Saturday, December 18, 2010

If not movies, what could the world use to connect Spain and maybe Mauritius?





   The most beautiful things in life are inexplicably simple. They remain the most basic to human existence, which is why even in today’s times of celestial changeovers, love stories still work. In a pounding tone of a testament, arrived early this year, one such movie that will stay for a very long time to come in the hearts of movie lovers. By the middle of a snowing December, as I watched ‘Vinnaithaandi Varuvaaya’ again in remembrance of the best movie experiences of the year, I realized, I almost let the year pass by without making a memoir of the ones that were so heartily endearing this year.


2010, of course, saw some dynamic flashes of – as they say - contemporary cinema. From the gigantic Avatar to the simple and brave Udaan to the heart touchingly simple and real ‘Angaadi Theru’ to Toy Story to the most recent masterpiece, Social Network, 2010 undeniably did its share of filling our ever evolving quest to experience good cinema. I am sure there were other great ones that I missed. So I won’t rate them in any potential order, not even in order of my personal preference. They all belonged to different kinds. But I guess what I am trying to say here is that, of the entire lot, Vinnaithaandi varuvaaya, to me, seems the simplest, the oldest, the most impactful.

It’s amazing the kind of effect this outrageously clichéd subject of the Goddamned love can have, again and again and again and yet again on people. I mean, who else other than us, Indians would know better how many million times have they tried to show in million bizarre ways, what love was!? But, it still works. Amazingly. In a strange, illogical, beautiful way. I couldn’t help but smile in contented agreement, after watching this movie, that, even by the turn of the first decade of the 21st century, there’s nothing more that fills our heart than some good, old fashioned love. It’s probably corny but hell, it’s true.

This is in tribute to one such good work of cinema. In a way, it’s nice to wrap this year up on a note of love – it may not be the best movie of all time but it’s certainly going to be a beloved. The way the love happens in the movie, the way it does not after a point in time, the music and the perfect little ending where they let the love be what it was and move on to life is perhaps the story of every other someone you will find by the curb of the street.

Because we’ve all been in love or will be or are hoping to be and would still hate it and love it at the same time for a thousand beautiful reasons.

7 comments:

Karen Xavier said...

Have you seen 500 days of Summer, the movie Vinnaithandi... is based on that.

$ph!nX said...

@Karen. 500 Days of Summer is not based on VTV. But yes, it also is a memorable movie.

@PH:Well, the reason is simple. Most of us are romantics at heart. So the day these movies wont make an impact is when the heart evolves to stone ;)

Touch wood, that may never happen.

PurpleHeart said...

I have seen 500 days of Summer, Karen. But vinnaithaandi did not somehow remind me of that movie. I think it's because these two movies are set in two different worlds of life. The western take on a simple boy-girl affair, I see, always has a tone of physical humor to it which we, Indian (especially south Indian) movies wouldn't rub too much on. 500 days is a cute movie too with a relievingly funny end. :)


Aneesh, I was thinkin your comment was gonna be a mad one coz I didn't include 'INCEPTION' !!! Wink Wink ! :D

Unknown said...
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Unknown said...

Saw the movie recently.. Indeed was a warm and subtle one.. :)

PurpleHeart said...

Wow ! Did I really inspire someone to go by what I wrote ?!! That's a nice to start my year. :D

$ph!nX said...

@PH : Oiye! Oh no I wasn't mad.. I was merely remarking in a melancholic sense.. And I saw the Social Network last week.. Phew.. Will write about it.. Read it @ You Know Where ;)