Happen to watch The Kite Runner , Adapted from the novel by the same name written by Khaled Hosseini.
Now Before I get on with my review on the movie, isnt it remarkable that Hollywood directors seldom get trapped / slotted in a particular genre ? Look at the body of work of Director - Marc Forster, popular being Monster's Ball (* ring Halle Berry)and Finding Neverland (* ring-Johny Depp & Kate Winslet) and currently under production Quantum of Solace (yes,the new Bond starrer)...Bollywood directors really have a long way to go and surely our audiences (referring to the masses here!) need to be more matured...
Watching this movie was actually like seeing the wonderful novel unfold in front of my eyes...
Story of childhood friends,Friend worth dying for,of relationship between father and son...at the backdrop of troubled Afghanistan.
Poignant Story of a Story teller,of envy,of guilt,of culture,of tradition, of values in life....
The movie has been captivatingly picturized by Roberto Schaefer (Marc Forster regular,yes camp/loyalist exists there too....!!),capturing with ease the barren land of Kabul,the busy streets of Pakistan and California. Mesmerizing soundtrack by Alberto Iglesias (with amazing eastern traces)..
How many times in the world which refuses to stop for a moment,have you paused and thought about an old school/childhood friend with whom you use to play and when time actually stood still? Of Connections lost...? Of Simple Pleasures Of Life.......Of Growing Up but ending up loosing out on YOU ??
The child artists were amazing since they were not acting but naturals. Some scenes of the movie may be disturbing for few,but these are important scenes which takes the narrative forward.
The kids running the kite amidst the busy market/street of Kabul has been magically picturized..Likewise there are many scenes/dialogues which will stay with the viewers long after the movie is over,that is a power of a good cinema...
If you planning to rent a DVD over the weekend and are in mood of a good drama, do watch this movie...It will surely touch your heart ...and for the book lovers, I am sure they would have read this novel!
As the Tag Line of the movie goes....There is a way to be good again!
Sure,theres always a way to be good again !
Friday, February 22, 2008
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Shyam Benegal's Mammo
Mammo (1994) -
Shyam Benegal can surely give a lesson or hundred to current breed of directors where it concerns emotions,pathos and heart at the right place...For every cinema student or lover of good cinema, his movie and movie making style is highly recommended. Mammo is one of those movies, which will stay with you long after the movie is over...Just feel the pangs of Partition as depicted by Shyam Benegal, and this just by few fleeting moments in the movie,plus some references...Brilliantly written by Khalid Mohammed - yes the same one, who rips apart movies in his role as a critic,but himself lost the plot when it came to movie making :-)
Movie on growing up,on sibling love and rivalry,Rapport between Aunt and nephew...love for your country...
This movie always reminds me of my dear Aunt,who has been a great encouraging influence in my life and growing up .She was warm,loving and had her very own brand of humour, which she was known for. She could inspire anyone and everyone....May Allah Bless her soul....
Coming back to the movie...
Great Author Backed Performance by Farida Jalal,breathing life in the character role ,Surekha Sikri,Child Artist and Rajat Kapoor (the actor) as the grown up kid, reminiscence's his childhood and his aunt Mammo...If you have not seen this till now, leave everything and rent or buy the vcd (i doubt if DVD is available). Read recently that this movie may be re-released in multiplexes...If it does, do yourself a favor and watch it.
And how can I miss , the haunting ghazal by Jagjit Singh - Yeh Faasle Teri Galiyon Ke....which pierces the heart ! Happen to stumble on eSnip on the soundtrack. Posting the same here for the lovers of Good Music
Listen to the same and feel the Pain and Pathos...
Addendum - Lyrics courtesy,Harry (Many thanks!)
ये फ़ासले तेरी
गलियों के हमसे तय न हुए -२
हज़ार बार रुके हम
हज़ार बार चले -२
ना जाने कौन सी मट्टी
वतन की मट्टी थी
नज़र में धूल, जिगर
में लिये गुबार चले
हज़ार बार रुके हम
हज़ार बार चले -२
ये कैसी सरहदें उलझी
हुई हैं पैरों में -२
हम अपने घर की तरफ़ उठ
के बार बार चले
हज़ार बार रुके हम
हज़ार बार चले -२
ना रास्ता कहीं ठहरा,
ना मंजिलें ठहरी -२
ये उम्र उडती हुई
गर्द में गुज़ार चले
हज़ार बार रुके हम
हज़ार बार चले -२
ये फ़ासले तेरी
गलियों के हमसे तय न हुए
हज़ार बार रुके हम
हज़ार बार चले
Shyam Benegal can surely give a lesson or hundred to current breed of directors where it concerns emotions,pathos and heart at the right place...For every cinema student or lover of good cinema, his movie and movie making style is highly recommended. Mammo is one of those movies, which will stay with you long after the movie is over...Just feel the pangs of Partition as depicted by Shyam Benegal, and this just by few fleeting moments in the movie,plus some references...Brilliantly written by Khalid Mohammed - yes the same one, who rips apart movies in his role as a critic,but himself lost the plot when it came to movie making :-)
Movie on growing up,on sibling love and rivalry,Rapport between Aunt and nephew...love for your country...
This movie always reminds me of my dear Aunt,who has been a great encouraging influence in my life and growing up .She was warm,loving and had her very own brand of humour, which she was known for. She could inspire anyone and everyone....May Allah Bless her soul....
Coming back to the movie...
Great Author Backed Performance by Farida Jalal,breathing life in the character role ,Surekha Sikri,Child Artist and Rajat Kapoor (the actor) as the grown up kid, reminiscence's his childhood and his aunt Mammo...If you have not seen this till now, leave everything and rent or buy the vcd (i doubt if DVD is available). Read recently that this movie may be re-released in multiplexes...If it does, do yourself a favor and watch it.
And how can I miss , the haunting ghazal by Jagjit Singh - Yeh Faasle Teri Galiyon Ke....which pierces the heart ! Happen to stumble on eSnip on the soundtrack. Posting the same here for the lovers of Good Music
Listen to the same and feel the Pain and Pathos...
|
Addendum - Lyrics courtesy,Harry (Many thanks!)
ये फ़ासले तेरी
गलियों के हमसे तय न हुए -२
हज़ार बार रुके हम
हज़ार बार चले -२
ना जाने कौन सी मट्टी
वतन की मट्टी थी
नज़र में धूल, जिगर
में लिये गुबार चले
हज़ार बार रुके हम
हज़ार बार चले -२
ये कैसी सरहदें उलझी
हुई हैं पैरों में -२
हम अपने घर की तरफ़ उठ
के बार बार चले
हज़ार बार रुके हम
हज़ार बार चले -२
ना रास्ता कहीं ठहरा,
ना मंजिलें ठहरी -२
ये उम्र उडती हुई
गर्द में गुज़ार चले
हज़ार बार रुके हम
हज़ार बार चले -२
ये फ़ासले तेरी
गलियों के हमसे तय न हुए
हज़ार बार रुके हम
हज़ार बार चले
Friday, February 15, 2008
Movie Review - Jodha Akbar
| Powered by: Chakpak.com | Jodhaa Akbar |
Mass Rating - **
Class Rating - ** ½ (For the production values)
After a hard days work, decided to catch the first day second show of the much delayed and super hyped Jodha Akbar….
If Cinema is about Entertainment and sometimes Edutainment, this surely does fail to pass the muster.
Moreover since it is not entirely based on historical facts it cant even be considered as a Documentary on the Life and Lovely Times of Ak(h)ba(a)r.
It’s a short story CUT LONG by the Dir / Editor…
Yet to figure out what’s with our Bollywood directors difficulty in conveying a story within a well defined time slot. Yes, the promo indeed did promise an epic proportion, but I guess they were referring to the raw stock used in the making of this opus……Running time of 3 hrs plus… !! Phew !!!
Okay, it may appear that I am running down the labour of love of Director Ashutosh G …when so many critics in the newspapers are currently raving about the movie, I don’t know about them…but clearly it was not worth the price of the ticket to the multiplex for me.
The movie begins with a disclaimer that it is not based entirely on historical facts (thank you so much…no one would have even blinked if it would have been an Hollywood movie, fictionalizing history, but we are Indians!!) and a Claimer that the birds and animals used in this movie were treated with love & care in the attention of vets present on the set…Hey how about saying some kind words for the audiences about to endure this 3 hr plus saga….??
Story on Marriage of Alliance…(and all this while I was under the impression that marriage is an alliance :-) ) plus few plots and sub plots maketh this Love Story.
There are so many reference points in Hollywood, which avid movie lovers would have seen…Gladiator, Troy, Kingdom Of Heaven, Braveheart, The Last of Mohican to name a recent few…in which epic scale war sequences have been spectacularly picturized .
Yes for a Hindi Cinema , the war sequences were well captured , may be a benchmark…(since competition is only Ramananad Sagar / BR Chopra's TV Serials!!) until some other epic comes in distant future…!!
The few plusses…
• Hrithik as Emperor Akbar, regally and royally breathing life in the character.
• Ash as Princess Jodha, looking ethereally beautiful and very much a princess.
• Dir – Ashutosh daring to be different.
• The initial courtship scenes between the two…
• Hrithik taming the elephant
• Sword fight between Hrithik and Ash to sort out Marital Miscommunication (Glad in today’s time couples don’t have to resort to this to solve similar problems!!)
• Battle scenes by Action Dir - Ravi Dewan
• Dialogues by K P Saxena effortlessly switching between Chaste Urdu and Hindi, keeping the LCM audience in mind.
• Camerawork by Kiran Deohans
• Costume by Neeta Lulla for the lead protagonists
• Grand and Lavish Sets by Nitin Chandrakant Desai (recreating Agra in Karjat)
A R Rahman is not in his best elements with only two songs – Soulful Sufi Qawwali and the beautiful love song Jashn ne bahara (split in two parts) touching the chords. Background Score is again a let down.
The movie did lack in sustaining my interest…
So now to the 40 crore question, is it worth visiting the theatres? Depends entirely on what are your options …Go Make your pick and let me know your take on the same!
Friday, February 08, 2008
Movie Review - Mithya
Back to movie reviews…
Mass rating - ** ½
Class rating - ****
Mithya – The reason to name it so must have been associated with Myth :-) This is what I could come up with, but if any reader does have any inputs on why the name Mithya…? Please do share !
I do not know of a single Friday since the days of movie watching during which two movies were simultaneously released both of different genre all together, but using the cinematic ploy of a double role…can you think of any?
This weeks release - Super Star – starring Kunal Khemu and Mithya – starring Ranvir Sheorey…
I preferred Mithya and was glad I made this choice…
Director – Rajat Kapoor (not to be confused with the actor with the same name) , is back behind the camera after the immensely likeable Raghu Romeo (on soap obsessed common man), Mixed Doubles (on wife swapping!) and Bheja Fry (as a producer ). Indian Cinema surely needs brave directors similar to him, for the audience who is intelligent and does not want the usual run of mill corny stuff being dished out week after week.
This time round he spins an interesting story surrounding a struggling actor with the backdrop of underworld and a short love story thrown in as good measure. Apparently I read in one of the pre-release articles that the take off point for this movie for the director was a narrative from Hindu Mythology, in which Lord Vishnu explains Maya to Narada….
The nay sayers may say that the basic premise has been seen umpteen times in drama since the Shakespearean era ,and in the Cinema since the talkies… But finally its the treatment that matters…After all cinema is all about treatment (…besides loving your parents:-))….This is where the director scores…
The star cast is Versatile Ranvir in the lead role and ably supported by Subdued Vinay pathak, Regular Saurabh shukla, my fav Naseeruddin shah (as a don in a short but powerful role), Cute Iravati harshe (don’t know why we don’t see more of her in hindi films?) , Convincing Harsh chhaya , and the surprising BFBB (Bright Face, Broad Base…) Neha Dhupia as the sexy actor cum KEEP cum love interest of the movie.
The movie starts well with establishing the character of a struggling actor, a dreamer yet looser wannabe, and moves on to the part when the actor gets lost completely in the character (cinematic device) he is expected to play and finally re-discovering himself.
Dont want to reveal much so as to keep the surprise elements in its place for the weekend movie watchers !! The background score by Sagar Desai is apt and chaplinesque in nature in many scenes…
There are gems of scenes in the movie..notably – Ranvir, rehearsing hindi lines from Hamlet, The perfect photo moment in which the goons want to literally shoot a photo:-)), the initial scene when Ranvir is trapped, His efforts in getting into the character, the beautiful confused dream sequence and the brilliant surprising finale….
They say when one dies, entire life flashes in front of the eyes who is dying …the source for this surely cannot be traced for obvious reasons neither do I intend to test the veracity of these lines….
Instead I recommend go and watch this movie !!
| Powered by: Chakpak.com | Mithya |
Mass rating - ** ½
Class rating - ****
Mithya – The reason to name it so must have been associated with Myth :-) This is what I could come up with, but if any reader does have any inputs on why the name Mithya…? Please do share !
I do not know of a single Friday since the days of movie watching during which two movies were simultaneously released both of different genre all together, but using the cinematic ploy of a double role…can you think of any?
This weeks release - Super Star – starring Kunal Khemu and Mithya – starring Ranvir Sheorey…
I preferred Mithya and was glad I made this choice…
Director – Rajat Kapoor (not to be confused with the actor with the same name) , is back behind the camera after the immensely likeable Raghu Romeo (on soap obsessed common man), Mixed Doubles (on wife swapping!) and Bheja Fry (as a producer ). Indian Cinema surely needs brave directors similar to him, for the audience who is intelligent and does not want the usual run of mill corny stuff being dished out week after week.
This time round he spins an interesting story surrounding a struggling actor with the backdrop of underworld and a short love story thrown in as good measure. Apparently I read in one of the pre-release articles that the take off point for this movie for the director was a narrative from Hindu Mythology, in which Lord Vishnu explains Maya to Narada….
The nay sayers may say that the basic premise has been seen umpteen times in drama since the Shakespearean era ,and in the Cinema since the talkies… But finally its the treatment that matters…After all cinema is all about treatment (…besides loving your parents:-))….This is where the director scores…
The star cast is Versatile Ranvir in the lead role and ably supported by Subdued Vinay pathak, Regular Saurabh shukla, my fav Naseeruddin shah (as a don in a short but powerful role), Cute Iravati harshe (don’t know why we don’t see more of her in hindi films?) , Convincing Harsh chhaya , and the surprising BFBB (Bright Face, Broad Base…) Neha Dhupia as the sexy actor cum KEEP cum love interest of the movie.
The movie starts well with establishing the character of a struggling actor, a dreamer yet looser wannabe, and moves on to the part when the actor gets lost completely in the character (cinematic device) he is expected to play and finally re-discovering himself.
Dont want to reveal much so as to keep the surprise elements in its place for the weekend movie watchers !! The background score by Sagar Desai is apt and chaplinesque in nature in many scenes…
There are gems of scenes in the movie..notably – Ranvir, rehearsing hindi lines from Hamlet, The perfect photo moment in which the goons want to literally shoot a photo:-)), the initial scene when Ranvir is trapped, His efforts in getting into the character, the beautiful confused dream sequence and the brilliant surprising finale….
They say when one dies, entire life flashes in front of the eyes who is dying …the source for this surely cannot be traced for obvious reasons neither do I intend to test the veracity of these lines….
Instead I recommend go and watch this movie !!
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
...Idyllic banter !
The cold wave in Mumbai was unrelenting and was not sparing either the Mumbaikar's nor the North Indians in the city :-)...
The dailies continued to confuse the people with recycled headlines - Coldest day ever recorded (ofcourse with the date change). Warm wear was out with vengeance and people not learning from it were destined to shiver!
It was an ordinary early wednesday morning when I took a rick towards my workplace as routine...Mind still in space...sitting in the centre to avoid the gusty cold breeze and was lost in thoughts going nowhere, while the rick hurtled towards my so called destination amidst the early morning trailor of a traffic (Main Movie of the traffic is 930 hrs onwards, ask the daily commuters for details)!
The silence was broken by the sudden idyllic banter of the rick driver -
Rick Guy - I cant quit smoking beedi...
I just faked attention still not willing to set on a journey within a journey...He continued....
Rick Guy - all this years I was on cigarette...routine for 22 yrs post which since last 3 years I moved on to beedi reluctantly to quit smoking (WoW)...Now I cant quit this beedi addiction !
My Processor immediately identified with this human situation of how we make efforts to break a habit to enter another one...(the analogy can be extended to any situation in life)! Now it turned into a conversation from a boring monologue..
IQ - why dont you eat chewing gum to break this habit now...May be you can try the nicotine flavored chewing gum available at the local chemist!
He nodded...
Rick Guy - I am tenth class pass in english medium(english medium was said with pride)
IQ - You should have continued your education...
Rick Guy - No..no..actually I was weak at spellings...
Immediately Taare Zameen Par files flashed on my processor display, was this rick guy a non detected dyslexic as a kid....??!!...
continues...hence I have ensured that my son takes dictation tests every morning ! He is in 4th STD and my wife gets up at 6am to teach him...I did not want my son to face similar problems...He gets good grades and his teachers are also very happy with his progress.
I patted him on his shoulder and told him that the credit goes to him,to which he retorted - No my wife deserves it for her committed efforts...then with a slight pause he cheekily added ,even I deserve it on 2nd thoughts since I did not let her work, so that she can be a focussed house keeper, which is more important for me!! I nodded in acknowledgement...
Our journey came to an end,when the rick pulled next to my office gate...I thanked him for his personal sharing and expressed pleasure in meeting him, also did tell him to quit smoking once and for all....to which he smiled back (which was neither a Yes or No, I presume it was a NO) !
Profound and introspective indeed was this chance meeting...a break from the routine.
My professional life took control over from there and I eased into the bunch of employees moving towards the elevator....
The dailies continued to confuse the people with recycled headlines - Coldest day ever recorded (ofcourse with the date change). Warm wear was out with vengeance and people not learning from it were destined to shiver!
It was an ordinary early wednesday morning when I took a rick towards my workplace as routine...Mind still in space...sitting in the centre to avoid the gusty cold breeze and was lost in thoughts going nowhere, while the rick hurtled towards my so called destination amidst the early morning trailor of a traffic (Main Movie of the traffic is 930 hrs onwards, ask the daily commuters for details)!
The silence was broken by the sudden idyllic banter of the rick driver -
Rick Guy - I cant quit smoking beedi...
I just faked attention still not willing to set on a journey within a journey...He continued....
Rick Guy - all this years I was on cigarette...routine for 22 yrs post which since last 3 years I moved on to beedi reluctantly to quit smoking (WoW)...Now I cant quit this beedi addiction !
My Processor immediately identified with this human situation of how we make efforts to break a habit to enter another one...(the analogy can be extended to any situation in life)! Now it turned into a conversation from a boring monologue..
IQ - why dont you eat chewing gum to break this habit now...May be you can try the nicotine flavored chewing gum available at the local chemist!
He nodded...
Rick Guy - I am tenth class pass in english medium(english medium was said with pride)
IQ - You should have continued your education...
Rick Guy - No..no..actually I was weak at spellings...
Immediately Taare Zameen Par files flashed on my processor display, was this rick guy a non detected dyslexic as a kid....??!!...
continues...hence I have ensured that my son takes dictation tests every morning ! He is in 4th STD and my wife gets up at 6am to teach him...I did not want my son to face similar problems...He gets good grades and his teachers are also very happy with his progress.
I patted him on his shoulder and told him that the credit goes to him,to which he retorted - No my wife deserves it for her committed efforts...then with a slight pause he cheekily added ,even I deserve it on 2nd thoughts since I did not let her work, so that she can be a focussed house keeper, which is more important for me!! I nodded in acknowledgement...
Our journey came to an end,when the rick pulled next to my office gate...I thanked him for his personal sharing and expressed pleasure in meeting him, also did tell him to quit smoking once and for all....to which he smiled back (which was neither a Yes or No, I presume it was a NO) !
Profound and introspective indeed was this chance meeting...a break from the routine.
My professional life took control over from there and I eased into the bunch of employees moving towards the elevator....
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