Luck By Chance: Some thoughts.
When Anurag Kashayp first approached Shahrukh Khan for the role of K in No Smoking, SRK refused. He answers that circuitously in the movie Luck By Chance, when he advices Vikram that, in this industry it is very important what kind of choices you make. The first film chooses you, now, you are going to choose your films. Choose well. The answer could very well have been Choose safe. Luck By Chance is one such movie that fleetingly touches some unanswered questions, and then indifferently moves on to its own story. The story of Indian film industry or Bollywood? Call what may you want to, after watching Luck By chance, I just realized, the striking difference between telling your story and sensationalizing it. The difference between honesty and pretentiousness. The difference between a Page 3, and Luck By Chance. The difference between Madhur Bhandharkar and Zoya Akthar. You think I’ve lost it by digressing this far? Well, I’ve just begun..
Luck By Chance
There have been a lot of discussions on PFC itself regarding its main leads. Konkona Sen Sharma, and Farhan Akhthar. In the movie, they play outsiders, the struggler who are ready to do anything to achieve that coveted spot, to break in. While the former also strives hard, is ambitious, but the latter is unrelenting. To an extreme, almost. The discussion was: Should they have actually cast new comers for the role? I wouldn’t dismiss this question straight way, by just a Yes or a No answer. Because, that is one of the things that this movie raises. How the hell a newcomer can break into this industry? It is not only a bad, mad world where there is not even an inch visible from the outside. We hear thousands of stories about struggles, that actually makes us shudder from inside. Javed Akhthar writes in his book ‘Tarkash’ about his struggling days, everyone who visits PFC knows Anurag’s struggle, and a countless other rags to riches story of those who have made it. In the movie, Karan Johar says to Zafar Khan( Hrithik Roshan), Vikram should be thankful to you, had you not left this role, he could never have got this chance. Zanjeer was refused by 7 people, and then it came to Amitabh Bachann. Aamir Khan left Darr, and then Shahrukh got it(though that Shahrukh’s break, but, from there on started his association with Yash Raj Films which is as significant as a major break). Otherwise, who gives a chance to a new comer? Very true, Mr. Karan Johar. Very true. The way Karan delivers this line rings so true because we all know Karan himself will not give a chance to any new comer, he is too busy working with his ‘brother’, ‘uncles’ and ‘aunties’. This is one of the most honest and ironical lines being spoken in a ‘Bollywood’ movie in recent times. See, I digressed again, back to the question of discussion…
So, the question which some people were discussing on was: how apt it was to cast two established actors who are themselves from a ‘filmy family’. Doesn’t the whole point the movie tries driving home gets a bit lost here? When you see Farhan enter for the audition of a major movie, where he sees many people like him, and when ‘Sapnon se Bhare naina‘ plays in the background. Your heart goes out more to whom? Farhan Akhthar, the struggler shown, who he is actually not, or the people sitting out there filling forms, who are struggler in the real sense. Because, for that brief moment, I snapped out of Luck by Chance, and dived straight into the what is the story of an ordinary struggler. It was very important for the rest of the star cast to be from film industry, because it was about them, but had fresh faces portrayed the role of Vikram, and Shona, the film would have been that more honest for me. Because, one of the part of the movie is about the trial and tribulation of a newcomer trying to break in. It could have given the film that edge. Although, all said and done Farhan and Konkona deliver a staggering performance. Konkona, is by default, expected to act fabulously. So, it would really be a exercise in redundancy to pour accolades on her for this performance. It is the kind of stuff she is born to deliver. Next time someone gives a believable and awesome performance, we can safely it to be a ‘What a Konkona performance’. Now, comes Farhan Akthar. Farhan’s restraint performance was one of the high points of Rock On!! His role raised the movie to a new level, and with Luck By Chance, he raises the bar for himself staggeringly high. What a performer! Farhan should discount everyone’s advice of playing safe,( as advised toVikram by the ’star’ himself) because, this actor has put character back into the word character-actor. Farhan absolutely outshines and dazzles in this movie, a powerhouse performance. I should stop gushing, otherwise people would start guessing I have been hired by Excel Entertainment. Such is the performance by the two main leads, that it actually becomes difficult to answer the question raised in the beggining of this paragraph. Their performance injects honesty and sincerity to the movie.
I also think Zoya owes a lot to her brother Farhan for this movie. I am not going to deny her any credit. It is a smash-hit debut in almost all the ways possible, and I consider it foolish to say that this is the best debut of the last decade or not. Frankly, it doesn’t matter to me. But, I feel Farhan’s Dil Chahta Hai unconsciously laid the foundation of this beautiful movie. Anurag said in one of the comments that, Farhan and Zoya struggled a lot with him and Farhan didn’t know any stars when he was making Dil Chahta Hai. Okay, that is fine. But, after Dil Chahta Hai made waves, when Excel Entertainment came into being, when they had the backing of a powerful Javed Akhthar, a versatile S-E-L at their disposal, it laid the foundation of Zoya’s work. I will reiterate the fact that story and screenplay which has been done by Zoya herself, is a work of an exceptional talent. But, having said that, had the aforementioned factors not been on her side, the movie could never have been as effective as it is now. The guest appearances, the special appearances, the friendly appearances, taking digs at oneself.etc. would never have been possible in a movie made by an ‘outsider’ in the truest sense.
The movie raises so many questions through its funny but dark lines that it would be a crime to ignore them. The actors play themselves, and go on to say some of things that would make you laugh, but at the same time make you think and question the dynamics of ‘Bollywood’. For instance, When Anurag is ranting about one of the supposed endings of the movie via symbolism, and visual metaphors, Rishi Kapoor cuts him short by saying, Ae Institute, main ye picture film festival ke liye nai bana raha hun‘. This line again goes on to say a lot of things in its own unassuming way. When No Smoking was released, people here discussed about Franz Kafka, Ayn Rand, and what not. While the heart breaking truth is that most of our audience and even the so-called stars and member of this fraternity, give a damn. The ideologies don’t match. Not even an iota in most of the cases.
That is what Luck By Chance. is About the industry, where everyone dreams to be a part of, an industry where every one bitches about one another, an industry where everything seems unfair and unreasonable. An Industry which is so ruthless that it has made a few, has broken thousands of dream. Hats off to Zoya for delineating such a true account of this kaleidoscope.
Tags: Bollywood, debut, Excel Entertainment, Farhan, stars, Zoya
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
now will you please declare how and where you saw this movie? cause I’m absolutely sure this one didn’t release in your town.
Arre, baap re. Okay, here it goes.
Farhan and Zoya,
I’m sorry I saw this absolutely beautiful movie online, because I had no access to the theaters, and I didn’t want to give this one a pass, so had no option. And after watching it, I was all the more disappointed that why couldn’t I watch it in a theater. Sorry and thank you.
@Oz: Sirf main hi chor nai hun, auron ko bhi pakdo!
Very well written post.I too must add that in order to get a real feel of the movie, plz make it a point to watch it in theaters.
You know what Oz bro, its kind of really sad u pick this topic up, cos there are a lot of movies, that one wants to see but just can’t see because of various reasons.
Take my example, I being and Indian, have not seen Pyaasa, Kaagaz Ke Phool, Do Bigha Zamin,etc. because i couldn’t find a print of these movies anywhere.
I being a Bengali can’t find Satyajit Ray’s Shatranj Ke Khiladi in my and even Ray’s own state.
So i think it’s unfair for people to say, that how you saw this movie and that movie,
Kyun Ki Dhundne Se To Bhagwan Bhi Mil Jaata Hai
I agree with Raunak on watching it in the theatres
Superb!!
brilliant movie…..
the audition scene is the one of the best scenes ever……farhan portrays the insecurity and intimidation in a brilliant manner….
also…….Anurag Kashyap’s cameo is hilarious…
“koon nahi khoon….chhodo murder kar deta hai…”
lolz..
Tanul: Please do not watch online. I agree you are missing the excitement if you dont get to see them immediately after their release. But this is one sacrifice all of us must do.
saw the movie. Came away with a good reference point of decadence: Thy name is bollywood.
Bollywood, if what is shown is true, is a deep pit that buries the labor of its true (behind the camera) professionals and disproportionately breeds narcissistic stars: mostly dynastic like the Congress party.
Please watch it in a theatre. The feel is really great. I loved this film.
Mr Tanul, havent you negated everything you have said in this piece with that last paragraph?
I don’t think so Sanjeev. The last paragraph is about how effectively has Zoya portrayed the ins and outs of this industry. While the preceding ones were about the kind of question the movie raises about the hindi film industry.
@ Thakur saab: fantastic post. i saw 3 shows of LBC bak2bak in a theater y’day. and dis is exactly how i felt after watching it each time! was thoroghly taken aback by isha’s act.
I agree Tanul. And I too saw the irony in Farhan playing the ’struggler’. But what a well cast movie! And what brilliant cameos! I loved the ones by SRK and KJo. Not because it was ‘them’, but because of what they said. Powerful, sensible things.. And in two sentences, these two cameos summed up the entire film. Brilliant writing, there!
I too agree tanul…they should have had strugglers in Farhan and Konkona’s place…While Farhan performed very well..he seemed too savvy to come as an honest struggler. His friend – theatre walla seemed more like one…..Farhand seemed like a high end struggler…uski aunty ka ghar kaafi fundoo tha and he takes a loan from his dad for a house…..his savviness and confidence also speaks of his backing.
konkona seems more like the real struggler
While Konkona has perfected the artof what she does in most movies….its repetetive and needs new interpretation.
Subtle performances ke chakkar me real emotions ki dhajjiyaan ud rahi hain….
jaise ki- when the guy tells her to fend for herself…she is understanding and walks off in a huff..thats not natural at all. most ppl lose their cool right then and there…
Do ppl like Dimple’s character really fall to cliched lines like Farhan’s complements….probably not.
One natural moment was when Isha questions her mom’s hypocrisy??? She is genuinely upset…
Ok. I have a basic problem with this film. Though I enjoyed watching it and thoroughly so. I think the end does no justice to the build up. Probably why a lot of actors did not want to play “Vikram”. I don’t understand his character. He’s really nice and smart and adorable in most parts of the film. I just love how he plays his cards with Neena (Dimple). And the entire story makes me feel for him. In the scene where he consoles Sona (Konkana) and asks her the question – did you come here to act or did you come to act in chaudhary’s film – such a powerful question. Makes me want Vikram as my best friend.
And then he loses it. I know that in real life people change and especially if you give them fame, it’s impossible to stay grounded. But my biggest problem with the end is that all this while I’ve been made to feel for Vikram and now suddenly the protagonist is someone else? I don’t feel for Sona! I haven’t been made to feel for her for the last two hours. My first thought was “Eh?”
Am I alone in feeling that way?