Jersey

Rarely, you come across movies that spin your mind at an RPM of 1000 or more. Jersey, the newly released Telugu movie, is one such type that takes you on a roller-coaster ride. Sometimes the feelings are so hysterically good and at other times, so hysterically sad; it’s like you are shedding tears one moment and laughing aloud the next. 

Arjun (Nani) may not be blessed in the looks department, but certainly makes it up in the acting one. Gowtham Tinnanuri, the director, caught the pulse of the 1990’s, the movie’s background, and portrays it flawlessly with HeroHonda CD 100s, auto rickshaws and Ambassador cars crisscrossing the not-so-crowded roads. The feeling is distinctly palpable. If you are a 90’s person you can’t but help feel nostalgic. 

Shraddha Srinath, the heroine, has staged a fabulous job as the nonchalant wife, who is frustrated at Arjun's laziness and indifference. The presence of Arjun's coach, coach Murthy (Sathyaraj) is a constant hope and reminder that Arjun would resume cricketing. His role hugely supports in building the movie’s plot through occasional and unexpected interventions and reveting performance. His friends, who are constantly egging him, spice up the moments while staying empathetic, adding that pinch of salt!

All in all, Jersey basically is a cricket themed movie, but goes beyond cricketing, stirring emotions like no other.  

The story is a narrative in the past, giving inside dope as to what threw Arjun away from the game and away from the arms of his love life. The plot: Arjun, who is an ace cricket player, falls in love with the Christian girl, Sarah. Initially, the bond is strong as Sarah deserts her family and marries Arjun. But things start falling apart, when Arjun quits playing cricket and loses his job as a result of wrongly placed corruption charges. The family goes through a thick turmoil, leaving Sarah no choice but to take up work to support the family. This seems like the breaking point as she feels Arjun is avoiding shouldering the family’s responsibility and she is the only one pulling the family’s cart.

On the flipside, what constantly plaques the audience’s minds is why is Arjun reluctant to take up a job as an Associate Coach, which is offered by his coach, or for that matter why he left playing cricket suddenly. Ten years passed, he hasn’t touched his cricket bat. Not once.  For what reason? Is a question that keeps bobbing up in the audience’s minds!

The story moves into action when Arjun’s son asks for a Jersey. And Arjun doesn't have Rs. 500 to buy it. Arjun sees an opportunity when his coach Murthy asks him to play a charity match between Indian and England. Thinking it could net him Rs 1,000, he agrees to play only to discover whatever is earned  would be given away in charity, including his Rs.1000.

Ironically, his performance in the charity match is greatly appreciated. His son becomes a huge fan seeing him in this new avatar. Bearing in mind his son’s joy, and his wife’s constant worry that she is the cause for him to leave cricket, Arjun plans to stage a comeback to cricket.

Armed with a renewed aggression, he decides to play cricket for India at age 37. His coach disagrees; his wife disagrees; and the selectors disagree; but his steely resolve won’t give in to pressures.

His performance on the training pitch proves his detractors wrong as selectors pick him up for the Hyderabad team to play the Ranji Trophy.

Thereon, in every match, Arjun puts on an envious performance. But with the earlier sudden twists and turns in the plot, one is doubtful whether Arjun would deliver the goods or not towards the conclusion;

However, beating the odds, the Hyderabad team slowly pulls into the semi-finals aided with Arjun’s brilliant knocks. Will the final match be a death-knell or life saviour for Arjun?

This is something one should watch since it would be inappropriate to run a spoiler here for a movie so good. The ending comes as a total surprise, pulling on everyone’s heartstrings. So for those who haven’t watched the movie, it is a mix of laughter, tears and elation! Go watch it before this movie gets clouded by other mediocre ones! 

Dance of Death

 Loved this comment below this Iron Maiden's song on YouTube, sharing it. Mind-blowing !

There is a tavern, deep within the castle walls. The tavern is bustling with activity, drinks and obnoxious laughter everywhere. The scent of alcohol and smoke is heavy in the air, and in the center of the room is a giant fireplace and bearskin rug. Suddenly someone, in jest, points at a peculiar looking old man, and urges him to recount his tale of "dancing with the dead". Curious men gather around, and the bard begins to play a somber tune on his lute. The man stands up, swaying, drink in hand, and gazes around the room as the noise dies down, and everybody's eyes fall on him. Men pull up their chairs, eager to hear the tale. The old man speaks, a wild glint in his eye... "Let me tell you a story to chill the bones..."

Farewell, Stanley!

Comics intrinsically create parallel worlds for youngsters. The grandiose they are built, the loftier experiences the readers could draw. Stan Lee, who passed away this week, understood this inherent philosophy way back in the 60's and 70's and created some of the finest superhero characters and mind-numbing stories, taking youngsters on a ride, sometimes on an intergalactic ride, giving them a time of their life.

Actually, Stan Lee to a great extent was behind the superheroes, who starred in comic books then, transitioning to the silver screen now, without losing their sheen! Today, these superheroes are a huge rage!

Whether it’s casting spider webs donning the red-faced mask, or the green beefcake hurling tanks across the battle field or the military man throwing his blue-and-red stripped shield to protect his fellow friends, or the ‘unequalled four’ molding and melting into the foreground before delivering the fatal attack, Stan Lee’s visionary thinking had created a lively world of superheroes, the today’s millennials are madly in love with and would do anything to share its spirited glory.  

Yes! We are referring to “Marvel Movies”. Stan Lee, the man instrumental in the creation of “Marvel Cinematic Universe” and the release of movies such as Avengers: Age of Ultron, Avengers: Infinity war, The Incredible Hulk, Thor: Ragnarok, Captain America, Guardians of the Galaxy, and numerous others, is simply phenomenal. While most people are mapping their retirement plans by their early 40s, Lee has been carving his name in golden letters on the silver screen with his amazing marvel stories even in his 90s. What a colossal attitude!!!

Lee’s brilliant mind co-conceived many superhero characters in collaboration with co-writers/artists Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko along with the marvel team. Spiderman, The Hulk, Thor, X-men, Doctor Strange, Fantastic Four and the Ant-Man are some characters that have dent the history and gone on to make history. The string of works he has produced speaks of his genius. All his characters and their movies were total sell-out to global audiences. While everyone thought this sudden attraction to “Marvel Movies” would fizzle out; to the utter surprise and dismay, it gathered momentum. What’s more, novelty and multidimensional cinematic values delivered top dollar’s worth of viewing to global audiences, raking in huge moolah for producers.

However, one question keeps popping up: how did Stan Lee create this vast canvas of works that speaks of flawless characters and incredible stories?! Agreeably, he was a team man! First, he would give out the synopsis of a story to his artists and he would then lend them creative liberties to draw pictures as they imagine in their eye of the mind, giving full scope for imagery. After it’s completed, Stan Lee would fill up the blurbs and boxes with his story. Brilliant, isn’t that?!

In fact “Black Panther” is another of his “marvel”lous creation. Though the character was created much earlier, it only caught everyone’s eyes with the movie “Black Panther”. While the script kept one deeply engrossed, the cinematic production was too awesome to overlook. The rich narrative coupled with usage of high-technology gadgetry puts Africa on a different pedestal. The whole story gives the audiences goose bumps, while carving a distinct place for itself. How, Black Panther story is crafted and how it rose to occupy its rightful spot in the hearts of audiences is a secret only Lee could perhaps tell. What’s more! Watch carefully, you will find Lee doing a cameo role in the movie. He is known to do lot of cameos in Marvel movies.

From the beginning, Lee was passionate about becoming a writer, but unfortunately, poverty stood him up against pursuing his career! In fact, he took up menial jobs to survive before landing the job as Assistant at the new Timely Comics, a Martin Goodman’s company. From then on, it was a no-turning back.  After Simon and Jack Kirby, creative partners, left the company, Goodman installed Lee as Interim Editor. This gave him an opportunity to rise through the ranks.

Over a period, he created a technicolor virtual kingdom, where the good fight against the bad - in print as well as on screen - while the whole world watches and applauds. Frankly, Lee was like no other. He may have left this world. But, he definitely created an alternate universe for his readers and viewers to revel in forever. At his sad demise, It’s only apt for us to remember a quote from his Marvel Movies “Heroes are made by the path they choose, not the powers they are graced with”. Farewell, Stan Lee!  

click here to access the Hans India e-paper 

https://epaper.thehansindia.com/1900442/SUNDAY-HANS/SUNDAY-HANS#page/6/2

Tale of a Rockstar

Legendary Queen’s biopic “Bohemian Rhapsody” is releasing in theatres across the world this November. The audiences are all set to dance to the tune of this cult rock group, which has shunned inhibitions; walked the unbeaten path; and ignored the critics to script its own history of success. Behind the meteoric rise of “Queen” is only one name, Farrokha Bulsara, who is better known as Freddie Mercury – the music legend who redefined “Rock and Roll” and won scores of music aficionados for both – the band and himself.

Freddie Mercury, a singer and songwriter, had conscientiously steered the rock band “Queen” to fame and achievement. His incredible stage presence and his four-octave vocal range gave audiences a high in a manner their contemporaries couldn’t. Earlier, a not-so-popular band which comprised Brian May and Roger Taylor had not many takers. But once Mercury joined the force, he set the stage ablaze and Queen’s music sales started to skyrocket.

Mercury in particular was praised for belting out bewitching numbers like “Don’t Stop me Now”, “In the Lap of Gods” “Hammer to Fall” “Killer Queen” “Seven Seas of Rhye” “Need your Loving Tonight” among others. Of course, “Bohemian Rhapsody”, which catapulted the band to astounding heights of glory.

In fact, what put “Queen” and Mercury on the trail of immense popularity was Mercury’s composition of “Bohemian Rhapsody”, which made audiences scream in ecstasy for its distinct peculiarity. Freddie scripted, this six-minute suite, comprising several compositions, for the album “A Night at Opera”. It was an exorbitantly expensive composition ever made till then and left men involved biting their nails in pre-release anxiety. 

Eventually, “Bohemian Rhapsody” turned out to be a huge commercial success. The iconic photographs and the official video further threw open the doors for similar music videos, making it a trend-setter of sorts. “Bohemian Rhapsody” not only cemented the band’s position, but went on to break records of sorts. What happened afterwards was a cult following, Mercury becomes an iconic legend.

Although Mercury is the star performer of the music band, the biopic “Bohemian Rhapsody” is all about “Queen”.  Walking this tight rope, the movie captures the rise of the band, which is not-so-spectacular as there are no visible bumps on the road to glory. On the flip-side, the movie also carries a rich tale of the frontman, Mercury, who is juxtaposed with contradictions and unforeseen incidents.

The biopic supposedly captures diverse magical moments, including the one where the band members coin their own kind of music to pep up the audiences. Rami Malek, who donned the role of Freddie Mercury, happens to seize the spotlight with his extraordinary acting skills. His commanding screen presence seems to be a major draw, outshining the other players in the game.

Within the realm of “Bohemian Rhapsody”, Mercury’s short-lived life was captured with sensitivity. His encounter with Aids and his sex life are dealt subtly without shedding much spotlight on them. The movie culminates with “Queen’s performance at LIVE AID in 1985, bringing back sweet memories and nostalgia. As a wave after wave of reminisces keeps hitting, as Mercury’s haunting voice reverberates with songs like “Radio Ga Ga”, “We Are The Champions”, “We Will Rock You”, it’s time to pay tribute to this music legend by soaking and reveling in the much-talked about biopic, “Bohemian Rhapsody”. 

Click here to access the Hans India e-paper 

https://epaper.thehansindia.com/1890951/SUNDAY-HANS/SUNDAY-HANS#page/8/1

Rock with Bryan Adams!

Ever stood frozen in your tracks listening to numbers that are so soothing your foot starts tapping and head starts swaying and you are transported to a surreal world of romance? The moment is not far, as Bryan Adams, Grammy Award winning singer-song writer, is set to indulge Hyderabadis with his breathtaking, awe-inspiring numbers on his “Ultimate Tour” to India, this October. 

One amongst the top stage performers, Bryan Adams knows how to entertain crowds that throng the performance venue. Holding audiences spellbound with his amazing stage-presence and husky voice, he is also known for his spur-of-the-moment gigs and antics with his guitar. The artist is particularly in love with Hyderabad as he mentions in his earlier stage performance in 2011 that Hyderabadi crowd was the loudest and ingeniously went on to delight crowds with heart-touching melodies for a memorable time. This October, as Bryan Adams is set rekindle the fire by belting out numbers that will leave the crowds unashamedly asking for more, here are his top five melodies that all music aficionados should be aware of. “Summer of 69”, a song that not only has a haunting rhythm, but also brings back the old memories like a flood. Initially, the song was supposed to be called “The best days of my life” but later it took on the title “Summer of 69”. However, the words ‘the best days of my life’ do feature in the lyrics many times over.

“Everything I do”, the background theme song for the flick “Robinhood: prince of thieves”, was what shot the artist into the next orbit of popularity. While the movie went on to become a top-grosser at the box-office, the song prevailed in winning hearts with its soothing melody. The aptly-worded theme song was even nominated for a Grammy Award.

“Please forgive me” is a slow power ballad that has Bryan giving his vocal chords a full throttle. Originally written by Adams himself, the song gave the needed thrust to the Album “So far So good” pushing it to the number two position in the UK; number one position in Australia; and the number seven in the US during the 90s. Years gone by, the song still hasn’t lost its flavour. 

“18 till I die” is originally the seventh studio album, which featured singles such as “Have you ever really loved a woman”, “The only thing that looks good on me is you”, “Let’s make a night to remember” along with “18 till I die”. As popular as the others, “18 till I die” stands out for its lively beat and oxymoronic lyrics.

“Heaven” is another number that’s smooth. Written by Jim Wallace and Adams himself, “Heaven” first featured on the “A night in heaven” soundtrack album and later went on to win a good number of awards. Subdued music and distinct composition play on the heartstrings with a new fervor every time one listens to this trance-inducing number. Not merely these numbers, but there are countless other melodies that never fail to put a twinkle in the eye.

With Bryan Adams hitting the town, Hyderabadis are in for another high-energy live performance that promises to send thrills and chills down the spine. Undoubtedly, this gorgeous, husky singer sure knows how to rock one’s blues away with his soulful melodies.

Click here to access the article on e-paper!

http://epaper.thehansindia.com/1782602/SUNDAY-HANS/Sunday-Magazine#page/8/1

It's time to Bond

“Shaken, but not stirred” is how James Bond likes his Martinis. If you are a Bond admirer, here’s news that will leave you stirred up for more chills and lots of edge-of-the-seat action. Yes! The die has been cast. Danny Boyle’s name is picked up from the lot for directing the new James Bond franchise, which will be titled “Bond25” as it is the 25th film in the franchise, starring Daniel Craig.

The hunt for new director, which closed in on Danny Boyle, comes in the wake of Sam Mendes, who earlier helmed “Skyfall” and “Sceptre” – two major box-office blockbusters, calling it quits to directing the James Bond franchise. In effect, Daniel Craig is believed to have walked the same path, stating he would never act in another Bond film after “Sceptre”. He fervently put across that he’d rather cut himself with glass than play another role of James Bond. However, after Mendes quit, Craig took a complete U-turn and expressed his interest in James Bond’s role. Talk of “Bond” being devious in the real sense. 

On the other hand, Boyle, without an iota of doubt, is a top-rung filmmaker, who holds credit for making strange yet impactful movies like “Slumdog Millionaire”, “The Beach”, “Trainspotting”, “127 hours” “Trance” and others. What piques one’s imagination about the upcoming Bond flick are Danny Boyle’s directional abilities. Introspection into his earlier movies throws light on his unique scene depictions which are inimitably imaginative and often interspersed with eye-catching elements and artistic images. While his stories are real there’s somewhere the object of surrealism creeping into interweave with the real. 

Danny Boyle has the ability to dream on a wider and bigger canvas with multiple happenings taking place simultaneously. A glance at the London 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony will unravel the multi-dimensional facets that come to play under his supervision. He is a director, who promises to be gifted in portraying Bond at his best. Daniel Craig’s fame is also bound to catapult to further heights as the strength of Boyle is his fast-paced narrative. He is a man who wouldn’t mince words, but deliver results. 

On the flip-side of the coin, Daniel Craig has actually stood the test of time. His athletic body and non-confirmative approach to acting initially had everyone bothered whether he would meet Bond expectations or not. However, he pulled the rug under the naysayers and steadied himself in the shoes of James Bond. When “Casino Royale” launched Daniel Craig as Bond, the initial Parkour chase sequence alone had endeared him to the audiences. In fact, Craig’s death-defying crane jump in the flick had recently been voted the best James Bond Stunt of all time.

Craig must have acted in four movies, but solidly established his position in Hollywood as a bankable Bond. The trick was he made Bond look fallible and emotional, thereby portraying the character as humane and vulnerable as possible, upping the ante on several relatable factors to real-life characteristics. This created a chord of connects amongst the audiences across continents. 

Going by the tone of Danny Boyle’s voice, he’s all upbeat about the “Bond25”. Speaking to a crowd at a New York Screening of his new FX show, “Trust”, Boyle commented that the new Bond movie script might also include the dimensions of certain issues that besought the Hollywood and other industries in recent times. This is in the wake of questions raised by journalists as to how the Bond film would differ in today’s evolving times of #metoo #timesup issues. 

With this deadly combo – Danny Boyle and Daniel Craig - coming together to recreate the magic of James Bond all over again with their next film, which will open to global audiences in November 2019, the air is thick with positivity that the new movie will leave everyone “Shaken” much like how Bond enjoys his Martinis. 

Click on the link to access the article on epaper 

http://epaper.thehansindia.com/1592760/SUNDAY-HANS/SUNDAY-HANS#page/13/1

And the Oscar goes to...

This year’s 90th Academy Awards were as scintillating as ever with several interesting movies vying for their rightful spot under the limelight. Amongst all awards, the most looked forward was the “Best Picture” award, which had several interesting movies lined up for the honors, including “Darkest Hour”, “Dunkirk”, “Phantom Thread”, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”, “Get Out”, “The Shape of Water”, “The Post”, “Call Me by Your Name” and “Lady Bird”. 

While the nominations were several, many pinned hopes on the movie “Get Out”, some anticipated “The Post” and a few others “Dunkirk” to grab the honours, much to the surprise it was “The Shape of Water” that stole the Golden Man amidst a thunderous applause in “Best Picture” category. 

The flick ranked at the top probably for its unique storyline, which keeps in stride with the Hollywood’s current trend of shooting movies with the story set in the background of mid and late 20th century; examples of these are “American Made” and “The Post” both of which garnered respectable global audiences. 

A sort of sci-fi flick, The Shape of Water’s storyline is typically from the 1950s. It’s a capricious fable that involves a mute woman’s relationship with an underwater manlike amphibian. Hawkins, who donned the role of “Eliza”, was quite a performer. Her character, as the mute housekeeper for a laboratory, audaciously steps away from the routine, beaten-down track and brings powerfully to fore her performance skills. Octavia Spencer, who dons the role of Eliza’s colleague “Zelda”, has also put on a show that simply can’t go unnoticed. 

The magic that worked for the flick is probably the anomaly of subterranean amphibian with supernatural powers forming the nucleus of the story. That apart, the heroine’s acting and her bravado in strategizing a release and smuggling the “Amphibian“out of the secure laboratory adds a further twist to the story. This slow-paced movie, yet an intriguing one, captures sensitive side of the audiences. 

The movie characters are all of different nature. There are peculiarities to every one of them. While Giles is a gay man; Eliza, a mute person; Hoffstetler, a spy in the guise of an American doctor, and Richard Strickland, the villain, an arrogant, egoistic person who believes in dancing to his own beat. In other circumstances, one could easily understand, these individuals wouldn’t stay for one day under the same roof. But the way they are juxtaposed against each other – it’s a blend that further ups the ante on the quixotic nature of the movie. 

The relationship between the amphibian and the mute lady is nothing short of appalling. The western world might think it to be natural, definitely, it would be asking too much from its oriental counterpart. However, going by the box-office faring and rave reviews by the critics, it’s a picture that seems to have firmly made its space in numerous hearts of the cine-goers. Add to it the haunting music score that evokes intriguing interest all through. Watching this movie, one can easily note the distinct touch of class in its background score. 

Directed by Guillermo del Toro, who has several other renowned hits under his belt like “Pacific Rim”, “The Devil’s Backbone”, and “Hell Boy”, has ably directed this movie that has shot him into the hall of fame and won him appreciation all over again. All in all, “The Shape of Water” has won four awards, including the much coveted award - “Best Picture”.

click here to access the article on e-paper

http://epaper.thehansindia.com/1574740/SUNDAY-HANS/SUNDAY-HANS#page/25/1