Friday, March 23, 2012

Bond gone Wrong - Agent Vinod

Money spoils everything, Hence proved. With over Rs100 crore of money  Agent Vinod went overboard with style and fashion. Sriram Raghvan was a good director, once you get money you loose the plot, and that's what he did. Disappointed.  Although a good movie but looking at his standards his worst. If you remember him in Johnny Gaddar which is one of the finest thriller in the history of Bollywood, you will have a much better expectation with Agent Vinod. But the price was paid when you got your actor as a producer.


The movie is good in its wit and humor and in patches along with its support casts. Sin city style casting which gave an impression of sloppy editing and camera angles but soon the movie went linear and with almost not so good story. The loopholes could not hold enough water for the movie and it fell flat on the ground. I can bet it will be another hit because the action sequence are far better and real than comical Salman Khan's movies.The film revolved like a Globetrotter where its easy to jump countries than changing shoes. The Agent went to Russia then Morrorco with just a clue  to decode 242 which in turn is just another Nuclear Bomb like any B grade movie. The impossible mission was accomplished by the help of a Pakistani spy with no mission at all. The female spy would simply fall for our desi agent and forget her agenda. After all there was no agenda of her than to seduce the silver screen. One good thing about this movie is that although it shows Pakistan's ISI chief assassinated by its own subordinate and supporting terrorism but it never bashed Pakistan's sentiments and kept it subtle.


Another  loose thing was not to end the movie at the right time and streching the end iin such an unconvincing way that shows Lashkar-e-tauiba as more efficient and proactive. Like always, Sriram, maintained its Homage to Charlie Chaplin, Mahendar Sandhu, Amar Chitra Katha, Amar Akbar Anthony, Vidya Mandir, and many other unnoticeables. The movie went from Afganistan to Russia to Morocco to  Latvia to Somalia to Karachi to New Delhi. You will wonder why Maryam Zakaria was packed in a sack in the middle of Kabul just to appear again in Karachi to invite Kareena for a cleavage competition in a routine dance of Dil Mufft ka. The song was unnecessary the same way Gulshan Grover was used, there was no mention of his role and  he vanished as soon as song ended. Ram Kapoor was good in a fat Russian drug mafia, however he hired an Indian bodyguard along with too many Russians, another small loophole. While Dhritiman Chatterjee and Adil Hussain were good in their character. It was Anshuman Singhas Jimmy who gave an impressive debut without any screenplay. Zakir Hussain was also good as side kick.Saif Ali khan was sleek and never looked like a suave Jamesbond neither a survivor like Bourne, nor a traveler like Tintin. He was just another Bollywood hero with all the skill set to fight his enemy, right from shooting with efficient aim, driving bikes, chasing girls and flying a helicopter.Kareena's character was a real spoilsport in this movie. She looked amazingly beautiful but too beautiful to do justice to a spy from Pakistan. You might wonder when does a country like pakistan has really grown out of its male chauvnism to allow such a beautiful spy.


Sriram Raghvan's screenplay was strong and good enough to keep up the pace, however it was not backed by good background score and music. The editing was good and had new pair of scissors in right hands.All I want to say one thing:- "मैं सिनेमा टाइमपास के लिए नहीं देखता, एन्जॉय करना है मुझे | टाइमपास के लिए फेसबुक है |"  (I dont watch movies for time-pass, i watch them so that I can enjoy. I have got facebook for time-pass)





Sunday, March 18, 2012

Fishy tales

आज रविवार के दिन मांस मछली खाना तो बचपन से ही एक त्योहार की तरह होता है , बिना रुकावट |
बंगलोर में कोई ख़ास मच्छी बाज़ार तो है नहीं , मुहल्ले के नुक्कड़ पर ही एक छोटा सा ठेका है | स्कूटर उठाये और भोरे भोरे चल दिए , चिम्की ( पिलास्टिक / झोला ) लेके | ताज़ा मछली तो सुबह ही मिलता है , फिर बासी होने में ज्यादा वक़्त तो लगता नहीं है | आज सोचे थे रोहू नहीं तो कमसे कम कतला तो ले ही आयेंगे | सरसों तेल का बघार तो दीलोदीमाग में चाय हुआ था | भीड़ तो पहले से ही जमा थी , दूकान पर | महिला पुरुष दोनों धक्कमदुक्की में लगे हुए थे , ताज़ा रोहू का माल unload हुआ था | कोई एक किलो तो कोई दो किलो कटवा रहा था |

एक हमउम्र महिला मच्छिवाले  को कुछ ज्यादा ही परेशान की हुई थी | पता नहीं सारी मछलियों का भाव पूछ पूछ कर भी उन्हें doubt था की कौन सा ले |
यहाँ तक की एक मछली का नाम तक पूछ डाला - "भईया, ये कौन सी मछली है "?
मच्छिवाले  ने जवाब दिया - "दीदी यह बाँगरा है "
"इसको कैसे बनाते है "
"हम तो पकड़ते है और बेचते है , आप जैसे बना लीजिये "
मैंने बीच में बोला - "बॉस मुझे एक किलो रोहू दे दो , बातें बाद में करते रहना "मुझे देर हो रही थी |
लड़की  दो तीन रोहू की देख परख के बाद बोली , "एक किलो मुझे भी तोल दो "
उसने एक रोहू उठा कर Digital मशीन पर रख दिया - ८८० ग्राम का वजन आया, महिला ने बोला - "नहीं नहीं कम है , एक किलो वाली निकालो "
फिर से दूसरी रोहू का वजन आया कुछ ९५० ग्राम , उस पर भी वह उतनी  खुश  नहीं थी, हालांकि फिरभी तैयार ओ गयी | बोलती है - "भैया , बंगाली कट करना , पेटी अलग से और पतला पतला |"
मच्छिवाला उस समय मेरी  मछली  का सफाई कर रहा था , उस पर भी बरस पढ़ी - "भईया मैंने बोला न की पेटी अलग से "
उसने बोला - "मैडम यह आपका नहीं है "
मैंने पैसे दिए और जैसे जाने लगा पीछे से फिर आवाज आई - "य़ेः  मछली ताज़ी है ना , गलफर तो देखा ही नहीं '
इस पर बेचारे मच्छिवाले ने  तपाक से उत्तर दिया - "एक साल की गारंटी है मैडम , दूँ ?"


pic courtesy 
http://www.adventuresofagoodman.com/hustle-bustle-at-a-locals-fish-market-in-india/ 

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Paan Singh Tomar

Always Promising Tigmanshu Dhulia has finally delivered its master piece in form of a biopic Paan singh Tomar. The well done research and time proved the right ingredient for the cult classic. India has one good movie which deals with sports (exception of Chak De! India), which is highly unlikely in bollywood portrayals. 


The steeplechase race was another unlikely sport, but on silver screen the first half was marvelous.
Dhulia and Irrfan right from Haasil was a good Jodi altogether. They both had their due finally. Right from being the assistant Director from Bandit Queen and the association with Shekar Kapur proved this movie worth of its salt. A word of mouth story melting with the glitterati of glamour world was significantly fantastic.
Irrfan delivered its another best, totally involving in the character. The races and practice never looked superficial and had content till the depth. While irrfan transition from an Athlete to that of a  dacoit in the middle ages man was brilliant. All credit goes to the actor himself. He is such a silk, crease-less.


The screenplay by Dhulia was another remarkable feat reached to the zenith. The movie had its touch of emotions raking the nervous right till the end of credit roll. It will keep you glued to the fact of unjust poverty our athletes face. The raw and bitter facts were introduced and a subtle take on today's IPL and Cricket frenzy nation was very obvious. Did anyone know of Paan singh or the Steeplechase race sport ever? I bet !!

The rustic approach as always of central and eastern India could not be better than this. The chambal valley was shown with villages had a sense of accomplishment. While the army barracks and story was very close to the real story. The steeplechase running sequence with a flashing editing was a stealer. You can notice the hand swirl before every jump. The expression and deep eyes of Paan singh was the keystroke of Irrfan captured very well. The story of dacoit and its ply was smooth and explained the unjust system of Indian politico. Even the caste system deeply rooted and supported by police and politics was well directed. Dhulia was excellent in portraying the small details of a subedaar's personal life and his love towards his lady. There was humor in all the movie. The end could have been no better. The chambal became steeple-chased for Paan Singh Tomar.
Making the story out of interviewing Tomar's surviving family members and visiting his native village, Dhulia was really Intrigued about Tomar's largely forgotten several records is an achievement in itself. India and its apathy towards the Olympians are a food for thought. A powerful film made into a cult.


Kahaani has a script but not conviction

*********************************SPOILER ALERT*********************************

Let me start this by bringing a fact, even a good script which could be delivered in a hollywoodish style should not compare CIA , FBI with that of Indian CID or IB. Our intelligence is not at par with international corruption or intelligence. Indian IB is shown hiring a female stranger to hack their own employee computer, that too when the computer is fitted with a technology which is capable of sending a Red-Flash SMS to the mobile number in a very graphic way. The hacker just need a random punching on the keyboard and bingo you got the 3 layers protected IP address within some 5 minutes.
What else you can expect from a director who made Home delivery, Aladin and Jhankaar Beats. Sujoy Ghosh was brilliant in casting some good bengali actors along with Ms Balan and roped them in the streets and bylanes of Calcutta (Kolkatta). The sets were real and had conviction. It was real soothing to eyes that the streets and Police stations were real with real problems. The film opened in hasty and noisy Bengal. Sometimes you might wonder why the director is not stung by any Harry potter style sets (Remember Aladin). The story was tense enough to build an ambiance but kept failing towards the end and finally was slaughtered, and at this point when you look back to the story you might laugh. The story of fake husbands and pregnancy might have occurred to many and Nemesis of names was the game of the movie.

You might wonder how can a lady just arrived from London with a revenge and a perfect plan for a plot everybody will fall. The voluptuous woman after 2 years of training still remains voluptuous. The murder attempt at Vidya and the fearful runaway was so fake that a woman with such a deadly intention would not fall for it. The story was unfolded little late and the surprise factor was spoilt before it was delivered. Sending the much needed man Damji to collect the evidence by the IB chief was too fictitious. The motive behind the IB director and Milan Damji were never solved, the open ended story should have explined the big Question - WHY? why was Vidya's husband targeted, what was the role and benefit of IB department? Why not any ministry involvement was shown? Why Calcutta at first place? Why the retired IB Chief has a grudge ? Why Milan became the hitman? and all ....

I would still like to love this movie due to actors like Parambrata Chatterjee and Nawazuddin Siddiqui. Chatterjee was a treat to eyes and a fresh face for Bollywood and he did his justice to the character of a fresh sub inspector. Nawazuddin Siddiqui as IB Maa ki Khan had some intense moment. His flawed moustache was unimportant when you look into the eyes and read his lips. Vidya balan was her usual better that the sultry Silk from Dirty picture. This movie was a blend of Kolkatta and Balan. The screenplay was right and with the good intent. The surprise factor was Saswata Chatterjeeas as Bob Biswas the LIC agent and the contract killer. The dumb look and the zeal for the kill after saying a loose namaste was amazing and a treat to eyes.

The music was very bengali in nature and matched the infatuation of director for the love of the city. The song 'akela chalo' was good in the end but unnecessary at first place breaking the flow of the movie. shankar Ehashaan and Loy's effect went unnoticed. The movie was about a pregnant Vidya, Mysterious husband and Calcutta.

The taut story could have more conviction.