Mersal Vs Newton - Part 3

'Newton' is the kind of short and sweet hard-hitting movie that simply makes you stop in your tracks and wows you away like a dreamy Firework spectacle atop the Disney Land Castle. I am not saying this just because it's an Oscar Entrant. They say God is in the details. The level of attention to detail given in the movie is really remarkable and realistic.

Take for example where the Electoral Team (ET) sets up the booth in the disused and abandoned school. The person who was due to retire following that last duty, he imagines how any voter will be filled up with strong pride by stroking their mustache while walking out of the classroom after their vote is cast. Another would be how Newton runs back to the school in an amateurish and a typical ordinary man's fashion in the early stages of the film when he converses with the head of the Security Personnel. Yet another is the fact that how a high-flying individual escaped from his electoral duties by citing his wife's pregnancy and heart-attack when he was commissioned to the place. 

Speaking of Newton, it's one of the finest performances being a rule-centric, duty-bound and value-driven dedicated and upright officer who defies the gravest security risk posed to him considering the location of the outpost and the stubbornness of the accompanying Police Officer to not risk the lives of his brave troop. That last scene where he asks a desirous and eager colleague, who wants to hook up with him, to wait until the tea time for a friendly banter was the fitting, anti-climatic and wry humorous end that the movie deserved to have.

'Newton' showcases how much a Policeman suffers in silence and unnecessary bloodshed when their voices are not heard by the concerned authorities even for the request of a Night Vision Goggles to keep the unacceptable and violent-fraught elements at bay. I have also covered it at length here. When you don't have the avant-garde defense capabilities at your disposal, it becomes an arduous task for the men and women on the ground to perform their duty effectively. A good sharp kick to the shin of the respective authorities by such a powerful message to not be in a state of comatose but be aware and sensitive to the necessary needs.  

Is this the controversy?

Some have pronounced their views that 'Newton' is a facsimile of an Iranian movie. Personally, I haven't seen it. So, I have no right to comment on it. But, there have been many who has seen it and this is what they feel - Mere Similarities or Exact Replica?

Whether the foundational narrative is stolen and then the script is modified to cater to the Indian Audience is purely on the conscience of the Director and Script Writer. It becomes important and relevant from the Awards standpoint.

When we look beyond it, as a common audience who loves and enjoys watching fabulous creations of art,  'Newton' scores damn high in its rendition of the workings of our Democracy especially where the top official tells that his reputation is on stake for the voters' turnout from the neglected and frightened village.

I just imagined an alternative scenario what might have happened hadn't the higher command commanded such an order to carry out the process. It doesn't take a Tesla to figure it out. The Security Personnel and his team would have ensured that the voting couldn't have taken place. As simple as that. 

Practically speaking what he suggested was right - Why to risk unnecessary lives when even the village people do not care and have no interest in the elections? But, is it the right thing to do?  When we go a level deeper and examine it closely, it would have been a dereliction of duty as it still flouts the established rules and roles mandated to each and every person in the complete electoral process. 

'Newton' tickles your funny bone and at the same time, it makes you be cognizance of the harsh realities of what the policemen are undergoing in addition to the difficulties faced by a straightforward and morally oriented individual to do his bidding.

             

                                                                X--Concluded--X

PS:

There were two exceptional screen-screamers in both 'Mersal' and 'Newton'

In 'Mersal', you have one of the many Vijay's opines that his brother usually speaks punch dialogues before bashing whereas he thrashes the bad guys first. In the context of the scene, it may not have been funny. But, when you look at the history of every Vijay film, you will know that he utters the punch dialogue and then, he proceeds to assault the villains. This dialogue in 'Mersal' was a revelation that he doesn't take himself too seriously and gives a lighter tone to his nature and character on-screen.

Likewise, when we see 'Newton', there is this absolute ripper wherein the leader of the village tribe decides to intervene and act as a mediator between Newton and the head of the Security Personnel when they had a conflict of interest. Great timing!

Mersal Vs Newton - Part 2

We will start with 'Mersal'.

"Oh. You Biased Bastard. As you are a Tamilian, you are talking about 'Mersal' first."

In case you had such a thought, please let me know whether 'M' or 'N' comes first in the alphabet series from A-Z.

Hasty generalizations and unwarranted pole-vaulting to wrong conclusions before you know the truth about someone or something is as dangerous as a person who falsely thinks that they are superior and can halt a raging Tsunami!

So, 'Mersal' - Vijay has been phenomenal in the three roles especially that of the dad though there weren't much of a difference between the other two whenever they were in the same room. The highlight of the film is how the Medical Fraternity makes a killing, pun intended, out of the patients when they are in an emergency and life-threatening scenario. 

The core concept isn't novel as we have seen it in 'Ramana' itself. But, the treat of 'Mersal' is the handling of the matter in an engaging and entertaining manner without making the viewers yawn or say 'When this crap will get over' despite the movie's length. 

What's wrong with the story of extortion by the hospitals when it's happening in broad daylight?

Well. Some doctors were against it as they felt the movie showed them in a bad light by citing that not every man (and woman) in white does such an appalling, despicable and odious thing. IMHO, that's a fair point as you cannot brush everyone with the same paint. Dialogue should have been present which doesn't mislead the public by explicitly stating that not every doctor is a bad person and whose sole intention is not only to maximize their mazuma.

If the Director had felt that he can heave a sigh of relief, the wildfire was just brewing and blowing out of proportion when one of the top Tamil Nadu BJP leaders condemned a specific reference to a dialogue on GST in comparison with Singapore.

Yes. It was exceedingly misinforming and pulling the wool over the common man's (and woman) eyes as there were a lot of other factors that should be taken into consideration like the population, country size, complexity of the economy etc. besides merely contrasting the prevailing rates in the Lion Country. 

I was actually surprised that theCensor Board didn't mute out or edit the not-so-well-researched fact that is superficially right but horribly wrong and hoodwink the public by casting a bad shadow on Modi Ji and his industrious team, thus increasing the nimbus of Vijay and his brand of Politics (If he enters the arena!).     

Whatever it may have been the intention of the Director for such a misdirected fact, the media had a field day and the episode sent the social media into a tizzy due to the BJP leader's comments which fanned the flames to unimaginable levels that the leader was at the receiving end from several sections of the public when it was the director who should have been blamed for it despite making an acute and accurate observation on the Alcohol issue.    

Had the leader simply left it, 'Mersal' wouldn't have had the kind of free publicity and Marketing that it garnered post its release. 

By saying this, I am not stating that the movie was horrible or pathetic. It was really good though you can still find that Vijay performs the same Captain Jack Sparrow's move of switching the coin through his fingers. In this case, he does it with a ball and the sad part is that he had already done it in Bairavaa as well.

One best thing was that his intro song took a backseat and the story hogged the limelight. If you had seen Vijay's movies, there is always a mandatory song when he is shown in the frame for the first time like jumping from above or below etc. Atlee and Vijay have ensured that they wanted to focus their attention on the narration than on the mass elements. I'm not against mass elements. But, when it interferes and becomes an obstacle to the story, it's a reason for worry. Hats off to Vijay for wanting to move out of his comfort zone!  

That said and done, SJ Suryah continued his astounding performance from Spyder as an unscrupulous doctor although, once again, he was overwhelmingly under-utilized. Apart from a very cute and beautiful essaying by Nithya Menon, the other 2 heroines didn't have much to play along with the versatile Kovai Sarala. In fact, Samantha was not to be seen anywhere even during or after the climax! 

Maybe, she got busy with her real wedding? I don't know. 

Likewise, does anyone else knows what is Atlee's major obsession to bump off his heroines? To create a sympathy and a tear-jerking moment? There is a recurring pattern in his movies.

Another pattern is that we are seeing several movies in recent times where Vijay gives a big one-man speech to the reporters. Remember Kathi? 

But, one person in red-hot form was not only Vadivelu who made a terrific comeback in a character-driven script but also AR Rahman who sizzled with his BGM.

Summing it up, though a mountain was made out of a molehill through the extremely heated exchange of words between all the verbal warring parties, 'Mersal' surpassed the usual expectations of 'Thalapathy' even though much of the film revolving and resting on Vijay's 'larger-than-life' image and shoulder.

                                                            X--To Be Concluded--X 

Mersal Vs Newton - Part 1

"Hey..One is Tamil and the other belongs to Bollywood. How can a comparison be even justified? Isn't it like comparing chalk and cheese?"

When you can think such a highly sensible and extremely valid point, do you think I wouldn't have given it a  twirl of reasoning before I commenced this blog?  

So, what's the common denominator between 'Mersal' and 'Newton' despite being poles apart in language and story? 

Fortunately, its the soul of movies that is a linking factor between them.

"Oh. For God's sake. Stop your riddles and suspense. And explain how they are connected."

Some may have such a burst of frustrated mental outburst within themselves. Cool  Cool. Where am I going to go away without divulging the rationale? 

For anyone who has been living under the rock or Indians who don't follow movies or Non-Indians who have no idea what Mersal and Newton are, a brief primer.

'Mersal' is a Kollywood product starring one of Tamil Industry's big-name - Vijay. And, it ran into a controversy. More discussion on the bone of contention that figuratively sent the movie into a spin.

On the other hand, 'Newton' is the official Indian Oscar Entrant. It goes without saying that it has to be one of the best movies of the Indian calendar. Yeah. The Basics are done even for those who have been sleeping like a Kumbakarnan!

To know more about who is Kumbakarnan and the two films, you can do it at your own leisure. 

"You still haven't said how are they connected. It's infuriating. Get on with it." 

Yeah. Yeah. I know. Just wanted to give an element of suspense and surprise built-in and build-up before the big let out like a Magician on Stage! 

For those who have watched 'Mersal', you will know why I brought up the 'Magician' reference.

"You still haven't answered the question". 

I can hear you mentally admonishing me like a Policeman scolding an Election Official.

If you have watched 'Newton', you would understand the significance of the 'Policeman-Election Official' example.

"I give up. You are not going to tell the shared relation that's betwixt them but play your endless anticipatory mind games. Aren't you?"

If exactly this or anything similar that you had thought now, the wait is over.

The underlying commonality of them is that:

a) Social message

b) Highly relevant in the current scenario

c) Screenplay

d) Don't feel the time is stifling you

e) Great performances by the entire cast especially the lead roles
f) Deserved to be one of the best movies in Bollywood and Kollywood
g) Both had their own share of controversy.  

                                                         X--To Be Concluded--X

   

Star Wars 8: The Last Jedi Review - The Force at its Utmost Best!

Nearing the last lap of the year and one of the year's much-awaited Star Wars - The Last Jedi has finally hit the screens today. 

Did the latest installment deliver its promised hope to fans across the world?

A. Bellowing. Yes.

Where to start? What to say? I have simply gone desert and barren on my adjectives to describe how the new Star Wars movie unraveled from the beginning to the end. Still, I have to start somewhere. Okay. Got it.

So, here goes the Star Wars 2017 movie's review.

Before you proceed ahead, kindly read it at your own peril and don't blame me for not warning you upfront because Spoilers are as rich as the film.

How Logan was the picture-perfect sumptuous product that could be crystallized in the Logan-cum-X-Men Franchise, the latest Star Wars movie is the coruscating spectacle for which the fans (Read: Me - though not a hardcore but I love it because when you look back at the moment it was screened for the first time, the technology and everything used in the franchise was way ahead of time) have been waiting and desiring for a very long time.

Yep. The newest kid on the block or) the Star Wars 8 movie simply Tombstones every other prequel, sequel, and a spin-off in one of the biggest money-spinners of the Movie Industry. 

Be it the feisty Rey, hot-headed and impulsive Poe, world-shirking Luke, internally turmoiled Kylo or the level-headed late Carrie Fisher - Star Wars 8 ensures that every character has a vital role to set the ball into motion for an amazing climax. Yeah. I'm referring to the moment where Rey uses her Force to lift the boulders in a fantastic and unreal state of suspension. Not to mention, the hoot-worthy scene when Kylo orders his minions to beam the weapons on Luke and he merely waves a hand over his shoulders much to the raging, infuriating and revenge-seeking Kylo.

Was it the only hoot-worthy scene? 

Nooooooooooooooooooo. Definitely Noooooooooooooooooooo. You had them in abundance throughout the movie like the way Kylo smoked Snoke under his very nose or how Holdo has a splendid heroic death by slamming into the enemy ship.

Also, the guinea pig-ish creatures with their Bamby Eyes and the crystal-critters gave the nice topping to this uber-cool emotionally engaging hyperspatial ride.

Humor is brilliantly laced throughout the film like the one where Finn is caught red-handed by the maintenance keeper who also has an important part just like the main characters. In fact, she even gets her wish fulfilled when she and Finn run amok the casino on their quest to find the code breaker.

This is the biggest and greatest strength of Star Wars episode 8 as several events are transpiring in many places simultaneously like Luke-Rey tutorship stalemate, Snoke-Kylo trust issues, Leia-Holdo-Poe insubordination face off etc. Yet, the action doesn't drop even one jot at any situation. And, infused with intelligent laughter quotient. A stellar, pun intended, dream ticket to a highly successful franchise that has been screaming for such a delight like how happy a parched person in a desert will be when they locate a source of water after walking in the baking sun for many hours. Indescribable joy, right?

Take for instance. When Rey falls down the Rabbit Hole (No idea what's the actual name.  Just taken the name from Alice in Wonderland!) and finds herself face to face with a mirror and the reflections acting in the sequence were mind-blowing.

Yoda - the ever aged wise master plays a terrific cameo by blasting the Tree of Knowledge at the drop of a hat.

You have many such I-want-to-see-it-again scenes that ensure you got your money's worth by watching the recent Star Wars viii.

The only small blip is the run-time which could have been 8-10 minutes shorter. Maybe, the total duration was due to the fact that the director paid equal attention to ensure that the numerous plotlines converge without any confusion or cluttered narration at a wowing single point.

Nope. It was not slow. Just max 10 minutes trimmer to have had even more impact.

With the final twist revealed in the dying stages, pun intended, of the movie, Rey is indeed the ray of hope for The Resistance in the upcoming movies.

PS 1:
I just wondered all through Star Wars ep 8 whether Rey should have taken Occlumency Lessons in a cross-over with Professor Snape to protect herself from the mental invasions of Kylo.

PS 2:
Yes. I saved the cream of the crop for the end. The full scene where Rey closes her eyes and Luke asks her to feel the Force was as rib-tickling as Joey asks Ross to punch him in the face.

Hope you have enjoyed reading The Last Jedi's review.

Food Street: A Yum-Yum Relaxed Walk - Part 2

Having reached the place pretty early, it was time for a quick survey to get the hang and feel of the place. Just a couple of turns and you find yourself that the street has come to a rapid end. But, the packedness of the variety of food outlets compensates and triumphs its size. Also, many of them were closed when I had arrived there and the cooking operations were due to be in full swing only by 6pm. Yep. That's a blinking notification to be really aware if you were to roam through this place - solo or with your better half or your family.

As I never had Misal Pav in my life, my first tryst was to try it out under one of the Chaat Roofs. I was literatim breaking the bread. With myself. By dipping it in a hot and spicy kind of soup. As it was my first ever time, I had no other idea whether it's the best or the worse thing but the one I had was decent.

Wanting to douse the flaming sensation, due to the spicy hot accompaniment to the bread, on my taste buds and mouth (Nope! Not Ulcer!), there was an unusually colored parlor called Jigar Rose which had rose-colored lights to match their name. After ordering a Blue-Berry (BB) Slush, I patiently waited and in the meantime, I was catching up with the almost-over India Vs Sri Lanka Match. The BB was the perfect chilling recipe to soothe the volcanic burning feel then.

With nothing else to do before the lights came up and the atmosphere was imbued with the chitter-chatter of the multitude of crowds on a Sunday evening, a good lightbulb flashed in my brain that I was on the OMR road. The sun was setting down. The weather was pleasantly cool. It was the right time to have a good drive along the road until it was close to the dinner moment.

Mind you. I still had to travel a long way (Read: at least two hours subjected to traffic conditions) back home from the Food Street. Thus, I had to have an early dinner with the correct mix of driving on the OMR and returning to it so that I could sink in my teeth at my comfortable pace and make my way back home. Working out the timing and implementing it instantly was of the critical and vital essence just like in Cricket when the ball hits the sweet spot and it flies (Without wings! Yayy!) to the boundary. 

Vrrooom. U-Turn. Vrrooom. Yeah. Now, I am back on Food Street again for super supper. eeeeeeeee! :) :)      

I wanted to have an eclectic array of food choice than being stuck with a set menu of Soup to Desserts.

For starters, pun intended, the potato swirls with Jalapeno Sauce was the proper beginning in a Mexican Restaurant. Followed by the new entrant Paratha with a queer and funny name - Chilli Milli Gilli (CMG). True. I ordered it because the name was an outright giggle else I would have settled in on another Paratha with a Paneer Touch. I knew that I will be having the Paneer when I go there the next time with my cousins. Of course, with their parents' permissions. Hence, I nicely nibbled on the CMG. It was refreshingly satisfying in taste as well as reducing the hunger gap.  

It was a toss-up between a fine dessert and momos. And, I finalized the latter for the chief reason that it was extremely inexpensive for 5 pieces. And, it was good too. Finished the Gastronomic Hedonism with quite a big glass of Orange Soda to have a enjoyable square meal at the Food Street.

Whether I might go again or not, it largely depends with my cousins. But, on that day, I had a fulfilling time immersed in nature.

                                                                     X---Concluded---X

PS:

If you are going as a group of 4-7, a budget around 300-400** is more than enough provided you share everything with everyone

** --> Terms and Conditions strictly apply to Vegetarians who eat veg food only.

  

  

Food Street: A Yum-Yum Relaxed Walk - Part 1

The major problem when you plan any trip with others is that the entire schedule is highly dependent upon their controlled and uncontrolled variables like health, sudden work, family emergencies, affinity and bonding with the members of the trip etc. There can possibly be situations wherein when a person says that they cannot make it and an individual who likes/ wants to be on their good books would automatically decide that they would take no part in the tour. Likewise, special cases are there when people drop out when they find out that they will be in the company whom they don't respect much. In the same vein, others will prefer some things over and above another thing based on their tastes and interests.  

With such inhuman complications in the minds and hearts of human beings, arranging and executing a proper itinerary is not only a nightmarish activity but also becomes a hell especially when it involves/includes children as the safety becomes the top priority and you have to constantly keep an eye on them by foregoing the thrill, enjoyment, and peace of mind for which you would have accepted to go on the tour in the first place. At times, you will also have a sense of desperation and intense emotional choke that it would have been better had you traveled alone.

Yes. More the merrier. No doubts or questions about it. If everyone else thinks and make adjustments to make the outing a memorable and resounding success. But, is that the case considering the inherent and innate complicated nature of us?

So, why this detailed exposition for a foodie review?

Well. As it turns out, I was also the latest victim to be caught up in a feeding frenzy, pun intended, of a line of action to visit Food Street along with my cousins (Read: 5 kids). Due to a sad and unfortunate episode at home, the day trip had to be postponed at a later date.

Yet, after hours of sitting together and determining the best possible day to munch, it had to be called off due to the formal powers of the higher authorities (Read: their parents). Nevertheless, for a person who had single-handedly escaped the wrath of the night elephants or tamed the wild and ferocious tigers, (This is how most of the histories apparently projects the victors. eeeeeeeeee!), it was a piece of cake to venture alone and grab a bite. 

For more on actually what happened with the mighty Mammoths and Majestic Cats:

1) elephants

2) tigers

Enough of animals. 

Let's focus our attention on Food Street now.

There are 2 Food Streets in OMR itself - Thoraipakkam and Navalur. I chose the latter as I heard it was relatively better from a chef. As far as the accessibility is concerned, it's right next to AGS theatre. Location - No problem to find. 

There are aplenty shops to select the choice of food according to your palate - Chats, 99 varieties of Dosas, Mexican, Italian, Chinese cuisines, Malaysian Parottas, Sri Lankan Food, Burmese style cooking, Bengali and Kerala Delights, Frankies, Ice Cream & Soft Drink Parlours, Pure Veg Restaurants - So, Yes. Basically, there is everything for everybody in this place.

                                                              X--To be Concluded--X

Theeran Adhigaram Ondru - A Gritty Cop's Fortitude

Theeran Adhigaram Ondru (TAO) is one of the good films that's released in Kollywood for the year 2017.

The story begins when Karthi - A tough and honest social guardian a.k.a police - embarks on a dangerous and difficult mission to apprehend the gang who was responsible for sensational brutal robberies during the late 90s and early 2000s with nothing more than a fingerprint to arrest the culprits. It was like looking for a needle in a haystack as those were the days of manual search wherein there was no simple or advanced capability to have a centralized database to lookup the desired details at the click of a mouse.

Despite having deep personal losses and sacrifices, how strenuous and grueling was the process for the men in brown with nothing else but the sole intention, determined and unflagging mindset to see the guilty persons behind the bars is poignantly captured in a gruesome and tense thriller that is actually based on true story.

Karthi was fabulous as the cop who grinds his way through his superiors and other states' top cops to battle out the much feared and ruthless group in their own turf and then breaking the back of the beast at their own game. Yes. I am referring to the climax sequence where Karthi uses their strongly held wolves' strategy against them in the blink of an eye. That was great situational awareness, quick and smart thinking to outbeat such a wily maneuver by using all his training skills and thinking on the feet attitude. Of course, Karthi was a projection of the real cop who outclassed the savage bunch. The actual person really deserved a whistle-blowing applause not only for his stunning display of alertness but also in the way he conducted the entire operation with full vigor and positive attitude barring his personal tragedy aside.

As we are on the lines of personal tragedy, Rakul Preet was as cute as she could get in this film as an innocent and doting wife who had to bear the deadly brunt of the fatal blow to her head. Like how Kajal Aggarwal was a perfect pair to Karthi in their previous films, Rakul Preet and Karthi shared a great chemistry on screen.

With such a serious subject, there were liberal doses of unadulterated humor throughout the film that was not sticking out like a sore thumb but perfectly in sync with the scenes especially during the pre-climax where the whole team of single-minded and talented men walked through the scorching desert to the ghost village.  

When we see the flipside, I am not sure how much of a cinematic liberty had permeated in the narration. But, the songs and certain romantic scenes could have been edited to make the final product even crisper, tighter, tenser and an edge-of-a-seat thriller. By saying this, it's not that the movie-on-screen was bad. It could have been better sans the must be-present-songs mentality thereby compromising on a good viewing experience for the audience.

What was more depressing was the fact that the person who was in charge of such a nocent and back-breaking operation did not even get due recognition for his herculean efforts in chasing down an invisible and murderous dacoit pack to bring them to book by not only overlooking his personal anguish and shattered dreams but also losing some of his unwavering troop in the way.

It's not just restricted to these fine gentlemen who were, in reality, on a perilous witch-hunt. But, to the complete police force who doesn't get the right accolades and laurels when cine actors and actresses are being adulated, venerated and apotheosized as Gods when the Guardians of the Society are the real heroes along with the Army who lay down their lives for us in order to protect and keep us safe from unwanted and undesirable elements.

If I were the Chief Minister, besides fighting and squabbling over symbols and elections, I would have ordered for regular online surveys to be filled up by all the policemen - the lowest rank to topmost level - including the traffic police to find out their salary expectations and areas of improvement to make their lives better when they perform their duties.  

Some of them indulge and involve themselves in bribery and corruption as the right salary isn't being provided to them when those in entertainment fields earn in crores for showing their succulent thighs and sexy abs. By saying this, I am not stating, directly or indirectly, that they should not get fat checks. They provide us with a temporary and evanescent sense of happiness while the army and policemen risk their lives so that we get a good and sound nights' sleep by the end of our day at the cost of their own sleep. 

With technology at fingertips, through such online surveys, it's possible to exactly to know and understand their requirements at all levels and grades. Take the average for the different standings. Check out with the treasury whether such a salary can be given to the diligent men and women. If yes, roll out immediately. If not, find out alternatives to strengthen the treasury by still paying out to them in increasing amounts till the average level is achieved and sustained by giving a concrete time bracket so that the compensation is distributed at the earliest. Without a tangible time frame, no one would know when the "average level' might be achieved and there is a realistic possibility that even the close-to honest cops could turn back to the original ways. 

After the survey collection and analysis exercise is over, share the complete survey results like how many people participated, what was the percent of the top and bottom salary requirement that resulted in to arrive at the mean consensus, thus ensuring full transparency and everyone will know it for sure that the decision was fair-minded and equitable without a spatula of arbitrariness. 

This would drastically reduce the incidents of corruption as the policemen are happy since they know that their needs are being heard and answered by the higher authorities through the disbursal of rightful emoluments. 

However, it's not applicable for some of those bad eggs who greed and lust for money. Bad eggs are a part and parcel of life. All we can do is to identify them with pinpoint precision and keep a close tab on them for any signs of unscrupulous activities. 

Whether it's a time-consuming process?  Yes. But, the effort is worth it to create a lasting system of confidence not only for the societies' guardian angels but also to the public to have the enduring conviction that their guardian angels wouldn't let us down at any moment in time.