A fresh change. Review on Dus Kahaniyaan

Post the fizzles of the much hyped Sawariyaan, Dus Kahaniyaan promises a refreshing change from the never ending list of the mellow dramatic movies.

Sanjay Gupta’s experiment with the Short Stories style of cinema seems to be going a long way in the city cinema.

Though Dus Cinema failed to thoroughly satisfy the critics, the amalgam of the assorted emotions did just what they were intended to.

Starting with the dilemmas of extramarital affairs, to separation of a married couple to horror flicks and pain, the movie has it all.

The plot of the movie banks on the Jeffrey Archer style short stories which has a spoonful of the sentiments. Tears, humor, sex, deception, conviction, horror, love… you name it, they have it. These sentiments have been swirled in just the right way across different a backdrop which holds the audience’s interest from start to finish. Ranging between 20 to 30 minutes, the stories have been excellently depicted while nothing went amiss that was to aid the screenplay.

The performances have been ordinary to extraordinary. Variety, remember, is what Mr. Gupta was looking at! While Anupam Kher’s role as the father of a daughter was very very frail and ordinary, the character played by Amrita Singh was of a weak woman played with greatest strength! Sanjay Dutt was naturally brute followed by Sunil Shetty and Shabana Azmi who are stars by all means.

There was nothing much to music left in the movie, but I think the casting deserves a special mention. The effect entailed by the cinematographer wins hands down in the process.

The stories with the star cast are:

Gubbare(7.5/10)

Cast: Anita Hasnandani, Nana Patekar and Rohit Roy

Made for Nana Paekar. There is none who could have played the character of a  loving husband better. Emotionally taxing, the story has not much left to it as it draws towards the end, very predictable

High on the highway(6/10)

Cast: Jimmy Shergill, Masumeh

The Story deals with college lovers who meet with a tragedy to bring the good things to an end. The emotions and the drama is surplus.

Love Dale(3/10)

Cast: Anupam Kher, Aftab Shivdasani and Neha Oberoi

Sheer nonsense story. Anupam kher was ordinary.

Matrimony(7.5/10)

Cast: Mandira Bedi, Arbaz Khan and Sudhanshu Pandey

Although the story has been told several times by Jeffrey Archer, it was pleasant to see it onscreen as well. Mandira Bedi and Arbaz did justice to the characters.

Pooranmashi(8/10)

Cast: Amrita Singh, Minisha Lamba and Parmeet Sethi

A personal favourite. It was nerve shaking and very well made. Hats off to Amrita Singh!

Rice Plate(9/10)

Cast: Shabana Azmi and Naseeruddin Shah

Shabana Azmi was simply mesmerizing. The very complex emotions of an old South- Indian lady who has special aversion to the “other caste” is well portrayed, although her “coming back” remarkably well narrated.

Rise and fall(7/10)

Cast: Sanjay Dutt, Suniel Shetty

The story of two friends cum brothers who fight for power. The stale concept as seen in several hindi movied including Sarkaar. The lust for power however, is shown very briefly yest with novelty. Sanjay and Suneil did wonders!

Sex on the Beach(7.5/10)

Cast: Dino Morea and Tareena Patel

Well.well.well. It is funny and interesting too.

Strangers in the night(6/10)

Cast: Neha Dhupia, Mahesh Manjrekar

The viewers shall have no clue unless the story reaches its climax. Amazingly deceptive!

Zahir(6/10)

Cast: Manoj Bajpai, Dia Mirza

Nothing new to the concept, but the story line was fresh. Dia Mirza is the charmer here.

The movie is a must watch for those who like to take a closer look at human emotions. There are many served in the platter!