3 idiots, the latest buzz in town is also getting released on You Tube, though some 8 – 10 weeks later. Raju Hirani, the director says that people are anyways going to download the movie from the internet, why not earn some revenues from it. I think this is an excellent idea.
Many people will still prefer going the free way – downloading from torrents or getting it from friends. But there will be some who won’t mind spending a few bucks getting it “legally”. Human mentality is at work. If it is really cheap vs free, people will have tendency to go for the real cheap because it frees them from the guilt of piracy. It is something similar to what Chetan Bhagat books did a few years back. Everyone used to get the pirated books to get them cheap. E.g. a Rs 300 book is easily available for anything between Rs 80 – 120 at any roadside vendor. By pricing the book at 100 bucks (which now has become a trend with new authors), people went in for the original because it was real cheap. Why not buy an original for 100 rather than a duplicate for may be Rs 60 – 70 and be guilt free.
Moreover, it also helps in creating a buzz which is especially useful for a new movie. Say the movie is available for download for Rs 100, one who downloads it will definitely put it up on twitter, facebook etc encouraging the circle of friends to go for it.
One potential problem can be the payment on the internet. Many people are still wary of internet payments and many users will be of the age group who may not possess bank accounts or credit cards.
I am eagerly waiting to see how this strategy of 3 idiots goes through!!
Showing posts with label Movies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Movies. Show all posts
Saturday, January 09, 2010
Friday, June 05, 2009
Brand India
Now this was something which I feared.
Slumdog may have won all the Oscars of the world, but it has led to people having a certain wrong perception of India. Now when someone who is not very familiar with this part of the world, hears the word India, the direct association with the movie takes him to an image of the slums which were spectacularly shot in the movie. Brand India certainly takes a hit.
Jim Rogers in a recent interview said “Wherever I go for speeches around the world I tell people, if you have to go to one country in your lifetime, you should go to India.”
But may be his audience are restricted to the ‘Economic Times reading type’.
Movies are a powerful medium which have both the reach as well as the influence to change or form perceptions. May be some of the filmmakers should take lead in making movies which have global appeal and which something better to people to associate India with. It will be quite a creative challenge to weave this aspect in an interesting script.
Slumdog may have won all the Oscars of the world, but it has led to people having a certain wrong perception of India. Now when someone who is not very familiar with this part of the world, hears the word India, the direct association with the movie takes him to an image of the slums which were spectacularly shot in the movie. Brand India certainly takes a hit.
Jim Rogers in a recent interview said “Wherever I go for speeches around the world I tell people, if you have to go to one country in your lifetime, you should go to India.”
But may be his audience are restricted to the ‘Economic Times reading type’.
Movies are a powerful medium which have both the reach as well as the influence to change or form perceptions. May be some of the filmmakers should take lead in making movies which have global appeal and which something better to people to associate India with. It will be quite a creative challenge to weave this aspect in an interesting script.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Who wants to be a Millionaire???
Freida Pinto, the Latika of Slumdog said in one of the ‘Making’ of the movie that Slumdog Millionaire showcases ‘True India’. That was the point where all the phoniness surrounded reached the bottom most point for me. That was the point where a respect for the movie changed to a dislike for the movie.
For me, the craze for the movie started when it reached amongst the Top 250 of IMDB List. In addition, I had read Q&A by Vikas Swarup around 3 - 4 years back and had loved it. So was really keen to watch the movie. The movie was interesting though different from the novel – specially the end where the motive of coming to the show is entirely different and captivating in the novel. But overall, I enjoyed the movie – better than the regular movies that Indian film industry was churning out. But only better – how was it different from a regular hindi movie – apart from the background plot of a KBC setting. And how did the entire Oscars thing set in??
On one hand was the news of 10 oscar nominations for this movie and on the other was the rejection of a much more thoughtful movie from India – Taare Zameen Par. The success of Slumdog at an international level seems to suggest that Hollywood is getting so-called ‘Bollywoodish’ whereas Indian audience are waking up and appreciating the ‘hatke’ movies – the tag which was reserved for Angrezi movies. Or is it the India – the emerging economy effect – just like it happened in 1994 – 95 when focus shifted to the grand Indian market and there was a surge in the Miss World and Miss Universe crowns coming India’s way. Indian film industry is in focus this time with the sector witnessing huge investments by the biggies like Reliance. With it becoming more business rather than a starry affair – an opportunity for businesses to invest and be ‘millionaires’.
Though it makes good business sense but something that goes against us is the branding. Seth Godin defines Worldview as the rules, values, beliefs and biases that an individual brings to a situation and Frames as elements of story painted to leverage the world view a consumer already has. (Basically another way to define Segmentation)
From the recent developments a dangerous proposition that is developing is that this worldview of the rest of the world about India is in a pretty bad shape and people are putting up frames to showcase that pathetic worldview.
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Movies of the Week - II
Again a 7 Movie week. :)
- Taxi Driver
A supposedly classic movie about a eccentric Taxi Driver in US who is disturbed by the developments happening around himself. He takes upon himself to clean the mess. A slow movie showing the phase which US passed through in mid 70’s. Though the subject was strong and the performances good but the flatness and slow pace is a turn off - The Day of the Jackal
Based on the very popular novel by Frederick Forsyth. Having read the novel, I would suggest read the novel than watch the movie (In fact that goes for most of the film adaptations). I didn’t enjoy the movie much may be because all the suspense and the thrill was already known. - Lord of the Rings Trilogy
The week belonged to the Lord of the Rings. Saw all the three parts - The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, The Return of the King. The movie is a 12 hour epic – each of the three parts being 4 hours long. Everything about the films – everything, is perfect. Except the length. They were too long and I am not particularly a fan of the extra dose of fantasy things shown in the movie. Though the battle scenes were awesome – specially the final one. 'The Return of the King' was the last and the best of all the three. The movie often meanders along slowly plus the names are very difficult to remember. Mordor, Hobbits, Frodo etc etc. Though by the time you complete the 12 hour journey they get fixed in your mind. BTW The best name was that of the villain - Sauron!! Overall a nice watch. All you need is plenty if time - Bheja Fry
A wonderful movie. On one hand I saw Three 4 hour English movies and on the other a 1hr 40 minutes Hindi movie. Almost all of the movie is shot in 1 room where 1 scene carries on. The comic timing of Vinay Pathak is tremendous. Totally script and performance based movie. As regards the frying of Bheja - that happens of the characters not the viewers. You will keep on laughing for whole 1.5 hours. Must watch. - The Pursuit of Happyness
Based on the real story of Chris Gardner it’s a telling tale of the person in whose life everyday something goes wrong. And he moves on without blaming anyone for his troubles and fighting them. It shows that life is a pursuit – a run (Will Smith is shown running in the whole movie – may be symbolically) to achieve happiness. An inspirational true story about a man and his son.
Monday, April 16, 2007
Movies of the Week - I
Last year, I realized that though I have seen a lot of Hindi Movies but over the years I have seriously lacked watching good English Movies.
So initially unintentionally, then later intentionally I started concentrating on good Hollywood stuff.
It was through recommendations from friends first, and then the reference changed to the IMDB Top 250 List.
When first time I looked at the list I had hardly seen 8 of the 250 movies. So I started a journey which I am still continuing.
Every week I see plenty of movies courtesy my friends Manish, Ashish and cousin Anuj.
So I thought of starting a ‘Movies of the Week’ series which will constitute the movies which I saw in the previous week. The success of the series depends on the flow of the movies I manage to get from friends.
So starting with last week movies.
P.S: In no way these are the reviews of the movies. Just a line or two about each one of them entirely from my point of view.
1. 300
The week started with 300. A movie based on a Novel by Frank Miller. This film is based on a war where 300 Spartans fight against the gargantuan Persion Army.
I could relate to our own J.P Dutta’s Border. The visuals are magnificent and it’s a story about fighting and dying in glory for your nation. I liked the movie for its brutal war scenes, grotesque killings and the visual effects.
2. Kill Bill Vol 1
Directed by Master director Quentin Tarantino in his typical chapter style which are not always in chorological order. Explicit killing scenes with blood oozing out like shower makes this movie clearly ‘different’ from others. The movie’s 10 chapters were made in one go but released with a gap of 6 months. Both volumes contain 5 chapters each. And when you finish with Volume 1, its tough to resist double clicking on “Kill Bill Volume2.avi”
3. Kill Bill Vol 2
Chapters 6 – 10. Brings the unfinished movie to a conclusion. Less of deadly fights and more of story in this part.
4. The Notebook
Has an impressive rating of 8.0 in IMDB. A typical romantic movie. Evokes a bit of suspense about the end but a person who has been fed on Hindi Cinema can easily figure out what the ending would be. Only die hard romantics should watch this movie.
5. Goal
A movie about a Boy with a dream of making it Big in the World of Football. Many Hollywood movies have been made on the same theme. We even had our own Iqbal vying for the Blue T Shirt. The USP of the movie is the guest appearances of many football stars – Beckham, Zidane, Raul, Alan Shearer, Gerrard, Lampard to name a few. Plus the football matches which have been beautifully shot.
The movie also has a sequel Goal: Living the Dream which was released this year and even Goal 3 is in the pipeline. Okay movie – one time watch.
6. Equilibrium
A sci-fi futuristic movie where 3rd World War has taken place and to prevent another war, various steps are being taken. And what is the step? Using drugs and medicines, people are being forced to remove all traces of emotion in them – emotions of love, hatred, jealousy etc etc. There is a section of people who live underground and form a resistance (something like matrix). The movie moves showing conflict between having emotions or not having them, through the eyes of the protagonist (Christian Bale). An Okay movie.
7. United 93
The true events of what happened on 11 Sept, 2001 in the plane United 93 which was allegedly planned to be crashed on the White House but in which the passengers displayed heroism in fighting the hijackers, resulting in a ultimate crash in a field in Pennsylvania. Many Real persons performed their roles in the movie. Though I had scene a similar documentary on Discovery but the movie magnificently portrayed the tension, the lack of co ordination in the FAA headquarters, Military Area, Air traffic Control Towers and of course the flight United 93. A Must watch movie.
So initially unintentionally, then later intentionally I started concentrating on good Hollywood stuff.
It was through recommendations from friends first, and then the reference changed to the IMDB Top 250 List.
When first time I looked at the list I had hardly seen 8 of the 250 movies. So I started a journey which I am still continuing.
Every week I see plenty of movies courtesy my friends Manish, Ashish and cousin Anuj.
So I thought of starting a ‘Movies of the Week’ series which will constitute the movies which I saw in the previous week. The success of the series depends on the flow of the movies I manage to get from friends.
So starting with last week movies.
P.S: In no way these are the reviews of the movies. Just a line or two about each one of them entirely from my point of view.
1. 300
The week started with 300. A movie based on a Novel by Frank Miller. This film is based on a war where 300 Spartans fight against the gargantuan Persion Army.
I could relate to our own J.P Dutta’s Border. The visuals are magnificent and it’s a story about fighting and dying in glory for your nation. I liked the movie for its brutal war scenes, grotesque killings and the visual effects.
2. Kill Bill Vol 1
Directed by Master director Quentin Tarantino in his typical chapter style which are not always in chorological order. Explicit killing scenes with blood oozing out like shower makes this movie clearly ‘different’ from others. The movie’s 10 chapters were made in one go but released with a gap of 6 months. Both volumes contain 5 chapters each. And when you finish with Volume 1, its tough to resist double clicking on “Kill Bill Volume2.avi”
3. Kill Bill Vol 2
Chapters 6 – 10. Brings the unfinished movie to a conclusion. Less of deadly fights and more of story in this part.
4. The Notebook
Has an impressive rating of 8.0 in IMDB. A typical romantic movie. Evokes a bit of suspense about the end but a person who has been fed on Hindi Cinema can easily figure out what the ending would be. Only die hard romantics should watch this movie.
5. Goal
A movie about a Boy with a dream of making it Big in the World of Football. Many Hollywood movies have been made on the same theme. We even had our own Iqbal vying for the Blue T Shirt. The USP of the movie is the guest appearances of many football stars – Beckham, Zidane, Raul, Alan Shearer, Gerrard, Lampard to name a few. Plus the football matches which have been beautifully shot.
The movie also has a sequel Goal: Living the Dream which was released this year and even Goal 3 is in the pipeline. Okay movie – one time watch.
6. Equilibrium
A sci-fi futuristic movie where 3rd World War has taken place and to prevent another war, various steps are being taken. And what is the step? Using drugs and medicines, people are being forced to remove all traces of emotion in them – emotions of love, hatred, jealousy etc etc. There is a section of people who live underground and form a resistance (something like matrix). The movie moves showing conflict between having emotions or not having them, through the eyes of the protagonist (Christian Bale). An Okay movie.
7. United 93
The true events of what happened on 11 Sept, 2001 in the plane United 93 which was allegedly planned to be crashed on the White House but in which the passengers displayed heroism in fighting the hijackers, resulting in a ultimate crash in a field in Pennsylvania. Many Real persons performed their roles in the movie. Though I had scene a similar documentary on Discovery but the movie magnificently portrayed the tension, the lack of co ordination in the FAA headquarters, Military Area, Air traffic Control Towers and of course the flight United 93. A Must watch movie.
Monday, December 25, 2006
A Movie Year
As the year comes to an end, we often reflect back on what have been the specialties of the year gone. One of them, for me, has been the movies. Some excellent movies by Indian Film Industry and some Hollywood classics made this year truly memorable.
It started off with Rang De Basanti – which I would rate as the best Hindi movie I have ever seen. On similar lines was the very entertaining Lage raho Munna Bhai. If Munna Bhai MBBS made the word “bole to” and “jaadu ki jhappi” popular, it was “gandhigiri” this time around.
In the second half of the year, it was a series of literally different movies which I experienced. It started with Yun hota to kya hota which, unlike many, I enjoyed a lot. Then there was Pyar ke Side effects followed by the humourous Khosla ka Ghosla. This movie potrayed the real meaning of humour – based purely on situational comedy – it made me a real fan of Anupam Kher.
In addition to the Hindi movies, I also experienced a few English classics.
The first was Shawshank Redemption – an amazing movie – probably the best English movie I have seen. (2 of the bests of Hindi and English in one year!!) And more recently I have seen Schindler’s List, Million Dollar baby, Boys Don’t cry, Finding Neverland, Fight Club, Memento, Cinderella man.
Among this list I would say Schindler’s List was at the top. Simply amazing ‘true’ movie about a person who gave everything he had to save1100 lives during WW II. 1100 lives – think about it. The people who show bravery to save 1 life get a medal from president on 26th January and that person saved more than thousand. An amazing movie about an amazing person – I guess the best Steven Spielberg would have directed.
Fight Club – a Hindi movie of the same name was also made this year. After seeing that you want to kill the person who kept that name. The original one is a classic ranked 32 among the top 250 movies of all times. And I guess the Hindi fight club must rank 32 – from the bottom.
Memento is difficult to understand first time. It moves backward. Which means the last scene of the story is the first. And from there it moves backward. That is what you call really different movie.
With movies like Sin City, The Pianist, Hotel Rwanda, Reservoir Dogs, Confessions of a Dangerous mind lined up on my hard disk, I guess the year would end on a high as far as Movies are concerned.
It started off with Rang De Basanti – which I would rate as the best Hindi movie I have ever seen. On similar lines was the very entertaining Lage raho Munna Bhai. If Munna Bhai MBBS made the word “bole to” and “jaadu ki jhappi” popular, it was “gandhigiri” this time around.
In the second half of the year, it was a series of literally different movies which I experienced. It started with Yun hota to kya hota which, unlike many, I enjoyed a lot. Then there was Pyar ke Side effects followed by the humourous Khosla ka Ghosla. This movie potrayed the real meaning of humour – based purely on situational comedy – it made me a real fan of Anupam Kher.
In addition to the Hindi movies, I also experienced a few English classics.
The first was Shawshank Redemption – an amazing movie – probably the best English movie I have seen. (2 of the bests of Hindi and English in one year!!) And more recently I have seen Schindler’s List, Million Dollar baby, Boys Don’t cry, Finding Neverland, Fight Club, Memento, Cinderella man.
Among this list I would say Schindler’s List was at the top. Simply amazing ‘true’ movie about a person who gave everything he had to save1100 lives during WW II. 1100 lives – think about it. The people who show bravery to save 1 life get a medal from president on 26th January and that person saved more than thousand. An amazing movie about an amazing person – I guess the best Steven Spielberg would have directed.
Fight Club – a Hindi movie of the same name was also made this year. After seeing that you want to kill the person who kept that name. The original one is a classic ranked 32 among the top 250 movies of all times. And I guess the Hindi fight club must rank 32 – from the bottom.
Memento is difficult to understand first time. It moves backward. Which means the last scene of the story is the first. And from there it moves backward. That is what you call really different movie.
With movies like Sin City, The Pianist, Hotel Rwanda, Reservoir Dogs, Confessions of a Dangerous mind lined up on my hard disk, I guess the year would end on a high as far as Movies are concerned.
Thursday, October 12, 2006
RDB revisited...
Plz Note:
1. To understand this post u must have seen Rang De Basanti. And it is better if u also remember the original dialogues.
2. The blog is basically a series of mails, exchanged between me and my friend Ripudaman aka Rompy, which also brought forth the imaginative capabilities in both of us.
3. The mails (which includes modification of RDB’s dialogues) were written from memory.. so minor variations may be there from original dialogues.
4. I don’t know if you find it funny or not.. but I couldn’t stop laughing hours after. Hope it tickles a rib..
A little bit of background:
Rompy sent a mail in which was written that “It is the 2nd Death Anniversary of veerapan today… so we should shut our PC’s for 2 minutes in remembrance”
Along with it there was a photo of a grave and on the tombstone was written – R.I.P
(which by the way means Rest In Peace)
So I replied back :
From: Sid
What does RIP stand for - Remember in Prayer?????????
And u r talking of switching off pc for 2 mins.. today eveing I will switch off the pc for 2 days !!!
Long live Veeru…
Then there was some exchange of mails in which I was not answered so I again asked:
From: Sid
Par RIPu, R.I.P ka matlab to bata do….
Lash pe R.T.P likha hota to bhi samjh aa jata.. (Rovo Te Pitto) – par R.I.P ???
From: Rompy
O relax yaar…
Puch le sue se…mainu koi matlab pata hai….
Haan…dekha….
Veeru da inaam pakka…!!!!
(This is the dialogue which DJ says in the send off party for Ajay
It goes… main koi peeti hai.. puch le sue se… )
From : Sid
O sue taan kehndi – R.I.P means Routing Information Protocol..
From: Rompy
Jhoot bolta hai…
Sue to khali BA pass thi…usko kya pata Routing Information Protocol…hahahaha
From: Sid
Sue: maaji, apka beta to tester hai…
DJ: O yeh software jaaanti hai… O tu ne bataya nahi mereko..
. tu..tuuu sab samjhti hai???
Sue: Haan
DJ: O yaar.. yeh software samajhti hai.. badi gadbad ho gayi yaar
(This comes when DJ introduces sue to his mother and realizes she can speak hindi..)
From: Rompy
SUE: Kuch kaam kar lo…
DJ: (thoda sa code likhata hai) : har taraf sab kuch bikhar raha hai, main khada tamasha dekh raha hu
Hum jaison ki koi aukat hi nahi hai, agar hum RIP ka matlab nikaal bhi lein, fir bhi koi farak nahi padega, tab bhi kuch nahi badlega…
Veeru ek acha terrorist tha, ek acha gunda, achi achi moochon wala…us bande ne kabhi kisi ka kuch nahi bigaada yaar…kabhi kisi ka galt nahi kiya..
Aur apni banto(supposedly veeru ki janani) yaar, apni bachi…
(This comes when DJ cries while eating after Ajay’s death and the lathi charge where Ajay’s mother is injured)
From: Sid
DJ: Humen kuch aisa karna padega… jo unhe jadd se hila de…
Banto(veeru ki janani): Zinda kar do usse…
Sukhi: zinda kar den usse.. Veeru ko zinda kar de..
Pandey : ojha baba ka intezaam main kar dunga…
Sukhi: bhadka mat Pandey… baat baat par logn ko zinda karna tere liye aam bat hogi..
Karan: Zara si baat… veeru ki maut zara si baaaat hai…
Sukhi: par karega kaun,.. zinda kaun karega usse…
DJ: main karunga…
Pandey: roz raaat 12 baje .. chaand baadlon mein chupta hai… tabhi kar denge…
Khoon chalaaaaaa… khoooon challlaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa… veeru ki ragon mein… fer se umad ke … khoon chala….
(This is the next scene in the movie where all of the guys decide to kill the defense minister)
1. To understand this post u must have seen Rang De Basanti. And it is better if u also remember the original dialogues.
2. The blog is basically a series of mails, exchanged between me and my friend Ripudaman aka Rompy, which also brought forth the imaginative capabilities in both of us.
3. The mails (which includes modification of RDB’s dialogues) were written from memory.. so minor variations may be there from original dialogues.
4. I don’t know if you find it funny or not.. but I couldn’t stop laughing hours after. Hope it tickles a rib..
A little bit of background:
Rompy sent a mail in which was written that “It is the 2nd Death Anniversary of veerapan today… so we should shut our PC’s for 2 minutes in remembrance”
Along with it there was a photo of a grave and on the tombstone was written – R.I.P
(which by the way means Rest In Peace)
So I replied back :
From: Sid
What does RIP stand for - Remember in Prayer?????????
And u r talking of switching off pc for 2 mins.. today eveing I will switch off the pc for 2 days !!!
Long live Veeru…
Then there was some exchange of mails in which I was not answered so I again asked:
From: Sid
Par RIPu, R.I.P ka matlab to bata do….
Lash pe R.T.P likha hota to bhi samjh aa jata.. (Rovo Te Pitto) – par R.I.P ???
From: Rompy
O relax yaar…
Puch le sue se…mainu koi matlab pata hai….
Haan…dekha….
Veeru da inaam pakka…!!!!
(This is the dialogue which DJ says in the send off party for Ajay
It goes… main koi peeti hai.. puch le sue se… )
From : Sid
O sue taan kehndi – R.I.P means Routing Information Protocol..
From: Rompy
Jhoot bolta hai…
Sue to khali BA pass thi…usko kya pata Routing Information Protocol…hahahaha
From: Sid
Sue: maaji, apka beta to tester hai…
DJ: O yeh software jaaanti hai… O tu ne bataya nahi mereko..
. tu..tuuu sab samjhti hai???
Sue: Haan
DJ: O yaar.. yeh software samajhti hai.. badi gadbad ho gayi yaar
(This comes when DJ introduces sue to his mother and realizes she can speak hindi..)
From: Rompy
SUE: Kuch kaam kar lo…
DJ: (thoda sa code likhata hai) : har taraf sab kuch bikhar raha hai, main khada tamasha dekh raha hu
Hum jaison ki koi aukat hi nahi hai, agar hum RIP ka matlab nikaal bhi lein, fir bhi koi farak nahi padega, tab bhi kuch nahi badlega…
Veeru ek acha terrorist tha, ek acha gunda, achi achi moochon wala…us bande ne kabhi kisi ka kuch nahi bigaada yaar…kabhi kisi ka galt nahi kiya..
Aur apni banto(supposedly veeru ki janani) yaar, apni bachi…
(This comes when DJ cries while eating after Ajay’s death and the lathi charge where Ajay’s mother is injured)
From: Sid
DJ: Humen kuch aisa karna padega… jo unhe jadd se hila de…
Banto(veeru ki janani): Zinda kar do usse…
Sukhi: zinda kar den usse.. Veeru ko zinda kar de..
Pandey : ojha baba ka intezaam main kar dunga…
Sukhi: bhadka mat Pandey… baat baat par logn ko zinda karna tere liye aam bat hogi..
Karan: Zara si baat… veeru ki maut zara si baaaat hai…
Sukhi: par karega kaun,.. zinda kaun karega usse…
DJ: main karunga…
Pandey: roz raaat 12 baje .. chaand baadlon mein chupta hai… tabhi kar denge…
Khoon chalaaaaaa… khoooon challlaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa… veeru ki ragon mein… fer se umad ke … khoon chala….
(This is the next scene in the movie where all of the guys decide to kill the defense minister)
Sunday, August 13, 2006
Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna - as I see it!!!
The first thing I did after watching KANK was join the “I hate Karan Johar” community on Orkut. I am really struggling to find a reason that why his movies are such a hit. But, its after all a matter of perspective. When soaps like ‘Kyunki saas bhi kabhi bahu thi’ can be hit so can karan’s movies.
Coming back to KANK, the storyline was so pathetically predictable that the long 3 and a half hours were a complete waste of time and money. in the first 10 minutes you come to know what is going to happen for the next 22 reels.
Adding to the storyline the acting of the protagonists were the same we have all seen again and again and again over the years. Shahrukh, though playing a different character than an adorable lover boy, has the same set of expressions – already seen a lakh times, winged arms while singing and that pathetic weeping scenes that have become regular now. I am shocked when I hear that “SRK made my actually cry” statement.
Rani and Priety give him company in some of this crying and though Preity is that bubbly extrovert woman (nothing new in that too), but Rani Mukherjee has hardly given a single smile in the whole movie. She has cried, cried and cried more. Abhishek is cool – I really think he should shave at least in scenes where he is getting married. Amitabh, is the only saving grace for the movie as he lents a sense of humour in the usual slow paced and boring movie. I was expecting some support in this regard from the usually humorous Kiron Kher but alas..!!!!!
Coming to the story, it is one which Bachelors like me can hardly relate to. May be that was a reason that I found the movie boring. But I really don’t think that married people in India will also identify much with the movie which is about love happening outside marriage. . The dialogues were superfluous – nothing new to karan’s movies. Many of my friends and I tend to remember dialogues from the movies we see and then test each other with questioning about the movie name. But I don’t recollect movies like Kuch Kuch Hota hai or Kabhi khushi kabhi gam featuring in such quizzes. This is simply because they are so heavy dialogues that it requires special powers to retain them in memory. The same will happen for kANK – I am sure.
Now coming to some positive points – visually the movie is a treat to eyes. The grandeur sets, the beautiful outdoors – all very pleasing to your senses. Music by Shankar Ehsaan Loy is hummable but not a everlasting - for me it will be off my playlist within a few weeks. Costumes are always high point in Yash Raj and .Dharma Productions. In fact 1 major factor that I go to survive SRK movies is his dressing sense. In KANK, Abhishek has some nice jackets in his kitty. The big buckle belts, it seems are back with both SRK and abhishek adoring it. Big B’s dressing also vary from loud reds to sobre greys. Priety takes a bold and beautiful look.
The overall pace of the movie was slow and the 3.5 hr duration was a back breaker. Some songs were tooo stretched. Some body tell KAran that you don’t need to play the whole song in the movie. Cutting a para here and there doesn’t hurt.
All in all I am not going to watch the movie EVER again. And I would prefer watching RDB 30th time or Border 150th time or Lakshay 100th time any day rather than KANK.
But there were some highlights in the near 4 hours spent at the Theater – they were trailers of Kabul Express and Dhoom2. Kabul Express seems a ‘different’ movie set in Afghansitan and with background of Taliban and Osama and all. D2 on the other hand seems like a rocking movie – from trailers it looked better than Dhoom 1. Really looking forward to both these movies.
Coming back to KANK, the storyline was so pathetically predictable that the long 3 and a half hours were a complete waste of time and money. in the first 10 minutes you come to know what is going to happen for the next 22 reels.
Adding to the storyline the acting of the protagonists were the same we have all seen again and again and again over the years. Shahrukh, though playing a different character than an adorable lover boy, has the same set of expressions – already seen a lakh times, winged arms while singing and that pathetic weeping scenes that have become regular now. I am shocked when I hear that “SRK made my actually cry” statement.
Rani and Priety give him company in some of this crying and though Preity is that bubbly extrovert woman (nothing new in that too), but Rani Mukherjee has hardly given a single smile in the whole movie. She has cried, cried and cried more. Abhishek is cool – I really think he should shave at least in scenes where he is getting married. Amitabh, is the only saving grace for the movie as he lents a sense of humour in the usual slow paced and boring movie. I was expecting some support in this regard from the usually humorous Kiron Kher but alas..!!!!!
Coming to the story, it is one which Bachelors like me can hardly relate to. May be that was a reason that I found the movie boring. But I really don’t think that married people in India will also identify much with the movie which is about love happening outside marriage. . The dialogues were superfluous – nothing new to karan’s movies. Many of my friends and I tend to remember dialogues from the movies we see and then test each other with questioning about the movie name. But I don’t recollect movies like Kuch Kuch Hota hai or Kabhi khushi kabhi gam featuring in such quizzes. This is simply because they are so heavy dialogues that it requires special powers to retain them in memory. The same will happen for kANK – I am sure.
Now coming to some positive points – visually the movie is a treat to eyes. The grandeur sets, the beautiful outdoors – all very pleasing to your senses. Music by Shankar Ehsaan Loy is hummable but not a everlasting - for me it will be off my playlist within a few weeks. Costumes are always high point in Yash Raj and .Dharma Productions. In fact 1 major factor that I go to survive SRK movies is his dressing sense. In KANK, Abhishek has some nice jackets in his kitty. The big buckle belts, it seems are back with both SRK and abhishek adoring it. Big B’s dressing also vary from loud reds to sobre greys. Priety takes a bold and beautiful look.
The overall pace of the movie was slow and the 3.5 hr duration was a back breaker. Some songs were tooo stretched. Some body tell KAran that you don’t need to play the whole song in the movie. Cutting a para here and there doesn’t hurt.
All in all I am not going to watch the movie EVER again. And I would prefer watching RDB 30th time or Border 150th time or Lakshay 100th time any day rather than KANK.
But there were some highlights in the near 4 hours spent at the Theater – they were trailers of Kabul Express and Dhoom2. Kabul Express seems a ‘different’ movie set in Afghansitan and with background of Taliban and Osama and all. D2 on the other hand seems like a rocking movie – from trailers it looked better than Dhoom 1. Really looking forward to both these movies.
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Inquilab Zindabad
Many articles and blogs were written by many people on the movie Rang De Basanti. I had thought hard to write something too but it didn’t happen. Then I came across the thoughts behind one of the very popular slogans also shown in the movie – Inquilab Zindabad. One slogan that is said to have redefined the revolutionary movement.
The feelings and the real meanings behind the slogan were explained by Bhagat Singh and B.K Dutt in a letter to an editor.
Inquilab Zindabad is a hindi translation of an original slogan used in Russian Revolution which said – Long Live Revolution. The Revolution here didn’t mean the armed rebellion against the British by the Indians or a similar movement. The revolution signifies a greater and a much deeper meaning in the context.
Revolution magnifies the need for constant changes in the nation, society and basically the lives of WE - The People. The changes are to shatter the moulds we have been cast into – the window which restricts our vision instead of opening up for us to have a go at something different, something new. It is normal human tendency to resist change. It brings along with it some uncomfortable feelings, new challenges, and uncertainties. Confronting a change is itself a test but a greater challenge is to initiate a change. And that is what is known as a Revolution – Inquilab!!
DJ says the same thing in RDB, “zindagi jeene ke 2 hi tareeke hote hain.. ek jo ho rha hai hone do.. ya fer jimmedaari uthao – usse badalne ki” (There are only 2 ways to live – One, Whatever is happening – let it happen. Or take the responsibility to introduce the change)
The definition of revolution will vary from time to time. Place to place. But its soul will remain the same. Fighting for something what you feel is right. And fighting doesn’t mean a physical fight or a violent fight. It may be a long drawn struggle - struggle to achieve what you feel is correct for you. It may not be a struggle for masses. It may be a struggle just for you. It may not concern some national issues; it may be issues at your college, workplace or even home. The basic criterion is a need for change. Changes that you truly believe in, which you know are right, which affect you in a positive way and which will go in improving you and may be many others along with you. If you believe in something deeply, then only you can make your point and convince others of why it is needed, what it will bring about, whom it will be useful to and how it can be brought about.
That will happen when we start to think about the happenings around us – the things that are affecting us or can affect us. Normally we don’t and let the things happen and consciously or unconsciously adjust ourselves.
George Bernard Shaw said, “The Reasonable Man Adapts himself to the world. The Unreasonable man Persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man."
I also belong to the category of a normal, unaware human being.. but I have started thinking. Whatever is happening around me – how is it affecting me?
I may not have the confidence of taking the responsibility for that Inquilab today. But I will try. Try not to be just lazy and close my eyes but keeping my senses open to that change and not be afraid for that change.
What will be the change? How will it look like, how will I identify it – I don’t know. But I am sure; it will identify itself if I have a will to accept it.
Monday, April 10, 2006
Hope....
Saw one of the finest movie ever last night - The Shawshank Redemption.
The movie teaches you some good lessons – the most important of all is about Hope. As the Tagline says: Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free
A prisoner condemned for a crime he has not done is locked up for 40 years – but it’s only the body which has been locked in. His soul is free. And has a hope that he will get out and be free one day. He makes a plan – works towards it, keeps himself busy with some project or other, earns respect of his peers and Never Loses Hope – against all kinds of odds against him.
Guess I can compare life of Andy (Tim Robbins) with mine…. Just need to keep the hope alive… and keep going…
As he says: “Hope is a good thing. Maybe the best of things. And a good thing never dies.”
The movie teaches you some good lessons – the most important of all is about Hope. As the Tagline says: Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free
A prisoner condemned for a crime he has not done is locked up for 40 years – but it’s only the body which has been locked in. His soul is free. And has a hope that he will get out and be free one day. He makes a plan – works towards it, keeps himself busy with some project or other, earns respect of his peers and Never Loses Hope – against all kinds of odds against him.
Guess I can compare life of Andy (Tim Robbins) with mine…. Just need to keep the hope alive… and keep going…
As he says: “Hope is a good thing. Maybe the best of things. And a good thing never dies.”
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