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Reviews
Laapataa Ladies (2023)
A delightful tackle on patriarchy
Laapataa Ladies, directed by Kiran Rao, is a brilliant social satire and slice of life movie that seeks to ask some uncomfortable questions. Set in the fictional Nirmal Pradesh, the movie will teleport you the early 2000s India with songs of the breakaway hit Kaho Na Pyar Hai and commentary of the cricket match between India and Australia playing in the background.
The movie takes the viewers along a whirlwind journey of two newly wed brides who get swapped, all by the dint of the barrier created by their veil "ghunghat" . This veil of theirs serves a much larger purpose in the overarching theme of the movie. It not only is a piece of clothing but a subtle, yet, powerful symbol of the confined life that women have to endure. The movie is laced with witty humor as it unabashadly critiques age old traditions and norms that keep women shackled within the confines of the husbands identity, where even the utterance of one's husband's name is considered a serious transgression.
The performance of the cast is the heart of the movie. The sincerity and helplessness of Sparsh Shrivastava shines through. Ravi Kisan as a corrupt police officer with a stong moral judgement is superb. However, it is the two leading ladies that steal the show. One is feisty and outspoken and the other cautious and reserved. Both get lost, yet find themselves in the process. Through their journey, they find not just their way back, but also their own distinct voices. You will definetely see shades of someone you know; your aunts, or wives even, in these women.
The movie might come across as a tad preachy, however the message does seem justified as it is as relevant today as it was in the period the movie is set in. It reminds us of the social inertia that encumbers progress for women. However, the movie is not without it flaws. Certain situations seem a bit to convenient and contrived. Despite this, Laapataa ladies is a throughly entertaining watch. It serves up an amusing ride with a powerful message, gauranteed to leave viewers with a smile and a lingering afterthought about societal veils that still hinder women from dreaming.
Glengarry Glen Ross (1992)
A true classic
Glengary Glen Ross is what you get when you put together one of the best ensemble cast ever assembled and just let them talk. With a primarily dialogue driven narrative, it is a kind of movie where you get completely engrossed in listening to the characters talk about work, business, deception and life. It simply is a masterclass in character interaction and dialogue delivery that one will ever get to see.
The plot of the movie is nothing out of the ordinary. It revolves around a group of four salesmen desperately competing and trying to save their jobs by improving their performance. To this end, some resort to unethical practices, that basically invovles theiving, inorder survive in an unforgiving industry. However, the real star of the movie is the way in which the characters and their dialogues have been fashioned. The simple storyline does not compromise with the depth and emotional gravity of the characters. The movie is able to captivate the viewer with the sheer quality of characters' interactions where you find yourself completely submerged in every word spoken.
The movie comprises of some serious, serious actors. Al Pacino, Kevin Spacey, Alec Baldwin, Jack Lemmon, Alan Arkin and Ed Harris are masters of their craft. Watching these actors play out their characters is nothing short of pure joy. However, even among these stalwarts, two performances stand out. Jack Lemmon, at least for me personally, delivers one of the best performances ever. He is able to capture the desperation, sadness and dwindling hope of a once champion salesman in a way that leaves you astounded. He is able to extract empathy and awe from the viewers in equal measure. The manner in which he is able to switch from the bickering environment of his office to immediately donnning the hat of a seasoned salesman is nothing sort of magical. Likewise, Al Pacino is equally electric as brash, foul-mouthed yet successful salesman. I personally have not been a fan of his loud styled dialogue delivery, but you cant fault him in this performance. He is able to exdue charima and confidence in the most effortless of manner.
In summation, Glengary Glen Ross is one of those rare cinematic masterpiece where words thump action. The dialogues and interaction weave web around the viewers from which it is difficult to extricate oneself. Sometimes it really is enjoyable to listen to grown up talk.
Animal (2023)
Ferocious
After the release of his maiden foray into Hindi cinema with "Kabir Singh," Sandeep Reddy Vanga, the director, vowed in an interview to showcase violence and action in his next venture. And boy, does he live up to his promise, and then some. Vanga's latest offering is an unhinged expression of pure visceral emotions and actions which may not be palatable to everyone.
The plot, theme, and the supposed message of the movie have been reviewed and dissected from every possible angle, thus to do so in this review would be redundant. However, Vanga must be extolled for his unique approach, where violence has been unflinchingly embraced as a medium of storytelling. The movie adeptly explores the unquenched yearning of a son for his father's love and approval and how he is ready to bend over backwards to achieve it. Frustrated by the constant absence of his 'hero,' Ranvijay played by the excellent Ranbir Kapoor, takes matters into his own hand to fill the void, frequently resorting to violence. This protracted friction between father and son and how Ranbir seeks to make his presence felt in the eyes of his father, Anil Kapoor, serves as the basic premise of the movie.
The movie has garnered immense criticism for its depiction, and the supposed glorification of violence, toxic masculinity, and misogyny, among others. It has also ignited passionate debate regarding the role of movies and storytelling in society. Here, it cannot be stressed enough that movies are ultimately a form of art and should be taken as such. Movies should not be burdened with the expectation of guiding the moral compass of a society. A movie is merely a vessel of entertainment and not agents of social change. As an art form, they are to be experienced and not outrightly rejected based on contemporary moral scales.
The very purpose of art in general, and movies in particular, is to invoke different emotions among viewers. "Animal" does that emphatically. You empathize with Ranbir's longing for his father's attention. His constant recourse to violence as a means scares you. Your heart races in the action sequences. As evil as Bobby Deol is shown to be, a small part of you feels sad when he is vanquished. Some of the interactions between Ranbir and Rashmika will not be to everybody's liking. This is what movies are supposed to do: to portray the vagaries of human experiences and emotions, unadulterated by the prevailing moral compass. This is what "Animal" does.
Much of the criticism directed towards the movie seems like mere nitpicking based on what adheres to the moral narrative that different critics are trying to peddle. In all honesty, much despised scenes such as the one with reference to a 'big pelvis' or Ranbir demanding his shoes to be licked do not seem out of the ordinary given the context and the nature of the characters. Yes, the movie can be critiqued in terms of its technicality. The storytelling loses its pace and at times seems unnecessarily protracted. The action scenes demand a high degree of suspension of disbelief. You are asked to believe that Ranbir can carry out an all-out massacre and yet go scot-free because of the protective hand of his father. However, to constantly grill the makers and those associated with the movie on the kind of message the film is trying to give is to overlook the broader scope of artistic expression. Movies are not merely vehicles of social and political messaging. If they do give a positive message: good. If they don't, then just ignore it. It should not be weighed on that singular metric. It does sheer injustice to the whole process of creating art itself. From what I can tell, much of the criticism directed towards Vanga is a response to his unflinching resolve to defend his art, his creation without an iota of remorse and nothing more.
Killer Soup (2024)
Not your regular soup
Killer Soup, an eight course delectable experience, served up by Netflix is a concoction of dark humor and mystery. The show will leave you satisfied and uneasy in equal measure.
Swathi a novice cook with dubious cooking skills and equally questionable morals finds herself in literal pickle when her misadventures with her husband's (Prabhar) doppelganger Umesh goes awry. Prabhakar's discovery of Swathi's affair also leads to his demise, upon which Swathi decides to swap him for Umesh with slight adjustment to Umesh's configurations. How the two then try to fulfill their ambitions while at the same time attempt to cover their tracks fraught with moral and ethical dilemmas serves as the basic premise of the series.
The show is replete with stellar performances from the cast. Konkona Sen Sharma immaculately portrays the desperation and wickedness of Swathi. Manoj Bajpayee is in his usual best masterfully depicting the brashness of Prabhakar and excels as a loyalty laden partner in crime Umesh. Sayaji Shinde shines as an arrogant, foul mouthed patriarch with little clue as to what his sister in law and daughter are brewing.
The series ably keeps the viewers guessing regarding what will transpire. However, like a cook in haste, it does muck up a few details. Some of the progression, especially that of Inspector Hassan seem quite convenient. The constant appearance of Thupalli as a guiding voice of Hassan will ultimately get to your nerves.
Overall, Killer Soup is a worthwhile mix of thrill, dark humor and mystery. It does become a slow simmer on a couple of occasions but you will be satiated in the end. It may not be everybody's cup of tea but will delight any dark humor connoisseurs.
12th Fail (2023)
2023's finest
Within the landscape of silverscreen entertainment, there are but a select few cinemas that have the rare quality to caress ones soul in the most gentle of ways. The viewers are with left with an ineffable emptiness once the ending credits start to roll. Unsatiated with just what has been served you devour everything related to it in the hope that the blissful delight of viewing the movie persists. The hunger to understand and the desire to be with the characters leads you to the hallways of social media: reviews, discussion or interviews; just give me some more from where that came from. 12th Fail unequivocally is perched within this rarest of company.
12th Fail is a poignant yet heartfelt portrayal of hope, grit and resilience. We begin in the rustic backdrop of Chambal, where Manoj Kumar Sharma (played by the excellent Vikrant Massey) is looking to clear his grade 12th exam so that he can land a job as a 'peon' and contribute financially to his near impecunious family. The opening scene gives a taste of what lies ahead, where Manoj is preparing 'chits' (notes) to be used cheat in the examination. Cheating in the village school has been a long established 'norm' by the corrupt politicians. However a newly deputed DSP Dhushyant puts a stop to practice. It is this encounter with DSP Dhushyant that changes the course of Manoj's life. In him Manoj finally finds someone to look up to, someone to aspire to be. It shows the value of role models in our life. How even the smallest act of someone unknown can correct the trajectory of ones life. It is at this point that Manoj aspires to be a DSP like his idol Dushyant and pursue the path of righteousness.
Manoj encounters plenty of setbacks and tribulations along the way. However, the movie in classic Vidhu Vinod Chopra style, in a heartfelt manner shows the power of friendship and love in aiding realize ones goal. In Pritam, Manoj finds the most truest of friend who, despite his own struggles, not only introduces him to the world of UPSC but also helps him in every step of the way. Guri is a perfect mentor to Manoj who enlightens him on the value of resilience; there will be setbacks and failures but only those with the wherewithal to 'restart' can make their dreams come true. Shraddha and Manoj is a tale of love in its most serene form. Their story is an epitome of the transformative power of love and belief. Sometimes you don't find a diamond but help someone morph into it.
Vikrant Massey delivers the best performance of his career. The of depiction of Manoj's pain and triumph is masterful. The climatic scene where he clears the UPSC and where he personally goes to deliver his wedding card to his idol Dushyant had me in tears and will personally go down as some of the best scenes in an Indian movie. Medha Shankar seems like a gem of find. It was also refreshing to see Priyanshu in the silverscreen after all these years. His brief yet highly impactful appearance adds depth to the narrative.
The plot of 12th fail is quite straightforward. However its allure lies not in its unpredictability but its relatability. You kind of know what is about to happen. Nevertheless, it makes you curious as to how it actually plays out. It makes you yearn to learn how the characters experience the crucial moments in the movie. 12th Fail is definitely the standout Indian movie of 2023 for its celebration of the human spirit, deft portray of visceral emotions and an honest portrayal of the characters.
Aspirants (2021)
A decent second season
The second installment of the TVF creation picks up where it left off. However, in this new edition the creators have seamlessly juxtaposed two different timelines: one dealing with the events in the much fabled old Rajendra Nagar and the other showing the intricacies of the post-UPSC life. This little trick provides viewers a closure on Abhilash's success at the UPSC in the final attempt and at the same time delves into how the relationship of the characters evolves as adulthood hits.
An interesting aspect of this seques lies in the fact it shies away from triumphalism of Abhilash's UPSC journey, as the end of season I might have suggested as would be the case. Instead the second season futher explores the uncompromising character of Abhilash, which neatly blends with his character arc as pertinacious District Magistrate. The timeline in old Rajendra Nagar revolves around Abhilash and his new acquaintance Deepa as they prepare to have a crack at the UPSC. This time around however, he is no longer in touch with the other two legs of the tripod, SK and Guri. The present day events show how the dynamics of friendship changes when real-world issues are at stake.
Abhilash's initial experince as a District Magistrate of Rampur serves as the central plot of the season. In particular how his unwavering vision of transforming Rampur into a bio-fuel hub puts him at loggerheads with Sandeep bhaiya, the Assistant Labor Commissioner, who once Abhilash looked upto to for wisdom and clarity in life. In this process, the show also explores the realtion of SK and Gauri with Abhilash. Specifically, how the two still hold misgivings regarding Abhilash's commitment to their idea of friendship and at the same time deep down want to be in his good books.
As in the first season, Naveen Kasturia delivers an excellent performance as an unlikable protagonist with whom you also tend to somehow empathize. You question his process but concur with his intended outcome. Guri as a businessman and SK, the student turned teacher, hold their own as well. The new entrant in the season, Deepa gives a credible performance as a confused aspirant. However, the creators have skipped to even so much as provide a peek into her transformation into an IPS officer, which diminishes the plausibility of her character arc. Likewise, Dhariya as a character again fails to garner attention, as the creators omit to show her tought process in relinquishing the much coveted IRS position to puruse a career in social service. Sunny Hinduja is convincing as the stoic and emphathetic ALC . However, as a character who was most rooted for in season one, it was sad to see him turn into a vengeful subordinate. We might get more clarity in the next season; the ending to this installment has quite clearly suggested that there will be an Aspirants season III.
TVF has an uncanny knack of tugging at the heart strings of the audience with the stories of everday people. They have done this quite remarkably with Panchayat and Gullak. The current season might not have been able to trigger a range of emotions like its predecessor. However, it does offer valuable insights into the complexities of balancing the personal with the professional.