OK, lets get rolling with my first movie review. I was hunting around for a good topic and when I finished seeing the latest Bollywood thriller, I just couldn't resist writing about it!!
You know the feeling when words begin to scream inside you and bang against the door, 'Let me out'..(sigh). So here I am at 9.30 pm writing this review when I should be partying (Sat nite and all that)....
Well first of all, I would like to dispell any illusion that this movie has a great message and is a worthy inhabitant of the Ram Gopal stable of films. It most definitely has to be one of the most shallow movies he has ever made. It basically is a Pointless movie. But I am getting ahead of myself... Let me begin by introducing the cast.
Cast:
Manoj Bajpai - A homicidal gangster with more than one screw loose (How many times more, my friend..)
Vivek Oberoi - A cute, young, happy go lucky youngster without a care in the world (other than Antara's policeman father, of course)
Antara Mali - An even cuter, crazier, young girl, with even lesser problems. Thinks short term and flaunts arguably the best figure in Bollywood (Ooh la la)
Director:
Rajat Mukherjee
Producer:
Ram Gopal Varma
Music Director:
Sandesh Shandilya
Cinematographer:
Sandeep Chatterjee
Background Sound:
Anil Mohile
Plot
VO and AM are the usual guy and girl couple, all fire and ice who basically live in their own world and enjoy themselves. One day they decide to run away, from the above mentioned pistol pop. With the great looking Safari they zoom off across the inhospitable and barren Rajasthan. Giving a lift to MB results in the ensuing series of mishaps, crazy tangles, edge of seat action and spine tingling moments.. But I will not spoil it for you, watch the movie and find out.. What I really wanted to say is yet to come...
My thoughts
First of all, there seems to be absolutely no point in this movie. It is a series of moments.. What do I mean by that?? Well, it seems to move forward from one well orchestrated flash point to another. It lacks continuity. There is no underlying message (barring the one given below), unlike his earlier movies like Company/Satya/Rangeela etc etc. Now, come on, how many more times do we have to see MB as another underworld goonda with the human side..sheesh. Do not misunderstand me, he is fabulous in his role, the best..But he has done even better earlier..
But more importantly what rankles is the message (if any) being that 'Never give any one a lift'. Well, excuse me. I mean, if the world begins to live like that, poor students like I once, was will never get around. I have lost count of the times in Pune when I have moved from one point to another because of some good samaritan. It's understandable if it is a creepy night, in the boondocks. But in the movie, it is a blazing summer day, miles from any where. It is the most understandable and humane thing to do to stop and offer help.
Next thing being the absolute inappropriateness of the songs.
Please keep in mind that when Ramu originally planned the movie, he had no songs at all. Not one. This becomes very obvious when one sees the movie. The songs have no relevance to the movie. Except for Makhmali, the other songs jar on the continuity... There is also a completely unnecessary hotel scene that struggles to present comic relief and fall flat on its face in the bargain.
Cut it all out. Make a tight action thriller for once...Don't bow to the distributors demands.. I for one, would have definitely doffed my hat to the guru if he had stuck to the original plan....
Why should you see this movie??
Fast pace:
This is an out and out thriller, my friends. Make no bones about it. The pace is so fast that within the first 20 mins the director has left everyone breathless. He whizzes past unnecessary songs and forces some dialogues before throwing the hero and heroine on the road and then the rock & roll starts.
Background Score (BS):
Aw my gawd!! This has to be the best BS I have heard for some time now. I think Ramu has a particular fascination with this (remember Kaun). The BS is the invisible but most effective member of the cast. It rear's up and forces you on the edge of your seat and then pours some cold water down your spine...(I think I got carried away there..:-)). But it's true. The BS really needs a special mention here.
Antara Mali:
Maybe it was the lack of expectations, or the sheer awe inspiring figure..;-). But she is the surprise package. After the ever hamming/unnecessarily pouting/eyelid flickering Urmila, she comes as a pleasant surprise and packs a powerful punch. She is suitably underplayed at times and displays an utter lack of camera consciousness (something rarely seen in todays breed of actresses). Her chemistry with both her male co-stars also makes for some great scenes. All in all, a virtuoso performance
VO & MB:
Very good performances. VO doesn't have much of a role (esp after Company), but essays it convincingly. MB is great, but getting repetitive.
Cinematography:
SC has done outstanding work. The way he has captured the barrenness of Rajasthan needs to be seen to be believed. In fact the direction, editing and action are all a la hollywood. So great stuff there.
Final Thoughts:
Well, after all of the above, if you are confused whether to see the movie or not, well..its ok. My aim was to present both sides of the coin (I promised myself it would be an unbiased review).
I would recommend the movie to everybody for the above mentioned reasons. Definitely worth watching once, but only once please.
But I also would not rank the movie very highly, again because of the above mentioned reasons.
In fact the end result of the movie is a lot of confusion and very little results. The climax is a dampner, with no real conclusion, and while this may be appreciated by some, I definitely felt let down. Also a little far fetched considering MB's exploits earlier in the story... Watch it to see what I mean....(Ooh the temptation to tell all...)
Finalest of the final Thoughts:
Watch the movie with no expectations and you will appreciate the efforts. But go with the hope of seeing another Ram Gopal Varma potboiler with all the added flavours and you will be disappointed....(Why does the man build hopes??)
Anyway..dekhkar bhool jaiye...CrossRoads...
Cheers
