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at 04:57:35 am on October 31, 2007
And when we met….
This review is partially personal. I’ve been struggling to catch a film to review for this site, but work makes me travel more than I like, but I was determined to catch this film, simply because I once had the pleasure to have coffee with Imtiaz Ali, a few years back. Just the two of us at Baristas on Yari road. We spoke for hours and what I took with me about this guy, was that he was genuine, very down to earth and very clear about how he wanted to make films.
Reel Life – there is nothing new here. It’s a pop-corn flick. Boy meets girl, falls in love with her. She’s seeing someone else, so he backs off. They meet again, she’s single so he hopes (as well as the audience) that they’ll make it, and they nearly do, but then back comes the guy who dumped our leading lady, realizing what a fool he had been. The audience sigh a breath of disappointment, but alas, thanks to our cinematic culture, at the very last minute, the girl realizes that she is now in love with our hero, and shows the ex-flame the door and comes running into the arms (literally) of the leading man. Haven’t we seen this before? Atleast twice a year, if you are on a staple Bollywood diet!! As I said there is nothing new here in the story. Now, further down in this review in the Cinematic section I have written what I liked
Real Life – I guess there is something here for mankind to learn, infact two things. The first is that, there are those of us who take life very seriously, we do not take the time to notice the colour of flowers. We seemed so engrossed in our daily materialistic challenges like work and studies and the struggles of life – a reality for many, that we fail to keep aside those few seconds (at the very least) to notice those bright colours around us. Then we have those who are just the opposite, nothing is analyzed and everything is thought from the heart. It’s all about taking the chances, not making it in time to the train station and running like crazy to get onto the train – every single time. But in doing so, there is a certain element of thrill to it all. A life to these is all about the joys of those thrills, the joys of life. I guess we as humans need to taste both of these extremes atleast in some stages of our lives. I wish you the best in doing so, it is only when you touch these two extremes that you will find your balance between the two. Happy living!!!
Cinematically – The film belongs to Imtiaz Ali. He has taken an old story and makes you fall in love again. He has taken two actors who really do not have much credentials behind them, specially together as a team, and puts them in a single frame and makes you connect with them. I have no qualms is stating that I avoid films that have Kareena Kapoor or Shahid Kapoor in them, let along seeing a film with both of them in it, that too in the lead role. But I went to watch this for Imtiaz. I loved the screenplay, I liked his writing and after a few minutes of the film starting, I could actually watch Kareena and Shahid on screen. What didn’t work for me, was Shahid’s acting in the first few frames, where he tried to look lost – he was not convincing at all. Later on in the film when Kareena has serious emotions to emote, she doesn’t do well at it, but for the rest of the film, the director has managed to make these two ‘non annoying’. The locations are fab, the music is ok and the rest of the cast suit in well. The audience were having a laugh with the one-liners. Kareena’s character will remind you of someone in either your family or someone you have known in your life. Shahid’s character is either over the top, or he hasn’t’ portrayed it correctly. Imitiaz Ali is a director to watch out for. I heard that his next will not be a love story, and I am waiting to see that. Keep this guy on your radars, he will go places.
Finally – It’s been a while since I sat in a cinema hall, so I went in early to catch all the teasers. Saawariya looks very elegant, like a stylish lady on a huge canvas. I don’t know what to make of it, but yeah I will surely see it purely for Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Then came Om Shanti Om – this film looks like fun, the wonderful 70s ear of Bollywood, recreated now with all it’s magic supposedly in place. I can’t wait to see this fun movie. SRK was actually convincing and funny as the extra in the 70s and the things he was asked to do. I am excited. Finally I saw the teaser of ‘Taare zameen Pe’ – My heart sank. I was touched, and then the final frame you see Aamir Khan sitting behind the little boy, and it said ‘directed by Aamir Khan’. I am left speechless, I cannot miss this one. So 3 films coming up before the end of this year and I promise to review all three, and on time (sheepish grin). BTW I did watch ‘Johnny Ghadaar’ – awesome, go watch it, even if on DVD, but watch it. It’s quite good.
Tagore is an IT professional who lives in Dubai. He is also a script-writer, short film maker and above all is the guardian of the humanitarian group ‘The Uncultured Company’. Read more about him on www.tagorealmeida.com.
