Ink Pen by Phil Dunlap for December 23, 2022

Shyamalan-da being subject to frat boy giggles again, na?

For the Anglophiles in the forum, “Shyamalan-da” is Bengali. The suffix “da” from “dada” (pronounced “dud-duh”) – “big brother” – arose among the Bengalis in my college film class, riffing on the more famous “Shyam-da” – the legendary Shyam Benegal, most famous for 1975’s “Manthan” – the first film in history to be crowdfunded by dairy farmers. (It was their story, after all…)

(Ironically, in my grad school film class in Scotland, the Irishman who took the class, well…his knowledge of Indian cinema peaked with Ritwik Ghatak, who was both a contemporary and an influence of Shyam Benegal.)

Oh, shut up

Shambala. Three Dog Night!

Respect is earned, not given.

That gag is sophomoric, but it’s more entertaining than any of his recent films.

Think I’d rather fall into a third category. Those who can pronounce his name and wish they’d never heard of him.

I only do it to mock his ‘twist’ endings though.