Life of Pi

“I suppose in the end, the whole of life becomes an act of letting go, but what always hurts the most is not taking a moment to say goodbye”

Life of Pi is originally the story of this letting go only. Somewhere Pi, the main protagonist is trying to protect himself from the sudden dismissal of his family in a ship wreck. He never gets a moment to say goodbye to them. And than suddenly in Pacific Ocean, he is left alone to survive. To get survived he have just one thing which could help him, i.e. HOPE.

We have some of the greatest story told on silver screen which deals with the same emotion, HOPE. I always remember The Shawshank Redemption in the genre of hope first but Life of Pi is now the next item on the count down. Through Pi the writer of this cast away story has blend hope along with a spiritual journey all over to cover different religion & territory all around the world, especially passing through India

The story of Pi on first hearing looks very monotonous, a boy on the pacific boat with a Bengal tiger, always trying to protect himself, either from tiger or natural calamity. But no, in this case, first of all, the thing which attracts you is the character’s name itself & the story of how his name is discovered. Than how he convinces the entire population to stop calling him from pissing & naming himself as Pi.

Again Pi doesn’t stop here only. He is the one who gets introduced to Christ through Lord Vishnu. He is the catholic Hindu who also practices Islam, in a family where his father describes religion as darkness & obscurity. He also gets introduced to Richard Parker, the Bengal Tiger at an early age. Richard Parker left a strong impression on his mind, which later leads to his spiritual journey in the sea. His journey which has two story of his survival, down the line, has one adapted in another form. Though, the original story doesn’t move the audience as much as the adapted version moves. Because the adapted version takes you more close towards humanity, spiritualism & redemption.

Ang Lee is a brave director. He deserves much more accolades he is receiving. Yann Martel’s Life of Pi is a hell of a book. It treats its character with much more randomness & spiritual detailing, that it is not an easy job to think of that novel to get converted into a cinematic journey. But Ang Lee does that, & that too with a panache. The movie neither loses its pace nor gets monotonic. He surely is a cinematic visionary. But one man who deserves much applause than Ang Lee is Claudio Miranda, the cinematographer. Shooting such film is in itself a difficult job but coming with such flying colors rather with such beautiful floating colors, is something out of the world. I haven’t seen a much better cinematography than this movie till date. Take any frame of the movie & it was so picture perfect. And the 3D just takes the visual extravaganza to a much more height. Going Screenplay wise they are several changes, whether it’s scenario, characteristics of character or detailing, David Magee has done everything to make the adaptation suitable. Music by Michael Danna is truly classical. It’s melodious, soothing to hear & get in sync with the character of Pi & his journey. Film carries various terrific lines from the novel itself.

One thing where the movie doesn’t get any nomination in international arena is acting, though it has some wonderful act. Especially Suraj Sharma, who plays the Young Pi & Irfan Khan who plays the adult Pi, though in a supporting role excels. Suraj Sharma in every frame, whether it’s when he is surviving against the Tiger or when he is learning to survive in ocean, he just delivers the right kind of emotion. On the other hand, adult Pi, the narrator of the story, especially around climax gives you a emotional goose bumps. Tabu as the mother of Pi & Adil Hussian as father of Pi is more than good.

Overall, Life of Pi like its main protagonist who follows many religions goes on touching various genres, emotions across the globe. It’s not only an encouraging journey but also a spiritual & philosophical journey too. One shouldn’t miss this journey. It’s a journey to experience & share

Rating: Four & a Half Out of Five

Kai Po Che!

Kai Po Che directed by Abhishek Kapoor, is the one new addition addition in the Bromance series in Bollywood. Bromance is the new trend in Bollywood frequently gathering focus from last decade. After Dil Chahta Hai lots of maker tries to captivate this genre, but very few are only successful enough. Abhishek Kapoor’s last one was also a film of which focuses on bonding of friends. Though no comparison should be drawn from any other movie, because it wouldn’t be justifying in that case with Kai Po Che.
I’m not a fan of Chetan Bhagat. I’ve read him for the first time just after the release of 3 Idiots & till date Five Point Someone is the only Bhagat’s novel which I really liked. After that all novel seems to follow the same path of male bonding with addition of some female category with same problems of job, success & fame. Three Mistakes of My Life doesn’t impress me much as novel, either. But than also if I liked this movie, than it simply proves that execution of Kai Po Che is much better than novel.
Kai Po Che is the story of Omi, Ishan & Govind in the midst of Gujarat earthquake following India Australia series & concluding with Gujarat riots. In between all these incidents how the life of three friends change is the story of Kai Po Che. There is a slight change in the climax from the novel & more or less it’s good. But the core of the novel is in tact. The whole religious impact of our country, status of cricket just not as a game & many other things are well crafted on big screen.
The film has some terrific performances. Amit Sadh as Omi hits the nail more effectively. His transformation from a follower to leader is spectacular. His eyes filled with blood & revenge gives you goosebumps. Sushant Singh Rajput also delivers effortlessly. He emerges out more as a character among the three. Raj Kumar Yadav plays a sub dude character. He is too simple in his portrayal. Amrita Puri is okay.
Abhishek Kapoor knows his area. He knows how to create those moments which hits the audience & make the movie likeable. He gives complete detailing to his characters. He capture day to day nuisance beautifully between the friends. Background score by Hitesh Sonik is marvelous, so as the music by Amit Trivedi. Though there are only three songs but they are melody to hear for. Cinematography is top notch. But it lacks some great lines which could be remembered for some time. It lacks those punches which increases the life span of movie.
Overall Kai Po Che is a good movie, but it just didn’t give you any moment which you carry forward for some time, as Dil Chahta Hai or Rock on do. But that doesn’t degrade the quality of movie. It’s a movie to be watched for sure.
Rating- Three & a Half Out of Five

Special 26

“Over Confidence ne achche achchon ki li hai“

But it’s difficult to tell that who is over confident here in the case of Special 26 directed by A Wednesday, fame Neeraj Pandey. Though Special 26 is not anywhere closer to A Wednesday, but due to its entertainment value & various hints of satire, it becomes the first entry for the best film of 2013.

Based on real incidents in mid 80’s, Special 26 is about a group who cons various politicians & businessmen. They give birth to something called as Fake CBI. On first it looks that it would be a story of several heist job, but somewhere down the line, whole movie is preparing for a single heist job which happens in the end. Mean while the real CBI joins in to investigate the case on departmental basis. Movie just doesn’t work con drama, somewhere it tries to show the test of character also through various scenes. It provides the hint of cultural value from 80’s too, to their viewers.
Neeraj Pandey knows his job well, which he has proved in his debut only. He knows the art of telling a story with adding thrill to it. He knows how to deliver a surprise package in between the story telling. And that’s where Special 26 works. It mixes the reality with, con drama & adding the layer of satire through various punches. Due to star addition, this time Pandey has to follows the regular way of movie making. Somewhere this has effected the over all quality of movie, from being a class cinema. But all this things are neglected in Bollywood, where movie has to serve just entertainment, nothing else. Cinematography of the movie is top class in the backdrop of Delhi. It created a perfect aura of Delhi in 80’s. But as soon as the city shifts from Delhi to Mumbai, the level of Cinematography degrades from Top level to C- class cinema or even worse. Editing could be more crisp. Film could be completed under 2 hrs.

Special 26 has a strong mix of actors in its team. Akshay Kumar continues his work right from where he lefts it in Oh My God. He is now experimenting with his character. He also tries to add with his voice too. Though the song has not been used in movie, but on promotional aspect it’s surely creating the buzz. Manoj Bajpayi is yet another performer in the movie who is going through the best form in his life as far as acting is considered. Back to back he is delivering different character with panache. In various frame of the movie his eyes movement works on his behalf. He is one of those actors who could turn a simple line into dialogue. Anupam Kher suits to his role best. Jimmy Shergill makes himself notice among such talents. But one talent which is wasted here is of Divya Dutta. She only gets one line to deliver several time in the whole movie, “Asli kam to ye kar rahe hai, hum to bus……” Kajal Aggarwal isn’t needed in the film.
Though music is not needed in the movie but it has some good numbers in the album. Lyrics are fine enough & much better than those coming out nowadays. Mujh Mein Tu & Tujh Sang Lagi stands out among all the track. But a big applause should be given to the background score, as the score continuously reminds you of 80’s but than also it has some freshness.

Overall, Special 26, a con drama, doesn’t con its audience. They are delivered with, for what they are promised to. It’s a cinema for both the multiplex audience as well as single screen movie goers. Go for it because “Asli Power dil mein hoti hai“

Rating- Three & a Half Out of Five

Argo

“If I’m going to make a fake movies, it’s going to be a fake hit”

And, yes it is the best film though never made. Argo is the movie about a movie also named as Argo, which never goes on the floor but it save the lives of six people in it’s pre production stage. I always have a soft corner for the biopic as they have the real emotions in right place. A real life event when portrayed on big screen, it reflects the time & era of that period when that event happened. Argo took place when the Iran is going through the phase of revolution, which caught 6 US embassy delegates in it’s midst.

Argo just doesn’t deal with a successful unclassified mission but it also deals with several other political, social aspects of real life. Argo deals with many human emotions. But in last it becomes the story of Tony Mendez, a CIA specialist. A story which depicts how one’s strong inner sense, confidence on what he believes could make him a great figure.

In the start of 80’s during Iranian civil revolution, the anger citizens of Iran capture the US delegates from the embassy as hostage. But 6 among them succeed to escape through. They got hide in Canadian embassy. It’s than CIA launch a mission under Tony Mendez of a fake movie to get those hostages back. Meanwhile there are several issue like trust issue between Tony & the other six, there self fear to face the Iranian with cover up identity & later US Government call off the mission in between. But the man who came up with all the issue alone is Tony Mendez. The movie starts with the history that why Iranian gets forced to revolt. But later it takes stand completely on behalf of Americans. Though there is a scene in between where Americans are also shown beating Iranian & cursing Iran on camera. Thus it tries to maintain the equilibrium that its the circumstances which force the evil inside us rise. Also various time it’s negative or just the decision of the Government which goes wrong but things turn to be bad for it’s citizen.

Argo directed by Ben Affleck is well maintained drama. It’s a well paced, engaging drama. There is not a single moment which audience wants to skip out or which could be edited. Okay, movie ends 10-15 min before the end credits roll but the moments after the success of mission is well shared & they are needed to be shared. Cinematography is good. It gives you the feel of 80’s. Especially make up department has worked very hard to give almost every character the relevant look.

Coming to acting, Argo belongs to Ben Affleck, whether it’s behind the camera or in front of camera. It’s not the regular Affleck on screen this time. His body language, mannerism is never in the skin of character like this ever. May be he have proved himself a better director than actor winning more accolades for directing, but than also he deserves an applause for his performances as Tony Mendez. Bryan Cranstonas Jack O’Donnell is also terrific. he gives you the most tense moments in the film. But it’s Alan Arkin as Lester Siegel who will entertain you thoroughly with punch, humor & wit. His “Argo fuck yourself” may become a quote to remember after 10-15 year later, if the film can leave it’s impression in other people mind for that longer. Film have some other great quotes too like:-

• It’s got horses in it, it’s a Western.
• What starts in farce ends in tragedy.
• Bad news, bad news. Even when it’s good news, it’s bad news.
• This is the best bad plan we have, sir.

Overall, Tony Mendez can’t be Oscar Schindler but can’t be less than him. Nothing can be more appreciable than saving a life & when the count goes to 6 it certainly becomes an act to remember. And even than if your boss greets you with line, “If we wanted applause, we would have joined the circus”, you know no one will ever know about you but than also it is the feeling of life time. So Argo deserve a watch for that feeling, for Tony Mendez & mainly for the communal harmony which we need these day much more than any one else, of which Canada shows a perfect example in this movie. Go for it

Rating- Four Out of Five