L'illusionniste - An animation like no other

Just finished watching L'illusioniste (or The Illusionist). It is a pre-dominantly silent animated feature. And the best part is the complete different set of animation style. This Oscar-nominated French production with hardly any similarities to "How to Train Your Dragon" and "Toy Story 3", the other two nominations for this year's Oscar for best animated feature. I have seen the other two as well but this one is incomparable.

The big difference is the animation style, which is more classic as the snap from the movie shows here. It reminded me of the animations Cartoon Network threw up some 10 years ago. This French production reminded me of Tin Tin's animated adventures. 

The most beautiful sight from the movie

As for the movie itself, it is a very slow but a truly beautiful movie about an Illusionist in the 1950s going from Paris to London to Scotland in search of audiences, which have seemingly been taken over by Music stars. He meets a young fan along the way who is mesmerized by his magic.

Its easy to see the movie's Oscar nomination - A classic animation style, a storyline capturing a different era with great ease and  a hauntingly beautiful melancholic ending. One thing though, even at a runtime of 75 minutes the movie seemed slow at times. But stick with it and its bound to be beautiful. 

Yeh Saali Zindagi - What A Movie!!

Went to see Yeh Saali Zindagi yesterday.. what a cracking movie!!! They dont make stuff like that no more! The dialogues were spot on and seemed to coming out straight form the heart at all times. I particularly liked how Irrfan's character (Arun) took jibes at Chitrangada's (Priti) for him helping her and still she sticking to Shyam.

Some of my favourite lines:

Arun (remembering Priti after being kicked) - Na woh muskarati aur na yeh sab hota

Arun (after Priti calls him asking for 15 crores) - Main apne baap ki kasam kha ke kehta hoon kii main nahi jaana chahta tha but gaadi apne aap ghum gai and mere haath khud hi steering wheel pe chal pade

Priti (when meeting Arun at Gangsters' hideout) - Paise kahaan hain?
Arun: Nahi hain
Priti: Kya??
Arun: Tumne fone par kahaan - Daddy, I am in trouble. I need money. I need 15 crores. Maine kahaan, main aa raha hoon maine ye thode hi kahaan ki main paise le kar aata hoon :p

Arun (to Priti, who was tending to him after realizing he had taken a bullet) - Tu yahaan kyun khadi hain, apne Shyam ke paas ja (what a jibe :D)

But the line that totally takes the cake - Arun (realizing his being shot) - Agar main mar jaata toh log kya kehte - Ashiqui mein maara gaya aur laundiya bhi nahin mili :D

And a dialogue that deserves special mention simply because every one at the audi laughed at it -
Head of Kidnappers' gang (Arunuday Sngh's character) to Priti when she asks him to let go Arun and not Shyam - Tu sagi kiski hain :D -- this is probably the most genuine dialogue I have ever heard in a Hindi movie

I guess what I really liked was the fact Arun survived and got his laundiya, and the fact that Shyam got a bullet to his butt :D

The movie is beautifully done and totally captivating.. A real edge of the seat thriller.

Of RM's engagement and working with the MD

RM got engaged last Friday (1st week of Feb). She was a yr senior to me in college, in my branch too. But that's not how we knew each other. She's the daughter of one my Mom's closest friends. To say I had been looking forward to her engagement would be an understatement. She had personally called me up two weeks prior and asked me to come and its not even as if we interact a lot. It felt great to be invited :)

I had been scared if I would be able to go as I had been assigned a project where the MD would be reviewing the final work. It scared me because the last time that happened I had to work 40 hours out of 60 from Sunday to Tuesday :(. No such problems this time though and the MD seemed happy enough with my work. I think I am enjoying working with MD. Its a great learning experience to be in a meeting with him and pick his brains. And what makes it easier is that I am not expected to know things :) So, no pressure, only learning :D

Going back to the party, it was a full on Punjabi bash with a DJ blaring and Chicken, Mutton and Fish dishes serving :D Unfortunately, all the people of my age at the party were engineers, especially the girls :p . So, all I wanted to do was meet the lovely bride-to-be, who, as is the custom at Indian engagements, showed up 3 hrs after the official time :p The poor groom seemed all too overawed by the proceedings, while RM was totally at ease and enjoying the limelight. I hope RM and her hubby-to-be have a great life ahead :D

An interesting thing at the party was the joke that I was next :) RM is only two years elder to me, precisely to the week too, but I am pretty much a kid to her. So it felt weird to be told by her Mom that a search for a girl for me is already ongoing  :)