Shabri review

Shabri
Directed by Lalit Marathe
Cast: Isha Koppikar, Raj Arjun, Zakir Hussain
Rating: ***

My friend Jane recently wrote the deservedly much-publicised book Mafia Queens of Mumbai with her boss Hussain Zaidi. I remember how she’d narrate heroic tales of the many women she met during the research of the book. You must read the book to know the kind of effort that went into its making. It’s gripping, well-written and real, all at the same time. The idea of women dons is exciting nonetheless. And this exactly what is explored in Shabri, a film with a female don protagonist.

I happened to meet Shabri’s director Lalit Marathe, who told me that the idea of a female don in a man’s world came to him by an anecdote narrated by his mentor Ram Gopal Verma. It goes like this: a gangster was once arrested, and with him was one woman. He pleaded that the woman should be let off as she didn’t have a clue about his wrongdoings. Turned out it was because of the woman that the man had, firstly, landed in the police net.

He said he did not find women per se interesting as gangsters. His debut film Shabri which has been ready for release for five years and finally opened to critical acclaim on August 26^th.

Khallas Girl Isha Koppikkar plays the lead. Poverty and the hunger for revenge of her brother’s death set Shabri on the path of gangster-giri. It’s all in her eyes, the anger, the love and the grief caused by her brother’s death in police custody.

As Shabri, Isha is extremely convincing. Her make-up, dialogue delivery and body language oozes confidence even though this is the first time she’s faces the camera in a de-glamourised avatar. Lalit Marathe knows his subject so well he manages to extract stellar performances from his cast. Raj Arjun as Murad is understated in a good way, naturally delivering a performance that stays with you, complicated and played with conviction. Raj has been associated with theatre and had a miniscule role in RGV’s Company. Zakir Hussain who plays a cop is introduced only in the second half, impressing the audience all the way to the end.

The story may be predictably familiar throughout, but it’s definitely hard-hitting and realistic. In a chat with the director, he admitted that references from his own life had been incorporated heavily in the film. The chawls, matka scenes, chases are all well-perceived and executed.

The only problem I had with the film was its background score. Somehow it didn’t seem to be in sync with what was happening on screen. It was too loud, too creepy or too serious. It sounded overdone just to make an impact and convey seriousness, but fails to make the cut.

Overall, it is a film made by a passionate man, wanting to tell his story. Like his mentor RGV, Lalit Marathe does resort to theatrics but it’s all good in the end.

Watch Shabri for its great performances!

"Freedom" 2011

Here's what Independence Day and "freedom" is to me this year.

"Freedom" is:

- Spending time in office when the world and its cousin are making pancakes/paatoyos at home

- Explaining to kids why a newspaper press is exempt from being off on a public holiday, in kiddie language

- Skipping lunch, which includes the Mom's most awesome beef roast ever

- Missing the youngest cousin's birthday

- Playing host to the unpleasant visitor called regret

A Happy Independence Day indeed.

I am Kalam review

Film: I Am Kalam
Director: Nila Madhab Panda
Cast: Harsh Mayar, GulshanGrover, Pitobash Tripathy
Rating: ***1/2

Answer these questions, one by one.

Who is your idol?

Did you love to go to school? College?

What games did you enjoy? How did you treat your pet?

How many times have you taken for granted your education and position?

How sensitive have you been to the needs of those less-privileged, seeking you help without asking for it?

Chances are you may write me off a Catholic convent-educated oldie brainwashed to put the world before yourself.

I Am Kalam is one of those films which asks you questions of your own upbringing, how many times we value it an dhow many times we take it for granted.

Eight-year old Chhotu (and endearing Harsh Mayar) is sent away by his mother to work at his uncle Mamasa’s (Gulshan Grover) dhaba in the desert of Rajasthan. The boy is bright, friendly and most importantly willing to learn so he can change the circumstances he’s thrown in. His idol is India’s former President APJ Abdul Kalam. So inspired Chhotu is by Kalam’s own inspiring story that he rechristens himself Kalam, a beginning of much bigger dreams coming true. He loves reading and depends on patrons of the dhaba to learn words of foreign languages. All this he does with ease, a big smile and eager eyes.

His choice of idol and ambition is in stark contrast with that of his uncle’s assistant at the dhaba. Laptan (Pitobash Tripathy) dreams Bollywood, adores Amitabh Bachchan and wants to be paired with the industry’s best heroines. An anti-hero in I Am Kalam, Laptan’s greatest enemy is Chhotu’s hunger for education, a better life and willingness to work towards realising these dreams.

Director Nila Madhab Panda has a heartfelt and simple story, which he peppers, very subtly with social messages that get the audience thinking. A strong comment on the differences in modern society, how one’s karma can upstage one’s kismet and how one man’s story can change the outlook of the many following in his/her footsteps.

Mohana Krishna’s cinematography captures the barren lands of Rajasthan perfectly, juxtaposing it with the fertile mind of Chhotu. Harsh Mayar is a gem, his eyes expressive, his acting skills natural. The background score minimal, while the running time is just about perfect.

Watch this one for a heartfelt account of what happens to those who dare to dream. No one can come between you and your dreams, not even fate, is what I Am Kalam conveys, subtly and beautifully. A must watch, touching and inspirational.

Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara review

Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (U/A)
Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Farhan Akhtar, Katrina Kaif, Kalki Koechlin, Abhay Deol
Director: Zoya Akhtar
Rating: ***

"Seize the day, my friend," blurts the stunning deep-sea diving instructor Laila (Kaif), on a long walk with an uptight financial broker Arjun (Roshan). Arjun hasn't lived much, nor have his friends -- the apparently spineless Kabir (Deol) and jovial, closet poet Imran (Farhan). The adage pretty much sums up ZNMD.

It's a long, boring advertisement for Spain Tourism, warned a colleague whose "sources" had these precious words about ZNMD. I can safely say, it's a little more than that.

How do they land in Spain? Well, the boys had made a certain pact that each would suggest an adventure sport and the other two would have to follow. Screenplay writers Reema Kagti and Zoya Akhtar (also director) bring to the table a very beautifully captured Spain, by cinematographer Carlos Catalan. No no, that's not all. Along with Spain, they bring relationships of their protagonists with themselves and each other. Undercurrents unleashed by emotional turmoil, friendship, and finally the unloading of mental baggage, so as to emerge victorious in the truest sense.

For all this, the storywriters use heavy doses of symbolism. Deep-sea diving at Costa Brava, sky-diving in Sevilla and the San Fermin bull run in Pamplona, not to forget the Tomatina festival in Bunyol, where Arjun finally lets go. Fears are drowned, let open in the sky and finally at the mercy of raging bulls.

Performances are honest and telling across the board, yet Farhan stands out (Warning: Some bias may be at play here). Roshan, Deol and Farhan stick to their briefs by Zoya, often contained, and true to their characters, and never over-the-top. They let the characters' intrinsic qualities do the talking. Similarly with Koechlin, whose prim and proper Natasha is, admittedly, not much like her real life persona. They're all easy-going, playing their parts and enjoying while in the act. Kaif's "tumhari zindagi badalnewali hai" made me cringe, but overall her effort to make Laila believable cannot be undermined. You wish you could have a life like hers, jetting off to a part of the world for three months of daredevilry and loads of fun.

Witty dialogue (credited to Farhan himself), playful chitchat and the camaraderie between the friends personify ZNMD. However, the lack of chemistry among them in the first hour cannot be ignored. ZNMD has so many silent moments, it's likely to put you to sleep. The editing tools could have been sharper to give this coming-of-age romantic drama a facelift. Restlessness is the unwelcome guest on this road, much like Kabir's fiancée Natasha.

Sounds uncannily similar to Farhan's directorial debut Dil Chahta Hai, right? Now if you take DCH as the benchmark, it's up to you how slow/polished/boring/unnecessary/pretty you find ZNMD.

Your heart is likely to be set upon the beats of ZNMD, from the free-spirited Ik Junnon to the mellow Khwabon Ke Parindey, not to forget the unforgettable Senorita. And Farhan's poetry infused in the narrative needs special mention. True Akhtar blood must say!

The writers exploit luxury and frankly, ZNMD set anywhere else could be as true to character. They didn't really have to go to Spain.

For those (which, I assume, is a lot of us), who may not be able to afford a holiday in Spain for any time soon, go catch ZNMD for good performances, music, Spain and of course, Farhan Akhtar in his element.

This post first appeared at http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report_zindagi-na-milegi-dobara-review_1565930

Delhi Belly review

Delhi Belly has the gift of the goo

Cast: Imran Khan, Shenaz Tresurywala, Vir Das, Kunaal Roy Kapoor
Director: Abhinay Deo
Rating: A 4 full of shit

Man this Kunaal Roy Kapoor or Nitin of Delhi Belly is a sweet bum (no pun intended). He’s made my love for shit and all things shitty grow fonder, stronger, and unbreakable. And he even has the gift of the goo, oh sorry, gab.

[An inside story: At home at least 96% of all our conversations (esp. between my sis and me) involve hagovni (hug-ova-nee), hagvatoss (hug-way-toes), and all things goo a.k.a shit. And when a movie with shit as a protagonist shows up in a theatre near our house, my joy couldn’t give a shit]

I watched Delhi Belly first day first show (like most movies I don’t get to watch for free at press screenings). And it was right after a session of Yoga, no breakfast and half a dump. I know all these non-events don’t really matter and all you want to know about is what Delhi Belly is about.

So yeah, Tashi (Imran), Arup (Vir) and Nitin (Kunaal) live a dumpyard, yes that’s exactly what most bachelors’ “home” looks like. Water’s always running out, the ceiling threatening to call it quits, pet cockroaches ever grateful for half-eaten pizzas, and a devil of a landlord always ready to throw you out any instance.

Journalist Tashi deals with bimbettes as with murder mysteries, art director with “talentless Bong art director” for a boss and cute, cute Nitin deals with a Delhi Belly. Mind you that’s a lot of work. Running in and out of the loo, with a flush that’s waterless is a lot of work.

A turn of events involving Tashi’s fiancé Sonia (Shenaz), a Russian doll and a bottle full of gooey, watery excrement is what takes you on a fun ride that’s Delhi Belly.

None of the actors are ever over-the-top and yet manage to keep you hooked and happy throughout the interval-less 96 minutes of the film.

I’m confused who is the best of the cast. I think it’s a tie between villain Vijay Raaz and Kunaal Roy Kapoor, Vijay for his understated yet effective acting and Kunaal for his one-liners and bang on comic timing. Imran strips that boy-next-door image to show his funny side and impresses beyond expectations. Vir Das the Weirdass is logically in a comedy after splitting peoples’ guts with his stand up comedy. Shenaz reminds me of my school days. She used to be a VJ some years back, disappeared mysteriously thereafter and has appeared as mysteriously again. Never mind. She’s good enough in DB and that’s what matters. Oh how can I forget Poorna Jagannathan who plays Menaka, Tashi’s colleague, fresh and expressive face with loads of acting talent. Even Vijay Raaz’s sidekicks offer kicks enough to keep your interest live throughout.

DB’s story is simplistic but its treatment, music and talented cast make the difference. A chase sequence is just more enjoyable because of ‘Bhag DK Bose’, while Vir’s ‘Ja Chudail’ has made getting dumped attractive. Aamir Khan’s item number when end credits roll is the added award.

Upbeat, shameless, unapologetic and unrelenting. Abbey ch**ye bahut ho gaya. People have got the point.

Need I say more? Dear potty, I will stand by you forever. Someday we’ll make a shit of a film together. Just like DB.

PS: Weirdass for Vir Das is not original. His company’s called Weirdass Comedy.

Shivaji Park - The nostalgia factory

Everybody has a place dear to them during their growing up years.

Shivaji Park is etched in the memory of my past, present and hopefully at least the near future.
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Having lived in Matunga all my life, Shivaji Park has been the go-to place, be it on every mid-week holiday (most Mahim-Matunga schools have it), every summer vacation as a child, for teenage romance getaways and now in the evenings when the job allows that rare spare time.

The squeaky slides in the kids’ park, the sound of laughter springing from the group of dentures in the senior citizens’ park, the soiled, white clothes of future Sachin Tendulkars practising master strokes, the smell of mud after the first monsoon showers, the golawalla at the corner, the Mangola-potato chips-eclairs picnics are some of memories painted around this place called Shivaji Park.

Urged to write about Park or SP (as most people in the area call it) are the recent changes it has gone through. And yes, this is no PR exercise for the BMC.

For as long as I can remember, it did not have any dustbins, making visitors litter. The BMC, some years back, erected a huge board near one of the entrances listing the fines for littering. With no dustbin in sight, the board had a heap of garbage right at its feet. Recently, little silver bins have been placed, looking at which I can’t stop smiling. BMC just gave my tirade against littering a shiny boost, or so I’d like to think.

New metal benches lining a selected section of the playground see a competition among couples as well as senior citizens waiting to rest their derrieres while watching young boys kick ball. It’s fun to see how there’s literally a race to get to the benches facing the ground.

The air seems to have got a quaint touch, thanks to the pretty, black lampposts around the ground. They don’t exactly serve the purpose of lighting the area brightly but do add to the path’s beauty. The newly-laid tiles and distance signages make for a pleasurable walking experience.

One step in the beautification plan that hasn’t gone down too well with me is the fencing around the trees on the walking path. Protecting trees may have been the idea, but railings that encroach upon the walking space is not done. The ‘katta’, or sitting area, has been painted a bright green and happy yellow adding to the park’s attractiveness. I even came across a board the BMC has put up enlisting the phases of development and beautification. Seems we’re likely to see changes that’ll influence the memories of the generations to come.

These changes haven’t messed with the park’s soul. It offers everyone something to cheer, be it the sports enthusiast, or the toddler taking his/her first step, the nana-nanis, the budding lovers and also the happily married.

Even I’m not complaining as I have got new reasons to enjoy quiet evenings there and make new memories.

So, what is your Shivaji Park memory?

June 5: World Environment Day

Litter one paper less.
Save one drop of water more.
Switch power off when you go.
To plastic say no.

From today, let’s put ‘environment’ in World Environment Day.