Monday, September 05, 2005

BLACK AND WHITE WORLD

I have always been enchanted by black-and-white, late 70s Kamal-Rajni movies! There is something very charming about the characterisation, the language, dialogue delivery, the ambience in the shots, and of course the music! Each character spoke with a hidden meaning (very mysterious and intelligent sounding)! Some such movies are Avargal, Aval Appadithaan, Moonru Mudichu, Aval Oru Thodarkadhai...

I moved in to a rented house with two other friends yesterday. This will be my home for the next thirty days atleast. This house can be best described as a glorified matchbox (boy, I'm glad for once I'm a matchstick!). Having to live on a needlestring budget, this shack is the most I can afford.

The moment I opened the creaky, rusting gate, I was transported to the black-and-white 70s era! A thin staircase leading to an equally thin, dark corridor. Windows and doors suitably fashioned to add to the "retro feel".

Balcony for smokers to smoke and singers to sing "Kamban Aemaandhaan"!

Views to watch people washing clothes, mothers pointing to the moon to feed babies, and couples meeting secretly (unaware of higher altitudes that are witness to their rendezvous!). Terrace to sit on windy evenings amidst a network of shirts and banians on frail clothes lines! Neighbouring houses filled with lower middle class aspirations. Lanes and bylanes filled with potholes and strewn with garbage neglected by the local corporation, dogs and cows co-existing with humans.

There was rain last night, and I sat in my tiny room, looking outside the window, clutching my wallet (that has photos of dear ones) close to my heart. I wondered if there was rain at home as well, the mannvaasanai (smell of wet earth) being so different from that of home. I loved the rain feebly spraying on my face that was almost pasted between the window grills! Eyes gently closed, the kisses and hugs of loved ones slowly filling the mind and enveloping the heart with a lullaby warmth!

The pain of being physically so far away from loved ones, blissfully forgotten...

There is more baggage in my new little house than there are people. Last night, I tried to sleep on the floor on a straw mat, amidst atleast ten different noises, the prominent ones being a squabbling couple, ten male dogs fighting over a female dog, cricket commentary (supplemented by TV spectators' commentary), songs of three different languages, and on top of all, the squeaky ceiling fan past its prime and having forgotten the basics of air circulation.

But sleep came soon... surprisingly soon! Reminded of the Pesum Padam (Pushpak) Kamal character who gets into the habit of being able to sleep only with noise around, so much that when he moves to a different location, plays a tape of recorded noises in order to sleep!

I am living in my favourite era! If perspectives are glasses we wear, I like black and white ones (maybe a little Eastman colour)! The only missing aspect in this 70s movie picture perfection is a beautiful girl next door who reads Jayakanthan novels and enjoys Tamil poetry! Maybe I will find her when I sing "Ilaya Nila Pozhigiradhu" tonight! :-)

55 comments:

Danesh said...

Nicely written! I felt as if I were in the place you were in. The post also brought back some memories of the excellent movie "Nizhalgal", not sure why though. Did the environment in the movie fit your description?

Vinesh said...

Hey buddy! I missed that one! Who can forget singing Ponmaalai Pozhudhu in the same environment as the one I described in my post...thanks for reminding me that...

Now maybe I should add Varumayin Niram Sivappu to the list too :-)

Slowly moving to colour, hehe :-)

Ravi said...

Good one Vinesh. Whenever I relate to the old era, I also visualise in "Black and white" - thanks to the old photos and movies! I just can't seem to imagine the world then in colour, even if I do, it would be at the most Eastman (or Gevat) colour. But yes, as you put it, I enjoy that world - the Golden old era (esp the very old ones).

Anonymous said...

Have you shifted to Mumbai by any chance

Priya said...

im a big fan of tam black n white movies :)..
aval oru thodarkathai is one of my favourite..
the movies covers so many sensitive issues in a very diplomatic way :)
in fact movies those days carried better msgs than movies these days.. :)

..p..

PreethZzZ The Original said...

well written... couldn't agree with u more... they have some extra flair to them...

PreethZzZ The Original said...

i've blogrolled u btw... :)

Orange Fronkey said...

HEY!!!!!!! You are back!!!!

WElcome back, missed you :)

Random Access said...

Hey beautiful... Ilaya Nila purrs from the depths of my speakers all the days. Still amazed by the guitar in that. No guitarist I know till now has matched that. Amazing words. Ponmalai Pozhudhu is another one..

"Mugilinangal alaigiradhe mugavarigal tholaindhanavo
Mugavarigal thavariyadhal azhudhidumo adhu mazhaiyo"

"Vaanamagal naanugiral
Veru udai poonugiral"

"Vaanam iravukku paalamidum
Paadum paravaigal thalamidum"

Jimbly sooperb!

Now that u mentioned it...
Ponmalai Pozhudhu - (Nizhalgal) [ Tempo 225] - 4c2 8c2 8b1 4c2 32- 4g1 4- 8c2 8b1

Random Access
The search has just begun !!!

Bhavesh said...

great post yaar..!! among d old tam movies i ve seen.. mouna ragam has always been my fav..!! can people like mohan actually exist in real life...??

Anonymous said...

nice post. And good to see you blogging again.

Peelamedu_bulls said...

How do you write such good enlis yaar !
All I can manage is a jugllery of 'is was may might shall could'.
I have become a fan of your writing style.

Vinesh said...

@Ravi: Glad you relate to this and dream in black and white too :-)

@Priya: You are right..movies of that period..delicate issues..handled sensibly...Unlike today's movies where even the most purest of feelings is vulgarised!

@Preethi: Thank you for blogrolling me :-)

Fathima Sagar said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Fathima Sagar said...

S, there is something abt the Black and White movies, which brings colors into heart. And also, I like Bhagyaraj movies - that subtle comedy, which never bores one off!

Btw, tagged u.

Jinguchakka said...

Which city, are you in, now? A pigeon hole in your state is better than a bungalow in a somewhere remote place with alien language.

Vinesh said...

@Merino: Thx for the grand welcome! Will look forward to seeing more visual orange in your blog! :-)

@Random Access: No guitarist will EVER match Ilaya Nila!! :-) I had that Ponmaalai ringtone too.. will work it out tonight.. On the whole, ungal rasanayai rasikkiren :-)

@Justme: People like Mohan in real life... very difficult!

Vinesh said...

@Gayathri: Thanks Gayathri

@Peelamedu_Bulls: Thanks buddy! Englis-aa. Adhu edhaavadhu sollanum-nnu varumbodhu aruviyaa kottudhu, LOL

@Fathima: I like Bhagyaraj movies too. Ippove 70s pada character maadhri pesi en roommates-a torture pannren. Aduthu paalakkaattu maadhavan vesham dhaan podanum :-D

@Jinguchakka: Home is home, no doubt about that buddy! :-D Nice way of putting it :-)

Anonymous said...

You can make a movie man! I'm sure you'll do a good one! What a superb description of your locality! All the best for finding Sripriya or whoever you want as a 70s heroine reading Jayagandhan books! ;-)

Thing I like most about your blog is whichever rasam (kudikkra rasam ille, "emotions") you handle, you do it superbly! Keep it up the good work.

Sneha Acharya said...

WOW nicely written post ... even i have always admired at the BW movies coz thr u shud be able to convey the expressions so nicely tht it's seen and made understood in just 2 colors. Simply great. Hey wolcome back frnd! and oops words abt ur new stay brings a smile and ya as u said Kamal's movie Pesum Padam!

Jeevan said...

Nice written of your new house.

Me too like B&W movies, because Old is Gold.

Hope said...

kalakura po...anyways well written :-)

ioiio said...

Ooru Vittu Ooru Vandhu Blog Keegu Pannadheenga!!!

Vitturu Thambi.. Idhu Venaam Thambi..

JK daa :) Felt this song suited well

Paavai said...

Easy reading, poignant posts vinesh.

Sila nerangalil sila manidargal vittuteengale. I was pleasantly surprised to see Aval Appadithan in your list. I was under the wrong impression that not many had seen the movie. Did Rudriah make any movies after this one?

All the best for your heroine hunt

DreamClicks said...

Subtleties in life... very well written...

Random Access said...

I thot Aval Appadi thaan was one of the classics! I wud b surprised if anyone doesnt know abt it.

Random Access
The search has just begun !!!

Vinesh said...

@Suresh: Thx man, edho rasam sambar-nnu solreenga :-) Sripriya-va? Ayyayyo! Black and white padathule Trisha nadicha eppadi irundhirukkum, hehe!

@Sneha: Good to see you here Sneha. It is ironical because less colours bring out more expressions and emotions

@Jeevan: Old is indeed gold, buddy! :-)

Vinesh said...

@Portia: :-)

@Ioiio: Nee solli edhayavadhu thappa eduthirukkena? :-) Good song choice, ippave enga thalaivar Koundarum Sendhilum paattukku aaduna nyaabagam varudhu :-)

@Paavai: Sila Nerangalil Sila Manidhargal! But of course! :-) Che, paerae semma effect! Novel titles were really novel!

I don't think Rudraiah made any more movies. Atleast not very famous ones..

@Dream Vendor: Thx buddy!

@Random Access: True buddy! I wish to have all these classics in my VCD Collection someday!

Pallavi said...

how could you sleep amidst that... GAWK

and I like black and white too..

Vinesh said...

@Pallavi: Surprised me too, but guess I am very tired by night, nowadays..

PreethZzZ The Original said...

you have been TAGGED!!!

Anonymous said...

nicely written. needless to say, my obssession with jayshankar movies ( :) ) . The (kolliwood) james bond in B&W outsmarted those in BMW, hehehe.

when u fin time mail me ur contact addrss `n no.
---
hurrynarain@yahoo.com

Paavai said...

there is a song in snsm - kandathai chollugiren - if you have not heard it , you must, the lyric is amazing

Anonymous said...

i know how painful it is to be away from home and ur loved ones... i miss u anna

Priya said...

hey jus a note of appreciation.. nee vandhadhuku apparam thaan blogging konjam kalai kattiyirukku ;)

..p..

Directhit said...

"The pain of being physically so far away from loved ones, blissfully forgotten..."
so true!! and now am also in this state :-( ...... ....

Kaushik Ramajayam said...

Another... [i]Aboorva Raagangal[/i] (the first Kamal-Rajini movie?)

Retro certainly has a special charm... I believe most of the music I listen to (in Tamil, Hindi and English) is from the 60's and 70's!

Vani Viswanathan said...

hey!!
u're back!! (or have i realised it too late? :P)
you've sure moved into an interesting place! have fun!! :)

Ram C said...

B&W has its own charming quality.. I used to like some of the old classics which you had mentioned. May be the naive B&W one of the reasons.. in addtn to the story lines.

Jagan said...

machi over enthu va 'illaya nila pozhigiradha' padathey ...erukiray onnu ,rendu figure-um vodidum da ..

Anonymous said...

Well written Annau... miss u very much..

Viewer said...

Superd wiriting. U r a pro dude :)
And best of luck to find da novel/peotry reading gal ;)

Priya said...

one more thing .. i loved the movie aboorvaraagangal.. kamal-rajni(debut)starrer..!! one of my fav :) plus namma thalaivar oda foray into the industry!! lakalakalakalaka :D

..p..

.:: ROSH ::. said...

Vinesh, You have been Tagged !!

Vinesh said...

@Hurry: Sure will do that da. Jaishankar movies pathiyum sollanum...but that is when I talk about comedy in Tamil cinema ;-D

@Paavai: I haven't listened to that song Paavai... will definitely try to hunt it down!

@Maha: Away from loved ones you sure know.. but am sure you don't know about being away from home :-) Miss you too di..

@Priya: Thx for the compliment! But hey...(from the Anbe Sivam song "Ele Machi machi" Imayamalayile vandhu ice vikkura

And yeah, I felt like Rajni when I kicked open the gate of my new house LoL :-)

Vinesh said...

@Anoop: I think we have more things in common now buddy :-)

@Kaushik: Glad you like "retro feel" too :-) But my tastes somehow start from the late 70s.. I am unable to relate to films before that.

@Vani: Good to see you here again Vani :-)

@Ram C: Naive characters... some very intelligent ones too... but yes, the emotions were pure and naive!

@Jagan: I think so too.. so far.. only two kezhavis came to listen :-(

@Padma: Miss you too Chelli... funny that you have to come to my blog to see what's happening in your Anna's life :-) This goes for Maha too !

Vinesh said...

@Viewer: Thanks buddy! :-)

@Preethi & @Magic Lens: Haven't checked out what the tags are, but will do it my very next post :-)

Unknown said...

Vinesh, your perspective of things are often very different and thought-provoking da.Keep up the good work dude...And speaking of English cinema, even a recent movie called Sin City which was completely in Black n White, was a BIG hit!...And i have started blogging too.

Srinivas said...

Well Vinesh, where are you living now? Let me know...please I feel as if you're suffering...

Vinesh said...

@Vikram: Oh, a new movie in black and white. Such an effort must be made in Thamizh cinema, and I hope either Balachander or Balu Mahendra directs it..

Great that you've started blogging too.. will check out your blog! :-)

@Karan: Buddy, I certainly am not suffering :-) But thanks so much for your concern...keep visiting! Good to see you in here!

Anonymous said...

Hello..Enna appidiye oru Jayachitra or Sridevi or Srividhya-va paathu settle aayida poreengala?(Of course all belonging to 70's :D)

Vinesh said...

@Srinivasan: Sridevi-nna OK ;-D

cutefreaky said...

Nice description, could relate to most of it-being far from family and loved ones, a roof which does not belong to us, a earth which makes u nostalgic...I find myself going thru this...

by the way... black and white and eastman color are pleasure to watch than the gaudy colours we have now... both movie and life ...

tata
sukku

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