Shakuntala Devi: The Vidya Balan Show! Vidya-Kasam!
The unraveling of personal life of India’s most famous mathemagician Shakuntal Devi – Who tries to get the mathematical equation of life right – Celebrated career vs motherhood. Why woman cannot have it all?
Shakuntala is a genius whose aim was clear from day one -become a ‘Bada Aadmi’, not a ‘Badi Aurat’! The prodigy’s difficult childhood gives way to the fame and riches of Shakuntala Devi’s ‘human computer’ cult. The movie takes an emotional turn as Shakuntala tries to focus on family and daughter.
Its all about loving your parents – famous words from Karan Johar. But Shakuntala Devi has challenges with her parents as well as with her only child Anupama. The movie spends more time on this, leaving other strands ignored.
It is good that Shakuntala was not presented as photoshopped and Instagram perfect figure. No one likes hagiography !!!
Yet one must not forget that this is one perspective and all heavily fictionalised. True life may remain a Paheli – as the song said!
There has been a discussion on her husband’s homosexuality. Pros and cons of her approach for not sending the girl to school. Yet she should have done a better job – but she was no ordinary lady! Maybe the sheer ambition and storm that she was – helped her to go from an obscure village to a global phenomenon!
Movies help us to discover these characters and ignite discussions to help us discover our true north. Learn both small things like snowflakes and big things like importance of following your passion! And try to avoid their mistakes! And make our own unique path!
The movie is a complete Vidya Balan show. Her powerhouse performance is the life of the movie – Showing all shades of Shakuntala – Genius. Ambitious. Confident. Strong. Independent. Vibrant. Charming. Brave. Powerful. Flawed. Imperfect. Human!
Vidya is ably supported by Sanya Malhotra and others. Strong editing and overall well presented. A good watch!!
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
Love is in the Bollywood air ! After Aashiqui 2 and Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, Raanjhanaa brings a different love story with a twist.
Aanand Rai’s Tanu Weds Manu was an impressive outing. I was looking forward to Raanjhanaa and A R Rahman’s music. I was very curious to see Dhanush – can he pull off a full fledged Bollywood movie based in Benares? I was pleasantly surprised. Raanjhanaa is one of the best movies of 2013 inspite its melodramatic second half.
Raanjhanaa is an epic love story where a passionate lover meets innocent beauty. The boy is an ardent devotee of his love while the girl is at her casual best. The first half keeps us hooked with engaging plot, great acting, nice music and beautifully captured Benares (different from traditional images we see on TV). Dialogues are earthy, witty and impeccably placed. Consider this one : Pyaar na hua, UPSC ka imtihan ho gaya. Dus saal se paas hi nahi ho raha.
The movie gets diluted in the second half due to the political plot and confused direction. If Raanjhaana had continued its first half tone, it could have been better. I know Rai had a great challenge for second half, but the current chosen second half’s melodrama diluted the impact.
A R Rahman is wonderful – each song is a beauty. Whether it is Tum Tak or Title Song or Tu Mun Shudi – Rahman take forward the Rockstar form and balances it with Benares times. Abhay Deol is his usual self and is rooted in his character. Swara Bhaskar is a strong and a real emerging talent. She had excelled in Rai’s earlier outing Tanu Weds Manu as well. Sonam Kapoor is at her best in the movie. She really transforms her throughout out the movie and this can be considered her strongest performance to the date. But the real winner is Dhanush. Dhanush wins you over with his passion and persistence. You really root for him. You want him. Every slap of Sonam brings you closer to Dhanush.
Dhanush rules the screen. He owns the movie. Though he received 1/3rd of Abhay Deol’s compensation, he hits the ultimate jackpot. He proved that Kolaveri Di is not his only claim to fame. He has the talent. Can he break the South Jinx? Can he surprise us again ? We are waiting !
The new Bollywood is a great place. Again and again it is proving that what really matters is talent and hard work. When they shine, looks really take a back seat. Irfan. Nawazuddin. Dhanush. It is exciting phase for Bollywood.
