I have been an admirer of Vishal Bhardwaj's films. Although I've not had the opportunity to view any of his masterpieces in its entirety, his choice of subjects has fascinated me. When I heard about his latest venture, a complete U-turn from his Shakespearean fillums, I must admit I was skeptical. My prejudice got further rooted when I heard that the movie featured our chocolate boy Shahid Kapur in a double-role. Instantly the cheesy double role dhinchak movies of the 90s flashed before my eyes and instantly I was turned off from Kaminey.
Dhan Te Nan, that's all it took to change my perception about the movie. When the first review came out, I was hooked. And the reviews were consistently positive, proclaiming Bhardwaj's venture the new benchmark for Hindi caper movies. I was intrigued and so I decided to catch the movie first day first show. However science and politics played their part and the movie eluded me for the entire weekend of its official release as multiplexes all over Maharashtra were shut in lieu of the swine flu pandemic scare.So I waited patiently till Monday afternoon and was I in for a treat!
Kaminey is a great movie from the word GO! Each scene, every moment, all the dialogues are engrossing. You can't afford to let your guard down and pretend you're at a David Dhawan film festival. The movie challenges your own wit and intelligence and rewards you for it every step of the way. Every celluloid moment has been injected for a reason and you can't find any dead space throughout the movie. The dialogues are insanely witty and the cast is a perfect fit for the story! Even the glamorous Priyanka Chopra does immense justice to her portrayal of a smitten marathi mulgi.The main attraction is of course Shahid Kapur, with his excellent rendition of two diametrically opposite brothers, each with a different speech defect. His physicality for the tough sibling and his charm for the sober one come off flawlessly on screen. The surprise package however is the supporting cast, all of them relative unknowns, but actors par excellence! Watch out for the chameleonesque Bhope Bhau!
What is surprising is that Bhardwaj, a north Indian, has captured the true under-belly of the city of Mumbai. His choice of locations reflects his knowledge and understanding of the bustling metropolis and its people, a rare quality among directors. The camera movement and lighting truly render a dark and gritty feel to the thriller and emphasize on the reality and gravity of the situations the protagonists are thrown into. The cinematography is truly commendable in the climax scene.
I would be lying if I said that I loved all the tracks in the movie. Barring the rage, Dhan-Te-Nan, I wasn't too kicked about the remaining songs. That is until I heard them in the movie, especially the title track. Bhardwaj has managed to get some really great songs into the movie which accentuate the story.
Critics got it right this time when they said that Kaminey is the new benchmark for Indian cinema. Bhardwaj took a rather simple plot and has managed, magnificently for that matter, to render it cinema worthy with notable performances, slick story-telling and great visuals. Definitely a Must Watch!
Friday, August 21, 2009
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
The Big Bad Wolf
The children's story of the Three Little Pigs is a staple among elementary schools in most parts of the world. Who among us is unaware of the might of the huff and puff of the big bad wolf? The story taught us that hard work can overcome any obstacle, no matter how hairy!
The pigs' fable has taken on a whole new meaning in the last few days. I am of course referring to the "dreaded" pandemic "The Swine Flu". Ever since the first outbreak in the United States some months ago, the H1N1 Influenza Virus (HIV!!!) has brought much grief to governments and people across the globe. India and her billion strong population is no exception to this phenomenon. With double digit confirmed cases of infection, that keep spiralling upward, and an alarming fatality count, the Swine Flu has been officially declared as an epidemic in the nation.
But apart from the immediate effects of the disease, there are quite a few after and side-effects that should be considered at this point.
An interesting turn of events that has taken place is the government's decision to take-over the reins from the private medical establishments with a view to expedite the "healing" process. Now don't get me wrong, but government hospitals aren't exactly havens for patients and are most definitely not the best kept or well-maintained hospitals in this country. To hand-over power to them during such an epidemic is questionable at the least. Spurious medicines, unhygienic environments and a apathetic staff are just some of the many highlights of government-run medical establishments.
Although fatal, the virus can be contained and cured if detected at the opportune moment. Which means that the prospects aren't as gloomy as many rumor mongers would have you believe. In fact, statistically you'd have a better chance of being involved in a automobile accident than being diagnosed with the Swine Flu! But paranoia always dwarfs logic and reason. The daily news reports and over the top media attention has made citizens run to their local (and in some cases international) chemists and stock up on Tamiflu, paracetemol-based medicines and the notorious face mask. The result? Chronic Supply and Panic Demand leading to a severe shortage.We might think this doesn't seem too bad, but when you consider the fact that deserving patients are being deprived of the needed supplies, we realize the perils of this panic state.
Then there are those who discover the inner "Entrepreneur" at such trying times. Middle-men are buying off face-masks in bulk from chemists and medical suppliers at the standard rates and then selling the masks at absurdly high prices in the retail market. Their argument, why not make a fast buck when the opportunity presents itself?
The virus is fast becoming a threat to the safety of the nation. Due precautions, timely diagnosis and a calm demeanour are our best weapons against the big Bad Wolf of a Disease. But what about the other small bad wolves that are roaming freely and probably will do so long after the pandemic is contained...?
The pigs' fable has taken on a whole new meaning in the last few days. I am of course referring to the "dreaded" pandemic "The Swine Flu". Ever since the first outbreak in the United States some months ago, the H1N1 Influenza Virus (HIV!!!) has brought much grief to governments and people across the globe. India and her billion strong population is no exception to this phenomenon. With double digit confirmed cases of infection, that keep spiralling upward, and an alarming fatality count, the Swine Flu has been officially declared as an epidemic in the nation.
But apart from the immediate effects of the disease, there are quite a few after and side-effects that should be considered at this point.
An interesting turn of events that has taken place is the government's decision to take-over the reins from the private medical establishments with a view to expedite the "healing" process. Now don't get me wrong, but government hospitals aren't exactly havens for patients and are most definitely not the best kept or well-maintained hospitals in this country. To hand-over power to them during such an epidemic is questionable at the least. Spurious medicines, unhygienic environments and a apathetic staff are just some of the many highlights of government-run medical establishments.
Although fatal, the virus can be contained and cured if detected at the opportune moment. Which means that the prospects aren't as gloomy as many rumor mongers would have you believe. In fact, statistically you'd have a better chance of being involved in a automobile accident than being diagnosed with the Swine Flu! But paranoia always dwarfs logic and reason. The daily news reports and over the top media attention has made citizens run to their local (and in some cases international) chemists and stock up on Tamiflu, paracetemol-based medicines and the notorious face mask. The result? Chronic Supply and Panic Demand leading to a severe shortage.We might think this doesn't seem too bad, but when you consider the fact that deserving patients are being deprived of the needed supplies, we realize the perils of this panic state.
Then there are those who discover the inner "Entrepreneur" at such trying times. Middle-men are buying off face-masks in bulk from chemists and medical suppliers at the standard rates and then selling the masks at absurdly high prices in the retail market. Their argument, why not make a fast buck when the opportunity presents itself?
The virus is fast becoming a threat to the safety of the nation. Due precautions, timely diagnosis and a calm demeanour are our best weapons against the big Bad Wolf of a Disease. But what about the other small bad wolves that are roaming freely and probably will do so long after the pandemic is contained...?
Sunday, June 14, 2009
let he who is without sin, cast the first stone...
The recent Racial Attacks on Indian students in Australia have been making headlines for almost a month now. And reports of fresh attacks just keep coming in every week.
The outrage of Indians close to the attacks and here at home has been predictable and understandable. Diplomatic ties between India and the land down under are being tested as Protesters are marching in both countries. The situation is obviously one which has caused much grief to the Australian authorities.
But before we get into any more details,let us pause for a minute and ask ourselves, Is racial abuse prevalent only in the western world? India has its own share of racist or at least discriminatory acts of violence. The most prominent one being the immolation of the Australian Graham Stewart Steins, and his two sons by an irate mob in Orissa. The Christian Missionary along with his children was burnt alive in the night while sleeping in his station wagon.
Such acts of discrimination have not been limited to foreigners. In the Indian province of Rajasthan, between the years 1999 and 2002, crimes against Dalits average at about 5024 a year, with 46 killings and 138 cases of rape. Incidents of the lower caste populous being tormented and victimised by the upper caste "elite" are so common that they have stopped becoming newsworthy.
Can we truly point fingers at a another when we ourselves are incapable of demonstrating anti-discriminatory behavior?
What makes the recent attacks so significant as to overshadow our own violent past? Economic conditions are worsening globally. Recession has caused many companies in the west are being forced to execute layoff procedures and find cheaper alternatives. India has been one of the prime destinations for outsourcing jobs at very low costs. Indians are therefore perceived by many victims of the aforementioned layoffs as the cause of their financial disparity.
This article is in no way intended to be an argument to defend the actions of those Australians who committed the attacks against our fellow Indians. Rather a call for introspection and action. Justice is required for those who have been wronged by racists, outside our nation and also within.
The outrage of Indians close to the attacks and here at home has been predictable and understandable. Diplomatic ties between India and the land down under are being tested as Protesters are marching in both countries. The situation is obviously one which has caused much grief to the Australian authorities.
But before we get into any more details,let us pause for a minute and ask ourselves, Is racial abuse prevalent only in the western world? India has its own share of racist or at least discriminatory acts of violence. The most prominent one being the immolation of the Australian Graham Stewart Steins, and his two sons by an irate mob in Orissa. The Christian Missionary along with his children was burnt alive in the night while sleeping in his station wagon.
Such acts of discrimination have not been limited to foreigners. In the Indian province of Rajasthan, between the years 1999 and 2002, crimes against Dalits average at about 5024 a year, with 46 killings and 138 cases of rape. Incidents of the lower caste populous being tormented and victimised by the upper caste "elite" are so common that they have stopped becoming newsworthy.
Can we truly point fingers at a another when we ourselves are incapable of demonstrating anti-discriminatory behavior?
What makes the recent attacks so significant as to overshadow our own violent past? Economic conditions are worsening globally. Recession has caused many companies in the west are being forced to execute layoff procedures and find cheaper alternatives. India has been one of the prime destinations for outsourcing jobs at very low costs. Indians are therefore perceived by many victims of the aforementioned layoffs as the cause of their financial disparity.
This article is in no way intended to be an argument to defend the actions of those Australians who committed the attacks against our fellow Indians. Rather a call for introspection and action. Justice is required for those who have been wronged by racists, outside our nation and also within.
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