Noble Intention...No Execution

I went twice to the multiplexes nearby, first on Wednesday then on Thursday, to get my tickets for the paid preview. I go for paid previews for only selected movies. This time I had to, it was Rakeysh Mehra's product, after 3 long years. So the anticipation was obvious. Add to that Rahman's treat had made create a picture of my own for this movie, Delhi 6.

Delhi 6 starts with few lines from Big B's voice and gets repeated twice during the movie including the climax. Rakeysh has tried to make those lines the theme of this movie. He also included many shades of the human nature, the way we think and the way we live... in the Indian way. Hmm...many noble causes, just like "Rang De Basanti". In one of his pre-release interviews he also emphasized on the scale of the movie which he believes is bigger than RDB, but to be honest this movie has a limitation not in one but many dimensions and it really looks like a movie with small angles. Be it the locations, the scope & space given to its power packed actor line up or it's magnitude of execution of thoughts. I mean when you have people of the stature of Waheed Rahman, Rishi Kapoor & Om Puri and host of young & serious actors like Supriya Pathak, Atul Kulkarni, Pawan Malhotra & Divya Dutta; you should give them that much of screen space to extract the best out of them. To sum it up, I would say the real problem is the script or may be the characterisation itself. And few dialogues were so outdated and obvious that you will ask yourself is this really an Rakeysh Mehra movie!!!

I feel bad, I feel upset, because I expected a lot from somebody who has made RDB. There some basic flaws which Mr. Mehra could have easily taken care of; like Abhishek's weird US accent which was hardly understandable with his added heavy voice or for that matter a lacklustre climax which could have been handled in a much better way. For Abhishek, there was simply not enough script. Sonam does well in her small role and I believe she is here to stay for long. All the cast did their bit efficiently. Waheedaji still looks stunning and grace personified. And finally I must confess that Chintoo uncle shines in his small role. He is picking some nice roles of late (his last was Luck by Chance) and I believe if he continues this streak he could give a run for the money of actors of his movie (it also includes you, Mr. Big B).

In the plus factors are those few moments that you can carry with you home...The music where Rahman again delivers a masterpiece with songs from all genres...and finally a noble theme...a theme that shows our divided religion, our policemen, our society, basically our diversity...but this is perhaps what may work against Mr. Mehra. As he neither executed these thoughts not he can expect the mass to put their head so much in understanding such intricacies that exists in our country.

I am disappointed, not because it is a bad movie, but I put Rakeysh in the top league of directors of our time. I would not have been so critical if it would have been directed by a debutant director. A nice theme & a noble intention, but where is the execution mere jaan!!!

Verdict: 2.5 out 5

Jhoom Barber Jhoom

SRK lands in a unidentifiable machine from another planet on to another, then suddenly Deepika appears, so is one song. SRK has made sure that the entertainment quotient flows throughout the movie. And to most extent it does. When the movie was about to finish...it was again SRK who takes the centre stage. There are 4 songs in the movie. And who is there in all of them? Yes, again SRK. I mean we do need a break from him... And guess what? He gives you that break. And every now and then, there is one guy who keeps popping in to the screen and makes us sit and watch him closely. He delivers his dialogues with uncanny delicacy and sheer simplicity. Yet they are so powerful and moving that you will find yourself in tears when he finally chokes in the climax for just 10 seconds. 

Presenting the ultra talented Irfaan Khan in front of you, once again delivering a fine act. This is his movie, he holds the movie and he gives you the worth of your money. I wish Priyadarshan could have given him more time in the movie. The film is about two friends and how they finally met for just 5 minutes. The theme is nice, but I felt another director could have given this a different treatment. But Priyan Sir also pulled it off nicely.

Lara has done a decent job. And again Mr. Priyadarshan has brought back his cast who are there with him for last 10 or more movies. Starting from Om Puri to Rajpal Yadav. Everyone has pulled off their own small part pretty nicely.

Overall the movie is well shot with some nice locales, some unnecessary special effects and decent music from Pritam (his first for SRK).  I would give an extra .5 for that one man who made the movie look better single-handedly. It's you Irfaan.

Verdict: (2.5+ .5) 3 out of 5

Dev's Reincarnation

When we go to watch a movie which is completely or partially or for this flick "loosely" based on Sarat Chandra's "Devdas", we carry a basic idea of how the plot would be. And the characters as well. And, this is where Dev D scores as well as falters. It scores because it is a completely new & wild yet a practical take on Devdas set on today's pace. But our typical mass audience tries to find out the masala that they have seen over these years in the earlier versions of Devdas.

The movies starts with a bang and ends the same way. First 50 minutes where Dev and Paro are depicted is quite pacy and gripping as well. Then the modern Chanda is introduced who belongs to a posh family in New Delhi. The next 30 minutes till intermission is slow (not for the masses). Second half is again fun & carries on till end. Abhay finally proves that he is here stay and I give him more credits as this concept is his idea. Mahi (Paro) and Kalki (Chanda) are decent and tolerable.

Technically the movie is good. Be it the cinematography or the editing or screenplay.

Pluses: Abhay, Music, and Anurag's direction.

Minuses: Could have used those slow pace (in between)  more interesting.

Verdict: 3 out of 5

Go For It!!!

"Luck by Chance" comes from the production house of Farhan & Ritesh. This is their 5th project together after Dil Chahta Hai, Lakshya, Don and Rock On. The debutante director Zoya Akhtar has proved that she is the sister of Farhan in every sense. She is technically almost perfect in this movie.

The story depicts the struggle of 2 people who wants to make it big in Hindi Film Industry. One succeeds, the other fails. The reasons Shown are not rational, but they are so true. Zoya actually goes inside of the industry and takes you through a journey of 140 minutes that never makes you feel bored.

Farhan again underplays his character remaining well within his limits, Konkona shines as usual. And the 'n' number of special appearances does not look out of the place. Surprising package is Rishi Kapoor who plays a role of a producer. 

Excellent lyrics, equally good music. Full marks to the technical section. They almost touched perfection.

Only negative: It could have been slightly more imaginative.

Verdict: 3.5 out of 5