Aarakshan

‘Arakshan’ had Big B (Bachchan), Chote Nawab (Saif Ali), a top heroine (D.Padukone), a dazzling performer (Manoj Bajpai) a future potential (Paritk Babbar), some really trustworthy supporting artists (Saurabh Shukla, Darshan Jariwala), even a special appearance from the dream girl (read aunty), a eyebrow raising subject, with an extremely gifted director, and above all the whole shooting of the movie was done in my hometown Bhopal. What possibly could have gone wrong? Well some things went wrong.

To be honest the movie starts on a high note with the first scene being an interview between Saif Ali (who plays a talented man from a lower cast) and 3 cast and background conscious hypocrites. But the next 20 minutes really took the graph of movie down, probably it was due to introduction of different characters, then comes that part of movie which actually is unbearable, it is an extremely pathetic ‘Basti Song’ which one may starts believing was not directod by Shri Prakash Jha, however the pace picks up with the announcement of Supreme court, allowing 27% reservation for OBC, and suddenly the whole society starts compartmentalizing in two groups, one who feels reservation is their right and second who feels cheeted. Amithbh Bachchan who plays a  ethical college Principal find himself in between these two groups, where constantly his loyalty is challenged by both the groups. Even loyalties of people who used to considered Mr Bachchans character to be God like are also challenged by constantly changing situations.

The first half of the movie is excellent with a strong theme and acidic dialogues, but the second part takes down the movie to new lows, one even starts wondering that these are two altogether different stories, one before the interval was actually about reservation but the one in the second half becomes about the fight of one man against private coaching classes. It may make sense to some people but it didn’t make any sense to me. My expectation was the director’s view over the subject, at least an honest bystander’s opinion. But Mr Jha disappointed big time in the second half, by digressing so much from the story altogether, as to reservation was never an issue to start with. The only reason I could think is that the director became scared, that by either favoring or condemning ‘reservation’ he may face protests by either of the communities, or may be due to political mileage he may loose (he himself is a politician).

However Amitabh Bachchan is just outstanding in the first half, in the second half the script weakens his otherwise flawless performance. Saif is convincing and likeable, Deepika has got scope and she has not disappointed, but Manoj Bajpai is not utilized to his potential, there is no ‘karara javaab’ from him this time, like he gave last time in ‘Rajneeti’ with the same director, but the real disappointment is Prateik, he is below average and after some time you may think his track in the movie was half baked as well. Hema Malini’s special appearance is uninspiring, in supporting cast Darshan Jariwala excels, Saurabh Shukla could have got more footage as he is a seasoned performer.

On the whole the movie is a mixed bag, with some good performances and sequences added with a disappointing second half.

Rating **1/2

Singham

It is always said that a movie with a good first half, but a below average second half drowns even a good movie, an average first half with an elevating second half results in good business, and a good first half with an amazing second half results in a classic.

Even though Singham is about to breach 100 crore mark, it falls in the second category. It retells the age old story of good v/s bad.

This genre was extensively over used by movie makers through 70’s to 90’s, and even before and after that. The problem that used to be with these kind of movies was, that the hero after fighting a near lost battle with the villains and defecting them, still used to take a bullet or two in the chest during climax, but didn’t forget to educate the people around and babbles about duty or the bad effects of ‘System’ with an unbelievably sad and intolerable background music and a lot of crying character artists added with a bangle breaking heroin.

Jokes apart, the setting of such a movie became too predictable to tolerate. But Rohit Shetty reintroduced the same with Singham, but he made sure to make appropriate changes. The director took his sweet time to build the story, and during the time put all the light moments in the narrative, however the quality of humor during this section is questionable, still there is no denying to the fact that the drama starts unfolding with the very first interaction of the villain and the protagonist. The director has relied equally on action and heavy duty dialogue delivery for both Ajay Devgan and Prakash Raj. Each of their confrontation gives you a rush of adrenalin. Post interval portions are high point of the movie; however the best part of the story for me was fact that due to the stress and uncooperativeness of his own people the character of Bajirao Singham, tries to get help from politicians, even thinks about quitting the job, he gives signs of not being a super human, who can fight any thing, its only after he regains the confidence that he starts his battle with the bad guy. However the climax of the movie was a let down, what happens there is simply idiotic to accept by any reasonable man. Taking nothing away from the director, I would have liked a better thought after finale. 

Ajay Devgans excel in the role, but the best performance comes from Prakash Raj, only thing is that you can not differentiate his style from ‘Wanted’ or ‘Buddha hoga tera baap’, still you enjoy this actor. For me the surprise package was Sachin Khedekar, his comic timing is astonishing in the movie; the director has used the ring tone of his mobile to create repetitive laughter.

All together a decent movie to watch with your family, although I know most of you have already seen this movie.

Rating ***.

The Greatest Game Ever Played: Sports with Sportman Spirit

Before he fought with the decepticons in Transformers, before he rode on a motorcycle with Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones, Shia LaBeouf played a character called ‘Francis Ouimet’  in the movie ‘The greatest game ever played’ , a 20 year old boy form a humble background with aspiration to become a golf player.

Since the boy loves the game so much, he works as a caddy (person who carries player bag and clubs) at a golf course. But financial difficulties, added with a disapproving father, make him a probable candidate of being another victim of unfulfilled dreams. However watching his dedication to the game a regular player at the golf course offers him an opportunity to enter in an amateur golf contest, as his father won’t agree, he becomes so desperate in his attempt to become a regular player that he makes a deal with his father, that he won’t look back at being a player if he loses the contest. As destiny has it, he loses and starts working at a shop, as agreed with his father.

Opportunity knocks again, as the US Open Golf Tournament is being held, and one amateur player will be allowed to play with the champions from around the world. Reluctant at first, Francis however agrees to participate. As he can’t pay a caddy for himself, he is stuck with a 10 year old, a very adorable golf fan who agrees to do the work without any remuneration as he will get an opportunity to be on the golf field with all the champions of the game, he apart from being a caddy becomes Francis’s guide, the smaller boy has a simple enough strategy for Francis, ‘They play their game, we play our game’.

The tournament becomes the prestige point of Americans and British, as the British are considered to be the best players of the game, but an American had won the tournament the last year. So British are adamant to prove their dominance and Americans are trying hard to make sure that the last won was not a fluke.

But the unexpected happens, and there are only three players are left on the final day of the game, the two British players and Francis as the only American. What follows is considered to be the greatest game ever played. Where an amateur player defeats the big guns of the game in an astonishing playoff.

P.S – The movie is based on actual events that took place in 1913.

The movie has amazing cinematography, with good performances and believable narrative. It is one of those films, which makes going to cinema an experience.

A must watch with every standard.

Rating ****.