Rockstar- Movie Review

The story is about this music junkie Janardhan aka Jordan (Ranbir Kapoor) searching for inspiration in life, as he aspires to make it big like Jim Morison. How he is mesmerised by this beau monde girl (Nargis Fakhri), his journey with her, by the time she gets into a wedlock  (depicted most picturesquely). Then how their dream of celebrating life together becomes a sticky obsession. They do meet again in Prague, Europe. This time to leave each other even more withered, to the point of being sick.

The movie deals with the emotional churnings of this character Jordan (initially depicted as a rustic, affable Haryanvi lad).  His fear, his cravings, his seething anger. The story glides over these emotions mingled by metaphoric shots, like the one where at midnight Jordan stands in a narrow city lane looking upwards, at the cusp of being destroyed in life or making it big. Other characters are almost irrelevant (at this point), probably present just for their humor.

This brings me to the style of storytelling used by Imtiaz. It oozes with a series of montages and flash sequences. Since it is narrated largely with multiple musical renditions, the cut-back, juxtaposed visuals seamlessly intertwine with the storyline. Add to this a clinical and spirited editing and the story is engrossingly fast.

Cinematography wise, the movie is sprinkled with fascinating shots of Delhi, Prague, and Kashmir. Shots which are not merely placed for the sake of having them but convey the scene enthrallingly. Like the kiss scene, where amidst the urge and hesitation there is a gloomy but captivating panorama with fluttering grass.

It seems the story is a cinematic experience, a sort of cinematic ode we can say, so there is little significance given to the plotlines as such. Hence, there is a distinct character disconnect which the audience might feel. At points they might wonder why the character is so out of sorts and angry.

Perhaps, this is a deliberate disinclination. Not to dwell, whip-up the details of the plots, and justify them with banal dialogues. Why not simply depict in the form of a juxtaposed musical narrative? Not totally ill appropriate one might say, considering the title of the movie is Rockstar.

Likewise, at points it seems that the character is not aware what his future holds (and later, all of it might come as a shock to him) like when he goes for his friend’s wedding to Kashmir, all to bid her goodbye. But it isn’t so. Actually, Jordan the ‘Rockstar’ yearns for pain in his life, after all this should inspire him and it does, by driving him haywire. “Jab tak takleef na ho life mein , tabh tak koi bada nahi banta”. So, he keeps on pursuing this girl, but somewhere realising subconsciously (deep inside) that it would leave him marooned

Yet, for the audience it doesn’t pan that way; as it suddenly experiences the piercing pain, which ruptures when Jordan meets this girl again in Prague, after two years.

However, eventually when the couple manage to get back together (this time in India) after their wretched time in Prague, it irks. This time, because of the displeasing gaze of the world. The last few minutes again consist of juxtaposed images coupled with the musical score of “Nadaan Parindey”, in which some sort of solace is envisioned by Jordan .

Evidently, the movie’s founding lay on its music; there was no room for mediocrity. And it is unusually heart wrenching and very much tranquil where needed.

  With a serene poetic closure, the story leaves an inspirational bitter-sweet impression on the viewers.  Closure it is with a soothing Rumi quote, which highlights reasonable reconciliation, “There is a field very far away from here, I will you meet you there.”

The end of the movie seemed to be a tough line to toe for Imtiaz, considering the taste of Indian masses, who vehemently dislike any demise of the protagonists. Nevertheless, he just about manages to get through with what would should an ideal end (keeping in mind his artistic form of expression).

Land Act, 1894- Dagger in the garb of Development

Written in May-2010

There has been a flurry of amendments and Acts that have been bought by the UPA government since it came to power. Some of the landmark ones like the NREGA are proving pivotal in changing the dynamics of rural India. In all the gaga over reforms, a very pertinent amendment to the Land Act 1894 has been continuously pushed under the carpet all this while. Surprisingly, the draconian Act is barely under much discourse in the political circles or the media. When it is, it only highlights from capitalist perspective of ‘dragging land acquisitions slowing industrial growth’.

Farmers on a hunger strike at Tappal-Aligarh (Yamuna Expressway)

An amendment to this Law can well change, the present marauding form of development taking place across the country. This colonial legacy gives the state to annex any piece of land in the garb of ‘development’. This piece of land can also be transferred or gifted by the state to any private company, if it can somehow be regarded for ‘public purpose’.

An amendment to the bill has been repeatedly shelved in the past two years after facing opposition many sides even within the Govt. ranks. Last year even after the cabinet approval, the Bill could not be passed in the Parliament.

However,  now the government owing to mounting pressure of delay in ‘development projects’, has finally worked on a possible final draft of an amendment to this Law and on the related ‘Resettlement and Rehabilitation Bill’ and  it might well table it in the next session of the Parliament  .Unfortunately, the proposed amendments give some overriding powers to the State. These powers to a large extent circumvent the intervention of courts in cases pertaining to land acquisition, claim and displacement; instead a proposed body which can be chaired by bureaucrats will weigh the merits of all disputes related to the land acquisition. One such proposed body will be formed under the National Development and Resettlement and Rehabilitation Commission, having sweeping powers to “dispose of all petitions of resettlement and rehabilitation”.

Although, now the state would not be able acquire 100 percent land for a private company, it remains unclear if it would still be able gift land. Further, the state can still acquire 30% of the land for the company (under the 70:30 clause) if the State finds it ‘useful to the general public’ (changed from ‘public purpose’). Using this utterly vague term to gauge the merits of an industry conveniently opens it up for the choicest of interpretations.

While, there will be a provision of a socio-economic impact assessment(which can veto a project), but with a loop hole of being applicable only in case of a negative assessment, encompassing at least 400 families in plain areas and at least 200 in tribal/hilly areas. Also, people displaced by the private company (on the other 70% of the land) will not be under the purview of any ‘resettlement & rehabilitation’, this would be left to the discretion of the private body.

 Another addition is the clause Section 17(1) of the legislation under which, in case of ‘urgency’, land can be acquired by the government within 15 days of the publication of a notice. The term emergency is undefined here; this clause also, gets-around the need for any socio-economic impact assessment. 

Besides, the new legislation remains mum on a capped agricultural land acquisition for the industry. We are facing a deepening crisis of stagnant food production levels, so a safeguard for the fertile land resource is a must.

Altogether, the new legislations have a prism view of looking at all aspects of land acquisition and leave allot of room for being abused. Thus, it is more likely that the state guided by its neo-liberal -hunger for growth-policy, even with proposed amendments is marching to the tunes of the capitalist lobby.

Here, it is interesting to note that the Govt., has been repeatedly harping on a two-pronged strategy (of development and combat) to deal with the Naxallite menace. Nevertheless, what remains unanswered and un-questioned by the media, is how the State can manage to deal with development of Naxallite affected areas with such archaic land- laws in place. As is known the Naxallite movement mainly finds its roots among the Tribals and the peasants, both of who have been repeatedly been denied land rights.

Such proposed Laws will obviously alienate ever more people especially since they largely fail to accommodate human side of any displacement; the rising Naxalism threat should only be used as an opportunity by the government to be bipartisan in upholding rights of the people and safeguarding national resources.

Present Mess

Even the much publicized Forest Dwellers Act 2008, has been largely rendered ineffective owing to resistance and ineffectiveness of the district administrations. Sometimes, even to the extent of being misused against the Tribal’s .For example in the POSCO project many hundred acres of land that was brazenly snatched away by calling it govt. forest land , had actually been under cultivation of the Tribals   some of who have inhabited the place since the past century. Under Section 4 ( C ) of the Tribal Act it is clearly mentioned that any forest dweller, Tribal can have Land right over piece of forest land if he has been a inhabitant of the place for more than 3 decades . In another case of Gujrat, a Tribal rights activist who was spearheading an awareness campaign of the Forest Dwellers Act was arrested by Police on alleged charges of being a Naxxalite sympathizer   .

There are countless cases of land grabbing (by the state or in conjunction with state) through the present Land Act. Two prominent pending cases -which have been delayed owing to stiff resistance from the people- are that of the upcoming Ganga Expressway project coming up in UP and the Nirma Cement Plant in Saurashtra (coastline Gujarat). The Ganga Expressway project runs through several thousand hectares of fertile land (these flood plains receives alluvial soil from the Ganges), which according to some estimates constitutes 70% of the total land that would be acquired for it. While, the Nirma Cement plant is being set up on a public land demarcated for a rainwater check-dam, which would affect fresh water supply  of thousands villagers in the region. What makes these cases disturbing is the unbending support by the State at the cost of its own people; the government of Gujarat is versus its own people in the courts to make sure that land is allotted to Nirma.

Moreover, irrevocable damage has already taken in many cases including two publicized cases of the POSCO, where even after five years of struggle a final pitiable compensation (of two lakh rupees per acre, for a project which is costing two lakh crore rupees) is offered to the Tribals on whose land the project is coming up .On the other hand the Govt. has squarely failed, to rehabilitate most of the displaced villagers of the Narmada dam even after two years.

WAY OUT

In order to clear the mess arising in such cases, a very essential step is to define the much exploited myth of ‘development’. Whose problems will be addressed by a particular industrial project and to what extent? Should priority be given to the locals or the larger social good of the country?

What constitutes development for a group of people? Isn’t it something very arbitrary, especially when you ask a Tribal or an urbanite?   Who decides what kind of development will be beneficial to the locals, and most importantly do they need it at all?  The lopsided notion that is made-out by proponents of industrialization that any so called industry ‘can bring prosperity to the region’ is most repugnant and should be brushed aside all together. Instead of blindly imposing industries on the weak, or simply colluding with the industrialists (all in the name prosperity), the government should engage in a very closely monitored unbiased social-economic assessment of each and every industrial project.

Only in a few cases the people (land-givers) have been made partners in the so called development of the area; which at the least can include, allotting shares of the company, assured jobs, health and education.

Nevertheless, even providing sufficient paying jobs is difficult because many of the industry related job require skilled labor. Yet, it should be made clear, that just paying the appropriate market price for the land is not sufficed; as they also snatch a livelihood with the land.

Ironically, one of the compensation model that was probably more equitable, of the now controversial and delayed Jindal Steel plant Midnapur District of West Bengal. Where they had offered free shares, equal to the cost of land being sold, besides payment of full value of land and employment to one member of each family after providing free training, health care facilities .

So the compensation has to be more than just right ‘market price’ for the resources,; especially if we equate the reoccurring obscene profits a company stands to make from a particular project, with the paltry compensations. At the least, the company should to make sure that the displaced families have sustainable running source of income as well.  

There are clear provisions even in the present Law, to approach the Court in case of unsatisfactory compensation. Nonetheless, getting the right ‘market price’ for the land remains a big tussle for the farmer’s; this especially holds true in the case of many Govt. related projects. The Farmers, usually mange to bargain only when they have strength of numbers and stand united. It is said capitalism gives the right to market forces to determine the price.

Hence, instead of just giving pugnacious remarks after every attack (in Naxallite affected areas), the government must also be more vocal; to specifically point out what developmental efforts the government plans to undertake. Both media and political debates are vociferously debating about the use of aircrafts, why haven’t they, till date rake on which instruments of development be most suited to these regions. The best tools in dousing Naxallism instead of fighter planes or superior armory, which can be brought about with effective implementation of the Tribal Act (which is being vehemently denied), along with a nonpartisan amendment to the Land Act.

However it is heartening to mention that the Supreme Court in a recent landmark ruling on a litigation from Karnataka, has at least acknowledged the wide spread discrimination under Land Act, in acquisitions across the country. These lines of the ruling succinctly convey allot, “Where the beneficiaries of acquisition were private individuals, there was a general feeling among the land losers that their land was taken away to benefit other classes of people. This would amount to robbing Peter to pay Paul; that their land is given to others for exploitation or enjoyment, while they are denied their land and their source of livelihood. When this grievance and resentment remains unaddressed, it leads to unrest and agitations. The solution is to make the land losers also the beneficiaries of acquisition so that the land losers would not feel alienated but would welcome acquisition.”

Man-animal conflict-Corbett's case

During the past few years cases of man-animal conflict  are on a rise across our National Parks and Tiger Reserves. Below I share a typical case of mishandling of a ‘man-eating cat’ in Corbett National Park of Uttarakhand, based on media reports and personal visits to the region.  Although, there is a grave poaching threat looming on the region's big cats, here our focus will be the former problem.

• Nov-Dec: 3 mid-aged women killed in separate incidents in the Sunderkhal village (an illegal settlement)  located on the eastern boundary of Corbett Tiger Reserve. For various reasons authorities are unclear about the gender of the big cat that killed the victim right up till the 3 death.

• Dec 30:Govt. finally declares the feline a man-eating tigress and issues shoot at sight orders. Conservationists demand that the tiger be tranquilized instead. However, the park has no veterinary doctor.
• Jan11: The tigress is reportedly shot at on January 11 by forest officers. The feline is injured in the operation. The officers claim that blood stains at the spot points that that the tigress was injured.
• Jan 14: A fourth human, whose body is found about 5-6 kms away from Garjia forest is also reportedly killed by the tigress. This killing is at a short distance from the range of purported man-eating Tigress. “It is a tigress, which is fit and healthy. It is also switching over to its natural prey in between killing and eating men"-U C Tiwari Park Warden.
• Jan 27: A man-eating big cat reportedly killed a 27-year-old young man late on Wednesday evening. As a result, Sunderkhal villagers pelt stones and block NH-121 that leads to the Park . Forest officials take up massive combing operations on Thursday afternoon, and find a male tiger in the nearby forest. A seven years old tiger is shot and killed by them.

Despite repeated demand by locals that the cat should immediately be declared a man-eater and tackled, there was no action for two months. Although, it was quite clear from all signs that a feline had become a man-eater, no plan was formulated to tackle the big cat for over two months. Rather, the authorities tried to shove the issue under the carpet claiming that unless -the tiger took at least 7 lives- only then could they declare it a man-eater. Finally after intense local pressure and 3 lost lives a fact-clear from the very beginning-was accepted.


Then, when the shoot-at sight orders are given the authorities issue a note claiming that the feline would be shot within 48 hrs. If all preventive measures have been put in place. Even then, -a novice would also know-catching the animal with random baits in 2 nights would be a figment of imagination. It is a well known fact that man-eating cats become extremely cautious.


Secondly, in other earlier reported cases man-eaters in the Park, the authorities always tried to capture or tranquilize the animal. Also as there are many other tigers (both males and females) operating in the region it is very likely that the right cat might not be shot at. After all the authorities seemed to have a sketchy account about the feline (they took 3 killings figure out the gender) .Why they did not keep that as an option in this case?
Also, when the tigress is reportedly fired at and injured by forest officials. There was no large scale combing operations taken by the authorities (like the latest one) in order to find the injured animal. After all with its hampered hunting abilities wasn't it even more dangerous.


Finally on Thursday 28 Jan, 16 days after the reported injuring of the cat and three months after 5 reported human killings. When things go completely out of hands and stones are pelted at the forest officials. In frenzy, unprecedented combing operations are undertaken in the forests of the Sarpduli Range (where 3-4 other tigers operate). In mid-afternoon young and healthy male tiger is shot dead. 


The loopholes are everywhere right from the confusion of regarding the legality of when and how to declare a cat a man-eater, which is followed by how compensation should be given to villagers till the attacking cat is not confirmed as a man-eater. Should a man-eater always be captured or killed?


However, the most disturbing  and significant question of all- why we still haven’t managed to equip our premier National Park with trained, full-time veterinaries and state-of-art lab facilities. And so it won’t be surprising that the present tiger shooting by the authorities turns out to be a fluke. Point being, the reported man-eater right up till a few hours back was claimed to be a man-eating tigress and not a male tiger.


There is almost no follow-up by the media on the different tiger deaths that have taken place across the Park in the past three years. Sadly, first hand evidence from the region suggests 8/10 of these reported deaths have been due to poisoning. I mention this because the present incident of shooting (by the forest authorities) will also 'fade away'  from spotlight . With no insightful investigation on how Park authorities have failed on many fronts. Be it safe guarding of the endangered cat or the poor villagers.


The latest reported twin tiger deaths took three days back in the Kalagadh region of the Park (another illegal human settlement). It would be surprising to find a conclusive report made public by the authorities on any of these deaths.


This piece was written on Jan 27. Since then 1 more tiger has died on the periphery of  the tiger reserve. The reported reason -a ‘heart attack’ because of infirmity .

“Shave India Movement”- Hideous Marketing

Since, I have severely cut down my television hours I am not usually aware of the latest tripe it is feeding.

However, I was scandalized last week at a strange advertisement coming on a prime time business news channel CNBC-Tv18 .It had something got to do with shaving, they were asking women why men should sport a clean shave look, and the sponsors were none other than Procter & Gamble Group’s Gillette.

The highly spirited “Quit India Movement” was about saving the country from the Colonialist exploiters, getting rid of their goods. Now, the consumer goods conglomerate P&G has launched a similar sounding “Shave India Movement”, to sell more razors!! . Imported from Germany, sold by a US company.  Gandhijee must be turning in his grave, at this irony of his movement being a so called inspiration in the 21^st century, to capitalist marketers.

Few facts about, Mach 3 – is a German machine sounding, premier razor of the Gillette group. It is a niche brand for Gillette and it was priced at Rs. 240 apiece (an outrageous price), but with a change to mass oriented marketing, last month the price was revised to Rs.125.

Gillette has come with the most preposterous advertising campaign, to sell this. So what does this campaign consist of? Well initially it was just women they interviewed; asked the same questions and got almost the same replies. The ludicrous part is that the idea is not only coarse but also very hollow. What kind of creative, convincing, enchanting answer do you expect normal people to give to “Why do you think men should be clean shaved?” And the authoritative repetitiveness, with which this question is asked it, seems like it is one of the most pertinent question facing modern India.

 

Some of the lines uttered during these teaser campaigns “Yah the stubble is out of fashion, Men need to look just like us women (all most)… clean and well groomed. Shaved men look nice. Women deserve better looking men. Let me tell you guys out there how much women love shaved clean skin.”

And then if those interviews weren’t enough they roped in luscious bollywood stars Minisha Lamba, Mogdha Godsey and Neha Dhupia .

These initial teaser campaigns were still tolerable, but last weekend it translated to something uglier. One of our Prime English news channels CNN-IBN, usually concerned with providing us trenchant news, feed us with almost half an hour of a ‘TV sponsored featured presentation’ of this marketing campaign.

In the studio there was model Debi Dutta (seen in the Thumps up add.) along with hair stylist Javed Habib, and another female make up expert from Mumbai. All of them were harping on the same thing: ‘Men please shave’. Not to forget, the anchor for some reason had an uncanny American accent (I guess that is considered really meritorious when selling products through such slimy campaigns). Add to that Datta, was befitted with the honorary title of being the president of WALS. This dismaying term means ‘Women’s against lazy stubble’.

Javed (the professional) made what seemed to be an initial blip, when he mentioned that there is no harm keeping a beard, or stubble. Then he made an about turn, that “do so only in the case of a cut or rash on your face”, otherwise… otherwise it is almost evil, and you would look primitive (yah that was the tone in their voices).

Later, one of the speakers uttered these absurd lines by which you can get a feel of what I am talking about. “Men are being selfish they don’t care about what we want they just care about what they want. It’s a mixture of men being lazy and them not caring about the women’s opinion. It’s about time every girl/women stood up and took an oath and against this.” It would be better if these people use a similar diatribe to usher something more fruitful, probably more on the lines of some feminist movement.

And finally there was the slogan, for which they had rehearsed all this drama  “So Please go out there and get yourself a Gillette Mach 3  its out in the ,market ,it is now more affordable”.

This featured presentation also contained a made-up (off course because it is meant to be it is an add.) clipping of how girlfriend insists her boyfriend on shaving before going to a movie. Apart from that there were the same opinions, lame lines enunciated countless times.

It seems that a similar but low key campaign was carried out last year as well. The conclusions of the survey by Gillette done then were, ‘Clean shaven men are more acceptable to society and more loved by women’.

I understand network 18’s financial considerations, in such cases. But then you can’t feed the audience with mindless information in the guise of news especially on a coveted news channel. It is not only ethically outrageous, but even from what bit of marketing I have studied it is also a bad marketing decision.

 

[Great men who have found inspiration and love because of their facial hair. (from top)Karl Marx , the Father of Communism, immortalized as much for his beard as for his theories. General Ambrose Burnside( the Father of sideburns) Santa Clause( always loved & told apart because of his beard)]

A similar form of this, ‘paid content advertising’ has been thriving for quite some time in the print industry.  It is a known fact that many media groups especially the Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. (BCCL), have floated businesses which provide services of displaying promotional content in the form of articles and even as a part of the editorial. Although it is debatable whether such content should be allowed to be placed in the form of news for both news papers and TV (now).However, an incontestable requirement is that they should be ‘marked’ in the case. So there is my question to the Network 18 group. Why barring the initial period, was there no message ticker/ bar corresponding this to be a featured presentation?

   Some might argue that this kind of healthy capitalist TV advertising     campaigns give you more choices and it’s up to an individual; indicating, I could have opted not to watch that channel at that time, or a step further I could have (as I already have) chucked the Gillette. I simply say, isn’t it a stupid idea to tell people that you need to shave because you will look good that way.

Since the past one year I have been observing odious advertising campaigns for consumer goods, especially Deodorants and sprays. There is absolute lack of creativity, and all the so called creativity that is there is lost in making sleazy sequences. But somehow I had tolerated watching, or should I say, skipping these kind of adds.  However now, I am left aghast at the new lows these campaigns have touched, with this Gillette ad series. Why do we need to bring just women models, to bombard you with their pleading voices to shave or to do other things? Everyone knows sex sells, but what everyone seems to have forgotten here is that it’s not just Sex that sells.

It would have been any day better for a major company like P&G to go without earning some profits instead of torturing us with an atrocious product selling campaign. After being sickened seeing this campaign, I am going to chuck my Mach- 3, which I have been using since the past one year and visit the old city to buy the good old knife-like single blade, and shave the Grandfather way!. Down with such devious advertising campaigns….

Wake Up Sid (2009) Movie Review

Wake Up Sid takes a look at the life of a youngster Sidharth aka Sid, who has a shirker attitude about life. The story starts with one -the one before our exams- dreadful night. You find Sid, sitting all prepared to study all through the night, something which obviously doesn’t happen. But, as is always the case, on such junctures there are so many things to crave on, from scavenging the fridge, giving wings to all possible imaginations. And yes the occasional nap, which most usually translates into the deepest slumber we can ever have.

 So, Sid is a rich brat (not in all terms) whose life revolves around…well, basically having some fun!!  , squandering his credit card to fulfill his fancies. Off course, our Sid also suffers from the getting late syndrome. Studies are a big no-no for Sid .One of his only goals is to somehow pass his exams and then…have more fun. But, Sid is also this childish, affable, boy. Visualize all the actors from the fraternity, and none but Ranbir Kapoor fits this role of Sid. You fall in love with his childish character.

Like all petrol-head youngsters, he has a dream machine (a Porsche Cayenne).But unfortunately, he is hooked by his Father, to participate in his business- something he dreads- if wants this machine. Oh the love of cars that all guys have, they would do the most improbable bitter tasks, to get their dream machines, but alas only if a girl doesn’t land in their life.

On his final day at college, he bumps into this aspiring Bengali girl, Ayesha. I like the way they break the ice, by the conversation that follows their decision to go for a walk. All of which seems precisely instinctive.

Somehow, the idea of knowing and helping this stranger excites and inspires Sid. So, when our Sid, flunks his exams, has an altercation with his father, and feels all lost and lonely, he lands at Ayesha’s doorstep. And they get into a -not the usual- live in relation.

The feel of the script, somehow reminds me of ‘Jane Tu Ya Jane Na’, although the storyline is definitely superior. The thrust of the script is on what kind of relation friendship can be, how at the core of every relation is a friendship.

Both Sid and Ayesha, (who is considerably elder to him) who never plan to get in a relationship, end up in one. So how does change happen? What moments can bring them close? What makes them realize the importance of each other? As an answer Ayaan produces a very subtle, realistic storyline. On almost both occasions Sid cries, he ends up crying on the shoulders of the girl, might sound very odd to some, but, these kinds of parts add realism to the story. The characters weave between moments of warm intimacy and insecurity, creating a storyline that brings to life all the complex and beautiful nuances of this kind of shared life.

After nearly starving, Sid decides to learn how to fry eggs and this part is funny. Ayesha makes Sid realize the value of life with a purpose (which definitely doesn’t lie in the skill of frying eggs!!) and finally Sid finds his purpose in photography. Sid starts working for a Magazine, where Ayesha works, has some fun at training, running around with his Nikon and to his surprise feels great about work.

After proving his worth as a photographer, he reconciles with his father and moves back home. But alas, still leaving a hole in his life, this time in the form of his friend. Finally, he manages to put back all the pieces together only to realize he loves his pal Ayesha.

Young bloke Ayan, really did his homework before joining hands with producer Karan. There is attention to detail in everything from Ranbir’s shorts, socks, sets, to the artists. Hey they even give a shot of an Autocar mag.  There are several shots, like the anxious shaking of leg by Sid, which show, how he build his characters.

Shankar-E-Loy’s music has a warm and soft touch to it; on instances it might remind you of the Lakshya tracks. The song ‘Wake up Sid’ is a great composition; it is fascinating to observe the way it helps to form the character of Ranbir as youngster Sid. Ayan does an interesting thing with a couple of songs, he places them in start and stop sequences, so the meaning is more communicative, impactful.

One interesting but not all that significant scene is, when Sid’s friend informs about his break up. It is pleasantly amusing the way they react to the whole incident. “Itna serious kyon ho raha hai yaar, it’s just another break-up.” A lesson for all ya broken hearted fellaas.

 Wake Up Sid is well balanced movie, it doesn’t try to pound you, with questions on ambitions or relations, it’s about sitting back experiencing the characters and their bitter-sweet moments. Although  it is slightly plagued by predictably, but subtle-suave sequences and the fun element, make it a great watch.

Kaminey (2009) Movie Review

After numerous failed attempts, some of which I’d regard as (close to) divine interventions.I finally managed to see, the much touted ‘Kaminey’, last week.

It is a flawless, fun- action caper. The intensity, which Vishal has tried to put in the movie, is visible from the first shots. The storyline is sharp, fast paced and simple. It revolves around the lives of two estranged brothers, and how their life collides under tumultuous circumstances. We all have seen our share of Ram-shyam, Seeta-Geeta in Hindi cinema, but this one packs a punch and makes some sense, at least.

One of them is F’ahid…oops…(just the hangover)..Charlie I meant .Who  is a  ruffian, and a crony of a bunch of Bengalis. Who have a penchant for betting and fixing horse races .Like any other ravaged youngster Charlie dreams of making it big one day, and  anyhow fulfill this obsession.

Both have speech impediments, none of which will curb your enjoyment. Rather whenever the things get out of hand & serious, they, their tongue fumbles, and it’s a treat for you (the way Shahid does it is awesome).

Guddu is the forever struggling kindaa guy, or at-least he thinks so. He is always involved in botched circumstances. The most rib-tickling scene is, where Guddu searches for condoms, & Sweety his gal, persists there is no harm for them to make out because….because.. “Main home science Kee topper hoon”...where did Vishal dig this out from!!


There is another one where, Guddu sings “Woh hai harimee, kutta, kameena,” to share misgivings about his brother.

In one sequence the Marathi politician lands up in the hide out of Charlie & engages in banter with his friend .You feel (from the very beginning), that something is going to happen. But, you know Vishal’s tinkering habit. He keeps flirting with the whole sequence. He has a habit to put hindrances in a scene which are at odds with the situation, masterfully .This is something visible in all Vishal movies, very subtle instances where in he plays with your emotions with the help of his characters .There is a series of repartee, boom!! , then there is surprise. These are the scenes which give his movies a chill factor.

Mumbai locales have been used to great effect. It helps put in perspective the struggles of a daily city life. Which eventually, play on the minds of all ‘Kaminaas’. There is an absorbing sequence, where the brothers are waiting to be exchanged between different criminals .On one side ,one of them is lost in relentless intimate conversations with his partner & on the other, one is pleading for his life.

Another intense scene, is a  fight between the brothers, at the end of which one of them (stronger one) is completely changed, by the animosity of events.

Shahid Kapoor sets a new standard in the scene, where he is races with the horses. I’d regard it as one of the hottest shots of a Male lead in the recent past. The frames are shot well and not to forget, Shahid gets a chance to flaunt his worked out body, in all its glory. This shot comes very frequently shown in film so you can’t possibly miss it.

I love Vishal for not forgetting UP walas in his movies .Here too he takes a rapturous dig at the Mumbai- UP divide, he rubs it in with great tact & wit. Like, he mentions the common contention, of the names Bombay and Mumbai.

I sure have to come to the much debatable title ‘Kaminey’. There is certainly no need lampoon it. It fits perfectly, there is no denying in real lives kaminapan has become so entrenched. Everywhere we go, almost each person we come across, there is always hint of a ‘kaminapan’. The movie, emphasizes this truth, so why brood!! .The last sequence personifies the ‘kaminapan’ all of us are so familiar with. Here everyone is out to extract their pound of flesh, dupe the other one. Here you find all the stimulating gun fights and the burning. (During all this F'ahid's words ring in your head “F’ala badee kaminee cheez hoote hain yeh paif’a”.)

All characters used by Vishal right from Shahid, to Priyanka & Tenzing Nima, not only fit well, but are surprise packages, especially the latter two. Also that no one could envision Shahid in a negative role that too such a raw one.  BTW Taashi (Tenzing) the drug kingpin, is actually a kind hearted tour operator in Mussoorie. Whose only relation to bollywood is his buddy Vishal. Priyanka who is usually seen with all the make-up possible, is seen here without it, in her charming 8 minutes. And her acting skills are laudable, yet again.

The gangsters have some freshness to their character as well, and they certainly don’t vex you. The gangster dialogue of the movie, which is albeit slightly cheap, (so all the more, I have to mention it) is “Tashee sahab yeh aapsey kenhna chahta hain keh aaj sey yeh aapka dogge hain.(Tashii) But I like bitches, kuttey toh bohat hain mere paas, Shoo away”.

As the end approaches in such a film you are left wondering will nobility win – or will the kameenas prevail. You get a slight shocker from Vishal (that last Vishal touch) in the penultimate scene. When the baddie brother ‘Charlie’ ponders to choose the righteous path, with the noble words of his brother ringing in his head and gets shot down.

Probably Vishal simply wants to convey, if you choose the not so Kamina life you should be prepared to get hit and strong enough to rise.

Writer director lyricist Vishal, the Indian ‘Quentin Tarantino’ scripts another original stunner. He has successfully managed to add a whiff of freshness to the genre of the action thriller movies, in Bollywood with 'Kaminey'.

KING 'khan' returns home!! amid fanfare..

Mumbai, Aug 18: Shahrukh Khan made some candid,witty confessions in a press conference on his return from the US, on his immigration checking controversy.

Khan said that his first impression, when he was told to move aside and go with an immigration official, was that he was going to be escorted as a VIP, by the official. And that he merrily mentioned this to (his security in charge) Subash. Khan added that as he was taken from one room to another, he felt unpleasantly surprised ,when he discovered what was actually taking place.

Khan also said, that the interrogating immigration officer asked him that was he a 'rock star' and that he looked like one, Shahrukh clarified to him that no he was just an actor. Shahrukh said that he was much scared that he might quip something that might annoy the interrogating officers. So he tried hard not to be humorous and answered all their questions honestly.

Later in the press conference Shahrukh responded to a sore question, 'that Shahrukh's immigration checking was used a publicity stunt', according to Amar SIngh. Mr. Khan strongly remarked "Jinka dimag ghatiya hain, unko yeh publicity stunt lageyga", in the same breath he humorously added that added "keh mein kuch gandha bolney (abuse) jah raha tha , garbar ho jatee".

Shahrukh made it clear "I don't want to sound pompous. But I don't need any publicity stunt to be in the public limelight. The name Shahrukh is enough. I won’t ever indulge in such a cheap kind of publicity". Shahrukh said "I am a self made man, and I am proud of it."

Shahrukh answered smartly, when asked about Salman Khan’s reported comment that security checks (like the ones Shahrukh went thorugh) are no big deal. Shahrukh prudently said,“He (Salman) is perfectly right when he says that, because everyone has his own experiences, which make him form his/her, own opinion about things. To me this kind of checking was new and that now he won’t be perturbed if he experiences anything of this sort, again.” When pressed on the issue Shahrukh added that “no one is against me, it’s just that everyone has a right of opinion on these things, and so does he (Salman)”.

Shahrukh also said that he doesn’t consider himself special when it comes to following security rules. He repeatedly pointed out that he was like any other common man. Especially if he is in a foreign country (US), he has to follow common mans rules there. He said that if he is India everyone still knows him but there (in the US) it has to be a different story.

Khan also wittingly added that perhaps he has not worked very hard till now, that the immigrations officers in the US didn't recognize him, and that he should work harder so that he is recognized next time.