The Prom for The Love of Meryl Streep

December 19, 2020 0 Comments

Musicals, Prom and me

Not Just a High School Musical

The Prom is a story of waning broadway stars looking for a "quick win" cause to garner some positive publicity. While poverty, world peace et cetera being the too wide arenas, they find their cause in the Twitter trending topic. They find their cause at a quaint little Indiana, supporting a girl to attend prom-like all her peers. 

How they come to the cause, find themselves attached to it, and how it all turns into forms the major crux of the film. 

It may or may not be your regular High school musicals or support the queer, film. It is in a way a deep sarcasm to the way our community/society functions where we make taboo on things that are beyond our understanding and too much of shing a ding is given to forced glamor that everything superficial becomes a way of life. Even we start to pick and chose things that we approve of instead of the whole picture including Religion that overpowers our sense of love and makes us forget the most important lesson of "Love thy neighbor"! Anyone that does not fall hook, line, and sinker to what we follow or believe is treated insensitively, in absolute ostracism. 

You may feel- it is alright. what is so big deal about attending a prom? Well, the film is not just about the prom. It is about inclusion and INCLUSIVE LIVING!

No-no the film is not preachy and has beautiful lyrics, well-penned, well-orchestrated, and rhymed. The poetic expressions were so relatable that I opened my poem diaries [of poems I wrote during school days] and could find many lines there.

James Cordon was a delight to watch especially in the second half of the film. While I do not deny the debate of casting Gay people for gay roles, I really liked the way he patronizes Emma without being overtly sardonic or preachy. 

Like I said- I watched this film for my love for Meryl Streep and am absolutely cast agnostic otherwise. Of course, it is good to see more familiar faces like Nicole Kidman [she s so sassy and prooves why is what she is. So sassy and beautiful]

The overall team including Andrew Randells and Kerry Washington [she was perfect as Mrs. Greene] delights you in amazing poem-loses [yes that what I call it] scene after scene. It may get dull sometimes for some of us but the spark is quite well-maintained till the climax. 

Needless to say, the film had distinct Disney-esque charm and formulaic but hey that's ok. The film is a broadway adaption into reels and quite a popcorn entertainment in spite of not a very outstanding beginning. 

Thanks again team "The Prom" and Netflix for rekindling my love in the poem, saying the word "inclusive" loudly enough, and bringing yet another marvel on screen with my all-time favorite Meryl Streep! I love her to the moon!

Breath, Ekta. Just Breath! 

The Prom is the recent Netflix release starring the incomparable Meryl Streep, Sassy Nicole Kidman, James Cordon, Kerry Washington and, more. 

More review coming up on www.numerounity.com
#theProm #MerylStreep #InclusiveLiving


Love,
Numerounity
Ekta
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Magalir Mattum: Tamil Movie Review For Non Tamil Speakers

November 22, 2020 0 Comments

You may not know the language, so try the subtitles. Cause a good story is worth watching in any of the languages. One such film is- Magalir Mattum.

Magalir Mattum means Women's Only!

The storyline is simple- Three Convent friends reunite after a considerable period of time and how. The how is the second interesting part and the first interesting part is how their lives crossed and how they separated. 

The film stars Jyotika who is an independent documentary filmmaker who lives with her to-be mother in law. And how she encourages and unfolds her dreams to reunite with her school friends. The mother in law is played by a feisty Urvashi. 

The film also stars Bhanupriya, Saranya Poonvannam, and R Madhvan [in a special role].

Magalir means women and Mattum means- only. This is a women-oriented film with less hyper-end drama and mostly happy endings. 

What made these friends part ways, how they crossed each other's lives, and how they reunite is a treat to watch.

The film is streaming on Zee5 and you can also find a Hindi dub on YouTube. The stories are somewhat relatable and will touch your heart and funny bones too. Performances are A-notch and the screenplay is smooth.

In the world of extreme violence, religion-based politics, and the objectification of women, Magalir Mattum is a fresh breeze. This is something unique to OTT unlike a very slow-moving Devi [on MXplayer] or so-called women-oriented dramas that has either pornographic content or inspid stories [example Rasbhari].

I really loved Urvashi in this film. Her performance [even in the Hindi dub] is energetic and makes you ask for more. So, if you like a good, light-hearted movie- go and watch it.

Numerounity Rating 4/5 stars for the different storyline

Dolly Kitty Ke तीखे फीके सितारे - फ़िल्म review

November 06, 2020 Film Review 0 Comments

Dolly Kitty Ke Chamkate Sitare

For some reason, this film looked like an India-Pakistan match but with a lack of sportsman spirit. No matter how progressive I am, sometimes I fail to understand the pseudo-intellectuals point film-makers these days are trying to make. Are these points or mere catch bait conjectures to invite controversy and audience. However, you need to watch the piece collectively to find the overall flavor. IF Dolly-Kitty, a cinematic dish on the celluloid, it left me with mixed taste. 

Thanks to Netflix, I watched it twice to see if my opinion changes- not much actually.

Much Ado About Nothing

This is what I felt when I watched "Lipstick Under My Burkha" for the first time. I failed to understand the extreme opposition the film's release faced. I still remember turning halfway back home after the screening of the film was unceremoniously canceled. So when it was released theatrically, I went to watch it with my mom, coming back with embarrassment and bad taste and wondering- much ado about nothing. So, I watched that movie again, and the second time I liked it better. If you ignore the unnecessary wild sex scenes, filmed on lesser-known actors to create a sensation for the film, the film did worth it's salt esp narrating the stories of 4 different women, you can relate with personally and socially. In burkha or without it.

That element is missing in Dolly-Kitty. The sexual scenes are subtle here [of course the lead actress unlike lesser-known actress to keep the compromise away]. The women's stories are present and some could be relatable but the importance is given more to sensation than substance.

Let me tell you how. Here's what I liked and what I find flawed in the film. If "flaw" is an unsuitable word, let's say, what I find "objectionable to create a mere sensation.

1) Religious overtone? 

Why do the new age film-makers think they need to sensationalize a story to sell it? And Hindu-Muslim angles come so handily for them. They want to show a burning issue in society? fair enough. But what next? The issue becomes a mere prop. 

Similarly, the Muslim-Gurjar angle was one-sided, unnecessary, and amounts to mere rabble-rousing. The scene had no bearing on the film. What could have been a personality and power clash, was conveniently labeled as a religious clash?  The girl did not get a bed in a hostel run by a Hindu woman, so she finds abode in a Christian hostel. Christian hostel had girls doing surrogacy, sleeping around for iPhone, and whatnot. The delivery guy is submissive cause he is a Muslim and the Muslim girl is sleeping around for an iPhone in name of a future. Really? Why the characters were not characters but religions?

2) Vagina Statue, Blood-stained sex, and (f)art of cheap titillation

The women-centric story looked like was made to mock feminism, in its own pseudo-feminist way. Aesthetic may be damned. I remember once how a teenager posted her blood-stained, menstruating post all over Instagram to show some hidden face of women empowerment. It is like a grown-up person peeing in the bed and posting the yellow-colored pee. It is right for a human to pee, why ashamed? So, what it is gross, the sensation is all we need, a cause sensation is a new form of empowerment. Aesthetic jaaye tel lene! 

When did a large vagina installation in the city become aesthetic? The city is known for its rape and harassment culture. Well, that is how pseudo feminism will prevent rape. Cause boob is an old idea, bring the gross period blood, bring vagina and humiliate women who watch your film. 

3) Sanskriti Bachao VS Partying with unknown men, LMAO

There is 2 minutes, a propaganda catalyst character who is a self-nominated "Culture protector". Fair enough. he does things to pace the storyline actually. After you are tired of Kitty and Rakesh's lackadaisical romance, this man jumps in, conducts a raid, and gets the lovers attending a Valentine days' rock show at a seeming government property, arrested. Why police arrested them remains a question but when the scene unfolds, you actually find yourself praising this guy as he helps the heroine in finding the truth about his married lover boy. 

She should have gone and thanked him instead, she goes off and starts kissing a man without his consent, in a public place. The man apparently she had no qualms seeing having sex with her loose-character friend.  Because she is a woman. Her brother-in-law touching her inappropriately on the first day of her meeting was gross, highly agreeable. However, the rest of the things were- women empowerment! 

4) Parvati Bani Poo

Kitty's character runs away from her "tribal" home, decked in fine Anita Dongre, Mango clothes from day 1, she finds drinking the leftover soda from her insensitive boss' bottle is more befitting than leaving a new-found job in a new city cause her request for salary advance failed. Having alcohol with men double her age who she just met, is liberating. Calling out her sister's fashion sense in a derogatory manner is righteous, yet cracking joked with her hostel friend who is dating a man who almost raped her is, compassionate. Well, I would not blame filmmakers here. In fact, I appreciate the filmmaker for showing what is the face of a new Indian woman like Kitty, who is killing the true voice of women empowerment by endorsing such pseudo-materialistic garbage in name of liberation.  

In fact, I would prefer to watch Karan Johar's Poo any day over such half liberated yet righteous women characters like Kitty. Poo too came from humble beginnings, grew up to fashion diva, had bitchy undertones to her character, yet he was much better than the pseudo feminists of the veere di wedding world, except for Sonam Kapoor.  I liked her as Avni in the film. Apparently, it was Avni who did not march the feminism flag unnecessarily, yet she knew her priorities well and was ok with her vulnerabilities in spite of being a successful lawyer than a dumb bimbette with fancy clothes. PS even though she now harness a desire to be a "foot in mouth" Jaya Bachchan, I still like her accrediting that statement to a momentary lapse of logic.

On the contrary, the other female character played by Kubra Sait in the film, in spite of having clear negative shades did better. Neelima Azim on the other hand was phenomenal. Even Konkona Sen Sharma's character is well-written and well-delivered. She flawlessly drove the concept of "frigidity" and her angst, her being of what she is without many props and contexts. Even the people who may not understand frigid the concept could relate without facing it. Konkona is more like Ratna Pathak Shah in lipstick under my burkha, a character who doesn't bother to trail pseudo feminism but just want to seek some happiness in her life through pure desires and consent. 

5) Hurried Climax

Like the male characters in the film, apparently, the makers rushed to the climax, not keeping the audience state in mind. The climax looked cliche, convenient, and yet non-resonating. The audience waited with bated breath to know what "Dolly-Kitty" would do next? However, the makers were not keen and just hurried to finish. Watch the film to know or if you have seen the film, you will know. 

The story even does not bother to give male characters a suiting end. No matter what their performances were, they were reduced to mere props in the end. 

Numerounity verdict

Is this movie all disgusting? No... there is a lot of creative brilliance you can attach with the film or the storytelling. The opening scene in a haunted house. The visible metaphor, the brilliant execution through Konkona's "you are hormonal" escapism is a piece of art. [If you can ignore Kitty's botched up dialect]

The film raises a finger on the gender sterotyping that makes children visit two different museuam purely basis their gender and not the choice is again worth it. Also, the unspoken struggle of children facing such a dilemma or the mother who does not know how to deal with it once her denial is over.  

And the metaphor when a character says -Greater Noida is new Shanghai is the stark slap on the face of urban development, new-age consumerism, an overly marketed urbanization that sells soul in name of a better life, upward mobilization but offers very little in terms of real value and all that mirth comes with empty promises made in name of modern living.

Dolly kitty overall is a decent watch and could have been better if the over the top sexual overtones. religious conflict and selective hypocrisy were avoided. 

It is like Bollywood once tried to break the stereotypes with some good films over the decades but suddenly it is creating new stereotypes. Frankenstein is further fueled up and debauchery is celebrated. While is there is a lot good in name of narrative, encouraging women to fly solo then succumb to the relationship that fellow humans can never offer or afford. I wonder how is it going to break this stereotype of reducing everything to sex and alcohol and abuse. Like I always say- content becomes the culture, and stereotyped culture does not help any society.

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Suitably Unsuited- A Suitable Boy, BBC web-series by Mira nair

October 24, 2020 0 Comments

I wanted to read this book but could not give the length and my scarcity of time. So when BBC/Netflix announced the forthcoming screening of "A Suitable Boy" based on a famous book by the same name, authored by Vikram Seth, I was excited. 

My excitement went leaps and bounds when I found it is directed by another favorite director Mira Nair and had some impressive, ensemble star cast including Tabu, Randeep Hooda and, others. 

Dude I waited for this to release more than the Gabbar waited for Holi [ref film Sholay]. And when I finally saw it, I consoled myself that this all preface and story will set in eventually and beautifully. And I did this till the end of the last episode. I will tell you why. But first the storyline.

A Suitable Boy- Story

A suitable boy is set in the post-independence era, in the beautiful province of West Bengal - Kolkata and Brahampur largely. 

It is a story of two protagonists Lata and Maan Kapoor, leading their respective lives- one in pursuit of the right suitor for marrying and the other, in pursuit of love and wilderness. 

Lata's story has a classic and yet very interesting angle, involving her tryst with love and selecting a husband from her varied suitors including the ones that her mother finds for her. 

Wherein Maan Kapoor's life has a little more shades than love, it has politics and friendship too.

The story is set in the era when religious tension was quite high in Indian Hindu and Muslims, each displaying their own traits, basis the political situation than the religious altercations. 

While her choice of a groom may little surprise you towards the end of the film, the due process is interesting and somewhere cliche. 

The story revolves more around the romance and the weirdly-disrupted society, on the brim of yearning for attention and superficial endearment. 

Review- caricature is the word

In spite of an impressive cast, The Suitable Boy feels outdated, boorish, and fails to touch a chord. One of the biggest drawbacks is the caricaturish English. Clearly, this web series is not made for India and more clearly, it represents India in quite a wrong perspective, a lot like how slumdog did. English is very weird and you feel too outlandish in the approach. 

While the backdrop has quite a vintage appeal but is a little far-fetched at times. Even though the backdrop is 1951, the series in spite of having a political angle fails to capture the mood of that era. If I may use the word- Indian society is shown hypocrite and slut. That balance is not there. I do not want to bring this up as I truly do not believe in the religious divide but the Hindu-Muslim angle was lop-sided and amounted to further create the divide. 

Apart from religion, there is another successful formula of sex, well embossed in this series. Some of the women including the protagonist at times are shown absolute caricaturish, mean, and made Buffon of themselves. 

A Suitable Boy: The Cast

Maan Kapoor's character is again OTT and Ishan Khattar fails to create any spark or impact. The character actors were more interesting and impactful

It was good to see seasoned actors like Vijay Raaz, Sheeba Chaddha, Vijay Verma [he was more impressive than Ishan Khattar even in that minuscule role which you feel was just created to keep the story going for few insignificant minutes or maybe show the protagonist in a heroic light. 

There were however some fresh faces like the actor who played Ishan's friend [Shubham Saraf as Feroze] and another one who did Kabir's role. They looked apt and did their job without getting OTT. 

ANOTHER noteworthy performance was from the actor [Mahira Kakar] who played Lata's mother. She shone adorably even in her caricaturish role, bringing some believability to her character. Rasika Duggal was brilliant too. Wonder why Sahana Goswami's character was made so loud when she could have seductive and sensational. The sex scene looked desperate to bring audiences. 

Not to mention there were some other irrelevant stitchings like Maan Kapoor's sharp nephew who did "political analytics" for his grandpa. Or the sudden appearance of Kabir in the saint's mela only to rescue a boy, and parallel track of Lata's sister-in-law's sister, making the entire family looked buffoonish for no apparent reason. I would rather re-read Chetan' Bhagat's Two States. 

A Suitable Boy: Overall View

The web-series have all the famous surnames from Mehras to Kapoors, Khan, and Chatterji's, yet it makes most of them look unbelievable. The music and poetry are classy and good. The backdrop is regal and vintage. Impressive cast yet non-pleasing story. Overall, the suitable boy is an unsuitable Indian portrayal, more caricaturish than real. And quite over the top. Blame it on the story or production pressures, it fails to impress, woo, or create excitement that the evolved web-series watcher expects.

In "The Suitable Boy" frames are beautiful, actors are noteworthy but the characters are sketchy and impact the whole storyline, making it sound [sorry for repeating] Caricaturish. 

I suggest you rather watch "Serious Men" starring Nawajuddin Siddiqui or even Taj Mahal 1980 on Netflix. 

Numerounity rating: 2/5

Abhay Season 2 Review: KunalKemmu is Back with more power in Abhay 2

September 12, 2020 0 Comments

With the advent of online streaming platforms in India, India viewers are having all the indoor fun, watching a whole new gambit of movies, web-series, and their favorite actors at the comfort of their home.

 

You name the genre and you have it at your fingertips, in all 3 screens- Mobile, Laptop, and TV.

 

Comedy, Drama, Action, Horror, and even crime thriller. All those who complained that India is not making enough out of box content, complain no more and Thanks to Zee5, that is indulging its subscribers with world-class content across the genres including the wild-wild world of crime and psychological thrillers. 

 

Talking about Psychological thrillers, there is one series that raises quite a ball when released- Abhay starring Bollywood cutie- KunalKemmu.

 

Yes, KunalKhemmu is back with Abhay 2, testing his limits again trying to overcome bigger criminals and newer challenges. 

 

Abhay 2 on Zee5

 

Abhay2 is a Hindi language action-thriller streaming on Zee5, with 8 on your seat episodes that follow the inverted detective format of story-telling. He is joined by a stellar cast of actors like Ram Kapoor, Asha Negi, Nidhi Singh, Bidita Bag, RaghavJuval, and Chunkey Pandey.

 

This season thinks gets a little dark, much gorier, and horrific with fictionalized crimes, showing the depths of humankind infested with sociopaths and psychopaths within the garbs of normal and accomplished personalities alike. 

 

Here's a quick synopsis of few episodes to give you a peek into the world of organized crimes, without giving away the mystery [ NO SPOILers]

 

Episode 1: Brain Soup

A criminal's horrific acts to fights his own inferiority complex

 

Episode 2: One-legged skeleton

A prostitute on kill

 

Episode 3: Game beings: This has an interesting cat and mouse chase between AbhayPratap Singh and the Antagonist. I won't tell you who. You need to watch it

 

Episode 4: 12-hour Challenge

A psychopath cop on a sexual hunt

 

Episode 5: Misplaced Retribution

Damages child marriages can cause to society. 

PS: only 5 episodes are out; the remaining 3 will make their entry soon.

 

All the above-mentioned cases are in some ways a mirror to the society, its thwarting atrocities, and how some weak minds further succumb to those atrocities. 

 

The series is a gory reminder of the unsafe environment around us, for men, women, and hardworking individuals alike. As scary it may sound, the characters would remind of certain legendary or common crime cases that you have read in newspapers or watched on TV. 

Gory Alert

As the story gets murkier and horrific, the narrative may have many gory visuals and advised to watch only under parental guidance. 

What to expect in Abhay2

1) A powerful and fresh ensemble of caste

2) India's Own Crime Thriller Series in the Hindi language

3) Engaging and on your seat cases where you want to know what went behind some of the criminals [in this show] minds and how Abhay finds a logical path to solves most illogical cases.

4) Wide arrays of antagonists and villain

5) A very strong protagonist played by KunalKemmu

 

Numerounity Verdict

After a sickening decade of typical saas-bahu brigade, and overload of horror stories, watching an action-thriller is not just an interesting break but also a reckoner of crimes in society. As a viewer, I always preferred watching short stories rather than whole hours of wild goose chase over multiple-episode. And Abhay delivers that without adding too much of unwanted suspense over seasons and yet keeps the show fans interested. I totally loved KunalKemmu's take of Abhay- Subtle, less chatty, and yet strong. The show is definitely not for the weak heart nor for people who do not like watching lot of blood and gory on-screen even though they are not the weak heart. For rest, go ahead, watch and remember- sooner or later every crime/criminal comes to justice. 

 

Happy viewing

Numerounity

 

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Facebook: @numerounity

The Tamasha Around Sushant Singh Rajput Murder Case and Celebrity Round Table

August 27, 2020 2 Comments

Web-Series Review Churails on ZEE5

August 24, 2020 1 Comments

I have always been an admirer of Pakistani dramas. I very well remember the days when I started watching them in the early 1990s. Yes, the 1990s, much before YouTube or the concept of web-series started. The first-ever drama that I saw was the classic Tanhaiyaa. My uncle prompted me to watch it for the lead female character whose glimpses he saw in me. I really loved their characterization and the way they mouth Urdu. And then there was no looking back. 

In fact, when Zee Tv launched a channel - Zindagi in India, I was every inch excited and renewed my DTH connection solely for that channel.  

A lot happened in between, yet the love for Pakistani dramas did not fade even if it meant that I have to watch them on the web. Thankfully, Zee Tv's web streaming platform Zee5 has an array of Pakistani dramas and series. And that's where I saw- Churails!

Horror yet Not Horror Churails

Story-telling through Graphics, Grandeur and Spine-chilling Inferences

The powerful #MainChurailhoon Star cast

जस्ट Rs 999 only!

August 15, 2020 Nation & Society , Poems 0 Comments

Arbitrage Fund And Launch of Mahindra Manulife Mutual Fund [NFO Closes on 19th August]

August 14, 2020 Finance 0 Comments

Key information

Simply put, it is a type of mutual fund that leverages the price differential in the cash and derivatives market to generate returns. The returns from this Mutual Fund depends on the volatility of the underlying asset (perfect yay!!)

What should I look for

· Better tax efficiency on returns compared to short term debt funds

· Relatively lower risk as arbitrage strategy focuses on protecting downside risk by capturing market
spreads
· One of the least volatile hybrid schemes suitable for investment across market cycles

Investment Strategy

Scheme to invest in arbitrage positions between cash & futures trading on exchanges, invest in a basket of stocks and short the corresponding futures against it, or derive higher returns from the implied cost of carrying between the underlying and the derivatives market.

Underlying instruments

1. Normal circumstances: Around 65-100% in equity and equity-related instruments including equity derivatives, ~35% in debt and money market securities including tri-party repo, reverse repo.
2. Defensive circumstances: Around 0-65% in equity and equity-related instruments including equity derivatives and 35 - 100% in debt and money market securities including tri-party repo, reverse repo, and up to 10% in units issued by REITs & InvITs.

Past performance of Arbitrage Funds: Average 6-7% annualized return over the last 6 months to 2 years (Nifty 50 Arbitrage Index)

When can I invest: New Fund Offer opens on August 12, 2020, and closes on August 19, 2020, and it will reopen for continuous sale and repurchase from August 25, 2020.

Minimum Investment: Rs. 1,000/- and in multiples of Re. 1/- thereafter

Who is launching the NFO

Mahindra Manulife Investment Management Private Limited (Formerly known as Mahindra Asset Management Company Pvt. Ltd.), a (51:49) joint venture of Mahindra & Mahindra Financial Services Limited (MMFSL) and Manulife Investment Management (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.

Exit Load

An exit load of 0.25% is payable if Units are redeemed/switched out on or before completion of 30 days from the date of allotment of Units; - Nil - If Units are redeemed / switched-out after completion of 30 days from the date of allotment of Units. Redemption /Switch-Out of Units would be done on First in First out Basis (FIFO).

About Mahindra & Mahindra Financial Services Limited: It is part of the Mahindra Group, is one of India’s leading non-banking finance companies. Focused on the rural and semi-urban sector, the Company has over 6.9 million customers and has an AUM of over USD 10 Billion. The Company is a leading vehicle and tractor financier provides loans to SMEs and also offers fixed deposits. The Company has over 1,300 MMFSL offices and reaches out to customers spread over 3,70,000 villages and 7,000 towns across the country.

Fund Managers:

(a) Srinivasan Ramamurthy [Fund Manager – Equity]
(b) Rahul Pai [Head – Fixed Income]

NFO closes on August 19. For more info: https://bit.ly/33M1dDw



Happy Investing!

Disclaimer: The details are as per public sources, investors are requested to take their own caution while investing.
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Picture Source: Corporate website
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भीगी मुट्ठी ©️

August 11, 2020 Poems 0 Comments

The Importance of Original Content - तुम भी कुछ अच्छा लिख दो।

July 24, 2020 hindi poetry , poetry 0 Comments

बहुत उमदा कह गए थे मिर्ज़ा ग़ालिब,

कबीर, Gibran और सभी।

तुम भी खुद कुछ अपना ही लिख दो, 

तो मज़ा आ जाए.

बांध दो समा कभी,

अपने ही लिखे नज़्मों से. 

तो व्क्तो के चमन में भी 

कुछ नयी बहार आ जाए। 

मिल जाए सिला उन ढेरों

अनमने, से शब्दों को,

ब्रज की बोली,

हिंदी की बारहखड़ी, और 

उर्दू की उन भूली बिसरी सी आतिशों को

जो सदियों से बिसर गए,

की कोई कुछ नया तो लिखे. 

कोई तो अनजान आवाज़ उन्हें भी बया करे.

--------written by Ekta Khetan------------

#DoNotPlagiarize

Who Killed Sushant Singh Rajput- Bullying, Depression, Lockdown Helplessness or Ambition?

June 17, 2020 Nation & Society 0 Comments

Amitabh Bachchan's Mirza is the Life of Gulabo Sitabo

June 12, 2020 Film Review 1 Comments

We often get bored seeing the same actor doing a similar kind of performance, mostly OTT in many films. No matter how legendary that actor is, the portrayal becomes cliche film after films and that is why we always appreciate a fresh face on the screen. 

Thankfully there are directors like Shoojit Sircar and actors like Amitabh Bachchan who successfully remodels the molds and brings more freshness to the screen and the subject. Gulabo Sitabo is one such film that makes you empathize with the antagonist and an antagonist like Mirza is beyond the most illuminating legends that we have seen on the silver screen.

And if Gulabo Sitabo works, it solely works on Mirza's however hunched shoulders. A power full performance, and an immortal character after the Geet in Jab We Met!

Unlike Geet, Mirza is selfish, always scheming, the emotionless person whose sole aim in life is to hold the heritage Haveli [however dilapidated it was] that he was living in and for which he married a woman 17 years older to his age. Unlike any Lucknow based stories, there is no romance, no Shayari in this story. The only unsaid romance is between Mirza and his need for money. The Haveli is just a medium that Mirza does not think twice before surrendering it in front of the shrewd builder. Who will rescue this centenary Razia of Haveli from the ceremonial goons is the subject and love your Begum above your haveli is the crux of the film. However, there are many real-life, hard-hitting truths inside. The reality of inveterate tenants trying to usurp a property, the ever landlord-tenant rent war, the harsh truth of government claims over so-called heritage properties in-country, and the undervalued antics sold at larger than life price labels. 

Gulabo Sitabo, from the title to many elements are at the right place, with the right heart. 

What disappoints is the screenplay that starts on high point yet starts dragging in the middle of the film, till the end. The end is tragic. You may call it- tragicomedy as you see the plot slipping away from the protagonist's hands [quite literally], and they portray it well too. However, the story stops pacing well-enough to keep the interest intact. Somewhere it loses the steam and your viewing experience dropping down. 

The setting, the characters all are perfect including a great ensemble of actors like ever-charming Ayushman Khurana, Powerhouse performers Vijayraj, and Brajendra Kalra, the amazing Farrukh Jafar, crispy Shristy Shrivastava, and even Purnima Sharma who played scissor tongued Fauzia. 

The cast is endearing, subtle, and perfect to the characters they played. Thankfully no OTT appearance of any celeb and no item songs. 

Like I said my biggest favorite was the otherwise unscrupulous, single-minded, as wicked as he can get Mirza. The portrayal was less verbal and more powerful that instead of sneering at his silly acts, you find them silly and amusing. He makes the greedy acts look justified and you end up empathizing with him. 

The movie is a good reckoner of exploitation in society without bringing any religious or cultural or cinematic undertone anywhere. I think after the splendid film- October, I was highly looking upon this film [umm I love the way the title rings up] and was ecstatic to see it released on Prime Video amidst the depressing COVID. I think Tragic-comedy is not the genre that we are prepared to see at such times and maybe that's why the film bordered on slight disappointment. 

The disappointment lied in the expectation. Like Gulabo-Sitabo [a traditional puppet show where two women constantly bicker over each other], you wanted to see the two characters- Banke and Mirza's bickering and one-upmanship over each other, which they do as well. However, adding too many angles caused few non-seamless wrinkles affecting the overall experience. Nevertheless, on a scale of 5, the movie with all its heart at the right places and a fabulous Mirza deserves 4/5.

How come? The screenplay may have faltered at some point but the overall story and that legendary Mirza claimed additional points for the portrayal indeed. Besides, the underlying message of older people, older heritages getting old and lonely is hard-hitting as always and reminds you of many injustices done to them in the name of archaeology, antics valuation, and more. The movie is also a farce on people who thinks themselves smarter than others.

A Special Mention to True to Life Portrayls and dialogues

The movie has some real heartwarming scenes and touching dialogues that I want you to experience first-hand. There are scenes that you cannot miss. Like the one where Mirza asks a street food hawker to calculate 12 X 2500, an amount suggested by his lawyer or the scene where he picks a packet from Bankey's flour mill, so real and spontaneous. One can go on and on in a review but best is that you see and feel the film on your own.

Let me know if you want this review to be in the Gulabo-Sitabo kinda mode? I will be happy to improvise this even as Mrs. Khanna for you.

Mrs Khanna who? Forgotten? Our Khanna Aunty from Three Idiots and Smart Device Fame :)

Cheers,

Numerounity

Ekta