Sometimes (only sometimes) expectation
surpasses itself. How else is one expected to react when a regular
trip to the neighborhood multiplex helps you fetch a hot burger,
popcorn, , hot chocolate, and a babe to sit next to you? Surprises
galore. All of this comes complimentary! Naturally, the realization
that we dwell in a progressive era sinks in immediately.
Okay, it is not exactly what I wanted
to convey. The idea was to build up the expectation and then drop you
all down. Last night I went to watch Darling, supposedly a horror
flick, and ended up watching a comedy instead. Much like watching the
Scary Movie series though unlike this series Darling was meant to
scare.
What else will you say when a
trustworthy and a credible talent such as Ram Gopal Varma (Ramu)
turns into Scaramouch and an incredulous bum? Will you forgive him
for raising expectations by making movies such as Shiva, Rangeela,
Raat (another horror flick and a popular one when it was released in
1992), Company and Nishabd (good according to me), besides others? Or
will you expect him to deliver better after drawing a level and
making mockery of his fan base (he already has a knack to mock at the
film industry) with movies suh as Aag and now Darling?
Can Ramu do a phoenix? The thought is
so moot that no one is even thinking on this plane! The more
important curiosity dwelling in everyone's mind is, “What is Ramu
upto?” This I guess is a more important investigation.
Darling is not a disappointment. The
only area where it fails is that it does not live upto the promise of
being a thriller or a horror flick. Altogether, Ramu has created a
completely new genre! It is an amalgation of horror and comedy.
Amazingly while it fails as a horror it makes up as a comedy film. No
one around me (or me) inside the hall gets scared. Thirty minutes
into the movie everyone knew where it was heading. The dialogs were
predictable, the cast boring, and the camera acting loose as if it
had a mind of its own.
What was Ramu upto? I have a strong
feeling he did an encore of his previous role in Aag. I mean though
he got the credits as the director, he was actually involved in a
much better time pass while his trainees were making the movie. (It
is a strong possibility that Ramu was busy screwing some chick.)
The good?
Ramu's typical unusual camera angles,
the suck-strated concept (it catches you by surprise all through the
movie and specially towards the end) and Esha Deol. The music though
not outstanding is worth an ear.
The bad?
Mild horror and the wild comedy. The
“Bhoot” is mocked at. Even the makers of Scary Movie will now
drown themselves with shame.
The ugly?
Fardeen Khan did not make even a feeble attempt to act. He looks so ugly, fat and distrait.
Veridct
You now know what to expect. Obviously
there's nothing left to surpass your expectations. Knowing what you
earlier did not knew becomes even more difficult to make a decision. I enjoyed the
movie. Though had I known these facts earlier the movie would have
lost its charm. Nullify your senses, forget what you have read and
watch this movie. Total Timepass. Laugh with Ramu while he laughs at himself.
