Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Om Shanti Om

Well a "long" over due review at last... Though I wanted to watch this film ever since its release(being a fan of Shah Rukh) my actual procurement of the ticket was an accident. I had gone to book tickets for a tamil movie but could not get continuous seats, so got OSO tickets instead....
I have to admit, Farah and Shah Rukh are both thinking individuals who make a lot of sense. SRK's relentless marketing is a big reason for the movie's success.The way Farah has inserted various nuggets of sarcasm and satire is a treat to the intellectual.....
From the very opening of the movie to the time when the credits roll its one big roller coaster ride through the life and times in tinsel town and Farah manages to keep you guessing and gushing till the very end...
The aspirations and dreams of Junior artiste, Om Prakash Makhija are very easy to relate to and the scene where he meets his supposed GF the superstar, Shantipriya is simply touching. The innocence and freshness of the character is portrayed with flawless ease by SRK. The love,meeting,saving,meeting between the two leads is all very beautiful and nice. Shanti's unhappiness and apathy is understandable. ( "the best part in shooting is pack-up", she says).The film at this point moves ahead without faltering and on Om's advice, Shanti claims her happiness from her hubby Mukesh, a producer. He of course is the villain and not wanting to put an end to his blossoming career and wanting to marry another producer's daughter, very cleverly deceives Shanti and kills both her and the loving yet helpless witness to the murder, Om. The second half is pretty much vindication by the re-incarnated Om with the help of a look alike Shanti- Sandy. Its a bits and pieces story from various sources moulded into one complete effective screen play.....
In this movie the highlight is the way Farah takes a dig at every thing and everybody that is Bollywood. She spares no one eventually turning the gun on herself and SRK himself. The irony behind the name "Kapoor" is cruel as SRK himself is a self made man.The elaborate sets and the make up is a visual treat though SRK does look a little old. Coming to Deepika... where can i start?? WOW!! She is one hell of a babe and a Heroine. She looks the part of a superstar diva of the 70s. (the make up does help..) The Dhoom Tana song is one technologically proficient song which is kewl to see. The transition and the insertion of Deepika into the songs of yester years along with the sound track is fantastic. Hmmm.. One can go on..
So anyways coming back to the movie.. All the actors involved put in a clean and efficient if not great portrayal. Arjun Rampal as the villain nearly steals the show. He is very very good or is it bad (being a villain :) :))....
One more revelation. I always thought that underplaying a role is the best way to bring it out on screen, but Farah proves me completely wrong as far OSO is concerned. Here every character plays the ham, literally hogging the lime light. Over acting seems to be the key word. But of course everybody is a caricature so it works. ( and how!!) The line by SRK that its a family trait says it all.....
All together the film for the most part is a laugh riot (satirically dry/witty humor combined with some side-splitting spontaneity) touching in some parts, and pretty unbelievable and tacky in a very few places. Bottomline- a super duper hit!!!
Some Things To Look Out For : DEEPIKA, DEEPIKA, SRK's Abs in Dard-E-Disco and the song itself, The scene when SRK plays the Tamil star (Rajini I assume- totally hilarious), The Filmfare awards, MOHABAT MAN and some beautiful songs.
Things You Should Not Even Think About, Let Alone Look Out For : Logic, Underplaying, Story, Dialogues that are not corny, anything that is not 70's.
P.S.: I really appreciate Farah for the credits. She finds a way to bring everybody in and make it unique and lovable too.. And kudos to Deepika to become a real reel super star (could not resist).
So thats all folks. Ill leave you with a " Enna da rascala ?? MIND IT!!!"

Thursday, November 22, 2007

The Case of The Alter Ego

I have been thinking. You know all those comic books we've read. Those with the super heroes... You know- Superman, Batman, Spiderman, He-man... Ya they were thoroughly engrossing and enjoyable no doubt. The heroes were our heroes and basked in the lime light (well deserved undoubtedly). But what of the alter egos... what of Clark Kent, Bruce Wayne, Peter Parker, Prince Adam..??? Poor guys...
Clark Kent can never marry his love for the minute he marries her the cat will be out of the bag. And what more he is forever identified as the stammering, mild mannered irritatingly normal guy.
Bruce Wayne. Worse. Has to portray himself as a money laundering play boy. Has to hide his intelligence. Has to hear people say that he is good for nothing and a disgrace to his family name....
Peter Parker can never have time for his life. Love?? He doesnt have time to even deliver a pizza..
Prince Adam. Hmph a teenager like me and I for one dont know how he takes it. Forever being tainted as a spoilt brat, lazy and cowardly and that too by a girl and that too by such a beautiful one as Teela.. Gad!! If it was me I would have spoken out long long back.
Maybe this is the price they have to pay. A costly price surely.
No good deed goes unpunished eh??
Well there are ppl like me whose heart is with you oh alter egos.. So people kindly co-operate and the next time you read a comic or see a cartoon commiserate and appreciate for at least a fleeting moment the sacrifice that these alter-egos the real heroes make...
Thank you.