Film Review- Detective Byomkesh Bakshy

Detective Byomkesh Bakshy

After a long time I enjoyed a film, in fact loved the film. Detective Byomkesh Bakshy is a must watch film for all those who love gripping story, impressive art direction and amazing cinematography. After his great work in films like Khosla Ka Ghosla, Love, Sex Aur Dhoka or Shanghai, director Dibakar Banerjee has yet again proved that he belongs to a different league in Bollywood industry. With his excellent eye for detailing, intricate characters and plots, he has definitely created a new definition of thriller in Hindi cinema.

It is one of the films where the city becomes a character. Calcutta of 1940s is created in a beautiful way. Everything in the film like- the tram, rickshaw, old buildings, poster of films, the cigarette tin, the random man in the market with fresh fish in his hands and boarding house have been created in such a way that it depicts the city of that era in a perfect way. Vandana Kataria the production designer of the film has done an impressive work.

Cinematographer Nikos Andritsakis has shot the film in simplistic yet stylistic way. The aerial view from the roof top, the shadow picturization of fight sequence (reminds me of Sherlock Homes) the by lanes of the city and the over busy roads of Calcutta every shot has been thought upon. The use of freeze frame flash backs has also been done very effectively.  The sequence where tram moves across the city with city showing through the window with Byomkesh Bakshy sitting there in soft focus has been picturized very beautifully. It signifies the upcoming story of the dark Calcutta of that time.

The film start off as a simple story of missing father but it eventually, with different course of events takes its journey through a nexus of gangs, politics, drugs and hence unfolds a catchy story. The story is short and intriguing and the the film never looked draggy.

The music syncs well with the film. The tracks are fresh and different, it is unlike the tracks used in Bollywood. Done in collaboration with various artistes like Madboy/Mink, Ursi Banerjee, Akshay De and others, the film’s music is adds up to the overall feel of the film.

Each and every character has been very well crafted. Sushant Singh Rajput with his simple yet impressive acting has done complete justice to the role. His acting is neither under done nor overdone. His character is also not of a super hero but of a simple detective who vomits at the sight of dead body. All the supporting characters have also done justice to their roles.

So, all in all this film a must watch who loves to watch something different in Bollywood film industry.

Dedh Ishqiya

Dedh Ishqiya 

Most of the time if a sequel of a film is made, either it looks too redundant or it is just a repetition, but Dedh Ishqiya is definitely different. It is after a long time that I am really impressed with a film. Superb lighting, wonderful camera work, coupled with amazing performances by its ensemble cast, Dedh Ishqiya is definitely a good film to start the year with. Yes, this is the first film I watched this year and I really liked it.

The characterization is simply perfect. Each and every character has justified the role they have been given. I will start with my all-time favourite  Naseeruddin Shah. it is needless to say that the versatility of this actor always surprises me. He gels with the characater of Iftikhar Hussain’s so flawlessly that I felt that this character is written keeping him in mind.

He introduced the new stages of love- the seven stages of love - dilkashi, uns, mohobbat, akidat, ibadat, junoon and maut in the film. The obvious charm he emanates is definitely one of the many reasons of why we all look up at him. The iconic actor uses his old-world charm (very much required for this film) proving yet again how delightful he still is.

Vijay Raaz has proved his amazing acting skills again. The Kauwa biryani actor has yet again impressed the audience with his extraordinary acting skills. The beauty and effortless grace of Madhri Dixit- Nene is simply magical. Through this film the actress has given a bang-on come back performance. The Begum Para mischievous glance, smooth dialogues and evergreen smile is simply wow. Munira, played by Huma Qureshi has charmed the audience with her sensuality and intelligent acting. She is one of the most promising actresses of recent time and with her every passing film she proves that she is here to stay for a long time. And of course the rustic, hilarious Arshan Warsi alias Babban has again charmed the audience with his carefree acting skills. The half-Italian poet called Nur Mohammad Italvi, played by Manoj Pahwa stocked with delightful shayari, kept entertaining his audience. The equation between- Begam Para and Iftekhaar, Begam Para and Munira,  Khallo and Babban, Babban and Munira is also noteworthy.  

Abhishek Chaubey’s Dedh Ishqiya  is an amalgamation of an engaging story, beautiful music, impressive camera work, stunning sets and wonderful performances. Vishal Bhardwaj's rib-tickling, witty dialogues and Dr Bashir Badr's lovely Urdu poems has been able to captivate its audience throughout the film. The beauty and sweetness of Urdu language is brought into the Hindi cinema after a long time.  The songs are written by Gulzar and brought to life by Rekha Bhardwaj. Surprisingly, the song has been choreographed by Remo D'Souza, who is known primarily for western dance. Subrata Chakraborty's production design restores the captivating mehfil-like atmosphere and mushaira, transporting you to another world. Setu's camerawork captures the old-world charm beautifully. All in all It is a must watch film fir all those who have been really disappointed by the films released lately.

Kai Po Che

The simple yet effective story, wonderful camera angles, superb background score coupled with brilliant acting by newcomers made this film a worth watch. After a long time (since Barfi) Bollywood has churned out a real good cinema.  Kai Po Che is an effective and interesting adaptation of Chetan Bhagat’s Three Mistakes of My Life.

The characterisation of all the three protagonists is done very vividly. The protagonists look like real characters, people with whom we can relate, people who are real. Not having well-known stars in the film has worked in its favour by giving it a freshness that is detached from typical Hindi films. Rajkumar Yadav, Amit Sadh and Sushant Singh Rajput Ishan perfectly jelled in their respective roles and made the narrative even more wonderful. Sushant Singh Rajput, one more gem of my home town remains the heart of the film.

The first half of the film is an endearing tale of friendship and male bonding as each friend tries to help the other. The second half is a sensitive portrayal of how the Bhuj earthquake in 2001 and then the Godhra riots of 2002 change their lives and relationships forever.

There is no Bollywood type fighting from the bad man, no larger than life sets and no actual song and dance sequence. The film revolves around three real characters and how they react and respond in different situations to achieve their dreams and aspirations.  Many people are referring it as coming of age cinema.

The film unties the madness that most citizens of our country have about cricket, politics and the effects on the process of growth and the ethos of the country. There's no over-the-top, filmy, dramatic dialogues, instead, those in the film sound very realistic and genuine.

Songs like “Meethi Boliyan” and “Manjha” gels very-well with the flow of film and that is what touches your heart.

Anay Goswamy’s camera work made the film look much richer and beautiful. The camera work is simply amazing. Each and every shot is very well framed and imbibed in the story to bring out the correct emotions. The first half of the film has beautiful backdrops, to portray the dreams of the three friends. And the second half of the film that shows the harsh realities of life is also captured in the subtle camerawork and cinematography. The use of handheld camera adds to the sense of both simmering intimacy and rising tensions. Either it is the beautiful landscape, narrow lanes, the naturally lit house of Omi, the gloomy shades of earthquake or orange glooms of Godhra massacre, every shot is a treat to its viewers.

The portrayal of the Godhra massacre is sensitively handled and the fear and brutality of the moment is conveyed without resorting to costless bloodletting. Similarly the uncontrolled cheerfulness of the moment after an Indian cricket teams wins a match is portrayed with equal realism.

Thought-provoking, moving and ultimately heart-warming, Kai Po Che! is what great cinema is made of.

Hearty Paws

Hearty Paws

I have not seen much Korean films, but definitely some. Yesterday night I saw a film called- Hearty Paws, suggested by a friend. And I fell in love with the film instantly. I cannot get that film out of my head and hence this post. I get a bit too emotional whenever I see a film on children or animals and this film has both.

The relationship among the dog and the kids, the intelligence and sensibility of the dog is portrayed very-well.  All the characters in the film - Soi, Chan and their pet Hearty are simply adorable. The acting of all these three protagonists is just outstanding. But my personal favourite is Soi and Hearty. The whole scene of Soi and Hearty playing in their room, where Soi puts up lipstick and tries to be a mother is something I can completely relate to. As a kid I have played this game and the only difference is that I had an adorable cat instead of dog. The scene where Hearty eats ice-cream from the black packet brought by Chan is something with which all those who have ever had pet can relate very easily. 

There are some scenes in the film which I could not bear to watch also, as they are quite intolerable (for me). The scene when Hearty follows the tracks of a train, for several days only to find his master in another town, really is heart-wrenching. Not that they were not a part of the narrative, but personally I could not bear it. The second part of the film is a bit too sad.

Hearty played by Dal-I definitely deserves an award. Whether it be coated in grime or fresh from a bath, it is quite incredible to see how the filmmakers managed to coerce what I would say a brilliant performance from it, with its soulful eyes.

As a whole I just loved the film, though I cannot watch it again because of the second part, it is a bit too sad for me. And being an Indian I always expect a happy ending. But the film is quite captivating and emotionally engaging.

FILM REVIEW OF DHOBI GHAT

There are a number of Hindi films made on a metro city and its life, some explore the monotony of daily life, some relationships and some focus on hardships required to cope up with the pace of the city. The directorial debut of Kiran Rao- “Dhobi Ghat” released in January 2010 received mixed reactions from people. Even though the film got extreme reaction of being loved by some and disliked by some, the movie definitely made a mark and showed that Bollywood is not just limited to song and dance.

 Interwoven with the hustle and bustle of the dream city Mumbai, Dhobi Ghat presents the story of four individuals. The 95-minute film portrayed the city of dreams Mumbai in a complete new light.

The characterization of all the protagonists- Arun, Munna, Shai and Yasmin is very well done. And though the four protagonists are starkly different, all of them are entwined with each other in some way. The loneliness of Yasmin whose video diary narrates her day-to-day routine, the aspiration of Munna to become an actor, a washer man in day and rat killer in night, the inquisitiveness of photographer Shai and the restlessness of artist Arun is very well portrayed in the movie.

Cinematographer Tushar Kanti has done a splendid job. And all the shots of the film just look like moving painting of the canvas and successfully depict the Mumbai city.

Beautifully composed shots aided by an evocative background score fit very well with the varied moods, from melancholy to delight. The background score is definitely one of the many reasons that swayed the cinema lovers to fall in love with the film.

As a whole, the film leaves us moved as its protagonists bond together as they journey through longing, loneliness, loss and love.

Films

Cocktail- not a new tale!

The best sentence to describe this film is- ‘old story in a new package’. I won't say this film is not worth watching, but it cannot be watched more than once. Claiming to be out-of-the-box/ coming-of-the-age film it failed on various grounds. 

The first and most important thing about the film is that it simply reinforced the fact that an Indian man cannot fall in love with woman who goes to bar and cannot keep her house clean. The first half of the film has a feel good factor- depicting fun and friendship among the three protagonists. 

There are many plots that unspool halfway through, leaving us with a random sequence of events. The changes-of-heart is not justified (and never explained) where Veronica falls in love with Gautam and Gautam falls in love with Meera. Audience keeps guessing why Gautam fall in love with Meera, it simply reinforce the stereotypical fact that a bad flirtatious guy will fall in love only with a seedhi-sadhi girl woman (Meera). In fact, the girl is worth being loved only if she keeps things in place, cook food and are loved by typical Aunties. 

However, I think Deepika has done justice with her role, Saif Ali Khan’s acting looks exaggerated and forced in lots of places and Diana definitely needs a lot of improvement.  

The sequence which I personally liked in terms of depiction is where these three friends/ lovers are in disc and suddenly Veronica realises she is not required, not wanted, not loved. And the play of lights and introspection of the character is well-shown. Her loneliness, need of companionship is depicted well.  

But as a whole, the film failed to depict anything new. The music is peppy, lively and gelled well with the film. As a whole I would just sum up to say- ‘old story in a new package’.

FILMS...FILMS AND FILMS

FILMS...FILMS AND FILMS

Being a student of Mass Communication, I have always loved and cherished watching and discussing movies. Although there are number of film carnivals all across the city, I have not been able to go to any of the film festivals for quite a while. One fine day, while browsing through the online deal's website –www.snapdeal.com, I came across a film festival called- Taj Enlighten Film Society. I bought the deal in the blink of an eye specially because it was applicable for weekends too. 

Sitting in office with just a few clicks, I became a member of this film society. I did not even have to take the trouble of standing in queue for buying the ticket. And here I am, a part of a world class film festival - a window to the wonderful cinema extravaganza.

Through this deal, I have been able to rekindle my passion for movies. It gave me a chance to get associated with the wonderful world of cinema. The festival has provided me with the exposure to some great films. And the most interesting part of this festival is that it showcases films of different genre. 

I got the chance to watch Majid Majidi’s film- "Children of Heaven". The movie offers an insight into a strand of Iranian life.  I have special love for films made on and for children.  Obviously, I fell in love instantly with this outstanding film. I have seen- "The Color of Paradise", so I had already tasted the magic of Majid Majidi's style of film making. No wonder, as soon as I got to know that this film is being screened, I knew how to make the best use of my Snapdeal voucher.

Another classic film that I saw through this wonderful fiesta was- "Rear Window" which depicts voyeurism (the act of observing the lives of others) exceptionally well.  It is said that we all have some element of voyeur in us. And it is actually right as going to a movie is nothing more than opening a window into the lives of others (fictional or real). Therefore, it's not a surprise that the film industry has examined this aspect of the human experience, time and again. Movies about voyeurism come in all varieties - everything from serious studies to light, exploitative fare.  And one of the most engrossing studies of voyeurism is Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window. The film is universally regarded as a classic and a strong cadre of critics, scholars and fans (including myself) consider this to be the director's best feature.

The third in the list was a complete different genre of film and one of the greatest classic of Hindi Cinema - Sahib Biwi Aur Ghulam. Directed and produced by two maverick geniuses- Abrar Alvi and Guru Dutt, it is a brilliant depiction of neglected and mistreated wife trou servant's perspective. Definitely a must watch for all cinema lovers. The striking beauty of Meena Kumari combined with her extraordinary performance is definitely one of the many reasons that gives it the status of a classic.

The fourth was "The Roman Holiday". Being a fan of Gregory Peck, I was all the more excited to see this film. A sweet and romantic classic story that is definitely worth watching.  Being an Indian, I cannot deny that I love romantic films (along with many other genre of cinema), so I fell in love with this film right away. The performances of- Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn are simply amazing. One thing is for sure, that I can watch this film again and again. 

These are some of the world class classic films that I have seen through this festival. Snapdeal.com is not new to me and neither are its deals. I have availed lots of deals from this website but I always thought that it is all about salon, spa, fine dining and other services. But now I have realized there is more to it than I assumed.