Entertainment
Rajappan Alias Pandit
Have you noticed that the flow of sms’es have slowed down of late? Whatever happened to Rajappan? Perhaps his period as the muse has drawn to a close. Or is it that people have got tired of having to find a new story on the same character every day? Or is it simply a shift of focus – from Rajappan to Pandit, who came, saw and conquered the virtual world of mockery?
Let me make it clear that I have no intention of defending or criticizing anyone here. I am just going to think out loud about the two contagious diseases which spread all over the Malayali psyche – the common symptoms of both fevers being INSULT, or making fun of…or in stronger words, contempt.
It started with Mr. Prithviraj. The man was in every sense a star in the making. He had the looks, attracted a lot of female attention and was improving in his job with each movie. It was all fine till around last year. Trouble started when he began to give interviews. For reasons unknown, the so-called ‘ordinary malayali’ was enraged by his talks.And the messages started coming. It was a friend of mine who showed me a YouTube video where he was baptized ‘Rajappan’ and equated to comical and stupid characters. Inevitably the video was a hit (the love to hate formula works, you know). I went home and watched the original interview which prompted the guy who created the footage to spend so much time, energy and imagination on the video. I waited for the offensive statements, for the justification of comparing him with Saroj Kumar of UdayananuTharam. I found none. Whatever he said made a lot of sense – he seemed open and candid. Yes, if you insist, there is a statement by his wife where she says that he is the only actor in the South who speaks good English. Being someone who has given a number of interviews, it was very easy for me to read it as “he is one of the few actors in the South who speaks good English” and I do believe that most people who saw that interview knew what she meant. You can’t wake those who feign sleep, can you?
But why this antagonism? The answer is simple – metro we may be in our tastes and lifestyles, but that cosmopolitanism does not extend further – not all the way into our psyches. We understand Levis and Tommy Hilfiger – but not self-assuredness, confidence – we can take it when a Ranbir Kapoor or an Imran Khan shows it, but Prithviraj? No way. Boy next door has to have at least a certain amount of stupidity – and humility. Fake it if you don’t have it but we want you to say – “I am only a student who knows nothing about whatever”; “I don’t deserve to be here – it’s all God’s and my admirers’ grace” etc. etc. And oh yeah, be sure to be positively shocked and swoon if you can, if the interviewer throws in any bits on the existing superstars… After all we are only human – we do get insecure about our failings! And here is a guy who not only has fame, sex appeal and success; he does not even have the grace to be apologetic about it! It’s so not fair – hence the sms’es, hence the video.
If Prithviraj made us insecure, Mr. Santhosh Pandit did just the opposite. He gave us a massive ego massage. Our superiority complex was so very pampered in the process that it almost gave us a mental happy ending. I haven’t seen Mr. Pundit’s movie. So I am in no position to comment on his work. From what I hear people do not like it – in fact whoever has seen it has been coming out with very unkind reviews – and yet there are ‘houseful’ boards in front of theaters which run the movie. An unbelievably strange phenomenon. Mr. Pundit’s notorious – yet one of the most watched – video on You tube was the sole inviting factor for the audience. By that standard, those who went to see the movie surely did not expect to see a classic. Entertainment comes in so many ways – this time it was for the closeted pleasure of indulging in the worst kind of abuse. Santhosh Pandit proffered his weaknesses up for our collective criticism. We make fun of people’s weaknesses only when we are sure that we don’t suffer from the same weaknesses. The ‘we are not like that’ attitude justifies a superior position. Just like a coward being happy when he sees a bigger coward.
We, the insecure ones need a Santhosh Pandit to boost our otherwise diminishing confidence. We need him to make us feel superior. We rush to the theater and leave with the contentment of being sure that ‘I am not the most stupid one around’ – an assurance we cannot give ourselves in the face of brilliance or perfection.
We have differences in opinion on everything but not on Rajappan, not on Pandit. After all, nothing unites people more strongly than a common hatred, does it?
Sanjay is a notable script writer in the Malayalam movie industry.He along with his brother ,Bobby,scripted for successful and critically acclaimed movies Traffic , Notebook ,Ente Veedu Appuntem.
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Popular Curtain Fabrics to Consider for Your Home
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The L’Oréal Paris Show at Paris Fashion Week 2024
The L’Oréal Paris runway at Paris Fashion Week 2024 was a captivating spectacle, celebrating women’s empowerment, inclusion, and sisterhood under the theme “Walk Your Worth.” A star-studded lineup of global icons brought glamour to the stage.
Kendall Jenner stole the spotlight in a bold red mesh asymmetric dress, paired with a vibrant lip and striking bleach blonde hair. Alia Bhatt, making her much-anticipated debut at Paris Fashion Week, dazzled in a metallic silver bustier and black off-shoulder jumpsuit. Eva Longoria mesmerized in a sheer organza gown with a daring high slit, dripping in diamonds.
Other standout moments included Cara Delevingne rocking a red silk trench coat and high-waisted hot pants, while Jane Fonda exuded elegance in a shimmering silver trench, styled with metallic trainers. The event also featured appearances from Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Heidi Klum, and Simone Ashley, each bringing their unique flair to the runway.
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Laapataa Ladies: Kiran Rao’s Social Satire Becomes India’s Official Entry for the 2025 Oscars
Kiran Rao’s delightful bride-swapping comedy-drama, *Laapataa Ladies*, has been selected as India’s official entry for the 2025 Oscars, the Film Federation of India (FFI) announced on Monday. FFI Chairman Jahnu Barua revealed that the film was chosen from a pool of 29 contenders. A 13-member jury evaluated 12 Hindi, six Tamil, and four Malayalam films to decide the country’s submission for Best International Feature Film. Among the notable competitors were Animal, Kill, Kalki 2898 AD, Srikanth, Chandu Champion, Joram, Maidaan, Sam Bahadur, Article 370, the National Award-winning Malayalam film Aattam, and Payal Kapadia’s Cannes-winning All We Imagine As Light.
Expressing her gratitude, Kiran Rao stated, “I am deeply honored and delighted that Laapataa Ladies has been chosen as India’s official entry to the Academy Awards. This recognition is a testament to the tireless work of my entire team, whose dedication and passion brought this story to life. Cinema has always been a powerful medium to connect hearts, transcend boundaries, and ignite meaningful conversations. I hope this film will resonate with audiences worldwide, just as it has in India.”
Laapataa Ladies, directed by Kiran Rao and produced by Aamir Khan, features a fresh ensemble cast including Nitanshi Goel, Pratibha Ranta, Sparsh Shrivastav, and Chhaya Kadam, with a standout cameo by veteran actor Ravi Kishan. Released in theaters on March 1, the film garnered praise from critics and audiences alike, steadily gaining momentum through word-of-mouth.
Though it didn’t achieve massive box office numbers, Laapataa Ladies found a growing fanbase following its release on Netflix, where it reached a wider audience. The film, a social satire based on Biplab Goswami’s award-winning story, was brought to life with a screenplay and dialogues by Sneha Desai. It also earned recognition on the international stage, having been screened at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) last year.
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