LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL

A tale of overwhelming optimism and the power of love, a sad story told in the refreshing tone of slapstick comedy. Roberto Benigni's Academy award-winning film 'Life is Beautiful' conveys the painful horrors of the holocaust, despite the light mood, which, like a superficial membrane, conceals a subject that has been chewed over and over again by many movies using a serious tone.

Guido (Roberto Benigni) is an Italian Jew, who is just overly happy to be alive, jumping and prancing around, he pulls many tricks and even manages to pull a beautiful woman Dora (Nicoletta Branchi) for his wife. Every thing seems happy for the small family, which soon includes son Giosue (Giorgio Catarini). The second part of the movie takes a serious turn (serious in Benigni's world includes acting silly, making faces, practical jokes on murderous German soldiers etc). The family is transported to an unnamed concentration camp, where Guido manages to hide his son and make him believe that the camp is nothing but a game and the winner will be rewarded with a real tank at the end. After a series of near misses, Guido finally manages to get killed, but manages to save his son, by hiding him in a box (makes you wonder if all Germans are fools or only fools are recruited in the army). The son eventually gets a ride on a real tank. After all, dads are always right.

The main theme of the movie is the portrayal of the undying love for his family, shown in contrast to a symbiotic friendship, like that with the German doctor who saves him only for his personal advantage.

At the end the movie is more like an emotional fairy tale, with some not-so-realistic portrayal of the holocaust. One would wonder how the little boy was able to hide along with his father in the camp when all the other children were isolated and killed or how he is able to pull off far too many security breaches (using the public address system or running into the women's camp) in the German camp. One should be able to over look these facts, given that the movie maker is trying to be give a positive paint to the holocaust, the same fact that brought him disfavour among many, who argued that holocaust is nothing to joke about.

Final word - a movie worth watching if you are ready for a serious movie in light tone, and yes, you can take your mom and kids too.

TENALI - A REVIEW

Kodambakkam (in Chennai). Yes. Certainly, this was the country's film capital. Many might rise up in indignation. "Bollywood", they cry, "deserves this title". But, Kollywood (if we can call it so) was definitely the film capital.

In this comedy, titled Tenali, Kamal Hasan plays the role of a person afflicted with many phobias.

Panchaboodham (played to perfection by 'Delhi' Ganesh ) is a psychiatrist. Young Kailash (Jayaram), also a psychiatrist, is the darling of his patients. So, in a plot to bring Kailash down, Panchaboodham sends his unmanageable patient Tenali Soman to Jayaram, to drive him mad. Tenali makes friends with the doctor's family, falls in love with his pretty sister, drives the doctor mad, but cures him in the end. And all is well that ends well. (Much like the storyline of the Richard Dreyfus starrer 'What about Bob').

A. R. Rahman's six songs are good, but the duets come and go without making any impact on the viewer. Touted as the twenty-fifth movie of director K. S. Ravikumar, Tenali disappoints the audience with its weak storyline. Story and logic take a backseat and the scenes are propped up with slapstick comedy dialogue.

Kamal has used the Srilankan Tamil dialect for the first time. He even takes a dig at lady Television anchors who cannot speak Tamil well. Jyotika plays the romantic lead, opposite Kamal. She is her usual enthusiastic and vibrant self and looks good in the song and dance routines. Jayaram has essayed his role well. Meena makes a guest appearance towards the fag end of the movie and provides a dramatic twist. The performances of Delhi Ganesh, Shahul Hameed and Devyani are worth a mention. A mouse makes a brief guest (?!) appearance, in a fight scene.

On the whole, a run-of-the-mill movie, but worth watching if you are a Kamal fan.

For more on Kamal Hasan, check out our Film personalities section.

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