Tuesday, January 04, 2005

Angelic Swades, Demonic Waves and one exciting novel

I picked up 'Angels and Demons' by Dan Brown over the weekend and breezed through it. I have read 'Da Vinci Code' before and the structure of the novels is exactly identical. However, DVC is sharper in its execution and more to the point. I think the author's biggest problem is to achieve a fitting denouement after having built up the suspense till then. DVC was a letdown for me in that sense. I was expecting more bravura from the author. In that respect, at least this novel fares a little better. The best part however is that this is a genre of books which reeks of erudition and is completely new in its subject matter. The mystique and aura of the places mentioned in his novels makes me want to visit Europe. I am definitely going to read his other works, 'Deception Point' and 'Digital Fortress'. I read somewhere that he is writing a sequel to DVC as well.

I had to wait till I returned from my trip to see 'Swades'. Unusually long wait to see an SRK movie. I did put 'Angelic Swades' in the title of this blog, but that was only for effect. The points listed below list out my disagreement.
1. Music is good, but it has nothing new to offer. Has a definite Lagaan hangover. I could also trace repeats from Bombay and a couple of his other movies. As much as I like Rehman, he has got to innovate more to earn more respect from me. His 'Dil Se' was path-breaking and the second best album of the 90s after '1942: A Love Story'. But I haven't heard anything of that caliber since.
2. The tone of the movie was patronizing to say the least. I am not sure they want to hear that in India. For the movie to work in USA and UK, you need discerning audiences. To expect that would be a joke
3. SRK acting well worked against him. People like different avatars of SRK, not SRK in different avatars. That said, I don't think even avid SRK-loathers would thumb him down for this movie :-)
4. Gayatri Joshi had pretty good confidence, but needs to control that perennial frown on her face. Still, not a bad debut against King Khan
5. I am happy that Ashutosh Gowarikar tried his hand at a different kind of a movie. No one else had anything to prove in this movie except him. Lagaan was always going to be a tough act to match, and I think he redeemed himself only partially. Let's see where he goes from here. I don't watching this movie again, but I'd watch Lagaan anyday. Maybe patronizing is tolerable when it comes from an resident Indian :-)

Lastly, the tsunami tragedy has brought out the worst in nations and the best in people. America first pledged $15 million, which they raised to $350 million after severe media pressure. Such insensitivity from the world's richest nation is appalling. On the other hand, individuals have been pouring money generously for the cause. Around me, the NRI community has rallied well and a lot of money is being gathered for the purpose. I have had several people at work (Americans, Canadians et al) come up to me to see if any of my loved ones have been affected. We are even having a cricket tournament on the 22nd of Jan (a one day affair, 6 a side, 6 overs a side) to raise funds. I guess witnessing human suffering in a natural disaster does get bring out the sympathetic side in people. If only they did the same for all the millions who die in places like Africa every year. Do they need to wait for a tsunami or an earthquake to get our attention?

10 comments:

phucker said...

Hey, I liked Angels and Demons a little better than Da Vinci Code too, but to be fair, I don't think there was really any other way for the author to end DVC...have you checked out the dan brown's site? He has a few puzzles waiting for people there as well (www.danbrown.com).

Your review of Swades is right on, it's kind of the same as what i felt, but I guess you've expressed it a lot better. I think that it has a particular finesse/quality, which puts it at least into the B+ /A- league of movies. I mean if you asked me to pick between this and Main Hoon Na, I'd pick Swades any day. Of course, these movies are targeted at very different kinds of audiences and stuff...

Finally, on a Tsunami note, every employee of our company has voted yes to donating a day's pay to the relief effort (which is going to be matched by an equal contribution from the company). A lot of other software and non-software companies are doing that as well, and I think it's good to see private companies, and non-governmental bodies, like the NRIs you talk about get into the act as well!

In other news (warning - shameless plug), India refuses foreign aid, which is my next blog post..

phucker said...

You might to see this comment on Swades, lol...

Akruti said...

Hmm,i liked Angels and Demons, but i left davinci code in middle:)
absolutely right abt swadesh,and tsunami!!ya,whatever we all can do will be really helpful for them.godbless the ppl involved in the work

Parth said...

Yup, I did check the site only yesterday before writing this post. I especially liked seeing the pictures of the very same places that are mentioned in the novel.

sd said...

Hi Parth!

Remember me - Santanu - SPCE - mech - your junior. Found ur profile on orkut and thus found ur blog.
BTW - I like Swwades more than Lagaan!

sd

Parth said...

Hey Santanu, terrific to hear from you after these years. '99, is it? What are you upto nowadays?

30in2005 said...

Hi Parth,
I have been following your site for some time now and have oh-so-recently set up my own (completely lacking soul or direction yet but I'll get there). Just wanted to say in response to your 'Swades' post that I agree with almost all of your points. We (un-discerning lot in the UK!) found that one well though out point that made the movie worth watching. It was when SRK finally decides to come back to India his friend at NASA asks him what he is going to do. Now in an old time/un-thought-through movie SRK would have said something about becoming a farmer/ teacher in that little village. He said project manager in India's space programme. Counts for a lot in my book, because as a young Indian who does seriously consider moving back to India at some point, just shows that its the same life (not better not worse) when you go back, just your own people to surrounding you, not an abnormal movie type of life. Now I know its a movie and I dont mean to get carried away but hindi films do make me feel more connected to home. For people living in India I don't think its patronizing - I think its just shows that hard work is rewarding even in your own country and that not everything is brilliant abroad....

Just a though - not an argument!
Keep blogging!

sd said...

Hi Parth,

Is am 2000 mech batch. Good to see You at microsoft. I am at Purdue -pursuing a 'doctoral' program:-)

sd said...

Hi Parth,

Is am 2000 mech batch. Good to see You at microsoft. I am at Purdue -pursuing a 'doctoral' program:-)

Parth said...

I know your batch dude. I was just wondering when we last spoke. I don't think I met you after I left college in '99. Well, wonders of the virtual world!!!