Bohemian Rhapsody

Movie Review (English)

This particular Rhapsody had me from the word Go. From the first scene, as the auditorium filled with the melodramatic music that only Queen could come up with, I began singing. Growing up, Queen was always on the top five of my most favourite rock bands.

So, I was quite apprehensive when I heard about this movie and I read a few reviews which were not full of praises. Anyway, anything to do with Queen, I needed to be in on it. And was I glad to have watched this wonderfully directed and superbly enacted movie!!

To be able to decide which aspect of Freddie Mercury to highlight, which years to look into and at the same time highlight the growth of this remarkable band was the work of some genius. To end the movie on the Live Aid concert note – was a well thought out move - the piece de resistance for Queen as far as performance goes. But of course, some of their best music was composed after this concert.

Thank you, Rami Malek (actor), Brian Singer (Director) and Anthony McCarten (Screenplay writer) for resurrecting Freddie and Queen so brilliantly. The slick edit got the movie going at a fast pace just apt for depicting Queen. 

I wanted to come out feeling good about Freddie and not dive into the darker world that he hid so well from his fans and I am glad I saw Freddie at his best!

Queen continues to Rock its fans making us feel like Champions!!

Badhaai Ho (Congratulations)

Movie Review (Hindi)

There are some things in life which the younger generation take for granted. For example – Parents are there primarily to fulfill the needs of children or the household. That they are two individuals who are human beings with the same sense and sensibilities as them does not seem logical to them.

So when a middle aged couple, (played expertly by Neena Gupta and Gajraj Rao) expect another child after 16/17 years, there is a negative eruption in the house and bad jokes and rib poking float around among friends, relatives and acquaintances.

The movie deals with this subject and deals with it expertly. The elder son of the couple, Nakul (played by Ayushmann Khurrana) is working and has a girlfriend (played by Sanya Malhotra), his younger brother is in class XII and both become butts of jokes. Strangely, it is only when Nakul’s girlfriend Renee’s mother talks about the embarrassment that the older couple has caused, that Nakul speaks out for his parents and is able to see things in proper light.

Funnily enough, this kind of a situation, (late pregnancy), was a common occurrence just two generations ago.

Though the film is not a big budget one, meaning there are no huge stars in it, the actors are the best in the business. The person who simply stands out with her act is Nakul’s Granny, played by Surekha Sikri. She cantankerous, very annoyed with her daughter in law at all times, furious that the son and daughter- in-law should indulge in love making at their age but also standing up for them when society makes fun of them.
These are the kind of films that will rule the roost because they hit closer to home. It is primarily our story that we see on screen and we love to watch it from the outside watching how things unravel and then fall into place.

Andhadhun (Blind tune)

Movie Review (Hindi)

Director and screenplay writer, Sriram Raghavan is a master of thrillers and he has not let his audience down in this movie either. The title itself is interesting – Blind Tune – and the entire movie revolves on Andha and Dhun.

Akash, the protagonist, played by Ayushmann Khurrana, the apparently blind pianist who becomes a blind pianist and then becomes an apparently blind pianist does a wonderful job trying to anchor the story with his presence at places where he his not required.

The person who stands out for me is Simi played superbly by Tabu, the wife of Pramod Sinha (Anil Dhawan), the yesteryear actor. She lives only for herself and therefore faces no conscience trouble.

What keeps the audience glued are the amazing twists that stand out on the screen (quite literally). The later half is a bit pulled but even that ends with a huge bang and you come out smiling. An open ending is always the best way to keep the audience happy.

Manto

Movie Review (Hindi)

One thing is for sure – nothing has changed in the way governments run and the way dissent is looked at or the way truth is perceived.

The movie certainly worked its magic holding me in a trance for the entire duration. For me Saadat and Nawazuddin have merged. No one else could have brought him to life with such ease as him. All thanks to Nandita Das for directing so capably, a topic that was so vast and so complex - both the character Saadat Hasab Manto and the concept of Mantoiyat.

The dexterity became evident as the story weaved in Manto’s stories and his life. All my favourite stories were captured so sensitively and kudos again for getting the best in the industry to enact two-minute roles!! This does send the message that mantoiyat is here to stay.

The punch line came with Faiz Ahmed Faiz’ Bol, reawakening your conscience, giving you the courage to speak up in times when it is most required.

Mulk (Country)

Movie Review (Hindi)

Mulk gave me a sense of joy and relief. How did the censor board pass the movie? How did Anubhav Sinha decide to make a film on such a subject, knowing the kind of atmosphere that prevails today?

It was so novel to see a vulnerable Muslim family caught in the web of terrorism, fighting for their honour and dignity when one of them takes the path to terrorism. None of the members have any idea about the goings-on in the mind of the young boy played by Prateik Babbar. And once there is a terrorist in the family, it is easy for the rest of society, courts and security forces included, to brand the entire family as being involved in the business of terrorism.

Rishi Kapoor selects movies that give scope to get into characters which are not easy to essay and he does an excellent job. As the head of his family, Murad Ali Muhammad who is a lawyer, fights for his fundamental rights as an Indian citizen. He has to fight it out with his Muslim brethren as well. And the twist is that his daughter-in-law is Aarti (Malhotra) Muhammad (Taapsee Pannu) is a lawyer as well and takes on the fight for justice.  Then there is SSP Danish Javed, (Rajat Kapoor) who is hell bent on distancing himself from this Muslim family and creating an example where people will think twice before indulging in such activities. Of course, we have the prosecutor, Santosh Anand (Ashutosh Rana), who brings in all societal prejudices to prevail upon the family.

Yes, we as a society need to erase the created gap between Us and Them and not be dependent on politicians to do that for us. 

Movies that are made on real human emotions and stories can go a long way in undoing many wrongs.

Sacred Games Season 1 (Netflix)

Series Review 

I binged on this one. I do not remember watching any other series with such avidness after Breaking Bad and Game of Thrones. Not only was I hooked on to the format, I was drawn in by the fact that it was so totally Indian.

I am not a lover of violence and gore yet there was something about this riveting fast paced drama showcasing the underworld. 

Though this is a man's world run by dons like Ganesh Gaitonde (played superbly by Nawazuddin Siddiqui), police officers like Parulkar (played capably by Neeraj Kabi), and the protagonist Sartaj Singh, (played by Saif Ali Khan) and assassins like Malcom Murad (played by Luke Kenny), what stands out are the women in the series. They are strong women with a mind of their own. Kukoo, (wonderfully portrayed by Kubra Sait)  stands out as the beautiful dancer who brings magic into Gaitonde's life. This is the first time I have seen a transgender with a meaty role. Anjali Mathur from RAW played effortlessly by Radhika Apte shows a fearless woman while Gaitonde's wife played by Rajshree Deshpande is feisty. 

Though characters like Constable Katekar, Bunty and Nayanika have existed they will be sorely missed.

The movie does not have a linear progression and that is one of the reasons for the Series doing well. There are so many stories left unsaid that the next season is awaited eagerly. I am hoping to see a more mature Sartaj Singh as he has to contend with Parulkar, Gaitonde and Guru ji (Pankaj Tripathi was as usual superb).

The novel by Vikram Chandra does provide the foundation but the building takes on its own form and as a series this will hopefully work well.

Veere Di Wedding

Movie Review (Hindi)

How so many people spend so much time and come up with so much crap is beyond me. The producers and the director and the actors actually thought they were doing a great job by doling out such regression?

Some call this a coming of age movie!! Besides a couple of shots with the young girls there is nothing that gives us a peek into their stories. After that the four ladies take over and then the over loud, over dressed, over everything, occupies the screen. Thankfully, the movie deals with the super-rich class and so we can watch the frivolousness with amusement. 

For me the movie was regressive because in trying to show girl power the story blatantly shows how foolish and how lost these women are without men around and lost women will resort to drinking and cursing at all times.

On the other hand, this very cast with a story of some sort and a director with more understanding of women’s emotions (really difficult) could have turned out to be a thoughtful movie really worth the time spent on watching it.

I cannot understand why someone like Anjum Rajabali would want to take up a role here.

A call to all the Veeres - Swara, Kareena, Sonam and Shikha --- Kindly take the time to present a movie that truly expresses what women have to go though while dealing with emotional upheavals. Each one of you has the potential to do that. But do you want to?