Delhi has welcomed me with a thunderstorm on my very first evening
here. The city is unlike all the other cities I have lived in the past; this
city is trying to say something to you every minute. There are a lot of stories
in every nook and corner: from the broker to the rickshaw-wallah (electric rickshaw,
CNG, and shared) to the sleepy waiters who have opened shops and restaurants
well before business time can begin.
One thing is for sure: the city sleeps late and wakes up
late.
Coincidentally, got a chance to get passes to India Habitat
Centre’s Film Fest with a Retrospective on Aparna Sen. The fest started with
getting free passes for movies last Friday…
The opening movie was Rajat Kapoor’s Aankhon Dekhi; a universal film that charts the journey of a simple
family man who unknowingly hurtles in life towards enlightenment. The fun part
is that he himself never realizes it. From a high moral ground to a place where
he is beyond morality… From a brother to a teacher…
This is one movie that never felt unreal; the actors did
really well. Rajat Kapoor and Sanjay Mishra stand out in their performances;
loved the brothers despite their love-hate relationship.
Please watch this one; and yes, don’t miss the ending.
Queen is a
genre-defying film: it is at once a coming-of-age film, at once a slice-of-life
film, and also a chick-lit film at the same time. And there is nothing to be
ashamed of. The film hits all the right notes at the right time: it got it
right, I guess, when it cast Kangna Ranaut and Rajkumar as then main leads.
Vijaylakshmi played the kind of best friend and buddy we all craze for: wild,
loving, caring, and independent.
The performance of Kangna as Rani aka Queen is flawless. Just
like Lata Mangeshkar in her heydays; kambakht
kabhi galati hii nahi karti hain! Her friends/roomies in Amsterdam leave
their mark too despite none of them speaking much…
With Queen, Vikas
Bahl has beaten Farhan Akhtar’s Dil
Chahta Hain… Kangna has beaten those three mature actors in their own game!
Watch out for her!
Shaji Karun’s Swapaanam
deals with his and my favourite subject: the relationship of a muse with her artiste. He comes out on top, once
again.
When compared with Vaanaprastham,
it falls a little short. Jayaram, easily the most underrated actor in Malayalam
cinema, once again shows his versatility. The chenda and he become one just like his muse Kadambari becomes one
with dance. It explores all human emotions with art and artiste’s expression of
life through art at its centre. Kadambari has played her role well keeping it
sensual without being erotic!
After Sesham, Sneham, and Theerthadanam, Jayaram
proves once again that he can easily hold his head high in company of colossal giants,
such as Mohanlal, Mamootty, Murali, and Thilakan, etc.
Well, the film fest is not over yet; dim the lights and am ready for my next show!
