Hava Aney De - My View
First and foremost, this is not a movie review of Hava Aney De (HAD) made by our own PSJi. But, this is somehow related to how I got to watch the movie and what I thought of it. This is about a movie that has kept me thinking for four whole days on why it is the way it is.
As part of Global Lens 2007 HAD was making tours around the US of A and one of its tour stops was the lovely state of Hawaii. The Honolulu Academy of Arts was presenting HAD and the film curator promptly informed us (me and me wife), about it. This was few months ago. Right around that time, I had discovered PFC. Yes, I hadn’t heard of PFC for along time :). A random Google search had brought me on to this site.
PSJi writes here and we used the opportunity to let him know about the movie playing in Honolulu. Also sent him pictures/flyers associated with the showing. Finally, the day arrived the last Thursday, I went along with my wife to the academy to watch HAD. I must say, as I was walking to the movie theatre I was telling myself not to expect ‘too much’. The crowd turnout was more than what I had expected. More than what comes for the normal Friday shows that we go to.
The story is based on an interesting idea. It is about Arjun, a college going chap in Mumbai, who is indecisive about what path he should be taking for his future when the rest of the country is totally immersed in the ongoing nuclear power struggle between India and Pakistan. He has a crush on Salma who is in his class and she is also a part of a the college drama troupe. Arjun’s mother has been taking care of the household ever since his father passed away. Needless to say, they live a lower middle-class life. Arjun’s respite from all this are his set of friends, especially, the street smart Chabia, that he spends most of his time with.
The characters want to build their lives their destinies themselves and do not believe in external forces affecting their lives. But as the movie progresses, we see small but significant influences that change the path that these characters want to follow. It is in telling the story of the lives of these characters that PSJi scores. The pace of the movie is intentional and addictive. The way the camera lingers on characters as one scene moves to another is impressive. Shot in Mumbai, the movie brings the raw feel of city life on screen with amazing ease.
I credit most of it to the neat and intelligent screenplay and direction of the movie. Vishwasrao impresses as Arjun and Nishikant Kamat as Chabia. The scenes with a little melodrama do not go overboard and keep the presentation even. I liked it. The Daler Mehndi doll scene was hilarious! (My wife just reminded me of this). The classroom scenes reminded me of college days. All the way up to the end. Just the end left me stumped. Sometimes, an ending that leaves you agape can make you go WOW! That didn’t happen to me here. But, all these days, I have been thinking about the characters and how I liked them and how relatable they were.
I ask you to watch the movie for it is worth its time. May be you can make more sense out of the end than I do. Support it whichever way you can!
If PSJi gets to read this article, I would like to say this to him, “Great Job! Well Done! For what its worth, I am impressed. Expecting more from you the next time. And yes, why did the movie end the way it did? Please help me understand. One final thing, was the behrupia who asks Arjun for maachis you?”
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Sarang..nice little piece…
It is a very unique film i must say…on the first screening, it def, does look like a very european film..taking its own sweet time to unfold…looks kinda dated..but the reverence still holds good…at first i was kinda undecided on what the film was about…but, i guess its the kind of film that you will love after one watches it the second time…
No prizes for guesing…loved nishi bhai role in it..he was brilliant…he needs to take his acting a bit seriously..he has got talent in that dept too….
OM,
Thanks. First post as an author on PFC. Was undecided on whether it would be Sarkar Raj or HAD. Ultimately, I decided to write about the movie I liked rather than theone I did not like. Agree the Nishikant kamat needs to take his actine more seriously….
Welcome on board Sarang….keep writing…
good that you wrote about HAD…waay too much has been written about sarkar raj..writing about a film you liked is kinda tough and pleasurable too..
By the way, did you get to see Santosh Sivan’s Before the Rains. I shall be trying to get that to play here in the Academy. Teh trailers look BEAUTIFUL. Cinematography will bemind blowing as usual!!!
No yaar..missed it by a day
@Sarang
I don’t know what to say but thanks… I am happy to see that what I intended to say comes through to you. It is only though the spectator do my thoughts exist. And I will write to you directly about why the movie ends that way. No the behurupia was a real one we found on the streets of Bombay.
hey sarag, welcome onboard. havent seen the film but after reading your post am more curious now….hawa idhar kab aayegi PSji ?
A few days back PSji had commneted that they are looking at new technologies for distributing independent movies like HAD. I would like to bring it to your notice a news item in Fortune web site. It talks about YouTube’s plans of hosting long videos, videos lasting 1 hour 20 minutes. The article also taks about how a long length video brings in more ads per view. I hope this is one of the ways to go forward as it would make it possible for independent cinema to be accessible to everyone and earn decent revenue.
[Text from fortune website]YouTube’s actions, however, speak louder than its words. It is courting independent directors this week at the Los Angeles Film Festival, a showcase for their work. The site is even making what it touts as a major announcement at the event on Wednesday. (YouTube declined to discuss any details before the announcement.)[End Text from fortune website]
Link to the article: http://money.cnn.com/2008/06/17/technology/youtube_long_videos.fortune/index.htm
Very brave film considering its based out of europe!
I don’t want to say, “I told you so”…. so I shall just :). Nice job!
@PSJi
I shall wait for the e-mail. Thanks for reading!
Your thanks is most welcomed!
@phoenixnu/OM
Its nie to be part of this group. Handn’t expected to be a regular writer anywhere but it seems more interesting each and every day.
@ ravptor
Don’t understand what you mean by your comment.
What is based out of Europe? and why the word ‘considering’?
@Sarang
could you plz write to my email address so that I have your email. partho@sen-gupta.net
@Debashri
Thnx a lot. Am pleased that you liked it.
@ Rahul
HAD was just badly managed by the Indian co-producer. He took us for a ride right from the beginning and would never pay up for his part. Cinema just needs people who are dedicated to it and not businessmen who deal in grain and cloth one day and the next day they become film producers because they are attracted to the glamour and see quick profits.
“…all these days, I have been thinking about the characters and how I liked them and how relatable they were…”
That’s quite the compliment. Crafting a good film is a tough enough task… crafting a film which stays with the viewers, whose characters a viewer can relate to, and ultimately thus succeeds in making some sort of connection with its intended audience is indeed impressive.
Haven’t seen the film but definately interested in watching it now… is Sarang your PR guy PSji? Cuz if he isn’t then that’s something to consider.. lol… so how can one see the film in Canada? Are there plans for a DVD release?
@Tony Mera naam
Sarang is not my PR guy. He is the audience. It is for him that i make my films for.
Don’t know about Canada but DVDs should be out next year in North Am by http://www.firstrunfeatures.com/
Hi — where does one get these DVDs?