Analysing films

Coming back to writing a piece after a very long time. I think about 3 months. Unfortunately, there was not a single film worth mention that released between now and September that is worth a shot. For that matter there is nothing in 2013 that is actually worth a mention. There were so MANY films and so much of hype and so much of marketing built around these films, but each one was a disappointment and perhaps a bigger one preceding the other. We come to that in a recap of 2013, probably as a next piece. But for now, it is Dhoom 3. What to write? What to say? Frame after frame it is Aamir Khan and not one but two, did I give out the suspense? Well nothing much in giving it away, as there is nothing at stake in the movie to give it away. YRF, Vijay Krishna Acharya, and everybody involved in the process of making the movie seems more enamored than anything else with the lead star. Makes you feel bad for Jai Dikshit and Ali. And as luck would have it, the only parts of the movie wh...

Came out of the cinema hall confused, dazed, stifled and little stretched, trying to decipher which part of India did we see through the eyes of the fabled Director, of Band Bajaa and Baraat fame. Infact, after this movie I make a promise to myself, not to do a mad rush in the name of the Director (more so after his/her first movie was a runaway hit or a nice decent movie to watch) and then thoroughly feel let down. This has happened to me at least thrice or probably four times or could be more. Shudh Desi Romance, fumbles from the start itself, where the boy (Sushant as Raghu or is it Raghuram) in question is off to marry  the girl (Vaani Kapoor as Tara) in  a non-descript town in Rajasthan. Along  side him travelling is the party spoiler, Gayatri (Parineeti Chopra), his so called elder sister (hmmm!). In a highly testosterone charged atmosphere Gayatri subconsciously plays a spoil sport and is the reason (was it the kiss or the conversation or the simple charm) f...

Over the weekend amongst a host of unproductive things done, managed to do something productive- could watch Madras Cafe. Summed up in a line: Parts of the movie done well, but parts needed re-work. I am not a cinema expert in the true sense, but a connoisseur definitely. Therefore I went into the cinema with a lot of expectation, especially with Shoojit's last outing, Vicky Donor, being an absolute delight. Where does Madras Cafe score, the plot overall, definitely was spot on, the characters, particularly that of Prakash Belwadi and John (John I always thought was good in dark, gritty, brooding, action oriented roles, remember Force and Karam, it is comedy where he fumbles and badly) looked good, the locations and the detailing overall was very very authentic. The climax and the bombing of the election rally was extremely well crafted. The overall dark, brooding and the lighting of the film lent an overall tension and a trifle banality to the film. However, there were parts w...

One of the major challenges that directors face is when they carry the baggage of a superstar and have to deliver what they are best at. Rohit's tryst with comedy and action is well known and so also is his timing. His Zameen to Golmaal 3 has been one long journey, but they all seem to carry his distinct trademark stamp. Chennai Express, fails here miserably. We all went with a sense of anticipation and an element of trepidation too. With big stars like the Shahrukh and Depeeka, can he deliver. I think the baggage was heavy and Rohit lost the plot somewhere midway. It could have been a nice plot started nicely and in between Chennai Express became a local train and stopped mid way into too many number of stations. MAKING THE JOURNEY DRAB AT A POINT... The journey starts well with Deepika's entrance being mint fresh and bringing a sense of bravado to the character. She seemed to be in her elements through the movie and never did she once seem to trip on it. Shahrukh, unfo...

Carrying forward the brouhaha and hype on the 100 years of Indian cinema, I try and chip in my bit here. From the days of Raja Harishchandra to circa 2013, yes we have traveled quite a distance. Distances through technology, genre, approach and reflection of the society. Yet, the one thing that has remained constant, cinema has entertained us. We have laughed, cried, felt, and at times copied our silver screen avatars. From the days of silent movies to the talkies and then from black and white to colour, and with advances in sound, editing, color, film promotion and publicity, corporatism of the industry there have been several highs. Yet it does not come with it's lows too. Stories of stars like Parveen Babi or Rajesh Khanna or Meena Kumari, Smita Patil or Sanjeev Kumar or Madhubala or Guru Dutt, the list is endless, who have died a tragic death and have lived a life of mostly melancholy. So the industry can be unforgiving too. Yet the medium...

Managed to see the movie finally. In a limited words, very honest and laborious attempt, which shows in every frame of the movie. Starting from the pre-release hype about Farhaan's attempt on shaping the body (a la the original Milkha Singh, which I doubt was like this, as Milka the original looked skinny), to the talks of his training and then eventually the behind the scenes of the movie. The involvement of the real Milkha Singh was, Prasoon Joshi, Rakesh Mehra (still carrying the Rang De Basaanti makeover, in a cameo as the pilot of the aircraft carrying Milkha and team to Melbourne) and the frame does not get any bigger than this. It was the perfect biography and ode to one of the few genuine athletes' that modern and Indian sports has seen. Also after the success of Paan Singh Tomar there was a lot of hype and expectations too. Pity! It could not live up to the expectations that the hype it had created. Why? The movie was a tad longer than required (3+ hours, phewww!)...

Managed to watch D-Day. In these days of Multiplex cinema, to watch a movie with the entire family, and that too over the weekend, you are down by Rs. 2500+ popcorn and cold drinks, so 3500/- Rs. gone and if the movie is a let down, then you not only curse the movie and so also curse yourself of shelling out 3500/- for a trash. With D-Day that is pretty much the case, what could have been a 1 1/2 hour tight crisp and edgy movie, went on to be a 2 1 /2 + hour long ordeal. What could have finished by interval and left audience wanting for more, was needlessly and aimlessly harked on for 1+ hour. That extra one hour was an extension of the past baggage that most directors of today (leave aside a few here and there) carry or rather haunts or should I say puts them in dilemma. The classic case of emotion, drama, farz, karz, marz,...running high and leaving the audience asking for once to stop it and go home. The pre-interval phase was what could have been where Arjun Rampal's chara...