Category Archives: ET

1-By Laksh, Movies, OTT

Uma maheswara ugra roopasya…

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Courtesy: The Hindu

In the late 60s, veteran director Bapu made his first feature film “Sakshi” (A witness). It deals with a simpleton who is goaded by the villagers to become a court witness to a murder and later leave him to his fate. One of the first Telugu films to completely shot in outdoor, the film went on to receive lot of critical acclaim. Bapu in his illustrious career revisited the village lore, with films like ‘Manavuri pandavulu’ and ‘Muthyala muggu’,  sticking to the nativity and situations related to the interior Andhra, particularly the coastal belt (Konaseema in telugu).


UMUR is one such tale that is completely set in a town around a hill station and refreshes memories of old classics while presenting the new technique of storytelling and characterization. It deals with a protagonist who is a small photo studio owner. He has never had an altercation with anyone, let alone get into a fight, and is beaten to pulp in public. His determination to avenge it and how he goes about forms the crux of the film. While this is the main theme, it’s also a coming-of-age sorts of a not so young protagonist. Plus, he finds his true love (yet again) and the real emotion behind his craft.

The first half gets a dragged a bit but the movie picks up pace from the inciting incident. Overall UMUR is a nice little film told in an endearing manner making it a decent watch in our homes.

Related links:
Trivikram on Bapu
Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyoon Aata Hai
The Hindu on Bapu

1-By Laksh, ET, TV

Perry Mason: A super origin story on HBO

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In Indian mythology, Hindu God Krishna teaches a lesson to the dreaded child killer Kamsa, and announces his arrival as the incarnation of Supreme God. Perry Mason’s legend begins the moment he solves the crime involving a child killing and when justice is delivered both in and out of the court room.

Image Courtesy: HBO

Perry Mason (HBO) Season 1 springs several surprises during the course of its eight episodes, by toying with the pace of narration, as in the super fast transformation of Perry Mason into a lawyer. But the writers keep the best for the last. (Spoilers ahead)

In Episode 8, showing the actual perpetration of the crime while Perry Mason struggles to weave a coherent and convincing argument sets up the emotional build-up very nicely. It gives a reason to his outburst, as someone who knows for sure what the truth is and the innocence of his client, yet has to find a way to get it across to the jury. In one masterstroke, the writers managed not only to create the drama in the court room but also help Perry Mason understand what lawyering (with a profanity for emphasis), is all about. And in the process also bring out the key differentiator in the characterization of Perry Mason, as someone who is a crusader, and takes everything very personal. A case is always a more than just a case for our detective turned lawyer, and hence a hero with a mission.

What’s really terrific about the series is the lavish scale on which it is mounted and the effort in bringing out the racial and gender prejudices that are relevant even today.  And it warms your heart when Ms.Della Street announces her intentions to be a lawyer without a modifier and his detective having no inhibitions in haggling for his fee. Differences apart, they make one heck of a team.

Season 1 of Perry Mason succeeds in creating the legend of how it all began and now the audience is ready for his exploits. It would be interesting to see how Season 2 is handled, if it would be one big case again or a series of small ones set for a big finale.

1-By Laksh, ET, Movies

‘The Perfect Murder’

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Inspector Ghote/Naseeruddin Shah

Middle class is called so for a reason. They float between flying aspirations and ground reality. They need to prioritize everything in life, and Inspector Ghote is no different. He just has to prioritize even more…from a list of three or more important priorities at work and a zillion at home. He would love to travel abroad but he is prioritising his other ground priority, a colour TV.

‘The Perfect Murder’ (based on HRF Keating’s work) released in 1988 is a perfect film in terms of casting led by the sublime Naseeruddin Shah. He brings such a human touch to his portrayal, that if Police were to showcase a friendly brand at that time, he would’ve been the perfect ambassador. As a man stickler to process and procedure, and burdened under Indian culture and conditions yet determined to do his job, he delivers one of the finest performances surprisingly in a detective/inspector led crime movie role. All the other cast members including the veteran Amjad Khan with his Indian English (only), shine in the Mumbai backdrop film.

With a new series around Inspector Ghote, around the corner, it will be interesting to see how the new avatar would take shape. Will it be a tech savvy reboot like Sherlock or a gritty and grisly Perry Mason? Worth finding it out.