polysuravi Reviews

Jodhaa Akbar (2008)

i still feel that SWADES is Ashutosh's best film

[7/10 · 20 February 2008]

Yes honestly, i still feel that SWADES is Ashutosh's best film, Jodha Akbar does not had the soul to hold the movie till the end. the script was not as good as of Swades and Lagaan. Swades hold u till the end of the movie and Lagaan does because Cricket in Lagan was the main lifeline of the movie along-with script

Hrithik, Aishwarya acted brilliantly along-with the entire cast

Technically it is one of the best which came out of India Cinematography, definitely deserve a special mention along-with Choreography

rating 7/10

Paromitar Ek Din (2000)

Great Film

[10/10 · 28 May 2005]

A sensitive film about a mother and daughter-in-law who must find a way around social convention to remain friends after the latter's marriage breaks down.

Paromitar Ek Din is a Bengali film exploring the dual themes of friendship and loneliness. Sanaka (Aparna Sen) and Paromita (Rituparna Sengupta) are mother and daughter-in-law who, despite differences in age, backgrounds and temperaments, build a strong bond together. But when Paromita's marriage to Sanaka's son breaks down, social mores prevent the women from remaining close friends.

While Paromita remarries and begins a new life, her mother-in-law (played brilliantly by Aparna Sen) is left heartbroken and alone and eventually falls seriously ill. When Paromita learns of her friend's deterioration, she is compelled to flout convention, and returns to nurse Sanaka on her deathbed. Aparna Sen has made a sensitive and gentle film about the different way in which women unite despite the expectations of social norms.

Black (2005)

I can't think of a better film

[10/10 · 11 February 2005]

Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Rani Mukherjee, Shernaz Patel, Dhritiman Chatterjee, Ayesha Kapoor, Nandana Sen, Chippy Gangjee Rating - 9+/10

Cant you see that its quite impossible to tell you how Black is, considering that everyone,including the audience, has said everything already? Cant you see that Sanjay Leela Bhansali has gone on to make a Hollywood film in the best traditions of international cinema and thats what called CHALLENGING CINEMA? Cant you see how it has been mounted just like a Hollywood film from the background music and no songs to the theme of the film; from the cinematography to the art direction and sets? Cant you see Bhansali doffing his hat to Charlie Chaplin in Ranis gait especially in front of Gaiety cinema? Cant you see that Bhansali has staked his claim directly to the Oscars and after Lagaan and Devdas, this is really IT?

Cant you see that Black is, in fact, a Hollywood film (should it get an entry to the Oscars in the Foreign Film category? Good question) and that what we are seeing here is just the Indian version of true-blue cinema? Cant you see the startlingly adult performance of the kid Ayesha (even if at times it seems you're watching The Exorcist or The Omen)? Cant you see the superlative off performance of Rani Mukherjee telling you, hello brother! Cant you see Lambuji, 60+, breaking down all deewaars, telling that Hollywood guy, Al Pacino his full name, and telling us all, Main aaj bhi pheke hue compliments nahin uthaata? Cant you see and see this one again what Sanjeev Kumar once said (acting is an art, reacting is a finer art) in the exhilarating expressiveness of Shernaz Patel? Cant you see the envy nuance of the normal child in Nandana Sen? Cant you see the poignant poetry in the kids first handshake; with her much-hated teacher,or in their feeling the snow or rainwater together, or in the vaulting joy of everyone when the kid utters her first syllables, wa-ter, grass,flower, ma, pa, Teacher?

Cant you see the fantastic chemistry between Rani and Amitabh especially when he reads out her letter in Braille at the dining table, or in the most tender kissing scene, or when she is gesticulating to an Alzheimer-struck Amitabh or when she talks about what dignity means to her...

Cant you see what skillful screenplay and energetic editing is all about, holding the little finger of your little hand and leading you on, kindly light? Cant you see that a reviewers life is not an ice cream, to be enjoyed before it melts, especially if the film has to be exorcised from his body before the deadline. But, then, cinema like Black is unlike life or ice cream. It just wont melt.

Hear that?

Sumit Agarwal