"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. 

Development of a sense of celebration will change your life

http://www.financialexpress.com/news/development-of-a-sense-of-celebration-will-change-your-life-virendra-dafane/1301187/0

Dr Prakash Baba Amte-The Real Hero : Conscious persistence of meaningful purpose

Dr. Prakash Baba Amte is the sort of rare classic film that spans the decades that uses the recognizable cast and yet follows a human value from beginning to end. Dr. Prakash Baba Amte is a biopic on the life of Dr. Prakash Amte, who is an acclaimed social worker. It involves the story of challenges they went through when they make  toughest decision to spend life for the upliftment of tribals. ( Aadivasi).

Real story of the film begins with a flashback where Prakash Amte is giving an interview and unfolding the events of his life.  At the beginning of the film, Interesting incident  that USA embassy denies the VISA to Dr. Amte as his monthly earnings was 1500/Rs. Later on, mighty USA embassy personnel  apologize for their mistake to Dr, Prakash Amte as they realize that he is a prestigious award winner and great social worker. 

Actual flashback started when Dr. Amte met Mandakini at medical college.  Apart from one single scene where he gifts her chocolate and description that he loses himself to her appearance and so-called " aura". The feelings/construction of love happens in most innocent and honest but convincing manner with fewer dialoges.

Story moves ahead where he gains trust, and his open-air hospital becomes most reliable place for Adivasis.The challenges due lack of instruments and which results in failure of human life has been portrayed in a gripping fashion.

Story tellign happens at multiple levels where part of cinema takes u his tribal struggle and portion of the story is covered with this selfless love of this couple. The most amazing expression of love when he asks her, why u married a mad like me and what did I gave u? She answers " Fulfillment of life."  This is probably most simple love scene I have ever seen and yet having a significant  impact.

Nana Patekar does wonder and makes the character so completely his own that there is a genuine feeling that the spirit of  Dr. Prakash Amte is on the scene.  Nana made the act convincing without being loud or histrionic. He is almost always quiet, observant, and soft-spoken on the screen.  Moreover, yet his performance comes across with such might that we realize afterward, that the sheer moral force of Dr.Amte must have been behind the words.  Role of Manadaknini by Sonali Kulkarni is wonderfully played as she looks pretty and talks like sweet marthi girl supporting her husband's cause.  Supporting cast is approparite and excellent job done in selecting adivasis.

Apart from all its other qualities, what makes this movie special is that it was obviously made by people who believed in it. Director definately has done incredible job here with a small budget.

Even after seeing the film, I suspect how many Indians realizes that this man deserves respect, and this planet needs to a note of such people. 

The law of  filmmaking says that the audience should never be made consciously aware of the structure, which should be undisclosed within dramatic events. Same happens here as screenplay is flashback mode, and it reveals the story to us. The most realistic screenplay where no Bollywood type humor or any songs.  Writer has been remarkably honest to his characters where they stand taller with the usual language and no heroism.  Simple Marathi but a catchy one which can hold you in chairs for 2 hours. Humor could have been improved a better without losing the active character-build. 

Here, two songs and they are inspiring and it made the job of chorographer trouble-free. Film happens in the middle of the jungle and small budget film and has appropriate sets. I would loved Sanjay Bansali make this movie; we will huge detailing happening, and it would be treated to everyone. Forgive me for my love towards Sanjay Leela Bansali. 

Learning

What is the greatest learning of this movie is significance of purpose. Do you have a central purpose in your life? Are you courageous enough to stand for it? Find your purpose and stand for it and make your life meaningful and content and experience the fulfillment. 

To See- Not See

Everyone can see this movie, take kids or anyone. Most realistic movie.

I rate it as 4 out of 5.

Haider : Mayhem of negative sensation : Pragmatic brand of cinema for core audience : Rating : 4 out of 5

Shakespeare is most celebrated writer of this planet because of his ability to tell a story using emotions and their influence on human behavior. Using three simple emotions like Love, anger and revenge he builds the plot that created a master-piece play called  "Hamlet". Hamlet story is about a prince taking a revenge  for his father's death as his mother was in love with a person who killed his father. Prince's character has conflict outside and within his mind as well. 

"Haider" is one of the most thoughtful adoptions of Shakespeare's work as Vishal  and co-writer manage to create a realistic drama with zero entertainments. Writer managed retain core characterization of the story and on Kashmir background and created a context where character and their ruthless sentiment fits the scene. 

"Haider" an Aligraph student returns to his home and finds his mother in the arms of his uncle and later comes to know that they (Mothers and Uncle ) desperately wanted his father out of the way. Woofing for revenge, Haider soon becomes a pawn in the hands of different political organizations fighting for power. His lover is Arshia is only the fresh face and aims to bring a little positivity to this revenge drama. However, as the scene progresses, audience come to know, these are lifeless people with infatuated negativity in their mind. 

Shahid/ Haider has inner conflict; his uncle murdered his father or not? He wants an exact answer for the revenge.  Story moves forward where our protagonist (hero) wants to know the real truth and the antagonist (Villan) attempts to destabilize the truth . I did not kill your father is Uncle's version and Haider comes to know a different version. At this point, plot goes murky as the protagonist ( Hero) and antagonist fear the same truth.  Establishment of scene happens via the dialogues  and screenplay in gripping fashion and sometimes use of poems. 

Another portion I liked about is it is a forwarding going drama where every scene revels new information to our hero.

The story has intense tension as what is at stake is everyone's life in that blood-shaded Kashmir valley. When battle is for life, emotions are deep and darker, and they are weird too. 

Shahid Kapoor delivered brilliant performance of life and where he acted as disturbed son in order to find truth say the poem lines. Dil ki gar sunon to hai, dimagh ki to hai nahi, jaan loon k jaan doon, main rahun k main nahi "

All support actors ignite the revenge saga by lightening a contrary ruthless fire all the way. Tabu plays the wife, and she is the central character, whose love has created the chaos. This is a hard reality and no entertainment. Silence of the central character build a story and see Tabu where camera moves around her face, and director makes another person to speak to achieves as adequate practical frame. 

Background score is another plus point of the movie where voice of the radio, the winds and everything grips you where nature remains confident with brutal people chase for each other.

Some element of humor has tried to create by writer . However, this is intense serious story where humor also fits the category of black humor or philosophy you may call.  Brilliant Cinematographer succeeds in providing a beautiful Kashmir locations and on the face where men behave cruel. 

An additional effective part of the movie is song  "Bismil" which will remind you Subhash Ghai ( Yeh Karz tha type song). To summarize, to see or not see? This movie is not entertainment. It is ruthless revenge drama for core cinema lovers. Don't take kids along-with you. I doubt how many girls would prefer harsh reality.

This is a brilliant movie and raising standards of core cinema but not for everyone. I rate it as 4 out of 5.

Release Date : Oct 02, 2014
Artists (Cast) : Shahid Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, Irrfan Khan, Kay Kay Menon, Tabu Producer : Vishal Bhardwaj, Siddharth Roy Kapur
Director : Vishal Bhardwaj
Music Director : Vishal Bhardwaj

Khoobsurat : Movie Likeable in parts and lacks the character magic

Hrishkesh Mukerjee's  Khoobsurat  (1980) is often referred to as a cult-classic. I've never been quite sure the kind of criteria one would put, but to call some movie as cult-classic. However, that was a feature that certainly generated a buzz when it came out some three decades ago. It belonged to the period when girls and bahu's' of the family were supposed to change the entire family with new ideas love and freshness they carry subsequent to the marriage. Khoobsurat movie  is a similar concept. A beautiful doctor changing a royal family rules and win their hearts with fun and love..!  

Khoobsurat movie is one more story where a middle-class professional physiotherapist enters a 21st century king's house to  provide treatment to the king. She became affable with Prince and to conclude prince proposes her. Two lead characters, Sonam kapoor's style is loud, and Price's character is quiet." A silent protagonist is more effective than compelling protenist. " This was quite well achieved by the director here. The person (Fawad Khan ) who has fewer expressions and few emotions have actually played a silent hero, and he has done better job as per me.  

About script, script-writer does excellent in parts and fails to achieve a consistent humor. By the way, if you ask a question, whose story is it? Answer is Sonam Kapoor/ Lady doctor. Then why she carries few emotions and only few jokes? Any story is not a good story when you talk about back-story (Past) but you don't  show it. Here, Script-writer gives evidences of past and he doesn't take you there. Don't verbalize the past, show it to the audience boy..! ( Look at Raju Hirani or Suraj Barjatya movies ! )  Displaying few recent events  would have helped  this movie, and probably that would have gripped audience most.  

Another part is character development. Sonam is loud and found herself misfit in the royal house. She realizes that rules and emptiness in the house can be only changed with fun and love.  Now, you got a story in your hands, as characters don't agree..! At this juncture, the biggest opportunity named  "burning character limitations" has been lost by the writer. Character changing views can be done in dramatic style gripping the audience and having soaring humor. Director attempts the equivalent and achieves a limited success. Prince, king and every character change their view, but way they do it, it lacks the heart..!  

Core of the movie is, innocence and romance, the scriptwriter tries to build up the love based on pure simplicity and one kiss. Prince loves her  because she cares for everyone in the family, and she creates fun at home. Good job done there, however writing lacks the personal touch. More events displaying hero, and heroine shades would have helped the script.  

Music and songs are average part of the movie. Songs like 'Engine Ki Seeti,' 'Preet,' 'Naina' and 'Abhi Toh Party Shuru Hui Hai' are ok but not absorbing. 

 The positives are; it manages to keep you on your seat. You can watch the movie with family. It makes you laugh in bits and pieces. Sonam Kapoor looks pretty, and Fawad holds the ground. Director Shahshank Ghosh seems to have done better job in parts. Characters are flexible and change their views with fewer emotions. 

Screen-play is elegant, and background score of the movie looks average.

Overall, I would rate it as 2.5 out of 5.

Director: Shashanka Ghosh

Music composed by: Sneha Khanwalkar