Dec 01, 2007 10:38 PM
2217 Views
There is not a lot to talk about Aaja nachle save that it is similar to Juliette Binoch's Chocolat interspersed with potholes in the script.The problem really is that the films most interesting characters are not given enough of a footage in the script.Ranvir Shorey's is the most compelling character, but we seee no exhanges between him and Madhuri.And instead the cinematic liberties taken take the film through a rather insipid route.It just doesnt work as a film because there is a lack of that simple humane touch when it comes to direction and presenting the story.
Therefore you dont feel for the characters.And what on earth does the director think when he transforms an ampitheatre by day into a mega set by night with a dozen extras when Madhuri is struggling to add six people to her cast and a day to do up her sets.And the way everything pans out so effortlessly(happy coincidences) is far too convenient even for a mainstream potboiler.And dialogue giri?Good gracious..whats gone wrong with Jaideep Sahni?
Anyways, the real probelm is that because Madhuri has to rattle off such ridiculous dialogues you couldnt have cared less about her, and especially for a generation which hasnt growm up idolising her they couldnt have cared less.Akshay Khanna gets some of the best dialogues in the film, better than those where he plays the leaad roles at most times and hence the impact.
And for a film based on music, the music is mediocre to say the least.So is the choreography, at most times. Well the oomph and curves of Aging Mads as "Dia "do create vibes amongst many younger callow youth looking for fullsome bosoms and gyrating butts in the films remix these days...
As far as the nostalgia and social redemption for Ajanta theatres or the town of Shamli and its sleeping languorous ways and denizens pathetic imbecility in the face of surge of Malls and economic blitz of heartless commercialism the film and its makers do not have any clear intention except to gain trendy attention, with Decisive oomph and protruding sizzles of uptight Nippled buxom nachle artists.
It is this sort of soft pornography that Is Bollywood genre , that any serious thespian like Madhuri could have side-stepped.
the performances...
Two people impressed me..
1.Akshay Khanna-brilliant(as usual), 2.Vinay Pathak(dependable as always)
Irrfan Khan seems to stuck in Hutch recharge mode, Ranvir Shorey was fine.Divya Dutta good.Kunal Kapoor looked flustered.Konkona Sen comes out with her worst performance till date, over-acting...sad..I admired people like Konkona and Kunal because of what they have done earlier but if they are going to be happy being such sidekicks in such mediocre films then quite frankly they are killing their careers.
Madhuri for all her dancing prowess and that wonderful smile could have done a lot better.Was it the dialogues or was it the way she rattled them off?It looked very stale at times.Overall her performance is just about passable like the rest of the film.
