Frustration is an expression that is fraught by despair, anger and helplessness. Despair on how things don't work within your domain of dominance, anger within ones own self for its inability to decipher the reasons of the things not working, and helplessness about the unknown forces that are at work.
For some time, I have been caught up in this whirlwind. It feels like i have been in this place since ever. Nothing makes sense. Logic does not give me a reason and thinking over it makes me frustrated. I feel I am caught in a spot where I cannot step backwards, nor move forward and standing in the same place is something that I want to avoid. Thats when good old advise came in from an old acquaintance. Step to the side!
Now, I am standing by the side, looking at life as it passes by. Waiting for my time, the right time. As the old man said, when a strong wind blows in a direction opposite to the way you are running, it will slow you down, consume your energy and break your spirit. Instead hold on. Let time pass, the wind will slow down, and when it does, use the energy you saved to sprint the long run of life.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
May 12th - Day 1 in Cannes/ Part 2
My apartment mates have arrived from Germany. They drove for an entire 18 hours and were dead tired. But after a brief snap all of us were really hungry and we decided to go to a restaurant and have a filling lunch. France is famous for its food, wine and women. So we decided to go for the food. The wine would follow and probably the women ;)
Unfortunately we were late as it was 4 when we reached the Palais, and lunch was not being served. So we walked up to an Italian restaurant. The food was alright and the wine was good. but f you are looking for value for money, forget it. This place is ridiculously expensive for anything that it offers. The ideal place to visit Cannes is when there are no festivals. I was told that there are different menus for the festival season and different menus for the non-festival season. If you thought people rip you off only in India, guys do a reality check. Here you are ripped off in shreds, and to make things worse its in Euros, and the Euro is getting ever stronger against the Rupee.
Also to add to the woes, our German friend wanted a French number, so we went hunting for a sim card to be used in france. It cost 30 Euros for a sim that had a validity of 8 months!! (meaning, if he came next year for the same festival he would have to shell out another 30 + Euros) Imagine in India you get a Sim for 900 Rs. with a life long validity. Moreover, the cost of a fone call is 33 cents per min which is 20 rs (approx) for a local call... and how much do we pay for a local call... Well you get it... I love my country so much.
However, I do understand many other things that are better off here than India. The Cab driver earned 90 Euros for trip from Nice Airport to the hotel in Cannes. It is when you are in a developed country that you understand that we in India live life fit for Kings. Here there are no house helps. If you have, they make sure they cost you dear. Everyone earns enough to live a happy and content life. Even the house-help would come in a BMW r a Mercedes. Everyone lives in equality. Be it a garbage pick up guy or the owner of an hotel. Everyone is at equals. There is no hypocrisy here based on your job. You are taxed heavily so that you have super clean roads and fantastic infrastructure. Well great for the people residing here, bad for the spoilt Indians like me who were used to such personal service and slavery (am i getting opinionated already?)
Ok, back to the festival...
The carpet is just about being rolled out and people from different countries were getting their badges from the accreditation desk. Tomorrow is going to be the Big Bang day. The place is going to be crowded and all of us have to be careful as Cannes will turn into a hunting ground for pick-pockets.
Went to the Indian Pavilion where we would be putting up our stall. We met a few people. One of them was very polished while the others were just smoogling* around. Here is a sample conversation -
Me: So, what brings you to Cannes.
A: I produced a Marathi film.
Me: Great. What is it about?
A: Well we are launching MS for the first time in Marathi
Me: Really, what is the story about?
A: Its a Marathi film with a flavor for the international audience.
Me: (thinking) what does that mean?
Me: (Speaking) Thats great. Hope you have a great festival.
A: Thanks
Another discussion went like this -
B: He lives like a King. Or should we say like a Moghul Emperor. (pointing the finger at an Island far off) He bought a castle there.
Me: Who?
B: Who else but Mr. Vijay Malya. He is one man who has no qualms of telling the world that he has many wives and many children across the world.
Me: (surprised) Really? I didnot know someone would say it publicly.
B: Thats why I adore him. He has the balls to tell the world about what he does...
Me: (thinking) Well, balls to tell where his balls have been? Interesting...
Me: (speaking) What company do you represent sir?
B: Well, I am the sec. general of xyz association
Me: you have been to Cannes before?
B: No, this is the first time!
Me: (thinking) and he knows the island where Vijay Mallya bought a castle... hmmmm...
Well, there is a lot more to come tomorrow.... Oh, before i finish, a small idea on how to beat the escalated costs on drinks... Go to a superstore. you get 6 bottles of Heniken beer for 4 Euros and a bottle of Dry wine (good one) for 5 Euros... Also buy bananas, bread and cheese, fruits from a supermarket and you will be saving a lot of money... These are tips you can use when in Cannes unless you earn in millions and want to spend it all in show-off to your other indian counterparts...
12th May - The preparations/ Part 1
Reporting live from 62nd Cannes Film Festival
The Palais and the surroundings is bustling with activity. Contractors running to and fro, laying of the red carpet, barricades for the public and the parparazzi are being set up. The hotels around, the Majestic, Carlton and Hilton have been decked up with larger than life cut-outs and posters. The D-day is tomorrow when the place becomes filled with the who's who of the World film industry attending the screening. What am I doing here? Well, just got a tad lucky to be here ;)
The place during the festival becomes so expensive. The apartment I am staying 10 min from the Palais costs an atrocious 300 Euros per day and yet is cramped up.. I am told the cost to book this place in any other time is around 80-100 Euros.
Nothing much to do here right now, so i will get the accreditation done, have food and beer with a couple of good friends and click some snaps and post it here.
Till then.. au revoir!!
The Palais and the surroundings is bustling with activity. Contractors running to and fro, laying of the red carpet, barricades for the public and the parparazzi are being set up. The hotels around, the Majestic, Carlton and Hilton have been decked up with larger than life cut-outs and posters. The D-day is tomorrow when the place becomes filled with the who's who of the World film industry attending the screening. What am I doing here? Well, just got a tad lucky to be here ;)
The place during the festival becomes so expensive. The apartment I am staying 10 min from the Palais costs an atrocious 300 Euros per day and yet is cramped up.. I am told the cost to book this place in any other time is around 80-100 Euros.
Nothing much to do here right now, so i will get the accreditation done, have food and beer with a couple of good friends and click some snaps and post it here.
Till then.. au revoir!!
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Of Movies, Cricket and Books
Its been a boring season. No movies in theaters, since a long time due to the ongoing strike between producers and multiplex owners, the IPL frenzy etc etc. So without much to do, i have been digging into a lot of books these days. One of the books I did get to lay my hands on was The White Tiger by Arvind Adiga. Its a book I didnot thing could have deserved a Man Booker Prize. The award just gives us a view in how the West likes to glamorize the life of the poor and idolize it as the celebration of the human spirit.
The other aspect I found similar in many of the upcoming writers is the way the style has become very common across different authors in different genres. And not to be surprised, I realised the way I wrote Blunder Years was also similar. The style, I believe is the influence of Bollywood films. The other book I read was - If God was a Banker by Ravi Subramaniam. The writing was crappy, but the story had the potential to be a Bollywood masala film that would do alright. I am not sure if our literary skills in India are going down trying to make money from spin-offs into films. The trend-setter was Chetan Bagat whose first work is being made into a film by Raju Hirani named as 3 idiots and the other film Hello which was an adaptation of the sad One night @ the call center.
However something I read yesterday on Shekar Kapur's blog written by Kavitha... which touched me. The writing was par-excellence and I thought I would share it here
......My heart went out to my cousin having to cope with the reality of her father’s condition that she could do nothing about, except be a helpless bystander. Moments such as these serve as triggers to catalyze deeper introspection. A million questions raced through my human mind. How is it/why is it that the silent killer lurks within our mortal system, so maliciously, only to reveal itself when we no longer are in a position to control it? Is there a more benevolent reason why some mortal beings are subjected to this situation, while many others have had the benefit of revealing symptoms, for timely medical intervention and control? How is it that many others have emerged strong and resilient cancer survivors? How do you cope with having to live your day and night with a loved one, painfully experiencing him wither & degenerate in front of your eye...watching the silent killer so mercilessly torture every moment of his limited remaining life...debilitating and paralyzing in slow motion, yet in rapid succession, every sensory and motor organ so vital to everyday living, that we take for granted. How do you cope with the concept of death-in-waiting and watch your father suffer to the finish line?
From amidst the swiss alps, I skyped my mother in India...only for her to see me completely choked by my own emotional state...tears streaming down my face. As she struggled to comprehend “her baby” in visible turmoil, I felt her maternal instincts take over to touch me, and wrap me in the comfort of her digital hug...through satellites and wireless routers into the depths of my grieving heart.
I was struggling with the circumstances around the loss of one dear soul, and the soon-going-to-lose another. My mind was trying to reconcile the contradictions in the 2 tragic events – one that was so rapid, sudden and instantaneous vs. the other that is, and continues to be, drawn-out in its path to the inevitable destination of mortal beings...yet, both outside the bounds of human control. Fundamental to the reconciliation process was faith in and acceptance of the concept of ‘karma’. Amidst endless group chatter around the unfairness around each of the two circumstances, I found myself silently differing. Recognizing the tragic realities as the will of a higher order, for a higher reason, enabled grieving with grace, and coping with the loss with strength & detachment.
After a long period of silence, wrapped in my mother’s consoling words, I broke that silence...wiped away my tears of endearment and attachment, and said to her:
in the context of karmic purpose of life on earth, words like ‘jug jug jiyo’ and ‘may you live long’, popularly considered as blessings, seem like absurdities of human desire (vs. divine will). For, the divine will is quite contrary.
She was struggling again...this time not to comprehend “her baby” in turmoil, but to comprehend what happened between the time I was so choked a few minutes earlier and the time I uttered these words.
Sailing the alternating waves of attachment and detachment, desire to control and desire to let go, in the context of our everyday life/activities may be a practical challenge. Nevertheless, faith in the fact that there is immense Grace in whatever happens around you or to you (most times incomprehensible by our limited mortal minds) gives courage and strength to live & endure life boldly, fearlessly and with passion. Desire to control stems from attachment, desire to let go stems from detachment.
The other aspect I found similar in many of the upcoming writers is the way the style has become very common across different authors in different genres. And not to be surprised, I realised the way I wrote Blunder Years was also similar. The style, I believe is the influence of Bollywood films. The other book I read was - If God was a Banker by Ravi Subramaniam. The writing was crappy, but the story had the potential to be a Bollywood masala film that would do alright. I am not sure if our literary skills in India are going down trying to make money from spin-offs into films. The trend-setter was Chetan Bagat whose first work is being made into a film by Raju Hirani named as 3 idiots and the other film Hello which was an adaptation of the sad One night @ the call center.
However something I read yesterday on Shekar Kapur's blog written by Kavitha... which touched me. The writing was par-excellence and I thought I would share it here
......My heart went out to my cousin having to cope with the reality of her father’s condition that she could do nothing about, except be a helpless bystander. Moments such as these serve as triggers to catalyze deeper introspection. A million questions raced through my human mind. How is it/why is it that the silent killer lurks within our mortal system, so maliciously, only to reveal itself when we no longer are in a position to control it? Is there a more benevolent reason why some mortal beings are subjected to this situation, while many others have had the benefit of revealing symptoms, for timely medical intervention and control? How is it that many others have emerged strong and resilient cancer survivors? How do you cope with having to live your day and night with a loved one, painfully experiencing him wither & degenerate in front of your eye...watching the silent killer so mercilessly torture every moment of his limited remaining life...debilitating and paralyzing in slow motion, yet in rapid succession, every sensory and motor organ so vital to everyday living, that we take for granted. How do you cope with the concept of death-in-waiting and watch your father suffer to the finish line?
From amidst the swiss alps, I skyped my mother in India...only for her to see me completely choked by my own emotional state...tears streaming down my face. As she struggled to comprehend “her baby” in visible turmoil, I felt her maternal instincts take over to touch me, and wrap me in the comfort of her digital hug...through satellites and wireless routers into the depths of my grieving heart.
I was struggling with the circumstances around the loss of one dear soul, and the soon-going-to-lose another. My mind was trying to reconcile the contradictions in the 2 tragic events – one that was so rapid, sudden and instantaneous vs. the other that is, and continues to be, drawn-out in its path to the inevitable destination of mortal beings...yet, both outside the bounds of human control. Fundamental to the reconciliation process was faith in and acceptance of the concept of ‘karma’. Amidst endless group chatter around the unfairness around each of the two circumstances, I found myself silently differing. Recognizing the tragic realities as the will of a higher order, for a higher reason, enabled grieving with grace, and coping with the loss with strength & detachment.
After a long period of silence, wrapped in my mother’s consoling words, I broke that silence...wiped away my tears of endearment and attachment, and said to her:
in the context of karmic purpose of life on earth, words like ‘jug jug jiyo’ and ‘may you live long’, popularly considered as blessings, seem like absurdities of human desire (vs. divine will). For, the divine will is quite contrary.
She was struggling again...this time not to comprehend “her baby” in turmoil, but to comprehend what happened between the time I was so choked a few minutes earlier and the time I uttered these words.
Sailing the alternating waves of attachment and detachment, desire to control and desire to let go, in the context of our everyday life/activities may be a practical challenge. Nevertheless, faith in the fact that there is immense Grace in whatever happens around you or to you (most times incomprehensible by our limited mortal minds) gives courage and strength to live & endure life boldly, fearlessly and with passion. Desire to control stems from attachment, desire to let go stems from detachment.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Lyrics for our song - V the ppl
A motley group of friends, we decided to take forward our discussions over chai, coffee and more on how change can be brought about through individual actions. A seed of an idea to connect with like-minded individuals has now grown into a song, a video, a blog- and has gained momentum with talented voices joining.
This is your movement- take it forward- be an ambassador- spread the word- be a part of it.
Chant the Anthem - V th ppl!!!
For facebook group - http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=60285884842&ref=nf
Rap Section 1:
Ladies and gentlemen
Hey there, welcome to the future
Of a Country soaked in culture
Angry, hopeless, Indifferent And Blind
Hungry Worried but One of a kind.
Driving License Se Passport
Hazaro cases pending in court
This is jungle raj a classic case
Jiska Raj ussi ki Lathi aur Ussi ki Bhais
Government office mein chai paani toh pilao
Lekin pehle us aadmi ka sign lekar aao
Corruption, population ka sara hai kalesh
Deviyo aur sajjano welcome to my desh
Verse 1:
Paas aaye woh jo, door jayen hum kyun
Haath badhaye woh jo sharmaye hum kyun
Manki jo ankhen hain, bandh kar lene se, hua hai kabhi Andhera?
Raat ke bahane se, badalon ke chane se, ruka hai kabhi savera?
Girayen woh jo, failayen hum kyun?
Dil dukhayen woh jo, bhul jayen hum kyun
Khamosh rehne se, zakhmo ko sehne, baten badi karke kya hoga?
Ungliyan uthaoge, bahane banaoge, kya badal paoge kal ko?
Chorus:1
What will be tomorrow is what you are today
Kuch nahin hai mushkil, irade ho jo nek
Lets take a vow, give more than you can take
Kya nahin hain mumkin/ ho jaaye hum jo EK
Interlude
Verse2
Darayen woh jo ghabrayen hum kyun?
Aazmaye who jo katraye hum kyun?
Manki jo ankhen hain, bandh kar lene se, hua hai kabhi Andhera?
Raat ke bahane se, badalon ke chane se, ruka hai kabhi savera?
Harayen woh jo, jitayen hum kyun?
Kar payen woh jo, na rok paye hum kyun?
Khamosh rehne say, zakhmo ko sehne say, baten badi karke kya hoga?
Ungliyan uthaoge, bahane banaoge, kya badal paoge kal ko?
Chorus 2
What will be tomorrow is what you are today
Badaye kadam toh, mitjaye fasale.
Lets get together and change our own fate
Thum jayega yeh jahan, hairan hoke dekh
Rap Section 2:
Hum hai Nadaan aur buzurg sayane
Give me a break Yeh Khayal hai purane
Na Bijli na road na peene ka hai paani
But my hyperactive media shows a different kahani
Riots on the road, Bloodshed reload
26/11 dekha? phir se 11/7 retold
No more black ticket or political racket
We want to see more than Gandhi topi Nehru jacket
Break Change:
Agar mein hun sawal, mein hi to hun jawab
Agar mein hun andehra mein hi to hun chirag.
Agar mein hun khamoshi, mein hi to hun woh saaz.
Agar mein hun gulam, mein bhi to hun azad.
Ensemble Chorus:
Lets get together and change our own fate
Badaye kadam toh mit jaaye faaslein
What will be tomorrow is what you are today
Kuch nahi hai mushkil, iraadey ho jo nek
We can make sure that we don’t break
Thum jaayega yeh jahaan hairan ho ke dekh
Lets take a vow, Give more than you can take.
Kya nahi hai mumkin ho jaaye hum jo EK.
This is your movement- take it forward- be an ambassador- spread the word- be a part of it.
Chant the Anthem - V th ppl!!!
For facebook group - http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=60285884842&ref=nf
Rap Section 1:
Ladies and gentlemen
Hey there, welcome to the future
Of a Country soaked in culture
Angry, hopeless, Indifferent And Blind
Hungry Worried but One of a kind.
Driving License Se Passport
Hazaro cases pending in court
This is jungle raj a classic case
Jiska Raj ussi ki Lathi aur Ussi ki Bhais
Government office mein chai paani toh pilao
Lekin pehle us aadmi ka sign lekar aao
Corruption, population ka sara hai kalesh
Deviyo aur sajjano welcome to my desh
Verse 1:
Paas aaye woh jo, door jayen hum kyun
Haath badhaye woh jo sharmaye hum kyun
Manki jo ankhen hain, bandh kar lene se, hua hai kabhi Andhera?
Raat ke bahane se, badalon ke chane se, ruka hai kabhi savera?
Girayen woh jo, failayen hum kyun?
Dil dukhayen woh jo, bhul jayen hum kyun
Khamosh rehne se, zakhmo ko sehne, baten badi karke kya hoga?
Ungliyan uthaoge, bahane banaoge, kya badal paoge kal ko?
Chorus:1
What will be tomorrow is what you are today
Kuch nahin hai mushkil, irade ho jo nek
Lets take a vow, give more than you can take
Kya nahin hain mumkin/ ho jaaye hum jo EK
Interlude
Verse2
Darayen woh jo ghabrayen hum kyun?
Aazmaye who jo katraye hum kyun?
Manki jo ankhen hain, bandh kar lene se, hua hai kabhi Andhera?
Raat ke bahane se, badalon ke chane se, ruka hai kabhi savera?
Harayen woh jo, jitayen hum kyun?
Kar payen woh jo, na rok paye hum kyun?
Khamosh rehne say, zakhmo ko sehne say, baten badi karke kya hoga?
Ungliyan uthaoge, bahane banaoge, kya badal paoge kal ko?
Chorus 2
What will be tomorrow is what you are today
Badaye kadam toh, mitjaye fasale.
Lets get together and change our own fate
Thum jayega yeh jahan, hairan hoke dekh
Rap Section 2:
Hum hai Nadaan aur buzurg sayane
Give me a break Yeh Khayal hai purane
Na Bijli na road na peene ka hai paani
But my hyperactive media shows a different kahani
Riots on the road, Bloodshed reload
26/11 dekha? phir se 11/7 retold
No more black ticket or political racket
We want to see more than Gandhi topi Nehru jacket
Break Change:
Agar mein hun sawal, mein hi to hun jawab
Agar mein hun andehra mein hi to hun chirag.
Agar mein hun khamoshi, mein hi to hun woh saaz.
Agar mein hun gulam, mein bhi to hun azad.
Ensemble Chorus:
Lets get together and change our own fate
Badaye kadam toh mit jaaye faaslein
What will be tomorrow is what you are today
Kuch nahi hai mushkil, iraadey ho jo nek
We can make sure that we don’t break
Thum jaayega yeh jahaan hairan ho ke dekh
Lets take a vow, Give more than you can take.
Kya nahi hai mumkin ho jaaye hum jo EK.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Dev D.
After a small hiatus, I am back. And what else to start writing about but the last movie that I saw and that was Dev D. It was one of those films that left a lasting impression in my head for a couple of days. The last film that had given me a hangover like this was Maachis. There were many other good films that were released between these two films but the depth and clarity of the film maker comes out so rarely.
I could never accept Devdas as a glorified character the past films tried to perceive him as. I couldnot sit through 10 minutes of Sanjay Bhansali’s Devdas, and could never digest the Bimal Roy’s version with Dilip kumar as Devdas. Sharat Chandra Chattopadyay must finally be smiling at this new age version of the de-glorified Loser.
It is always difficult to make a film version of a book. The reader, as he/she reads the book creates his/her own visual imagery and characterizations in his or her mind, and when a director interprets it through his/her eyes, the film looks flawed and it lands into the critics domain. Devdas was an interesting character, though not heroic. He was flawed in every sense. He was a character who dumped his childhood sweetheart and then found solace in a tawaif and then destroyed himself to death. The problem with the earlier versions were that the director wanted the audience to be sympathetic to him, feel his pain, cry with him and die with him. I feel, that is where the entire problem with the earlier films lie.
Dev D takes on a very different route and sticks to the essence of the story and a positive deviation towards the end. The characterization is so well etched that the film takes you away from the character of Dev and makes you hate for what he is. And when you see the film, each scene, you know that there is a lot of thought put into each scenes, right from its characters, to the locales, to the emotional conflicts and the metaphorical understanding of the subject right to the editing, background score, lighting. The film comes out trumps. There are only two kinds of reactions you can expect to the film. Either you love it or you hate it. There is nothing in between.
The incidents that take the film forward are inspired by real life incidents, be it the MMS scandal and drunken driving. The existence of drug dealers in the underbelly of a metropolitan set up, rich spoilt kids, the characteristic pimp, Chunni, all seamlessly makes the traditional Devdas novella into an extravaganza.
There are some scenes, which are out of the world. The scene where the married Paro comes to his shabby hotel room, washes his clothes, changes the curtains and finally snubs his proclamation of love and gets even with Dev is brilliant. And so is the scene earlier in the film when Dev snubs Paro and she goes ballistic with the hand pump. These are scenes that cannot be written by the Karan Johars and Farah Khans of Bollywood. These are closer to real life and miles away from the world of rich industrialist families shown in the scours of Bollywood films that hit the screen every Friday opening show (Note that Dev’s family is one of the rich industrialist families in Punjab, yet the potrayal of wealth is so much understated and real)
The camera work is excellent. The beauty of the rural Punjab and the congestion of Delhi, the psychedelic world of Drugs and alcohol, Chanda’s haven where she stocks disguises are all fantastically shot.
The editing is top notch. Note the change in pace of editing as it shifts from the village to the city. The edit during the village phase is much slower and as it reaches the city, the pace quickens giving you a feel of hastiness and restlessness. The use of water, where Dev occasionally dumps himself after a drug inhaling session acts as a metaphor of cutting himself from the rest of the world into his own and drowning himself even more into his own self destruction. Every shot has a reason to be there. Every character is needed. Every character has its positive and negative traits. Nothing is black and white, only different shades of grey.
The film would be incomplete without its songs and the background score. Emosional attyachar is one song where I saw people literally clap as it started and you would feel to clap too. The juxtaposition of comedy with the tragedy is perfect. The background score and the songs truly makes this film a musical.
I would highly recommend this emosional attyachar. And would also tell you that if you are a filmmaker, you should grab a copy of it. Hopefully, if it comes out with a directors commentary, it would be a school of learning on the thought process that went through each scene.
I could never accept Devdas as a glorified character the past films tried to perceive him as. I couldnot sit through 10 minutes of Sanjay Bhansali’s Devdas, and could never digest the Bimal Roy’s version with Dilip kumar as Devdas. Sharat Chandra Chattopadyay must finally be smiling at this new age version of the de-glorified Loser.
It is always difficult to make a film version of a book. The reader, as he/she reads the book creates his/her own visual imagery and characterizations in his or her mind, and when a director interprets it through his/her eyes, the film looks flawed and it lands into the critics domain. Devdas was an interesting character, though not heroic. He was flawed in every sense. He was a character who dumped his childhood sweetheart and then found solace in a tawaif and then destroyed himself to death. The problem with the earlier versions were that the director wanted the audience to be sympathetic to him, feel his pain, cry with him and die with him. I feel, that is where the entire problem with the earlier films lie.
Dev D takes on a very different route and sticks to the essence of the story and a positive deviation towards the end. The characterization is so well etched that the film takes you away from the character of Dev and makes you hate for what he is. And when you see the film, each scene, you know that there is a lot of thought put into each scenes, right from its characters, to the locales, to the emotional conflicts and the metaphorical understanding of the subject right to the editing, background score, lighting. The film comes out trumps. There are only two kinds of reactions you can expect to the film. Either you love it or you hate it. There is nothing in between.
The incidents that take the film forward are inspired by real life incidents, be it the MMS scandal and drunken driving. The existence of drug dealers in the underbelly of a metropolitan set up, rich spoilt kids, the characteristic pimp, Chunni, all seamlessly makes the traditional Devdas novella into an extravaganza.
There are some scenes, which are out of the world. The scene where the married Paro comes to his shabby hotel room, washes his clothes, changes the curtains and finally snubs his proclamation of love and gets even with Dev is brilliant. And so is the scene earlier in the film when Dev snubs Paro and she goes ballistic with the hand pump. These are scenes that cannot be written by the Karan Johars and Farah Khans of Bollywood. These are closer to real life and miles away from the world of rich industrialist families shown in the scours of Bollywood films that hit the screen every Friday opening show (Note that Dev’s family is one of the rich industrialist families in Punjab, yet the potrayal of wealth is so much understated and real)
The camera work is excellent. The beauty of the rural Punjab and the congestion of Delhi, the psychedelic world of Drugs and alcohol, Chanda’s haven where she stocks disguises are all fantastically shot.
The editing is top notch. Note the change in pace of editing as it shifts from the village to the city. The edit during the village phase is much slower and as it reaches the city, the pace quickens giving you a feel of hastiness and restlessness. The use of water, where Dev occasionally dumps himself after a drug inhaling session acts as a metaphor of cutting himself from the rest of the world into his own and drowning himself even more into his own self destruction. Every shot has a reason to be there. Every character is needed. Every character has its positive and negative traits. Nothing is black and white, only different shades of grey.
The film would be incomplete without its songs and the background score. Emosional attyachar is one song where I saw people literally clap as it started and you would feel to clap too. The juxtaposition of comedy with the tragedy is perfect. The background score and the songs truly makes this film a musical.
I would highly recommend this emosional attyachar. And would also tell you that if you are a filmmaker, you should grab a copy of it. Hopefully, if it comes out with a directors commentary, it would be a school of learning on the thought process that went through each scene.
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