I am truly glad today...not because we lost yet another match with Australia…that is same old story! Seeing Dhoni smile away his disappointment and moving on nonchalantly…and the media excusing him for that…made me smile…On a more personal note…I feel happy yet again….this time on the punjabisation of India… which has truly happened…or should I say punjabisation of the world (my worldrestricts to UK and US!)…! With “Chak De”being the un-official national anthem, “Bhangra” overtaking the hip hop music industry and “Curry n Tikka”certified asfavourites…I can just gloat…and boast…typical punju style mein!
“Loins of Punjab” is one such step…towards this global change…! In fact the film is an attention-grabbing attempt…from the word go. The theme of making a film for NRI audience with reality show as the backdrop makes for an interesting watch. Directed by Manish Acharya ( forgive me if the surname isn’t correct!), the film revolves around a “Desi Idol” …who is to be awarded 25K USD , a sensational singing star…a name to reckon with!
The talent show is sponsored and marketed by an agency called “Loins of Punjab” and is first of its kind…since it requires singers to sing/mouth/croak etc in hindi and the talent is to be an undiscovered one…was the talent is to be discovered post the show…or was it about a talent which is was never there and had to be first injected and then discovered…Well…god only knows! The story revolves on finding this star amidst the herd of wannabes and how each one outdoes each other.
The duration of the film is close to 2 hours…decent length for a film that is based on situational humour, one liners and cast-ist jokes. The true star of the film is the script and the actors who carry off roles with aplomb!None of them except Shabana Azmi, Ayesha Dandekar and Darshan Javeri are known names but they perform as established stars.
The film might offence some people due to the “in- the- face” humour, catch phrases and double meaning one- linerswhich provide the right fun at the right time!It dwells on typical mannerisms of NRI’s, prejudices and biases faced by Asians in a foreign land and mocks on cultures across. Each of the character has been well etched and leaves a mark post the film. The director himself gives a decent performance as a guy who is a financial analyst and talks in facts and figures…a guy who decide on avoiding “white wine” on his first date since 17% of the men on first dates don’t drink! I am sure you would have surely met someone who has this irritating way with words and life!
My only grave sorrow was the almost non existent punjabisation of the film…
and with a title like that…people just don’t understand! The saving grace is the **Hip- Hop- Rap- Bhangra Trance- Music which rocks...like any Punabi music does :)
To cut a short story even shorter..this film is a good watch if…
You appreciate humour which borders from subtle, to on your face…to black!
You are still deciding on whether you are an art film lover or a reality show lover!
You like expected melodrama and know what the end of the film is!
You are patriotic in the truest sense…which doesn’t mean you take arms in hand…but may be a little more…!
None of the above
*Watch this one! It is a good watch on a lazy weekday…with friends or colleagues...or even alone!
Comments are welcome! If you have watched this one, let’s take a poll on which character who loved the most...or the character who reminded you of the nagging boss, or of a scheming relative...think!