Movie review: TAMAASHA

An Imtiaz Ali film warrants a watch. His storytelling and narrative has always been novel and many a times quite non-obvious
And when he teams with AR Rahman, Ranbir and Deepika, even at worse,it would still be a decent watch.
TAMAASHA then, is a fairly inconsistent film which with all its blemishes deserves to be seen. It might be unfulfilling, unsatisfactory and even drives home the same Imtiaz Ali message, yet it is not at all disappointing.
With its heart at the right place, one is more than willing to condone the irregular beats.

Rat-race can take a man from you, transform you into a machine and gradually drain you off emotionally. The materialistic need overpowering the elemental emotions.
Also,True love can show you your true self. Running away from the daily chores actually brings you closer to your self.
These messages formed the backbone of earlier Imtiaz's films and this movie too works on the same tangent.

There is a lot to like here if you are willing to invest yourself in the narrative. The crackling chemistry between the leads, brilliant music, and the genius of Imtiaz Ali on quite a handful of scenes.
The scene in which Ranbir and Deepika split, the scene in which Deepika persuades Ranbir to take her back, Ranbir's outburst in front of his Dad and many more emotionally move you. There are inventive presentations and some penetrating predicaments striking our hearts. The turbulence in Ranbir's life feels genuine, and his trauma feels relatable. His outbursts though feels contrived and uneven.

Ofcourse, the film suffers from a lot of self-indulgence and redundancy. The messages too,though well intended, are too many and poorly communicated. The predicaments of the protagonists lack the depth and on a few occasions even come across juvenile.

The performances as expected are powerful.Though Ranbir does a brilliant job, it is Deepika who steals the show with her big expressive eyes and an emotionally enriched performance.Many scenes work solely because of the maturity the lead pair brings to them.

Far from being thoroughly engaging and insightful, the movie sure has a large chunk which can be appreciated.

Do watch it.

Movie review :SPECTRE

Movie review: SPECTRE
There is one thing common between Salman khan in bollywood and JAMES BOND in Hollywood. Both are greater than their respective films. Their brand and reputation is larger than the movies they are a part of. Sadly though, On almost all occasions their movies are mediocre, hardly offer any novelty, are repetitive and so very predictable.

The new bond film: SPECTRE is not only predictable, it is dull and a big bore.
Gone are the days when spectacular locations around the world and a scintillating background worked for the BOND FLICK. The Bourne series and MI series provide all this accompanied by edge of the seat thrill.

Sadly here, there is no thrill, no nail biting narrative and absolutely no depth.
I am among the very rare breeds who are not fond of BOND films. They fail to excite me purely because the spy has it very easy. Troubled waters, but he rarely breaks a sweat and an edge of the seat Action thriller we are talking about.

The demeanour of BOND is the sole thing I love. His tuxedo is something to die for. But that is not enough to make your 200 bucks worth.

The BOND movies were never known for their emotional depth and we are perfectly fine with it. But the flamboyance is missing, the urgency is lacking and the coolness is a thing of the past.
No suspense whatsoever and even the Villainy is disappointing.

All in all, it is a below average film. Avoid it.

Movie review : PREM RATAN DHAN PAYO

Movie review: PREM RATAN DHAN PAYO

A Sanjay leela Bhansali wannabe that is old-fashioned, overly simplistic and too melodramatic.
Save for the last 20 odd minutes which has the signature Suraj barjatiya touch, most part of the movie (though pleasing to the eyes) is quite bad to your senses.

The Prince, with the swagger and style has the riches and the Pauper, with the heart and soul, has love to offer.
The message too is well intended: Family and love transcending every hatred.
But alas, all this thwarted by superficial writing and infantile treatment.

The problems are a plenty here.
The first half is a drag. Meant to be light and breezy, it turns out to be neither. Too many songs(none a chart buster or melodious), sporadic scenes, pedestrian comedy never giving the movie any steam to gather. The entire RAJGHARANA feels superficial and the characters mere caricatures. Visually stunning sets, brilliantly choreographed and shot song-dance sequences all ending up futile. The family clashes are way too shallow, the empathy and sympathy too naive and the screenplay weightless and cosmetic.

The second half too feels stretched and bogged down by lack of emotional depth.
The reunion of family members doesn't give you any high, the scenes failing to escalate any sentiments. Bits and pieces genius of Barjatiya gets diluted by the entire superficial ambience.

To make matters worse, the casting is horribly wrong. Sonam kapoor, Neil nitin Mukesh are the worst possible actors to play these roles. The brilliant Deepak Dobriyal and Sanjay Mishra have no meat whatsoever in their roles. Anupam kher is left stranded (quite literally too) in this overbearing franchise.

Eventually as in most his films, it boils down to Salman Khan to save the day. He is earnest, looks a billion bucks and offer some relief in this overdrawn and tedious watch. I could sit the entire length just because of him.

But here is the catch. After all this overbearing and over enduring proceeding, the final 20 minutes might just suddenly transform your thoughts. Strangely, you might ignore and forget everything and feel good about the movie. Why? Because it made you cry, gave you lumps in your throat.
If that is all what you are looking for ( and Salman khan ) give it a watch.
Otherwise, Stay away.

Movie review: MISSION IMPOSSIBLE Rogue nation

Impossible is Tom Cruise failing to surprise us with his daredevil and almost life-threatening stunts. The recent MI franchise introduces him half adhering and half hanging to an airplane while it gets airborne. How he keeps pulling it off  at 53 is some mystery. But onscreen, it is exhilarating and looks nothing short of spectacular.

Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation is then, a fitting justice to its predecessors: it is thrilling, stylised and gives you just the adrenaline rush you are looking for. It follows the same formula as the earlier counterparts and emulates it with flair.

The film packs in every element to make it entertaining as hell. It absolutely wastes no time in introducing the menacing villain and quickly establishes the improbable tasks that lay at the forefront.

Barring the first franchise, which was quite intelligent and dense, all other flicks have emphasised more on edge of the seat action and nail biting thrill.To their credit, they have been very successful in mastering this art.

This movie too, has its share of some genuine tension laden scenario and some real adrenaline action sequences.Tom Cruise jumping into a large whirlpool and the entire underwater event is just fantastic. Another heart pumping action scene involving Tom Cruise on the motorbike is riveting too. Cruise on motorbike is sheer romance to the eyes.

The plot, for sure is not very smart, and doesn't offer any surprising revelations.
Nothing enlightening about the proceedings, but the fast pace, techno mumbo-jumbo and the relentless action never lets the interest dip. For almost the entire 2 hours, the viewer remains interested and engrossed. There is hardly any loss of steam and the pace stays brisk throughout.
A special mention for Rebecca fergueson( the dubious spy), she looks gorgeous and is fantastic in her action strings.She is way way better than any bond girls we have been witness to.

Finally, it was heartening to see a climax which was character dominated and not CGI driven. No mayhem and no chaos. Only one man to another. More effective for me this way. Though many would disagree, I was quite relieved.

In the end, the film entertains you to the hilt and satisfies your expectations. Go get your money's worth.

DRISHYAM : Movie review

Family comes first.They always do.They are a pivot on which our lives revolve. Family lets you stand put on slippery ground and manages to keep you afloat even in troubled waters.
It is also the family which gives you the strength to take on the world.
And so, Most often in matters concerning our own blood, the line between right and wrong becomes blurred significantly.

In DRISHYAM too, a man stands firm and stands strong for his family and makes every possible attempt to prevent them from any harm.
The movie then, though unsteady and crude in its execution, just about manages to hold your attention owing to its robust story and a quite strong second half.

Very seldom it happens that the two halves of a film are poles apart, both in terms of the narrative and the execution. It is the content in the second half of the film which makes the film rise above its flaws.

The first half is a big dull. Meant to introduce the facets of the protagonists middle class affairs, it fails miserably. The emotional bonding of the family never truly surfaces and their sentiments never quite kick into our senses. The director, so it seems, doesn't trust our intelligence, and establishes facts which are so on our face.
The monotonous track tries hard to be simplistic but becomes awfully boring. The humor is non-existing, and the a lot many scenes are purely unnecessary. Music doesn't help one bit.

Just about time when you want to give up on the film, and moments before the intermission, enter the always dependable Tabu, her entry being by far the most stylish introductions of a female protagonist on screen.
The movie post intermission, eventually finds steam and keeps you hooked for its entire length. It works best when it stays true to its thriller element.
The entire cat and mouse chase is intriguing as well as entertaining. The game of wits between the cop and the illiterate man is a lot of fun. The pace is good, and though it isn't nail biting, it surely is very gripping.

Barring the character of Tabu, every other character is badly written or underdeveloped. The biggest drawback is the character of Ajay Devgn. An illiterate man who plans and plots owing to his craziness for Cinema, his character comes off very one-dimensional. Ajay though, mostly makes it up with his convincing eyes.

If you end up on a high, probably you don't care much of what happened before the intermission. For the very same reason, the film scores and becomes an above average watch.
Not entirely disappointing. The content and the story will let you condone the below average narrative.

Movie review : BAJRANGI BHAIJAAN

Bonding with a child can make you do strange things, their innocence and vulnerability can bring out the best in you and many a times their despair and grief can stretch you to attain the implausible. In BAJRANGI BHAIJAAN, the same bond transcends all- caste, religion and even borders and transforms a simpleton into a messiah.

Usually, a Salman khan film does not necessitate an emotional and coherent plot. Commercially speaking, his movies are never in need of anything which even vaguely resembles a decent script.
His swagger and his demeanour is all his fans ask for, his pelvic thrusts and cheezy one-liners are what they throng in for. Paisa vasool for them, end of the story.

But this film displays a different him, he minus his flamboyance and swagger. He is no larger than life hero here who thrashes the daylights out of the bad guys, does not vocal his signature one-liners and never for once rips off his shirt for the audiences.
Instead, he plays ( or underplays) a naive, honest and earnest simpleton who keeps bowing in front of every ape in gratitude owing to his Hanuman worshipping. Still then, he brings an unmissable charm and sincerety to his character which gradually grows on you.

BAJRANGI BHAIJAAN, then, is a hypersweet, over simplistic and unabashedly massy portrayal of a man reuniting a mute six year old girl to her family in Pakistan.

The show stealer in this Salman khan film is strangely, not him. She is this super cute and adorable mute girl, played by Harshaali malhotra, whose charming demeanour and expressive eyes do wonders for the film. The film succeeds largely because of her and her predicaments. Her relationship with Salman khan is of essence here and their journey, though predictable, has its heart at the right place.

The intelligence is lowbrow here, but the intent is omnipresent. The cross border conflict is addressed very simplistically and is way too contrived, but the message seems to make sense. The ideologies, religious practices and the socio norms all faintly dealt with, some work and most don't. But what for the most part works, is the fact that it projects love and peace as  strong forces. What makes the film rise over its flaws is the message it puts forth: compassion being a universal language and transcending every barrier.

The film also succeeds because of the infectious energy that Nawazuddin siddique brings to the forefront. Though he has his presence only in the second half, he is an absolute joy to watch. His timing and body language is both crackling and riveting.There are instances when the sheer talent and craft of Nawazuddin even overpowers the charm of Salman khan.

Every attempt is made in the long drawn climax to impact the tear ducts of the audiences and to the director's credit, it does work.You know the consequences,  you know what is to come and you know the result and yet you feel the lumps in your throat when it happens.

It is very tough not to like a film which makes you cry in the end. Over dramatic as it may seem, and way too loose and a tad too lengthy, but still this film is immensely watchable.

Movie review: BAHUBALI

Stunning visuals, technical splendour   and grandeur stylised execution. Add to it, the warmth of human sentiments and we have BAHUBALI : an epic, ambitious tale which stays with you long after you leave the cinema halls.

If you can't do much with the story, you better be good with the presentation. If the premise (the old good against evil) offers no novelty, make sure the execution is innovative. And this is exactly what BAHUBALI has in to offer. More so, it does better: enthralling you and captivating your senses for most part of the film's running time.

Great CGIs and VFXs alone are never instrumental in making a film work. They only complement and enhance a director's vision. And here we have, a visionary and enterprising director, who takes a routine revenge saga and transforms it into a colossal establishment. His synchrony with technology and tradition deserves special mention.

It is the sheer brilliance of the filmmaker, who, inspite of giving an over the top and a high decibel melodrama, infuses moments of genuine arousal and makes the viewer root for their protagonists. He understands his craft perfectly and knows exactly when to escalate the scene and the viewers mood.

The intermission point when Shiva holds onto the 50 feet golden statue from falling and in return the crowd responds by screaming 'Bahubali Bahubali ' in unison is absolutely riveting. It is a scene which is bound to make you stand up and applaud.

To be honest though, the film surely suffers from minor glitches.Not everything works and not everything sinks in too.The first half feels weighed down by its length and the silly love track hamper the proceedings further. The love story never picks up, looks contrived and even foolish. But then, there is much to savour even in scenes which are silly and inconsequential. Full marks to the director for having the intent and for trying.

There are glimpses and impressions of a handful of Hollywood flicks, but they are intelligently inculcated and sprinkled with original makeovers.

The final half an hour, depicting the battle is nothing short of astounding. Never redundant or repetitive, it throws in some of the best camera shots and makes in for a compelling watch.

Very few films warrant a sequel, and even few, deserves them. This one surely does.
Do not miss it.

Movie review: Dil Dhakadne Do

If it is a Zoya Akhtar film, it surely spawns great expectations. Her art of depicting and conveying human sentiments have always been unique and appealing.
Her outlook and perspective of the emotional turmoil, her staying away from the melodrama and her breezy and subtle presentation on celluloid has attracted and allured many, including me.
So, anything coming from her and not matching upto her credentials is a disappointment. More so, when it is her very own territory and when the ensemble cast is in prime form.

Dil Dhakadne Do, staged on a cruise takes off briskly but takes way too long to get to its desired objective. It has some brilliant moments along the way, but for most part it drags way too much for our convenience.

The Ultra-rich guild, with all their flair, flamboyance and charisma are plagued by a sense of self-obsession. Their demeanour is often peripheral and on occasions self-detrimental.
Preserving wealth at the cost of loosing family, Showcasing vanity with no obligation to modesty and caging all sorts of materialism at the cost of liberation.

But, inherently human emotions are the same everywhere.There is no demarcation between the affluents and the not so affluents when it comes to the matters of the heart.The feelings are on the same frequency, the susceptibilities too on the same forefront.

The film revolves around these very sensitivities and sensibilities of the human psyche.The narrative via an animal's perspective is perfectly apt and well thought of.
The conflicts are a plenty here: Self-made Billionaire struggling with his business and family, his subdued daughter in a scuffle with her marriage, a son in a dilemma to find a purpose, and many more.

But as they say, too many cooks spoil the broth.Each segment is dealt with superficially and lacks any actual depth and penetration.The entire perception to disputes and squabbles is devoid of novelty and the freshness one associates with Zoya Akhtar.
Hypocrisy, shallowness, self realisation all tagged with the 'been there and seen it all' attitude.

Sure, there are glimpses of Zoya's genius and a few moments of absolute brilliance making the film rise above its leisurely pace.
The scene where Priyanka is being confronted by everyone in the family on her decision of asking for a divorce is splendid and terrific.
The scene in which the entire Mehra family confronts each other in a medical room is hysterical and masterly done.

In the end, the film feels longer than its running time and a silly climax strikes a bad note too. If you are willing to condone the film's sluggish pace, you just might savour some bits out of it.

Movie review: Tanu weds manu returns

Small works when it stays simple, natural and doesn't try and act big. It becomes endearing when it is unpretentious and stays rooted.
TANU WEDS MANU RETURNS is one such sweet, ribtickling and harmless romantic comedy offering laughs consistently and orderly.

Sequels all over the world have a bad history. They somehow tend to be unimaginative and quite often seem redundant and repetitive. But this sequel does better. Infact much better than its predecessor. It brings freshness to a predictable story and stays funny and entertaining till the very end.

Small town love stories have their own intrigue and have a bizarre way of modus operandi. They seem to lack the basic sensibilities and understanding of a relationship. They appear chaotic, illogical and fogged by insanity. And  Anand Rai (director) understands the exact sentiment and skillfully masters the art of showcasing it on celluloid.

This film makes you laugh and laugh out loud. Weird characters, nonsensical situations and stupendous performances  makes for some great viewing.
The film succeeds largely because of its brilliant dialogues, great humor and magnificent acting. The dialogues are pure gems and bring the house down on several occasions. The humor, often in the most unexpected scenarios gets you the best laughs.The small town ambience, the natural flair and the desi flavour add warmth and charm to the ongoing proceedings.

The highlights are many and ROFL moments are plenty. The opening scene, though over the top, is extremely funny. The conversations between Madhavan and his father while his mother keeps uttering semi-audible vocals is hysterical.
Almost every second dialogue mouthed by Deepak dobriyal ( Madhavan's friend ) is side-splitting.
The confrontation between the two Kanganas is clapworthy and calls for a thundering applause. The end credits too are craftly done.

The film works largely because it doesn't take itself seriously and stays far away from self-indulgence. Minor contrivances and clichés weigh down the film somewhat, but in all the film manages to stay afloat maintaining the swift and breezy approach, never overstaying its welcome.

A last word for Kangana ranaut. She is exceptional and brings a terrific charm to both her characters. At times, she overshadows everything and in most cases, becomes bigger than the scene itself.

Go watch the film. Absolute paisa vasool

Movie review: Mad Max fury of road

A distant future, Desolated and deserted.
Barren, lifeless and hopeless. A bizarre state of ravaging people in command. Insanity all around. Any form of sanity only sticking out like a sore thumb.

MAD MAX gives you a gripping action adventure amidst a magical setting which is ridiculously entertaining and for most part,gets you sucked into it.

The world is all dust and dirt. But there is no alien invasion or extra-terrestrial force looming large and sucking life out of the people. No virus pandemic either and thankfully, no zombies.
Rather, a self afflicted and self-devastating ramifications bringing the world to a wasteland.

The plot- plain, linear and lucid. The protagonists on the run from a ferocious gang led by a man named Joe who happens to control the oil and water in the region.

But what makes it all roll, is the breathtaking and relentless action which is on display. Big and bombastic it is, absolutely original and raw. There are plenty of crashes, blasts, flames, men on poles swinging between vehicles, vehicles shaped like porcupines and more. There is hardly a breather in between as sand swirls around and storms engulf the area.
So much of mayhem, but perfectly orchestrated.

There is no sophistication and technical mumbo-jumbo on view, only hyperkinetic mechanical and brilliantly crafted chase sequences. All done with precision.

There is genuine urgency in the proceedings, minimal dialogues and no self indulgence whatsoever.

You seem to care for the protagonists, you want them to get away and surely, you want the wild and savage leader to be decimated.

Also, certain validations dealt with, though very faintly and vaguely. Firstly, The powerful and resourceful manipulating the commoners, more so in times of despair. Secondly, the elemental needs transcending all human emotions. Who has time for love or sympathy, when the entire essence is on survival.
Hope is to stay on, no matter how unfortunate the world seem.

In the end, it is a film not meant for everyone. Strictly for ardent action lovers and for people looking for unorthodox and inventive viewing.

PIKU: Movie review

And we assumed that an intelligent script and good writing in bollywood got lost in the woods. Thankfully, Piku reinstates the value of credible cinema and restores our faith in this promising enterprise.

The story of a cranky, cribbing widowed bengali father and his able, independent daughter;  Piku is an original, refreshing, endearing and straight from the heart tale which wins you hands down and never lets the smile fade away from your face.

The movie revolves around the eccentric relationship the father-daughter duo share, owing mostly to the abnormal bowel the father suffers from. The discussion is mostly regarding the cause and effect of the faeces, going to the extent of its texture and form. Gross and stinky it may seem, but far from it, the writing makes it charming and appealing. It is the sheer brilliance of the writing and the narrative which infuses so much wit and humor in the proceedings, never making the drama look repetitive, boring or even mildly annoying.

The first half is breezy and has many genuine laugh out loud moments. One or two are absolutely hilarious. A handful of dialogues are pure gems, the rest pretty relevant.

The second half, too has its moments of spark. The chemistry between Irfan and Deepika is a joy to watch, their romance intentionally staying away from the stereotypic clichés. All the characters written in pure flesh and blood, and magnificently enacted.

Though meant to be a swift harmless comedy, the film for me, on a personal level seemed layered with different strata:

Firstly, The character of Amitabh's Bhaskor Banerjee, with all of its obsession, reflects the ageing phenomenon as a sort of Deja vu: The declining years being just like the juvenile phase. Growing old to be a child again.
His selfish, stubborn, demanding and unapologetic demeanour is everything one associates with a child. A 70 year old being childish, getting older and longing for attention.
The film makes a very strong point on the ageing and ailing Parents, who long for the same affection and care they once showered on their children. Life, for them comes a full circle.They are not to be judged, just to be looked after and loved, not to be left alone, but tugged in close.

Secondly, There is a strong undertone of women empowerment in the manner Piku gets all her priorities straight. 'Financially independent, sexually active', Amitabh describes her, but she is so much more.
She knows her way in a man's world, is intelligent, understands her responsibilities and strikes a balance perfectly. The concern towards her father is one of the highlights. Never forced or melodramatic, the tenderness and care for her father is a pleasure to watch.

In the end, there is so much to love, and so much to enjoy. Nothing cosmetic, nothing flamboyant and nothing heroic. Just a warm and emotionally enriching experience.

Forget the constipation, this is pure roughage to your bowels
A must watch

Movie review : Gabbar is back

Corruption, so it seems, ain't dying anytime soon. Up until then, it only seems plausible that we take joy in watching it die on screen, time and again, subtly or forcefully. 

The movie Gabbar is back, is one such offering. Though it doesn't offer any insights or solutions we don't know of, nor it makes us stand up and take notice, and also does not make an everlasting impression on our minds, it still has its moments.
It feels rhetoric and clichéd too but most importantly, it works because it is
entertaining and unabashedly massy.

Gabbar entertains because it tries to stay honest, because the scenarios seem so relevant and because the mood it projects, is so easily relatable.
It works, because the protagonist preaches less, and executes more. And executes in a manner we want. It does so,  occasionly sprinkled with hard hitting dialogues and some flair.

'He is Gabbar not Gandhi' remarks a Policeman, at one point responding to the threat, and you can't help but chuckle in your seats. You know this, the feared fears the same fate, they fear the taste of their own medicine. The viewer loves when the untouchables get their egoes dented, when the affluents are taken down and even so when the dishonest and deceitful have every reason to panic and feel jittery. It is for the very reason, the movie scores above average points.

We all, inherently are fed up with our own existence and the prevalent disreputable system. So we seem to rejoice every time  the unholy system takes a beating. The film too banks the same emotion.
In one scene, the villain mouths, " humare tak logon ki arziyan pahunchti hai, awaaz nahi". Exactly, what we witness, exactly, what hurts us. Exactly what one feels sorry for and wishes to fight against.

The first half is breezy and has a handful of impressive pieces. The entire hospital episode where Gabbar deceives and tricks in the doctors to keep operating on a dead body is a delight to watch. Also there is much fun to be had, especially in a scene where the amoral government officials admit to their corrupt behaviour in order to avail police protection.

That is to not to say, there are no flaws in the proceedings, infact they are plenty. Not everything is exciting and not everything works.The characters are badly underwritten, the intelligence is lowbrow and the ramifications very poor. The dialogues, barring a few, are corny and makes you cringe. The constant screaming and imbecile behaviour of the police, a filthy item number pre-climax and a forced back story of the protagonist weigh the film down.
The entire second half is sluggish, predictable and stagnant. What should have escalated, both the mood and the consequences, is reduced again to the old 'One man army' form. The only answer our filmakers can come up with is the same old One man bashing, thrashing and punching his way out through the system. Can only a grief stricken man take on the system? Utter nonsense. Wit's end only this far?

What needed a mass movement and a  stimulating statement, instead falls flat and looks hurried and contrived.
Sadly, Gabbar stays only a filmy hero, never transforming into anything symbolic. In the end, this only makes for an average one time watch.

The film stays entertaining, but falls way short of greatness.

Pursuit of happyness : Moving and so relevant

Happiness is not mere an emotion, not just an expression but a state of being. A state where the mind and the complete self is in equilibrium, in complete sync with everything around.
What can guarantee you this happiness? 
Family, friends, spirituality, love? Arguably, Money. Money seems the primer, a facilitator, a primary foundation and more importantly a platform for pursuing happiness in any which form.

This mutualism between money and happiness makes me recall one of my all time favorite movie: THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS. It is a special film for varied reasons. It is about a homeless father who finds extremely difficult to make ends meet. He is a struggling salesman selling bone scanners and barely manages to make a living. He is pretty intelligent, just devoid of an opportunity. His responsibility towards his son further compounds his predicament.

The film is a deep insight on how a financially deficient man craves and longs for a decent living. Money for him is oxygen, a necessity for him and his son to exist. He doesn't want the riches of the world, he just wants a home to go to everyday. His emotional turmoil simmering underneath needs solace, solace only money can provide. He aspires to be happy, banking on money. Money kicking emotions?
Absolutely, The human emotions rub their shoulders to the materialistic facet.They only become relevant, when the elementary requirements are taken care of. The heart feels and the mind thinks logically only when one has the basic necessities covered. You only think of the world, when you have a roof on your head, meal in your stomach and money in your pocket. The entire rationality of our existence makes sense only when one is sure of his security the next day.

Speaking differently, The film projects the grit, the resilience and the never say die attitude of the protagonist. The odds are always against him but his determination is at display each moment. His efforts are inspiring, his mettle and tenacity unbreakable and his endeavours uncompromising. He is never found sulking, though tears roll down his eyes in despair, he is never found complaining, no matter how unfortunate the circumstances be. His immunity towards giving up is so very contagious. Every strength he musters feels so elevating.
No matter how hard life keeps hitting him, he still manages a few laughs for his son and carries the same honest and earnest approach to his work.
Your sympathy goes out to the man, your affinity towards the father-son team keeps growing, their every discomfort and distress hurts you and you get sucked into their lives. The biggest victory of the screenplay is that 'You' become 'them'.
There are instances when the viewer wants to give up, but the man doesn't.
A scene in which the father-son duo,  exhausted of all options, spend the night in a public toilet at a Metro station is absolutely heartwrenching.

The film is filled with deep, incisive and penetrating scenarios offering us to form an outlook and a perspective. The world is not forgiving, it shows no mercy. It has this pseudo charm, false sense of generosity. The only way to make a mark is to dig it out. You can't find a place to fit in, make one. And once you do, you feel happy.
The final scene is so emotionally stimulating, you just want to cry your heart out. The triumph is not only his, his rise as the Wall Street legend is symbolic, deeply invested within us for long.

Grab a DVD quickly,  if you haven't seen it yet. You won't want to miss out on this one.

Money will always be a dimorphic entity. It is a necessity in one form and a luxury in another. When one said, Money can't buy you happiness, he probably meant the luxury part. 

Money sure can't buy you happiness, but it can definitely provide you with the options and means to choose from. It functions in the form of an impetus, driving you smoothly in your pursuit for happiness.

Movie review : Avengers 2: Age of ultron

Superheroes saving the world never gets out of fashion and better still, never gets redundant. It is a delicious recipe for cooking some extravagant, imaginative and compelling storytelling, even though it gets outrageous and implausible many a times. Who cares even if it gets preposterous as long as it keeps delivering unabated fun.

Avengers 2, for the very same reason fuelled very high expectations. Also, an assumption that an ensemble superhero brigade that had such a marvellous beginning might just enhance their repertoire and surpass its predecessor.

The film, though far from being disappointing, falls short of its prospects. It has the same old strengths from the earlier franchise and even better: bigger spectacle , the stakes higher, the action enthralling but sadly, the premise offering no novelty, the consequences none, the tension miniscule and the end result: just about faintly tickling your senses.

The movie, for most parts, is enjoyable if you have your expectations restricted. There are moments of genuine humor, charismatic flair of protagonists, unusual but endearing romantic track and brilliant set pieces. Also, there is an absolutely brilliant action sequence which has the Hulk and Iron man battling each other out. Sheer joy to watch.

But rest just ain't stimulating. No urgency in the proceedings. Nothing captures your imagination and never for once, you feel the adrenaline rush. Cities being demolished, and you don't even feel an itch. Heroes saving the world, and you don't feel the triumph. There is fun but it feels adulterated.

You can't dismiss the director for not trying. He tries hard, gives every character ample screen time and even succeeds in giving each of them their characteristic charm. But he fails in keeping up with the flow intenity and above all fails to spring up any surprises.

Still, it isn't a bad way to spend your money and your time. For the franchise lovers, surely nothing to complain either.

Indian filmmakers to watch out for

A medium so captivating, a vessel so elaborative and an idea so poignant : Movies being one such enterprise, in all essence amalgamate all the above mentioned facets and hence weigh their worth in gold.
But more than movies themselves, it is in the cerebral hemispheres and the motor skills of brilliant filmmakers, where the talisman resides.
Good movies, like fine art crave for imagination and innovation. And who better than a filmmaker delivering the exact recipe, garnished with his exuberance and perception.
Movie making is no walk in the park. It is mentally, physically and financially exhausting. It demands a broad spectra of specialised skill and talent, microscopic view and magnified understanding of the subject and bucketful of temperament and patience.
Unlike art, movies are not exactly abstract and does not amplify via interpretations. But still, they are viewed and scrutinised, are subject to criticism and analysis, and eventually detested and applauded. A filmmaker, for the same reason, needs to strike a balance. He needs to be imaginative yet rational, innovative while being contemporary, he needs to be classy, yet target the masses. You might have a message but you can't be preachy. You need to make a point, but can't be in the face. You need to make a meaningful film, but it must also entertain.

An able filmmaker is a scientist in pursuit. His idea once reproduced, needs to be nurtured into a story and then developed into a film. The idea needs to function as a virus, replicating and spreading prolifically and targeting what it is meant to strike. His work needs to make sense and needs to be enjoyed by a wide array of the public. People need to Accept, their denial will be fatal.
Belief, trust and faith drives a credible filmmaker. Belief in his craft, trust in his endeavours and faith in his audience. Any of the virtues missing, writing pretty much on the wall.

Here are some Indian filmmakers who have shouldered the responsibility of good, sensible and engaging cinema. Personally speaking, these are a few rare species that have kept my hope alive in bollywood:
1.Rajkumar Hirani : The man is nothing short of a genius when it comes to movie making. He understands the pulse, the emotions and the sentiments of the Indian audience better than anyone. Be it the human connect, selfless warmth or the harsh reality, his sublime treatment makes for a compelling watch.
Man with the Midas touch.

His gems:
Munnabhai MBBS
Lage raho Munnabhai
3 Idiots
Pk

2.Shimit Amin: Powerful filmmaker who has carved a niche for himself with arguably the most brilliant films made in the country. His narrative style and shot taking are second to none. The urgency, the build up and the finale is all so very exciting.

His work:
Ab tak chappan
Chak de
Rocket singh: salesman of the year

3.Zoya Akhtar:  A cerebral filmmaker who understands the dark, visceral and obscure human psyche. Her films are a reflection of the modern society, with their promises and let offs, their credentials and debacles. All with her very own perception.

Her movies:
Luck by chance
Zindagi na milegi do baara

4.Vikas Bahl: Though only one film old, the man has been quite a revelation. His first and only movie Queen had almost everything from women empowerment to male chauvinism to hypocrisy and eventually culminating into a celebration of life.
Debut film:
Queen

5.Anurag kashyap: An unorthodox and inventive filmmaker whose unconventional approach on screen is a joy to watch. The rawness and streetsmart projection is his biggest forte.
His flicks:
Black Friday
DevD
Gangs of wasseypur
Ugly

6.Anurag Basu: A sensitive filmmaker who has mastered the art of exploring relationships and their adversity. Though many of his films have been bit of a mixed bag, one must not forget that he was the man behind the epic Barfi.

His films:
Barfi
Life in a Metro
Gangster
Kites

7.Imtiaz Ali: If it is a love story: nostalgic, intoxicating  or unconventional, it just has to be an Imtiaz Ali film. He has redefined romance and restructured the expression of love. His films are straight from the heart and absolutely liberating. 

His films:
Socha na tha
Love aaj kal
Jab we met
Rockstar
Highway

The sorry tale of Bollywood

Cinema in India is quite underrated, under-utilised and has always been below par. There is a huge disparity in what it could amount to be and what it has actually come to being. A medium of such enormous potential and far reaching implications has been reduced to a self indulgent, self righteous and an abominable caricature.

Great cinema, like all great art, can be a lot of things. It can be incisive,penetrating, thought provoking, insightful and even disturbing.It can be both, a representation as well as a reflection of us and the society we inhabit. A tool for improvement, a tool for improvisation but all only in the hands of an able maker.

Even if not so, it surely can be a stressbuster to our everyday chores and chaos: an entertainment entity which is both acceptable and easily accesible.

But the present scenario in bollywood is far from appealing, infact it is appalling. The current movies hitting the screens are puerile and abysmal. So much money at stake, so much propaganda and promotions , but so little to comprehend, and even so little to applaud.

They say, everything evolves for the better, but then what happened to our very own bollywood? Why is it still stuck? Worse, why on the wrong side of the curve?

Whom to blame? Us or them? The makers or the viewers? Are the Indian filmmakers really so non-cerebral and insensitive?Don't they know their audience? Don't they trust them and their intellect? Have they become so arrogant, nonsensical and have lost all moral obligations to the society?Have they hit a dead end? Loss of ideas, or just loss of intent? Is the apathy towards the viewer justified?

Or is there a different story?  Do they really know the viewers and are absolutely certain of their sentiments and urges. They know for sure what keeps the mass and the money flowing. They are more than happy to keep selling the same old, clichéd combinations, no matter how pungent and toxic it has become, because we keep on buying, over and over again. Demand still exists in abundance, why alter the supply? Why act if there is no complain? What to correct, if nothing seems wrong?

Vicious circle it has become? Tough to transform and even tougher to reform?

But something needs to be done. If not now, then when; If not you, then who?
To spare us from the dreaded Fridays, we need to participate and participate collectively. Look into the book, beyond its cover and apply sense and rationality before going to the movies next time.
Read the reviews and boycott bad films, even if it means missing out on your favourite stars.
Small is the new big, low and medium budget films are plenty and in most probability won't disappoint. Avoid hysteria,  celebritymaniasm and mass flow.

In the end, There will still be average and below average films, there will always be a time when the implementation and execution of certain ideas will go awry, there will always be stories which might not engage a major section of the public, but then let there be an intent and a genuine motive to make something good.
Nonsense that inevitably keeps happening every friday or so in the name and disguise of money spinners have to go. We don't need coming off age movies every friday, all we need is an entertaining enterprise that can keep our mood upbeat and our faith restored.

Movie review : The Imitation game

A marvellous film that will stay with you for a long long time.

Set in the 1930-51, the movie is about an Engilsh mathematician (Alan Turing) and his associates who work on breaking and decoding  the encryption German machine ENIGMA and help end the second world war.

But the film is so much more both in terms of the narrative and the content. The lead protagonist is the heart of the film and his tussle as he goes on decoding the ENIGMA is both intriguing and captivating. His emotional undertone and turmoil is absolutely heartwrenching.

The movie inspired by true events is a delightful watch as it has a genuine urgency to the proceedings, the characters are beautifully written and the dialogues weigh their worth in gold. The entire last half an hour is so beautiful and literally had me in tears.

Highly recommended

One Movie to watch this weekend

Whiplash : It is a film every student must watch,  every mentor must watch, infact everyone must watch.

This film means the world to me not only because of my profession, but because of the sheer perception it brings forth.

The movie underlines the zeal, the hunger, the passion, the effort and above all the never say die attitude of a talented and ambitious  student despite the odds against him.

At the very core is the mentor; A bullying, ruthless, harsh, cold blooded, and heartless man who hates the word 'Good Job' and who will not settle down for anything short of brilliance.

As ironical it may seem, the entire essence boils down to the fact that in the wake of deamening, insulting and abusing the student emotionally, the mentor succeeds in getting out the best in him, even making the student outperform by his very own standards.

Never be discouraged no matter what,  for history is made and excellence happens when one gets pushed to the wall and has no option but to push back.

How can you not stand up and applaud the final 15 minutes which would take your breath away.

The movie is all about student mentor relationship but with a difference and a perspective.

Do watch it

Fast and Furious 7: Movie Review

 And we all believed that cars were only meant to ride on roads. Call it preposterous or bizarre , but the entire idea of cars being dropped off an airplane and landing on the streets unscarred or cars being air borne and penetrating skyscraper buildings makes for a hell of a watch and are an absolute treat to the eyes, however improbable and implausible it may seem for the mind. The film for the same very reason, is surely not to be missed.

 The fast n furious franchise have always been cosmetic in their appearance, stylish, fashionable and trendy. They have never been anything more i.e never associated or known for their storytelling nor expected to be inventive or authentic in their proceedings.

You don't go in to watch the wit, the ingenuity of film making or the intelligence of the script on display. With films like these, you go in to get entertained and get your pennies worth and in that regard,  this film is pretty much a safe bet.

There is a lot to feel good about. The beautiful locations shot brilliantly, the charm and flair of Vin diesel and Jason Statham, the action sequences which ,though not very innovative, but still engaging and urgent enough are more than a handful to keep the interest going.

The drawbacks with the franchise would always persist: The dialogues will always be corny and make you cringe, the acting will just be about passable and the situations will again be uninviting.

But then, the entire purpose is to keep the fun going even if it means throwing anything and everything, most of it without making sense. The saving grace is that it is never meant to be taken seriously. No brainstorming here, pure muscle and adrenaline rush to be had while munching your popcorn and sipping your soda. All one cares for is the cars and people to keep defying gravity.

It is fun till it lasts, though I must admit that the last 15 minutes or so of the mayhem climax got the better of me and literally had me to take off my 3D glasses. Too chaotic it turned out to be.
 In the end and so very unlike of the film, a fitting, subtle and emotional tribute to Paul walker seemed just perfect.

I had a nice time watching it, you all sure will.