Dil Bechara Review: The Sushant Singh Swansong Is An Imperfect Farewell
Dil Bechara will always be seen as Sushant’s final goodbye. Millions will be moved to see him brighten the screen for one last time. And emotions will run high when he dies on the screen – clearly reminding us of his tragic suicide. Tears Guaranteed!
The love story of two young cancer patients – Immanuel Rajkumar Junior aka Manny (Sushant) and Kizie Basu (Sanjana) – the film depicts the fragility of life. Manny is full of life and charm while Kizie slowly starts being happy under Manny’s influence. While Kizie’s parents strengthen the proceedings, Manny’s parents and other tracks are not developed. Saif’s cameo is decent. Excellent music by genius Rahman, beautiful Jamshedpur locations and lively Sushant. Watchable….
As a Sushant Singh fan, this is a must-watch! As a ‘The Fault In Our Stars’ fan, the movie could have been better. As a typical Bollywood romance, the movie is an average fare As an A R Rahman musical, it is amazing!
Dil Bechara is indeed a reminder of the fine talent Sushant was and is a celebration of Sushant!
India’s first big brand movie to go direct on a digital streaming platform is an average fare.
Juhi Chaturvedi & Shoojit Sircar’s have a history of amazing movies – Vicky Donor, Piku and October. But Gulabo Sitabo falls short.
Fatima Mahal is the protagonist of the movie – a dilapidated and forgotten ruin with rich history and past glory. Amitabh and Ayushmann, loggerheads with each other, share a common love for the mansion. Both excel in portraying the flawed characters – emotions, mannerisms and insecurities. Excellent supporting cast with special mention for Shrishti Srivastava – out-spoken and unapologetic!
Love the slice of life of Lucknow! Amazing writing, humorous anecdotes, great cinematography and nice direction. But the film is slow and stretched and crumbles like the toilet wall of the falling mansion! Can watch it or can miss it!
Wise decision to release on digital platform – movie is not for mainstream multiplexes!
During The Course Of My Professional And Personal Interactions, The Topic Of Personal Interests Often Crops Up! As Soon As People Know That I Am Passionate About Movies And Have Professionalized My Passion Through PhD In Management Of Movies, The Next Question Is : Which Are The Best Bollywood Movies? Which Are Your Best Bollywood Movies? Can You Give Your Recommendations? As Everyone Knows, It Is A Really Difficult Question…
Everyone’s Idea Of Favorite Movie Is Unique. It Depends On Individual Preferences & Taste. And Every Indian Has Their Favorites In Bollywood, Cricket And Politics. But This Is The List For My Friends, Film-Buffs, Non-Indians & Everyone Who Like Movies – We Can Match Our Favorites ! And I Have Created A Shortlist And A Long-List.
Part 1: The Essential Bollywood List
The aim of this list is to introduce Bollywood to the newbies – people who want to explore Bollywood. The 20 movie list has mix of all genres and periods with a view to introduce versatile Indian stories and colours of India. The list was first compiled during my European abode.
3 Idiots Perfect example of a movie that wins the love of masses and classes. A complete entertainer with excellence as a theme. A comic take on Indian education system through the eyes of three friends. Impeccable acting and beautiful direction. A movie with the heart in right place. Aamir Khan, Boman Irani, Madhavan shine in the Rajkumar Hirani adaptation of Chetan Bhagat’s best-selling novel. Comedy / Drama
Amar Akbar Anthony Entertainment entertainment entertainment. The trademark magic and masala of Manmohan Desai. One of the best ensemble cast with Amitabh Bachchan, Vinod Khanna and Rishi Kapoor. The mirror scene of Amitabh is legendary. Comedy / Action.
Anand The classic! Inspirational masterpiece! A dying cancer patient spreads happiness. Art of living! Stalwarts of Indian cinema – Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Gulzar, Amitabh Bachchan and Rajesh Khanna. Beautiful music and memorable moments including: “Babumoshai, Zindagi badi honi chahiye – lambi nai”. Drama.
Baahubali The cinematic event of the Indian film industry. The South Indian industry showed that Indians can create our own ‘Lord of The Rings’. ‘Why did Katappa killed Baahubali?’ was the question that bothered millions of Indians. Drama / Action / Visual Extravaganza.
Badhaai Ho A peek into everyday Indian household with the versatile Ayushmann Khurana – the poster boy of unique characters of real India. But there is a twist – what happens when 25 year old man finds his parents are expecting another child? An awesome screenplay with spectacular performances by the entire cast. A taste of Indian cinema’s new stories. Comedy.
Bobby Innocent, refreshing and beautiful romance of the youth – unchallenged till Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak. Music and freshness were the highlight of the showman Raj Kapoor’s project to pay off debts of Mera Naam Joker and Kal,Aaj Aur Kal. The movie launched the romantic era of Rishi Kapoor and introduced Dimple Kapadia. Romance / Musical.
Dangal A sports biopic and an emotional saga of a father who fulfils his dream of winning a gold medal for the country by training his daughters. Indian sport of wrestling captured in Aamir Khan’s classic. The movie became a phenomenon in China as well. Sports / Drama.
Deewar Yash Chopra packs simple ‘Good vs Bad’ plot with a dynamite treatment. Two brothers on the opposite sides of law. Salim Javed’s dialogues and acting master class of Amitabh Bachchan, Shashi Kapoor and Nirupa Roy. ‘Mere paas maa hai’ is one of the most popular dialogues of all time. Drama / Crime / Action.
Devdas Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s grandeur and larger-than-life treatment of Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay’s novel Devdas. Perfect casting, amazing music, ‘Dola Re’ dance and overflowing emotions….Magical. Shah Rukh Khan, Madhuri Dixit and Aishwarya Rai deliver towering performances. Never has been a loser’s tale presented so magnificently! Drama / Romance / Musical.
Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jaayenge DDLJ. Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol in the mustard fields is one of the most iconic image of Indian cinema. Love is supreme but parental approval is must – the perfect Indian recipe that touched billion NRI and domestic hearts. A love story with perfectly etched characters, evergreen songs and iconic train scene in the climax. Romance / Musical.
Disco Dancer The 80s musical. Rags to riches story. Mithun was the heart throb of India and garnered amazing fan following in Russia and other parts of the world. Musical / Dance.
Do Bigha Zameen The Rabindranath Tagore poem inspired socialist drama was a trendsetter. Impressed with ‘The Bicycle Thieves’, Bimal Roy directed Balraj Sahni and Nirupa Roy in the 1953 classic. A dream to watch Balraj Sahni – he is in another zone. Drama.
Guide The masterpiece of Indian cinema. A path breaking movie that challenged societal norms and showcased the interesting journey of its lead characters – fallible humans can transform. Excellent music, most memorable songs and amazing moments showcased magically – Genius at work! Dev Anand’s home production was based on R K Narayan’s acclaimed novel of same name – though the author hated the movie. Drama / Romance.
Hum Aapke Hai Kaun The Indian wedding movie with 14 songs. The wholesome feel-good family movie with a delicate twist. All happy and smiling faces in the Rajshri drama of 1990s. Launched at a single theatre, the movie became a craze of the nation. Salman Khan and Madhuri Dixit song and dance lighted weddings for years to come. Romance / Music / Drama.
Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s sensitive treatment of an interesting dilemma of a young Indian woman. What is true love? A strong story with amazing visuals, powerful dialogues and world-class music. Salman, Aishwarya Rai and Ajay Devgan give dazzling performances. Cryptic title. Romance / Musical / Drama.
Kabhi Khushi Kabhi sGham The quintessential Bollywood family movie with the right dose of all the right emotions. The finest looking ensemble cast in beautiful locales with foot tapping music. Shah Rukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Hrithik Roshan, Kareen Kapoor and Kajol with Rani Mukherjee and Jaya Bachchan. Karan Johar’s glorious success! Keh diya! Romance / Family / Drama / Music.
Mother India An iconic India movie. Mehboob Khan’s remake of his own movie (Aurat) was the most expensive and most successful revenue earner of that time. Despite facing numerous hardships and exploitation at the hands of money-lender, poverty-hit protagonist Nargis stands for integrity and righteousness. Inspirational Drama.
Mughal E Azam K Asif’s Mughal-E-Azam is a landmark of Indian cinema. A movie that took 14 years to make! The epic timeless saga of romance broke all box office records. Emperor Akbar’s son Salim loves a courtesan but the emperor does not approve the relationship. Each and every dialogue is memorable. Also, the mesmerising music and amazing cast of Madhubala, Prithviraj Kapoor and Dilip Kumar. Jab Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya….Music / Drama / Historical.
Pakeezah Meena Kumari’s finest performance as a courtesan in Kamal Amrohi’s musical drama. Timeless music, strong dialogues, royal grandeur and impeccable direction. Drama / Music.
Sholay The complete Bollywood masala movie. It had the perfect mix of action, drama, adventure, romance, comedy, suspense with memorable characters, dialogues and songs. Ramesh Sippy directed the biggest names of the industry and created an all-time popular movie. Each and every character was perfectly sketched and given full life. Al the stalwarts – Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Hema Malini, Amjad Khan and Sanjeev Kumar. ‘Kitnay Aadmi the’ and other dialogues are popular even today! Drama / Action.
Noteworthy Movies: Lagaan, Dil To Pagal Hai, Pyaasa are many other great movies.
Part 2: The Unique & Universal Bollywood List
Bollywood has experienced a paradigm shift and found a new confidence in recent years. The death of the formula movies and rise of content-driven stories is a much needed change – Ironically people in more than a dozen unique countries have lamented the death of old Bollywood. Interesting! The aim of this list is to introduce 20 unique and different Bollywood movies. The brave and new stories. The movies that are universal. It does include a few earlier age movies that still fit the theme of the list.
3 Idiots A complete entertainer with excellence as a theme. A comic take on education system through the eyes of three friends. Impeccable acting and direction with a strong script. A movie with the heart in right place. Aamir Khan, Boman Irani, Madhavan shine in the Rajkumar Hirani adaptation of Chetan Bhagat’s best-selling novel. Comedy / Drama
A Death In The Gunj A disturbing melancholic film about a shy introvert young man set in a small hilly town of the 70s. A rich ensemble cast, beautiful script, haunting background score and an impeccable direction by Konkona Sen Sharma. The films grows on you! A masterpiece, a beautiful painting – a must watch movie!
Article 15 A brave and courageous piece of cinema. Thought provoking and hard-hitting movie. An urban officer defends the Indian constitution and fights caste discrimination. A masterpiece. Anubhav Sinha and Ayushmann Khurana – take a bow. Drama / Crime.
Black Friday Anurag Kashyap directs the powerful and gritty Bombay Blast investigation drama. Kay Kay Menon, Imtiaz Ali, Pavan Malhotra and others leave you speechless. Crime / Drama / Thriller.
Dor A gem of a movie. A moving story of forgiveness and friendship of two women in beautiful Rajasthan. One lady’s husband accidentally kills another woman’s husband and she is seeking forgiveness. Gul Panag and Ayesha Takia’s beautiful performances take Nagesh Kukonoor poetic movie to the next level. ‘Yeh Hosla Kaise’ is a song for all times. Drama.
Ek Doctor Ki Maut A classic tale of how a scientist gets reprimand and hardship instead of recognition for his discovery of a cure for leprosy. Pankaj Kapur shines in the Tapan Sinha directed masterpiece. Drama
Guide The masterpiece of Indian cinema. A path breaking movie that challenged societal norms and showcased the interesting journey of its lead characters – fallible humans can transform. Excellent music, most memorable songs and amazing moments showcased magically – Genius at work! Dev Anand’s home production was based on R K Narayan’s acclaimed novel of same name – though the author hated the movie. Drama / Romance.
Haider Vishal Bharadwaj’s Shakespearean magnum-opus. Breath-taking Kashmir. Shahid’s portrayal of Haider. Tabu in another class act with equal support from Kay Kay and Irfan. Mind-blowing music. Movies are like this ! A rare blend of critical acclaim and commercial success. Equally good are Maqbool and Omkara – the other movies in Vishal Bharadwaj’s Shakespearean trilogy. Drama.
Lootera A visual poetry. Beautiful and slow and stunning. The romance drama is based on O Henry’s ‘The Last Leaf’. Ranveer and Sonakshi’s amazing and heart-warming performances. Out of world music of Amit Trivedi. The music is a character in itself. One of the best endings. Magical. Romance / Drama.
Masaan Poetry, pain and beauty against the multicoloured Varanasi. Neeraj brings heart and art into cinema and showcases four lives stuck in Varanasi. Tu Kisi Rail Si Guzaarti Hai – Just Wow ! Masterpiece. Romance / Drama.
Mukti Bhawan An amazing film about death, life and father-son relationship set in Varanasi raises many interesting questions. What happens when you are waiting for your death? Drama.
Newton Rajkumar Rao shines as a honest and stubborn government official assigned to election duty in remote naxal-infected Chhattisgarh forest. Watch-out the beautiful screenplay, cinematography and strong cast including the brilliant Anjali Patil. Drama.
October Poetry on screen. Visually arresting. Touching story of love, loss and longing. Slow down India – this is the movie for the soul. Movie of the unconditional love and beauty of silence in a loud loud India. Romance
Queen Kangana rules! Inspiring story – Seek your own happiness, live life to the fullest and fight one’s own battle. Perfect treatment of a great script. Nice direction. Lisa Haydon, Europe and Rajkumar Rao provide great support. The ‘London Thumakda’ and the movie rocked the box office as well!
Taare Zameen Par One of the finest movies that explores the sensitive topic of dyslexia. Every child is special. The eight year old Ishaan and his struggles are captured in a touching manner. The art teacher inspires the young boy and develops confidence through compassion and patience. Aamir Khan’s directorial debut with Amol Gupte’s rich story. Music is another highlight with ‘Maa’ emerging as a universal tear machine. Drama.
The Lunchbox The LunchBox is a ‘Food For Thought’ movie that will make you hungry after the movie! The Lunchbox is a moving story of two lonely individuals in a big metropolis, who accidentally get connected and developed a liking for each other. It is a simple love story made with lot of care and attention to detail. Very layered and textured. The outstanding performances of Irrfan, Nimrat and Nawazuddin light up the movie. Romance.
The Ship Of Theseus A thought provoking and soul-stirring movie based on Theseus Paradox. Three stories of a photographer, an ailing monk and a young stockbroker with a common theme. A visual treat with great direction and awesome screenplay. Cinema par excellence.
Tumbadd An Indian movie to be proud of! A visually gorgeous treat. Deep and intriguing metaphors. Set in a small village of Maharashtra, Tumbbad is a psychological horror at its best. Fear is scary but greed of humans is scarier and it turns men into monsters. Solid writing, world-class CGI, Hollywood style production values, background music and cinematography make Tumbbad a very original and distinct movie. The Ship of Theseus man Sohum Shah delivers a performance that is par excellence. An original and a different Indian movie!
Udaan A courageous movie. A highly captivating coming-of-age movie. The young protagonist escapes an abusive father and follows his dreams. Powerful content, mind-blowing acting and awesome direction. Vikramditya Motwane’s classic directorial debut with touching music and Jamshedpur backdrop. Drama.
Udta Punjab Alia Bhatt steals the show in a hard-hitting and strong movie on the drug menace in Punjab. Abihshek Chaubey shows his prowess with a deft handling of a powerful script and total control over characters. Shahid Kapoor and music are the other highlights. Drama.
Gulaal, Dev D, Rocksar, Gangs of Wasseypur, Haasil, Tamasha, Titli, Highway, Jagga Jasoos and many other do deserve attention.
Part 3: Ash Favourites
A list of personal favourites – the 20 movies that I loved and enjoyed and connected to them! No rationale!
3 Idiots A complete entertainer with excellence as a theme. A comic take on education system through the eyes of three friends. Impeccable acting and direction with a strong script. A movie with the heart in right place. Aamir Khan, Boman Irani, Madhavan shine in the Rajkumar Hirani adaptation of Chetan Bhagat’s best-selling novel. Comedy / Drama
Anand Classic! Inspirational masterpiece. A dying cancer patient spreads happiness. Art of living! Stalwarts of Indian cinema – Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Gulzar, Amitabh Bachchan and Rajesh Khanna. Beautiful music and memorable moments including: “Babumoshai, Zindagi badi honi chahiye – lambi nahi”. Drama.
Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jaayenge DDLJ. Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol in the mustard fields is one of the most iconic image of Indian movies. Love is supreme but parental approval is must – the perfect Indian recipe that touched billion NRI and domestic hearts. Romance / Musical.
Dor A gem of a movie. A moving story of forgiveness and friendship between two women in beautiful Rajasthan. One lady’s husband accidentally kills another woman’s husband and she is seeking forgiveness. Gul Panag and Ayesha Takia’s towering performances take Nagesh Kukonoor poetry to next level. ‘Yeh Hosla Kaise’ is a song for all times. Drama.
Guide The masterpiece of Indian cinema. A path breaking movie that challenged societal norms and showcased the interesting journey of its lead characters – fallible humans can transform. Excellent music, most memorable songs and amazing moments showcased magically – Genius at work! Dev Anand’s home production was based on R K Narayan’s acclaimed novel of same name – though the author hated the movie. Drama / Romance.
Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi One of the finest political films. Only Sudhir Mishra can mix poetry and politics – Marx and Ghalib. A beautifully crafted movie of the pre and post emergency area. The meticulously defined characters speak about ideals, inequality, socialism, capitalism, oppression with passion. Drama / Politics.
Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron Kundan Shah’s Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron is landmark movie. A dark comedy about corruption and conspiracy connects universally. Politics, mafia, builders, bureaucracy, murder, the grand finale of Mahabharata – the movie is an example of perfect screenplay, mind-blowing acting and genius direction. Drama / Comedy.
Jab We Met One of the most popular romantic movies of the new millennium. A wholesome entertainer with impeccable timing and energy of live-wire Kareena – free spirited vivacious Geet inspires the heart-broken business tycoon Aditya (Shahid) and changes his perspective of life. The perfect chemistry of the lead pair, comic timing, amazing music and beautiful direction – Imtiaz Ali is the guru of modern day romance. Romance / Comedy.
Kabhi Haa Kabhi Naa Nice guys finish last. Shahrukh Khan is a loser in the coming of age cult romcom. SRK’s emotions are expressed through his eyes throughout the movie – no physical attachment to the women he loves. Unrequited love at its best – ahead of Saagar and Raanjhana. And simplicity of Anna (Suchitra), raw songs of Jatin-Lalit and the overall natural charm of Goa. Romance / Comedy.
Koshish Gulzar’s masterpiece. Extraordinary tale of different abled. The journey of a couple with speech and hearing impairment. The simplicity of the movie is its biggest victory – even this married couple fight in unique way – proving that disability is just another aspect of life. Sanjeev Kumar and Jaya Bahaduri’s heart-touching performances. Drama.
Manorama Six Feet Under A hidden gem. An under-rated movie. A thriller with layered story, powerful performances and brilliant climax. Abhay Deol impresses. Thriller / Drama.
Masaan Poetry, pain and beauty against the multicoloured Varanasi. Neeraj brings heart and art into cinema and showcase four lives struck in Varanasi. Tu Kisi Rail Si Guzaarti Hai – Just Wow ! Masterpiece. Romance / Drama.
Masoom A canvas with all the colors of human emotions at play – Love, hate, attraction, jealousy, repentance, self-realisation, forgiveness. The music and its lyrics are a high point of the movie. Trust Gulzar to give his special tough to script, lyrics and dialogues. Drama.
Mughal E Azam K Asif’s Mughal-E-Azam is a landmark classic of Indian cinema. The epic timeless saga of romance broke all box office records. The music, dialogues and amazing cast of Madhubala, Prtihviraj and Dilip Kumar. Music / Drama / Historical.
Munnabhai MBBS Rajkumar Hirani’s perfect entertainer of a good-hearted goon who enrols in a medical college to fulfil his father’s dream. An absolutely amazing movie with superb comedy and incredible timing. A simple and beautiful message of life. Sanjay Dutt shines in his comeback. Arshad Warsi and Boman Irani’s rocking performance. Jaadu K Jhappi. Comedy / Drama.
Pyaasa The towering landmark of Indian cinema. Guru Dutt’s Pyaasa is the best advertisement for great filmmaking. A struggling poet meets a prostitute who falls in love with him. And his life changes. Guru Dutt bares his sensitive soul and highlights the eternal struggle between materialistic and spiritual aspirations. ‘Yeh Duniya Agar Mil Bhi Jaaye To Kyaa Hai?’ Drama.
Swades A heart-warming movie with right dose of idealism and patriotism. Be the change. An NRI employed with NASA returns to his village. One of Shah Rukh’s best performance. Excellent script and amazing direction by Ashutosh Gowarikar. Drama.
The LunchBox LunchBox is a ‘Food For Thought’ movie that will make you hungry after the movie! The Lunchbox is a moving story of two lonely individuals in a big metropolis, who accidentally get connected and developed a liking for each other. It is a simple love story made with lot of care and attention to detail. Very layered and textured. The outstanding performances of Irrfan, Nimrat and Nawazuddin light up the movie. Romance.
The Ship Of Theseus A thought provoking and soul-stirring movie based on Theseus Paradox. Three stories of a photographer, an ailing monk and a young stockbroker with a common theme. A visual treat with great direction and awesome screenplay. Cinema par excellence.
Zakhm Mahesh Bhatt’s own story. An emotional roller coaster set in the backdrop of communal tensions. A unique love story that challenges as well as touches you. One of the finest acting performances of both Ajay Devgan and Kunal Khemu – who are the soul of the movie. Pooja Bhatt’s splendid acts as well. ‘Maa aur Mulk badle nahin jaate’. Drama.
Lot of movies from Vishwal Bharadwaj, Anurag Kashyap, Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Rajkumar Hirani will also feature in personal favourites. And many many more gems….
Part 4: The Long List
Indian Cinema releases more than 1000 movies a year. In more than 100 years, tens of thousands of movies have been produced and presented – telling the story of the times. Here is a long list of some movies I liked and recommend. Hope this helps all my friends who have been asking for recommendations for surviving Covid lockdown. More focus on recent movies.
Bollywood lives in the heart of Indians and they own it. So everyone has their own list – let us exchange notes and celebrate the magic of movies!
Ash Long List A Death In A Goonj Aandhi Ab Tak Chappan Abhimaan Aligarh Amar Prem Andaz Apna Apna Andhadhun Article 15 Badhaai Ho Bajranji Bhaijaan Band Baaja Baarat Barreily Ki Barfi Bheja Fry Bhoomika Black Friday Bobby Chak De India Chandni Bar Chennai Express CityLights Company Dabanng Dangal Dil Chahta Hai Deewar Dev D Devdas Do Aankhen Barah Haath Do Bigha Zameen Dum Laga Ke Haisha Ek Doctor Ki Maut Ek Duje Ke Liye Ek Haseena Thi Ek Ruka Hua Faisla English Vinglish Firaaq Gangs of Wasseypur Golmaal Gulaal Gully Boy Haider Highway Hindi Medium Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam Hum Tum Ishq Vishq Ishqiya Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron Jagga Jasoos Jodhaa Akbar Kachche Dhaage Kahaani Khamoshi Kuch Kuch Hota Hai Lagaan Lootera Maachis Manmarziyaan Manto Maqbool Mother India Mukti Bhawan Mulk Munnabhai MBBS Newton No One Killed Jessica No Smoking October Omkaara Paan Singh Tomar Page 3 Pakeezah Piku PK Premrog Pyaar Ka Punchnaama Queen Raanjhaana Raazi Rang De Basanti Rockstar Saaheb Bibi Aur Ghulam Saaransh Saathiya Satya Shahid Shubh Mangal Savdhaan Silsila Singham Taare Zameen par Tamasha Tanu Weds Manu The LunchBox Trapped Tumbadd Udaan Udta Punjab Uski Roti Vicky Donor Viraasat Wake Up Sid Waqt Wednesday Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani Zindagi Milegi Na Dobaraa
The Premise Is Simple: A Husband Cannot Slap His Wife & Expect Her To Ignore It! Not Even Once!
An Important Movie That Showcases How Marriages & Relationships Are Taken For Granted! How Perfectly Charming Men Can Lack Empathy! How Indian Women Are Equal Accomplice In The Great Indian Patriarchy Project!
“It Happens – He Loves You – He Is A Decent Guy – Bardasht Kar Lo – Shaadi Is Compromise – Ek Hi Baar Hua Hai”
All The Above Excuses Are No Longer Tenable In The Movie That Is Set In Aspiring & Settled India – Not The India On Fringes!
The Movie Shines In It Small & Simple Moments. One Visual, One Remark, One Act – Effortless To Make You Uncomfortable! That Is The Success Of The Movie!
Tapsee Pannu’s Best Performance – She Keeps Raising The Bar With Every Movie! From Initial Shock To Withdrawal To Determined Strength – A Great Arc! Kumud Mishra Is Amazing As Ever! His Own Guilt Is Amazingly Captured Sensitively Though He Encourages His Daughter! Anubhav Sinha Has Delivered Yet Another Masterpiece After Article 15 & Mulk! Heartening To See Male Director & Writer Creating A Sensitive & Touching Portrayal Of Women Protagonist!
The Song Is Awesome Amazing!
Toot ke hum dono mein Jo bacha woh kam sa hai Ek tukda dhoop ka Andar andar namm sa hai
Ek dhaage mein hain uljhe yoon Ke bunte bunte khul gaye Hum the likhe deewaron pe Baarish huyi aur dhul gaye
Parasite Review: Parasite Is A Masterpiece! Oscar Worthy!
A Highly Provocative Movie That Challenges Our Thinking – In The Modern Capitalist World – Who Are Real Parasites?
The Tale Of Opportunistic Kim Family Meets Wealthy Park Family. This Is A Mixture Of Comedy, Mystery, Drama & Tragic Commentary. Social Satire Par Excellence!
Excellent Story & Screenplay With Amazing Visual Poetry. Clever Direction & Mind-Blowing Acting! Must Watch!
Chhapaak Review: A brave movie that celebrates life and inspires us to keep going! A sensitive portrayal of a barbaric crime against women – which we do not care about!
The story of Laxmi Agarwal – a teenager who is attacked with acid by an acquaintance for ignoring his advances. The glamorous Deepika glides into the character of a very simple Malti and delivers a strong and sensitive performance. Malti’s trial and tribulations are shown without any melodrama or preachiness – an important point.
Strong moments exist. The importance of a ‘Jhumka’ (ear-ring) to girl is known but Malti cannot wear it – it hurts! The first time she sees herself in a mirror and cries – heart-wrenching. Or a lady tells Malti – ‘beauty parlour mein kaam karne ke liye beauty ka hona zaroori hai’. The dialogue that hits me is the one that Malti delivers to her ’special’ friend Amol: ‘Acid aap pe nahin, mujh pe phinka hai. Aur mujhe party karni hai’. Inspiring!
And Gulzar Sahab’s lyrics are awesome, as always! I liked the title track ‘Chhapaak se pehchaan le gaya’ and ‘Khulne do’. Strong supporting act by the lawyer Archanda (Sarghi) and Amol (Massey). Full credit to Deepika Padukone and Meghan Gulzar for making the courageous movie! Respect for people who stand for ideas, stand for causes and stand for something!
Joker movie is a cinematic experience par excellence.
Director Tod Phillips has reimagined the classic character and presented a
very gripping tale.
Joaquin Phoenix is Arthur Fleck – the clown on hire and a struggling
stand-up comedian. He lives with his mother in a rat-hole apartment in Gotham
city. He adores the celebrity TV comedian and talk show host Murray Franklin.
He wants to be famous like him. He has a silent crush on his neighbour. He has
mental health challenges and he finds an unlikely connection with one of the
most powerful man in the city. The story unfolds and slowly showcases his rise
as Joker.
The beauty of the movie is in details….Cinema at its best!
The moment of Arthur trying to be friendly with a boy in the bus. The scare
of the dwarf clown trying to open the door. The pain of unconquered love when
he visits his desired love. The sadness of funding cuts. The despair of being
fired. The anger and cries of unravelling a difficult past.
Joker’s dance on the steps – Oh my God! What a capture!
Director has captured the loneliness and despair in beautifully captured
shots. The lonely steps. The lonely train on a dark night. The flickering
lights. The dull apartments. The empty lives. The dark people. Everything he
shows has a meaning. Everything he has shown has a context. Even the ‘Charlie
Chaplin’ movie in the theatre.
The world is falling apart. The garbage collectors are on strike and
streets are stinking. The funding for social services is down because “they” do
not care about such things. The divide between rich and have-nots is widening. The powerful Thomas
refers to the have-nots as Clowns. Arthur beautifully asks: Is it me who is
crazy or the whole world is getting crazy?
Eventually the clown’s actions start resonating with many in the world!
Ambition. Love. Illusion of Love. Failure. Loneliness. Grief. Struggle.
Celebrity Cult. Power. Pain. Everything is captured and shown subtly.
Joaquin Phoenix gives a masterclass in acting! The way he has sunk into the
character and portrayed all the emotions – too good! He rules the screen. He
owns the movie.
Director Tod Phillips has challenged the citadel of great directors with
this movie. Oscars all the way!
The new Bollywood is making brave choices and Judgementally Hai Kya is a shining example of the new experiments of Bollywood. It is a courageous movie – which will challenge you, divide you, confuse you! Better than ‘leave-your-brain-at-home’ cinema.
Kangana and Rajkumar Rao are at the top of their game. Both play the
characters with impeccable conviction and bring out the multiples shades of the
quirky characters remarkably. It is an ode to Kangana’s art that she looks so
natural in the role. Rajkumar is a perfect match to her.
Kangana is suffering from acute psychosis and identity disorder. The
troubled mind has a troubled past and a challenging present. Rajkumar Rao moves
in as a tenant in the house with his wife – who is murdered. The movie catches
edgy thriller style after the murder. The Ramayana theme is invoked in a modern
style and Sita is seen as the victim of male violence. The movie keeps you
guessing and your loyalties to the character are challenged again and again.
The director is the real hero. He paints the pain and anguish of the characters with rich colours and textures. The change in the backdrop and the mood of the film between Bombay and London is nice and consistent. The conflict and the struggles of a troubled mind are beautiful depicted in the title song – noteworthy are the street art that complement the mood of the mind. Spot on!
The director could not have asked for a better actor to demonstrate the anxieties and troubles of a psychotic mind. The scene where she explains that demons are following her – it affects you. She cannot trust anyone – the fall in the drama with Jimmy Shergill again explains the state of mentally unstable mind.
Kangana’s current off-screen controversies and perennial persona helping in adding richness to the character. Is she giving message from her real life – domestic violence, misunderstood, feminine voice? Who is the real mad?
The movie has its flaws. The second half is problematic. The Jimmy Shergill
track is not given the proper treatment. The finale could have been better.
The jury is out on the choice of using mental health patient as the protagonist. I know that it has not depicted all the challenges of mentally ill patients – but I guess it was never meant to be perfect on technicalities. More importantly, I think it helps in opening a dialogue on mental health. Bollywood has impact in India that is too big. The movie is creating awareness of the challenges of mental health patients. It stops us from dismissing their problems as madness. It stops from being insensitive to their challenges. It helps in telling us to educate ourselves and be more sensitive about understanding the troubled minds.
The movie has taken the important topic of Mental Health and given it the right and sensitive treatment. The movie has a significant message for the world – mentally ill patients are different and need their space. Understand them, support them, lighten their mental distress and accept them unconditionally. And yes, do not be judgemental!
A must watch – a difficult watch, a complex watch – but yet a must watch!
Aashadh Ka Ek Din: Mohan Rakesh’s Classic Three Act Play Was Presented Beautifully By Director Manish Sabu.
The Award Winning & Pioneering Modern Hindi Play Focuses On Poet Kalidasa’s Life & His Emotional Connect With Mallika. Mallika’s Influence & Inspiration Allows Him To Create Great Works But He Struggles As Politics & Power Rob His Creativity. He Returns To His Roots After Abandoning Politics But Surprise Is In Store For Him. Each Act Ends With Mallika Being Left Alone & Kalidasa Moving On.
The Pure Hindi Was A Great Delight In This World Of Hinglish. Preeti Bhat Shone As Mallika With Strong Support From Others. A Great Play To Watch – Showcases Strong Content, Amazing Acting, Nice Direction & High Production Values.
Short Films are trending big time in India and other regions of the world.
The current rise of short films in India can be contributed to the following factors:
1. Digital Technologies:
The proliferation of affordable and reliable internet has created new opportunities for content consumption. The ‘mobile first’ generation is hungry for good content on their personal screens. The cheap internet has opened up the entire nation and regions for consuming short films – one does not need to visit a cinema. And short films are ideally suited for the personal screens and small time window.
2. Demand for Diverse & Innovative Content:
Young Generation is more eclectic in their choices. They are looking for new and diverse content. They are more experimental in nature and reward a good story regardless of the star cast. The young and impatient generation has a short attention span and they are look for instant gratification. Short films are “Any Time Movies”.
3. New Distribution Platforms:
Online Platforms like YouTube gave a big boost to short films. Today, there are numerous platforms including Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hotstar, Zee5, ErosNow etc. providing a great distribution reach to these movies. Humara Movies, Pocket Films, Terribly Tiny Tales, Alt-Balaji etc are dedicated to the short films.
Tata Sky has a dedicated Shorts channel which has more than 2000+ movies. Shorts TV is the global leader for short movies and it produces and distributes short movies.
In addition, there are large number of Film Festivals dedicated to the short movies.
4. Creative Freedom:
Film makers love the creative freedom provided by the medium of short movies. There is no big pressure of formula movies and and other commercial considerations to bow to.
Film makers from across the nation and globe can bring their original stories. They do not need censor certificates for these movies – a big factor.
Short movies can be a launching platform for new makers. Existing players can use the platform to diversify their portfolio. Lot of big names have taken a leap in the world of short movies – Anurag Kashyap, Sujoy Ghosh, Neeraj Ghaywn, Jackie Shroff, Irrfan, Tapsee Pannu, Manoj Bajpayee, Radhika Apte.
5. Monetisation:
Short movies also provide strong monetisation opportunities for unique content. The monetisation opportunities can be: direct brand associations, sale to platforms, film festival reward money and online ad revenue shares. The revenues can be global. The Royal Stag Large Short Films is truly a unique model – which can be exported to the world.
Apart from the monetisation opportunities, film makers get a lot of Finanical support to get started. In US, film makers also get crowdfunding via Seed & Spark, Kickstarter, Indiegogo and other platforms.
The rise of short movies is a great development. Does it send warning signals to full feature films? Not really. Both short movies and full feature movies can co-exist. T20 and Test Cricket both co-exist. The short movies are actually inspiring full feature movies. The rise of content-driven cinema is a positive influence of short movies.
Short Film are the Haiku of the Cinema. Short Films are the Jamun Shots – small but they pack a strong punch. Short Films prove that when it comes to entertainment, size does not matter.
Short movies are an art form in itself – the movies are completing the circle as the motion picture started in form of short movies only!
