Movie Review: Yaariyan (2014)

Cast a bunch of (good looking?) newcomers, pick one of the plush schools (St. Joseph’s School, Darjeeling) and portray it as a chic college of Sikkim, feature snow-clad picturesque locales, throw in skimpily clad women, a lot of cleavage and absolutely desperate hormone raging men, have a wide ranging soundtrack featuring none other than His Highness Yo Yo Honey Singh, and finally add a lot of emotions – love, friendship, betrayal, drama, comedy, patriotism – ah no issues throw them all in. Was Divya Khosla Kumar thinking this is the perfect recipe to create a fun-filled college romance and adventure film targeted at youngsters of course? Yes it a recipe and good that too, but for disaster!

Well not all these elements are a boo-boo. In fact one thing that has been working in the movie’s favour is its peppy soundtrack which has already created waves and is ruling the charts. Not only is it going to play a big role in drawing the audiences, particularly the youth, to the theatres but it also is the film’s saving grace. Besides this, the only other thing that works is the cinematography. The first part of the film has been shot in virgin locations of Darjeeling and Sikkim (Lachen, mostly) and the later part in Australia. The film has two race sequences and they have been done really well. Divya Kumar has indeed worked hard to make the film look good. But sadly that’s about it – it only sounds and looks good!

Yaariyan aspires to be one of those college rom-coms but just calling it one would put all the other films in that genre to shame. It’s supposed to be the coming-of-age tale of five friends. Sadly there is nothing in the name of friendship and the focus is more on ‘cuming’ as not just these teenagers but their teachers also seem to be having an over surge of hormones.

There is nothing bad about having a few sexual jokes. After all this is a (big) part of being a teenager and youth, especially guys. But when you reduce the guys to good for nothing fellows and make them look like dogs who are only interested in shagging, oops I mean wagging their tails at the sight of a bitch, then there is a problem!

The male protagonist Lakshya (Himanshu Kolhi) is the clichéd playboy who initially is only interested in a kiss and this wish of his is the subject of interest of almost everyone in the college. The female lead Saloni (Rakul Preet Singh) is the usual ‘hatke’ behenji who stands out from the rest of the bimbettes. Though their love story is nothing unusual, I must admit that the lip-lock between them is one of the most unabashed I have seen in Indian cinema.

Usually supporting actors who play friends have a wonderful contribution in such films but here there is not a single moment of bonding shared by the guys. Barring the female protagonist, the girls look plastic. There is ‘Bad Man’ Gulshan Grover, the college principal, who takes on the onus of motivating these wayward kids to save their college from Australian folks. The biggest feat of course is reducing yesteryears veteran actress Deepti Naval to a mother who is perpetually sobbing and sniffling. Unfortunately, there is no depth in their characters and they are both reduced to mere caricatures.

If all this is not enough there are sports, patriotism and racial attacks thrown in too! So what if they seem forced and over-the-top. That does not matter! The makers can pass off any idea/concept in the name of Generation X. These youngsters indulge in just about everything and that’s what’s shown on screen.

After all this, if you are still waiting to read the plot then you for sure need to go watch this!

I, on the other hand, did not have the slightest intention of watching this movie, not in the theatres at least, not first day first show for sure and certainly not when Dedh Ishqiya, a movie I had LONG been waiting to watch released on the same day. But guess I was fated to. Apparently there were just two of us who were keen on indulging ourselves in the world of Begum Para. Those guys refused to play it only for us. The biggest irony – Just when they told me the morning show for Dedh Ishqiya was cancelled and I had already got tickets for Yaariyan, about a dozen people turned up (late), wanting to watch the former. If, only if, they were on time!

Rating: 5.5/10

Movie Review: About Time (2013)

So I think to myself. Alright there’s a new rom-com that looks good. It’s also rated pretty high on IMDb. What more?

Genre: Romantic comedy – Oh nice, I am sucker for fine rom-coms

Director: Richard Curtis – Excellent! I’d loved his previous two films ‘Love Actually’ and ‘The Boat That Rocked’. Plus he is also the writer for ‘Notting Hill’, one of my favourite films ever. Excitement is a notch higher.

It revolves around time travel – Ah well, it looks like a perfect recipe, if well executed.

These were my thoughts before watching About Time. And was I disappointed? Not really, but it didn’t quite leave an impact. Or was I expecting too much, maybe yes. It is by no means a bad film but not something that I would highly recommend either.

The film is about Tim Lake (Domhnall Gleeson), a 21 year old socially uncomfortable character. On his 21st birthday his father (Bill Nighy) tells him an incredibly useful secret – men in his family can time travel, to any point in the past that they remember. So whenever there is some mishap or embarrassment, or need to re-do something Tim can go back in time and change the outcome of a situation. All he needs to do to fix these issues is go to the nearest closet or a compact room and clench his fists. Now this sounds interesting (barring the clenching fists bit) but maybe this whole going back and altering things has been so overdone that it loses its charm.

About Time is not the run of the mill romantic comedy. Yes it has all the elements of a Curtis film – locations in London, friendships, plenty of sardonic and sometimes rude humour, a socially reticent boy, a beautiful North American girl, a freaky young female relative, a doddery elderly male relative and some heavy rain. But it delves deeper and raises some profound questions.

The message that it gives out is that ups and downs are a part of life and no gift can save you from that.

Thus one should live life to the full, cherish each moment and not take things or people for granted. “Cherish the small moments as if they are most important.” Besides this, one of the main themes is the heartfelt father-son relationship. The scenes between them are some of the best in the film.

I did not quite Tim Lake in the beginning and thought he wouldn’t be able to match up to Rachel McAdams who plays his love interest Mary. However with time he grew on me and I think the two had a strong chemistry. However Rachel was underused. Though she is good in her role and very likeable (I absolutely did not like her fringes though), her character doesn’t have much depth. Whenever there is the slightest need to alter things, Tim always excuses himself for a moment and heads out of the room and she is not once shown questioning him. I liked Bill Nighy the best. He brings such warmth to his role with his spot-on acting. He steals every scene he is in with his charisma.

There are so many beautiful scenes in the film. One where Tim and Mary meet for the first time in a restaurant is bound to vow you. Another when Tim runs home to Mary late night and urges her to wake up as her had to ask her something important. Then of course the many scenes featuring Tim and his father.

Despite so many things working for it, the film is flawed and has plot holes. They might not come in the way of watching the film, because you are pretty much absorbed in this feel good movie, but they are disturbing. The individual parts are good but as a whole, there is something amiss. This can be one of the reasons I wasn’t thoroughly happy after having watched it. Overall, it is decent and worth a watch. And if you are going to stop making sense out of it, especially the time travel, you'll love it all the more!

Rating: 7.2/10

Movie Review: Priceless (2006)

Original Title: Hors De Prix 

Language: French

A fresh romantic comedy always feels good, and if it features Audrey Tautou then it’s like the icing on a super yummy cake. Pierre Salvadori’s Priceless is one of those delicacies which I thoroughly enjoyed savouring.

Priceless is the story of Irene (Audrey Tautou), a high maintenance gold digger who preys on old, lonely and most importantly rick men. She seduces and traps them to live a comfortable high life in expensive hotel suites. One night she mistakes the lowly bartender Jean (Gad Elmaleh) for a millionaire and drags him to bed. On learning the truth she leaves but her charms work their magic on him and the hapless Jean is absolutely smitten by her. He goes about following her and spending all his savings to keep up with her never ceasing demands of dresses, bags, champagnes, caviar etc.

The plot is run of the mill but the treatment and presentation is oh so classy. And Tautou! She charms you with both her performance and her looks. She is such a natural actress and here she does wonders to her character. An innocent dame one minute and heartless seductress the other, the viewer oscillates from loving her to feeling slight disdain for her, to sympathizing with her and back to loving her! Her facial expressions speak volumes. Had it not been Audrey playing this role, I would have easily hated this merciless bitch! And about her looks, well she is elegance, style, beauty and sexy personified. I don’t think she’s looked this stunning ever. Guys are definitely bound to feel the heat and some movement too seeing those necklines plunging all the way down to her navel. She is truly ‘Priceless’.

Gad with his innocent looks shows great charm and delivers a decent act and he shares a wonderful chemistry with Audrey.

On the surface level it is one of the farcical rom-coms, stylish and endearing. However every work of art has layers to it, it is just a matter of interpretation. Priceless is a mild commentary on the vanity of high class, twisted human values, materialism and the game of love.

In one of the scenes, after being dumped by her latest rich beau, Irene left with only the bikini she is wearing, sits shivering at poolside while the sun sets and the place changes from bathers to dinner jackets. In a moment she is reduced from a queen to a spectator. Tautou’s expressions are pitch-perfect here and you get a glimpse of the harsh realities.

In the other scene, Irene is choking down a spoonful of caviar that she actually hates but is teaching herself to appreciate it. "I'm sure when you like it," she says, exuding not-so-innocent hope, "it must be delicious."

Priceless is a light-hearted entertaining romantic comedy and is a delightful watch!

Rating: 7.2/10

Movie Review: Shahid (2013)

Realism and Bollywood don’t really go hand in hand. Filmmakers do not, in the first place, try their hands at depicting true life stories especially if there is the slightest whiff of a controversy. The very few attempts more often than not end up as shallow in the garb of commercialism. So when a bold film like Shahid comes up, you tend to wonder if it is a one-off shot or are Indian filmmakers actually breaking the conventions and taking leaps.

Despite having a world premiere at the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival's ‘City to City’ programme in September 2012 and being screened at last year’s Mumbai Film Festival, Shahid only managed to get a wide theatrical release a year later. Wonder why the delay but we are glad it did, because such stories need to be told. I have seen/heard so many people gushing about the movie. I wonder how many of them knew who Shahid Azmi was before this movie. I did not.

Hansal Mehta’s Shahid is a biopic of the lawyer and human rights activist Shahid Azmi. In the seven years of his practice, he got 17 acquittals, a remarkably high number for the Indian judiciary, where ‘taareekh pe taareekh’ is a norm. But he had to pay a price for standing up and fighting for all those he believed were wrongly accused or framed and imprisoned for alleged terrorist activities. He was brutally shot dead in his office by a couple of assailants in 2010 for defending a 26/11 accused.

Shahid Azmi’s life was quite eventful and complex. As a young boy he had witnessed the barbaric violence during the communal riots of Mumbai in 1993. The devastating impact prompts him to join an arms training in a camp in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir. He witnesses another event there and thus changes his mind and runs away, but was arrested from his home under TADA. He spent seven years in Tihar Jail before he was eventually acquitted by a court of law for lack of admissible evidence.

It might seem like too much for a film but Mehta has narrated the incidents as it is. One of the best parts of the film is it is more fact and less fiction. Shahid is simple in presentation yet hard-hitting. It brings us unpleasant truths about contemporary India, its media, its judiciary and its people. Mehta subtly exposes the anti-Muslim stance so deep-rooted at every level of our law-and-order system.

Raj Kumar Yadav’s performance is OUTSTANDING! He is almost perfect in all the stages, be it in the jail or the courtroom. Mohammad Zeeshan Ayyub too was commendable as Shahid’s brother. He was impressive in Raanjhanaa and now here too. He should get better roles that do justice to his talent.

Hansal Mehta says he decided to make the film after he found out that people were accusing Shahid Azmi of criminal activities: "He was not alive to tell his side of the story when aspersions were being cast on him. I decided to stand up for him." Mehta take a bow for this attempt, so honest that too!

Rating: 8.2/10

Movie Review: Kai Po Che (2013)

Movies based on books are usually a disappointment, sometimes even a disaster. Abhishek Kapoor’s Kai Po Che is one of those rare ones that far surpassed the book it was based on – Chetan Bhagat’s bestseller ‘3 Mistakes Of My Life’.

I did not like the movie as much when I first saw it. But it grew on me later and it was undoubtedly one of the better films of the tear. Here's why:

• Abhishek Kapoor followed the critical and commercial success ‘Rock On’ based on friendship with yet another tale of friends. Same theme at large yet a different magical world

• Despite working with biggies like Farhan Akhtar and Arjun Rampal he chose to work with no established names and went ahead with two debutants and a ‘super talented yet unexploited potential’ actor

• That each of these actors delivered a stand-out performance, complementing each other so well yet leaving one’s own mark

• It is a multi-dimensional tale with many layers (coming-of-age story of three friends – their dreams and aspirations, their pursuit of excellence, their confusions and misunderstandings and their friendship standing the test of time; commentary on the politics of religion and the religion in politics; three real life events – the infamous Godhra riots of 2002, the historic cricket test match between India and Australia at The Eden Gardens and the Gujarat Earthquake – blended so well with the fictional narrative) and yet the film does not lose its track, there are no lose threads

• Each of the three friends represented one side of India – the capitalist Govind Patel (Raj Kumar Yadav), the political Omkar Shastri (Amit Sadh) and the emotional Ishaan Bhatt (Sushant Singh Rajput). All of these aspects were dealt with great clarity and panache

• Realistic depiction of a country’s obsession with cricket

• Amit Trivedi scored a brilliant and mesmerizing earthy soundtrack which comprised only three tracks but left a huge impact. Each song was different from the other and eventually we were left craving for more

• There were many show stealing breathtaking scenes but this just one fabulous scene absolutely stole our hearts away. The entire picturisation of the Meethi Boliyan song, this exchange of dialogues between Rajput and Yadav just before the trio’s jump in the river from stop the fort:

Ishaan: Ise kehte hai life Govind. Tere noton ki khushboo se lankh guna behtar

Govind: Yahan tak aane ke liye bhi mere note hi lagte hain

Ishaan: Tere sikkon ki khankhan se mere hawa ki keemat kam ho rahi hai

• Garba to then the touch-and-feel make out to Sunita Rao’s Pari Hoon Main

• The beautiful cinematography by Anay Goswami which lights up each frame so wonderfully. Ahmedabad is captured like never before

All of this and much more comprised the elements of a film that left a mark on us; a fresh film that charmed us; a film that gave us Sushant Singh Rajput, an actor who has already carved a niche for himself and will sure go a long, long way if he stays grounded.

Rating: 8/10

I am upset today. It was distressing to hear the news of Paul Walker’s death. Even though I have not seen many of his movies, not even all of the Fast and Furious series, I am saddened to hear of his untimely demise. Plus I also read an article where last year’s Delhi rape victim’s mother speaks her heart out. While reading, there were numerous moments when I paused because I was choked.

My mind was flooded with a series of thoughts and images. [I sometimes marvel at the rapidity of thoughts. One leads to the other and within seconds you are in a maze of thoughts. I’d love to talk more about this but I’ll save this for later.] Both these incidents make me low-spirited. But they also give me an impetus to pen down my thoughts about something I’d been thinking of lately. It is connected to my current state of mind – being sad!

Looking around I see most people sad and distressed. Once in a while it is fine and understood but it’s more of a regular feature. Everyone seems to be caught up with something or the other and dissatisfied with life. They are plagued by many problems such as work, relationships, past issues, finances, self-esteem, future etc. Each person has his/her own way of dealing with things. A few are mentally strong and face these challenges astutely. Some seek to put up a brave face and try to deal with things on their own. The tussle is, of course, visible to only close people if not all. Most others are weak and tend to crib about it.

There is nothing wrong about cribbing. All of us, at some point in life do vent out our frustration and negative thoughts. Even the strongest of people do give in, which is perfectly fine. However what is disturbing is when people tend to create problems on their own. The truth is that not a soul is free of problems, issues or difficulties. We all go through them. So nobody is different in this regard. But what sets people apart is the way they react to situations.

As mentioned above death and rape are two things which not only sadden me but also scare the hell out of me. Death is permanent and cannot be undone. Rape is worse. It leaves a scar which only and only the victim can understand. When people go through such crisis, my heart goes out to them. There are so many other things which make me feel in the same way – a child begging, people digging the garbage to scour for food, the homeless, poor or orphans, terrorism amongst others. Oh there is so much real pain and suffering in this world! However an average person never gives much thought to it. On the contrary he/she is busy complaining about an unkind boss, having to eat boring food, a misunderstanding, not having enough clothes to wear, something someone said, a low-paying job and so much more.

These aren’t real problems. If you are not happy with your work, find another job. If you are not happy working under someone, have the strength to venture into entrepreneurship. Better still follow your dreams and pursue them. Not having enough clothes or eating boring food – really! Think about millions who struggle for a morsel of food and make do with bare minimum clothes. If it is about what people say/said, well we don’t really have a control over what others say. So ignore and move on! If there is a misunderstanding, clear it. Do not sit back and assume things. It only makes things more complicated!

The world is really full of concrete problems and most of us have no inkling of them. So rather than cribbing about what is not right, try and face it. All that is required is a change of attitude. It might not help in putting an end to the problem, but at least it can provide enough strength to deal with the situation. And the next time you think you are sad, think of the more unfortunate ones and you’ll realize you are way better off.

“Life is a bowl of cherries. Some cherries are rotten while others are good; its your job to throw out the rotten ones and forget about them while you enjoy eating the ones that are good! There are two kinds of people: those who choose to throw out the good cherries and wallow in all the rotten ones, and those who choose to throw out all the rotten ones and savor all the good ones.” 

― C. JoyBell C.

Happy Birthday Mr. Bose! :)

As I say I am not a huge fan of celebrities barring two people. Coincidentally they are both called Rahul – Rahul Dravid and Rahul Bose. Today this post is dedicated to the latter. To YOU Mr. Bose!

It wasn't a crush or love at first sight. I can’t really pinpoint the first time I saw you (on screen of course), or your first movie that I watched. It was a gradual love affair! The thing that appealed to me most was your speaking skills – that voice, the command over the language, the pronunciation and the expressions. Oh what an articulate speaker you are! I remember those days when I would wait eagerly to watch you speak – be it at an interview or a social event. I would be so awestruck I could just watch you speak the whole day! I still can.

Then came the love for your movies, both mainstream and parallel cinema. One of the first movies to win you international critical acclaim was English, August (1994). It is more than a coincidence that this movie is based on my favourite book ever. That’s another thing that the movie continues to elude me. Don’t know if I will ever be able to lay my hands on it. Then followed so many others – Mr. and Mrs. Iyer, 15 Park Avenue, Before the Rains, Jhankaar Beats, Chameli, Pyaar ke Side Effects, Shaurya, The Japanese Wife, Midnight’s Children and many others. Jhankaar Beats is an all time favourite and it’s one movie I can watch from beginning to end numerous times. As an actor I love your expressions, your sense of humour, the ease with which you slip into a character and your acting of course. You are one of the most versatile actors in Bollywood today.

I like, adore, admire you not just because you are a good orator and actor but for your social activism too. I have seen you at various social events, raising your voice against issues, supporting various causes and so much more. You do it so earnestly. I love the person that you are. You personify handsome. You are the man of my dreams!

Today, as you turn 46, I wish you a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY! You continue to inspire and motivate me and I will be your ardent fan for life. Wish you great success, good health, excellent movies and all that you may wish for.

Roman Holiday - A tale of sweet, innocent romance!

I guess I’m in the zone of watching movies I’d always wanted to and which are long overdue. Roman Holiday is one of them. Audrey Hepburn stole my heart with Breakfast at Tiffany’s which I watched earlier this year. Since then I had been eagerly waiting to see more of her. I eventually managed to watch Roman Holiday today and now I am even more in love with her. (Yes I drool over girls too – Julia Roberts, Kareena Kapoor, Chitrangada Singh to name a few :P)

Roman Holiday (1953) is the escapade of the royal princess Ann (Audrey Hepburn). She is in Rome, on the last leg of her Europe trip. She has had a packed schedule attending official functions and meeting dignitaries and aristocrats. As royal and glamorous it may look, she is upset and frustrated with the method life where everything is so ‘wholesome’. Scheduled and monotonous life has bored her to death and she longs for a break. When she breaks down, she is deemed ill and asked to control her nerves. The doctor is sent for, who in turn gives her a sleep-inducing drug to appease her hysteria. However, she manages to escape her country’s embassy at night and sets out to secretly explore the city on her own.

Ann is found sleeping on a bench thanks to the drug. Joe Bradley (Peck), who is an expat journalist working with American News Service, runs into her. He tries convincing her to go home. On failing, he takes her to his apartment out of sheer kindness and concern about her safety. The irony – the royal princess that he is supposed to interview the next day is sleeping in his apartment and he fails to recognize her. It is only when he dashes to his office the following day that he comes to know about it. He is allured at the prospect of making good money by getting a front page, never-told-before-story on her personal life and hurriedly strikes a deal with his editor. He takes the help of his dear photographer friend Irving Radovich (Eddie Albert) to get an exclusive coverage of the personal side of the Princess.

This leads to a 24 hour adventure on the streets of Rome – for the princess it is her first ever venture, exploring places, interacting with common folks, and doing things she always wanted. For the journalist, it is short cut to making quick money and getting a return ticket for America, his native land. He willingly entertains her in the hope of fishing out a meaty story. While the duo manages to photograph Ann smoking, dancing, getting in trouble with the police and much more, an unsaid love blooms between the protagonists. What happens thereafter if for you to watch!

The best part of the film is undoubtedly Audrey’s essaying of the Princess’ role, which won her an Academy Award for Best Actress. In fact, Hepburn was the first actress to win an Oscar, a Golden Globe and a BAFTA Award for this movie (Wikipedia). Right from the first frame, when she is shown as the royal princess, she steals our heart away. She looks gorgeous and every inch a princess – stunningly beautiful, delicate and graceful. She has portrayed the various moods so effectively – naive yet teasing when she says to her chaperone, “Did you know there are people who sleep with absolutely nothing on at all”; amusing, charming, playful, shy, innocent and romantic. Little did she or anyone know at that time that the movie would turn her into an overnight star! I am all the more keen to watch her other movies now. Peck is comfortable in his role and supports her well. The chemistry between them is realistic and likeable, especially in the last scene where all the emotion is conveyed through their eyes.

Roman Holiday is first-class cinema with all the elements of a good romantic comedy. The movie is simple, charming and it beautifully portrays the innocent romance of the bygone era. In honour of its 60th anniversary the film just had a rerelease. What a time to catch it, if you already haven’t!

Rating: 8.2/10

Once - A Musical Journey

I had heard the soundtrack of Once long back and loved it. The movie looked good too but I never watched it until today. In between I had heard and read so much about it that expectations were fairly high. And I wasn't disappointed! Being an ardent music lover, I fancy musicals so it was half the battle won. Plus I like the Brit/Irish accent :) However, Once stands out for its simplicity, modesty and earnest performances.

The movie is set in Dublin. Interestingly both the protagonists are not given names. The guy (Glen Hansard) is a street musician who plays the guitar and sings for money at night. During the day, he works in his father’s vacuum cleaner shop. His music attracts a young Czech girl (Marketa Irglova) who herself is a classically trained pianist. She takes him to a piano shop where she often goes to play the piano as she does not own one. It is here that they play a beautiful duet “Falling Slowly” (for which they both received an Academy Award for Best Original Song) and blossoms their short but delightful musical escapade.

The bond over music and he confides about his ex-girlfriend for whom he had been writing songs. She stays in old London and had betrayed him long back. However he is still in love with her, misses her but does not want to go get her. We also learn that the girl sells flowers and cleans a house for a living. She lives with her mother and little daughter Ivonka. Her husband is back in Czech Republic and things are not right between them. The marriage part comes as a surprise for him as he clearly did not expect that. However that doesn't change things between them.

The movie is not ambitious. Their love story is simple and beautiful. Music develops the plot further and all the songs are so beautiful. It helps that all of them were recorded by Glen and Marketa themselves. Neither of them are trained actors but musicians. Maybe that’s why their performances are so realistic. Plus it was during the filming of the movie that the two fell in love. This chemistry is visible on-screen as well. The bitter-sweet ending is realistic. It leaves you touched and happy that you witnessed this musical journey. 

Once is simple and straightforward. It was made on a shoestring budget and shot in merely 17 days with two new actors. And what a swell job done! It is magical and one you bound to get swayed. Once is one of the best musicals I have seen. Highly recommended, especially if you are a music lover :)

P.S. The movie has also motivated me to get going with my guitar practice, which has been moving at a snail's pace recently! :)

A crush!!

I am not a great fan of actors as such, barring the one and only Mr. Bose :D However of late, I've taken a great liking for Riteish Deshmukh, not so much for the actor but more for the person that he is. Not that I know him personally :P But whatever I have been able to decipher while watching the reality show India’s Dancing Superstar (IDS). However that’s not how I always looked at him.

I quite liked Genelia D'Souza especially after Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na. She seemed so vivacious, positive and full of energy all the time. So when I heard that she would be marrying Riteish Deshmukh my instant reaction was she deserves someone much better. How did she even fall for him in the first place? It changed a bit when I got to know that they had been dating for eight years. I really appreciated the consistency and when I saw them together on a reality show they looked so much in love. So I thought, well, love conquers all.

That was a couple of years ago. Genelia kind of disappeared after her marriage and I moved on with my life, shuttling between Delhi and Siliguri :P

Next I saw Ritesh on IDS. Initially I only used to watch glimpses or repeat telecasts of this show as the timings coincided with one of my favourite shows ever – Jhalak Dikhla Jaa. I have been an ardent fan of this show right from the first season. True the celebrities in the current season aren’t as exciting, but Madhuri Dixit is enough to keep one hooked to the show. And of course Manish Paul, who I believe is the best anchor in the country today. So there was no way I would miss Jhalak for a new dance show.

That started changing. With every passing week, I started to get hooked on to the show. Not that I suddenly fell in love with Mr. Deshmukh. It was primarily due to the performances, especially those of MJ5, D-Maniax, Loyola Dream Team and Akshay Pal. Every week they would come up with remarkable performances and as the judges say, ‘win me over’. During the course of watching this show, I discovered what an amazing human being Riteish is.

The first time I saw him on the judging panel I thought, like many others, “What is he doing as a judge of a dancing show? Didn't they find anyone better? He doesn't have great dancing skills to boast of.” After watching a few episodes I felt he was doing a great job. And then I started liking him more.

He is always such a sport, going up to the stage every time some participant calls him, mimicking the most difficult of stunts in his own charming style. Then, in one of the episodes, when co-judge Geeta Kapoor praised him for the person that he is, he humbly replied, echoing my previous sentiments. He said that he knew a lot of people had doubts about him being a fit judge for a dancing show. How beautifully he said that he was watching the performances, giving his comments both appreciating and picking faults just like a viewer would do in front of his television set. In that regard he was no different from a viewer. Only that since he was famous he got the chance to be on that seat. That day he completely blew my mind. I fell in love with his humility. I have even switched over from Jhalak to IDS and one of the main reasons is to watch him.

And as I said above, I really like him now. He comes across as a very nice human being. He is witty, humble, sweet, polite and has an amazing sense of humour. Genelia is indeed very lucky to have him as a husband. A couple made for each other :)

Lootera - A Cinematic Excellence!

I had to write this review. Not because I had set expectations and some people were awaiting my review after the FB status. It is purely because I absolutely loved the movie. After having watched it, a couple of people asked me how did I like it and I just said one thing – wait for the review. It wasn’t to create an unnecessary suspense but because there is so much to say, to share. So here it goes.

Lootera is a cinematic excellence. A lot of people would complain that it is slow and thus unbearable. Yes it is – slow, pensive. It is not an entertainer meant for the masses. It is a period film, an art, poetry in motion and the story unfolds at its own pace.

The film is set in two periods in the post Independence era – Manikpur, West Bengal in 1953 and Dalhousie in 1954. The first half of the movie is fresh with some magical moments. In fact I was captivated at the very beginning itself. The instrumental of my favoutite track ‘Ankahee’ played at the outset. I first thought it would be the first song and the movie would go into a flashback, narrating the tale of two lovers. How delighted I was at the thought of hearing the song one more time, that too so early! Despite having listened to it on loop innumerable times I was yet to get tired of it. I remember waiting with bated breath. However that was not to be. And not just that, the song just does not feature in the movie but is a part of closing credit. So much for the excitement! Anyway this was the only let-down if I may say.

Coming back to the plot and the review, with the critical success of his debut film Udaan, Vikramaditya Motwane had set high expectations. And truly he does not disappoint. Of course there are some flaws with the major one being the lackluster (partial) adaptation of O Henry’s masterpiece – The Last Leaf. This short story is so powerful and Motwane sure could have done a better job than making it look like a hurried adaptation. However, the beauty and magic of this period drama completely outweigh and overshadow the flaws. The world of the protagonists – love, passion, agony, disappointment, anger –keeps you hooked.

The movie is picturesque. Manikpur and Dalhousie are totally different landscapes and both have been captured beautifully by Mahendra J Shetty. The music by Amit Trivedi and lyrics by Amitabh Bhattacharya are exceptional. All the songs are beautifully crafted. Monali Thakur does absolute justice to the beautiful number ‘Sawaar Lun’. Baramade puraane hain, nayi si dhoop hai – How poetical! Another number that I liked is ‘Monta Re’. I have always loved Shilpa Rao’s husky voice and she is good yet again in ‘Manmarziyan’. Even ‘Shikayatein’ and ‘Zinda Hoon’ are good. I love the entire album!

Sonakshi Sinha as Pakhi has delivered a stellar performance. From the privileged, pampered zamindar’s daughter to the immature lover, from the playful, vibrant, mischievous young girl in Manikpur to an ailing, lonely figure and a frustrated writer in Dalhousie – she is very convincing and has essayed the role with a right mix of innocence and sensitivity. I was among the majority of people who felt that although Sonakshi has 100 crore club to her merit, it is mere luck than talent that had got her there. My opinion has definitely changed after Lootera. The credit also goes to the writer for such a well defined role. Kudos!

Two girls sitting beside me labeled Pakhi’s attempts of getting close to Varun as desperate. They couldn’t stop laughing and mocking saying that she was throwing her charms at him in an attempt to seduce him while he wasn’t interested. Well, to some it might seem a desperate attempt of getting physical. But I think there is much more to it. Being a literature student I have learnt to analyse a work of art beyond the obvious. One needs to understand the set-up in which Pakhi has grow-up and lives. Her father is the only man in her life and she has been deprived of any other love. So when she comes across this good-looking charmer, she is bound to be swept off her feet and develop some feelings for this man.

Ranveer Singh as Varun essays his role with conviction and displays the various shades of his character effectively. He is introduced as a polite young boy who timidly seeks permission from the Zamindar for an archaeological dig. Then there is the innocent and mellowed flirting during the painting lessons and beyond. Despite a warning from his partner Devdas, he eventually falls for Pakhi and is torn between love and duty. In the second half he looks confident when he sways to Dalhousie to commit yet another heist. And then the estranged lover wanting to stay back and make amends to his lady love.

The chemistry between the leading pair is not the best that we come across but their individual performances are rocking. Also a great thumbs up for the supporting characters – Barun Chandra as the zamindar and doting father, Vikrant Massey as Devdas, Varun’s accomplice, Adil Hussain as the tough police inspector and Divya Dutta as the compassionate caretaker are all splendid in their roles and leave a mark.

To sum up, Lootera is an art, one which requires patient viewing. It will charm and sway you with its set-up, scenic locales, music, performances – only if you do not have any pre-conceived notions or expectations. Watch it and it will steal your heart!

Joyeeta

Was kind of bored with the monotonous life; thought I’ll take a break and go out for a change. But where and do what? You can’t really come up with ideas here; such a contrast from Delhi where one never falls short on options! In fact there is no need to have a plan, have somewhere to go to. That’s how I was reminded of you and the wacky times spent together.

God! I can’t be so crazy. Do you realize that I am actually writing an entire blog entry on you? I don’t believe myself at times ;) But now that I have thought of it, I might as well go ahead with it. Ok I can tell what exactly you are thinking right now…
“Saali tu kabhi nahi sudhregi na...”
Anyway, I am used to it and so are you I suppose. So I can proceed now!

Know what? Upon looking back, I can now see how we were destined to meet. Why else would I open my yahoo account and check the mail from your dear friend PD :) After that it all happened in the blink of an eye. You were a part of Comma and were soon to be a part of my daily life… at times for two whole days! (Shall come back to it in detail)

You know it; I did not quite like you initially. (Actually not just you. I think that’s the way with me – did not really click with my close pals instantly. Nicky, Amrita, you amongst others) It was that day when you were late and I said you could stay over at my place. Did not know that this would be a frequent affair soon! Bas, that’s how things changed. Spent more time with you, got to know you better and realized we have a lot in common.

Gal, we really have had amazing experiences, they sure do deserve a mention! It was so just so much fun. But the only problem is that there are too many. Can’t recount and jot all of them; this would turn out to be a diary and not a blog. But who cares. It’s my blog after all and I can write whatever I want to. It still won’t be possible to write all of it coz each day there was something happening; also because we spent a lot of time together – 10-12 hours at work daily, and then the frequent night stays at my place. Right from Day 1 you had said you would get clothes and leave them at my place. Bhaiya na bhi tujhe kitni baar bola. But then the LAZY you! Each time you would crib and crib and crib but you did not get them till the last day.

I bet you can’t forget the doggie at my place. God…he was scary. You were so scared of him. Lekin us din raat ko kitna bhagaya than na usne. Pehle se hi green park se bhaag bhaag ke aa rahe the, aur last mein Sandy ne bhi kasar nahi chodi. Bina light ke kaise bhaage the stairs mein. Shit that was a day yah. You wanted to enjoy the ‘cool breeze’ so we stayed back in Green Park after meeting that friend of yours. But then such brilliant ideas occur to you! And the result…those fanatics! Madam where did you get this from? F*** O** We were casual initially but with the kind of impression and message that was sent out UNINTENTIONALLY it did get a little scary. Though my place was just walking distance we had to take an auto to get back. And that too left it outside the main gate and ran home. The icing on the cake was dear Sandy! Huh. I remember we only relieved once we reached the balcony and took a deep breath.

Another similar incident was at Priya’s while watching Rock On! We had not got the tickets. Joyee madam toh itna tayaar hoke aayi thi J Aur jab mera mann ho jayee movie dekhne ka toh phir kya… got the tickets for black and told Nikhil and Mr. JNU that there were no tickets. Had a nice dinner but din know that more drama was to unfold after that. Eeeeuuuu…thinking about it still gives me creeps but cant help laughing also. You were so scared and wanted to call the guards. By the way he was my friend so why were you interrupting ;) The best part was the way we ran as soon as the movie got over.

Movies remind me of much more. I think we have made every movie a wonderful experience with something or the other happening.

• Sarkar Raj – nice comedy! Yah I know you will agree with me on this ;)
• Aamir – Rushed to Nehru Place to watch it but since we were kinda broke, din feel like spending 400 bucks. And so went to Just Parathas instead! Hey hey…phir wahan bhi toh kitna drama hua tha J Remember the police walas and how we were standing along with them. We sure did look like criminals to anyone passing by, not that there were many at that time of night. Lol! And police uncle ne bola, lemme get you girls an auto. But unko dekhke toh saare auto waale dur se hi U-turn maar rahe the. The walk down the drak empty road around midnight was kinda frightening. Finally managed to get an auto and got back home. But the action was not over yet and more was to come the next day.
• Mere Baap Pehle Aap – Just a day b4 we had dropped the plan of watching Aamir coz of the financial crunch, and for what? To watch this shady movie just the next day. The only consoling factor was that we were watching it in Select City Walk. But do you remember how we landed there? Remember we were at Ansal Plaza – had gone to the Vodafone Store as my calls were barred. Who kaam bhi nahi hua tha plus we were both hell bent upon watching Aamir. So we explored various options where it was playing. There was a show at 3Cs in Lajpat and we rushed, only to find that my brother had mistakenly given us the wrong info. Grrhh… only made me more determined to watch it. Oh you had also called Bhaiya there. Was meeting him for the 1st time and what an impression he had of us together (Hey thinking of him reminds me of ‘Pairi pauna’ and the SILENT conversation to check your mobile phone outside A2B) Anyway we decided to go to Saket to watch the movie. But seems like we were no destined to watch that movie. Got no tickets. Was so irritated and just wanted to watch any goddamn movie. And that’s how this movie happened. Bhaiya ko kitna irritate kiya than na! And yes must admit this was a perfect movie to watch after all the confusion and running around. I had fun watching it.
• Hancock – Now if we were both watching a movie, something had to happen. And this time it was just unnecessary commotion. The outcome – despite being present at the theatre, we only saw the movie post-interval. Shit I am barely late for movies. I’m the sort who likes to watch the initial advertisements too. And missing half the movie, that’s just not me. Lekin hum saath the toh gadbad toh honi thi.
• Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na – I think this was one movie where there was no confusion, drama or action. This time it was pre-event (for me) and post-event (for you). And yes I remember it was my ‘no occasion’ treat to you :) Nice movie, nice watch.

Okay, this will surely take more time. There are so many incidents – office and the fun there, the enjoyment in Green Park particularly CCD, the maiden JNU visit and much more. So will continue it in the next post :)

And miss you a lot sweetie. I really really had an amazing time with you. Just absolute fun. Like you said we are both of a similar nature and that's why we clicked. Love you. Keep Rocking!