The forgotten landmark

I remember the first time i had been to Moore market here in Chennai.It was back in 2000.Moore market is popular for the books sold here,mostly they are used books.The piracy of books sold in platforms across the city stems here.I am now a regular here mainly for taking home college books.But i also do not miss out to shop on the platforms outside the main building.They house the best of fiction and non-fiction.One of such shop owners now welcomes me...his eyes glitter as he meets an old friend.I was actually there this week to buy my 3rd semester books but couldn't resist the invitation set up by my 'old friend'.I didn't want anything in particular.I ended buying only 1 book('The monk who sold his Ferrari').I am always astonished by the knowledge of books these shop-owners own.I am unsure whether some of them actually do read the books.I ask for 'Jonathan Livingston seagull' and i get the reply 'Oh...i had only one copy of it which was sold last month.There's not much people opting for that...so i decided to take it off the stands.I'll have one for you when you come here the next time!'He laughs..
But the Moore market itself today represents a sorry state.It looks forgotten despite some crowd coming in and going out.It stands lonely giving a sick look.It once looked like an empire...before my birth.All i knew was that a fire demolished the place and it has been sick ever since.I didn't know the cause of the fire and i googled.Surprisingly,nobody knows yet.
The place in fact looks pathetic now.4 or 5 shops along the platform outside the building and a dozen book shops inside it,a few shops selling fishes(I don't want to call those Aquariums!)in the upper part of the building,a juice shop and 2 or 3 wine shops on the road leading to the market are all that is left.This definitely is a forgotten landmark.

Magnifying the magnum-opus!

Kamal Haasan's 'Dasavatharam' hit the screens on June 13th. Lucky me got a first day ticket to the much awaited magnum opus!I went in with total excitement and came out utterly disappointed.I went with 5 other guys and everyone of us shared the same view.I even went to the extent of telling other friends to not watch the movie.But then little did i know that i would restless to watch it again!
I went in first day with no idea about the movie.So,all we noticed was the commercial aspect of the movie.I saw no story in it and hence jumped to a conclusion.Basically,we didn't have time to think about the supposed 'flaws'.For instance,initially i found the 12th century scenes had no relevance to the plot.The whole thing made no sense.But,the movie is little too perfect.
This write-up is only for those who have already watched the movie.To the rest,this could be Greek and Latin.

Firstly,the entire movie revolves around a certain 'chaos theory' and 'butterfly effect'.The Govind Kamal mentions this in the beginning of the movie.Few would have noticed it first time amidst the shouts from fans.The chaos theory is simple.It is how the 10 characters who are strangers among themselves get related,rather help themselves out.Now,for all those who thought that the 12th century incident was unwanted....
The chola king drowns the statue.As it hits the sea-bed,it causes an explosion creating a rift between tectonic plates.This gradually expands and results in the Tsunami.Although the epicentre is not anywhere near Chidambaram which suggests that the plates float over a period of time.Now let me try to explain the Chaos theory in the movie.

In essence,Dasavatharam talks about 10 characters who are inconsequential as such,but are integrated in a larger picture.Without Bush,the plane would have been called back.Without Shinghen, Govind would be dead.Without the tsunami(thanks to the statue...in turn thanks to Nambi),the world would have been destroyed.Even Krishnaveni Patti plays a very important role.If she had not put the vial in the idol,maybe Govind would have recovered it then and there and a powerful weapon would have been unleashed.The very fact that it went into the idol meant that it was being accelerated to its destiny.Without Kaifulla Khan, Govind would have never escaped;the list simply goes on.Balaram Naidu lets Fletcher escape.Vincent saves Govind from the sand-mafia.Hence,no character is unwanted,though it seems so at first sight.These strangers control their own destiny.

The butterfly effect is the most important component of a chaotic system.Basically,small perturbations results in amplifications which completely destroys the original nature of the system and makes prediction impossible.If a butterfly flaps its wings in Africa,it COULD result in a cyclone in USA.A highly dumbed down explanation of the butterfly effect is in the film Anniyan,where Vikram's sister dies because a liquor shop owner sells liquor on a dry day.

Also,the Govind character could well be intended to be a reincarnation of Nambi.Nambi strongly believes in his God and refuses to give up on him.Govind is his exact opposite.Also the same could be said of Asin.The 12th century Asin gives up God to save her husband but the 21st century Asin never once gives up on her 'perumal'.During the encounter with sand mafia in the sand quarry, it is repeat of the incident from 12th century. Instead of Kulothunga Chozhan, it is the Sand Mafia who tries to inflict damage on the land.Note that the 'land' here is the same.Asin stumbles on a rock while burying the statue...which the same rock where the 12th century Asin throws her 'thaali'.All these highlight the circle of life.
This movie is a brilliant juxtaposition of independent characters whose paths cross, if only briefly, which is stunning example of Chaos Theory.
All these theories fall under Quantum Mechanics!!Thats not the end.
Let me reach out to a FAR FAR FAR-FETCHED THEORY.Kamal Hasaan usually has this knack of playing with symbols.Hey-Ram was one example.
The only symbol that looked weird probably was the '+' band-aid across Kamal's forehead.What could that mean?
Obviously your mind goes to Christianity.The Christ symbol is a vertical line ABOVE which comes the horizontal line.This could even be noted in the way the christians pray.However,the band-aid has the vertical line coming over the horizontal.It looks like this one is an indication of anti-christ.In simple words,if Christ looks out to save the world..anti-christs look for destruction.Our hero has found a potential world-destroying weapon!That puts him under the anti-christ category,doesn't it?
This is still not the end of it.The title is not only to indicate Kamal donning ten roles...but the characters themselves are related to Lord Vishnu's Das Avathars.It is the irony of all irony's.

The movie is too clever that it has made a lazy bum like me to come up with such a big post.It is a must-watch,no doubt!

PS : My thanks to DEEPAK VISHNU and VcX for the movie ticket and also arguing with me about the theories,which in turn helped in throwing light on more complications.