Nila's daddy best-est!!

Not that I’m a conservative Indian in terms of wanting to watch movies with the protagonist running around trees, punching the antagonist and finally taking home his lady love; it’s just that it is much better than a movie with expletives in every single line and having to hear fellow viewers laugh just ‘cause the F word was used!

Such was my state when I watched ‘Delhi Belly’. I wouldn’t say I did not like the movie; I liked it in bits (Amir Khan’s item number for sure!). But having to hear people laugh just because someone swore and saw shit is a little annoying for me. I again re-iterate – I am not a conservative Indian movie viewer. I sure am up for a change; something which leaves me feeling happy at the end of it all. And I did end up watching such a movie – Deiva Thiirumagal.

The movie is a brilliant adaptation of ‘I am Sam’. As the director mentions, there is absolutely no similarity in terms of the story and it is completely Indian! One can relate to the storyline entirely and having watched ‘I am Sam’, not at one instance do I compare this version to the original.

Krishna, a borderline mentally challenged person, played brilliantly by Vikram, exudes all the qualities of the ‘best-est’ father in spite of his shortcomings. His wife Bhanu, a social worker, runs away from a wealthy home to fall in love with Krishna and mother his child. She unfortunately is chosen to go back to God, leaving behind her husband and the new born to fend for themselves.

Thanks to Krishna’s employer and other friends, little Nila grows up quite well. Trouble knocks first when she is admitted into school and she is unable to finish her homework etcetera. The correspondent of the school ends up being a mother figure to Nila, who actually turns out to be Nila’s kin. Nila is whisked away, leaving Krishna all alone.

How he gets his loved one back is the storyline of this movie and the ways and means used is what makes it an Indian story!

The choice of artistes could not have been better! Vikram as Krishna is utterly heart-warming whether he is being affectionate to his daughter or when he is around with his friends/colleagues. His timing of comedy is impeccable and is equally good when he gives us tears. My only issue was when he ran; it quite looked like what he was in Pithamagan!

Sarah, the little girl who portrayed Nila’s character is one girl anyone would want to take home and treasure! She has been made up very well whether it was the holy ash on her forehead or the clothes she wore. Her acting definitely was good and mature at several instances.

Anushka’s character as the lawyer was crisp and for once a female lead was not a mere bimbo. Her father, played by Y. G. Mahendran was a pleasant watch as well. The strained relationship between daughter and father improves, thanks to Krishna’s stay at their home.

Nasser, as the highly successful lawyer, M.S. Bhaskar as Krishna’s colleague and friend, Anushka’s friend who plays another lawyer and the guy (sorry, did not find his name) who is smitten by Anuskha’s friend, calling her ‘dear’ throughout – have all played their roles to perfection.

But for me, the real hero was Santhanam who played Vinod, another lawyer who works with Anushka. The timing of his comedy was faultless and for those who are tired of watching Vadivel getting beaten up and calling it comedy or Vivek letting fly punch dialogues with a message, Santhanam is a whiff of fresh air! Whether he calls Krishna, Mr. Sweater or is forced to act as though he is mentally retarded, to get away from trouble, he was just too good!

Nirav Shah as cinematographer has done a commendable job and our very own Ooty looked stunning. Music by G.V. Prakash, needless to say, was pleasing again. For me the stand out songs had to be ‘Aariro’ by Haricharan and ‘Vizhigalil oru Vaanavil’ by Sandhavi.

Overall, I’d give it a 4 on 5.

Can I pledge?

I received my passport when I was 16 years old. In India, a cop comes home to verify your address and only then hands over the passport to you. However, when he came home, I was not there and a note invited me to the area’s police station.

Not having committed any crime before, not having lost my mobile phone till then (Received my first mobile phone just a couple of months earlier, obviously my life came a close second compared to my phone, so there was no way of losing it!), thankfully not having to complain against any crime witnessed whatsoever – I’d never been to a police station. The only picture I had of a police station was like the ones I'd seen in movies. So expecting something like that, I responded to the invitation of the cop and went with my aunt.

After the verification, I was given my passport along with some sort of a sticker which had ‘Police Day’ printed on it. I looked at the cop and thanked him thinking it was some sort of a freebie (not that I was interested in getting a sticker). He gave me this weird grin and said, “When I came to your house, you weren’t there. Now you come during my working hours, how can you leave me empty handed? Pay for the sticker.”

I looked at my aunt, who without batting an eyelid, removed a 50 buck note and handed it over to the cop and dragged me out of the station. My first experience with bribing - corruption indirectly. An aspiring journalist that I was back then, I just couldn't keep quiet but thanks to my aunt who gave me ‘that’ look and I silently followed her. “First of all, we are coming to a place where women should not be going and now you want to argue? What if he did not give you the passport and marked you as a criminal or something?” My mind kept telling me she’s wrong but in my heart I did feel fear.

8 years later, now, I took my parents to the revamped passport office to apply for a new passport. The passport service, now being taken care of TCS is a boon for sure. No more middle-men, one has to book appointments in advance and at every stage, there are professionals to help you get your passport. My experience at the office in order to update my marital status was hassle free though the process took me 4 hours. The wait was worthwhile.

Coming to my experience when I took my parents was quite different. For those who are not net savvy, they queue up at the office and since only a fixed number is sent in to apply for their passports without prior appointment, the queue begins at an inhuman hour. People apparently come at 4 in the morning hoping to be the first ones to enter. My parents and I joined the queue at around 8 am which I thought was decent for a 9.30 am open, I was instantly proven wrong.

9.30 am arrived and all hell broke loose. The first 30 quickly walked in and someone who had been waiting since 6 am who was not one of the lucky ones obviously got angry and a huge fight followed. Somehow many others managed to get in claiming they came to check their forms, so on and so forth. This time around, I gave in to what I call corruption! I went to one of the concerned people and explained that my mom was ill and could not come again and stand in another long queue. Thanks to them for considering what I said, I managed to get passports for my parents on that day itself.

Sick with guilt that I resorted to something as cheap as giving my mom’s health a reason to get work done; I also felt in some way I was feeding corruption. I may have been truthful about the reason, but imagine if 4 other healthy people came with such claims and got their work done as well?

Why am I saying all this? When Anna Hazare started his anti-corruption fast, it got me all thinking. Hats off to this man for starting something which was long awaited; also to all those tens of thousands who have joined hands in pledging support. But before joining him in the noble cause, we must pledge not to give way to corruption and then fight against the same. Anna Hazare, I pledge my support, but give me time to change myself and then I am sure I will stand up against corruption.