So finally I watched a movie first day first show. This time alone because all my friends opted for the Hindi version whose title is so bad and cliché that it was a real turnoff. So when I came out of the multiplex screen I bumped into my old friend Ravindar who incidentally had just watched the hindi version. We decided to have a coffee at Café Coffee Day and talk of the good old times.
Over a cappuccino we talked of many things school, girls, college etc. I purposely tried to avoid any conversation on the movie. You see Ravindar is should I say quite unpolished. He watches movies if it has Aishwarya Rai, we watches movie if it has Punjabi stuff, he watches movies if it has mindless action, that?s that. And to have a conversation on films with him, is how should I put it?well..simply, it?s not a pleasurable experience.
But the topic was unavoidable. Infact as soon as he realized I had just seen the same movie, he started, ?What a movie he has made yaar, maja aa gaya !?
?He?it?s she?, I corrected him.
?What?..no no Karan Johar is a guy yaar..come on?.it?s a good joke though?.
?It?s not made by Karan Johar buddy.?
Surprising but I couldn?t blame him. His very poor GK of films combined with the look and feel of the movie can make anyone make the mistake. Yes this is one movie Karan Johar would be proud of. It has beautiful sets, lot of colour, lot?s of humor, fun , dance, songs?.everything. A typical blockbuster Bollywood movie.
?Oh?.is this Farah Khan?s second movie ?.?
Again, Ravindar wasn?t totally wrong. This one (like Farah Khan?s Main Hoon Na) is very much formula based. It uses all the formula?s found in Hindi Films. But alas, how could we forget?this isn?t a hindi movie?it?s an international film
?No it?s made by Gurinder Chadda. The lady who made ?Bend it like Beckham? remember.?
This one didn?t ring a bell with Ravindar. How do I know ? Well apparently his next question was ?Who is Beckham ??
But watching the movie one does feel that it has a signature Gurinder style. Her obsession with Indian wedding and the mindless rituals and lifestyles of the Indian people is quite apparent.
?Like yaar story to kya zaabardast the. Ekdum original?
?Well it?s based on a Jane Austen novel, ?Pride and the Prejudice?? . I explained, Ravindar almost fell of his chair !
To be precise, yes Gurinder has faithfully stuck to the novel. The ease with which she adepts it to the present story can only be called a masterpiece. It almost seems that Jane Austen had written the novel for India. The story is such. But at the end of the day there is nothing ?haatke? for an Indian movie goer. The original novel too is not a unique story but the USP of the story and the movie is the underlying satirical comedy, strong characterization and intense Drama.
Martin Henderson plays Mr. Darcy from the novel, and Aish adepted as Lalita Bakshi from the original Elizabeth of the novel. It starts in Amritsar when a determined Mrs. Bakshi sets out to find marriage matches for her four daughters (Namrata Shirodkar, Aishwarya Rai, Peeya Rai Choudhuri, Meghnaa), while there’s a lavish wedding in town. Right away, the smart and headstrong Lalita announces that she will only marry for love, giving her mother nightmares. She finds Will Darcy an thick skinned American. You can guess the rest.
?But yaar that new guy he? I mean has launched is pretty good looking. Looks almost like Tom Cruise !?
?Yes?his name is Martin Henderson. He was in the forgettable movie Tourque remember.?
?Ah yes?.I thought I saw him somewhere. What he is doing in a hindi movie ??
Apparently Ravinder had seen Torque. (It falls in the mindless action category !) I tried to explain to him that this was not a Hindi movie actually, but it was all futile. For him English films are those having lots of action or aliens or both. It makes me wonder what other people would think of this movie. It is a long movie, with lot?s of songs and dance and melodrama, would the international audience accept this stuff. We are quite used to it but would they like it ! I just hope it doesn?t end as a dhobi ka kutta. (Na Ghar ka na ghat ka?.remember?or do I sound Ravindar !!)
But Martin falls quite out of place. A Austrlian born?playing an Amercian?in love with an Indian?.directed by a British lady. huh ? Sounds all mixed up. He does a decent job but is quite overshadowed by the Indian actors ! lol.
?Aishwarya Rai to yaar?mast Acting ke hai?
?Agreed. This is her first English movie and she has done a splendid job. One of her finest performace. Looks a bit plump but still looks great.? I know, poor Ravindar, this much was too much for him.
?Baki log bhi achaca kaam kiya. Aish ki mummy ne mast acting ke?.
The supporting cast has stood like pillar for this movie. Especially Nadira Babbar who plays Mrs. Bakshi. She has done quite a job. The music is pretty hummable. Cinematography by Santosh Sivan is mindblowing.
?Yaar score kya hua match ka ??
Atlast. I was thankful to the great almighty?.Ravinder finally changed the subject. But you guys out there..go watch the movie?.it?s worth it. Till then Balle Balle.