Movie Analysis : Madras Cafe

Directed by : Shoojit Sircar
Imdb link -> http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2855648/


Superbly shot and edited political thriller, with few weak points

Read at your own risk, the post is full of spoilers... 


You direct very well, edit very well, shoot it very well... but you make mistakes in the way you narrate it out to the audience and there you mess it up. Madras Cafe works for me so much, yet the fact that Vikram (John Abrahim) narrates the story to a father from the start doesn't gel with me at all.

For people like me (I am sure there will be), who didn't knew a thing about Rajiv Gandhi's assassination, I just didn't want to know in the first conversation scene itself that Vikram failed to save his life. I know most of our films have happy endings, this one doesn't have it.. so that could be one reason why director wanted to take confidence of audience that what the film will be heading to. And other reason would ofcourse be, that he expected most of the audience to know how Rajiv Gandhi was killed and the film will not try to develop thrilling moments for that.

But my question is, if they started the story right from the developments of Tamil Sri Lankans and LTF, with voiceover of John (not narrating to the father, but to the audience), and then taken it to the right end. Then, there was a chance of that feeling coming 'kya pata bach jaaye', who knows director opted for new ending, who knows its not totally realistic depiction. That suspense factor director missed out.

Plus, the final beautiful lines of Rabindranath Tagore looked awkward the way they were shown. Instead of it, should had kept visuals with silent background score, and the lines said  over it.. it would had made it look much better.

Despite all the mentioned problems I had with the film, what I loved was Shoojit's direction, and the editing. The editing was so tight, and it didn't allow you to remain with a latest proceeding, immediately shifting to next one. That made 1st half to certain extent confusing, which is commendable work. The fast cuts allowed the thrill element sneak in at various parts, be in 1st half or the finale of 2nd half. Good background score used too, be it the south song (I dont know which it was) used when Vikram goes to Jaffna for 1st time, or that theme which is used frequently  when something big is about to happen. I like how they showed the assassination day too, the whole effect of pre-blast, and post-blast was superb. And I am saying that when I knew (or was allowed to know) that he will die now.

The conversations between Jaya (Nargis Fakhri) and anyone else she talks with in entire film, appeared very wierd, for the simple reason that she talks in english and other person replies in hindi. What Shoojit should had done is kept the entire conversation in English or let Nargis speak few words in hindi.  He tried to keep it very realistic and not compromise on using dub for her, but this way he made those scenes look slightly awkward to say the least.

The tension built right from the moment the flashback begins till the assassination day had no scope of a song at all. So, its good to see Shoojit didn't bow down to the demand of entertainment seeking audience forcing song into narrative.

Regarding how accurate the facts are in the movie, I would say Shoojit has fictionalised it in various ways. Most facts are right, and some aren't shown probably citing the risk of film not getting released. Therefore blaming the director or writer for not including various portions associated with the event would be bad. In any case, its not a Rajiv Gandhi biopic, it just involves his character, and that main day when his assassination happened, thats about it.

Among Performances, John Abrahim does pretty well in the main plot where he plays the officer. Only place he looks out of sort is the scenes with father in church. Nargis Fakhri did fair work, leaving asides the hindi dialogue problem. Her expressions and body language playing the reporter was bang on.

The supporting cast was very new, and it kind of reminded me of Kahaani. New cast and so effective as well as powerful performances. Prakash Belawadi and Siddhartha Basu were the pick of them, probably the reason their close up shots look so good too. Would love to see more of them in future films.


Overall, Madras Cafe is a very good political thriller.. it does have its lows but doesn't effect the main impact of the plot. Plus, some good performances from the starcast. It had in it to be India's Argo as John said once in interview, but I would say it missed out on that by some margin.


Verdict : VERY GOOD


P.S : If you are going to watch this film for entertainment value, please stay away  and watch the stupid Chennai Express once again instead. Madras Cafe is only for quality and intelligent movie lovers.

Movie Analysis : The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

Directed  by : Sergio Leone
Imdb link -> http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0060196/

Long but very engaging and brilliant in all aspects.

The Ugly : God is with us, because he hates the Yanks too.
The Good : God's not on our side, because he hates idiots also.

The opening credits begin with that splendid background piece that has been thereafter used in numerous hindi films. Its very much like Pulp Fiction, only difference being that here no scene comes before credits. The theme is used many times in narrative, though I felt it was over-used but I didnt mind it as I like the theme very much.

The pace of movie is slow, so much that it takes almost 10 mins before a character says a dialogue. All 3 characters are introduced in reverse order of the title, The Ugly (Tuco) played by Eli Wallach, The Bad (Angel Eyes) played by Lee Van Cleef and The Good (Blondie) played by Clint Eastwood.  All have dramatic starts and ends to their sequences. I loved, 'The Bad' one specially, as it had slightly longer suspense drama.

The story is about finding the gold buried under a cemetary about which only a certain Bill Carson (Antonio Casale) knows. The Bad is after it, while The Good and The Ugly get invovled into the race out of nowhere.

The scenes between The Good and The Ugly provide excellent humour, specially Eli Wallach who seeks revenge from Blondie for betraying him. But he always ends up getting himself in trouble, and Blondie too later. That scene where Tuco makes Blondie walk across desert was superbly shot. Also, the makeup work done on Blondie, it was hard to see his face with those closeup shots.

My personal fav scene is when Tuco has to suddenly change his tone with Blondie, 'You are my friend, dont die, dont die'. That one where Tuco goes to buy pistol, full comical scene. Or when Tuco thinks the horses coming aren't enemies, and he would say hello and go away.. the look on his face when the officer's uniform turns from gray to blue.  That final scene when all three have to earn the gold, its superbly cut and intentionally lengthened with wide shots to mid shots to extreme close up. I actually guessed wrong as to what would be the outcome of that sequence. And the final dialogue of Tuco to Blondie, a abuse inspite of what he did for him.. just to live upto his name 'The Ugly'.

And I loved the end too, the director very well justified the titles given to all the 3 characters, their fate was similar to it. He creates the drama, with Blondie knowing half the secret about gold, and Tuco other half.. as a result both can't kill each other. That scene where Angel Eyes says that isn't 3 the perfect number, just a giveaway to where the final sequence will lead to.. as other people gonna get eliminated. The last scene where as viewer we watch what is going to happen with Tuco as he looks for help from Blondie, again drama built by extending the time to the scene.

Also, the small plot where Tuco and Blondie again land into a unknown territory thanks to Tuco mainly.. was very well put into the narrative leading to the climax of gold in cemetary.

All three main leads did great work, though Eli Wallach was my pick of the three as he would bring a light humour in almost every scene involving him. Also, Clint Eastwood was excellent, love the scene where he asks Tuco to bring his ear closer as he spills water over him saying my friend will take good care of me. Lee Van has the lesser screen time of them I guess, though he creates his bad image right from first murder he does, or the music scene where he beats Tuco.

Cinematography is excellent, also the camera angles.. for instance when Tuco runs around the cemetary, all his pov shots were well cut with other angles.



Overall, I completely enjoyed the movie, great performances and technically without any flaws. Yes, its nearly 3 hr long but do you mind watching a long movie with all those merits, I doubt so.

Movie Analysis : Once upon a time in Mumbaai Dobaara

Directed by : Milan Luthria
Imdb link -> http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1891884/

Akshay's superb Villianeous act makes this a very good watch.

Read at your own risk, post is full of spoilers. 


Having loved the 1st part, the expectations were high. I wasn't quite happy when through trailers I came to know that this part will be more on tried and tested formula of love triangle, and not on underworld. But I knew there will be great punchlines and the setting of 80s to cover up for it.

To replace Ajay and Emraan wasn't going to be easy, while Akshay very much lived upto the standard of the role, Imran failed miserably which was quite expected.

I like the screenplay, despite being a love triangle.. they presented it in such a style that I kept interested in it till the right end. I enjoyed 1st half more, mainly because the love triangle comes into existence during 2nd half. Some great punchlines written by Rajat Arora. Yes at places, its overdone but I found that in the first part too. Only dialogue I didn't like was when Jasmine (Sonakshi Sinha) shoots for a movie, and her director tells her that a guy can never differentiate between love and friendship. Thora generalisation jyada ho gaya. And that one where Shoaib says 'villain hoon main', there was no need to mention it.

The climax had a surprise element in it, and I didn't mind it. But I would had preferred Shoiab (Akshay Kumar) not getting hit by 2nd bullet. I am assuming that they have killed Shoaib character, though close up shot of him dead wasn't shown. I hope that's not the case. To be frank, I would had loved something else in the finale, like Shoaib escaping alive and enjoying.. that final frame of 1st part with Emraan far away from Mumbai at a place safe and full of power. I missed that in this finale, when he says 'Jis tarah jeet li mumbai dobara, jasmine ko bhi jeet lunga'.. it didnt give any strong impact because his enemy Mahesh Manjerakar was not powerful at all.

Milan Luthria has shot the film very well, once again giving the 80's touch.. I didnt like Taiyyab ali song audio wise, but the way its shot.. I enjoyed watching it. Also, the idea of keeping Akshay mostly wearing a goggle was very good one, gave a added meaner touch to his character. The shots of foot of a person walking in anger, a famous person coming out of car in style looking at gathered public, and the extreme close up shots of Akshay during start of the movie.. was all very well done. Manish Malhotra's costumes were great as always, colorful to Aslam, while Shoaib mostly in blazers or shirts, and Sonakshi mostly in suits though she sneaked in a dreamy sequence wearing her favourite sarees.  She actually looked very beautiful in the suits.

My favourite moments were, when Aslam (Imran Khan) meets Shoaib for first time, mainly for my fav background score that comes, and then the cricket scene only for the bg and style of Akshay again otherwise the actors playing the commentator were over-acting.  Police-Shoaib/Imran chase scene. The interval sequence where Shoaib tells what he would do to Aslam in the end of movie. The scene where Shoaib says 'shoaib toh pyar bhi pyar se nahi karta'. And the way Shoaib kills his main enemy in pre-climax. The parallel cut of Aslam's talks to Jasmine in hospital to Shoaib's gang spreading fake news about Aslam-Jasmine, and later cut to Shoaib thinking what he would be saying to Jasmine.. reminding of similar sequence in 1st part. Special mention to the scene where Shoaib enters police station and leaves.. though very un-real, it was cinematically awesome to watch it.

Special Mention to the scene where Jasmine says 'bas dua mein yaad rakhna', and Shoaib goes into the memory of Sultan with the shot of Ajay Devgan shown. It was super, and also I thought the opening credits could had shown 1st part highlights in fast forward with background theme running, that way they would had included Emraan Hashmi too.

Music was a dissappointment, I specially missed a 'Parda' kind of enegertic cabaret track. The only song I loved was Bismillah, which was only for the voice of Anupam Amod, otherwise it was a decent track only.. and it was used badly in narrative too.

The background score however was brilliant once again, they kept main one absolutely same like in 1st part while there was another theme they used from 1st part that comes when Mumtaz's first scene is shown. And the new theme they used just in this movie was right at beginning in the bike chase, that theme is later used at few other places too. My fav remains the main theme, but I loved other too. For me, along with Akshay and Sonakshi, it was background score that kept me happy.

Akshay Kumar is tailor made for these kinda of roles, the way he walks, his mannerisms or the dialogue delivery.. he brought additional style into the character, more of a extension to what Emraan had done to the character in the final portions of 1st movie. Only 2-3 places, he hammed but that's very much neglectable. I specially loved the scene where he gets angry at one of his person Jimmy 'Ghanta, ghanta tere haath mein tha.... hass rahi hai mumbai, ki ghanta shoaib raaj karega mumbai par'.  Also, the pre-climax portion where he wants to finish off Aslam (Imran Khan).

Imran Khan looks good in the romantic portions, but in gangster part.. he looked uncomfortable and out of sorts. For instance, that scene where he shows anger at his friend Dedh Taang (Pitobash) for betraying Shoaib, how badly he acted there when Pitobash on other hand was bang on with his part.

Sonakshi Sinha was superb, I would like to say that this was her best role among all the masala movies she had done till now. This one gave her ample scope to even shine in a masala movie, though Lootera can't be surpassed. Her first conversation with Shoaib is hillarious, then the way she calls her at awards party or the dumb innocence at inter-course word, and also the adjustment of her voice at places, be it when she says to shoaib 'baatein bhi acchi kar lete ho' or when she accuses him 'tumse bura aadmi maine kabhi nahi dekha'. The cuteness on her face when she says to Aslam 'main logon se milti hoon, ginti nahi hoon'. I think she could enter my league of favourite actresses, if she keeps doing these kind of good roles, always felt she had talent unlike the socialite people who find ways of speaking crap on her looks. Acting matters boss, and she has it in her.


Pitobash was superb in supporting role, love that dialogue involving him 'ladki jab roti hai toh bahut reasons hote hai, par ladka roye toh reason ladki hi hoti hai'.

Sonali Bendre gets 2-3 scenes only in the movie, but I liked them, for it showed the matured relation Shoaib-Mumtaz shared with each other.

Chetan Hansraj was hamming to the core, totally miscast. So was Sophie Chowdhary, but she looked smashing hot in that black saree.

Vidya Malvade is wasted in small role. Mahesh Manjerkar is fine, loved his 'No tension' dialogues a lot, and those 'ha ha' after every dialogue.  Abhimanyu Shekhar gets wasted too, unlike Randeep Hooda in 1st part.. he doesn't get good enough screen time. If he got it, he would had done well..

Vidya Balan gets a nice special apperance.

Mushtaq Khan, Hussain Shaikh and Sarfaraz Khan do well in supporting roles.


Overall, Once upon a time in Mumbaai Dobara works only due to Akshay's villianeous act, Sonakshi's great contribution and excellent background score. For me 1st part is still better than this one.. but I can watch this one again and again for the mentioned reasons.


Verdict : NICE

Movie Analysis : Before Sunset

Directed by : Richard Linklater
Imdb link -> http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0381681/

This one is less romantic, and takes more of a realistic way.. still full of engaging conversations.

When you are young, you just believe there will be many people with whom you will connect with. Later in life, you realize it only happens a few times. 


Before Sunrise ended with a montage of all the places where Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Celine (Julie Delpy) went to in Vienna, and a soft background piece runs with it. Did they meet after 6 months or not, was the question left unanswered...

Richard this time puts the montage right at beginning, showing us all the places both Jesse and Celine are going to walk around, with a fitting background song. Jesse is in Paris for the reading of his book which is about that one night with Celine in Vienna. Just as he is answering questions of press, suddenly appears a smiling woman standing beside the door, i.e Celine .. and they both happen to meet finally after 9 years which in their conversation later they reveal that they didnt meet as planned.

Unlike the 1st part, what I found missing in this film was the romance. By that I don't mean that Jesse and Celine didn't look like a good couple. But, now their weak points came out much more (I will talk more about it in Before Midnight post). Like Celine asking if her looks changed, Jesse honestly answered and Celine little, just a little freaked out. Or when Jesse told the world aint a mess, how Celine gets hyper to claim what she said was right. Then, there's the car scene where she lets all her anger out and almost accuses Jesse that her current suffering or whatever life she lives now is only due to him for giving her that one romantic night she couldn't forget.

I have no problems with the behaviour Celine shows, only thing is that this made her look slightly vulnerable and less lovable. She mentions how many relationships she has been through, and mentally it took a lot out of her.. maybe that brought such a change. Interesting to note is that scene where Jesse says that he loves her company still despite all the anger and maniac kind of woman she has become now. He's happy to be around her however she has changed in those 9 years.. just doesn't matter to him. Maybe director could had changed something about Jesse character too, if you compare both characters in two films, Jesse would still appear the same.. atleast thats how it looked to me.

Also, the conversations are at times regular and non-interesting topics. Like the social life Celine talks about. I missed those astrological, guy saying poem, phone game, q&a.. In short, this one had no scope for all that. As the characters have matured, changed and have their own partners. That made it look realistic and take away that touch, which comes in only one frame and it was the last one where Jesse is looking at Celine closely sitting at a couch, she is dancing and saying 'baby, you are going to miss the plane'. She isn't warning her, she is telling her you will miss it for me, and Jesse too answers 'I know, I will not go'. He was never interested to leave, he just wanted to be there with her, finding excuses to travel, take ship trip, asking to drop her or listen to her song. He even refers to it when he asks Celine 'He knows where he's going ?', Celine says 'Yes' and he says 'Glad, somebody does'.  He isn't sure while all those conversations are going that what he is about to do would be right, because he is married and has a son.. but he knows he lives a unhappy married life.

Another problem for me was the runtime, it ends too sooner. 117 mins is too short, why didnt they made it atleast of similar time as last if not long. The impact is still there, but its like when you watch something nice you want it to not end too quickly. I would had prefered this ending only though, its left to viewers to decide just like Jesse says in beginning.. if you are romantic you would say he didn't take flight, a cynic,then he took flight and if confused then you are asking it to me. I guess I am the romantic one.

For me the best moments of the film were, when Jesse is narrating what his new book could be about in the reading, he is telling about the person who is in both the moments, and just then Celine appears at the book store. Its like director wanted to use that new book story as reference to Jesse and Celine. Also, how Jesse lies to Celine at first, that he also didn't show up 6 months later at Vienna. The conversation about memories, love, breakup, dreams.. were very meaningful like 1st part. Also, at many places Jesse is looking right at her when she's not talking. And that moment is chosen in this film too where there's a long silence after Celine says something too deep, its the scene where they are on ship and she tells that she likes to see little details in the people, and she misses them the most later.


If given a choice, I would prefer to see Before Sunrise over Before Sunset.. it sounds wierd coming from me. I usually opt to watch realistic romantic movies, this one is very realistic but that romance of Before Sunrise just isn't there. Or maybe after 5-10 years, my choice may change..  Before Sunset is still a very good movie, but less romantic for me.

Trailer : Lunchbox

Superb trailer. The tagline 'Can you fall in love with someone you haven't met' reminded of Sirf Tum. But this one looks more mature, upto the point without melodrama and the means through Lunchbox makes it very different. I am keen to watch what happens when Irrfan and Nimrat meet.

Nawazuddin appears to be in a supporting role this time.  Seems to be another Irrfan performance that I may love. Love that scene where he wonders what to do with the letter Nawazuddin finds in lunchbox and then in end he puts it in his pocket..

Hope the film lives upto the standard of this trailer. But for a change english dialogues didn't turn me off in a indian movie.

Dil gira dafatan - Delhi6

Sung by : Ash King and Chinmayee

As much I love 'Rehna Tu' song from the album, I more often than not end up listening this song too whenever I get a chance. I don't know if its right to call it a unknown gem, rahman lovers probably would know this song and love it too. Still, unlike Masakalli or the religious track or kaala bandar, this one went very much unnoticed.  Though, it was used well in the movie by Rakesh Om prakash Mehra.

Its my most loved song of Ash King till date. The song makes me travel through a heart that loves someone but that person can't see the love.



Dil mera... dil mera
dil meraaaa... dil meraaaaaaaa

Aaa aaa Ooo .. dil mera, dil mera...

Dil gira kahin par dafatan
dil gira kahin par dafatan
jaane magar yeh naiyyan
teri khamosh zulfon ki gehraaiyaaan
hai jahaan dil meraa
uljha hua hai wahin kho gaya
tu magar hai bekhabar, hai bekhabar...

Dil gira kahin par dafatan
kyun goonj rahi hai dhadkan ..
jaane magar yeh naiyyan


Sipiyon ke honth se moti chalak rahe hai
ghazlon ki sohbat mein geet bhi behak rahi hai
samundar lehron ki, lehron ki chadar odh ke so raha hai
par main jaagun ek khumari, ek nasha saa
ek nasha sa ho raha hai
tu magar hai behakhar, hai bekhabar...


Dil gira kahin par dafatan
kyun goonj rahi hai dhadkan...
Jaane magar yeh naiyyan
khushboo mein lipte mausam
Teri khamosh zulfon ki gehraiyaaan
hai jahaan dil meraaa..
uljha hua hai wahin, kho gaya..
Tu magar hai bekhabar, hai bekhabar...

Motion Poster : Dhoom3

The first look looks very interesting. I hope this movie doesn't dissappoint me, unlike many other people I had loved Dhoom2 and ofcourse Dhoom too. Aamir-Katrina pair is something to watch for. Expecting trailer with Shuddh Desi Romance probably.