what we are reading – EightandHalf
A new promotional video of Wake Up Sid has been released. The film is produced by Karan johar, directed by Ayan Mukherjee and stars Ranbir Kapoor and Konkona Sen Sharma.
The video has been shot on the title song but where is Konkona ? The one who is going to make Sid wake up! Think they cut her out to focus on the glamour quotient because by bollywood rule book, she surely doesnt score high there.
The Man Beyond The Bridge (Paltadacho Munis) – We wrote about this Konkoni film’s selection at TIFF in this post. And now the good news! The film has bagged the FIPRESCI Discovery Prize, voted by members of the International Federation of Film Critics at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival. The film is directed by Laxmikant Shetgaonkar.
The jury citation for Shetgaonkar’s film read: “Far from the sensory overload of India’s big cities, this film explores smaller but enduring dilemmas, drawing together keen environmental sensitivity with a nuanced view of village dynamics.”
Shetgaonkar studied theatre arts and began his career as an acting instructor at the National School of Drama in New Delhi. He has directed several theatre productions, as well as both documentary and fiction films.The script prior to its production also went under fine tuning in the Script Lab organized by NFDC in ‘Film Bazaar 2007’.
And here is the synopsis of the film…
The Man Beyond the Bridge is a story about Vinayak, a forest guard, who lives a lonely life, with just the memories of his dead wife in a Government house in the dense forests of Goa-Karnataka border. His repeatedly rejected pleas for a transfer by his superiors in the Department of Forests have left him bitter. One night, he comes across a filthy, unkempt mentally challenged woman lying in the compound outside his house. He drives her away but she keeps returning. From his initial irritation with her filthy appearance and irate behavior, he slowly gets used to her daily visits looking for food and sleeping in the courtyard. With time, he begins to derive comfort from her presence.
Vinayak’s growing relationship with the woman initially, attracts some comment but evokes a strong protest in the village only when she gets pregnant. The villagers question Vinayak’s right over mentally challenged and helpless woman. They maintain that his relationship is morally incorrect and should be ended. However, for Vinayak, the woman is his companion and the mother of his child and there is no dilemma in his mind over this. Thus begins a conflict between a society that refuses to take responsibility of such a woman and one man’s endeavour to integrate her in his life.
The first review of Whats Your Raashee is out! This one is from Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) where the film had its premiere. And as we told you in this post, Whats Your Raashee is indeed 3hrs 20mins long. Variety confirms it. So get ready with your pillows and bean bags if you plan to catch the film!
Back to the review or mini-review. Though the review doesnt say much but click here or scroll down to read the full review.
For an hour, “What’s Your Raashee?” — the first romantic comedy from director Ashutosh Gowariker (“Jodhaa Akbar”) — zips along on a silly premise: Returning home to Mumbai, a young and handsome Chicagoan (Harman Baweja) has 10 days to find a wife and earn Grandpa’s inheritance, lest his brother’s gambling debt bring the family down.
But as Baweja’s sweet Yogesh proceeds to “interview” each of a dozen ladies (all played by Priyanka Chopra), and the film stretches to a whopping 211 minutes, even Bollywood aficionados will consider breaking the engagement. Likable leads can’t guarantee a sizable dowry upon the pic’s Sept. 25 release.
Each with a different astrological sign (or rashee), Chopra’s prospective brides run the gamut. Girl No. 1 is ditzy; No. 2 is a hot microbiologist with, alas, a boyfriend; the gum-snapping third girl occasions a big dance number; the fourth is painfully shy, a victim of past heartbreak; the fifth is a fussy businesswoman who brings along a prenup agreement; and after the sixth, who believes in reincarnation, there are still six more to go. Two or three peppy songs prove woefully insufficient to sustain a 3½-hour trifle, however good-looking.
The film is an adaptation of the novel Kimball Ravenswood. We hated the music (Sohail Sen), the promos, and now it seems the film will complete the full circle! Should Harman Baweja look for a new career option? Think so. Its high time! And Priyanka Chopra might get her name in some record book for potraying 12 roles in a film but all she needs is just 12 scenes! Watch Kaminey, ask Vishal Bharadwaj!
The film will release in India on September 25th. Am in no hurry to book my tickets! Who knows, might have to watch it in 12 installments!
She came, she conquered and she went back! She came back, a forgettable film Sorry Bhai, and has been since missing. As they say, every actor and director got atleast one classic film in their lifetime. And the worst is if it turns out to be your first film or if it comes early in your career. We hope its not true for her, and for Hazaroon Khwashein Aisi!
So where is she and is she upto these days ? A new film titled 2 Days 2 Nights and a morning by Sudhir Mishra. Check out this interview by CNN IBN’s Rohit Khilnani.
Enough to make an explosive headline ? Here’s more –
I feel that Amitabh has never been a loyal friend. Loyalty has never been his characteristic trait.
And some more –
But slowly as Amitabh got involved in his career, he himself became the centre of all attention which was very difficult for Jaya to swallow. After all, at the time of their marriage she was the star and he the also-ran. The change in the power position within the marriage as Amitabh became successful also changed the soft, intense and emotional romance which Jaya and Amitabh had.
Dont know who is this Susmita Dasgupta but feel like giving her a bear hug! Because finally someone has dared to speak up on BIG B. She has written a book on Bachchan, who is also the subject of her PhD.
Have always felt that Bachchan is damn fake and manipulative, on every aspect of his life, much like his fake wig which is on 24 X7! He just pretends to be holier-than-thou. Scratch the surface and you see a completely different person. Dont get me wrong. Am not talking about the actor, just the man called Amitabh Bachchan. Wish Khalid Mohamed would write a book on his Dadduji someday. I would be the first one too book a copy! Anyway, back to the topic. Click here (or scroll down) to read the full TOI interview of Susmita Dasgupta. On Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, Rekha, Abhishek Bachchan and more!
Is there an Amitabh ‘before’ and ‘after’ ABCL?
There is definitely a before and after ABCL Amitabh. The ABCL tragedy, like all stupendous failures have split Amitabh into a before and after image. The trauma of having failed appears to have drastically changed the person whose image was that of the invincible.What is Amitabh, the husband, like?
As I could observe, and at that point of time I was nearly 20 years younger, that Amitabh and Jaya were ideologically apart. For Jaya, there was a distress about why Amitabh did the films that he did. Jaya would have loved it were Amitabh to remain in the Hrishikesh Mukherjee camp and graduated later to Satyajit Ray (Manik Kaku for her; Jaya is exceptionally well-connected). But Amitabh went into rather “cheap stuff” with which she was not comfortable. To the best of my mind, this was the basic reason for a kind of stand-off. Jaya and Amitabh were dutifully husband and wife but I felt that the romance in the marriage was lacking. Also Jaya is a ‘Bong’ woman, the oldest among three sisters, and most probably the brightest, daughter to a doting father and that too an important one. She is Bhaduri, an upper caste Barendri Brahmin, who are very proud people. But slowly as Amitabh got involved in his career, he himself became the centre of all attention which was very difficult for Jaya to swallow. After all, at the time of their marriage she was the star and he the also-ran. The change in the power position within the marriage as Amitabh became successful also changed the soft, intense and emotional romance which Jaya and Amitabh had.How is the superstar with his kids? Is his rapport different with Abhishek and Shweta?
With his children, Amitabh is doting, pampering, blind with affection and only pretending to be firm, but very interested to be a part of their lives and eager to go to any lengths for their well-being. The daughter is interesting, I am not so sure that she feels the same way towards her parents as they feel towards her. I get this strange feeling that Shweta is seeking to move out of her parents’ very doting shadow and that marriage helped her have some independence that her extra protective parents robbed her of. Abhishek loves and would love to continue to be under the parents’ protection.What about the Rekha episode? Is there reason to believe the affair happened, despite Amitabh’s denials?
Yes, it is a matter of great speculation for me as well. I always sided with Amitabh when he denied all on Rekha. But, only recently, I saw this television footage in which Amitabh suddenly got up and moved away as Rekha came near where he was seated. This makes me believe that yes, they did have an affair. The sudden getting up and moving away was a giveaway. It was almost a pose of fleeing from Rekha… why would a man want to do that if he is not guilty of something? I believe Amitabh knew from day one that he wasn’t serious about Rekha. Also, he’s very, very class conscious… Rekha was perhaps an ego trip.How do you think Abhishek fares, being Amitabh and Jaya’s son, and now Aishwarya’s husband?
Abhishek reminds me of Prince Salim and he has the Prince Salim syndrome. In today’s world, Abhishek’s appeal lies in a certain sense of being chaperoned, someone who seeks and has security and, on the basis of an assured lifestyle, can afford to be nice to one and all. Just as Amitabh’s image crashed with failure, Abhishek’s image can crash if the shadows of persons chaperoning him are taken away. The image contains the shadows of the biggies that he nests among.Was he behind Abhishek joining films?
Yes, he was totally behind Abhishek’s joining films and if I were to have my opinion, then to push him to cinema. That’s why I say that Abhishek is prince Salim, the reluctant heir of Akbar when his heart was away in Venice, Rome and even Spain.Amitabh is projected today as the loyal friend… what drives his friendships with the Anil Ambani and Amar Singh?
I feel that Amitabh has never been a loyal friend. Loyalty has never been his characteristic trait. Anwar Ali and Amjad Khan are at least two who Amitabh never even acknowledged. I have seen him rather stand-offish with Javed, Salim, Prakash Mehra, the persons who made him. Amitabh never attended Hrishida’s funeral. He refuses to acknowledge Desh Mukherjee or Tinnu Anand. So, he looks for friends as far as he has something to gain from them.The Amar Singh episode is strange. He must be really gaining something out of Anil Ambani and Amar Singh and that “gain” has some connection with the “loss” in terms of money.
Why do you think he is still working? Is it insecurity, to consolidate a space for Abhishek or love of acting?
Amitabh is still working, yes, what you suggest to consolidate Abhishek’s career, but to the best of my understanding, Amitabh is Bhishma, he wishes to prove that he is immortal as a star. I think that Amitabh is seeking immortality by constantly reinventing his image to suit each new age that he lives in.
Dil Bole Hadippa – Not sure how many of you are interested in knowing more about the film, but if you are, do read on.
In short, DBH = Chak De India + Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi! Thats what it looks like from this post. Produced by Aditya Chopra (Yashraj Films), its directed by Anurag Singh and stars Rani Mukherjee and Shahid Kapoor.
The film had its premiere at the ongoing Toronto International Film Festival. And a blogger Wasabigirl, who saw the film at TIFF has given out all the details about the film on her blog. Every small twist and every plot point of the story. Am sure Yashraj guys will not be too happy to read it. You can read the full post here (including premiere details) or scroll down, after the pics.
Complete story of Dil Bole Hadippa
The film starts out with Veera Kaur (Rani Mukherjee), a hardcore typical Punjabi kudi who is completely obsessed with cricket. She’s so confident of her abilities that she boldly claims that she can hit six sixers in a row, even when a pro pitcher takes her up on the bet. Not only does she succeed in putting the big strong man in his place by hitting all six sixers in a row, she even does so while switching from right-handed batting to left-handed batting! Clearly she is skilled, and as the first song montage Dil Bole Hadippa shows, she is a carefree spirit with very big dreams.
Veera also works alongside Shanno (Rakhi Sawant) and others in a dance troupe that performs regularly. Of course, while they perform, she’s backstage playing cricket with the kids, which is extremely endearing. Most of the time her elders tell her she’s dreaming way too big, but she doesn’t seem to care. She knows that dreams can come true, and for her, they will!
Enter into the story Rohan Kapoor (Shahid Kapoor) and his father Vikram Kapoor (Anupam Kher). Rohan is an accomplished cricket player in England who has lived there for many many years. His mother (Rati Agnihotri) stayed in England while Rohan’s father chose to stay in India and they have remained estranged for all of these years. In this way, Rohan has not returned to India. To get his son back to the land of Punjab, Vikram pretends he’s had a heart attack. Rohan rushes to India, but realizes that his father just wants to spend time with him, since they have been apart for so long. And besides spending quality time, Vikram also has other plans…
You see, Vikram’s close childhood friend, Liyaqat Ali Khan (Dilip Tahil) is from Lahore, Pakistan. To foster peace between the two nations, the friends have set up an annual Peace Cup where a team from Amritsar plays a team from Lahore in a cricket match. It’s all in the spirit of camaraderie, but Vikram and Amritsar have lost 9 times in a row! And now Vikram’s dream is to finally see the Indian team beat the Pakistani team, once and for all. He wants to feel proud again. That’s where Rohan comes in. Vikram asks Rohan to captain the Amritsar team and lead them to victory.
Rohan’s return to India leaves him mostly amused. When he comes across Veera for the first time, her adorably bad English and her defensive patriotism catch him completely off guard. She’s most definitely like no one he’s met before. The scenes between Rani and Shahid are amazing. These two have GREAT chemistry together. I could go ahead and describe their first meeting in more detail, but it’s something you have to see to really appreciate. 🙂
So, as time goes on, Veera finds out that the Amritsar cricket team is holding tryouts for selection. She gets EXTREMELY EXCITED and runs off to become the town’s new batting star. Unfortunately, when she goes to the tryout the security guards and the rest of the men in line scoff at the notion that a woman could play cricket with them. Rani is heartbroken and chastises them for their hypocrisy of revering Goddess Durga yet being unable to respect the women around them.
Veera returns to the dance troupe and is forced to replace the main male dancer in the show, because he’s drunk. In doing so she not only has a spiffy dance number, Bhangra Bistar, with Rakhi Sawant, but she also realizes that she can dress up as a man and possibly fool the cricketers into letting her onto the team! It’s worth a shot, na?
Rani freaks out when she sees that the same foreign jerk who annoyed her, Rohan, is the captain. He’ll figure out it’s her, won’t he?! She stumbles and lies and tells him her name is Veer Pratap Singh. She makes all sorts of bold claims and states that she has never been bowled out in her life. There’s not a man alive who can bowl her out! Vikram doesn’t like her attitude, so he challenges her, ends up bowling her out, and tells Veer to leave. She begs and pleads for a second chance, and Rohan’s father convinces him to give Veer another shot. Veer succeeds in impressing Rohan and is accepted into the team.
Meanwhile, we are introduced to Rohan’s friend from England who has a serious crush on him, Soniya (Sherlyn Chopra). She’s basically there to show off her body in short-shorts and make passes at Shahid’s character, most of which he ignores. 😛
Veer trains with the cricket team and isn’t all that great. Can you blame her? Veer aka Veera is really a girl, so of course she can’t always keep up physically. But Rohan pushes her hard. This pretty much increases Veera’s dislike for Rohan. She sees him as a bossy know-it-all. Anyway, throughout the initial training, we get to see lots of Veer-related hijinks to the song Gym Shim. Rani is pretty adorable as the bizarre Punjabi guy. You just have to see her crazy facial expressions to know what I mean. 🙂
We also get to see some cute flirting and dancing from Rani and Shahid in the song Discowale Khisko. They both can dance so well, yay! And it’s the typical fun Yash Raj number with the gorgeous outfits and tons of background dancers. Oh! And we get to see that Rohan has a thing for Veera. Veera still seems annoyed with him, but Rohan is quite fond of her.
During cricket team practice, Soniya shows up, hoping to ogle Rohan while he’s hard at work (lol, it’s what we were all doing XD). Unfortunately, due to some happenings on the field, Veer ends up tumbling over Soniya and falling on top of her. Soniya thinks that Veer’s trying to get fresh with her, but Veer scoffs at the notion that she would ever want to touch Soniya. Soniya gets pissed and throws her drink on Veer’s face. Veer runs away and Soniya complains about him to Rohan, who runs off to find Veer and talk to him.
Rohan heads off into the change room, calling for Veer. He opens the change room door only to find…a naked Veera?!! O_O (Lol, this part was SO HILARIOUS!!!) Rohan and Veera try desperately and awkwardly to salvage the situation. When Rohan asks what the hell Veera is doing there, she lies and says that Veer is her brother. More insanity and arguing ensues; Rani and Shahid perform brilliantly in a great comedic scene. Seriously, the change room scene is amazing. It’s another one that I can’t really describe, because you have to see it for yourself.
Veera quickly changes back into her Veer avatar, and when Rohan finally finds her, he is all forgiving and sweet. Of course, his reason for suddenly being so nice to Veer is because he just found out that Veera is Veer’s sister, and he wants to make amends. Naughty boy! 😉 Veer lies and says that Veera is probably back at the dance troupe, so they head off together. Veer tries to do whatever she can to get away from Rohan and change back into her regular Veera clothes. She uses the dance troupe show as a diversion and changes back into Veera.
Rohan wants badly to apologize for the things he said to Veera in the change room. She is not willing to relent. But Rohan is not one to give up! As Veera gets on stage and starts performing the show, she gets a big surprise. I don’t really think I can give it away, but suffice it to say that if you’re a fan of filmi references in movies, you’ll love this bit. Shahid and Rani are too cute together! 🙂 So, Veera finally forgives him and all is well in the world again.
The next day during cricket training, Rohan asks Veer if Veera said anything about him the night before (aww!). Veer is confused and asks why Veera would talk about Rohan. Veer then realizes that Rohan is interested in her. It doesn’t sit well with her, so she goes over to talk to Soniya and convinces her to try harder with Rohan. Veer tells Soniya to be more desi and traditional to get her man.
Soniya tries to do just that, wearing a sari and taking Rohan and his father around Punjab for a tour. She kinda fails at being desi, though. 😛 Along the way they run across Veera and the dance troupe truck. Rohan’s father takes a liking to Veera and tells her that if she shows Rohan around Punjab that he might see just how great it really is. Veera is completely fine with showing off the nation that she loves and we are given the very sweet song Ishq Hi Hai Rab. Veera and Rohan spend a lot more time with each other and Rohan becomes more and more comfortable in India.
Veer goes back the next day and tells Soniya to find someone besides Rohan, because, obviously, Veera kinda likes Rohan now. Rohan asks to speak with Veer and says that he wants permission from Veera’s brother to ask her out on a date (double aww!). In another ridiculously hilarious and adorable scene, Veer accepts the proposition and says that Rohan is allowed to ask Veera out.
Time for a cute date with Rani Mukherjee and Shahid Kapoor! Veera shows up looking hip, modern and GORGEOUS, which Rohan loves, but he also tells her that she should just be herself. They share an Indian dinner together and they laugh and generally have a good time. Rohan even goes so far to say that he wants a girlfriend just like Veera and that he has fallen in love with her. After I melted at how freaking GUUUUHHH Shahid is and re-solidified with hearts in my eyes, I got to see Rani’s sweet expression to his confession. Rohan leans in to kiss Veera and although she’s shocked at first, she leans in too…only to be interrupted by the honking horn of the dance troupe truck. Her ride is there to pick her up and the date is over. Their romancing will have to wait until the cricket match is over!!
Now, describing the cricket match is hard for me. I understood exactly what was happening while I watched it, but I’m not so well-versed in cricket that I could explain it in retrospect. So you’re going to have to bear with my vagueness.
Rohan’s mother comes down from England to see the match. This also allows her and Vikram to reconcile a bit. You know, it’s a Yash Raj Film, tied up loose ends and all that. The game starts off with India fielding and Pakistan bowling. Rohan is an excellent bowler and the Indian team is hitting wickets left right and centre. Not to mention that Veer catches a ball before it can reach the outer field. The rest of the cricket team is rejoicing at the auspicious start that they have and the boys dog pile Veer. In the process, Rohan ends up with one of Veer’s contacts in his hand and realizes that Veer was actually Veera all along. He hands her back the contact, but the look in his eyes says it all. He’s furious.
After this point, the Indian team falls apart. They had been doing excellently, but suddenly Rohan can’t bowl at ALL anymore. He’s completely distracted and the batsmen take full advantage. Even Veer is unable to catch the balls while fielding. After 10 overs Pakistan ends with a score of 213, which is pretty un-freaking-believable. The announcers admit that, once again, India is pretty much screwed.
Back in the change room, Veer attempts to explain to Rohan why she lied, but Rohan will have none of it. He’s angry and hurt and honestly thinks that Veera used him, in the romantic sense, so that she would stay in his good graces and on the team. Veera is shocked and upset but Rohan just won’t listen. Rohan dismisses her from the team and India starts off batting without their star batsman.
The first few overs of batting are a complete mess. Rohan is basically keeping the team alive, because the rest of his team are pretty terrible at batting. The whole game seems hopeless and Veera sits solemnly, neither watching the game nor leaving the stadium. Rohan’s father, who walked in on the argument Veer and Rohan had in the change rooms, knows that Veera was actually Veer. He convinces Rohan to let her back onto the team, as she is the only hope.
Veer gets back on the field and the duo of Rohan and Veer get into the groove. Rohan claims that he only called Veer back for his father’s sake, and not for her sake. Veera understands and admits to herself that she is not batting for herself, but for Rohan’s sake. They continue on triumphantly, closing the impossible gap between India and Pakistan.
One of the Pakistan players accidentally trips Veer during a run and she ends up injuring her arm badly. Rohan rushes to her side and quickly calls the medical team. They say that her arm is broken and that she cannot bat, but Veer is adamant that she will keep going, regardless. Rohan gives her an appreciative nod.
The Pakistani bowlers are shocked when Veer switches over from right-handed batting to left-handed batting and is still able to bat reasonably well. We are given many a dramatic moment after that (seriously how am I supposed to explain this? ;)) and finally the Indian team wins! Not that any of us was surprised.
They are all freaking ecstatic and Rohan is about to be awarded Man of the Match. He’s happy too, but he knows there’s still something left for him to do. He grabs Veer’s hand and brings her to the stage with him. Rohan announces that he was not the Man of the Match and that, really, the man of the match wasn’t a man at all! He takes off Veer’s turban, facial hair and contacts to reveal that Veer is actually Veera. People are pretty pissed off.
Veera sees that everyone is angry with her and that they can’t believe a *gasp* WOMAN has beaten them. Or played with them. Deceived them! So she steps up to the microphone to knock some sense into everyone. In the usual dramatic flair of Bollywood movies, we get an emotional speech about equality, ambitions, perseverance and dreams. The women watch with a knowing look on their faces while the men look on in shock. But Veera’s words are strong and true. By the end, they are left standing silently until the captain of the Pakistani team starts to clap. One by one the crowd begins to cheer for Veera Kaur and her amazing achievement. She not only kept up with the men, she surpassed them!
We are left with a very happy ending with the team lifting the trophy and Veera and Rohan reuniting. Your typical Yash Raj film, but just as satisfying as you would expect. To top it all off, we get to see an extremely hot Shahid and Rani in the video Hadippa The Remix as the credits roll by.
The first look of Shyam Benegal’s new film Well Done Abba is out. The film stars Boman Irani, Minissha Lamba and Samir Dattani. The film was recently screened at Montreal Film Festival and will have its next screening at London film festival. Its written by Ashok Mishra and is based on two short stories – ‘Narsaiyyan Ki Bavdi’ by Jeelani Bano and ‘Phulwa Ka Pul’ by Sanjeev.
And here is the synopsis of the film….
Armaan Ali, played by comic hero Boman Irani, is a middle aged driver for a city executive. He takes a month’s leave and, when he arrives back at work three months later, his boss, understandably, threatens to sack him. To save his job, charming Armaan spins a fabulous story of why he was delayed in getting his daughter married.
Fable or truth, the boss isn’t quite sure, but the story revolves around a central question – how a well, once dug, can be stolen? Unearthed in Benegal’s part comedy, part political satire, is a hilarious and poignant depiction of the double dealing and corrupt middle men intrinsic to Indian rural politics. Meanwhile, at the heart of the story is a delightful romance between Armaan’s daughter and a young, honest mechanic who saves the day.
AKAAAK ? It’s Aadmi Ki Aurat Aur Anya Kahaniyaan! In english, its The Man’s Woman and Other Stories.
Amit Datta ? Yes, the same FTII graduate who has directed films like Kra Ma Sha, Sha Tra Gya and Ma Pa. Has a distinct quirky visual signature style. If you havent seen his films, do watch. Available on FTII’s Lensight DVDs. Can get it from FTII or Rudra Media. Google, you will get it.
Kra Ma Sha also bagged two National Awards this year. One for cinematography (Savita Singh) and audiography (Ajit Singh Rathore).
His new film AKAAAK was given a special mention in the Orizzonti (New Horzons) category at the just concluded Venice Film festival. The Orizzonti Prize was given to Pepe Diokno (Philippines) for Engkwentro. And the Orizzonti Prize for Best documentary to DU Haibin (China) for 1428.
Havent seen the film but from the synopsis it looks like Amit is moving in similar domain again….
The film is a series of three episodes which explore the relationship between men, women and the physical and mental spaces they inhabit. A man lives in a rented room with tree branches by his window. He fears that birds and snakes may enter in his room through the window, but would like the squirrels to visit him. In a story narrated within ruins, a man wants to erase the name of his wife, which is tattooed on her own forearm, and in his anxiety to erase it, he even considers going so far as to cut off the arm of his wife; but his friend has better suggestions. In the dark suburbs, a woman sleeping under a glowering bulb is forcefully hired off to a young man waiting for his friend. While the young man wants to know her story, she only wishes to sleep.
Finally, here comes Desi Cinema Paradiso. No, make that Cinema Para-desi!
The first trailer of Dev Benegal’s Road, Movie is out. The film stars Abhay Deol, Tannistha Chatterjee and Satish Kaushik. The screenplay was selected for the L’Atelier section at the Cannes Film Festival 2006. Its having its world premiere at the ongoing Toronto Film Festival. Deol plays a truck driver who makes a life changing journey across India as he hits the road with a travelling cinema.
And here is the 2min trailer..
And the synopsis of the film..
A young man’s journey into the unknown becomes the odyssey of a lifetime.
Vishnu, a restless young man, comes up with a plan to save his father’s faltering hair-oil business. It’s madness: an excursion into the unknown, driving an old, decrepit lorry across a harsh but stunning terrain.
His personal journey becomes an odyssey across the mythical Indian landscape as he discovers he’s transporting not just a battered vehicle, but an old touring cinema.
The expedition takes on carnivalesque proportions of endurance as Vishnu confronts a young runaway, a wandering, old entertainer with a bear, a beautiful gypsy woman, corrupt cops and a notorious water-lord.
The key to his freedom is the eccentric collection of films and the two 40-year-old film projectors that lie inside the bowels of the lorry. Like “1001 Nights” if the films are good he gets to live and move on, otherwise he faces death in the isolated countryside.
The road trip is to change the life of each of the travellers, especially that of Vishnu, who discovers life, love and laughter along the Indian highway.
Marathi film Harishchandrachi Factory is India’s official entry to this year’s Oscars in the Foreign Film Category. The film is directed by Paresh Mokashi who has been doing theatre since last twenty years. Harishchandrachi Factory is Mokashi’s debut film.
F.i.g.h.t C.l.u.b 