It’s been a month and I am still thinking how is it possible that I came out blank after watching a Sanjay Leela Bhansali movie. I mean “Khamoshi” was so overwhelming for me that I almost started worshiping you as a cinematic genius.
Then, “Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam” came to me as desperate attempt to reach the masses, it was a good movie, but the khamoshi kind of connection was missing. Though “Devdas” as a subject didn’t work for me, you left a mark with your grand presentation and visual delights. I mean every frame was a treat for eyes.
But, still I missed my director who made “Khamoshi the Musical” . It was Black where I felt you made something straight from heart, but still the raw and real feel that was given to the situation and characters was missing.
The magical khamoshi of Sanjay was not there and instead I saw a loud and grand world of Sanjay Leela Bhansali, nevertheless it was far ahead of “Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam” and “Devdas”. I was hoping the next venture would not only have a great story, but the real Sanjay would return. But, then I realized you have
gone into the world of grand and larger than life movies. I mean
there’s nothing wrong with making it big and grand, but not every
subject needs that treatment . The true art in you was seen when you
told a difficult story like “Khamoshi” in the most simple way.After
I saw the promos for “Saawariya”, I could see that the visual scale of
the movie was beyond anything you have done before. So, even though I
was not sure abt the story , screenplay and direction (3 things that
make the movie for me), I was sure abt the splendid treat that was
awaiting for my eyes. And then I saw “Saawariya”…Though I was not
disappointed because the story , screenplay and direction was no where
close to expectations, what hit me was the visual delight fell flat for
me. I mean the sets were grand but they looked so fake. Didn’t you
notice when Ranbir wrote “Sakina” on the wall , the plaster layer was
actually shaking. I mean the art director was the key assest of all
your movies in the past and here something just didn’t go right. Not
sure if it was the indoor thing or too many things together , but it
failed to delight my eyes. Every few minutes I was telling myself “No
Sanjay , what is this ?” sometimes it was the sets that just put me
off, sometimes it was Sonam giggling constantly , sometimes it was
melodramatic dialogues ….I started thinking to myself, me being the
loyal Sanjay Bhansali fan is going thru this, what abt the people who
walked in with a mind set to just see what you did this time.
I
don’t want to go on as to why it didn’t work. Two things that did work
for me was Ranbir Kapoor and Monty’s music. But, I really want to you
to sit and see the movie and try to find what went wrong. Don’t react
to the reviews, I mean the bottom line is after Black 90% loved it and
10% didn’t. For Saawariya we have only 10% who liked it and 90% didn’t.
So people are not judgmental abt you, they are talking abt your movie.
So, don’t try to answer people, see what is it that you can do with
your next venture that will bring out the best in you in a way it
reaches the masses. And I know you can do it. So don’t channel your
energy in anything , but your next project. As always I can’t wait to
see the next from the cinematic genius Sanjay Leela Bhansali.