After hearing rave reviews, word of mouth and several discussions in the cafeteria about the movie, I was so tempted to watch it in a hurry. I got tickets in a Premier theatre using my "influence". Then I watched....not once, but twice! I have tremendously enjoyed every moment; both times.
Arundhati is gripping, smart, intelligent, tacky! Anushka's best performance and I doubt, if she can ever beat this ever again. But, one such role is enough in a lifetime! She is Majestic as Jejemma and a very contrasting, diffident Arundhati. Ravi Shankar who dubbed for Sanu Sood's Character of Pasupati/Aghora is easily recognizable best dubbing effort. Without a doubt, this movie will be a milestone in Tollywood. Clever direction, deft editing, jaw dropping special affects (by far the best in Indian cinema) and exceptional production values will earn this movie a permanent place in Tollywood history. I was told it is going to be a guaranteed all time grosser. Blockbuster, no doubt! There is no denying, why the movie did so well.....umpteen people have written, gossiped about it already. I can easily visualize many awards for these efforts.
Leaving alone the hype, I have this uneasy feeling after my second viewing. I wanted to share with you some of my observations. Sometimes, we may revel in fun, not knowing if it is good for us or not. For example, smoking is fun, we may enjoy it, but we increase the risk of a lung cancer. So, for me, it is essential to know the consequence of doing something...
Where do I start?
There is form and there is content. The form is the physical manifestation of content. The content is made up of a theme, objects or characters and logic. The form is made up of voice, art, costumes, location, sound, musical score, photography and other technical aspects. In this case, there aren’t many limitations of form.
Theme:
A classical good vs. Evil theme! A strong protagonist needs even stronger villain! This story spread across generations, thus increasing the breath for 'form'. Villainy is built up using up not only all social evil but involving paranormal (a lot of scope for special effects team :-)). The more powerful these two characters, the more graphic (blood shed) and explicit (rituals and rapes), things can be depicted. The pretext for FX team is quite solid and convenient for gruesome scenes. Indeed!
Main Characters:
Jejamma: By far the strongest character. She is brave, determined; possess strong conviction, confident, lofty, kind, generous. I did not find any character flaws....
Pasupati: Embodiment of all evil. Perfect villain and a complement to Jejamma…
Jejamma's dad: He is a wimp (who lets his second daughter boss around, while he is still alive and kicking). His reasons not to punish Pasupati are implausible, as Pasupati has already harassed several people before he is married. Everyone in the town knows his son-in-law’s atrocities. To get him to marry his own daughter at the behest of his sister is unfathomable. To top it all, to say, it is because of his daughter's future, he is keeping mum is even more irresponsible. Had he behaved natural (with normal logic), this movie wouldn’t have happened! This character is the weakest and walked on the thin ice.
Satyanarayana, may not have known his mother (Jejamma) that well, as he is shown as a small boy, when she left. It is debatable, as to how he related to his mom..... I am sure; he would have heard legends about his mom, while he grew up. Since, he is deprived of being raised by Jejamma; his admiration for her could be called into question. Certainly, the way, he treats his grand-daughter with respectfulness tickles my bones!
Manorama is a bridge between the generations. Apparently, she has seen both Jejamma and Satyanarayana jr’s relationship. That would make me assume her age to be when she can remember. Say, she is 10 year old (she also claims only she and Jejamma knows what happened 48 days after Aghora’s death). If 80 years have passed since, her age should approximately be 90! Did you notice, she never shows up in the flash back! Probably because, we haven't technologically evolved in animation/SFX to impersonate a younger Manorama J
Arundhati: Another weak character (from the story point of view). This is a result of irrationality of the story. How could Arundhati accept adulation given by elders, if she doesn’t know her place in the Samsthanam’s history? Jejamma has explicitly directed everyone that she is going to be reborn and directed them to first girl by her name. Doesn't she know her direct lineage? How can she not identify the Atman of Satyanarayana’s brother? She conveniently did not, because the logic falls flat and impedes the progress of the movie? If we were to assume that she is bought up oblivious to Samsthanam’s history…..it will put the entire story in logical complications!
Pasupati: Embodiment of all evil. Perfect villain and a complement to Jejamma…
Jejamma's dad: He is a wimp (who lets his second daughter boss around, while he is still alive and kicking). His reasons not to punish Pasupati are implausible, as Pasupati has already harassed several people before he is married. Everyone in the town knows his son-in-law’s atrocities. To get him to marry his own daughter at the behest of his sister is unfathomable. To top it all, to say, it is because of his daughter's future, he is keeping mum is even more irresponsible. Had he behaved natural (with normal logic), this movie wouldn’t have happened! This character is the weakest and walked on the thin ice.
Satyanarayana, may not have known his mother (Jejamma) that well, as he is shown as a small boy, when she left. It is debatable, as to how he related to his mom..... I am sure; he would have heard legends about his mom, while he grew up. Since, he is deprived of being raised by Jejamma; his admiration for her could be called into question. Certainly, the way, he treats his grand-daughter with respectfulness tickles my bones!
Manorama is a bridge between the generations. Apparently, she has seen both Jejamma and Satyanarayana jr’s relationship. That would make me assume her age to be when she can remember. Say, she is 10 year old (she also claims only she and Jejamma knows what happened 48 days after Aghora’s death). If 80 years have passed since, her age should approximately be 90! Did you notice, she never shows up in the flash back! Probably because, we haven't technologically evolved in animation/SFX to impersonate a younger Manorama J
Arundhati: Another weak character (from the story point of view). This is a result of irrationality of the story. How could Arundhati accept adulation given by elders, if she doesn’t know her place in the Samsthanam’s history? Jejamma has explicitly directed everyone that she is going to be reborn and directed them to first girl by her name. Doesn't she know her direct lineage? How can she not identify the Atman of Satyanarayana’s brother? She conveniently did not, because the logic falls flat and impedes the progress of the movie? If we were to assume that she is bought up oblivious to Samsthanam’s history…..it will put the entire story in logical complications!
Story and Logic:
Haunted House Mystery: History of the abandoned house (particularly, because, it is ‘haunted house’) should not have been a secret. There were a lot of witnesses to what happened when Aghora returned. The Samsthanam is abandoned....as there were a lot of gruesome murders....containment of Aghora and a deadly plague, subsequently. If there is a haunted house, how come Anwar not have a clue about this? There were so many “possession” cases Anwar resolves on a regular basis, stories about Satyanarayana’s brother appearances is also talked about….then, his warnings should also must have been known. As a whole, a thing or two the about the abandoned mansion should have been known.
Aghora’s Revenge: Why would he avenge only Arundhati? How does Aghori know that Jejamma is reborn (or will be born again?)? If he knows that Jejamma by some psychic powers, then why did he not make any attacks as soon as Arundhati is born? How would he know about her marriage? How could Aghora get his human form at the end? What evil did Aghora did in the 80 years? Does he have so much patience? Why did he fail all the years to lure a single person to have him released from the tomb? Is it due to the Satyanarayana’s brother’s atman only? When is he going to get Vimukthi? Didn't anyone try tresspassing into the mansion for 80 years...why only one who seeks his wife (suseela)?
Jejamma’s sacrifice and last days: To end the evil, Jejamma needs to sacrifice....but, there will not be any hurry! Because, it is not in this life that she can to end evil. Hence she could have lived till her first son’s marriage (die, hoping to be reborn to him). Since, she couldn’t have been able to stop anything Aghora must have unleashed. Apparently, after the great plague, Aghora hasn’t done any evil to the people of Gadwal.
Jejamma’s forgotten? Possibly, there would have been a lot of legend/speculation of the reasons why Jejamma never returned? Did the people deem her dead? Do they know Jejamma is leaving then on a sacrificial mission (people certainly behaved as if, she has going on a suicide mission) and forgot her?
Jejamma writes everything...but, why did not she give instructions to her family to educate Arundhati, if born again, that it is indeed her reincarnation? She must also have left these secrets to be shared with her…..because; it should be her mission to end evil. Things like this should be left to chance….it should have been well planned. Alas, it was shown that Jejamma is brave, doesn’t mean that she a great planner J
Killing of Aghora: How did he assume a human form? How does Arundhati know how to kill Aghora? Why did she stab Aghora after stabbing herself (apparently, she did not get the clue from Anwar)? The saint has said this only to Anwar or do we have to tacitly understand even Jejamma knew it?
Some Petty things:
The age of the Saint, who helped Jejamma? If we suppose his age at the time of meeting Jejamma to be 31 (age when Buddha has attained his enlightenment), add another 80? That is a real tough Saint who tests the limits of longevity!
Why did Aghora want Arundhati want her in Gadwal? Why did he not let her cross Gadwal? His power seems to be working nevertheless in Hyderabad where he scared Rahul?
There is always logical problem in creating stories that have not happened (fiction). The logical problems are even more, if we are dealing with non-existing realms. This story is just a classic example of the classic problem of socio-fantasies.
A note about Aghoris: When I was a growing up (early 1980s, when "tulasidalam", a social-fantasy also made a huge splash), I read a novel called "Muudo Purushaardam" by Chivukula Purushottam. He described Aghoris way of living vividly and how other people misunderstand their tenets. He claims them as saints. The wikipedia entry also suggests that this is a sect/cult with only handfuls of them are left in Varanasi. They are not evil doers; it is just that they may have ambivalence to living or dead, human or animal....can't argue too much about it. Demonizing them...saying that they involve in voodoo, witchcraft and sorcery is purely to create dramatic affect in the movie.
Enjoy the movie...but be cautious of accepting what you see. To me, this movie is a pseudo-fantasy thriller. We should reject regressive influences of such movies. I am not saying reject the movie...I am saying do not accept everything you see. Know and be conscious of what you should reject in the movie. Enjoy responsibly! Make no mistake about it...Arundhati is a great ride....still.
Aghora’s Revenge: Why would he avenge only Arundhati? How does Aghori know that Jejamma is reborn (or will be born again?)? If he knows that Jejamma by some psychic powers, then why did he not make any attacks as soon as Arundhati is born? How would he know about her marriage? How could Aghora get his human form at the end? What evil did Aghora did in the 80 years? Does he have so much patience? Why did he fail all the years to lure a single person to have him released from the tomb? Is it due to the Satyanarayana’s brother’s atman only? When is he going to get Vimukthi? Didn't anyone try tresspassing into the mansion for 80 years...why only one who seeks his wife (suseela)?
Jejamma’s sacrifice and last days: To end the evil, Jejamma needs to sacrifice....but, there will not be any hurry! Because, it is not in this life that she can to end evil. Hence she could have lived till her first son’s marriage (die, hoping to be reborn to him). Since, she couldn’t have been able to stop anything Aghora must have unleashed. Apparently, after the great plague, Aghora hasn’t done any evil to the people of Gadwal.
Jejamma’s forgotten? Possibly, there would have been a lot of legend/speculation of the reasons why Jejamma never returned? Did the people deem her dead? Do they know Jejamma is leaving then on a sacrificial mission (people certainly behaved as if, she has going on a suicide mission) and forgot her?
Jejamma writes everything...but, why did not she give instructions to her family to educate Arundhati, if born again, that it is indeed her reincarnation? She must also have left these secrets to be shared with her…..because; it should be her mission to end evil. Things like this should be left to chance….it should have been well planned. Alas, it was shown that Jejamma is brave, doesn’t mean that she a great planner J
Killing of Aghora: How did he assume a human form? How does Arundhati know how to kill Aghora? Why did she stab Aghora after stabbing herself (apparently, she did not get the clue from Anwar)? The saint has said this only to Anwar or do we have to tacitly understand even Jejamma knew it?
Some Petty things:
The age of the Saint, who helped Jejamma? If we suppose his age at the time of meeting Jejamma to be 31 (age when Buddha has attained his enlightenment), add another 80? That is a real tough Saint who tests the limits of longevity!
Why did Aghora want Arundhati want her in Gadwal? Why did he not let her cross Gadwal? His power seems to be working nevertheless in Hyderabad where he scared Rahul?
There is always logical problem in creating stories that have not happened (fiction). The logical problems are even more, if we are dealing with non-existing realms. This story is just a classic example of the classic problem of socio-fantasies.
A note about Aghoris: When I was a growing up (early 1980s, when "tulasidalam", a social-fantasy also made a huge splash), I read a novel called "Muudo Purushaardam" by Chivukula Purushottam. He described Aghoris way of living vividly and how other people misunderstand their tenets. He claims them as saints. The wikipedia entry also suggests that this is a sect/cult with only handfuls of them are left in Varanasi. They are not evil doers; it is just that they may have ambivalence to living or dead, human or animal....can't argue too much about it. Demonizing them...saying that they involve in voodoo, witchcraft and sorcery is purely to create dramatic affect in the movie.
Enjoy the movie...but be cautious of accepting what you see. To me, this movie is a pseudo-fantasy thriller. We should reject regressive influences of such movies. I am not saying reject the movie...I am saying do not accept everything you see. Know and be conscious of what you should reject in the movie. Enjoy responsibly! Make no mistake about it...Arundhati is a great ride....still.
