Natrang ..claps for it.

Image from http://passionforcinema.com/

I just finished watching Natrang.. just, like a few seconds ago. It is now 2031hrs. of the 12th. day of July 2010. And i have fallen in love with this - head over heels over head over heels. It is probably the most beautiful movie, nay, work of art actually, that i've seen in a long time.

It all started when Sherry told me'bout it.

She had called.. she'd described the song "Apsara Aali" to me, she sung it to me, a bit. And just when i was starting to get impatient, she sent me a link on You Tube.
It had me hooked - line and sinker to the screen - here was sheer sensual poetic elegance, not imbued with vulgar innuendoes, but lit with the lilting sense of desire. The dance was of course a song in itself, the words were dancing, flirting at the borders of being erotic at times. For my second round i closed my eyes - let myself soak in it. Stroking memory to find the meanings as i saw them written in the subtitles. Smiling at the meaning when i remembered. I hadn't had a beautiful experience with art, any form of it, for long.. the release was exquisite!

I wish to steal a line from the beautifully written post here.. which i found while researching the lyrics of this song.

"And thus began my love affair with Marathi poetry."

The third time i played it to myself.. i was discovering the song even more. Every verse laden with the sultry aroma of desire, the alluring promise of beauty. Sorbet like combinations of words that excite.. that evoke delight in what is almost the worship of the woman.

"Chhabidaar surat dekhani, janu hirkani, naar gulzar..
..saangate umar kanchuki bhapudi mukhi.. sosate bhaar..
..shelati khunaavi kati.. tashi hanuvati, nayan talwar."

(..use the link above (simpler) or this one (thorough) for the translations.)



I fell in love with my Sherry again. It happens everyday, but the intensity varies.. and this was a peak. It helps to understand something in context when you have a person you love, in that very context. I wanted to experience the entire bouquet from which this gladiolus came.

I acquired the movie. Watched it riveted, and smiled at the ending.
It is the life of an artist, this movie.. the strife, the love, everything. But everything is raw, like reality. The protagonist, who treads the fine line of being the antihero at places, does not receed into analysis; explanation and guilt are also not made part of the story. Crisp and paced like a hummingbird, the script knows what to portray, where to hover and how to do it well.

..the end, yes. The ending is something people might differ with me on, but it was balanced.
Justified.

For me, this movie is now part of the pantheon where the likes of Jungfurkallen, Akira, Solaris, Godfather, Amores Perros, Pulp Fiction, Vaastav, Shawshank Redemption, Bomarrillu etc. rest.
A whole new genre is now open to me.. and i'm hungry!


p.s. For those who're in a hurry to watch this movie, a torrent that includes the OST can be found here, but like always - buy it if you love it.
;)

edit:
On a parallel, i had a fractionally similar reaction with Manasa, a song from the movie Munna[2007]. (..here on You Tube.)
It is a beautiful Telegu song, beautiful not because of its lyrical prowess, but for its music and execution. The video failed at so many levels it's sad.. but a beautiful song nonetheless. Deserved a mention.

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