Bajirao Mastani - Marvelous Visual Classic - Worth Watching

 “Bajirao ” is a magnificently unique “Romantic Historic”  film.  Moreover, Bajirao is the definitive historic film of all time. It is hard to imagine that circumstances will ever again combine to make a more spectacular, expensive, and -- yes -- splendid movie. Bansali continues his reputation to deliver what is called “Frame Excellence.” Besides all of this, the only negative point of the movie is second half a little slow, and you may feel this could have been little different.

It is easy enough to praise director Sanjay Leela Bhansali for his thundering battle scenes, or his delicate love scenes, or the quality of his actors. However, these were almost to be expected. What is extraordinary about "Bajirao Mastani is that Bhansali was able to take the enormous bulk of  Marathi Novel named “Rau” and somehow transform it into this great portion of the film without losing control along the way. The trouble with a lot of long history films is that the makers cannot keep everything in hand, and film lose the hold on the audience. The movie focuses more on the BajirRao’s passion for Mastani, the beautiful and courageous half Rajput, and half-Muslim princess of Bundelkhand. 

The movie's opening sequence is as graphic as any war footage I've ever seen. The beauty of the screenplay is that writer is able to bring his epic events down to understandable scale without losing his sense to create an entertaining drama. Also, he delivers magnificent dialogues to portray how men with power behave and oppose the love of Bajirao and due to religion. It is possible to express even the most thoughtful ideas in the simplest words and actions, and that is what writer of Bajirao Mastani does. The film is doubly effective because every character communicates his ideas in feelings, not words. Consider dialogues when Bajirao names his second son as “Shamsher ” or even when he says, “ Bajirao ne Mastani se Mohabbat kiye hai, aiayshi nahi” All these dialogues are thoughtfully written which defiantly needs a lot of depth in understanding of history and thought the process of characters. Another impressive part is the use of “Rain”  and “Sky” to display the intensity of the situation and Bajirao’s inner battle and fight against his co-religionists.

My love for Sanjay Leela Bhansali's attention to detail is never-ending, and I am sure that you will never, ever, going to see anything to equal it. The scenes of battles, where all soldiers are in the same uniform, where it is “Brahmin Bhoj” or Classic Shanivarvada, Director and his cinematographer delivers the best.

All of the actors playing the men under Bajirao are effective, partly because director resists the temptation to make them crazy "characters" and makes them deliberately ordinary. If you want to make hero extraordinary then makes other characters ordinary then hero looks far taller. The performances are interesting throughout. All of the actors look a little larger and more heroic than life.  

About Mastani, she smiles. She is radiant. She is kind, gentle and sexy as well. Bajirao and Mastani are shown as characters in heat always. While she is performing, she displays the love and vibes, and he cares for her and smiles and offers her a meeting after that. They are in full view, but nobody ever seems to see them. They make each other very happy whenever they talk. Chemistry seems to the unconditional love of as Bajirao and Mastani, and it makes them unique and lovable.

Bhansali made happy choice of an actress of Deepika and Priyanka when he cast them.  Audiences applaud applauds both of them during “Pinga Dance”.  Deepika and Priyanka delivers a flawless performance in line with the script. Although, sometimes you may feel Priyanka has been able to steal the show in few lines even though she is not the lead. Forgive me, for my affection for Priyanka Chopra.!

All characters in the movie are strong presences, but for me, the key performance in the movie is by Bajirao mothers and that of “Nana” as the frightened little interpreters. Both of these is our entry into the reality because both of these sees it clearly that the marriage is not possible due to religion and their love for Kashibai. One major thing that needs to be applauded is that Bajirao stood for his love against the entire world, and such courage is very rare.

Despite its length, the movie is not too long. It is as spectacular as a movie can be, and yet it has a human fullness. Considering its cost and the vast effort that went into its making, such a film can be made only once in our time. The wonder, indeed, is that it was made at all.

Tamasha – Failed theatrical attempt of exploring love – Not for everyone

It is one of those annoying movies in which everything would be just fine if the director would have been able to convey his message and lead characters to talk to each peacefully in the simple manner that touches the audience. However, then, there would be no movie – although, in retrospect, that might not be such a bad thing, if this movie has not been created. This is a film in which the deep pain of the protagonist is constantly suggested but only spoken near the end of the story. “Tamasha” actors and locations look beautiful, thanks to the cinematography, but the sleek exteriors cannot make up for the shallow storytelling. I can only presume that there was something about this particular story that grabbed Imtiaz Ali and inspired him to make a movie, but whatever it was, he has utterly failed to convey the message and hold the audience.  Director does offer some artful touches and beautiful location and unassumingly beautiful Deepika with the flawed screenplay.

The whole point of "Tamasha”  is that if you are living a life that is completely different than what u truly like then u needs to change and listen your so called “inner voice.”  Such a brilliant concept but Imatiaz Ali’s writer lets him down by delivering the lowest ever performance and Ranvir, and Deepika’s acting will not be able to save this movie disaster.  Both main characters of the film meet at a beautiful location named “Corsica” where Ranbir is spending a holiday and behaves entirely different than his routine life. When they came back to India and mediocre daily life starts ..! This is not what our heroine wants.!

Imtiaz’s heroes are fundamentally different in all his movies. Whether it was Abhay deol in Socha Na Tha, Shahid Kapoor in Jab We Met, Randeep Hooda in Highway or Ranbir in Rockstar, these are not heroes that we see in “YashRaj or Rajshari productions or romantics chocolate hero. However, here Imatiaz comes with the more awkward hero of all time and who is bored with routine-life and nothing much to do than routine life and unable to stuck a chord with the audience.

Tamasha is a cheerless drama where the lead character is struggling to find his inner self.  The reason so many romantic movies fail is that they are micro-managed to the point of madness. Here, the director wants to see Ranbir’s inner battle with his behavior and those dance sequences and he fails completely. The audience wants something that should be like the light that makes them smile and not something makes them feel awkward and bored completely. Director does well in patches and Ranbir and Deepika’ s acting is the positive points for this movie.

Other points are screenplay consists of many sequences that are used to convey darkest emotions does not appeal audience neither it displays any creativity. There is a moment where the audience feels what is the director wants to convey? . Ranbir’s transition of his polite boy to his real inner self who is more outspoken and weird or naughty is tough to handle for the audience. A movie is a couple of hours of air conditioning experience in theater, nothing more. 

To be fair, there are a couple of funny lines here and there But for every sensitive element there are many others that are heavy-handed or cringe-inducing, including some painfully on-the-nose musical selections. Moreover, what a disgraceful waste of a potentially dynamic movie couples, ( Ranbir and Deepika) who actually offer the only reason to sit through such a subpar soapy affair. If you attend "Tamasha" despite these warnings, just be prepared to leave with a look of disdain.

This movie is mainly for deep thinkers and not for everyone who is just looking for pure entertainment and fun. 

Katyar Kaljat Ghusali (KKG) - Perfectly crafted, fascinating musical fiction

Katyar Kaljat Ghusali  (KKG) is an excellent Marathi movie adopted from a musical Marathi play named the same.  It is perfectly crafted, intelligently constructed, strongly acted and fascinating experience. This is one of those films that changes the course way people think about adopting the Marathi drama. This is one of the most beautifully directed screenplay that grips you with an engaging storyline. Overall, you do not watch KKG, but you experience it.

I thought it is a film of big fictional ideas and remarkable discipline of characters. Good characters behave with values till the end, and evil character gives up only in the last few minutes. I am deeply impressed by Subodh Bhave’s work, even though this is his first film as director,  he manages to establish himself among the best filmmakers currently working at the top.

On the surface, this is a story between two musical giants or Gharanas during the British era when artists used to survive due to King’s support. Two musical maestros are played by Shankar Mahadevan and Sachin. While Shankar’s Panditji belongs to maharshtrian classic music Gharana. Sachin’s “Khansaheb” belongs to the Mughal Miraj Gharana. These two Gharanas are shown in a confrontation with each other. Khansaheb gets jealous after he loses 13 years continuously to Shankar Mahadevan. His wife plays a role in a conspiracy to get rid of the voice of Shankar Mahadevan and story goes forward and adds the flavor of revenge. Sakhi Tanwar plays as the wife of KhanSaheb and her first Marathi role, and she does her best. Subhod Bhave makes a late entry into the film before the interval but changes the course of the film. The message of the film is that music should be used to spread love, and it should not be used to gain power and positions. I am not reveling the plot as I want you to see the film.

The magnificent acting of Sachin, Shankar M., and Subodh Bhave binds the film together. The roles of daughters of both singers are played by Mrunmayee Deshpande and Amruta Khanvilkar, and they manage to create a most innocent bond that audience can believe.

The most vital factor is script and the adoption of Natya music. The songs are literate and beloved; some romantic, some comic, some surprisingly philosophical, every single one wonderful. The carefully drafted script and visually spectacular experience makes this movie as best Marathi movie in this year. The film as many songs but all songs is relative and takes the movie story forward. Even if you are not a classic music lover still music grips you with its lyrics.

In the last, in a heart-thumping sequence that reminds us Director Bhave, is one of the best in managing the emotional sequences with the support from his scriptwriter and actors.  Bhave and his cinematographer does some excellent callbacks like when fireflies come along listening to Shankar’s voice. The Graphics of “Kattyar where it goes into water and come-up” is new to Marathi films. Although this is a stellar adaptation in every respect,  filled with vibrant small roles for excellent character actors and instilling two love stories with their own very different feels. One is Subodh’s ( Character Name – Sadashiv)  love for music and his guru, and another is Mrunmayee’s love for Subodh. The fiction-based KKG  is a suspenseful yet thoughtful musical story, which holds the audience throughout.

This is very near to a perfect film. Apart from the wonders of its words and music, KKG is a visual triumph as well.

I strongly recommend this film to everyone and rate this as 4.5  out 5. 

"Manjhi - The Mountain Man" - Story of Love, Promise and Perseverance

"Manjhi - The Mountain Man" is the inspiring story of Man named "Dashrath Manjhi" from Bihar.

Director Ketan Mehta presents the unbelievable  love story where "Dashrath's Love" inspires him for 22 long years and generates energy in him where he could cut a mountain into pieces and creates a road for villagers. To direct an Inspiring cinema is an art and Ketan Mehta succeeds here on all grounds.

Entire screenplay occurs in a village which is situated near a mountain. As mountain is stopping the path of village from reaching to town, it does not have school or even hospital. Dashrath, a Young villager, is in love with beautiful Village girl named "Phaguniya"(Radhika Apte). Ketan Mehta  ( Director) does well in creating the master-plot where character "Dashrath" ready to sacrifice everything for his love "Phaguniya" and her father ready to prevent him at any cost. Dashrath and Phagunia run away from home to get married and become married parents very soon.

The plot is what happens in a movie; the story is how the characters feel about what happens.

 What happens (Story) and how characters feel ( emotions), both have been seamlessly integrated, and the audience can feel Dashrath and Phagunia's happiness after marriage.

Phaguniya dies after falling off the mountain and scumbles to her injuries for the want of timely medical attention. Before dying she tells Dashrath, "Hum pahad paar nahi kar pae, bahut uncha hai." Phagunia's death breaks the heart of Dashrath and he decides that he will break the mountain and create a way for villagers so that nobody should lose his love due to unavailable medical aid.

One of the fundamental ingredients of love story is the purity of characters. Poor rural village "Dashrath"  and Phagunia's' love story is incredibly pure where writer and Director creates the scenes which displays pure love, smile, excitement  on the face of lead characters Dashrath and phagunia.

Here, Art director/ set creator does brilliant job in creating a rural village situated near a big mountain. It is said that "when you create set matching to the story then there is less pressure on the script because your sets are speaking and giving the story a context". The entire village and all scenes where Dashrath and Phagunia move around with smiles  sets a foundation for a script and remarkably beautiful love-story.

Films music is average with one gripping song called "Phagunia". Music is context driven and no chartbusters or any party song. On the acting front, Nawazuddin Siddiqui is brilliant as Dashrath Manjhi. This is a natural performance from Nawaz where u will always feel the Character of Dashrath so real.  During the love sequences or even after when he is digging that mountain alone, you can not separate Nawaz from this character. Radhika Apte as Phagunia is has done an excellent job where "girl in love" has been portrayed in a realistic manner.

There is term called as "Convincing Cinema." The Dasarth manzhi falls in that bracket. Barring few scenes like he cuts his own finger and eats insects for survival, Manzhi -The Mountain Man remains an entirely convincing story and the heroic activity. Another observation is there is growing number of biopic  (PAAN SINGH TOMAR, THE DIRTY PICTURE, RANG RASIYA, BHAAG MILKHA BHAAG, MARY KOM,)

in India these days and this type of cinema is creating its own audience for sure. Is this the best biopic in India till date? This is better one for sure and cannot term as best.

How much a love inspire a person? It can inspire u to cut a mountain for 22 years. Ketan Mehta's biopic gifts an incredible hope that almost everything is possible when the driving force is love.

The movie is must watch for adults, not for kids.

At last I leave you with this famous love quote.

"No matter what has happened. No matter what you’ve done. No matter what you will do. I will always love you. I swear it."

Bahubali The Beginning - Worth watching for incredible visuals and magnificent story

Bahubali is an ambitious and sincere attempt to make an Indian blockbuster war movie. The central plot of the movie is a dispute between brothers (Baahubali and Bhallaladeva)and their fight for their thrown to the Mahishmathi Kingdom.

The story spans across 2 generations. This is first part of the epic drama. The first half which is weak compared to the amazing second half.  The story starts where Shiva as a village boy and how he manages to climb and cross-over the huge waterfall to reach to tribal camp and meet the beautiful Tamannah. In the first half, the director tries to add an element of love in the war movie and creates few scenes which are completely not required for this film at least. Meanwhile, Rajamouli ( Director) narrates the story well, creates a battle plot till the interval and movie go into flashback mode where brothers fight for the throne in the second half.

The strongest point of the movie is an incredible battle sequence of the second half and spectacular visuals created by Art director Sabu Cyril and cinematographer KK Senthil Kumar. The film sets the Indian movie bar high in terms of creation landscape and the Mahismati Kingdom. The beautifully-imagined fantasy kingdom that has been created with impressive detail and holds the audience to the epic drama. In fact, the fake waterfall and city are more believable than the real humans is the success of Rajamouli's VFX team and cinematographer.

When to you talk of screenplay, the writer of the movie has done a fantastic job and in developing the characters. The character named " Katappa" has been established by first scene with his honesty and loyalty to the throne. Another high point of the story is the more evenly matched the protagonist and antagonist and the greater the tension between them for the throne. Also, what's at the stake has been answered very clearly by the writer that it's the throne that they are fighting for.

Character-based dramas tend to be the longest films because the revelation of back-story always takes time, but here Rajamouli and his writer did a remarkable job in revealing  the back story very well. It is said that director should create memorable entrances to get the grip of audience and scene, and u see that  "this  idea "has been very well used by Rajamouli with massive entrances  everywhere across the movie.

The biggest success is handling of support characters like Shivgami (Ramya Krishna ) Sathyaraj as Katappa. The movie is a big hit if the audience starts talking and getting interested in support characters. This is what is happening with "Bahubali" where support characters being discussed a lot.

Rajmouli "Bhaubali" is a visual story-teller, and everyone who loves visual effects and larger than life sets and the gripping story would love it.

It's worth watching the movie as  It says too much, and yet leaves too much unsaid for part two.

Note - Few killing senses may not go well with less than 5-year-old kids.