City of God

Not a long time back I had seen this movie, the City of God. Unfortunately my version of the movie was in Portuguese, so I had to download its English subtitles after having peeped into the plot once and understanding not much. Once armed with the subtitles it became much cleaner; the movie was much into being a protagonist of violence and crime, of love and lust, of being good and honest.

The story is about a sub-urban settlement somewhere near Rio (Brazil), its people, there life and there involvement with crime and thirst for becoming powerful. Revolving round our narrator Rocket, an aspiring photographer trying hard to get himself away from the dirt of the Slums, however always finds himself between the gangsters and their business. The movie runs over two decades of his early life, when the place was terrorized by a gang of trio by their looting and bulling of local business with armed holdups; much in an urban Robin Hood fashion, one of which was Rocket’s own elder brother Goose. Attracted to their powers were the younger kids, who often joined their loot missions. But one certain incident completely turned their lives when while robbing a motel turns into slaughter of the inhabitants. Eventually also brings about the end of the gang itself, but not the criminal prospects of their followers, among which were Li’l Ze and his partner Benney. Meanwhile, Rocket started becoming a photographer though not a professional, joins a band of hippies, and infatuated with a girl in that group.

While Li’l Ze became a powerful drug dealer, Rocket could not entirely escape meeting them sometimes at parties and sometime as photographer, even loosed his girl to Benney, who was turning the new playboy of town. In midst of all these there was growing rivalry between Li’l Ze and the other drug dealers that makes one humble man Knockout Ned a part of the Durg dealing after being humiliated and his girl friend raped by Ze, even Ze killed his uncle and younger brother. As Ned turns into becoming greatest rival of Ze, frequent gun battles starts between the two fractions, the victims of which mostly are small kids wanting to become one like them. Finally all the gangsters get killed in bloody battle, Ned was killed by a kid, whose father was previously killed by Ned while looting a Bank, while Li’l Ze got captured by the police however he too was handed over to a bunch of younger underlying kids. They emptied all their bullets into his body as a revenge for killing one of them over a pretty issue. And how Rocket becomes a photographer with the News paper, well he gave the paper pictures of Li'l Zé's bullet-ridden body, which ran on the front page.

Apart from the plot itself which is based on a true story, the movie has a powerful cinematography done on the same backdrop as the real story. However it is has quite a lot of violence, I thought like comparing it with Babel, but I was entirely wrong.

at Naga Nite 2009

The weekend was unusually busy one; apart form the regular late blooming and deep cleansing of the week’s dirt and of course movies!!! …. Saturday on Invitation of my friend Amento, we were at the “Naga’s Nite 2009”. An event organized by the Naga Students Union of Bangalore and sponsored by the Music Task Force, a socio cultural wing under the Government of Nagaland. It was an extravaganza showcasing the vivid Naga folk culture and shades of both native Naga and the evolving Naga western music.

Evidently the Late Latif –me, again made a late landing making Amento wait at the gate; I am so sorry for that! Meanwhile though not a very large one yet quite a handsome crowd had gathered but the proceedings were delayed by some time (may be waiting for my arrival) and only stated around when we took our seats at the front rows just behind the “Caged Lots” (privileged class).

President of the Naga Student Union of Bangalore Mr. Aran Chihui in his introductory speech promised to present the many layers, the hues and spirit of Nagas through this event. The program rally began with the display of traditional Naga ways of life; from making fire between split bamboos, Naga women grinding grains, and athletic male’s high kicking. Many a traditional dance and songs were performed by the young Naga boys and girls, the Folk song presented by the Poumai Nagas was quite notable. I should also let you know the Naga’s are not just one single tribe but a combination of more then a dozen smaller tribes; Poumai, Aoo, Angami, Sumi, Mao and Lotha are a few of the names I remember, join together to form the greater Naga Community. And this was on display at the ramps with boys and girls dressed in their traditional colorful and distinguished tribal attire. Meanwhile my host Amento was continuously entertaining us with the interpretation where ever necessary and answering out queries.

But the biggest attraction of the night was the performing musicians, among them was present the famous (Guru) Rewben Mashangva, he thrilled the crowd with his peace flute and his Naga Blue numbers meant no comparison. The night was also enlightened by the high scaled rock band from Nagaland, the Divine Connection. They were the runner up of the prestigious Hornbill Rock Contest. Meanwhile the other performers were also equally good, especially Naro was exceptional.

More-or-less from my own point of view the entire happening was absolutely fantastic as Amento promised me it would be.