Movie Review: TALAASH

                

                Bollywood has rarely been renowned for films belonging to the suspense/thriller genre. Drama – or so to say, melodrama – has often been the much favoured genre. There are very names that spring up in your mind when you think of the noir, suspense thrillers Hindi films. Perhaps Raj Khosla was the first who made a name for himself in the 50s & 60s with such films, but none really hit the big-time.

                

               Reema Kagti’s second directorial venture after the light hearted rom-com Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd - “Talaash” not only manages to create a lot of uneasy suspense and give you numerous thrills, but also  feeds your need for drama & how. In spite of having a very simple outlook to its primary plot, Talaash scores high on edge-of-the-seat storytelling, amazing creation of a dark, eerie atmosphere that makes you feel the uneasiness of every character and most importantly – stellar performances from its cast.

             

              Talaash is a murder mystery on the outset, beginning with a mysterious death of a famous film actor. The investigating cop Surjan Shekhawat (Aamir Khan) is then led into a complicated web of small time crooks, pimps & prostitutes; aided by an enigmatic prostitute Rosie (Kareena Kapoor). What follows hereafter is a marvel in the “modern Hindi film” storytelling – NOT because of the murder mystery itself, but more so because of the brilliant parallel plot that unfolds which involves Surjan Shekhawat’s wife Roshni (Rani Mukerji) & their troubled marriage post the death of their son. I won’t be spilling any more beans here as it will render the rest futile for your viewing.

                

                 Reema Kagti’s effortless & continuous shifts between the two plots are the biggest highlight of the film. From a sequence involving Shekhawat investigating the prostitutes, we are next thrown into a scene where the same Shekhawat finds it hard to communicate with his wife. It’s tough to change the moods so easily throughout the run-time and Kagti does this to perfection. Kagti is direct in her approach in setting up the atmosphere right from the opening credits of the film and creates a tight grip over the viewer’s mind. Many thanks for that too, go to Mohanan’s fabulous Cinematography & wonderful use of lights in spite of all the darkness along with Ram Sampat’s enthralling score. But then suddenly, for strange reasons, the film kind of loses its way midway through the second half, and then appears to recover, only to leave you wanting for more at the end. Also, the end can be a bit of a disappointment for a lot of viewers. Not many will like the final act; the “expected climax of epic proportions” can actually turn out to be a bit of a let-down. Even more, there are way too many clues placed throughout the first half of the film which give away the big twist right at the beginning of the second half, which is distinctly weaker in comparison to the first. The final few minutes can seem to be a bit of a stretch, with too much justification being given about what happened and how. You don’t expect that amount of spoon feeding when you have witnessed such brilliant storytelling initially.

                

                 Overall though, the film is a winner. Performances from its cast are up to the mark, especially Rani who stands out & shines despite the fewest minutes on screen. It’s as if she grew up with Roshni & knows her in & out, she’s the most believable of all the characters. Kareena does her character a lot of justice in many ways – she’s mysterious when she needs to be, cheesy when she needs to be & direct when she needs to be.  Yet another time she shows that if she’s given a good character, she really can act. Aamir, on the other hand probably has the most difficult character he’s ever played. Surjan Shekhawat is troubled and he’s dying on the inside, ridden with guilt & weakness. As the title goes, he’s not only in search of the killer, but more so of a way to get rid of his guilt & angst. Aamir plays this to near perfection in a lot of scenes, but then again seems conscious in a few. A memorable performance nonetheless, merely on the basis that it’s one of his most unique & different. I expected a lot more from the supporting cast of Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Raj Kumar Yadav, perhaps the “Wasseypur effect” hasn’t worn off on me. Shernaz Patel though, makes a mark.

                “Talaash” does what it intends to do and more than successfully. It captures your mind for all of its run time & even if you do happen to figure out “the big twist”, it still remains capable of satisfying your hunger for a well-made suspense thriller that stirs your brains & makes you feel uneasy. I wouldn’t say its final act is a let-down, but had it been a tad little bit better, Talaash would have been a masterpiece in the genre.

8 Films that stood out at the 10th PIFF, 2012.

With great anticipation & excitement, I spent the previous 8 days of my not-so-exciting life watching some of the best films from around the world at the 10th Pune International Film Festival. I watched films that touched various genres, representing various cultures & various periods of time. It was a splendid experience, an experience that not only enthralled me for the best part of it, but also kept me wanting for more. So here's an attempt to bring to you the best 8 movies that I thought were the one's that really stood out from the rest.

8. Shala (India, Marathi)

Fans of the book on which is based on, flocked the screening hall for this one in the hundreds. And not one soul getting out would have been disheartened after what was on offer. A movie that brings back those bittersweet memories of your school days, keeping the tenderness of the age (& also the book) intact. Refreshing watch. Also, some of the best opening credits ever seen.

7. Sparrow (Russia)
A movie that starts off so slowly that it borders on being a sort of sleep-inducing drug, it then becomes increasingly engrossing & partly enthralling mainly because of the brilliant performance from its protagonist, a ten year old boy who stands up against what is bad & unacceptable to the innocent & partly-naive mind. Also, some of the best cinematic visuals, capturing the Russian countryside that pleases the eyes.

6. Moneyball (USA)
Well, what does one say when its a Brad Pitt film with a screenplay that's as good as any? Steven Zaillian & Aaron Sorkin churn out one of the best written scripts in the Sports-Drama genre & the performances from Pitt & Jonah Hill raise the bar to a new level. An amazing movie experience for sports fanatics, definitely worth a watch. You might want to get your Baseball rules correct before watching, though!

5. If not us, who? (Germany)
Having surprised a lot of people by winning the Best Film award at the festival, I must say this was a real treat of a film for folks who love Modern World History & its reflections on Europe, specifically Germany. The screenplay, which intertwines the historical events through the late 60's & 70's with the relative stories of the main characters, is quite taut & gripping. The lead actors give a performance of a lifetime, August Diehl in particular, being outstanding.

4. Voice Over (Bulgaria)
Technically the most sound & astounding film, in my opinion. The cinematography, editing & the overall efforts by the technical crew on its post production is visible in every scene. The plot of the film is quite extraordinary, a rare blend of arts, politics & relationships. A treat of a film for lovers of Cinema in the technical as well as the artsy sense of the word.

3. Joanna (Poland)
A film about a woman struggling in Nazi infiltrated Poland who tries to save a Jewish 7 year old girl in her house where she lives alone, waiting for her husband who went missing in the war. Stunning cinematography, amazing direction & a performance that stays in your heart from the lead actress.

2. Nuit # 1 (Canada, French)
A film that remained underrated at the festival, probably due to its highly bold concept & unconventional setup. A brilliant film nonetheless, highlighted by two out-of-the-world performances by the two lead actors & a fantastically written script. If hard-hitting, open ended & bold Cinema is your thing, you will definitely fall in love with this film.

1. Nader & Simin : A Separation (Iran)
This film created so much hype all around the world that I had marked its screening as soon as I got the PIFF Schedule in my hands. And I wasn't disappointed for a tiny single bit of it. Brilliant direction, outstanding performances and a story that anyone around the globe would connect to. High on emotions & yet very gripping, not a single dull moment in the entire run time. The way the film has been written & directed by Asghar Farhadi (he did win the Best Director award), you just have to stand up & applaud. A winner throughout.

Some other films that made a mark too, were Top Floor, Left Wing (French, Arabic), My Little Princess (French, English), Alzheimer (Persian, Iran), The Magic of Hope (Spanish), Flying Pigs (Poland) & A Summer at Grandpa's (Mandarin, Chinese, Taiwan).




Omkar Divekar.

Top 10 Movies of 2011

            It’s that time of the year when everyone is busy interpreting at the months gone by – for both the admirable & the dreadful. For our dear Bollywood, it was quite a multifarious 2011. Some films disappointed, some scored commercially but got bashed by critics, while some, went the other way round. Salman Khan couldn’t care less though. Anyways, many quality films remained unobtrusive & this pattern is being amplified each year. Now this is me, trying to concoct a “top 10” list of films from the year that we are bidding a farewell to.

10. 404 Error Not Found

            

              If 2011 was a year that promised originality & non-conventional ideas, 404 Error Not Found was one of the reasons for it. A refreshing psychological thriller written & directed by Prawal Raman, with more than decent performances by Rajvvir Aroraa, Imaad Shah, Tisca Chopra & an outstanding one by Nishikant Kamat – this was a very good film that went largely overlooked by the audience. The film is a tale of horror & suspense, has an eerie feel about it, giving you the spooks without going over the top – but is eventually built around the concepts of the supernatural and how our mind perceives it. Definitely worth a watch.

9. The Dirty Picture

            

               This is Bollywood, where the audience wants a Hero with a six pack, packing off the villains & goondas in style – simultaneously wooing a beautiful lady who generally, as an individual, is let fallen between the cracks. But then there is a certain Vidya Balan, who, with the guts of a lone ranger, keeps disregarding such notions with each film of hers. With “The Dirty Picture”, she just did it once again, but this time, with some amazing oomph & a sexy, in-your-face attitude. What Mallika Sherawat & Co. can do, she can do a ton times better, but not just that – she can act, and how! She carries the film on her gorgeous shoulders, all by herself, & deserves every accolade there is in the industry. The film in itself – an unofficial biopic on Silk Smitha – is patchy & unconvincing, but Balan makes it “more” than worth a watch.

8. Dhobi Ghat

             Dhobi Ghat came with a lot of interest among the people, for obvious reasons, but it went without much attention. One of the most probable reasons being the artistic nature of the film. Kiran Rao’s direction of this dramatic film, I believe, was quite brilliant. The film was an amazing portrait of the different lifestyles in Mumbai, which cross each other, but run parallel. Pratiek’s dhobi (Munna) is such a well-written character; you actually sense his apprehension and predicament in each scene. The work of other actors is commendable too, particularly Kriti Malhotra who plays the estranged Yasmine. Monica Dogra is promising. Aamir Khan though, looked a bit uncomfortable in his role, maybe purposefully done for his character. A refreshing movie nonetheless, which makes you think about the connections amongst the distinct urban societies. Riveting.

7. Stanley Ka Dabba

            Amole Gupte being associated with a yet another film that revolves around a school & a kid, many thought he was having his own “version” of “Taare Zameen Par” and conveniently neglected "Stanley Ka Dabba". But how so wrong they were. With encouraging performances by Divya Dutta, Partho Gupte, Divya Jagdale, Raj Zutshi & Amole Gupte himself, this low-budget, high on pure quality film leaves you thinking & thinking with a broad smile on your face. The movie makes you realize how unpredictably beautiful & alluring life is and something that you should never take for granted. It has a soul so pure & heartwarming, you’d definitely be sad to have missed it earlier.

6. Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster

            Tigmanshu Dhulia might just be one of the most underrated directors in Bollywood, just like his films. Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster was another outstanding movie, yet remained deprived of the accolades it deserved from the masses. Starring Randeep Hooda, Mahie Gill & Jimmy Shergil, this thriller/drama set in Northern India has some of the best written dialogues of the year, as well as an amazing screenplay that keeps you guessing. An enthralling tale of intricate politics, love & finally betrayal, the film deserves more than a mere watch.

5. Yeh Saali Zindagi

            Some films have just got “IT”. This “IT” is something which you’d call the “X” factor, or the “extra mile”. But it was an absolute delight to see this yet another master class from Sudhir Mishra. The film had the typical “do your job & get done with it” characters, which complemented the story in every sense. And yes, accompanied by that wicked love-ka-keeda thing, if you might call it that, which makes it even more interesting. I won’t write much about the film’s story or concept here, hoping it will feed your curiosity. The film’s racy screenplay and applause-inducing dialogues are its high points. Just go watch it for the sheer brilliance of Irrfan Khan, the tenacity of Chitrangda Singh and the audacity of new comers Arunoday Singh & Aditi Rao Hydari. And then there’s Saurabh Shukla too. You simply can’t miss this one.

4. Rockstar

            Imtiaz Ali – a director with immense promise & unique filmmaking style. And 3 excellent films to show for it. Ranbir Kapoor – an insanely talented actor who has been stirring the industry with brilliant performances. And A R Rahman – the musical genius himself. Three reasons why you could not have missed this film, surely. A musical drama/romance that kept you engaged in it’s unusually long runtime, Rockstar came up trumps with memorable music, intricate direction & an incredibly outstanding lead performance by Ranbir Kapoor. Where this film lacked for me, was a little wayward screenplay & Nargis Fakhri – the lead actress – who cut a sorry figure in the end. But what it lacked in vigour, it made up with terrific music & an intriguing tale told rivetingly by Imtiaz Ali. One of the most talked about films of 2011, surely.

3. That Girl in Yellow Boots

            Anurag Kashyap has been a filmmaker who has never shied away from bold, uneasy films that make you stop & take notice. TGIYB was one such film, and I might add it is one of his boldest & most moving films. Kalki Koechlin, who plays a British girl Ruth who is trying to find her missing father in India, delivers a tremendous performance that leaves you shaken & stirred. The movie has a deliberately slow pace, giving the audience a feel of the wait & the growing frustrations that Ruth is undergoing. Naren Chandavarkar & Benedict Taylor’s music is highly refreshing & engaging at the same time. Kumud Mishra, Naseeruddin Shah, Gulshan Devaiyah excel in their brief roles, but it is Kashyap’s brilliant direction that takes the cake on this unnervingly realistic portrait of a painful life.

2. Shaitan

Shaitan was a truly unique movie, a kind that we very rarely are privileged to see. Yes, it was a privilege watching this film, brilliantly crafted yet very rebellious. I might as well make a bold statement here but I really haven’t seen a technically better movie than this in Bollywood. The Cinematography by R. Madhie has to get a very special mention but while I say this, by no means is the films’ screenplay and direction any lesser. Bejoy Nambiar makes a debut any aspiring director will be envious of. The characters portrayed are your typical “love-to-be-hated”, “carefree” spoilt brats, and you don’t need an introduction to get into stride with them. Everyone has a “Shaitan” in himself or herself, and you are comfortable to live with this fact. Or at least watch it unfold on the screen. Another reason why this film is a winner is its mind-blasting music (by Prashant Pillai & Ranjit Barot), not just as an individual entity, but also because of its excellent use within the screenplay of the film. You rarely get to see something like that. The casting couldn’t have been better than this, the young actors, particularly Kalki, Gulshan Devaiyah & Shiv Pandit are very impressive. So is Rajiv Khandelwal in his tough-cop routine. Rajat Bharmecha’s cameo is worth the movie’s run-time itself. Watch this and pay your dues to Anurag Kashyap and Bejoy Nambiar.

1.   Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara

                Zoya Akhtar made a highly intriguing & indulging debut with “Luck By Chance” & then crafted a movie about three friends who embark on a road trip in Spain, with Hrithik Roshan, Farhan Akhtar & Abhay Deol as the lead cast. Not to forget Katrina Kaif & Kalki Koechlin. Well, it turned out that the film is not just about a road trip, it is about friendship & life coming full circle for three individuals. The film is high on light humour, moments of immense purity amongst three best of friends and realisations of diversified proportions for each character. Ecstatic cinematography, stellar performances from the cast (even Kaif), light hearted yet sincere dialogues, engrossing screenplay, foot-tapping music and an end that reaches an amazing crescendo of emotions & sentiments – ZNMD has everything you need in a movie that not only entertains you, but also leaves you intoxicated with thoughts and a lively high. Undoubtedly, my most favourite film of the year.

Some other films that I really liked this year & cannot leave without a mention are:

 7 Khoon Maaf (Vishal Bharadwaj), Shagird (Tigmanshu Dhulia), No one killed Jessica (Raj Kumar Gupta), I Am Kalam (Nila Madhab Panda) and Delhi Belly (Abhinay Deo).

Revolution 2020: Can it really happen?

“Do you think I am a good person?” this is the question which starts off the story. Then the rest of the book is dedicated to finding the answer to this simple question. For each of Chetan Bhagat’s books has been a different kind of force in itself. And now he has become the youth icon of our country. He has ushered in an era where the old people can breathe a sigh of relief since the young generation has been attracted to reading again. And that too, reading “hard copies” of books. Chetan Bhagat has come up with another masterpiece in the form of ‘Revolution 2020’.

This is a story about three childhood friends, and as usual (as we Indians are used to from ages!), there is a love triangle. But the writer has managed to make the book interesting and speak about other issues as well with the backdrop of this love story. The story starts, as has been a trend since Five Point Someone, with a prologue where Chetan Bhagat has finished a lecture in an Engineering college in Varanasi and is invited home by the Director of the college. The whole book is narrated in the first person by this Director, Gopal.

Basically, Gopal is the main character in this narrative and he has two friends from since his childhood, Aarti and Raghav. In the beginning, that is, till they reach standard 12, Gopal and Aarti are closer with each other than Raghav. Eventually, two of them end up in a relationship and thence goes on the journey describing the starting of an Engineering college. The book goes into detail and tells about the corruption and bribery that is evident in the society and the hardships and “connections” needed to start a single college, let alone a University.

Fundamentally, this book deals with three things, as one can guess from the title itself: love corruption, and ambition. Firstly, it makes us think what love really is. Is it sacrifice for the one we love or being with that person through life’s ups and downs? In the quest of deciding what is good and what is bad, the story takes many twists and turns and finally, not as usual, comes to an unexpected ending. This is the power in the writing of Chetan Bhagat. He always keeps us guessing. As I have seen in the case of many Indian writers of our generation, they take a seemingly simple issue and make a great tale out of it.

Secondly, the thing which is eating alive the entire system in India is corruption. This book raises a question, “is corruption justified when you are in a dire situation or not”? And in a way, the story describes the plight of any common man who, when faced with the corrupt building blocks of the system, has to make his hands dirty. Without this, no single thing can be accomplished in India. Also, noteworthy is the way in which the book again and again points out the influence the corrupt have over the people who fight against them. It also bolsters the adage: “to change the system, be a part of it”.  But after all, we cannot guarantee how long your integrity and incorruptibility can survive in the tumult.

Lastly, the story also addresses the subject of ambition. Ambition: of both the parents and the students. In our society, since from generations, parents are the ones who take all the decisions regarding the student’s career and educational path. That too, most of the parents recommend only the mainstream paths like engineering and medical fields. The likings of their children are seldom considered and given importance. The story goes on to tell how the ambitions of little children are subdued by the situation and the conditions around them. This is a storyline with which many of the regular average students can relate, as has been the case with all the novels written by this author.

All in all, the book is great, more so since Chetan Bhgat ends the book by saying “You are a good person” to Gopal. It is up to the readers to decide whether he is the hero or the villain, seeing that the story writer has already given his verdict.   For an avid reader like me, it was unputdownable.  I can’t guarantee the same experience for other people, because some have found the middle part a little slow and uninteresting. But personally, I will give it a rating of 4 out of 5. Also, I put it right under ‘Five Point Someone’ in my list of Chetan Bhagat favourites.

Gaurang Torvekar

The “Marvelous” Adventures of Tintin

            If you were someone who grew up in the 90’s and early 2000’s, you’d be quite familiar with the cartoon series that came on television of a young journalist who, along with his cute little and loyal white fox terrier dog, went around the world solving mysteries and unthinkable adventures. For some, it was the the original comics that the masterful Hergé created in the late 30’s and 40’s. Oh and yes, you would also remember a certain ever-so-drunk Captain.

            Of course I am talking about Tintin and his adventures that we all adhered to and just loved more than anything at a certain stage in our lives. Of course, I was just as excited as any average ‘hardcore’ Tintin fan would be about a first ever film version of the wonderful franchise. And after 107 minutes of pure nostalgic rush and “blue blistering barnacles” of adventure, I came out of the cinema with this amazing feeling of satisfaction and joy. I realized how immaculately true Hergé was when he said that only Spielberg could do justice to his tuft-haired journalist.

            Based on three of the original comic books – ‘The Crab with the Golden Claws’, ‘The Secret of the Unicorn’ and ‘Red Rackham’s Tresaure’, Spielberg creates a world that is very truthful to the one Hergé created, and more so, he only enhances it with stunning visuals and beautifully crafted animation. But when in today’s world where incessantly pounding visuals and CGI effects are what create super hit films, this film goes beyond with stupendous story telling and a masterful screenplay. The film is a treat in itself and a beautiful tribute from Spielberg to Hergé, evident throughout every minute of the film’s runtime. So truthful is the film’s screenplay to the originals that most of the dialogues, mannerisms and characterizations are a perfect match. But in no way is it less creative or simple borrowing.

            The film takes of from the instant the beautiful 2D opening credits end, when Tintin (Jamie Bell) comes upon a miniature of a 17^th century ship named Unicorn. Typical to the comics, the ship holds clues to a lost treasure and Tintin and his loyal dog Snowy go through adventures of gigantic proportions through a whole continent in the pursuit, toe to toe with a villainous Ivanovich Sakharine (Daniel Craig). Along the way, he is aided by the hilarious duo of incompetent detectives Thomson and Thompson (Nick Frost and Simon Pegg) and none other than the seafaring, delirious Captain Haddock (Andy Serkis) who has the most vital link to the complete adventure.

            The obvious standout part of the film is its amazing and spellbinding screenplay by Steven Moffat, Edgar Wright and Joe Cornish. It works like a charm as you never take your eyes off the screen and are constantly glued to the edge of the seat. The trio succeed in giant measures to create a universe which is so true to the Hergé’s and only build upon it with beautiful storytelling. As if this wasn’t enough, Producer Peter Jackson’s WETA delivers a stupendous combination of the conventional art and the marvelous motion capture imagery. Not only are the visuals stunning, they simply take your breath away. The characters are so true and life-like, just as you would want them to be, and it really is a triumph for the creative team of the film. Every frame of the film is so colourfully true to the originals, I am sure Josette Baujot, the original colourist, would have been proud of.

            The film delivers hugely due to the absolutely amazing chase sequences, those on the ship and in Africa. Its been long overdue that we were treated to such extravagant brilliance, and who else than Steven Spielberg to do just that. Add to it Captain Haddock’s quick wit, dry humour & short tempered nature that never falls short of rib-cracking one-liners (“Ten Thousand Thundering Typhoons” is my personal favourite) and you are treated to bountiful of entertainment of the highest order. John Williams, the music composer, turns out with one of his most brilliant scores for the film, that only enhances the whole experience. In short, this is a complete package of extravaganza for Tintin fans.

            As far as the performances go, everyone from Jamie Bell as Tintin to Daniel Craig as Ivan Sakharine do a wonderful job. Bell brings the sincerity and optimism of Tintin inch perfectly to his work. Perhaps Craig’s Sakharine could have been more sinister, but it isn’t harming the film the way he has done it. A little bit disappointing is the duo of Simon Pegg & Nick Frost as Thomson & Thompson, but it is perhaps due to the lack of screen time. Undoubtedly, the one who steals the show is Andy Serkis as the alcoholic yet at times respectable yet funny, Captain Archibald Haddock. He creates the character just as Tintin fans have known it – with immense sarcasm, quick wit and the occasional dry comment. Every time he is on screen, you will notice you either have a smile on your face or are rocking your seat with laughter. He has captured the mannerisms of the character to its fullest and surely puts in a performance worth remembering.

            Where the movie really succeeds is that it completely satisfies the challenges of being an entertainer for every kind & age of audience. I am sure every individual will be leaving the cinema hall with a gleeful face and every Tintin fan – with an unparalleled sense of satisfaction and joy after watching this masterpiece. It certainly leaves you with an “unquenchable” thirst for adventure!

4.5/5

            Omkar Divekar