ringslady1987-1

I remember how crazy I used to be about this movie when I was a kid. It was the most expensive Tamil movie made then and the hype and hoopla when it released were phenomenal. I even performed one of the songs, 'columbus' on stage in school when I was a kid.

Speaking only of the Tamil version, this film is the only one directed by Shankar which is not related to social issues and is predominantly a love story (a rarity these days). Sure watching it then and now, it is a totally different experience. Then, the story, scenes, sets, leads, acting were an eye-opener. Now though, everything seems rather cheesy but the movie sure sustains its nostalgia, beauty (of young Aishwarya and the locations) and the special effects.

No matter what, this movie always holds a special place in my heart as it reminds me of my childhood.

It was high time a movie about the situation in a largely ignored Asian country like Myanmar had to be made and Beyond Rangoon is Hollywood's answer. Initially I thought Hollywood would dramatize the events of the 8888 uprising and add in the traditionally Hollywood spice of Titanic-type love between the lead heroine and the Burmese male lead who happens to be an old man. Thankfully, nothing of that sort was in place - which may also explain why the film was not financially successful.

Anyway, the film was honest-to-God and I was glad at the accuracy of events portrayed. Apart from the fact that filming was done outside of Myanmar in Malaysia & Thailand and that I missed the exotic Burmese locales, I could not find much fault in the film.

You cannot blame the film for the desperation of the people and the resulting overwhelming actions. It is after all, real events of a civil war. The music by Hans Zimmer is definitely the USP of an otherwise adventurous tragedy for people who have no connection to it.

I was only a year old in Rangoon (now Yangon) during this tumultuous time. When I heard a movie was made on my real-life experience which I was too young to absorb, I had to get the DVD and needless to say, I could hardly have any complaints about it as it is an eye-opening wonder for me.

Surely this film was good for fans like me... The background relationship Scully has with her young patient and her efforts at saving him defines the core elements of the film more than the story of the missing agents in the foreground which turns out to be downright gross.

Seriously this film does not seem like an X Files movie apart from the leads. There are not many spooky elements apart from the priest with visions. I think producers could have etched a better story with monsters, maybe even aliens (even if people are sick of them).

Hope there might be an X Files 3 with way more spooky elements. Chris Carter, please hire a good supernatural scriptwriter.