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I AM LEGEND: THE BOOK AND THE FILM

Recently, watched I am legend. A good+bad film. Those who have not read the original novel by Richard Matheson can find the film good. But I have read the book. So I found the film little dissatisfying.

The makers have taken lots of cinematic liberties that they have changed premise and changed characters. Why filmmakers can do anything in the name of cinematic liberty?

The novel dealt more with psychological status of Robert Neville. While the film is more concentrated on special effects and showing empty Newyork city. What was the need of showing lions and deers in Newyork city?

Also the novel explains some scientific as well as super natural reasons for people being infacted and being zombies’ type of creatures. Here there is no satisfying reason for infection. I also missed the Courtman and his signature line ‘Robert Naville, come …

THE INDIAN COWBOYS
Can you remember those- horses, boots, hats, jeans, jackets, pistols and above all tall and dark guy with half shaved beard- the cowboy?
Recently No country for old men refreshed those memories associated with cowboys and their culture. While watching that flick; Indian (specilly hindi) movie cowboys came into my mind. Most of them existed in 70s and 80s and have not seen since long time.

They were basically inspired from Clint eastwood, Gregory pack and all other those once upon a time movie cowboys of hollywood. But our cowboys had qualities of those cowboys with essential benefits or qualities of Indian culture. Like western cowboys they used to ride on horses, wear boots, jeans and shooting bullets like playing with toys… but could also dance and sing very well, must fall in love with village girl etc etc. Most of our good cowboys had Daku or Thakur/zameendar …

BACKGROUND SCORES IN HINDI MOVIES

As hindi movies are full of songs, the music directors and film makers do not concentrate on background music. Hindi movies are not giving as much importance as foreign movies are giving. Somehow trends are changing. Now our technically confident directors and music directors take background score in consideration while planing the scenes.

In 80s and 90s there were some readymade tunes which filmmakers/music directors used to play for particular scene like comedy, chase, tragedy, love, action etc.

One of the frequently used tune was used in Ghayal for opening sequence in jail….

In early 90s directors straightly lifted background scores of Hollywood movies for ex. Mohra- When sunil shetty is fighting with other prisoners in jail…then background score is lifted from Terminator’s signature tune.

As we know sometimes background score plays more important role than dialogues. Background score can enhance effect of scene and overall movie. …

RAMCHAND PAKISTANI-another from new age Pakistani cinema

After Khuda Kay liye, Pakistani films seem to be more interesting. In next few days, there is another gem “Ramchand Pakistani” is coming.

The movie is about a dalit hindu family living in border area of Pakistan. During the time of kargil war; a man and his son from this family; accidentally cross the border and goes to India, where they are captured by army as supposed to be Jasoos of Pakistan. And then there are consequences due to India Pakistan relations at that time. Story is also focused on status of a woman whose husband and son is captured in India. Wife’s character is played by talented Indian actress “Nandita Das”. Other actors Rashid Farooqui, Syed Fazal etc. are not much known to us.

I have not seen this film so I can’t say much. Gujarati daily Gujarat Samachar has published an article …

FULMARXX-Short films’ festival- 2nd day, 2nd session.

I thought somebody would cover this event. I waited but nothing happened. So here i am giving some details on fulmarxx. Friends, I am not a journalist so I have no experience of covering events. I am giving some details and my random thoughts on Fulmarxx- short films festival organized by MICA-EDC on 26-27th april, 2007 at Ahmedabad. This post is as per viewer's eye.

I wanted to catch whole event, but due to my personal and professional commitments; I watched only last session of fulmarxx short film festival. The Last session featured full shorts which had duration around 45 minutes.

1. Mid-shot (hindi)- It was about principles of Gandhiji and Nathuram Godsay and its relation to today's world. I liked it because of its pace, editing and music.

2. Kachra (hindi/telugu). The story is about street boys, a girl and child abusement. Concept …

Random thoughts on “NAMKEEN” (1982)

Caution: Spoilers Ahead

This is not a review kind of article but describes my random feelings and thoughts while and after watching Namkeen. Kartik has written an article on Namkeen but I must share my thoughts about this gem, - you have to tolerate this. Pardon me if some lines match with kartik’s article but this would be genuine as we all have same feelings about cinema.

So Namkeen is a story about a truck driver and his relation with four women residing in a remote Himachal village. Truck driver Gerulal (Sanjeev Kumar) decides to rent a house in a village where house owner is a family consisting of an old woman (Waheeda Rehman) and her three daughters(Nimki-Sharmila Tagore, Mithu-Shaban Azmi, Chinki-Kiran Vairale). Then their relation develops and Gerulal is thinking to marry elder sister Nimki. But as his work contract expires he has to go …

RAWNESS IN HINDI MOVIES

There were movies in 80s and early 90s which can be defined as rough movies. These films had rawness in their treatment. Those movies were not sophisticated, not stylish. Here director does not want to impress you by stylish action, weared camera angles, soft music…but had only story, action & dialogues.

Story is situated mainly Mumbai or small town- …. The hero and his team of unemployed youth, neglected by society….one gang leader/politician… gang war…something happens…hero and his team/family is in trouble…they fight against system… and at the end they go to jail or return back to social life.

There were some particular qualities/symptoms of these movies like…

Here protagonists mainly fight with hockey sticks, talwar, rampuri chakoos and cycle chains…and in rare case revolver…

They live in the world of majdoors, workers, bekaars, scooters, union leaders, goons, maruti omnis, fiats, jeeps, chai ki dukan, canteens…

Love between hero and heroine …

1971- Simply Superb!

When I was a kid; I used to like watching Ramayan, Alif Laila, Krishna and all those stuff made by Sagar brothers. But at the same time; I did not like their terrible technical ignorance and over over over the top acting. Can you imagine a camel cart with rubber tyres in age of Alif Laila or that typical hindi filmy back ground music in Ramayan. In 60s and 70s, Ramanad Sagar made some good movies like Geet, Charas and Aankhein. But after that Sagar brothers made aweful movies and serials with pathetic technicalities, over the top dramatic performances and cheap budget. They made a film on Bhagat singh and the opening sequence was of a jail. And can u believe they show animated version of jail in a live action film.

But new generation of Sagar Family seems to be more knowledgeable than their previous. 1971 is …

10,000 B.C. - A Children Film

I did not expect anything great in 10,000 B.C. and the movie is exactly like that. It has good special effects and CGI but thin story line.

As we had seen in past; director Roland Emmerich is known to put his hero in larger than life unusual difficult situation (independence day, the day after tomorrow…)…here he puts his hero in the world before 10,000 years of Christ’s existence. But that is the only thing which makes us interested in the movie. Then there are special effects, fights and exotic locations. That’s all about 10,000 B.C.

The promos seemed to be quite interesting and I expected the life, the culture and the habits in 10,000 B.C. But the movie is not concentrated in those details. Hero is searching for his love; that has …

VANTAGE POINT: a brief note

Caution: Spoilers Ahead

Vantage point is about assassination of American president and the coverage of this incident by eye of eight different people.

Before interval film shows incident with respect to a body guard, a tourist, a policeman, a terrorist, a suicide bomber, a little girl, a killer and a second body guard.

Concept and plot is good and for half of the film it maintains interest. But after creating interest when the film messes up with typical high dose hollywood action; it reasonably fails. When the film appears to be a mind exercising thriller; immediately it turns out to be formula one race. If the medium pace of film was maintained throughout the film then it might turned out to be a good suspense thriller. And suspense??? An average experienced English moviegoer can easily guess the suspense.

…

HISTORICAL HEROES…WAITING TO BE ADOPTED ON SCREEN.

While watching Jodha Akbar; a thought came into mind- why all the time Indian film makers focuses on love story while adopting history characters. E.g. Ashoka- Santosh Shivan focused on love story between Ashoka and kaurvki. Sanjay leela bhansali planned to make historical film on love story of Baajirao and Mastani.

Latest Jodha Akbar also focused on love story. Many of us found that there was not enough masala/content in the film. There was thin storyline in the film.

India has produced lots of heroes in the history. Their personality and life can be great source for film. But nobody plans to adopt these big historical characters which are symbols of courage, spirit and patriotism. We can make our own Brave heart, or Gladiator. I think our past film makers were more ready to take challange to portray histroy on silver screen. I still …

NAYAK (2001)- SHANKAR AT HIS BEST

I like larger than life movies. I love movie with all commercial masala in it. But condition is that it should be well balanced. It should have fast pace, powerful dialogues, performances and excellent technique. Nayak-The Real Hero fulfills all those expectations. It is intense, emotional as well as humorous and fast paced.

Shankar has got grip in handling true commercial movies. I have seen his Hum se hai Muqabla, Gentleman, Hindustani and Aparichit. (All dubbed in hindi). Though all of his films have almost same story (a common man fighting against corrupt system by having special power); he treats the subject differently and make audience engaged in the film as well as enjoy the film.

As per my POV Nayak-The Real Hero is Shankar’s best work till date. The major difference and innovative …

HALLA BOL- Mr. Santoshi Delivers What Is Expected

Director: Rajkumar Santoshi
Writer: Rajkumar Santoshi

Overall Grading: B+

Halla Bol is a typical Rajkumar Santoshi film having witty and powerful dialogues, dramatic sequences, good performances and an item song.

Halla Bol is about a film star’s awakening of inner soul and fight against system (
as usual in santoshi’s films). Story is not innovative and it is predictable but it is santoshi’s treatment that makes you engaged tin the film. Film is stretched before interval and after interval director tries to complete film in hurry. There are some ridiculous things like – a girl selling her kidney for her sister’s case, minister with his goons giving warning to Sameer Khan in court campus etc etc but it is Rajkumar Santoshi’s capability to handle the subject that we take these ridiculous things for granted. May be that is the difference between Rajkumar Santoshi and Guddu Dhanoa. Also …

SOMETHING GOOD ON TV

1. If you want to show your expensive glazed bathroom tiles without inviting anybody at your home; just get a dead cockroach in your bathroom & contact INDIA TV or any Indian news channel - I am sure that Mr. Sharma will cover your dead cockroach as “BREAKING NEWS”.

2. If you have capability to get tears without glycerin; just take part in any singing or dancing competition on any channel; I am sure you would be able to sustain for minimum 2 rounds.

3. If you are not bored with repeated watching of movies Garv-Pride & Honour, Hungamaa, Naayak, Gangaajal, Maalamal Weekly, No Entry, Sarkar….just go to Set Max, Sahara One or Zee cinema. You would get revision of your movies.

4. If you want …

WELCOME -full of nonsense

Overall grading: B-
Director: Anees Bazmee

Pehaps after success of No Entry director Anees Bazmee thought “chalo No Entry hit hui hai to usi type ki ek aur comedy banate hai”. Let’s take love story of Gangster’s sister and an average boy. OK concept is good but then what? How to develop script? OK… add some songs picturised in Dubai, South Africa, Take big star cast Add illogical comedy sequences, poor jokes …. And most important constatnt TV campaning…. Ek baar public ne ticket kharid li to wapas to nahin karegi… aur.film dekhke medical store waalon (Asprin) ko bhi thodi kamaai ho jaaye to thoda bahot commission bhi pakka… So he made WELCOME.

Yes I know we should not try to find any logic in a comedy movie….but welcome is illogical as well as full of nonsense. Welcome has that kind of nonsense that can not be tolerated …

AANCH (2003) - CLOSE TO COUNTRY SIDE

Aanch (2003) is the story of two lovers caught between fake egos and cultural rules of villages. It is an unusual story and perhaps based on a true incident. The story takes place in two of the UP villages. A boy (played by Suchindra Bali-son of veteran actress Vaijayanti Mala) and a girl (played by Sharbani Mukerjee- who played Suniel shetty’s wife in Border) are engaged and their marriage is arranged. Suchindra is from the village where Paresh Rawal is leader while Nana Patekar is leader of Sharbani’s village. At wedding night people of both villages fight because of a past dispute. Some are killed and just married couple is forcefully separated. The interesting note is that both bride and groom have not seen each other’s face as it is usually happens in indian villages. Separately Suchindra and Sharbani go to city for study …

AAJA NACHLE- Madhuri strikes back

Director: Anil Mehta

Overall Grading: B

“Madhuri Dixit” strikes back with Aaja Nachle. This is Madhuri’s come back film after interval of 5 years (Devdas-2002).

Aaja Nachle’s story is about a theatre called “Ajanta” and a dancer, her feelings about Ajanta and how she manages to stop Ajanta’s demolition. Story background is different but basic idea is same like team building, internal clash in team, and one goal for team etc etc. which were seen in Lagaan, Chek De India and recent Goal.

Madhuri is central character in the film and after long time a hard core commercial film having female lead has come; which is appreciable. Her presence in every scene is the main attraction. She manages her performance well but looks thin as compared to her earlier films like Tezaab, Beta…. in which she was healthy beauty. Others Kunal Kapoor, Jugal Hanshraj are …

IN MUMBAI

Please bare with my knowledge of grammer and tenses.

It’s around 5.30 in the morning. I am opening door of my train compartment. Sudden fishy smell captures my nose. The particular Mumbai smell… I have come to Mumbai for an official work. I will spend four whole days in this dream city. Though before this I have visited Mumbai two times but this time I am more mature and more filmy to understand Mumbai.

So now Mumbai is about to reach.. I am seeing boards of Nai gaon, , Mira Road, Dahisar etc etc. Also seeing halogen bulbs images in the water from my train. The tall buildings, bastis, roads, rickshaws are looking so different in the early morning halogen bulbs. I can’t remember any film maker has captured beauty of mumbai’s early morning…. People are still in their houses. Borivali station comes Train stops. I have to land …

JAAGO MOHAN PYAARE!

“It is very easy to criticise anyone’s work than doing the actual work”.

The old and experienced players of hindi cinema…started their career by redefining the rules of typical bollywood film making. But some how lost their golden touches, cinematic abilities, and trapped in their own success and intelligence. They are thinking they are making right stuff and are with new generation of film making. But they might don’t know there are many dark horses trying to make films in their own way and if so called genius film makers would not wake out from dreams,…. they might go for long sleep.

* J.P. DUTTA- started with bang- Ghulami. But confined in his own brilliance. Prisoned in desert, thakurs and revenges(Batwaara, Kshatriya). Somehow reborn in Border but again captured in the same prison of long songs, wars and cross border issues. Umrao Jaan was like doordarshan serial. Though his …

REMEMBERING… AMRISH PURI

It was one sentence in the post of George Thomas on Dhaal “It is with Pilot Baba that this film strikes gold” made me desperate to think and write about Amrish Puri.

Very few actors have that capability that when they come on screen, then concentration of audience immediately shift to them. You forget the opposite actor; your eyes ignore other actors and just concentrate on that particular actor. Amrish Puri was such an actor.

I have grown up watching Amrish Puri’s films, seeing him as bad guy and then turning to loving father and grand father. Whenever I used to surf channels, and if I come to see Amrish Puri, I just can not escape that scene. He is one of the my all time favourite actors of hindi cinema.

If 60s was the …