Nothing official about this....... Review on Corporate

Dear Madhur Bhandarkar,

I think Corporate was a waste of time and money. Please appreciate my concerns as I always liked ur earlier movies and am an ardent lover of your work. Let’s start by comparing your earlier movies with this one. Chandni Bar, Satta, and Page 3 had female protagonists in strong roles. For the first time since so long, I had actually seen a movie with such a strong female-oriented role. Ur works always reminded me of those Smita Patil and Shabana Azmi type of movies... However, here Bipasha Basu was good but not that good too especially if you compare to the performances put by your earlier dames i.e. Kareena and KonKona. The music of your earlier movies was much commendable and suited to the flow of the movie. Here, I cannot talk or think much. Hey, I dont remember even one song from the movie. Yes, now I do, there was one item number by Payal Rohatgi... some sikander thing right.... But, hey I can tell u the entire sound track of Chandni Bar even after so many years....

The storyline of both your earlier works was strongly backed by impressive performances. However, here in Corporate, there was hardly any performance credible enough to talk about. The potential of K.K. was hardly harnessed. That guy had given a stellar performance in Ramu’s Sarkar and it is still a surprise to me as to how that guy was under-utilized. You missed a golden opportunity, sir!

There are twists in ur earlier works. Here, there was only twist... a twist in the head.. that was cracking after a three hour trauma. Well, for many, Bips was a reason to see the movie especially after her changed look. Even you had changed the entire look for Kareena and the same was expected with Bips. However, she was a total disappointment.

Well, Mr. Madhur, in Page 3 and Chandni bar, you spoke about some facts that were little known to people or rather not spoken of. Here, you took accounts from "recent" history which probably even the paanwalla or dabbawala would be knowing. Here, you introduced 2 food-processing giant houses i.e. Sehgal’s and Marwah’s (you didnot want to have people coincidently think they were Coke and Pepsi). Then you introduced the privatization issue, the pesticide scam, cheap antics by politicians, etc. I think your audience has become already adapted to the gimmicks played by politicians and Bollywood. So, do you need to repeat that in every movie?

I felt your movie was more of a marketing affair of product placement rather than a movie of masses. Time and time again an average person can see brands getting reflected on the cinema screen like TimesNow. So, you are minting money in this way too. Walking on the path showed by Subhash Ghai I presume.

Speaking much more of performances which have been the highlight of your earlier flicks, you have taken so many promising young stars like Sameer Dattani, Minnisha Lamba (even that female had given a stellar performance earlier). I dont know if I had dozed off during the movie might have missed seeing their faces. Was that thing planned or was their roles edited to allow audience to have better looks at Bips’s Allen Solly Attires? They are a perfect example of Gone with the wind.

Speaking of veteran actors, Raj Babbar and Rajat kapoor got credible chance to display their acting prowess and they didnt turn the audience’s expectations down. Good to see Raj Babbar after a long time in a strong character role. Sandeep Mehta was the revealation from your movie. I was surprised (seriously) seeing the acting skills of that guy. But, no sooner than not, even that guy disappears due to some cheap scam. Famous ad-man Bharat Dabholkar and Lillette Dubey (who stole hearts in Baghban in a strong role alongside Paresh Rawal) was taken in a very very very.... special appearance.

The funny part is that I liked the conversations between the peons and bodyguards who like his earlier movies add humour to the movie. Good Job in retaining that!!!!!!!!!!!!! But, Mr. Bhandarkar, peons, bodyguards, frogs, boardroom meetings, some cosy scenes with Brinda Parekh and Payal Rohatgi shouldnt be the highlights of your movie. I went with my family on a day when the ShivSena had announced a bandh scared whether I would come back. And, believe me, the theatre was packed to its brim. And, the public get treated to this.....

I appreciate your work a lot. Also, I think that you are one of the few filmmakers who dare to think beyond what the rest cannot. I hope you dont condemn my reviews and ponder seriously over it.

Thanking You,

Yours truly,

ind.maverick