TheGautamMathur Reviews

Bring on the Night (2012– )

Indian TV coming of age.

[10/10 · 28 January 2013]

Indian TV is generally synonymous with regressive story lines, shoddy direction, bad writing, one-dimensional performances... lets face it, for anyone with any kind of sensibility, Serialized television in India is frankly unwatchable, with the exception of maybe one or two shows.

In the midst of all this, comes Bring On The Night, with a high powered adrenalin injection straight into the jugular of the Indian television scene.

Shot in Hindi and English with some Marathi thrown in, it is the story of 4 friends, christened 'The Wolfpack' and led by sensitive entrepreneur KD, they start a party hangout joint for like- minded people. The philosophy being, 'When the party ends, where do people go to party?'

What follows is ten episodes of intelligent writing, brilliant acting, fantastic music, and excellent direction. Every episode is crammed with interesting characters, and genuine laugh out loud moments.

But its not all fun and games, there is a lot of depth to the story and characters.

Each actor brings something to the table. Devang, played played extremely sincerely by Husain Dalal is funny, especially when he is playing confused and out of his depth. Patrick, played by Patrick Graham completely succeeds in bringing the feeling of being the stranger in a strange land, but completely at home. Maakad, played by Sarang Sathiye brings a kind of sensitivity to the character not often seen. His conflict is felt by the viewers, and its the easiest thing to get behind him and root for him. The three Parsee characters, Xerxes, Hoshang, and Darius, played by Afshad Kelawala, Kashyap Kapoor and Danesh Irani respectively provide the comic relief, some of it gratuitous, but all of it brilliant.

With so many characters, each one written and performed on point, it is very difficult to stand out when you are playing the straight man, but Arjun Mathur, who plays KD, doesn't seem to struggle, and manages to more than hold his own. A role that needs to be fun, intelligent, and sensitive is brought to life with his performance, and by the time the series is at midway point, manages to become the most engaging of the lot.

I could go on, but I won't. Instead, I urge anyone who reads this to get on the MTV India website and check the show out on their own accord. You will not be disappointed.

Watchmen (2009)

Snyder gets it right!

[9/10 · 14 March 2009]

Whenever I read a book, in my mind, I try to picture it as a screenplay and how it would translate on screen. It was an exercise I had tried with Watchmen as well, but couldn't see it through... there is so much going on in the novel, that it always seemed an impossible task to get it done. On the other hand, if there was one piece of literature begging for a movie adaptation, it was this. Its good news then that the team did that so wonderfully!

The movie was as layered as a movie can be without it getting too boring. It gave us an insight into every major character by exploring their back-stories/motivations/arcs enough to give it enough substance, so that it all makes sense, even to the uninitiated, without getting too slow or boring.

Even though I see the book more as a philosophical treatise more than an action piece, Snyder does enough to raise the bar on the action front to make it enjoyable in that sense as well, by inserting engaging action sequences where there is scope.

Also the camera work is absolutely stunning, and for the most part hits it spot on. There has been some criticism of the music though, but I think the soundtrack sums up the movie very very well.

Of the performances, Patrick Wilson is the pick of the litter with a nuanced and sensitive portrayal of the character and his emotional depth. Jackie Earle Hailey as the super-cool Rorschach is awesome as well... I found Billy Crudup's Dr. Manhattan and Jeffrey Dean Morgan's Comedian extremely engaging. I don't think Matthew Goode can act as well as he thinks he can, and Malin Akerman as Silk Spectre is absolutely horrible, Its like she's in a school play!

Overall, I was very happy, right from the phenomenal opening title sequence, right down to the ending, with a few hiccoughs and gripes in between, they're too insignificant to complain about...

Watch it, its for anyone who likes their movies deep, layered, and more than just about men in masks running about, trying to make the world a better place.

Race (I) (2008)

What was everyone thinking?

[5/10 · 2 April 2008]

I have been watching Abbas-Mustan movies ever since their first, Khiladi. While I have never claimed to be a fan of their work, During that period of Indian films, they were probably the only people who made their movies 'different' to what else was being made on that budget and scale, so I watched and got entertained to a certain degree.

The brothers follow a tried and tested plan - 1) Take a Hollywood mystery/thriller, preferably B-Grade Hollywood, movies that have not got theatrical releases in India.

2) Add 6-7 foot-tapping songs, inserted at regular intervals.

3) Give the main lead (who is always a character with 'shades of grey') a strong motive for doing the dastardly deeds that he does.

4) Follow up with a fantastic climax.

So that was what I was expecting when I went to see 'RACE' in the cinema, and I couldn't help but leave the cinema thinking - "Well, that was money ill-spent." Race starts with a car-stunt and a voice-over delivered by Anil Kapoor, that is meant to be an introduction to our four main lead characters (Saif Ali Khan, Akshaye Khanna, Katrina Kaif and Bipasha Basu), but land up as being nothing more than an advertisement to the viewing public for how good designers can make our film stars look. And even though the picture tries to take a path down the 'Clever Thriller' mode, all it displays is 'Clever Dress Design'.

Granted, the story had the potential to be interesting, It was just presented in a really jaded, 90's kind of way where there are songs that interrupt the flow of the story regular as clockwork.

I mean - of course I like nothing more than Bipasha or Katrina Dancing the night away in skimpy outfits, but in a story like this, they achieve nothing but hamper the narrative. In fact so much so, that by the time the climax came around, the whole cinema was itching for it to get over! That can never be a good sign. So, a movie, that could have been a taut thriller becomes nothing but a parody of what its trying to achieve, and a too long one at that.

In short, its a picture too long by about an hour. With a little bit of editing, and not as many songs, It could have been a good thriller.

Of the performances, it doesn't even need to be said, that Anil Kapoor has found a way of breathing life into the most mundane movies, just by being in them, and even here, he gives a masterclass on how to carry off an over-the-top performance without coming across as a ham actor. Sameera Reddy, as Anil Kapoor's thick-headed secretary is also fun to watch, not to mention, hot in her own, dusky, South-Indian way. Akshaye Khanna is always good to watch, clearly more than competent to carry of the role he's given, He is absolutely devious. Saif Ali Khan is going through the motions here, all he needs to do in the movie is look good, ride lots of horses and look good... Katrina Kaif and Bipasha Basu, besides being the prettiest and fittest women respectively in the Indian Film Industry today (IMO) are clearly capable of what's required of them, and they do it well.

After an interesting first 45 minutes, the film gets too slow and boring to enjoy, and towards the last half hour, there is one scene of special mention, that brings some sort of fun back into it, and that is Johnny Lever's solitary scene. He's done an intelligently funny scene after a LONG time and special mention goes out to him.

All in all, I gave it 5 points out of 10, simply because Johnny Lever's single appearance is worth 2 points, the other three are for the attempt.

Ta Ra Rum Pum (2007)

What were they thinking?

[1/10 · 1 June 2007]

As a viewer, I am generally forgiving of all movies. I am one of those guys who sees some positives in movies I abhor, if only to make myself feel good about having wasted my money. I am still looking for some justification to Ta Ra Rum Pum. Lifted almost directly from the Will Ferrel starrer 'Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby', Tara Rum Pum makes its first mistake there. How can you lift a movie the purpose of which was to promote America's premiere slapstick/schtick/whacky comedian today, and make it into a Yash Raj cry-fest, complete with song-dance, love, feel-good, saccharine sweet - (I don't even want to call it a film anymore, because I don't think Yash Raj make films. They make garbage). The hero is RV, Who has been the top driver in the NASCAR and he has an accident and loses confidence to drive fast again. So, he loses everything, as he has bought everything on instalments!!!

To the writer, director and production house - THIS IS THE WESTERN WORLD, IT IS AN ECONOMY RUN ON CREDIT. YOU DO NOT GET CREDIT BEYOND YOUR MEANS. IF YOU HAVE BEEN A TOP NASCAR DRIVER FOR EIGHT YEARS, YOU ARE NOW WORTH AT LEAST 50 MILLION DOLLARS. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO LOSE YOUR LITTLE HOUSE, AND SPORTS CAR IF YOU GET FIRED WHEN YOU ARE IN THE POSITION THAT RV IS IN.

To say that a man worth millions of dollars is on the road, because he still has not paid off his house mortgage, a house that cannot be worth more than a million or two anyway is plain stupid. The message of the movie is - 'do not hire-purchase' - good message, but at least show it properly.

The premise of the movie is so irritating, that even the good bits of the movie hold no importance. Jaaved Jaafrey is great as the friend, and the kids, especially the daughter are good too. Saif Ali Khan goes through the motions, and Rani Mukherji is now officially stale.

The music is good, but then hey, buy the CD.

To the makers, If you wanna copy something, the next time, please copy something worth copying.

Black Friday (2004)

I remember...

[10/10 · 9 April 2007]

I remember being there... I remember landing up at tuitions on 6th December 1992 and waiting for my friends to turn up, friends who lived very near the area most affected by the riots... I remember hearing that riots have broken out because the Babri Masjid has been demolished... I remember passing that week hidden behind blackened windows and Bombay looking like a dead city, my hysterical mother not even letting us children go down to the street to play. I remember the undercurrent of tension amongst communal solidarity between the hindus and muslims even where the riots did not reach.

I remember 6th January 1993 even more clearly, A day when worried parents gathered out in the school football ground to pick up their children, Riots had broken out again. I remember my driver maneuvering the car expertly through bylanes and little side roads, protecting us kids from angry, approaching mobs, mobs who would not differentiate between hindu and Muslim, child or adult... all they wanted was blood.

Even at fifteen, I knew that the January riots were political, not communal. The politicians of the day had seized the opportunity to make their power plays, giving it a communal twist, and the uneducated, scared or frustrated (sometimes all-three) common man fell for it and became part of it.

I remember joining a charitable organization and handing out food to what seemed to be millions of people who had lost their homes and families. sitting at VT station.

And I remember the 12th of March 1993 clearer than anything. I was in school, and the sound of what was probably the century Bazaar blast tore through the air in the afternoon, in the middle of the exam hall. It was the last day of the 10th Standard Board exams, And we didn't know what the sound was, Someone made a joke for me to stop farting...

It was only when we got out of school that we heard about the blasts. All sorts of news started filtering in, but we didn't know exactly what the magnitude of the attack was, until we got home that is. When I got home, all the windows of our living room were broken, just from the shock waves of the Air India Building blast.

The following few months were spent in dread, looking over our shoulders. Even then I knew that this was in retaliation to the riots, And even then we were looking for answers. We waited, making heroes out of policemen, and martyrs of the common people who died that day, waiting for some kind of answer, some justification to the madness.

Now, fourteen years hence, The film comes along and reminds me of how big in magnitude the attack actually was, and how it had impacted my mind forever.

When I had heard of the film being banned, I was sad, I had heard so much about Anurag Kashyap, but the censor board seemed to hate him, not allowing any film of his to be released. From the day I heard that he was making this film, I had wanted to see it. And I am glad I did.

The film gave me personally a sense of some kind of answers, some sense of what happened, and why it happened. It was directed with panache, precise and to the point, without resorting to jingoism and anti-communal will. All it did was present what is now believed to be fact in a format that comes together superbly. Brisk editing, masterful direction, and real, earthy performances. It is exactly how a film should be made.

A special mention should go to the real hero of the film, Mumbai City, always a picture of resilience and strength, and the film shows that. Despite the blasts, the riots and all the Chaos, Mumbai moves on, and thats what the city does to its people as well. Gives them a strength that can only be understood if you spend some time living in the city.

If only the powers that be wake up, take notice, and put their money behind Anurag Kashyap, so that he can go on to make more Cinema that can put India on the map.

Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006)

Say Alvida to Common Sense

[1/10 · 14 August 2006]

I went with great anticipation to the opening show of Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna. I do think that Shah Rukh Khan is a good actor, and his combination with the Chopras and the Johars has always borne fruitful results. Despite wannabe, trying too hard to be cool nature of his movies, Karan Johar does tell a good story. And this time around, Karan Johar did have a story to tell. Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna is a long way away from the kind of story I would expect Karan Johar to tell. I just didn't think he had the talent, the gumption or the guts to handle a subject that would not go down well with Indian audiences... and he proved me right. He does not. See, I went in with a totally open mind. When people around me laughed at the opening football match scene and how Shah Rukh Khan was trying to be David Beckham, I thought, that its no big deal, every footballer is similar. When Rani Mukherji's face hit the screen with the one singular expression that she has in every movie she does, I thought, so what, it will suit the role she is doing. When Shah Rukh plays a bitter man after his accident, I thought that was pretty natural, I am in the same boat, and the feelings that he is going through, I have been through too, its only natural to feel bitter after tragedy strikes you. it takes courage and a lot of strength to overcome adversity, and Shah Rukh's Character is of a guy who lacks both those qualities. So, contrary to popular opinion, I spent the first half really enjoying the movie, and marveling at Karan Johar for basically trying to move over from his own comfort zone and not feeding us sugar-coated slop. Especially in the scene where Shah Rukh and Rani are in a hotel room, having sex, I smiled at myself and thought 'Wow, Karan Johar's grown up!'

But somewhere down the line, I realized, that he was turning the adulterers (Shah Rukh and Rani) into heroes and martyrs, while Abhishek Bachchan (the best of the four leads by a mile) and Preity Zinta were being portrayed as mere casualties in their quest for their own happiness, I started feeling a little uneasy. One scene in particular changed my opinion of this movie from decent to positively the biggest piece of trash ever was the scene where in the ballet, Shah Rukh and Rani are canoodling with their respective spouses just to make their secret lovers jealous. It's not natural, its not sensible, and it's not something people do. I have friends who have had affairs, and yes, it does happen everywhere, but not as stupidly as has been portrayed in the movie.Anyone who has ever cheated on his or her spouse will tell you how they are constantly on their toes, trying to cover their tracks, and here we have two stupid people, going about it so unabashedly, that its a wonder they weren't caught sooner. I have a problem with their irreverence, and In Karan Johar's portrayal of them as the heroes. I don't even want to talk about the ending, in which Karan Johar is so familiarly into his comfort zone, that he's now settled down there with bag and baggage (he even makes an appearance in the train in the seat behind Shah Rukh). It is the most implausible end to what could have been a very plausible and sensitive film. What offended me most was the ending, and how Karan Johar could take such a sensible story and turn it into tripe that left me offended as a viewer, a sensible human being and one of the PAYING public. Of the cast, Ovbiously, Amitabh Bachchan is great as the flamboyant playboy father to Abhishek Bachchan. He's got one-liners galore and every time he is on the screen, you laugh. That's a good thing. Kiron Kher, as Shah Rukh's mother is an acting institution in herself, and she could teach Rani Mukherji a thing or two (hundred) about acting. Shah Rukh Khan is CRAP. For some reason, he's developed some kind of a new method of acting, where you have to shake your body, like you have malaria, and its considered good. Priety Zinta's role is as one dimensional as it can get, and she has done a good job of it. she is so much better than what she is here. and here, she is good. Rani Mukherji's saving grace is that she has got beautiful eyes. Any girl who has pretty eyes can fill them up with tears, and people will feel sorry for her. She does that, and this trait is repeatedly mistaken for a performance. Well, as long as the winds blow her way... Abhishek Bachchan is the cream of the crop. He is funny, suave, sensitive, romantic, everything at the same time, and what's more, he does not need to shiver like Shah Rukh. Kudos to him.

One thing about the writer though. The film is written by a lady called Shivani Bhatija, who has also written Fanaa before this. Well, lady, if you ever read this, my word of advice to you - QUIT.

Swades (2004)

India Today

[9/10 · 2 August 2005]

India in the new millennium is in a very unique position. Strategically placed on the map, Its a country that truly seems to bear certain implications upon the geopolitical situation in Asia, and maybe in the world. As a country, It has grown leaps and bounds over the last fifteen years... National pride is at an all-time high after successful Nuclear testing, a victorious war (Border skirmish to the western world), a rising economy, and a newfound friendship with the US, among other things... So much so, that our politicians started a campaign very aptly called 'India Shining' to remind our people of how well we are doing as a country. Swades tries to explore the truth behind the jingoism. The story is seen through the eyes of an ex-pat, Shah Rukh Khan in his best performance to date, a man of the world, intelligent and successful, who upon his return to India sees what's wrong with our country. We've sent a man to space, we've blasted nuclear bombs and we've even supplied the Internet where there are no toilets... but we've failed in providing basics like sanitation, basic education, especially for our girls, and electricity. 'India Shining' is a shield beneath which the truth of rural India is quite well hidden. After all, wouldn't everyone like to focus more on the fact that our culture is thousands of years old, we're one of the oldest civilizations on the planet... We're a thriving, successful democracy... Who cares about whether the guy who tills his land from morning to night and looks like he's seventy years old, when the truth is closer to forty, gets his food at the end of the day or not. In my opinion, that is the real India... And that is what Shah Rukh's character (Mohan Bhargava) sees when he comes to India. Ably assisted by Messrs Daya Shankar Pandey, Rajesh Vivek and the Gorgeous Gayatri Joshi, he goes about trying to bring a change in the lives of a little village... People who honestly believe that India is shining and are comfortable with the way things are for them. He teaches them to take matters in their own hands and work towards a better life for themselves. Maybe tells them to wake up and actually make it shine behind the publicity machine. Ashutosh Gowarikar gave us Lagaan, a great movie, hyped, Oscar material, etc. etc. In my opinion, Swades is his best work... and the best he'll ever do. It works on so many levels. Its about a man changing, Its about attitudes changing, its about people changing... moreover, its about finding a way to make India truly shine.

Sarkar (2005)

Its Sarkar, not the Godfather

[8/10 · 12 July 2005]

Okay, we've gone hysterical hearing about the 'Copy' of the Godfather that Ram Gopal Varma has created. After every showing, we hear people leave the cinema and opine - "It's good, but the Godfather was better." Lets get one thing out of the way. Ram Gopal Varma did not go out to make the Godfather in Hindi... that's been done by others in the past... he tried to show us probably what Don Vito Corleone would have been like if he were in Mumbai, in a different setting. that's just about it. He's got the two principle characters from the Godfather Saga and given them an Indian twist. Its the story taken and set in a way that sets the pace for what true 'adaptations should be, as regards to just scene by scene lifts of movies we so often see in the Indian film industry. One of the most brilliant part of any Ram Gopal Varma's movies are his characters. In his movies, everyone has a personality. So do they in Sarkar. I like Amitabh Bachchan, but have never deemed him to be a God, like everyone in India seems to think so. There have been far greater actors than him in our industry, and there will be more to come, he'll be the first one to admit that. But that being said, he is nothing short of AMAZING. He has acted purely with his eyes and hands in this movie, and done a fabulous job of conveying the character's emotions through his sensory tools alone. The fact that he had a few dialogues to aid that part of his performance was just Icing on the cake. Abhishek Bachchan seems to have finally found his forte with the last few movies that he has done. Thank God he is not playing the chocolate boy any more... he deserved better, and he got it. He's tried to showcase his talent with his restrained performance, and yes, for all those who like to compare - He's not as good as his father - but that's not the point is it. very few people are as good as his father and its unfair to Abhishek to make that comparison. But he's good in his own right. As the young 'Michael Corleone' inspired character, he's as good as someone should be to carry off a role like this. Kay Kay Menon - Here is an actor who is never going to make it in 'Bollywood' (ugh), because Bollywood often doesn't understand the true meaning of talent. He is probably the best performance of the movie, a complex character, he pulls it off with apparent ease, in fact, I could picture other actors playing other roles, but the role of Vishnu - Only Kay Kay could have done it this well. Out of the remaining cast, everyone does their job competently, apart from maybe the two romantic leads opposite Abhishek, with special mention going out to the guys who played Chander, Rashid and Silver Mani. So why not give it a full 10/10, instead of an eight? Because of the Music. See, in a movie where you're trying to convey emotions and the feel of a scene through very little in the form of dialogues and action, the background score is essential in conveying the thrill of the scene. Sarkar does that... But I get the feeling that it could have been done better in certain places just by creating an eerie silence. Because as they say, sometimes... Silence Speaks Louder Than Words.

Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... (2001)

Decent fare

[6/10 · 28 October 2002]

Its pretty evident from the opening titles that Karan Johar wanted to achieve one thing only right from the start, that is to make the Viewer cry. And he has achieved that beautifully. K3G, the young director's follow up to the Fantastic 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai' is quite frankly not a damp squib on his previous effort. but that doesnt mean it is bad. By no means, K3G is a good movie, just not great. The story is very simple, Yashvardhan Raichand (Bachchan) and his wife (Real life wife - Jaya) are childless for the first few years of their marriage. Yash Adopts a boy named Rahul who becomes the apple of his parent's eyes, the pearl of their oysters. Later, they also have a child of their own, Rohan (Hrithik - played in the first half by a brilliant pudgy child actor). Anyway, the parents see no difference in their children, in fact, it is understood in the start that Rahul is as much a heir to Yash's billions as Rohan is, but something happens, Rahul falls in love with a poor woman (Kajol) and goes against his father, who disowns him. Ten years later, Rohan learns about the truth of what happened between his brother and father and sets out bringing the family again. Amitabh Bachchan shows no signs of fading as a powerhouse. if only, with age and his new found elegant stature, he seems to challenge anyone, no matter how big a star to try and stand up to him in delivering a performance like he does. No one has managed it in 33 years, and no one looks like doing it till the man hangs up his shoes. He simply blows one away in the last scene where he finally says I love you to his son. Jaya Bachchan as the duty bound wife and loving mother who pines for her son is simply phenomenal, especially in the scene in the mall where she senses her son's presence in the mall and lets it guide her to him. when they finally come face to face, Cinematic history was created.

Shah Rukh is great as usual. Unparralelled in acting out romantic roles, he showed a great flair for comedy as the over protective brother-in-law to Kareina Kapoor's Poo. His scenes with Kareina and Hrithik are pure magic.

Kajol, one of the best actresses to grace the screen dazzles once more as the over the top, loud, devout wife. Hrithik is a surprise as the younger brother set out to do good. His dancing prowess is as well known as his good looks, but he could emote so well came as a surprise to one and all. Kareina has been criticised for her over the top performance, but people don't get the point here - that's how she was supposed to be. over the top again. A special mention goes out to Farida Jalal as Dai Jaan or DJ or Deej, the affectionate governess to young Rohan, and when she recognises him, the emotions she portrayed definitely got the message across in another good scene from the film. The music is brilliant and so are the dialogues, frankly, so is the direction. Why not a great film then? Because Johar does not back off from continously reminding the audience throughout the movie that he made KKHH. K3G suffers from a KKHH hangover and never seens to get out of the shadow of that great film. So its credibility is marred as a great film in its own right.

Devdas (I) (2002)

A travesty

[1/10 · 28 October 2002]

When one has expectations that are frankly sky high from a team as accomplished as Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Shah Rukh Khan, Madhuri Dixit, Aishwarya Rai, Jackie Shroff and Ismail Darbar, It hurts when you get that sense of your expectations being shattered so brutally, questioning if you'll ever expect anything from the above mentioned ever again.

That, in one long sentence, summarises the experience known as Devdas. Devdas is Bhansali's interpretation of the original novel, and quite frankly, one wonders whether he ever read it in the first place.

A good movie is not guaranteed by just associating big names with it. The Captain of the ship, the director has to make sure that he performs to his best and delivers what he has been promising all this while.

It amazes me as to how the movie ran to packed houses, because there is much better fare out there which deserves more of a look it has got. Bhansali fails on every account here. The sets are brilliant, which is due to Bhansali and the art director putting in that little bit extra hard work, but it is totally wasted. How come Aishwarya Rai's Paro who is a lower class girl lives in a house that frankly, we upper class mortals can only dream of having.

If anyone here has been to a brothel, I guess you will know that no brothel has ever, or will ever look as opulent as Chandramukhi's abode.

I just wish the Crores (Tens of millions) of rupees spent here would have been saved and put to some better use. The story did not need to be told in such a long-winded fashion. I think the movie would have been appreciated more if it had been chopped by about 45 minutes. then it would have been worth it. Out of the performances, Shah Rukh Khan is Devdas to the core. He brings the haughty, yet poignant character to life with his brilliant performance. I don't venture into sayng that he is the greatest actor we have ever had, but this is a role where no one would have been able to equal him.

Madhuri Dixit as Chandramukhi is also great as the unfortunate prostitute who has the purity of heart to love selflessly, but not the purity of body.

Aishwarya Rai, to be very frank cannot act. All she is good for on screen is shedding tears, and the only reason Bhansali cast her in the central role of Paro is because she is exceptionally pretty, and has this amazing ability to look vulnerable when she cries on screen. But then, after so many movies, she must have mastered that art, for tha't all she has done in every movie.

Jackie Shroff is wasted as Chunilal. An actor of his calibre and stature deserves a role of more depth. The music by Ismail Darbar is a central character on its own, especially the theme tune, tragic, passionate, it succeeds in evoking the emotions that it is supposed to. With individual brilliance shining through like the above mentioned, one surelyu wonders where Devdas went wrong - One word - Bhansali. I think he has succumbed to his ego. He fails to connect with his audiences. He did not go out making Devdas, but 'SANJAY LEELA BHANSALI's Devdas'.

Awara Paagal Deewana (2002)

A funny rehash

[6/10 · 27 October 2002]

APD starts off as a 'Been there, Seen that' yawn of a movie. In true Bollywood style, it rehashes Action from 'The Matrix' and a plot more than loosely based on 'The Whole Nine Yards'. Akshay Kumar, who is slowly establishing himself as an actor par excellence with every movie he signs makes one wonder why he is doing the same thing again, especially when you see how lame the action looks in the context. But then, about half an hour into the movie, something happens that has one rivetted to their seat for the next two hours. Paresh Rawal enters. The more said about him, the better it gets. the bellyaching laughs start and don't stop, even if you try your best. And what's more amazing is that his singular joke in the movie never gets old. Such is the explosive talent of this fine actor. There is a myriad of characters to keep you laughing, one kookier than the rest.

Akshay is good as the Serious, no nonsense don who can't help but work with the army of misfits surrounding him. Suneil Shetty, in the smallest role of the film manages to come across as very funny as the man who forgets simple words. Johnny Lever as the stammering sidekick with a short fuse is hilarious, especially in his one 2 one's with Rawal. Aftab Shivdasani carries the part of a henpecked Husband with conviction.

Supriya is great as Paresh Rawal's menacing wife. Out of the three leading women, Aarti Chabria has the best role, but pity she is not as good an actress as is needed to carry it off.

And finally, Paresh Rawal... funny to the hilt, his innocent, miserable husband who cannot remember names is simply fantastic.

All in all, a film definitely worth watching. Highlight of the film - EVERY SCENE WITH PARESH RAWAL IN IT.

Ek Rishtaa: The Bond of Love (2001)

Ok fare with strong performances.

[27 October 2002]

There is nothing much to write home about as far as the story of Ek Rishtaa goes. The title says it all. It is the story of A father, a family man, a man who is much respected and adored by everyone around him, and his estranged son. A son, who reveres, even worships his father but sadly enough has different ideals and a different thought process than that of his father's. But when fate strikes and a slew of tragedies hit the Kapoor household, It is the son, who swallows his pride and his ego, and comes walking back into his father's life, taking control, and teaching everyone, big and small something about family values, and how nothing can break blood ties and love bonds. Amitabh Bachchan is, once again, flawless as the father who believes that patience is a big virtue and is realistic enough to see that in modern day India, education is not as important as experience, goodwill and hard work, something he believes his son has till to obtain. With every passing movie, he proves that he can outshine most actors walking the planet today and hold his own against the best that World Cinema has to offer.

Akshay Kumar, as Mr. Bachchan's son is simply great. This is the second movie where he has proved that he is an actor of caliber and the Chopras and Barjatyas of the world need to sit up and take notice. His performance as the good son is understated, yet endearing. Especially poignant are the scenes where he pleads with Amitabh Bachchan to give him a chance, and show him that In this case, a son can become a father's support. Of the rest of the cast, Karisma, Juhi Chawla, Mohnish Behl and Rakhee are good. with strong characterisations. Where the film fails is in its music, length and shoddy narration.

With Golden performances, which, if the film had been made better, would have definitely got it a slew of awards. To end, the film doesn't disappoint, but then, it doesn't even please.

Life Is Beautiful (1997)

Bon Giorno Principezza!!!!

[10/10 · 27 October 2002]

Contains Spoiler Every once in a while a movie comes along which makes you question the kind of man you are. How do you handle situations? If you were put in the same situation, Would you come out of it smiling? Do you have the courage? Guido (Benigni) did. Life is beautiful charms you right from the opening shot of the beautiful Italian countryside. It takes you into the life of Guido, a young Italian Jewish Waiter who has a beautiful way of looking at things. he never seems to look at anmything negatively, in fact, his frivolous view to life is what makes you sit riveted throughout. I don't think he's delusional, he is a very serious man, and he sees the gravity of situations in his life, but he doesn't want the people around him to feel it, hence his ever-smiling, effervescent demeanour. It all seems like a fairy tale. His landing into the school as the impostor school inspector and lecture on the virtues of the navel... His galloping down into the ballroom on the horse and whisking his bride away towards a happy life... His superspeed bike ride down the town square... things that we all dream of. An untouched innocence. The movie takes a dramatic turn when he finds himself in a concentration camp with his son... His made up story of how the camp is a game and the father-son team are the leading competitors... An unmatched courage. Not one to cry in movies as a rule, I found myself alone at home one day, and when the boy is hidden in the little box, looking at his father being led away at gun point, getting scared... and then, the father doing what he usually does to reassure the boy that the situation is not as serious as it looks... the clown march... I felt tears roll down my cheeks. And then, i started sniffing... after a while, the sniffs turn into sobs, and ultimately, when his father is dead, and the boy sees the American tank coming towards him, the elation in his eyes, the jubilation at winning first prize... it turned the sobs into a full fledged howl. Thats when i got the message... That's when the maginitude of the sacrifice made by the father in an effort to protect his son hit me like a thunderbolt and hasn't left me since. Thats when you realize that life is all about loving, and protecting and cherishiong your loved ones. and despite all the troubles, the despair and the danger that one may face, Life is... Beautiful.