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I finished reading 'Lord of the Flies' and loved it. Certainly my kind of literature. I am now reading 'In Cold Blood' by Truman Capote. I figured I should read his earlier works before I read this but that did not happen. I simply am in awe of his style of developing characters and making them relateable. I am looking forward to how he takes them forward.

I watched the movie 'The Telephone Book' directed by Nelson Lyon. Certainly not everyone's cup to tea, but very simple and likeable. I story about a girl's falling in love / obssession with an obscene caller. She sets out to find him and does in the end.

Immediately afterwards I watched Lilliana Cavani's 'The Night Porter.' I have been meaning to watch it for a long time. Charolette Rampling is wonderful as ever and Dirk Bogarde does not let us down. A very controversial story, perhaps undecided between Stockholm syndrome and true love. The iconic song of the lead actress singing in a topless SS uniform was hyped in my opinion. The undertone of sado-masochism complements the narrative rather than hijacking it as I had suspected. My verdict: A love story.

'The Passion of the Christ' was on TV on Good Friday. Mel Gibson goes overboard in everything he does. Good acting, cannot say that about the casting. Monica Bellucci... seriously??? A few years back there was talk of a Sonia Gandhi biopic starring Monica Bellucci. Some moron looked up the most popular Italian actress and decided to cast her. I got into trouble, but I stand by what I said then. Monica Bellucci it too beautiful to play Sonia Gandhi. Is she too beautiful to play Mary Magdlene?? One will never know.

Usual Stuff

It has been a while since I finished 'Rememberance of the Things Past.' It certainly is a great read.

I watched Catherine Breillat's 36 Fillette. A very feminist work in fun and watchable all along. A young girl/woman finding her footing in world.

I read Gogol's Dead Souls immedieately afterwards. Gogol certainly is the master in creating characters that universal as well as realateable. It is a pity he never finished it.

Recently I finished reading Robin Sharma's 'The Monk who sold his Ferrari.' That is two weeks of my life I will not get back. Nothing more than pseudo-psyco-spiritual nonsense packaged as life changing advice. Not to mention the repeated references to the Yogis in the Himalayas. Please don't insult my intelegence and try to pass of common-sense as philosophy.

Salman Rushdie's 'Shalimar The Clown' and William Golding's 'Lord of the Flies' are in the to do list.

It has been too long since my last post. I find this both theraputic and helpful in my writing. I should be more regular in my blogging.

Currently listening to entire audio book of 'Rememberance of the Things Past' by Marcel Proust. He employs few simple but very effective techniques in his narration. He believes in full disclosure. Little is left unsaid but nevertheless drives to think of the undercurrent of thoughts. I am about half-way through.

I recently watched the movie Miditerraneo directed by Gabriele Salvatores. It is a genuinely good movie and makes simple yet poignant observation about life and war.

I watched Sarah Silverman's 'Jesus is Magic' online. It was not bad, I liked some jokes. She can be accused of many things but certainly not of being unoriginal.

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