The master Bruce Lee, who taught the men of Madurai of 70s to 90s, how to fight on the streets is being introduced to OchaThevar by MayandiThevar
While we did not have formal martial arts training we learnt from the masters BruceLee, JackieChan, Jean Claude VanDamme from their films exhibited in ThangaRegal, Sha, Nataraj, Hajieera, Ambiga, Saraswathi, Potthiraja, #Madhu and Mappillai Vinayagar and Manicka Vinayagar theatres in Madurai.
Once in a year OchaThevar is reminded of something legendary that shaped the lives of Pandians. Therefore, Bruce Lee's "Enter The Dragoon" (1973)
No one knows what is in store. However, MayandiThevar needs the notion of space exploration to be instilled in the subconscious mind of MayandiThevar. Furthermore, once in a year, the latter is reminded of something legendary that shaped the lives of Pandians Therefore, Stanley Kubrick's "2001: A Space Odyssey" (1967).
On the occasion of October 22, 2023 marking the 41st anniversary of Sylvester Stallone as John Rambo in "First Blood", MayandiThevar needed OchaThevar to watch something exceptional that had made profound impact on their lives. While OchaThevar took Pandians - OchaThevar and MayandiThevar to Madurai Amirtham theatre to watch " First Blood" (1982), OchaThevar is being introduced to John Rambo a four decades later.
While no one can be certain of what's going to be the future for anyone, MayandiThevar intends the notion of Submarines and Fighter Jets to be instilled in the subconscious mind of OchaThevar.
OchaThevar introduced OchaThevar to Clint Eastwood.
OchaThevar introduced, OchaThevar and MayandiThevar to Clint Eastwood.
MayandiThevar is introducing OchaThevar to Clint Eastwood.
Clint Eastwood is in our blood.
So, is Where Eagles Dare! (1969)
Having served the #BritishIndianArmy and turning into a rebel by joining #NethajiSubashChandraBose's Indian National Army (#INA), my grandfather #BhavaThevar continued the habit of watching films based on the second World War in #MaduraiRegaltheatre. He introduced my father to #ClintEastwood in "#WhereEaglesDare", and when the same film was re-released multiple times in #MaduraiMappillaiVinayagar Sri Mappillai Vinayagar and #ManickaVinayagartheaters, our father #Thangapandian introduced my brother and I to Clint Eastwood. In essence, Clint Eastwood has been one of the favorite actors and directors of generations. He turns 93 years young lately. And, this is how we show our admiration towards him:
http://mindofbt.blogspot.com/2020/05/clint-eastwood-is-90-years-young-today.html
#WhereEaglesDare (1969) trailer and synopsis:
Under the command of British Major John Smith, an international commando unit dressed in Nazi uniforms parachutes into the Bavarian Alps with the objective of rescuing a World War II Allied officer from a German castle-fortress known as the Castle of the Eagle. After one of the commandos is found with his neck broken, Smith first rendezvouses with agent Mary Ellison and then with another agent, Heidi, who, by posing as a local barmaid, succeeds in getting Mary into the fortress by introducing her as a cousin. Following the murder of a second commando and the capture of three other men, Smith and his second-in-command, American Ranger Morris Schaffer, are forced to surrender. But they escape and gain entry into the fortress by crouching on the roof of a cable car. Once there, Smith reveals to Schaffer that the Allied officer is really an actor, and that the real purpose of the mission is to discover the identity of German spies in England. After the actor-imposter has been rescued, Smith tricks the three "captured" commandos into exposing themselves as German agents. Now that they have the vital information they were sent for, Smith, Schaffer, Mary, and the imposter must face the problem of escaping. Having wired the fortress as well as certain sites in the village to explode at intervals, they make their way to a cable car. Once aboard, they outwit the Germans, reach the village, leap off the cable car, and, with the enemy still in hot pursuit, make their way through a canal to a garage. There they commandeer a bus and drive to an airfield where a plane is arriving to take them back to England. Once they are in flight, Major Smith forces one of the mission's organizers, Colonel Turner, into confessing that he is a German agent. To prevent humiliation to Turner and his family, as well as a national scandal, Smith permits Turner to meet a more honorable death by allowing him to leap from the plane.
Source: Turner Classic Movies: TCM
https://youtu.be/khIZwbXDF0o
While we don't know what's in future for anyone, MayandiThevar needs to instill the notion of combat and martial arts in the subconscious of OchaThevar. Therefore, the former made the latter watch one of the legends of Kung-Fu, Jet Li's "Fist of Legend" (1994).
1988: OchaThevar took OchaThevar and MayandiThevar to Madurai Mappillai Vinayagar theatre for four times for Arnold Schwarzenegger's Commando but got tickets only the fifth time.
Now: MayandiThevar is making OchaThevar watch Commando repeatedly.
It was between 1988 and 2000.
Our father typically takes us (me and my elder brother) every friday night to Madurai Mappillai Vinayagar or Manicka Vinayagar theatre for watching the newly released or the continuous run of an English language speaking film.
In the late 80s, for some reasons, I couldn't recall, why our father took us for Arnold Schwarzenegger's newly released "Commando", on the first day noon show to Mappillai Vinayagar theatre. We didn't get tickets. It was housefull. The subsequent Friday we ensured that we reached the theatre by 13:45 hours, as the show started at 14:10 hours, still we didn't get tickets. It was housefull. The third subsequent week, we reached by 13:30 hours, we didn't get tickets. It was housefull. The fourth subsequent week, we ensured that we reached the theatre an hour before, 13:00 hours. We did get the tickets. We had to stand in the queue for an hour. Commando was an unprecedented success at Madurai Mappillai Vinayagar theatre. It ran housefull for 3 months in a row, about 100 days.
I Dont need to count the number of times we watched Commando in the theatres, VHS, and satellite channels as it could near infinity. Just imagine, a film touching 10 days is considered to be a blockbuster now. But way back in the late 80s, with only a handful of english speaking and understanding folks, this movie influenced the cinema enthusiasts of Madurai and became a super hit. These posters were kept in remembrance of the massive reach of Commando for years near the first class entrance of Mappilai Vinayagar theatre. Colonel Matrix will always prevail in our lives.
https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/commando-complete-history/
2003: The temple Madurai Mappillai Vinayagar theatre introduced MayandiThevar to the CIA's black ops with the help of Jason Bourne's first installment of the franchise "Bourne Identity" in 2003.
Now: OchaThevar is being introduced to Jason Bourne by MayandiThevar.
1988: The beginning.
OchaThevar introduced OchaThevar and MayandiThevar to the world of action films in our temples Madurai Mappillai Vinayagar and Manicka Vinayagar theatres. One of the first films was John McTiernan directorial Bruce Willis as John McLane in Die Hard.
Now: MayandiThevar is introducing OchaThevar to John McLane.
The Guardian says 'DIE HARD' (1988) is a quintessential American action film ever made. Indeed, it was. Back in late 80s, when this film was released in my holy place Madurai Mappillai Vinayagar and Manicka Vinayagar theatres (Sri Mappillai Vinayagar), my father took us. Thus, we became die hard followers of not only the 'DIE HARD' franchise but Bruce Willis. Truly, no action films made now barring few (likes of Mad Max, Dark Knight, Lord of Rings) can match the films made in 80s and 90s. Imagine, they only had limited access to computer generated visual effects and largely relied on practical effects and characters. I'm grateful to Madurai Mappillai Vinayagar and Manicka Vinayagar theatres, otherwise I wouldn't have watched them.
35 years go on 20th July 1988, #BruceWillis '#DIEHARD' was released, directed by Director: #JohnMcTiernan, renowned for action films.
Die Hard (1988) official synopsis and trailer:
A New York City cop faces overwhelming odds when his Christmas visit to California is interrupted by a terrorist invasion of his estranged wife's office building.
CAST
#AlanRickman, Alexander Godunov, Bonnie Bedelia, Bruce Willis
Trailer: https://youtu.be/gYWvwkXreaI
Courtesy: 20th Century Fox
Today I ensured that the very first film MayandiThevar watched was auteur Christopher Nolan's, the first installment of the Dark Knight Trilogy, "The Batman Begins". And, this is OchaThevar's second Chris Nolan's film after Interstellar.
After all, Christopher Nolan is in our blood.
I told OchaThevar and MayandiThevar that their grandfather Thangpandian not only died but lived like William Wallace and his legacy must prevail. Therefore, I made them watch Mel Gibson's "BraveHeart" and imbibe it's quote "Every Man Dies Not Every Man Really Lives."
OchaThevar and MayandiThevar were made to watch Zack Snyder's "Man Of Steel". They were advised never to get into fight with anyone; endure the shame and move on. If they still choose to respond, they are asked to ensure that those got them into fight must never fight back.
Addiction to soundtrack:
Neither do I get inspired nor get motivated. But, the sound always does the magic of making me to attempt the challenging. Because of water crisis, I had to manually fill the sump using a hand pump. With the company of this influential soundtrack 'Flight', on loop, composed by legendary musician #HansZimmer for #ZackSnyder's '#ManofSteel', I pumped 3600 liters in three hours.
https://youtu.be/R2tBYMvDmDI
September 29 | 2024
While we got away from the street fights we have had during the 80s and the t90s in Madurai, now with the proliferation of surveillance cameras, it is incredibly hard to escape from the consequences. However, the notion of aggression and defence must be ingrained in the subconsciousness of OchaThevar and MayandiThevar. Therefore, they are being introduced to the fictional coach of Pandians, Rocky Balboa from Philadelphia. We began with Rocky IV - Rocky Vs. Drago.
Authored by Balaji Thangapandian aka BT - a spacefarer, who is also curious about film-making, connectivity technologies and military history.
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