My review title is as confusing as the film, itself. I used to think that artists are mad, but now after watching this film, I BELIEVE that they are mad. They can draw beautiful pictures,they can show you something from an angle through which you`ve never seen before, but the problem with them is that they live in this world of art. This world of art is a world of dreams and that's why they can never live in the REAL world. That`s why, I say artists are mad. The classic example of my statement is M.F Hussain. In his previous disaster ''Gaja Gamini'' and now in ''Meenaxi'', he is trying to show his viewers something but the viewers can't view this film from the same angle as from what Mr.Hussain is viewing it. To understand this movie, one must ask the director what does he want to prove?
THE FILM:
A Culture of the street Films` ''Meenaxi:Tale of 3 Cities'',directed by M.F Hussain, stars Tabu, Kunnal Kapoor and Raghuvir Yadav. This is one truly artistic and different film.This is a movie, in which you can see a desert, some camels, a beautiful lady roaming around in a 'lehnga', a car mechanic getting wild, dancing and bathing with two women, a girl going on streets with bicycle,a girl with a bare back,and so on. All these things are very different from each other, like a camel and a cycle have no relationship with each other. It is because there are 3 tales of 3 different cities, in this movie: Hyderabad, Jaisalamer and Prague.
THE CHARACTERS AND PERFORMANCES:
1.Meenaxi(Tabu):''Kahaani ki shuruaat to aap ek chehre se kar sakte hain....ek ehsaas se kar sakte haan...aur kabhi ek khushboo se kar sakte hain''(''You can start a story with a face,with a feeling and sometimes with a smell of fragrance'').This is what Meenaxi believes,who is a very mysterious and interesting character,someone who stands apart from the rest of the world.
2.Meenakshi(Tabu):In the deserts of Jaisalmer,she lives and is a poet at heart,who loves Kunal.
3.Maria(Tabu):Maria,is a simple girl who always takes a cycle along with her and yes,she lives in Prague.
Tabu,looks as gorgeous as ever.M.F Hussain has discovered her beauty through this film.Her face seems so beautiful that her fans will drool over her.For the first time,she has looked so beautiful.If there is one thing to check out in this film,then it`s her beauty.Coming to her performance,she is very good.She does a good job,when she explains how a story should be and in the story which is set in Prague,she,is excellent,but this is surely nowhere near to her performances in Astitva,Hu Tu Tu,Virasat,etc.
2.Nawab(Raghuvir Yadav):Nawab is one such writer who is facing problems.He cannot understand,on whom to write a novel.No good story is coming into his mind,until he meets Meenaxi,a very strange character and then starts a tale of 3 cities.Raghuvir Yadav,is excellent as this confused writer.His face expressions and his dialogue delivery are all first-rate,but what to do,when the movie itself is not worth it,but more about that later?..
3.Kameshwar(Kunnal Kapoor):Kameshwar is more of an imaginary character.He can be a wild car mechanic of Hyderabad,who dreams of being a singer(where he is Kunal) or a decent gentleman of Jaisalmer and Prague.Kunnal Kapoor is good-looking and a nice actor,as well.He is very confident and performs very well,in his hit song ?Chinnamma Chilakkamma?.
THE STORY:(As if there is ANY?)
Nawab is a writer,who cannot understand,on what to write a novel.He remains uneasy and one night,during a qawwalli,he finds Meenaxi,a beautiful lady with something very attractive,in her.She is not the ?usual? kind of a girl,she is someone with deep thinking and sharp thoughts.She always rejects Nawab`s storyline.She tries to bring in a ?feeling?,a life,in the novel,he is off to write.Then,come the following tales set in:
1.Jaisalmer:In Jaisalmer,Meenaxi turns into Meenakshi,who falls in love with Kameshwar,but her love story has to come to an end,due to someone who comes as an interferer.
Somehow,this story doesn`t work out and then?..
2.Prague:In this city,Meenaxi is Maria,a very casual and a normal/simple girl,who walks along with a cycle,who is in love with Kameshwar,a decent gentleman.Between them comes Nawab as a wall,who wants them both not to come close to each other.
THE WORK OF THE CREW:
M.F Hussain along with his son Owais,fails miserably.He had such a good team to work with,such a good star cast,but he simply failed to make anything out of it.A complete failure as a director,it seems as if he didn`t learn any lesson from the failure of his ?Gaja Gamini?,which had a very similar theme to this one.There were 5 Madhuris in that with different shades and here we have 3 Tabus.There is not even a single interesting scene in this film,but each and every scene is like a beautiful dream.I think Mr.Hussain doesn`t realize this thing that people like to see dreams while sleeping and like to see ?FILMS?,in a cinema hall,not a dream in a cinema hall.
Screenplay is as loose as the film itself.
Script is pathetic and confusing.It seems as if someone had written a rough draft,on which this film was made,without any planning.From Hyderabad to Jaisalamer to Prague,Tabu roams around,confusing you till the very end of the movie and your questions remain unanswered till the end.You just can`t relate with Meenaxi`s character.Some will think,she is crazy,where as others will think that she is the most useless person on this earth.
Art direction,is amongst the best,seen in recent times.There are beautiful sets,colours and what not.This film is a painting exhibition.Santosh Sivan`s cinematography is amazing.The way he has captured Jaisalamer and Prague on the screen,is just beautiful.It will give pleasure to your eyes.A.R Rahman`s music is amongst the best of the year,2004.?Chinnamma Chilakamma?,which may remind you of ?Humma Humma? from ?Bombay?,is excellent.?Yeh Rishta? is a beautiful song and is very soft to the ears.The qawwalli ?Noor-un-Ala Noor?,is a work of class.
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