New Year Wishes

 

Of bugs and bad shots

Yesterday while working on my laptop, after a really long time I saw the notorious blue screen of death. My OS just died.

 After a few restarts and rollbacks and a little investigation I suspected a new Skype extension that I installed (Call recorder) might be causing the problem. I uninstalled it and am living happily ever after.

But it is sad to see a mighty OS like Windows 7, developed by the best brains in the world, given the best tools after spending billions of dollars on, doing stuff like this.



How do the best brains in the world still manage to roll out software with bugs?

It also brings out another important question. How does Hollywood, with the most creative brains put together still manages to churn out duds?

Of bugs and bad shots....


to be continued..

Song Making Videos

Videos are compiled by Jennifer who was given the job of making the 'Making of Om Shanti'.
She was indefatigable on the sets and burned more film than I did. :-)

Thanks Jennifer.

Kajal's Nenu nenugaa



Nikhil's Ottesicheputhaa

Parking Links

I have been following the making of Avatar since over two years. I finally managed to watch it on Imax 3D. It was a thrill ride more than anything else. My curiosity was all about where this franchise is heading to.
Firstshowing.net has some clues

James Cameroon talks about his 'possible' next project

An interview with Guy Ritchie is always interesting...here is one on his Sherlock

So what made you finally join the ranks of Hollywood and why was it this film and why now?
Guy: Because, you know, I just — I don't care, I was never prejudiced against Hollywood anyway, I was always interested in doing something that was, you know… It depends on what I'm interested in. I became interested in this movie at this time. I mean it was irrelevant whether it was a studio or not.

More..

My tryst with Ilayaraja - 3

I will conclude this with few tit bits. :-)

When I met Ilayaraja for the first time, I sincerely shook his hands like a gentleman. Later I observed that everyone wishes him either by a 'Namaste' or by touching his feet. During the audio release when I went onto the stage, I tried to touch his feet but he immediately held my shoulder and with a huge smile shook my hand.

Sometimes a song has to tell a story or move the story forward. From a basic tune to picturization to final cut of a song so many people, elements join their forces to realize a directors vision. In that essence, the tune and music composition of "Chinni Polike ledu" envisioned everything. That song was a step ahead of me. Also, the initial English/telugu line composition of Nenunenugaa was totally by Ilayaraja himself.

It goes like this,

I follow you
Ramachilukaa
You cant find me
Neekutelusaa

Even that part was ahead of me and envisioned everything. I realized the genius of these lines and the jazz in "Chinni polike", only well after finishing the shooting. All I can do is profoundly thank him. :-)

My tryst with Ilayaraja - 2

The first song that the maestro composed for the film was "Nenu nenugaa".
The first striking thing about the process is, how simple everything looks. I was surprised by the lack of 'electronics' in the room. (I visited another famous music director's studio a month before which was totally 'loaded' and over powering).

He recalled the situation from the movie and in less than 30 seconds started humming out the tune. I was amazed. (The only instrument he uses is his Harmonium).

Later, lyric writer Vanamali wrote lyrics for the tune and Ilayaraja listened to it and offered few suggestions. A tensed Vanamali pretty much spent that whole night to live up to those suggestions and was relieved the next day when Ilayaraja OKed the changes. The phrase "I am flying on the moon" was actually uttered by Ilayaraja himself during the tune composition. We all liked it and asked Vanamali to retain it.

What totally me blew me was his composition of 'Chinni Polike ledu premaa'. Needless to say, he remembered the story and asked the song situation. I explained. I told him a need for pathos version of the song too. He agreed.

Again, in less than 30 seconds, he started out "Lalalalaalile laalaa ....". It was a surrealistic experience. As I closed my eyes and listened to it, it felt like the story I told him was being retold to me. At the end when he humbly asked, "Did you like it"? thats what I told him.

Lyric writer Ananth Sriram totally fell in love with the tune and came up with these amazing little words that have several dimensions to them.

"Chinni polike" is my personal favourite.

to be concluded

My tryst with Ilayaraja - 1

When my story was accepted to be made into a movie, one of the first things we discussed was music directors and one of the first names we discussed was Ilayaraja.

I spent the month of April and May, pretty much running behind my dialogue writer Gandham Nagaraj (of Gamyam fame). Then, Chaitanya was shooting Baanam in Vizag and I went to Vizag to spend couple of days with Gandham Nagaraj (who went there to spend couple of days with Chaitanya). By day two, we kind of picked up steam and I still remember the shared auto ride we took to the beach and when suddenly out of nowhere Nagaraj narrated the one line 'order' to me. I absolutely loved it. The next day afternoon I got a call from Mr. Ashwini Dutt saying that Ilayaraja is ready to listen to the story. I took the next flight available to Chennai.

I reached Ilayaraja's studio 30 minutes late. I hate being late to my appointments. Needless to say, if the one you are meeting Ilayaraja, then the last thing you want to be is late.

To be honest, I didnt know what to expect. I had no clue about the protocols. They asked me to wait in a hall. I carefully made notes about each and every song and song situation.

Finally Ilayaraja came and threw this huge smile. I immediately felt home. In less than two minutes I introduced myself and started explaining about the song situations. He stopped me and asked me to forget about the songs and to narrate the story as it would appear on the screen. For the next one hour, I did.

At the end he said, "Baagundi". He offered few suggestions and then looked at me. That was it. I hesitantly stood up and left.

Well after a month later I went to Chennai to meet him again. This time for songs. He absolutely stunned me by recalling the characters of the story and the situations accurately.

...to be continued.

Om Shanti Pictures

Taken during my shooting with my cell phones. I am putting the ones that are not giving away any story :-)

Last two days of shoot

Phew. Finally its all coming to an end. I still have a few bits to shoot with Kajal. We will be shooting non stop from 5th morning till 6th afternoon.

With this, officially shooting will be over for Om Shanti.

Needless to say, we all are going to spend countless number of hours ruminating on the shooting days. Its been a thrill ride. I am glad that the shooting is coming to an end. I am also little sad that its all coming to an end. It was a job that demanded all of my energies and attention. I am going to miss the unit, the food and that goddamn scene paper. :-)

I made good friends. Some of them are probably for a lifetime. I learned a lot. About myself and about movies.

Dubbing is almost done. I am kind of curious about how 'other people' are going to react to the movie. Needless to say, we loved what we shot. More than anything, I largely relied on 'honesty' in making the film. I know it kind of sounds strange. But for me, that is of utmost importance. Honesty in telling a story. I largely shot what I 'felt'.

I sincerely hope it resonates.

Om Shanti Logo Launch

Covered well by the press. (Thank you). Just saw the highlights myself on youtube :-)

Parking Links

Vitamin D. Thats a clever manipulation for Vita Mind. I am talking about a web based security system. Whats cool about this one is, it uses a pattern recognition technology based on HTM built by Numenta.

I stumbled upon Numenta couple of years back. I was mesmerized with their approach to Pattern Recognition. I expected a mind blowing variety of application right from gaming to A.I. I was disappointed to a rather lukewarm response that Numenta got both in Press and in Public. (None of my Software Engineer friends seems to have heard about Numenta).

Here are some demo Apps

**

Its ironic to start a film blog with a technology post. But thats the first thing that caught my attention this morning.

On a totally other note, I am quite excited about the new poster released by Disney. Tim Burton and Alice. You can only imagine. :-)

I cant help but notice typical black and white stripe attire that is almost a compulsion in Tim Burtons movies. :-)













Anything and any news about Avatar is a must read for me lately. So a new trailer of Avatar is a must watch
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxuNtDhCZZI

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