Jagga Jasoos

Anurag Basu's movies are always a treat for the average Indian audience as well as the ones with a critical viewpoint. Amidst much talk Jagga Jasoos released in cinemas, with a super attractive star cast and a big name as Disney's and Basu's to back it up. Last, but not the least, with iridescent views (a special feature of Disney films), a perfect fairy tale like plot , some fine acting and an innocent naivety.

One question which is constant in films where Katrina Kaif is casted : Who's gonna fill up for her part?
The answer for this particular movie is : The famous Ranbir Kapoor and the other two, not so glamorous yet utterly important characters, Saswata Chatterjee and Saurabh Shukla.

JJ is a very colorful narration of an extra ordinary teenage boy's story who imbibes in himself a habit of going to the very depth of any mystery which presents itself to him. This habit opens up pages of his life which he never thought were written, takes him to places he never dreamed of going to and in search of a person, his father, he never knew he'd have to search for. This journey is full of adventures and music, scenic beauty and music, funny moments and more and more music! The lyrical treat which this movie is couldn't have been more melodious. It's about a father and a son, who find their happiness in their own ways,without being influenced by the general, worldly standards of what happiness is. For whom, the whole world revolves around each other.

The story becomes unnecessary at times, mostly in places where Katrina is being tried to fit in. She's just the Bollywood element of the movie, no added value to the script as such. The ever charming Shukla Ji (:D) seen here as a corrupt official, brings with him a nasty touch of humor and wickedness.

The killjoy for this family drama would be a person comparing it to Barfi. No! JJ is an altogether different project than Barfi. Barfi was art, JJ is drama; Barfi was soul, JJ is a very attractive body; Barfi was love, pain , separation, JJ is not. We need to realize here the importance of expanding our level of acceptance , and not set a past performance for any artist as a benchmark which he needs to touch every time and in the same manner.

Overall , Jagga Jasoos is a sure one time watch at a maximum of 150 bucks! (adding this so that you know how much is not a loss deal :D)

The State vs Jolly LL.B 2

Watching a movie which is on the same lines of a previous hit and not comparing it with that is a difficult job. But I guess Ill have no problem with that because I haven't watched the original Jolly LLB :D Yes, such people exist! But it is a good thing because am free from all prejudices, if any, I'd have had.

THE PLOT
It is very much predictable, Akshay Kumar as the protagonist, a lawyer named Jolly fighting against the whole system, leaving no stone unturned to get justice to his client. In opposition, is the rich and corrupt, devil's lawyer Mr. Pramod Mathur played by Anu Kapoor who is hell bound to prove his client innocent. Other characters just revolve around.

THE STORY 
All throughout  the span of the movie, I had the feeling that there was no real problem. A problem has been intentionally created to wove a story around it. And in places where the story seemed strong, the execution has been very vague and weak.

THE PACE
Within the first ten minutes of the story I had the impression that this is going to be a tough thing, sitting in the theater and trying to relate to the story. One thing happens and then the other, a problem comes and out of the blues it is resolved. For a film which shows the judicial process and the flaws in it, it could have been much more organised.

BEST PERFORMANCE
Saurabh Shukla as Justice Sunderlal Tripathi undoubtedly deserves, if there could be one such award within the film. The character never seems one which is made up, it looks very natural at all times. A happy go lucky honest judge, scared by the violent happenings in the court, a chubby man who is editing wedding cards of her daughter in the court room, requesting the lawyers to maintain peace, pretty believable.

THE MUSIC
This is one movie which makes you realize that even in Bollywood, movies can be made without songs. Songs, which were here deliberately placed added no value to the story. Neither did they connect the scattered fragments of the story nor were they a much needed break from the hustle bustle of the film.

Overall, the film was a very average one, not meeting up the expectations which it proclaimed to meet.

Haramkhor

This is the first movie in a very log time which I watched without knowing anything about it ; by that I mean no trailers, no idea of the storyline. The disclaimer read that it is about child sexual abuse, I sat more stiffly in my seat, first thoughts : How are they gonna show it?

The film then began, a story based in a small village, about children and how they fall into traps. Traps sometimes, they have an idea that they are falling into but because there is no one to confide with, no one to share their insecurities and fears with, just for the sake of a temporary consolation, they choose to fall in.

THE STORY
I am not very sure about the sub-heading, neither with the fact that there was a story for a general viewer nor how am I going to describe it. The villain and victim are the protagonists, the sufferers, both writhing in their own kind of pain. Nawazuddin Siddiqui, in the character of Shyam and Shweta Tripathi as his student, Sandhya , have a grey chemistry on screen, one which is unhealthy and criminal. Sandhya is lonely, with her mother gone and her father out for work, she finds herself attracted to his tutor Shyam, who ends up getting physical with her, without any force.That's where the gist of the film lies, molestation is not always forcible, consensual sex with children is also molesting them, mentally and emotionally.

THE ACT
Amidst this coveted comforting, two kids Kamal and Mintu, Sandhya's classmates are interpreting things in their minds in a direction the adults know nothing about. How one thing leads to other and how one wrong information, rather incomplete knowledge about things can influence children's thinking couldn't have been filmed better. The kids constantly stalk their classmate, out of innocence.One dreams of marrying her, and the other never stops coming up with plans to get them married. The vulnerability of their age and how they know nothing about their ill doings is very plainly ( without any drama ) shown.

THE FLOW
It is light, it is one you need to pace up with or may be slow down to, it is just perfect for a sensitive issue like this one which had been pictured with utmost perfection, which only comes with sheer skills and diligence. Director Shlok Sharma has done full justice to his work and brings a Anurag Kashyap feel to it.

THE END 
The end is open to your interpretation, how did you perceive the subject, the characters, the plot and the film as a whole. For me, by the time it ended, I was not even expecting it to stop, but when it did I could accept it then and there, without any questions lingering on my mind. For some, it might have ended with a number of questions, answers to which will come with a sip of coffee or when you're driving back home late night from office or even on a lonely evening walk to the nearby park.

ok jaanu!

ok jaanu , starring Shraddha Kapoor and Aditya Roy Kapur as the leads along with Naseeruddin Shah is yet again another love story about two youngsters' 'figureoutability' (if there is one such word :p) skills. The plot is easy and pretty predictable with the movie having no over the board moments for the viewer to cherish at night when the film comes to him in flashbacks. Nevertheless I am not gonna talk about the story very much for this one, but what I personally found surprisingly good about this movie were the performances.

THE PERFORMANCES
 There is not much to say about Mr. Shah as his appearance, however short a role it may be in any movie is always appreciable. This time too, playing a friendly senior citizen, looking after his wife suffering from Alzheimer's , he has done complete justice to his job.

Aditya Roy Kapur is always pleasing on screen and has shown constant improvement in every project he took up since his first film. His spontaneity is his charm, and slowly and steadily this boy has conquered many hearts and the number is only going up. His natural acting is what makes him as fresh as a debutante' whenever you watch him. This guy looks anything but an actor who has mugged up a few lines and blurts them out.

Shraddha Kapoor has left me as pleased as Punch because to be very frank I had lost all my hopes in her. I have always found her acting very built up , totally opposite to that of Aditya's. She has once again played the role of a cute, sweet kinda girl but unlike Ek Villain, you get that feel.

The pair looks hot together, with a very visible chemistry and there are moments which you know are a total Bollywood stunt but they make you smile.

Coming to the most important part which I always emphasize on is how did I or anyone as a matter of fact could relate with the movie. There's not much space for everyone, it being a love story, but still there are a few things. Am gonna keep it precise and point wise.

1. However much we may deny, all of us want our love story to be a thrilling and adventurous one as this one.

2. Our generation has the fear of missing out on things, "If I do this am definitely missing out on something or the other." But for once, you got to miss out something and enjoy what you have.

3. Some of us youngsters can't stop wondering how two people can stay together for so long, in thin and thick, abiding by the marriage vows. This is the sum and substance of the whole movie too!

4. But the good news is, there are people who sail through the winds of age, distance, time, ill-health and a lot more things. Each one us has surely seen this love somewhere in our life, may be in our parents or grand parents or that old couple living in the neighborhood :)

Overall, not at all bad as a one time watch.

DANGAL

Aamir Khan has yet again proved his mettle and quietened all mouths accusing him of losing spontaneity because of his perfection mania. Dangal is inspired by the real life story of Geeta and Babita Phogat , daughters of wrestler Mahavir Phogat who not only lived his dream of getting gold medals for India on International platforms but also took women wrestling on another level when it is considered a dominantly male game.

The story is based in Haryana's small village Balali, from where the duo hail. The protagonist, the two girls' father, played by Aamir had to give up on his career as a wrestler due to family responsibilities. Nevertheless he does not let that urge to clinch a gold for his country die and wishes for a son who'd fulfill it for him. But destiny had something else in store for the man and he is blessed with four daughters instead. He gives up on his dream when one day he comes to know that his girls beat up boys and then it hit on him that " Mhari choriya choro se kam hai ke" Though this dialog is not placed at this time exactly in the movie but the father knew this to be true since the very start of the whole sweat and blood journey. Then starts the training phase, punishment for the little girls but prayer for their teacher. With some alterations in the real life story made to suit the reel life, this phase of overcoming all sorts of allegations from the society has been wonderfully captured in the film.

Kids often tend to forget that whatever heights they had achieved in life, are not only because of their hard work but because of their parents' innumerable sacrifices, patience and a belief in their children when no one else trusts their dreams. This emotion has been beautifully pictured in the scene when Geeta thinks of herself as a superior player than her father and out of her ego defeats him by every means possible. For some viewers it might be just one of those regular fight scenes shown all throughout the movie but in that one moment how pained a parent is when their child thinks them feeble and of out dated opinions , can be felt.

The performances by all the actor is commendable, be it the accent or the show of hard practice or the build up of a real wrestler's body. It has all been in sync with the story the film narrates.

Dangal is one of those movies which reminds us that be it any sport, the effort which goes into making a world level champion is never less than any other. We as Indians preach cricketers as Gods. We can never change our liking but the least we could do is respect and promote other sports as much as we can. Being a little updated on other sports won't make us a patriot but it can be a subtle display of respect to our players who bring us laurels year by year.

P.S : Then only will we remember the names behind each medal we bag and not just the count :)