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No Smoking - A Dream Accomplished
Name: madhu chandra
Email: madhuchandra_629 [at] yahoo [dot] com
City/Country: Bangalore,India
(WARNING: It contains spoilers!)
No Smoking - A Dream Accomplished
Wow, finally there is someone out there who tests the audience and at the same time explores the subconscious mind so beautifully that I felt I was dreaming, because that’s how dreams are and that’s what No Smoking is, the nightmare of a chain smoker.
Well, all the people who said it was absurd and hopeless have you ever got a dream in which you thought you were dreaming?
Let’s start with the beginning. Plato, Socrates and Sinatra (Do be do be do)…love this when I think about the movie.
I shall not much talk about what happens on screen but you might have wondered if you have seen it already or if you haven’t, watch out for these things (My friend was thinking more about the movie after my hint. It’s his list.):
1. No door opens for a way out when K wants to runaway from Baba Bengali. Why?
2. And why is the same guy shown in different characters. Ever happened to you in dreams? Remember something?
3. The girl in the car is shown on the hospital bed. Well, subconscious mind can’t think of many different people.
Ok, giving more of these things would spoil it for the people who haven’t watched.
I can’t stop appreciating the guy who made it; for that matter any one can’t stop doing that once they get the point. Because it’s his proper understanding of the subconscious mind and applying that on an impulsive smoker combining this with a cool, slick look and a terrific sound track he delivers No Smoking. Kudos to you Anurag Kashyap.After listening to my fellow audience’s frustrated comments during some parts of the movie I thought of that musician’s character in Atlas Shrugged. What was his name?
And yes this aint an only bouquets to you thing hold this brick too Anurag. Why was the Natural Born Killer’s sitcom parody brought in? That seemed a little out of place. But the Schindler’s List’s gas chamber scene on TV and the mass bathing scene was subtle. Especially the frame when K looks up.
I don’t know what reviewers see in a film when they write a review. Seems like there is a greater urgency in delivering their product. Unfortunately these kinds of things give the audience a wrong idea.
In one line No Smoking is David Fincher and David Lynch having a hell of a party with Anurag Kashyap in desi style.
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Sorry mam probably u r are far more intelligent than the film maker himself bcos he himself does’nt know what he is making.
NO SMOKING- AN ABSOLUTE PIECE OF DIRTY SHIT!!!!!!!!!!!!
fially a sensible review,though the movie was not of the standards the review speaks off.
anyways was a good attempt at making new age bollywood
I completely and totally agree with your review(incredibly observant and intelligent insight too i may add).And to the people who thought that the movie didn’t deserve the review,hell no,it did!and more.
What i liked most about the movie was its cohesion(which spread a little thin in the second half).K entering PrayogShala and going lower and lower and lower…into Pataal,he later realises..and meeting Baba Bengali,the devil himself..in front of whom he is helpless,and who he cannot escape.The high base track in the scene when k smokes his first ‘unallowed’ cigarette,and the car’s windshield cracks.was AWESOME.It made you wonder,was it the base that broke the glass/the glass breaking that produced the sound…somehow..at the same time creating a very physical discomfort on your ears,which brings you INSIDE the scene,INSIDE the head of the protagonist immediately.And then that suspicion,which you had on seeing all the Prayogshala pass-outs with hearing aids gets confirmed….that K has now almost gone deaf!Brilliant!! sir director!
I loved the flashback scene(smoking in the bathroom) and the scene in which K’s brother gets up and maniacally tries to kill himself…the abandonment of reason in this scene was the best part…there’s nothing quite like the loss of reason that creates indelible horror.Its something one of my favourite writers,Stephen King does in many of his books.actly,I think Stephen King has quite a lot to do with the script,but i shall research my case before i say anything…more to come..
:((horriblllllllllle,pathatic.i am short of words to describe no smoking who made brillant gem Black friday can make dud also in the form of No smoking.I fell very sorry for vishal sir who produced it what was he doing while making.complete let down worst movie of this year.Stop criticizing others Mr kashyap they all are far better than you.
hey, wonderful review… watchin’ da film again, tomorrow - 3 shows bak2bak. just pray dat i m not the only one watchin’ it… after all the damage done by the revered critics…:)>-
madhuchandra…kudos to you man !
Much has been said about how bad or good the film was but no one actually sat down to analyse it the way u have done it. You are spot on in your interpretation of the so called ‘year’s worst film’.
There will always be bad criticism for any novel attempt-be it cinema or art. But imagine if the same film had been attempted by Karan Johar (which he would’nt have in his wildest dreams) the criticism would have been more subdued or he could even had been applauded for breaking into new ground.
It is quite evident that the critics are bored of thrashing the same sub-standard fare dished out week after week so when they get a whiff of some refreshingly new content which they can’t decipher, they spare no bones to rip it apart.
No person in this universe can decide how cinema should be or what it should deliver. It has always been an expression of an individual and will always be. And expressions cannot and should not be controlled.
There are a select few who get it right the first time. For a Swades to be created, there had to be a Pehla Nasha, Baazi and Lagaan. Similarly, for a RDB-there had to be an Aks. Atleast these filmmakers are challenging our minds and sensibilities by delivering good cinema.
The same applies to Anurag Kashyap. He ain’t no god of filmmaking…still has a long way to go but after watching No Smoking….even a kid can see that given a typical bollywood script, AK will make it 10 times better than any other director. But if a KJo or a Dharmesh Darshan is asked to make No Smoking….they will piss in their pyjamas !
ABSURDITY ROCKS !!!
What has been written by Madhuchandra can be described as “pseudo intellect at its peak”.there should be clear distinction between loftiness and intelligent analysis in the mind of filmmaker before attempting a subject like this.It seems that AK had some vauge idea of subconscious and dreams,like the one people fresh out of one week spirituality crashcourse have. you have read too much into the subjective reality called dreams.Perhaps AK wanted to explore a big idea but for lack of honesty and humility,the same could not be conveyed to audience.If we let the arrogance take over honesty in story telling such so called path breaking films can be produced in dozens.
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cheers! good short write up.
really nice post..forces to think bout the brilliant scenes and thoughts
first to the people who liked black friday and didnt like no smoking….
u liked black friday because it was something that had happened.you think you are intellectual because u think u understand satya(u dont….we always miss out the director’s intent or overestimate it).so dont pan the director for no smoking.testesterone and balls are different things.the movies u require need testesterone apparently …..no smoking requires balls to make.big time.
and anurag hope u reply to this part….
would i be considered a chamcha if i say no smoking was better than mullholand drive and as good as eraserhead(leaving behind the “i am flattered reply”
and anurag i have a request.im 20 now.doing my engineering in one of the HRD funded top notch colleges(not dropping names).i will make a career …but trust me.i used 2 study with black friday playing in the background…my teenage vanished with black friday coming in.i have seen it a countless number of times…someday when i take a sabbatical for an year from “career related issues” i want to work under u man…whatever job u give me.its gr8 2 find people u can relate 2.its bliss.will end this with “kise kaayar kahega….kise kkafir kahega…teri kab tak chalegi … ” aimed at a major section of indian media
also u neednt pay me when i work 4 u.in literary terms i want to be henry cameron’s howard roark.man my heart puffed with pride when i read abt u writing on howard roark and family…something i always felt abt fountainhead.