Viji unplugged

A dream where your man is stolen right before your eyes and you aren't blind folded or your hands and legs not bound, mouth not gagged, yet you watch helpless wanting to scream, but choked and stunned.

He was standing with you 60 seconds back and now the place where he stood is vacant, you look stupefied and wait for something to happen. 

I am sure that was the middle of the dream. Something happened before that, some happy moments, that I don't remember clearly.  From what I remember now, we were walking on a bridge, looking down at the water that was still and I hear him laugh, that teasing laugh of his and I was as usual enjoying every minute glancing sideways and even before his laugh faded to a smile, there was a screeching halt of that old fashioned Jeep and 4 to 5 masked men, raced towards us, bound his hands and dragged him away.  I remember the way he looked at me, with love, fear and there was something else in those eyes, that warned me not to follow, before he allowed himself to be dragged.  

Maybe too many films. But, I raced, till the Jeep became a distant speck carrying my life, away... far away from me. Too may questions in my mind.  Why? What did he do? It should be a mistake. They mistook him for someone else.  Forcing to think one step at a time, I turned and looked around me, Where am I?  The place was dry with an occasional tree, the Sun fierce.  

I walked back slowly, I should go to Police. I retraced my steps to that bridge and there were people gathered, where we stood and chatted sometime back. They were pointing down at the river and I walked towards it in a daze and looked down and found the Jeep.  Men dragging him, punching him. I always thought he was invincible, nothing can hurt him. He usually took control of everything, I can safely close my eyes and put my head on his shoulders and trust him to take care of us.  But, he was bleeding, suffering, yet refused to cry out, bearing every blow, but he looked angry to me. I was watching, not doing anything.  I kept watching. 5 of them against my one.  I started to walk down the bridge looking for a way through the bushes and thorn trees and I kept walking down, not a clue on how I would manage the situation, one thing very clear, I don't want to see a dawn or a dusk without him.  I wanted to die with him if there is no chance to live.  We promised to be there for each other and I walked down to be with him.

When I woke up, I didn't wake from this dream.  Probably I had few other dreams before this and few after this.  But, the only thing I remember is his smile and my love for him and the fact that however illogical the dream was, my love for him has become stronger and understood that without him I don't exist.

No more stopping by Napier's Bridge even for a photograph at least not when I am with him! What a nightmare!

Having waited for a week to watch Vishwaroopam made me restless, curious and eager and I was at Sathyam Escape Cinemas one hour before the show time on 14th february. Though a weekday, the mall was crowded being St. Valentine's day.  All the men walking behind, beside their women, with foolish smiles, scary smiles (especially when they stretched their arm and point out to a shop). Everywhere valentine day posters, special programs, hearts seen from toffees to stuffed toys to cakes. Shopkeepers busy uttering a silent thanks to our saint.


I grabbed my cold coffee, popcorn with extra butter, a piece of creamy cake and potato wedges.  Mind it was for two people and not one. And this boy had a hearty appetite unlike me.

We entered the theatre 10 minutes before show time and settled in our seat to watch the film.

After all the hiatus and hiccups,  finally I started to watch the Vishwaroopam.

It was a new experience.  If not for the Tamil dialogues, it moved with the same pace, style like a nicely shot Hollywood action thriller. I might be naive, when I refer to English films as Hollywood films. From the land of Bollywood, Gollywood, Tollywood, I am quite religious about the woods.

I expected a strong storyline, but I got nicely made sequences of shots.
The kathak song and dance by now older Kamalhassan (tried to identify him with the elder kamal of salangai oli. Man! ageing is beyond our imagination) is good. But, somehow the expressions are lost behind those wrinkles on his face. I think the hardship of shooting such a spectacular film shows the strain.

The movie shifts between flashback and present just like Hey Ram and  there are places if you are not attentive might miss the shift.

There are loads of action perfectly shot. At one place when the Jeep fall on a man, you can't help but gasp. There's this other place when the remains of a body land before Kamal Hassan after a bomb blast. For us, who never used to grumble but watch, when they show cardboard boxes for computers in Doordarshan Tuesday dramas, this is sheer luxury.

Humour laced through out the film, not jarring but makes us smile. Thank god! Err.. rather Kamal for not having seperate track for humour.

Andrea, shekar kapoor had very less role to perform,  almost non existent. Hope to see their performance in the part 2. Pooja Kumar and Rahul Bose stood out and whoever lent the voice to Pooja is amazing, for once the Brahmin slang is perfect and not exaggerated.

I loved the scene when Pooja climbs the stair and lie down on her bed, Kamal snoring with his eyes open. The expression on his face is priceless. The expression on Pooja's face after she witnesses her husband's valor is priceless too.

Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy a joy through out. BGM definitely needs a special mention. Doesn't go overboard.

Lots of characters are shown, to imply the depth of other characters and for us to determine the nature of other character. The lady doctor, Rahul's wife, his son, even the Horse that's shot by Kamal Hassan. Not sure if this would reach all audiences.

The film shot in the US and Afganistan, the location and scenes are well framed and neatly arrayed.

I still am quizzing for the reason why the film was banned. Only bad was shown as bad makes me quiz even more.

But, why is that when the film ended, I sat for few more minutes... Did I expect more? Hoping the second part happens and even if it does, hope it doesn't get chopped off for reasons that cannot be explained.

One has to agree Kamal is an entertainer and near perfect in what he does. It was worth the wait. But, mera dil maangae more kamal sahab... :)

Let God bless his atheist son!