APKGK : Hasna Zaroori hai in this Love Story of Mr. President
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Forget unstoppable media frenzy with the stories of powerful Presidents and details of the secret behind the physical beauty of the few of the first ladies, APKGK is far more interesting story of a far more interesting President and his love interest.
What if he is the President of a small youth club “Happy Club” only? Unlike political Presidents PREM is here to share only happiness with the rest of the world.
In his very first scene in the film Prem (Ranbir Kapoor) is riding a bicycle which has got no brakes and even though he makes an accident with a man but this accident turns out to be a fruitful incident for Prem and same looks true for the acting career of Ranbir Kapoor also. Growth of his acting is going to be an unstoppable journey hence forth. A fully bloomed acting career is under making. A bud has started flourishing into a beautiful flower.
His performance is the biggest USP and achievement of the film. He alone represents more than 50% soul of the film.
His presence in the hindi film Industry is going to bring in a very good competition among actors who are successful stars also. He proves with this film that he also can dance like Hritik Roshan. Rather in one of the songs, “Prem Ki naiyya hai ram ke bharose” (a SEL type song), he has got dance steps earlier shown by Hritik Roshan in films like KMG and Mission Kashmir etc and Ranbir makes the moves of his own. Considering his competency with singing (lip syncing) and dancing on the screen he is ready to do an Elvis Presley in a musical.
Ranbir has shown full command over comedy also. His timing, facial expressions, body language and dialogue delivery, all the elements have decorated very well his comedy skills. His comedy does not become loud and does not take shelter in buffoonery. It comes via his natural expressions.
The way he handles the scene with Salman Khan shows the class of his comedy.
Kapoor clan has this specialty that (though most of the male members of the family look alike once they cross the age of 55 or 60) every actor hailing from Kapoor clan has been following his own acting style and none of them has followed acting style of his predecessors in the family (exception can be found in case of Rajiv Kapoor whose acting style looked similar to the young Shammi Kapoor of the era of 60s).
Can’t remember if Prithvi Raj Kapoor ever did an out and out comedy film in his younger days but Raj kapoor onwards every member of Kapoor clan has given his own type of comedy films. Randhir Kapoor can be said as the one Kapoor who showed more inclination toward comedy than any other genre of acting but even he did not do a film like APKGK. Ranbir Kapoor with APKGK has established his own independent brand among illustrious members of Kapoor clan of actors.
A film looks like a good film if in spite of knowing what is going to come in a scene as soon as the scene starts, scene brings a full satisfaction to the audience of being a good scene. APKGK has many such scenes which have been seen in many old films but still this film presents these scenes as its own. That is the triumph of the director Raj Santoshi.
For example in the scene where Ranbir over hears the conversation of his parents, (where his father is saying that he can not live with Prem and Prem joins the conversation and turns the whole situation on his father) we know since beginning what is going to happen next in the scene but director and his actors have made it a very interesting scene.
New is good but how well it is shown that matters more in a film and if done well then things, which have been seen in older films, may still look appealing.
RS has managed the restaurant scene well though it also has found some similarities in the confrontation scene between Vijay Raaj and his on screen father Anjan Srivastava in Abhishek Bachchan starrer Run. Here in APKGK it was less dramatic and yet very funny.
APKGK shares some similarities with Kundan Shah’s Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa also but people can find some reservations with Shahrukh’s performance in some scenes there but here in APKGK, Ranbir does not leave any room for suggestions that he should have done this scene in this or that manner.
To me only at one place his facial expressions gave an impression (This was during his very first interaction with Katrina where he reacts to her saying the word “Kutta”) that his performance demanded bit more work from his side.
But in the very next moment he gave a perfect expression when he reacted to her saying the word “Pilla”.
Afterwards he created the situation of “No complaints” with his very good performance and film watching became a smooth journey which generated so many laughs inside the cinema hall.
Film has tried to cater the audience of different age group and cartoonish fight scenes creating total anarchy on the screen could be there to lure the kids but even adults were laughing on these fight sequences.
Tickets are so costly these days that people have developed a habit to oppose most of the things present in a film but still this film removed those barriers and most of the people seemed to thoroughly enjoy the film.
Ranbir has enjoyed his role. Because of his good performance his character looks competent like some of the characters played by his father in the films of 70s and Amitabh Bachchan’s character in films like Amar Akbar Anthony and Naseeb.
He is good in emotional scenes also. He stammers while passing through the emotional stress in the film but his acting skills do not suffer from any kind of limitation in the film.
Barring few scenes Raj Santoshi has managed well to keep up the comedy factor through out the film. He has used Katrina Kaif‘s presence very well. She remains within the boundaries of her character while majority of characters are displaying comedy everywhere.
Dialogues are funny. It is possible but still it looked odd that Katrina Kaif says to Ranbir that Upen Patel had gone to Canada and his father also tries to send him again to Canada but Upen says to Ranbir that he has done an MBA from London. If it is not intentional then either Canada or London could have worked in a better manner.
While Raj Santoshi’s another comedy film had some characters like Teja and Crime master Goga which became famous in addition to the characters of Aamir Khan and Salman Khan but here in APKGK supporting characters may not get an independent fame.
But in so many other areas APKGK scores over AAA.
Overall it is a nice watch. APKGK connects the present age hindi films to the glorious lineage of romantic comedies of hindi cinema made in the era of 60s.
Tags: aamir khan, Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani, Amar Akbar Anthony, Amitabh Bachchan, andaz apna apna, APKGK, Elvis Presley, Hritik Roshan, Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa, katrina kaif, Koi Mil Gaya, kundan shah, Mission Kashmir, Naseeb, Prithvi Raj Kapoor, Raj Kapoor, Raj Kumar Santoshi, Rajiv Kapoor, Ranbir Kapoor, randhir kapoor, Rishi Kapoor, Salman Khan, Shahrukh Khan, Shammi Kapoor
Anurag Kashyap
Abhay Deol
Dibakar Banerjee
Hansal Mehta
Khalid Mohamed
Kundan Shah
Anish Kuruvilla
Jaideep Verma
Manish Gupta
Navdeep Singh
Bhavani Iyer
D. Santosh
Onir
Ashvin Kumar
Ramu Ramanathan
Sudhir Mishra
Pankaj Advani
Revathy
Saurabh Shukla
Shilpa Shukla
Sujoy Ghosh
Suparn Verma
Santosh Sivan
Shashank Ghosh
Shivajee
Pavan Kaul
Partho Sen-Gupta
Prroshant Naryannan
Sam Langoria
Satish Kasetty
You seems to be a paaka ranbir kapoor fan.. a full article of just praisng a man and i think tht is the only reason you find the movie very good. surely ranbir had got good facial expressions, but a movie without a good story or atleast a logical story is not a good movie.
and if you think the it was a very good comedy, than either god saves you or give me power ro improve my scense of humour. the second part looked a copy od singh is king, and guess what this too had the katrina. but atleast SIK had other ranveer not expression less Upen patel. I never felt too much amused in the movie, other then few dialogues and some times ranbir’s expressions. but at times i felt very much bored . specially when the don part come in the movie man. half to characters look unnecessary in the movie.
i think it can be a fun movie for the kids below 10 years, because they might feel happy seeing an overall over the top movie( over the top characters.(excluding ranbir, he looks good in even an over the top character), over the top scenes(not one, there were many), over the top climax.)
But the USP of this movie is Atif( i mean music specially atif’s song) love to hear it again and again
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Sometimes Boredom comes because of intelligence also.
” Awesome (Ghazab) Story of a strange (Ajab) Prem ” = who is in focus:> Prem
If film contains 100 scenes in total, Prem is there in 95 scenes.
Prem = Ranbir Kapoor
If APKGK is for kids below 10 years then it is a wonderful sign. AAA- Amar Akbar Anthony too was a fun for kids.
Many people love such fun fares
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Your adult mind may like following thriller.
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ohh Mr Thumb downer, you did not like the clip?
But people get such things only with political Presidents.
Fun they get from filmi Presidents
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May be the video of the shoe thrown at Bush would have been liked more. They would have got some fun there.
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Arrre Shoe comes after the verbal arrangement as Raaj Kumar also says to hot minded Nana Patekar in Tiranga.
He says “Pehle baat phir laat” is always a good policy.
Same is true while giving examples also.
Video of shoe comes after the video of verbal management.
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Somebody had said in Great Indian laughter challenge,
Utha ke haala jo maine poocha kidhar se pehle
sab aur se awaj aayee idhar se pehle idhar se pehle,
utha ke jutaa jo maine poocha kidhar se pehle
sab aur se awaj aayee udhar se pehle udhar se pehle.
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and one more on shoes.
Bata ji ne boot chalaya
Joote chal gaye
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I liked the last one. contains some kind of figure of speech. Perhaps Anyokti alankar.
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Perhaps written or said by Akbar Allahabadi.
Can’t recall exactly at the moment.
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Nice to watch this video after long time…considering what I am watching right now…what is happening to Indian cricket team in Guwahati…
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I completely agree with you. Actually I find this movie pathetic. All the cliches and all “bakwas” comedy sequences. No logic (ok that was expected!!). Looks very outdated. I don’t really understand how so called cinema literate pfcites love it (or at least like it). Really disappointed!!!
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Life is not mathematical. It is nowhere logical. A Joke is never logical in its very nature.
If some one does not laugh on a joke he has missed the train. It is his loss and joke is unaffected by that man`s response. It will go on making laugh several others.
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If people can not see the new changes happening in the area of their interest then it is their short sightedness.
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very true, we should not look for any lpgic in a joke.. but a movie is not a joke(or may be they are trying to make a joke out of movie) so there should be a logical connection in the story.. and if it is not there then for those jokes i would like to watch comedy circus more.. because i dont expect a logic there, and they are really far better than this movie
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Where is the hindrance in your choice of freedom to see and like something or to go to the places of your liking?
One watches something, makes an opinion and expresses on that subject.
Why supposition is there in your very first comment?
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->Life is not mathematical
Nah RKSaab, I don’t agree. Puraneh Shastra mein likha hain with regards to the relation between Life and Math (Science). Rajesh Khanna once said, in one of his film, ‘Zindagi Ek Latifa Hain’. There is some mathematical logic behind that.
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Ok. Mathematics is also part of life but purely mathematics or say calculations can not bring desired results in the real life as we get in mathematics.
100% efficiency is not possible as several other factors also work at a given time.
We will do this and next we will do that but do we get same thing for which we had started doing this and that?
We get something which may have some shades of that desired product but hardly we get the exact results. Because we are not operating in an ideal atmosphere where mathematics like pure scientific language works. Other factors affect our process or ways of doing/thinking etc.
Don’t you think so?
Good to see you after maybe some months!
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A joke is very logical in its very nature. The logic behind a joke makes us laugh. That is how humans think. If you make anything that is unstructured, mixed up and without logic, its not funny.
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I always thought this is unpredictable twist in the end of a joke that makes people laugh.
If your logic is followed then good jokes can be made applying the logic?
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“Tum us ladki se shadi nahin kar sakte . wah religious nahin hai.
Agar tum use religious bana lo to hum permission de sakte hain shadi ki”.
Parents of a boy said to him.
Boy and girl could not marry.
A joke can be made on above situation applying logic?
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Something funny :
Look at the ad here for the film on this webpage (it says the main cast comprises of Salman Khan and Katrian Kaif):
http://www.phoenixtheatres.com/locnorwalk.asp
Guess they didn’t like Ranbir
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RK saab, nice analysis of APKGK and as u said it was an almost one man show i.e. Ranbeer Kapoor. It is a funny movie but I think it no where scores over AAA except romantic & emotional expressions of Ranbeer. He could prove to be very good romantic hero, his timing and emotional expressions will grow by the time and his comic timing is also awsome. There were some very good funny scenes in the film, Prem knocking head of Jenny’s father…
and many more… Ranbeer is very good in film and seems that he will play a long inning and Katrina was good in her limits. The worst thing about APKGK was Upen Patel, why the hell they cast him even for special appearence or what ever, he is such a pain…. 
Some characters in the film were of no use and only lessened the pace of film, editor should have been more cautious during editing. But overall a good entertaining film by RKS but could’nt repeat the magic of AAA and it should’nt be expected also, you cannot score 100% everytime…
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But AAA was thoroughly comical and even romance was handled in a comical way. APKGK handles Romance also and that too in a romantic manner.
I have always found many things repetitive in AAA and they were over done. For ex. Aamir`s sayings. Hum to panchi hain etc. They looked good first time only.
Back then when it was released AAA had not got this adulation which it gets now.
I am sure back then eminent professional reviwers, who now call it a classic, might have quoted several weaknesses in it in their reviews.
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Enough is Enough. What on earth is this? Why on earth is something like this on PFC? We blame Sethumadhavan for doing report like posts and stuff, what kind of shit is this? The title of the post in itself is messed up.
RK, I have seen the movie, I had loads and loads of fun, a really good time indeed, I dont want to spoil that by reading something like this. If you put a bit more effort into proofreading your posts, and getting it grammaticaly checked, half the battle would be won.
No, dont go on with your rather stupid sense of humor, because it’s really not funny. Neither are you. Dont do us a favour by writing reviews. I’m glad you do it often, put some effort, wake up, cut the arrogance and your high handed replies, because honestly, it’s all a big bad joke. Please take it in the right spirit.
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WE blame someone?
If you blame anyone then it is your problem.
Catharsis is good when done properly.
There is no battle to win.
It will be a wastage of time to reply everything you have mentioned.
You have to fight yourself with the hatred living inside….
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Rk, Jehan is right! Felt the same thing! I do think there is no hatred living inside. Didnt write it myself because, I really dont mind the article, not having been proof read, because then it comes across as very simple, rather than anything from labour-day-sale or any arty-farty guy. But, I dont think Jehan has any hatred towards you!
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Vinay,
Will say in general terms.
A person’s guts are accepted when he has courage to opt same philosophy with all the people irrespective of their name, fame and status at a given place.
In case of some people here, this is not the matter.
Regarding Proof reading etc. I do agree with your concern. Thanks
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No offence to you, but y do u try to reply every comment, that too using so heavy words or statements or what ever.. Can’t you be very simple, atleast when replying to people..
is it you are getting offended or defending your self or tryying to flaunt your knowledge, smartness or whatever..
no offfence to you, just thought of same after reading all your replies..
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You are using words which you know. you have been writing on the basis of your knowledge.
Why you think others do/should not do it?
Why people write on an open forum?
What is the purpose of interaction on a subject?
Ignore the people making comments?
I can do it with you when you make your next comment.
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Vinay,
This is for you and Jehan Handa.
They say picture works better than words and here it is motion picture.
Words may still be needed.
But after some time.
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Too much! Do you think so?
From where I see it is a song valid in many situations and here too it is valid.
More than 90% posts on PFC need strict proof reading and a proper grammar check. If all the posts are sent to a Professor of English Literature, who is authentically efficient and proficient in both, english grammar as well as creative writing, then he may suggest changes and improvements in almost all the posts ever written and published on PFC.
And what can be said about comments? I think everybody, without any exception, can be found on a guilty side.
Did not need to write if Shri J Handa and his friends had not followed the mayhem.
Not only Roti song but Waqt’s Chenoy Seth sequence is also valid in this case.
It is amusing to see that Son of a professional film critic may actually write such a comment.
Not that Proof reading, proper grammar check like concerns should be avoided but but but
“Cleaning always starts from the home”.
Suboot will be there on this space only
If one is following 100% efficiency then he can go out to make such a noise and that too in such a manner.
Otherwise it is just a difference in percentage of errors made.
and not to mention, “Manners” come before any kind of efficiency while living in a society.
…
As mentioned in another comment on this post. One may write criticism of language, grammar, typo, content etc but he has to write his take on the subject also.
This web space always gives a scope for PFC authors to write better posts on same subject. PFC authors are not necessarily “only the readers”. Maximum numbers of authors might have joined it with a desire to write posts on cinema.
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Good analysis RK..Your Review is far better than Khalid Mohammad’s review..
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No PFCian has kind of language which Mr Mohammad enjoys.
This can be debatable if anybody in India is really writing reviews in an ideal sense.
Here on PFC also this is just a tag, which authors have to attach with their writings.It is for the sake of keeping posts in separate categories. It is nowhere a review but when a film has just been released then I have observed that most of the time, post is tagged in review section by PFC admin so I kept it in review section. Perhaps I should have given a disclaimer in the begining that it is not strictly a review.
With older films we have a good tag “Retro” and there we have freedom to explore the area in any manner.
…
There are two sides.
Who has to pursue a career in film reviewing he has to handle things differently.
Who has to discuss the films related things in a deep manner he may not follow the strict rules of writing a review.
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This is too much. I hope u r kidding.
Khalid’s review was quite nice.This review isa ranbir eulogy
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He must be kidding. for sure.
Not Eulogy but recognition of a talent at a proper time.
Just read Khalid Ji’s post on APKGK. Strange are the ways of PFC readers when he writes properly on a film then not more than 20 people comment and when he writes a satire on a film, 100s of people write against him.
People basically enjoy being negative.
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“People basically enjoy being negative.” Can’t agree more.
Off late, I too have encountered many negative comments on negative reviews on PFC. Too each his own, but I prefer movie appreciation to movie criticism any day.
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“Film analysis” surely wins over “film criticism”.
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I agree with u RK..Film analysis wins over film criticism..
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wtf RK!please do us a favor by not flaunting your puerile sense of humor.its the most colossally stupid reveiw i ever read on pfc.wrote nothin sensibe besides advertising ranveer kapoor..
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I always knew RK Stands for Rishi Kapoor. RK, seriously, are you Rishi Kapoor?
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MG park – Mahatma Gandhi park, Milne Green park.
I remember you had made a similar comment on some other post some days ago.
Enjoy if that is your fun
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Rk is Rajkumar Gupta, the director of the film “Aamir”
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Vinay,
Following links may help you to reach at right destination.
http://passionforcinema.com/archives-tags/authors/
http://passionforcinema.com/author/rajkumar/
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Thanks and Sorry
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@Vinay
..then he would have been in the exclusive authors’ list. Isn’t it?
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anurag,
as mentioned in one of the earlier comments, APKGK presents Ranbir Kapoor in 95% scenes. It is his show.
Your criticism is not going to stop his progress.
You are entitled to your opinion. It is democracy in the country.
In my area of interest I will praise whatever seems good to me.
If recognising and praising Ranbir’s good performance works as an advertisement for him then there is no harm. You may understand and see things in any manner. That is your area of concern.
Talent is not dependent on any kind of advertisement. Ranbir too has reached at a comfortable stage because of his talent.
If you don’t recognise things when they are happening then somewhere it is your lack of awareness.
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look RK ..i read your post”No Smoking : Body and soul are interdependent in this world to function” long back and went totaly amazed by it ..it was argubly the most finest article i ever read as far i can remenber.so i had certain level of expectation from you when i saw u r reveiw posted bt i was very dissapointed and besides that i hav grudges toward ranvir.hope to see somthin like earlier article fronm you in future
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People enjoy while quoting scenes from a comedy film. It has always happened with every comedy film. Different people will cover different aspects of APKGK in their writings. I liked most Ranbir Kapoor’s performance in the film so I wrote maximum lines on him.
APKGK gave an opportunity to write on him. It gave an excuse.
I did not mention in the post but I feel to mention it here that with his stardom and development as a good actor I see the revival of glorious banner of RK Films which is lying in hibernation.
I am nowhere in between your likings and dislikings of actors or my posts. Many a times you will like the writings and many a times you will hate the writings. I don’t think one can write in a consistent manner for years keeping in mind the expectations of somebody or some people.
Writing, which does not come through professional filtering and refining process, may differ from time to time. It depends on mood, availability of time and several other factors.
Not to have grudges is in your own benefit
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you are right RK..
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RK – you write great and one of most knowledgeable person as far as hindi cinema is concerned. Keep it up buddy
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Thanks . No worries
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“A bud has started flourishing into a beautiful flower.”
.
PRICELESS! ROFLMAO!!!
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It is said that once upon a time Monkeys also used to cover their lower portion (as they imitated tribals) but they got this habit (ROFLMAO) and it not only removed the cover from their lower portion it made their bottom red.
Friction can produce strange reactions.
Laughing can be handled carefully also.
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I’m laughing hard and irony is, I cant use the emoticon of rofl.
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I guess the review is spot on in assessing the strengths of the movie which is Ranbir Kapoor. Why is so much fuss created about this? Is it turning into a rediff?
And I don’t get about the thumbs down concept. People unnecessarily putting thumbs down for this post and comments….may be some people who didn’t like the review…are just hell bent in proving that people didn’t like the reviewer and review.
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I am observing that every comment of Sethumadhavan gets thumb by someone down and now the same thing is seen here too. Someone seems to very upset.
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typo_ gets thumb down by someone.
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Yes Jahan- glad you noticed it.Dont understand kisko mujhse aisi dushmani hai
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Sethu- agree hai ji…somebody is having genuine problem with u..all ur comments are thumb down… and this is happening continously…kisi ne morcha khol rakha hai…
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It is a classic case of misusing a tool or facility.
Its misuse was seen on mass level when Kaminey was released. Some people clicked thumb down on every comment that praised Kaminey. Though in its very concept thumbs down is not a good concept. because people use it in a negative manner only.
Now if someone is opposing some kind of views of a person in a comment, this person may choose not to write the comment but to click a thumb down on the comment.
It is taking place of a dialogue.
During Kaminey phase Anurag Kashyap’s every comment was given a thum down by hidden people.
Later some people did this to comments of Vijay on a post. It’s happening with many people.
Net itself provides anonymity to commenters but Thumb Down is helping people to play, like hidden terrorists do their works.
It can be misused by film industry people also. When a film is released, all of a sudden different people start writing similar kind of comments either in favour or against the film. Now thumb down can be given to any film of opponents. There is no need to guess that these guys are hired.
A post or a comment can be ordinary but nothing deserves a negative marking because that is possible in exams only where objetive type questions are asked.
It can be 1-5 grading here but -1,-2 , -3 etc. totally illogical
Unless the matter is abusive and personal attack is followed on people, how people can use thumb down?
People have adopted a negative use of a facility.
Some people are turning into silent killers. Even regular visitors will be doing it. They are taking sadistic pleasure.
What they forget that every killer leaves some clue and in this case PFC server will be collecting their IP address.
So they don’t remain totally hidden, atleast for few people, taking care of these things.
Be it real life or virtual life on net A chitragupta account is in the making.
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and this thumb up thumb down can be used more than once by a person. I have checked it myself. Once it allowed me to give 2-3 votes.
so not much should be drawn from it.
Life goes on in its own manner irrespective of positive or negative happenings in the surrounding.
A proper evaluation always helps an evaluator more than the person who is under evaluation.
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Sorry RK,
But I was watching APKGK and couldnt stand even half the movie. I didnt find it comic at all. Attempt jokes & scenes fell flat to me and my friend. I also couldnt find anything spectacular from Ranbir, except he was over the top. Katrina like all the movies is jus for the sake of glamour, no role.
Poor storyline or should I say no storyline
Direction also looks outdated.
Sorry I had anxioulsy waited for 10 hours to get it downloaded but deleting it without even watching the whole movie.
my 2 cents.
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Individual taste and choices are beyond any definite pattern.
Not liking any film is fine.
I have sympathies with you as you had to suffer a lot to watch it and still you could not like it.
Some day in future You may end up watching it completely.
Please copy and save this comment of yours somewhere as it may be helpful to compare what you had thought some months or a year before? There may be a different opinion.
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AGPKGK is lazy, witless, convenient filmmaking. The fact that a once champion director made this clumsy film adds to its tragedy.
As far as the young RK is concerned – sure he’s pretty charming and effervescent but he’s fundamentally in a role that expects nothing more of him than to pull out some happy-go-lucky schtick. It’s what his dad survived in the industry for many years doing (till his second coming a few years back – from when he has been consistently brilliant) but hopefully the son has greater ambition than just being india’s number one male eye candy.
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Shantanu,
Could you say more on what do you mean by a Champion director?
You mean to say that his earlier (or hit) films did not have flaws?
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ummm, people here are complaining about the movie after having seen it on a 24″ computer with two other friends. The atmosphere in the theater, the laughter, the claps, the whistles and the comments from every direction is what makes this movie worthwhile.
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This post makes more sense after watching the movie. Some may call it as adulation of Ranbir and for some it is his advertisement but after watching the movie it looks quite relevant because there was nothing else in the movie except Ranbir, unless there was something in the first 15 minutes, which I missed as I entered the theatre late. the story can be summed up in one sentence. The hackneyed plot can be summed up as-
*Triangular love story – Overused
*Realizing love at the last moment- Overused
*Having a villain only for comic relief- Overused (was somewhat novel in AAA but since then it has been used frequently in many movies)
But
*Acting talent of Ranbir- Underused
*Dancing skills of Ranbir- Underused
*Comedy skills of Ranbir- Underused
So, there was nothing to write on the movie. At least this post focused on Ranbir.
.
The movie was good because of the light moments and comedy. Some of them were illogical and dont make sense (like Kat running shouting Prem etc.). There were a few good things like satire on religion based politics. Don was kept only to recreate the hilarious moments like AAA.
One thing I didn’t like is that Santoshi kept the believability level by showing the ignorance of 9th fail Prem and pointing the differences in religion etc. but then he creates magical moments like flying like Superman or people flying in the geyser and with electric current in the pool. These scenes do create laugh but take away the credibility of the movie. I could have still born these scenes had Jesus not made his cameo appearance.
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15 minutes late : A considerable loss, as you missed a very good Lord Wellington Statue act of Ranbir. Last such an act was seen in Coolie where Amitabh had done it in a park.
Now DVD will show you the Jalwa of this Prelude.
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Sequences – Dress changing act at the Halwai shop followed by flying and laddo making acts act were really funny.
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If one watches AAA now along with APKGK he will be able to find many absurd moments in AAA also. Sometimes reputation relies on the the saying “Sweet are the memories of past”.
Not everything was great in AAA. For me they both looked almost equivalent in over all quality.
As there screen was shared by Salman And Aamir and Ranbir was alone so he got more screen presence than two of them and could show his talent more than the two of them. Ranbir got more variety in his character. His Sheikh act, Charles Chaplin act, Stammer, a silent type of lover who can not express his love in open words after knowing the inclination of his love interest etc. He had more footage and opportunity to exhibit the range of his acting and he successfully encashed the opportunity.
Unlike 90s now many above average comedy or rom-com or com-rom films are releasing in a year so competition to earn a long term reputation is bit tough but I guess after 6 months or so APKGK will be seen without any comparison to AAA. It will be accepted as another good film made by RKSantoshi in the category of AAA.
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I think that statue act was same which we see in the end. I guessed he was recounting his story.
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Those acts were definitely funny but they would be termed as mindless scenes because they don’t make sense. Inserting these kind of scenes for laughs is creeping in Indian cinema off late. I found the continuous dancing scene of Ranbir much better.
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I was not comparing with Andaz Apna Apna. Actually, I’m not a big fan of AAA myself. Watched it for the first time only a few years back and it didn’t impressed me much. It would have been much better considering the 90s standards but it misses the mark when watched in 2005. I do agree there were absurd moments in AAA too but probably due to the dearth of good comedies in Hindi film industry, it is regard as classic.
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yes Statue is shown again just before the sequence of Prem’s marriage. When one sees it since begining and takes it as a story recited by a statue to a journalist then an atmosphere is created since begining where Suspension of disblief works in the favour of the film.
And in the begining itself it is a comic sequence between the statue and the journalist so it certainly helps in setting the right tone.
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Yes that dancing scequence was nice. He imitated Shammi Kapoor effectively. Scene had the impact of a Jim Carrey scene also. Can not recall the film. Where he and his friends consume some pills or a drug and afterward they dance continously for few hours. Even in side the taxi they remain in dancing mode. Their heads move in perfect synchronization.
Maybe you can recall the film.
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I also thought it could have helped in being little more comfortable with a few things in the movie.
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Have not seen the Jim Carey movie but watching Ranbir dancing with music in the background and him doing stuffs in between kinda reminded me of Mike Myers’s Austin Powers.
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RK i love your writing and reviews but AAA and APKGK are poles apart when it comes to quality or entertainment. Barring a few scenes between Ranbir and his onscreen father, APKGK was a pure borefest. AAA on the other hand is classic stuff. I mean even discussing its scenes is bound to make you laugh. But then i guess, to each his own.
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Yaar, you got bored here. I wonder how you people survive other Hindi movies. Watching only meaningful cinema all the time is not an option.
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Its not about watching only meaningful cinema buddy. Give me a Jodi no. 1 or Bade Miyan Chotte Miyan any day. The humor in APKGK seemed to be forced. Couldnt quite connect with it. Welcome had more funny moments than this one. There was no meaning there too.
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To each his own but I did find Welcome and Singh is King pretty lame in humor compared to this one. APKGK also has some mindless humor but it has genuinely funny moments too. Again, to each his own.
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Principle (Different appeal to different people) is fine. You know it that tThere is no final verdict on any film. A film is a subject matter otherwise some sites have this facility where people vote for the films whether they find the film good or bad. No discussion is followed there.
If there is no discussion on PFC also and only verdicts are given in terms of voting only then dont think it will invite same kind of attraction as it does now.
AAA came and made many of us laugh inspite of few of its boring and repetitive moments. e.g all the scenes of Viju Khote and Son of Late Ajit never appealed to me. Scenes of Raveena, Karisma, Paresh Rawal did not look that much funny as scenes of Aamir, Salman or Shakti Kapoor looked.
Same way APKGK made me laugh inspite of its flaws or boring moments. After some days these moments will come in to discussion whenever it is done.
but i see no reason that it should be criticized heavily by taking resort of AAA. both have their own merits and demerits.
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Didn’t see the movie. Couldn’t finish the review as my peanut brain didn’t find the writing interesting. However, I read through all the comments and got a kick out of the same. The movie got pretty bad reviews and at the same time good reviews for Ranbir. While I understand RK’s obsession with recognizing the talent in its bud and praise it to a point of boredom, I still can’t believe that he is actually defending the movie so staunchly. I recommended this movie to a friend based on this review who in turn dragged along a bunch of his friends and he vowed not to follow my recommendations from now on. His friends who don’t know me weren’t so kind and gave me choicest of Gaalis as per my friend. Perhaps too much love for anything can make you blind! RK, get well soon. Meanwhile, I will wait for DVD to release :-)
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Siva Somayajula says: (Didn’t see the movie.Couldn’t finish the review.. The movie got pretty bad reviews and at the same time good reviews for Ranbir. I recommended this movie to a friend based on this review).
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It is amusing Siva.
You haven’t read the post and you know I recommended anyone to watch the film
Reviewers have given good reviews for Ranbir. What has been done here?
I have written what I saw and liked. I nowhere mentioned that you should like what I liked.
You have not got any spam in your email. you were not sent a letter by post. you were not contacted by phone. You as a matured person have visited this webplace on your own and have taken decision as per your own choice.
Where are you trying to carry this space with such a comment?
Your fiction does not sound believable
It looks more like a comment of convenience.
You may find some videos given in next comments intereresting.
Cheers
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perhaps youngest dancer of world
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AAMIR and Rani have got some competition here.
Hope you enjoy
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In the end. I am curious. When you are interested in reviews written by others and you know for sure that film has got bad reviews and you got to hear or read choicest of gaalis from your friend then why you want to watch the film (on DVD)?
what kind of arrangement is this?
On what basis, you are writing such a personal comment?
Ye kaisi haqeeqat , kahan ke fasane
ye peene peelane ke lagte hain karname
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Andaaz Apna Apna! I will watch it on DVD, as I really like Ranbir who is the next big thing in Bollywood. I couldn’t finish the review as it was all Ranbir..Ranbhir…Did I mention my peanut brain earlier?
Your comments which I read through provided real entertainment for me including the links you posted above. Thank you!
Regarding “personal comment”…is it the “Get Well soon” one that you are refering to? I apologize, that wasn’t meant to be taken so literally. Sorry!
Regarding me being a fiction writer… hmmm…I will give it a serious consideration
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Siva,
).
You have not watched APKGK but I assume you might have watched Ranbir’s earlier films. Without watching his fourth film you write that he is the next big thing (and you dont mind writing it in a short comment consisting of around 100 words
You like or dislike a post. it is perfectly fine and it is your prerogative to write that you did not find it interesting.
General comment is finished at this point.
Now you had choice to write something on the subject: either APKGK or anything related with the film. But you did not enter to this area and rather wrote about me (third person) making all kind of assumptions and that too without reading the full post.
Comments are made on the comments of others and they are reactions of/on the comments. So many times they dont have any direct connection with the post.
So your comment takes a personal shape. It is not your writing “Get well soon” or something like that but major portion of your comment.
without watching the film or without reading completely what is written in the post, how one can make that comment unless you felt that ok let me insult the author
This space gives an opportunity to write your take on the subject as few people like Ashwini and Jahanpanah etc have done. That serves the purpose of discussing a subject.
Criticise the post, language, grammar anything and everything but write on the subject also. what is your own take on the subject?
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RK, no option to reply to your earlier mail. Assuming I haven’t done irreparable damage with my comments, let us see if I can make it any better. The first three sentences on my comment was a disclaimer that my comment is not based on the movie or the article, but based on the assortment of comments that I completely read through. The third party reference to you was due to the fact that I was addressing the other guys leaving the comment. Next one was a real incident (whether you believe it or not). And the last portion (blined etc..) was my direct observation based on your interaction with the folks. Last one..I already apologized. Hmm…. I thought brevity was my virtue :-)
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Wow…how could one make so many typos and grammatical errors in one comment! I need to change my keyboard.. it is never me.
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Siva,
No damage is there.
Mentioned all these things, seeing your flexible attitude and under the hope that you could be a valuable contributor at PFC.
Cheers
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Typo and other errors…
I am sure that if not everyone then many follow this discipline in a strict manner while sending things for a professional purpose. Not that it should not be followed everytime and at all the places But sometimes in non professional matters and at some places flexibility may take place. Specially in places like comment section.
There is a filmmaker, always making points that there should be an accurate kind of presentation and error free writing etc.
And his film, which is the professional matter and he is earning money from it, has many dialogues which suffer from many errors.
His camera focusses on a name plate for 20-30 good seconds and post/designation of the character is wrongly mentioned there.
This much for the sake of Professionalism!
But guess when he says accuracy he has only english in mind. It may only be his compulsion that he makes films in hindi.
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My take on this old style. old pattern love story by champion of 90s Mr. Rajkumar santoshi…
http://mihirpandya.com/2009/11/apkgk/
Keep the debate going…
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miHir,
Please make the points and debate will go ahead
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Q. The late director Vijay Anand — whom I unfortunately could not interview but only exchanged some words with — told me he could never make great films in the 1980s and 1990s because there was a new crop of actors who could not give him the kind of respect earlier stars did.
Do you feel the same way with younger actors when you meet them to narrate a script?
RKSantoshi : It’s unfortunate what happened to Vijay Anand. He was a master. His name reminds me of what Paresh Rawal told me last week. He thanked me, so I asked him why he was thanking me.
He said he had been telling the industry that there are only two directors — Vijay Anand and Rajkumar Santoshi — who have command over the film medium. They write their own scripts, dialogues, direct the films and have knowledge of different subjects.
Vijay Anand can do a film like Guide and then Jewel Thief. I can do films like Ghayal and Damini and then Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani.
He said when Family and Halla Bol flopped, people would laugh at him when he spoke this way about me. Now he could proudly compare me to Vijay Anand because Ajab Prem is like a slap on their face. That’s why he thanked me.
I like Paresh Rawal as an actor. He is a straightforward person.
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An interview of Raj Kumar Santoshi after success of APKGK.
( http://tinyurl.com/ylyjze2 )
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Looks nice but Santoshi will always be a director for me who makes socially relevant films. His APKGK may be a hit but I’d prefer his Ghayal and Damini anyday over AAA or APKGK. I hope he returns to them after the success of APKGK because now a days there are lot of directors who are doing this romantic comedy stuff but there is no other Santoshi to make a Ghayal, Damini or even LofBS and Khakee.
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Just read the interview, the interviewer seemed to be probing too much, almost at the level of frustrating him.
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Making a debut with an impressive Ghayal in 1990, Raj Santoshi’s filmography has been good. 12-13 films in 19 years gives a good average. And if we leave apart commercial success and failure then every film has certain merits which can never be over looked.
Performances of the actors have been good in his films.
In 90s he was the only director (apart from Mukul Anand and his Hum) who used Danny Danzogpa in such an effective manner in Ghatak, Barsat, China Gate and again in Lajja in 2001.
Sunny and Amrish Puri angle in Ghatak can never be avoided whenever films having a relationship between a father and son will be discussed.
Rather this kind of relationship was seen between Pankaj Kapoor and Ajay Devgan in Halla Bol also.
His subjects have got variety and his films suggest that how Madhur Bhandarkar should try to make visually appealing films on the variety of subjects he chooses.
Dialogues in his films are quite good. Lajja had got some evolutionary dialogues though they were said through the play within the film.
Not only AAA and APKGK but Lajja too had got good comedy in Madhuri’s chapter.
This is true that certain factors of his all the films dont appeal much.In some parts of his all the films he goes back in to the shelter of a formula based filmmaking and that affects his films.
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Yes sometimes journalists probe a lot. It is hard to imagine that a journalist may actually repeat many times the question of past commercial failure of few films of a director while taking a face to face interview.
He could have talked about his craft more to give more material to readers. and he wanted some quotes on Govind Nihalani so he repeated that point also.
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I have mentioned it before also. RKS had given a long interview just before the release of China Gate. and that was some interview. Highly impressed with his interview I saw first show (first day) of China Gate. Concept was good but many issues have always been there with this grand project.
But I never could forget two scenes. First, where in the begining Om Puri returns to his home after losing the legal battle in the civil court also and silently takes out the pistol and tries to commit suicide. A very impressive begining was this in all senses.
and second, where after an encounter with Jagira’s dacoits, Except Danny, rest of the ex- army men decide to go back to their respective places.
It is morning and Om Puri and Danny are having breakfast. Amrish Puri and Gang reach there and AP tries to talk to OP. OP asks him to have some breakfast. After some moments AP asks,”Bolo Krishnakant, Rahein ki jayein”.
OP lifts his face and looks into the eyes of AP. Rest of the people are silently watching OP.
Audience have no clue whether emotions of OP will burst out in the form of a rage or in some other form. But this wait finishes, OP looks at Danny for a moment and again he looks at AP and within a fraction whole room is filled with a laughter. A big laughter.
What a performance by all the actors!
and what good a scene execution is there in every manner!
RKS is very good in covering multiple characters in a single shot and/or scene.
In Halla Bol also there is a sequence where Pankaj Kapoor comes to the Ajay Devgan’s house to ask his support for a woman victmization case. Many characters are sitting or standing at different places within the frame and whole scene presents their individual movements and gestures in a very good manner without breaking the continuity of the scene.
And BGM of Halla Bol was also used very very effectively. In this particular scene also,
PK stands up and says,” are apne badan pe lage to sala janwar bhee rota hai, insaan wo hai….”. and pats his chest with his palm and while leaving AD’s house he says to Anjaan Srivastava, who is trying to stop him,”Chhodiye Amaan Saab, ye aadmi, apka Beta, iska character badal gaya hai”.
Apart from a powerful performance, given by PK, BGM has supported the scene in a brilliant manner.
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I guess, it’s time to re-watch China Gate.
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Watch, if you get it,
Do write a Retro also if you can.
See how it looks after a decade?
What still looks feasible and what asks for changes?
Jagira – how he appeals now?
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RK – did you see family? Did you like it? I ahave seen and liked all his movies except family, Hallabol and Bhagat Singh. Lajja, I have seen in parts. I think RKS is our no.1 director.
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Jwalant,
Yes I have seen Family. I have seen all his films. This is difficult for me to say that I did not like a film completely and it is more difficult if it is a film made by a director like RKS. There are few things which I did not like in all his films.
Family was a launching pad for the young scion of Ramsey family and other actors/stars like AB and Akshay Kumar were used to help in this mission. Though this was co produced by AB Corp Ltd.
I liked Akshay Track since begining. In comedy he was in a better form at that time. It was not loud and it came in a natural way to him.
Remember his first scene with Bhoomika Chawala in the restaurant?
Many AB scenes were quite good. I think except Dons meeting, his scenes were quite good. Bhoomika gave a memorable scene in hospital where she confronts AB. If Akshay was left to take revenge in the film then film could have got a different and higher level. Ramsey Jr did not have that kind of screen presence which was needed in this role.
This discussion is pushing to make a primer kind of thing on RKS
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About Halla Bol, I found that Pankaj Kapur portion was excellent. I felt that If a complete film had focussed on his character then film could have become no less than a great film. His character had that potential to lift the film on a higher level. Still his performance was very good.
Lajja too had got many good sequences. Rekha, Danny, Ajay Devgan chapter could have been handled in a manner which could look suitable in modern times.
On Bhagat Singh, I have liked only Manoj Kumar’s Shaeed in a complete manner and rest of the bio pics did not give that kind of satisfaction. Somewhere later versions diluted his image.
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I liked the movie but any comparison to Andaz Apna Apna is sacrilege. Just my two bits.
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sacrilege?
AAA – 1994 , APKGK – 2009
15 years = 8-9 films
Directorial senses and vision of Raj Kumar Santoshi might have gone under so many changes.
Somewhere he might have improved and
somewhere a degradation might have come.
How a single statement can define these changes?
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Huh??? Reference to context please.
Sacrilege = blasphemy, irreverence, violation of anything held sacred.
That is what comparing APKGK with AAA is – metaphorically, of course.
Where did I give the impression that I am defining the changes in Raj Kumar Santoshi’s directorial senses and vision???
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Why sacrilege?
If
-there is a possibility that like many directors of the world RKS also might have got some improvements in some areas of his directorial vision.
-Production values may be better in present time.
-Many things of APKGK may be better than AAA as there is a gap of 15 years between the two films, as many things can be of lower quality in APKGK in comparison to AAA.
And above all one may like both the films as they are.
Then (but any comparison to Andaz Apna Apna is sacrilege) should be presented as a personal opinion and not as a general statement as if it has become a universal truth.
You think this way. That is fine.
But If others want to compare different departments of both the films, let them do it.
Why a Fatwa kind of statement should exist and that too in fields like cinema and art ?
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When I post it is understood it is my view, no? In any case I did qualify it by adding “just my two bits”. If others want to commit sacrilege (statutory disclaimer: in my view), they are free to. What fatwa?
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If you have time, you have the space to describe , why “any comparison to Andaz Apna Apna is sacrilege” .
In cinematic context please!
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Because AAA was far far superior – it was funnier & more consistently so, the performances were much superior across the board (here it was largely Ranbir) & if I have a choice tomorrow of one movie to watch between the two, it would be AAA. Ten years down the line, I would probably have forgotten APKGK but would still enjoy watching AAA and probably discover some joke / funny part that I may have missed earlier. That is all the context I need.
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Thanks for the context
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Finally watched the movie on DVD! Read through your comments again. Hope all iz well by now and a happy new year.
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