what we are reading – EightandHalf
The first song promo of Paa is out. The song is mudhi mudhi ittefaq se, in the voice of Shilpa Rao. Music is by Ilaiyaraaja and lyrics by Swanand Kirkire. Paa is directed by R Balki and stars Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, Vidya Balan & Paresh Rawal.
After all the focus on Amitabh’s new look in the first promo of the film, the song promo is all about Abhishek Bachchan-Vidya Balan. The names in the credit list are quite big but the first song sounds quite unimpressive. Check it out.
We know that the header and the pic on the left corner is gross injustice to the director of the film Anusha Rizvi, but we also know that when the film will release it will be marketed as a film from Aamir Khan Productions. Because thats the name which sells the tickets! The film has been produced by Aamir Khan. Anusha used to work with english news channel NDTV 24X7 before turning filmmaker and is now ready with her debut film titled The Falling.
The film stars Raghuvir Yadav, Onkar Das , Nowazuddin , Naseeruddin Shah and Aamir Bashir. Weekly film newspaper Screen has published the story/plot/synopsis of the film. To quote…
The Falling, is not just a take on farmer suicide but also on media’s obsession with ‘breaking news’ and publicity-hungry politicians. While Raghuvir Yadav plays the role of a farmer who announces his suicide days in advance, Nawaz (last seen in New York and Dev D ) essays the role of an aspiring hotshot reporter who decides to go town with Yadav’s announcement. His news catches the attention of news channels and politicians, which in turn results in Yadav’s character failing to commit suicide. The story’s irony lies in the fact that Nawaz’s character, which unknowingly acts as a catalyst in saving the farmer’s life, kills himself after he finds himself disagreeing with the ethical standards being practised by certain sections of the media. Interestingly, while shooting across homes, fields and roads at Badwai village near Bhopal, the unit managed to keep reporters, shutterbugs as well as locals at bay.
You can read the news item here also. The film’s shooting is complete but the release date has not been announced.
Its that day of the week which we love the most! Filmy Friday! This week there are two new hindi releases – Ajab Prem Ki Ghajab Kahani (APKGK) and Jail. Or as they are saying, its Ranbir Kapoor VS Neil Nitin Mukesh, now that Imran Khan is miles and miles behind!
APKGK is directed by Raj Kumar Santoshi and stars Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif. And here are the early reviews…
Taran Adarsh(Indiafm) – On the whole, APKGK entertains majorly. At the box-office, the fantastic pre-release campaign coupled with the terrific chemistry between Ranbir and Katrina, excellent music by Pritam and tremendous appeal for youth should ensure a big start for the film at the ticket window – 4/5
Anupama Chopra (NDTV) – Ajab Prem Ki Gazab Kahani, a comedy set in a comic book universe, is a frustratingly uneven film. Some of it is genuinely funny and delightful and some of it is repetitive, and annoyingly tedious – 3/5
Raja Sen (Rediff) -Honestly, it’s just good to watch a film with memorable comedy again. Heaven knows its been a while. And one that takes us back to a different, more wholesome kind of cinema. Even as the climax drags into predictability, Santoshi ensures that even divine intervention — to pull it all back on track again — comes with laughs. Gotta love that – 3.5/5
Mayank Shekhar (HT) – You look through this hollowness, and sense there is not a comic bone at all. There is certainly no romance either. Good boy (Ranbir Kapoor) fumbles and chases good girl (Kaif) through multiply tiring sequences. Saawariya for a debut was a poor practical joke on young Kapoor. This humourlessness, if at all, is infinitely sappier.
Gaurav Malani(Indiatimes) – The one thing you can’t overlook noticing in Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani is how Rajkumar Santoshi takes liberal references from every popular prem kahani of Bollywood and ends up with an ajeeb (weird) jumbled screenplay – 2/5
Nikhat Kazmi(TOI) – Gazab comedy, this one. Really, Ranbir is a revelation, Katrina is full of beans and the newly formented Ranbir-Katrina chemistry sets the screen on fire in this mad hatter’s tea party that takes you on a roller-coaster ride as Raj Kumar Santoshi tries to retrack his way to his Andaz Apna Apna days – 4/5
Rajeev Masand (CNN IBN) – Despite its hiccups, Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani is not an entirely unwatchable film, and the credit for that goes squarely to its leads who invest sincerity and genuine enthusiasm while attacking their roles. Katrina Kaif breezes through her scenes, endearing you to the vulnerable Jenny; striking up a radiant chemistry with her co-star. As for Ranbir Kapoor, he is the brightest spot in this ordinary film, rising above the script’s many holes, occasionally even making the stupidity work – 2.5/5
Khalid Mohamed (PFC) – The kid’s brilliant. So watch it Hrithik Roshan, Shahid Kapoor and all the big and small Khans. At the rate he’s going – by sheer evidence of his screen charisma, technical felicity and youth power – Ranbir Kapoor is more than likely to be the Next Best Thing, if he isn’t one already. He’s RK Jr and he’s more than super A-Ok -2.5/5
Shubhra Gupta(Indian Express) – Once upon a time, Rajkumar Santoshi made a lovely little film which was all fun and games. ‘Andaz Apna Apna’ (1994), which came at a time when neither Aamir nor Salman were Superstars Inc., has traveled well—its unfettered joyousness delights at every fresh viewing. The same cannot be said for Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani – 1/5
Kaveree Bamzai (India Today) – The movie sails because of Kapoor’s effortless ease. He dances like a dream, looks good enough to take your eyes off Kaif, and raises a lot of laughs with his goofiness. And guess what, he looks pretty in pink too. Ad he has a memorable no sorry, no thank you dialogie as well: all he wants is to be Kaif’s friend, no complaints, no demands. This one, ladies and gentlemen, is a stayer. See you around, Ranbir – 3/5
Minty Tejpal (Mumbai Mirror) – For the most part of the film, you do drool, mostly over the totally delicious lead pair, and often enough over the ridiculous dialogue in this absurd, mad comedy being played out on screen. Ha ha and a hoot. In fact, the first half of the film just rocks all the way – 3.5/5
Anand Vaishanav (Buzz18) – With such a gorgeous pair, Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani, could have been a charming joyride. But instead it settles for a routine, time pass watch. Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif’s chemistry shines long after the curtains fall down – 2.5/5
Jail is directed by Madhur Bhandarkar and stars Neil Nitin Mukesh, Mugdha Godse and Manoj Bajpai.
Rajeev Masand (CNN IBN) – Because it’s well-intentioned and settles for a hopeful message, you stay with the film despite the fact that it’s never quite compelling. It’s got its heart in the right place, but sometimes that’s not enough – 2.5 /5
Anupama Chopra (NDTV) – Bhandarkar’s cinema has often been called hard-hitting but the trouble with Jail is that it simply doesn’t hit hard enough. See it if you must – 2.5/5
Taran Adarsh(Indiafm) – On the whole, JAIL is a well-made film from an expert storyteller. At the box-office, the film will appeal to those with an appetite for hard-hitting, realistic fares, but its clash with APKGK will affect its business to an extent – 3/5
Khalid Mohamed (PFC) – Okay, okay, for heaven’s sake this is a Bhandarkar, Madhur Bhandarkar movie. Get real, appreciate Jail for being as rough, real and dammit, outspoken. Sorry guys, want to..however it’s anything but. It’s just not in the league of the eye-opening Fashion, Traffic Signal, Page 3 and Chandni Bar, which have their loyal admirers including the National Film Award juries. Yeah – 2/5 (there’s nothing here that you don’t know or haven’t seen already)
Raja Sen(Rediff) – The detailing is shoddy, the characters cardboard and the dialogue plain laughable. Jail is a formulaic, below average Bollywood headache, slowed down to lugubrious dullness. Groan. Leave it be, this prison of cardboard and cliche. We all deserve better – 1/5
Mayank Shekhar (HT) – What we may have liked to know, like with any story, is something more about the hero himself — his past, his conflicts, his shattered dreams. It could’ve greatly helped with the sorely missed empathy. But that’s not to be. I guess, only in a film-culture as less evolved as ours, would a movie with merely a setting, pride itself so much on realism alone – 2/5
Kaveree Bamzai (India Today) – There’s a sense that we’re sitting in on a reality show, that it’s Bigg Boss Season 4 set inside a jail. You find yourself wishing Mukesh’s ordeal ends, not so much for him as for you. Hey Mr Bhandarkar, it’s time to think of a new formula, or choose a subject that thrills like Fashion- 2/5
Gaurav Malani(Indiatimes) – Compare Jail to Madhur Bhandarkar’s earlier works and you would be disappointed to a degree. Nevertheless, compare it to many other mediocre movies of today and Jail is still a step ahead. Jail is captivating but not consistently – 2.5/5
Minty Tejpal (Mumbai Mirror) – The movie itself is more like a well-researched documentary that teaches you a few new things about life in jail, so it’s pretty instructive for anyone planning on landing up there. The promos of Jail read, ‘sentenced on November 6’. Yes, ‘sentenced’ is right – 2/5
Shweta Parande(Buzz18) – If the film works, it will only be because of Madhur’s execution. Otherwise, Jail has nothing new to offer – 2/5
Whats wrong with Rajkumar Hirani ? Or is it only us ? Why is he hellbent on proving that he got David Dhawan DNA in abundance ? The first promo looked so tacky and now even the first song looks the same! Have a look.
Music is by Shantanu Moitra and lyrics by Swanand Kirkire. The film stars Aamir Khan, Kareena Kapoor, R Madhavan, Sharman Joshi & Boman Irani and is produced by Vidhu Vinod Chopra. And for the synopsis of the film click here.
The Gang is back! Dhen tedaaan! Rajat Kapoor, Vinay Pathak, Ranvir Shorey, Neha Dhupia & Saurabh Shukla! Plus Irawati Harshe (we luv her!), Anu Menon (Miss Lolakutty), Navneet Nishan & Dalip Tahil! The film is produced by Pritish Nandy Communications and directed by Saurabh Shukla. The films that he directed earlier like Chehra & Mudda are forgettable to say the least! But this time it looks different.
The film recently bagged the Best Film Award at HBO’s New York South Asian International Film Festival (SAIFF) , 2009.
Take a look at the first official trailer of Raat Gayi Baat Gayi.
And here is the story/plot/synopsis of the film….
3 couples. An 8 year old marriage and a 1 night stand to end all others. Raat Gayi Baat Gayi catches Rahul (Rajat Kapoor) waking up on a very heavily hung-over morning with his wife Mitali’s (Iravati Harshe) constant cribbing. Whilst her voice crashes through his head he remembers snatches of a conversation he had the previous night, at a party, with a stunning young woman, Sophia (Neha Dhupia). As he blinks through his thoughts he stumbles on the fact that one thing led to another and Sophia and he got drunk, talked a lot and finally ended up in bed making crazy love to each other—or did they?
The end of the night remains hazy. What’s worse is that Mitali just can’t seem to keep it together around him—she’s livid, she’s upset, she’s not telling him why—all rolled into one and Rahul keeps thinking back to the previous night and wondering if she caught a whiff of what happened the previous night with Sophia.
As Rahul chases his night for answers, his friends Saxena (Dalip Tahil) and Amit (Vinay Pathak) are suffering through their own marital crises! Driven to his wits end Rahul realizes he must seek Sophia out to restore his sanity!
Now, Picture This! Is it technical goof-up or peer pressure ? Or some readers might dismiss it as our conspiracy theory! But whatever it is, its interesting for sure. Read on.
Every friday morning we religiously do one thing. Check out all the possible reviews of the recent releases. Generally Indiafm (Taran Adarsh), Rediff (Raja Sen/Sukanya Varma/Chandrima Pal) and NDTV (Anupama Chopra) come out with the early reviews. Anupama’s reviews are first published on the website www.ndtvmovies.com and are generally out by noon. She speaks out the same lines on her review show Picture This on NDTV 24 X 7 at 20:30.
This friday when we put out the early reviews of Sujoy Ghosh’s Aladin on this post , we read Anupama’s review and realised that she has rated Aladin – 3/5 stars. Here is the google cache of the same page. Have a look.
After that, slowly one by one reviews started coming out. And most of the reviewers thrashed the film completely, rating it between 1 and 2 stars.
There are lot of reviewers who know that they are wrong guys at the wrong place and so before rating any film they make sure to call up few other fellow reviewers and check if they are judging the film right or wrong. Trust us, it does happen. Or they end up making fool of themselves who even give good ratings to Randeep Hooda’s Love Khichdi, search Buzz18 reviews! But no, Anupama Chopa doesnt belong to the club! She is infact one of the most sane and sorted out reviewers who knows her subject quite well. Though sometimes she looks misfit for TV.
And thats why its a big shock and surprise to see the rating of Aladin going down from three to two stars. Here is the link to the new review page with 2/5 stars. Putting here a snapshot of the same page. Its UNBELIEVABLE! Do they think we are blind and they can get away with anything ? Naah, those days are passe!
So, will the holier-than-thou NDTV explain this to us ?
On her show Picture This she rated the film 2/5. So, did she change her rating after reading other reviews ? Or was it someone else’s mistake who added one extra star to Aladin ? If anyone can enlighten us on this issue, we will be much relieved! Do let us know. We are eagerly waiting to know why and how!
Remember Sajit Warrier ? The writer who claimed Agyaat was his script and even FWA (Film Writers Association) gave their verdict in his favour. Ramu dismissed it completely and you can read his response here . What we didnt get is why ask for claims on such disaster and awful film! We wrote about the Agyaat plagiarism news here (point no. 2) but lost track of it. Anyone got any updates ?
Now Sajit is ready with his directorial debut Fired starring Rahul Bose and produced by IDream Productions. And yes, it looks better than Ramu’s Agyaat! Finally recession gets a horror face! Take a look.
And here is the official synopsis of the film….
Joy Mittal, the arrogant CEO of H.W.L.S, in a hardnosed decision to repair his scandal ridden work record and prove his ability to emerge as a pioneering leader in times of financial crisis, fires all the employees from his London office to cope with the global economic slowdown.
Amongst the sacked employees is Ruby Herminson, 29, an alluring, sophisticated, career-driven woman, with whom a married Joy is having a long affair. Joy fires Ruby along with the rest of the people he considers expendable. After a trying day, Joy decides to finish off some paperwork before heading home, but soon realizes that the only possible means of leaving is the one he least bargained for.
Cornered in a deserted office, Joy soon realizes that there is a gruesome super-natural force in the building, which is hell-bent on extracting revenge for his ruthless actions. FIRED is the shocking tale of a man who pays a steep price for his cold-blooded actions.
In Ram Gopal Varma’s new film Rakta Charitra based on the life of faction leader Paritala Ravi, Shatrughan Sinha is playing the role of actor turned politician N T Rama Rao. And for his part, Shartughan Sinha had to do shave off his trademark moustache! Have a look.
Once he was a mathematics genius. Atleast thats what he claims. Kartik Krishnan is techie turned writer-actor-director. Busy ADing these days. He enjoys eating (overeating…as you will find in the post), hates people who try to guess his age, is a Mani Ratnam bhakt (oops, make that Mani SIR bhakt ) and has googled & memorized every possible information available on Christopher Nolan. Over to KK, on his three-scene cop role in Anurag Kashyap’s That Girl In Yellow Boots (TGIYB)!
Three weeks ago.
The casting guy and Kashyap’s AD cum co-writer cum my roommate cum dear friend Vasan asked me to come to audition for a role- A cop with 2-3 scenes with Ruth (Ruth i.e. the girl in yellow boots – Kalki Koechlin) in the film. I had been pestering Vasan for quite some time and seeing that other of actors-ADs were making cameos in the film (apparently Piyush Mishra and Naseeruddin Shah have a cameo, Vasan himself playing a blink-and-miss, Thani the other writer plays a character named after him and so on and so forth) it was but natural for me to pester him for an audition. Luckily, it went well and I was cast. (For those who don’t know one of the Patna key Presley’s is Nitin – the then chief on Dev D, the fat dark goggles brass band wala guy is Vasan, the guy who makes the MMS of Kalki is Shlok Sharma – all ADs) Being acquainted with Anurag’s penchant to cast crew members and friends in his film, I felt I had an Ok-to-decent chance.
Two weeks later – Evening
I was in an auto reaching the place – Santacruz W, Hemant bungalow (close to the famous Chinese restaurant Fat Wong or something) for my role. Had been growing a moustache and rehearsing my few lines for the past few days.
The usual – one vanity van for Kalki, Prashant (the ‘male protagonist’ of the film) and Anurag himself. ADs running around with cue sheets, props, costumes, and walkie talkies (a must for any shoot), script copies, scenes to be shot, the camera crew etc etc. Anurag looked usually pleased with the ongoings except every once in a while he would appear angry whenever someone messed up.
EXT. RUTH’s HOUSE NIGHT
My first shot – the first time I meet Ruth ….
“Ready Sir”
“Tu yahaan se aana …nahin nahin …yahaan baithe raina…cigg peete rehna …woh udhar se aayegi tu khade ho ke ussey boliyo, end mein tu zor se hansiyo!!!” (Come here. No no be seated there. Smoke your ciggs. When she comes you stand up and say your lines. In the end you do an LOL)
“I do an LOL???”
“Yes. You have been CAST for your LOL!”
“Ok sir.”
The funny thing is me and Vasan were trying/thinking before how else to do it. Variations – straight faced, angry, sleazy, verbose. Eventually it was the sleazy/funny which Anurag chose.
“Ready Sir”
Rajiv Ravi (the wonderfully chilled out DOP) gave me my marks. Kunal the sound guy (uber cool-too young for his experience-shares his cigg with me when I run out) tells me I have been miked well (it’s a sync sound film). I’m bloody nervous. Seeing it on screen and criticizing the actor, feeling that the director could have got better performance from the secondary cast is one thing, being there in those shoes (or boots if you are missing my horrible puns) is another.
“Ready ready”
I woke up.
ACTION –
I have always wanted to know how Kashyap directs his actors. And today I got a taste of it. No puppet-movement, no sticking verbatim to the lines, no referencing the script again and again. Giving them complete freedom but guiding them in case they go wrong. Almost as a friend, mentor and NOT as an angry old/young man who would yell, abuse, slap his actors if needed. Completely different from the ‘common perception’ of a director.
Of what I have been told, in this film Kashyap is taking more takes than usual. DevD was 2-3, in this one it’s 4-5, sometimes 8.
Sometimes it’s also maybe because it’s all handheld camera, No tripods, No film. All digital (HD). Indie & Cheap.
Cut Print Wrap.
“Sir achcha tha na ?” (Was it good ?)
“Haan haan mere paas 4 good takes hain na!” (Yeah yeah don’t worry)
Spoke to ADs and asked them if it was ok. All were thankfully kind and forgiving.
Was told they will shoot the next scene there too. Costume change, props, camera setups.
20 mins later Anurag decides against it and wants to shoot the scene the next day, in the daylight. EP Scheduling & Movie magic ki maa ki aankh!
PACKUP – next day reporting time 11 am.
I reached on time to see ADs relaxed. Kalki arrives at 11.30, Rajeev sir at 12 and Anurag at 12.30.
“Mujhe bhook lagi hai. Main kuch kha ke aata hoon. Chalega ? “
“Am always up for a free lunch”
We went in to the Chinese restaurant and ordered some food. I was in my Cop costume (with the heavy fake gun safely but uncomfortably tucked into my trousers) and talking about the film. In between calls from frantic ADs (Shlok Sharma- 4 missed calls), we were arguing whether the film TGIYB was a drama film or a thriller.
“4 months 3 weeks 2 days is a thriller”
“It’s not a thriller in the conventional sense. It’s a drama film.”
“It’s a film which keeps you on the edge. Most of the new Scandinavian films/books are such crime thrillers.” He went on to name a few which I have completely forgotten. “Don’t be limited by the boundaries of the genre”
“Hmmmmm”
The conversation then went onto writers, old & new struggling etc.
“Passion, enthusiasm, talent, cinema knowledge & discussion is fine but show it on paper/film. The script/film should reflect it. Cinema is not made over cups of coffee”. A statement I completely agreed with.
“Sir shot is ready”
“Aa raha hoon na !!!”
The BIG scene – almost 3 mins of screen time …Scene entry-exit combined. And of course the laughter. 2 min looong take. Shot from one, two and then three angles.
My brief interaction with Prashant(the co writer and actor in the skeleton woman) – he comes across as a fairly capable actor with complete submission to the hands of the director. The scene required us to be awkward and awkward we were.
Another take – me in foreground. Some logistic issues. Why is the cop behaving in such fashion? Why is he like this ?
“Yahaan Tu actor hai acting kar na …jab tu critic banega tab poochiyo” Anurag pulls my leg.
“Yes sir” I complied feeling embarrassed.
CUT PRINT.
I felt I could have been better. Was sulking around when the lunch was being served.
“Kya hua ???” Rajiv Sir asked.
“Kuch nahi, lag raha hai thoda better kar sakta tha” Vasan spoke for me
“Aisa sochega, life mein hamesha sad rahega” Rajiv sir quipped.
“Hmmmmmmmm”
Big break after set ka khana (chicken, veg, prawns, dal, rice, roti, curd and gulaabjamun,pepsi included).
Had almost gone off to sleep. My first tryst with the vanity van was quite warm 🙂
“Shot ready sir”
Ruth comes with me waiting in the background. I meet her and coax favours. Small scene, again a single take with no cut aways.
2 min before the shot is being taken Anurag yells and improvises. Asks for the makeup man to come into the frame as a featured extra, stand there, and then leave. On the spur of the moment, with no pre-conceived planning whatsoever.
Take 1 – CUT
I had gone ahead and improvised the line in clever connivance with Kunal and Neil (the chief AD). We felt we were adding more colour to the character. Our faces fell when after cut Anurag said “Bahut over kar raha hai !!!”
Oops.
Retake with underplay, then retake with more sleaze & laughter.
CUT PRINT NEXT SCENE
“Sir, ek aur lete hai na. Thoda aur better karte hain” (Another take please)
“Nahi re editing ke liye toh kuch chod de. Editing pe banate hai na. Editing pe bhi toh banegi na picture”
I shut my trap, feeling unsatisfied. Thought could have done better but …let’s see.
I was done for the day and finally could look at the camera display/TV monitor to see how it is looking. This scene Kalki wakes up and gets a call. Was looking colorful and more interesting. Whatever I saw, I wasn’t disappointed to see the results/shot. Digital surely seems the way to go for Indie.
Satisfied, I left the sets with a polite thank you to Anurag.
Let’s wait for the first rough cut.
PS. – KK claims that the role is important to the script. So chances are it will not get edited out and you will be able to see him on big screen soon! Yipee!
Ok, make that “almost” here! Because someone decided to have some fun by editing out just the last few seconds. Though the audio is very much there. Anyway, if you have been following Amitabh Bachchan’s blog and the wah-wahs that everyone is saying after watching the trailer, then you know why we are so curious! We might have to wait for one more day till we get to see the full trailer, till then have a look.
F.i.g.h.t C.l.u.b 