Nanhe:
Ah well, checked out this movie last night and I write this with the oh-so-rip it up mood in mind. The story is a hot-potch of visions from the dead, from Hollywood movies, some paranormal documentaries and aahat – other soap-channel serial reruns. So within the first 10 minutes, I knew that vision gained would be vision lost as an happy ending (yup – the topic is that stale, thakela and repeated).
Story – well the movie has been around for some time so by now the other reviews have the story out. As such, there is no story as it is more of the main character having weird experiences after a corny-ya transplant and needs to put them to rest. So rather than a story, it is more a journey.
What I liked: Performances of Urmila – good and professional. This movie is around her and she has carried the product well on her shoulders. (Ash – that is one thing ye still gotta do before you come anywhere near Madhuri / Sridevi / Rani Mukherjee / Kajol / Meena Kumari etc.) Urmila keeps the movie going. Methinks all the work she has done with her director mentor and experience of working in movies like Rangeela, she knows and understands expressions, angles, lightings, pauses, dubbing and when and how to let go when she needs to scream, act hysterical, calm down, act exasperated and frustrated when no one believes she is having strange experiences with a new corny- Yeah! The final piece – going towards the lake with the walking stick and turning back with a smile towards her hubby – that is a touch of intellect and being with your character. Someone has done good work with either a bound script or the actress has innovated that scene. And that is how the movie ends !
Performances and costumes: Bhuj, the place, the characterizations, the actors. I liked this the best. The old lady who goes crazy, the fire, the reaction of the crowds, the superstitions, the doctor who does not have time even for the living, the living dead appearances of persons at the hospital in Bhuj – mind blowing. And boy, the burnt bodies, the human reactions, the silences of the watchers, the parallel of the train blowing up in London.
The special effects, especially the profile of Grim Reaper – the Death shadow.
What I didn’t like: The granny – most irritating lady. Most of the story came across as a boring soap opera excepting when it had truly international scenes, or the best part – the Bhuj shots. The rest was a pain to sit through and unfortunately, that was most of the movie. I feel the director was totally out of place and uncomfortable with the overseas shots, he should have stuck to his strong points – the gujurati flavor. Here he was able to showcase emotions absolutely in its raw to get you – I mean to really get you.
Where the product failed: The story did not target the audiences well, result is neither here nor there. However, taking into account these kind of movies are first-time on Bollywood screens, the novelty factor will bring in audiences. Some of the scenes and SFX got repeated too often with similar reactions in different situations – that did get on me (Check out Sadma – Sridevi & Kamalahaasan / similar frequently showed gimmicks killed the movie at the box office)
Recommendations: Check it out for Bhuj, Urmila, the special effects and the paranormal. If you are a normal horror buff (like me with over 400 movies checked out the last 20 years), avoid. This is not in the league of Darna Mana Hai. I would like to see more movies from the maker – director. So recommendations welcome in the comments.
For Vision check movies – also check out Rakht.
Well – the theatres were filled, the young chicks did get chilled. It is worth a single take, it has its audience and some would like to see it again.
And me – I liked the pop corn, the iced tea, and was sufficiently grounded to sit through the movie as there were patches of brilliances worth sitting through. So much as my intention was to shred this movie apart, I could not ignore patches of sheer brilliance coming out.
Bolly to so nihaal – naina is ok yaar