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Movie Review: Lipstick Under my Burkha

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Directed By: Alankrita Shrivastava

Cast: Ratna Patak Shah, Konkona Sensharma,  Aahana Kumra, Plabita Borthakur

After a long battle for the release of this ‘lady-oriented’ film as proclaimed by our beloved Central Board for Film Certification (CBFC), Lipstick under My Burkha released on Friday with an ‘A’ certificate, a few bleeps here, and a few cuts there.

But right off the bat, I will say that the battle and the wait, both, were worth it. Set in Bhopal, it chronicles 4 middle class women who all have different wants – the want to start a business, to work outside of home, to sing and emulate the clothing styles of her American pop idols, to attend swimming classes, and so on. Then there are the reasons why the movie was termed “women’s fantasy above life”, as in the things that cannot be realistically achieved – the desire for sexual and other kinds of freedoms and liberties of their own bodies and minds. This may come in the form of wearing jeans, reading erotic novels, or going to a party and smoking and drinking; which were not only shown to be the ways to freedom, but personal choices that the individuals made.

The larger and previously untouched point in the realm of Hindi movies is made here; that women also have desires (even sexual (!)) and that in our society, which is only inclusive but not limited to, a ‘certain community’, these desires are brutally supressed, mocked, or not even acknowledged. Each woman’s story is unique but the common thread exists in the form of real life societal blockages that stop them from achieving any fantasy they dare to dream about.

This was a movie that did not force women to start a revolution and overthrow the patriarchy. Instead, it left an ambiguous ending. Nothing in the ‘audio pornography’ or the scenes is something that most adults with internet connections have not seen or heard. Then what was the controversy for? I believe the answer lies in what one of the characters asks in the film, ‘Hamari azaadi se aap itna darte kyu hain?’ (Why are you terrified of our freedom?). I guess that’s also why some men in the movie hall laughed at the dramatic, definitely not comedic, scenes and made innuendos loudly – fear is often repressed with laughter and the female perspective being shown on the screen had to be repressed, made powerless with louder laughs to underscore its importance. This experience itself was a good case for why such films need to be made.

The portrayal of the everyday lives of these women shifted with ease from poignant scenes that are accompanied with tears and frustrations at denial of freedoms; to comic scenes and those of enjoyment, with a lovely background score and songs that adds a nice touch to these moments.  Konkona Sensharma and Ratna Pathak Shah sink completely into their characters, expectedly, and newcomers Aahana Kumra and Plabita Borthakur match them with their acting prowess. The women shine bright with their complex characters that battle inner turmoil and the fight against the reality of their situations. Revealing greater details about the plot will result in spoilers that will dim the experience of watching the film first hand, which I believe should be done as soon as you can. Do it purely for the song Le Li Jaan, which basically serves as the spirit of the movie with its peppy music and the following sombre lyrics, ‘Le li Le li jaan jaan jaan jaan, bina pooche haye haye’ (‘they took our lives without asking us).

 

Feature Image Credits: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Rishika Singh

[email protected]

 

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Jagga Jasoos: The wonderland for movie lovers!

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DIRECTOR: Anurag Basu

CAST: Ranbir Kapoor, Saswata Chattopadhyay, Katrina Kaif, Saurabh Shukla and others.

DURATION: 2 hrs. 42 mins

GENRE: Musical drama

Jagga Jasoos is a simple movie that tickles your funny bones along with knocking at your sentiments, making you teary-eyed quite often; with a strong message in its undercurrent.

Set in the backdrop of the Purulia Arms Drop case in the district of Purulia in West Bengal in the year 1995, the movie is of two loners; who resort to each other for happiness and the relationship of father-son merging them.

Having grown up on Sherlock Holmes and Feluda, Jagga (Ranbir Kapoor) has a thing for solving mysteries and has aided the local police officer (Rajatava Datta) on several occasions. Despite having speech impairment (stammer), his brain works at the speed of a bullet train while connecting the dots.

When he sets on his journey to find his father (Saswata Chattopaadhyay) who had left him years ago, he is accompanied by Shruti Sengupta (Katrina Kaif), an investigative journalist from Kolkata and the most “giri-huyi” (pun intended) person in the entire film. While Ranbir excels as an actor yet again, the comic timings of Shruti (Katrina) prove to be hilarious and also drive the film. Even the evil intelligence of the officer (Saurabh Shukla) contributes to it.

The movie is in a lyrical format (similar to that of ‘The Sound of Music’) which embellishes the story even more; including Tukka Laga and Bad Lucky to name a few. The story, however, snowballs into a much larger issue during the second half. This is where the plot tends to lose its pace but still remains well-managed.

If read between the lines, the entire movie talks about the futility of war and portrays how and why it is being kept alive by the nations today who feed off it. Anurag Basu excels as a director with an amazing vision and the guts to paint such a truth on the canvas of relationships without a drop of brutality and with the power of innocence.  Furthermore, the ostriches, zebras and Jagga’s cycle tend to transfer you to a land of wonder and definitely justify the movie as a Disney production.

Overall, the film succeeds in striking a chord while the music by Pritam and especially the lyrics by Amitabh Bhattacharya seem to come straight out of the heart. The best part about the movie, however, is that it cuts across all age groups.

While Jagga continues his tryst with mysteries, you have to go to the theatres and watch ‘Jagga Jasoos’ in order to decipher the meanings.

 

Image Credits: India Roundup

 

Shrija Ganguly

[email protected]

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Fantastic Beasts and Where to find them: A Magical Movie Review

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Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, is a must-watch for any movie fanatic, Potterhead or not. Its fitting score and enveloping camerawork draws the audience in, and keeps them there on the edge of their seat with a cohesive plot. The cast is directly reflective of the characters’ personalities, a feat for which the Harry Potter movies are well-known. Eddie Redmayne plays Newt Scamander, a British wizard who wishes to educate the wizarding world about thousands of magical creatures and their properties. He has kind eyes and a concerned demeanour while he searches for his escaped beasts. His caring and selfless nature is reflective of Hagrid’s, a similarity which Potterheads cannot overlook. Characters such as Tina and Queenie Goldstein, Jacob Krakowski, and Credence, are surprisingly fleshed out, giving the audience a chance to connect to them and appreciate their humanity. On the other hand, Mr Graves provides an antagonistic character, moving the plot forward with his less-than-noble actions. Most of all, the magic is unforgettable. The movie starts off with Hedwig’s theme, bringing with it a sense of familiarity and of home. The creatures are full of personality, each having their own charm. Their brilliant colours and extraordinary size, coupled with their names and their habitats, are reminiscent of the inherent magic of Hogwarts. It is impossible to not feel at home with the protagonists, especially for Potterheads. But even if you are not an avid Harry Potter fan, you will enjoy the movie for its thrill and its characters, and perhaps be sucked into the Potter universe at last. A must-watch of the winter season, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is a stunning flashback into the wizarding world we all love, and a brilliant adaptation of a book that is essentially a manual rather than a novel.     Image Caption: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Movie Poster Image Credits: visitdunfermline.com     Vineeta Rana [email protected]]]>

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Movie Review: Finding Dory

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After a gap of almost 13 years, directors Andrew Stanton and Angus MacLaneto are back with one of the most awaited movie sequel of the year. Channelising the charm of ‘Finding Nemo’, Finding Dory revives some of its incidents while introducing the fate of ‘Dory’ – the disoriented friend of Marlin, who, by her absurd interjections and unique ways, had helped him find his lost son Nemo. It is a story about how a friendly yet forgetful tang fish reunites with her parents, whom she had lost as a baby. Reminiscing blurred memories, Dory embarks on a journey to find her lost family while coping up with despair and short term memory disorder. The theme suggests that disabilities should never be regarded as limitations. This is clearly evident as we get to witness Dory’s struggles and her undying principle to never give up. While having really short bursts of functionality, Dory repeatedly forgets what she was doing which eventually results in its separation from Marlin and Nemo during the journey. Yet, she forges ahead, even when alone, retracing memories from a series of associations. Helped by an octopus Hank and her childhood friend Destiny, the shark, she finally meets her parents again, only to remember that she had again been separated from her friends. She then works out solutions, in her own ‘Dory-kind-of-way’ to fetch them back to the ocean. The movie, not only proves to be an impeccable sequel of its original, but also succeeds in giving an inspirational lesson on its own. The lesson of ‘Believing in yourself’ during every hustle of life. Image Credits: www.creteplus.gr Lovleen Kaur [email protected]]]>

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THE CONJURING 2: Just When You Thought It Couldn’t Get Scarier!

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RATING: 3/5

CAST: Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga, Frances O’Conner and Madison Wolfe.

DIRECTOR: James Wan

As I sat immersed in the joy of having bought the perfect seats for the first-day-first-show of the most awaited horror movie of the year, I was all set to enjoy the experience with my nachos and coke, and a perfectly good company of my friend, who despite having never watched a horror movie in a hall before promised me of her complete ineffectiveness to them. Ah well, only time could tell!

Being a complete horror movie buff (a loyal one of Hollywood) what really fascinates me is the way they get your adrenaline pumping and provoke a response, either physical or psychological, so strong that they instantly make you react with fear. So was The Conjuring 2 successful in doing so? Pretty much!

Contrary to the popular belief, a sequel doesn’t always have to be worse than the first one. What I learnt through James Wan’s amazing direction in The Conjuring 2 and his remarkable skills of turning illusory into reality, is that while the sequel couldn’t really turn out to be better than the original, he did, in fact, manage to continue the saga in an equally terrifying and remarkable manner.

Set in the decade of the late 1970’s, a major portion of the film takes place in the Enfield town of London, England where a single mother of four young children is found troubled by a series of supernatural occurrences in their house and is compelled to call for assistance to those specializing in the field of paranormal activity research. Here’s when the dynamic duo of demonologists, Ed (Patrick Wilson) and Lorraine Warren (Vera Farmiga) enter in the picture as they sweep us all away with their incredible chemistry and brilliant performances one after another. Despite Lorraine’s irrefutable decision to avoid solving anymore cases, especially after considering her recurring visions of Ed’s death and sinister creatures as unavoidable signs of danger, she is however, successfully convinced by Ed to fulfill the purpose for which they believed to have been brought together by God, and thus head for London to help the Hodgson family.

The retro English setting allows the director to play with different gothic, spine chilling styles of the era in recalling one of the most controversial paranormal activities of the time and thus, basing the movie on the true story of Enfield Poltergeist- where an 11 year old girl, Janet Hodgson (Madison Wolfe) was known to come under the possession of the spirit of an old man named Bill Winkins, a former resident of the house in which they currently lived. The role of Peggy Hodgson is pulled off quite smoothly by Frances O’Conner who not only portrays the concerned and lovable side of a hardworking, single mother but also of an extremely brave woman, propelled with enough courage to do whatever it takes to protect her children from the barriers of suspicion or danger.

Labeled as the “Amityville Horror of England”, the whole town begins to view it either as a haunted house or a family’s clever form of hoax to receive grants from the government. Madison Wolfe in her attempt to play the character of Janet Hodgson switches from an innocent, clueless child ruled by the constant fears of her surroundings to a wicked, self absorbed demon so effortlessly that one is compelled to remain fixated on her irrespective of the predictability of a few scenes. Her powerful acting is what makes the entire plot so much more believable, thereby proving that nobody else could have done better justice to this role than her.

As the story unfolds, not only is the spirit of Bill Winkins successful in terrifying all the members of the family (and everyone around me, including my friend) through shaking beds, moving objects and crashing doors, it soon gets followed by Janet’s unfortunate demonic possession as well. While a few clips such as that of flipping television channels or the self moving fire engine toy at night becomes absolutely unnecessary in a sequence which is already well aware of a demonic presence in the house, what really does manage to overpower them is Janet’s sudden teleportation across her unsafe home as soon as she closes her eyes and her alarming levitations sending chills down our spine. The special effects and cinematography of the segments were so well constructed and effective that they even aroused a fear in me to prevent shutting my own eyes for the first few nights, only to be awaken in a completely different and unnatural setting with no assurance of returning back.

Despite the movie’s storyline being focused on the role of Bill Winkins in hurting the Hodgson family, his ghoulish voice and laughter alone was nowhere powerful enough to frighten us and neither did the silly appearance of ‘The Crooked Man’ hold any useful relevance. The most ominous and horrifying element of the movie though was something much more inhuman and unforgettable than the rest, and this was an addition of the ‘Demon Nun’ who’s mere sight in Lorraine’s recurring visions and in the second half of the movie emerged grotesque and sinister enough to easily make us lose our grip on ourselves and frighten us to death.

The sound direction also remained quite impressive throughout the movie and powerfully complimented the eerie atmosphere wherever needed. With the most suspenseful and stunning end to the story, leaving us both happy and satisfied, this movie of 134 minutes despite being dragged at some parts in the first half, gladly repays it with its own share of light hearted moments such as that of Lorraine’s beautiful reminiscence of having found Ed- the only one who believed in her more than anyone else, Ed’s playful guitar session on Elvis Presley’s Can’t Help Falling In Love with all the children gathered around him, to reinforce their love for each other and the overall journey of having an irrevocable faith and trust on everyone you love.

Thus, what seemed like an exceptionally good blend of both, fine horror creeping us out more than just once or twice and the parting of lips into smiles during several intervals between wide-eyed alarming reactions of fear makes you stay glued to the screen all throughout the movie, as it certainly did with me and my friend who now longs to watch such movies more often, even at the price of being unable to sleep at night. So, watch it if you’re a horror fan or those wishing to experience a little thrill in life as this sequel is more than just praiseworthy- it’s Scream-worthy!

Image Credits: www.lensmenreviews.com

Shagun Marwah

[email protected]

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Movie Review: 2 States

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From the campus love and drama to the family fights and rights, 2 States based on Chetan Bhagat’s best selling novel by the same name would take through a laughable ride filled with a lot of ‘aww’ moments here and there. The movie that runs in the flashback mode of the narrator’s story portrays different cultures of families across India.

Cast : Arjun Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Amrita Singh, Ronit Roy, Shiv Kumar Subramaniam and Revathy
Director : Abhishek Varman
Music Director : Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy
Based on Chetan Bhagat’s best selling novel : 2 States – The Story Of My Marriage.

 

Krish (Arjun Kapoor), a Punjabi boy who is an IIT graduate from Delhi happens to join the ‘serial proposers’ list of Ananya (Alia Bhatt), a tamilian girl at IIM Ahmedabad where they study for the much over rated MBA degree. The conversation that starts by offering a rasgulla ends up with both the characters falling in love (well, that had to happen). The campus story that is wrapped up by the director in the initial 30 minutes may leave you craving for more of college masala. The steamy scenes between the lead pair must have left Chetan a little nervous, but the audience seems to enjoy it quite a lot though one never stops wondering that how Krish and Ananya share the bed at the hostel room on campus (there is a different hostel for boys and girls. Obviously).

The movie that shifts from the colour and flavour of college at Ahmedabad to the rich homes in Delhi and Chennai, holds the viewer to watch how the predictable story will be paralleled by commendable acting and direction. The typical fussy Punjabi mom (Amrita Singh) and a strict retired army father (Ronit Roy) at their Hauz Khas makaan (because ghar toh pyaar se banta hai), bring both smile and disgust on the faces of the viewers. As disciplined south Indian parents, Shiv Subramanyam and Revathy are very particular yet boring in their actions. The cultures of these ‘2 states’ seem to be exaggerated a little but this much cinematic liberty can be entertained.

Krish who also teaches Ananya’s brother finally after a lot of buttering takes on the proposal. The twist is where he proposes all members of the Swaminathan family and not only the girl (that is quite innovative). Ananya and her parents then go all the way from south to north to convince Krish’s mumiji (his dad is least interested by now) but his mom is a typical muhfatt punjabi. Her racist remarks on madrasi people forces the Swaminathans to withdraw their interest from this inter-caste rishta. Krish’s irritating massi and other members of the family who finally reach the wedding venue in the school bus (like yes, a school bus decorated with flowers) leave the audiences laughing. Now how this happened even after so much of ‘marriage politics’ is something you need to watch this movie for.

Music of the movie by Shankar Ehsaan Loy and dialogues by Hussain Dalal convey all the emotions in the fancy Bollywood manner. Alia’s beauty and her costumes do not fail to impress the people of both sexes. Arjun takes the heart away by his cute smile and his look supported by nerdy glasses.

All you out there with a very soft heart, you may feel the need of handkerchiefs in the few scenes. But as you reach out to your pocket, something on screen will stop you. The book by Chetan Bhagat is surely a better tale of these 2 States but Abhishek Verman as a director makes a significant debut.

Oh yes! The movie forces all the young heads to think, “Why don’t we have such a life?”

DU Beat correspondent, Iresh Gupta sat with the stars of 2 States, Arjun Kapoor and Alia Bhatt. Click here for an exclusive interview.
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Movie Review: Gunday

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Centered on the time when Bangladesh was formed, Gunday delves into the lives of Bikram and Bala, two refugees who came to India hiding in a coal train. YRF’s first big release of the year hopes to break the wave of flops in the first quarter. The film stars Priyanka Chopra, Ranveer Singh and Arjun Kapoor in the lead. Directed by Ali Abbas Zafar, its music has been composed by Sohail Sen.

The movie starts with Bikram and Bala, two 10 year old ‘Indians’ stranded in Bangladesh. Two kids who were a few days from perishing from hunger end up being gun peddlers for a local corrupt officer. A murder, an illegal train ride back to India and a failed attempt at a job later, these 10 year olds start selling stolen coal. A few years later, two refugees have their hands in every shred of illegal business in Kolkata. Life seems to have settled. They have money, respect and fame. Enter Nandita (Priyanka Chopra), Kolkata’s most beautiful cabaret dancer. And as every film with 3 protagonists goes, a love triangle ensues.

A friendship that was unbreakable is cracked by a common love interest. What follows is a tangled web of betrayal, revenge, violence and redemption. Without revealing the plot completely, here are a few reasons this film is worth a watch:

1. The Bromance

Gunday recreates the friendship that reminds you of the likes of Jai-Veeru.

2. Priyanka Chopra

For all the PC fans, Priyanka is not just a treat to the eyes but her acting is perfect for a 70s heroine.

3. The absence of mindless violence

For the first time in a long time an action movie has more to offer than just aimless fighting and people flying around a hero.

4. Revisit the 70s India

Although the 70s have been over exploited with the plethora of mediocre films (remember ‘Once Upon A Time and its sequel), Gunday is a fresh take at the same old story.  Music- Except for ‘Tune Maari Entriyaan’, Gunday’s music is easily forgettable.

Editor’s Note: This is more of the disclaimer – the author of this review is a huge admirer of Priyanka Chopra.

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Movie Review: Catching Fire

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It is Francis Lawrence making you delve into the world of science fiction again with the sequel of Hunger Games –  Hunger Games : Catching Fire. Adapted from the novel by Susan Collins, part two of the proposed four part franchise certainly leaves you hungry for more. Although being a sci-fi, this particular movie connects more with the public sentiment than the previous one, specially due to its dark satire on those in power. It highlights the fact that people’s minds are run by the state and it could do anything in order to resist change. Yes, it always wants the status quo to be maintained for its own benefits. A certain example of exercise of power given by Steven Lukes.

Unlike the previous part, which focused more on the deadly game, this one is an amalgamation of ‘The Mortal game’ and with it, squalid politics. Focus is on the role of Jennifer Lawrence (Katniss Everdeen) whose initial anxiety in the movie is shown in the form of a trope, i.e. sitting in a vacant compartment looking out of the window, as if stuck in a cobweb.

Having won the last hunger games, she has again been manouevered by the state to play the next years’ games, so as to silence the revolution of District 12 against the Capitol. While she competes with the reality, she hasnt been able to overcome her past. And with the capitol wanting more from her, will she be able to resolve her anxiety issues and see things clearly and instead of  supporting the capitol, will she be able to lead an uprising? Yes, the end leaves you in a state of dilemma, to think about what comes next.

The cast also includes Josh Hutcherson (Peeta Mellark) who partners Katniss in the game. Along with some great sets and costumes, the cinematography is of an excellent level giving a synergic effect. The computer stimulated graphics too take the movie to an unprecedented level.

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Movie Review: Bhaag Milkha Bhaag

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Bhaag Milkha Bhaag is a long daunting story of a true “life” of an Olympic world champion for whom life becomes a constant battle for survival. Milkha Singh, after being victimized by the Indo-Pak partition was wounded with scars which failed to heal with time.

The phenomenal director-producer Rakeysh Om Prakash Mehra tries to give his audience a perfect flashback of the Flying Sikh, with the first half seeking to enlist the motivating factors for the protagonist- to run with a happy childhood in a proud family. Soon this life turns into a traumatic one of a refugee boy who wields a knife and becomes a coal thief. But the editing deficient flashback, takes a different turn with a captivating love affair with “Biro” (optimistically played by Sonam Kapoor) inspiring him to choose the right path in life. This leads him to join the army and eventually breaking an athletic world record at the 1960 Rome Olympics, giving him world prestige for the rest of his life. Instances of Milkha running, wounded and punishing himself after defeats are a constant reminder of the gutsy dream chaser aiming to get a national holiday named after him.

With moments of great inspiration, the film manages to pull its way through the second half with rigorous practice sessions on sets of Ladakh giving us a fine reminder of what made Milkha one of India’s most iconic athletes.

The film earns its title from Milkha’s father’s last words, “bhaag milkha bhaag” asking him to literally run for his life, making it the most patronizing memory of his life.

Eventually the well-intended biopic turns into a very detailed, exhausting 187-minute roll which lacks objectivity and turns into an overdose of melodrama. Soon you realize that the early years of the gangster mischief, the Australian affair, and meaningless songs are irrelevant and divert from the traditional pattern of a sporting biopic.

Farhan Akhtar pulls the snail-paced movie, with his convincing Punjabi accent, boorish physical presence, and tremendous commitment to his role as the Flying Sikh.  Supporting roles of Milkha’s guides in his historic journey are portrayed convincingly by Pawan Malhotra and Yograj Singh.

As for the ratings, I will give the mouth-publicized flick 3 out of 5, as it is definitely a one-time watch for Farhan’s irreplaceable performance as an inspiring Milkha Singh- one that will go down in history.

In the run of daily life, take a stop to watch this mis-matched, much in need of editing film as you might end up taking a personal lesson back home.

 

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