One thing that strikes you more than anything else, as you near finishing Chameli, an advertisement must go out in Sunday, for screenplay writers. Film after film, has been undone by lack of adequate development of ideas adapted for screen, coordination in its various elements. How in the hell can a film run without a proper plan, something should be able to work, other than sheer luck? Come to think of it, the last flawless screenplay to come out was by a debutant Farhan Akhtar, in August 2001 with Dil Chahta Hai. Last year apart from KHNH (and yes Munnabhai MBBS), nothing in screenplay department worked at all. Bhoot, Jism and Jhankar Beats, were some other which just about had a good screenplay. (I am talking merits of screenplay which is distinct from story idea) Now, here in Chameli, you want to just slap the screenplay writer left, right and center. He has not only spoiled a perfectly delicious idea but also sucked the life out of everyone’s else’s efforts in the movie.
Chameli is a typical Multiplex Pot Boiler (yeah! I invented the term :) ). Now first of all, why is it a multiplex film in the first place, well the producers said it, the stars said it, so I take it. I just think they meant that after paying Kareena Kapoor’s fees as an actress, they had practically no budget left for anything else in the movie and hence, came in the Multiplexe’s favorite hero, Rahul Bose and other fringe characters. Why a pot boiler, well because other than the casting of Rahul Bose, there is precious little the film has which one cant associate Mainstream Commercial Cinema with. It really looks much better if seen as a commercial film than as a highlight of multiplex cinema. So, there you have a crass commercial sex worker and a commercial investment banker, all alone in a night and of course, all the action possible and all the tragedies possible have to strike themselves on this particular night. And they do so, in true filmi fashion. And after a series of twists and turns and somersaults, the film ends. And just in case you miss it, let me tell you the last two scenes are the best scenes in the movie and if you can last that long, your whole idea of the film changes from major let down to just about pass marks.
The screenplay in this kind of movie had to be extra convincing. And it is extra stupid. When you think of having an investment banker meet a crassy commercial sex worker, you have to make a decision. Would it be a romantic poetry like Chandramukhi or downright realistic portrayal like Chandni Bar. In this case, its neither here nor there. The screenplay develops with loads of glamour to start with, abandons it mid way, adopts a tragic life of prostitute theme in middle, moves on to a dark night thriller post interval and in between there are rendezvous of a gay couple (for a change this aspect has been done well and perhaps the better aspect of screenplay, although the way the father of 19 year old boy in love with a eunuch traces him down is like he was looking for his daughter), a preachy track of prostitutes social service, the bankers past life and then finally it ends. And in this case its a perfect case of ’’All is well that ends well’’. The problem is despite a lot happening on the screen, the development of the screenplay is such that it meanders from one genre to another rather abruptly and without any continuity. And not that film is well paced either, it is again another slow slow moving tortoise. Its perfectly reasonable to ask, why Bose had to meet a sex worker (no justification in screenplay), and not say a young vivacious college girl waiting for her boy friend to elope? What goes wrong is the essence of the movie: is it a poetic rendezvous or just happened rendezvous, I bet they themselves did not know. And that zaps what ever life the novel idea the film had. The whims and fancies come up and ruin the story.
In an event like this, others are only fighting a loosing battle, and unless you pack in a real heavy duty star, the film was always going to struggle. The thing which works though is editing, although there are a few jerks here and there, largely it is effective. The photographer has done a dream job, the shot taking is of Hollywood standard and deserves an award for sure. A special mention must be made of exquisitely done ’’Bhaage re Mann’’ and use of lights. The choreography sux, and the first song in the movie itself (it starts the movie) is major let down. Art direction is also decent and for want of a better word I would say, realistic. Dialogues are not that brilliant but they work sometimes. One of the better dialogues is when Rahul Bose tries explaining what a commercial banker is to the hooker and Kareena says, ’’Saala, bolne ke paise leta hai.’’ There is no wit here, at all, nor is there any poetry, nor are they normal day to day. The background score is effective that it is in background and you dont really notice it. Direction is better than Joggers Park and Mumbai Matinee, and there is a Sudhir Mishra stamp in some sequences especially the hospital and police lock up scenes. Just about an ok product technically.
As I said, it needed stars. And they had Kareena Kapoor. She lights up the screen with her presence and its a horror to think of her not being there, but her performance leaves a lot to desire. First, few reels you are almost cursing yourself for having moved into watch this one. Her dialogue delivery and ability to make some wierd faces puts you off completely. (Caution: first 20 minutes of the movie are major pakao.) As the time moves on, you adjust and she becomes bearable and eventually you can even like her. Some of the scenes she does well is the outburst in hospital (although it is completely illogical) and the song ’’Bhaage re man’’. But if she was looking for a major break then this is not it. Rahul Bose is as usual, brilliant. Here comes an actor who deserves every praise in the book and here too he brings out his character well. Although like Kareena, he is handicapped with a poor script, he manages to rise above it and portray his character with poise and conviction. Now thats what an actor is. Other support cast are just about alright, and a special mention of the guy who plays the man in love with the eunuch, he does well.
Overall, if you manage to go past first half and are prepared for almost everything that the writer could throw at you in one night, well then you may just about enjoy it. The real genius touch comes in the climax, Kareena acts superbly and Rahul Bose is brilliant as well. And the scene has been written well too. The whole ambience of just about to break dawn and the thoughts of parting, have to be experienced. And unlike the last line in the film, ’’Saala, haath jal gaya’’, you would come out neither happy nor sad, its just another film, another day, and Kareena did not suck so much after all.
P.S. - Watch out for shot taking abilities of director and photographer