This is a curious example of outsider gaze into a part of India bollywood would rather close its eye.However the outsider gaze is not a neutral or objective gaze.It gets drawn into absurdities and perversities of Indian life with an exaggerated interest.The best bits of the movie reminded me of 'City of God', the bad bits of the movie reminded me of countless bollywood films. The characters are all caricatures, the lead character ( Dev Patel) emotes like a British Asian, not like a real Indian.The actress playing Latika despite being an Indian, is unindian in presence.Actors speaking in English reminds us constantly that this is not India and these guys are not real Indians.The hero's brother is the only character who rise above caricature status.But despite my negative impression, I enjoyed the film, just like I enjoy a well made masala bollywood film. This is not an art film, it is a clever film that sells some exotic wares.It should sell well in the west.I hope Rahman gets an Oscar for the musical score.
Reviews
5 Reviews
The Namesake
(2006)
Gem of a film
6 September 2007
Is there anything bad in this film? I can not think of anything that was out of place.Everything was just right. Nothing missed, Nothing embellished.Nothing flashy, just ordinary life with its pathos.Sensitive and saddening just like many of the NRIs life.All the actors has done extremely well.The scenes flow despite the gaps in chronological time, smoothly.This is without doubt,Mira Nair's best film and one which will be remembered for a very long time.I had given up my hope after seeing her recent films, but this shows she is back in business.Go and see it if you have not!. I have given it an eight because the story is reminiscent of my life, but even if my experience was not there I would have easily given a seven.Truly a great film.
Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag
(2007)
no climax!
1 September 2007
RGK's Aag has a fatal flaw. It lacks emotional power in almost all the scenes and remains distant and detached.I was disappointed by Mohanlal.It is not the actors fault.Instead of the Arms being cut off,here it is his fingers being cut off.This was silly as it almost feels like cutting your nails.The murder of the whole family also lacked any emotions.RGK was interested only in his fetishistic camera angles.The final confrontation between Mohanlal and Bachhan was also a huge disappointment. In the original Sholay this was the jewel in the crown and you could ignore all the heroics of Amit and Dharmendra.In fact it was this bit of the story that was very original in the real Sholay.All the other dramatic moments were influenced by seven samurai and Once upon a time in the west.
Overall, the actors performed adequately, but there was no chemistry between them. (Susmita Sen wins the award for best cardboard performance,and unlike other commentators I found Nisha Kothari to be tolerable and occasionally amusing).Audience is unlikely to get involved in any of the characters as they did with the original Sholay.RGK has tried not to copy Sholay and has to be congratulated in placing the story in a new context.Perhaps he tried to give a new twist to all the classic scenes so that he would not be accused of plagiarism.Apart from the single scene where Ajay Devgan teaches Nisha Kothari to shoot, I could not see any direct copy from sholay.All the rest are changed slightly, but significantly.I liked the idea of gunfight in Deevali night and on Holi.RGK tried to be original than a mere copy of Sholay-sort of a modern commentary.But in all these attempts he failed to bring drama and passion to the film and made it a lifeless and soulless experience.
Overall, the actors performed adequately, but there was no chemistry between them. (Susmita Sen wins the award for best cardboard performance,and unlike other commentators I found Nisha Kothari to be tolerable and occasionally amusing).Audience is unlikely to get involved in any of the characters as they did with the original Sholay.RGK has tried not to copy Sholay and has to be congratulated in placing the story in a new context.Perhaps he tried to give a new twist to all the classic scenes so that he would not be accused of plagiarism.Apart from the single scene where Ajay Devgan teaches Nisha Kothari to shoot, I could not see any direct copy from sholay.All the rest are changed slightly, but significantly.I liked the idea of gunfight in Deevali night and on Holi.RGK tried to be original than a mere copy of Sholay-sort of a modern commentary.But in all these attempts he failed to bring drama and passion to the film and made it a lifeless and soulless experience.
The Journey
(2004)
a little unpretentious gem
10 September 2006
I saw this film as Part of London Gay And lesbian Film Festival. I had very few expectations, but was pleasantly surprised and very pleased by the unpretentious story telling.The atmosphere of rural kerala was captured in its beauty without any attempt to overstate it.The actors also played their parts with restraint.The characters were not developed fully and this means we do not get the complexity of their motivation and depth of their lives.The characters appear as one dimensional and only one actor,KPAC Lalitha( as Deliah's Mother)desperately tries to put some flesh into the character.
But then this approach (or it limitation?) gives the film a simplicity and directness which you would not get from a complex approach.
The ending was poor. Like the previous commentator, I believe it should have ended with the butterfly flying away. Unfortunately it ends with the kakkathi's ( fortune teller) irritating laughter.In fact The Kakkathi was the only person who was miscast.And to end the film with her shot was a poor choice.
I do not know anything about the director, but would like to congratulate her on delivering an unpretentious first film which was beautiful.It really should have come in the main stream rather than the current lesbian label.
But then this approach (or it limitation?) gives the film a simplicity and directness which you would not get from a complex approach.
The ending was poor. Like the previous commentator, I believe it should have ended with the butterfly flying away. Unfortunately it ends with the kakkathi's ( fortune teller) irritating laughter.In fact The Kakkathi was the only person who was miscast.And to end the film with her shot was a poor choice.
I do not know anything about the director, but would like to congratulate her on delivering an unpretentious first film which was beautiful.It really should have come in the main stream rather than the current lesbian label.
Kadhavaseshan
(2004)
When is your life worth living?
9 June 2006
Warning: Spoilers
TV Chadran raises the ethical dilemma of having to live in an unethical, uncaring and cruel society.Do we live our life without responding to real issues , our minds numbed by our petty concerns desires and compulsions.What are we to do when hope in humanity is becoming a sick dream?Do you have to die to end this dilemma?
The film makes you think of your place in the world and the world's place in your life.Despite this I found the actors sadly not able to convey the depths of the issue.The episodes move from commercial comedy of malayalam movies, sentmentalism and quasi seriousness. The epidodes are petty and trivial except the final Gujarat one, and this makes the film look very unsophisticated and perhaps missing the gravitas that was necessary for such a theme.The actors from different states fared well than Malayali actors.The structure of the film has been used before, But Chandran manages to keep it going till the end.
It is certainly a unique theme and this alone is enough to keep it in my memory.It is a sad comment on our insensitive Indian world.
The film makes you think of your place in the world and the world's place in your life.Despite this I found the actors sadly not able to convey the depths of the issue.The episodes move from commercial comedy of malayalam movies, sentmentalism and quasi seriousness. The epidodes are petty and trivial except the final Gujarat one, and this makes the film look very unsophisticated and perhaps missing the gravitas that was necessary for such a theme.The actors from different states fared well than Malayali actors.The structure of the film has been used before, But Chandran manages to keep it going till the end.
It is certainly a unique theme and this alone is enough to keep it in my memory.It is a sad comment on our insensitive Indian world.
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