Ray and Desai

That is why I feel sorry for people who look down upon Manmohan Desai or Subhash Ghai and wax eloquent about Satyajit Ray or Mrinal Sen. Manmohan Desai was not a fool: he too could have made art films, but he wanted to entertain the lay Indian, even if it meant weaving a story around [...]

A Confession

Now before dictator calls me out on this one, as she has been gleefully threatening to do so,–”to expose my pseudo-intellectualism”–I must confess I watched Ghazini. Having already watched Memento a couple of years back, and read Ghazini’s reviews, I can only attribute it to masochism.
Anyway, it’s not worth a review so just a couple [...]

Aaaye Tum Yaad Mujhe

An old favorite…

Chandni Chowk to China

From Raja Sen’s review,
Sample, if you will, this early contender for the year’s most bizarre dialogue: Kumar has been trained in Kung Fu, his arms turned into lethal weapons using something called the Iron Forearm technique. Soon he’s folding Deepika Padukone into these aforementioned steely arms, and saying [I translate, roughly] ‘I have Iron Forearms. [...]

It’s the Market, Stupid

Update: Courtesy our Overlord, an interview with Mr Vikas Swarup–the author of the original novel.
I have no clue why people don’t get it. ”Mainstream” Bollywood makes the movies it does because it caters to its market. Danny Boyle has made the movie he has because it caters to his.
They are far more similar than this [...]

Slumdog Millionaire

Either Raja Sen and I watched two different movies or one of us is dumb. Obviously, that can’t be us.
There is a thin line which divided ”realistic cinema” from exploitative cinema. Admittedly, that line is at times blurred and given to individual sensibilities. Nevertheless, in our magnificent opinion, Slumdog millionaire, despite the visual brilliance and [...]

Welcome to Sajjanpur

Now, considering my general disdain for escapist cinema, Welcome to Sajjanpur is not a movie I am supposed to like. But I do like it. It’s not Benegal’s best work by far (Kalyug remains the personal favorite), but it has the irreverent touch so missing from Benegal’s recent body of work. In fact, after Suraj [...]

The Great Debators

On the face of it, The Great Debators has everything going for it: A great feel-good story from Depression era Jim Crow South; two outstanding actors in Denzel Washington and Forest Whitaker; and some great writing–refreshingly for a Hollywood production, the movie is almost literate. (And the leading lady is pretty and has dimples–we approve.)
But [...]

Ram Gopal Varma: Stop

How did it happen? There must be some explanation. Anyone who could make Satya cannot be a bad director. And yet, in the last few years, Ramu has been delivering dud after dud. I hadn’t had the opportunity of watching his magnum opus but the movie has been panned so badly that I don’t expect [...]

As Time Goes By….

I just can’t get this out of my mind…
Watch.

Sigh…

Dear People

Why do you come to this blog searching for Sri devi?
For the record, I absolutely  hate that giggly, stupid and juvenile actress. And I don’t like Madhuri Dixit too.
In our magnificent opinion, the only heroines who should be permitted to act are Nandita Das, Konkana Sen Sharma, Sushmita Sen and Preity Zinta.
That’s it. Ban [...]

There’s Nothing Rajni Can’t

The mysteries of the master of the universe. Thalaivar!!!!!!!! Jai ho!

(Thanks Megha)

On Rajnikanth The Boss

Dear Tamil people (and other interested folks),
Please explain this Rajnikanth phenomenon to me. Why do people watch his movies? Kamal Hasaan I would understand; in my view he is one of India’s finest actors.
But Rajnikanth? Admittedly, I haven’t seen any of his Tamil movies. But what most people seem to talk about is not the [...]

Yaara Sili Sili

Sakshi ’s Friday audio reminds me of one of my favorite Hindi movie songs.
Yaara Sili Sili from the movie Lekin.
Enjoy.

The Best Movies Of The Year 2006

No, I am not going to embarrass myself by attempting to list the best movies produced in the year 2006. My understanding of cinema is extremely limited and this onerous task is best left in the hands of more capable bloggers.
I will attempt something far easier-list the best movies I have seen in the year 2006. Of [...]