Satyagraha

“Sarkar janta ki sewa ke liye hai. To janta malik hui aur malik anurodh nahi karte nirdesh dete hai”

Hope all the democratic party feels the same regarding their voters, that’s public. Satyagraha doesn’t offer anything new but whatever it offer, it has a soul, a heart.

At certain phase of life, everybody has seen some form of corruption. May be, we also been a part of it. But the way Satyagraha has shown the power of common people, it may excite you that you could be the revolution, or may be a major part of it. It shows both, pros & cons, when a revolution goes extreme. But after some part of time the reality from the film start vanishing & it moves toward a dramatic or could be said as melodramatic end. Finale of the movie produces the glimpse of Gangajal in your mind.

The film is a story of an idealistic senior citizen Dwarika Anand who transforms into a public figure Daduji, after he slaps the DM of his district. He is supported by Mohan Raghvendra, a friend of his late son. Then come Arjun Singh an aspiring political figure of the city. The group is joined by Yasmeen, a journalist by profession. Also there is Sumitra, daughter in law of Dwarika Anand, just to provide him support, literally.

The film is bit long. The romantic angle between Mohan & Yasmeen is unnecessary. Also it is stretched by an equally unimportant song. Toward the end film seems to try to match the Anna’s Movement, yet at the same time distancing itself, so that they could call themselves different. This all create some haphazard sequences & goes terribly wrong as far as reality is concerned. One can relate Daduji as Anna, Mohan as Arvind Kejriwal, Yasmeen as may be Kiran Bedi. Then there is a glimpse of Shanti Bhushan in lawyer enacted by the character. If your dealing it like any other Masala Film, I’m completely okay with that.

Film shines mostly in Acting department. Mostly everyone has played their character superbly. Though some of the supporting cast goes over the top most of the time, may be because of the script. They are trying to provide some cheap laugh or so. But the man who shines most is Amitabh Bachchan. The role which suits him to the tee. One can clearly hear the modulation in dialogue delivery with his deteriorating health, on screen. Also in some of his emotional scene with Ajay Devgn, you could feel that zing.

Prakash Jha knows the politics like back of his palm. So what he could show, as a part of internal politics, may be no one else could depict, so properly. But the problem with him is, he has develop a kind of template for himself. One will always find some unnecessary item song, in between the film. Somewhere around you could relate some sequence with his previous works. Demise of some important character, creating some turn of incidents. And most importantly the tone remains the same

Music is always a major set back in Jha’s film. They are more likely same in every film. This film needs some inspirational song like Khoon Chala from Rang De Basanti or title track from Chak De India. Janta Rocks tries hard but fails miserably. Raghupati Raghav Rajaram impress a bit, may be because you all have heard it various time. Cinematography is okay. Editing is quite nice.

Overall, Satyagraha starts like a sequel to Rang De Basanti moved from Delhi to small town in MP. It impress until then. But then Jha introduces his template & film starts falling down. It’s the acting which provide the movie some kind of support before it could fall completely flat. Still one can go and watch movie, because it is way way better than the biggest hit of this year.

Rating- Two & A Half Out of Five

…. And PRAN

“Is ilake mein naye aaye ho Saheb, varna Sher Khan ko kaun nahi janta”

A man who doesn’t need any introduction. A man above all perfection. An actor par excellence. No one such him will grace Bollywood again, ever.

In my childhood, when I see the mythological serials like Mahabharat & Ramayan, I was pretty amazed to see that people name there children Arjun, Nakul, Ram, Laxman & all, but they never name there children with name like Ravan, Duryodhan etc. My parents told me that we never use such name as they were the symbol of evil. After two or three year later I came to know an another interesting fact related to this that no one has name their children PRAN for last 50 years(as this is year 1999 & I”m 10 year old) Now I am confused whether this man is evil enough to create such terror.

But today I know that this is his excellence which is beyond anything other. A man who can create such effect on any society with his acting only. It means that his acting never looks acting even in those day when over the top acting is popular. No offense to any one but most of the star in India, whether it is Dev Anand, Rajesh Khanna or even Dilip Kumar, every actor has their signature style. This somewhere stops them in going to each and every character. That’s why if first two remain mostly the romantic star for all their life, the last one called as tragedy king. But that doesn’t suit with Pran. Though he gets type casted as villain for a very long time, but he played different characters. And when he gets a chance to change his image, he doesn’t go for the second one. In the first only supporting roles he gets all the acclaim possible. With Upkar, he turned the table round.

Whenever I think of Pran, at a personal level, I get the image of some perfect smoke rings, larger than any thing like Pran himself, and from black & white frame enters Pran. I used to recognize him with those smoke ring, only as an amateur audience. I don’t remember the name of movie. Later I used to respect him as an actor, after watching him in movies which has make him the greatest villain in the history of Cinema, like Ram Aur Shyam, Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai & many more. But it was Upkar only which make him Legend for me too. The character of Malang Chacha looks tailor made for him only. I get connected to him instantly. I would not be wrong, if I say that it has influenced me too in some way. Today also I love the classic song picturized on him, Kasme Vaade Pyaar Wafa Sab Baatein Baaton Ka Kya. Next I remember him in Purab Aur Paschim where he played Harnam. Though he is again somewhat in grey shade but the way he transform in the movie & with some fine dialogue, delivered in some unique style make him stuck in my mind as for always. Than come the Zanjeer which gives Bollywood, it biggest star. But it is again Pran who made Bachchan memorable for me in that Police Station scene where Bachchan says “Jab tak baithane ko na kaha jaye sharafat se khade raho. Ye Police Station hai tumhere baap ka ghar nahin”. Look at the way he respond back.

May be he is not more among us, but you can’t remember Bollywood without his mention. CNN mentioned him as among the Top 25 actors of Asia & surely he is.

Barkhuddar…………..!!!!!!!!!!

Mohan Joshi Hazir Ho!

“Ab batao mere kanoon ke zamadaron”

Mohan Joshi Hazir Ho! is one of the films, which is the result of new wave in Indian Cinema arise in 80’s. It is directed by Saeed Akhtar Mirza who later direct Nukkad on TV centering around almost same theme, or more appropriately on same emotion.

MJHH tries to tell the story of common man in real situation. One can say that it is almost filmed in same manner as Jane Bhi Do Yaaron, another cult of the same era. Just the two photographer were replaced by an old couple fighting against the system in more surrealistic manner. They filled a case against their landlord for renovation of their Chawl, but later they get trapped in the web of case.

MJHH begins with a satirical song on Mumbai. Then later Pankaj Kapoor kicks off the drama with a detail explanation on urbanization. Pankaj Kapoor represents himself as the promoter of this urbanization. They goes on to force the landlords to develop their Chawl in multiplexes & other skyscrapers. The story moves from housing problem towards the judiciary flaws. We saw the group advocates running for new clients like vultures. Advocates of different genders discussing their dates according to their priorities in bed. We also saw how client was forced to sell their ornaments & other goods so that lawyers can go on to build their offices & farms. Meanwhile the case never ends.

From various directors & writers, I’ve heard that they get fascinated for love story set against the backdrop of small town. But in this movie we see that there could be a possibility of much fascinating love story in metro. Metros hold various small city in their by lane (Though it has also been dealt in detail in Piya Ka Ghar)

Saeed Akhtar Mirza handles the subject with utmost sincerity & realism. First time I saw the real court in a movie. We never came up with the fighting spirit in real life as shown in films. Mostly people tries to adjust instead of reverting back like a hero. But they want their share in advantages, is gained after someone else struggle. And that’s what MJHH shows. No star of even parallel cinema, was cast in the lead role. Instead Bhisham Sahni, a renown writer was cast in the title role along with Dina Pathak. It adds a great touch of originality, surreality. Just songs should be edited out of the movie especially Haye Re Muqaddama. It decelerate the pace of the movie.

Bhisham Sahni & Dina Pathak played their part exceptionally. May be because they don’t have any particular image prior to this. Though Dina Pathak is a common face of theater & cinema but she is a chameleon & know how to change the skin according to the character. Naseeruddin Shah is another sheer talent. He was & will be the biggest face of parallel cinema in India. Satish Shah supports Naseer well as menacing partner. Amjad Khan as the landlord add his unique stamp in the character. He plays Kundan Kapadia along with Gabbar’s moral value. Rohini Hattangadi is good. Pankaj Kapoor is as usual in the character. Mohan Gokhale doesn’t get much scope. Deepti Naval is perfect in small role. Haroun Mirza also appears in small appearance.

Overall, MJHH address the housing problems & corrupt system along with systematic flaws, all at the same time. It also shows how divide & rule is still applicable on Indians. So it’s worth a watch, if you want to see some sensible cinema in Bollywood.

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

Kaagaz Ke Phool-1959

“Waqt ne kiya kya haseen sitam, tum rahe na tum, hum rahe na hum“

I’m pretty much confused whether this song has been written for the movie or the movie is written according to the line of the song. The plot of the movie & the song fits perfectly well with each other. Guru Dutt who is one of the greatest Bollywood director ever is a genius in using songs. His song mostly starts straight with the lyrics without any humming for the tune & carries the plot sincerely. But here, as I said earlier is pretty complex to tell, who support whom.

Kaagaz Ke Phool, a modern day classic with ultimate cult value is Guru Dutt’s stand on film industry. Though it revolves around the film industry, than also it never lag behind to justify it’s social commentary. As films goes along with the society & vice-verse. After Guru Dutt’s death it becomes kind of semi auto-biographical movie. Again it is difficult to tell that whether Guru Dutt forecast his death earlier or he leads his life to the similar kind of death as in movie.

Kaagaz Ke Phool is the story of Suresh Sinha who is ace director, once. He gives break to Shanti who later becomes a successful actress. Suresh has a troubled married life. Later his closeness with Shanti covers the gossip pages of paper. Suresh daughter came in between the two & later Suresh’s ex-wife between the father & daughter duo, leading Surash to live a lonely life driving towards alcohol. Suresh loses his job, position in the company, credit as director. He lost in the crowd as an unknown face. Many year later Shanti returns in order to provide Suresh his status back. But Suresh’s self respect doesn’t allow him to do the job in this condition. Years passed by, a man who is a well known director of many movies is forced to work as a staff to his driver & as an extra to earn a sofa set for her daughter’s wedding present. But there also he is expelled with dishonor as he forgets the line when Shanti comes in front of him. He dies in the chair of director in the vacant studio running from Shanti. Most of the people don’t recognize him after death also. Heroine’s date has more importance than his lying body.

Guru Dutt’s work always has a sense of irony in it. Whether it is Pyaasa or Kaagaz Ke Phool, it’s irony which comes it splendidly. Somewhere I feel that Kaagaz Ke Phool is an alternate version of Pyaasa or call it as an professional version. If Pyaasa delt with the family issue, than Kaagaz Ke Phool deals with professional culture. People will respect you until you have power, money or fame. If you don’t have any of the one, you are no one, nobody, nothing. 

Kaagaz Ke Phool is India’s first Cinemascope. Guru Dutt is the director of all time. He was visionary, socially focused & philosopher. Here is two dialogue of the film:-

• Sardi jhukham muft milte hai, garam coat ke paise lagte hai
• Din aate hai jaate hai, yaad nhi rehte

If first tries to be a social comment, the second one was philosophical. Guru Dutt always had  a soft corner for working women. If Pyaasa shows him crying & singing “Jinhe naaz hai hind par wo kahan hai” for a courtesan who can’t feed her child because of her customer. Kaagaz Ke Phool shows him being anxious for an extra who can’t feed her child because of dance practice. Kaagaz ke Phool also shows the elite class in pre-independence era where film fraternity has no social status. Also they feel proud having an English guest at their functions. Also as an innovative director, the way he shows his round the clock habit of drinking is exemplary.V.K Murthy has created his own charming & magical world with black & white color scheme. Music by S.D Burman is like the film itself, a cult, a classic.

Waheeda Rehman & Guru Dutt almost played them on screen. Waheeda is ditto Shanti who gets her break from Guru Dutt only. So they both shine in their respective job. Other than two almost all the other actors are well casted, except the girl playing Suresh’s daughter. She irritates a bit. 

Overall, Kaagaz Ke Phool, story of two couple who understands each other very well but can’t be together is perfect one. It just not only forecasts for Guru Dutt, but there are also several other example like Bhagwan Dada, A.K Hangal whom industry almost forget when they leave the screen. Guru Dutt gives a new definition to the Light Sound Camera Action, through this movie i.e. light but dark as black, sound but silence as deafness, camera but no image for memory, action but not good enough to term as deed.

Classic

Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola

“Bees saal se power mein hai uski maan, wo chus rahi hai hum chuswaye ja rahe hain”

If you think these lines are said for a character only, you are wrong. It is said for all those people out there is power, where politics becomes the family business in India. Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola is a political satire cum black comedy cum psychological drama cum a revolutionary film. And this is the only flaw the film has. It has too many colors for a single canvas. But it’s different, it’s electrifying, it’s energetic.

MKBKM is not just a simple film. It is story of green revolution vs. industrial revolution, corporate culture vs. agriculture, rural India vs. urban India. It is story of love, money & power. It deals with the two natures of human psychology entire black & grey. Nothing is white in Vishal Bhardawaj’s cinema. Even the character of Bhardawaj reads Shakespeare’s Macbeth.

MKBKM is a story of Harry Mandola who posses two personality. One which is complete black, which is real & other, is of soft hearted drunkard who can inspire people to revolutionize against him also. It is his story, how he overcome these two personality, how he overcome his greed for power & money.In between there is Hukkam Singh Matru a young revolutionary Indian who wants to change the society, who wants to fight against the corruption, power & bureaucracy. He is fighting for the welfare of farmers & trying to get them there land which is illegally acquired by the Mandola & his politician friend Chaudhari Devi. Chaudhari Devi is yet another character, which represents all the corrupt women in power, with kind of dumb sons (These days number of such women politicians are increasing). And then obviously there is Bijlee which has some presence better than many other female character in Bollywood.

Pankaj Kapoor as Mandola is terrific. He is complete revelation. He is a chameleon who can change the color any moment the director says action. Shabana Azami is yet another legend of Indian Cinema especially in term of acting. She plays the complete opposite character to her real self & she is superb. Imran Khan needs this change & Vishal Bhardawaj is expert in providing people the change they want as actor. Anushka is slightly getting typecasted as the Band Baja Barat girl, always bubbly. But than also she is okay. Arya Babbar either looks naturally dumb or he acted so brilliantly I can’t says. But than also he is bit irritating. And the boy who plays the blind character is magnificent. Navneet Nishan just gets offended every time with Gulabi Bhains remark.

Vishal Bhardawaj is an exceptional director. He is the Shakespeare of Indian Cinema. He wants to tell the tragedy in different way. This time he chooses to put Illegal Land acquisition in focus. There are several dialogues which make severe impact against system like

• Ulti karti daud rahi hai aapki police sadako par, sharab pee kar
• Hamare hisse ki bijli se Gurgaon ke mall mein diwali manti hai
• Ab pata chala kya fark hai tum mein aur Rahul mein, tum mein aur Varun mein ya Jyotiraditya ya Sachin mein.Wo tumhari tarah jaan hatheli pe leke nahi tehlte. Wo zimmedar hai isiliye unke maa baap sukhi hai
• Left wali le tu Mao se

But than he also he injects humor with dialogue like Poora gaon tere naam par vyam karega raat ko the slangs like Bhencho, Maa ka Papad, Bhootni Ke. He tries to focus several other elements like Yag for Rain or covering a plan crash as an UFO sighting by media, Honor killing, Male Chauvinism etc. He gives a new concept regarding Meena Kumari Complex. But somewhere he lacks too. Bijlee is pretty dominated against the alcoholic father but she never talks regarding the acquisition of lands & other activities

Music is in pretty sync with the films concept. As Vishal Bhardawaj knows what his script wants, so he deliver it with triumph. Especially Lootnewale & Chor Police deserve special marks on revolutionary tone & Khamakha for the old world romantic environment.

Overall, MKBKM may not gain the deserve attention it required now, as the audience still wants more of Salman Khan & Rohit Shetty kind of films. But MKBKM will gain cult status over the coming years. For now, try to go & watch this but Dekho magar Pyaar Se

Rating- Three & a Half Out of Five

Table No. 21

“Hadse Zindagi mein hote hai, Game mein bus rule hote hai”

Table No. 21 by Aditya Dutt is one of those cinematic accidents happens with the audience with the start of new year. Table No. 21 promises to be a taught or out of edge thriller but it turn out another confused movie or one which tries to misdirect the genre with trailer.

Movie making is one tough job because having an interesting script is another thing & executing it as interestingly on big screen is another. The plot of playing Sach Ka Saamna with contestants with conditions like you can’t quit in between & if you lie you die sounds too interesting but when it comes on big screen it fails to create same magic. As with every question there is a task which demands to be thrilling. But what this film offers are the task below the levels of reality shows too. You won’t get thrill if two couple kisses passionately or if a husband shave off the head of his wife. Neither a husband getting slapped by wife impresses you nor when a veg girl goes for non veg. All this are more dramatic than thrilling. And than at last when you reveal that all this is going as part of vigilance, you feel betrayed.

Table No. 21 more accurately could be titled as Article No. 21 is a story of couple Vivaan & Sirya who are on a trip to Fiji they won in some lottery coupon. There they get an offer to play this game broadcasted to millions of live audience in order to get the prize money of 21 crore. They accept the offer immediatly as they want to earn big time. But than slowly they get trapped into some kind of trap by a vigilante father.

Ragging is a sensitive issue but handling such issue with such foolishness could be termed as offensive. And also ragging is not common to the large part of audience who are graduating from some rural area. So this kind of treatment does not goes hand to hand. And they way the victim is treated here, it looks that are ragging him because of any personal issue. The victim never face the ragging in group, he always suffer individually (mostly in order to save a girl from being ragged who gets befriended with him in course of ragging) And how does his father go on with such expensive kind of vigilance is never shown & if they are some genuine multi millionaire then why does he son looks so simple & goes to the college of middle class people (as the lead protagonist is in search of job & his wife had slept with someone to save her job)

Direction is confusing. Mr. Dutt never clarifies what he wants to show a drama, thriller or social awareness movie.There are lots of loop hole in script & screenplay. Movie can be cut out 15-20 more minute. Cinematography is some what better. I never understand why this actress calls the bikini stunt as a part of script rather they can call it just a stunt to increase the sex value of movie. Why the hell are there those so called 90’s Shayaries no one knows?

Acting is one department ahead of all other but can’t impress as much as it should. The actors fails due to the loose script & sketchy characterization. Paresh Rawal is finest of three. Than comes Rajeev Khandelwal & in last Tina Desai. Mama Thakur of Dilwale gives you glimpse in this reverse Ghazini look portrayal of Rawal. Rajeev may soon get typecast in roles where the leads get trapped. Tina Desai is just used again for stripping (almost) after stripping in The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.

Overall, Bollywood needs to revisit the thriller script again & again before executing it on big screen. If you have nothing better to do this week, than only go for Table No. 21.

Rating- One & Half Out of Five

Dabangg 2

“Kothe pe jane se pehle hum nachaniya ke baare mein pata laga lete hai”

Chulbul Pandey makes it sure, but did you? As if you are expecting something logical or artistic from Salman, you are doing the biggest mistake of your life. From last two year he is enacting Salman on the big screen & he is performing it with excellence. Some are natural performer, some are method actor. But in case of Salman, it could be said as the buffoonery comes naturally to him. It suits his persona very well.

Dabangg 2 just moves to a bigger town. So naturally the style, action, & budget also goes bigger this time. But neither the first one has any story to tell, nor this one. It’s the same old saga where good meets evil. and good wins. Abhinav turns the story slightly in first where grey meets bad. And same thing happens with second one too. Chulbul Pandey is one raunchy, raw & grey kind of cop yet lovable that makes him such a salable character. And who else except Salman could play this character in town.

Writing anything about Dabangg 2 or any other Salman movie from last two year is just writing about Salman. If you are writing or telling anything else than you are misguiding. Making a Salman movie now a days is just that what new you can ask him to do. Dabangg series has make him a close competitor for Tom Cruise. If anyone looks more cooler than Salman in those aviators is only Top Guns Cruise, no one else. Whether he is wearing it on face, or on back of collar, everything seems just perfect. Here in this movie he will teach you some new style that how to wear glass through legs or from back of a girl. And as far as acting is concern in his own dialogue “Kya chauchak performance diye hai aap” If you are in the business for more than 20years, at least you can play yourself perfectly on screen. And that’s what Salman is doing.
For Sonakshi, neither she needs to act nor she does. She just smiles, frown & looks simple Indian house wife, who could play a perfect prop for songs. Prakash Raj is one hell of a actor but he could be placed just next to Arun Govil in getting type cast. He gets same kind of role in every Hindi film. Vinod Khanna & Arbaz tries to look more lovable than previous fare. More accurately speaking Arbaz is kind negligible in the film. Deepak Dobriyal is wasted. Sandeepa Dhar never get chance. Nikitin Dheer just acts as the six pack for Prakash Raj.

Arbaz as director is as impressive as Arbaz as actor. He just knows the Salmania accurately. How to make a good formula film having Salman in equation. Otherwise he could choose a much better story to tell. Otherwise he just change the marriage venue for same marriage function. He almost uses the same tone of music with exactly same tone of melody. He doesn’t leave a single stone unturned to make it equal to the first one. He brought all the likable character & dialogue back. Right from “Bhaiyaaji smile” to “itne ched karenge”. Even he brings Munni back for a cameo. He tries to be funny, emotional even preachy. But nothing leaves effect.

Music as said earlier is just to remind you that you are watching a sequel to Dabangg which has this kind of music. Every song can be replace with one song of last film, & than also the fitting will look perfect. Salman doesn’t needs choreography as he doesn’t need direction. Action Sequence is one thing which could be applauded.

Overall, Dabangg 2 is a must watch or a multi-watch for die hard Salman fan. Otherwise rent a DVD of any old classic for this Christmas.

Rating- Two Out of  Five