Mar 25, 2009 12:38 PM
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(Updated Mar 25, 2009 01:20 PM)
High Expectations can be unreasonable and possess the tendencies of failing miserably!
Deepa Mehta is one of them, who comes in my list of intelligent movie makers. It was quite a thought when she had decided to go on with the concept of using Paanch Tatva and building a story around them. Fire of course was fiery true to its nature, Water depicted the fact that its depth can never be measured by any and Earth was as human as the earthlings.
So her concept of Heaven on Earth, stressed out all my grey cells completely. So much was the desperation that I asked my Special Source to send me the movie since it hasn’t been released in India yet. Now this source has a way of reaching at places where nobody else can, last I used this source was when I wanted to see Curious Case of Benjamin Button. As much as I hate this source , I sometimes resort to it in desperation, more like an addiction which you know is not good for health and still you resort to it. Here the name is Piracy! As much as I hate it for the fact that it guzzles up major revenue of the Film Industry, I can be blamed twice for falling into its hold. So much so that the Benjamin Button DVD clearly stated that the print was meant only to be viewed in an Awards function and not to be sold. But I was excited on getting a first hand print of Videsh and my expectations already touched the farthest point in the sky, I got my due punishment for viewing a pirated version.
Videsh, Heaven on Earth is absolute bizarre!!
The story revolves around Chand , who belongs to a typical Punjabi community( By typical I mean the ones who just get dreamy eyed by the name of Canada, and will go to any extent for settling their daughter there). Chand is sent to Canada to get married to Rocky. Post marriage starts her troubles when her husband gets abusive and turns her black and blue. She tries to draw her strength from an ancient fable related to Snake. The Snake materializes, coming as her savior and providing her tender love and care!!
Preity Zinta is effortless in the role of Chand. In fact she is the only reason for making the movie bearable. The small and careful touches given by her to the character are phenomenal. She takes care of all the finer points. A special mention goes to scene when she touches up her makeup before deplaning and dabs the talcum in her underarms. She breathes life into the character of a Punjabi Woman who firmly believes in the strength of Lord and the strength of sheshnaag .
Vansh Bhardwaj is Rocky. His character is completely overshadowed by Preity and though his role is as meatier, yet I guess the odd script is the reason that no better actor could be roped for the movie.
Seems like Deepa Mehta decided to touch the same grounds like Amol Palekar did in Paheli. Picking up an ancient fable , which was nearly similar and replacing the ghost by the snake. Now here I might give a benefit of doubt to the movie for the plain reason that I am not aware of such fable. But nevertheless as a viewer I feel that it is an error to unleash imagination to the extent that it looks like a case of total weirdness. Dreams and fables may weave a magic in real lives but always converting them into a motion picture might not be feasible. Language might again pose a barrier here, the movie is in Punjabi !! A reason good enough for releasing it in Canada one week earlier than in India. Even the concept “ Heaven on Earth” is undecipherable for me. Is it a way of mocking Canada for being mistaken as heaven or is it that the presence of sheshnaag which makes it heaven?
Parallel cinegoers and Optimistics might find a little comfort in few positives of the movie like authentic touches by Preity, the backdrop of Canada, the shades of a typical Punjabi family being displayed. But Conclusively this is another drastic effort of Bollywood for doing something different, which would not go well with the audience.
As much as we like the taste of a new different style of cooking , the tongue yearns for the old delicacy which was familiar and appetizing!
