Welcome to Sajjanpur? No, thanks!
Shyam Benegal is one name that commands attention and respect. And, his recent film proved it. Welcome to Sajjanpur can at best be called a highly mediocre film, which had it been from any other director, would have trashed left, right and center. But, you don’t do that with Shyam Benegal. So, you have all the reviews in the country sounding extremely vague on the film. They definitely cannot trash it for sure (after all Benegal!), and they also can’t praise that bad a film.
I was rather conned into going for the movie. And, it would be an understatement to say that the movie was BAD. I mean, while watching a Benegal film, if you are actually reminded of Daviv Dhawan humour – you can imagine the plight! The film is crude, crass and vulgar in stages. Benegal tries to weave in social messages (like education, eunuchs given their rights, widow remarriage, etc. etc.), but it falls flat.
Shreyas Talpade is good – but then you can’t expect him to carry off a weak script. Of all the actors, apart from Talpade, Ila Arun is fabulous. But, that’s that. The others are mere cut-outs. And, what was an actor of Rajeshwari’s calibre even doing in the film?? Maybe it was a thank you gesture on her part to Benegal for giving her some brilliant films. She actually hams – ably supported by Ravi Kishan (yep, he’s there too!).
Amrita Rao is believable, doing what she does best – looking all innocent and helpless and forlorn. Rajit Kapoor is there in a cameo – but I guess that was more so, because he is sort of Benegal’s lucky mascot. Shantanu Moitra’s music is a big disappointment. You definitely expect much better score than that from him! Tough to imagine that this is the same guy who gave us Khoya Khoya Chand and. of course, Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi – but then to compare any film to Hazaaron… (technically or otherwise) would be criminal.
The long and short of it is that, Benegal cannot be pardoned for the fiasco called Welcome to Sajjanpur. It is painful to watch such a great filmmaker make such a pitifully low-grade film. Or maybe, there were just too many expectations from the man. After all, what can you say of someone who makes films like Mandi, Nishant, Surak ka Satvan Ghoda and then nosedives into making a film like Sajjanpur?? I mean, even Zubeidaa looks like a masterpiece!
Oh, by the way, the name of the for some strange reason was changed at the last moment to Mahadev ka Sajjanpur. Whatever!
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
Give the guy a break….at 75 i guess he just wants to have some fun….
Abhay,
Having fun is ok – but then if he deserves praise for some great films – shouldn’t he be held equally responsible for the bad ones? If you accept bouquets – you got to take the brickbats too – simple.
Medha – Just a factual correction. The name was changed from “Mahadev Ka Sajjapur” to “Welcome to Sajjanpur” and not the other way around. The censor certificate was obtained way back in June, and hence bears the old name.
Medha,
Shyam Benegal is my favourite director by far. There are very, very few films that I like more than Manthan, Trikaal, Ankur, Bhumika, Mandi, Junoon and Kalyug to name a few. I think his social-consciousness and human concern as a film-maker is non pareil.
Still, I agree with you whole-heartedly. He is not what he used to be and it must be said. I thought Zubeida, going by his standards, was unpardonably tacky. But I think the fault is more outward than the opposite. The sensibilities he originally assimilated and is comfortable with, is alien to the current crop of audience. Thus, he is forced to get into another skin, and that doesn’t work most of the time.
He will remain an icon for what he did than what he is doing today. The Manthans, Junoons and Mandis are the ones that will remain unbeatable, always.
Completely agree with the review. I haven’t seen much of Benegal’s movie and I had hated his Zubiedaa. I was in no mood to watch Sajjanpur, but a friend of mine insisted and I relented. Needless to add, I found it horrifying. An utter crap, IMO.
Inca, Azad,
Welcome to Sajjanpur really cannot be pardoned. And more so because of Benegal’s stature.
Aditya,
Thanks for the correction.
“Welcome to Sajjanpur can at best be called a highly mediocre film, which had it been from any other director, would have trashed left, right and center. But, you don’t do that with Shyam Benegal”
You said it, Medha! Agree with you cent per cent. The denegeration of an intellectual mind is always packaged differently – the sanctity is religiously kept intact by all interests – vested included! Ankur, Bhumika, Manthan are timeless, but do they exempt him from X Ray examinations.
Well, Benegal alone knows the reason behind his desperation! (His voyage downhill began with Zubeida..but WTS has broken all records)but the impartial treatment is truly sad.
If David Dhawan does it, it’s in poor taste… If Benegal does it, there’s some great thought behind it..else why would Benegal do it, right!
Sudhir,
I couldn’t have said it better.
“If David Dhawan does it, it’s in poor taste… If Benegal does it, there’s some great thought behind it..else why would Benegal do it, right!” Aptly put
Medha,
I agree with you. I don’t have much to say as I left the flick during interval. According to me, it was terrible, mind-numbing and outrageous from its first scene. I couldn’t belive how Shreyas Talpade chose to act in this flick. We all know he did outstanding job in Ikbal. well things apart. I would say that every director cannot make all film superb and mindblowing.
Medha, I whole heartedly agree with you.. I went to the theatre to see a Benegal film, whose work I have loved in the past.. I was aghast seeing those flowing curtains in a tacky love song.. I mean, what were they thinking?? And even if you want to make a social commentary, make some point!! The film was a collection of random incidents of a viallge, being compiled into a film. There were no character graphs.. I just didnt find the letter tampering funny.
I dont think I’ll be able to forgive Benegal for this..
Mr. Benegal has not “tried” to weave in social messages in the film.. he has potrayed the facets of a modern India through this village called Sajjanpur.. It felt flat to you Medha because either you read extensively about plight and situation of present India or were expecting a film like hazaron khwaishe aisi, which indeed is a film festival material but I feel is an escape. Now I am not talking about the film but its content. Why not the director chose Assam or Bengal as the backdrop of the film? Not going further into that I will come back to sajjanpur.
SajjanPur echoes India. Look at the characters.
The land of snake charmers, bahubalis, superstitions, migrants, bal-vidhwas. But all is not that bad in Sajjanpur(India).. New woment refusing the age old dominance.. ‘hamar life kono life na hai ka?’, the govt system protecting the weak and most importantly a mindset which is pure inherently.. otherwise why a manipulating lover will give away his land in order to save life of his love interest’s husband.
Now, i might be intellectually dwarf to Medha Dutt, but I paid almost the same price to watch the movie and I am satisfied. Nowhere i felt the script is weak. Medha talks about bad acting. She should give example of any movie in which the role of eunuch has been done so magnificiently. The music of a film is to support the film’s content. It is not directed to soothe our ears. Listen to the lyrics of ‘munni ki bari’ and “aadmi swatrantra hai”.
Shyam Benegal has made a film and he should not care whether it is a “masterpiece” or not. By d way can any one define a “masterpiece film”?
‘Welcome To SajjanPur’ soundtrack is not meant to be like ‘Hazaron Khaisien Aisi’ or ‘Khoya Khoya Chand’. Nor it is meant to be like a David Dhawan soundtrack. If you are going to compare stuffs, then at least compare equal stuffs.
The soundtrack is not classic, and why it has to be? The soundtrack reflects the movie and it is still quality. Sitaram is a wicked song. It is sort of an old-skool soundtrack (different to KKC though).
KK is in a form after a long time…
Gourav,
First of all I’m not defining a masterpiece – I don’t possess the intellectual capabilities to do that. Neither do I possess the time and energy to ‘read extensively about plight and situation of present India’ nor am I ‘expecting a film like hazaron khwaishe aisi’ (which btw, was far from an escape).
All said and done, I went to watch a Shyam Benegal film – not a tacky comedy. You might feel that it was very socially relevant with extremely high voltage social messages – but I somehow failed miserably to decode them.
True, the eunuch piece was well done – but not in its entriety. In pieces yes, definitely. A big part of the film was plain crude and crass humour. And, what was the part about the Rajeshwari-Ravi Kishan prem kahani?? Not to mention, the dream song sequences! I mean dream song sequences!!!! In a Benegal flick?? A village belle suddenly dressed in jeans on a bike? Flowing curtains? Candles? Chiffons? And, you expect me to believe, this is Benegal, if not at his best, atleast doing a pretty good job?? Give me a break!
Honhaar Goonda,
True, every film should have a relevant soundtrack – but if the music leaves you the moment you come out of the theatre – what’s the point? But again, to each his own – maybe it stayed with you.
What, you are not even humming the hummable song ‘Sitaram’?! I haven’t see the film yet – waiting for the DVD. I have seen the promotional music videos, though. :-D
The Remix Sitaram is Original and Original Sitaram is the Remix!
Gourav,
By the way, are we still a ‘land of snake charmers’??? Just curious.
Honhaar Goonda,
That song reminded me of a song from Aamir – and then Sitaram lost out I guess
Yes. Its obvious that you failed to decode the messages. Now, if you exert yourself to see that song again, you will find that with every stanga and line of the song the get-up and the vehicle of characters are changing. They start off with a cycle, then to a scooter, then to a motorcycle having their clothes changed as per the vehicle they are driving. When they come in car, the girl drives it in the later part, and they move into a micro-light plane. You still not getting any clue? Mahadev is imagining of having the girl and a improved lifestyle.
He is practical and he wants his life to be better with his love interest.. He wants to move on and on, a fact which he tells us in the beginning of the film that he wants to write a novel.
Even if the film is a tacky comedy it solves its purpose. I went to watch Welcome to Sajjanpur, not a Shyam Benegal film. If ever you have written a story you will know that a story requires certain tools to potray ideas. Rageshwari-ravi kishan were the tools to potray the ideas of a old father-in-law having a widow bahu, writing skills of Mahadev which justifies his becoming a novelist later, the problem of child marriage and finally the rudiments of our society on widow re-marriage.
I urge you and other people thrashing this beautiful film to watch it once more and try to decipher the mind of story writer and director. Pay attention to the body languages of characters specially amrita rao when Mahadev is fooling her, and after the end of movie ask yourself whether that were justified.
a considerable amount of population of our country lives in jungles. Yes we are a land of snake charmers along with land of vedas and land of outsourced software developers
Gourav,
‘I urge you and other people thrashing this beautiful film to watch it once more and try to decipher the mind of story writer and director.’ But, of course! You don’t have to urge. I realize now I was getting it all wrong from the very first scene. Cycle to scooter to bike to car to micro light plane – yes, you are right. Such a subtle way of putting the messgae across – how could I miss out on it?? Especially when they had those romantic dreamy picture frames around the screen. Sigh! Thank you so much for enlightening me. I owe you big time.
By the way, any chances you watched Benegal earlier? I mean, before he made this ‘beautiful film’??
Gourav,
Yes you are right – we are a land of snake charmers, and vedas, and outsourced software developers – whoa!! Don’t we ROCK??!!
You ROCK!!!.. Please Keep Rocking!!!
Rural India.. What the hell is that.. Aah you are not a folk, you are a Rock.. Keep Rocking!!!
BTW Got this e-mail last night.. forwarded by lots of engineers..
“TIRUPATHI MIRACLE – Tirupathi Devasthanam – believe it or not!
Trust in God with all your heart and way. This letter has been sent to you for good luck. This is from Tirupathi. It’s not joke. You will receive it in a few months. Please send 20 copies of this letter to people whom you think need good luck. Please do not send money. Do not keep this letter. It must leave you within seven days. An officer has received 2 million dollars after sending it. Mr Robert lost more than 21 lacs for not sending and breaking this chain letter. Please send 20 copies and see what happens in 4 day s. This chain letter comes from Tirupathi. Let’s Try…
DONT SEND IT TO the PERSON WHO MAILED YOU THIS. ”
We have a Sajjanpur around! Even in a literate rocking world!!!
Since I wrote a small piece about the film elsewhere, I will just do a copy and paste my reactions on the film…
“Saw it yesterday.. Loved it..
Shyam Babu, like a magician kept taking out so many things from the hat without making any thing a core issue of the film.. So many characters, so many things to say, without making it a speech.. nothing was a headline but a collection of side notes.. beautiful.. It was not intended as a hard hitting film, nor a piece of artsy, classy cinema.. It was entertaining stuff for sure with a good balance of humor and satire.. goes over the top sometimes but not out of control.. I am not disappointed….. ”
[Spoliers]
and the culmination was pretty good.. specially the intermixing of dream and reality.. The good ending on the paper turns out bad (Rajeshwari-RaviK) in reality while the sad ending in novel of Munni baai turns out to be feel good ending in reality.. not a master stroke, still a good hit…
[End Spoilers]
“Feeling good for the film.. Feeling good for Shyam Babu and Feeling good for the Middle of the road cinema.. not a classy act, but worth a watch…”
Pavan,
Don’t exactly know what all that was – but good. Nice to know people liked this film. Speaks a lot for my intellectual capacity I guess :(
I liked this film. It was entertaining, funny and different. I loved the way modern urban occurrences were adapted to the rural form… like the chain mail bit. The songs were a bit of a drag. The acting was top notch. Does it make a difference to me if this was made by a Shyam Benegal who’s made classics before? NOPE! I just saw this as a stand alone film and thought it was a “nice little film”.
Give Shyam Babu four and a half crores to make a film…unconditionally. Promise not to interfere with the making of the film in any way. And then go along with what he has delivered and market it and sell and release it…without complaining that the film has very exacting intellectual standards, or the fact that no one really wants to see serious fare (the prevalent view among the distributors)…or the fact that the distributor wants a song in it…or the fact that you have to sell your music rights and your satellite and DVD rights…just so you can keep making films again.
And then Shyam Babu might be able to give you the masterpiece he so deserves to make…till then I guess we’ll watch “Welcome to Sajjanpur”. Its not that bad…its not Junoon but then again its not “Partner” too…
the way Rock On or Khosla Ka Ghosla was released…without
sorry about the last part…the “Rock On” KKG bit…I forgot to erase it…cheers
whether u like a movie or not heavily depends on the mindset with which u watch it…. dunno wat was medhaji thinkin… but my mindset was such that i liked it…. maybe medhaji who has seen all benegal’s movies didnt like benegal’s attempt at light hearted movie which actually wasnt light hearted…. n she compares him wid dhawan-esque comedy…..
Shyam Benegal has been pushed into the quagmire that other great directors in the past have been thrown into..
the same argument..”oh how can Spielberg give us Kingdom of Crystal Skull after Schindler’s List?”
“Oh coming from someone who made Miller’s Crossing, The Ladykillers is a great disappointing”
Firstly..I think we need to give filmmakers some breathing space at times….they make different films for different purposes… I hate this argument “oh having watched Mandi, Junoon, Ankur, its a great disappointment”
Well maybe he doesnt want to make another Ankur, another Nishant..He makes films for different purposes..maybe Sajjanpur isnt meant to be that heavy, intelligent film with a social message..maybe its just supposed to be a simple ordinary film..
I second Faraaz and noopur. One should decide to watch a film by look of its poster or its trailer or by reference. The past credentials of director, production house and actors should not be taken into credential.
@Pavan Jha
Long ago we used to be “sone ki chidiya” or “the land of real education”, today We are COOL nation of ROCKS comprised of HOT DUDES and BABES.
Medha, I think you went to saw this movie with a desired mindset i.e, you want to see a serious Shyam Benegal movie , which shows the apathy in a typical village in M.P. in a typical sad and serious manner. but this time I think Mr. Benegal tricked you by saying his story in a comic and satirical manner. This hypothetical village is present in reality but with different name, go look for it any where near Rewa , Satna and Katni anywhere in M.P or U.P. He has highlighted alot of problems and solutions as well is light hearted way ,so that common guy can connct to it as well enjoy his time in theatre, I dont find any fault in it. This movie as relevent as any other previous movies of Mr Benegal just he has shown it a bit of humor this might , which you might find crappy , thats an individual way of thinking. But dont agree with your view.
@faraaz:certain directors define a particular genre, and their consistent work creates a track record. and we come to expect tat they wud give us quality work of tat genre. if martin scorsese tries his hands @ romantic comedy and fails then we just cannot excuse him saying tat it was experimental. i know creative fields have this liberty of trying new things without concern for success/failure. but just imagine wat if a carpenter tries to fix a faucet and fails at it; wud u forgive the carpenter or wud u advise him to stick to his expertise. its the same case here.
@gourav: “One should decide to watch a film by look of its poster or its trailer or by reference” …. this is the reason y OSO and SiK are superhits while MMJ suffers. this is y ppl dont give a chance to leseer publicized movies. and this is wat needs to change. watch all movies, and if u like a particular movie watch it again and again and make it a hit
Gourav (@32),
Thats why we dont send Chain Postcards but Emails.. We dont go to a baba, yet watch Teen Deviyaan or Kismat ke Taare…
Medha,
I never said or forced someone to like a film.. Infact I can very well understand why some people wont like it… I have my own glasses when I go for a film.. Also its not about personal intellectual capacities… but I do believe Shyam babu’s intellectual capacity is more than me or many authors/writers on this blog that he decides to take up W2S.. Not that he can not go wrong… but I dont like the tendency of people to “trash” the films for the sake of it.. There is a lot of hard work (with passion and commitment) that goes into film making and we take only a couple of minutes to trash the entire effort.. Ofc some films deserve “trashing” as they are really badly made films (mostly that lack any passion or commitment).. but I feel Shyam babu got it right at most of the places in the film.. Ofc some hardcore fans (count me in) of his can feel a bit of compromise in this project but think if a little commercial success of Sajjanpur can fuel him to make 10 more Samar’s or Mammo’s or Suraj Ka Saatvaan Ghoda.. how worthy this project could turn out to be then..
As I said I am a hardcore fan, I would like to compare Shyam Babu in W2S with Sunil Gavaskar’s innings of 121 & 93 at Delhi and Ahmedabad against West Indies where he surprised everybody.. He was eaten on the first ball by Malcom Marshall in first test and early in second innings.. The Second test in Delhi (and third test in Ahmedabad) Gavaskar had few surprises in store for all his critics.. It was the time when One Day cricket was coming up like anything.. Gavaskar changed what he used to be and played two of the most memorable and entertaining knocks of his career 120+ and 90 in almost same amount of balls.. Once he got back all his confidence, he scored a 236 not out in the final test in traditional style.. like True Gavaskar..
I hope Shyam Babu has a lot in store for all of us.. and the success of W2S will add fuel to his ventures…
I was more disturbed with the following line..
“The film is crude, crass and vulgar in stages”
Brilliant observation.. would have loved had you explained how.. Such a “crass” remark should always be explained..
@crazyrals
WATCH ALL MOVIES??? Please rethink on your statement.
Now, even after watching the trailer and poster of OSO and SiK you decide to watch it, then go ahead. My sensibilities said Singh is Kingg should not be watched after watching its posters and trailers. I knew what is going to be in the film. Same applies for Race and Jannat. It depends on the taste of a person that whether it will go for glamourised publicised film or a content filled film. But how will he know that before hand whether that film is upto his taste?
He should not go for reviews on net because he will get materials like this post. For me a poster of some villagers sitting over a pen worked more than Akshay kumar holding Katrina.
I apologise but its a fact that nobody can watch all films and he must not.
who’s this medha dutt..?? where did she come from..? And what does she know about cinema..??? Good or bad. I’d like to know. somebody help cause I think WTS is the best satire to have come out of this country after jaane bhi do yaron. Does she know the meaning of satire..??
@gourav[36]: i know its impossible to watch all movies. all i meant was tat, not to go by poster and trailers as suggested by u. these days most movies have good trailers, inspired by hollywood of course, but crap content. very few movies live upto their poster/trailer. in fact, race and tashan had nothing in the trailer at all; which was a good sign as i cud skip them.
and tat cud be misleading too. tats y i anxiously said ‘watch all movies and decide for urself’ 
and not go by poster/trailer/review
i think reading biased reviews can also do ppl in
aby(@37),
Dont agree.. I can very well understand why certain people will not like W2S and this could be their personal view.. also I dont consider W2S as a classic satire.. Its a good film, quite enjoyable but not a classy masterpiece.. Surely worth a watch but may not hold the test of the time a few years later.. like JBDY has… for last 25 years..
Gourav and Crazyrals,
“What makes a person to go and watch a film”, a poster or a review or the promos (or music or cast or the air about the film).. I think this could be a very interest point of research..
Oz,
can we have a poll on this?
@Shiv,
The thought of unconditional support to Shyam Benegal (financial and otherwise) to help him make movies he believes in is just oh-so-nice. But, do you really believe it? I think Benegal has long gone past that age when he has to depend on external factors to help him make movies. C’mon, every Friday you have new and upcoming directors who are making brilliant films despite the constraints. And, we are talking of Benegal here. He IS Hindi cinema. You don’t dictate terms to this man. The moment he’s behind the camera – you just let him do what he thinks best. So, where does the question of financial support and etc come in??
@Noopur,
The film was far from a light-hearted comedy, I believe.
@Aby,
How exactly do you define ’satire’? “WTS is the best satire to have come out of this country after jaane bhi do yaron” – You really believe that?? Guess you do. But, I differ strongly. JBDY has stayed with us for like 25 years – That is a cult film. You don’t even mention the two in the same breath, let alone dare to come up with a comparison.
Where else will you come up with such perfect characterization? Not to forget, the Mahabharat sequence, the cake sequence, and probabaly the most under-rated – the final deal in teh climax – that is satire – not some guy manipulating words and fooling people, not the deep-rooted that superstitions that village people have in many things modern – this cannot be called a satire. Or is it? Enlighten me.
@Faraaz,
Yes, maybe Sajjanpur was just meant to be a simple film – and not a ‘Benegal’ film. But, it’s pretty difficult to go watch a movie, knowing that it’s made by a great director, and not be affected with the thought.
@Pavan,
I’m not trashing the film coz I hold some personal grudhe against Shyam Benegal – far from it. I’m simply voicing my disappointment (a major one), coz benegal has always been a personal favourite. When he made Zubeidaa – I thought – okay, guess it happens to the greatest of the greats – but then WTS?? Sorry, couldn’t somehow buy that. Maybe, you did really like the film, good for you. But, for me it was a major let down – one that would take time to get over. I know that next time Benegal makes a film, I would give it a good thought before going for it – and that saddens me.
Sorry – grudge not grudhe (a typo)
Medha, totally agree with you. WTS was a huge disappointment.
@Pavanji(27)
“… but I do believe Shyam babu’s intellectual capacity is more than me or many authors/writers on this blog that he decides to take up W2S..”
I agree but is there a possibility that his sensibilities are slightly outdated? From what I saw, most of the problems focused on in the film are neither village specific nor time specific. Thats one of the many reasons why it didn’t work for me.
why the hell u guys giving so much attention to this article…..the common thing i see on this forum is that some people just take liberty to trash any film they feel like and then there is lot of reaction to that article…if some one does not like any particular film then its her/his choice…why we all tend to accept his/her verdict or try to impose ours…..yesterday i saw WTS and believe me everybody out there in the audi was laughing their hearts out…to me thats a proof enough, that majority of the people found the movie entertaining and their money worth….ultimately big screens are meant to entertain and not to preach or reflect on any section of the society….those films are meant for film festivals and then are good to watch on DVD and get soaked in the experience for few days….believe me commercial success is as important as critical and let be fair to Mr.BENEGAL when he tries to get that one elusive “HIT” which has been missing from his such decorated Resume.
@Aby(37)
You are comparing WTS to JBDY???
Next you will say that JTYJN is the most romantic film ever!
“The long and short of it is that, Benegal cannot be pardoned for the fiasco called Welcome to Sajjanpur”
wow wow…
pedestal pe bitha diya na?
timepass film hai chilled
and sprinkled with mirch masala…
was more like Khosla ka Khonsla of this year
@Topaz,
Benegal doesn’t need a hit. That I guess is the last thing on his mind. This man created ‘middle cinema’ – he gave birth to a new genre. We might love or hate him for WTS, but you can’t say something like “when he tries to get that one elusive “HIT”” – Benegal is in a different league all together. You don’t judge Benegal on the basis of hits.
@DPac,
Khosla ka Ghonsla was witty. Maybe, WTS was witty too, but unfortunately I missed it.
@Medha,
not comparing it to Ghosla. Sajjanpur is for 2008 what Khosla was for 2006..
u sure you missed the wit altogether? or was it cuz u were expecting something more ‘profound’ from benegal?
A movie that has shown ‘relevant’ issues of unadvertised themes, themes of a 3rd world country leapfrogging to future power of the world, to a SiK, partner, OSO loving country. I call it craftsmanship. Why do we so called intellectuals want a good social message be shown in abject misery. The director has used satire as medium to talk the audience that wants humor. If he had used plain arty morose narration, you’d call him ‘preachy’. Such double standards we the intellectuals have.
@DPac,
The wit (whatever was there) was fos so few scenes – sort of like blink-and-miss – and it didn’t stay with you later. That’s what I found.
@Neeraj,
Social message need not be showed in abject poverty – but it definitely should be showed in a way where people can relate to it. I didn’t.
@neeraja
Preachy? kidhe? kinda bland commentary fine.
where was it preachy?
@medha,
‘why soooo expectationsss ? ‘ :-)
@DPac,
Simple – Benegal
and i rest my case… :-)
@DPac
you talkin to me?
Medha (@46)
“I know that next time Benegal makes a film, I would give it a good thought before going for it – and that saddens me.”
Can one W2S break the castle of admiration built on “Ankur, Nishant, Manthan, Junoon,Mandi, Kalyug, Sooraj Ka Saatvaan Ghoda, Mammo, Samar”… Now I do have some doubts on intellectual sensibilities of a viewer (not writer).. Sorry but I have to say this…
@neeraja
(59) was for u
@Pavan,
One film cannot definitely break an amazing body of work. I mean, I still went for WTS (though after some coaxing) after the debacle called Zubeidaa, right? But, yes, two films like this in a row from Benegal does sort of make you think. Especially when he came back after all these years. The long wait was not fruitful. Sorry to say.
Medha,
come to think of it, what were u expecting from benegal?
@DPac,
A good film, maybe? Something that would not make me think – “what the heck”
zubeida made her angry. WTS gave her dementia. The way it’s is going, looks like it’ll take just one more film from Benegal and Good old Medhaji will commit suicide.
@Aby,
You never know, you never know! And, while ‘Medhaji’ commits suicide – you can write a critical book comparing all the amazing similarities you found between WTS and JBDY
@Medha,
u have relegated benegal to greatness and you expect that from him every time.
not trying to extend an argument here but trying to point to u how the load of expectations work
check ur post on mumbai meri jaan. that one was also a decent movie, not great. but u dont have such expectations from Nishikant so you loved it.
when benegal goes and gives us somehting easy going, u say ‘what the heck’? :-)
@DPac,
That’s true – but then that’s how it works, right? Peace
:-)
not fair though
I meant that if Benegal would have made something morose, then he would be called preachy ( as in when he shows an issue with ‘circumstantial precision’). Or we’d say, why can’t the director think fresh?everytime the same arty festival cinema narration.
He broke his own rules. I saw it as a peace of pastiche & post modernism. Imagine the hinterland junta is entertained at the same time educated about things that they have been doing wrong. It was work of art for me. I might be the friggin aam aadmi and I actually kept thinking about the issues shown in the movie, not to mention that I was entertained too.
fully agree!
watched it after masand’s unusually flowery review.. thts a rarity aint it?
and boy was I in for a rude shock..
disappointing to say the least.
@Dpac
huh? When did I say that I found it preachy? you sure you talking to me and not Neeraj?
Besides I don’t even preachy films as long as they are not preaching about family planning or aids!
mia culpa NeerajA,
apologies.. it was neeraj
Guys,
I can’t understand what all this hullabaloo is about Welcome to Sajjanpur. Let’s admit it — it is not the kind of cinema that Shyam Benegal makes, nor is it the kind that he would ever want to. Maybe it must have been a brilliant idea when he started out, but somewhere down the line he lost track of it and what we see is a caricature and an insipid one at that.
And, to think that Shyam Benegal can’t make bad cinema is as stupid as saying Hitler doesn’t like to be happy. And, to say that Benegal has become senile is treading the other extreme. Maybe Medha has gone overboard in trashing the film, and she has every reason to, as all of you who have watched the film has not only come out thoroughly disappointed, but also amazed at how Benegal — of all the people — could make such a worthless piece of cinema.
I can understand if we are talking about Ramgopal Varma or Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, who are more of hype than substance. We are talking about Shyam Benegal, who is considered to be one of the pioneers of parallel cinema next only to Satyajit Ray. Isn’t it a shame that some of you here are justifying Welcome to Sajjanpur as if the rest of us can’t understand the nitty-gritty of good cinema?
And, if you keep on drooling over Benegal’s cinematic genius while describing Welcome to Sajjanpur, I feel sorry for all of you — You either want to idoilise your filmmakers or bury your head in the ground like an ostrich not wanting to listen to any of the criticism directed against your favourite filmmaker.
Wake up, gentlemen, let’s fight for good cinema, and Welcome to Sajjanpur is definitely not a good piece of cinema.
I thought it was just a plain average movie, not crap, but certainly not a great movie. Some scenes were good, but overall, the movie did not have any great impact for me. The rural milieu and dialect was good, but most of the songs were picturized in a totally tacky manner, and many could have been done away with, except that Munnibai song. The performances were good, but the way Benegal just tried to patch up everything in the last frame was not convincing. Overall a plain average product.
@Medha(53)
Sure benegal doesn’t need a hit. He makes films on thin air. The Box-office guys and us mere mortals must be idiots. I guess there was a time when you used to sit all alone in cinema halls and happily watch benegal movies. but now with WTS, there’s a little bit crowd in there, few more tickets sold and you just don’t fit in. You are so obsessively in love with Benegal that you can’t tolerate anyone else appreciating his work. It’s more a reflection on your size (of your ego) than the quality of cinema WTS is. BTW, there was a 3 1/2 hr long gem called ‘BOSE’ in between Zubeida and WTS. You never mention it. I wonder why..?? Maybe you loved it so much you don’t want anyone else to even know about it. Personally, I think Mr. Benegal has doled out enough crap in the name of intellectual masturbation. With WTS, he takes his first baby steps towards wholesome entertainment. And the Box office proves it. And if you need another confirmation, go meet the distributers and producers of his earlier movies if at all they survived the shock of associating with Mr. Benegal
BTW, only one similarity between JBDY and WTS. They are both good movies.
@ neeraja (51)
You know you sound like a frustrated aspiring film-maker yourself, who can’t appreciate anything good. Be a little more positive baby. I didn’t compare JBDY and WTS. I said WTS is the best satire to have come out of this country ‘AFTER’ JBDY. there were plenty of pretenders in between. And No.. JTYJN isn’t the most romantic film ever. But it was romantic, sweet and entertaining. I enjoyed it and I’m glad to be on the side of majority film going junta.
Welcome to Sajjanpur is not Bhumika. But if he did make a Bhumika would there be an audience today ?..i am not sure..
One of Shyam Benegal’s most splendid work is Trikaal which was seen by so few people. I think it is to his credit that at 75, he has delivered a box office success with a subject that makes people think and laugh at the same time. It appeals to the intelligence in the average viewer without making him defensive. I dont think he has compromised..he has an adaptive mind which moves with the times but wants to continue to address issues, subjects which excite and concern him..that is quite remarkable for a man to do that consistently over 34 years..
@Medha (44)
satire is the use of humour, irony, exaggeration or ridicule to reveal and criticize people’s bad points. WTS had all of this and lots of entertainment. The amount of time you spend hating WTS, you can easily utilize it looking up Oxford dictionary and educating yourself.
Animal rights, human rights, farmers’ rights, human vices big and small, superstitions, gender issues, the MIGHT of the PEN, the ‘100% literacy’ sham, democracy – the bigger sham …YET light at the end of the tunnel…serious matters – all of these in any other country I would presume? and all in One film would also mean very serious cinema in any other country I guess.
folk music, rich dialectical hindi without unneccessary abuses, earthy characters, the innocent fantasies of a literate villager / small towner in a completely film crazed country, the street play tool to parade the media circus, the use of a letter writer turned novelist as a Sutradhar, … I could go on about the amazing mosaic of tools that Shyam Benegal has used to tell his story set in Durjanpur turned Sajjanpur (courtesy – renaming intervention) in a delightful, very Desi way.
No pretentions of a Rock On here. Neither the latest fad of ‘getting the last 20 mins right syndrome’ eg in a Wednesday.
Here’s a film that is consistent in its approach and technique. And which holds you till its ‘twisted’ climax
Of course the music DOES NOT sound like HHK (another contemporary Indian masterpiece)..Thank God! this is a completely different milieu , premise and concern. This film didnt have any place for a Banwra Man just as HHK would feel foolish with a Sitaram
once I got over the terribly synthetic village (ART was really bad i thought), i think Welcome to Sajjanpur does a modern day JBDY… witty, scathingingly funny and insightful.
vulgar? crass? david dhawanish? o my GAWD !!! u completely missed the plot Ma’am! or guess u saw some other film …
Anupama Bose would be the voice of junta. I like her. :-D
Medha,
I have’nt watched WTS as yet, so I can’t comment on how good or bad the movie is. But do we have to carry the baggage of cinematic history with us into the theatre?
Why should we expect a film maker not to deviate from the path he’s followed all his life?
This movie’s doing well in theatre’s , a lot of these viewers might not have seen any of Benegal’s earlier movie’s.
87 comments and i thought there would be an interesting discussion brewing up here..but its a bloody fish market..
hi
@medha
i dont agree with you and believe that you saw the movie searching for benegal instead of characters on the screen…many sequence may look funny and awkard for urban audience but they are part of rural life…and a fact that we still have big numbers of people who are illiterate, believe in stupid religious traditions, politics etc
I want to share an interesting story… Me and my friend went to watch a night show of this movie and enjoyed it a lot… After the show in the lift, there was this group, 2 males t females who were totally disgusted and bored with the movie and were voicing their “opinions” quite loudly.
“Lag raha tha Doordarshan dekh rahe hai!”…
“Kya boring hai…”
They got down at basement 1. Once they got down, I turned and told my friend,
“Hey we enjoyed it right? It was fun!”
And then another guy in the lift, told us, in a sad and morose voice,
“it was not a light movie, It was an art film. Beautiful.”
and got down at Basement 2.
So in the same lift, we had three radically different opinions about the same movie
Fully agree with the review. i left the theatre during the interval. coudnt take it any more.
totally agree with you Medha…..I just could not believe that the movie was directed by him….don’t know what’s wrong with him
For all you pseudo-intellectual-a**holes who think Benegal should be castrated for making W2S, can you please explain why a film-maker have to make films that you cannot comprhend!!?????
W2S is a decent film. Period!
@aby
frustrated aspiring film-maker who can’t appreciate anything good….how many of those have you met?
If WTS is the best satire to have come out of Hindi cinema after JBDY then we really need to worry about whats wrong with us!
@Anupama
insightful? and folk music? did I miss something?
Neeraja,
“If WTS is the best satire to have come out of Hindi cinema after JBDY then we really need to worry about whats wrong with us!”
Can you please name a few?
A totally stupid, ignorant review.
Who the hell is Medha Dutt anyway?
I mean there are better ways of trashing a good film than saying things like “Benegal tries to weave in social messages (like education, eunuchs given their rights, widow remarriage, etc. etc.)”. That is why he made the film, at the age of 75 odd years, moron.
There are better ways to feel self-important. Make some good dal yourself.
Medha You said “I don’t possess the intellectual capabilities to do that. Neither do I possess the time and energy to ‘read extensively about plight and situation of present India’ nor am I ‘expecting a film like hazaron khwaishe aisi’ (which btw, was far from an escape).”
I don’t know much about nuclear physics or rocket science but I don’t write my opinion on nuclear fusion. I don’t go about saying “neutrons are bad and protons are terrible.” That’s crappy way to seek importance.
Just because you don’t care about the world doesn’t give you the right to make stupid, uniformed decisions like bombing the lives out of people. Maybe reading about the affairs of the world and understanding them would have helped. You need humility to understand what you don’t know.
You can’t say “And, it would be an understatement to say that the movie was BAD. I mean, while watching a Benegal film, if you are actually reminded of Daviv Dhawan humour – you can imagine the plight! The film is crude, crass and vulgar in stages. Benegal tries to weave in social messages (like education, eunuchs given their rights, widow remarriage, etc. etc.), but it falls flat.” You are commenting about the worth of the film. On the otherhand if you said “I didn’t enjoy the experience.” That might have shown some maturity on your part.
Actually… calling you a moron was moronic on my part… I think it makes more sense to call your writing a piece of crap that I have given more attention than to than I should have.
Please ban me.
my claim as a writer about cinema
.
as for my involvement goes with cinema
it is restricted up to whistling from my seat in cinema hall
.
before there was internet
people have there opinion on every film
only
they could discuss it with few people they know
.
now
with internet
you can discuss your liking and disliking with
so many people
it is so much more exciting
.
if some professional have a problem with that
than he is free not to participate
.
we are movie lovers
not dedicated to films only
‘aur bhi gam hai jamane main cinema ke siva’
.
interacting with a professional
would be meaningless for me
because the gap between his and mine understanding will be huge
.
i can enjoy a discussion on a movie with a person who is more are less at the same level of understanding as i am
some a little more, some a littel less
.
few days back mr. salim khan wrote his observation
i don’t think there is anybody in pfc
who could have taken that thread further
because who can discuss cinema with mr. salim khan
i surely can not
i just can listen to him with humility
.
hence my preferance for medha dutt
although i can not discuss cinema with its stalwarts
but would very definately enjoy the discussion between two bigs
it would be very educational
do we need cinema on village
.
villages are no longer what they used to be
now villages are ghosts images of there glorious past
.
no body lives in a village out of choice
all the inhabitants are thinking about the ways of migrating to some city
.
consumerims has reached there
most of the village boast of its own ‘airtel’ and ‘reliance’ tower
and its good
.
this romantic potrayal of village is totally out of sync with reality
.
only those are engaged in farming who have no other option
the number is still very big
but no young villager dreams to be a farmer
.
bharat ke gaon ab ujadti hui saray hain
.
and it is good
life in a village is constrained in many ways
they can not even dream of the personal freedom a city life offers
.
without personal freedom the growth of individual is marred
the humanity consists of the individuals
more the individual have freedom more he will grow
more the individuals grow more the humanity grow
.
so for the sake of the humanity
gaon ka dheere dheere ujad jaana hi acchha hai
.
the least cinema can do is to stop portraying villages as some fantasy land
ek tuk bhidate hain
.
kaha jaata tha ki bharat iske gaowon main basata hai
per ab
bharat gawon main nahien, chhote saharon main basata hai
.
chhote sehar bhi kyon ?
metropolitan ke kuch lakh naye ladkon ko chhod deejiye
to baaki sab bharat main hi basate hain
.
naya bharat ab seharon main basata hai
aur jo abhi seharon main nahien hain
woh bhi kuch samay main sehar aa jaayenge
Vishrantbaba
“hence my preferance for medha dut”
When you teach children Mathematics, will you go to Medha Dut because “i can enjoy a discussion on a mathematics with a person who is more are less at the same level of understanding as i am some a little more, some a little less.” ? Or will you refer to an authoritative book on Mathematics or leave it to the pros?
Films are like complex equations, which people who don’t have the knowldege of cinema shouldn’t knock around simply because it looks stupid to them.
People can’t call Singh is Kingg as a landmark in cinema because they laughed a lot at the antics in the films. That is a subjective opinion. They can defintely say it is a landmark budget for a comedy film if that is the case.
They can react to their experience, which becomes an opinion. People like Medha Dutt make pronouncements about cinema without knowledge. That irks me.
There is method to cinema, which is what a lot of film people (yet in small numbers) try, understand and work with despite terrible work conditions. Nobody can claim to know cinema, so everybody is learning.
In the Western World, children are taught to differentiate between opinion and fact. Those considered facts are presented as facts and those considered opinions are considered opinions. So no one really mistakes someone’s opinion on films as facts of the cinema. Here in India, we don’t understand the differentiation, so we end up having a lot unqualified people affecting the box office of good films. That’s a terrible loss. Only people, who make these films and those who enjoy good cinema will experience the pain.
You said… my claim as a writer about cinema
“as for my involvement goes with cinema it is restricted up to whistling from my seat in cinema hall.”
That’s enough. Cinema needs people like you. Not people like Medha Dutt.
@John,
“There are better ways to feel self-important. Make some good dal yourself.” – I can see that you know pretty well how to do that – can you give me a few worthy tips?
“You need humility to understand what you don’t know.” – Please, I am ever ready to learn – kindly enlighten me.
“I think it makes more sense to call your writing a piece of crap that I have given more attention than to than I should have.” – Yep, you are absolutely right. But, from what I see, you actually came back again to post a new comment. Why the ‘re-attention’, if I may? Was it because I failed to react to earlier comments?
“People like Medha Dutt make pronouncements about cinema without knowledge.” – True, I either like a film, or I don’t like it – simple logic – not upto your standards, eh?
“Cinema needs people like you. Not people like Medha Dutt.” – But, of course! Whoever said cinema needs people like me??
Medha
“Welcome to Sajjanpur can at best be called a highly mediocre film, which had it been from any other director, would have trashed left, right and center.”
On this, I entirely agree with you. If it were just another “commercial” movie, you would have a lot of logical flaws and sundry issues being thrown up.
Otherwise, I liked the movie. It was not as good as Benegal’s earlier efforts (although I preferred this to Zubeida). But that is never an issue for me. I went to see a movie & I enjoyed it. Something like, if I get an increment today, I would be happy …doesnt matter whether it is as big as the increments I got in the past ;)
John,
When you go to watch a movie, do you go in to watch and enjoy the film or to come out and meticulously analyse each and every reel in the movie and then come to an educated conclusion at the twentieth hour of the seventh day whether you liked the movie or not?
Whether you like it or not, these movies are being made for people to view. Moreover, they are not shown free of cost. People pay and watch. In that sense, the audience (and that is not just someone who is the cinematic equivalent of your mathematics professor but also the “stupid common man” on the street) is a customer .. and having sampled the product, will come out with his / her views. They have every right to – irrespective of whether they know how to make a film or analyse a film the way it is thought anywhere. By your line of thought, I can never criticise a car that I drive just because I do not know how it is made or designed or how much hard work goes into it. So, let us keep all this “so much hard work etc” stuff aside .. we all do it in our respective professions – and film making is no exception.
“@John,
“There are better ways to feel self-important. Make some good dal yourself.” – I can see that you know pretty well how to do that – can you give me a few worthy tips?”
Medha and John,
Call me for a dinner whenever the Daal is ready!
Oh yes! I am back Medha… but not to read your review.
Here’s a quiz:
I am back to post a comment because:
1. Medha’s is an awesome writer
2. Medha’s claim to humility and her pronouncements about Welcome to Sajjanpur are consistent.
3. Because Medha failed to react to my earlier comments
4. Others
I am thinking about a donating a rupee to PFC for every correct answer.
@kic
It could be unconscious.
My comment is not on anybody’s experience of watching a film. Everybody is entitled to it. My comment is on the terribly written piece, the ‘knowledge’, the ’sensitivity’ and the ‘humility’ behind it. Posing an opinion as fact and defending it to death?
Do you think I keep telling people: Arrey tum paanwala hain, tumko kaisa picture accha ya bura lag sakta hain?, Arrey tum saala software engineer boring code liktha hain, how can you comment on the content of a film.
I desperately want to see Welcome to Sajjanpur succeeding just as I hated to see Ek Chalees Ki Last Local failing. Irresponsible remarks in this space affect people’s opinion. It is fact, not a figment of my imagination or my opinion.
Another lament on WTS, this is not Shyam Benegal film. Communication in the 1920s is not the same as communication in the 2000s. Why don’t YOU wear clothes styled in the 80s and lament on the lack of clothes styled in the 80s in this day and age?
Arrey that man commented on the social issues of his times in his films then and he does so now. But as mediums changed, people changed, styles changed, generations changes, he is using resources of this time to get across his social commentary, which is commendable.
Should films ignore social commentaries and stories set in villages? Getting a good film made, produced and released is incredibly difficult. Social commentaries are the last things on a producer’s minds. So getting one made is it just another film made? Mr. Benegal can make anything cos he’s Mr. Benegal-that’s a naive thought. It requires a steely resolve to fight the system and get something like this made.
‘My grandfather and me are friends’. It doesn’t just Happen. My grandfather has to communicate to me in my language with my metaphors and my references.
What Benegal has done at 75 years-changed to communicate to today’s audiencesp-is a sure sign of a dynamic filmmaker. If that isn’t admirable, what is? I’ll be lucky if I can blow a balloon at that age.
Instead of appreciating that(not blowing balloons, making films at 75), you have made unkindly comments that too on a film that is entertaining and informing people across ages.
By the way, kic, I don’t waste my money at a picture hall analysing a film. Analysis is simply a verbalisation of the experience and that experience is not in isolation.
@Medha
since you say you want ‘worthy tips’ from me about making dal, which I do know how to make. Here’s one: Don’t write a review about making dal, if you don’t know how to make one.
@John,
ouch!
If given a choice to see JBDY or WTS, I would anyday see WTS. There are so many, so many messages, in every dialogue, every scene. I would add this film to http://passionforcinema.com/inside-man-much-more-than-chaiyya-chaiyya/
Questions, Answers, More Questions, More Answers, Trap, Dash, Solve, Trapped again, Question, Fun, Engrossed, How the hell?, Answers, Answers, More Observations…
Tried to see whats in this thread and thought to add something sensible here :-)
Pavanji, nope I can’t. Like I said we really need to worry about it.
I didn’t say that the film was not at all witty. It was good in parts..all the scenes which had Ila Arun and Ravi Jhankal were excellent but it fails to maintain the level of humour and the Ravi Kishan-Raajeshwari track (which I found vulgar), songs, dream sequences etc. spoiled it for me.
@Neeraja,
Yep, the Ravi Kishan-Rageshwari track was the ultimate killer!
@John,
“Instead of appreciating that(not blowing balloons, making films at 75), you have made unkindly comments that too on a film that is entertaining and informing people across ages.”
Have I? Where? I said I enjoyed the movie. Or was this not pointed towards me?
Quote:
“Neither do I possess the time and energy to ‘read extensively about plight and situation of present India”
UnQuote
You ought not watch any Shyam Benegal Movie.
@Sushant,
Thanks, will follow your advice
every sensible person and intelligent cinemagoer knows it was a wonderful movie…some not so intelligent ones find it just good or maybe average(but they can always learn)….and about those who didnt like it,least said the better..
its best not to argue with ignorant ones…specially when you are to intelligent for it…people failing to appreciate such works of art can just be felt sorry for…they need consolation,not advice
@sajal
i totally agree wid sajal..
seein such asinine comments for such a sweet mesmerising muvee
i really felt bad….
yaar it was all so well stitched n woven…how can one ignore the beauty of sir benegal’s direction….
so much was there for evry1.n almost evrything relevant to a modern village scenario was beautifully nested in the movie.
i think whueva can’t appreciate it..shudn’t mak this place a crap..
@Knowlegend,
“i think whueva can’t appreciate it..shudn’t mak this place a crap..” – PFC is not there to specifically praise cinema. It’s a forum for you to express your views or thoughts – and others have every right to agree or disagree with you. I didn’t like the film, but you did – so? At the end of the day, it’s your point of view, right?
ya its just different point of views…just that one of them is completely baseless
Medha – sweetie, that eunuch character is an obvious tribute to Shabnam Mausi, quite possibly the most kick-ass politician in India.
Did you not get that? I guess some of the commenters are right – you really do need to read more.
And without being combative in the least, I’d really like to know what it was precisely that you found so crass and crude.
@Dewi,
I might not know much, but surprisingly I did manage to figure out the connection between Shabnam mausi and Benegal’s characterization. I don’t think I trashed that character, did I? And, when I used the words crass and crude – they were meant for the Ravi Kishan-Rajeshwari angle.
OK, so you found the Ravi Kishen-Rajeshwari angle crass. What exactly did you find so crass and crude about it? I’d be happy if you could elaborate.
just to put the prespective right
forget for the time being that movie is directed by shyam benegal
suppose movie is directed by priyadarshan
than discuss the merits of movie
.
it is an average movie
nothing special about it
.
ravi kishen – rajeshwari
.
when rajeshwari goes to clinic for check up
do you think she really has stomach pain
she fools her father in law in this too
this shameless portrayal of lust is crude
@123 vishrant
“this shameless portrayal of lust is crude”
lo’l!
Right – because we have managed to shame ourselves into believing that any expression of lust is necessarily shameful.
Only in urban India have I seen such naivete, usually villagers tend to have a more complex understanding of lust and longing and how they are such an inevitable and wonderful part of the human condition.
he dewi
i concede
ab jaane bhi deejiye
.
swantah shukhay
i tried to rank the takeshi kitano movies that i had seen
.
brother
zatoichi
dolls
sonatine
a scene at the sea
kikujiro
fireworks
violent cop
@ neeraja
according to the thesaurus synonyms for insightful are : apprehensive, astute, aware, cognizant, comprehending, conscious, discerning, discriminating, gnostic
WTS , as i said, in my previous post does all of that
folk music being a more organic , ever evolving entity doesnt (to my knowledge) have A particular synonym as such. It can loosely be described as Music originating among the common people of a nation or region and spread about or passed down orally, often with considerable variation.
Both munni bai and sitaram reflect this texture.
Semantics apart, if u didnt find WTS insightful & folk music amalgamated into its sound design then ya…u missed quite a bit of the film actually
@Medhaji
I praise your love and passion for cinema. You have every right to express your opinion on a movies which reflect your taste and culture. Though we don’t found the ANKUR SHYAM BENEGAL in W2S yet it is a simple film made with brilliant simplicity. Your review encouraged lots of film lovers to discuss in depth about the film which I found more interesting than the film.
This movie has lot of no-more-fancy but existing social issues. But I think social reform was not the aim of the movie.
This was a very-very simple movie with very subtle expressions that works without words.
I liked the movie anyways — probably because It has been more than a year since I last watched a Hindi movie.
- Nishant