A fresh filmy frontier...

Classmates, when I say this word, different things would instantly come to our minds. School, college or even the peers you may still meet even now. But to me, this word means that, plus a little more, actually a lot more. This word is the name of the film which became my threshold to Malayalam cinema and that missing jigsaw piece which helped me to connect with the best friends that I have till date.

This post is about how I,a girl born and brought up with Bollywood and Hollywood cinema, began to appreciate films from the state where I'm originally from, Kerala.

It all started in the summer of 2009 when my family and I had gone to the small town of Mavelikara, to visit my mother's family. We were bored one afternoon and decided to go for a movie, of course English and Hindi were out of the question so Malayalam was the only choice. From previous experiences, I was neither looking forward to nor was I expecting much. I was going because it was better than sitting at home alone.

We reached the theatre and I asked my grand-father which movie we are going for, he told me Classmates. My instant reaction was, what kind of name is that? But then again, Malayalees are known for their “excellent” film name choices, like Kangaroo, Chocolate and Lollipop so this did not seem too bad. After buying popcorn and juice, we sat in the theatre and I was bracing myself for the worst. However to my surprise, the moment the movie started till the very end, my eyes were glued to the screen and I enjoyed every minute of it. This movie was like the surprise gift you get from a person you don't know very well, and it turns out to be your favourite. This film had romance, drama, elements of suspense and to top it, some nice music, quite unusual from the typical Malayalam songs. The story was unlike any other film I had seen so far. And what made me feel so good was I didn't have to ask anyone to translate any of the dialogues for me. I understood it all, it was the best feeling in the world. But so far, I haven't explained what the best part was, or should I say who?

I can proudly say that Malayalam cinema has finally got a heartthrob, who I have plastered my bedroom walls with. Not only does he look handsome, but his acting skills are extremely original and refreshing. His name is Prithviraj, you may have seen him in the Tamil film Raavan, with Aishwarya Rai and Vikram. Anyhow, he had the lead role in Classmates, and it made the film so much more interesting. And ever since I watched that movie, I loved him so much that I began to watch his other films, one after the other. Gradually, I began to realise that Malayalam films aren't that bad. Even if I was slightly biased because I was watching films only because Prithviraj was in it, regardless of that, the stories were unique and characters were very real. As time went by, I decided to watch films starring different actors and soon enough, they began to grow on me. I realised that they weren't idealistic or exaggerated like many of the characters in Hindi movies or predictable like some of my favourite English chick-flicks and romantic comedies. I do admit that sometimes I do need help in understanding what is going on, but overall it has helped me in picking up the Malayalam language and becoming aware of certain traditions and norms which I didn't know about earlier.

So when I joined college later that year, in Trivandrum, I was able to talk with a lot more confidence and ease to my classmates. I'm sure I surprised many of them when I told them how many Malayalam movies I had watched. Of course, they all had different tastes and their own personal favourites, but just the fact that I had watched some, proved that I wasn't too much of an outsider and it made them feel more comfortable around me,and vice-versa.

Nevertheless, allow me to return to the film, that started it all. Frankly speaking, Classmates was so much like the college life I had experienced in Mar Ivanios. The college parties with rallying and voting, cultural functions, closing college because of various reasons, the manner in which students behave, and most importantly the happiness and fun times I had with my classmates. And till date, whenever I hear a song from the film or see it on television, I think back to the first time when I had seen it and consider it a good-luck charm, because not only did it help me get in touch with my Malayalee roots, but I've also had the good fortune to have great classmates ever since. Therefore,give your regional films a shot, and embrace your mother-tongue, you never know, you may learn something new, and even learn to love it like how I have!

Monday Blues

Briiing! The alarm goes off at six a.m. waking Sidharth, an eleventh standard student, from his six hour slumber. Monday mornings have always been a wet blanket to the fun and enjoyment he had over the weekend. For him, it’s another five long dreary days till the next weekend. Adding the last minute touches to the Mathematics assignment, Sidharth still has to iron his uniform, not to mention eat a wholesome breakfast in the next fifteen minutes to avoid missing the bus, while toting a backpack, weighing about half a kilo.

On the other hand, his sister, a final year college student, leisurely wakes up at half past seven and takes her time to get dressed in comfortable attire, for another enjoyable week of studying a subject which she’s always been passionate about. Having had the time to complete her homework over the weekend and having eaten to her fill, she has lots of time to spare and decides to read the newspaper before leaving for the junction to catch her bus.

As anyone can see, there is a conspicuous contrast between the lives of a college student and a school student. However this is just one example, to rationalize the point I’m trying to make, this is what a few students, both college and school, had to say: “College has given me more beautiful memories of unity and fun times. Attacks on other’s lunches, bunking of classes, celebrating small events, etc were all things which couldn’t be done in school.” Another view is that in school you learn the tricks of the trade and it would do you good to be nice to the teachers as they evaluate your papers whereas in college one has to apply what you have learned earlier and you can afford to be yourself as your professors do not grade you. School for some consist of an endless series of late nights and early mornings spent either at tuition or school and if there is time in between, it is at home, cramming as much information into their tiny little noggin. Mothers of college students have different problems than that of school students normally not related to academics. Each has its advantages and disadvantages but generally mothers tend to be more relaxed when their child has entered college because the ward seems to have attained a level of maturity and common sense and generally, can be trusted more to handle various problems. Psychologists say that school going children face as much stress as any adult undergoes, however unbelievable that may sound. Teachers are under a lot of pressure to finish the prescribed syllabus in a specific amount of time which can lead to carelessness and monotony. This in turn causes the student’s interest to decline and a growing hatred develops towards the subject which gradually turns into hatred towards school altogether.

As T.S Eliot once said, “No one can become really educated without having pursued some study in which he took no interest. For it is part of education to interest ourselves in subjects for which we have no aptitude.”

Therefore, school students, just remember that when you enter college, gone will be the days when your mind, body, heart and soul rebel at the beginning of a new week. Gone will be the times when you just could not find it in yourself to stand for another strenuous and droning day of classes which made no sense to you, but pulled through because of friends and family. No more will on Sunday nights gloom, misery, and a genuine desire to stop time, flood your consciousness. You will be able to take pleasure in devouring the sweet fruit of your labour as a school student, and that is by enjoying the bright hued days of college which will be with you forever. After all it is said that, "Education is what remains after one has forgotten everything he learned in school."

-Anonymous.

Therefore get ready for your education to begin, as soon as you leave behind the world of uniforms and chalk dust to enter a new world of coloured variety and a plethora of professors awaiting your questions with open arms.