Random thoughts on Yuvvraaj
This post is sponsored byiView Author: Gurudev Prasad (Bangalore, India)
Email: gurudev [dot] prasad [at] email [dot] com Random thoughts on Yuvvraaj
I’ve always found it a challenging task to transform a dramatic script into a spellbinding musical,
Though I’ve done this before with films like Karz, Meri Jung, Khalnayak and Taal…………..
……….Imagine a film where: Salman is a dreamy singer…
Katrina is a leading musician…
Zayed grooves to a chaotic disco sound…
Anil kapoor enjoys only classical music…
Imagine the symphony of sounds created by all these characters.
Now imagine my struggle to match my visuals to rahman’s
Mesmerizing sound and Gulzaar Saab’s magical lyrics…
This is Yuvvraaj.
Hope you enjoy it!
Subhash Ghai.
This personal note from Mr Ghai is the first thing that would greet you when you open the audio CD jacket of Yuvvraj.
Frankly speaking I even liked two or three tracks from the album.
I think Rahman’s music grows on you over a period of time and it peaks after you have seen the movie.
There were also special comments (on the CD cover) by Mr. Rahman and Gulzar Saab testifying Ghai’s genius in matching up the visuals to the music.
Testimonials from these two gurus convinced me to break my resolve of abstaining from all Subhash Gai movies post Kisna (actually Yaadien. I gave him a second chance with Kisna).
Finally, I saw this movie last night, albeit on a pirated DVD (thank god I didn’t go to the hall).
I read a quote somewhere which vaguely meant that the most dangerous stage in a creative person’s life is when he starts to copy himself.
There isn’t a better way to describe Ghai’s latest effort- why only the latest one- if you look at Mr. ghai’s impressive body work- right from Ram lakhan, Saudagar, Khalnayak, Trimurti, etc- and try to draw a common pattern among them- it isn’t difficult to decipher the common overriding formula.
All…ok…say most of his movies would have two central characters (often brothers) with conflicting ideologies- one has to be an idealist while the other a bit confused and mixed up. Throw in a widowed mother, raped sister or a murdered father to sensationalize the plot and villains with obvious streaks of quirkiness (BAD MAN).
In the end the good always wins over evil with a climax sequence involving a song and a fight that happens simultaneously.
Also, if you don’t doze off half way through the movie- you might see the showman himself in a blink and miss sequence doing his bit of clowning around.
Let me talk about Yuvvraaj- if not anything, the movie has at least made me aware of Hindi’s rising popularity in the western world. The Goras babble dialogues in Hindi as it was official language of Prague and Austria (that is where the movie was supposedly shot).
Now a bit about the cast-
What can I say about Salman Khan- bad is no bad when worse is expected.
All thanks to his past few misadventures, I have no expectations whatsoever from him- but so great is the man that- he manages to disappoint me even then. Almost like cricket commentators who change the stance with every ball, the actor (if I can call him that) takes it scene by scene- with utmost adherence to inconsistency in all departments- from looks, to mannerisms to even hair styles.
Zayed is next in the row- I can’t even use words like career worst for him because he doesn’t have one. Playing a role that might be the closest to his real life (he plays a rich spoilt kid) Zayed gives a whole new definition to the word “wooden”. With his hair expressing more than his face and the rest of the body put together- you helplessly laugh at the scenes where this guy is trying hard to weep.
Anil Kapoor and Boman Irani are perfect examples to of what a bad script can do to even talented actors. This has to Boman’s shallowest performance till date- he doesn’t look convinced of his role even for a minute and that shows so badly on the screen.
Yuvvraaj from now on will also hold the distinction for the most uninformed and insensitive portrayal of autism. I think the brief to Anil was simple- play a mix of Rani Mukhurjee in Black and Sridevi in Sadma and he does that to a T.
There is also Mithun da in there- but you can excuse him in the acting department because for most part of it- his wig was really obtrusive and overpowered his performance
Poor Kaif woman is lost somewhere between these stalwarts in a role that only demands her to look good and at times even confused. In many promotional interviews before the release Miss Kaif has talked at length about getting trained in playing a cello, so that the portrayal looks realistic- though the effort is commendable, the lady would do pretty well with a crash course in acting at Ghai’s film school.
Then there are the infamous villains- a mama ji in a wheelchair who plots evil but hides it under his religious get up- complete with rudraksha, tilak, etc
Then there is a bhabi who is desperate to be aadhi- gharwali (symbolism- non existent blouses and vulgar perfume squirting in a public setting)
Ghai is known for his in film placements- but this time around I think Lays had refused to put money in his film- so there is a fatso who is just shown munching chips all the time- a clever negative publicity for potato chips.
Then there are few insignificant negative characters whose job is to just fill the frame and add to the magnitude of evil (the more the people the badder the evil)
The art direction is so grandeur and in your face that it never lets you forget that you are watching a movie and that it doesn’t look like this in the real world.
The plot and script is so weak and fake that as an audience the only emotions you ever feel are that of indifference, anger and boredom.
The inconsistencies are so obvious that they leave you with a feeling of being cheated- that is when you were not expecting anything from this fare- Its as if the gang that put the show together is taking us on ride- completely disrespecting our intelligence, patience, time and money.
Last but not the least- the songs for which I saw the movie in the first place- were so out of context and meddlesome that I ended up forwarding each one of them- For the first time because of the movie and their place in it- I will completely give up on the music of this one.
I felt a sense of liberation when the movie ended (with Mithun’s words of wisdom “Independent you live, united you stay- that is a happy family”) – and the end credits (inspired by OSO) started rolling.
I just hope that Mr. Ghai is not taking too many classes on direction in Whistling woods, or we would have many Yuvvraajs in the years to come.
Filed Under
PROJEKT iVIEW, Review , a r rahman, anil kapoor, gulzar, katrina kaif, Salman Khan, subhash ghai, Yuvvraaj Review, Zayed Khan
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worst movie of the decade
Even at his best, Ghai was no more than a “decent” movie maker. Most of his movies have been overblown, overlong affairs, and he got away with it, because in the 80’s & 90’s, he was like a “One Eyed Man in Kingdom of Blind”, and the technical values in his movies were better than others. I think Taal was the last decent movie i seen from him. If u ask me, he just needs to retire and stick to production, which considering Iqbal, Joggers Park, he seems to be doing a good job.
Subhash Ghai represent the old school of thought on movie making where cinema should be larger than life. He had his unique style of story telling where music played a dominent role and his craft over song picturisation particularly in climax was better than others. Now with sensibilities of filmgoers changing, Ghai is left slightly out of touch with current mileu. He has become a caricature of himself in movies like Yuvvraj, Yaadein and Kisna and when he tries off-beat subject like Black & White, he flucdered because it is just not his style. Ghai saa’b ka jamaana gaya!
Manish has put it absolutely correctly.
Ghai made money when nonsense was king. He has no ability to speak of, his sensibilities are pathetic. He has no sense of craft; people like him have only a moron-like understanding of cinema.
He is not going to be tolerated in these days and times.
I always used to wonder how come people who at one time were known for their crafts, be it in music, writing or direction often end up falling from grace. Vijay Anand made masterpieces but end up with Ram Balram and Rajput, Lyricist like Yogesh and Neeraj (a personal favourite) end up dishing forgettable lyrics, Kundan Shah made disastrous movies like Hum To Mohabbat Karega and an average Kya Kehna, though it dealt with a sensitive subject but still from the maker of cult classic- JBDY one expected a lot more. Now watching Subhash Ghai’s fallnig graph the process of creative struggle is becoming clear.
Manish-5, in fact for me Kya Kehna was not even average, i just hated the movie. I did not expect Kundan Shah of all people, to indulge in such ham handed direction. Especially, Saif’s mom, played by Navneet Nishan, was so loud, so irritating, and so hammy, she reminded me of Shashikala of yore. But even that was better, compared to Dil Hai Tumhara. Watching the comedy scenes in that movie, just made me wince, was this the same movie maker who gave us such unparalleled humour in both JBDY and Kabhi Haan, Kabhi Naa i wondered.
Another person is Rahul Rawail, who made really good movies like Arjun and Dacait, but after that it was free fall. Buddha Mar Gaya and Jo Bole So Nihal would qualify for the “So Bad that its So Good” category.
Ratnakar – 5, Yup! But since i admire Kundan Shah for long for his original work on TV- YJHJ and Nukkad too and solely for JBDY that i cudn’t muster the courage to be…hmmmm… as forthright!
Talking about Rahul Rawail, another name that came to my mind is N. Chandra, who began with Ankush and Tejab but stoop to B-grade comic capers like Excuse Me and……..ohhh i forgot the name of its prequel!!
Sad but true! Yuvvraj is indescribably bad. It looks like a movie made by a retard. It is such a colossal waste of resources. Great star cast, great music, breathtaking locations, budget as big as one may imagine.. what more can one ask for? All this was wasted by the complete lack of understanding of story, script, characterisation, drama and cinema in general.
Does Ghai not watch films made by others? Is he not aware of the current times and tastes? Is he still living in the 80s?
By the way the I would like to tell the guy who blogs on PFC and whose company was handling for PR that they have done a shoddy job. The entire PR exercise was mindless and lacking in focus and direction. Entire messaging was misleading, creating wrong expectations and doing more harm than good to the movie. I can’t decide what was worse, Movie or the publicity exrcise.
By the way, it’s very difficult to do honest criticism and still not be offensive.
@Manish- the prequel was style.
Should Ramu also be added to the list or is it too early?
@Gurudev – with Ramu i don’t know yet. I would rather wait n watch for Rann and Agyat to be released. BTW, the concept of Agyat to me sounds similar to Gumnam and Khamosh, a terrfiic movie by Vidhu Vinod Chopra, who again is fast going southwards, if his last few directorial ventures were any indication.
VVC seems to be doing a better job as a producer, Munnabhai series, Parineeta, cant say the same about his directorial record of late. Eklavya had some terrific action scenes, and excellent production values, but the script made no sense at all.
Pankaj Parasher- Started off well with Jalwa and Chaalbaaz, but Rajkumar onwards, another director in free fall mode. His Basic Instinct remake, Inteqaam, was yucky.
Funny how an American can make a film about 3 brothers connecting in India (Darjeeling Ltd) yet an Indian can’t abroad!!
I also gave up on Subbu after ‘Yaadein’, yet still watch his films.
I just have this problem.
No matter how much I may dislike a director, i’ll never dismiss a film.
I always give it a chance.
End up wasting half my life on bad films though
‘Yuvraaj’ could’ve worked, had they focussed on the script instead of making a ‘khichri’ of everything!
Subbu’s really ‘lost the plot’!!
Also if Mr. Ghai has no clue at autism, the least he can do is not to make fun of it. If Anil Kapoor is autistic, then i am Hannibal Lecter. Autism is a condition, where the person has problems interacting with the normal world, he is just focussed on 1 thing.
I wont ask Mr.Ghai to see Rainman, he can check out a totally Hollywood masala movie called Mercury Rising. In that an autistic kid, is an the target of a murder, and Bruce Willis plays the cop who protects him. Mercury Rising was a 100% masala flick, yet whatever autism was displayed by the kid, was accurate to core.
Anil Kapoor is autistic, means he is incapable of normal interaction, with others. But yet he gives lectures to kids on Indian values and parampara, is able to tell a cop, that Salman is his “Indian brother” and he is willing to take a rap. Damn that is not autism please.
I hope Subash Ghai at least watches Mercury Rising. Yaar, please dont triviliaze serious mental disorders this way.
Also Ms.Kaif’s stock of “I have all the luck in the world” cards seems to be exhausting soon. She has been plain lucky that some of her crappy movies have been hits.
Having said that, I really think the dialogue writer should get an award!
I’ve been LMAO since i’ve heard Katrina and her ‘Hardcore Anti Family Man’, and Zayed’s ‘You FREAKING MAGGOT’ line!!
C’mon, that’s gotta be the best dialogue, surely!
Btw, why have Katrina, and a Katrina look-a-like in the same film?!
Much confuzzlement!
And, on a more positive note, I liked Antonia Bernath alot in ‘Kisna’ and Jackie in ‘Yaadein’.
Thought Anurag Sinha was fantastic in ‘Black & White’ too.
Ofcourse, I didn’t like the actual films though!
Chalo, maybe Subbu might read this and change na?
Morelike he’ll make a film about an evil NRI who posts horrid comments about his films!
Damn! I believe i’ve just justified his ‘evil westerners’ theory!
Haila!
“More like he’ll make a film about an evil NRI who posts horrid comments about his films!”
Well Subbu dear, said after Yaadein, sank like the Titanic, that his movies are for the NRI or “dollar and pounds crowd”, and not for the Indian junta.
Also Steve was Yaadein a hit in UK and US, at least that what Subbu dear claims.
In fact i wonder how Mr. Zayed Khan’t Act for Life, is still acting in movies?
I was right about my “Cricketer and name of Subbu-movies” after all
Though, Yuvraaj Singh was back in form. But not even he could save Subbu’s Yuvi.
I think people expect too much. Firstly, why should people hype Ghai so much that they exoected something in this film. I mean,in Indian Cinema, where do his Ram Lakhan,Khal Nayak, Trimurti etc stand.They are not at all masterpieces.Ghai is a commercial film-maker and a not-at-all-great one among them.Comaring with film-makers such as Shyam Benegal and Govind Nihlani is out of question and also comparisions with someone like Ram Gopal Varma, Vidhu Vinod Chopra etc, who are commercial film-makers is also blasphemy.Bcoz Ghai’s work can never hold a candle. Not even his best films, if at there are any.I mean, they neednt be legends but Ghai is not even a decent film-maker.C’mon, what is so great abt Ram Lakhan or Khal Nayak or Taal.Taal ran only because of the music and ofcourse the hype.what is so great abt his stories and their telling? the song “Ae Ji..O ji…1-2-ka-4″ is touted as a classic today.I am completely puzzled.Is that a song? How can he call his films as good musicals? Every indian film is, because every actor sings (lip sync atleast) and on that count every film is a musical.He is not a Maniratnam for sure right, to use some wonderful songs effectively.Even offbeat film makers like people who made Wednesday, Bheja Fry, Ab Tak Chappan, Ek Haseena Thi…are far better film-makers.
Stop giving much attention to Ghai, his films, even if you are blasting them.bcoz they dont have content,which needs critics.He is riding solely on Hype.
Grr!!!
I just replied to what you had asked Ratnakar ji, but my library computer seems to have eaten it up!!
Well, alot of people liked it here, although I am forever telling them that I don’t agree.
I guess Subbu uncle is right this time….
I didn’t like his single movie (I don’t even want to type his name)
Arghhhhh!!!,. even Youraj, whatever
Because of this man I used to hate 90’s Hindi Cinema,.
“Illu illu” wah!!!
And
‘Hardcore Anti Family Man’,
Sounds like Song from “Marilyn Manson” album
Sathya Wachan Friends!!! so called showman!!!must be banned from making any new worthless effort and shud make them their own classics………….YUVRAJ,,,every phrame is horrible!!!
I saw the movie in theater in the first week at Doha, Qatar. The theater had only 3 people for the screening. By the trailers of the movie, i could easily make out this would be a dumb movie, but still I went for Rahman’s sake.
The movie plot was 1980’s style, when you have to have loads of money to marry a rich girl(i think there are people like that). Salman was horrible, Zayed equally horrible(but who expects anything from this dude). The villains were there and apprehended in no time(so much for their villainy and plots). Anil kapoor and Boman Irani didnt have much to do or didnt get what they were supposed to do in this movie.
Kaif was looking dull, drab and she wasnt there at all post interval.
The movie started on something, went on for something, terminated on something very different. Very incoherent.
When i saw Khalnayak, i decided never to watch ghai’s movie, and i wish i could have stuck with that.
Rahman’s music is topnotch, only the song placement were so awful. Strictly not recommended.
I am extremely happy to see that ‘Yuvvraaj’ is becoming a mega flop.I always felt that Subhash Ghai was the most overhyped,overrated director in Hindi cinema.
By making such pathetic movies Subhash Ghai is doing negetive publicity for his film institute.!!!
Saw Yuvvraj in Bhubaneshwar & the people kept getting restless throughout the movie.Even I kept wondering & waiting endlessly for that one elusive golden moment.But sadly that never arrived.
Subash Ghai may not have been a director who made classics but atleast most of his movies till Taal were entertaining in the period when they released.But he’s now lost it big time.I was actually amused to hear Ghai saab commenting around the time the movie released that” even I can make a Singh is Kingg anyday, I’ve already done such movies.I’ve moved ahead & now try to make different movies”
Excuse me Ghai saab- if this is your idea of a different movie, I would rather watch SIK any day.As Ratnkar said- I suggest Ghai saab must restrict himself to producing movies like Iqbal 7 Joggers Park!!!