Movies Review :- Manto

All ordinary or extraordinary fictions are a sum of author's life experiences when mixed with desires, prejudices, value systems and preferences. No writer is born with content or intent. Story of Manto is the story of a writer who was idealised by some and damned by many. He was a rare breed who did not sugarcoat his writings either in fear or for society's acceptance. Having read lot of Manto, I can understand that why some people can not digest his writings. There is sensationalism but it is not forced. His choice of words is also crude.


Coming to the movie, it made us wait a long long time. I remember seeing its first teaser around 2 years back, unfortunately the scene shown in teaser was not present in the movie. as far as acting performances are concerned, Nawazuddin Siddiquie disappointed me. The performance was above average but in such an iconic role we would have loved to see him getting more involved. His urdu looked forced and I felt there was some lack of practice.

Other actors were below average. Rajshree Deshpande who played Ismat Chugtai did not do justice to one of the role of most dynamic and courageous female writer.

Song tracks were not great. Direction and editing were also average.

Cinematography was very good and probably the only face saver. Full marks to Kartik Vijay.

Star Ratings : 2/5

Verdict : These type of movies aren't meant for general audience. Heavy urdu words and reference to Manto and Ismat would not be bearable if you have not read both of them. Even Manto fans may avoid the movie. Let us hope someday the legendary writer would get a good movie that he rightly deserves. 

Movie Review : Sanju.

Manipulative and Apologetic Melodrama

If the movie was a PR exercise for Sanju baba, it has failed miserably. It is bizarre to think that somebody started drugs just because his father gave him a short lecture on the menace of smoking. The fact that your girlfriend doesnot like your midnight drama and decides to leave you, makes you start doing drugs again. And it does not garner public sympathy if you have to spend a few ‘uncomfortable’ nights in prison because of your connection with terrorists. Having said that, the movie is a good Bollywood cocktail. It has all the characteristics of a blockbuster. Sanskari father, sacrificing mother, rich brat who becomes drug addict and came back from addiction. He was high on drugs even when his mother was on her death bed and needed him the most. However, everything becomes all right in the end. The rich brat understands his responsibilities and blah blah blah.

Acting :

In the opening scene, Ranbeer Kapoor was a bit overacting. However lateron you get along with him well. One exceptionally well performance other than Paresh Raval is of Vicky Kaushal. He is in the role of Sanjay Dutt’s best friend. His cute Gujrati will leave you in splits. Do grab some ‘snakes’ after coming out of cinema ‘hole’. Mainisha Koirailla, Diya mirza and Anushka Sharma were average.

Editing and Screenplay :

Full marks to Raj Kumar Hirani for editing. From ‘Munna Bhai’ to ‘3 Idiots’, he is the king of Bollywood atleast in this area. Screenplay was also very very good. It would have been an extremely difficult script but the writers have done their part well too.

The makeup artists have done their job well. All the characters fitted in their depictions well.

Songs:

One very good song is “Main badhiya tub hi badhiya” by Suneedhi Chauhan and Sonu Nigam. There is nice sprinkling of old songs throughout.

Overall Judgement:

Since there is no other good movie around for some time, this movie is not a bad choice. However go and come out without getting manipulated.

All the Best.

3.5 stars out of 5.

Image Source : Internet

Movie Review - PARI

We live in a multicultural society. There are different religions, traditions and ways of life. Every tradition has developed its own answers to the unexplained questions. One of the question, for example, is about the mysterious world of supernatural characters. Hindu tradition has the concept of afterlife, wondering souls of the dead etc. Some Muslims, similarly believe in djins. This movie has something to do with djins and their supreme leader Ifrit.

Now without divulging too much of the details, let me tell you that the movie is not about ghost characters made up by poor makeup artists from Ramsay brothers movies. The movie is infact a unique experiment in the horror movie industry. Although it has failed to leave a mark but not failed enough to be dismissed.

Full marks to Anushka Sharma, Parambrut Chaterjee and Rajat Kapoor for putting life in their characters.

The direction was good but Cinematography looked lacking. The movie would have been a comedy if not for the background music support but that is how most of the Bollywood horror movies are.

The movie Also lacked spontaneity that we usually see in movies by this director.

Screenplay was good and the work done on dialogues was also good though not brilliant.

Although the movie has opened up a completely new possibility in horror drama, let us wait for some better movies on the subject. The movie can be given a miss.


I will give the movie 0.5 stars out of 5.

The man from the Mountains.

The steep concavity between mountains, with the soft and sensuous sun light trailing through their bends make me feel as if I can read their curves, bends and slopes like books of sonnets and stories, tracing each page in its sacred soliditary; as the curved landscapes ramble , roam and converge with each other like enchanted lyrics.

Although they seldom talk, but when they do, their thunders frighten me, their swift flowing rivers try to take me along their deep canyons that had been labourously carved out by million of years of erosion. To everyone else their song seems ever frightening yet my fear dissapears for I know they love me, as I am the man from mountains.

One Fine Evening

He was rolling in laughter
In chocolate dirt.
He was falling in love with his mud castle
And I with his beautiful dreams,
The shells were shining beside him
And so were his baby teeth.
He played and played till sun called it a day.
I kept sitting there as the dusk was over, but too old to play.

Alas, the days will not come back.
Alas, the world will be Grey and black
Alas I will never be a child again
And believe the world to white once again.

To the crimson sun over the ocean so deep.
I bid a farewell but did not weep.
I took a shell from his mud castle and in my pocket I keep.

Hindi poem - A reply to Sharad Kokas jee

Sharad Kokas's famous poem

वह कहता था,
वह सुनती थी,
जारी था एक खेल
कहने-सुनने का।

खेल में थी दो पर्चियाँ।
एक में लिखा था *‘कहो’*,
एक में लिखा था *‘सुनो’*।

अब यह नियति थी
या महज़ संयोग?
उसके हाथ लगती रही वही पर्ची
जिस पर लिखा था *‘सुनो’*।

वह सुनती रही।
उसने सुने आदेश।
उसने सुने उपदेश।
बन्दिशें उसके लिए थीं।
उसके लिए थीं वर्जनाएँ।
वह जानती थी,
'कहना-सुनना'
नहीं हैं केवल क्रियाएं।

राजा ने कहा, 'ज़हर पियो'
*वह मीरा हो गई।*

ऋषि ने कहा, 'पत्थर बनो'
*वह अहिल्या हो गई।*

प्रभु ने कहा, 'निकल जाओ'
*वह सीता हो गई।*

चिता से निकली चीख,
किन्हीं कानों ने नहीं सुनी।
*वह सती हो गई।*

घुटती रही उसकी फरियाद,
अटके रहे शब्द,
सिले रहे होंठ,
रुन्धा रहा गला।
उसके हाथ *कभी नहीं लगी वह पर्ची,*
जिस पर लिखा था, *‘कहो'*।



My reply to him

अब खेल वही है, लेकिन उसके, मायने गए है बदल |
क्योंकि अब वो पढ़ना लिखना सीख गई अविरल ||

पहले उसके साथ होती थी एक निर्लज   बईमानी |
मीरा, अहिल्या और सती, पर्ची का 'कहो' पढ़ना न जानी ||


अब जब इसकी पर्ची पर आता है 'कहो' ऐ नारी |
उसकी सिंह दहाड़ से कंपा जाती है भू सारी ||

जो काली का क्रोध भी है और महिसासुर का वध है ।
वो मलाला का साहस और विजयलक्ष्मी का नट है ||

एक दिन नारी ही चलाएगी इस भू की कमान  |
क्योंकि उसके आंचल से ही निकले सब, मूसा हो या राम ।।

कह गए कवि अदिश सुनो वो दिन जब भी आएगा ।
देख लेना तुम ये विचलित जग तभी शांति पाएगी।।in

Movie Review : Hindi Medium.- Class is the new caste.

There was a time when caste decided norms of the society - dining, marriage, education et.al. Caste is now limited to remote villages, in cities it is now restricted to arranged marriages. One good thing about class is that it can be improved upon whereas caste cannot. The movie is a fine struggle of a young couple trying to up their class.

The first step towards this is of course to secure an admission of thier child into an 'elite' school. Complete movie is centred around this. Whether they were successful or not, only movie will tell.

Screenplay and Direction

Screenplay was awesome in the first half but average in the second half. Many scenes were dragged in the second half and unnecessary drama was introduced. Same is true for authenticity also. Direction was good though.

Acting and Cinematography

Cinematogrphy was average. Irfan khan stole the show with his awesome acting. You will fell in love with the charm of Saba Qamar. Other actors have also played their role well.

Music and Sound

This was the best part of the movie. All songs are paisa wasool. You will be humming "tainu suit suit karda" while leaving theaters.

Final Verdict

Die hard fans of Irfan Khan should not give this movie a miss. The movie is safe to be watched with family.

I will give it 3 stars out of  5.