2013- A mid year stock taking, of a year so far not following the delectable track

What have we had in 2013 so far, some small, some big and some really big releases. The first half, particularly Jan, Feb and March were kind of hesitant and unable to take off. Jan we had the hyped Matru Ki Bijlee...but it never captured the audience's imagination. Why? The script never really was in place. I have been closely following Vishal Bharadwaj, his genius is unquestioned. Otherwise how can one make a sheer gem like Makdee (go watch it, if you haven't)! However, he has been missing the plot in the last few outings. He seems to have got stuck in the big Bollywood name imbroglio. That will really hurt him as he decides to explore new boundaries. Look at his fantastic protege, Abhishek Chaubey and Ishquia, that saw glimpses of vintage Vishal. I have not seen Maqbool, but I understand it is a gem too, Vishal go on, where are you, explore, ponder and cultivate. Feb, managed to see a new genre in Indian cinema, not explored before, ABCD. Remo and his brand of dancing, thought it was different and packaged well. Came as a surprise and was, atleast I thought done very well and earnestly. It showed in the movie. It is said that if you do cinema with a lot of heart and soul it will show, need to go back into any Bimal Roy classic for that. Coming back to ABCD, expect more such stuff, but tighter and firmer to the plot.

In between Special 26 came and I was keen to watch it, especially as it came from the guy who made the classic A Wednesday. Pity, Pandey still carries the baggage of A Wednesday and he has not been able to come of it. The styles, treatment, approach and everything barring, Akshay and Manoj Bajpayee were the same. Neeraj, please wake up to something different, there is a lot of hope on your type of cinema.

Later I managed to see Kai Po Che! Though I did not review the movie, but I quite liked the overall feel and approach. However, the characters never got the space to open up, a strong character like that of Amit Sadh never really got the space and screen time to open up. I thought his role had the maximum opportunity to open and flourish. However, great actors can flourish in smaller roles or such limited space too. So this one actually goes to Sushant Singh Rajput. What a fantastic movie debut he had, such confidence and holding the screen, I thought his energy was not contained in the small screen, he needed a bigger platform like films and he was indeed a treat to watch. The climax seemed rushed in the movie and I thought could have dwelled a little more.

But the movie which caught my attention was Jolly LLB, not for Arshad or Bomani, but for a gem like Saurabh Shukla. You must go back and watch the movie for him, what a superb performance. Watch the scene where he is having lunch and talking to the two advocates, one by one. I have not seen many actors with so much food talking and acting. This scene has to be one of the best in the year gone by. You could leave aside Amrita Rao (God! What was she doing there, looked like a case of mistaken house) and some mindless songs, the movie to me stood and because of SAURABH SHUKLA.

In between there were many a mindless caper (true to Bollywood style) that came up but I cannot recall any. There was Ranbir starrer Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewanit (but I haven't seen it, so cannot say much of it, would wait to see on TV, perhaps) and the usual hype with a Karan Johar movie. But I guess I will save myself of saving money and watch on TV, FREE.

On a different note, two, actually make that three, who understand Bollywood and Box Office better than anybody else today, Karan Johar, Farah Khan (pity! her husband has been numbing her life and decisions badly, get rid of the guy or atleast his thoughts) and Sajid Khan (what happened Sajid! Himmatwala remake was for your own home box office, not for us, I know you loved the original so much, you wanted to pay tribute, but please these are things done in private, so spare us and get back to the Housefull franchise, ASAP). Well these three understand the psychology of the masses and the classes too (ohh! I am so cinema of the world types) well. Expect a lot from them in the next few years...

The movie that stood out for me in 2013 alongside Jolly LLB has to be Raanjhana, mint fresh, superb acting by Dhanush, Zeeshan and Swara and the rest, well go watch the film. I am also told about Lootere, but I am yet to watch it, especially as it comes from the Vikramaditya Motwane brand of cinema.

But so far, 2013 goes out to Raanjhana and to Jolly LLB. 

We have another six months to go and I wait to see some good cinema, cinema that leaves you with a thought and cinema that entertains you.

Now since the last two lines and cinema has become so rare I have started going back and watching some Gems from the past. Watched the Godfather once again after a long time. Sheer genius and like I had said before, good cinema is made with heart and lot of passion, it shows Mr. Coppola...