Jab Tak Hai Jaan - Thats The Untitled Film | Editor's Pen

Year 1975. Angry Young Man image became the flavor of the decade with arrival of Vijay Verma. Vijay and perhaps the most iconic tattoo of Indian cinema portrayed the angst brewing in the society. Deewaar was a big hit. References of Haji Mastan added more spice to the stories. Released on Jan 1^st, movie was heralded as the biggest hit of the year. Deewar was directed by Yash Chopra. On August 15^th, Sholay was released. At Filmfare, Deewaar was the king but on Box Office Sholay was creating a new history. The year 1975 is remembered for Sholay.

Who would have thought that Yashraj will have another moment in his life when he will share something with Sholay. Jab Tak Hai Jaan might sound like a lame title for a movie that stars Shahrukh Khan and Katrina Kaif, for the first time as a pair, it definitely a fitting moment to celebrate two iconic movies. Circle of life... I don’t know if this is an acknowledgement of a co-incidence... I would rather chose to believe the former.

JBTJ will be a sort of comeback for SRK. It has been long since we have seen SRK in a conventional love story. He had experimented enough and for good but it will be a pleasure to see him in true romantic colors. Katrina is perhaps the most bankable actress in current scenario and that’s make her combo with SRK even more lucrative. Anushka Sharma... is she playing a major role or an extended cameo. We need to wait for this. One last interesting thing... last time Yashraj directed, he opened up a Pandora box of hidden treasures. Music of Veer Zaara was a bliss. Now he is collaborating with A.R. Rahman. This is going to be epic.

Love,

Sujoy Ghosh

Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa | A Little Humble Gem | The Critique

Kundan Shah is more known for his debut Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro. Shahrukh is widely known for innumerous blockbusters. So, what’s so special about a 1993 movie? Well, it’s Shahrukh’s favorite movie which stars him. A man who has blockbusters like DDLJ, Pardes, DTPH, KKHH, Mohabbatein and K3G in his kitty with big ‘hatke’ movies like Darr, Baazigar, Chak De! India, Swades, KANK and My Name Is Khan is so proud of a small movie. Well, he is.

Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa has the special Hrishikesh Mukherjee feel in its treatment. It’s not loud and is romantic to the core. Like Hrishida’s cinema, comedy flows in the story without trying to push it. At no point it attempts to become the reason to watch the movie. That’s makes Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa a little humble gem in a very illustrious filmography of Shahrukh in which most of the films lack this lovely element. Maybe Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman and Chalte Chalte had this element to some decent extent.

Sunil loves Anna but as destiny would have designed, Anna loves someone else. To increase the problems, Sunil is not good at studies and his father doesn’t approve of what he is good at – Music. Will Sunil be able to solve his problems? Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa tells story of a hero who has nothing great to offer. His everyman persona doesn’t exude any hero-like confidence. He is average, rather below average. He is just another guy. The only thing that makes him likeable is his sweet behavior towards everyone. People acknowledge his goodness. People acknowledge little talent he has. He loves a girl who is perfect in many ways. She is beautiful and has the charm of a maiden.

Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa is still remembered by masses for its music. Ae Kaash Ke Hum and Aana Mere Pyar Ko Na Tum still lingers in memories of people. Apart from music and performances, the narration style of the movie is something that set this one apart from other movies of the time. Especially the way they break the fourth wall and gave the movie a beautiful end. Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa reminds of good old days when people believed in love and love letters.

Written By: Sujoy Ghosh

Capturing Chittagong | Under Lens

Talking about Period Cinema, how many good films we have? Well a couple of docudramas woven around Gandhi, Bhagat Singh and Sardar might inspire a few eyebrows, it fails to hide out inability of making good period cinema. Our fetish of charm waste great opportunities in hand. Be it a story of Akbar with six packs or epic facepalm Rudraksh. The closest we had was a story of a villager taking on Brits in their game and beat them black and blue. It was a good period film if can keep aside some elements. Anyways, an Oscar nomination can negate any reservations I have.

Last year, the same man Ashutosh Gowarikar made a movie ‘Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey’  with Abhishek Bachchan and Deepika Padukone in lead role. To be fair to Ashutosh, it was a good effort. Nobody can doubt his sincerity. But it takes more than just sincerity to bake a cake. KHJJS turned out to be a movie that had enough to offer but in all wrong way. It had an amazing story that was stretched beyond the acceptable limit. The bunch of actors chosen turned out to be of paper-thin quality given the intensity required. Music failed to click. Perhaps art direction and cinematography were only take away.

Last time this story was captured on celluloid, it was in 1949 in a Bengali movie Chattagram Astragar Lunthan. This year, the story will be revisited. Bedabrata Pain’s Chittagong is ready to make an impact. A star cast that boasts of Manoj Bajpayee, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Vega Tamotia (lead actress in Pasanga – Tamil), Jaideep Ahlawat and Barry John can inspire a few smiles. From what I have heard, movie has received favorable reviews from different film festivals. The difficult thing will be to convert it into box office appreciation.  

On a side note: Nawaz is on roll... Kahaani, Paan Singh Tomar, GOW and GoW2, Miss Lovely, Chittagong, Shoebite and Talaash. 2012 is his year, for sure.

Written By: Sujoy Ghosh

Insights

Barfi! | True From The Inside | The Critique

If you have ever felt bad or insecure when your good friend is with his/her love, you will understand Barfi! Love, jealousy and compassion are three elements which make Barfi such an amazing watch. Anurag Basu who made Life In A... Metro is back with a bang. A bang which could have fizzled without the stardom Ranbeer brings in. Such movies are usually appreciated in film festivals and by lonely pairs in random shows running in multiplexes, mass prefer to watch star studded films.

Barfi (Murphy - Ranbeer) is a differently abled person who falls in love with a 'normal' girl Shruti (Illeana). But she cannot allow herself because of typical poor guy rich girl dilemma. Barfi's childhood friend is an autistic girl - Jhilmil (Priyanka). She is kidnapped. Story is about these three people, a couple of side-cast and the kidnapping. If one can forget about Ranbeer's and Priyanka's shortcomings, this sounds like a zillion times repeated story. References are there for sure but still the movie doesn't loses its originality.

Heavily influenced by world cinema in its treatment, Barfi has five main heroes - Ranbeer, Priyanka, Illeana, Cinematography and Background score. They bring in an experience that overshadows small loopholes in the story and unnecessary twists/subplots added to make it more suitable for Indian audiences. Romance between Ranbeer-Illeana, camaradie between Ranbeer-Priyanka and love hate relationship between Priyanka-Illeana overshadows small shortcomings. Small roles played by Saurabh Shukla, Rupa Ganguly and Akash Khurana add value to the content and presentation. Scenes between Ranbeer and Saurabh (cop-thief) and Ranbeer and Akash (father-son) will be remembered for some good time. And Chaplin... yes, he was there.

Priyanka is talented, no doubt. The way she plays her role just by her expressions; she has earned the respect even Fashion failed to gather. Ranbeer was named after his larger than life Actor-star Raj Kapoor. He must be smiling wherever he is. After a momentary lapse, he is showing his caliber and how well. Anurag Basu made a movie he will be proud of. Barfi could have been better but is still an amazing experience. Watch it, be Barfi!

Written By: Sujoy Ghosh

Year Of Nawaz | Editor's Pen

Even after watching movies like Sarfarosh, Black Friday, Manorama Six Feet Under, Munnabhai MBBS, Ek Challis Ki Last Local and Firaaq, I hardly had an impression of the timid looking in New York who breaks down when Katrina is treated badly by cops. In New York he took me by surprise. When he expresses his sorrow to Katrina while she is been ‘body-searched’ in a shameful manner, it strikes you hard. In New York, Irrfan was the second best actor followed by Neil, Katrina and John. That was 2009.

 

Cut to: 2012. This year is Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s year. Though he was in a blink-and-miss role in Paan Singh Tomar, he left a statement. Kahaani was his roar. Without menacing mannerisms, Kahaani would have been a bland affair. In absence of the main villain, though on the right side, he acted as a true nemesis for a woman who is challenging the system. If Kahaani was the beginning, a lot more followed with Gangs Of Wasseypur 1 and 2. His portrayal of weed-smoker Bollywood-obsessed gangster gave the perfect Tarantino feel to the narrative. Though I have second thought on how his character was conceived, his performance leaves no smudge marks. Apart from widely appreciated Miss Lovely and Chittagong, struck-in-godown Shoebite and promising Dekh Indian Circus, Nawaz is also playing a role in perhaps one of the most awaited movie of 2012 – Talaash. Meanwhile another movie of his - Patang is busy listening reviews across the globe in film fests.

 

Filmography of Nawazuddin cements the age-old belief that hard work pays, you just need to push the envelope.

 

Love

Sujoy Ghosh

Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam | A Masterpiece | The Critique

Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam is perhaps one of the finest piece of cinema in this country. A story set in Calcutta of Raj based on a novel by Bimal Mitra haunted filmmakers across time reminding them that this is the sky they must aim for. Abrar Alvi’s direction proved that in the shadow of Guru Dutt there was someone else who worked as hard as him, without much recognition, without much appreciation. A star cast that can put biggest ensembles to shame with its collective acting prowess. Rehman, Meena Kumari, Waheeda Rehman, Nasir Hussain and last but not the least Guru Dutt. 

 

A simpleton Bhootnath (Guru Dutt) comes to Calcutta. Calcutta is perhaps the city of his wild imaginations. He starts working for Mohini Sindoor Factory and develops an enamoring relationship with owner’s daughter Jaba played by beautiful and dynamic Waheeda Rehman. He is also attracted by Chhoti Bahu who showers him with her sisterly love. Chhoti Bahu is a middle class woman married in a rich household to Chhote Sarkar (Rehman – brilliant as usual) who spends his time in kothas and ignores his house. She wants only love and company of her husband. She can do anything... even the unimaginable. This role was immortalized by Meena Kumari.  

 

Apart from strong performances and brilliantly written dialogues for a very fine story about feudal society and its downfall in Raj, Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam is aided by brilliant cinematography by V.K. Murthy and amazing songs like Na Jao Saiyan Chhudaake Baiyan and Piya Aiso Jiya Mein Samaaye Gayo Re. Geeta Dutt and Asha Bhosle added more to the soul of this movie. Geeta Dutt’s voice had the pain that Chhoti Bahu had in her life and Asha’s voice had the charm of a free spirited girl from Brohmo Samaj – Jaba. The contrast in the moods of the characters and the simplicity of Bhootnath who forms a relationship with each of them, a complicated oft-misunderstood one with Chhoti Bahu and a strong passionate one with Jaba, completes the canvass.

 

Abrar Alvi never got his due. The talent and popularity of Guru Dutt and quintessential feel of his cinema took away everything Abrar deserved. Still... whenever someone appreciates Guru Dutt and his cinema, a share goes to Abrar, unknowingly.

 

Written By: Sujoy Ghosh

A Burger Story | Golden Podium

Notes From Team Members - Jitesh & Aniket:

 

A simple thought “Man can do anything out of hunger” resulted in “A Burger Story”, a silent short film by a group of enthusiasts passionate about movie-making, evading their passion. The movie club ‘Dot Mov Talkies’ of Infosys, welcomed their phase 3 members with an experience of life-time, their first movie. The team, along with core members from the club, with the help of their mentor Prabhu B Doss, learnt the ethics of movie-making, From converting a one-liner to a treatment of a story to featuring the names in the credit list at the end of the movie. “A Burger Story” got the funny bones of the actors out and the team had a superb experience to make their second, third movies.

 

TRM Opinion : A Burger Story rely a lot on the individual performances which fortunately works here. Concept, though not very innovation, brings in smiles. This, we believe, is a significant achievement. The short will remind you of Tramp from City Lights and Mr. Bean from Mr. Bean teleseries. The protagonist and contrast in the other central character  brings in the salt pepper feel necessary of these kind of shorts. Movie doesn’t rely on technical mastery however, minus some fine points, team has done a real good job.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arjun: The Warrior Prince | Visiting Good Old Days | The Critique

Arjun is perhaps one of the most impressive characters of Mahabharata. He is a born winner. He is someone who shoulders big responsibilities from a very tender age. While Bheema can take the liberty, he is one who carves his name under shadow of his elder brothers. When he becomes a prince, he knows his duties more than his rights. He can take on the entire world but feels weak when he is supposed to take stance against his cousins and is the first one to be content with whatever is available.

 

When Disney and UTV aired the first promo of Arjun: The Warrior Prince, expectations were sky high. There was so much to say even about perhaps the most widely known story in this country. Arnab Chaudhuri (Director) and Rajesh Devraj (Screenplay) chose perhaps one the least explored stories of valor which could  have contained the spirit of Mahabharata. Eh, it’s difficult to say much about the story without dropping spoilers. So, I will stop here.

 

Is it as good as any big hollywood animation movie? May be and maybe not. Content wise it can give any big movie a run for its money. Even the ones in which real people walk. Narrative helps in bringing the story to the scale. Animation wise, it’s a little short. However, the difference is fairly less than what you will expect. Despite of some minor shortcomings, it’s a really well made animation movie.

 

Biggest takeaway is the fact that it tells an oft-told story in a very intriguing way. Children will have lots of questions and elders will be happy to respond. It’s not just a good movie, it’s a revisit to the days when we used to sit in front of TV to watch BR Chopra's epic.

 

Written By: Sujoy Ghosh

Breaking Away | Inspiring People | The Critique

Why they make sports movies? A short answer would be 'to inspire people'. Breaking Away, loosely based on life of cyclist Dave Blase, serves the purpose. It inspires average people to think beyond their capabilities and arc their backbone to limits. It inspires exceptional lot to participate in the greater cause rather than mulling over small failures. Breaking away is a simple story which rises above the mediocrity and excels on motion pictures.

 

The core story deals with a cyclist - Dave, with ability to ride for long at good pace. Influenced by Italian cyclist, he develops a taste to Italian culture. His father, belonging to lower strata in local social structure, is a car dealer with dubious credentials. He doesn't support his son. However, Dave continues his passion. When Italian team comes to town, he rides with them and give them good contest. This is not appreciated by Italians who beat him by cheating. He moral is down. In a different set of events, he and his friends are challenged by college students of elite section. This happens when Dave tries to woo a girl by telling her that he is an Italian. However, he is exposed and embarrassed. To give them back, his friends decide to participate in Little 500 race. Initially reluctant, Dave participates.

 

Rated 8th on AFI America's 100 Most Inspiring Movies, it was also rated 8th on AFI Top 10 Sports Movies list. This alone speaks volumes about this movie. Movie is very well written. The dialogues come out natural. They convey the message without being preachy. Race is perhaps the strongest element; life of people in Bloomington, Indiana is perfectly wired. The way city is explored without emphasizing is remarkable. Performances, direction and the 'feel good' stays with you long after the end-credit rolls. 

 

Side Note: Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander was apparently inspired by Breaking Away. They took the message too seriously.

 

Written By: Sujoy Ghosh

Gautam In Cocktail | Actor's Eye

In recent times, in fact since the day the movie Cocktail has released I have read many articles blaming the lead Gautam to be of low character and not clear of what he wants in life. That the character is a hypocrite, who dumped the girl he used to hang out with just because she was very open minded, extrovert, outgoing and an independent working girl whom his mother wouldn’t have approved of, doesn’t go down well with me.

First of all Gautam did not choose between a working and a non-working woman because if one sees the complete movie he would know that both the leading female characters, sooner or later, had a job. The differentiation he did was between those two ladies out of whom one indulged in drinking day & night whereas another did not, one used to pray to god and another did not (Though may not be an issue for many but Saif's character may be preferred it that way), one wore decent clothes in front of people you are meeting for the first time and another did not (I really don't advocate wearing just a shirt in front of any stranger to be decent, putting aside the fact that Boman & Dimple were Gautam’s uncle & mother). Why do we always mix dressing decently with dressing conservatively? I don't understand. Last but not the least the difference of love interest, according to the story and a dialogue in the movie, also lied in the fact that one girl came to him very easily and one just ignored him which he took as a challenge.

Keeping in mind the above facts I don’t feel the character was a hypocrite and just chose one girl over another since he was bored of the first one or wanted to please his mother because in that case he wouldn’t have stuck to his true love till the end when he had an easy option of Veronica by his side. It was just that he fell for the first girl because of his similar lifestyle and later the goodness of the other girl made him realise his true call in life.

Written By: Gaurav Karmakar