Centenary for Indian Cinema, 25 Years of Magic for Me

Indian Cinema just completed 100 years and Bombay Talkies was released to celebrate the occasion. I am sure that for so many of us out there, cinema means so many different things like the 4 short stories of Bombay Talkies. Frankly, for most of us cinema means so many different things at different points of time in our lives. When I was watching the film I had short flashbacks of what films have meant for me at various points of my life. There were more flashbacks as I narrated parts of the film to my fiancee over the phone. So I decided to share the joy that films have brought in my life with the world (or actually, the handful of people who read my blog)

My journey with films started in 1987 when for the first time my parents took me to the theater. They had purposely bought tickets to the night show coz it would be easy to manage with a 3 yr old when he is asleep (I obviously don’t remember this but my mom has narrated this story many times). As soon as the screen lit up the 3 yr old boy got up on his seat, eyes wide open in amazement and asked his parents “Itna bada T.V., yeh chalta kahan se hai??” and his parents pointed upwards to the projector room from where a faint glare was coming into the large theater. Sleep was nowhere to be seen in my eyes that night, the only thing present in them was the joy of watching something magical. [Late Edit: Apparently his mom kept trying to force a milk bottle in his mouth and he kept pushing it away with all his might, his eyes glued to the giant screen] Maybe if the film was boring my enthusiasm would have died down but it was anything but boring. How could it be, after all it was Mr. India. To this day it is one of my all-time favorite films and one of the finest films in Indian Cinema.

From that point on I was hooked to the world of cinema and could never get enough of it. Unfortunately, I didn’t get too many chances as going to the theater was rare at that time and my dad got posted to Baroda which meant even fewer films. So whenever I traveled back to Delhi to visit my relatives I would try my best to watch as many films as possible. I was particularly interested in going to my grandmother’s house because there was a video library downstairs. It was at my grandmother’s place that my love for cinema reached new heights and I discovered my first idol. 1991 saw me go crazy over two Amitabh Bachchan films, Ajooba (my first superhero film) & Hum (my first Amitabh as ‘angry not so young man’ film). I would watch these films back to back the entire day and fight with anyone who wanted to watch something different. Imitate Amitabh Bachchan, running in slow-motion, shouting, and so on. Eventually my cousins (elder to me by 5-7 yrs) got so bugged that they gave instructions to the video library guy to say no whenever I come to ask for either of these films (scheming bunch of cousins). Amitabh became my idol and after that I saw any movie which he was in. I distinctly remember a 1983 film called Pukar feat. Amitabh which I was watching with my parents on TV. In the climax of the film Amitabh gets shot and probably dies, as soon as I saw him dying on screen tears started rolling down my eyes and started howling (not crying).  Bollywood had totally taken over, now it was the turn of Hollywood.

I got my first taste of Hollywood and Steven Spielberg in 1993 with Jurrasic Park. It was an extraordinary film and simply blew me away. I was a 9 yr old boy with a powerful imagination but this film was beyond anything I could ever imagine. It was all I talked about for so many days, at home, with other kids at school, narrating to those who had not seen it in back in Baroda (English films were hard to come by back then, no matter how much my ex-roommate from Ahmadabad disagrees with the fact. For him Gujrat has been as developed as the United States from the beginning of civilization).

Then came the age where I could start understanding love stories somewhat and think of the girl in class I had a crush on. I am sure we all have done that at some point during that age. 1994 was Hum Aapke Hain Kaun which I saw 3-4 months after the release as it was running house-full all the time. One year later in 1995 I saw Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge and just like every other guy I wanted to be like Shahrukh Khan. He was my next superstar, one I followed to the extent of buying & wearing the stupid ‘Cool’ neck chain he wore in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. I went on to do some more crazy stuff like exploding imaginary bombs after watching Border, wearing powerless glasses after watching Kaho Na Pyaar Hai. 

My hysteria went to an all time high with The Matrix in 1999 which influenced me to the extent of getting me interested in computers and technology. My email ids, my computer, my hard drives, everything was derived from the film. I even bought the original soundtrack which made me fall in love with rock music. It is this film that made me call myself a film buff because till date I think I have seen it more than 100 times and there was a point when I could narrate the lines of the entire film. (Have stopped doing that coz people started suggesting that I need professional help)

Last but not the least by any means are Lagaan in 2001 & Haasil in 2003 which are two of my all-time favorite films (Haasil taking the top slot). These were the films that made me appreciate the nuances and subtlety of acting and cinema. I love cricket and I love films, It was only logical that I would go crazy about Lagaan. However, it was not just the cricket that I loved, it was the manner in which it was portrayed. In comparison, Haasil is special for a very different reason, It was the first time that I realized that there can be  good films without big stars, there is acting without shouting and a film can also tell realistic stories and still entertain. For me Haasil is one of the finest pieces of acting I had ever seen. Instantly Irfaan Khaan became my favorite Khan and Haasil became my favorite Hindi film. I saw it 12 times in the first 13 days of buying the CD (I know you guys are thinking ‘Professional Help?’)

Well, This love continues with Khosla Ka Ghosla, Oye Lucky Lucky Oye, Gangs of Wasseypur, Do Dooni Chaar, Udaan, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Peepli Live, Talaash…………and so many more. Each one making a mark in my life, each one with its own signature.

Table No. 21 – Heartfelt Climax Makes It Worthy

“If you have the power to do something bad, does not mean that you should do it”

The year 2013 kicks off at the theaters with Table No 21, totally opposite to how the year ended in December with no brainers like Khiladi 786 & SOS, . Though films like Table No 21 mite not be ideal entertainment for most people (Judging by the business done by 786 & SOS) it is a film that should be seen for the right reasons. The promos of Table No 21 were excellent in maintaining the suspense of the film and even though the film itself does not touch any new heights in the thriller genre, it is surely packs a punch.

The film is about a couple (Rajeev Khandelwal & Tena Desae) who win a free trip to Fiji in some contest and have a great few days before they are approached by Khan (Paresh Rawal) who is the host of an online game show called Table No 21. What happens after that is something I cannot share without giving away the suspense so people will have to watch it.

The film suffers from a lot of problems like unreal dialogues, some extremely weird and shabby camerawork, a weak screenplay that takes too long for the suspense to build up. The script had the potential to become a big winner but unfortunately the inherent flaws never let it peak except in the end. Even then I recommend this film because it is a welcome in comparison to crap that gets made in the name masala entertainers. The high point of the film is its climax that takes you by surprise and hits you extremely hard. All the actors performed really well which is no surprise from  Rajeev Khandelwal in addition to Paresh Rawal who is just world class.

It can be said that the film is built solely to shock you with the climax but what the ending brings out is a message that needs to be seen, heard, acknowledged and acted upon.

“If you have the power to do something bad, does not mean that you should”

 Rating: 3/5

Chicken Khurana is Delicious

The last few years have offered a lot of quirky small budget films that hit the mark on most counts. Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana falls in the same bracket of Khosla Ka Ghosla, Oye Lucky Lucky Oye in terms of flavor and treatment. The film is about Khurana family and centers around the recipe of Chicken dish that only Daarji (Vinod Nagpal) knew how to make. Omi (Kunal Kapoor), a runaway, returns home from London due to money problems and is looking to get easy cash. When he gets back he is welcomed by most members of the family without pondering over the way he ran away. He reconnects with Harman (Huma Qureshi), his childhood fling who is mad as hell since he never called in the last so many years. Whether he manages to get hold of the recipe for Chicken Khurana or not is a question best left unanswered.

A film is also like a dish but a much difficult one to perfect. Even stalwarts can sometimes add more salt or spices and it loses the flavor that people long for. Keeping the same thought, Luv Shuv gets every ingredient spot on just like Khosla and Oye Lucky. If there is any problem, it lies in the the right amount of ingredient which is also crucial. The cast of the film is pitch perfect, I cannot think of anyone else who could play the role of Daarji and Titu Mama better than Vinod Nagpal and Rajesh Sharma. The other supporting characters also fit their roles perfectly. Huma Qureshi who was praised for her debut performance in Gangs Of Wasseypur 1&2 shows her range and is so believable as Harman. She adds the much needed spark to the romantic track of the film. Kunal Kapoor is effective but not memorable. Music of the film is no less than any cast member, it is very much a member of the film and would really be incomplete without it. Amit Trivedi yet again composes a score which carries the film instead of a selection of songs that fill in the gaps.

The film offers many delightful moments, none more than the ‘Kachcha Scene‘ which is hilarious. Dialogues are humorous throughout and Titu Mama gets the best lines. Art direction & costume are perfect. So what is that one ingredient that is little less than perfect? The script. It is a little too simple to captivate the audience for the entire duration of the film. The supporting track of romance is good but apart from that there is nothing else to support the track of the mysterious recipe.

On the whole, Luc Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana is delicious enough and a dish which should be tasted by all cinema lovers, whether you are vegetarian or not. It boasts of a dream cast, ample humor and great music to keep you company without staring at your watch, maybe just a little glance.

Rating: 3.25/5

Heroine – High Budget Boredom

Today I am sure of my strange equation with films made my Mr. Madhur Bhandarkar. I don’t think he likes me very much. I did not go to the cinemas to watch Chandni Bar or Page 3 and they turned out to be fabulous films. Post that I went to watch Traffic Signal hoping for another hard hitting film but I was so wrong. So next time logic got the better of me and I did not go to watch Fashion, which once again turned out to be an excellent film. Hope you guys are with me so far. In the morning I made up my mind (even though it was a last minute decision mostly coz I had nothing better to pass my time with) & went to watch Heroine, Madhur Bhandarkar’s take on a Bollywood superstar. As most of you would have understood, History repeated itself and bit me once again. Heroine is a painful watch with hardly anything new or even improved.

It starts of with one of Kareena’s most hard hitting looks from the film, tears rolling down her eyes, smudged makeup, red nose (a common site) going to the police station. However, I don’t think I can pinpoint where the film goes from there because it goes all over the place. The script has nothing new in it and everything feels like a dejavu of previous Bhandarkar films. On top of that my belief that Hindi cinema is also following the footsteps of Hollywood in coming up with edgy screenplays has been smashed. The screenplay of  Heroine is one of the worst I have seen in a long time. The film appears to be a series of broken down incidents with hardly anything holding them together.

I understand that controversies are a part and parcel of today’s creative industry but that does not mean Madhur Bhandarkar can just pick up any damn thing from the past, mix it up and put in front of us. The detailing that we saw in Chandni Bar, Page 3 & somewhat in Fashion has vanished altogether. What has replaced it is stereotyping of the highest order. Each and every character from the film either looks like a caricature of sorts (almost as if they are acting in a spoof ) or the characters are highly stereotyped, right from fashion designers to gossip columnists. You know you have got it all wrong when the audience starts laughing to scenes that have normal conversations with no humor. Music of Heroine also lets it down as there is nothing worth taking home here. Add to that the substandard artwork. Don’t make a film when you can’t shoot a simple scene inside a moving car without using effects on the outside. The set put up for the award function was a big joke.

There were only 3 good things about the film. One is Kareena Kapoor and even though she is extra-ordinary as the crazy, possessive, manipulative & vulnerable superstar, her performance is not enough to save the film that is surrounded by such mediocrity. The other two positive things about the film are the trailers of Talaash & Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khuraana. I had a blast while these trailers were playing.

 

Rating – 1.5/5

 

Kya Zinda Ho Tum?

Over the years a thought has come to my mind countless times but somehow I never got around to writing about it. How many people
do you meet who say “I am satisfied with my job”, one or two in a lifetime. Today a job is where you spend more time than even your home. What is also true is that most people are unhappy with their jobs. I have thought long and hard as to why this happens. Why is it so hard to find jobs that one would enjoy, be passionate  about, or be happy with? I am sure most of the people want such a job, then why can’t they get it.

The answer lies within each one of us, we just need to deep dive into our subconscious mind and take a peek. I come across people even from IITs and IIMs who are unhappy with  their jobs. Why I point out the colleges is because these are the most elite institutions in the country and passing out of such an institute not only gives you a much better chance to get a job than the rest of India, most times it also gives you the privilege to choose. Is the problem then in the factors that our decision is based on? Do we not assign a proper weight to passion or interest? Maybe. Let me give an example. There are so many people who would be shocked if someone told them that he/she left a job paying 75 grand/month for a job which pays just 50 grand/month.  I think a lot of people would call him/her crazy. “Abey thode din aur kar leta na kaam, acche paise toh mil rahe the”, “Itna bhi kya bura hoga, salary toh achi hai na”. Well I did it, and I don’t regret it at all. For me, passion will always weigh more than CTC.

Today we live in a world where we are judged 24X7. When we go to office, go for a meeting, go for a party, go out for coffee or even go to the kirana wala to buy bread n eggs. So what one values is how he/she is perceived by the world. Uncle aunty package poochenge toh kya batayeinge? MBA ke baad bhi itne hi paise milte hai? Saath wale toh keh rahe ki unke beta ka package isse double hai. I want to ask the saath walon ka beta, ‘Dude even with a package of 20 lacs, Are You Happy?’ Each and every person who steps into the world for a career is reduced to just three letters, CTC. Most poeple who ask don’t even know what it means. But, what they accomplish is to push people away from doing what they would love to, what they are passionate about.

Passion is what drives me and people who know me know that. One of my professors told me this story that became my inspiration for writing this. Once a baby camel asked his mother “Mom, why do we have a hump on our back?”,  the mother replied “So that we can store water for a long time”, then the son asked “But why do we have such huge feet?”, the mother replied “So that we can walk properly on sand” and then the son asked “Then WTF are we doing in the Zoo?”. If you are made for the desert, you belong in the desert. Another inspirational message for this piece came from a book written by Sir Ken Robinson, The Element – How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything. He also has one of the most watched talks on Ted.com about how ‘Education Kills Creativity’. Its a must watch. I strongly believe that this problem would not have been so bad had education been a little different.

Basically what I am trying to say is Do what you Love, Its not that difficult. The first step to doing that is to get out of your comfort zone. (Yes even though we are miserable in our jobs, we somehow manage to be comfortable as it is routine). Remember what Joker said in The Dark Knight, “No one panics when things go according to plan”. If for some reason you think that’s not possible with your job then I suggest you find time to do other things that you are passionate about. Read, write, play a sport, catch up with friends. If you are packed during the week, find time on the weekend. If sports is something you like then getup at 6 and go play. I am sure you can find time at 6 in the morning. Unless you are happy, you are just wasting time and Farhan Akhtar rightly puts it in a film about living life. Toh Kya Zinda Ho Tum?

Dilon mein tum apni Betaabiyan leke chal rahe ho, Toh zinda ho tum; Nazar mein khwabon ki Bijliyan leke chal rahe ho, Toh zinda ho tum; Hawa ke jhokon ke jaise Aazad rehno sikho, Tum ek dariya ke jaise Lehron mein behna sikho; Har ek lamhe se tum milo Khole apni bhaayein, Har ek pal ek naya samha Dekhen yeh nigahaein; Jo apni aankhon mein Hairaniyan leke chal rahe ho, Toh zinda ho tum; Dilon mein tum apni Betaabiyan leke chal rahe ho, Toh zinda ho tum

Review: Gangs of Wasseypur – Brilliance Redefined & Cult Allover

I had spent the past few weeks reading all the rave reviews GOW was getting from Cannes and Sydney. It was selected for the Directors Fortnight at Cannes and got a standing ovation at the Sydney Film Festival. It finally released in India today and the hype surrounding the film is so much that this should turn out to be the biggest commercial success of Anurag Kashyap’s career. Let me just congratulate  the makers of the film for some excellent promotions especially the team behind the PR of the film. They went all out and made sure that there was Wasseypur everywhere. It is commendable because some people didn’t even know that the Shahid Priyanka starrer Teri Meri Kahani was also releasing on the same day. GOW out did Teri Meri Kahani without the presence of any stars whatsoever. Hats Off.

The film that has just been released is part 1 of the two part revenge saga, the second part releasing around the end of July. It starts of with the title track of Kyuki Saas bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi which serves as a timeline, as well as a beautiful contrast to what follows. Part 1 is a flashback of birth and growth of Sardar Khan and how he seeks to avenge his father’s death. The detailing is top notch and full marks for art direction as well as makeup. There isn’t a single scene where you feel something is out of place, whether its the fight scene outside the coal mine, the butcher colony (wow) or anything else. Each and every thing in the frame belongs there and nothing missing. Dialogues are one of the highlights as they give the film many memorable moments.  Manoj Bajpayee’s defense of being caught cheating by a pregnant wife or the wife’s encouragement to sleep with a prostitute are some of these moments. Sneha Khanwalker is another star whose original score for the film outshines even her award winning work in Oye Lucky Lucky Oye.  All songs are in the background but what they give to the film is unmatched.

There is so much brilliance in GOW right from the titles which are marvelous to the final scene of part 1 which is To Die For with Bihar ke Lala playing in the back. This scene has the stamp of cinematic brilliance all over it and I can watch it over and over again. Its not possible for you to get it out of your mind. There are many other scenes which make you take notice of the fact that you are watching a Anurag Kashyap Film. All the actors are in fine form especially Manoj Bajpayee who gives one of the finest performances of his career. Another actor to watch out for is debutant  Huma Qureshi who has amazing screen presence and charm. Her Rayban look & “Permission leni chahiye” scene is excellent.

The film however is not perfect, it builds pace and intensity but then comes along a scene which is just not of the same level and the intensity just goes down. This happens often enough to be pointed out and is almost like a sinewave. So a couple of things that d not go for the film are its editing and screenplay as the film could have easily been shorter and much more swift.

All said and done Gangs of Wasseypur is one of the finest gangster films of all time and is a must watch for all the people who love quality cinema. The high point at which the film ends makes you go crazy and craving for part 2. The final shot of the gun dropping and firing on its own is the best possible sign off the film could have had. Its got Cult written all over it.

Rating: 4/5

The Best of Films in 2011

Another year comes to an end with people asking  the same irritating question,  ”What are your New Year plans?”. I have modified my reply over the years from “what is the big deal with a New Year???” to “I will  be doing what I love to do, watching  films that I have missed”. There is nothing more enjoyable than a planned home screening of an unseen film, dimmed lights, curtains drawn with pop corn and cola for company. Blissful.

I keep a close  watch of films that I miss but for those who don’t here is a list of my favorite films from 2011.  Now this does not mean I expect you to watch them on New  Year’s Eve. All I wish is  for all of you to watch at least some of these films in original print and enjoy them the way they are meant to be.

Special Mentions-Bollywood: This year I will stick to the regular top 10 in my list. However, I would like to mention some other films that left a mark. Sahib Biwi aur Gangster with Dhulia again in his element, Shaitan for some good hard hitting, disturbing cinema, Mujhse Fraandship Karoge for the performance of Saqib Saleem and for giving a fresh feel to the college romance, Tanu Weds Manu (On a reader’s reminder, slipped my mind) for realistic sets, authentic art direction and bang on characterization (especially Pappi), Don 2 for some slick film-making surpassing even Hollywood, and Singham for being such a damn good entertainer.

10. The Dirty Picture

Dropping necklines, superlative dialogues, and great performances especially by Vidya Balan who showed everyone that fat can also be sexy. It is one of my two favorite performances of 2011.

9. Pyaar  Ka Punchnama

A low budget film which had no stars to power it. What it had was a great idea executed well and helped by legendary dialogues (one liners as well as the 5 min one). Add to it Divyendu Sharma as Liquid and you have a winner.

8. Shagird

Tigmanshu Dhulia is totally in his element in this film. He has everything in place from a great script to superb dialogues to an excellent main lead in Nana Patekar and a fine support cast. All these combined made Shagird a surprise package in 2011.

7. Chillar Party

A gem of a film about a bunch of kids and their dog. It talks about friendship and standing up for what you believe in. It is a simple film with its heart in the right place. Also worth mentioning is the kid known as Janghya (Naman Jain), he is a complete superstar. A lot of credit for this film goes to Salman Khan as this is the first film from SKBH (Salman Khan Being Human) Productions. Hats off for choosing such a script to launch his production house.

I am sure very few people would have seen it so please do watch this one for sure.

6. No one Killed Jessica

Filmy yet effective, No one Killed Jessica is a hard hitting film that asked some very relevant questions. Vidya and Rani in top form along with a powerful musical score by Amit Trivedi led by the track Dilli Dilli.

5. Delhi Belly

So much was expected from this film ever since the first promo came out and the expectations kept building up with every song being released. The controversial ‘Bhaag DK Bose’ led the pack with ‘Ja Chudail’, ‘Sweety’ & ‘I hate you’ following behind. Probably the best script of the year, Delhi Belly delivered on expectations with fine performances from Vijay Raaz, debutante Poorna Jagannathan, Vir Das and some kickass music.

4. Yeh Saali Zindagi

“Zindagi pe tera mera kissi ka na zor hai, hum sochte hain kuch yeh saali sochti kuch aur hai yeh zindagi, uff Ye Saali Zindagi”.  This is the title track of the film and its done in such a style that you know then and there, you are watching something special. The film holds true to this feeling and delivers a hilariously romantic ride which is thrilling at the same time. It offers a damn entertaining story coupled with the Khan of all seasons, Irrfan Khan in his zone. Irrfan lifts this film to great heights and is supported well by some wise-cracking lines. It  is a must watch for all those who missed it & those who didn’t miss it would watch it again anyway.

P.S. There is also the super hot Aditi Rao.

3. Stanley Ka Dabba

A truly experimental piece of cinema which showcased so many different facets of life. Shot with kids as a part of a summer camp without giving them the knowledge of it being made into a film, this brought out a natural feel to the film which is very rare today. A superb concept, beautiful execution and a genuinely heartfelt performance by

2. Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara

I don’t think I have seen a more fun film than ZNMD in the last 10 years. Coincidentally the last time I had so much fun was  again a film by an Akhtar, Farhan Akhtar’s debut film Dil Chahta Hai. In this case it is the sister behind the camera while Farhan comes in front for the most natural role of his career. Mind you there is a lot of difference in the styles of both brother and sister when it comes to film making but both styles are excellent. Zindagi na milegi dobara teaches you how to  embrace life and not be so involved with the future that you spoil your present. It is a film that makes you think about the choices you have made and the memorable days of your life. I say Zoya Akhtar has a different style of film making because she follows a layered style where all these things are very subtle, hidden in a way. This was the case even in her debut film Luck, By Chance another superb film.

Zindagi na Milegi Dobara also boasts of some very fine cinematography, Shankar Ehsaan Loy’s music, certainly one of this year’s best albums and a extraordinary performance by Hrithik Roshan. Couple of scenes that are worth mentioning are Hrithik’s reaction after the deep sea dive and his reaction to being rejected in a arranged marriage. Simply superb.

1. Rockstar

My favorite album, my favorite performance, my favorite screenplay, my favorite director of the year, all come from Rockstar. To be honest, the first time I saw the film I went to watch a Rockumentry as that was the kind of positioning done with the trailers. This is the major reason why people felt a disconnect in what they expected and what  they saw. I was no different.

However, the film still managed to have a very strong after effect and I felt like watching it again. This time I saw it from the point of view of Imtiaz Ali and fell in love after just 40 mins into the film. It was almost like I was watching some other film. The screenplay that looked random came across as brilliant and I appreciated Imtiaz Ali for the treatment he gave to the film. It is more of a Rockstar meets Devdas kind of a film than a documentary of a famous rockstar. I mean it as a complement because first the  latter would have been easier to execute and second I am not referring to the SRK starer, merely to the character Devdas.

Imtiaz Ali does a brilliant job of using a random narrative which gives the film an almost dreamy feel. It is like when you dream, the sequence of events is not linear, its jumbled but even then you can make perfect sense of everything that is going on in your head. Similarly here every scene has a connection and makes perfect sense in the bigger picture.

Ranbir is exceptional as Janardhan as well as Jordan which says a lot about his acting abilities. The bigger hero of the film is AR Rahman who gives one of his career best scores for this film, every song has classic written all over it. Equally special is Mohit Chauhan who put to rest all debates about how he can only sing one kind of songs. Overall It was a very difficult film to pull off and credit to Imtiaz Ali for doing it in his way.