In times of Ghajini, we have a Memento….
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iView Author: JEHAN HANDA (Delhi/India)
Email: jehanhanda580@yahoo.co.in
In times of Ghajini, we have a Memento….
After downloading as many abstract movies as I could, I realised I needed subtitles for most of them. The first on my download list was Ingmar Bergman’s Wild Strawberries, as recommended by Ratnakar sir. After being totally frustrated by the fact that I couldn’t find any bloody way to add subtitles to that movie, I decided on picking out a random movie from my DVD shelf. Mohabbatien, KANK, Taxi Driver, Forrest Gump and ah the most tempting of em all, Memento. And thus I decided to watch Memento, considering its Ghajini fever all over, buzz haircuts et al, what better than to watch the original masterpiece-Memento. And trust me, as I shut my laptop( cant have enough of it) this time, I knew that there is nothing as your best cinematic experience, it keeps getting better with time, and after watching Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, I had Christopher Nolan’s Memento which left me stunned. The brilliance of Memento is not in its story but in how it tells the story. Nolan focuses on the art of storytelling and creating an immersive, surreal reality unlike any other. The film begins at the end and works backwards, symbolized by the opening shot of a Polaroid picture going from fully developed to undeveloped. Nolan’sscreenplay is mesmerising, and if you thought you’ve seen flawless screenplays, then go and watch Memento.
The storyline is particularly intriguing. Leonard is an insurance investigator whose memory has been damaged following a head injury he sustained after intervening on his wife’s murder. His quality of life has been severely hampered after this event, and he can now only live a comprehendable life by tattooing notes on himself and taking pictures of things with a Polaroid camera. The movie is told in forward flashes of events that are to come that compensate for his unreliable memory, during which he has liaisons with various complex characters. Leonard badly wants revenge for his wife’s murder, but, as numerous characters explain, there may be little point if he won’t remember it in order to provide closure for him. The movie veers between these future occurrences and a telephone conversation Leonard is having in his motel room in which he compares his current state to that of a client whose claim he once dealt with.
This is nowhere near as frustrating for the viewer as it sounds; instead, it’s transfixing and does an amazing job of putting us inside Leonard’s fractured perception. Sometimes you get so involved in a scene that you forget you’ve already seen how it’s going to end. Yes it’s true, you can imagine yourself as Leonard, you are as confused as he is, and you are almost going through the same disease as he is. Now that’s called an outstanding screenplay.
The particular scene with the prostitute leaves you spellbound. Now that deserves an ovation.
“Memory can change the shape of a room; it can change the color of a car. And memories can be distorted. They’re just an interpretation, they’re not a record, and they’re irrelevant if you have the facts.”
The movie is like a puzzle, it is like an assembled puzzle, and you see it dissassemble, beautifully. It pulls off a colossal magic act with death-defying skill, and brings a fresh approach to every part of its clever tale. And now come the performances. An outstanding performance has been belted out by Guy Pearce. The other supporting performances were equally competent. And I must say watching the film once isnt enough, atleast for thick headed people like me.
So with time, I have started discovering the most mesmerising screenplays of all times, after Eternal Sunshine, now Memento, and now I keep wondering if it can get better with time, and with total optimism, no it cant! Memento leaves you with an existential chill. It is cool and contemplative and I wonder what Ghajini will be like. As much as I read Taran Adarsh’s reviews.
“On the whole, GHAJINI is a winner all the way. The film will set new records and has the merits to emerge one of the biggest Hits of all times. The weekend business should be historic, the Week 1 business should be unparalleled, the lifetime gross should be amongst the biggest of all times. In short, GHAJINI has ‘Blockbuster’ written all over it” He seems to be on high sugar all the time, the guy finds every bloody movie a blockbuster, whatever I doubt if he has seen Memento, or maybe he’ll call it an ‘ abstract ununderstandable film’. Leave that.
As the great Rob Vaux said, you really hope you don’t have Leonard’s amnaesic problem, cause trust me you don’t want to forget this movie. In short, in such times of Ghajini et al, we have a Memento to cherish about.
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
watch Memento all ur life if u wish but plz let Ghajini be..fortunately the world of cinema is big enough to hv space for both..good luck bro
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Memento is a hugely pretentious movie. Clever for the sake of being clever. All technique, no soul. (Same is the case with Nolan’s latest, The Dark Knight, running on hype, death and pomposity.)
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Rocky – Pretty bold, don’t u think? Pretentious is not how you would describe Christopher Nolan’s films. Yes they are clever but because they are very very smartly executed, Do they try to be smart… if you look at momento in a liner way, its a straight story, just cos its edited backwards, I am not sure if it becomes pretentious?
The Dark knight – I agree its a little out there but blame the comics for making the characters out there… my views rocky, i don’t want to get punched
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rocky thats the dumbest statement any1 ever made about Nolan
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To say Ghajini is not influenced by Memento would be a joke.But believe me I’ve seen both & I say that Ghajini is very clearly a masala adaptation of Memento which would appeal to the Indian audiences at large.It clicked in a big way in tamil & telugu.I’ll be very surprised if the hindi version doesnt click.
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Man !!!!Here is a way to use subtitles for foreign movies.
Its very easy…
Download .srt file to same directory as the .avi file.
Drag avi file into VLC
Rightclick in VLC -> Subtitles track -> Track 1
Enjoy European masters, Japanese samurais and many world film makers!!!!
I am gaining a lot !!! same to you!!!!
LOve Light Peace
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you will find srt file from google
type Mirror + subtitles file
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Use Subdownloader application. Works 99% of the time.
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subscene.com has almost all subtitles in srt format.
Disclaimer: I have nothing to do with the website, apart from being a user.
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Rocky, your views man. But even Dark Knight and Memento were superbly executed. And No Rocket Science, why do I find you on all the posts defending hindi movies?..Dude LOL!
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@ Sethumadhavan I totally agree on this.
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To me “Memento” is a modern Classic.
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I had fun with this movie,
After watching it couple of time.,
I cut the film scene by scene,
and put them together from the last scene to the beginning, (excluding black & white footages)
It was like playing jigsaw puzzle.
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Jehan, How mean! I told you about Wild strawberries :-( Waise, you in Saddi Delhi kya? I picked up wild strawberries DVD from Pallika. Dont know if that store is still there. Watch the initial dream sequence of Wild strawberries ( Since you dont have the subtitles)
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We had a movie production class in MBA and I had written a 26 page thesis on Memento (of which 21 Pages was cut and paste from the original script with due credits assigned :-)) Nevertheless, having seen Memento so many times, I am shit scared to watch Ghajini. I cant see Aamir in this avtaar. It’s just not him there if you know what I mean.
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How does he remember that he will forget?
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@14.
‘coz it’s his dream.. and he makes the rules.. imaginations from the asylum
so much for simplification..
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You are right about Memento.Its an experience in itself.Its much more than just a film.As far as Ghajini is concerned somehow I feel a younger actor would have been better.(Someone like Neil Mukesh).This is however just an observation and not to take away anything from Aamir Khan who is as usual brilliant.
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@Neeraj Bhai,
Haha sorry dude, I was getting confused between you and Ratnakar sir, haha yeaah man Im from Delhi, and never knew that Il find such stuff in Pallika.And thanks alot for the subtitles man.
@ ANINDYA
I was reading Murgadoss(director of ghajini) ka interview, and he said that when he went to Aamir, Aamir recomendded Salmans name, as he thought he’d be perfect. Just to let you know.
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Just saw Ghajini..And Ghajini is Ghajini..Asin is the best thing in that
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Jehan, main to Ingmar Bergamn ka koi bhi pikture dekha hi nahi, recommend karne ke liye, LOL.
Sourav tu bhi Asin ka fan eh.
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Stop comparing Ghajini with Memento.
Memento is a classic.
GHAJINI IS AN EMBARRASSMENT.
As rightly pointed out in another post, it is a throwback to the 80s Mithun kind of masala flicks….with a bit of short term memory loss stuff thrown in as a gimmick.
Possibly the worst movie of the year after Drona.
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Once again let me re-iterate the makers of Ghajini is all said & done- a masala movie.And as a masala movie its a decent one.Nowhere is it the worst movie of the year or even close to it.Why all the fuss anyways?
As someone else pointed out, can anyone trashing Ghajini come up with his/her version of Memento with some 40-50 crores as budget and ensure that the movie makes twice as much money?Its easier said than done.
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“can anyone trashing Ghajini come up with his/her version of Memento with some 40-50 crores as budget and ensure that the movie makes twice as much money?”
By that criterion, Harsha Bhogle should not be commenting on cricket, as he has never played a single match.
And neither should Roger Ebert or James Berardinelli be writing about movies, as they have not made a movie in their lives.
Come up with better arguments Sethu.
People have a right to trash a movie they dont like its as simple as that. This is a free world mate.
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@ Ratnakar
Those werent my words @ all.I was just endorsing what someone else said.I completely agree with you that its a free world- no hassles with it.
I personally have never said its a great movie.But seriously Ratnakar I’m not being rude here- but I do admit I’m pained to see some of the reactions of people over here.Its fine with me if you dont like a movie- its not like I myself like every movie that I like.But there’s something beyond just merely not liking a movie- thats what irks me @ times.I’ve in fact written something on this aspect – if its gets published, you’ll probably get to know my point.
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“But there’s something beyond just merely not liking a movie- thats what irks me @ times.”
and how do u define that something. Its subjective.The least u can do is counter it.
U know u walk into a pub, and u meet guys trying to piss u off, u have an option of ignoring it and just get on with your drink.
Else u go and piss him off in such a way, that he has no answer to u.
But u gonna piss him and give him scope to answer u back, he is just gonna come back at u.
So now don’t say ur pained by what is happening at the Pub.
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Thats a great analogy my friend.I definitely cannot counter what you just mentioned ( anyways I certainly dont believe in countering for the sake of countering ).So next time when I face such guys @ a pub,I’ll ensure that I piss of these guys in such a way that they have no answer to me
On a lighter side- I feel that the audience in BBSR will certainly appreciate the
“the brainless action scenes”- do let me know if I was right.
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Haha..Nice on ratnakar sir
and at # 20..hahah sir, I wrote your name instead of Neerajs, yeaah im gonna watch wild strawberries now :D..Hope it gets published tho
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@Jehan,
Everything was fine except your forced attempt on Taran Adarsh.
Ghajini is already a hit. so was he wrong in writing that it would be a blockbuster?
Where are you left?
Why to ridicule other people without any reason and ruin your own otherwise good article?
Have you got an access to old programmes telecasted on DD, Programmes like Good morning India where films were criticised?
Ritu Berry also used to appear on that show.
very average films were always presented in a poetic manner.
Suhani subah, os ki bunde, thandi hawa ka jhonka, noorani etc etc.
Wonderful language and style but many people used to feel that those films did not deserve those lofty words. some people even ridiculed that style. as people have this habit to ridicule others.
Every critic, writer may have certain style.
As you may have, I may have, anybody and everybody may have.
and then Mr Yash Chopra had made Vaqt in late 60s and late Raaj Kumar had said some famous dialogue to Rahman on screen.
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@ RK,
I totally agree with you, maybe it was forced, maybe it was because I dont like Adarshs over the top reviews, and I dont have any problems in admitting that, and thanks, il keep that in mind next time. And on a different note- RK are you talking about Subah Savere on DD?
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@ Jehan
I think Good Morning India & Subah Savere were two seperate programs.
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Oooh Ook Sethu..Ive never seen Good Morning India..I remember watching Subah Savere, as I was forced to watch my dad on it, every saturday morning. =D Haha.
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Jehan your dad used to appear on Subah Savere- thats interesting
what was he doing in it?
Good Morning India was a more stylised program & was an outsourced production.
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Sethu-He was a film critic on it, haha thats why i was curious when RK mentioned it. His name is Vipin Handa http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vipin_Handa
I remember very vaguely lol, i was a kid. :D
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Jehan- you are Vipin Handa’s son wow!Yes I’ve seen your dad’s show & have seen his movie- Uff Yeh Mohabbat also.Why hasnt he made anything after that?So I give your dad a lot of credit for Abhishek Kapoor’s success haha.I actually liked the songs in UYM- ” uthra na dil mein koi ” in particular was lovely
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Haha Yeaah..Umm I dont knoow man..he’s in talks with his story Kalash..I havee noo ideaa why isnt he doing anythiing..lol thanks tho..haha good music :p :D
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So if he doesnt do anything about his scripts..haha il use them :D
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Jehan- thats nice maybe you can already start working on his scripts with his permission
so he’s planning Kalash with Salman – hope it would help Salman get something going after all the silly movies he’s been doing of late.
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Haha,yeah hoping my boards get over soon, and then I would like to. The thing is, he also needs a producer, and being just one film old, nobodys really ready to backup such a project. And I dont disagree with them, I mean he could simply give away the script to a director, but hes stubborn to make it himself. Aaah lol
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@RK #28,Haha I was curious man, what was the dialogue?Havent seen Waqt :P :P..Is it
‘Jinke Ghar Sheeshe Ke hote hai,
woh auro ke ghar pe patthar nai maarte’
Hahah if thats the one, then I totally agree mate. :D
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Jehan-
You are right about the dialogue in Waqt- thats the one
and going back to your dad’d script- ask him where’s he stuck dude- getting a producer or otherwise.I’m seriously keen to know.
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Yeaah Sethu,I did.Okay so the thing is-he’s got a storyboard,and everything.Im taking out time to read it. The thing is- the film requires a slightly higher budget-and being just one film old..no producer is very keen to put in money.-Fair enough.Salman took a full narration two times,so did RK films(cause they thought maybe Ranbir would fit in.)And Salman really really loved it,thats why he recomendded these producers,but he cant fit into the 26 year old character,and plus yeaah he needs a producer and an actor to essay the role. And im really keen he starts it,he wrote the script while writing Uff Yeh Mohabbat,so its been long.
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Thanks for the revert Jehan.I guess when your dad wrote it Salman would been around 30-31 & so could have fitted into the 26 year old character- thats my assumption.Would be happy to know the progress of the same dude.Hoping that your dad gets to work on the same quickly.
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Jehan bhai,
I do remember watching your dad on TV as a kid. I think he was smart looking man himself so why can’t he cast you as the lead :-) Genes ke effect to hote hi hian na!
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Aur saath mein, I can also kick in as a side-kick. Om Makhija types :-)
.
On a serious note, won’t UTV or Excel etc take up the movie, UTV is known for experimenting.
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Haha, Vishesh,Thanks for the compliment. =p
Its more of a Hindu Social-and you know Water by Deepa Mehta types..its set in Benares,so I doubt UTV would pick it up,theyr known for extremely short budget movies.And yeah sethu youre right about the age thing.
And Vishesh,Lol thats why i say, that within 2 years,haha let me get into some film school, then ill make it, and aahah you could also be part of it. :D.
On a serious note,
I think if I had to make it, I would want to squeeze the budget,make some changes in the screenplay, and maybe work as an AD, and hand it over to some other director.I guess that would be sensible.
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And And @ Vishesh, I was skimming thru your blog,
I also went for the Delhi Audition for Bollywood Ka Boss, and I couldnt pass through the first round.Haha It was really awkard, as I was just 14 years old, and all the contestants and securitywaalas were giving me looks.
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Jehan- baite baite you’ve got 2 people- Vishesh & myself interested to work with you on the project
so you’d better keep us informed.
Vishesh- bhai kahan ho aajkal? what happened to the google group thing?
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Seriously Sethu sir,let me give my boards this year. And Im really serious about doing something about these projects, and no better idea than working with film fanatics like you. :D
Let me know.
And Sethu sir,email me(its written on the top) your id or something,I would like to narrate you a synopsis of any of his scripts.
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Jehan- I’ve mailed you.So do send across the synopsis of the scripts.Would love to hear from you & yes Iget back with my thoughts on the same.
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@Jehan (29),
You write so well, you are so young hence you are the future and you are the hope and hence that comment.
You like a person or not, it does not matter if you wish to point out something written by that person then point out those territories which dont belong to him.
Taran Adarsh is a trade analyst and moreover one can not point fingures at somebody’s writing that such and such film will be a blockbuster. One can point out the reasons if he has given that why this film will be a blockbuster.
If you know about screen play you can catch him there if you know about cinematography then you can quote him writing something about that area.
How forcasting can be pointed out?
He may write good or bad is not the thing. Thing is what is your take. Your personal take matters.
Sorry for this whole topic and this long discourse.
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No No RK..I totally agree with you. My take on Taran Adarsh was totally unjust and uncalled for, and you are totally right in pointing that out, thanks. Its just that what I feel is maybe the review he wrote,if uve read it, its too over the top, and he is calling Ghajini almost a masterpiece, and movies like No Smoking get flak from him. I feel hes too inclined towards his kind of cinema..Thanks Tho :D
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ghajini..not worth commenting on….
@ Rocky… its pretty funny actually if thats all you have to say about Nolan….
Both Memento and Dark Knight are opposite sides of the spectrum and yet sheer brillance, genius coupled with the magic of cinema.
& They are not even hard to understand!
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I dont think we can compare Ghajini and Memento as AR Murgodass( Director) only takes the situation of dealing with short term memory loss ( with tatoos and camera) and completely puts an Indian Story around it.
**Spoiler if havent watched Memento**
I had to watch Memento 2 times to understand whats going around and clearly I wouldnt see Ghajini becoming a HIT if at the end we find out the Aamir had actually killed Asin as in the Memento…
So Ghajini and Memento have thier spaces in the world of cinema based on tastes!
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Today I’ve watched Memento just for interest. Cool. But Ghajini I liked more.
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