Dev D (2009) – A Review

Dev D is a must watch. Directed by Anurag Kashyap, this is a

Dev D

modern day take on Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay‘s classic novel Devdas. Sounds interesting? You bet! This is the first movie which I am contemplating watching again. But not everybody will like it. Its crude, brash, full of attitude and at times, downright vulgar. But its unlike anything Hindi film industry has seen before.

This is one mind boggling piece of cinema. The cinematography, camera work  and the dialogues is innovative and revolutionary and the direction takes it a higher place altogether.  Technically the film is very very good and is comparable to international standards. The editing and the style of making reminded me of Trainspotting with fast cuts, dizzy cameras, lots of neon lights and some crazy symbolism. It is almost disturbing at times.

The movie is full of dark and dry wit. The performances are amazing. Abhay Deol is completely natural as Dev. He is very convincing as a person who is ‘wasted’. The first half, showing his fall, is the most absorbing part of the movie. Mahi Gill as Paro and Kalki Koechlin as Chanda are perfectly cast. Supporting cast does a splendid job as well.

The music by Amit Trivedi, as I have said before is amazing. The way each song is shot, the picturization and the situations in which they come make sense. It doesn’t see forced and bring in this raw energy and adds to the film in such a way that it movie can even be called a musical!

If there is a fault, it is the ending. Unlike the usual Devdas movies, this ends on a positive note. However, the movie loses steam in the last quarter and the ending is a bit abrupt and doesn’t go with the flow of the movie. But then no movie is perfect. just consider it as a minor glitch.

Watch it! You will be doing yourself a favour. That being said, the movie is not for all (please do read the disclaimer in the first paragraph).

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There is a Dev D in all of us. Sadly, most of us can’t afford him.

Cheers

Jais

PS: You do learn those 6 things from the movie. Honest.

Luck By Chance (2009)

Luck By Chance is directed by debutante Zoya Akhtar and stars Konkona Sen Sharma and Farhan Akhtar along with Rishi Kapoor, Dimple Kapadia, Juhi Chawla, Hrithik Roshan, Isha Sharvani and Sanjay Kapoor in various supported roles.

Luck By Chance

The film is about Vikram Jai Singh (Farhan Akhtar), a struggling actor from Delhi, who comes to Mumbai to follow his dreams and make it big as a actor. The movie then deals with his initial struggles and how he finally rises to the top. Konoana Sen Sharma plays Sona, a struggling actress who falls in love with Vikram. Rishi Kapoor plays an important rolse as the producer Rommy Rolly. ‘The movie proceeds to show us how dreams are made and broken in the dreamland that is Blooywood.

The movie takes a introspective and satirical look into filmmaking but in a way that does not take itself too  seriously. Some of the characters are over the top, there is a over the top extravagant song and dance sequence, the pressures of being star actress etc., but all this adds to the flow of the movie.

The movie is laced with wit and humour. Zoya Akhtar who has written the script as well, does a very good job. The script blends the characters and the situarions in a very nice way that never seems out of place. It is full of funny scenes (star daughter in a super short skin-tight outfit struggling to touch her producer’s feet) and they never seem forced.

In the acting department it is Farhan Akhtar who carries the movie on his talented shoulders and takes off from where he left in Rock On. His understated performance holds the movie together. Konkona Sen Sharma does a good job as well but her role is somewhat predictable. However,  she holds her own.

Credit should be give to Rishi Kapoor who plays his role as the typical astrology obsessed producer in a funny but laudable way. He has the major share of the witty one-liners as well but he doesn’t disappoint. Juchi Chawala is adequate the typical producer wife. Isha Sharvani as Nikki Walia does a good job of being the accented star daughter of Neena Walia (Dimple Kapadia) accompanied with overbold and snotty-nosed moves. She is artificial enough to be believable I suppose. Hrithik Roshan, playing the role of a superstar, is perfect and brings about the charm and all other dimensions associated with a superstar. A so-called review will be incomplete without mentioning the the various cameos. These, for a change, add to the movie.

The soundtrack, composed by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy and the lyrics written by Javed Akhtar, adds to the movie. It has the mix of medium-paced songs with some good singing and is very ‘Rock on and DCH‘-ish, fit for the modern crowd. Notable tracks being the dark Sapnon Se Bhare Naina and Baawre, a Rajasthani folk tune (accompanied by a lavish song-dance sequence).

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However, the movie is a good 20 minutes too long. The beginning is a bit wobbly and the ending is stretched. Also, there are few cliches and the story curve can be guessed. But that is not necessarily a bad thing I suppose  considering this is not a suspense thriller.

On the whole a good watch and worth the price of the ticket.

Cheers

Jais

Dev D – One Amajing Soundtrack!

Dev D Soundtrack

Dev D… A modern retake of a stoned Devdas. Sounds interesting? Well, if the soundtrack is anything to go by, the movie should be well worth the wait.

Dev D

Anurag Kashyap is associated with the word ‘different’. And the soundtrack doesn’t disappoint. What an amazing soundtrack! The album has 18 tracks and every track is worth listening. If nothing else, they are different! And if you, my dear interested readers , like me, cannot stand Hindi film music and find most of the Bollywood songs interchangeable, this album will be a refreshing change. It uses almost all the genre of music starting from rock to folk to pop.

Love it, Hate it…but you just cannot ignore it!

Recommend tracks: Nayan Tarse (Classical/ Fusion/ Rock) , Emosanal Attyachar (Rock version will knock you out), Pardesi (a folk rock, if I may use the term), Ek Hulchul Si,  Yahi Meri Zindagi (pop, both being slow and melodious) and Dev Chanda Themes (and all the other tracks I have missed out on).

Cheers

Jais

PS: My limited vocabulary limits my ability to describe music. Come to think of it, it limits my description of almost everything.

Slumdog Millionaire (2008)

Slumdog Millionaire

Slumdog Millionaire, directed by Danny Boyle is based on the book Q and A written by Indian author Vikas Swarup. It stars Dev Patel, Freida Pinto and Anil Kapoor.

The movie follows the life of a young man from the slums of Mumbai to being part of the game show ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’. It starts with Jamal (Dev), who has made it to the last question of the game show, being interrogated as there were accusations of cheating. After all, how does a slumdog know all the answeres?

Then, in flashback, movie then traces Jamal’s life which revolves around his violent brother Salim and his love, Latika. And how he knows the answers to the questions from his various experiences.

As many critics and reviewers have said, this is one of the better movies of the year. Danny Boyle (of Trainspotting fame) has crafted this movie in his signature cinematic style. The acting is uniformly excellent (especially the young Jamal). Anil Kapoor is amazing as the game show host. However, one gets a feeling that the script could have provided more opportunities to Anil Kapoor to  portray this complex role.

The on location shooting and the photography also adds to it. This movie looks good.

But somehow the movie seems too unrealistic and fake. And at times the feel-good factor seems forced rather than a natural consequence of the proceedings. But that’s just what i felt.

Anyway, from a cinematic point of view, this is a very well made and  directed movie and definitely worth a watch. A heart-warming Bollywood-style romantic drama that makes you feel good about life in spite of its tragic and heartbreaking moments.

A word about the soundtrack by A. R. Rahman

When you listen to the soundtrack it doesn’t seem special (Like most of the works by Rahman, it grows on you). But it takes a viewing of the movie to make you realise how amazing the soundtrack really is. The songs, which sound too abstract initially, makes more sense with a viewing. Its an interesting  mix of Indian and Western and consequently, very engaging. Wouldn’t be surprised if you fall in love.

Tracks worth listening are ‘O Saya” , “Mausam and Escape”, “Dreams on fire” and “Jai ho”. Actually, all the tracks are worth listening to. Brilliant stuff.

The album is definitely worth checking out.

Cheers

Jais

PS: The movie ends with a grand Bollywood style song-and-dance number that adds to the fun. A perfect end in the circumstances.

The Day of the Jackal (1973)

Day of the Jackal

The Day of the Jackal is a 1973 based on a novel by Frederick Forsyth of the same name. It is directed by Fred Zinnemann and stars Edward Fox and Michael Lonsdale.

I accidentally stumbled upon this movie yesterday afternoon. Had heard about the novel a lot but never got the opportunity to read it. And since this was an adaptation of the novel itself, thought why not give it a shot not knowing what to expect (I remember watching ‘The Jackal’, the 1997 movie starring Bruce Willis and Richard Gere which used a similar plot line. I’d rather not talk about the experience). And I wasn’t disappointed. Not one bit.

The OAS, French militant underground organization, unhappy with the decision to give independence to Algeria, decide to assassinate the French President Charles de Gaulle. After several failed attempts and tightened security for the President, they hire professional assassin known only by the code-name “Jackal” and whose identity and methodology is kept secret from everybody in the OAS.

The movie follows the preparation undertaken by the Jackal. At the same time the security forces discover the possibility of an attempt on the President’s life. Chosen by his superiors, Deputy Commissioner Claude Lebel is assigned this thankless task with certain restrictions (no publicity and no failure) but also with complete freedom as to the methods used. The movie then becomes a cat-and-mouse game between the Lebel and Jackal with Jackal about half a step ahead of Lebel. However, two scenes portray Lebel’s brilliance and presence of mind (Phone tapping scene and the fact that Prime Minister recalls Lebel, realizing that the 100,000 strong police force and security cannot find the Jackal).

The movie is thrilling, exciting and a perfect example of how suspense-thrillers should be made. It puts the other modern day thrillers to shame and keeps you at the edge of the seat (or sofa). The movie remains true to the novel (so I am told, with some creative liberty) and manages to retain the suspense throughout. The acting is amazing. Edward Fox came without baggage and recognition and plays the role of the assassin more than adequately. Michael Lonsdale as the Commissioner Lebel also portrays the role of the brilliant detective very with passion and intensity

The style of the movie is what captures your attention. The intensity of the movie gives it almost a documentaish feel. The fact that the movie was shot on location adds to the effect. The lack of background score or soundtrack is also striking. There is a five minute sequence towards the end where the only sound heard is that of the parade and the celebrations (It seemed as thought the television had gone cuckoo). It is also devoid of any typical Hollywood-like effects or extravagance. All this makes the movie an exhilarating experience.

Cheers

Jais

I dig Music…

I dig music… i honestly do. Oh well, i want to anyway.

Have put my winamp on shuffle mode for the past couple of days with all the English tracks on (which would also explain the tracks which were considered for the name of this stupid blog). And the results are interesting…

Up Around The Bend by Creedence Clearwater Revival, Chichina from the soundtrack of Motorcycle Diaries, Beatles – You Like Me Too Much, Simple Twist of Fate by Bob Dylan, Beatles – I saw her standing there! (devine…), Ryan Adams – Starlite Diner, Baby Blue by Badfinger from the soundtrack of Departed, The Guns Of Brixton by The Clash, Bruce Springsteen – Better Days… Skipped quite a few tracks in between.

The thing is, i hadn’t heard most of the tracks in a long long time. Baring Beatles and departed soundtrack rest all are as good as new. at least listening experience wise. to me at least… and they are good. really really good!

Lets discover some music.

Cheers

Jais

PS: the quote “i dig music” is ‘borrowed’ from the movie “almost famous”. Amazing movie. Amazing soundtrack.