Category: Movies

Joe Cocker – With a Little Help From Friends

Woodstock was a movie, that one had to stand in long ques because there were very few who used to get out of the Blue Di theater. Such was the magic of that 70’s music. Almost every young person those days, who knew pop, rock, acid rock and stuff like that were into it.

Veecumsees is a theater complex on Mount Road, the present Anna Salai, almost opposite the USIS in Madras the present Chennai.  That theatre complex is supposed to be India’s first multi-theatre complex.  Its not there anymore.  They say Amma pulled it down or acquired it.

Safire, Blue Di (Blue Diamond) and Emerald are the three screens open to the public. Blue Di had a special feature – continuous shows. With Rs2.90 or was it 2.25 (?) ticket you could walk into the theater and watch the shows as many times as you want to until the last show ends at about 12 ot 1 AM.  If you wanted to stretch your legs you could step out into the foyer and enjoy a smoke or a coffee and then go back.  But we are not discussing it here.

Woodstock was a movie, that one had to stand in long ques because there were very few who used to get out of the Blue Di theater. Such was the magic of that 70’s music. Almost every young person those days, who knew pop, rock, acid rock and stuff like that were into it.

Yes, there were many a times we used to bunk classes just to enjoy and sing along. Santana, Jose Feliciano, Joan Beaz et al had the whole world sing along to their tunes.

How many know that Joan Baez’s song “Bangladesh’ was banned in India then?

Woodstock itself was banned. I could get the tapes of Woodstock a few years ago. But now Youtube fills in the gap.

Joe Cocker and their ilk represent an era. It is sad to know that he is no more.

Joe Cocket
Joe Cocker 1944 -2014

Here is Joe Cocker with john Lennon and Paul McCartney’s, “With a Little Help from My Friends.” You can hear him here.

Here are the lyrics:
With a Little Help from My Friends 
What would you do if I sang out of tune?
Would you stand up and walk out on me?
Lend me your ears and I’ll sing you a song
And I’ll try not to sing out of key

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends
I get high with a little help from my friends
Gonna try with a little help from my friends

What do I do when my love is away?
(Does it worry you to be alone?)
How do I feel by the end of the day?
(Are you sad because you’re on your own?)

No, I get by with a little help from my friends
I get high with a little help from my friends
Gonna try with a little help from my friends

Do you need anybody? I need somebody to love
Could it be anybody? I want somebody to love

Would you believe in a love at first sight?
Yes, I’m certain that it happens all the time
What do you see when you turn out the light?
I can’t tell you but I know it’s mine

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends
I get high with a little help from my friends
Gonna try with a little help from my friends

Do you need anybody? I need somebody to love
Could it be anybody? I want somebody to love

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends
With a little help from my friends

Raving Ravi

This is Ravi. Well, that’s the guy with the black hat on. One of my good friends. I know him for almost two decades. He is one guy that proves good friends need not spend time together meeting every day. You could still be good friend though you are living miles apart. In fact I wonder if he knows what I am doing right now. But I know that he would always cherish those days that we spent time together watching movies sharing books, having those cuppa of tea and our friends.
It is nice to know that he is growing up and reaching out the skies.
The first time I came across his works was a dubbed venison of the film he worked for ‘BOYS’ to be more precise. That work is outstanding. Especially the way he visualized those songs. He had given a new experience to his audiences. I saw the movie more than a few times. I also asked my audience to go watch it.
The next time I came to know of him was that he was at that point of time working in the Mumbai films. Though I haven’t seen his work to date. Various reasons. Then I came across an article in the ‘KODAK’ magazine. Was that ‘KODAK’ Ravi? Since then I been trying to reach him. Find his address, an email. What ever.
Now “Black’ had happened. I am yet to watch that. I haven’t yet. Knowing Ravi the way I know him and having watched ‘BOYS’, Ravi won’t stop. He has a long way to go and many things to accomplish. And I wish he would take that road to ‘his kinda success’!
Atta boy! Keep it up Ravi!