Sunday, February 23, 2014

"ഹീറോ പെൻ" - ഒരു ലോ എന്ഡ് , ഹൈ ടൈം മോഷണ കഥ

ചൈനീസ്  കമ്പനി ആയ ഷങ്ങ്ഹൈ പുറത്തിറക്കിയ   ഹീറോ പെൻ 1980-1990  കളിൽ ഇന്ത്യയിൽ വൻ പ്രചരണം നേടിയിരുന്നു. നമ്മുടെ ശ്യാമസുന്ദര കേദാര ഭൂമിയായ കേരളത്തിലും ഹീറോ പെനുകൾ കുട്ടികളുടെയും മുതിര്ന്നവരുടെയും വൻപിച്ച പിന്തുണയോടു കൂടി മുന്നേറി. മിക്കവാറും സ്കൂൾ കുട്ടികളും ഹീറോ പെൻ ആരാധകർ ആയിരുന്നു.  പാർകെർ ആയിരുന്നു അന്ന് ഹീറോ ഇനെക്കാൾ മുൻപിൽ . പിന്നീട് പുതിയ പേനകൾ വിപണിയിൽ വന്നു കൊണ്ടേയിരുന്നു . ഇപ്പോൾ ഹീറോ പെൻ ഈ  കഥയിലെ  സുകുവിനെപൊലെ പോലെ 90ക്കളിൽ സ്കൂൾ വിദ്യാഭ്യാസം ചെയ്തിരുന്ന വരുടെ മനസ്സിൽ ഓർമയായി മാറികഴിഞ്ഞിരിക്കുന്നു

പെയ്തുകൊണ്ടിരുന്ന തുലാവർഷ രാവിൽ എഴുന്നേറ്റു കുളിക്കാൻ വേണ്ടി കുളിമുറിയിലേക്ക്ചെല്ലുമ്പോൾ ഒരു  ഓളം ആണ് . കുളി തുടങ്ങിയാൽ കുളിമുരിയിലെ ഓടിൽ നിന്നും ഒലിച്ചു വരുന്ന വെള്ളം ചിലപ്പോൾ ഒകെ  ശരീരത്തിൽ വീണുകൊണ്ടിരിക്കും . സ്കൂളിൽ  പോകുമ്പോൾ  മഴയുടെ ദ്രുതതാളം പഴയ സൈന്റ്റ്ജോർജ് കുടയുടെ ശീലുകളിൽ വീഴുന്നതും, വഴിയിൽ ഒലിചുവരൂന മഴവെളളം കാലുകളിൽ തട്ടിയതുപോലെ തോന്നി , ഇപ്പോൾ നിമിഷം .   ഇടെ ഇറങ്ങിയ  രണ്ടു മലയാള ചിത്രങ്ങൾ കണ്ട സുകുമാർ  ഉടനെ വിളിച്ചു പറഞ്ഞു ,  അളിയാ  നൊസ്റ്റാൾജിയ വന്നു , നൊസ്റ്റൽഗിആാ .....

തന്നെ തന്നെ , എന്ന്  പറഞ്ഞു  സഹമുറിയൻ  തിരിഞ്ഞു കിടന്നു. എന്തായാലും കയറി വന്ന നൊസ്റ്റൽഗിഅയെ സുകു  പുറം കാൽകൊണ്ടു തട്ടികലഞ്ഞില്ല. സുകുവിൻറെ ഓർമ്മകൾ ചെന്നെത്തി  യതു  അവന്റെ   ഹീറോ പെൻ ഇൽ  ആയിരുന്നു. കഴിഞ്ഞ  ദിവസം facebook ഇൽ അവൻറെ  പഴയ  സുഹൃത്തിനെ കണ്ടപ്പോഴും ഹീറോ പെൻ ഓർമ വന്നിരുന്നു .

അഞ്ചാം ക്ളാസ്സിൽ  പഠിക്കുമ്പോൾ സുകുവിനു  ഒരു പുതിയ ഹീറോ  പെൻ അച്ഛൻ വാങ്ങി കൊടുത്തു . അവന്റെ  ക്ലാസ്സിൽ  സുരേഷിനും സജിതയ്കും കറുത്ത നിറമുള്ള ഹീറോ പെൻ  ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നു. ഒരു ദിവസം ക്ളാസ്സിൽ ഭയങ്കര കരച്ചിൽ , സജിതയുടെ ആയിരുന്നു അത് .അവളുടെ കറുത്ത ഹീറോ പെൻ കാണ്മാനില. കുട്ടികളും ടീച്ചറും സുകുവും  തിരച്ചിലോട് തിരച്ചിൽ . കണ്ടു കിട്ടണ്ടേ വെളുത്തസുന്ദരിയുടെ ഹീറോ പെൻ. എല്ലവിടെയും തിരഞ്ഞു. ഒരു നിമിഷം എല്ലാവരും സുരേഷിനെ സംശയിച്ചു . പക്ഷെ അവൻ തൻറെ പേനയിൽ ആലെപനനം ചെയ്തുവചിരൂന "സുരേഷ് " എന്ന  പേര്  കാണിച്ചുകൊടുത്തപ്പോൾ എല്ലാവരുടെയും സംശയം മാറി. അവസാനം സജിതയുടെ ഹീറോ പെൻ നഷ്തപെട്ടതയി പ്രക്യാപിച്ചു. സജിത അവളുടെ ആരോ മരണംവരിച്ചു എന്ന പ്രതീതിയിൽ കരഞ്ഞു കരഞ്ഞു വീട്ടിലേക്കു പോയി 

കാലം കുറെ കഴിഞ്ഞു . ധാരാളം ഓണവും വിഷുവും പെരുന്നാളും  ക്രിസ്മസ് ഉം  കഴിഞ്ഞു . സജിതയെ    അടുത്താണ്  സുകുമാർ facebookil  ഫ്രണ്ട് സ്  ആയതു. അവൾ ഇന്ന് ഏതോ വല്യ കമ്പനിയിൽ  ജോലി  ചെയ്യുന്നു.  

ഇന്നാ ഹീറോ പെൻ സുകുവിന്റെ  മേശയിൽ ഭദ്രമായി ഇരിക്കുന്നു . അന്ന് കാണാതായത് മുതൽ സുകു അത്  കൈവശം ആകിയിരുന്നു. ഒരു തമാശയ്ക്ക് അടിച്ചുമാറ്റിയതാണ്, പിന്നെ തിരിച്ച്  കൊടുത്താൽ  പ്രശ്നം ആകും എന്ന പേടി  ആയി കൊടുത്തില  . പകരം  കൈകലാക്കി . പെൻ അന്ന് ഷൂസിനുല്ലിൽ ഒളിപ്പിച്ചു . ഇപ്പോൾ ഇനി പെൻ കൊടുക്കുനില, ഒരു നൊസ്റ്റാൾജിയ  ഉണ്ടായികൊട്ടെ  , അതല്ലേ ഇപ്പോഴത്തെ ട്രെൻഡ് . എന്ന്  വിചാരിച്ചു , ഓരോരോ വിചാരങ്ങളെ..... 

ഇതാണ്‌  "ഹീറോ പെൻ - ഒരു ലോ എന്ഡ് , ഹൈ ടൈം മോഷണ കഥ 

 By അർജുൻ രാമചന്ദ്രൻ 







Wednesday, July 4, 2012

An Interview with John Paul, the ace scenarist of Malayalam Cinema

                    An Hour with John Paul

Tamil, Telugu and Hindi films have become box office hits as they have been inspired by Malayalam films of 80’s and 90’s. Malayalam films are still deeply rooted in 80’s and 90’s. We are thirty years behind and have not made any progress.

John Paul’s versatile way of writing scripts made him a successful scriptwriter of Malayalam cinema. He resigned his successful career as a bank employee to pursue his ambition as a full time script writer. Recently he has written books which recollect old memories of his friends in cinema. The deep relationship between yesteryear directors Bharathan and Mohan made him stay in Malayalam Cinema. He has written scripts for more than 100 films. The Veteran scriptwriter has particular views on cinema and he shares his experiences in a casual talk at his small flat in ‘maradu’ near Ernakulam.

1 How do you analyze Malayalam film industry from your 30 years of experience?

I understand the fact that there is a great distance between me and new Malayalam cinema. I think the new coming Malayalam films are not a part of my way of writing and they are not related to me and if I were to write those films it won’t be good for me and the film itself. It may be my limitation or otherwise the specialty of those films. What has happened to Malayalam films can be judged by the audience as films are made for them. However I will not hold the audience guilty because new stories are far from realistic. The audience are individuals. They are not organized and so not capable of requesting for films of their choice. Art is the “Lyrical Exaggeration of Reality’. But now it has turned to “Absurd Exaggeration of reality”.

2 Is this the very reason why your film “Vellathooval” was not accepted by the people?

Vellathooval is not at all a good film and I don’t have anything to hide in this statement. Actually the director of this film IV Sasi was responsible for  my entry into film industry . When he told me to write the script, I was not able to say no because of the deep relationship between us.  If I had told him ‘no’  he would have changed the story itself. But now I regret in not doing so.

3 So, you give importance to friendship?

Obviously, we are human beings .Every person has his own justifications of what he does.  IV Sasi came much before my entry to film industry and he was much popular at that time. Iam not blaming him but he was not able to swim with the tide. I was also not able to correct him and advise him that films should be made according to changes in time. I was also not able to stand firm and the two vices stood together to form a great mistake. I have no regrets in saying that Vellathooval is not at all a good film.

4 What all factors have influenced you in the formation and development of characters in your films?

They includes many factors and mostly our own experiences, for example what all events and things happen on our way will also be taken for development of the story .The knowledge from reading and experiences from our own life add to the formation of characters. The other major factor is acquired culture which is inborn and transferred or passed through genes.  When a musician sits with his harmonium to compose music the tunes coming  will be those composed by Beethoven or Mozart years back.  This is because of a natural phenomenon happening unknowingly. Sometimes when we write a book or article the word usages used by the characters are not there in our usual vocabulary . This particular usage is needed for the character at that particular point of time and these things are acquired automatically. This happened knowingly or unknowingly and it can also be happened because of our sixth sense .

5 How were you able to maintain a chemistry between Bharathan, Mohan, IV Sasi etc?

I have worked with many of the directors and every one  had built his own empire. There were directors who had provoked and revoked my feelings and made me understand the hidden talents in me. But some were not able to strike that vibration in me and so I was not able to make me understand the talents in me. In these cases writings were mechanical one.  The vibration that entrusted me was different when working with different directors. My teachers have told me to write the script on the directors mind before writing it on paper. It means ,there should be a deep relation between the director and script writer during the writing of the script. Two minds and two brains join  together to form a new story and this forms the agony and ecstasy of life. After that it is the technical area of cinema.  This is different with different directors. I have done films with Bharathan and sometimes Bharathan’s mind had gone rigid and sometimes my mind had gone out of the way.We cant say anything about the mind and You have studied in chemistry about the combination of water(H2o) ie two molecule of hydrogen and one molecule of oxygen, But this is not possible in the case of art. The chemistry formed beyond the chemistry of feelings and attitudes result in the real chemistry between a director and scriptwriter. This means that a difficult passage is travelled by two different individuals with two different minds for a single result. A film watched by ten individuals make ten films because they will include their own experiences while viewing and it is known as co – authoring. We should understand that a film is viewed by lakhs of people and lakhs of films are made out of a single film and this medium is having that much reach.  We are trying to make these factors come true but it is not at all possible to say that a film was successful in doing so. I have a good relationship with all these directors and it was different exposure on different days.

6 Of these directors, who were you close to?

Talking about friendship, I have worked mostly with Bharathan and Mohan. P.N Menon had seen me as his own son and KS Sethumadhavan was an elder brother to me. I have friends out of film world too but in cinema I think I have worked and cooperated more with Bharathan and Mohan. Our families maintain a good relationship each other.

7 How was your conversion from a bank employee to a full time script writer?

I think you had read this from somewhere, Do you know a John Paul who was a freelance journalist and who worked in film societies?. I got a job at Canara bank after completing my MA in Economics and I was a popular employee and a union worker in the bank. From the first day when I signed the attendance register I knew that I won’t stay there for long. I was sure that I would stick on to journalism or writing but I had no idea of joining the cinema. In fact it took me 11 years to come to cinema. Maybe it is because of Bharathan and Mohan, I was there in cinema for a long period.

8 How was your coming to “Chamaram”?

It was a time when I was working in film societies and Bharathan had directed his first film “Prayanam”. This was a point of time when KG. George came with “Swapnadanam” which stood between experimental film and commercial film and it had realistic and artistic values a person who was passionate to cinema I felt it my duty to work behind it. As a journalist I had already a relationship with Bharathan, Mohan, George etc as I had written features on them. I had earlier had casual talks with Bharathan on cinema and other subjects and I hadn’t even thought of coming to cinema then. One day IV Sasi came and asked me to write a story and that was my first film ‘Njan njan Mathram’. The screenplay was written by Thoppil Bhasi. I was reluctant to write the story as I have not even written a short story till now. Iam also not good at fiction writing and so I don’t like to write because I respect those who write it. But the producer with whom Sasi came, by mistake liked the story and my first film was born. It was at this time that Bharathan came and told that he wanted to do a campus film. A producer was also available at that time. He told us that it was his desire to study at college but he was not able to do so. So  we all gathered at the Muttassi maram of Maharajas  college and thought of a story. I had studied at Loyola and Stella Mary in Madras. It was only four years since I left my college. I had many characters in my mind and by the time we parted from Maharajas College that day a story was born. I can say that I remained in the film industry for a long time because of these friends all recognition and achievement in my life only is because of these people.

9 Lal Jose and Dennis joseph have said that Chamaram and Athirathram had inspired them to do Classmates and Rajavinte Makan respectively. What do you feel on hearing  this statements?

Naturally as a human being I feel happy. The credit goes to the director and the team who made those films. Chamaram was one of the finest Campus films in Indian cinema and the very life of College campus was exhibited in this film. The acting was done by some of the students of the college. Talking about Athirathram  I should say I took a challenge as I had never written such a script before. The story is based on a real life character KS Abdullah a smuggler of Kasargode. Though I knew him I went to Kasargode to get his full details. The Car chase and Mammooty’s introduction scene in Athrathram are actually real life scenes of K.S Abdullah.

10 Do you see new Malayalam films?

I do view Malayalam movies and also see preview of films .  Iam not very much interested in seeing films in the city because of the hustle and bustle created at theatres. But I do see films when I go out of Ernakulam.
11 How do you evaluate new Malayalam films with that of the films of 80’s and 90’s? Tamil and Telugu films have borrowed stories fro Malayalam films and they have become a great success. At the same time Malayalam films are lagging behind now. Could you comment on this?

Outwardly this is a fact, but if we are to ask the Tamil,Telugu and Hindi directors as to how their films had become box hits they will reply that they have been inspired by viewing the Malayalam films of 80’s and 90’s ie films of 30years ago. Our Malayalam films however remains stagnant. We are still in the 80’s and 90’s and have not made any step forward to progress.

12 Talking about the audience, do you think taste has changed  since films like Chattambinadu and Rajamanikyam have been  blockbusters whereas Paleri manikyam and Kerala Café have failed ?
This situation can be termed as “Flirting with ugliness”. The audience themselves are taking revenge on the films. If they are not getting good films they satisfy themselves with what they get ie  low class films. This is human psychology. Talking about Paleri Manikyam I won’t say that it is an outstanding film and Iam not satisfied with the castings of the film. The producer and director of this film were not able to create an awareness of  the launch of this film.
Iam also of the opinion that Mammotty is not  his actual self in Rajamanikyam. It is just an ordinary role, nothing special. Mammotty as an artist is at his best when seen in his matured ,serious ,volcanic and dramatic roles. Mohanlal on the other hand strikes best in roles where he can drown his most bitter and sad feelings and face cruel fate in a cool and calm manner.

13 Associations were not  prevalent at a time when you were making films. But you are one of the founders of associations in Malayalam film industry. Are these organizations  now a curse or blessing to Malayalam film industry?

When we started this organization our main objective was making good films and the welfare of technicians. But in course of time ego clash has caused much harm to the organizations.

14 what do you say about the present day strike going on in the industry?

I don’t know. Usually strikes are held when talks fail but here no talks were held. One fine morning Producers  come and say that they are not co-operating with shooting of films. April and May are the peak months  when  Malayalam industry gets much revenue but here they are promoting Tamil and Hindi films  instead.

15 You were once a freelance journalist. What do you think about today’s present media?

As there is international ethics so also is their there that journalists should abide to. For example in Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination the gory shots were taken and displayed in posters scattered all over the country. In another case a temple worker who tried to rescue an insane person drowning in the “Padmatheertha kulam” was instead drowned by latter .Shots of the scene appeared in the papers. If the journalist had only tried to help the temple worker instead of taking photographs, he could have saved the poor man.

16 How will you comment on the portrayal of the characters in the film “Thirakatha”? Do you feel there is a similarity in the lives of the lead roles played by Anoop Menon and Priyamani with that of Kamal Hasan and yesteryear actor Sreevidya?

When I heard this news from media I asked Ranjith whether the portrayal of the lives of the hero and heroine reflected anyone he just smiled at me. You should understand that all these are techniques to market a film well. Talking about Sreevidya, she was deeply in love with only one individual and that happened to be director “Bharathan”.Sreevidya was in love with Yesudas and Balachandran Chullikad and one should understand the truth that this love was an outcome of the talents inborn in these individuals. Sreevidya’s love could be seen in her beautiful eyes which added to her beauty. She also adored and admired “Kamal Hasan” who had an exceptional talent in dancing and acting. Ranjith who maintained a good relationship with Sreevidya had noted the scene where Kamal Hasan visited Sreevidya at the hospital during her last days. All other incidents in the film are purely directors creation.


17 What are the circumstances that made you a producer in MT Vasudevan Nair’s script “Oru Cheru punchiri”?

At that time I had completed seven years as secretary Of MACTA. I was in an awkward situatin as I didn’t have scripts with me to direct a film. I was in a dilemma as my health refrained me from directing a film. Iam even was under treatment and to tell you frankly  I can’t stand for more than five minutes continuously. It was at that time I decided to to produce a film and MT whom I consider as my elder brother offered me a script. The result was “Oru cherupunchiri”. Interestingly this film didn’t hit the silver screens as there was a cold war 
between television channels and film exhibitors. I didn’t gain any profit from this project.

18 Are you comfortable as a teacher in the mass communication schools?

Iam pretty comfortable with my profession as a teacher as my students are my companions and we have a close relationship. They even confide their problems in life with me . My classes mostly start with a film and end with a discussion and I like to make it an interactive session. I have taken classes in more than four Universities and taught about 300 students . The only problem I have faced in this connection is with the authorities of Communication schools. For eg we all know That Adoor Gopalakrishnan and MT Vasudevan Nair are versatile scriptwriters in Indian Cinema. Is it mandatory for them to be conferred with a PG degree for setting question papers in direction for media students. ‘Yes’ is the answer given by the authorities in our state. BSC is the basic degree required to apply for MSC Visual Communication, this means that Literature and Journalism students are not eligible for Visual Communication. Changes should be made so as to enable arts students to apply for the MSC Visual communication course.

19 What can Malayalam film expect from John Paul in future?

I have no idea on this matter. I came to the film world because of my passion for Cinema. Unlike the clerical job which is monotonous the film world has much scope for artists. Many artist sit together in making a good film and if a good story is made the outcome will be a success.


                                                                                                          


Monday, July 2, 2012

My review on Ustad Hotel

                        Sulaimani + Malabar Chicken Biriyani = Ustad Hotel
The recipes for the biriyani have turned to be correct for Anwar Rasheed and his team.The ingredients have worked well and biriyani from Ustad Hotel is getting more and more orders. People across the state are standing in queues in front of Ustad hotels amidst the showers.This hotel will be having more and more customers in the coming days. Malayalees who tasted Thattil kutti dosa a year before with exact amount of Salt and Pepper in it, now tastes the biriyani from Ustad Hotel.

Anjali Menon is leading a Happy Journey with her off beat scripts which deal with logical thinking of common man. Anwar Rasheed has crossed the Bridge from where he started. A simple story with common people is the asset of Usthad hotel. A sulaimani with a taste of Mohabbat gave a different look on love. Ace actor Thilakan was at his best in the movie.This movie without action sequences and item dance is surely a visual treat. Malayalam movies are on their path of revolution.We have witnessed films with different subjects including extra marital affairs, food and road movies.The deep love between a grandfather and his grandson is the basic story of this movie. The background music composed by Gopi Sundar is soothing to the ears.

The songs especially Appangalembadum made the audience dance along with the music in theatres. The other two songs in the movie flowed with the story well.

Faizzi, the character played by Dulquar Salman has performed well with his counterpart, Shahna, played by Nithya Menon. Nithya also did her job well. Mamukoya and Siddique as usual did justice to their roles.

After having sulaimani and biriyani from Ustad hotel,now it is time to make others know about this hotel. Usthad hotel is a really a clean cinema without any vulgor jokes or obscene scenes in it. This movie is produced by Listin Stephen under the banner of Magic Frames. He has gifted the movies Traffic and Chappkurisu to Malayalam industry earlier.

“Food should not be served just to fill ones stomach, but to get filled with the taste”. This is a dialogue in the movie. Likewise a movie should not be made just to make people watch it, but should be crafted for the audience to enjoy or understand it. Ustad hotel is serving this dual purpose.The entire crew of Ustad hotel can now travel across the bridge as they are wished happy journey by the spectators.