TAMIL FILM "AAHA KALYANAM" : A Review

A BREEZY ENTERTAINER

(By Subbaram Danda)

An unexpected invitation took me and my wife to the newly-released film “Aaha Kalyanam,” a Tamil romantic flick produced by the famous Yash Raj Films and directed by Gokul Krishna. A remake of the highly successful Hindi movie “Band Baaja Baaraat,” it features dashing Nani and Bollywood sensation Vaani Kapoor in lead roles. Veteran actress Simran appears in a few scenes.

As the film rolled, its storyline fascinated me. It has, at its core, the activities of the fast emerging breed of wedding planners, about whom I have also written but in a different context. In the short story “Celebrations Exotica” in my book “The Rustles of Pleasure” I have highlighted the trend of organizing weddings in novel ways and at unconventional sites like beaches, palaces, castles, foothills, large parks and even lagoons. Facilitating this are the wedding planners, who are much more than contractors. They are smart professionals, who leave no stone unturned in arranging everything from A to Z for a wedding. They release the parents of the bride and the groom from a variety of hassles, of course for a swank fee!

The main plot of the film revolves around the roller-coaster love affair between the partners of a firm of wedding planners – a ravishingly beautiful lass and a dynamic young guy. Interspersed are the trials and tribulations faced by these planners in a world of cut-throat competition and underhand deals.

Presented in a breezy style, the film treads on a refreshingly new track leaving behind the old clichés of the Tamil film industry. The first half runs fast capturing the attention of the audience, while the second half meanders but ultimately it too catches up. The film is remarkable for its pleasingly colourful, expensive settings and fast-paced dances in sync with resonating songs. The bewitchingly gorgeous costumes that the heroine sports have the potential to become the rage of the teens. Happily, contrived fighting scenes are missing.  There is no separate comedy track either.

February 24, 2014



HUMOUR UNLEASHED -- 28

HUMOUR UNLEASHED -- 28

(Compiled by Subbaram Danda)

 Sometimes humour is like an exotic orchid flower.

It does not appeal to all !



Relatives

A man and his wife, who were known to cut jokes at the expense of each other at every available opportunity, were driving on a village road. When it took a turn they saw a flock of sheep moving ahead of them occupying almost the entire width of the road. He honked several times but they would not budge. The animals maintained their sluggish and languorous pace without leaving sufficient room for the car to overtake.

At this point, the husband looked at his wife and commented, “They appear to be like your relatives, slow and insensitive.”

“Yes, you are absolutely right,” the wife replied with a cool flourish. “They are behaving like my in-laws!”



Enticing exchange

A shop dealing in a variety of items came up in a busy locality. The owner had expected good business but as time passed he was frustrated. He could get only a few customers.

He approached a marketing guru and his advice was: “Modernize and decorate your shop pleasingly. Organize frequent sales fests and make enticing exchange offers. More important, your shop signs should attract womenfolk.”

Religiously, the owner beautified his show-room and put up a colourful board in front of his shop. It read: “NEW FOR OLD. We exchange anything and everything you have. Step in with your wife and step out with your selection fully satisfied. You have our guarantee.”



Oh My God!

A drunk staggered out of a bar and bumped into a decently-clad man on the street. Holding his arm, he blabbered, “I am God. I will grant you any wish. Tell me fast.” Flabbergasted, the man replied, “Friend, you are not God. Leave me alone.”

The drunk: “If anybody calls me God, will you get me a drink?”

Trying to wriggle out, the man replied, “Sure.”

The drunk dragged the man into the bar. Looking at him, the bartender exclaimed in high pitch, “Oh, my God…. You are back again!” The startled man shouted an order immediately, “One Scotch,” threw a note on the table and ran out.

February 15, 2014



A VISIT TO THE PONGAL FAIR



AN ENJOYABLE OUTING

(Experience of Subbaram Danda)



In front of the pavilion of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department

We -- grand-daughter Divyashree, daughter Aishwarya Devi, wife Sampuranam and myself -- were at the Pongal Tourist Trade Fair on the Island Grounds of Chennai on Saturday (February 1, 2014) afternoon. We missed it last year and so the urge to make up for it was strong this time. People thronged the shops selling sundry items like hair clips, kitchenmates and plasticware.

A noticeable fact was that the price of almost everything was exorbitantly high. Our favourite eatable, the large-sized 15-inch-diameter fried Delhi appalam, was priced at Rs.30 each. Yet there were many stretched-out hands to grab them! Use of the urinal had a charge of Rs. 5 per head. However, one redeeming feature was that the Kulfi ice cream at the state-owned Aavin milk stall was only Rs.16 a piece.

In front of the Police pavilion

                                                                                                            
There were the usual pavilions put up by the various government departments, showcasing their brighter side. The façade of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments edifice was impressive with life-like images of deities. Two mounted policemen greeted visitors to the Tamil Nadu Police outfit. The Reserve Bank of India stall saw long lines, as one of its counters exchanged old and soiled currency notes.

On the whole, it was a four-hour enjoyable outing, marked by shopping binges and carefree strolling.

February 3, 2014