Faded out

Used to be an avid movie-watcher. But these days the interest seems to be fading out. thanks to "real" cinemas - violence and sex hits on ur face. Another in thing seems to be the new-found interest on rural subjects. Started with kunguma poovum konjum puravum, I think. and then there were scores of films on dealing with rural storyline - new 'heroes' with an unshaven face and unkempt 'parattai' thalai to give a rustic look. Whoa! All the faces seem to be alike and not to mention the heroines (barring Priyamani) with their 'thiruttu' muzhi. All these faces sport a look - suttu potalum enakku nadikka varaadhu! Don't know who imposed such a rule. Look at the 80s movies, majority of them dealt with rural storyline, but the heroes looked good with a shaven face, if not nice - Rajini (Murattu kaalai, Thambikku entha ooru), Kamal (Sakala kala vallavan, ullasa paravaigal - ok semi-urban).

Another noticeable thing is the missing sets - yes, those masjestic ones that evoked a sense of grandeur to any song. we use(d) to watch MGR songs keenly for those superb sets as in - Raajavin paarvai, Anbe vaa (title song), aayiram nilave vaa, azhagiya tamil maghal ival, etc... Next to him, I think kamal hassan. Romantic songs of his early masala movies contained this element - Kaadhal Parisu, Kaaki Sattai.(My uncle says TR's songs too sported good sets but i don't think i'll watch a full-grown bear doing exercise.) These days pan the cam to Alps 'adivaram' or US with the hero fully covered and the heroine scantily dressed shivering and shaking legs (i dono whether it is a dance form or really shivering) in minus temp. I think the last time we saw 'set' is in Shivaji (Vaa ji vaaji song) grandly erected for a thatha-pethi bath scene (Lol!)