Aug 12, 2006 05:18 PM
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I have come across the words like ‘mind filter’ and ‘perception’, but never knew these things have so much of power to bring down the reputation of a movie that came out with so much of expectations. It is really sad that this movie – Boys, meant to the public as a lowly effort of Shankar.
To me, it was yet another laudable effort of this brilliant director. The story is very simple, a common story, which I was surprised Shankar was inclined to pick. But it is delivered in a grand Shankar style. Rang de basanti famous Siddharth (his debut) along with 3 other lads steal the show in Boys. Boys also introduced the charming Genelia d’sousa to the industry. Siddharth is one among the gang of four friends. They are typical college students without responsibility and are love-your-life kind of people. Siddharth loves Genelia and ends up marrying her, against the wish of the couple’s parents. Can they be successful in both love and life is what Shankar takes as the main plot.
Take any Shankar movie; the movie will have a social message. This movie too is dedicated to youngsters who flirt, end up in love and marrying a girl in a hurry. Historical statistics say that these hasty couples mostly end up struggling in life or separate in divorce. It is for inspiring such couples (youngsters basically) from losing hope and coming up in life against all odds. The movie is also flooded with all sorts of commercialism, without which our people don’t watch movies. But it had an unfortunate effect. People saw what should have been just skipped and skipped the point the director wanted to convey. Not the fault of the director, he does maintain the movie’s direction and intensity, but it is the people who failed.
Where it went wrong?
Many must have missed this. Flirting scenes, a bit of extra glamour and other commercial stuff will always find its way into Shankar’s movies. Were these not in Indian, Kaadhalan, Anniyan, or any other movie? But these were not very visible because the lead characters were not youngsters. In Boys the theme is about youngsters and Shankar gets so close to reality that he gets bashed.
Flirting is just so common among the teenagers these days. Almost all youngsters indulge in that. When this shown in the movie, people start speaking about culture and all other stuff that they themselves would have forgotten otherwise. It is about accepting a few things. But people don’t. Even if they feel what is shown is true, they speak as if they are against it to maintain the gentleman image.
Having said that, Shankar could have thought about the extent with which he had shown those flirting scenes and the scene where the guys’ encounter a prostitute. A couple of scenes were very embarrassing even to watch with friends!
That apart …
Vivek plays a major role in the movie apart from that of a comedian. He is Shankar’s voice. There is a lesson for every person in the movie, which Shankar conveys through Vivek. Parents get to know the common things among the youngsters. He then advises them that these are just small problems that come with age, and will eventually fade and the youngsters will become matured themselves. It is all about support from the parents that a youngster requires and not strictness. He also advises them to support their children when the fall in love, rather than just oppose with eyes and mind shut.
Youngsters learn how vices would ruin their life ... How you can come up in life against all hurdles … how ‘thinking out of the box’ (maathi yosi) will bring you success (Secret of success).
There are loads of other small things that are inspiring.
If you are one among those who says ‘Boys is a bad movie’, I might ask you to open your eyes to see the good. Don’t shut them because the person next to you is closing his eyes. Even he would open one eye silently to enjoy the good thing.
The movie
The 5 songs of A.R. Rehman and its picturization is itself one good reason to watch the movie. They are such a visual and aural treat.
The first half of the movie is more entertaining oriented and shifts to be more serious in the second half. The transition is just so smooth from fun to a more serious and thematic movie. The scenes where the youngsters struggle in jail were just so gripping. You tend to empathize with the characters and almost feel like crying for them.
Shankar also does a great job to introduce new faces to the industry. Siddharth and Bharath have now grown in stature and careers soaring to peaks. Genelia is yet another gift to the industry. I am not sure if any other director can make such a good use of Vivek. Vivek himself has his own sarcastic way of conveying social messages in his comedies. Shankar taps this natural talent, and uses him to convey all his messages. This is very evident in Anniyan too.
The movie is complete in almost all aspects - good theme, great songs and picturization, comedy, fun, tragedy, glamour, youngsters; all new; but they do excellent acting. What more is expected out of a movie?
Accept; Boys is a brilliant movie and not a Certificate A movie. How many agree with me? All those who agree with me, raise your hands please.
-Vinayak
(Please do RRC)
