Ray to go!
Okay, so an indulgently kind and persuasive cell phone voice, belonging to Kartik (surname not quoted), invited me over to blogland. Not quite techno-whizzy, I procrastinated. There were thel hmmms, i don’t know, I’m the good old ink and paper type, Remington typewriter was so sturdy..but yes, I can handle PCs with not a little help from my friends and colleagues. Since this is actually on blogprint, guess I’m smartening up.
Enough of I-me-moi. I’m here because to blog meansto express whatever, I can’t on other platforms, and I’m not talking railway stations.
The column title ‘Cinema Ray’ alludes, of course, to my god of small and big things, Satyajit Ray. The intimacy he struck with his narratives of people..rich, poor and middle class, remains untouched. Pather Panchali..was a life-altering film. Iwatched it at a film society screening in Bombay’s Tarabai Hall.
After that I’ve never looked at farmhouses zipping by long train rides with the same eyes again. Never looked at a little kid with poverty as well as poetry in his eyes..without thinking of Pather Panchali.Never looked at a tragic event without recalling the passing away of the reed-thin, wonderful granny of Pather Panchali.
Pather Panchali, I perhaps saw, three decades and a little more ago. And it has stayed with me, like friend and family. Its DVDs I buy time and again..only to give away to friends on their birthdays and anniversaries. To be honest, none of them returns with his or her response..better that way perhaps. Often, feelings are not to be shared.
I’m a bit scared to re-look at the Panchali DVD which I once again bought yesterday(from a Planet M outlet in Bombay). Because well, it hits me hard emotionally in a cleansing but drainingway.
A theory goes that at times one is moved (read, sheds tears) just to convince oneself that there is that ability to be emotionally stirred. See I care..is the feeling that one whispers to oneself. Pather Panchali transcends any murmurs to oneself..it takes the viewer away fromhis or herself-centredness.
Outside the window, on a greyish evening, I can see kids playing on the street, unmindful of the trains that rattle past the Mahim station closeby. Their fathers are basket weavers who live and procreate on the streets. At times, there’s a blue tarpaulin roof over their heads, at times they just retreat into vagrant cement water pipes. There are so many Pather Panchalistories..songs of the road..but can anyone tell them today?
I’m not sure at all..if there can be realism in the movies any more. No one wants toit, acknowledge it, do something about it. The most detestful phrase that anyone can utter is, “Cinema is meant only for entertainment..time pass.” Excuse me. That too, yes, and infinitely much more. It can inform, edify, change, move you, touch you, sensitise you, make you understandthat there’s much more to life than your own petty anxieties.
Yeah, so it’s sevenish, have just ended a day’s work at the office. Mondays are my day off..and for once, I don’t feel down. I’ve just gone blog..and that too with Pather Panchali. Think I’ll unwrap that DVD later this evening and see it again, after all. Thanks Ray.
Khalid Mohamed
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
A very warm welcome Khalid. Thank you for this!
Welcome aboard..
welcome sir …
and hoping u do share more of ur knowledge and passion for cinema …
and yes the more we rave about ray, the less it is
My first and last comment : Alvida PFC (today PFC lost one of it’s ardent follower)
~ a silent PFC admirer
Well, well what do you know..Welcome to PFC Khalid !
Welcome aboard boss..
It’s those quiet observations of life that truly make Pather Panchali the gem that it is..
I can’t bring onto you the joy I am overcome with everytime I watch that sequence where little Durga, shown sitting alongside Chunnibala Devi is whisked off by her mother..
A slight conversation follows:
Chunnibala : Let her sit. She is doing no harm.
Durga’s mother: Why should she sit? So, that she can watch you eat away happily?
I can’t tell you what struck me at that precise moment. It just felt like Ray had planted a hidden camera inside Apu’s household and captured a moment of seamless truth that spans over infinite time and space and unearths a universal existence..
Its moments like these… Quiet moments filled with deep observations of human condition, their psyche and modes of retrieval that Ray’s films truly stand for…
From Scorsese to Wes Anderson, his worth continues continues to have followers. And over here, he is either “Too Bleak”, “Arty” or “Too realistic”..
Ray is simply put, the greatest entertainer India has ever produced..
surprise…surprised…
but nyway…
those who cum 2 read english on pfc shd b very happy…they ll get enough new words…impeccable english…
old dictionaries ll be cleaned off the dust…mouse clicks ll take to online dictionaries…
nd ofcourse cinema ll b the topic…
it ll b gud 2 read what a known reviewer c in a film which he had seen 35 years ago…nd who has been carriyng great impression abt the film..ll he find it smae moving… ll he get sum shortcumings…
waiting 4 that article which describes 2nd viewing of pather panchali…
tll then welcum
5…vick…
thats sad…4 1 new change u ll leave 49 old things which u used 2 like…
ur wish but y 2 leave wht u like…u may always ignore wht u dont like…
This mail is only for “krishn”
H K
Ho r u y d y wte ts wy. ts s dmn irrtg. pl wte cly r ps ff
kcp
Are AK and Khalid became friends? PFC was AK’s playground.. Hopefully both of these guys have settled down their differences.. I would love to read Khalid but don’t want to miss out AK.. AK is one of the kind and we don’t want to replace genious with any one else..
Nik
@Nik..
everyone is welcome here…
and noone is replaced
Hey Khalid! Welcome to PFC! Hope to find the same kind penmanship here as we all of come to know over the yrs from your popular writings.
So can you give us a intro of yourself, how you became a critic, how did you venture into making movies, why you made what you made and how do you see movies, contemporary and otherwise.
Going a little forward, how would you go about making a critique of a film, what are your parameters and some one who is widely read in popular “vested” media, what kind of boundaries do you set yourself and how it differs from a studio read “camp” to a camp?
Would love to hear more about your job and what goes with it. Hoping you would oblige!
Welcome to PFC
Talking about realism in today’s cinema, Pather Panchali, kids, villages and poverty…think among the movies that I watched in recent times, Mangesh Hadawale did a very good job in portraying reality in ‘Tingya’.
Of course I have never been to a Vidarbha village or to a Bengali village of 1920s but its perhaps the honesty in the narration and characterization that makes you feel that its real, that its actually happening somewhere in the world.
PS: It will be nice if people discussed more about WHAT someone it writing instead of WHO is writing it.
11…
sorry…but after using short words all the time…its a habit…but i try not 2 shorten all words but few popular words only
btw i wd ve written 4 ur line…
(Ho r u y d y wte ts wy. ts s dmn irrtg. pl wte cly r ps ff)
as…
how r u…y u write this way…this is damn irritating…pls write clearly…
dont get wht do u mean by r ps ff
Khalid Mohammed on PFC… now there’s something a little unexpected. A pleasant surprise nonetheless, accompanied with a hearty welcome.
Khalid bhai you had touched upon something that has been bothering me no end for a while now, and I’m hoping you can expand on this in a broader sense.
“I’m not sure at all..if there can be realism in the movies any more…”
Now I understand you were referring to the harsh realities as depicted with such sensitivity in Satyajit Ray’s films.
However, do you not feel that that’s exactly most what films of today lack? I mean, in 2008 what separated “Chak De India” and “Taare Zameen Par” and to an extent “Jab We Met” from the rest? What did those 3 films have that the rest didn’t? Despite being 3 diverse films from diverse genres, they all stood out because they dealt with their subjects in a somewhat realistic (well, perhaps the better words here would be believable and relatable) manner.
As a person who views todays films critically, and from so close-up, it’d be nice to hear your thoughts on that..
Welcome to PFC
Today is the second best thing to have happened to PFC.
And maybe the best thing to have happened to you
Dear Sir,
I have been reading the pfc blog since oz started it, never ever i felt to put my comment on any of the blogs i read, honestly this is my first comment on pfc. Sir, your very first comment has really moved me. I revere Ray a lot and i remember in 1991 when DD had shown Pather Panchali from that day till 2008 every year i make it a point to see it wherever it is screened by film societies or clubs or on my DVD player, till now i have seen Pather 18 times. The film is a world human document and is still valid in the present times since 1956. I am really really deeply moved ,cant type more, thanks for blogging…Welcome Sir !!!!!
G.K.Desai
Khalid sir..welcome aboard..warm welcome…
I never got a chance nor was inclined towards any of Ray’s films..why? no idea..always feel like watching them one day…might soon…
Good to see you here
Khalid Mohammed on PFC!!!!!
Hats off to PFC for being so impartial.
Just Wondering – Will there be rampant increase in censorship on PFC, esp on Mr Khalid Mohammed’s posts.
Coming back to the post, Cinema for me has always been a means of entertainment, but not just time pass. And I believe the same holds true for most of us. Its just that entertainment means different things to different people. For some watching Black Friday might be his idea or entertainment, for some watching Jab We Met, and some watching both of these or none of these. A movie for me becomes entertaining, if I am able to relate to it. Nothing else matters. And I don’t believe in all those shit like enlightenment and message oriented cinema.
Haven’t seen pather panchali though, so will not be able to comment on it.
Krishn, Let me decipher THE kcp’s closing words.. that’s “Please Write Clearly Or Piss Off”.. Isn’t it correct kcp?
23…
bura mat dekho /padho…bura mat bolo…bura mat suno…
read gud…c gud…say gud…write gud…
how u do it…doesnt matter…
welcome sir… welcome… I also have had a similar thing to Ray as OM (comment 20)… never wanted to/have I seen his films…
Looking forward to hear/read your views… and would also like to read an archive of your reviews (older ones) if they exist online…
Just a question (probably inappropriate on the 1st day itself… but what the hell) do you ever feel that you may have given more/less stars (or in general feel that the tone of your review was a lot harsher/leaner towards a particular film than what it deserved). asked this coz have seen a lot of reviews of yours where i couldnt really understand how you could have such an opinion and all…
Welcome again sir…
“I’m here because to blog means to express whatever, I can’t on other platforms, and I’m not talking railway stations.”
U r so phunny khalid bhai
I found Nayak and Jana Aranya way better than Apu trilogy…dunno y ppl go gaga just about Apu trilogy and Charulata
ye kaisi sarhadein ulajhI huee hain pairon me..
hum apne ke ghar ke taraf uth ke baar baa chale…
hazaar baar ruke hum, hazaar baar chale..
Welcome to the blogland! Happy Blogging!
Welcome to PFC and the world of web logging Khalid… Enjoy your stay!
@Om… you should start watching Ray now… as Kurosawa said: “Not to have seen the cinema of Ray means existing in the world without seeing the sun or the moon.” And not watching Pather Panchali means not to have seen cinema at all…
hey khalid,
we at pfc would love to hear your views on the films you made and did it not deter you from reviewing when you made your own films? All the ambiguities in Fiza that cropped up, like hrithik was supposed to be very young in the flashbacks but wasn’t etc were they present when you wrote the script?
welcome aboard khalid.
it seems like people either love your writing or hate it and you. I’m sorry to disappoint. I’m neutral and looking forward to your posts in this space.
Welcome, Khalid! It’s wonderful to see you here on PFC :-)
@ PDG…any order that you would recco watching Ray’s movies? My biggest fear of watching Ray is that i may not like it now and maybe not give the respect to the man that he deserves…
Congrats PFC… on growing up :-)
Never thought I would see PFC provide a platform for Khalid Mohamed; that’s truly a mature move!
Will be very interesting to read opinions and insights from a diversified crew. What next… Sharukh??
Just kidding… no seriously guys I am only kidding :-)
Om
Start with Mahanagar.
Then follow these in any order you like…
Jane Aranya, Ganashatru, Aranyer Din Ratri
Then come back to this post. If you like these you can watch the trilogies and other masterpieces.
I have seen only half of his films. Its hard to get hold of.
Khalid: Welcome and congrats on a wonderful blogging debut! I can foresee a lot of questions/flames on your reviews and your movies. We’d rather have the other (real?) Khalid – the serious student of cinema with almost encyclopaedic knowledge of both Indian and world cinema – than losing him to the routine barbs about his reviews and his films.
Welcome to PFC,Khalid.
We Look forward to you sharing with us your experiences and anecdotes about Indian cinema.
Dear Mainak,
Its been nearly 2 years since we met in Los Angeles ,
How r u dear ?
The following DVDS are available:
Agantuk (1991)
Shakha Proshakha (1990)
Ganashatru (1989)
Ghare-Baire (1984)
Sadgati (1981) (TV) NFDC
Joi Baba Felunath (1978)
Shatranj Ke Khilari (1977)
Jana Aranya (1976)
Sonar Kella (1974)
Ashani Sanket (1973)
Pratidwandi (1972)
Seemabaddha (1971)
Aranyer Din Ratri (1970)
Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne (1968)
Chiriyakhana (1967)
Nayak (1966)
Kapurush Mahapurush (1965)
Charulata (1964)
Mahanagar (1963)
Abhijaan (1962)
Kanchenjungha (1962)
Rabindranath Tagore (1961) FILMS DIVISION
Teen Kanya (1961)
Devi (1960)
Apur Sansar (1959)
Jalsaghar (1958)
Parash Pathar (1958)
Aparajito (1956)
Pather Panchali (1955)
Yours GK
I smell flame wars ^________^
Dear Khalid sir,
Welcome to PFC. Have you read the book on which Pather Panchali was based? There are so many magical moments in Pather Panchali and I am a bit curious about how much credit should go to the original author…
One of my many favorite moments- an argument between Chunnibala Devi and the mother after which the old lady decides to leave the house. She packs her things in a small cloth bag and throws it out of her room- where is lands on a small kitten which meows in protest and scoots. A humorous masterful touch in a scene full of drama…
Regards,
Welcome to PFC… its a great platform for Cinema fanatics… Hope you will enjoy here.
Khaled sir,
welcome…PFC is quite on its way to Cahiers du Cinema…kartik kudos to u…i m lovin it’.. would like to see a response from the veternans of PFC on this blog… i guess i m pretty sure who i m hinting at..:)
Welcome Khalid sir,
My definitive memory of you stems from an image scores of years ago. Early eighties, may be. Post an intermittent film festival in Delhi (or somewhere else), I saw you on TV sitting in a basic auditorium, holding forth on Syrian cinema.
It was a short clip, part of the DD coverage of the festival in the news, but it stayed with me. Your take on global cinema, so many years before the DVDs came like the plague, emphasised your understanding on the subject. Later, I did detest your pun-riding reviews in the TOI but chose the former as an image to keep.
Here’s looking forward to some stimulating posts from you.
Is Khalid just gonna write his blog and scoot or is he gonna participate in the comment section as well…???
D & C
pather panchali-the movie is based on the first part of the book-aam aantir bhepu. The book is one of the great novels ever written in bengali. its author bibhutibhusan is also one of the great novelist ever walked in west bengal+bangladesh. From whatever i remmember, I think ray introduced many scenes like the train scene(may be wrong here), the insects in the pond, the dog going after the mithaiwalla etc. the way ray captured the heart of a typical village in bengal by small details like the dog scene+ the selection of the specific events from the book and actually doing the hard work of showing them in the screen, adds to the experience of reading the book. You start to appreciate the book even more after watching the movie.
@ 45
Om- So many people praise the train scene (and can get really creative in their imagination about what it signifies and all that) but I for myself am a bit sceptical about the relevance of it. Most films at that time were shot in the Studio. Maybe Ray took so much trouble shooting the train scene that he decided not to edit whatever he shot?! You must admit, it’s an interminably long scene and if one watches it now, you wonder what’s so special about it…
What do you think?
great to have you here Khalid…cinema lovers here would like your long ago articles and interviews from the heydays of filmfare…i was a voracious reader then…welcome..lets have you tell us about the best of world cinema pls..your current film reviews we read in HT..:)))
Aao Sir ji, ab direct baat karenge aur woh khalid padhenge jo pehle padha karte the.. welcome
@46
D&C,
in the movie, apu lives in a village in pre-independent era. Apu is curious like any other child. Now If you want to protray the life of a child in the village you need to show many small details, like the teacher, his relation with his sister, stealing fruits from the trees, also the way he tried to hide under the blanket etc. those are common things any child will do and they are shown. Another big thing in their life is this thing called “train”. As they have no idea what it is, something with a horrible sound and smoke which comes between those two lines and you see people sitting inside. Around you there is nothing like that. So you became curious. Given a oppurtunity you will go.(I know I did. Also if there is a train line one thing my parents said we should not go close to it. which increases the curiosity even more). If I want to portray the life of a child in a remote or pre independent village, I have to show this incedent.(Also there was no bus as at the end they went in a cart.) If it is not there the viewer may not miss anything. But if it is there a sense of completeness is there and also people like me with their childhood in village in the 80’s or before, the train with steam engine was special.
Now I donot know if the scene was long? As that is also a personal choice like the train scene above.
Also I read that pather panchali had weak points. Ray himself mentioned it. Ghatak also did(he specifically mentioned about the death scene of indira thakuran and the dropping of the bowl). But I donot know what they are.
Kya 48 sachmuch AK hain…..??????
@ 49
Om- Thanks. The train scene itself was not long but the two children do take a long time to get to the railway track…maybe the beauty of the countryside was lost to me when viewed in black & white…
Ray spends a long time even in the beginning of Aparajito where he shows Apu at play for a really long time…made for a really weak beginning…at least for me…
is it true ? is it true ? friends n foes were equallly curious. i said thoda jhagda thoda magic. its for the sake of “c” – the Common factor. rest doesnt matter. welcome khalid.
about pather panchali…how the film got made is even more intersting. wish someone would write a detailed post on it. still cant get over the fact that how west bengal governmnet funded it under “roads improvement” as pather panchali translates to song of the road. but my fav is apur sansar.
@mainak…why start with mahanagar ? just curios. love d film. anil chatterjee is one of my all time fav actor.
Mr. Mohammad,
I completely respect your columns, especially since you are one of the most widely read writers [review] in this country.
And, I am very keen to ask you a question.
Do you think the critics opinion [through out the world] differs from the opinion of the general audiences?
why does a good film like Manorama SFU, Johnny.G [there are many more] but Manorama for example, does not get the response from the audience in India, the way it should have got? [but wins awards at NYFF]
Do you think the audience in India has a very limited vision? And if yes who is responsible for it?
I hope you do see my queries and do reply, sir. Thanx
khushaamdeed…
PNU
I made mahanagar as the 1st movie by mistake. I meant Jana Aranya(The Middleman) to be the 1st Ray film to be watched by Om. Because its my favorite. Om will like it.
Welcome Khalid..expecting loads of interesting anecdotes, experiences and of course the unique pov on cinema from you..From Song of the little road(Pather Panchali)waiting to hear lots about song and dance of Bollywood..
And hats off to Kartik for his persuasive skills.
Welcome aboard !!
This surely will turn into an interesting space – will wait and watch
Welcome to P F C. Expecting interesting articles, insights and opinions like this.
Khalid maidan mein uthra…ab aayega maza.
RGV aur khalid ka takkar.
Aa dekhe zara, kis mein kitna hain dum
Welcome sir,
This is another great addition to the authors on PFC.
Welcome to PFC Khalid Sir! Hoping for more interesting articles.
Sarang-
Welcome Khalid Saheb ! Good to know we share a common cinematic god !
Pather Panchali, as many understand, did dwell on a child’s world. But more importantly, it dwelt on situations from his POV. The “Kaash” flowers, the running about, the train watching, the curiosity towards elderly space are all manifestations of this. If one wants to nit pick then there are scenes that one can highlight but for ‘Our Cinema Sake’ one cannot overlook the obvious mastery of the story teller. Ray.Deliberately, he allows space to a child, to do his thing, to play along, to get the mood right, to involve the viewer, to live a life in those 2 hours..fabulous..Ray!!
Ray was one of those film makers who never eclised anyone with his brightness. He was truly a ray of light that all the mirrors are happily reflecting forever. Caught concluding 45 minutes of Shatranj Ke Khiladi an was simply mesmerized by the parallel references and minimalism that brought out the best from the artistes and in no way Ray try to de-Bollywoodize Sanjeev Kumar or Amjad Khan – He simply polished them and made them radio active in the presence of the arthouse heavyweights Saeed Jaffrey, Faroque Sheikh and Shabana Azmi. Offcourse Sir Richard Attenborough is presented with a dignity that most of the ‘angrezi’ stereotypes lack in Indian movies. Khaled sahab, aap ki vijay PFC par khush khabar hai. Aur bhi likiye Khoob mazaa aayega jab baath karenge mil ke Cinema ki baare main – hum, aap aur PFC ka bagpipers ki saath.
@Dazed & Confused
If you watch the trilogy (Pather Panchali, Aparajito & Apur Sansar) then you will surely feel the relevance of the train scene. The train moves progressibly closer to Apu and in the final film (Apur Sansar) his Apartment is housed in building bang beside the railway line ! This usage of the train is definitely done consciously binding the complete trilogy with the “progression” motif.
@ Neel
your comment may be relevant if I had asked why Apu’s house is near the railway station in Apur Sansar. I find it hard to believe that Ray included the train scene in PP because he already envisioned the trilogy.
@Dazed & Confused
Ray had not envisioned the trilogy at all during the Pather Panchali shooting (took place in phases). My personal view on this sequence is first trying to assume Pather Panchali without this sequence ! probably it will remove a chunck of glamour (maybe over 50%). It’s the childhood “discovery”..the joy of seeing the first train for a child who has never seen a city. This probably can be only imagined and felt by a person who has spent a certain amount of time in “gram bangla” (villages of Bengal). I still re-call the thrill of watching the scene when I first saw this film. A feeling which I have still not forgotten. The Trilogy only later uses this train motif and pulls the idea further and makes the symbol (might or might not have been concieved earlier) of progession and the “chugging” along of life and it’s trials so “real”. It’s better at times to enjoy the beauty of a sequence as long as it gels with the whole (Ray was very conscious about gelling and is known to have cut out beautiful shots which jarred sequences) and takes the theme forward.
welcome welcome welcome…
welcome to the party come
welcome welcome…
@ Neeraja,…Hi,…PP isnt about kids, villages or poverty,…pls revise your view. And it portrays a Bengal village of the 50s.
@ Indraneel,….Bhai,….how could you ? PP as well as Aparajito refrains from character driven POVs for the most part.
Hey GK Desai
How are you? Your man took the National Award again…
congratulations…..
What are you working on these days?
Hmm… welcome to PFC Khalid.
Probably not your intention, but this post comes across as a sycophantic plea for “respect” from a readership that is assumed to only appreciate “art” films. The puns and the bad, gossipy, Stardust writing aside, there just doesn’t seem to be a sincere opinion here. Ray would probably be offended to hear his audience romanticizing poverty and grief after watching the film.
Karan Johar, now, there’s a blogmaster. Superficial and chatty, but bearable because it’s honest. It’s okay to be who you are.
@72
Hi Mainak, as you know after completing my production work on the Hollywood Film “The Ode” in Los Angeles, i just finished my acting assignments on UTV’S “Fashion” starring Priyanka Chopra and Ekta Kapoor’s “C Kkompany” Starring Tusshar,Anupam,Rajpal and Mithun.Also my production as a Producer “The Opportunist” starring Manoj Joshi got released in Tokyo,Japan.Now we are starting “Jail” in Mumbai and also my second Hollywood film US$ 15 million “The Water Trade” to be shot in Chicago and Tokyo !!!
@72
Whats THE WATER TRADE about? Who is attached to it?
Is Jail going to be Madhur Bhandarkar’s look at that aspect of life?
Why wasnt Opportunist not released in India?
Congratulations…
THE WATER TRADE is about the modern prostitution in Tokyo, the writer an US Diplomat stationed in Japan as already been attached, my legal team in LA has confined me not to disclose further than this.
Regarding JAIL , Madhur is exploring the lives of Under-trials in the most hardcore way anybody could imagine,mark my words JAIL will go down in history books,he has been resarching on this subject since 2000,Manoj Tyagi is the co-writer of the script .
THE OPPORTUNIST was screened at the short film corner in Cannes, there i took a decision of to see where the film takes me and not the other way around !!!
Khalid saab,
Welcome on board and looking forward to your writings and comments. It is always a pleasure to read from one of the ardent students of cinema.
With Thakur (ak) and Gabbar (km) both on board. “Ab aaayega mazaa”.
-n
Khalid ji namashkar…..mai bahut salon se aapse ek sawal ka jawab chahta hu…..Yuva ka review jab saturday ko aaya tha tab use aapne 2 star diye the lekin iska review dubara sunday ko aaya aur iss baar aapne ise 3 star diye the….aesa kyun…ye gutthi mai aaj tak suljha nahi paaya
respected sir,
You judged me at a debate recently and u spoke to mrs.Khanduri of cathedral and john connon school about me.I was wanting to speak to you about it can u pl give me a number on which i call.
thanking you.
regards,
sarthak misra
A warm welcome to Mr Mohammad, Have missed your film reviews when u shifted to HT from Times and have hence shifted with u, have always loved your take on hindi movies, keep up the great work, hope to read more of your blogs.
When I saw your small goodbye note on the Saturday’s HT I was pissed, like I was when Bhaichand Patel stopped writing on Alchohol on Brunch. Crunch! Thought I must admit, I never liked your rating’s for the movies you wrote on (like 4 star to RBJ (ha!) and 2 star to Bheja fry (ha!ha!) and once even wrote against that in one of my reviews), but that’s may be because your know your cinema differently than I do. Hoo hoo! However, I was a follower of your writing- simply because the twisted humour, the sarcasm and the anecdotes are not everyone’s cup of tea. Gee! I eagerly waited for your reviews on the worse to worst Hindi movies, just to enjoy the sarcasm & wit. Clean chit. You rating to Dhol was 1 Dhol. What a jhol ! (I agreed though). Again, it’s difficult to filter out the content from the person, without being judgmental, but I was somewhat successful doing that. Pat pat ( on my back). The second reason is of course Ray. Hey, I know you hate people who claim to know cinema w/o seeing Ray’s movies. So do I. Like, the unsaif khan has not seen any of Ray’s movies, while his mom made history on them. Shame. Beats you, beats me. Cheee! But irony is cake of life. Pass me the knife.
So, I dunno how I missed you here so long (my bad), I discover you here on PFC with ‘The Ray’.
I am happy to see you and happier again to disagree with your views, because now you have to read my comments. Blog better news paper. Blog can’t be burnt. Grunt.
~uh~