3 Idiots

Carried away by the praises for 3 Idiots on TV,  magazines, newspapers, blogs and people around me I ventured to watch the movie. It turned out to be foolish. The movie couldn’t have been made worse. Masking the movie as a feel good one, intented at questioning the education system  what the director dishes out is crap like any other that these days gets dismissed by ‘highbrow’ muliplex audience as low quality and meant for the so called ‘B’ and ‘C’ centers.

I am told that it touches at how the education system is defective and needs a overhaul. But I found nothing convinsing and nothing new other than few scenes here and there that Aamir mouths on how things really should be. Otherwise its just a package of unrefined jokes and jokes we have known from god knows when.

What irks me more than the stupid movie is the fact that people are hailing it as masterpiece and good thing to have happened. Its all the Aamir and the Raju Hirani effect.  Everybody would want others to believe that they belong to the exclusive circle of intellectual cinema patrons. Saying anything against the ‘perfectionist’ Aamir’s film would be scorned.  I am dying to read a review which trashes  3 Idiots for what it actual is without having to say crap like “..despite its few flaws,  3 Idiots is fun and sets you thinking. Go for it!”. Well, I might not find it anywhere. Infact that’s the reason for this blog post.

Delhi 6

I was interested in catching up with Delhi 6 for two reasons; A. R Rehman’s score and the book The Last Mughal by William Dalrymple. I was mighty impressed with OST of Delhi 6. And the book had ignited in me an interest in Old Delhi. An article in Outlook magazine which said that the film is a tribute to Old Delhi and that it leaves a strong impression by getting under viewers skin further kindled my interest. But what I experienced was in contrast to what I had expected. Delhi 6 is driven by a spineless script and weak characterization. The movie is not an ode to Old Delhi as embraced by the article in Outlook. Watching the movie was a trying experience and the ordeal ended with a finish which unintentionally is comical. Interestingly I felt that the music lacked luster when heard in conjunction with viewing the film. I didn’t find absolutely anything in Delhi 6 to recommend it and I am baffled on reading some rave reviews.

Ghajini

Watching Ghajini, the Tamil version on TV, I was left wondering what was in it that made it a block buster. More baffling is how the Hindi version is being touted as being a good thriller. Is it because it is Amir Khan’s flick the critics do not want to trash it and lap it up despite it being mediocre. I am pretty sure that if Murugadoss had not cast Amir in the lead role, his movie would have gone down with out a trace.

Rock On!!

‘Rock On!!’ is all gloss but no substance. It is about a four men rock band which having a strong passion for rock music and aspiring to make it big stray away and try reuniting after a decade or so to realize its dream again. The problem is that neither the passion for music nor the struggle is said in a telling manner. Instead what we see is a very loosely connected sequences from the past to present that leaves one guessing whether the guys were really willing to make it big in music. (The lead vocalist quite literally becomes deaf to the sound of music for ten long years and when reunion happens brings up the same level of sophistication that he had in the past!). The soundtrack of the movie is the only saving grace in an otherwise nondescript movie, which could have been better if the screenplay had packed more punch by making music central to the narration than the individuals. In the end what I felt was that the film pretends to be an honest and realistic movie but actually is far from it.

Dasavatharam

Thanks to Kamal's adept screenplay Dasavatharam is saved from becoming a complete failure. If only he had restrained a bit in his indulgence the final outcome could have been much better.

Aramane

Aramane was disappointing. In the initial moments the crux of the story is revealed and I found it quite interesting and was expecting a good watch. Ganesh is a photographer who tries to get the separated family of Ananth Nag together again. But the screen play falters in presenting the story convincingly. Ganesh tries to shoulder the movie by his wit and timed dialogues. His quips most of the time are no doubt humorous, but that alone cannot engage the audience. Gurukiran’s score is average. Aramane can be watched only to get few genuine laughs, thanks to Ganesh’s witticism a la Tamil’s Parthiban. Otherwise it can safely be skipped.

Jack The Ripper

When History Channel on cable TV announced that the film Jack the Ripper would be screened in the weekend that passed I recalled reading long back an article on the film in Deccan herald. The author had said that the film was a masterpiece worth seeing many times. I didn't want to miss the movie and I watched it. The author had got it right. The film is indeed a masterpiece. The movie is based on the true events that occurred in London in the year 1888.Wikipedia quotes -"Jack the Ripper is an alias given to an unidentified serial killer (or killers) active in the largely impoverished Whitechapel area and adjacent districts of London, England in the latter half of 1888"

Everything was done to perfection in the movie. The story telling and the background score were excellent. What impressed me most was the performance by each actor in the movie, particularly Sir Michael Caine in the role of Detective Inspector Frederick Abberline. Each had done their best. There certainly would be repeat telecast of the movie. Do watch it. To quote from the article mentioned earlier -for the subtleties and complexities in movie are truly worth savoring.

Nothing But Gimmickry

If you think that the hype and hoopla seen with the release of the Bollywood movies Om Shanti Om and Saawariya is nothing but gimmickry, read this article that appeared in Deccan Herald. The reason is apparent as to why pretty decent movies like Iyarkai, which has the same story line as that of Saawariya, go largely unnoticed but Saawariya receives more attention than what it deserves. The hype makes you believe that you need to watch the movies else you will be the odd person in the crowd.

Azhagiya Thamizh Magan

Vijay plays a dual role in a movie, which is devoid of a strong storyline.All other characters, is inconsequential. A R Rahman's score passes through your ears. I think, we cannot expect any more breath taking music from A R Rahman; at least as far as his contribution to Tamil cinema is concerned. Rajni in his later part of career started making movies, which were powered by his presence alone, Vijay tries it quiet too early. Give the movie a miss. Watch it when it is on TV. But wait, do yourself a favour - give that a miss as well.

Crazy Ho Gaya!

I watched Dhoom-2 on TV. It is one hell of a hilarious movie. The movie is dud but never mind it is fun. ‘Serious’ moments are outright comical and comedy is bland. I forgive Sivaji.