saurabh karandikar

This post is for those who wanted to know my video collection*.

Happy new year!

(*LAST REVIEWED – 1-1-2009, all titles with no comment are VCDs)

ENGLISH

12 MONKEYS
2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (DVD)
2010: THE YEAR WE MAKE CONTACT (DVD)
21 GRAMS (FILE)
300 (DVD)
4 MONTHS 3 WEEKS AND 2 DAYS (FILE)
6TH DAY
A BEAUTIFUL MIND (c)
A SCANNER DARKLY (FILE)
A.I. – ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (c)
ACE VENTURA PET DETECTIVE
ACE VENTURA WHEN NATURE CALLS
ACROSS THE UNIVERSE (FILE)
ADAMS FAMILY VALUES
AEON FLUX
ALIEN (c)
AMERICAN GANGSTER, THE (DVD)
AMERICAN GANGSTER, THE (FILE)
AMERICAN PIE (FILE)
AMERICAN PSYCHO (FILE)
ANIMETRIX (FILE)
APOLLO 13
ARMAGEDDON (c)
AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS – OLD (C)
ASTERIX THE GAUL
ASTERIX VERSUS CAESER
ATONEMENT (FILE)
BABEL
BANK JOB, THE (FILE)
BATMAN BEGINS (DVD)
BATMAN BEGINS (FILE)
BATMAN – THE DARK KNIGHT (DVD)
BATMAN-ANIMATED (FILE)
BATTLESTAR GALACTICA – OLD (DVD)
BE KIND REWIND (FILE)
BEDAZZLED (c)
BICENTENNIAL MAN
BLADERUNNER
BOBBY (FILE)
BORAT THE MOVIE (FILE)
BOURNE IDENTITY, THE
BOURNE SUPREMACY
BOURNE ULTIMATUM, THE (DVD)
BOYS DON’T CRY (FILE)
BREACH (FILE)
BRIDGET JONES’S DIARY
BRUCE ALMIGHTY (c)
BUCKET LIST, THE (FILE)
BUCKET LIST, THE (FILE)
BUTTERFLY EFFECT, THE (DVD)
CASINO ROYALE (2DVD)
CATCH ME IF YOU CAN (C)
CELL, THE (c)
CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY
CHASING AMY (FILE)
CHICKEN LITTLE
CINEMA PARADISO (DVD)
CITIZEN KANE (c)
CLOCKWORK ORANGE, A (DVD)
CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND (C)
COLLATERAL
CONFESSIONS OF A DANGEROUS MIND (c)
CONSTANTINE
CORPSE BRIDE (FILE)
CRASH (DVD)
CRIMSON TIDE
DA VINCI CODE, THE (DVD)
DAY AFTER TOMORROW, THE
DEATH AT A FUNERAL (FILE)
DEEP IMPACT
DÉJÀ VU (FILE)
DEVIL’S ADVOCATE
DRAKULA (BRAM STOKER’S) (c)
DREAMCATCHER (c)
DUNE - EXTENDED EDITION (FILE)
ESCAPE FROM ALCATRAZ (c)
ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND (FILE)
EVENT HORIZON (c)
FIFTH ELEMENT, THE
FIGHT CLUB
FIGHT CLUB (FILE)
FINAL FANTASY: THE SPIRITS WITHIN
FINDING NEMO (c)
FISH CALLED WANDA, A
FLIGHTPLAN
FOR A FEW DOLLARS MORE (DVD)
FRANKENSTINE (MARY SHELLY’S) (c)
GALAXY QUEST (2 FILES)
GARFIELD THE MOVIE (c)
GATTACA (c)
GIRL NEXT DOOR, THE (FILE)
GLADIATOR
GOLDEN COMPASS, THE (FILE)
GONE IN 60 SECONDS (c)
GOODBYE LENIN (FILE)
GREAT ESCAPE, THE (C)
GREEN MILE, THE (C)
GUNS OF NAVARONE, THE
HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS
HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE
HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX
HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX (FILE)
HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER’S STONE
HITCHHIKER’S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY, THE
HOT FUZZ (FILE)
HOTEL RWANDA (FILE)
HULK (c)
HUNT FOR THE RED OCTOBER (c)
I, ROBOT
ICE AGE
ICE AGE 2: THE MELTDOWN (DVD)
IDENTITY (c)
IDIOT, THE (FILE)
I’M NOT THERE (FILE)
INCREDIBLES, THE
INSOMNIA (c)
INTO THE WILD (FILE)
IRON MAN (FILE)
ISLAND
ITALIAN JOB – NEW (c)
ITALIAN JOB – OLD (c)
IT’S A BOY GIRL THING (FILE)
JFK
JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH – 2008 (FILE)
JUDGE DREDD
JUNO (FILE)
KILL BILL VOL-II (C)
KUNG FU PANDA (FILE)
L. A. CONFIDENTIAL
LAST KISS, THE (FILE)
LAST LEGION, THE (AISHWARYA) (FILE)
LAWNMOVER MAN
LAWRENCE OF ARABIA
LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN, THE (c)
LIAR LIAR
LITTLE CHILDREN (FILE)
LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE
LORD OF THE RINGS, THE: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING
LORD OF THE RINGS, THE: THE RETURN OF THE KING (DVD)
LORD OF THE RINGS, THE: THE RETURN OF THE KING (FILE)
LORD OF THE RINGS, THE: THE TWO TOWERS
M:I – 2 (c)
M:I – 3
MADAGASCAR
MAGNIFICENT SEVEN, THE
MAROONED
MATADOR, THE (FILE)
MATRIX – RELOADED (c)
MATRIX – REVOLUTIONS (c)
MATRIX, THE (c)
MEET THE ROBINSONS (FILE)
MEMENTO (FILE)
METADOR, THE (FILE)
MICHAEL CLAYTON (FILE)
MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM, A
MINORITY REPORT
MONSTERS, INC.
MONTY PYTHON: THE LIFE OF BRIAN (FILE)
MOULIN ROUGE
MOUSE HUNT
MR.BROOKS (FILE)
MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS (C)
NAKED GUN, THE
NEGOTIATOR, THE
NEGOTIATOR, THE
NINE MONTHS
NO MAN’S LAND (c)
NORTH BY NORTHWEST (c)
NOTTING HILL (DVD)
OCEAN’S ELEVEN
OCEAN’S THIRTEEN (DVD)
OCEAN’S TWELVE
OFFICE SPACE (FILE)
ONCE UPON A TIME IN AMERICA (FILE)
ORPHANAGE, THE (FILE)
OVER HER DEAD BODY (FILE)
PANIC ROOM (c)
PAPRIKA (FILE)
PATRIOT GAMES (c)
PATTON
PAYCHECK (c)
PAYCHECK (FILE)
PERSEPOLIS (FILE)
PHONEBOOTH (C)
PLANET OF THE APES – NEW (c)
POLAR EXPRESS, THE (FILE)
POSEIDON (FILE)
PULP FICTION (C)
RATATOUILLE
RED PLANET
RENAISSANCE (FILE)
RISING SUN
ROBOTS
RUN LOLA RUN (C)
RUNAWAY JURY
SAMSON AND DELILAH (DVD)
SAVING PRIVATE RYAN
SCARFACE (DVD)
SCHINDLER’S LIST
SCOOP (FILE)
SE7EN (DVD)
SHARK TALE
SHARKBOY AND LAVAGIRL 3D
SHINING, THE (FILE)
SIGNS (C)
SIMPSONS: THE MOVIE (FILE)
SKY CAPTAIN AND THE WORLD OF TOMORROW
SLEEPY HOLLOW (c)
SOLARIS – NEW (c)
SOLARIS – OLD (DVD)
SOUTHPARK: BIGGER, LONGER, UNCUT (FILE)
SPACEBALLS
SPIDER-MAN
SPIRITED AWAY (FILE)
SPY KIDS
SPY KIDS 2
SPY KIDS 3D
STAR WARS: I – THE PHANTOM MENACE
STAR WARS: II – ATTACK OF THE CLONES
STAR WARS: III – REVENGE OF THE SITH
STAR WARS: IV – THE NEW HOPE (DVD)
STAR WARS: V – EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (DVD)
STAR WARS: VI – RETURN OF THE JEDI (DVD)
STARGATE
STARTREK: FIRST CONTACT
STARTREK: GENERATIONS
STARTREK: INSURRECTION
STARTREK: NEMESIS
STARTREK: THE SEARCH FOR SPOCK
STARTREK: THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY
STARTREK: THE VOYAGE HOME
STARTREK: THE WRATH OF KHAN
STIGMATA
STUART LITTLE
STUART LITTLE 2 (c)
SUPERMAN RETURNS
SWEENY TODD (FILE)
TARANTINO: DEATH PROOF (FILE)
TARANTINO: KILL BILL VOLUME 1 (FILE)
TARANTINO: KILL BILL VOLUME 2 (FILE)
TARANTINO: PLANET TERROR (FILE)
TEAM AMERICA: WORLD POLICE (FILE)
TENACIOUS D: THE PICK OF DESTINY (FILE)
TERMINAL, THE
TERMINATOR 3 (c)
THE BIRDS + PSYCHO + MARNIE (DVD)
THIRTEENTH FLOOR, THE (c)
THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR, THE
THX 1138 (FILE)
TIME MACHINE, THE (c)
TOY STORY (c)
TRAINSPOTTING (FILE)
ULTRAVIOLET
UNFAITHFUL (c)
USUAL SUSPECTS (c)
V FOR VENDETTA
V FOR VENDETTA (FILE)
VANTAGE POINT (FILE)
VERTIGO
WALL STREET (DVD)
WALL, THE (c)
WALLACE AND GROMIT: THE CURSE OF THE WERE RABBIT
WAR OF THE WORLDS – NEW
WESTWORLD (DVD)
WHEN HARRY MET SALLY (c)
WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE
X-MEN
X-MEN 2
X-MEN THE LAST STAND
YOU KILL ME (FILE)

TELEVISION ENGLISH

MR. BEAN 1
MR. BEAN 2
MR. BEAN 3
YES, MINISTER (DVD)
YES, PRIME MINISTER (DVD)
STAR TREK: NEW VOYAGES (FILES)
STARTRE: THE NEXT GENERATION SEASON 1 (DVD)
STARTRE: THE NEXT GENERATION SEASON 2 (DVD)
STARTRE: THE NEXT GENERATION SEASON 3 (DVD)
STARTRE: THE NEXT GENERATION SEASON 4 (DVD)
STARTRE: THE NEXT GENERATION SEASON 5 (DVD)
STARTRE: THE NEXT GENERATION SEASON 6 (DVD)
STARTRE: THE NEXT GENERATION SEASON 7 (DVD)
SIMPSONS CLASSICS, THE : BART WARS
SIMPSONS CLASSICS, THE : RAIDERS OF THE LOST FRIDGE
SIMPSONS CLASSICS, THE : CRIME AND PUNISHMENT
SIMPSONS CLASSICS, THE : FILM FESTIVAL
SIMPSONS CLASSICS, THE : THE SIMPSONS.COM
STARTRE: THE ORIGINAL SERIES SEASON 1 (30 FILES)
STARTRE: THE ORIGINAL SERIES SEASON 2 (16 FILES)
STARTRE: THE ORIGINAL SERIES SEASON 3 (15 FILES)
STARTRE: VOYAGER (5 FILES)

TELEVISION HINDI

YEH JO HAI ZINDAGI – SEASON 1 (4 SETS - 8 VCDS)
YEH JO HAI ZINDAGI – SEASON 2 (DVD)
YEH JO HAI ZINDAGI – SEASON 3 (DVD)

DOCUMENTARY

9/11
FUTURE CARS
DA VINCI CODE: THE CRYPTIC COLLECTION (DVD)
HELVETICA
IMAX+NASA - SPACE STATION (DVD)
INSIDE SPACE STATION
TREKKIES

HINDI

A WEDNESDAY (FILE)
A WEDNESDAY (DVD)
AAR-PAAR
ANDAAZ APNA APNA (c)
ANDAAZ APNA APNA (FILE)
BLACK (c)
BLACK FRIDAY
CHAK DE INDIA
CHAUDHVIN KA CHAND
CLASSICS (SONGS) MOHD RAFI
DHOOM:2
DON (NEW)
GURU
HERA PHERI
HONEYMOON EXPRESS
HUNGAMA (c)
IQBAL (FILE)
KAAGAZ KE PHOOL
LAGE RAHO MUNNABHAI
LIFE IN A METRO (FILE)
MR. & MRS. 55
MUMBAI MERI JAAN (FILE)
PYASA
SAHIB BIBI AUR GHULAM
SHAURYA (DVD)
TAARE ZAMEEN PAR (FILE)

MARATHI

DE DHAKKA
DOMBIVALI FAST
HASVA PHASVI
PAK PAK PAKAAK
SHWAAS (c)
SINHASAN
VALOO

MARATHI DRAMA

VASUCHI SASU (c)
SHANTECHE KARTE CHALU AAHE (c)
SAUJANYACHI AISHI TAISHI

On December 17, 2008, I spoke at “Callifest 2008″ on “Calligraphy, Typography and the Future of Expression”.
A seminar and exhibition of calligraphic works by artists from around the world at Sir JJ Institute of Applied Art, Mumbai. Following is an excerpt of the presentation:

The Past:
From the days of cave paintings humans expressed themselves through pictures. Maybe with corresponding verbal equivalents. Through centuries many families of such pictograms evolved and became the basis of languages around the world. These pictographs evolved into ideographs which helped human beings communicate concepts bigger than just describing physical objects. Around 1500 BC in Phoenicia the first alphabet was developed that put symbols to sounds and not things. Examples of letterforms from the past to the typefaces we know and use today tell a story of how different alphabets developed in different civilizations. Renaissance artists such as Leonardo Da Vinci worked on the proportions of letterforms just like they studied the proportions of the human body. They took typefaces beyond functionality and turned them into fine art.

The Present:
The invention of printing press divided the act of writing into Calligraphy & Lettering (by hand) and typography (mechanical) forever. The typewriter spread the use and development of typefaces. Influences such as the industrial revolution and advertising took the creation of typefaces to the next level where legibility was as important as getting noticed, catching attention and standing out of the clutter.

The Present, 2.0:
Today, everyone can become a typographer. Computer has increased the speed of typographic development. But the very act of writing has taken a hit. Our children use keyboard more often than pens. Handwriting recognition softwares are corrupting handwriting capabilities. Writing surfaces are getting smaller from notebooks to cellphones. PDAs are changing the way we write each letter.
 
Yet there is a new revolution taking shape - more and more types are developed that look a lot like handwriting. Printed letters are trying to express more and stand out from the sea of sameness. New letterforms like interrobang (invented by an ad agency head in 1962) are being introduced that can communicate expressions.
 
The Future:
As Arthur C Clarke once said, “The future is not what it used to be!” And what will happen to human expression in the next century is difficult to predict. Here are some trends that show us how strange the future looks -

Kromofons - Each letter of the alphabet is replaced by different colours. The next generation may communicate with colours and not letters. Emails would look like a dance of coloured shapes and resumes may look like Jackson Pollock paintings.
 
Facts may become stranger than fiction, and for us in the communication industry, sooner we understand the changing times, the better.

On Thursday, November 13, 2008, I spoke at L. S. Raheja School of Applied Art, Worli. I was asked to talk to the final year students about their project on advertising campaign.

During the course of the lecture I was asked whether keeping a film in a student portfolio is a good thing to do. Absolutely! My friends in the media department had told me that last year about 62% of the advertising budgets of were spent solely on television medium. Frankly the current art school syllabus does not prepare the students in the craft of film and television as it prepares them to take on the challenges of print media. I was pleased to see a film & video lab at Raheja started by Professor Shashi Mantri for the students (this is offered as a separate course).

I am glad that students are waking up to the fact that they need to equip themselves with the knowledge of audio-visual media. While the advertising world is making the transition from traditional to digital media, future art directors have a double responsibility to get inducted into TV and Interactive at the same time.

Another interesting question was about rules of graphic design. One student asked if the ‘Ogilvy (David) Wisdom’ of not using white text on black background should be strictly followed while designing advertisements (since such text is not reader friendly). Although I have high regards for David Ogilvy, I Think the rules of usability in graphic design have evolved with time. The new generation happily reads paragraphs that are as wide as their browsers show themand happily read text messages in reverse on their mobile devices. (Incidentally, another usability rule is to design paragraphs that are not more than 5 cms. so that the readers’ eyes can travel through the entire text quickly)

In any event, the rules of advertising design are more like guidelines than code of conduct. Experimentation is part of being a students and the more of it the students do, the better equipped they will be to face the challenges that await them.

New books bought, strongly recommend, cutrrently reading - all lists have been updated as on today.

On 9th August, 2008 I spoke at Rachanan Sansad College of Applied Art on making of an advertising campaign. The issues discussed were how to go about planning the final year campaign for BFA, how to differentiate between big ideas and small ideas, how not to  let execution overshadow the core advertising message (this is especially true of most art schools in Mumbai) and how to prepare for job interviews.

There were some interesting questions about whether to attempt public service campaigns that so often win at student award shows, but in my opinion real brand work should be included in a student portfolio so that the agency that hires them can be sure about the student’s calibre when it comes to day to day work that earns the agency its revenues.

Personal glory and competition success are secondary when it comes to getting a job. I urged the students to see the final year campaign and anything that goes into their portfolio as the advertising campaign for themselves more than the products they choose.

on 30th July 2008 I delivered a lecture on “Branding & Design” at R. D. National College. The event – Brand Gyan - was inaugurated by Mr. Pritish Nandi, Mr. Prasoon Joshi and Mr. Pralhad Kakkar. The other speakers were Sumantro Chatopadhyay from Ogilvy and Pushpinder Singh from Saints & Warriors

I spoke about the role design plays in branding process and discussed the impact of brands on children, the role of colour in branding, the process of capturing the brand essence in the simplest of graphic forms and the need to consciously think about ourselves as brands.

A few days ago I bought Sony Ericsson G700. It is not the best looking Sony Ericsson phone I ever had. In the past I have managed to impress people with my new T310, T610, K550i, K750i, K790i. They all were new when I bought them (sucker) and then saw the prices go down by half. But the memories of raised eyebrows and whistles managed to soften the blow.

Nevertheless it is a good phone. Packed with features. The note utility is just great. So I never have to miss another idea or a reference or someone’s phone number just because i did not have pen and paper. Let that someone with the phone number be blond, and young, and….

I must have spent at least 10 minutes selling my G 700 to everyone (whether they wanted it or not). I did not miss a feature or even the minutest design detail. I convinced everyone including myself that I had made the right choice. Also told them how fanatical I was about Sony Ericssons and how I would never touch another brand.

So far so good. There was this imaginary letter of appreciation being typed in the headquarters of Sony Ericsson - “Dear Mr. Karandikar, thank you for your good work through the years. In the view of your voluntary salesmanship the company has decided to give you…. nothing.” Not even a measly 1 GB memory card with best compliments from the chairman!

Why did i do it? Or was that the plan all along? Somehow these dwindling advertising budgets and low agency compensations make sense now. Advertising 2.0! User Generated Advertising! Crowdsource your communication message! Pride of possession is bound to have its promotional after effects.

Did this realisation bring about the death of another salesman? Not at all. I believe there is this one poor soul still left in the office who is yet to see my phone. And I have just found out about this ‘task manager’ feature that is too cool! I should be able to catch him at lunchtime. Maybe before that….

I have to justify why I bought G 700. (these fat keys remind me of an old Noki… nevermind!). I have to feel good about it. All I ask for is something in return. Micro-payments, anyone?

Sir Arthur C Clarke is dead. He was a visionary who gave us the concept of a geo-stationary satellite. He wrote a science fiction that became science fact. Sadly the space elevator project that he supported could not materialise in his lifetime. I am sure his dying wish would have been to see the first construction work begin on the elevator near his adopted country - Sri Lanka. I salute him and thank him for all those stories that got us thinking for hours about what next science fact may come out of his musings.

Here is the last message he recorded for his fans on his 90th Birthday.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLXQ7rNgWwg

Rest in peace, Arthur. You lived an enriched life and made this world a better place.

Awards time is always interesting at ad agencies. Sometimes you do get to witness spark of creativity that is truly memorable. This one piece I found really worth writing about. Done by Mayur Wagle and Siddhesh Khatavkar for Juice - the hair salon. I need not say more. Just watch it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cax6YBDQyPo