Good Vibes 13 – Taare Zameen Par

Triskaidekaphobia is the fear of the number 13. In few belief systems it is considered unlucky and in few it is called the Angel number. Angel number tells that when someone keep seeing this number effortlessly, it is that they are guided by their guarding angel and are asked to maintain a positive outlook even at difficult times signifying that they will ultimately win over the huddles and reach where they belong.

With that as the theme, growing from pain, facing worst fears, healing wounds and living to one’s fullest potential, this movie showcases understanding, compassion, and love and love only on screen released in the year 2007.

A normal family. A successful dad who wants his children to succeed in their life and come out with flying colours. More or less a dad who wants his children to be  jack of all trades and master of all at the same time. Just that they want his children to be in a good position so that others won’t point fingers at them.

A loving mom who supports her children but couldn’t understand what’s wrong with the little one despite her efforts. A soft, supporting brother who is good in academics and in extra-curricular activities. Most of the second child might go through this where they are being compared with the elder one by parents/teachers if they are studying in the same school. Same is being seen and done to the little one time and again. He does try but fails and doesn’t know the reason of frequent failures in his attempts.

At any home when there isn’t a clear understanding of why things are happening so with ample opportunities, the next potential option is to make one devoid of their luxuries. As a child, one of the worst nightmares is being threatened to be put in hostel if one doesn’t study well. Many places it does work and few places if the issue isn’t addressed properly will complicate the problem.

So the same happens and the little one is put in boarding school. And the plot moves with his persistent struggles and scolding that he continues to recieve. The plot takes a warming pace when the temporary art teacher arrives. But it does signify the saying ‘When the student is ready, teacher will appear’. The little one hesitates but evolves from there on and work on himself with his loving teacher’s efforts to realize his full potential.

The movie is completely an emotional blockbuster. It could be even for the nth time, still there is a need for a hand kerchief to cope with tears rolling over the cheeks. The movie has few awesome scenes. Shifting the focus from normal parenting and how to treat children with love and care, just a random thought, seeing the same emotional situations with how people generally treat one’s own inner child. Mostly, inner child is neglected and pushed to a position were it stands like Dobby to be given a sock by his master - each individual.

That cute little one; wearing the favourite dress, sitting in favourite place, happily reading and working on its own, always busy, bubbling with abundance of love, slowly peeping out from, behind a pillar and smiling so as to connect with oneself deeply in the visualization. Not as an immatured, impulsive jerk which runs behind everything that it sees but the one that aches for love and compassion of one’s own self but neglected continuously. Just the authentic self, tiringly waiting to be hugged, to connect deeply to jump in joy every now and then.

On the Diwali day, he refrains himself from burning crackers as he is being sent to hostel and is bullied by his neighbor. Crying profusely, he shouts that he isn’t going to hostel and light the crackers and throws on the bully. Same is when the inner little one is neglected. Usual scene on hostel coming for any one in any age. Just the external grown up mask reacts differently with age.

The scene before the start of ‘Maa song’. The car starts and the little one jolts with eyes full of tears and his heart visually runs behind his Mom. Awesome lyrics by Prasoon Joshi and soulful rendition by Shankar Mahadevan in Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy music. The same happens every now and then when the inner little child is not being heard, his true voice to be happy and smile more is sidetracked. The inner one feels the same when it is not being pampered well and shown love, the only language with which it can be reached deeply. More or less the inner child keep singing this song whenever it is pushed aside with no remorse.

The next beautiful scene is where Ishan’s dad comes to meet the art teacher to tell that he and his wife too care about their children and Amir Khan with great ease tells about taking care and pampering the child, expressing the love and making the children trust them with more love and affection and tells a story about Solomon islands where the ‘Adivasi’ people don’t cut trees to clean the jungle but just stand around a tree and abuses the tree for few days and in some days it dies by itself. The back ground music captures the emotion perfectly on screen and Ishan’s dad doesn’t forget to accept mistakes on his part and becomes more understanding and vibes with expressive love.

Ditto with the inner child when there are negative self-talks and constant abuse by one’s own self just to kill their potential by themselves. The movie showcases that Amir is connected with himself so well that he take care of others well as in ‘Taare Zameen Par’ song, another beautiful song on and off video. He has his love tank filled to the brim and hence he waters happiness and love where ever he steps into, in a matured, subtle manner.

By telling the principal to ignore Ishan’s mistake for a while he tells that anything takes time to see a slow, steady, successful, solid progress in Ishan’s self-esteem making him realize his full potential. Proving that inner work takes time, consistent efforts and patience with ourselves. The character Nikumbh loudly tells that one cannot pour from an empty cup especially LOVE.

 Each one in the cast would have done their role so well and the movie is heartwarming in every frame with Amir Khan’s awesome direction. A perfect guide for healthy parenting not only the children whom we see with naked eyes but also the inner child which is waiting to be taken in arms as in the picture below.

“You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection” – Buddha. 

Good Vibes 12 – Aanandham

This movie was released in the year 2001. A perfect movie portraying family values. Many joint family movies have come but this movie has a special kind of breeze and bliss in itself. This movie is less dramatic compared to movies like ‘Vaanathai Pola’, ‘Samudhiram’. Though they also showcase the love for the familial bonding.

The plot revolves around 4 brothers, their parents and their near peaceful life with the normal glitches they face in every phase of life and how strong they stand together in crisis. Few scenes of the movie are really heartwarming. Every single time when one hears about this movie, the first thing that comes to mind is the scene where they feed wholeheartedly, the one who comes to steal at their home. Food has a special, irreplaceable place in this world. It is the only possible desire that can be controlled and when offered repeatedly can be said ‘enough’ wholeheartedly sometimes out to compulsion due to over dosage. Still it is more or less the desire under control to an extent compared to other materialistic ones. Also food has a specialty to bond people deeper. Across dining table, love can be shared in multifold. The family that eats together stays together. So the scene is heartwarming and bring changes in the person and he, the one who came to stole becomes part of their family.

Next is the scene that comes in the song ‘Aasai aasaiyai irukiradhe edhu pol vaazhdhidavae’. Many youngsters might actually agree on this. When the family is on a hunt for bride or bridegroom for a family member they would come up with multiple, various prospective personalities who ever they come across. So is when the family hunts for a bride for their eldest son, Delhi Ganesh, Head of the family shows a woman in temple but to their surprise she gets blessing with her Mangal Sutra. Epic ROFL follows. Before the online matrimonial services started their services, the term ‘Tharagar’ was highly famous, still famous in few places. Their legendary, remarkable services still continue. Hope wedding these days is still union of two hearts with lot of forgiveness on either side rather just a time pass entity.

Well, Mammooty finally selects his bride, Devayani by himself saying no to ‘Tharagar’ and treats her with love and respect healing from  his past and she gives back twice what she receives so well. But gets hurt by Sneha's relatives for not begetting children which shows another unchanged attitude of this ‘just questioning’ or ‘commenting’ society, which need to inculcate more empathy on this aspect. And the family stands with her lovingly.

Next is the second brother, Murali. God only knows why he always gets the same kind of wife in such family movies. He must have worked on himself to change the pattern of attracting same kind of personality in Samudhiram and in Aanandham. But thanks to the plot they realize themselves and change for good. He is also destined to sing ‘Manaivi Amaivadellam Iraivan Kodutha Varam’ at the end of the movie in both movies and it is good to realize and change the attitude if it doesn’t bring peace for anyone. Ramba does her role so well to keep the plot going. Scenes where Murali-Ramba’s daughter fall sick intensify emotions on screen and shows elder brother’s unconditional utmost care to protect his loved ones like shadow.

 Next is Abbas and Sneha. Their love story is simple, practical, measured and more warming. Sneha in awesome combinations of half sarees is definitely a treat to watch with respect. Sneha’s father Vijayakumar tests their love in usual tamil cinema style and showcases his power of wealth. Family values, basic ethics and empathy finish off as a winner in a great usual style in climax.

Someone has to tell that Music is by S.A.Rajkumar because more or less his signature, the repeat mode song in two gender voices is missing. But some lovely music. Every single time when one luckily gets back a small one rupee coin as change especially from bus conductor it reminds the transition of one rupee from ‘Pallankuzhiyin vattam’ to ‘Pullankuzhiyin thulaigal’. That deergadarsi Na.Muthukumar is being terribly missed. Delhi Ganesh, Srividhya, Shyam Ganesh does their roles so apt as an integral part of this lovely family. The director is N.Linguswamy. In his debut film he has really put his well learned viddhais. Wish he takes more movies like Aanandham, Vaettai refraining himself from troll-lable interviews.

Aanandham is an unparalleled feel. This movie is certainly heartwarming and rich in family values and definitely make someone miss the meal that they lovingly​ share with their family, if they are away from home and heart finds its solace in those awesome days, when they are eating all alone.

Good Vibes 11 - Padayappa

This movie was released in the year 1999. K.S.Ravikumar has been delivering some awesome family movies in his unique style. Almost all his movies fall under the category - Good Vibes. All ingredients necessary for a feel good movie are in his movies. His movies have a mild duet, a folk duet, a philosophical song and some masala to deliver a family package in his own style.

This movie is phenomenal. Padayappa is a story of a Mechanical Engineer. No words to describe Super Star's stylish act. One striking scene that always lingers is the car chase in climax. He would be having a small talk to relieve the tensed situation with his to be son in law with a super cool attitude. Only MSD could be on par with Super Star on screen. He casually tells "Enaku Football dhan pudikum. Patheengala yepidi parakkudhu". And the following scene is awwww! He shows his biceps. That jaw dropping moment it is. Perfect phrase for super star. "Minsara Kanna, Vayasanalum un azhagum styleum innum maaravae illa". No wonder Neelambari fell for this Macho.

Super Star as a comedian is a treat to watch anytime. Every single time when he struggles to express his love is a breeze on screen. That 'Sattai Joke', 'Paambu puthukulla kai vittungalae' are epics. The entire friends gang come through out the movie and play an awesome role in the plot as pillar of strength and hope, stand with hero in crisis.

Ramya Krishnan as Neelambari is a fantastic character. She should be called the lady super star for the fact. That drastic change in her acting could be seen. In the movie 'Vanamae Yellai', she comes as an empath, planning to commit suicide, now a strong woman who is into an unrequited love failing to accept the reality. Her role as a head strong woman and that fantastic dance in the song 'Minsara Kanna' beautifully rendered in Raga Vasantha by Smt. NithyaSree Mahadevan and Shri. Srinivas, lyrics completely revealing Neelambari's character in no time. Her role proves love is natural and can't be forced and it's good to get over the patched up heart rather clinging to the one who doesn't see the worth just to remain unhealed forever.

Soundarya as a girl next door. The obedient, traditional Indian Girl. No comments on Mr. Shivaji Ganesan. He always prove on screen why he is called as 'Nadigar Thilagam'. While Radharavi, Naseer asked Lakshmi to go with their daughter/sister as her daughter in law, she had other plans when she goes and speak alliance for her son. Read in MSD McDowell ad way, one of the famous memes in the recent times. Sithara, is a beautiful actress from the movie 'Pudhu vasantham' to till date. Perfectly plays sister role, exhibits measured emotions on screen when her engagement is called off. Manivannan and Co are examples of Karma. All supporting characters add the required flavour to the movie to make it ever appealing. Wish the movie is re released like Basha to take us back in time.

ARR back ground score and sound track are immense strength with Vairamuthu lyrics adding valour to the movie. The entire album is a super Duper hit. Super star movies are mostly motivating and awakening in a way. While 'Vazhkaiyil Aayiram thadaigalappa' motivates, 'Kick yerudhae' awakens. Every single time one hears 'Kick Yerudhae', desire for materialistic pursuits takes a back seat.

Take away from the movie are 'En vazhi thani vazhi. Seendadha.' telling it is okay not to understand others journey just doing ones own is the purpose of life and 'Kaiyil Enna Konduvandhom kondu sella'. Relieves all pressure and proves everything is uncertain, is the beauty of life, the zero stress point.