Ram Murali

My essay titled, “Let’s get all emotional” on “Dorothy”, the latest film of @karthiksubbaraj starring @KeerthyOfficial @Sananth__ @iam_rishikanth @ActorMuthukumar DOP: @DOP_Tirru Music: The King thinkinggotloud.blogspot.com… A snippet: “The film, through its memorable lead characters, urges us to possibly shed all the weight of negativity, to allow ourselves to luxuriate in the buoyancy of positive emotions.”

Me: “Enna Appa, phone ellam panna edukave maatiya?!” Appa: “Ore oru thadava pannitu adhu enna ‘phone elaam panna’ nu kadhai aLakkara…” Me:

It is entirely possible even to enjoy one more without being nasty about it. “Twitter battles are insane” - without a doubt!

Hello hello hello! What a pleasure to meet you, finally! @absolutarvind

Dil se re… He was at his charming best and Manisha looked angelic.

You know some people through only their work but their loss seems to cause genuine sadness in you. Vatsala Rajagopal, who uttered my most cherished movie line ever (from “Rhythm”), was one such artiste. There was something real about her whenever she appeared on screen. There was a certain artlessness in the way she delivered her lines. You will be missed, ma’am. Thank you for the memories that will help us immortalize you. @Vikranth93

I am a lot more okay with this now than I was in my youth. To not be liked is fine as long as I am within my bounds of propriety.

Sincere thanks to the friends who reached out to me. I am doing well…sort of. I am back on Twitter.

I am taking a break from Twitter for a few days. Stay well, friends.

My favorite remains, “chinna chinna vanna kuyil.” Revathi, by now, has fallen for Mohan. And how beautifully Vaali captures it. “Maenikull kaatru vandhu mella than aada kanden… Mangaikull kaadhal vellam gangai poal oada kanden…”

How sublime, Sara. So wonderful to read your piece, after a while. “I scrub the lamb smell from my fingertips, insert a cottonwool wick into the oil lamp, and light it, cupping the flame until it’s steady.” - what a glorious description. 👏👏👏 @PunyFingers

One of the many remarkable aspects of Thevar Magan is the strong writing for every character actor. ‘Kallapart’ Natarajan, who plays Revathi’s father, was brilliant in this scene.

Man, look at Sivaji! My aandavar’s aandavar!

To me, Thevar Magan’s finale is the greatest climactic sequence in Tamil cinema. The lines uttered by Kamal and SN Lakshmi (“dheivam yaar thalaya kondu poachu paathia”), Raja’s score, Vaali’s lines (“sonnavana thane soozhndhadhinru paavam”), PC’s tracking shot in the railway station, gestures like Kamal falling at the feet of his SIL, all made it unforgettable.

Forget about all the slow motion walks and ear-shattering bgm. The man truly does not need anything to bring ‘aura’ on screen. No, not even a cigarette. My favorite scene where more than acting chops, it was his presence that made him light up the screen, is from Thalapathi. When he says, “Devaraj ku edhuvum aagathu” you don’t believe him instantly just because of Surya (the character) saying it. It is *Rajnikanth* giving her the assurance. There is an air of assurance that he projects. It is beyond the soft manner of delivering the line. There is an ineffable comfort and familiarity with the star that makes the scene work. This is the aura that I cherish.

I am glad to see this given that my tendency to take copious notes has endured all these years 😀

Rajni has spoken in English both in comic sequences as well as in ‘mass’ sequences, the latter usually to put educated people in place. I have rarely found the writing convincing, in movies like “Mannan.” One exception was “Baba.” The car scene where he talks to the villain. I then realized that the difference was not just the English lines but the casualness. He would then add, “English correct thane Sir?!” I love seeing glimpses of that understatement on screen. Alas, he is expected to dial up every little moment! Sigh…

instagram.com/reel/De1j_rxst… Usually people sing praises of “Rhythm.” Here a Singh praises the film. :) Heart full. ❤️🎥