Dear Mani,
I saw YUVA last night. Reading the scathing reviews on the movie by so called movie critics, I was convinced yet again that it would be a good movie. Bollywood has reached a state where star power makes a movie and how much money you actually pay to critics to get you good reviews. Ah well, don’t let that bother you Mani, for simply put you are way beyond every other director out there in Indian Cinema – mark that way beyond.
I must tell you I find it absolutely amusing that people actually start acting the wise cop when it happens to be you trying to make a movie – “he didn’t get that right”, “his character was diluted”, “that scene was not well done” and such assorted labels are hurled at you with supreme ease, when I am willing to bet Mani that the same people wouldn’t have minded Shah Rukh Khan trying to miss spit in a gross scene. No no – that conforms as entertainment Mani - sigh, you cannot reach such levels can you?
I don’t know Mani what do people from Bollywood have it against you? How come it is that you’re “Tamil Movies” are supposedly better than “Hindi Movies?” As far as I know I enjoy Cinema – now whether its in Hindi, English, Tamil or Marathi really matters? Anyhow, coming to YUVA, I must say that with each passing film your technicality in movies only improves.
I particularly liked the Rashomon touch you gave to this movie Mani. Its been long since a director attempted something like fragmented story telling in India. Yeah Yeah, never mind there are the same people who lavish Pulp Fiction shot in similar style as masterpiece, but of course because its you, you cannot do it. Sigh. Indeed, I must say even after hearing all about this movie, a couple of scenes took me by surprise by your smart mixing of scenes. Particularly I was very impressed with the smart mixing of college hooliganism scenes of Lallan, and then juxtaposed with Michael later.
Yeah Yeah Mani, I feel its so amusing to think Ajay Devgan as Michael is miscast as a PHD student. I am yet to meet a PHD student not in his late 25s, and it hardly bothers me. Oh, we are also the same people who were simply “spellbound” by Devgan’s performance as Bhagat Singh, all of 23 years. No No Mani, if Michael played sweet sixteen in a Karan Johar movie, Taran Adarsh and Deepa Galhot would have still found him “skinned” into the role. Oh by the way, I loved his performance.
Yeah, people howl that this is a “run of the mill” story line, repeated “themes” and such in our filmdom, but then have they heard Amitabh Bachchan speaking once – “there are six basic plots of films in India – every movie is a mix of them”. Or maybe they didn’t hear you when you said about Alai Payuthey - “There is nothing new in the story – that’s we had to concentrate on the presentation”. I am sure Mani, if Alaipayuthey was remade as Saathiya with you as the director you would have still been taken to dust. Thank you Mani, you allowed a Bollywood director to rehash it for us.
Oh yes – let me tell you – the theme was much repeated, but then your Mani touch is resplendent throughout.
I must tell you that you can make donkeys act – I was not pleasantly surprised that Esha Deol and Kareena Kapoor could actually act a few scenes, but I must ask you this – “how in the world did you make Rani Mukherjee look so damn celestial?”. She is every bit of that incredible Indian woman – she is absolutely amazing, absolutely riveting and stunning – tell me Mani, how in the world Rani looked supremely beautiful in this movie? I have never seen her this good!
Oh don’t mind it that people didn’t like the ending? Err what was the expectation I couldn’t fathom – that lallan would turn a new leaf and kill minister? Or Michael should have taken the honors of doing the same? The ending was amazing and very realistic – though a bit idealistic, nonetheless, like very hopeful. It was a beautiful end you could have given to a movie – Lallan’s story a mess did you say people said – well that was how it was supposed to go right? Wasn’t satya’s story a mess too then?
Your direction still remains top class Mani – though I missed the intricate character development you are so well known for, you can be excused mani, because you were working with 6 people and not making a 6 hour tele-serial. Kids and Oldies still appear in your movies, though I wish they were more prominent. Music has been your forte, and I must say Mani, nobody can picture a song as good as you.
Suffice to say Mani, please continue making movies as they please to you Mani. You need not conform to Bollywood standards, or to any standards. Your fortes has been current issues, and keep churning movies like these. Oh yeah, ask Taran Adarsh to fry a cake for himself too, or may be pay him a rupee or two ;-).
Its not every year we are treated Mani Rathnam Movies !
Till the next one,
Your Supreme Fan!