Sau Sunar kee Ek Lohar kee! My Review PK

Director
Rajkumar Hirani

Starring
Aamir Khan, Anushka Sharma, Boman Irani, Saurabh Shukla, Sanjay Dutt, Sushant Singh Rajput, Parikshet Sahni, Ram Sethi

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!!

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".

PK is fun yet poignant, happy yet melancholy, entertaining yet requires you to come to the theater with your brains.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

PK is not without flaws, but it is one of the most important films to come out this year.

GO WATCH!!!

My Verdict : 3.5/5

Of Raging Battles, Inside & Out | My Review Haider

Director  Vishal Bhardwaj

Starring    Shahid Kapoor, Tabu, Shraddha Kapoor, Irrfan Khan, KayKay Menon

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.  

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. 

Kudos to Vishal Bhardwaj and his entire team. 

Go watch.

My Verdict  3.5/5 (An extra .5 for the Cinematography by Pankaj Kumar)

Bang Bang New Trailer with Dialogues

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.

Here is the latest trailer. Enjoy!

Film releases October 2nd 2014.

Na sugar Na Spice My Review Daawat E Ishq

Director  Habib Faisal

Written by  Habib Faisal, Jyoti Kapoor

Starring   Parineeti Chopra, Aditya Roy Kapur, Anupam Kher

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Ultimately it turns out to be a daawat that doesn't live up to its promise. The recipe gone wrong, the food ho-hum.

My Verdict 2/5

Kill Dil Official Trailer Ranveer Singh Parineeti Chopra Govinda Yash Raj Films

After lying low for 7 years, Director Shaad Ali is back with what looks like a crazy, campy, heist film.

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.

Ranveer and Parineeti are back together, and Ali Zafar stars in this YRF film.

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.

Enjoy!