Phantom Thread

Movie Review (English)

Phantom thread is an experience on the lyrical level. 

This is an incredibly moving story of a topnotch designer (Reynolds Woodcock) who has rigid rules, strange fetishes and beliefs, misses his deceased mother and refuses to understand that a loving relationship needs nurturing. His obsession with his creations rules his life and I think no one but Daniel Day-Lewis could have nailed the part. Of course, the magic woven by director Paul Thomas Anderson, through his enigmatic protagonist and beautiful muse (Alma), and the camera work that takes us to another era so very smoothly, cannot be overlooked.

I loved the fact that poisonous mushrooms had to finally work their venom into Reynolds’ system to make him realize how important Alma was for him. She had her ways of making him realize that. Alma played by Vicky Krieps is superb as the strong willed beautiful young lady who does not shirk from taking any risk to get the love of her life.

P.S. – Movie buffs will miss Daniel Day-Lewis as he retires from acting with this movie.

Hichki

Movie Review (Hindi)

Rani Mukherji has truly excelled in this movie. Maybe for me the story resonates closer to my heart. While working as a fellow with Teach for India I learned to empathise with my students and their stories. I see situations in the movie and they hit close to home.

The entire storyline about kids attending an elite school from the nearby slum because of RTE is not new. They are looked down upon by the other students; teachers give up on them from day 1. But the fact that these students should get a teacher who has a handicap herself (afflicted with Tourette’s syndrome) and the way ahead makes for an interesting plot. The students have enacted their roles pretty well as has the teacher (Neeraj Kabi) who sees no good in them.

It is interesting to note how unusual tics are overlooked when you get to know the person. Rani as Naina Mathur is brilliant with her neurological problem and her highs and lows with her class and in her family. The movie got me teary eyed and I cannot take that lightly.

P.S. You do not always need an unusual story. Convincing acting and a smooth edit could get the laurels.

The Shape Of Water

Movie Review (English)

The USP of the movie is its height of imagination and then hitting the right note connecting with the audience through that imagination. The movie is a love story. Elisa, who cannot speak, is an orphan and works as a janitor in a secret scientific facility. She falls in love with a marine creature held captive in this facility.

As plans are laid for this creature to be cut up and studied, the audience becomes a part of the group that sets out to rescue him. The fact that the creature becomes Elisa’s lover follows naturally and only endears the characters.

Elisa beautifully expresses herself, “The way he looks at me, he does not know what I lack, or how I am incomplete. He sees me for what I am as I am. He’s happy to see me. Every time, every day.” If that is not love, what is? The sensitivity used by director, Guillermo del Toro, and the closure of the love story is simply magical.

When Elisa approaches her close friend and neighbor, Giles, to rescue the creature, he remarks that the creature is not even human. She sums it up, “If we do nothing, neither are we.”

The writing is there on the wall. Do we care?

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Movie Review (English)

Mildred Hayes, played by Frances McDormand, the protagonist, is no perfect mother. But she will not rest till her daughter’s killer is brought to book. Single handedly, she takes on the establishment and the only ones on her side are the socially oppressed. Her fight to get justice leads her to the three billboards, well, just outside Ebbing in Missouri where she lives.

The plot weaves around the lives of Mildred, her son, her ex husband, the police chief and his family, the deputy and his mother and the proprietor of the billboards. People who begin as enemies turn into friends, as circumstances change with sudden events.

Frances McDormand, as the single mother living through the guilt of being a bad mother, of trying to get justice for her daughter, suppressing her anger, her fear and again giving vent to these emotions, has excelled. This role ought to fetch her the top accolades.

Does Mildred get justice for her daughter, Angela? Well that is a question that will haunt you long after you have walked out of the hall.

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!!

Newton

Movie Review (Hindi)

Yes, I am really glad that this is the movie nominated for the Oscars from India. I am also really surprised that such a good film came into being!! We all know that the so called Indian Democracy is falling apart at the seams. The total disintegration of that democracy is picturised beautifully in the elections held at the Dandakaranya forests in Chattisgarh. This area has seen a lot of violence between the security forces and the Maoists. No wonder then that the people of this region couldn't care less about elections.

When well meaning public servants want to do a good job and go about their duties, they face life threatening obstacles, not by the so-called enemy but by people apparently on our side. One such public servant is Nutan Kumar turned Newton Kumar, who has questions which no one wants to answer. The casting couldn't have been better. Along with Rajkumar Rao as Newton, we have such stalwarts as Raghubir Yadav and Pankaj Tripathi.

I felt like an invisible character moving around with the motley group of superbly etched characters each outdoing the other in enacting their roles. It has the feel of a docu-drama. The screenplay and dialogue simply pushed up the bar of the movie. 

Amit Masurkar, thank you for reinstating my faith in Indian cinema. Looking forward to more such gems...

Reason to Celebrate

If there was one career I had decided not to pursue it was teaching. The very idea would conjure up heaps of notebooks to be checked, a huge register where I would have to mark the presence or absence of students, classrooms full of unruly kids who would not keep quiet. All these images were enough to keep me from becoming a teacher. But there was one thing I was sure of. I needed to do some work centered around children and this I realized while training children for theatre.

So one day I decided to apply for the Teach for India fellowship thinking of this venture as an opportunity of spending more time with children.  At this time, mind you, I was on the wrong side of 40 (as I still am) and was sure I would not make it to the final call. Well, there were many stages which I had to cross and the day arrived when I got the call, “Welcome to Teach for India!!”

And so began my journey of two wonderful years with more than a hundred kids that I spent time with at a Government school in Pune.

The kids were taken aback seeing a white haired lady come in as a class teacher. All this while they were used to young men and women teaching them. So naturally the first question they asked was, “What is your age, didi?”

And didi not to be outdone said, “90 years.” I loved the various expressions on their faces. Some clearly disbelieving, some amazed and some smiling. But the first few classes told them that a 90-year-old could be a tough nut to crack and could have a sense of humour.

A majority of my students were first generation school goers. The average household had the mother working as a maid, the father an autorickshaw driver, and 2 to 3 children. In TFI we had a rule, which was to visit each and every student’s home and I am glad I did so. This was what gave me the correct perspective on each child. Knowing her/his back story led to my approach to each child becoming customized and their response towards me was unadulterated. Sharing a meal with the entire family or sipping on several cups of tea, I got to be a member of their family. The parents would call me up for any problems or consultations related to their children.

A big part of my learning at TFI was that teachers are not those who come in to monitor a classroom and complete chapters and get students ready to write their exams. They are Leaders who set out to create a classroom full of leaders. This is what drove me take a class in unconventional ways. I tried to get each child to think critically and to question what I am teaching. My joy was unbounded when I was telling them about the Indian independence struggle and after some classes, students came up to me saying they would take up history in college!! Or when I explained the nitty gritties of grammar in a fun way, they said they wanted to study only grammar!! Clearly the fault does not lie with our students, but with us, if they find a subject boring.

My most challenging situation arose from the fact that my class has students of various grades which for convenience we addressed as higher order, middle order or lower order based on proficiency in each subject. I had students in English and Math who were at a grade level of class 2 in class VII!! So what does the teacher do to reach out to each child? As the TFI cohort, three of us in the school, arranged for extra classes before school began and each day was for a different grade level group of students. We began the community centre where we held various clubs on Saturdays and the attendance was 100%.

I soon realized that whatever I do or say in class or in school is followed keenly by each of my students. So, on the downside they began to express a sharp sense of sarcasm (albeit with a smile) and on the upside came a sense of courtesy for each other. Their love for theatre grew as I began training them in street theatre. They began to speak up in the assembly and became Earth Protectors which was our class motto.

Two years flew by and all my students, about 105 of them could not understand why I had to leave Pune and go to live in J&K. Till today I get regular calls from them just to say Hi and trying their best to make me promise to visit them next month.

I have been truly blessed to have had this opportunity to spend time with these wonders who lit up my life and made me grow in so many ways. I must have done something really excellent in one of my past lives!!

Thank you, Teach for India!!!