I watched a biopic of Tulsidas. Good acting, typical Indian dramatism, but it is a good depiction of his life. Tulsidas was a poet-saint who wrote the epic "Ram-Charit-Manas" the Ramayana in Hindi. I hope to read it after I have finished reading Valmiki Ramayana.

Today morning I watched "Love, Sex Aur Dhoka" which is a new hindi movie. Although it joins the long list of cinema critique of modern Indian media, reality TV, MMS scandals etc...I have to admit it is rather good. The characters are real and relatable. No wonder it was both a critical and commertial success.

I read about KaliDurga watching "Get Low" *ing Robert Duvall and Bill Murray. I am almost certain I will not find this movie in the local rental shop. I could not find it online quickly either. I guess it will have to wait.

After Kafka I am currently listening to Bhagavat Gita Chapter 4. Karma is an overused and illused word these days. The philosophical and vedantic view of karma can be felt in this chapter. It ceases to be karma and becomes Karma Yoga.

I watched 'Ghost World' *ing Scarllet Johanssen and Thora Birch. The director Terry Zwigoff has done an excellent job. The character are profound in both speech and action. Great screenplay and casting.

'Agraharathil Kazhuthai' again by John Abraham is a very Indian movie. A lonely proffesor adopts a donkey. When he is mocked, he leaves it in his ancestral home under the care of a mute girl. The way the village reacts forms the rest of the story.

Chen Kaige's 'Farewell my Concubine' is a widely admired movie. I found it to be very watchable but somewhat incomplete in the experience. Many issues are underplayed or overlooked, perhaps to avoid censorship. Otherwise is is an excellent movie.

Voilin Classes are fine. I have started Carnatic Vocal classes too.

The Most Haunting Song from Indian Cinema - Must Watch - Pyassa by Guru Dutt

Post

I finally finished Zarathustra. Now I am reading Kafka's 'The Castle.' Kafka was a quirky and eccentric writer, hardly acknowledged in his lifetime. His themes are profound and his use of dialogue very intriguing.

About Zarathustra, although I was a bit relived that I finished it, I must admit it has a poetic sense to it that I began to miss after a few days. The simplicity of the complex ideas sometimes made me laugh out loud. I think that is more of Zarathustra than Nietzche.

I watched 'Reindeer Games' *ing Ben Affleck and Charliz Theron along with Gary Sinse (I am not sure of the spelling.) I mixed it up in my head with Reservoir Dogs and had high expectations, which it did not live up to. Otherwise it is an OK movie.

I downloaded 'Tuesdays with Morrie' and hope to watch it soon.

Today

Today I watched 'Amma Ariyan' directed by John Abraham. He was a malyalam alternative cinema maker. It has strong communist references, but clearly admits that although he admires communism as a philosophy he cannot make out the modalites of implementing it. That remindes me of a remark that TSD made a while back. He said, "Most european film-makers are anti communist, especially eastern european, contrastingly most of our film-makers are communists." Why is it so? I think it is because of modalities of implementing it. Most of european intelgensia developed selecitve disolutionment over communism after prolonged exposure. The Indian intelgensia on the other hand are grossly ignorant of how communism works. The continue to live in idealised fairy tales.

I started a new medicine for anxiety and it may be having an interaction. I am feeling miserable. The doctor told me to keep taking it for another 5 days, I decided to do so, in the meantime I looked it up on the internet... That is when I got totally spooked about the drug interaction stuff.

The violin class is going fine.

Zarathustra is in its final chapters.

A short post. Still on Zarathustra, I have to admit it does not go down easy. I restarted Violin lessons. After I had to stop my lessons as my teacher got sick and finally died, I had not paid much attention to the violin and am awfully out of practice. The lessons are going fine.

The verdict of the court case on Ram Janmabhoomi was expected on friday, but was temporarily stayed. It will probably be in the coming week.

Basically watching a lot of trash TV, and lazing around. The weather was mostly dry and hot but it just started raining today. AaaaHaaaa.

I have been really lazing off on the blogging every friday thing. I have made repeated resolutions... well that explains it. Resolutions are made once, a repeated resolution inherently describes a failure. Well, I am going to better from now on.

Since my last post I watched "The Godfather" Trilogy. I was impressed and very much liked all the characters. I have to admit I felt that it was a teensy-bit over-rated. Nevertheless, great films and great acting. It is a bit too long by english movie standards, but it is perfectly normal to have a 3[1/2] hour movie in India.

I watched Lars von Trier's Dancer in the Dark. Great movie. One of the few musicals that I have really liked. Björk is very good both in the acting and musical departments. I had a lot of difficutly in figureing out who Björk was. Then I came across a photo. She is the on who is famouos/notorious for having worn the 'dead swan' dress to the Oscars once. I am not really into fashion but I remember the dress and ample critique of the so called 'faux pax'.

Dusan Makavejev's Love Affair OR The Case of the Missing Switchboard Operator was beautiful. In his trademark docu-feature style he shows a small part of Yugoslavia, its people and its life. A simple crime story and a lot more at the same time.

I watched 'Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!' online. It is another of Abhay Deol's chain of off center Multiplex movies. Dibinkar Bannerjee has done an above average job in directing it. Abhay Deol, I admired a lot for working out of the cocoon, making movies that other leads in hindi cinema shied away from, but now it has become almost irritable predictable. He is typecast as the non-typecast hindi actor. I wish he would do some work where he is not so predictably original.

Currntly reading 'Thus Spake Zarathustra' by Nietzche. I have to admit I am finding it a bit difficult to follow. It has a several profound observation made in such a hurried fashion. It needs more than a re-read.

That's about it.

Kind of overslept on Friday. Today is Sunday. See you next Friday for sure

Felt kind of down for some days.

Mother visited. That was stressful. Ha. Ha. Ha.

I watched Francoise Truffalt's "The Story of Adele H." Very moving indeed. The young misled girl, the absolute difficulty to face facts and the illness, which makes you wonder if you ever existed. Not to mention the obsenesy famous father and dead sister. I saw some of that reflection in 'Gandhi, My Father'. Good movie all in all.

"Downfall" based on the last days of Hitler in his bunker is simply beautiful. The actor Bruno Ganz probably is better than Hitler in playing Hitler. Seriousely.

Toby Jones in 'Infamous' the not so famous but wonderful cousin of 'Capote' is very good. It has a ton of famous cameos, not to mention Sandra Bullock as Harper Lee. It follows a similar screen play but I felt was a little more realistic.

Done.

See You Next Friday

It has been quite some time since my last post. I have decided to post every friday hence-forth. Hope that works out.

I did read 'The Travels of Marco Polo'. It certainly was marvelous. The way he captures what he saw in his travels in India, convinced me that he was very honest and prudent in his entire writing. Truly worth the read.

After that I listened to some of J. Krishnamurthy's speeches. I could follow some of the things he spoke of but I am afraid I need a lot more to learn, and maybe a little glad too.

I discovered Tuva or Mongolian throat singing. I had heard of it several times but recently got to listen to it. I downloaded some albums of Huun Huur Tu and some other bands. I have to say it was quite cool.

The hard one was 'The Catcher in the Rye' by J. D. Salinger. It started out very well indeed, but then I realised that it was simply about a young man/boy's decent into depression and mental illness. I almost went through my own breakdown as I proceeded with the book. At one point I wanted to stop, but kept going. I was glad when it ended. I think I will be able to appreciate it better when I am in a better place.

Currently reading 'The Satanic Verses' by Salman Rushdie. It started out gently. Then it went from controvertial to WOAH!! I have still not been able to make up my mind if the book was worth the Hullabaloo.

I watched a bunch of movies at home. I have planed to watch one each evening instead of watching junk on TV. I went to a theatre to see 'Udaan' directed by Vikramaditya Motwani. It was a big deal for me as I had not been in a theatre since like 1992. All that claustophobia, agoraphobia and what not!

That's about it

Just finished Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintainence.
I must say I like parts of it. I took some effort to follow the western PoMo interpretation of Greek philosophy. I did find things I could identify with. I was not comfortable with the reference to insanity and mental asylum, for obvious reasons.

I watched New York the hindi film by Kabir Khan. Not impressive.

'Death in Venice' directed by Luchino Visconti based on the novel by Thomas Mann was interesting. I kept looking for parallels to Lolita. Maybe I will enjoy it more on a re-see.

Today I finished watching 'Water' from the Deepa Mehta trilogy (Fire, Earth, Water.) Preditable and cliche but good acting and wonderful casting. The refference to 'Manu Smriti' a favourite punching bag for anyone who manages to read a book or two is irritable. Selectively quoting isoloated passages from a man who lived a few thousand years ago and passing judgement is not fair. Nobody cares to see the constructive statements made in Manu Smriti. Of course Mayavati screaming 'Manuvadi!!!' every other day does not help.

Met us with a uncle after a while. He too is really into movies. I lent him some movies. Still waithing for his feedback.

The shrink got a new place. She is going places. It is still a little impersonal and minimalist.

Next in the line is 'The travels of Marco Polo' and the movie 'Shadows of time'.

Post

Finished reading the Old Testament. Some parts were really interesting, especially Psalms and Proverbs. Then I read Persian Hidden Words by Bahaullah. Interesting in many ways. Very strong Dualist and Bhakti vibes.

I have meaning to read Perfumed Garden by Sheik Nefzauoi for a very long time. I finally got to it. It has several deviations from the topic like interpreatation of dreams, methods of penis enlargement!! and aphrodisiacs. The author has taken care not to court controversy and speak critically of islam. Nevertheless a very revealing work.

I watched 'Departures' directed by Yojiro Takita. Really insightful and very Japanese. Delicate treatment of death unlike Indian over acting. Somewhat cliche ending.

I had stopped watching Stealing Beauty mid way. I sat throught and watched both Stealing Beauty and The Dreamers by Bernardo Betrolucci. Both are good. The director has managed to get very memorable performances from the young casts.

Back to Indian movies I watched Masoom by Shekar Kapur. One of his earlier work before Bandit Queen and Elizabeth. Good acting from the child artists. Nayagan by Mani Ratnam was very good. Kamal Hasan at his usual best. Banaras directed by I C Singh was frankly disappointing. A waste of the actors talent with an uninspiring plot.

I watched Waltz with Bashir the Israeli animation film. I liked it. It is slow paced but packs a lot in. Israel is favourably potrayed but facts (inspired by facts) are not misrepresented. Ariel Sharon (Animated) appears in one scene. I still can't believe they made him Prime Minister.

The Girlfriend Experience hyped a lot because it stars the porn star Sasha Gray is not bad. Disproving my expectation of horrible acting she does have a good screen presence and maybe even talent. The cinemetography is very differnet for other Stephen Soderberg films. A lot of still camera and outsider shots. The big question is, Can she act?? I am not sure. Maybe I can tell by seeing more movies of her.

I has been a while since my last post so the list is rather large.

I am currently listening to Zen and the Art of motorcycle maintenece by Robert Pirsig, and doing sort of OK.

I decided to take up gardening more seriousel and regularly. I visited Lalbagh and bought a few plant. I am thinking of trying to raise a few bonsai.

That's about it.

It has been a really long time.

I finished reading Paradise Lost, shortly afterwards I started The Old Testament. I have to admit it is a bit of a drag. Some chapters are cool.

I found the hypnotherapist. I freaked out wondering if I should go, then decided to risk it. He lives in Vadodara (formerly Baroda). I made an appointment. He asked me to visit for a week. I booked the flight and freaked out a little more. I got there. It was a mixed experience. Hypnosis was nothing like I thought it would be. Went sightseeing around a little. It was terribly hot there. Apparently they had a heat wave and record highs. One day it was 47 C. Whew!

It took me a week to recover from the exhaustion. The doc advised me to take it easy and not look for results everyday. Let things happen.

On the up side he was convinced I was really intelligent. He went around introducing me to several people as 'super intelligent'. I have to admit that didn't hurt.

I watched 'Baise Moi'. It is a difficult watch. Based on a novel by Virginne Despentes. 'Satya' which is probably Ram Gopal Varma's best work.

I continued Anurag Kashyap with 'Gulal' and 'No Smoking'. I have been meaning to watch 'Rudali' based on the novel by Mahashewata Devi. Dimple Kapadia is very well directed by Kalpana Lajmi in it. I was impressed by Shayam Benegal's latest 'Welcome to Sajjanpur'. Clearly he can be entertaining and adaptive with changing audiences. The movie I watched last week was 'Last life in the Universe' by Pen ek Ratanaruang. Really cool movie. Very romantic and appealing. A must watch for anyone with a heart.

That's about it.

I went a little down then a little up and then a lot down and so on.

I finally finished the assignment and sent it in. I now have to get started on the second assignment for my writers course.

Little progress on finding the hypnotist.

I watched Havoc *ing Anne Hathway. It was OK. She is good as an actor, and this is probably an atempt to break the good-girl image.

Half Nelson *ing Ryan Goesling was better. Good casting. Very empathetic story.

I had stopped mid-way in watching Baise-Moi a fewu weeks back. I finished it. It is slightly disturbing to watch but a truly good movie. The acting and camera work is unorthodox and irregular. The story is tight and gripping. Very feminist. Very european. It has a full blown InDi feel to it. Most, if not all, of the graphic sex and voilence is justified and adds to the experience.

After I finished reading Moby Dick, I read a set of talks on Eshavasya Upanishat by Bannanje Govindacharya. I mainly deals with meditation. The first half was dealt with in detail, but the latter half very hurried. Perhaps that is why it was a little unsatisfying in the end.

Now I am reading Paradise Lost by Milton. I have planned the Dhammapada and the Old Testament soon.

We don't want no education...

Totally irrelevant title.

I have been a little down, then a little better and then sort of OK.

I finished 'The Sun also Rises'. It left me with a hollow feeling like many of Hemingway's works. I had to make an effort to not to judge the bull fighting which is cruel and sadistic.

Then I started my re-read of Moby Dick. I am currently in the last chapter. The re-read really helped me in appreciating the language and technique. I had developed a rather exaggerated opinion of it from some critical studies of American Literature and paid a lot of attention to detail. I found it to be a good work, but the reviews may have over appreciated it, a little bit.

I watched 'Filth and Wisdom'. I watched to affirm my belief that Madonna cannot act or direct. Well, it was not horrible. If this learning and improvement curve continues she might actually be able to direct a reasonable movie. Sort of OK casting, horrible acting, it has a British multi-cultural feel to it rather than an American cultural feel. A quirky take on superficial existentialism. Again, not horrible.

I watched 'The Wrestler' on TV. Mickey Rourke is good in it. I really liked some of his earlier works. I think he has been drinking or something for a while.

'Shine' depicting the life of David Helfgot was OK too. Geoffry Rush is a great actor, but the script is overtly melodramatic apart from inaccurate, I am told. Geoffry Rush made a movie called 'The Life and Death of Peter Sellers'. I think it is a great movie. It got me interested in Peter Sellers' work and made me a fan of Geoffry Rush.

I have been working on my assignment for the writing course. I think I can have it finished and sent by the end of this week.

I visited the old shrink once. She is now sort of open to 'Hypnotic Therapy'. I asked her to look it up and tell me. Her son is getting married, so she asked for a month to do it. Then she invited me to her son's wedding and totally freaked me out. I explained in over a dozen repetitive sentences that I might not be comfortable with that. I think she just misread me and thought I was expecting an invitation. The thing is people invite literally everyone to weddings in India.

Done