movie that … Continue reading Indian Panorama at IFFI
The Tragic Sunset of Uday Kiran
Just thirty-three; and no more. What unbearable suffering compelled him to end his life we may never fully know. It shocks and depresses all sane people.For some, though, it’s apparently a godsend. They jump to fish in not just troubled, but agony-filled waters. They rant and file cases against the so-called ‘Big Four’ in the … Continue reading The Tragic Sunset of Uday Kiran
Pirates cater to demand, but finally kill supply
Piracy is a 3-headed monster. Head One is the perpetrator of the crime, the duplicator. Head Two is the fence, or video parlour dealing in stolen goods. And Head Three is the consumer -- all of us. The last category is what worries me most. There is supreme indifference to the plight of this industry because … Continue reading Pirates cater to demand, but finally kill supply
Gangaraju Gunnam 