tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24991938099811192552024-03-05T17:11:19.893+05:30Sufiyana SoulA window into the mind of a movie buff, people lover, sycophant hater, calling spade a spade'r.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger198125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499193809981119255.post-6634677638480930222018-02-22T12:14:00.001+05:302018-02-22T12:14:00.408+05:30Official Trailer Blackmale Irrfan Khan Abhinay Deo 6th April 2018<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mLwggpgjB0Y" width="480"></iframe><br /><br />
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Looking like a fun ride! Plus it has Irrfan in this hat-ke role. What's not to like.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499193809981119255.post-1307286665630800102018-01-27T16:51:00.000+05:302018-01-27T19:33:11.797+05:30Padmaavat - Not in Her Name<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Director : Sanjay Leela Bhansali</div>
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Cast : Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor, Ranveer Singh, Aditi Rao Hyadri, Jim Sarbh, Raza Murad.</div>
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The legend of Padmavati is widely known, at least in the
north of India. The film version is inspired from the work of Malik Mohammad
Jayasi called Padmaavat, an entirely fictional account of how Alauddin Khilji
saw the reflection of the beautiful Rani Padmavati of Chittor, and decided to
make her his own, and how the Rajputs fought the Khilji armies to stop Khilji
and his evil plan, a battle to save the honour of their beautiful queen and
save the Rajputana pride. <o:p></o:p></div>
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It is a Sanjay Leela Bhansali film, so here is what HE WANTS
US TO SEE.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Splendour and grandeur. Everything is beautiful in every
frame. The animate and the inanimate. Larger than life, lit to perfection,
detailed enough for you to see the furthest flag in the frame fluttering in
harmony with the background score. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The costumes and jewellery, stunning and rich. From the
heavily embroidered and embellished clothes of Rani Padmavati, to the elaborate
work on Rawal Ratan Singh’s ensembles, to the darkly draped layers that Khilji
wears, even the palanquins are dressed to perfection as the white fabric
flutters against the red of the ghaghras worn by the ladies. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Sets and effects. The lamp lit forts, the shimmering fairy
tale jungles of Sinhala (Padmavati is the princess of this kingdom in SLB’s
tale) the battle field with horses and elephants and giant cannon throwers draped
in yards and yards of white fabric. <o:p></o:p></div>
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A love triangle. Rajkumari Padmavati glides through the
forest much like the Hiran she is hunting when instead of the animal, the arrow
from her bow finds its way to Ratan Singh, the Rajput King of Chittor. They
fall in love, and he proposes, they marry. She becomes Rani Padmavati of
Chittor. Enter the big bad villain
Alauddin Khilji, desirer of all things priceless, Nayaab! He hears of the ethereal
beauty of Padmavati and decides he wants her.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The film has Deepika Padukone playing Padmavati. She
definitely looks the part. Her eyes do most of the talking, and when given a
chance she shines through in her lines too. Shahid Kapoor as the proud Rajput
warrior king is a strange concoction of rippled body and rigid expression. The
meat (pun intended) goes to Ranveer Singh, and he chews lustily into the role
of Alauddin Khilji. His scenes sparkle with energy, and he ends up making even unintentionally
funny situations palatable. He creates a
villain we haven’t seen in sometime. Jim Sarbh as the homosexual aide, who
would kill at Khilji’s pleasure, puts in a good act. Aditi Rao Hyadri is well
cast as the submissive wife to Khilji who eventually stands up for herself. <o:p></o:p></div>
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So this is a spectacle of SLB and we know he does the best
spectaculars in Bollywood. <o:p></o:p></div>
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NOW, HERE IS WHAT <b><u>I</u></b> SAW.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The story of Rani Padmavati, which even those who didn’t
know about it, do so by now, thanks to the Karni Sena. This fictional lore may
have worked in its time and age, when women had no rights or voice, their
existence defined by males, had no freedom to even form an opinion. But hell,
this is 2018 and a filmmaker chooses to tell a tale in all its splendour,
trying very hard to distract us with stunning visuals and ghoomar and ghaghras,
from the statement the film eventually makes. <o:p></o:p></div>
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A woman as something to be possessed. A man is allowed to
have multiple wives. Pride and honour are only found in a certain religion. A
certain religion is full of evil monsters who chomp on meat and lust after
women. Gays are to be made fun of and ridiculed. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Bhansali has chosen the top heroine only to relegate her the
titular role of a woman weighed down by jewels and jauhar. You see sparks of a
smart woman, but eventually it is a woman who needs her husband’s permission to
end her life. This story may justify the need to save their “Honour” i.e be
taken captive by the muslim ruler and his barbaric force, but don’t forget,
Sati in certain parts of the country, was for every woman who became a widow,
as if life stops to exist for them also the moment their husband breathes their
last. <o:p></o:p></div>
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In the current scenario, the choice of the subject is
questionable when we all know where it ends. Now what one was waiting for was
what will be the stance SLB will take. There are films made every year about
the Nazi Regime, the World War, Rape, Human Trafficking, Drugs, Cartels. And here
lies the difference. They are made with a clear motive of NOT glorifying the
sordid past or the abominable acts, or the illegal, criminal practices. They
are a lesson in what we do NOT need to repeat from history, or applaud in the
present. I was hoping for a positive, subversive spin on this tale. <o:p></o:p></div>
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If in Ramleela and Bajirao Mastani, his leanings were
veiled, here they out in the open, thumping the message home.<o:p></o:p></div>
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He takes a stand and makes the most regressive magnum opus I
have ever seen. A film that has consumed
crores to present us with misogyny and bigotry in the times we live in. Times
when the politics of the country is so skewed, women are being subjected to rampant
rapes and mutilation, the caste divide is widening and crimes are being
committed in the name of religion, where your dietary preferences can get you
your personal lynch mob… where the LGBT community is treated the worst for the
film that takes umpteen digs at gays… I question the existence of the film, the
way it is.</div>
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It is all presented in such an easy to consume style,
gorgeously mounted, with superb acting by Ranveer, Deepika looking mesmerising,
her face air brushed to bring peaches and creams to her skin, well… She had to
be that beautiful I guess for two rulers to throw logic aside. There are twists
and turns, betrayals and deceit, dances and dalliances… That one can almost,
almost forget what is being served. <o:p></o:p></div>
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As the climax approached… the dread took over. It began as a
sermon on what it means to be a Rajput, as if the film had already not drilled
it in our heads with “ye Rajput wo Rajput” and then what it means to be the
pristine Rajput woman. As Padmavati prepares herself with all the other women to
jump into the burning pyre I was squirming in my seat. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Let’s face it, the climax is not a surprise. Everyone knows
where the film is headed, but without actually seeing it, I didn’t know whether
Jauhar will be glorified, or shown as something from the regressive past of
this country, something that should be regretted today, shunned and shamed. <o:p></o:p></div>
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But no, Padmaavat glorifies it to the skies. It is the best
shot sequence, from framing to choreography to sound design and costumes. And
as the film maker chooses to show a pregnant woman and a girl child walk
towards the fire… my fists clenched in anger. Is this the price we continue to
pay for being women?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499193809981119255.post-1016104467929842392017-08-04T19:08:00.001+05:302017-08-04T19:08:19.055+05:30My Review Jab Harry Met Sejal | Ye Ishq haaye... <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Director : Imtiaz Ali<br />
Starring : Shah Rukh Khan, Anushka Sharma<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I love journeys. I am a diehard romantic. I am a believer in
magic. I am a sucker for happy endings. I can swallow implausibility when you
make me feel for the characters on screen. That is why Dilwale Dulhaniya Le
Jayeinge remains one of my all time favorites. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">One hero who has made looking passionately into a woman’s
eyes, till her ovaries explode, his superpower. Shahrukh Khan. A director who
has won me over with his understanding of the free spirit, of love that comes
to lie down with the strangest bedfellows… who puts a sufi touch to his tales,
of characters travelling inside and out, their paths revealing their own
internal crossroads and potholes… So on paper, JHMS had a lot going for it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The story is of a Gujrati girl Sejal
Zaveri, losing her engagement ring on a Euro trip, who decides to stay back and
find it, but finds love and longing in Harry, the Punjabi Euro guide. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">So, instead of a missed train in DDLJ, which I found contrived then,
seems way more convincing than how this plays out in the film.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Love hath no logic, sure, but then you need passion,
chemistry, a quickening of the heart… nothing happens sadly … barring one
moment in a chase sequence, when Harry is hit by his feelings for Sejal. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Anushka as a lost, confused Gujju gal didn’t convince me, specially
with the jarringly off and forced accent. Shahrukh's attempts at being a jaded, foul mouthed Punjabi work only in bits and pieces. JHMS is lackluster and only so much SRK love can sustain you through this poorly scripted film.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The biggest problem is the characterization or the
lack of it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Casanova meets the ditzy virgin, super premise, but for me to be invested in their fate and
frolics, I needed more, and apart from a chuckle here and a smile there, I wasn’t
moved by their travels or travails. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The ramblings of Sejal about how Harry doesn’t find her hot,
Harry’s phulkari flashbacks, their frantic hops from one beautiful location to
another, felt as pointless as a quickly put together budget Euro Darshan where
you never enjoy a single destination…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I kept waiting that Harry and Sejal will have that one big moment, </span><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 24px;">where it will all come together, </span><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 18pt;">I would let out a sigh, feel a tear form in the corner of my eye, my heart bursting with emotions, wanting life to work out in the favor of the star crossed lovers... even as the "palat" moment played... it didn't happen. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I have always enjoyed an Imtiaz Ali film. Geet to me is iconic, the dialogues of JWM were a breath of fresh air, setting a trend which many tried to follow. Highway moved me with its rawness, Tamasha with its madness and dark detours inside Ved's heart and mind left me wanting more... JHMS leaves so much to be desired, specially in the second half. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">On the plus side is the music, Safar, Hawaayen and the
Nooran sisters powerful Jee Ve Soneya are my favourites. Ali gets Kamil and
Pritam to give a stellar soundtrack. I wish the same could be said of the film.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: 24px;">This one is for the die hard SRKians (isn't that what the fans are calling themselves these days!)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: 24px;">My Verdict <b>2/5</b></span></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499193809981119255.post-82970372728854912392017-01-26T18:11:00.001+05:302017-01-26T18:13:48.436+05:30That 70's Show. My Review. Raees <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Starring : <span style="color: #3e3e3e;">Shahrukh Khan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Mohd. Zeeshan Ayyub, Mahira Khan, Atul Kulkarni</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3e3e3e; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Director
: Rahul Dholakia </span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">From Gaurav (Fan)
to Dr. Jehangir Khan (Dear Zindagi) to Raees Alam, let’s say SRK is having a
good streak compared to the highly forgettable Happy New Year and banal Dilwale.
Playing three absolutely distinct characters with aplomb, one would like to
believe as he keeps quoting “some films for mann (heart) and some for Dhan
(Money)” he would do more for mann. Raees is of course an attempt to marry mann
and dhan. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Rahul Dholakia
who directed the national award winning gut-wrencher Parzania among others, and
SRK coming together for a film was interesting news to say the least. The
subject was Dholakia’s turf, Gujarat in the times of upheaval, add to it the
era of bootleggers and underworld, smuggling and scotch, and though he claims
it is not, the life and times of Abdul Lateef.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">But as the
trailers started hitting the screens one could see less of Dholakia and more of
masala. The Gujarat prohibition backdrop, a larger than life anti-hero with a heart
of gold, an incorruptible cop whose sole mission is to destroy the protagonist,
a web of politician-crime nexus… Well, Raees has all the trappings of
Salim-Javedesque 70’s blockbusters. There is even a doff to their Amitabh
Bachchan starrer Kaala Patthar as it plays in the background of a crucial
scene. But Raees also gets trapped in its
own vehicle carrying a superstar.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Where Raees
scores :<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Shahrukh
makes a great good hearted bad guy. He brings in his classic charm and charisma
to the film, even as he guns his enemies down. Shahrukh gets his goods together,
shining in many moments. His Raees is made believable by his getting
comfortable and settled in the character, and he is clearly enjoying going all
out with many hard core action sequences. He pulls off the romance alongside the
unflinching killer when required with same conviction. He is endearing when
cooking for his wife, flying a kite and is menacing when he decides to take
revenge. His and Nawaz’s chemistry crackles. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Nawazuddin
Siddiqui. He is brilliant in the film. He gives his Inspector/SP Majmudar teeth
and tongue in cheek deliveries. A delight to watch a properly fleshed character
in a superstar film, that too of a cop, which are mostly seen mouthing same old
lines. I loved him in Raees. Every scene that has Nawaz in it, is made better
by his nuances. The writers have made him quirky and even when there are no
dialogues, Nawaz gets in a “see what I did there” moment. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Supporting
cast : The film has a very good cast all around, from small blink and miss
roles to meatier ones, Raees gets it right mostly. I have two grudges, but that
is for later. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Dialogues
are another high point of the film, especially the repartee between Nawaz and
Shahrukh. From the already popular “Baniye ka Dimaag, Miyaan bhai kee daring”
to “ Bete ka baap bana hai, Gujarat ka nahi”, there is good old fashioned
dialoguebaazi, and unlike some other underworld based franchises actually pack
a punch and not make you laugh at their absurdity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Action : The
film has some well choreographed action sequences, and I don’t remember the
last time I saw Shahrukh do that. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Rahul
Dholakia’s understanding of Gujarat, his research on that era, the character,
the detailing add to Raees. The first half is excellent. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Where Raees
fails :<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The
stretched second half. The film loses steam, too many songs slow the
proceedings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Predictability.
Like many anti-hero films in Hindi cinema, one can predict how the film is
going to unravel and end. Some of the portions in the second half seem forced
and further bring down the story telling. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The self-censoring
of the controversial layers. I was expecting Dholakia to be braver, but alas,
the riots, the blasts, all were treated in a hurried, shoddy manner, without
ever scratching the surface. The film obviously wanted to stay as far away from
controversy as possible. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Mahira Khan
: She doesn’t add anything to the film, neither is her character given it’s due
nor has she made it stand out, despite a few scenes where a better actress
would have made an impression. Another casting fail for me was if you have a
fabulous performer like Mohd. Zeeshan Ayyub, don’t waste him so mercilessly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Music. With
so many songs, appearing at whim at the most unrequired places, cutting into
the film’s pace, it would have helped if they were better compositions. Even
Laila fails to impress, and sadly same goes for La Leone. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Raees could
have been a hard hitting commentary on the times it is set in, but it chooses
to be more of a commercial carrier. Nothing bad in that, only it sometimes
pretends to be what it is clearly not. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Having said
that, I enjoyed most of it. Shahrukh and Nawaz, both made it worth the ticket
price. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I would say
watch it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">My verdict :
<b>2.5/5<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499193809981119255.post-67399166646629740762016-11-01T13:28:00.000+05:302016-11-01T13:28:13.419+05:30What is love? | My Review | Ae Dil Hai Mushkil<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Director : Karan Johar</div>
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<br />Starring : Ranbir Kapoor, Anushka Sharma, Aishwarya Rai, Fawad Khan</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMEeb2xlVBNza82qwXK736WBOvxqZoQEMokEPcILVOZ0Gk1ipSysveKVxFWIf3SoQzemrEEvZwhvHM2lhyphenhyphenk2S2daysBuEp333lvu3a0xQalt1wUVSLxSmoxgMmhK0pPLo4t1trVGgupGk/s1600/channaaedilhaimushkil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMEeb2xlVBNza82qwXK736WBOvxqZoQEMokEPcILVOZ0Gk1ipSysveKVxFWIf3SoQzemrEEvZwhvHM2lhyphenhyphenk2S2daysBuEp333lvu3a0xQalt1wUVSLxSmoxgMmhK0pPLo4t1trVGgupGk/s320/channaaedilhaimushkil.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Mangal",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This Review contains spoilers.</span></b></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">रंजिश</span><span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">ही</span><span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">सही</span><span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">दिल</span><span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">ही</span><span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">दुखाने</span><span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">के</span><span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">लिए</span><span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">आ</span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Mangal",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">आ<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">फिर</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">से</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">मुझे</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">छोड़</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">के</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">जाने</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">के</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">लिये</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">आ</span></span><span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This Ahmad Faraz ghazal
is one of my favorites… it speaks of unrequited love, love that is forgiving,
angry, pleading, crying, aggressive, submissive… all at the same time… hopeless
while waiting with hope… unfulfilled love is the most haunting…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Karan Johar weaves a
tale of love, but unlike his other love stories, this one feels the most real…
So a big fresh surprise from him, and one that I like. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Ayan (Ranbir Kapoor) is
a poor little rich boy, who can summon a private jet, but has deep abandonment
issues with his mom having left him when he was two, Alizeh (Anushka Sharma) is
sassy, confident and seems sorted, but as you get to know her, she has a
scarred heart too, one that yearns for pain, pain that loving someone who
destroys you brings… The two meet in a night-club and instantly hit it off… The
first half deals with their growing friendship…. Till the point Ayan has fallen
totally and completely in love with her… But she loves Ali (Fawad Khan). Of
course she loves the one who hurt her…. And despite Ayan’s pleas, she drops
everything and follows her heart… because, Dil toh paagal hai… a heart wants
what it wants.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We have seen love
triangles aplenty, Kjo himself has made them relevant again for the genX, but
here he breaks his own mould. Ek tarafa pyaar gets a punch I had seen before in
Raanjhanaa. But unlike Raanjhanaa, Ayan and Alizehh are best friends first. One
can even think of Anjali and Rahul in a newer, hipper avatar as far as camaraderie
goes, but if KKHH talks of friendship being love… our hero here puts a new spin
to it. To him, as he spouts many of the Bollywood quotable dialogues… Ladka
Ladki kabhi dost nahi ho sakte.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">But infusing freshness
in to love aaj kal as we know it, the girl just doesn’t love her best friend.
She is not Anjali after all. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">One of biggest achievement of this film is Karan
Johar’s. He has taken a risk, no holds barred and retold a love story which
though has all his trademarks, yet is nothing like he has done before. His Ayan
is under-confident, a hero who is told in the first few minutes after meeting
the heroine that he is a bad kisser… he cries rolling on the pavement after finding
his girlfriend twining tongues with Alizeh’s boyfriend… And she is hero-like
offering shelter and shoulder to him… In a way similar to Rockstar, Alizeh
tells Ayan, who is an aspiring singer hating his MBA course… that a voice void
of real pain is never going to touch anyone… the day his heart really suffers
being crushed in pieces… will his voice come alive…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Predictably enough his
heart is shattered by Alizeh’s marriage to DJ Ali… but his dard is not enough
to get the girl… For Alizeh, her love is not her best friend… First left by his
mother and now by the girl who owns his heart… Ayan lashes out, angry,
petulant, entitled, and finally the futility hits him as he leaves Alizeh.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Rejection is an emotion
hardest to accept… dare I say, specially by men… The fact that a girl can spurn
them, as if the only reason for a girl to love them back is because they have professed
their feelings is tough for them to handle. As if heart-break trumps all claims
of the girl that she doesn’t love them… Ayan can not fathom Alizeh’s rejection,
how can she not love him? HOW? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">But he is no
acid-thrower, home destroyer… the hero walks away and out of her life. But not
before (one of my favorite scenes in the film) cursing Ali and her, wishing a
painful death upon them, his pain at being turned down lashing out sharp and
hard. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">So with a broken heart,
as his voice finds power, he finds an alluring, older woman, a Shairaa
(Poetess) Saba (Aishwarya Rai Bachchan)… Our bad kisser has come a long way as
he shares passionate embraces, lingering love-making… and another triangle is
born… Love and longing keeps making connections and separations… as we are
introduced to her ex husband (Shahrukh) who still loves her…and it all seems
unfair…. But then who said love is a safe bet, when actually in love all bets
are off. The ek tarafa pyaar seems to be an ailment all are suffering from in
ADHM… <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Ranbir has unlearned
everything as if taking his clothes off and bares himself like you have not
seen before. Right in the opening minutes of the film, he sits quietly, letting
his eyes, his quivering lips, his vulnerable demeanour do the talking and
clutches your heartstrings… and the last few seconds… is where he strums them
like an expert player… I can watch this film again just to see his Ayan. Yes we
have seen this turn in Rockstar but you would see the difference, a honing and
going even deeper in ADMH. The boy seems to have grown up…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Anushka Sharma, assured
like never before, lives Alizeh vibrantly. She is a perfect foil to Ayan.
Together with Ranbir, she brings every scene to life, making you forget it is a
make-believe world, because they actually make you believe everything that goes
on. This performance is pitch perfect. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Aishwarya is stunning,
and shares a smouldering chemistry with Ranbir. Their scenes together crackle,
even though she doesn’t impress me as the Shaira, her urdu, heavy “dialogues”
not ringing true. But does she wow, oh yes!! More please, thank you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Fawad Khan is there for a minuscule portion, wonder if his role was chopped off thanks to all the controversy. But he of course looks delicious! </span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Lisa Haydon is adorable
as the ditzy, cotton candy for a brain girlfriend of Ayan. She has made the most of the cameo. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Oh and SRK!! In just a one scene special appearance he has made me go all weak kneed and ogly eyed. Still has it, my Shahrukh. </span></div>
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<b><span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">SPOILERS Ahead<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">So problem kidhar hai?
You must be wondering… This film is let down by the weird and banal twist in
the second half, where a stage four cancer stricken Alizeh barring the shaved
head, looks as fresh as a Daisy. This twist takes the film plunging down with
it, as if to remove a person from the equation, permanently is the only
solution. this spells sudden death for a movie that was extremely engaging thus
far. What is even more banal than the twist, is the treatment of it all, the
glamorization, the Kjofication left me disappointed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Go watch it, because
despite the problems, this film is definitely worth a watch, and offers a lot
to love.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">My Verdict : 3/5 <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499193809981119255.post-56001460178110687572016-09-17T11:55:00.000+05:302016-09-17T12:01:31.250+05:30No, Non, Nein, Net, नहीं... My Review PINK <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3e3e3e; font-family: "droid serif" , serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Starring </span><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3e3e3e; font-family: "droid serif" , serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">:</span><span style="color: #3e3e3e; font-family: "droid serif" , serif; font-size: 16px;"> Taapsee Pannu, Kirti Kulhari, Andrea Tariang, </span><a href="http://indianexpress.com/tag/amitabh-bachchan/" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #346f99; font-family: "Droid Serif", serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Amitabh Bachchan</a><span style="color: #3e3e3e; font-family: "droid serif" , serif; font-size: 16px;">, Angad Bedi, Raashul Tandon, Vijay Varma, Tushar Pandey, Piyush Mishra, Dhritimaan Chatterjee, Vinod Nagpal</span><br />
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<span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3e3e3e; font-family: "droid serif" , serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Director </span><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3e3e3e; font-family: "droid serif" , serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">:</span><span style="color: #3e3e3e; font-family: "droid serif" , serif; font-size: 16px;"> Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjREYcRktH3SO1-UY20IAYregRv1P3ycpuJDQU5eGCflNjxMEljUzwrVQVR_v1ZmoY3if9slGQJlYxG0m4_WLW5tsr6kMk3e9QGEKBh5Xt0coTENWCpD-xDjs9UI4yywjdHsaocXAXBy9Q/s1600/Pink-Movie-Poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjREYcRktH3SO1-UY20IAYregRv1P3ycpuJDQU5eGCflNjxMEljUzwrVQVR_v1ZmoY3if9slGQJlYxG0m4_WLW5tsr6kMk3e9QGEKBh5Xt0coTENWCpD-xDjs9UI4yywjdHsaocXAXBy9Q/s400/Pink-Movie-Poster.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #3e3e3e; font-family: "droid serif" , serif; font-size: 16px;">Note : MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS </span><br />
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<span style="color: #3e3e3e; font-family: "droid" serif , serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">Years ago I was returning from work at 3 am, it was December, foggy... I got out of my colleague's car and was walking towards my house, I was stopped by the police patrolling my neighborhood who just refused to believe I was returning from work at that hour, that too in a car with a man. They wanted so many details, I almost felt I have committed a crime and they will arrest me. Yup, true story, Delhi in the late 90s. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #3e3e3e; font-family: "droid" serif , serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">Let's cut to the chase just like the film PINK chooses to do. Having breasts and Vaginas is not a choice, just like having a penis isn't. This is how men and women are born. But the society forces diktats on the female sex, taking away the choices, only from women... WHY? Why do women have to suffer and be branded the "Weaker" sex, even in today's world, the women are the ones who have to adhere to a million codes which are apparently there to keep them "Safe". Anyone who chooses to question these codes is quickly branded in various insulting ways "Slut", "Loose", "Bitch", "Inviting", "Solicitous", "Whore"... and these are the nicer ones mind you. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #3e3e3e; font-family: "droid" serif , serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">Women in a patriarchal world are "owned", given gender specific roles, tiny claustrophobic boxes assigned to them, in which they must fit. If not, they are the deviants. They are to be "punished", and abused, if not physically, then mentally, all morals applying only to them, they are "shown" their place in the food chain, in an order established by men. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #3e3e3e; font-family: "droid" serif , serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">Yes, there are exceptions to the rule. While women have proven to be the worst enemies of women in many cases, and men have stood up for women's rights time and again. But let's admit that the condition of women, is largely pathetic when it comes to their freedom to ( oh of that the list is endless). We are far far behind in accepting women as equals, and we live in a world where they are seen through a separate lens altogether. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #3e3e3e; font-family: "droid" serif , serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">And this is not a rant. It is coming from years and years of seeing, being there, seeing us judged, scoffed at, dismissed.. and I find myself still fighting, jumping to the defense of my gender... being grateful still to have escaped the worst... </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #3e3e3e; font-family: "droid" serif , serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">And this brings me to one of my favorite dialogue of the film "Hamare desh main Ghadi ki suiyaan ladki ka character decide karti hain". So not only is a girl of questionable character if she comes home late, she is also seen as giving clear indications of being "available" if she wears certain clothes, talks in a friendly fashion, shares a drink with you, touches your arm while talking or simply agrees to hang out with you. These are not fictional statements the film is choosing to make, this is the reality. Pick up the newspaper, and you know what a regressive world we are living in the 21st century. From Chowmein to jeans, everything is blamed for the increased number of rapes and sexual abuse, anything but the fact that men believe the girls "asked" for it, that is is okay to commit this crime, after all the first reaction of most would be to lay a barrage of questions on the girl, making her feel like the perpetrator rather than the victim.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #3e3e3e; font-family: "droid" serif , serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">Pink is not mincing words, it is not shying away from speaking the truth, and speaking it loud and clear. It has a strong voice, which doesn't waver, stays on track and delivers a sucker punch. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #3e3e3e;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">Minal, Falak and Andrea. Three young, single, working girls sharing a flat in a South Delhi colony, meet a bunch of guys, one of them known to Minal when they attend a rock concert in Surajkund (Haryana). They decide to have dinner with the boys and have a drink. What follows is a nightmare, with Rajveer (Angad Bedi) trying to force himself on Minal (Taapsee) and when her pleas to stop, her insistent Nos fall on deaf ears, she bangs a bottle on his head in the heat of the moment and they all flee the scene. They are scared, trying to convince each other that somehow they will escape unscathed and the men will not seek revenge... But no such luck. This incident leads to them being harassed and threatened, to the point where they have no option left but to file a police case. Predictably, their lives are turned upside down as the politically connected Rajveer and his cronies leave no stone un-turned with the help of their lawyer and police to prove that the three girls are prostitutes and it is just a case of them falsely implicating the "Izzatdar" Rajveer in a sexual abuse case, and trying to extort money. Their only hope turns out to be an elderly lawyer Deepak Sehgal (Amitabh Bachchan) who stands tall and fights their battle, to not only bring out the truth of what happened that night but also lay bare the ugly face of our hypocritical society, the double standards of men and the sheer shamefulness of way society looks at women and treats them.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #3e3e3e;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">I liked that the director did not cast a woman as the defense lawyer for the girls, instead we have a man, who fights for them, showing that if men change their attitude, their mindsets, they can be the real partners to women. Also a smart move to cast Amitabh Bachchan, considering this film needed a big name to make it saleable considering its subject and treatment. The character of the female police officer, who bend backwards to help the case of the politically connected perpetrator exposes the reality further. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #3e3e3e;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">Taapsee, Kirti and Andrea fit well into their roles, all adding an extremely real feel to the proceedings, shorn of make-up and glamour, they are very much the girls next door. If you are familiar with South Delhi's various colonies and the girls sharing rented accommodations there, you would immediately see how bang on the director is with the casting and characterization.</span></span><span style="color: #3e3e3e; font-size: 16px;"> When you see a brave and confident girl like Minal become a bundle of nerves as she is put away in lock-up, you know what the system can do to the bravest of us if we get in the way of its ulterior motives. Rajveer represents the majority of patriarchal bull headed men who believe good girls don't drink, socialize, have a life, a mind of their own... as he says "Aisi ladkiyon ke saath aisa hee hona chahiye" </span><br />
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<span style="color: #3e3e3e;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">PINK can not be placed alongside a regular Hindi film because to me it's not a vehicle for entertainment. It is a film where the message is right, and even when the craft falters, the film succeeds in staying focused on what it wants to say. Sometimes craft is just holding the mirror up, without the hand wavering, staying strong and brave. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #3e3e3e;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">Coming to the acting, B</span></span><span style="color: #3e3e3e; font-size: 16px;">achchan brings the gravitas, the resolve, the feeling of "he knows what he is doing" to the proceedings. I can not think of another mainstream actor of his caliber</span><span style="color: #3e3e3e;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"> and mass appeal doing this role. His tired eyes, his wavering voice in the first half, his enigmatic presence around the girls as their neighbor works for me. B</span></span><span style="color: #3e3e3e; font-size: 16px;">arring the weird face mask he uses when he goes for his walks, his some kind of mental illness and the mysteriously ill wife, I loved him in PINK. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #3e3e3e; font-size: 16px;">In the girls, Taapasee is over all believable as a gutsy, independent working girl. Kirti Kulhari is powerful and layered, Andrea adds so much vulnerability as a young girl from Meghalaya and her words ring true as she says in the court room : "Girls from the North-East are treated even more badly" (by society in the north). Angad Bedi is very good as Rajveer Singh, hoping to see more of him. Dhritimaan Chatterjee is terrific as the judge, so much grace he brings to the proceedings. I found Piyush Mishra going OTT in many places, but he totally convinces as the lawyer who will say anything to save his client. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #3e3e3e; font-size: 16px;">PINK is a cathartic experience for women, those who can speak up and those who can not... against the myriad injustices they live with everyday... In the darkness of the theater they would feel empowered by the victory of truth and the fact that it speaks of issues which Hindi films rarely address and lay bare with such gale force. </span><span style="color: #3e3e3e; font-size: 16px;"> </span><br />
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<span style="color: #3e3e3e; font-size: 16px;">PINK takes all arguments and then boils them down to a single word - NO. As we hear Bachchan say, No is a complete sentence. Nahin main "magar" nahi hota... When a woman says no, it means no. Period. Whether she is your girlfriend, your wife, or a prostitute.... A woman has the right to say no, and that NO is what must be respected, accepted and not taken as anything else. NO MEANS NO. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #3e3e3e;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">PINK is a voice that must be heard. I say Yes! Go watch.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #3e3e3e;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">My Verdict : 3.5/5</span></span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499193809981119255.post-50132396682441941212016-08-30T10:09:00.001+05:302016-08-30T10:12:00.033+05:30Ae Dil Hai Mushkil Teaser<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Directed by Karan Johar, with a cast boasting of Ranbir Kapoor, Aishwarya Rai, Anushka Sharma and Fawad Khan, ADHM trailer looks very interesting.
Enjoy!
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GdNKsW-E_po" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499193809981119255.post-27851103310440826002016-08-09T15:11:00.001+05:302016-08-09T15:13:18.682+05:30PINK Official Trailer<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Shoojit Sircar presents PINK, directed by Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury, who has directed Bengali films thus far, including the stellar Antaheen and Anuranan. Pink is a crime thriller and I like what I see so far! Here is the trailer, enjoy.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AL2TShb6fFs" width="560"></iframe></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499193809981119255.post-90738714569794237982016-08-07T17:56:00.004+05:302016-08-07T17:56:28.173+05:30Shivaay Official Trailer<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Directed by Ajay Devgn, Shivaay is his second film as a director, earlier being Raju Chacha. Impressively shot, going by the trailer, the film promises to be a thrilling ride. Enjoy.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/poLjq0u4_5A" width="560"></iframe></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499193809981119255.post-15738217154224757252016-04-15T20:35:00.000+05:302016-04-15T20:35:01.416+05:30Fandom vs Stardom. My Review. Fan<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Director : Maneesh Sharma<o:p></o:p></div>
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Starring : Shahrukh Khan, Waluscha de Sousa, Shriya
Pilgaonkar, Deepika Amin, Yogendra Tikoo, Sayani Gupta<o:p></o:p></div>
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For a Shahrukh fan like me, seeing him doing one mindless,
garish film after another pained me. I knew he is better… I knew because I love
Mohan Bhargava, Surinder Sahni, Kabir Khan, Raj Mathur, Ajay Sharma, Sunil…
even the many Raj and Rahuls…<o:p></o:p></div>
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The question that kept coming up in my head was does HE still know it? believes it, is pained by the lack of such characters in his
filmography today?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Seems like he did, after all he is one of the most
intelligent actors in Bollywood. Sharp brained and tongued… with the
announcement of Fan and Raees, I felt a flutter of hope.. that I would see the
other side of SRK, where he would again show us why we love him, why despite
him being mostly typecast, he keeps reminding us time and again that given a
good script and a nuanced role, in the hands of a skilled director, he can, and
does deliver.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Fan gives us a very interesting though not totally unique
premise; what happens when a Superstar’s fan turns into his ultimate foe, with
the doppelgänger angle making it even more compelling. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Shahrukh as Gaurav Chandna, runs a cyber café in Delhi,
belongs to a middle class family, an only son. But his world is Aryan Khanna (Shahrukh
in a double role) the superstar of Bollywood. Gaurav is a diehard fan, who
hangs on to every word spoken by his idol… his love gaining strength and
confidence when his star openly declares “mere fans ke bina main kuch nahi”.
Add to it the twist of fate that he is a spitting image of his screen god
Aryan, barring rather large jutting out teeth. He has mastered every dialogue,
every move of Aryan, and is a multiple time winner of a local acting competition.
Now his only dream is to go and meet Aryan on his birthday and give him the trophy he has won…
and hug him. But to his shock and disillusionment, the Aryan Khanna of his
dreams, his love and adulation turns out to be cold, standoffish and downright snubbing.
This is despite the fact that Gaurav took revenge from a star threatening to
sue Aryan for assault. What Gaurav in his blind love for Aryan doesn’t realise
and refuses to comprehend is that he crossed a line, committed a crime and
Aryan Khanna tells him “Tum hote kaun ho mere liye kuch karne wale” After being
told that “Main apni life ke paanch second bhi tumhe kyon doon” something breaks
forever inside Gaurav, love turns into obsession and he swears to destroy Aryan
Khanna. Thus the chase begins. Will Aryan Khanna be able to stop Gaurav and get
his life back is what the hook is.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Shahrukh delivers a dil se performance as Gaurav Chandna.
After a LONG time, I found him surrendering to the character, investing in it
and becoming it. A brilliant cyber café scene is my favorite in the film. The
body language, the dialogue delivery, the Dillipan, Shahrukh is in full form, both as a loving fan and an obsessed man bent on revenge.
But as Aryan Khanna, I found him at times disinterested, lacking in energy. Even
so, he doesn’t fail to impress in certain sequences. </div>
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This film for me works only because of one thing,
Shahrukh Khan. Him standing and greeting his fans at Mannat… reminds you yet again of his
badshah status. <o:p></o:p></div>
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What lets down the film in various places is the lazy
writing, illogical contrived plot points and one of the most terrible
supporting cast in recent times. Waluscha playing Aryan Khanna’s wife is so inept,
Deepika Amin hams her way through, even Tikoo who was brilliant in Neerja,
finds himself struggling. The actor
playing Sid Kapoor, cringe inducing bad. Shriya Pilgaonkar, though a natural
performer, didn’t convince me as Dilliwali kudi. The person who fit well was
Sayani Gupta playing AK’s secretary. <o:p></o:p></div>
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There are some stand out moments in the film, specially
between Gaurav and AK, but I wish there were more. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The premise could have easily lend itself to a thoroughly
gripping, tight thriller, but what it ends up being is a half-hearted attempt.
The idea of two equally stubborn men, refusing to give in, the who- blinks-first
game, the emotional layering of a Superstar accepting they are perceived as
public property because what got them to that celebrity status is the public,
aah.. so many possibilities, few explored in the film. Aryan Khanna, who is a
rags to riches story, common dilli ka launda turned megastar, when turns around
and behaves almost like a jerk with Gaurav, I couldn’t find any answers in the
narrative for this cold persona, wish they had created a more fleshed out character.
<o:p></o:p></div>
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This is one film where I feel even the director is let down
by the writing. </div>
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There are no songs in the film, and I was disappointed with the
complete omission of the much promoted Fan Anthem. The background score is extremely average, at times a total fail. The cinematography is a plus. <o:p></o:p></div>
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So go watch the film for Shahrukh, who returns and wins.<o:p></o:p></div>
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My Verdict 2.5/5<o:p></o:p></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499193809981119255.post-8425475551943196602016-03-22T15:38:00.005+05:302016-03-22T15:48:31.040+05:30Scar tissue. My Review. Kapoor And Sons (Since 1921)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Director: Shakun Batra<o:p></o:p></div>
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Starring: Rishi Kapoor, Ratna Pathak Shah, Alia Bhatt,
Siddharth Malhotra, Fawad Khan<o:p></o:p></div>
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There are no perfectly happy families. Happiness is not the
usual state of any human for that matter. And yet we seek that most fervently,
and hide behind the façade that keeps getting stronger, with each layer, each
compromise, each forced smile, each lie. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Secrets, don't we all have them. No relationship is hundred
percent transparent, and sometimes, secrets are kept from the ones we love the
most to protect them… and at times for selfish reasons… Secrets which can
destroy a family. That is when relationships are tested… will they survive?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Shakun Batra brings to us a family that in one word is
Dysfunctional, where everyone is trying very hard to “Function”. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The notion of a family, a normal Indian family… with a
doting mother, a father who is the provider, elders who are now leading a
sedate life, kids who are devoted and follow the path shown by their parents..
We are conditioned to believe our parents can do no wrong. We put them on
pedestals. They also try and fit in the defined role models... expecting their progeny to fit in too… with expectations and plans
for their perfect future. <o:p></o:p></div>
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But human.. ah… that’s
what they all are, individuals buried under the expectations, trying to fit in the
mould, flawed, jagged, broken. And here lies the tale of Kapoor and Sons.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Dadu (Rishi Kapoor) who play acts his death so much that no
one now really pays attention when he pretends to die at the breakfast table,
the son (Rajat Kapoor) continues doing his accounts and his wife (Ratna Pathak
Shah) continues nagging him about his inability to earn.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The equations are set from the opening scene itself. What
they didn’t see coming was an actual heart attack. Dadu is admitted to the
hospital and the sons Rahul (Fawad Khan) and Arjun (Sidharth Malhotra) are
called back to Coonoor. And slowly we realise nothing is functioning in this
family relationship-wise. The brothers have a history, their relationship
strained. Rahul seems to be the apple of the eye of both the parents, a son
that can do no wrong. Arjun on the other hand seems to be a constant
disappointment, especially to the father. The bickering parents only add to the
tension, and then there is Dadu, who despite being bed ridden at the ripe old
age of 90, in contrast to everyone is full of zest, a joie de vivre. He has two
wishes he wants his grandsons to fulfill, an Army burial after his death and a
Family photograph with all present, before he dies. His other son is traveling and they all await
his and his family’s arrival. Meanwhile Dadu’s 90<sup>th</sup> birthday is
coming up, a big party is planned. Enter Tia (Alia Bhatt) who owns an estate
and is briefly visiting to sell it off. She bumps into Arjun, and they
instantly strike it off. She also meets a prospective buyer of her estate, who
turns out to be Rahul. She hits it off with him too!! A love triangle seems to
emerge… while all the romance and bonhomie is happening.. layers are unfolded..
We get to know why Rahul and Arjun cannot be in the same room without a fight
erupting, what is troubling their parents’ marriage, what is the guilt of the mother and the reality of a son... and many more secrets that
threaten to come tumbling out. As we go deeper and deeper into the truth of
each character… we realise nothing is what it seems to be. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Without going into spoilers, let me just say, some of the
plot twists are predictable, yet by that time you are so invested that they affect
you nonetheless. As each character’s struggle, emotional curve is revealed, you
wonder whether this family will remain one… will that family portrait will ever be clicked, because they just don’t seem to fit in any frame, the distance between
them too much… <o:p></o:p></div>
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On the acting front, the force that is Ratna Pathak Shah is
unleashed in all its glory. You love her, you hate her, you cry with her… A
performance that left me in awe. Fawad Khan is a discovery for me. He also made
a very brave choice playing the character he did. Bollywood heroes with their
images to maintain would have shied away from it, well most of them. He brings
the character of a troubled writer, who is stuck after a first hugely
successful novel… not a word coming out of him to page. Sidharth Malhotra plays
the vulnerable younger brother well, who feels no one cares for him, that he is
always going to be a lesser son, a loser in the eyes of his father, a writer
who is yet to publish, but is weighed down by blocks of his own. They both share great chemistry, and their scenes together are believable and feel real. Alia is good,
but frankly for me her track was just padding, not really important to the main
story of the film. But she does bring oodles of fresh energy and charm to the
going ons. Rajat Kapoor is controlled and in fine shape, his and Ratna’s scenes
crackle, his craft shines through subtly. Their marriage so real, a couple so
believable… a rare thing to see. Coming to Rishi Kapoor, he is playing himself
I thought, cheeky, naughty and unabashed. He is having a ball and it is
obvious. What touches you is his turn towards the end... And I must admit, I cried many a times... thinking of each one of them, their fate at the hand of human folly.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The story is fresh in the Indian context, though I could
clearly see influences of many films. It
loses pace at times, but delivers well. The dialogues are delightful. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Well done Shakun Batra. You have put life in each scene... a director in superb control.<o:p></o:p></div>
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GO meet this family!</div>
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My verdict : 3/5<o:p></o:p></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499193809981119255.post-67022100822524887372016-01-23T14:20:00.002+05:302016-01-23T14:22:08.464+05:30All Engines A Go. My Review Airlift<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Director : Raja Menon<o:p></o:p></div>
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Starring : Akshay Kumar, Nimrat Kaur, Kumud Mishra, Inaamulhaq,
Prakash Belawadi, Purab Kohli<o:p></o:p></div>
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488 flights, 59 days, 1,70,000 Indians, airlifted from
Kuwait as Saddam’s forces took over the desert nation, in the world’s largest
evacuation till dat. Airlift is based on the true story of this historical
event. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The story that was on its own is an inspiring one, with a
strong emotional connect, is re-told with conviction and superbly by Raja
Menon. The challenge in making a good thriller, with a race against time
telling, based on a story that is already well documented, the outcome known,
is immense, and this is where the victory of Airlift lies. <o:p></o:p></div>
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A strong script, some well penned dialogues, humour in the
least expected situations, make Airlift a compelling watch. The film never loses focus, the linear telling only adding to the thrill, building up to an almost nail biting finale. All comparisons with Argo dissolve in the background as this emotional and full of twists and turns film unfolds.</div>
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The ace being Akshay Kumar. The khiladi shows his acting
chops in Airlift. Genuine, vulnerable, strong, letting his eyes perform in many
a moments, Akshay is the hero of Airlift in all senses. This is to me his
finest performance to date, an actor who has quietly matured, despite doing the
“It’s Entertainment” and “Housefull” brand of films, honing his skills in
Special 26 and in Baby to an extent, we see a new Akshay, who in his salt and
pepper beard and a lithe body becomes Ranjit Katyal. </div>
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A billionaire settled in
Kuwait, proud of being a Kuwaiti rather than an Indian. His marriage with
Amrita (Nimrat Kaur) is not all hunky dory, but he dotes on his little
daughter. His secure and snob life comes
crashing down as Iraqi tanks bombard Kuwait. A man driven by money, decides to
leave with his family, but is then faced by the moral dilemma…can he just up
and leave his workers and their families behind? How a self-centred businessman
changes himself and the fate of the thousands of Indians stuck in a foreign county
under siege is the story of Airlift. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The film touches upon the government apathy and the
political snafus when faced with a situation like this, the reality of living
in a foreign country which you make your home, but where you never belong, as
you are always the outsider, in this case being Indians actually helped them
survive the Iraqi attack. Airlift has its “Bollywood” moments, patriotism
hitting the notes as the Tiranga unfolds in the climax, a song and dance routine
in middle of mayhem, but the good bits overshadow the small detours.</div>
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Excellent
casting of supporting characters, Nimrat is extremely believable and gives a
steller performance as Katyal's wife, changing from an entitled and largely bored wife to a woman who stands besides her man and discovers his mettle, Kumud Mishra as the “Babu” is pitch perfect and in such a
fine form. Prakash Belawadi has got the irritating, greying, whining Mallu
Uncle just right. There was a moment when the entire theatre went “Abbe chup
kar” as he complains to Ranjit Katyal about the lack of Discipline in the
refugee camp. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Recreating the 90's and an under siege Kuwait was no mean feat which Menon achieved well. Eye for detailing, from the Madhuri superhit in the opening to Katyal fixing a cassette with a pencil, full marks there too. </div>
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Though dogged by forced songs and the miscasting of
Inaamulhaq as the Iraqi general in control of Kuwait, Airlift is a film I
thoroughly enjoyed. With the audiences becoming more open to real life stories being dramatized, Talvar being the one before this and Neerja coming up next, I "Welcome" this Akshay starrer. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Special mention, kickass camerawork by Priya Seth and sharp
editing by Hemanti Sarkar. The music, well nothing to talk about really. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Go and watch, totally paisa wasool. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>My verdict 3/5</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499193809981119255.post-41085393523795871052015-12-21T19:35:00.001+05:302015-12-21T19:38:10.587+05:30Laal Ishq. My review Bajirao Mastani<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Director : Sanjay Leela Bhansali</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Starring : Ranveer Singh, Priyanka Chopra, Deepika Padukone, Tanvi Azmi, Mahesh </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Manjrekar</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQv4yWmUEKCjzVQJ_rYmy0401opLCdD6hUvdqXb97T0qXrR1481T29LM8EgsVqXIUw7nbGxC318yfuEacoKBpFZeJRYDpkyozgQ1r2XryI_uWa4tDNJZfoL3PZUv3sDxGbQAnhDVuYfpE/s1600/18bajirao-mastani2.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQv4yWmUEKCjzVQJ_rYmy0401opLCdD6hUvdqXb97T0qXrR1481T29LM8EgsVqXIUw7nbGxC318yfuEacoKBpFZeJRYDpkyozgQ1r2XryI_uWa4tDNJZfoL3PZUv3sDxGbQAnhDVuYfpE/s640/18bajirao-mastani2.jpg" width="593" /></a></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;">कांटों भरे हैं लेकिन, चाहत के रास्ते</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;">तुम क्या करोगे देखें, उल्फत के वास्ते</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;">उल्फत में ताज़ छूटे, ये भी तुम्हें याद होग</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;">उल्फत में ताज़ बने, ये भी तुम्हें याद होग</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 18.2px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">One of my favorite love songs, the words resonate even now, and came to mind as I watched Bajirao Mastani...</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Love. We know it… or want to know it… it is an all-consuming
emotion whose wonder has been written about since words were noted… No wonder love stories are told over and over
again in cinema too… Love that is fulfilled is joyous and that left
unfulfilled, tragedy, makes us feel even more, because like love, we all know
what pain feels like.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Welcome to the world of Bajirao Mastani. Two warriors, two
lovers, who went against all norms of the society they were living in, and made
history.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">SLB’s film is not an exact account of history, in fact far
from it. But as the opening Title reads, it is the love story of a warrior. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As expected, the scale, the grandeur, each frame
painstakingly perfected, giving you a visual experience that is rare to come
by. Opulence and detailing at every level, from the sets to the costumes, to
the flawless make-up, Bajirao Mastani is a visual treat. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But what takes it beyond and makes it worth watching ( I saw
it for the second time today) are the actors. Even when the story falters,
sequences rush or linger longer than required (the climax) the cast carries the
film, living each character, making you invested in them, feel what they feel.
So this time I want to talk about the trio first. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk2jpon57GnqC9mQwzJOEcvoUqzT8T2og_ZNmYnoPImOh3t910fDbGHwa7LBIVzW4Iv-GHDThreR6xhJynxh2cI-1Z38ueTGXA8S9QeJ6P7A4Q3O1LWAnfXjJ3Lklpv1xFDl7k-KbYupY/s1600/bajirao-mastani-7593.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk2jpon57GnqC9mQwzJOEcvoUqzT8T2og_ZNmYnoPImOh3t910fDbGHwa7LBIVzW4Iv-GHDThreR6xhJynxh2cI-1Z38ueTGXA8S9QeJ6P7A4Q3O1LWAnfXjJ3Lklpv1xFDl7k-KbYupY/s400/bajirao-mastani-7593.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Ranveer Singh. You got me jaaneman. A convert, that’s what I
am after watching his Bajirao. Credit to Mr. Bhansali too. Ranveer has given
his best performance to date, the way he has become the warrior Peshwa, Puneri
accent in place most of the time, the taut body, the glint in his eyes, the
walk, the fighting, the stance… uff… <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Priyanka Chopra. Quantico ( Or Qwanakko as her Parrish says)
ko bhool jaao, PC ke liye taali bajao. Not a fan, apart from her Barfi! I
always found her lacking, but here in most parts, in a role that is bound to
evoke sympathy from the audience, PC delivers. And her strongest moments are
when she is silent, using her eyes to show the pain, the humiliation of being a
wife whose husband has found love in another woman. Her scenes are few, but she
stands out in most of them. Look out for her expressions in the curtain burning
scene in the film.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht7BtpLoTTneiDGe_udf2Zt5FUgkGWzOCFxs58E5FVpngis9t_fezjWWKumS8wuLcmW3RHdj39R6spG3Vu0y4_KL0E6L4bpe-E-9m5B5WS15Ah1eV9Aju2Lj8q1a8GOigKTDtnPCrUbcg/s1600/priyanka-chopra-kashi-759.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht7BtpLoTTneiDGe_udf2Zt5FUgkGWzOCFxs58E5FVpngis9t_fezjWWKumS8wuLcmW3RHdj39R6spG3Vu0y4_KL0E6L4bpe-E-9m5B5WS15Ah1eV9Aju2Lj8q1a8GOigKTDtnPCrUbcg/s400/priyanka-chopra-kashi-759.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Deepika. I love her, and Tamasha made me salute her prowess, but
here, either because of the writing, or may be of the way the director visualised
his Mastani, she does little more than look absolutely gorgeous. Her eyes
forever brimming, her skin lit up from within, a thing of beauty with very
limited moments where her acting could shine, even where she had meaty
dialogues, her diction defeats. But a pleasure to watch nonetheless. Her beauty, grace and screen presence making her a perfect Mastani. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Now coming to the storytelling. The forbidden love, the
anguished wife, the “other woman”, religion coming in the way of lovers, a
warrior princess becoming a putty in the hands of her passion and a wronged
wife finding it in her to banish her husband out of her house… even though he
can decimate armies single-handedly. The evolving of characters is extremely interesting,
even when the unfolding of their lives is predictable. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My big grouse is that in a love story where you want me to
root for a married man, who is a Peshwa, a great warrior, falling in love with a princess, and a princess’s
instant love/obsession/lust with a married Maratha warrior, where she is ready
to leave everything behind and follow her heart, very well knowing she will
never be accepted by his family or society, I wish there was some more time
spent with the two. Yes there are a few moments where we have to buy in to “instant
chemistry” but an epic love story, for me could do with some epic moments…
Remember Mughal e Azam, and that film is the inspiration for the director in
his own words. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Some sequences really stand out, especially the husband wife
scenes between Bajirao and Kashibai. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Tanvi Azmi as the mother works, with tonsured head et al,
but her track is so predictable, the only breath of fresh air was her scene
with Kashi where she points out their limitations as women… The other
supporting cast does justice to their roles, you even get Mr. Raza Murad, his baritone
still intact. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Mr. Bhansali knows what he wants, and you can see his vision
unfold in every frame, yes he likes to indulge, but again to quote the man
himself “it is not indulgence, this is how I see things”. When a few directors exist who can be called
auteurs, Bhansali yet again shows why he is prominent in that list.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Go watch the film, if for nothing else then for the sheer
visual spectacle, and the women, you would definitely not want to miss how a
bathing Bajirao can make you… Wink wink .<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />My Verdict 3.5/5 </span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499193809981119255.post-45076714786053082942015-11-28T23:31:00.001+05:302015-11-28T23:31:59.583+05:30Je Suis Don. My Review. Tamasha <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Director : Imtiaz Ali</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Starring : Ranbir Kapoor, Deepika Padukone, Piyush Mishra, Jawed Sheikh, Vivek Mushran</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUpRYVHZaPkoUOLaXgIi6Z9b5B0mRPfdNnWtktoRdlaErRBeXhxWbCbyTMlnYxOScSgc0tcgX4Qd-KrlFFJz_0Onbanfy_PbCoABkNzh63gmkyqLTrN_6bkS5Vb7KN_LcVYLJ22oLYkPI/s1600/2015_09_19_09_16_57_Tamasha-272.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUpRYVHZaPkoUOLaXgIi6Z9b5B0mRPfdNnWtktoRdlaErRBeXhxWbCbyTMlnYxOScSgc0tcgX4Qd-KrlFFJz_0Onbanfy_PbCoABkNzh63gmkyqLTrN_6bkS5Vb7KN_LcVYLJ22oLYkPI/s400/2015_09_19_09_16_57_Tamasha-272.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Many people are alive, but don't touch the miracle of being alive</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thich Nhat Hanh</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Main Don hoon… aur tum..
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Main.. Mona
Darling… <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The thought
of being able to be anyone in the world, and break away from your own mundane
life…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">The thought
of throwing caution to the air, reject all the </span><span style="font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: 19.9733px;">conformity</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"> you have been
closed in, like a creeper being minded with a stick, deciding which direction
it should take.. if given the freedom, may bloom in all directions, wherever it
finds space to grow…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Finding that
one person who sees the real you… who sees the extraordinary in the ordinary you... <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We keep
lying to ourselves, giving consolation prizes in form of material acquisitions…
survive in the race. But that isn’t living, that is not what life is.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Imtiaz talks
about this and more in Tamasha. And I could relate to all of it… <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">The story of
Ved and Tara, becomes the backdrop as you may find yourself looking to the film to
give answers… and in the end you might </span><span style="font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: 19.9733px;">realize</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">, you already knew the answer… but like
so many of us.. found it much more convenient to avoid looking on the inside,
and face the truth.. that yes, mediocrity stems from conforming, and happiness
is a state of mind.. and not a job. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Two
strangers, a chance meeting in the fairy tale beautiful Corsica. The boy tells
the girl, let me not introduce my real self, that is boring… and why should I,
when here… I can be anyone I want to… The game intrigues the girl and she
agrees too… We see two people, who have their own reasons to find happiness in
an alternate reality, escape… but after a few days of living in a bubble,
reality knocks and the girl goes back to India… not before breaking their own
wow to not “cross the line”. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">They had promised
each other they would never meet again in “real” life. But the girl has already
fallen in love with the boy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Four years
pass as Heer Toh Badi Sad hai plays… And they meet again.. not by chance, but
by the girl’s design.. and the Don of her dreams turns out to be an ordinary
guy, he is no Don, he is sweet… boring.. a creature of routine. She tries hard to scrape off the layers that hide the man she fell in love with...<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And what
follows is a journey of Ved… desperately seeking Don… <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Imtiaz has
woven a complex film in Tamasha. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">For example the
childhood flashes of Ved… where he is the happiest when listening to stories
told by an old grandpa figure, who charges for his tales, often mixing them up..
and the director underlines how all love stories are the same… but also
questions do they need to be? The story within the story, </span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Angsana New";">shown
with some inspired <span style="background: white; color: #222222;">mise en scène</span>,
where Ram wears a sweater as he leaves to hunt for the deer…and Sanyukta walks
through the church aisle…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Angsana New";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The imagery is beautiful, yet it
is a child’s imagination, replete with impossibles… as dreams mostly are.. but
for young ved they are real.. more real and relatable than the expectations of
his father, son of a partition family… who feels financial security is
paramount, as they had lost everything when they left Pakistan. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I also loved
the use of the chapters with individual titles format, consistent with “we all
have a story to tell” motif. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">From what
can be simply taken as a film about the self-actualization of the protagonist
Ved, Tamasha to me was much more than that. It brings forth the angst which lot
of my friends caught in the 9-5 culture discuss, who would rather be trekking
the Himalayas or going for a bike ride to Goa, but don’t. We can… that is the
message of Tamasha. In 3 Idiots the Engineering vs Dreams has been tackled, yes…
But I like the way Imtiaz has created Ved.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If I have
any grouse with the film is that I wish I knew Tara better. But she to me is
just the catalyst… And within that role, she comes out as a strong woman, yet weak when it comes to what her heart wants. She can walk out on the man who she finds to be a shadow of the person she was in love, yet come back and accept she can not be without him... <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As the film delves deeper into the psyche of Ved, you feel his pain, and root for him to break free of his shackles, man up even.. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There is a Ranbir
monologue in the climax of the film, that
stirred me so much…and reminded me of the quote… "We don’t stop playing
because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: 19.9733px;">The froth of Corsica, the golden hues, the crystal waters of the Mediterranean make you relax and feel you are free as a bird, on an adventure, and is a perfect foil for what follows, I could see why Imtiaz has deliberately kept the pace slow, nothing much happening... giving you time to actually unwind.. before the drabness of mundane life hits the characters and you... </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The tie
wearing, routine bound Ved who is a volcano at the edge of eruption, when
stoked gently by Tara, he truly loses it… and though at times the anger may
seem sudden, if you are with Ved’s psyche, it is understandable. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As Melvin
said in As Good As It Gets, “You want me to be a better man”, in Tara Ved finds
someone who finally pushes him to break out of his shackles. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Heartbreak
leading to achieving your true potential is something Imitiaz has used in his
earlier films too.. Rockstar, JWM. Here he also uses a Rickshaw driver… whose
story touches a chord in Ved, and he makes a big decision in his life. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Coming to
the crackling pair of Ranbir and Deepika, they both left me dazzled with their
performances. Ranbir is truly one of the best actors of his time. He is almost
flawless as he creates two distinct people.. Don in Corsica and the Product
Manager Ved. Deepika.. aah.. a diamond that keeps shining brighter as each
performance unfolds. Their chemistry fires the screen, it is a must watch just
to see these two share screen space. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The film is
filled with memorable moments between Ved and Tara… and some really funny lines…
The scene between Ranbir and Vivek Mushran really stood out. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The
cinematography by S. Ravi Varman is top notch, wouldn't have expected anything less. The music is not the best of Imti-ARR-Kamil
combo. But Heer and Agar Tum Sath ho really worked for me. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Imtiaz Ali
yet again proves he is one of the strongest individualistic voices of Hindi
cinema. Take a bow. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">GO WATCH!! </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />My Verdict :<b> 3.5/5 </b></span></span></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499193809981119255.post-81003183707546805282015-10-04T13:12:00.003+05:302015-10-04T13:12:53.648+05:30Talvar "Of Truth, Lies and Red Tape" My Review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlqpZLS7X8u5mjq2Q6pFWb0psTQR7VyU5Wm7HQYtos5kqOUyZMmbdw-NgWJCFNUGiQZhwBEwPMM48yVnFnyl_MB5NazzMvp-aCwHs9cIxgcOwPUq_ILmUXcW6qcTKwmdVhYB7eNr3VqmU/s1600/TalvarFilmPoster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlqpZLS7X8u5mjq2Q6pFWb0psTQR7VyU5Wm7HQYtos5kqOUyZMmbdw-NgWJCFNUGiQZhwBEwPMM48yVnFnyl_MB5NazzMvp-aCwHs9cIxgcOwPUq_ILmUXcW6qcTKwmdVhYB7eNr3VqmU/s400/TalvarFilmPoster.jpg" width="295" /></a></div>
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<o:p>Director : Meghna Gulzar</o:p></div>
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<o:p>Starring : Irrfan Khan, Konkona Sen, Neeraj Kabi, Soham Shah, Tabu, Atul Kumar, Gajraj Rao </o:p></div>
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The Aarushi- Hemraj case, splashed across the media, being
fed a pack of lies by the police, then investigating the case, and later the
CBI coming in and revealing the criminal botch up that was done by the UP
police handling the twin murder of Aarushi and Hemraj. We have all cracked our
heads and gone through various emotions as rumors peddled as facts were served
to us. Justice has been denied if an innocent has been punished, Justice is
also not served when the guilty are let out scot free. </div>
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Whatever may be the truth, we would never know, as there is
no clear evidence of what really happened on that horrific night in the house
of Talwars, known doctors in Noida, rich and respected. Their 14 year old
daughter found brutally murdered in her room, and later the prime suspect as
per the police, their servant Hemaraj, his body was also discovered, murdered
in an identical manner. A mystery that could have been solved if the Police had
done due diligence, instead of the mockery they made out of it. Even the CBI
could not do much apart from submit a report that they don’t have enough
evidence to prove the Talwars guilty. But the special CBI court has sentenced
them to life imprisonment and currently they have appealed in the Allahabad high
court. </div>
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Coming to the film, Talvar just about veils the fact that it
is the same case, by changing character names, and organisation names, CBI is
CDI in the film. The title itself is similar phonetically to Talwar. </div>
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It is not an easy film to watch, as you cannot watch it like
just another thriller, whodunit. Everyone who knows about the brutal killings,
which is pretty much “everyone”, cannot watch it dispassionately. </div>
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The first 30 minutes of the film are a bit tedious, the
writing unsure, but then it gains momentum and by the time you are back after
interval, it is compelling, disturbing, all involving and leaves you extremely
uncomfortable, questioning your own beliefs, no matter which side you have
leaned all this while. The fine writing even manages to infuse humor in the
going ons, specially in Gajraj Rao’s scenes, even when one of the scenes is a bit
outlandish… also the dark dark humor that unfolds in the internal CBI meetings…
Bravo. The world our house help inhabits, the migrants staying in poor
conditions, yet enjoying their off time drinking, watching shows in their
mother tongue.. and their eyes straying to the young daughter.. and harbouring lust..
things which we normally don’t see in a film, is shown unflinchingly.. making
you squirm in your seats. The Narco test
segments sent a chill down my spine. The film is raw and rough, no frills and
no breathers.. and it is this assured treatment that makes it a must watch. </div>
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If “Court” had left you frustrated, this will leave you
enraged, disturbed, empty and exposed. Scary how easily can the law enforcers,
crime solvers, can turn a crime scene into a free for all, contaminate evidence
and botch up an investigation of such a heinous crime. </div>
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The point the film makes vehemently is it is better to let
10 guilty go than to punish the innocent. Alas one would never really know. Though the film leans towards the Talwars as being innocent, it does allow the other point of view to be presented rather strongly.</div>
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A stellar cast of Irrfan, Konkona, Neeraj Kabi, Tabu, Sohum
Shah, Atul kumar and Gajraj Rao infuse scary realism to the film. Irrfan as the
CDI officer Ashwin Kumar delivers yet another ace performance, playing a video
game as he interrogates, humming mera kuchh saaman as his trial separation
starts with his wife, played by Tabu, a
small but impactful role. It is such an inspired performance by Irrfan, helped by some great dialogues, as he succeeds in making an officer investigating brutal murders a flesh and blood character, letting us in his ordinary world and ordinary live, going about their business in the most routine way. </div>
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Neeraj and Konkona underplay and win. Full marks to Honey Trehan for picking each actor with precision, and the ensemble works superbly. I would also like to mention A. Sreekar Prasad's absolutely brilliant editing. With a film that involves so many threads and still is just above 2 hours, it is commendable the way it has been put together. </div>
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Meghna Gulzar finally has a good film under her belt. Some
of the scenes are going to stay with me for a long time to come. </div>
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My Verdict 3/5</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499193809981119255.post-49038099313447682122015-09-10T18:26:00.002+05:302015-09-10T18:26:18.535+05:30Gulaabo Official Song video Shaandaar<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Here it is, Gulaabo!! Really looking forward to Shaandaar. Vikas Bahl's next after the much celebrated Queen. Alia and Shahid make a cute pair.<br />
Amit Trivedi does a good job with this energetic number. Vishal Dadlani and Anusha Mani on the vocals. I Like!!!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lYNNgGBVtTo" width="560"></iframe></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499193809981119255.post-30213257132693280062015-05-23T19:27:00.000+05:302015-05-23T19:27:00.304+05:30The Queen Is Back. My Review. Tanu Weds Manu Returns<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Director : Aanand L. Rai<br />
<br />
Starring : Kangana Ranaut, Madhavan, Jimmy Shergill, Deepak Dobriyal, Swara Bhaskar<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNiKaCiM3gK6P6fpxkHjRmomzUEExS0XSkpNWWbFH94KBphUAg3OF1zqUUZX4oebb7AKK5qYlxFT03u2gq0chpGFotmd6Huxhsg8HG3M9tPYqlS5rjVLd1LXMFTdebzK7eiHVmUkveeVo/s1600/tanu-mos_041515102628.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNiKaCiM3gK6P6fpxkHjRmomzUEExS0XSkpNWWbFH94KBphUAg3OF1zqUUZX4oebb7AKK5qYlxFT03u2gq0chpGFotmd6Huxhsg8HG3M9tPYqlS5rjVLd1LXMFTdebzK7eiHVmUkveeVo/s400/tanu-mos_041515102628.jpg" width="276" /></a></div>
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This sequel comes 4 years after Tanu Weds Manu. We meet Tanu and Manu again, but this time it is not all pyaar mohabbat coca cola. They are on the brink of marital collapse, their issues mundane, Tanu is bored, Manu is exhausted. Tanu complains " Ye adrak ho gaya hai, kahin se bhi badh raha hai" Manu says exasperated " Jab shaadi kee thi toh kya Hrithik Roshan tha?" Love, as is often the case, in the bland mix of day to day travails of a marriage, gets pushed to some dark corner of the heart and the relationship.<br />
<br />
So as Manu is put in the mental asylum ward in London, Tanu flies back home to Kanpur. But not before she calls Pappi, Manu's best friend, to come and get him out. Have they fallen out of love or have just forgotten how it feels to love the other?<br />
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The plot thickens deliciously when Manu spots Tanu in a pixie hair cut in a Delhi college. As it turns out it is not Tanu but Kumari Kusum "Datto" Sangwan, a state level hockey player. His heart flutters again, he has found love again, and despite being a 40 year old married man, is ready to follow her around like a puppy chasing a cute motorized toy. Datto is disarmed by his genuineness and charm, his gentlemanly ways and honesty. Thus starts a tender love story. But what will happen when Tanu finds out about Datto and things get into a holy mess?<br />
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What I liked was how subtly the film raises some interesting questions about marriage and love and the changes it goes through as people live together, year after year. Did Manu fall in love with Datto or with subconsciously Tanu again, with new facets which he likes? Is Tanu wrong in being bored in a marriage, does an unhappy wife complaining about how mundane the marriage has become give the licence to the husband to fall in love again? If yes then should one even work on a marriage? Should we give up the moment the going gets tough? I may be seeing layers which Aanand never weaved, but I think it is a plus if a film made me think so much!!<br />
<br />Rai has collected quite an ensemble, with some familiar and some new characters. All woven together into this contrived yet endearing tale, with their own individual tracks and troubles! There is Pappi, Jassi, Raja Awasthi, Payal, Anand Tiwari the Lawyer, Tanu's parents, Manu's parents and Kusum's Bhaiya, Bhabi and family and !! Phew!!<br />
<br />But he manages to weave them together in a tale that is predictable yet you are so involved with the characters, you want to see where fate and love lead them.<br />
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What makes TWMR special and stand out in the clutter of loud commercial cinema and superflous rom-coms that Bollywood keeps churning out is Kangana Ranaut.<br />
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Kangana Ranaut has yet again proven what a great actor she is, breathing fire into two different characters. A double role which is so well played that you feel for both Kusum and Tanu like they are two friends of yours, and you don't know whose side to take when they get into a fight. The genius of Kangana makes them so unique... you can only marvel at the hard work that has gone behind this performance. To get a Haryanvi accent correctly, where even stalwarts have often failed, itself is a victory. Her Datto is so real, I felt I was back in my college in Delhi and observing her while eating a samosa from the canteen.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9HUrAFZcU6Kln2nlyiBBlFY9HAC8FG23MDG1vMHSF8gxnvTdpDU2HGWRGkCqlIBEFwwUMl7jvBhwnU1qZrUsSpVneRUOkWiUS6b4Hn3uzX6ZY9wQMTFpsB6p9LKEhJ4mqYmNxDCYicl8/s1600/6f5c4195-1b77-4d16-ac3d-7241b43196bfWallpaper2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9HUrAFZcU6Kln2nlyiBBlFY9HAC8FG23MDG1vMHSF8gxnvTdpDU2HGWRGkCqlIBEFwwUMl7jvBhwnU1qZrUsSpVneRUOkWiUS6b4Hn3uzX6ZY9wQMTFpsB6p9LKEhJ4mqYmNxDCYicl8/s400/6f5c4195-1b77-4d16-ac3d-7241b43196bfWallpaper2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Madhavan is pitch perfect as Manu, and carries off the added layers to his character well. The highlight of the film apart from Kangana is Deepak Dobriyal as Pappi. He has a meaty role and he chews on it with relish. He gets some absolutely fun dialogues and his charged performance lights up every scene he is a part of. Look out for the college lecture scene! And Jimmy Shergill, ooh.. I like I like, Raja Awasthi is back! And he will win more hearts this time around. Mohd Zeeshan Ayub as the young and chalu lawyer is perfectly cast, another good performance from him. Swara is good, as usual. Rajesh Sharma as Datto's brother pulls off another role well and makes the most of it.</div>
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Another strength of the film are the dialogues, my favorite being " hum thode bewafaa kya hue, aap toh poore badchalan hogaye" said by Tanu to Manu when she discovers he is in love with Datto. </div>
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And now coming to the music, I loved it!! And in a heart tugging sequence there is Geeta Dutt's Ja Ja Ja Bewaffaa... A fabulous touch!!</div>
<br />
The film does get preachy at a few points, but it is well intended. It falters towards the climax, the contrivances and predictability of the plot clouding an otherwise brilliant experience. But Kangana, the savior comes to the rescue and pulls you back with her sterling performance.<br />
<br />
GO WATCH!!!<br />
<br />
My rating 3.5/5</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499193809981119255.post-21830296833867738162015-04-18T21:08:00.002+05:302015-04-18T21:08:40.885+05:30All Systems Down My Review Court<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Director Chaitanya Tamhane<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Starring </span><span style="background: rgb(249, 249, 249); font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Vira Sathidar,</span>
Vivek Gomber, Geetanjali Kulkarni, Pradeep Joshi, Usha Bane, Shirish Pawar<span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Language Marathi *English Subtitles </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-xBOKbU2MMAhdifTGTAa9CnG2LI9v-Z3VWZoJceGhehIgsIwhxjHa8S-zkZ-Qxr_JF1YFMSZrVjAgCMFzBVJMycjR5l8yjXdpHzP4GjGAjCuQ7bbJJ2DlAhP_BnSbDvgI_mQxmdAk-T4/s1600/Court_(film)_POSTER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-xBOKbU2MMAhdifTGTAa9CnG2LI9v-Z3VWZoJceGhehIgsIwhxjHa8S-zkZ-Qxr_JF1YFMSZrVjAgCMFzBVJMycjR5l8yjXdpHzP4GjGAjCuQ7bbJJ2DlAhP_BnSbDvgI_mQxmdAk-T4/s1600/Court_(film)_POSTER.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I am not
going to build up to it. Court is a film that hit me in my gut. It was not only
because it is a debut film of a director, who is all of 27 years old, that
belies his age and life experience, and that it has gathered so many award internationally, but because as the film says through a
song.. Don’t insult us by calling us artists… Art is just a way of hiding the
truth… a bold statement indeed, when people discuss art vs life and the
creative liberties that an artist must have. But does the artist become bigger
than the truth? This film is a courtroom drama, but so much more than it and aims and presenting truth and nothing but the truth. And yes, it
succeeds in great measures. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">A film that
is so layered, so full of symbolism, and mind you not of the kind which only
the director will understand (wink). The characters are so minutely etched, it
is a pleasure to know them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The story,
ah, that being the masterstroke, is of a folk singer/activist who is arrested
under the charges of abetting the suicide of a gutter cleaner. Why? Because he
performed in the locality where the gutter cleaner lived and two days later
committed suicide, found in the same gutters he has spent most of his life
cleaning. Even though the charge sounds highly ludicrous, the court takes it
seriously. After all justice is serious business.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">And thus
unfolds the tale.. pitching so many worlds together, against each other… yet
with each other, as you see the story progress.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Chaitanya
Tamhane, the director uses each scene, almost every shot, to say something. He
has managed to comment on a lot of things… and unlike some films, has managed
to do it successfully.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The biggest
achievement of the film for me was that it made me feel I am fighting the case,
I was rooting so much for Narayan Kamble, that I wanted to scream out loud at
the way our systems run. Stock witnesses to archaic laws, the apathy of the
police, the dozing advocates and the Judge who keeps shifting from black to
white to gray. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The
detailing in the film is such a pleasure. Not showing off, but just being..
true. From the Public prosecutor who discusses olive oil prices in the local
train, cooks dinner every night, and
then finds time to go through her case, her routine life is without a spark,
barring an occasional lunch at a Maharashtra thali joint, with her husband and two kids.
She is the Mumbai Middle class, which works hard and still doesn’t make enough
money. You know she has studied hard to be where she is, and with limited
exposure, she relies on the tomes of law, reading her arguments verbatim. “But
law is law, no” </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">You want to
bang your head when she drones on and on, and yet to see her, I mean really “see”
her.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The defence
lawyer… belonging to a rich Gujarati family, shops in Natures Basket, loves wine, Jazz and hanging out in swanky
lounges. Yes, he is modern and privileged. Yet he fights for the have-nots. His
refined self is in steep contrast to the drab courts, yet his largesse is what
makes him more human and empathetic to his clients. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Within the
scope of the story, Tamhane manages to address issues ranging from the caste divide to the lack of
safety equipment for people in hazardous professions, where a cockroach is
their saviour, to the UP Maharashtra divide, to the trend of outraging against
anything and everything by the various preservers of communities. The steep
poverty and the helplessness of the people who do not have resources to fight and
can be picked up for anything deemed unlawful by the police, who is clueless to
say the least. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The film is
not from one cut to another, it breathes organically, as life is… you can leave
the room, but the room is still brewing, he stays on scenes even when the
characters have left and it works beautifully. The actors are par excellence,
each one doing such a great job. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Nothing seems to be changing as centuries go by, we live in sad times, but there is also hope, there is also the
need to raise our voice… and yes, as the climax again underlines… Justice
meanwhile takes a leisurely nap.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I cried and
clapped various times in the film, laughed at the inanities of our justice
system but the feeling that was topmost was that of frustration and finally
building to one of “I wish I could be of some consequence in this society we
live in, be of help, coz this system is dead Jim”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">My Verdict
4/5<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499193809981119255.post-59571040653276721382015-04-06T13:17:00.001+05:302015-04-06T13:31:01.307+05:30Of Truth, Calcutta and the Heady drag My Review Detective Byomkesh Bakshy!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Director Dibakar Banerjee<br />
<br />
Starring Sushant Singh Rajput, Neeraj Kabi, Anand Tiwari, Swastika Mukherjee, Divya Menon, Meiyang Chang<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsMB0T_Tl9xnz1OggB4DvJjVsNGEfLCIbTNB0bxJFw_PufW63-zL1kGD9z12bCCbmW-ksPVjjqgHwlRuYNfj_xy1lltV9vqP45pK5aZK8gAGGPWsZZX6bShNIAFTGotWDHS7CaSyDY8wY/s1600/detective-byomkesh-bakshi-poster-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsMB0T_Tl9xnz1OggB4DvJjVsNGEfLCIbTNB0bxJFw_PufW63-zL1kGD9z12bCCbmW-ksPVjjqgHwlRuYNfj_xy1lltV9vqP45pK5aZK8gAGGPWsZZX6bShNIAFTGotWDHS7CaSyDY8wY/s1600/detective-byomkesh-bakshi-poster-2.jpg" height="280" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
*May contain spoilers</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Detective Bomkesh Bakshi, a character that has endured for
more than 8 decades… Oh and he hated being called a “detective”. So let’s call him
the way he likes it, Satyanweshi, the seeker of truth.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Many adaptations have been made and savoured of Saradindu Bandyopadhyay’s famous Satyanweshi. The closest to the mass memory is the one
played famously by Rajit Kapur on Doordarshan. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dibakar Banerjee’s Byomkesh Bakshy! (yes, the Ys used twice
itself indicate that this is the director’s take on the literary detective ) is set in the early 1940s, a World War II strafed Calcutta, where nothing is
what it seems. The turf war between the Chinese drug gangs, the Japanese Army
and the British has laid Calcutta wide open.
Danger, deceit and mayhem… this is the world a young Bakshy enters
unknowingly. Approached one day in the
college by Ajit Banerjee, asking for
Byomkesh’s help in finding his father Bhuvan Banerjee, a chemical scientist,
who has disappeared without a trace two months ago. A case that seems so simple to Byomkesh that
he says in the very first instance that Ajit’s father is dead, his body hidden
somewhere! What he doesn’t know that he is going to get embroiled in a mystery
so warped, it will be tough to get out alive.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But seek the truth he must, so he finds lodging in a Men’s
Only guest house , run by Dr. Anukul Guha, who treats patients for free. From here the search begins, that leads him
through twists and turns, to mysterious yet alluring creatures like the Mata
Hariesque Anguri Devi, the strong willed Satyawati and Deputy Commissioner
Wilkie, committed to busting the drug scene in Calcutta. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As my current favourite police Detective on TV Blackstrom
would say, I am Dibakar, I want to make a larger than life film on the
favourite literary detective, what would I do to make it big, make it
different, make it real, yet do it in my own unique style, give it the noir
hues, create a world that is real in detailing yet magnificently cinematic at
the same time. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well, he manages to do all that and more. From the first adrenaline pumped scene to the
last frame, each scene has been treated like a stand-alone tableau. The Calcutta that has been painstakingly
re-created seems so real that you feel you could step inside and board the tram
to Bada Bazaar. The camerawork is one of
the main strengths of the film, by Nikos Andritsakis, who has teamed with
Dibakar in LSD and Shanghai. His
camerawork makes simple movements like a pan deliver sheer beauty. He captures
perfect frames, at times slow and languorous, at times manic. Always giving something striking. As a motif, shadows play a large role in
crucial sequences. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The case itself is the first case in the published series, titled “Satyanweshi”. This was the birth of
the detective. But the character of Dibakar’s Bakshy is different from the
Bomkesh we all knew in the past. He is young, impulsive, edgy. His razor sharp
brain doesn’t miss much, and he while finding the truth also finds time to
plant a long kiss on the femme fatale’s scarlet lips. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now to come to the casting. It was unique and risky to say
the least. Will Sushant Singh Rajput even come close to the genius and gravitas
of Rajit Kapur was my question. But he doesn’t have to. Dibakar has created
Byomkesh which lets Sushant breath in his own skin. The first thing to go was
the requirement of a Bengali accent. Dibakar clearly knew it was a risk worth
taking. Sushant has largely succeeded in
his effort to play the legendary detective. Neeraj kabi, again a brilliant actor plays the
deceptive Dr. Anukul with great relish,
but in the last few sequences, he ends up messing up… larger than life villain
yes, but the hamming came as a shock.
Swastika Mukherjee as Anguri Devi
for me didn’t work initially, but yes.. she grew on me… smoky eyes and
pouty lips. Satyawati played by Divya
Menon was believable, fit in perfectly. Anand
Tiwari is brilliant as Ajit Banerjee. Really nuanced performance. Meiyang Chang
plays Kanai well. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The music of the film is grungy new-age rock. It is used
well in most places, and is another spin which propels the director’s vision of
the film further. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dibakar is one of the most gifted directors of our times. He
has evolved and broadened his vision, challenged his own limits with every film…
DBB is a labour of love and the man knows what he is doing. As he had said in
many pre-release interviews, his
Byomkesh will be hated by Puritans, but I do hope they would be able to see
beyond the obvious and enjoy the emergence of DBB as possibly a film franchise! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The film is not
without its flaws. The simple original story has been changed and tweaked,
obviously for the requirement of a full
length feature, but it gets laden with just way too many plots and red
herrings. The Chinese gang, the Japanese Army, the attack on Calcutta… it
becomes a bit of a mish mash at some point. And then the climax sees a long sequence
of Byomkesh explaining each and
everything. The film doesn’t end there… though visually brilliant the last few
minutes of the film look like a part of some other movie, they are so over the top. But as a pay-off it
does leave with the promise of a sequel.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But the film has so much going for it, it takes you through
such brilliant moments, the detailing that is god level, you let go of the
minor flaws and applaud.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p>My Verdict<b> 3/5</b></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499193809981119255.post-39661962096716930962015-03-15T11:44:00.001+05:302015-03-15T11:45:52.521+05:30Girl Gun Goons My Review NH10<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Director Navdeep Singh<br />
<br />
Starring Anushka Sharma, Neil Bhoopalam, Ravi Jhankal, Deepti Naval, Darshan Kumar<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<br />
Quite early on in the film you see Meera (Anushka) rubbing off the word "Randi" from the door of a toilet in a highway dhaba. This is one of the gentler words women find written inside loos, and not just the ones on hinterland highways.<br />
<br />
Directed by Navdeep Singh, whose last film Manorama Six Feet Under is a favorite of mine, NH10 promised a gritty, bloody and hard hitting drive through the gut of Haryana. The land of honour killings and khap panchayats.<br />
<br />
Arjun and Meera are a young, rich, urban couple, staying in Gurgaon, a city which boasts of gargantuan Malls and elite housing. It also falls in Haryana, the Jaat land. And even today, a drive alone can be a horror for a woman, which is established as the film opens.<br />
<br />
From a happy weekend get-away, the lives of Arjun and Meera turn to hell as they witness a brutal honor killing of a young couple, trying to run away from the blood thirsty relatives. They are now the targets of the men who will not leave anything or anyone coming in their paths alive, whole.<br />
<br />
As the film turns into a shocking, brutal thriller, you see Meera do unexpected things, for her and her husband's survival, alone in a nightmarish world which she never knew existed.<br />
<br />
Purely as a thriller, the film keeps you engaged in most parts, a woman pitted against a band of killers.<br />
<br />
But the film pitched itself as a social statement, with the villains not just merciless killers and psychos, these men kill for their version of honor, they treat women worse than a rabid dog, they find the thought of a boy from another Gotra marrying their sister/daughter so revolting, they will violently snuff life out of them.<br />
<br />
So when you put the heroine in this world, does it just remain a story of Her revenge, Her journey, Her Victory over these bad men? Yes it is thrilling to see a woman turn into a killing machine, but was it the only purpose of the film, to give the audience an adrenaline rush? Then why use a grave issue without making a decisive statement about it? I would have been as entertained if Meera was left in jungle with lions, alone at night.<br />
<br />
The pitching of Urban vs Rural is almost childish in its projection, it made me cringe. "Ye gaaon wale hain" as Arjun (Neil Bhoopalam) says, bunching all of them together as imbeciles, you almost say aloud, no but... all of them are not like that. <br />
<br />
I, as an Urban female viewer, fighting for gender equality and fiercely guarding my independence, should have broken into applause as the film ends, but didn't, because somewhere, Meera did not totally convince me, neither did the script.<br />
<br />
The film does have its moments, the husband who smarts from the insult of being slapped in front of his wife, trying to be a man, deciding to show his wife he is not a mouse. The easy banter of the couple in love in the beginning of the film, the little village boy coveting Meera's designer watch...<br />
<br />
Anushka shows her acting chops and does a good job of holding it all together. Bhoopalam looks dishy but is weak. Darshan Kumar (of Mary Kom fame) gives a patchy performance. Deepti Naval tries hard, but looks out of place. Ravi Jhankal is a solid performer and leaves an impact as a matter of fact, often chillingly funny killer. The Haryanvi spoken in the film is inconsistent and sounds fake in most places<br />
<br />
A film which could have been much more... at least I went in expecting it to be.<br />
<br />
My Verdict <b> 2.5/5</b><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499193809981119255.post-20891226330347160742014-12-20T13:46:00.001+05:302014-12-21T23:18:25.808+05:30Sau Sunar kee Ek Lohar kee! My Review PK<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Director<br />
Rajkumar Hirani<br />
<br />
Starring<br />
Aamir Khan, Anushka Sharma, Boman Irani, Saurabh Shukla, Sanjay Dutt, Sushant Singh Rajput, Parikshet Sahni, Ram Sethi<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA2EydKgvMVhRy-mDB0dENZbOnaww91IuKIwY1pHi1xM_kuzUw2kbCew8YSUcJznOnAEzuL2PyaNuoRjf6OUvLlyCt31JFRWKM3_oP4_enQp7H-rzW-pLxFkVFj6vtCmJZR8cdJOykGZM/s1600/PK-Movie-New-Posters-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA2EydKgvMVhRy-mDB0dENZbOnaww91IuKIwY1pHi1xM_kuzUw2kbCew8YSUcJznOnAEzuL2PyaNuoRjf6OUvLlyCt31JFRWKM3_oP4_enQp7H-rzW-pLxFkVFj6vtCmJZR8cdJOykGZM/s1600/PK-Movie-New-Posters-2.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Why do film-makers make films? Each film and its maker will give you a different answer. The underlying commonality would be to tell something they feel needs to be told. A story, yes? Now how they choose to tell their story is completely up to them.<br />
<br />
Hirani chooses to tell stories which are at the core relate-able, and in his own way exposing the lacunae in our beliefs, morality, outlook. His films to me are about simplification, like Aesop's fables, with a moral underlined firmly.<br />
<br />
Earlier this year Ankhon Dekhi had a protagonist who is very close to my heart, Bau Ji, who decided to question everything that he himself hasn't seen, experienced. Hirani has chosen PK (Aamir Khan in the title role) to ask questions, questions which are timely, considering the murders being committed in the name of God and Religion. Not a first, but definitely an important film.<br />
<br />
The route he takes is extremely smart, using an Alien's perspective, which works because somewhere like Hirani, I believe we humans have lost ours. PK comes from a world where one is naked and equal, no difference created by the way you dress up. No religion, clear communication without saying a word, He sees our world, swathed in layers of all kinds, starting with the Gods we follow, the diktats that come with religion, the differences which exist in our minds, as to his eyes, the humans do not have any "Thappa" (stamp) of whether they are Hindus, Muslim, Sikhs, Christians.<br />
<br />
To me it is the boldest subject Hirani has dealt with so far. Imagine questioning the combined religious beliefs, centuries old, of a nation of 1.21 billion people as per the 2011 census. To question our way of life, more often than not guided by which religion we belong to. It is not about the big things, it is about the smallest of things we do, which are ingrained in us from the day we are born, praying to road side idols, giving money at the temple as if god needs it!!<br />
<br />
Mind you, Hirani does not say there is no GOD, but he definitely says to question anyone and everyone who says "This is how GOD should be, This is how you will find him and This is how he will hear you better".<br />
<br />
PK is fun yet poignant, happy yet melancholy, entertaining yet requires you to come to the theater with your brains.<br />
<br />
PK (Aamir) is an alien from one of the planets that inhibit the vast galaxy, who lands on earth to study life here, but as soon as he meets the first human, he is robbed of his "remote" that is his only connect to his space-craft, his only way back home. Will he find his remote, what will be life for him on Earth... and what will be his "Alien" point of view... that is the story of PK.<br />
<br />
In his journey to find his remote, he meets Jaggu (Anushka) who is a television reporter and starts helping him in his search. From an Indo-Pak love story to a powerful Godman (Saurabh Shukla in fabulous form), Hirani uses lot of done before tracks, but then how he makes them his own as he spins a very involving yarn, is the uniqueness of PK and the director.<br />
<br />
This film may not please the hardliners, to them this is a sacrilege, I mean questioning Religion, Oh My GOD! but anyone with an open mind will see the absolute urgency of having more such films. Films that question.<br />
<br />
Aamir Khan owns PK. He is totally uninhibited, believable and adorable. It will be one of his most memorable characters to date after Bhuvan in Lagaan. Anushka is effervescent as Jaggu, their screen chemistry works. Pixie like and stubborn, she is convincing in her portrayal of the character.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEU8PJds4abhFLzpMhmKXERaRQjocT_Ubi_XEbWIKThPpSu2bE6KRjBIu5FcaIFudM4q_fdDM7Tt1g10wTkAK-gaGFr6l9fyUD9nmglvy3lTwjngXCdlbCg9Xlc_sNkFh2Gg9NKAa8JWY/s1600/PK-Movie-HD-Wallpaper-Photo-of-Aamir-Khan-Anushka-Sharma-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEU8PJds4abhFLzpMhmKXERaRQjocT_Ubi_XEbWIKThPpSu2bE6KRjBIu5FcaIFudM4q_fdDM7Tt1g10wTkAK-gaGFr6l9fyUD9nmglvy3lTwjngXCdlbCg9Xlc_sNkFh2Gg9NKAa8JWY/s1600/PK-Movie-HD-Wallpaper-Photo-of-Aamir-Khan-Anushka-Sharma-3.jpg" height="223" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Everyone in the supporting cast does justice, Boman, Sushant Singh Rajput, Parikshet Sahni... Oh and what an absolute pleasure to see Ram Sethi in a lovable cameo. A doff to his and Amitabh Bachchan's films, you will know when you see PK.<br />
<br />
An effort five years in the making, PK doesn't disappoint. There are many memorable sequences in the film, my favorites being where PK says "Ye Bhagwan chalna band ho gaya hai" and the scene where he explains the problems with our language by using "Achaa" as an example. Another one is with Shiv jee (Wont't give details) is absolutely brilliant.<br />
<br />
Merrily stealing money from the Daan petis, and clothes from "dancing cars", whether PK finds his way to his planet or not, he definitely will find his way to your hearts.<br />
<br />
PK is not without flaws, but it is one of the most important films to come out this year.<br />
<br />
GO WATCH!!!<br />
<br />
My Verdict : 3.5/5<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499193809981119255.post-67077731520208899752014-10-03T14:15:00.002+05:302014-10-03T15:09:16.055+05:30Of Raging Battles, Inside & Out | My Review Haider <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
Director Vishal Bhardwaj</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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Starring Shahid Kapoor, Tabu, Shraddha Kapoor, Irrfan Khan, KayKay Menon</div>
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Hamlet is one of the most melancholic and variously interpreted
of Shakespeare's plays. The tragic
prince, his pain, his confusion, his heartbreak and the deceits that fraught
his life... it became even more wrenching as it all came from his own. The
wounds on his soul were not carved by the enemy, but ones he loved. And that is
the biggest tragedy of life, all of our lives when betrayed by those we trust. </div>
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This is the third of Vishal Bhardwaj's adaptation of the
Bard's works. Starting with Maqbool (Macbeth) and Omkara (Othello). Betrayal,
passion and forbidden love run through these as a theme, and the same continues
in Haider (Hamlet). </div>
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Considering it is a tough play to adapt and mould while
adding your own interpretations and twists, Vishal Bhardwaj had taken up a
mammoth challenge. To make a dark, tragic tale into something even more relevant
in today's time, he picked up yet another challenge, to set the film in the
Kashmir of 1995, the militancy at its peak, the Army waging an intense war
against terrorism, the common man, torn by both sides,
coming in the crosshairs willingly or unwillingly. </div>
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Coming to the film, it has been shot mostly on locations in
Kashmir. Visually it is stunning, revealing a side of Kashmir hitherto unseen. It
is not the mughal gardens, the dal lake and the skiing spots. It is the
everyday Kashmir, which also bore the brunt of the unrest and violence. If it
is quiet and full of pathos, it is because it has been witness to tragedy.
People walking without a spring in their step, pained faces and shoulders limp.
VB has captured the broken spirit of the people masterfully.</div>
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The film is two parallel worlds intertwined. The journey of
Haider (Shahid) and the journey of Kashmir and Kashmiris. VB excels in telling
the story of Haider. </div>
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Shahid Kapoor, who despite being panned by many, I have
always liked, his potential wasted in frivolous films in the past, but shining
in films like JWM, Kaminey and now Haider, his best performance to date. He
owns the character from the beginning, the emptiness in his eyes as he returns
to Srinagar from Aligarh, after hearing about his father's disappearance. The
quiet storm raging inside him as he watches his mother flirt with his uncle,
the mad glint in his eyes as his whole world falls apart. He has proven that in the hands of a fine
director, he will shine. </div>
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Kay Kay as Khurram, the conniving uncle, is back in form. He
enjoys every scene, relishing each line, staying just a little longer in
places, but he plays Claudius well. Shraddha Kapoor as Arshiya (Ophelia) brings
in warmth and light to the dark tale, the girl has still a long way to go as a
performer, but in Haider, her charm works, her wide mouthed laughter is a great
foil to Haider's brooding looks. It is good to see Lalit Parimoo on the big
screen, as the gray shaded father of Arshiya, who is against their love, he is
adept. </div>
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What delighted me was a cameo by Kulbhushan Kharbanda, whose track was
opened and then forgotten all in a hurry. Another gem of a cameo is that of
Irrfan Khan, he plays the "Ghost" inspired Roohdar, enjoying himself
in this short but powerful part. The other supporting actors are extremely well
cast too. Sumit Kaul and Rajat Bhagat as the Salmans are delightful, the
grave-diggers are ominous yet playful, Narendra Jha as Haider's father (King
Hamlet) does a decent job, though I found his presence not so powerful. </div>
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And now coming to the scene-stealer, Tabu. Her Gazala
(Gertrude), Haider's mother, is breathtaking. Those eyes! they speak, smile,
cry, bemoan, quiver, shine, scold, beg, love.... We have seen Tabu in Maqbool
as Nimmi (Lady Macbeth) which was her
finest performance, Haider's Gazala gives it a tough competition. Her character
of a woman who loves her son, to death... a wife who has not been a perfect
partner, divided between multiple shades... She owns the film. Shahid's fire to excel and Tabu's honing of
her own craft, crackle the screen when they are together. </div>
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The story of a son's mission to find his missing father and
dealing with life's tragic twists, Haider will move you to a realm that is dark
and depressing, yet satisfying. The end is Vishal's own, which works. The co-writer on the film is the renowned Kashmiri Journalist Basharat Peer, whose real life experiences have helped create the world of Haider and the Kashmir we see in the film. The
dialogues by Vishal Bhardwaj are memorable, sharp, witty and soulful, a rarity these
days. </div>
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Coming to the Kashmir VB has created. The life without
cheer, every day spent in fear, curfews and bullets, the paradise lost. I liked
the gloom and the injustice of the situation, the futility of hatred, the sad
phenomenon of "Half Widows", wives of the thousands who have
disappeared... never to be found... But yes, I found the representation of
"Kashmiris" almost myopic. The portrayal has conveniently forgotten the
large chunk of Kashmiris who are the
Pandits, displaced from their land, their homes, their livelihood lost. A
passing reference cannot be enough when you are talking of 1995, when chaos
reigned supreme in every single Kashmiris life. The beauty of Kashmir also
stemmed from the love and harmony of its people, which was the first casualty
of terrorism. The take on Terror itself is unclear. </div>
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So about the Kashmir of the
film I have questions, which were not answered . Yes it is a fictional
recreation and liberties can be taken, but then why even put a slate in the end
applauding the efforts of the Army in the recent flood rescue and
rehabilitation? When in the film the Army is actually shown in less than complimentary light. </div>
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Having said that, Haider is an important film, on many
levels. The unflinching storytelling, raising the difficult questions our
cinema today shies away from, bringing Kashmir to the forefront and above all,
giving us a film that stays with you long after you have watched it, in the
times of popcorn cinema, which leaves you empty, just like the popcorn tub
after you are done. </div>
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The subtle exploring of the Oedipus complex, with Tabu just
killing it with her trembling hands and brimming eyes... aah, that itself was
worth my ticket price. </div>
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The music by
Bhardwaj and poetry by Gulzar adds a lilting layer. I do wish the length had
been a bit less, but well, that indulgence I shall allow. The production design of the film is another trump card, from the shawls, namdas, pottery to the locations, it is perfect. </div>
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Kudos to Vishal Bhardwaj and his entire team. </div>
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Go watch.</div>
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My Verdict 3.5/5 (An extra
.5 for the Cinematography by Pankaj Kumar)</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499193809981119255.post-18725358059643663142014-09-25T20:28:00.001+05:302014-09-25T20:28:13.043+05:30Bang Bang New Trailer with Dialogues<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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After a disastrous Anjaana Anjaani, Director Siddharth Anand returns with Bang Bang, touted an official remake of the Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz starrer Knight And Day the film does seem to have a great scale, stunts and a sizzling pair of Hrithik and Katrina going for it.<br />
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Here is the latest trailer. Enjoy!<br />
<br />Film releases October 2nd 2014.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/NhIFVlsHzwQ" width="560"></iframe></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499193809981119255.post-51931358618822603542014-09-20T14:29:00.003+05:302014-09-22T08:48:55.986+05:30Na sugar Na Spice My Review Daawat E Ishq<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Director Habib Faisal<br />
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Written by Habib Faisal, Jyoti Kapoor<br />
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Starring Parineeti Chopra, Aditya Roy Kapur, Anupam Kher<br />
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I attended a wedding some years back. The invite was jazzy, with dry fruits and chocolates. How wrong can you go with the chocolates! It was going to be held in one of the heritage properties turned into a boutique hotel. Now one big reason for me to attend it was the food, an array looking so interesting from renowned caterers, I almost forgot to wish the bride and groom. And then as if as a punishment for my gluttony, when I served myself those shami kebabs, the rogan josh and the yakhni pulao, it didn't taste great and the worst part, it turned out to be lukewarm, almost cold! My foodie world came crashing down.<br />
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And now I come to Daawat E Ishq. Helmed by Habib Faisal, who has given some satisfying fare in the past. Do Dooni Chaar, Ishaqzaade as a director and some fresh flavors in Band Baaja Baaraat and Ladies Vs Ricky Bahl. So yes the Invite was interesting.<br />
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The ladka ladki, Parineeti Chopra and Aditya Roy Kapoor seemed to be aptly ready to get into this arrangement. Add to it Anupam Kher, who still packs in a punch if he decides to. So to be fair, I decided to spend the fare and go to this Daawat E Ishq.<br />
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The story of Gulrez Qadir (Parineeti) is of most middle class girls in India, where Dahej, zahej, dowry is the biggest bane even today. The girl's father starts saving money for her dowry from the day she is born. The boy market rate, yes, they are sold in marriage, is decided by their education (Irony died right here), their future prospects and if they are total losers themselves, then they count the flaws in the girls and strike a profitable bargain. How she decides to rebel against this, con these dowry seekers, give them a taste of their own medicine is the plot here, in which she enrols her sweet Booji (abbu) played by Anupam Kher, and sets off to find her marks, starting in Lucknow. As they pass themselves off as the Habibullahs of Dubai and set up a sting operation to ensare dowry demanders, meet Tariq Haider (Aditya Roy Kapur), the master chef at his own family run Haiders, known for its delectable Lucknawi delicacies. Will this meeting turn into a successful con as planned, or the kuch kuch hota hai will lead to firni sweet surrender is what unfolds in the film.<br />
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What could have been a genuinely different take involving a serious issue, dealt with a tongue in cheek attitude, including the crafty usage of the (oft repeated) Section 498 A of the IPC which has landed many a dowry seeking monsters behind bars, turns out to be a lazily written script, sparkless dialogues and a predictable unfolding of the third act.<br />
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Parineeti does a believable Gulrez till a certain point, then the writing pushes her to do things which are not only predictable, but lack panache, that leave you unimpressed. To see her play a spunky, outspoken motor mouth is turning into a yawn.<br />
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Aditya Roy Kapur tries his best to fit into the character of a kohl eyed, heart of gold Lucknow launda, again let down by the storytelling. The memorable moments belong to Anupam Kher, who despite a character changing stance every now and then, does evoke empathy and some laughs.<br />
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The Hyderabadi accent, the Lucknawi flavor, all adds up to nothing ultimately. The music, totally uninspiring. So there is nothing left then to lift up the proceedings.<br />
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Ultimately it turns out to be a daawat that doesn't live up to its promise. The recipe gone wrong, the food ho-hum.<br />
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<b>My Verdict 2/5</b><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499193809981119255.post-82535032594111789002014-09-18T13:06:00.001+05:302014-09-18T13:06:04.733+05:30Kill Dil Official Trailer Ranveer Singh Parineeti Chopra Govinda Yash Raj Films<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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After lying low for 7 years, Director Shaad Ali is back with what looks like a crazy, campy, heist film.<br />
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Interesting for me is the Govinda factor. He is finally doing substantial role, and I am looking forward to him sharing screen space with young 'uns.<br />
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Ranveer and Parineeti are back together, and Ali Zafar stars in this YRF film.<br />
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The lyrics are by Gulzar, another thing to look forward to, music by Shankar, Ehsaan, Loy. The same team that gave a good album in JBJ, Shaad's last film.<br />
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Enjoy!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/jEhnt70rCTI" width="560"></iframe></div>
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