Andha Naal

[timmy]

Last night, I finally realized a long-held dream and watched Andha Naal (1954) with my Wife.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andha_Naal

This was the first Kollywood movie that had no singing or dancing, and stars the legendary Sivaji Ganesan as the bad guy. If you love real film noir, Andha Naal is the real thing.Frankly, I am surprised that it is not shown in the USA as an art house movie. Not only is the movie the "real thing," but Sivaji is most certainly a masterful actor, and if you are used to him as the lead, you will be pleased to watch his skills here, playing a negative character.

This one takes its proper place with other classic greats in my library, like Devdas, Pyaasa, Madhubala, and Mughal e Azam. I very much liked this film, and so did my Wife.

[dr.jayakumar]

YES Timmy,
had seen this movie several times.sivaji was an actor who can fit into any role given.since the language is limited to tamilnad,he wasn't known nation wide unlike hindi movie stars.
other notable movies by him are thillana moganambal,veerapandia kattabomman,arivali,thaiva magan,karnan,gouravam and so on,all super hits.to this day these movies are so intense to watch.
will never see another like him.
regards
dr.jk

[brihacharan]

Timmy / Dr.JK,
> You guys really helped me to a quick "re-wind" - all movies a class by themselves
> I would very strongly recommend you guys to see another classic of 'Shivaji' - MUDAL MARIYADAI...

Briha

[Moin.]

Timmy if you have Pyaasa, Kaagaz ke Phool and Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam are a must add to your collection.

Regards
Moin.

[Moin.]

http://m.imdb.com/title/tt0052954/
http://m.imdb.com/title/tt0056436/

[timmy]

Thank you, gentlemen, for the suggestions! I have seen Vasantha Maligai, which I found quite good and, in parts very funny.

Two that I want to see very badly are Kappalottiya Thamizhan and Rajaraja Cholan (you wouldn't know it from the avatar, would you?) but it is so hard to find Tamil films with subtitles.

I wish someone would put on an occasional weekend film festival here, where movies like these would be shown.

One of my office coworkers can't quite understand -- after I told about watching Andha Naal, he was very puzzled. I have tried to explain, but to no avail. He just has to see one or two good ones to understand, I guess. I was talking to my friend about these movies and noted how good the acting was in these old classics, and how striking the stars are. I really like them -- for instance, Jackie Shroff and Madhuri Dixit. One who I find spellbinding is Waheeda Rehman.



Hollywood hasn't had actresses like her since Liz Taylor and Hedy Lamarr.

I guess we all learn in our own time.

Thanks again!

[Sakobav]

timmy you need and should travel to India ..your knowledge is amazing on southern films..I always felt that bengali and then southern films were far ahead in many respects to bollywood

Cheers

[timmy]

Navi, you know I like Bimal Roy films -- the ones I've seen. I think he's very artistic, for sure.

Someday, I must go to India, I agree! I was just talking with a very good friend about my going. Maybe someday. I already have places picked out all over! A few years back, Vikram posted some pics about a trip he took on his Bullet with friends, do you remember? That looked like it would be so fun, and educational for me, too. I've never forgotten those pictures.

[brihacharan]

Timmy,
> Oh! Waheeda Rehman... a charmer & a classic beauty
> If I am not mistaken the pic of her you posted is from the Bengali Film "Abhijaan"
> Soumitra Chatterjee played the lead role of a taxi driver...
> If you haven't seen this film - Please do
Briha

[timmy]

Thanks, Briha! I even have her in Aparna Sen's recent film, Water.

I'll check this out.