One night at a call center was published in 2005 and this move is made to release now in 2008.
I have read the novel two years back and I saw the movie now. I must admit that I liked reading this novel two years back when I myself was in a typical call taking career role as I could easily relate to the characters in the story.
however I differ in my thoughts now. you can call me a Hypocrite but I would say some people change with the situations around them.
3 years ago I was a struggling call center agent who found solace in knowing that there are others who share the same pain and agony. now I am out of the call taking profile and I am comfortable in an American company I would not speak a word against it, after all this job is giving me my rozi roti yaar. maybe again tomorrow if due to life situations I get into another uncomfortable job roles like odd shifts, problem calls and other typical call center career related situation I would change my stand again.
basically chetan has done a lot of American bashing both in the novel and the same goes in the movie as well. I agree there are baddies in the USA but one must be a bit considerate about what that country has done to the world economy for good or bad what soever. some say the current economic crisis is blamed on the USA but we can also say if not for the USA outsourcing what would the employment rate of our highly populated country be? Its a vastly debatable topic. however I do not want to veer off the topic so coming back to the movie. These are the following points I could observe:
story line: I take a Neutral stance about liking it. its ditto as in the book( due to the above explanations)
Dilip Tahil: acts as the baddie in the movie and decent acting and funny too.
Gul panag: she is getting hotter day by day. forget about her acting.
amrita aruora: quite decent acting as a Indian bahu, cant expect more.
Isha kopikar: its about time she stops acting and settle down in her life. She no longer seems desirable.
Sohail Khan, : is improved a lot in terms of acting.
Sharman Joshi: does the job just OK so so.
Sharat Saxena: a good character actor does the job.
you can see a lot of add in the movie like Oxyirich bottled water, Chevrolet tavera( I find this funny because Chevy is an American brand and this movie has american bashing, now talk about hypocrisy, really funny)
The movie also has a lot of things that are unexplained, may be its just a assume it as a drama movie!
individual desks for all the call agents
Very personal setup for only these main guys as if they are the only employees in that company
Sohael khan does a lot of* thod phode *in the company cafeteria in a fit of rage and no one, even the cafeteria incharge if any bothers to make a scene out of it? instead he say "I need a break" and runsaway with the rest of the gang.
Military doesnt seem to take calls or do any productive work except trying to send emails to his grand son in company timimgs
Breaks after breaks after breaks for the employees! hmmm ofcourse other wise how would the movie finish?
The virus funda to raise call volume, americans might be stupid but calling them back and telling them about virus and asking them to call back would backfire immediatly. it would also go on to the american media the next day. easy said than done.
what about their other operational metrics? they should have N number of metrics on customer satisfaction and the number of times they call back etc etc etc blah blah( A call centre person might understand what operational metrics are better)
any way these and many more goofups can be pointed out but then its a damn movie yaar.
If you can hire a DVD and watch it at home this should suffice. not worth spending for a multiplex.( again made affordable due to fat salaries from outsourcing partly)