Online Social Media is an interesting medium of communication which brings the people together regardless of where they are located geographically. It lets common people like us to communicate with each other our thoughts, ideas and learn from each other’s experiences.

We (Alok, Deepak, Rahul, Amit and me) have been toying with this concept over the last year or so and have been experimenting with this medium on how to improve our lives and at the same time reach out to billion of others like us who are in need of answers to questions in their daily lives.

While looking for mentors to guide us in this ruthless capitalistic world we came across Ashok Rao, who has had a long history of successfully building and transforming firms and businesses. It is from people like him that we (especially Alok and Deepak) got the inspiration and the courage to follow our dreams.

While we worked on our initiative, our mentor was working on his own dream of transforming history from books to reality through the imaginative and creative medium of movies. The first of his endeavors has just came out called “Before The Rains”.

Before the Rains is a visually soothing 2 hour long journey into history, time, and the interaction between human and nature. It is not just a simple fairytale or a simple story rather it embodies a conflict between different emotions known to man. There is the conflict between loyalty and righteousness, there is the conflict between skin and soul and all this has been vividly explores among the beautiful landscapes in the heartland of South India.

Before the Rains is not only a tribute to the frailty of the humans but it salutes the whole gamut of emotions which makes us humans as socially active. The concept of social media takes its roots in these very primitive emotions within people through which they interact with other people, yearn for lovers, pledge their loyalty and at the same time manipulate other people to achieve their ends and means.

Finally, this post is a homage to a man who has dared to follow his dreams and has found some success along the way to inspire young guns like us.

Ashok Rao, we eZdians salute you.

A Great Direction, superb drama, ultimate photography.

The cast selection is perfect. Specially I love the quiet torment and emotions of Rahul Bose. I have been Rahul’s fan for long time. Although I have not seen him in this kind of role before but I can not imagine any better Actor then Rahul for this role.
The best is real Kerala, the photography is absolutely stunning. The locales are full of magic and every shimmering dew drop, the frog jumping into the pond, the lush tea gardens(Reminded me my Munnar trip), the mist rising from the tree tops, are all magically captured .

The movie was so touching and vivid that for those 90 minutes I forgot that my wife was with me, UNTIL IT RAINS.

Without being biased that this is my Mentor’s movie I would rate it 9 out 10.

Congratulations Mr. Rao.

So today was my day (it was Deepak’s turn to baby sit my daughter Sania . By this time I’ve already heard quite about this movie from friends, including the story (unfortunately).

If you know the story, it rarely happens when you sit tight in a movie.. and “Before The Rains” is one of those exceptions. It well deserves to won “Best Picture” at the Worldfest film festival.

The sceneries are absolutely amazing. The lush green forests, mountains with clouds and stunning water fall all are spectacular. Certainly, director/photographer, Sivan did an outstanding job. Some of the very details, including “Dragon Fly” and “Bottle of Honey” are quite well done.

The performances/cast by all the actors is superb- Linus Roache and Rahul Bose’s acting “by expressions” gives a distinct touch to the story.. I wish, that Nandita could have lived little longer

I’ve no doubt this movie will do quite well in both worlds.

Congratulation & Good Luck Mr. Rao.