For a relatively lesser known movie, ‘Flavors’ is surprisingly well scripted and well enacted. It has nice dialogues with a hint of humor of the kind which will make you chuckle at each watch. And the dialogues are delivered in the right tone and tempo by actors who perfectly suit the role. After a long time, I found myself thoroughly enjoying a movie and that too a Hinglish one. Read on to know more about what makes this movie enjoyable.
What is special about Flavors?
‘Life like it is. Almost’ is the tagline of the movie. And sure it is. Not many movies are life-like and yet entertaining, like this one. Hence, this movie is unusual in many aspects. But what is evident in every aspect is the fresh originality in the ideas behind the scenes and their execution, which has sadly become a rare phenomenon with respect to Indian movies these days.
Story
Shakespeare told that ‘Life is a tale told by an Idiot, full of sound and fury signifying nothing’. Similarly this life like tale also doesn’t have a significant story; it just holds a mirror to reflect life as it is to its viewers. There is particularly no story as such.
It is a modern script which doesn’t follow the usual ‘introduction, conflict and resolution’ routine, tough there is a bit a conflict and resolution as each of the characters, towards the end, undergo a radical change in their outlook of life. But the story is not of the kind which could have been enjoyable had it not been filmed.
‘Flavors’ is basically about a bunch of Indians living in US. The plot moves around these typical Indians and the kind of typical problems which they face. Anybody watching it will identify that these characters are very much inspired from real life.
Interesting Aspects
The directors directed by ‘Raj Nidimoru’ and ‘Krishna DK’ have done a commendable job in making such a well conceived movie. Their originality in approach is a refreshing change. Because, the incidents that make the movie are simple and even mundane. It is amazing that these simple incidences and can be so much fun to watch. Nothing is predictable and boring in spite of being mundane. Even simple things like what all a bored house wife living in an unknown country would do; to pass time is well thought of and nicely shot.
One more interesting aspect is the positivistic nature in which the movie ends. The changes that the characters undergo are positive and are of the kind that makes people grow in to mature human beings.
Performances
Believe me, this movie (and not K3G) has the dream cast. The actors are simply perfect for the roles that they portray. ‘Anjan Srivastava’ and ‘Bharti Achrekar’ are the only known faces. Unlike the usual Hinglish movies starring ‘Koel Puri’ and other such irritating actors who speak English in the same tone of their mother tongue and call it Indianess (and end up humiliating Indians on the whole), these people speak in the kind of English which a normal educated Indian would speak, (with the typical yet normal mispronunciations common to most Indians).
The best according to me was the ‘Reef Karim’ who acted as ‘Kartik’ the agony aunt of ‘Rachna’. He is simply too good. Even the girl Rachna ‘Pooja Kumar’ is good. Their telephonic conversations are absolute treat to watch. It is amazing that the nature of their relationship is portrayed so beautifully when all they do is talk over the phone. The loser guy who keeps pinning over a girl who never knew even his name for sure, his friends searching for job, the HR, the bored house wife, the American bahu etc have all acted their part nicely.
Conclusion
On Toto, what makes Flavors special is the simple brilliance of a novel idea. Wish more movies like this are made … I recommend this movie to anyone interested in watching a light hearted, fun film. I am sure you will find it entertaining and will want to watch it again. It is worth it. For Flavors captures the many flavors of life, it is slightly funny, slightly touchy but essentially nice and it goes on …just like life.