Friday, August 26, 2005
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
The talk on the next movies of the biggies of tamil cinema is around. Kamal Haasan's Dasavatharam and Rajini's Sivaji. I am not too keen on the former and the latter is pretty much out of the scope of this blog, as of now. Not pinning much hopes on Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu either.
It's high time he goes ahead with his own next venture (a Raajkamal Production, that is).
I haven't seen any worthy tamil flicks in recent past (just some half-baked wannabe-cool movies like Arindhum Ariyaamalum and some clearcut B-flicks). The nearest ray of light I see is in the release of Bala's Naan Kadavul.
It's high time he goes ahead with his own next venture (a Raajkamal Production, that is).
I haven't seen any worthy tamil flicks in recent past (just some half-baked wannabe-cool movies like Arindhum Ariyaamalum and some clearcut B-flicks). The nearest ray of light I see is in the release of Bala's Naan Kadavul.
Of marriages, murders and irreversibility
Bingo! The Factory can smile! My Wife's Murder is, simply put, a worthier effort (also considering it's much lower profile compared to even the next-to-be-released James; and also for being an honest unpretentious effort) compared to the other efforts from the factory in recent times.
Thankfully and as expected, this movie is not a yet-another-whodunnit. In fact, almost everybody in the movie knows who did it. The obviousness with which the policemen track the criminal behind the murder is what I would say as the singularly striking and applaudable aspect of the movie.
Ravi Patwardhan (played with remarkable understanding and restraint by Anil Kapoor) has been nagged by his wife (Suchitra Krisnamoorthy) ever since he got married to her and after so many years he feels their marriage has not worked out. In one of those unpleasant fights, his wife dies accidentally when he slaps her in a fit of rage.
From then on, his attempts (with able support from his assistant who in an act of utter "bewakoofi" tries to save him) to cover up the murder is rivetingly told by the Jijy Philip, the director, without diluting the credibility of the proceedings (like not allowing the protagonist to be "smart" matching his wits with the cops). Some of Ravi's moves might appear stupid when looked at as a mere game of escaping from the cops (as any other lesser movie will turn out to be). The murderer-by-accident's helplessness and loss of logical reasoning is portrayed as real as it gets. For eg., the way Ravi carefully repositioning the carpet and the draw over it in his bedroom after he uses it to cover up the blood temporarily (who is going to question him on the position of the carpet, anyway?). His deadpan expressions (in an attempt to not show his fear, he does reveal thye truth that he is less upset about the loss of his wife) each time the police investigates him about his wife's death is so apt and yet so convincing that he has to be the murderer, suggesting that tracking the murderer is quite easy, after all, in domestic circumstances. And at the end, all Ravi Patwardhan does, when he hears the first gunshot from the cops is to cry back in agony - "Arreyy.. Yahaan pe bachhe hain.. Dikhaayee nahin deta hai kya?".
The way the undercurrents in the other "marital" relationships in the movie are touched upon is also commendable. Boman Irani is terrific, as always, and walks away with honours for the best performance. All the other performances are first-rate (a usual, for a factory venture). From the technical side, the cinematography by P. S. Vinod is stark, realistic and also renders the necessary claustrophobic environment in the first half of the movie.
Indeed, My Wife's Murder is a small film, but still a rare effort and first of its kind in Bollywood. Don't even read further. Go watch My Wife's Murder before it vanishes out of the theatres.
P.S.:- Add to this my egoistic bliss for having pinned my hopes on an underdog from RGV stable and having a very satisfying experience. A factory product is always awaited by me, but not always with the same inexplicable eagerness I had for this movie.
Thankfully and as expected, this movie is not a yet-another-whodunnit. In fact, almost everybody in the movie knows who did it. The obviousness with which the policemen track the criminal behind the murder is what I would say as the singularly striking and applaudable aspect of the movie.
Ravi Patwardhan (played with remarkable understanding and restraint by Anil Kapoor) has been nagged by his wife (Suchitra Krisnamoorthy) ever since he got married to her and after so many years he feels their marriage has not worked out. In one of those unpleasant fights, his wife dies accidentally when he slaps her in a fit of rage.
From then on, his attempts (with able support from his assistant who in an act of utter "bewakoofi" tries to save him) to cover up the murder is rivetingly told by the Jijy Philip, the director, without diluting the credibility of the proceedings (like not allowing the protagonist to be "smart" matching his wits with the cops). Some of Ravi's moves might appear stupid when looked at as a mere game of escaping from the cops (as any other lesser movie will turn out to be). The murderer-by-accident's helplessness and loss of logical reasoning is portrayed as real as it gets. For eg., the way Ravi carefully repositioning the carpet and the draw over it in his bedroom after he uses it to cover up the blood temporarily (who is going to question him on the position of the carpet, anyway?). His deadpan expressions (in an attempt to not show his fear, he does reveal thye truth that he is less upset about the loss of his wife) each time the police investigates him about his wife's death is so apt and yet so convincing that he has to be the murderer, suggesting that tracking the murderer is quite easy, after all, in domestic circumstances. And at the end, all Ravi Patwardhan does, when he hears the first gunshot from the cops is to cry back in agony - "Arreyy.. Yahaan pe bachhe hain.. Dikhaayee nahin deta hai kya?".
The way the undercurrents in the other "marital" relationships in the movie are touched upon is also commendable. Boman Irani is terrific, as always, and walks away with honours for the best performance. All the other performances are first-rate (a usual, for a factory venture). From the technical side, the cinematography by P. S. Vinod is stark, realistic and also renders the necessary claustrophobic environment in the first half of the movie.
Indeed, My Wife's Murder is a small film, but still a rare effort and first of its kind in Bollywood. Don't even read further. Go watch My Wife's Murder before it vanishes out of the theatres.
P.S.:- Add to this my egoistic bliss for having pinned my hopes on an underdog from RGV stable and having a very satisfying experience. A factory product is always awaited by me, but not always with the same inexplicable eagerness I had for this movie.
Friday, August 05, 2005
The talented Mr. Shukla
Saurabh Shukla is back into the fray, this time, with the participation of his film, Aye Dil [translated as Heart Goes Sha La La], in the Osian's-Cinefan film festival.
Annie has covered about Osian's-Cinefan here where she goes all thumbs-up for Aye Dil. The movie stars his friend Rajat Kapoor [a case of two film makers acting in each other's movies[1]; go here to see more such cases;] and is a comedy about a balding, middle-aged writer [echoing similarties with Shukla himself, as he himself admits; and for which Rajat Kapoor shaved off his hair!], who meets a Miss India finalist on the net.
He is a class apart, as his credits in the writing department of films like Satya, Is Raat Ki Subah Nahin, Dil Pe Mat Le Yaar, Raghu Romeo, etc. would indicate. But, his attempts at direction - namely Mudda and Chehraa - were not well-received and went without much of a response from any circles [and I haven't watched them as well :|].
Aye Dil was to be telecasted in Zee TV. Or, was it already telecasted?
In this interview [early this year], he talks about his new film The Piano, which must have been already telecasted in STAR One on May 29 at 9 pm.
Anybody has got a clue about Aye Dil's telecast?
This RAMLI thread should be watched to see if anybody can come up with more information on this telecast on Zee.
[1] - Update on 6 Aug, 06:00 p.m.: This apparently had been achieved in Mudda, and consequently in Chehraa as well, both of which starred Rajat Kapoor in supporting role/cameo. Blame it on me for being unaware of this; though I did suspect this as they are close buddies and hence this update.
Annie has covered about Osian's-Cinefan here where she goes all thumbs-up for Aye Dil. The movie stars his friend Rajat Kapoor [a case of two film makers acting in each other's movies[1]; go here to see more such cases;] and is a comedy about a balding, middle-aged writer [echoing similarties with Shukla himself, as he himself admits; and for which Rajat Kapoor shaved off his hair!], who meets a Miss India finalist on the net.
He is a class apart, as his credits in the writing department of films like Satya, Is Raat Ki Subah Nahin, Dil Pe Mat Le Yaar, Raghu Romeo, etc. would indicate. But, his attempts at direction - namely Mudda and Chehraa - were not well-received and went without much of a response from any circles [and I haven't watched them as well :|].
Aye Dil was to be telecasted in Zee TV. Or, was it already telecasted?
In this interview [early this year], he talks about his new film The Piano, which must have been already telecasted in STAR One on May 29 at 9 pm.
Anybody has got a clue about Aye Dil's telecast?
This RAMLI thread should be watched to see if anybody can come up with more information on this telecast on Zee.
[1] - Update on 6 Aug, 06:00 p.m.: This apparently had been achieved in Mudda, and consequently in Chehraa as well, both of which starred Rajat Kapoor in supporting role/cameo. Blame it on me for being unaware of this; though I did suspect this as they are close buddies and hence this update.
Tuesday, August 02, 2005
This post makes no claim that I am the lone challenger to this man or something. I have expressed my admiration openly quite many times about his determination and diligence.
But, of late, I too am going bonkers.
Latest is that I managed to watch Daas [another B-entry - there are so many these days - with some sparks of unintentional satirical take on religious harmony; but the tempo wasn't maintained throughout like, say a Narasimha to enjoy the movie], first-day-night-show; and driving home all the talk that I am Andy Dufresne's alter ego [minus the "hope" factor], I didn't cry once. not once!
Update {Aug 2, 11:50 a.m.}: As an update to the last edition of masochism and its undertones in movie-watching in this blog, here's a simply hilarious interview by one Mr. Hosimin on his film, February 14. I seriously advise you to watch the movie and then read the interview. Or else, you will miss all the humour; like
The film opened well [...] and is a hit, especially in cities. The youth audiences like it and there is a positive talk about the film.
All shows are going full and it is right on top in Sun TV’s ‘Top Ten’.
That his film has been criticized for its slow narration [quite unfairly] {This is the best, isn't it?}
[He] made a honest film straight from [his] heart that can be watched with the entire family.
[the writer/director actually had a script and] finished it about three years back [and thought he could pull it off, even after pondering over it for so long].
[Last, but not the least,] February 14 is way ahead of all competition.
But, of late, I too am going bonkers.
Latest is that I managed to watch Daas [another B-entry - there are so many these days - with some sparks of unintentional satirical take on religious harmony; but the tempo wasn't maintained throughout like, say a Narasimha to enjoy the movie], first-day-night-show; and driving home all the talk that I am Andy Dufresne's alter ego [minus the "hope" factor], I didn't cry once. not once!
Update {Aug 2, 11:50 a.m.}: As an update to the last edition of masochism and its undertones in movie-watching in this blog, here's a simply hilarious interview by one Mr. Hosimin on his film, February 14. I seriously advise you to watch the movie and then read the interview. Or else, you will miss all the humour; like
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