By now, so much have been spoken and written about the movie Kaminey. Some great, some not-so-great reviews, a few delightful DPs, varied comments – we have had them all. So probably I don’t have anything path breaking to say. But the movie is such that after seeing it, you can’t contain the feelings within yourself – so here is an afterthought.
First of all, it is an apt movie. The name is apt, the actors are meant for the characters and the songs fit right in. And also, quite interestingly the certification is apt. This is an adult movie. Not because it has some sex scenes or meaningless (or meaningful) violence in it; it is an adult movie because it is meant for an adult audience. It is meant for people who understand and accept certain reality when shown. It’s meant for people who can judge, who do not take things on face value. It’s meant for people who can use their mind in observing and analyzing the things around.
And this is an experience you should not miss. Movies like kaminey are my idea of world class movie making. Bold, honest, fearless. This is the era of experimental cinema – and you open the door to a movie like kaminey and a strong gust of wind hits you right on the face – powerful and fresh. Trust me it’s a great feeling. We would not know how it feels unless we are given the opportunity and here is an opportunity for sure in the name of Kaminey. The movie offers so much in such a short time. You look the other way a minute and you miss the beat. It demands attention - takes possession of all your faculties for those 135 minutes. And you come back with a head full of Guddu, Charlie, Sweety and Bhope bhau . The pieces fall in place much after the movie is finished. You do it in your mind after you are out, during the movie, you are just so in it. It engages you so. This is an intelligent experience, and you like the fact that you were challenged in the process. (Remember the title credit – ‘based on an idea by Cajetan Boy’?) And 3 cheers for Vishal Bharadwaaj - that humble, down to earth genius of a moviemaker who makes either children’s movies or adult movies – nothing in between; if he has something to say he does it his way.
With years of spoon feeding, good movies were so coming to be synonymous with big (budgetwise) movies. And we were so getting used to locales in Switzerland and designer clothes in the pseudonym of ‘light entertainment for the whole family’. In the last couple of years there have certainly been a metamorphosis – God bless the UTV guys who took the production credits from the rich baniya’s. These days, movies seem to be testing its audience. This process, this way in which we accept (or reject) the new wave of movies like Dev D, A Wednesday, Delhi 6, Gulaal or Kaminey will probably decide what’s to be called a movie for the masses in the near future. I feel times are changing and we hardly go to the movies to escape reality now. People no longer classify a movie as ‘hatke’ and go about their business - they notice and voice their thoughts if its accepted and if more such movies are welcomed. If Cinema is a form of art, this should be the purpose of it. If movies are a mirror of the society, I want to see it, in however a real and crude form..
