Qarib Qarib Singlle (Almost Single)

Movie Review (Hindi)

Irrfan Khan and Parvathy create a delightful romantic comedy, both being accomplished actors. The characters Yogi and Jaya, as different as chalk and cheese, could only have met at an online dating site.

The two embark upon a journey to revisit Yogi's ex-flames and what they discover is what the movie is all about. No fast paced action, no new dancing techniques, just good dialogue, a quirky story and good acting make this movie a must watch. 

For me, it was a win-win situation because I am an admirer of Irrfan's histrionic skills. I also think that the director being Tanuja Chandra made all the difference. Thank you Tanuja!!

Madaari

Movie Review (Hindi)

Irrfan Khan is one of my favourite actors and I wanted to watch this movie only because he stars in it. As usual, he did not let me down. But the movie did. I was impressed with the opening and the jump cuts and the montage effect. Each of the actors played their parts so well but the story just lost its grip. I certainly did not expect it to end the way it did. All the effort, the buildup and then nothing. I know it is nice to reveal that our politicians fleece us and make false promises, but what's new? Also, could the director not come up with a PM who did not look like our own Prime Minister? 

The movie reminded me of A Wednesday starring Naseeruddin Shah, the common man, who like Irrfan, takes on the system and demands justice. Comparing the two, Madaari loses. 

Such scope to let the actors carry the film forward and such mishandling in telling the story!! On the whole, please watch but do not blame me if you get bored at times!!

Talvar

Movie Review (Hindi)

I was intrigued to see that a director would dare make a movie on a real double murder case and clearly show the lack of evidence which anyway led to a guilty verdict. Meghna Gulzar, the director, has brilliantly executed the happenings of the tragic night and the days that followed, the goof ups by the police and the rivalry within the CBI leading to more goof ups.

 
It is scary to note how the so called law protectors (the police and the CBI) completely lose their game, making the common man's tragedy a humongous one.

I do not understand why the parents of the victim (young Aarushi) should be sentenced to life if the evidence is not concrete. The murder of the household help, Hemraj, also complicates matters. But such is the imbalance of justice. 

The film is fast paced and the director has chosen her actors carefully. Irrfan Khan, Tabu, Konkona Sen Sharma and Neeraj Kabi are really accomplished actors. There is a documentary feel to the movie as if no one knows there is a camera filming their every move. The different versions of the night of the murder is a master stroke.

Piku

Movie Review (Hindi)

I enjoy movies directed by Shoojit Sircar. Especially because he teams up with an excellent scriptwriter, Juhi Chaturvedi, and voila! an excellent movie is created.

Piku has an interesting story and well defined characters. I have always appreciated Irrfan Khan's acting abilities. I find Amitabh Bachchan getting better with age. But the surprise package is Deepika Padukone. She was so much at ease, getting into the skin of Piku, that I really felt sorry for her and annoyed with her dad.

The humour built around the digestive tract was beyond compare and the toilet seat sitting on top of the car is something I am not likely to forget in a hurry. The last shot of Mr Bachchan touring Kolkata was a delight as was the huge ancestral house where the last scenes were shot.

But the movie is all about the journey from Delhi to Kolkata, Bhaskar Banerjee's (Amitabh) perception of life as it changes and Rana's (Irrfan) exasperation and growing fondness for Piku.

Looking forward to more such quirky though true to life stories...

Movie review (Hindi)

The Lunchbox

Yes, the central character of the movie is the Lunch box or Dabba as it is known in Mumbai where the movie unfolds. It is the story of a stainless steel lunch box with four container contained in a green bag which is delivered from Ila (Nimrat Kaur, the female protagonist) to Fernandes (Irrfan Khan, the male protagonist). The twist lies in the fact that the dabba is delivered to the wrong person. The dabba lands up on the wrong table for several days and so we have this unique story unfold with every letter sent in the box.

Kudos to the director for fusing documentary and drama. The Mumbai local trains, the dabbawallas, their singing together – it’s all a slice of reality and seems to be happening somewhere in my neighbourhood. And thanks to the producers for having landed such a talented cast with Nawazuddin adding to the magic. The voice of the neighbour is an interesting touch to get the movie going ahead since Ila has no one to share her dilemmas with, which again showcased lives in the city. Hard hitting stories of Ila’s mother, her brother, her unseen neighbour, her husband’s affair add on to the bigger picture.

So does the lonely housewife and excellent cook, Ila get to meet the middle-aged Fernandes? Cunningly, the director leaves us to decide that.