Dangal Review

I was watching Dangal and in the intermission saw the trailer of Raees, and once again it struck me that there is Bollywood and then there is Aamir Khan.

The review of this film could be given in one word: OUTSTANDING

This is one man I really dream to work with at least once in my life time.

The film is so brilliantly written and executed. Great cast, good job by the Casting Director.
Nitesh Tiwari, the director of the film is equally the star of the film as Aamir.
#Dangal #AamirKhan #Review #Respect #NiteshTiwari

Chutney Review

Better late than never.
I finally watched the much talked about short film Chutney by Jyothi Kapur Das, and here is what I felt.

Full marks to the cast. All actors have a done a fab job, especially Tisca. The make-up artists who worked on Tisca have done an amazing job. Might have been a task to make a pretty woman look less attractive.
Story- Novel and very good, Dialogues- Good, Screenplay- Very good. 
Cinematography- Nothing to shout about.
Direction- Good, could have been better.
Editing- Poor.
Couple of observations: 
There is dissolve between two shots of cloths set on fire and it burning. It will be difficult to find such an amateur edit even in a student film today. Could have put an insert of a digging shot and that would have sorted it.
The real feel of the film that the director sets up, is disturbed by a shot of Biki walking-in in high speed. I feel the high-speed was unnecessary here, because it takes you off the realistic space you have been set-in. If you really wanted a high-speed shot (if you feel that’s the only way to add drama) you should have shot it in high-speed, rather than slowing it down in post, which gives it a Tv serial feel, and degrades the essence of the style.
An unevenly framed drone shot to end the film? Again I do not see the purpose of that shot, it only destroys the simplicity and innocence of the film. Can’t find its significance, dissolving into a google map!
Could have ended it on a tele-close of the bowl of Chutney, that would have been simple, classy and meaningful, instead of the Matrix shot.
Well! Just a few minor err, I felt.

Although one might feel it is over-hyped/over rated, one will like it for the story, and for Tisca. Execution could have been better, which could have transformed a good film to a class act.

Applause for the efforts.

#largeshortfilms #Chutney #JyothiKapurDas #TiscaChopra
#Review

Ae Dil Hai Mushkil

Ae Dil Hai Musical

It does not have a great opening scene. It starts slow and low. The meeting of the lead pair was too convenient. Too much of famous Hindi film one liners, 80% of which falls flat and breaks its legs. Nothing happens apart from the dialoguebazi for 30/40 mints of the film. The film gets interesting with Lisa Haydon's entry. She has done a fab job. Story is not out of the box. The surprise actress works and does nothing more than a surprise. The surprise actor is much bigger a surprise and he lights up the audience.
Ash's character does not look convincing, the dialogues look forced. And may be because of these two reasons her acting looks fake. Especially in her intro scene, the director looked like in a hurry to establish her as a poet, and so has given her heavy-duty words to mouth which suddenly pushes you off the seat.

The film has popular tracks, picturized beautifully. All the actors look great. As expected in a Kjo film, costumes and production design of high standards. 
The screenplay gets slow in the second half. The attempted twist of C, towards the end only dilutes the main plot of the film, should have avoided for sure.
Climax scene is filmy, dramatic and effective. Although the story does not conclude in a meaningful way.
On the technical front, there were multiple shots which were soft-focussed.
So finally should you go and watch the film?

Yes you should for the stunning people in the film, costumes, music. But the film doesn't stay with you as it lacks a soul of its own. Nothing new in the story, or anything outstanding about the narrative style or screenplay. It doesn't bore you, in fact it entrains you in bits.

#ADHM #FilmReview #Kjo #KaranJohar #Bollywood #KomalNahta#RajeevMasand #AeDilHaiMushkil

Dry Leaf

She is dry, dead and down, She is dry leaf on the ground.

She was green, happy and charming.

When breeze plays the sound;

She moves with grace, starts dancing.

They all tease her with a name;

She would blush when you will say Rain.

Love is in the air, but Rain is nowhere near.

She asks every passing wind about Rain, though no gain

Because the wind never answers, But she never quits.

She knew her love would come her way,

And the raindrop kisses will blow her away.

The wait was long, but her love was strong,

Her faith in love could never be wrong.

Season changed; wind stopped.

Her colour gone and she is now Yellow.

Her love has not yet come to say hello.

With the sinking sun far that line

She slipped through air like a feather.

And now hurrying down comes rain,

The clouds make noise, change in the weather.

The drops of rain kissed on her forehead,

But it felt more like tears for the dead.

Her innocent soul might be saying now

‘You took a while to come my love’.

She is dry, dead and down

She is dry leaf on the ground.

Meet my mate Matt

A group of students from Kings College London came down to the Gods Own Country in India. This was somewhere in 2003. On the other side of the world, Mr Bush had just started his adventures game of killing the innocent people in Iraq. The group of studens were on a trip to study the cultural aspects of Kerala. On the other end the culture-less man had gone completely nutts in the unwanted War. Well! these two things are not linked at all in any manner, apart from the fact that these were happenning around the same time. And for me, like almost of the rest of the world, was a time of anger and emotion which the War evoke.

A bunch of students from our college were partnered with the English students to help them in their project, I was one among them. Britain was supporing America in the War. One of those days at the Kovalam Beach Resort, at one of the dim corners of the Hotel, me and my friends set the stage for some dark humour. The foreign students were called individually to the spot were I was waiting with a frustrated mood. "First of all, I am really sorry. But he is not, going on a spree of killing people. And you people are supporting this nasty act. This is the way we have decided to protest aginst the war. I dont like what I am doing, but... I am sorry, sorry once again." I pretended to take the gun I was hiding under my shirt. The scene was worth a watch. They really got scared. The prank went well. The intention was not just a laughter, but was an attempt to leave some memories of War protest. I did not really feel that it left any impact accept some fun. So on the last night before all of them left India, I decided to have a word with the only-American among the lot. 'I could not tell you how angry I was on America, Bush in purticular.' I did not shower my anger on him, but wanted to tell him how wrong Bush was. And how disappointing his acts are. 'The poeple who are being killed may not even know why are they being punished. As an Indian sitting so far in here, I wont be able to do much. The protest should happen in America, Protest anywhere else will mean nothing. The public anger should make him think about his deeds once again.' I did not know if I could make any impact on him. But I wanted to do my bit. That was the best I could do to register my protest. The American student was quite, patient and was listening attentively.

His name was Matt.
What could 'me' as an individual do to change the world. Thats the question that stops us all from doing anything. We sit silent in the crowd, hiding our disagrements within. Why does not one stand up and say "I protest". Why does not one look into the eyes of the administrator and say "you are an absolute ass". Its nice to hear someone doing it. But why is it always 'someone' but not you or me.
Time went by.

Bush Won the Chair again - I was shocked, I was angry, I was upset.

Bush got a shoe on his face - I laughed, I celebrated.

Bush left the chair - I looked on.

Obama took over the office - I was excited.
Little did I know that Matt played a role in Obama's victory. Little did I know that I played a small part in inspiring him to do what he was doing.
After 6 years, I was not quick to recognize Matt when I saw his picture with Obama. I met him again, online. Politics, campaigns, social causes- He has walked a long way since that night.
Matt I am proud of you. Keep up the good work.

- An Indian Friend

Rock On!

nana na na na
nana na na na
meri laundry ka bill...

I was humming all the way back home after the 2nd show of the movie "Rock on!". I am so easily influenced by good movies. It really made me feel like it was my story somewhere or the other. Well! the credit goes to the director, I could easily relate to the movie. May be because of my little connection with music. Felt nostalgic in the first half of the movie. Took me back to my college time, and the 'music' in the movie was replaced by theatre in my life. the memories ran through, the fun... the excitement, the pain.... ah! It was a beautiful period in life. I feel I am in the transition stage now, between the first half of the movie and the second half. As in, we all are so busy in our own lives, all are away, and we hardly get time to catch up.
Miss those friends whom I have almost lost. Miss Theatre. I still remember those days when we promissed each other that we will meet up every weekend, no matter what. As time passed by, we changed the promise to 'once in a month' and then ' once in a year for sure, no matter what'.
Blame it on Life or Time, no one reminds each other of those promises now.

The movie had nothing so magical, but was enough to make me feel the 'magic', the peace of the movie, the flow, the frames, the transitions, it has been just brilliant.
The natural way of its script, adds the realistic factor it to, and makes it all the more 'My kinda movie', the ones I will make.

In fact I even thought, if these film-makers start saying stories that I wana say then what will I have left for me to say. Silly me.

When I walk out of the Cinema after watching a good movie, I think of the day when I will walk out of the Theatre after the premier of my first movie. If you think I am dreaming, You are damn right.

I know its far.

But I know.... Its there.

Eyes

Got my bike from the garage today... it looks new, and all repaired... now I can ride my bike after a while, since ma accident..
So decided to take a long ride, alone.
Plan was to meet up with friends at a friend’s place, a bit far from here.
Was loving the ride, and it started raining suddenly. This is what happened last time...
Its awesome to ride in the rain... and you tend to go faster and faster... and find yourself in the hospital bed shortly ( like last time)
So this time, I didn’t want to get carried away. So parked my bike aside. And ran for a shelter. Its kind of a little stitching centre. An elderly man is cutting some cloth.
He is got a gray beard, n topi, that tells me he is a Muslim. I said salaam...
He returned the salaam, and said "andar aajao, iss baarish ka koi bharosa nehi, allah jane kab rukega".
?
Its kind of veranda of his little house, where he is put his stitching centre...
"baith jao". The place was full of cloths, din’t know where to sit, found some place on the edge of the wooden bench.
" kal raat jo baarish hua, do ped gir gaye the peeche "
"jab barish hota hai to aise hota hai ki bhaaad aajaye, nehi to ek dum nehi hota...sukha sukha"
He is fully engaged in his work, and talking. " woh peela kapda dekho wahaan.... haan o'wala, dedo yehaan"
The power went off. He laughs, " arre yeh to honahi tha. humare desh main jab jab baarish hoti hai tab tab bijili jaati hai".


"bangloor se aaraheho?"
ji
"to mysore ko hi hoga?"
ji
" motor-icycle main itna door.....hmmmm.... ek zamane main mysore jaana mat lab itna door lag ta tha... hum iskool main the tho tipu sultaan ka mahal dekh ne gaye the. aaj kal to roz aa jaa sakte hain... duniya ek dum se chotta padgaya"
I was so silent and listening to him, its experience talking. and I was liking it.
" kaam karte ho ya pad rahe ho?"
"ji main kaam kar rahahoon"
"andhere main aankh hi nehi dikhtha"... bolte hai ki kal karoso aaj karo... mera to yehaan kal ka kaam aaj bhi poora nehi horaha hai, bijli ho tab na"
It shud be around 5 pm now, its not all that dark.
"munnniiiiii........ membatti la..." he called out
and a voice came from inside..." abbu aaj keliye ab chor do na, kal din main kar dena... membati mai kya dikhega"
he laughs "meri larki hai".

The rain is jus gettin stronger.
"ek garam chay hojaye barkhurdaar?"
me- smile- "ji"
" munnniii..... do chay la beta". " do nehi bus ek milega mehmaan ke liye..aap abtak 3 chay peechukeho". He laughs;" aarre ek aur dedena meri amma".

In a while a gal, should be 16 or 17 I think... came with 2 cups of tea...
My bike is enjoying the rain.. He is fully drenched..
"chay"... I looked at her.. She is holding the cup straight to me, but not looking at me... staring far at the rain...
Well!
Her eyes r blue
"chay bohat acha bana hai", that was me... she just smiled, yet din look at me.. Her looks are sharp outside..
" masha-allah, ab chay itna acha hai to abbu honeke naate, 3, 4 cup peeneka haq tho hume ban ta hai na.." saying this, he was walking inside with his cup..." namaaz badoge janab?"
" ji ... woh... mian... khar jaake padloonga "
So he went inside... his daughter, is still here standing near the door.
" aap karti kya ho? u doin school?"
" nehi main kuch nehi karti". She is got a major attitude I think. I shouldn’t have asked her. duh!
I decided not to ask anything more. She walked slowly towards the table and started folding the cloths there n said. :" ji main dekh nehi sakti".

* thunders, outside n in my heart too...

Those beautiful eyes we see, can’t see anything! I felt a sudden pain in my heart.
She said, that she can’t see from birth. She has not seen light in her life...
" arre aap chup kyun hogaye?" I din know what to say.
" par main khush hoon, i don ve any regrets " last year thak main blind school jaya kartithi, ab chod diya"
I am really struggling for words, I really don’t know what to say,
Just imagine, can we spend a single day with closed eyes?
We should thank God, that we can read these blogs now. For her, it won’t be possible...
When girls spend lots of thier time in front of the mirror on makeup, she won’t even know how she looks.
And she says she is happy with her life...
'm hurt yaar.
" hello ji, aap wahaan ho ya chale gaye?"
" ji... main.. nehi... matlab, yeheen hoon... woh.. aap chay bohat acha banati hai"
" ji shukriya, yeh doosri baar bolrahe ho aap"
I really wish if I cud do something and get her eyes sight back... “Why did u leave school?"
" pad likh ke karoongi kya... jitna badliya wahi bohat hai"

*silence*
*silence*

" aapko baarish acha lagta hai?.... mujhe bohat hi pyara lagta hai ."
" agar abbu ghar pe nehi hote to main bheegti bhi hoon". She’s got a smile now.
I was thinking how difficult her life will be, there is no colour, no light.
She also,’d love to dress up as a ‘dulhan’, 'd love to look beautiful; like any other gal.. 'd love to go out with her husband for a movie, for a dinner,’d love to go see the beautiful places in the world.
but....
but....
she cant even see the colour of her dress, cant see her husband... ah!

" barsaat ka jo khushboo... uska awaaz.... hmmm... ek dum mann pe chajata hai na"
.
I’d rather get going. I really have no control over my emotions these days... the other day I was shouting at a colleague of mine for no big reason; and I laugh like mad on silly jokes.
So before my eyes get wet...
" ji main nikal raha hoon... abbu se boldijiyega"
"arre barsaat to kam nehi hua"
" its ok.. allah hafiz".

God bless you dear