Wednesday, December 15, 2010

YAKSHI FAITHFULLY YOURS - A Romantic Fantasy Movie!!!




A strange experience…with ear splitting yells…eerie groans…murders and haunting looks…I am so happy that no dogs ran around…no black cats with green eyes appeared…no vultures shrieked every now and then…no comic characters and their dreary episodes…no scary hands peeped from grounds and walls…

This is why I call Abhirams “Yakshi Faithfully Yours” a different horror movie…


An element of Nostalgia glanced here and there…Childhood memories…The gorgeous Yakshi of Aithehyamala…Mythological stories of grandma…The charming costumes and exquisite locations…A fairy-tale with Yakshi at her peak of romance…The pleasure of Gandarvan happened at some point of the movie which made me think if Abhiram is a descendant of Pappettan and has to tell a lot of stories which Pappettan had kept back …YFY was voyage to a dream world were the emotions and feelings of the yakshi was felt with a glimpse of empathy…

Beyond the fantasies, YFY is a story of a group of young and enthusiastic film makers, brave enough to film the suspicious and terrifying Yakshi. The blend with the reality and fantasy in and outside the movie was an interesting aspect. This was attempted for the first time in Malayalam Cinema. The story seems to be an unending mystery which makes us believe our own fantasies.


Cinematography plays a prominent role in the development of the movie. The film progresses between the past and present life. The dawdling and undulating camera movements of the past and the hasty hardhearted style of the present with continues change in the perspective was perfectly and brilliantly done by Jemin Jom Ayyaneth. But there arouse a small confusion in my mind regarding the time code of the portions in the present. This should have been handles with a bit more effort to make it perfect.

Music was magnificent and unforgettable throughout the movie. Absolutely apt for the Nagayakshi resembling the conventional Hindu rituals and ceremonies. It gave an overall ambiance for the movie. Aravind Chandrasekhar deserves a shake hand. The songs Irul Nananja Ramazha and Manjukalam appeared so near which was a bit discomforting. Still both of them were adorable and visualized with rich and vivid colours. Neha Nair's virtuous voice was a great asset to the movie. The song Neeharardram was a different and haunting one. I missed it so badly in the movie. The humming of the song conveyed the whole impression of the movie and it would have been more exciting if the song was included.


Cast of the movie was not satisfactory for me. Pachakkal Kannulla Sundari… Avanthika… Our Nagayakshi had a magnetic element in her eyes which make us attracted towards her. Faizal and Ved played their roles naturally. The portion of Madankunju portrayed by Jijoy was so brilliant. Different from other Mallu actors, Jijoy possessed his own identity. A special thanks for Abhi for those wonderful, interesting & innovative moments in the movie with such a marvelous actor. His dialogue presentation, though it resembles street pays was so strange and new to our movies. He was the best part of YFY. Ambika and Devan flickered and disappeared so suddenly. The dialogues were at times dramatic and it was simply because of the presentation. This could have been avoided. 



To the typical Mallu audience, Yakshi may be unsatisfactory. Still those who have a tinge of madness easily get the spark of the theme. And for them the movie is seriously awesome. YFY is the first movie of my classmate. It’s so special for me. I swear it won’t be a loss for you. It is a new experience which is very rare in Malayalam Cinema. Go and Watch the movie. Pachakkal Kannulla sundari… Naagayakshi…will speed up your heart beats and touch your soul…



If you are truthful to her, 
she will be faithfully yours!!!




Sunday, December 12, 2010

Stinking journalism!!!

Njeliyanparambu, located 6 km from Calicut city is the disposal land of solid and organic waste of the whole city for decades. At the beginning, the waste entering the place was a minimum and was manageable there. But later when the city started to grow out of proportion, the quantum of garbage started to grow proportionately.

The large load of waste dumped here created a sort of intolerable stench and residents slowly started to migrate from this place. Nobody wished to associate with the people over there and even to pass by this locality. Pollutions lead to a wide variety of diseases and infections among the population of this zone. Slowly Njeliyanparambu turned to be a living hell.

Rebellions brew inside the minds of inhabitants and were transformed into action little by little. They complained to the concerned, moved petitions, and argued with the authorities. Various plans and programmes were introduced in order to find a solution to this burning issue. Still most of them were of no use.

Later the brave women of Njeliyanparambu blocked the waste carrying lorries and screamed slogans. They were able to create a sort of crisis in every nook and corner of the city with this footstep. The Kudumbasree units stopped to take waste from houses. The whole city was under an emergency so as where to dump the waste. Since the impact was too big the outcome was beyond expectations.

Areekkad councilor Nabeesa Saidu was eager to visit the area and take necessary steps on this issue under her local limit. She is now busy sketching the solutions…

What were the first Steps taken to tackle the issue?

As a beginning, I visited the place along with health committee chairman Janamma Kunjunni and found the present recycling process unscientific. We recommended to authorities and gave suggestions to the people over there. As a result, more scientific studies and plans are being made.

Can you give me an account of the current situation?

The plant is not enough efficient to handle the large amount of waste that is dumped there. So either the plant should be revived or the waste reaching there should be controlled. A substance called Reject that contains plastic and other non degradable waste is creating great problems there. Reject emits gases that cause foul smell and even burning.

How are they dealing the problems related to Reject now?

Since it can’t be decomposed into manure and can’t be dumped anywhere else. It turned to be a major issue there. Reject remain as heaps that are covered with plastic sheets on which they spread soil and plant grass.

You have mentioned about Scientific Studies, can you explain?

The decentralization of waste is the plan that is held here. Waste that reaches Njeliyanparambu is controlled by disposing it from the place where it originates. Waste plants are to be constructed in Schools, Flats, Slaughter houses and markets. The plants that are not functioning properly are to be maintained. We have recommended the authorities to monitor the functioning of this plant at all levels.

Can each slaughte home and market afford this waste plant, are they doing it now?

Two or three slaughter homes are together having the waste plant; same is in the case of markets. Nowadays flats are being built after satisfying this basic need. MIMS has its own waste plant that operates with high efficiency. The waste water is also purified there.

What about problems related to plastic?

I think it’s somewhat a big process in the case of plastic waste. Campaigns at school levels are held all over the city. Exhibitions, seminars and other awareness programmes are conducted by the government as well as private organizations. Steps are taken in the city to enforce the ban and all these are moving faster.

You have spoken about the decomposition of waste at its source, ban of plastic and so on, can you tell something about the developmental activities that are planned inside Njeliyanparamba?

The results of the studies will give a detailed picture about this and that will be revealed only after two or three months. The plant will surely undergo development in all scientific and technical aspects. The waste water purification system will be elaborated. Currently a small pond and plant does this. It will be extended and the purified water will be sent out through the drainage.

Beyond all these, there is an issue of isolating. Nobody is interested to pass through the area. Will there be any solutions suggested for this?

If all these steps move smoothly, the problems can be solved to a large extend. In course of time this issue of isolation and inconvenience will change. The co operation from the public is the only asset. “Green Belt” plan is an attempt to establish an eco friendly atmosphere and to create a climate for other people to associate. It is planting bushes and trees in a semicircle outside the big wall of Njeliyanparambu.

Njeliyanparambu is expected to change itself as an eco friendly and heavenly place. Even then, the strangest aspect is the partially blind media eyes. The journalist community seems to be shunning away from this issue. The camera crew of the visual media and the pen pushers of the print media seem to be deliberately boycotting this sensitive issue. Speaking in professional terms Njeliyanparambu has an immense news value and yet the fourth estate is evading away from this topic.

What is happening to the nose for news?

Is this stench intolerable?