Oct 26, 2007 05:35 PM
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(Updated Oct 26, 2007 05:37 PM)
How good are you in solving puzzles? How fast you can set the colours of Magic Cube? Do you stare at those modern paintings and find joy in getting hidden pictures from it? Did you read novels, poems etc. which have more than one meaning? Do you read between lines? Now tell me which is the hardest puzzle which you are yet to be solved? If you don't have many answers, watch No Smoking and you will get a hard puzzle to solve.
Given the fact that the movie is an art film but released commercially it definitely has 2 kind of audience to be addressed to. Since Mouthshut don't permit posting two reviews on a topic, let me write two reviews on the movie in the given limit. The first one is for the aam junta, who watch films for entertainment. The other is for people who love serious cinema, art cinema etc. I have no extra space, so let me directly enter into the ceremony.
Review No. 1 - for aam junta.
Let me begin with a question. Are you a smoker? If your answer is Yes, don't go to the movie expecting that the movie will help you to get out of your habits. Please keep a packet of cigarette with you which you can make use of once the film is over. If your answer is no, chances are that you may start the habit with the movie due to the disappointment which made you mad by the time the movie ends. A total wash out. There is no commercial element in the film's content or in its presentation. The story is not effectively conveyed for the common man. A simple message was given with a beautiful presentation in the end of the last song featuring Bipasha, but most in the theatre gone out by that time. Performance, Cinematography & Music are excellent for this technically brilliant film. If you have an above average IQ, you may get some small hints and you may enjoy few funny remarks here and there. The entertainment value of the film is almost zero and let me be little generous.
My rating : 0.5
Review No. 2 – for serious cinema lovers.
"Our cinema is immature. Our media is very immature. Our critics are worse than our filmmakers. Our film journalism is the worst in the world." These are quotes from the Director of the movie, Anurag Kashyap. (https://rediff.com/movies/2007/oct/24anurag.htm)
In No Smoking, the director goes all out to do an experimental cinema where he apply the art, science and techniques to present visualization for a theme which need worldwide attention. The creative director applied his full imagination and knitted a story but presented as a hard puzzle. To make big puzzles is not a small job, but one also has to remember that all the great philosophies in the world and the biggest puzzles in the world are the simplest from outside in the nature?
No Smoking is a story of K (John Abraham), who lives life in his own terms. Always question, what if not? K is addicted to smoking and not ready to quit it at any cost. He finds pleasure in smoking while in the tub and encouraged by the stimulation from smoking his mind travels in fast pace to places to past, present and future adventures, sorrows, worries, expectations and break downs.
Like a modern painting the character K can be observed mainly in two different levels. As a person, his relation with his secretary turned wife. (Her attitude before marriage and after marriage too to be noted) His relation with his brother…his worry about future….his fear on the dangers from smoking…his excuses and concerns. As a habit K represent the pleasure associated with it and the addiction one form out of it. It shows the dangers which can cause to people in the past present and future. The film narrate how the system work where the double standards of the society which make it as a business. The movie also laughs at the fact that how technological advancement cannot make a welfare society. In its share of preaching few thoughts are made in words too however the message was confusing. The soul, body and mind relation is not convincingly presented. The accounting side of cigarette smoking addressed too, but the interest factors didn't considered.
Symbolism is used widely. Whether it is a carpet on top of a car, a bath tub, a prison…there is a meaning for each and everything. These symbols are not casual which is very well intended.
The effort by the director is to be applauded. However he failed to package the content in a nice wrapper.
John Abraham did his role quite convincingly. Brilliant. Ayesha Takia played her role well. Paresh Rawal gives another face of his acting talent and superb. I will say performance by almost all are good which shows the director knows how to extract best out of his actors.
The cinematography was top class. Rajeev Ravi has done a remarkable job. With a good support from sound effects and editing the film is superior technically.
Music was ok, where choreography was filled with thoughts too. The song featuring Bipasha was well fitted in the beginning than the end. Good.
Few interesting scenes.
A rat cut an electric wire and the entire hall become dark.
Paresh Rawal detailing 43 lakh bill spent by John of smoking.
Divorse request scene by Ayesha.
An entire gang of youngsters transforms to flames.
Overall this Anurag Kashyap film is filled with good intentions and thoughts. Our entertainment will be depending on our ability to unfold the puzzle. However, had Anurag packaged the same plot in a better manner the story would have been different. Definitely not a master piece, but a different art work. For Anurag it is surely an opportunity lost which could have utilized for better.
My rating : 3.5
It is good to have an audience who love serious cinema. At the same time, the number of such audience will be increased by continuous presentation of well packed excellent films where No Smoking did more damage than good for that cause.
