Month: March 2020

The mind has been under study from time immemorial and yet there is no definition or a definite position for a human mind. If you touch the head, you are pointing to the brain which just processes the thoughts and mostly about 10% of its activities are known to man, the rest still to be uncovered. If you touch the heart and say it is the mind, sorry! you are touching a blood pump in our body and has no feelings. The mind is known to have been the reason for all the success and failures in life for many. I would like to touch one aspect of the mind which is proven to work, be it as enunciated by Rhonda Byrne in The Secret or The Bhagavath Geeta.

The dictum from Bhagavath Geeta “Udhared aatman aatmaanam natmaanam avasadhayeth aatmaivahi atmano bandhur aatmaiva ripuratmanaha” states that the rise and fall of a person are because of his mind alone and you yourself could be your best friend or your worst enemy. If mind is such an important factor in life then we should know one more secret, as suggested by Rhonda Byrne and followed by many. That’s about the words…

Your thoughts become words, and words your action. In which case, you should know what our mind assimilates and how it works. It is strange but true that our mind cannot understand anything negative, call it the makeup of the mind by Him or the basic nature of the Human mind. Our mind cannot understand the words like “Not” No” “Don’t” and such similar additions we make to an activity. Though confusing, it is better to understand it … earlier the better.

When you say “I don’t want to be poor” our mind actually programs our life to become poor… as it doesn’t take the word “Don’t”. Instead we need to reiterate “I want to be rich” which takes you towards financial success. The statement “I don’t want you to leave me” actually translates in the mind to “I want you to leave me” as the negative words are not taken in by the mind. Instead the statement should have been “Be with me forever”, which at least programs our mind for a long lasting relation. “I don’t want to see him” actually spreads out a wish from the mind to the nature “I wish to see him” and the person whom you are trying to avoid would eventually pop up in front of you”. Such is the mind.

If you closely follow The Secret by Rhonda Byrne, you can understand the reason why they want us to think of financial freedom than the bills and loans. The more we think of negatives it attracts the negatives to our life. So let’s make a change today and say or think only what we want and not what we do not want in life. Affirmations as suggested in Theta Healing or in Hypnotherapy points to the positives being fed into a mind. Release the emotions and vent your negatives to prepare changing your lives. Say what you want and not what you don’t.

Think of visiting a restaurant with your dear and near ones. If you say “I don’t want Burger” does not help, instead you would have to say “I would like to have a sandwich or a chopsuey”. Start the change today and see things change at the earliest. Believe in yourself, as the time tested text The Bhagavad Geeta, points to the strength of the mind… your self…. So be the change and see the change…

“Its only words and words are all I have… to take your heart away”… and I remembered this song as the words matter a lot in this world. A few words of love and care can change the scenario… So I would like to say … “Stay Blessed”

– Kriss Venugopal

Psycho… a befitting tribute to Alfred Hitchcock … by a someone who needs to be lauded for his efforts. Psycho… safe in Mysskin‘s hands.

A question whether it is the emotion or the investigation or the fear that would grip you, I would have no answer. But if you like to be thrilled beyond belief and still feel that you have walked out of an English Movie, though you just heard Tamil all the way, then Psycho is a “DON’T MISS” movie for you. Udayanidhi Stalin, Aditi Rao Hydari and Nithya Menon have given their best. But I would like to say Mysskin made them do the magic we see on screen.

Is it true to see that the seeds of a tree will bear the same kind…? I think that is what you feel when you see the son of a story teller, telling stories with his story telling eyes. Yes, I am talking about the trance a person is taken into when he watches “Trance”. Is it the same Fahadh Fazil, who was scorned and mocked at with “Kai Ethum Doorath”, and seen transform with Akam, Red Wine and Bangalore days… This movie has Fahadh at his best. The eyes and its glassiness will keep you on the edge of the seat. The energy will blow your minds and his acting will make you say… if only a little earlier for Malayalam movies, “If it had (Fahd) Fazil.

When technicians come together with a story in mind and hire the best of the best, this is what the result would be. A movie advised only for above 15 and parental discretion is advised as a fore note. Year 2020 has given us great movies in the first quarter itself. Some star lovers have called this movie “half baked” and “dragging in the second half” … so on and so forth. But when it comes to the style of storytelling, I would rate Trance to be a forerunner for many more stylish movies to follow.

From a man who donned the Director’s hat for movies like Rajamanikyam, Chotta Mumbai, Annan Thambi, Unni. R’s “Bridge” in Kerala Cafe, Ustad Hotel, “Aamy” in Anchu Sundharikal, this movie is a head turner. For a movie buff, this would be a sure attraction and adoration towards the daring attempt by a director with a sensitive topic. Kudos to the director for his work and style coupled with the seamless excellence in Cinematography by Amal Neerad.

Three years of hard work has paid off well as a stylish flick. Fahadh Faasil tops the list of attraction for this movie as Viju Prasad and Pastor Joshua Carlton. Nazriya Nazim who would be better off as a bubbly little girl doesn’t leave much impact as Esther Lopez. What Gautham Menon performed as Solomon, would make us believe that no one else could do it better. Soubin Shahir steals the show for a while as Mathaai. What more can you expect from an actor who carried Ambili on his shoulders well. Vinayakan is sure to shake you with his appearance as Thomaskutty, a devout believer and loving father. Chemban Vinod Jose as Isaac, will not make you think back of Jallikattu for sure. Dileesh Pothan as Avarachan, is the cherry on the cake and he too fill your minds when you leave the theatre. Sreenath Bhasi or Kunjan has a kunjan role but sure a very important one. Jinu Joseph from what he was in Ustaad Hotel to Anchaam pathira, here too as the Doctor, he has surely performed well. I see the trust Anwar Rasheed has in him. Srinda though a small part, has done it well, so that you carry a piece from her performance, back home. Dharmajan Bolgatty too deserves a mention when we talk about the different units of this film.

How a business is run is not the question here, but who and why are two questions which will travel with you after you watch the movie. I would rate it as a bold attempt to prove a person’s mettle. I wish every actor gets a chance to perform in movies such as this, where they can contribute the best. There was once a golden era of Malayalam cinema after the dark ages of matinee flicks. I feel Malayalam movies is on a comeback journey. I would like to hear from you what you bring home after you watch the movie and come back… Thanks to Vincent Vadakkan for the brilliance in writing and Rasool Pookkutty the maestro in sound scaping for sound perfection in the picture perfect film.

Trance… short for transcendental or is it a trance which it takes you to…. Question remains unanswered.

• Kriss Venugopal

Thanks to Sarita Ram and Siju Kumar for giving me an opportunity to share my thoughts on National Television. “Sudinam” on DD Malayalam

https://youtu.be/BkMyx0zaXRY

For those who could not watch it … here is the link for watching it… Do let me know your feedback too… Thanks again…

Soft as the morning breeze, ravaging as a gale
Quenching the thirst as water, sharp as an ale
Caring as mother and showering love like a rain
Woman goes through stages of happiness and pain