Sep 27, 2008 01:22 AM
2682 Views
(Updated Sep 27, 2008 08:08 AM)
On the name of good cinema this year many films have been churned out. In reviews everybody spoke about Rock On, some reviewers in newspapers gave it 4 stars,some in times of India gave statement that Rock On has moved the level of Indian cinema much high and has set a gold standard for all upcoming music oriented movies, some writer wrote that Rock On is definately an Oscar material....
Blah blah..obviously enough for curiosity.....watched the movie and just thought that have people forgotten to tell the truth, speak from heart and definately its a thing of benefit in the society of writers when you are son of some renowned celebrity writer....kyon Mr Akhtar.
There was a movie called Jhankar Beats, some 4, 5 years ago...Rock On is a poor take off from that movie with no soul, no elaboration of characters, and taking just the emotional advantage of reunion(taken off from Dil chahta Hai) with equally pathetic songs....who the hell calls it a 4 star material?
And then you see someone writing continously wrong about this movie Welcome to Sajjanpur, which I find definately much above Rock On and Wednessday, in all possible terms, be direction, be the work on characters, be it performances, or be it hummable songs, be the way of story telling and narration, be it the masterpiece of direction and understanding the real India, heart of India and its major population which define it....in the cover of comedy lots of things have been told which you touch your head and heart. Watch it for the subtle power of narration, wisdom shown in the wrapper of comedy, and you will understand it very well...if u really want to.
Storyline revolves around a village, and story is told through one of the character of that village who writes and reads letters for others..from criminals to eunuchs to lover to businessmen to husband to all possible character's mind which compose the social fabrics of real India. With excellent satirical comic timing a very complex thing is done with such a fantastic ease...that u want to salute this man Shyam Benegal. Its not the story but its narration, which is the hero ably supported by every department. The director though an ace of parallel cinema knows very well how to balance it commercially too with calculated cinematic liberty...where usually rest of domain specific directors falter. His understanding is fantastic about the way schools and hospitals of villages work in actual and what goes on there, how a compunder becomes a doctor sahib for all, what they way the mood of public moves...and goes to the extent telling you smartly that even eunuches are better option as a leader than the present day politicians!
Performances: believe me you will never forget any of the character of Sajjanpur, be the sutradhar Shreyas or be it Ravi Kissen. The movie has got lots of characters but u will never feel that they were forced or half becked. Every one has given topnotch performance, but I liked cheerful Ravi Kissen the most. He was the most interesting character of the movie meeting a shocking end. Also the movie has a very well picturized romantic song with Ravi Kissen. Also the ace point of this movie has been the actor who played the role of hizra. In first half I could not recognize that he is not an original hizra, such a great minutest of his body language was. I dont know his name but he has been a regular TV artist and have done superior performance here than many big hyped stars who played the role of hizra.
Direction is top class...it needs Shyam Benegal kinda person to tell such a complex thing with such an ease and lightness which penetrates your heart and sametime does not look preachy. He has wroked over lots of characters and even upto their lip movement perfectly. Sameway cinematography si excellent. Two songs are good.
Final Word: Must go to this lovely village, sajjanpur, where your real India lives. This is the real 5 star stuff full of comedy...to der kaun baat ke hai...aajaeyye ihi sukkarwar ke!
