Okay, so I’m loving how busy this mission is keeping me, with no time for idle thoughts and all that, but the daily travelling is wearing me out! I don’t know how I managed to get around town during my college days when I was clocking so many more miles in a week than I do in a month these days.
Here goes day four of Mission 7D.7F.7C:
Date: March 4, 2010
Film: Invictus
Cinema: PVR Cinemas, Forum Mall, Hosur Road, Bangalore
What was supposed to be an inspirational film about South Africa’s first black leader using the sport of rugby to unite a country torn apart by apartheid turned out to be a disappointing series of events that relies too heavily on metaphors and forced sentimentality to represent the coming together of racially distinct groups.
With most films, by the time the closing credits roll, you have a good idea of what the film was about. With Invictus though, the core idea behind the film becomes murkier as the film progresses till you are left wondering what the story was all about. For example, is this the story of a new president working hard to bring his people together? Or is it about the wonders that a sport can bring about? Or is it about two leaders influencing each other such that it brings about a winning situation for both? I don’t know! Maybe the director was trying to tell too many stories at the same time, failing to tell even one in a manner that resonates with the audience.
Something about it’s narration and pace makes it seem staged and not real enough. It lacks focus. Almost as if the entire film is based on a formula for box office success as opposed to what really happened. Where true stories go, Clint Eastwood should have taken a page out of ‘Remember The Titans’.
I’m so disappointed, I don’t even have a review for you folks.
For that, I rate the film a poor 2.5/5.
How it has been nominated for two Oscars, escapes me.
You know you’re on a mission when having to ride over pot-holed roads in the searing day-time heat for an hour just to get to a cinema hall doesn’t bother or deter you. That’s what I had to do today and though I’m pooped right now, I thoroughly enjoyed the change of scenery.
Here goes day three of Mission 7D.7F.7C:
Date: March 3, 2010 (Wednesday)
Film: Ishqiya
Cinema: Innovative Multiplex, Outer Ring Road, Marathalli, Bangalore
After becoming a regular at multiplex chains like PVR and Inox, it can come as a rude shock that Innovative Multiplex, which was the first of its kind in Bangalore city, can even be called a multiplex any more. The branded, upmarket experience that comes to mind when one thinks of the word ‘multiplex’ is not what you will get at Innovative Multiplex. At best, brace yourself for something that is neither old-school stand-alone theatre nor glitzy multiple screen haven, but something in between. From dirty food preparation areas in the pseudo “food court” to a balcony-like “gold class” in the cinema hall, I was not prepared for what I saw in spite of having seen a film years ago at the same premises. To say that I am really glad I don’t live anywhere near Innovative Multiplex would be an understatement.
Moving on to the purpose of my visit, I must say I seem to have chosen a string of films for my mission that all have one thing in common—humour that is incidental to the situations the protagonists find themselves in. Neither forced nor contrived. Just the way I like it. And in this regard Ishqiya is no different.
Set in the small town of Gorakhpur in northern India, Ishqiya is a rustic exploration of love in its different forms as experienced by the three central characters: Krishna Verma (Vidya Balan), Khalujan (Naseeruddin Shah) and Babban Hussain (Arshad Warsi).
Khalujan and Babban are two small time criminals on the run from their boss Mushtaq, who they have stolen money from. After trying every number on their cell phones for a place to hide without any luck, they decide to seek shelter at the house of Verma, who they had once helped in a similar situation. Unknown to them, Verma was killed in a gas cylinder blast and so, when they reach his house in Gorakhpur, it is his widow Krishna who welcomes them.
Before long, the lonely widow has captured the imagination of both Khalujan and Babban and while they try to win her over in their own different ways, she pines for her own dead lover. So who finally gets who? Watch the film to find out. My mission isn’t to spoil surprises.
I don’t know if it had something to do with director Abhishek Chaubey’s long-term association with Vishal Bharadwaj, but the rural setting of Ishqiya has a lot in common with Vishal’s own directorial masterpiece—the brilliant ‘Omkara’. From the village-like setting to the characters’ crude language and colourful fashion sense, the film’s similarities with Omkara lend it a credibility too often lacking in a “Bollywood” obsessed with glamour and international attention.
Naseeruddin Shah is excellent as the old-world romantic Khalujan. After having seen him perform live on stage, I can’t imagine him not making any of his roles look good any more. And for some reason, I feel that Arshad Warsi is at his best when playing the quintessential ‘tapori’ (as in the Munnabhai franchise). He has perfected the ’small-time gangster’ persona on-screen. And Vidya Balan does indeed look best in a saree without losing out on the intense ferocity she is becoming known for.
Overall, Ishqiya deserves a 3.5/5 for reminding us of the charms of village life.
Have you seen the film? What did you think of it?
I haven’t even posted my second film experience of the week and I’m already feeling the pressure of having to keep this up for another 5 days. It’s not that I can’t go through with it. I just don’t want to do a bad job of it by rushing through. Which isn’t easy considering the hectic (and random) flow of thoughts inside my head. So, putting that thought on the back-burner for a while, here goes day two of Mission 7D.7F.7C:
Date: March 2, 2010 (Tuesday)
Film: Up In The Air
Cinema: Inox, Garuda Mall, Magrath Road, Bangalore
The best thing about watching films on weekdays is that you’re almost certain of getting tickets for any show of the day, especially if you’re by yourself. Plus, most multiplexes just haven’t been as full as they were pre-recession. Which works very well for my crowd-hating introverted self. I got even luckier today with the best seat in the auditorium (last row from the screen and below the projector beam)! There just weren’t enough takers for the silver screen tonight.
Coming to the film, I really appreciated the subtle use of colour and well-designed type in the opening credits (a lean sans serif typeface in white for names combined with a rustic old-world serif typeface in yellow for other info) of Up In The Air. It cleverly set the mood for what was to be a meandering journey through one man’s realisation of the emptiness in his own life. In some ways, the film reminded me of ‘Away We Go’, with its gentle unfolding of events to the happy conclusion at the end.
Up In The Air is about a professional downsizer, Ryan Bingham (George Clooney), who spends his years flying from one city to another, firing people from their jobs. An accomplished business traveller, he has mastered the art of breezing through airports, planes, rental cars and hotel rooms without making any real connection with the people he is surrounded by. He prides himself in leading a life of isolated existence without the commitments that bog other people down till he falls for a woman named Alex Goran (Vera Farmiga), who, like him, is also a frequent flyer.
In spending time with her, he begins to question his beliefs about never wanting to get married or settle down. At the same time, the conversations he has with Natalie Keener (Anna Kendrick), a 20-something colleague he is training, nudge him to re-evaluate what life means to him. Does he really want to continue living out of a cabin-baggage sized wheeler case with no one to come home to? Or does he want to grow old in the company of a woman he loves? At a conference in Las Vegas, where he is giving his renowned ‘empty your backpack’ seminar, the answer comes to him before he has even managed to finish his first sentence. But he is in for a rude surprise even as he finally acknowledges the emptiness in his life that has been masked as ambition all this while (he is on the verge of earning 10 million frequent flyer miles and joining a very exclusive club with few other members).
The film ends with Ryan finally having made a connection with people that goes beyond the superficial. He transfers enough of his miles to enable his recently married younger sister and her husband to go an a honeymoon vacation around the world that they couldn’t afford. He writes a glowing recommendation letter for Natalie (who quit her job after finding out that a woman she fired had committed suicide just as she had said she would) that bags her the job she had originally wanted. He starts empathising with the people he is sent to fire.
And so, he finally makes the connection that the film’s poster says he is ready for.
Watch the film for director Jason Reitman’s characteristic brand of unconventional humour that has given previous hits like “Juno” and “Thank You For Smoking“.
Though the film might not connect as much with Indian audiences who haven’t had to bear the brunt of the global recession as the Americans have, it does have a very important message for us urban dwellers as we are dangerously on the verge of losing our connections with local community in an over-connected digital world dominated by Facebook and Twitter.
I rate the film a cool 5/5. Go watch it!
While leafing through the newspaper a few days ago, I had this crazy idea for shaking things up a little in my life, which has been going through an excruciatingly dull lull lately. (I’m not someone who can go without the buzz of accomplishment—no matter how trivial—for too long.)
So, seeing that many of the films I fancied watching were already running in cinemas and a few were slated to release with the next change, I decided to watch 7 films in 7 days in 7 different cinema halls (that’s what the 7D.7F.7C in the title is for) and then come back home and write about my experience every day! The ‘coming back home and writing’ bit is meant to give me quality writing practice and more importantly, to teach me to curb my tendency to procrastinate.
So wish me luck and let me know what you think of my “crazy” idea.
Here goes day one of Mission 7D.7F.7C:
Date: March 1, 2010 (Monday)
Film: Karthik Calling Karthik
Cinema: Fun Cinemas, Grand Sigma Mall, Cunningham Road, Bangalore
The really odd thing about Fun Cinemas is the location of its box office (ticket counters). Especially if you are in a hurry to catch a film that is minutes away from starting. So no matter what you do, do not rush up to the fourth floor where the screens are, assuming you will get tickets there too. Instead, calmly proceed to the basement parking (finding the way to which, might I add, is a task in itself) where the ticket booths are actually (and rather illogically) situated, buy your ticket and use the elevator to make up for lost time.
Luckily for me, I arrived in good time and had no anxious moments about whether I would miss the crucial first few minutes of the film or not. There’s nothing I hate more than lowering my bottom into a plush seat after the feature presentation has already begun.
(Which brings me to a suggestion for those who do find themselves in the unenviable position of having to wade through a furrow of shins, feet and uncomfortable glares to get to their designated seats after lights have been dimmed and the screening started: DON’T FACE THE SCREEN WHILE DOING THE SQUEEZE AND SHUFFLE! POINT YOUR BUTT AT IT, INSTEAD! No one wants to have to look at another person’s backside while they block the giant curtain and take away valuable seconds of seductive cinematographic sightings. I’d rather have the satisfaction of viewing embarrassment plastered on your face than cringing at Mickey Mouse boxer shorts that barely hide the eighth wonder of the ancient world—your hairy crevice.)
Coming to my views on the film itself, I must say I am very disappointed by those responsible for designing and art directing the film’s publicity. When I saw the trailer for Karthik Calling Karthik on television and then its advertisements in the newspaper, the typography, colour scheme and style of visuals used in them all led me to believe that this was another quirky comedy of recent times á la Bheja Fry. In reality, the film has very little for you to cackle over. This bugs me even more because as a graphic designer myself, I feel deceived by its promos. A big thumbs down to Himanshu and Rahul Nanda for misrepresenting the content such.
Briefly put, the film is about a shy introvert called Karthik who lets people walk all over him and treat him like dirt while the very beautiful Shonali, who he secretly desires, doesn’t even know he exists in the same office where she works. After a bad day at work that ends in him being fired and humiliated by his boss, Karthik slips into a passive, comatose depression, rarely leaving his apartment and spending his days listlessly flicking channels on TV. One night, he gets a call from someone who also calls himself Karthik and thus begins a friendship between them that changes Karthik’s life for the better. On following the mysterious caller’s advice, ‘Karthik the loser’ turns into ‘Karthik the winner’ who gets his job back (with a higher post and salary) and wins the heart of Shonali, the female colleague he secretly desires.
All is well (the first half of the film) till Karthik tries to explain his alter-ego on the phone to Shonali so that there are no lies between them. In doing so, he breaks his promise to ‘Karthik the caller’ and all hell breaks loose (the second half of the film) till his psychiatrist figures out what’s going on. In that diagnosis of Karthik’s problem by the psychiatrist rests the brilliance of the entire plot helping the film conclude at the right pace without being too abrupt or drawn-out.
As far as acting goes, I feel Farhan Akhtar does a commendable job of playing the shy and introverted Karthik. Deepika Padukone doesn’t have much of a role as Shonali and seems to have been cast to provide ‘visual relief’ (aka eye candy) more than anything else. The chemistry between Farhan and Deepika is surprisingly non-existent (in spite of her good looks) and romantic scenes between them are a struggle. It’s almost as if two strangers who have just met are being forced into a romantic relationship with each other. Like in this still, Farhan seems uncomfortable being so close to Deepika, physically and emotionally, throughout the film:
Overall, I would give Karthik Calling Karthik a rating of 3/5 and hope the director, Vijay Lalwani continues to explore such interesting concepts in future films.
Where films based on psychiatric disorders go, I would recommend this one over Bhool Bhulaiyaa any day.
I hope my review was helpful to at least some of you who haven’t watched the film already. With more practice over the coming 6 days, I should become a more articulate reviewer and might even think of upstaging Nandini Ramnath, who writes for Time Out Bangalore. Keep your feedback coming in or I will never know.
Now go check out the vigil idiot’s review of KCK (in stick-figure comic form).
It’s been a while since I got around to conducting another interview for my 6KQ series, but number 4 is finally here. This time, I caught up with Jesse Kuhn, a New York based illustrator and designer who gives away free photo prints of his work every month (I was lucky enough to be a recipient) through an on-line contest.
Jesse Kuhn, Illustrator and Graphic Designer, NYC
[Note: All images used in this entry are the property of Jesse Kuhn and may not be re-used without his permission.]
1. Thank you for agreeing to spare some time from your busy schedule for this interview, Jesse. First of, what inspired you to become an illustrator?
Jesse: I think it just comes down to the very basic of idea of loving to create. The ability to take a blank space and turn it into something that others are able to connect with never gets old for me. The communication aspect is very important. The idea that we have the ability to create images that will continue to communicate long after we are gone has always been inspiring to me. Illustration tends to be a very independent process for the most part which suits me well too. Even as a kid I remember being completely self entertained. I could easily get consumed by a lego sculpture for several days (sometimes weeks) until it was ready for the grand unveiling to my family and any other random visitors. I still like that part of the process too, Mom and Dad get mailed a copy of everything that I do.
'Greetings From Mr Bird' by Raw Toast Design
2. What has been the toughest lesson to learn in all the years that you’ve been practising the art of illustration?
Jesse: Earlier on, patience and flexibility was a little tough. I’ve learned to embrace all aspects of life and illustration though; requests, revisions, difficult clients, etc. There’s always a silver lining and a lesson to be learned. Even if the client is a nightmare, get through the job professionally, take them off your mailing list, grow from it, and move on. Another tough one on the business side was taxes. Make sure you are preparing for this quarterly, especially if your income is comprised of freelancing only. The government is going to make sure they get their cut eventually, might as well prepare for it so you don’t have to buy a truck load of Prozac later.
'Meathead' by Raw Toast Design
3. How much of a role does the creative environment of NYC – where your studio is located – play in influencing your work?
Jesse: New York has been fundamental for my creative career as well as personal exploration and growth. The pulse of this city is like no other that I know of. So many resources, culture, mixes of societal class, and mountains of inspiration packed so densely onto one little island. It’s definitely not an inexpensive place to live either, which forced me to reevaluate my fees and also helped me get off the couch for more work. I suppose when more work = drawing more pictures, things could definitely be worse. I’m grateful every morning for the city I live in and the work I get to choose to do in it.
'Adrift' by Raw Toast Design
4. What is the story behind the name of your studio – Raw Toast Design?
Jesse: Raw Toast actually came about during a late night run to a casino diner many moons ago. “It” was summoned to the counter after a friend had asked for the fastest thing they had on the menu. The waitress did a quick turn, spun back around, and tossed some bread n butter in front of us. I then mumbled “RawToast?”… everyone laughed and the name sort of stuck with me after that. So a couple years later it became my stage name in the art world 
You could say some of the basic principles of “bread n butter” are what I try to strive for within my illustrations as well… simple, uncomplicated, conceptual, with a sweet n salty sprinkling of sarcasm.
5. From your own experiences of working while constantly on the move, do you think the notion of ‘travelling designer/artist’ can be a financially viable reality?
Jesse: Most definitely. Working virtually is so easy now. Technology keeps getting smaller and it’s sort of a challenge to go someplace that isn’t “connected” anymore. I can actually process credit cards on my phone now too. Clients don’t really question where in the world the work is coming from, all that matters to them is that it’s on time and done well. The main thing you need to have squared away is where they need to send the check. And if you’re not going to be there, make sure someone who can cash and deposit it for you is
'Unwritten Letters' by Raw Toast Design
6. And finally, tell us a little about the contest where you give away a photo print of your work as a prize to randomly selected people every month. How do the people reading this participate in it?
Jesse: Sure, it’s quite simple. I give away a free signed 5×7 print of the winners choice each month and there is a grand prize drawing for one of my limited edition 16×20 prints at the end of the year as well. If you tweet it or post it to your blog or facebook (and send me the link) I’ll enter you twice for that month. Each month starts over, so people should enter every month if they want to be eligible for each monthly drawing. Only one entry during the year is needed for the grand prize drawing though. Blog shout outs will get you an extra entry for the grand prize too. Details are on the blog: http://tinyurl.com/ycm5zjx.
For more info on Jesse and Raw Toast Design, visit his website at www.rawtoastdesign.com.
Portfolio of the Month: Hörður Lárusson
Hörður Lárusson is an Icelandic graphic designer based in Reykjavik who has a very interesting and distinctive way of using typography.
Of all the really good work in his portfolio, his Málið project appealed the most to me. Must be my soft corner for editorial design or solid boxes with white text in them. As he has done here:
Oh, and his Örlagaeggin brochure has to be the most originally conceived I have ever seen. The scrapbook like quality gives it a very casual, almost innocent feel. A far cry from the bland, impersonal corporate literature stuffed with stock photos of men and women in boring suits that we are so used to seeing. I wonder if the text and images were actually torn and pasted as seen below:
Bravo Hörður! I wonder if there are any Scandinavian names out there that are easy to type/pronounce.
What do you think of his work?
My Dream Is To Fly
If there is such a thing as a visual representation of poetry (“in motion”, as the now famous cliché goes), than it has to be this music video for ‘Rise Up’ by Yves Larock. I mean just look at those boys’ mad rope-skipping skills. If I could create art in four dimensions (yes, including time), it would be something like this (though probably not even half as cool):
If you can’t see the video above, click here to view it on YouTube.
I’m turning green with envy even as my own nylon skipping rope remains purple. Some day…!
Here’s an announcement for all art aficionados in Bangalore city:
My artist friend, Gitanjali Sukumar, who has recently returned from Sydney, will be exhibiting her paintings and other work at the Alliance Francaise de Bangalore this coming weekend. The exhibition opens on Friday, February the 19th at 6 pm and goes on till Monday, February the 22nd.
A graduate of the College of Fine Arts, University of New South Wales; her work is a study of nature as interpreted through the beliefs of her Indian heritage. Apart from working with watercolours, oil and acrylic paints, she has also dabbled in sculpture and jewellery making.
Her work draws largely from her upbringing and sense of national identity, and all artists can identify with this, even if their work draws on other factors in life: family, friends, foxy bingo online, sports or music. Her work is of high quality and this focus on Indian culture brings about it a personal level of involvement with her art.
So come on over to the Alliance Francaise de Bangalore and feast your eyes on some earthy creations by an animal lover.
“Chuck Green is a graphic designer and principle of Logic Arts, a design and marketing firm.”
The quote above is from a book I bought a few years ago called “Design-It-Yourself: Graphic Workshop” by Chuck Green.
While the book is one of those ‘must have in my personal library’ ones for any self-respecting graphic designer, his website is an even more useful collection of design resources. Three URLs that you MUST bookmark in particular are:
1. www.ideabook.com (CG’s main site)
2. www.pageplane.com (his blog, where he shares many interesting finds from the Internet)
3. www.jumpola.com (his brilliant BIG list of every possible resource a designer would ever need)
In my opinion, Chuck Green is more than a graphic designer and principle, he is an educator and friend to others in the creative industries. Kudos to you for that, CG!
Portfolio of the Month: Mago
Just came across this guy’s portfolio on his website and I am blown away:
His name is Magomed Dovjenko and he is a graphic designer + illustrator based in Germany. Can you believe the kind of detailing that he gives to all his creations? It’s bloody brilliant! Must take many hours of effort and thought. His work makes me say, “I wish I could do that”.
What do you think of it?