Movie Review - Inkaar

• Inkaar is today’s movie - the reality genre’, done with oodles of panache.

• Both Rampal and Singh play their parts perfect – each of the characters convinces you that the other is at fault. The screen presence is strong, dialogue delivery and voice modulation absolutely accurate and arguments valid and logical. Visual appeal makes it an eye treat. Chitrangada looks too hot to handle in every piece she dons.  Arjun plays an achiever and a sensitive male from behind his nerd glasses. Both are perfect examples of how some people only get hotter with age.

• The movie touches upon many aspects of the corporate environment in today’s times – be it cracking borderline jokes to keep pace with the high pressured work environment, or getting attracted to a great senior. It also touches upon some important lessons how its more important to be ready for a role before taking it up, how not to cross lines at workplace, how turbulence at the workplace can make you feel like the world has ended on all fronts. The movie also touches upon the fact that there is really no well-defined line between flirting and sexual harassment. The director picks up a sensitive and serious issue of sexual harassment at the work place, which deserves a better treatment that what it gets in the flick.

• The music is good, but not something which will stay with you for more than a couple of days. ‘Alla tu maalik hai’ is hummable and shot very well.

• Many parts of the movie were not needed – like backdrops of both the parents, or the unnecessary boyfriend who flies in for New York. The side characters could have performed better. Other than Deepti Naval, all of them do more harm to the movie than good. 

• The emotional part is predictable. Very underplayed throughout the movie, and popping up suddenly in last five minutes.

The movie builds up to seem like a masterpiece, to fall flat on its face when the audience expects a well-deserved climax. You may enjoy watching two good looking people on screen but the end would leave your mouth sour. 

My rating is two stars.

Life of Pi

Having read Life of Pi exactly two years ago, I have waited for the movie to release as soon as I learnt it is being made, and boy, am I impressed.

• Direction is crisp, the pace is just right. Neither rushed nor slow, at any point. Depiction of Pondicherry, India, especially the opening of the movie is very warm.

• All the actors have done an outstanding job. I am in love with both Irrfaan Khan and Suraj Sharma at the same time. Tabu reinstates that Hollywood is where she truly belongs. Adil Khan depicts an Indian male and father is true colors as Pi''s dad. His performance is powerful, and moving.

• Movies made out of Books more often than not loose out what the author intended to put across but Ang Lee surprises you. Every important event and emotion conveyed in the book is put across in the movie - visuals, dialogues (though minimalistic) and performances all come together to bring out the text alive. 

• Two instances from the book were not present in the movie, and I was just a little bit disappointed there because I could not wait to see how would the director depict those. Not sure why he omitted them?  Trivia : for those who have read the book, can you remember which of the two were those?

• Much of text has been expressed concisely. Like the emergency in India from back in the 70s announced on radio. The character of Pi is also given ample time to build, and relate to.

• Some of the scenes may come across as gross, specially for herbivores like me. Some amount of flesh and blood and carnivorous-kind-of -things are depicted. But that is expected from a movie with a Bengal tiger, right?

Life of Pi is a must watch.  

The book had become one of the best books I had ever laid my hands on. Personally, the movie too has made its way to be one that I know I will watch time, and again.

Why OMG is totally OMG!

• A simple plot which remains centered throughout, it showcases a man questioning beliefs (rather misbeliefs) around religion in today's society. A welcome change from the usual boy-girl thing which sits at the heart of Indian cinema. 

• After long has a movie come which will make you laugh without using visual or verbal vulgarity. Its high time a lesson is learnt. Standing ovation to Parish Rawal for his work, and dialogue delivery. An absolute ZERO skin show makes it a comfortable watch in any company.

• Highlights how religious leaders have made religion one of the most prosperous professions in the country. Also conveys that such leaders thrive and rise due to people's baseless fears, and it is an addiction in the name of devotion.

• Portrays all religions alike, the teachings in each similar and equally great, and emphasizes that we are all essentially human beings first, and a certain section later. Brings forward some bitter truths to which eyes have been closed to too long now. A glass of milk poured over idols would be better used to feed the hungry. The movie says that God does not want people to spend money on him, but practice his teachings in daily life. Claims that God is not in a single place of worship, but in every human being. That God is your friend, and not your father.

• Showcases important moral values like planning against risk, fighting for your rights, and sticking to your beliefs when everyone but you has little faith in the outcome. Emphasizes that God or religion can only show you the way, the journey is still for you to make and cover.

• So much woven around an interesting court case of Man against God, what could be more innovative. 

Well, well, well. Can I say it anymore that I don't do movies at the cinema? I guess not. Box office addict or whatever, I think OMG is one of the best movies I have seen from this year and last. Loved every bit of it, in totality too.

Sridevi before English Vinglish

A chirpy starlet, who once was the heartbeat of the nation, is better known as Sridevi to one and all. Growing up in the video cassette culture, it was impossible to not love her, be it for her smile, her feminine charm or effortless dancing skills.

With English Vinglish releasing today in India, I cannot help but write about one of the most gorgeous female actors the Indian film industry saw through the 80s and 90s.

Here is a list of my favorite Sridevi movies, which I have loved through both childhood and adolescence, for her powerful roles and memorable dance performances.

• Sadma (1983) - One of the early movies with her as a protagonist, the movie will make you laugh and cry. The movie traces a path of a woman, who having lost her memory in a car accident, ends up in a brothel. Rescued by the hero, he brings her into his life wholly, falling for her, little each day. The end is ironic, when Sridevi regains her lost memory, forgetting the events during her   illness, including the hero and their relationship. Everyone I know who has seen the movie cries in the last scene. If you have by chance missed watching it, do add it to your list. Here is a lovely song from the same movie. 

•  Nagina (1986) - A purely fictional tale of a snake, who can change into a woman at will, set out to avenge her husband’s death. While you can miss the movie if you have still not happened to watch it, do catch a glimpse of the snake dance performance by Sridevi in Mai Teri Dushman. It became a rage in its time, with the fancy dress competitions in those years having at least one dress up to match it.

• Mr. India (1987) - Playing the tenant turned lady love to the film’s protagonist Mr. India, Sridevi was kids’ favorite in her Hawa Hawaiii number, and the subsequent scene. She proved her versatility playing the funny, yet warm girl to children in the movie, a young reporter who cannot stand her boss’s unreasonable working style, and the sexy diva against the hero. Did the sultry performance in Kaate nahin kat-te ye din ye raat slip out of your mind? I hope not.

• Chandni (1989) - Every marriage you went to from 1989 onwards till at least half the decade from then on had one of the girls performing to this song. A girl’s journey through the ups and downs in uniting with her love she finds at a wedding, Chandni is the best work of Sridevi, and the peak of her as a star. Just in case you were interested, some of my favorite romantic songs belong to this movie, listen to Aa meri Jaan, Tere Mere Hontho pe, and Lagi aaj saawan ki.

• Chaalbaaz (1989) - Playing separated at birth twins, Sridevi acted in her first double role, one as a docile, sweet girl and the other as a chirpy, brave girl who lives life on her own terms. Things get funny when they end up living each other’s lives by a strange twist of so Bollywood fate. She won her first best actress award from the Hindi cinema for her performance in this role, where she looks truly adorable.

• Lamhe (1993) – This is the last superhit Sridevi gave her audience before taking a break from Cinema to tend to her personal life. Sridevi plays a teenager, whose world revolves around the person she has loved since her early childhood days, a man much senior to her. Unaware that the same man had once loved her mother, her world changes once she steps on that truth. Not a movie anyone can miss, a very simple storyline, and excellent performances by all its stars. Also known for its music, “Kabhi main kahoon” from this movie is one of my favorite romantic duets.

Barfee or Heroine... the choice is easy - Both.

Those who know me in real life know that I am not a regular box office follower. I do One (yes, you read it right, ONE) movie per year at the Cinema hall, the rest (no, I don't watch it online  - pro anti-piracy), I wait for them to play on the good old television, and watch it in the comfort of my home, usually on Saturday afternoons. (whateverr! That's Me.) Yes, I watched The Dirty Picture only last weekend, once its television broadcast was approved. Just in case you are interested, I did not find it that great.

This year has caught me by surprise because Barfee is my  fourth  movie at the cinema, and did you think I will make it for Barfee and miss Heroine? Well! I hope not. 

Both the movies are poles apart, and yet, I think they are a must watch - here is why!

•  Barfee will take you to the quiet eastern India, Heroine will bring you back to the fast pace of cities most of us live in.

• Ranbeer Kapoor is brilliant with his Raj Kapoor act, leaving no room to miss his voice.  Arjun Rampal and Randeep Hooda ( I have a crush on both, but I will be partial towards Arjun) provide ample eye treat, accompanied with great screen presence, and power packed performance.

• Priyanka looks adorable in her knee length skirts and peter pan tops, with her short curls adding character. But you would not want to miss Kareena's halkat jawani (read naughty youth). I can say I may not find her so pretty, but she indeed is Very glamorous, and seems like just right for this role. 

• Barfee is a fresh story, like a just-out-of-the-oven cake. The element of unpredictability stays for more than half the movie. The end is story like, picture perfect sweet. Heroine is its director's niche, his reality cinema, ending painfully but with a strong message.

• Barfee is a fairy tale romance, it will move you with its poignancy. Heroine is crude reality, will hit at a nerve we all strive to hide.

• Bollywood without music tastes bland (like pasta sauteed in water, oh yeah, my food is my first love) - both the movies have an excellent soundtrack.

This is my review of both the movies, what's your take? Did you like either, or both?