CRITICALLY SLAMMED MOVIES I ENJOYED WATCHING

CRITICALLY SLAMMED MOVIES I ENJOYED WATCHING

It has become a fashion and profession to slam everything these days. Be it politics, media, arts or movies. 

To nitpick on the artistic creations of others and brandish it as trash may make one sound knowledgeable and great, but it's unfair to the artists. Take the example of these four movies which I watched recently.

All of them received very mixed reviews. The only one to get some positive reviews was 'De De Pyar De.' Rest of them were literally thrashed and made to sound very mediocre.

But surprisingly, when I watched them I found them to be quite entertaining. It may be so because of the entertainment value.The critics could have been right in finding the technical glitches and flaws. But as long as they entertain, who cares. Audience wants Paisa Vasool entertainment. And these four movies did just that.

Notebook 

Set in the beautiful Kashmir valley, this is a love story. Shot in the beautiful locale of Dal lake, it is mesmerizing and entertaining. A message of love and way to get the misguided youth back on track was very appealing. Thoroughly enjoyable flick.

I have reviewed it separately. Check it out.

Tashkent Files

A movie exploring the alleged murder of Lal Bahadur Shastri is totally engrossing and keeps you hooked till the very end. 

The media slammed it so badly, giving it a rating of even one star. The movie had brought out the hideous role of the media in the conspiracy to murder Shastri. Maybe they were uncomfortable with it.

The role of Intelligence agencies, government, international politics, local politics, media and pseudo intellectuals is brilliantly played out. It is so valid in today's time.

In fact this is a movie which one should not miss, at any cost.

De De Pear De

DDPD is a one hell of hilarious ride. Ajay Devghan and Tabu at their best. Tackling social issues with  balance, grace and poise; it keeps it light hearted and enjoyable.

As I said this one had garnered reasonably good praise from the critics. And it surpassed their analysis. Thoroughly enjoyable.

Bharat

It was badly thrashed by the critics. Giving it a very average rating. But I watched it and was in for a big surprise!

Although totally a BHAI film, it makes you laugh, cry and emote in equal measures. The horrors of partition and the long lasting effects through the story of Bharat (metaphorically too) is endearing and enjoyable.

The loose similarity with Forrest Gump is actually not noticeable at all. If you have seen the original, there is hardly any similarity in the character. So it is just not a valid comparison.

This is gonna be Bhai's major block buster for sure!

So, the next time you read a review and decide to watch a movie, think twice. Many a times they are misguiding and biased. If you connect with the subject, just go for it. Damn the critics.

Notebook

NOTEBOOK

A subtle, romantic and beautiful love story. A master stroke set in the Kashmir Valley; it strives to give peace a chance.

In this age of sensationalism and high pitched voices, the sane and logical voices are usually buried and forgotten. But sometimes a breath of fresh air comes which is gentle, cool and sincere; it brings calmness and smile to your faces. Notebook is one such example.

Set in the Kashmir Valley on the beautiful backdrop of Wullar lake, it starts as a simple tale of love between two strangers who have not met. What binds them and brings them together is a notebook diary of  Firdaus, the teacher (Pranutan Bahl). A diary which Kabir (Zaheer Iqbal), the new teacher happens to find. He falls in love with Firdaus through her notebook entries. He learns how to face solitude, to find one’s  place in universe and also teach the little children; all through the musings of Firdaus.

The story moves at gentle steady pace and gives you time to absorb the beauty of the lake, the landscape and the serenity of the wilderness. It touches upon the growing radicalization of the children and how it needs to be stopped. The most powerful message comes through a very simple thought.

Andhere ko andhera nahi mita sakta

Andhero ko mitane ke liye ujala chahiye

It is a metaphorical reference to violence. It suggests that violence begets violence. It needs efforts to win it over with peace. The story moves in this direction and is very successful in conveying it’s message. It does it in a way which is bereft of any violence. But, the tension and the underlying unrest in the valley is unmistakable.

Such kind of cinema, comes your way once in a while. It is too nuanced, romantic, beautiful and subtle. Don’t let it pass. Soak in it and feel it through your heart. You will love it for sure.

KESARI

KESARI : SOAKED  DEEP IN HISTORY AND VIOLENCE

Witness the battle of Saragarhi fought in 1897 by the 36th Sikh Battalion, not for the British masters but more for the Izzat and Sikh valor.

The first question you would like answered is 'Should I watch this movie?’ Well, it depends upon what is your appetite for watching violence? Because Kesari is a violent battle for survival; the so-called Last Stand. It’s as bloody and violent as it can be. It can easily compete with  'Game of Thrones' if you get what I mean. Well, if you can get past it then yes, it is worth a watch.

The Battle was fought in 1897 by the British against the Pashtun Orakazi tribesman and the Sikh troops who were on the payroll of the British. It was in the same general area of Balakote which has become so famous after the airstrikes. The history dates back to the first seeds of Jihad being planted here by  Sayyed Ahmed in 1831, where he tried to spread the jihad and was badly defeated by the then Sikh ruler Ranjit Singh. He had taken refuge in Balakote and had planned to further his cause by defeating Ranjit Singh. He wanted to spread his Jihad to the Kashmir Valley and then to the subcontinent.

History was somewhat repeated in Saragarhi. The Pashtuns and other tribes gang up against the British troops stationed at three posts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in now what is Pakistan. They are mobilized and coaxed by the fanatic and radical Mullah. The 21 Sikh soldiers of the 36th Sikh Battalion are defending the post of Saragarhi, which is actually a strategic (heliographic) communication post between Fort Gulistan and Fort Lockhart.

The premise is complicated, but the story simple. The Sikh troops are left with a choice of either surrender, flee or fight the onslaught of an enemy numbering about 10,000. It is a suicidal mission and they decide to fight against the odds and guaranteed death. But it is because of Sikh valor and bravery; that they choose to guard the fort till the end. They all perish but indirectly protect the other posts by delaying the attack. 

The gory details and violence get to you after the interval and then you cringe and want it to end as soon as possible. Otherwise, the movie excels in all the departments. Akshay Kumar shines all throughout with an ensemble of supporting cast that does a fantastic job. The story moves at a brisk pace and keeps you hooked on. Parineeti Chopra as Hav Ishar Singh’s wife is a very inspiring performance. The backdrop of the Ladakh landscape (I presume) is very picturesque but could have been shot better.

Finally, what leaves behind after the movie ends is a bitter after taste. A question of what is the purpose of this mindless violence? Are bravery and valor only achieved by sacrificing and perishing? Isn’t survival more important? Isn’t discretion a better part of valor? 

All the battles of history were fought by soldiers on the ground. But the wars were won by deft strategy and diplomacy. This is all the more important in today’s world where warmongering and hyper-nationalism is a growing phenomenon. The futility of all this must be understood and highlighted. 

The sacrifice and valor of the troops who fought and lost their lives are not forgotten. They were awarded Victoria Cross (equivalent to Param Veer Chakra) and Saragarhi day is still celebrated in the 4th Sikh Battalion even today. But sadly for the families of those 21 Sikhs the loss was permanent, wasn’t it? Can anything ever compensate it? 

So, remember the heroes, their sacrifices, the price paid and learn from history. So we never lose such brave men to violence again. Let’s not glorify violence. Let’s abhor it. Avoid it. Steer clear of it. Let’s try and make the world a little more peaceful.

Note: Sikh military personnel and civilians commemorate the battle around the world every year on 12th September. All units of the Sikh Regiment celebrate Saragarhi Day every year as the Regimental Battle Honours Day. 

MADE IN HEAVEN

MADE IN HEAVEN

A balanced recipe of drama, action, sleaze, scandal, relations, love, sex and lot of marriages!!

A PERFECTLY BLENDED DRAMA

Bollywood seems to have hit the sweet spot with this one. A perfect and balanced recipe of drama, action, sleaze, scandal, relationships, love, sex and off course a lot of Indian marriages!  But the criticality is in always maintaining the right proportion and balance. Not overdoing any of the elements, and spoiling the taste of the individual components. That’s where Made In Heaven has hit the G spot, I must say!

It may appear to have a formulaic backdrop of crazy Indian marriages a la Karan Johar style. But it  has been spiced up with lot of bold scenes and scandals,  and sprinkled with a judicious dose of social issues. Nevertheless it's  done with so much elegance and nuanced storytelling, that it leaves you breathless and makes you immediately hit the next episode button. The narrative is fast paced, always progressing at a constant speed. Doesn’t loose grip at any point.

Tara Khanna & Karan Mehra

The lives of of six characters, their struggles, their compulsions, aspirations, weaknesses and how they eventually come to terms with it; and make peace with it, is worth a watch, no doubt. 

The backdrop of the superrich Delhi circle and their ways of splurging the wealth on marriages  with the pomp and show is very amusing and at times vulgar. But Made in Heaven is just not about it. It goes to a much deeper level. It scratches all the layers and makes them bare in front of you. Be it the royal family  and its  dirty deeds or be it the political family masquerading their political alliance as marriage. The opposition to late marriage of a widowed mother by her own children is as heart wrenching as  the bride walking away from her marriage due to dowry demand by an IAS groom. It was really amazing to find so many social evils tackled in such a tiny space of nine episodes without ever loosing focus and pace of the main narrative. Really impressive…directors and script writers take a bow..

Adil & Tara Khanna

The performance by Sobhita (Tara Khanna) and Arjun Mathur (Karan Mehra)  are astounding. They are sincere, touching and very adorable. They really shine. The supporting roles by JIm Sarbh (Adil Khanna) and Shivani (Jazz) are genuine and convincing. Shashank Arora (Kabir) is very cute and lovable as the official videographer. Kalki is as usual glamorous, perfect and classy. 

The title song too grows on you after three or four episodes and I loved it very much. It kind of reminded me of the effect of GOT title song. It has a very nice feel and captures the wedding atmosphere beautifully. Very impressive.

Overall it’s a 4.5/5 rating. A perfect blend of all ingredients in the most balanced proportions and served in the most stylized way..Go for it..