what is safe? You can sit inside your house and lock the doors, its safe, but can we do it, who is going to suffer, how long can you stay inside.
Recently people are being played in the name of fear; Tamil Nadu is one such state which is battling two fear factor kind of issue on which the TN govt and the people are taking contrasting stand point. You should have guessed its Kodankkulam and Mullai Periyar. In both this situation the fear is “If the earth quake stuck with high magnitude”, Keralities are in the fear of the dam getting burst and TN people fears of a nuclear disaster.
Science is always a boon and a bane to the man kind. The same voices who say Kudankulam is not safe, say Periyar dam is safe. Now what is safe? You can sit inside your house and lock the doors, its safe, but can we do it, who is going to suffer, how long can you stay inside. Stop playing phycosis-fear on the people and approach to a problem technically. A government has to ensure the safety of its people, will it be wise if WB CM Mamtha gives a statement asking her people to not to go to hospital, just because 90 people were killed in a fire accident, rather what she does is to provide and ensure to check the safety measures in all the hospitals and other govt and private establishment. So govt has to provide safe the infrastructure, not fear.
When we can build canals to join two continents, when we can build islands, it’s sure possible for us to use the nuclear energy wisely and so build safe dams. Our politicos has to talk sensibly, doesn’t want to provoke people sentimentally, going into TN-Kerala border and shouting words against keralities doesn’t make sense. TN govt and Kerala govt. shed your egos and start talking directly.
it’s like after laying a strong basement for a 100 storey building, and they constructed a 4BHK Duplex house on it.
The opening of the film is grandeur, the first 20 minutes walks through the life and death of BhodiDharaman which makes the audience to their edge-of-the-seat, sometimes a standing ovation is needed, because they kindle the Tamil-sense in once heart. Let’s take this as a two-part review.
History and other chapters, in this part 7Am Arivu has achieved of what they intended. The sense and pride it gives when a Tamilian is the father of martial arts which we believe it came from the east, the history it depicts are well made in detail. DNA study, although there were previous films which talked about it, this film has created a much awareness and interest. A new villain from China, Chinese and Indian rivalry now goes to celluloid; reason quoted is a Chinese pharmaceutical MNC want to spread an unknown virus in India, which will make them to enter the market. Overall the film is packed with so much information, which makes one baffled, this is too much for some, but still its interesting and the Tamilian sentiment keeps it together.
7Am Arivu as a Cinema, here is where the team losses its grip. Because of such a huge opening, inside and outside the movie, scenes which come after the initial part miss the punch, it’s like after laying a strong basement for a 100 storey building, and they constructed a 4BHK Duplex house on it. The absolute mayhem in the car crash scene wasn’t necessary and makes one say, ehhhhhhhhhh, similarly the hypnotism by Dong Lee, initially I was good, but the more usage of kills the thrill. Small things the director failed to notice, I am not sure which auto puts meter in Chennai, how can an auto chase a Hummer, is it wise to park a big vehicle in front of a busy hospital then walk-in and walk-out. Music didn’t dent much impact; especially the back ground score was not apt to the screen visuals. We can’t say the director failed to fine tune of the script, it’s because of the great grandeur in the initial stage we compare it to the later and weigh it less.
Johnny as Dong Lee will have some good fan following, Suriya as usual gives a good performance, kudos for his versatility that he shows film-after-film, Shruthi Hassan got a good screen presence, she has to keep her music abilities behind as she will get more options in the lead role in future. With just two films releasing this Deepavali, both will be a box office hit.
Note: Anyone please let me know which foreign company patented for “Manjal”
Recently I came across this infographics in Economist, to put all in one word, “India is roughly 17 years behind China”. They way in which the Chinese had grown in ten years is mammoth. I am just curious to outline what we have to do to catch them up. Just "FIVE POINTS",
Government has to be transparent and corruption free. We can see changes already, with the RTI act in the cards, people started using it to know about how the sarkari-oppice works. Movements like Lokpal will definitely make a corruption-free system. The both won’t happen in China.
Businesses have to be more humane, treat their employee with a care, also their customer, irrespective of its small or big, the verse attiti-devo-bhava is apt to use. Entrepreneurship should be encouraged and employer should be dedicated to their work, Japanese-way.
Schools should inspire a child, develop skills that would induce innovation and thinking, rather than score-oriented system.
Civic-sense should be changed, it’s not only mandatory to keep our home clean, but the entire street\city. People should abide by the traffic laws. Shed their greed. People should shed the individual greed, but should be greedy to say my country is the best.
Politicians should shed their ego and greed. We want a vocal-sensible leader. Without good leadership how can we become a super-power. So people entering politics, don’t just follow Mahatma Gandhi, you BE AGANDHI, after all he was just a human too, you can easily replicate him or do more\better than him.
All the convicts were Tamil Nadu Governement Officials, serving the country in the name of law
I am ashamed to write this, that even in this time there are atrocities done on the basis of caste. More worried when it happens in my native. One such caste based atrocity happened a long time back in 1992, in a villiage called Vathachi, near Dharmapuri. This was the peak period of Sandalwood smuggler Veerappan, Jayalalitha has set foot in the assembly, Rajiv Gandhi was just cremated in Delhi, at this time a group of hooligans (it was TN govt. officials) from various departments like Forest, Revenue and Police entered the village in search of smuggled Sandalwood. What they found was the way to lose their sanity, they lost their minds. In this process they just demolished the village, killed the villagers livelihood, raped and tortured women.
With more than 200 officials entering into the village, they repeatedly raped 18 women. In a landmark identification parade, with 1000’s of officers, this was done by a batch of 50’s, those 18 women waved their right to anonymity to identify the culprits (read as you wish like ugly old dogs, fu___kers.) Ananda Vikatan, a leading Tamil Media say that the torture done to those women are “NOT PRINTABLE”.
Victims of Vathachi after the judgement
The judgement came on September last month, convicting 269 people, of which 54 has died ( If there was a hell, I wish they had a good time there) and this is a record that all the convicts were government officials. SHAME.
Dailt colony fenced by the upper caste people in Krishnagiri
In the wake of Periyar and the Dravidian parties, I always thought the Tamilians has shed their caste-based segregation. They have shed it only in their names; we seldom see a surname Goundar, Naicker, Ayer, Ayyangar, Devar etc., but deep inside most of them are growing and rooting for their caste. Worst is those Dravidian parties, headed by stalwarts of atheistic beliefs are nurturing the caste-based politics in breaking the harmony among the people.
We still have separate tea-glass for dalits in some places, they can’t enter the upper caste streets, and sometimes the upper caste people fence the street and block the access to dalit’s area.
The Divine Sports The gem of Tamil Mythological Film
The origin of Indian film movies were based on mythological stories, like Raja Harichandra, Panjaali. It was then common for all the languages to follow the same mythological films in their early years. Movie production ran into years, which paved the way for big studios to come-up with huge sets, this was at 1930’s – 40’s – 50’s. But in the later part of the 50’s with India becoming an independent nation, more social oriented films sprang up, especially in the South with the upliftment of Dravidian priciples. The entry of stars like MGR and Shivaji, with the exit of singer-actors MKT-PU Chinnapa, Tamil cinema moved more into social-oriented subjects, like rich-poor centric, family centric, crime-thriller, romance and sometimes even ghost-horror. Even though MGR was initially got into cinema, with the mythological roles, he didn’t get much of similar roles later, but Shivaji was a juggernaut in picking different roles.
“Thiruvilayadal”, The Divine Sport, is one such film by Shivaji (see the pic on right) directed by AP Nagarajan, who was famous for his mythological and devotional subjects. Shivaji later on went to do more such kind of films like Saraswathi Sabadam, Thiruvarulchelver, Kandan Karunai, but this film was a gem of the Tamil Mythological films.
The story was conceived by AP Nagarajan, he wrote the screenplay as a five part play, the stories were taken from an ancient Tamil epic, Thriuvilayadal Puranam, which consists of 64 stories, written by 64 nayanmargal ( Saivate devotees, like 12 disciples of Jesus, these Saivates were the devotees of Lord Shiva).
From the film: Shiva (Shivaji), Parvathi (Savithri), with their sons Vinayaka and Murugan
For those who don’t know about Hindu gods, here it is. A Hindu always falls in two broad categories, Saivate (Saivam) and Vaishnav (Vaishnavam). Saivate’es follows, Lord Shiva and his family and followers, like Parvathi, Muruga, Vinayaka and others. Some of Saivate famous temples are Kasi, Rishikesh, Rameshvaram and Thanjavur. Vaishnav’s follow Vishnu and incarnations, like Krishna, Rama and others, some of the famous temples are Puri, Thirupathi and Thiruchi. At earlier age, crusades were fought between these two sects, even now some hard core followers of this principle prevent themselves in entering to the opposite camp’ temple.
Part 1: Coming back to the film, it follows the Saivate concept and Shiva (Father), Parvathi(Mother), and their two sons Muruga and Vinayak are focused. The last four parts is narrated by Parvathi to her son Muruga in the first part when he is having a conflict with his parents. She says it’s a habit of Shiva to test his devotees by putting them into unusual kind of situation.
Famous Dharumi Scene
Part 2: This of the famous and most widely seen, infact I have to say, most widely heard part. When I say “heard”, there is a small flashback to be told, back in 1980’s-90’s when the temples around Tamil Nadu used the sound system, especially in the month of Adi, almost all the temples used to broadcast (loud) the sound-recording of this film, esp this part early in the morning, with the usual devotional songs. So then most of the dialogues are well known to the people. The story revolves around a poor-poet named Dharumi (Nagesh), who is helped by Shiva (Shivaji) to win a prize money, in the process Shiva argues with the great-tamil-poet Nakkeran (AP Nagarajan, the director), these scene is were Shiva makes the third-eye to appear in his forehead and burns the poet.
Part 5: I would go straight to Part 5, not that 3 and 4 are important, but Part 5 is where the real action takes plays, it’s were the most of the songs are placed and each are sung by the stalwarts of the Indian music, like TR Mahaligam, TMS and the legendary Balamurali Krishna. Also this part is where some of the great performance made by Shivaji and Balaiya.
The story goes like this, Hemanatha Bhagavathar (Balaiya) is a world acclaimed singer, who visits Madurai. (Song 1) He sings in Madurai Tamil Sangam (Ancient Tamil literary society) he is arrogant and challenges for one-on-one in singing. Unable to compete with him the Sangam-Singers withdraws, the king then by compulsion appoints Banabatar (TR Mahalingam), a simple guy who sings in temple to compete against Hemanatha Bhagavathar. (Song 2) Banabatar unable to find a way out prays to Shiva. Here Shiva (Shivaji) enters the scene as a woodcutter and sings (Song 3) to teach a lesson for the arrogant Hemanatha Bhagavathar.
Song 1: "Oru Naal Pothuma" (Is one day enough for me to sing) sung by Balaiya in film (voice by Balamurali Krishna)
Song 2: "Isai Tamil Nee Seitha Arum Saadhanai" (Your “shiva” works in musical tamil is great) sung by T.R.Mahalingam himself as Banabattar
Song 3: "Paattum Naanae, Baavamum Naanae" (I am the song, I am the expression) sung by Shivaji in film (Voice by T.M. Soundararajan)
Also featuring in the film is K. P Sundarambal, who was first actress in the olden days to get paid One Lakh in a movie. She is synonymous to role of the ancient-poetess Ovvaiyar.
It’s a must watch for grand costumes, good performances and the music by KV Mahadevan.
TMS and BalaMurali
Listed is the Youtube video of all three songs,
Song 1: Oru Naal Poduma - Balamurali Krishna
Song 2: Isai Tamil Nee Seitha Arum Saadhanai - T.R.Mahalingam
Song 3: Paattum Naanae, Baavamum Naanae - T.M. Soundararajan
Check this for entire movie with English Sub-Titles
This film was recommended by Prasanna, a budding Tamil FilmMaker in his Film Workshop. Its a Merchant Ivory Production, as usual for the production house the story is set in British Raj, directed an ace cinematographer-turned-director Santhosh Sivan. The film is set in mostly in English and Malayalam, with little bit of Tamil, irrespective of multi-languages the film turns well, as Santhosh has well horned his directorial skills in depicting visually.
Morres, TK and Sajani
TK Nelan (Rahul) a futuristic and rational thinking person, works for Morres (Linus) a British Civil Officer, Sajani (Nanditha Das) works as a maid. Morres a married man indulges in affair with Sajani. Their love-life is disturbed by the entry of Morres’wife Jennifer. Meanwhile Sajani is experiencing humiliation with her husband Rajat, as the grapevine gossip of her affair circles in the village. One night after severe beating from Rajat, Sajani takes shelter with Morres, unable to keep her, he asks Nelan to take her somewhere as this situation will jeopardise his family life and the work ambition to build road. But Sajani returns, comes to know about the ill-love of Morres with her and kills herself. The both hide her body, Nelan is then thrown in between loyalty to his employer and his village laws. Which path he chooses?
Scenic View of Kerala
Incidentally the film draws inspiration from an Israeli Movie Red Roofs. In fact Sivan took the theme and fitted in the 1930 backdrop of British India.
Colorful costumes
The film set in Kerala, being his native and a reputed cinematographer himself takes advantage of the scenic views of the gods-own-country. Some of the visuals are stunning and one can never believe it’s in India. With the colourful settings and some bright costumes, its feast for the eyes. The film was released in India in August 2009. I haven’t seen it running in any cinema hall. The film lacks pace, but it is well-made.
Last week we saw nationwide agitation in support to Anna Hazare, we even had both parliament houses debating for this movement, which ended the 11-day fast by Anna. Meantime there is a small piece of news keep emerging about a lady, in fact she is called as an Iron Lady, Irom Sharmila from Manipur fasting for past 11 year, and yes you read it correctly its YEARS. The government has put her in to tube feeding, using Nasogastric intubation.
Many are trying to draw parallel between Irom and Anna. Both are social activist, but fighting for a different cause, even though both are in India, the environment they live is different. Irom from the North East State of Manipur, is fighting for cause which is threating the daily existence of the people. Anna is much broader sense, covering a wide area of corruption. Irom is for the basic need of a human, survival, which is much more important than corruption. End of the day if one doesn’t live, it’s “The END”.
On November 2000, ten civilians were shot dead by the Armed forces, those people were innocent civilians standing in the bus stop. Since then Irom Sharmila started the fasting, her primary demand is to repeal Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), in short this act gives absolute power to Armed Forces. Then she was jailed as “attempt to suicide” and started to force feed.
She can’t travel freely across India. So she can’t garner any national momentum. In fact she tried to go to Jantar Mantar in 2006 and was arrested.
The entire North East (AP, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura) with J&K comes under AFSPA. Red Cross has mentioned there are severe human rights violations in these areas. Check the wikeleaks cables.
The people in these areas were so much humiliated that a group of women went naked before the Armed Rifles base in protesting the atrocities.
As usual a committee was formed under the chairmanship of Jeevan Reedy, a retd. Supreme Court judge, and as usual the recommendations by the committee is still kept dark. I can’t understand why government is trying to use excess of force, when they need to lend olive branches to win the people heart. They are trying to seed fear, which in turn will grow as anger. It’s also an irony that our PM hailing from the same region hasn’t done enough. Remember these states are sharing its borders to China. Why let these people down, when the dragon is next door.
In the lines of national 24x7 premier news channels, SRM Group has launched a Tamil News Channel, named as Puthiya Thalaimurai. They say it’s full HD, but that’s doesn’t matter, we need a quality news without any biased views and propaganda. Almost all the political parties in TN got their own mouth-piece news channels, let’s wait and see which way this channel goes. Even though the DTH players are yet to add this in their package, if you are interested, one can watch it on line at http://www.puthiyathalaimurai.tv/
To the responses I am getting from you folks, it’s encouraging to write about the world of movies. Travelling long distances by facing multiple cultures is a fascinating journey. I heard this is the first Jordanian film to be produced in Jordon for 50 years of its history. Directed by Amin Matalqa, this film got many accolades worldwide when it got released.
Abu Raed a Janitor in airport. One day he finds an old captain’s hat. He wears it and leaves home as usual, on the way a boy named Tareq mistakes him as a captain and also invites some of his friends to Abu Raed’ home to share his adventure. Abu Raed initially denies it, but eventually yields to them by telling stories that her read as his adventure. The lone Abu Raed finds story telling as means to get rid of his solitude, he is a widower, lost his son and leaving alone and waiting for death.
Meantime he meets Noor, a lady Captain who is in her 30’s, trying to escape from her father clutches to getting married. Tareq’s friend Murad proves to him that Abu Raed is not a captain, but a janitor. Abu Raed comes to know about Murad, that his father’ ill treatment to Murrad, his brother and their mother. Abu Raed tries to find a solution to the problems of Noor, Murrad and Tareq, succeeds much, but eventually sacrifices himself.
The story is depicted in a kind of novel-like scenarios. With the magnificent backdrop of the Amman city and the ancient Roman ruins, Arabian music and wonderful cast and well performed character. It’s a touching film from the Arab world. This was the first Jordan film, which was submitted in 81stAcademy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film.
It’s a film about a simple man who is living in the verge of death, want to bring a change around him, at least a small change, will be a big leap for the under privileged.
This film was suggested by a blogger, who is in Malaysia. Sepet, is a Malaysian film, by Yasmin Ahmed. It was then a controversial film, well there is nothing in physical-sense, but the controversy was created due to the cross-cultural references.
Director- Yasmin Ahamed
Ah Loong, who calls himself as Jason, is a 19-year old Chinese descendent, kind of a slum dweller, meets Orked a Malay girl. Love blossoms, due to some racial interventions they were not able to pursue their love, meantime Orked comes to know about the past life of Jason, desperate Romeo tries to communicate with Orked, but can’t, writes a letter which is not answered, not even read by Orked.
Orked is on the way to England for further studies, in the car on the way to airport her mother asks about the letter by Jason and asks Orked to read it. She reads the letter, which has a poem too, a vague translation below,
…. I want to write a poem in Mandrian I was not able to write, I asked god why He said he has already given him a poem (Orked) Then why he needs to write one.
Spoiler Warning:-Then, Orked barrows her mom cell phone, calls Jason, who is in the road, on the way to airport. He doesn’t answer, her mom asks to try again. We are taken to a montage of how their love started, bloomed, with the background sound of cell phone ring-tone, then we see the ringing phone on the road with Jason in a pool of blood. Orked in tears now as Jason didn’t pick the phone, desperate to hang-up, suddenly someone answers the call (Jason voice), she says she forgot to say her love and will call him once he reaches England, Jason replies in a sunken voice, OK. Orked happily continues her journey, we believe Jason is dead, who answered the phone? The film ends.
Who are Bhagat Singh’ famous friends?
Ans:- I don’t know who Bhagat Singh is, then how can I know his friends .
It is (was) Independence Day, August 15th and our PM was hoisting the flag in the Red Fort, by the time I got up, it was news then. I turned to the newspaper to see a handwritten letter from Bhagat Singh, oh how good was his writing style, the article also carried his famous pic.
The above is the just my start of the day might have connection with the following. With the usual “World Premier Movies” in almost all the regional channels and the debate about Anna ‘fast in the news channel, I went to good old favourite DD Podigai. A camera crew and an anchor were running after different kind of people in Chennai streets, esp “Youth” and was asking some difficult questions, for which the poor youth didn’t have answers.
Sample Questions and their answers:-
>>When did we get independence (date)? Ans 1:- August 17th, I think 18th 1948
Ans 2:- It should be August 15th 1946
>>Who wrote National Anthem? Ans 1:- Bharatiyar
Ans2:- Hmmm, don’t know
>>Who is Bhagat Singh? Ans1:- I don’t have idea Ans2: Freedom Fighter
>>Who are Bhagat Singh’ famous friends? Ans 1:- I don’t know who Bhagat Singh is, then how can I know his friends
Ans2:- I don’t know who my friends are, then how can I know his friends
>>Why were they hanged? Ans 1:- I don’t know, see I am not interested in history.
Ans2:- They fought for freedom
>>What is the full name of Gandhi? Ans1: Mahatma Gandhi
Ans2: I don’t know
>>What is the name of the autobiography written by Gandhi? Ans1:- Sir, these questions I have read in my 10th class.
Ans2:- Did he write a book!
>>Who is our national poet? Ans1:- Muthu Ramaliga Devar
The questions went on and on, but there were no answers. They are the typical Indian generation who are confined to an idea that things will fall itself in its place. They all read it while they were in school, but forgot while getting aged! Our history is only for school and this is what the current politico world needs. It doesn’t want people to think beyond a line.
People who read this blog or article might be aware of these questions, but there are lots of our friends who are still sleeping. BE THE CHANGE.
Short clip of the video, sorry for the low quality
This season is started worst for the Indian Cricket and they are in dire straits, with England leading the series, 2-0, scoring a mammoth 700+ runs, dropping catches while bowling, injured players and now worst, Sehwag’s King Pairs.
What is King Pairs, If a batsman is out first ball he has made a golden duck and if a batsman is dismissed first ball in both innings he has achieved a king pair. It has happen only 12 times before Sehwag in 1000 tests, now its 13, so we have witnessed history.
Is Cutting Edge Technology is used only for "Cutting".
With the sharp spill of rain last night, it gave a relief to the hot climate of Chennai, but something started to worry. If you have guessed it, right its roads, which started to show its teeth. I don’t understand in spite of having cutting-edge technology in civil engineering why are our roads built so lame, is it all for the “cutting”.Yesterday it was close to 5 hours of rain and many roads got immersed in water. If ill-building of the roads is one cause to break it early, the other is water lodging, improper sewage system.
The entire stretch of 100ft Road before Olympia Tech Park till Hilton Hotel is immersed in water. I don’t think it will be cleared in morning, so the bus-stop is an island and the commuters have to swim into the bus. Constructing Metro is not an excuse, as it’s done in the center of the road, whereas the sewage system lies in the side lines. Government agencies should be more proactive, done blame on the magnitude of Indian cites with huge population. They need to show urgency in public works, not only when a minister visits a place. Fill the vacant spaces in the agencies, get more people to work. The government should have a clear agenda in infrastructure. The way inwhich they construct roads, is like applying lipstick on a kingkong.
The film about the indigenous people, filled with Humour, Love and Revenge by ROLF DE HEER
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I have to write that I was surprised to see this film, not because it was from Australia, because it was about the indigenous people of Western Australia. The story is even before the Englishmen arrived there as transporters. This is not Mel Gibson Apocalypto style film, were importance given on music and camera work, nor the 10,000 BC. This is just a story, told or made in the same innocent way of the indigenous people.So there is no cinematic visual splendour show, but just plain and unique shots.
The stranger is stopped by Ridjimiraril and sent back. Since then bad luck turns to the Ridjimiraril camp. His second wife goes missing; Ridjimiraril suspects that the stranger has taken her. One day Ridjimiraril spears a tribe, assuming that it’s the stranger who came to his camp, but its actually the stranger’brother. Now the other tribe has to settle terms for the killing, else its war. What happens to Ridjimiraril, what happens to his 2nd wife, did Yeeralparil fulfil his desire?
It’s a story within a story; there is no confusion as in Inception, its clear as a stream.The film starts with a narration, Far.. Far.. away… by David Gulpilil, in these story there are ten aborigines who go for hunting, in those ten one is Dayindi and his elder brother, as they goose hunt for days in the swamp, Dayindi’ brother tells him a story (the actual film) about a warrior named Ridjimiraril, who has three wives and a brother Yeeralparil. Yeeralparil has a crush on his brother young and third wife. They live in a camp, which consists of interesting characters. One day a stranger enters the camp, a different tribe.
Almost all the dialogues are indigenous, except the first narration by David.The story is told in humour, with sorcery, revenge and illicit love. Like here, when the last man walking in the queue stops and says he can’t walk in the last as someone in the front keeps farting. Half way through the story Dayindi’ brother asks him what did you learn from this story, he replies, I learnt that you tell stories very slowly.
If you are looking fabulous shots, raving score this is not the one. This is a modest story and simple production.
The next stop of Filmbulb will be Malaysia, yes truly asia.
As written before, Filmbulb has already travelled to Africa. It’s now in the western tip of Africa, Senegal. The film named is Xala, released in 1975 by one of the pioneer of African film fraternity, Ousmane Sembene. The other African film I (most of us) has seen is “The Gods Must Be Crazy” series, which was a comedy with innocence. Xala is a political comedy, pieces of satire. Some facts, Senegal got independence from France in 1960, 90% of its population follow Islam.Its official language is French, followed by Wolof an African language.
Ousmane Sembene
As said earlier, it’s a political humour. El Hadji is a business man, with strong political contacts. He and his fellow businessmen oust the French men from the Chamber of Commerce, which is presented in a very satirical way of taking the French king and queen busts and keeping it out of the chamber office, even the name of the Frenchmen is Dupont-Durrand! With the chamber in the hands of the native Senegalese, who is bribed by the Frenchmen, El Hadji with a National Food Money, does a scam and buys his 3rd wife. Yes he buys a woman as his wife, he is polygamous. This is followed by a lavish wedding ceremony, attended by both his wives! That night he is unable to perform the usually ritual, the next morning his mother-in-law discovers it and tells its Xala, which is someone has cursed with impotency on him. The rest of the story is to get rid of Xala.
El Hadji, losses his business, wives, finally comes to know Xala was performed by a beggar who was fouled by El Hadji earlier. The solution to get rid of it even becomes hard as beggars would like to spit on him.!!
The background score is good, but the same score or song is repeated again and again, would have been much better if an array of scores are used. The acting in some places by the extras looks very ordinary and amateurish. Might be the Africa was not mature of the cinema then, but the main lead fits to the bill.
Some of the scenes show the pretentious natures of how people get carried away by the western culture (read as French culture here). Like El Hadji drinks only Evian water, he likes to be in the Air Condition always, says he doesn’t go to Spain as there are Negros, his car driver uses Evian water to clean the car! (Not sure if the French use Evian to clean the car) El Hadji and his people in the chamber speaks only French, he doesn’t like when his daughter speaks Wolof. The film is not slow, but sometimes, what I felt is the music kills you.The score is repetitive; otherwise it’s a brilliant film.
