After a long time, a post in the movie reviews category.
I like to think I have a good memory (Punjabis please skip the previous sentence), which is bad news for the individuals who recommended this movie. You do get an idea where I am headed, no ?
Sorry for the misleading title, but I don’t think the movie is really worth reviewing. It is jingoistic at best, and juvenile at worst.
The movie is basically a rehash of Nayak (the similarities extend to camera angles and shots too) with a middle class person being replaced by a Marathi middle class person. He is essentially fighting against corruption but replace villians by non-Marathi sounding caricatures, and you have a movie that is hyped up enough to make to the headlines for its subject and collections. It has the content of every bad Mahesh Manjrekar movie (whose only real great movie till date is Vaastav) and some pride funde thrown in to make the audience blind with pride so that they don’t see the trash they have just witnessed.
I would love to remake DDLJ with SRK and Kajol portraying a Marathi couple while Parmeet Sethi and Amrish Puri play a southie/northie/Bihari/bhaiyya. A proverbial laugh to the bank is imminent.
To be honest, I liked about three moments in the movie, and the first monologue of Mahesh Manjrekar as Shivajiraje. Yep, that is all.
While Marathi cinema is touching greater heights, it is quite sad that movies like these are hogging the limelight.
If you watch Marathi cinema and haven’t seen Dahavi F, I suggest you catch it. One of the finest I have seen during the resurrection of Marathi cinema. I usually do not miss any chance to plug Dahavi F. It also has some very good and simple music. Must watch.
P.S. : If you thought the movie was great, please share your thoughts.
WHAT????
By: mukta on July 14, 2009
at 1:10 am
@Mukta : Yes, and you are one of the above mentioned individuals.
By: Deepak Iyer on July 14, 2009
at 1:22 am
Seriously, WHAT??!!
By: mukta on July 14, 2009
at 1:33 am
@Mukta : Okay you really need to elaborate.
The movie is childish. Period. If it weren’t for some decent production values, I would put it with movies like Deshdrohi and Karzzz and Gunda.
By: Deepak Iyer on July 14, 2009
at 1:35 am
Seriously, WHATTT???
OK.
B prepared to hear some more on this…
By: mukta on July 14, 2009
at 1:46 am
@Mukta : Sure. Open for discussion. But atleast start one !
By: Deepak Iyer on July 14, 2009
at 1:47 am
Not now…Mumbai is drowing…so maybe after a few hours
By: mukta on July 14, 2009
at 1:56 am
*drowning…
By: mukta on July 14, 2009
at 1:56 am
@Mukta : Yes, if you are saving Mumbai, you should do that first.
More seriously, what exactly is drowning ? Or is it as bad as 2005 ?
By: Deepak Iyer on July 14, 2009
at 2:03 am
Yes, saving people in Office…
Expected to get worse..it being a high tide today…
already trains shut…
By: mukta on July 14, 2009
at 2:11 am
I guess you didnt get the subtle nuances in the acting. Hypothetically if he was suffering insults for just being a Maharasthrian, he took great inspiration from his forefathers
Apart from that, the movie is really funny with jokes like
“Ka ha pan chapter galla tumcha pustakat”
(people actually clapped for that )
his wife’s acting where she plays a typical almost illiterate middle class wife
Anyway, each to his own, but I really loved the movie because of the relations shown between all members in the family and some arousal of Maharashtrian patriotism.
Deepak, you are stupid.
By: manasi on July 14, 2009
at 5:15 am
@manasi : I concur with most of your views, especially the last line.
@Deepak : You just could not get the movie and plus you don’t HAVE to like it!!
By: anon on July 14, 2009
at 8:08 am
@Manasi : Glad someone started a debate. The acting is what is called as hamming. Want to see subtle nuances, see Sachin Khedekar in Astitva. That I would call acting.
Really funny, don’t know. But yes, the line that you mentioned was intelligent, I do not disagree with that. In fact, all the lines of Raiba were perfect.
Wife’s acting. Firstly, the character, actually, all characters were one dimensional. Relations, especially the one between father and daughter, was the only one that was good, others were again lame.
I will not debate the last line, I am sure you are right there.
@Anon : Of course, I do not have to like it. But I was reviewing a movie, not a theme. That should answer all further questions.
Like I said, I am saddened that it is this movie that is hogging the limelight, instead of all other good Marathi movies.
If the production values were slightly worse, this movie was basically in the category of Deshdrohi, Karzzz and Gunda. I am sorry if you disagree, you have every right to.
By: Deepak Iyer on July 14, 2009
at 8:34 am
You can’t compare a Black with a Hum Tum, right?
Yes, there might be many other Marathi Movies more deserving…Yet, this one takes the cake coz it talks about an issue that is boiling today…and in a nice way too…
Yes, the movie does go overboard in a few places…But then that’s done for the mass appeal…No Big Deal…
It promotes a very good idea. Let’s not forget that…
And Gunda?? Desh Drohi?? What an insult to this Flick !
By: Mukta on July 14, 2009
at 9:49 am
also, maybe you should list a few movies that have been made on similar lines…that comparison would be fair…
Let’s not compare the movie with any other marathi movie…
By: Mukta on July 14, 2009
at 9:56 am
@Mukta : I said *if* the production values were slightly worse.
And that is my point, it is sad that *this* movie is takes the cake.
To be honest, I think you might be confusing a theme and a movie. I reviewed the movie here, not the theme. The theme is the subject of another long discussion.
By: Deepak Iyer on July 14, 2009
at 9:57 am
@Mukta : Have you seen Deshdrohi ?
I do not understand your yardstick. How does comparing a movie with worse movies make a movie better ?
A movie should be viewed for what it is, a movie.
To give an analogy, would you argue that a bad dish at some hotel is still good because you compared it to the same dish at other places and all were bad ?
By: Deepak Iyer on July 14, 2009
at 10:00 am
nope, i haven’t seen deshdrohi…not karzz or gunda either…
since you have made up your mind, no point selling the movie to you…
all i can say is – i liked the movie
with all the masala, a lil over the top climax, etc etc.. i still found some good dialogues, acting and subtle nuances which made the movie a hit for me…
By: mukta on July 14, 2009
at 7:20 pm
@Mukta : Fair enough that you liked it.
As long as you don’t say it is a good movie [:)]
By: Deepak Iyer on July 14, 2009
at 7:22 pm
Dude every movie has its audience. I saw the movie on the first weekend in vile parle east(large marathi working class living in that area). I mean you should have seen the movie in a packed hall.
Acting wise i dont want to get into the details. I also believe that its not that good.
But there were plenty of +ve take aways for that movie.
1. The message Shivaji gives “South Indians / North Indians and gujjus have not buried you. You have not done any thing and hence you are down.” Now thats a very important message that Shivaji is giving.
2. The audience for whom the movie was meant loved that. They could escape the harsh reality of every day life (mumbai life) and immerse themselves into the charaters of the movie. (Thats what i assume happened in the packed hall)
3.The timing of the movie. Bang before the elections. AND it worked for one party.
People have different views on the movie. and i have discussed this with one of my friend (who has participated in purshottam and all. He also has similar views as yours). All i want to say is that as long as the picture serves its purpose its good.
By: aditya on July 15, 2009
at 2:35 am
btw i also had problems going home yesterday !!!
thanks to the rain.
By: aditya on July 15, 2009
at 2:36 am
@Aditya :
1. I mentioned this monologue. But later on in the movie, this message was lost.
2. Again, I was just reviewing the movie for what it is, I am not predicting like Taran Adarsh if it will be a hit, or if it will connect. In fact, I am sure such movies will connect. I am just saying bad movies connecting is worse than a good movie with the same message connecting. Coz bad movies are usually impractical and send some wrong signals.
3. Timing, perfect. But basically this movie is against corruption, wish people saw through that.
I am sure most people who can impartially review a movie, would agree that it was a bad movie. I spoke to a friend who has very strong views on the immigrant issue (supportive of the MNS) and I was quite happy to hear that even he thought the movie was bad, and overhyped. So it didn’t connect with atleast one person it should have easily connected to. That says a lot.
Oh .. you are in Mumbai too ? I guess I forgot [:)]
By: Deepak Iyer on July 15, 2009
at 2:42 am
well again likig a movie is a personal opinion !!! and u should not base a generic judgement on that.
By: aditya on July 15, 2009
at 2:57 am
@Aditya : I do not get your point. I have reiterated that if you liked the movie, that is your choice, and you have a right to like it.
My problem is when someone says they liked it *and* it is a good movie. You have a right to say it is a good movie too, just that you need to thoroughly defend the statement, which no one can since it is a bad movie [:)]
By: Deepak Iyer on July 15, 2009
at 3:02 am
I never said i liked the movie … i said the movie was liked by the masses. that was my whole point.
By: aditya on July 15, 2009
at 4:10 am
@all
not to steer you off the point or anything;
but GUNDA is, like, a _GREAT_ movie. curses to anyone who thinks otherwise! we will defend Prabhuji to our last breath!
By: vedang on July 15, 2009
at 6:14 am
@Aditya : I think we are at tangential points. So we must lay the conversation to rest [:)].
@Vedang : Apologies if I implied that in any of the comment. I would not want to incur the wrath of Prabhuji since I am a faithful devotee too.
By: Deepak Iyer on July 15, 2009
at 8:30 am
A lil off topic from the discussion going above. Deepak i think u forgot to mention VASTUPURUSH. I havent seen many of marathi movies except few one which have Sonali Bendre
.. But indeed in the list of classy marathi movies Vastupurush should feature anytime. And i shud thank u for giving that movie from the large collection which we use to have in Codito days.. Its still a worth watch..
By: Atul on July 16, 2009
at 1:09 am
@Atul : Thanks for reminding, I need to see that movie, it’s been pending since a loong time now. Btw, Dahavi F is also by the same director duo.
By: Deepak Iyer on July 16, 2009
at 1:15 am
couple of marathi friends recommended this movie…now i’m confused
there is nothing worse than wasting 2.5hrs on a bad movie!
from your review, i get the feel that it is like a typical tamil movie(rajnikant movie) which is super hit but as bad as shit..am i right?
By: Vineet on July 16, 2009
at 7:30 pm
@Vineet : You are right. Rajnikanth movies are immensely entertaining with action and comedy, this is neither. It is like a cross between Nayak and Lage Raho Munnabhai. A bad one, at that.
By: Deepak Iyer on July 16, 2009
at 9:16 pm
@Deepak You have hurt my sentiments profusely. I think you should think thrice, before you… call ‘Gunda’ any names!
By: Pranav Peshwe on December 20, 2009
at 1:26 am
BTW, is there any way i can follow-up comments (of a single post) via email without writing a comment ?
By: Pranav Peshwe on December 20, 2009
at 1:28 am
@Deepak : I have apologized earlier in the comments for committing the sin of comparing it with Gunda. I don’t mind apologizing once again .. I shouldn’t have made that comparison.
About comments, not that I know of .. I could look it up though.
By: Deepak Iyer on December 20, 2009
at 2:11 am