All alone

A colleague from South spent a week in Mumbai on work including the weekend. Asked him what he did over the weekend and he mentioned watching a film... alone! It was a Sunday morning and since he did not know too many people in Mumbai pal went alone to watch this film. "Alone-a? eppadi daa?" I asked. And appadiye went off in the flashback mode.

Rewind, rewind. First year, two weeks into college and this blockbuster of a film releases. Since most of the girls in class were directly ctrl+v-ed from their schools and had their own 'gang of friends' they end up going for this film once, twice, thrice with their 'gangs'. I was waiting for some gang to call me. All classmates from Convent schools decide to ignore me. Angry with them, angry at myself for not having Englipised my way thru' any of them, I decide to watch this film... alone that too in Devi theater known for its Madras porukki gumbal.

Afternoon show, bunking college. Couldn't quite concentrate on the film. Was worried about some teru porukki coming and sitting off next to me. Was upset with the junta in college. But the film and its MUSIC made me forget everything within the first ten minutes. Loved it, enjoyed the film.. so wanted to go back to college and say "Pongadi!". Super debut in watching films alone.

Post that have watched quite a few films alone. This waiting-for-friend-to-accompany-you business bugs me. Husb is not too enthu for tamizh films. He has suffered enough with me dragging him for all sorts of films - from Anjaneya, Kireedam, VTV , Singam (Oh! I loved Singam) etcetera. So asking him to come for an Angadi theru or Kalavani is asking for trouble.. bayangara trouble. That would mean I return the favor sitting through some Dishoom Dishoom action Englipees film with no subtitles. And most of my Tamizh friends out here always have something or the other come up the last minute after planning for months to watch a Tamizh film.

Watching is a film alone is the best gift you can give yourself. No doing recaps of scenes/ dialogues incase your friend has missed them, no waiting at the theater with the tickets and listening to "coming in 2 minutes" every five minutes and most importantly.... no sharing caramel popcorn [haiyya!].

I want to watch one draabai Hindee padam alone now. I hate luv storys... here I come.

ADra Sakka - 3

Did you know that 'Pasanga' director Pandi chose Vimal as his hero after the latter showed his Bingo ad to him?

and R Madhavan got introduced to Maniratnam through Santosh Sivan after they (S and M) did a Pond's sandal talc ad together?

TV serials, game shows, feature films, advertising films, documentaries, music videos, tamizh copywriting, radio spots, brand solutions... After having menjufyed for 15 years in all of the above, if there's something that I'd want to go back to and sorely miss, it is working in advertising films.

It is indeed an experience to be a part of the transformation of a boring storyboard into an advertisement film. Casting for advertising films is not an easy task and you get a super kick when you see the final edit of the film with the person you have cast. Detailing plays a very important role in advertising films - right from the tiniest prop to the lighting pattern to the colors - everything has to be pucca before 'action'

Here are some of my favourite films from Jan to June 2010.

1. Indigo Airlines

Clever ad. On time is a wonderful thing is what the ad says. Not once do they say Indigo is on time. I loved the art direction and the production values are awesome. A lot of people find the accent of the voice-over (Monica Dogra) very phirang. I think its fine.

Production company: Bang Bang Films

Director: Harvey B Brown
Director of photography: Vikash Nowlakha

2. Limca

R Anandh's composition and Carolisa's rendition take the jingle to a different level. There's a thin line between the Oh-cho-chweet and the just-there-cute ads. Thankfully this one does not go over the top and become an 'awwwwwwwww' ad.

Director - Vinyl Mathew

Production house - Footcandles

3. Tanishq

Ok ok, I agree with your "How stupid? How can jewellery make a woman want to marry? That too in these days?" but doesn't this commercial bring a smile? Very Illayaraja type music - R Anandh again! And Arundathi Nag is wonderful as the mother with her expressions as she watches her daughter adorn the jewellery. I like.

Director - Vinyl Mathew

Production house - Footcandles

4. Frooti

Not your regular thirty seconder. This is probably the first time someone has tried a Bakra type video on a TVC. Quite different and insane.

Director: Prakash Varma

Production house : Nirvana films

5. Cadbury's silk

Simple script. Good casting (one of the girls looks like actress Shobhana). Very good jingle.

Director - Vinyl Mathew

Production house - Footcandles

6. Brookebond 3 Roses

Karthik and Sujju are back with 3 Roses, with Reeti Gowlai and with their lovely chemistry. A few things I didn't like. i) Abhinav's expression in the beginning after he has his cup of tea.

ii) Lack of continuity - his hairstyle (fringe) keeps changing on and off iii) "Mr. N. Karthik" - huh?

But overall, feel good and naaaice.

Any idea who directed the film?

Apart from the above, I have also enjoyed the LMN series (Lemon Lemon Lemon), Bru 2nd decoction (m-i-l and d-i-l), Tata Sky Plus (Cold war series) and SBI Life .

The more I see ads and write about them, the more I want to go back to advertising films and be a part of the making. I think I will... very soon.