Three2Tango » Film/Book Reviews

Dev D: My Review

donpaul — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 01:47:49 +0000

The movie is a contemporary take on the book Devdas, which has already got two movies to its name. To say the movie is an adaptation of the book, would be wrong, because there are many deviations, at least from the story of the Sanjay Leela Bhansali version.

Most important change I felt is that he doesn’t die in the end of the movie, doesn’t even come close to it, and actually has a happy ending. through out the movie, only twice does it look that he has a disease, once when he dips his head in water and blood comes comes off, and another during a song, where in he coughs heavily.

The movie scores in that it doesn’t have much of a negativity in it. His family, especially his dad, had a negative shade, in the previous version, however in this movie, he is a better guy and helps his son in all his needs.

The lead character is played by Abhay Deol, who gives a stunning performance as the drunkard Dev. He doesn’t have much to act except being drunk but, there are certain scenes which shows he was the best for the role. Then the biggest find actually are the two lead heroines Mahie Gill as Paro and Kalki Koechlin as Chanda, who give really strong performances.

Paro’s role gets over pretty much after the first half. She is more wild, and passionate this time. Remember the scene where she gets a bed in to a sugarcane farm, so that she can have a ‘good time’ with Dev or the scene where she beats up a guy for telling ridiculous lies about her to Dev. She is a promising actor, and we sure can expect her in more movies.

Chandramukhi aka Chanda’s role has got more flesh in it this time around. The movie explores the background and situation of Chanda which led to her becoming a call girl, seeing which I was wondering what happened to the girl, who was at the centre of the MMS scandal, a few years back.The gorgeous actor, gives a sterling performance as Chanda. I liked the scene, where in when she leaves her home, she immediately folds up her skirt along the belt, inside, so that the skirt actually became small, and she looked sexier. or the scene, moments later when she smiles, when two guys go past whistling at her.

However the real star of the movie is Anurag Kashyap himself. He has got such an immense talent, even a normal being like myself could see. The scene where the camera goes all over( when he gets drunk) is an idea Danny Boyle gave himself, and what an effect it is. Then there is this very often mixing of song with the movie, which itself gives a different feel. There is also a select few scenes, far apart, where three guys wearing coats and hats appear, and in a particular song, also dance amazingly. Wonder who they are.

The songs of the movie is too good. Many wont agree but I like the rock version of ‘Emosanal Atyachaar’ the most. Then there is ‘Pardesi’ and a punjabi number ‘Hiknaal’ which are also very good.

I will give 3 out of 5 for Dev D. Only because he has directed it amazingly, because there is nothing much he did with the story. And also request Anurag Kashyap to select scripts more wisely, as movies like ‘No Smoking’ and ‘Gulaal’ seems to be suggesting.

To Kill a Mocking Bird: My Review

donpaul — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 17:58:27 +0000

I just cant tell how glad I am, to write this post. Why, because its been such a long time since I have read book (or rather completed one).

How Starbucks Saved My Life
Bourne Identity
Stay Hungry Stay Foolish
and one more book whose name i don’t remember

Well those are some of the books, which I started off, recently but none of which I completed. Excepting Bourne Identity, everything else were really boring. The problem with Bourne Identity, was that it had so many characters, I just couldn’t keep track of them. I had started reading it, twice, but stopped midways both the time.

Well the book I finally completed was Lee Harper’s Pulitzer Winning book ‘To Kill a Mocking Bird’ published in the year 1960 ( which i just knew). I started reading the book only because it was only 300 pages long, and also because the book won a Pulitzer. I actually never expected to complete the book, because i once had started with ‘The Argumentative Indian’ (another award winning book) and i remember i couldn’t stand a page. I thought a similar fate awaited this book too, but surprisingly this book kept me engaged.

The story is set in the late 1930′s. It is a recollection of a particular event in the life of our protagonist when she was around seven, describing which, takes us through a gamut of other events. Narration is through the eyes of a 7 year old girl which in itself is lovely. The perspective of a seven year old, on issues, as simple as school and as complex as rape and racial discrimination, is very interesting.

Though I didn’t like the story in itself very much, but what kept me going was its narration. It is so sweet, and do has some humour ( humour only because its narrated from a young girl’s point of view ). The story basically narrates about her family, friends and her neighbourhood. It also describes in length about their ever elusive neighbour, and their failed attempts to see him. It also describes about a case her father defends for a black, he being a lawyer, and eventually loses. It also describes about her friend, with whom she and her brother, spent their summer together.

I didn’t get bored reading it, and completed it in less than three days. It wont bore you either, am sure, but why it got a Pulitzer, I still don’t know. Maybe it has something more to it, that i didn’t understand .

Slumdog Millionaire: My Review

donpaul — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 14:25:20 +0000

Let me get it straight from the beginning. Slumdog is one of most over hyped movie I have ever seen. I still don’t understand what made it click with the Oscar jury.

But the movie does have its share of moments. And which movie doesn’t.

The ‘youngest Jamaal’ is the real scene stealer. He gives in such a good performance, your heart goes out for him. However I was surprised, that all the credits went to Frieda and Dev. Irfan Khan and Anil Kapoor also gave in some good performances. Then those shots in slums and in railway station, i wonder how they took it. Because I know difficult it would have been. And really good shots they are. And sound mixing ( if it is what i think it is) was also awesome. no wonder pookkutty got an Oscar for it.

However, still it does not qualify to win 8 Oscars. Come on, Gladiator got only 5. The movie overall is pretty average. Even the music is pretty average too. Rehman has scored better music than this before. It is also not as if it is miles ahead than our current Bollywood movies. The only difference was that it was directed by a white director, and hence the movie was included in the mainstream category, rather than the foreign film category, into which the usual Indian movies are placed.

This post also reminds me of the review of the movie by Arindam Choudhary ( yeah the same guy with the pony tail, who runs full page ads for his institute IIPM). He was equating giving away Oscars to Slumdog, as imperialism. Oh god, now how could that be. Well he does support it with some interesting arguments. In the 90′s, he claims that when the big brands of cosmetics wanted to enter India in a big way, they pulled some strings and made three Indians win the coveted Miss Universe. Similarly, when the big film production companies like Warner Brothers, are planning to enter India in a big way, they too pull some strings and give away 8 Oscars to a largely Indian movie. Well don’t know about the authenticity of his arguments but it did give me some insights.

Not more than 3 on 5 from me for the movie. And, for the organizers for the Oscars, please put some strong hearted fellows on the jury, who don’t give in, seeing slums and poverty.