Friday, April 29, 2005

Kamal Hassan - I need a Refund

I read this post in IBM Visu's blog and realized that Kamal has taken all the viewers for a ride via his Mumbai Express.


The article in THE HINDU newspaper ends like this:

'As long as the story keeps them (the audience) engrossed, they really need not be told what is digital and what is film. It makes no difference to the audience', he adds.

So, Kamal's team assumes that we are all idiots. What a shame..!!


I definitely want my money back for the sub-standard video of that movie. Can someone talk to Kamal and get my money back please !

PS - Mr.Kamal, if you continue doing these stupid experiments you'll lose die-hard fans of yours like myself.

17 comments:

Nth Dimension said...

Will Rajini Kanth and the producers of Chandramukhi be willing to give my money back as well? I mean, take an intelligent movie like Manichitrathazhu, pretend to add masala, and create an unholy mess of the entire thing. I guess it takes talent to be P.Vasu.

Anonymous said...

I haven't watched the movie but I tell you something Mr. Hasan is perhaps the only actor in India who is willing to take chances. That he has failed miserably at the box-office is no indication that he is a personal failure. Fact is, years from now he will be heralded as a pioneer. George Lucas moved away from shooting film and shot the last couple of Star Wars movies using a digital format. It's easier to handle as most post-production is digital now anyway. It's silly to shoot film and have it scanned. Mr. Hasan is also looking to advance cinematography in India and for that he must be congratulated. And yes, just as we must appreciate him for his "experiments", we'll have to also put up with his crap. That's life! Judge a movie by its content, not format. Indeed he is right - a moviegoer need not know that a film is digital or film or a combination of both.

Narayanan Venkitu said...

Daph - I watched M.Thazhu also. I was also upset about the handling.
But I didn't find any technical flaws. ( The sound was a little too scary though - DTS).

Narayanan Venkitu said...

Kika Gops - IMHO the movie can be watched once.

1. Neat comedy
2. Can be watched with family.
3. Good BGM and songs.
4. Kamal has down played his role. Pasupathi is awesome.

Don't stand in lines.
Don't spend a lot of money.
Expect the quality of video to be like pirated VCD.

You might enjoy it.

Please send me an email on your thoughts. I repect your opinion.

Narayanan Venkitu said...

Seshu - First, I like your comments and thanks for stopping by.

By the last lines of my post You'll know that I am a big kamal fan.
=================================
I've like all his attempts and have watched all his movies in the last few years.

I won't care if it is analog or digital if it is good.

I enjoyed watching kamal's Pushpak ( Pesum Padam in tamil ) which was a daring attempt. I also like Kamal's Production kadamai/kanniyam/kattupaddu - I think the first without songs.

I'd like to welcome the experiments with stories and characters. But technically, a viewer shouldn't be cheated. Going by Kamal's thoughts why not go back and shoot in Black and white ....to save money?

Your years from now comment is quite right. Kamal is well respected as he should.

You compared George Lucas. Did the quality go bad in his films due to the change in media. Please tell me.

And, take PC. Sreeram , ( if you read the article), he has attempted a better definition in the digital media.

MHO - If kamal wants to save money by using digital media, please pass it on to the customers also.
(FYI - I payed 10$ for a ticket).

Reduce the ticket cost. Or atleast put the comment on the posters, talk about it before the release and tell the audience about it.

Sorry if I am a little too blunt.

Narayanan Venkitu said...

Venkat -

எமாறுபவர்கள் இருந்தால் தானே
எம்மாத்த முடியும்.?

So watch out. Next time you see these experiments ....wait for the reviews to come out...rather that waste your hard earned Money..!! watching it as soon as the movie is released.

LOL :)

Kay said...

I think the movie deserves to be watched only in thirutu VCD :)

tifoc said...

it beats me as to why people rely on words rather than action!...if indeed that was kamals intention...he shld keep quiet..not brag about it

Kaps said...

Yes, you will get your money back. But the notes will be issued by RBI (Rajkamal Bank of India). This was the same note used by Kamal during the promos for the movie.

Ram C said...

Kamal does all sorts of his experiements, at his own expense and fails. That's the pity.

Let him come out some better attractive stuff, in the coming movies. all the best kamal.

Unknown said...

"Kamal does all sorts of his experiements, at his own expense and fails. That's the pity."
Dont forget Aalavandhaan! KalaiPuli Thanu? Who was that guy in the streets revived by Kaakha Kaakha?

I din like this movie anyways...hope his Vettayaadu Vilayaadu clicks...looks good..

Narayanan Venkitu said...

Praveen - Experiments are ok...to help out his expense.! but quality..is important isn't it. Let's hope V.Velayadu does better.

Ram - I am sure he will...Let's see.

kika gops - IMHO stands for In my Humble Opinion.

Kaps - I want valid currency...No Rajkamal currency. Let kamal use them and see how it works.!!

Tifoc - I agree. Kamal shouldn't have bragged about the inferior tech. he was trying to use.

Jagan - Let's see how the DVD is. I think the Hindi DVD is out. I'll check.

Kay - I agree.

Sriks said...

but, you know, there are very small number of theaters in Chennai that can show digital,

Our theater will take a look only if a senior movie maker like Kamal starts a new process,
If smaller producer does it, Theaters will not be upgraded to digital in near future, it will be ignored,

Since Kamal had taken the 1st step I am sure more people will come in this and soon we will have theater that can play digital directly.

The Digial to 35mm conversation process is costly as of now, but very soon this technology will get better and soon over the period theaters will get upgraded and this middle process can be eliminated.


also, kamal made sure he took very simple script to try out his experiment.


Having worked on Digital short films and videos, I see Mumbai express example to be a good start for small time movie makers.

Narayanan Venkitu said...

Sriks,

So, please clarify.

Was this movie shot in digital (DV?) then copied to analog media and then got projected in theatres.?

You said we.? Do you own a theatre?

I agree that it is a good start..but i didn't expect this pathetic video quality.

Was this the first attempt. I thought someone else tried this in commercial cinema ( Vijakumar's son acted in that movie..I forgot...Its a crime thriller.)
Saw the trailors in SUN TV.

Sriks said...

As per Kamal, this was short on using a DIGITAL camera that’s cost about 2 lacks. PC SriRam has already done a full blown movie using DV, he Cleary studied it and exploited it better than MX. However I don’t know if he converted it to 35MM. There are various processes to convert digital to 35mm. some of them are costly as $70-$100 per minute of footage. For a 2.5hr movie, I have had quotes from labs in Chennai charge for about 10lakhs for the master copy.

My thing was if a theater could play a digital movie directly, we would save lot of money and avoid quality loss in this conversion process that is yet to be streamed lined.
Over the period of time, today's DV camera offers almost same amount of frames per second and other wonderful features of a 35mm movie camera. The cost of film is huge and but a DV tape is $2 for 3hrs
Kamal also mentioned about it, in a big budget movie, this film expenses is not huge at all very true, however for smaller producers it is big money.
If a smaller prouder does it, no one will care if an industry pioneer like Kamal steps into it I am sure many will at least take a look at it.

Bottom line, DV is another ball game, a movie DP [director of photography] cannot become a Digital –DP over night. Kamal and his camera crew [Siddarth] must have underestimated. The quality is not great inMX, actually the short film which I have scored music for has better camera work,
But if the producer/director feels this is enough to carry the script, it suffices the requirement.

I don’t own theaters, but own an audio studio and work on short films movie projects. I score music and do sound modeling and sound design:)

www.srikanthd.com

:)

Narayanan Venkitu said...

Srikanth,
Thanks for your technical details. I loved reading it.

Wondering if the same kind of problems arose when we moved from B/W to Color.? Might be, I am not sure.

About kamal's experiment, cost factor, feasibility etc, I agree with you.

Kamal is always a pioneer and that's why I love him.

But me being me...I enjoy each and every aspect of a movie. I want good acting, re-recording, BGM, editing, photography, dialogue,direction etc. So I was terribly disappointed by the video quality.

Wonder how the Bollywood films are doing? Has anyone gone digital?

I love your website. My daugher loves your song 'Daddy's Girl'. I liked the instrumental 'Remniscence'. My wife loves Chennai in 80's. I am able to live thru that song.!!

Happy to see such talent around.!! Keep up the good works.

I would love to watch your films, if you can give us a link.

Anonymous said...

may be kamal might have been Overconfident, he does fall for this. :)

Anyway,
thanks for music feed back :)
movies are found in trigger street.com, please goto my directors website, www.arunhere.com
:)