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Reviews
Laapataa Ladies (2023)
A must watch for everyone
I was hearing a lot of chatter about this movie and finally decided to see it. And boy, what a brilliant movie it was. The best thing about this movie is, it doesn't cater to any form of extremism or one sided blind narrative. It puts up the whole thing as it is, without any bias or prejudice. Had this movie been biased, even Deepak and his family would have been shown as a torturer, all male characters would have been evil, the girls would have been exceptionally downtrodden and what not.
But no, this movie choses reality and real problems, over ideology and ideological problems. This movie shows how the society has been hatching this grand conspiracy against women since ages. How if given a chance, women can also rise and shine. The journey of both women is inspiring. It is only after they come out of the regular path of life and get lost, they find the real way. So, I guess getting lost sometimes can be a blessing. At the start of the movie phool couldn't even look past her shoes and didn't even know the name of her own village. And at the end, she makes a solo journey in the train with the winds greeting her for her newfound freedom. By the end of the movie, we see how her ghunghat, the symbolism of bondage, slowly and carelessly slips off.
Jaya had a different journey and she too was rewarded for her courage at the end. Deepak was very sincere, honest, and sober throughout the movie. And Ravi kishan really did a brilliant job. Especially the ending sequence in the police station, he pulled it off very nicely.
Overall, the movie is must see to understand our patriarchal mindset. India as a country, on the outset is slowly shedding off the coating, but inside, it's still that old India. The current political regime has a huge contribution to this. They are proudly bringing back that which we get rid off after struggle of hundreds of years.
Such is there mindset that even this mild movie would hurt their ideology. Thus, Kiran Rao took 2 very nice steps. She set the movie before 2014 and cast Ravi kishan. This made the movie immune from the party.
Overall, great direction, tight screenplay, and amazing performances. A must watch.
The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
A complete movie
I just watched Shawshank redemption. It was bloody bloody amazing. This movie just redefines what freedom means, what hope is, the current situation of ours and everything else.
I just love the character of andy. He shows the power of love for freedom. All of the people have resigned to their prison life. They don't even dream what's outside. They become "institutionalised". So much so that, once they breakout, they just can't bear the uncertainty and thinks about how to get inside again. Brooks just commited suicide.
On the other hand, Andy, he never lost hope. Even though movie uses the word hope, I would like to use the word "love". He never gave up on his love for freedom, even though if it takes 20 years to achieve. He kept working throughout that 20 years, with the patience only a true lover can afford to have. And his love, his love for his own freedom brought freedom and wellness to others as well. In the outside, he was in prison, in the inside, he was always in unison with his love, that didn't let him break like others. After playing the music, when he was talking about something inside that the others can't get at, it was "love" he was talking about.
Most of us are like those prisoners only. We have resigned to a life devoid of love. So much so that we wouldn't really know what would we do it we were free. We find ourselves more at home in the prisons. Neither we have the love nor the determination to fulfill it. Andy shows us the way. Andy shows us the way.
And yes, it's one of the few movies, that I rejoiced moment by moment. There are very few movies that doesn't hold you through half of the movie just to get to the other half. The screenplay is brilliant in that regards. Also, it's one of those fewer movies where you don't feel odd at anything at all. Anything. Everything feels perfect. I just have nothing to add or reduce. Goddamn this movie deserves all the stars I have got!
Dead Poets Society (1989)
Every teacher must see this!!
Wow, what a beauty. I am in love with Robin Williams. The casting was great! All the characters played out so so well. This was such a heartwarming movie. I am in awe of its beauty. Mr. Keating proves to be a real teacher. Who doesn't teach you to pass exams, but to live through life. He doesn't lend you the thought of others, neither of his own, but makes you invoke your own thoughts. He individually takes care of the requirement of all children. Above all, he breaks them out of the bondage of conformism. He makes them think for themselves. The ending scene is really amazing where we finally see the students acquiring a voice of their own. And once you are with such a man, sure there are going to be casualities. Charlie got expelled and Neil commited suicide. Now, I am not in support of Neil and would have wanted him to deal the matter more carefully. But what we don't realise is that he commited suicide only because, for the first time in his life, he felt alive. He might have breathed had not met Keating, but surely breathing doesn't tantamount to being alive. How he breaks the mould of Todd's character, it's brilliant.
I just remembered that AP says that you lose not if you are on truth's side but when you aren't on truth's side completely. Watching these movies, if someone took some steps out of herd and laments in life later, comparing to those who continued with the herd, that simply means he isn't on the side of truth completely. Both are lost, just that one is getting more compensation than the other.
How could the one on the side of truth lose? He could die, maybe very early for that matter, but never could lose.
Whiplash (2014)
Brilliant
It's a brilliant movie. What i love the most about the movie is the great personification of love and passion. By both the lead characters. How when one falls in love with something, he is ready to give his life for it. There are 3-4 scenes which immortalises this movie :
1) when he keeps playing drums until his hands start bleeding.
2) He tells his girlfriend he can't continue the relationship because he has got to pursue drums.
3) When he meets an accident but instead of thinking about anything else, the only thought in his mind is how to reach the show venue.
4) I have an interpretation of the end scene. It might be right or wrong. JK hates the boy like anything and makes great arrangement to humiliate him. But the moment he sees he starts playing the right music, he forgets all together about his plan and instead starts giving out the instructions. His love for music turns out to be much more powerful than his jate for the boy. I love this scene.
Now, as to the debate whether toxic teachers are good or not, I don't know. But I think toxic or non-toxic, passion must be there for sure.
And finally, what to say about performances. It's just menacing.
Jojo Rabbit (2019)
Such a heartwarming movie
Everybody says this is a comedy movie but I find it much more heartwarming than comedy. The screenplay and dialogues has been nailed. That's how you create a screenplay that can hold you tight even without showing any extravaganza. I think this movie would be a perfect study for those looking how to make a gripping movie.
The forefront of the movie is guarded by its cast. Stellar stellar performance, by that Lil kid, taika, yorki, captain Rockwell, Scarlett, that Jew girl and everybody else. Then, how the writer presents the Hitler's propaganda machine in such a humourous way. How children are mind washed, how they are taught to kill, how the Jews are villanised. And the conversations between that kid and Jew was top notch. The humour presented through the innocence of the child, hitler parody, yorki, captain Rockwell stands high.
Overall, a really well made movie that's not a minute longer than it needs to be. I wish to see more movies like this.
Deadpool (2016)
That's how you make an entertaining movie
Well, just because I have given 8 stars doesn't mean this movie is at par with all other movies I have given 8 stars. It just means that this movie amazingly excels at what it "intends" to do. That's how you make an entertaining movie. There are so many movies which claim to be entertaining but all they supply is cringe in the name of entertainment. I really love the acting, the screenplay, the comic timing and just everything. I watched the Hindi dubbed version and dialogues are very very intelligent and dubbing by sanket Mhatre is amazing too. I wish he only dubbed Deadpool 2, but I will watch that in English now.
Awaara (1951)
Definitely one should watch this
I wonder at a fact that, at that time, films were much more meaningful than today. This film addresses a very fundamental social question, are criminals born or made? The main protagonist believes that criminals are born criminals and that's why he keeps asking every child his father's name. And as fate would have it, his own son turns out to be a criminal when he was taken away from the social status of his parents. Through the character of Raj, we get to know how the society itself gives rise to criminals and then damn them for the same. The movie shows that when a criminal doesn't even want to remain a criminal, how his past and society haunts him and doesn't let him live in peace. What I also liked that inspite of all this, this movie doesn't justify crime. Even though Raj gives justification of him being a criminal, he never justufies his crime and is happy to pay the price for his deeds. Great performance by everyone. A must watch.
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014)
Brilliance cast in stone
What an amazing movie. I completely loved it. It goes on a long long path compared to a simple 1st movie. This movie takes on all the deep subtle philosophical themes that lacked in the 1st one. It was 2 hours of pure emotional trauma for me. This movie is filled with greatness, epicness, philosophy and subtelity. Caesar comes forth as a force to reckon with. This movie explores the themes of goodness, hurt, hatred, egosim, selfishness, betrayal, revenge, realisation, and above all, heroism. The human characters are very well developed. The character of Koba was very well developed too. I just love the calm and wisdom of Maurice. I would recommend everyone to watch this movie. This movie shows what happens when you are deeply hurt, when you can't let go of your hatred, what becomes of you. This also shows how we tend to our selfish desires in the name of greater good. A must watch!
Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)
Simple, straightforward movie
It's a simple, straight movie. The movie doesn't do anything great and sticks to the course of any normal mediocre Hollywood flick involving animals. I felt that given the plot, there was so much potential to develop subtle philosophical plot points such as animal cruelty in labs, speicism, racism, man-animal relationship, development of consciousness, self awareness and so much more. But the movie simply avoided them without taking any pain. It's just a okayish entertaining movie you can watch in your passtime. But the second movie is great, much much greater than this. Do watch that movie for sure.
War for the Planet of the Apes (2017)
Beautiful, without any purpose, any consequence
After the great 2nd movie, I had hopes riding high for this one. But what a mess it turned out to be? It's one of the most lousiest story writing I have ever seen. They had such a grand setup to build anything they wanted and they came up with this senseless story? The 3rd movie doesn't take the story forward any more than the 2nd one. It seems that the director, adamant to prove the presence of the subtle themes (that are in fact not even very intelligent), does away completely with other epic story telling elements. If I don't view it as a movie about apes, but rather a personal journey for Caesar, even then it sucks. Caesar, blind with hate, becomes Koba, realises it through the kindness of little girl, still chooses to be Koba, and then suddenly transformed. The humans in this movie have no personality, no purpose, other than serving as a plot for Caesar's self journey. The whole mutated virus idea and the colonel thing was so gross stupid. The character of colonel not developed at all. The movie just keeps on dragging and dragging with nothing ever happening at all. It's filled with long still shots with no purpose whatsoever, no dialogues, no bg music, just indulge in the artistry of the scene. At times, losing my patience, I had to forward the movie. It's not that I don't watch these kind of movies. But POTA doesn't warrant that kind of treatment. I don't know. Maybe it was a great mistake by Reeves or a purposeful undertaking to be called auteur by doing away the epicness of a epic franchise making something pretentiously subtle. A big let down from the 2nd one.
V for Vendetta (2005)
Must watch for everyone
This movie should be watched by everyone. It contains really amazing concepts and some noteworthy scene. My favourite scene is that of rebirth of Evey (Natalie Portman). How she goes through facing her fears and finally she becomes fearless, and thus free. I liked about the note on integrity that she recieved. That was really moving.
Also, despite having a singular face, how we can feel the emotions of V is really amazing. I loved his characteristisation and character arc. His death scene was also beautiful.
The reason why I have given 7 stars is:
1) I think the screenplay and cinematography could have been better. Screenplay wasn't very indulging.
2) The most noteworthy thing about the movie, the concept, is taken from a comic, which I want to read now.
3) The world building as well the philosophy of V could have been better developed. It might not be hammering for an absolute begginer.
V for Vendetta!!!!!!!!!!!
Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
Didn't live upto hope
I had heard just so much of star wars ever since eternity and I directly saw the movie regarded as the bestest in the entire series. But man....it was so underwhelming. Not saying it was a bad movie. But nowhere near the status people portray it to be. It was like your another science fiction coming off a story thought by a bunch of fascinated teens with passion to create something fantastic and stylish but without some actual depth. I guess, maybe it was a great movie in 1980, for people of that time. But me having seen movies like Dune (which had so much more depth, more human, not mere fantasy but conveying reality) and man of Steel, this didn't make much sense of it. Just a okayish "entertaining" time pass movie.
So, from one movie, what I get is, star wars was back then what Marvel is now. A gigantic lore with some really amazing characters (no doubt about that. Yet the movie is not human because all the characters are just one directional and single layered) with the sole purpose of movies being immature entertainment. I predict that just like Marvels, down the line, star wars will be directed not by directors with individual vision but by those who serve to the fans vision and also I believe I am going to see a lot of fan service as well. Let's see if my prediction comes which I will know once I have seen the rest of the movies.
It just makes sense even seeing the 1980 film that Disney took over star wars. The brand Disney has been stamped all over it ever since then. I just wondered that people called it one of the darkest movies in series, when it's not even near what a "dark" movie is.
Even on the entertainment front, I was not thouroughly impressed. But it's at least good in that segment.
Overall, seems like a good movie for your kids.
Masaan (2015)
When heart is casted unto a filmroll
Masaan, a movie that both disturbs and soothes you simultaneously. It never let you go off the track either way. It keep holding you, caressing you, while still carrying the reality to you.
First of all, biggest thumps up to cinematography. What an amazing camera work, shot angles, arrangement of on screen objects, colour grading, use of golden ratios, perfectly still shots, just amazing. I am in love with the camera work of this movie. One of the best I have ever seen. Camera work which doesn't unnecessarily excites you or pulls you into over dramatic shots, just like a silent spectator, capturing the events in great silently, in a beautiful solemn manner, not emphasising the presence of its own.
The screenplay is brilliant too. It just flows. And there's a certain integrity to it. One mistake that I did was I kept waiting for something to happen, some philosophy, some climax, some closure of story, but nothing as such happened and I felt weird. Then I realised that I expect every movie to give me some climax, some conclusion, deliver some philosophy at the end with probably a long monologue, or at least something that marks its end and the whole movie was an excercise of advancing towards this predetermined end. I just forgot that some movies are just meant to capture stories. Not every movie is made to reach some climax, that too necessarily in terms of clock. The screenplay of this movie just keeps flowing, from one scene to another.
Now, some specific things I would like to point out
1) Benaras : the way benaras has been picturised is amazing. Unlike other movies, there are no shots of benaras specifically and the city is neatly knitted under the story and always in the background. That makes it out of focus, yet present in the background always. Like an omnipotent existence that requires no special mention.
2) Societal judgement fear : How the fear of being judged and outcasted by the society for doing something immoral can ruin one's life and fuel one's ambition for escaping from that small rabbit hole.
3) Exploitation by corrupt system: As evident by the act of that merciless police even though he is shown to have a daughter himself and the news covered in TV of protest against dam project.
4) Entertainment in small-town: In small towns, people have nothing much to do, so they do have a lot of low cost entertainment, such as magic shows, those river races, cheap alcohol, gambling etc. That keeps their attention engaged all the while. And also, they become so happy at getting a job or having even a small but stable income.
5) Pankaj Tripathi: He played a very small but heartful role. Always keeping a smiling face and open heart, he seems very lonely and tries to get close to Devi in a very respectful manner. And when he finally looses his heart, Devi gets away, leaving him alone, in his life, as always. He is like that man in solitude whose petty problems of life (ie earnings distress) has been solved and now he goes through the crisis of loneliness.
6) Crematorium business: The cremation scenes are really beautiful. The fire and the scenes are shot beautifully. What we can see in the movie is how people have made a business even out of the dead. The heartless manner in which they quickly disposes off a body, breaks its skull, the way they treat a body like a commodity, is a little heartless to watch. But when Vicky gets to see Shalu's body, suddenly he comes alive out of his dead motion. But then, the others continue in their dead manner of burning the insignificant body while Vicky simply watches.
7) Vicky's redemption: The moment Vicky throws the ring in the river, that was the moment he decided to get over, but then he immediately jumps into the river to find the ring. That happens with almost all of us. But when he doesn't find the ring, he simply swims and swims and comes out and lies down. That was a cathartic scene, very well thought off.
8) Devi's redemption: Similarly, Devi was stuck with the guilt of that boy's death. And she wanted to talk to his parents. The shot where she finally goes to meet his parents, the camera keeps focused on the house from outside, showing us no inside visuals, was very beautiful. Even though she faces flak from his dad, and she cries, it eventually releases her from the hold of his memory and she can carry forward with her life again.
9) Sanjay Mishra and the ghat child : Sanjay Mishra has played the role of father really well. What I liked the most was his relationship with the child who worked on his shop. I didn't get his purpose in the story. I didn't understand his relationship with Sanjay Mishra. But there was something very heartful about him. When he drowned trying to earn Sanjay some money and was later taken to hospital, and inspite of losing rs 10000, Sanjay hugs the child and cries, was such a beautiful scene. I think that's the moment he realises that how much the child means to him and feels guilty for misbehaving with him or using him to earn money. He doesn't talk with Devi a lot. So, this child is the only one who looks after him with demanding nothing in return, even risking his life to earn him money. This child cares with no pretense, no demand, has a very innocent childlike simplicity, and compassion. Even in the hospital bed, he asks if he has made him lost money and in the next moment, produces the ring he got from river bed in the hope that it will cheer up him. I just loved the role of this child.
That was masaan for me. It's not a grand movie with grand philosophies or blowing trumpets. It's a small story, with no cases to make, just to show whatever it has, with utmost sincerity. It's a tale that will, if at all, will be yours own, not an event to be celebrated, but simply a happening to be cherished.
Sardar Udham (2021)
Excellent movie
Writing the review after a long time watching the movie, so I don't remember much.
Only that true acting of Vicky, the cinematography was par excellence. I felt the movie had lot of English dialogues. But it is obvious for a movie made with authenticity and not for crowd pleasing.
Now, the story inspired me. How a single purpose can drive a human being, making him forget everything but his purpose. Whether the objective of his was justified or the best way to contribute to Indian freedom struggle is a matter of debate and there will be arguments from both sides. But what can't be questioned is his will and determination fuelled by his angst. Brilliance.
Swades: We, the People (2004)
A perfect textbook movie
Swadesh is a perfect textbook movie. Great cinematography, some nice performance, unique characters, supporting BGM, and a very controlled screenplay. I felt it's a kind of a movie to be studied in a film school where you would download the script and analyse scene by scene (quite like good will hunting). The movie completely play by the rules of how a perfect movie has to he made. The movie is completely organic, all its comedy, all its emotions. It's as if director is almost absent. As if just real happenings are being filmed by someone. There's no unique signature or extremity of any of the element. Just a simple plain perfect textbook movie. A movie someone extremely careful person would make, keeping no space for any potential fault. Despite being an ardent patriotic movie, this movie doesn't try to even make you hyper emotional about your nation. Even nationalism is quite placid in it. A movie watered down enough to hit the mark of simplistic perfection.
Now, whether it's a merit or demerit is a matter of personal preference. Why I gave only 4 stars is because of the philosophy that the movie tries to embody. Yes, a very politically correct nationalism. And I am a nationalist by no means. Had SRK returned to India for his personal love and not out of moral righteousness, I would have been perfectly alright. But the movie tries to give it a moralistic stand. At least that's what the majority of the viewers would infer.
I was dumbstruck when the movie ended with SRK returning to India. I was like, was this the end movie was advancing all this while. Somewhere during the movie, I felt like srk would start something revolutionary, do something revolutionary and that would have been amazing. But the purpose of the whole movie was just to make him return back to India? That's the message of the movie and why it's lauded so much.
I remember melaram dialogue, "apne Ghar ka Diya dusre ke Ghar ko roshan karta hua acha nahi lagta" That's why I said movie makes it a moralistic stand. So, I guess the main lovers of this movie aren't the actual NRIs rather those who spite at the NRIs for leaving India (cough... jealous... cough).
Textbook movie, pathetic philosophy.
Rang De Basanti (2006)
One of the best movies I have seen in my lifetime
This is how a film is made! This deserves to be called a film! As a director, you come up with an idea you are very convinced it and give your life to convert it into a cinematic masterpiece. The director is really profound is technical movie making and the movie end up striking a chord with our heart. He has dealt the whole topic so sensibily, never becoming preachy, never taking a single stance and dealing the topics with great subtelity. It's so paradoxical that a great patriotic movie like this has the highest chances of being labelled as "anti-national". That just shows the depth of directors vision.
There are so many subtle moments in the movie that are beautiful beyond description. I am amazed at the screenplay and editing. How beautifully they blend the past and present that it never feels out of sync. Nothing can be said about performances
And the most beautiful thing is that director respects this movie. There is fun in the movie, a lot of it. It makes you laugh, it makes you cry, and fills your heart. But never does it induce fun at the cost of sincerety, those cheap out of context moments that have become the staplemark of recent movies. Even the fun moments add up to the script and not an a deviation. Similarly the director let go of so many potential "payoffs", which have become the staplemark of so called serious movies and this really surprised me. Especially, the reconciliation of laxman and Aslam could have been so dramatised. Similarly, their death moments. But director chose sincerity over entertainment and cheap emotions.
Only climax of the movie is something that I am not very convinced with. I believe they could have been more thoughtful. But it doesn't matter. I forgot to mention how beautifully they recreate the entire historical event in the present context, also blending some scenes with it, it was just pure beauty.
Really in love with this movie. In today's India, it's impossible to release movies like these. It's after a long time that a movie left a lasting impact on me and made me actually think. I felt the intensity within.
And yes, the visuals, the songs, the lyrics, the dialogues, everything was so perfect. My respect for AR Rahman broke the ceiling this time. Simply brilliant.
Thank you Rakesh omprakash mehra for creating this masterpiece. Thank you.
Shichinin no samurai (1954)
I get why people admire Kurosawa so much
It's a cinematic movie. Even though it's 3.5 hours long, the movie never feels desperate or lagging. It goes at its own ease, slowly building block by block, every character, every story element. And before judging the movie, keep in mind this came in 1954 and did many things for the first time which are common now due to copy of this movie only. The plot points made common by this movie include
- team assembly for a mission
The cinematography is simply brilliant. The b&w looks beautiful. All the characters are developed so well. I felt awe at how they even captured all that action involving so many horses and all.
Now, the things missing from movie (not movie's fault. I have been spoilt by recent movies)
- Very balanced in its approach. No scenes of heightened emotions or heroism. Even those scenes that had this potential, such as death or victory, were dealt in the same way as other scenes. It seems no scene was tried to be made special.
- We could have got so many stylized moments, heroic moments, and what not. But the movie chose to stick to pure cinema mode.
But seriously a brilliant movie.
Good Will Hunting (1997)
It's a movie-movie
First of all, it's a movie-movie. Like a proper movie. How you expect a movie to be. In the age of pop cinema, cringe scenes, fan service movies, movies made in a weird way, if I was asked which movie feels like really a movie, good will hunting will surely be on that list. A movie that's so coherent in each of its department and none tries to make an individual impact. The acting, cinematography, editing, story progression, everything is just so soothing. I really liked the movie as a movie.
Then why 5 stars? Because I have problem with the philosophy that the movie proposes. Or with the fact that the movie is simply oblivion to the philosophy that it proposes. The story of the movie doesn't make sense to me at all. It's as if director got so busy with other things that he forgot the core of the movie somewhere along the way. It's as if , if you ask him, he wouldn't have much to say either.
A genius person with childhood trauma. But no redemption, no achievement, his final decision of life being chasing a random girl he met? His character was designed well but unfortunately it had no arc. Starting off amazingly, the movie ends as if it was written by two teens in their pastime.
De Dana Dan (2009)
Below average comedy
Even though directed by priyadarshan, it's a very underwhelming comedy movie. The story is very average and the movie starts to bore you since the beginning. It's only in the second half that the movie picks up some pace. There's no doubt that the writing is super intelligent. The way the stories of different characters interwoves and still the movie continues without complicating things a lot, is a feat in itself. They tried to create a huge comedy of error. Unfortunately, they managed to craft a brilliant piece of errors, intelligent errors, but failed to convert those errors into comedy. The means used to resort to comedy are very childish. Such as someone Falling, or some stupid thing happening. The situational comedy, that arises automatically out of situation of error without any forced behaviour is very little. Most of it is forced and it seems all the characters are shouting loudly throughout the movie. Overall, a movie you will love if you laugh at stupid comedy.
Dunki (2023)
This doesn't seem like a Rajkumar Hirani movie
The lack of vidhu Vinod Chopra was quite clearly evident. The whole movie was a drag. The screenplay was very poor. Acting was poor. Srk was doing his own mimicry. Vicky kaushal's career best performance my foot. Comedy was forced and stupid, of Kapil Sharma show level. 1st half was almost unbearable. 2nd half grew in terms of drama and emotions. Only the part where they return back to India seemed to have some life in it. You almost never care about anyone or anything in this movie. Neither Hirani it seems. The movie seemed to be a very casually undertaken project. As if Hirani worked on it as a side project. Overall, a big let down. May work for the NRIs down away from home or actual immigrants but not for the general audience at large.
Dil Chahta Hai (2001)
3 hours of mindless, senseless, brain-numbing torture!
Wow, what the heck was it? Is it one of the cult classic with IMDB rating of 8.1? I genuinely suspect the taste of Indian audience. It was a 3 hours of soap opera with worse screenplay and worst editing. It was a huge torture. At one point, I couldn't even bear to continue the movie but somehow managed to finish it. It's a story about 3 senseless youth who keep falling in and out of love (I pity the fact that I have to use the word "love" here. This movie was a mockery of this term). Belonging to ultra rich parents, they have nothing else in life to do other than chasing girls. And the movie portrays this joke in such a serious manner. Lines like "Pyar soch samajh ke nahi, bas ho jaata hai" and innumerable monologues about pyar, pyar, pyar, pyar...God it was tiring! And did I mention the fact that it was all senseless? Anyone with even slightest understanding of life will see the garbage this movie advocates. God help them who are inspired by this movie!
The movie seems like it was written by 2-3 aimless drunkard college friends in a lock-up after being caught for taking drugs and teasing girls. Aamir Khan and his eyes were damn irritating in the movie. Saif was confused. Akshay Khanna somehow saved the grace through his screen presence.
What the hell just happened in the movie in those 3 hours? The story is just going and going and going without any destination and that too on a ugly path. Indian soap operas are better than this. Remembering this movie, I could only remember the countless pyar..pyar..pyar...pyar and a lot more pyar. I pity the youth who are inspired by this movie. I seriously pity them. One of the worst movies I have ever seen! Period.
12th Fail (2023)
Vidhu Vinod Chopra has got some real movies up his sleeve
Wow! This is one of the rare movies that actually made me cry. Tears were rolling down my cheek by the end of the movie and head was heavy with dizziness. Keeping philosophy of the movie aside, as far the cinema is concerned, it was an absolute brilliant. I would say that not only Vikrant Massey but all of the actors did phenomenal work. The innocence of Medha Shankar is enough to make anyone fall in love with her. BGM could have been a little better. Cinematography is nice and overall, movie sticks to realistic plane.
The story that shows the story of struggle and success touches you deep within. You feel for the character since the beginning and celebrate his success as if he were your peer. The bonding the character manages to develop is amazing. We want him to succeed. And at the end, when he indeed successes, what a beautiful scene it was. The way both he and Shraddha rolls down crying. The way Manoj goes back to Dushyant and thanks him, the way he calls his mother, the way his father feels proud. It was all so great.
Another scene that stuck with me was, when a character fails his 6th attempt, he opens his tea stall and start guiding others. It was so easy for the director to show that he committed suicide, after all the buildup that the movie attributed to him. But it was a nice gesture. But then there is a scene where that tea wala bhaiyya lectures the English medium student. That felt a bit too over the top and unnecessary.
Romanticise upsc
Imaandari
English medium look down upon
Now coming to philosophy, this is where I have got some problems with the movie. In my eyes, the movie unnecessarily romanticises UPSC and works as a motivation detox. I am not a huge advocate of motivation industry myself. So, I didn't find the motivational undertone very becoming of the movie. The movie stresses that one should never give up and should always restart and that is all fine, but without a proper subject and rational of thought, this becomes just blind motivation.
Then, the whole subplot about honesty. I guess the movie handled it nicely and neither became a cynic nor too preachy. I thing I didn't like that the movie glorified the poor while showing a negative sentiment for the English medium privileged kids. Honestly, I am quite fed up of this constant undertone in all Bollywood movies. Indeed the poor ones who makes lot of struggle to make ends meet and yet continue their battle deserve our utmost respect, but if the means to glorify them is to look down upon the privileged ones by showing the stereotypical rich rude kids, I don't think it's justifiable. Both rich and the poor has got despicable people that has nothing to do with their economical status. So, I didn't find it very welcoming from a director of the intelligence of VVC.
Keeping these nitpicks aside, this is indeed a very well made movie glowing with the extravaganza of heroism. If you liked superheroes in your childhood, this is the one movie you should look up to.
Rockstar (2011)
Shows that even a love story could be well made
Normally, I am not a fan of rom-com genre since it's dominated by Bubba filmmakers and chapri films. But once in a while, we happen to get someone like imtiaz Ali. His love stories are a notch above than his nibba contemporary film makers. The blend of symbolism and Sufi mysticism into his stories is a breath of fresh air. Same is true for Rockstar. It is both a love story and something beyond it at the same time. Overall, the way the movie is shot will keep you engaged and hopeful. However, I feel that Ranbir becoming Rockstar is not properly portrayed as the movie skips some bits in his journey, leaving you wondering about the connection between two consecutive scenes.
The album - any words could do no justice to it! I used to think AR Rahman is overrated. Now I don't. Irshad kamli penned magical verses.
My favourite scenes from the movie
- when singing sadda haq, ranvir screams about some "parindey" who left when the jungles were cut and cities established. The song next to that is "O nadaan parindey Ghar aaja"
- In the beginning of the movie, ranbir tries a lot to break his heart so that he can become a successful Rockstar. But at the end of movie, when nargis is in hospital, he tells his manager "Mereko bada aadmi nahi Banna, par dil nahi tutna chahiye khatara bhai, dil nahi tutna chahiye" with tears in his eyes.
Also, cinematography was beautiful. Overall, I would consider Rockstar as one of the better rom-com movies of Bollywood.
Karwaan (2018)
A light hearted movie need not be brainless
Wow! I always had the notion that a light hearted movie has to be cringe and brainless. But good god! No it wasn't. Rather, it was quite intelligent and self aware in its own way, without trying to push the boundaries of throught for the viewer unnecessarily. The whole movie was gave such a cozy, warm, and comfortable feeling that one wished one could almost sleep as the movie progressed. Even though the movie was about a road trip, the movie is not tensed in a way as if hurrying towards a conclusion. Each scene was super relaxed and comfortable in its own way, almost effortless. Bad movies leaves a bad aftertaste, good movies leave us wanting for more. But this movie was so complete that one didn't feel any residue upon its completion, either good or bad. It was a movie not to carry beyond but to live with it. Live, and consequently even die with it. Great movie, picking out shortcomings would be a disservice to my own sense of joy after watching it. A must watch.