Movie Analysis : Grand Masti

Directed by : Indra Kumar
Imdb link -> http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2476154/


Treat women like objects, lots of vulgarity, double meaning dialogues = Fucking intolerable movie.

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

Same story, treat women as objects and use plenty of Double meaning dialogues with vulgar scenes.
Adult comedies is something our writers haven't understood and may not either with the success of this terrible movie because a successful film makes a film-maker and the people associated with it totally blind, they don't see how wrong they were, nor can you make them see.

You don't need to treat women as objects to create sexual situations, and the jokes shouldn't be limited to same A,B,C,D. But here, only that is what happens, and our audience (masala audience) accepts it, laughs with it and comes out of hall saying 'paisa vasool' (i heard a guy say this at interval even).

They start directly by making the three male leads teach younger batches of students at college what real meaning of A, B, C, D is. In short tell the audience, what kind of sex comedy they have come to witness.

The dialogues are plain vulgar, and so are the scenes. A woman coming to clinic of Amar (Riteish Deshmukh) asking for medicine to stop pregnancy, and when Amar gives a condom, she asks 'isse doodh ke saath lun ya paani ke saath',  and the scene where Prem (Aftab Shivdasani) tells the person to write 'm or f' for sex in form, not how many times to do sex. These were probably only two scenes where I managed to laugh, in the rest film I had a straight face while all the loud laughs in the housefull show kept coming to my ears.

They make a teacher dress up like a bombshell, and play with herself in open ground. They make girls of college dress like sluts, oh I forgot to mention the short form of the college is Sluts, how creative.  They even create comedy in a robbery making a hot looking girl seduce Prem, so that he could touch the red warning signal through..

They keep a dog scene, meow scene to bring additional sex humour. Then there are sms jokes, 'utho mera pati aa gaya scene' or 'robbery scene, maine nahi dekha par meri biwi ne dekha hai'. Seriously, you as a writer came up with this ?

The names of three girls, Rose, Mary, Marlow.. if you read it together, you would know what I or the director or the writer wanted to say. And they made sure that a character keeps saying those names together again and again, aakhir hasaana hai audience ko, jo hasti hi hai aise cheezo par.

Then , there's a gay sequence too in the film. To end this misery, they form a situation where three girls (those 3 names) have to save life of 4-5 guys who are stuck on the terrace and cant come up. There is no rope, so they remove their clothes to make a rope. I am dead sure, none of the actor, director or the writer would have felt that this is a vulgar scene they are keeping while shooting. They just don't know what is vulgar. Having a dialogue 'balatkaar se yaad aaya, meri biwi kahan hai' doesn't make them think bad. Then what else will.

There's just no fucking story in this film, neither did I expected one when I entered the hall. Among songs, only 'Main bhi mood mein' song was good enough to watch.

While, another thing to note was how quickly all 3 characters here accept their mistakes. I remember in Masti, which I have seen only in parts, they kept lots of scenes, with the famous song 'dil de diya hai'.. how well that was done, and how poorly its done in this film.

Among performances, Aftab shines the most specially when he makes those wierd expressions or when he would think of ideas. Can't even say about anything about any actress, it was total skin show, who did best in that ?

Now I even don't know if I would like to watch Masti, which I till date haven't seen fully, just in parts. Pata nahi full movie iss crap jaisi na ho.

I knew from the trailer itself, how the movie would be. But, only for the reason that I watch majority of A grade films, I didn't miss this one too.

If Vulgarity  + Double Meaning dialogues = Adult Comedy for you, then watch the film and love it like many of the aam janta are doing, i.e tell me you got bad taste.



Grand Masti was the terrible movie I saw this year, and if I was still into giving stars to movies then I would also had given this film a big zero like many other critics have done.


Verdict : FUCKING INTOLERABLE

Movie Analysis : Shuddh Desi Romance

Directed by : Maneesh Sharma
Imdb link -> http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2988272/


Different kind of hindi romantic movie, very real and entertaining. 

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


Maneesh Sharma (director) teams up with story writer Jaideep Sahni, and gives a film that talks about relationships in different way. The movie is set in Jaipur, where Raghu (Sushant Singh Rajput) is about to marry Tara (Vaani Kapoor), a girl he met and approved of marriage. But on his baraat bus, he realizes he isn't ready to marry yet, and he explains his story to Gayatri (Parineeti Chopra). So, he decides to run away from his marriage, leaving Tara waiting.

In normal movies, if a guy cheats and leaves girl on marriage day, she would cry or feel betrayed (which to certain extent she still does), but Maneesh presented it in restrained way adding humour touch with a person among the baraat saying 'main karne ko tyaar hoon shaadi' and thenTara asking for 'ek coca cola milega'. Her logic of thanda is revealed at pre-climax.

Raghu is always confused as he isn't sure what his heart wants thereby implying through the dialogue 'mera apne dil pe control nahi hai, jiska dil pe control nahi hota, uska life pe bhi control nahi hota'. He runs away from marriage, thinking it would end his free life (which isn't really told but that's what I decipher). On other hand, Gayatri has been in as many as 11 relationships, and she is emotionally drained out of word 'love', thereby she runs away from marriage too. We aren't shown the back stories of any of those 11 relationships, so its upto us to assume whether she was the right person in those relations or the wrong or she had both kinds.

Upto the point she agrees to marry Raghu, she was very lovable. Then, the question comes in mind, why did she run or do the same mistake Raghu already did in front of her ? I say this because among the two, she was dominating and had control over him. Most importantly, she came across as a mature girl. She could had just said, I am happy like this just like earlier she said 'love ka khayali pulaav taste karke paka ke chorh diya hai'. Did it show that despite those 11 relationships, she was still vulnerable like that moment when she breaksdown asking Raghu to leave her place as he isn't worth trusting. But if that was the case, there was a need of some proper mention of her past life.

Then, the way she is re-introduced in 2nd half to alter the plot of movie wasn't well done either. I liked the end given to her character though.

Same way Tara is lovable until she is keen to take revenge, but when she goes into a relation with Raghu, guy who left her on her marriage, it looks odd specially when she has spent some time with him and known that he won't change. But then, Tara is probably taking a chance.

There are lots of complications in both the relationships shown. Personally, I liked Raghu-Gayatri much more, that was one of reasons why I didn't like Gayatri leaving Raghu.

Jaideep Sahni's dialogue writing is superb, the story I feel in latter parts of 2nd half goes weak specially when all 3 characters face off in a marriage. Just like Raghu, as a viewer you get that awkward feeling, as to what the  destiny would be now.

The songs gel very well the film. As I expected, 'Chanchal Mann' comes in starting credits with Namrata Rao's editing covering up the city of Jaipur beautifully, love that monkey shot specially among all the other montages used.  Small version of this song is aptly used later in the movie again. My fav ofcourse is 'Gulabi', its very romantic and colourful.. and choreographed well too. Those slow motion frames were highlights of this song.

Performances wise, for me Sushant takes away all praises, he had the longer screen time that works in his favour, and the way he handles a guy who is romantic yet behaves like childlike, his expressions during each of the three marriage sequences were hillarious. Also the drunk scene, and his 'kya hai' dialogue. After Kai Po Che, he had set a benchmark for himself, and he lived upto that standard very well. Watch that scene where she brings Coca Cola for Tara in the marriage, and returns to see she is sitting with his ex Gayatri, he finds himself in a awkward situation with 'bachna ae haseeno' running in background forming a total opposite tone. That was one of my very fav scene in the film.

Parineeti is once again fantastic, its hard to find flaws in her acting career till now. That awkard kiss scene in bus, or the conversation with Raghu over coffee table, and the constant dissapproval followed by approval at Raghu's demands.

Vaani Kapoor looked so confident in her debut role, plus that smile she got. I was already in love with her voice, her character is weaker amongst all for me but her performance was quite much on level with other two leads.

Rishi Kapoor delivers very good supporting role, special mention to that scene where he actually gets worried about his marriage business when Raghu tells him something about it.


Overall, Shuddh Desi Romance despite all the weaknesses in the script, still ends up as a much enjoyed entertainer (in true sense). It had in it to be a classic I would say, but just fails to be one. In any case, its definately a movie I would like to re-watch inspite of the problems I have with this film.


Verdict : VERY GOOD

Movie Analysis : Phata Poster Nikhla Hero

Directed by : Raj Kumar Santoshi
Imdb link ->http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2615584


One more attempt of 'Andaz Apna Apna' kind comedy, Result = Fail 

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

Vishwas Rao (Shahid Kapur) wants to be a famous actor since his childhood, while his mother wants him to become an honest police officer. He grows up, and gets a chance to go to Mumbai for police interview, but his intentions to become actor increase too. A shopkeeper's mistake lands his photo as police officer, and now he has to build lies after lies to live a dual life. But when his mother will come to know about the truth, how will she cope, and what will be in his destiny, a police officer or a actor career ?


The story has been tried and tested, so the onus goes onto screenplay and the film disappoints there too. Raj Kumar Santoshi is too much in awe of his old films that he keeps trying to re-create that magic instead of trying something new. Like the end which reminds first of Andaz Apna Apna (when Shahid is asked his last wish) and then Ajab Prem ki Gazab Kahani (when Ileana runs around like Katrina did).

There's a Salman Khan special apperance scene too just like he did in last Santoshi film. This one has him talking about going to hear narration of Andaz Apna Apna sequel. It was among few of funny scenes in the movie.

Songs are good, but play stoppage act mostly in the narration, be it 'Main rang sharbaton ka' or Nargis item song 'Dhating Naach'. I was specially disappointed by the latter, would had instead preferred it at end credits. Nargis doesn't look comfortable in the item song but Shahid looks totally in form. Also, the dreamy song of Ileana and Shahid just ruins the flow of story. Only the song involving Shahid and his mother fits well.

Infact the director has built the film mainly on the plot of Shahid and his love for his mother in the movie, the story revolves much on it, rather than the romantic angle of Shahid and Ileana.

Shahid gives a decent enough performance but the script lets him down badly especially the 2nd half. His comic timing is bang on at most places. Love those scenes where he has to shift from actor to cop whenever Ileana makes a entry into the scene.

Ileana D'Cruz choose a wrong movie after Barfi to build on her career. She looks beautiful, but gets very little scope to perform.

Padmini Kolhapure does good work.  Among Supporting cast, Darshan Jariwala makes an impression as always. Sanjay Mishra's first scene with Shahid in the movie is among the best of the film.


Overall, Phata Poster Nikla Hero suffers due to a predictable average story and screenplay. The performances alone fails to keep you interested till the end.


Verdict : BELOW AVERAGE

Movie Analysis : Zanjeer

Directed by : Apoorva Lakhia
Imdb link -> http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2357489/


This film will only give you headache, unless you got a different (bad) taste.

Read at your own risk, the post is full of spoilers. Also, if you are a die hard Ram Charan/Priyanka Chopra fan, avoid reading anything further. 

I haven't seen Amitabh starrer Zanjeer fully yet, only seen in parts and loved all of that. This version of Zanjeer by Apoorva Lakhia as a whole doesn't come anywhere near to those parts that I saw even, forget the whole movie.

When you start watching a movie, and you are just 5 mins into the movie that you realize what a big headache you have asked yourself to get into... its a sign how bad the movie is.

The opening credits begin with a awkwardly, wierdly shot guy/girl in zanjeer with minimum clothes and coal sprayed over the body.. one of the worst opening credits I ever saw. If that wasn't enough, now Apoorva wanted us to see the body of Vijay Khanna (Ram Charan) (thankfully not a slow motion scene) where he awakes to the childhood trauma of his parents death. Finally, Apoorva realizes there is a story to be told and the proceedings begin about how tough and angry Vijay is, making him being transferred 17 times to different places. The director keeps giving bad surprise after surprise, just when it seemed maybe something good happening, chalo ek good action scene aa raha.. he has put 'raghupati raghav rajaram' as the signature tune for Vijay.. what for ? What did you do in those 5-10 mins that went by to get the trust of the audience to such a extent that they would accept Vijay as something special..

When he reaches Mumbai as his next place being transferred to, we are greeted with two comic characters, named Amar and Prem.. who from first scene itself reveal how much they will be used to further irritate you.

Then move to next crap sequence, entry of Mala (Priyanka Chopra) who dances as a item girl at her facebook friend's marriage over those stupidly written lyrics. Okay, I admit for first time I loved something in the film, Priyanka was looking very good in that song. Also, from here on.. you are blessed with the entertaining dialogues from Mala. Though, time and again she will get on your nerves too.. but in comparison to other characters, she has atleast something decent to offer.

The villian, Teja (Prakash Raj) gets major or probably all the double meaning lines in the movie. Be it the chick n chicken comparison one, or the best of all 'Mona darling, apna muh sirf ek kaam ke liye hi khola karo'. If Ajit (villian of previous Zanjeer) was alive, he would had died laughing listening to such aweful dialogues written for his character. One good thing though about Prakash Raj character is, that he gets a better signature tune.

Mona (Mahile Gill) plays the seductress, and at times is asked to act like a cat with those 'meow' expressions. Like Really ?

The romantic track between Vijay and Mala comes across very weak too. And so does the friendship between Vijay and Sher Khan (Sanjay Dutt), which I thought  (yes I still was in some sort of small hope) would be atleast good. Sanjay Dutt does completely no justice to Pran.

The famous scene (among those parts I had seen in old zanjeer) where Sher Khan meets Vijay for first time and Vijay says that evergreen line 'jab tak baithne ko na kaha jaaye, sharafat se khade raho..yeh police station hai, tumhare baap ka ghar nahi'. Though before this scene arrives I had already accepted that Ram Charan is acting poorly, this scene gave a complete proof to my thought.. he maybe famous down south, but his acting was miserable in this movie, with fixed expressions. Not everyone can play angry young man role after all.

The fight sequence between Vijay and Sher Khan is also poorly directed. Few of funny scenes : A man before being burnt to death, takes photos of people who are illegally doing some work.. but our man is gutsy enough to stand in front of them and tell them that I am taking your photos, so you could quickly kill me. Then, Sher Khan and Vijay have a important conversation while playing Video games.

The songs were tolerable, Pinky was best though with those bad lyrics. Kaatilaana reminds of old Zanjeer song, has similar tune and lines at places. While the famous 'Yaari hai imaan mera' was replaced with new qawaali 'Khoche pathan ki zubaan'.. which no one will remember after 1 month itself. The FIR serial fame actress gets chance in another of the item songs in the movie, which is better picturised.

Background Score is extremely loud.

Among Supporting cast, Atul Kulkarni is decent, but then again its a poorly written character, and also his scenes give monotous feel after a while.


Overall,  Lakhia's Zanjeer adds to the list of movies like 'Ram Gopal Verma ki Aag', 'Jaani Dushman' etc which you ever come across on T.V, you quickly change the channel to save yourself from any kind of health issues. I had loved Apoorva Lakhia's work in Shootout at Lokhandwala and to certain extent Ek Ajnabee too.. but he seems to have lost the plot in his last two movies.

Another point I would make is, if any director wants to remake a old film, which I have time and again shouted isn't right way to go, make original film instead... But still if you are adamant to remake it, then atleast don't make fun of yourself by making such crappy nonsense stuff. How do these people during shooting not realize what they are in for.. so blind ? Even at scripting stage, this movie should had got re-worked properly.

This is 2nd masala movie I have badly hated, even more than Chennai Express. And I am sure there will be people who would praise this shit too, afterall aam janta wants entertainment even if its a fucking crap being sold in form of entertainment.

And don't give me the bullshit that this is not a remake, its just based on old Zanjeer plot. Even if I accept it, as original movie too this film remains among worst seen ever.


Verdict : AVOIDABLE

Teaser : Dhoom3

The much awaited teaser arrives. We get to see looks of all actors, specially Katrina who is looking hot. Abhishek not sporting beard like in Dhoom2 and then Uday on bike.

The voiceover of Aamir is brilliant, his confidence in voice and the look in his eyes try to tell how brilliant a thief he is going to be.. to catch.  I would have liked some more shots of Aamir when he says those dialogues, but probably the makers wanna reveal his shots slowly, playing to the anticipation of his lovers. Also, since the actor is Aamir playing the villian.. maybe they wanted to use his acting power more than the style in teaser.  The best part of teaser is, the voiceover of Aamir, that slow motion frame of Aamir riding bike over, and the final stunt scene. Also, I am already liking the new background theme they have kept for him, though I hope they use the old famous one enough in the film too.

One of best teasers ever,  I am gonna watch this teaser a lot until trailer comes, and they did live upto the standard a teaser should had.. a teaser should always make you impatiently wait for the trailer release.

Movie Analysis : The Prestige

Directed by : Christopher Nolan
Imdb link -> http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0482571/

Another of Nolan's masterpieces, thrilling and full of mysteries.

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


This film easily falls into the 'Memento' and 'Inception' category, because this one makes you think what happened there, did that character actually meant something else, what was the intention of that character, and did that really happen or it was just to fool the audience. Too many questions come up, and the only reason for that is a narrative that confuses you because you are so much involved in whats happening to the plot. You get almost no time to think except when the end credits roll.

Robert Angier (Hugh Jackman) and Alfred Borden (Christian Bale) work with illusionist Cutter (Michael Caine) who helps them in their acts for the magic show. One of those acts involves Angier's wife Julia (Piper Perabo) with her hands (tied by Alfred) and legs (tied by Angier) to go into a locked water tank and come out of it alive (through tricks). But, Alfred's mistake of putting wrong knot on her hand, takes her life away. Angier now seeks revenge from Alfred who has started his own show with help of a financer Fallon. How their rivalry affects the people around them, and what personal losses they both go through in this obsession.

Nolan uses non-linear narrative very effectively, making both Alfred and Angier read diaries of each other, narrated to us. The flashback is time and again mingled with the present.

When I watched the movie 1st time, I was totally engaged to the extent that I didn't care to check how much more is left, as I just didn't want it to end. I wanted to see the rivalry go on and on. Another point to note is that the secret of Alfred at 1st watch for me was that he has a split personality, specially the scene where he says to Olivia (Scarlett Johansson) that a part of him loved Sarah (Rebecca Hall) and the other part didnt. Just like he says same to Angier about the death of Julia.

Now, the 2nd watch when its known that the secret is he had a twin brother, Alfred (Freddie, one who dies) and Borden (who kills Angier). Hard to believe how well they change the look of the actors. It made the film even more interesting. It was time to look out for the scenes which involved Alfred and ones that had Borden. With Nolan as director, even knowing the secret doesn't help.. just like knowing the keyword for the cipher written diary wasnt enough for Angier. Because he just directs it skillfully leaving doubts and numerous possibilities.

Here's how I tried to decipher some of the key scenes of film ...

Whenever Sarah replied to 'I love you', if she felt it was true, it was a scene with Borden who loved her. And if she felt not true, it was Alfred who loved Olivia. Other clue Nolan gives is that Borden hates being called Freddie while Alfred likes it.. two occasions for it. Another is when Sarah says Mr Borden, and gets reply that its 'Alfred', and just when he leaves, she enters her room.. she finds Alfred inside, which was Borden.

The main difference in both characters of Alfred and Borden was, their nature. Borden was reserved, intelligent to crack the tricks of rival party, talks less, and probably didn't like too much of violence (just assuming, though its he who shots Angier or his clone to death in climax). While Alfred was short tempered (most of the loud fights involve him and not Borden), keen to take revenge from Angier.

I am again assuming that Julia was killed by Alfred, while Borden came to say sorry for it. And Angier shoots Alfred fingers (this one I am not fully sure), means Borden has to sacrifice his fingers later. This is in reference to the scene.. where Borden tells Angier 'this is total devotion to art, sacrifice'.. because Borden believed in it.  In another scene, Alfred tells the nephew of Sarah 'secret impresses no one, the trick you use it for is everything'.  Both Borden and Alfred followed these two principles throughout, which is why I loved these two scenes a lot.

That was one part of mystery in film, other is Angier's obsession of creating duplicates from the teleporter machine given by Tesla (David Bowie) Now I have to admit, this is the one that I feel like not giving importance, as its very difficult to tell whether the drowning or shot person was Angier or the duplicated Angier. And how did the conscious mind of original and the duplicated Angier work at the same time. Just like he says in the final dialogue, 'It took courage going into the machine, not knowing if I will be the one in the box or the prestige'. I read one interesting youtube comment of a guy, that holds true to Angier's and film's plot - the magic trick of bird where one of two brother's die, but no one knows whose turn it would be.. same was the case for Angier, he won't know if he will die or his clone.

Nolan even gives three characters their own magic tricks in the form of narration. Cutter does it to the girl of Borden, taking bird (Act1), hiding it (Act2) and bringing it back (Act3). Angier does it when he makes Alfred read his diary (Act1), upto the point where he goes into the machine and vanishes (Act2) and then he comes in front of him in the jail as Lord Cardlow (Act3). Alfred and Borden do it together, Alfred makes Borden's daughter look at the rubber ball (Act1), Alfred before being hanged says the magic word 'Abracadabra' (only time its shown in movie, but at a perfect time), and he is gone (killed, Act2), and Angier sees a rubber ball coming towards him, Fallon takes his hat off, and reveals himself as Borden (Act3). This was the most fantastic part that I realised much later after having seen the movie.

Other interesting aspects in the movie are :

• The opening shot, which is actually the one where in latter part of movie Angier realises the tesla machine is working. But Nolan takes that shot to warn the audience how much confusion they may face in the narrative to follow 'Are you watching closely'. And I so loved this line, which is used later in jail by Alfred twice.

•  The idea of showing the final magic trick in parts before going to the flashback of both rivals through diaries was also good one. Nolan could had chosen to directly begin the story from the court scene, but that scene before adds extra edge to the rivalry where we would soon reach in the narrative. Also, it makes you take a initial side, who are you supporting. At that scene, I was with Angier.

• The character of Cutter adds to the drama and mystery, because its never clear whose side he is with, and whether he is looking for his own profit, when he demands the Tesla machine to be sold to him. But, Nolan keeps it a very small sub-plot if you can call it, never gives it extra importance.

• Fallon never talks, even when its turn of the short tempered Alfred to be fallon. Nolan wanted to tell that Alfred was devoted to his art, and he wont make a mistake of revealing his identity. Only word Fallon says is 'Good-bye', also Nolan made sure there are no long close up shots of Fallon, though to be frank I doubt if I would had still got that it was Alfred only, the disguise was too fantastic.

• Both Angier and Borden take turns at getting one up to each other, one kills Julia (a accident I assume, not something he intended) then other revenges with shot at him. One spoils the bird magic act, and other steals the transporter magic trick idea but with Cutter's illusion. And then the Root (double of Angier) revealed to audience, with Angier's death act (which could be one of his clone). So, Nolan never tried to favour one character..

• When Tesla warns Angier about obsession which may lead to his downfall, Nolan gives a hint where Angier's character is leading to, his obsession to be better than Borden and destroy his happiness was going to go against him only. He lost Julia, then Olivia, then his broken knee, and later he gambled with his own life.

• Nolan keeps both Angier and Borden characters grey, both make mistakes. Its only that Angier commits bigger ones.. the scene where he says that now he doesn't care about his wife, all he cares is about the trick. Thats where I took side against him because more than revenge of his wife Julia, he was after Borden's failure in magic shows. Angier in another scene hates Root getting the applause, so much that he asks Cutter to interchange the roles, Angier is keen to see the praise of audience after fooling them which he was missing while doing it with Root as double.  It would be tough to say that only Alfred was wrong, because even  Borden allowed Sarah die by not giving her full love she should had got. Alfred did the same with Olivia, but he made up for it by not letting Sarah's daughter get affected by parts of love.


The background score is very light, and adds extra mystery layer.. I specially love the one that is used where Julia dies, and the one that intercuts Borden/Alfred act in the last scene involving Alfred in jail, Angier in theatre and Cutter leading Borden to Angier.

Both Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman deliver outstanding performances, it would be wrong to pick best among them. While Michael Caine added more mystery even with his small role.  And good supporting performances by both female leads. Also, special mention to how Hugh Jackman played Root, as well as David Bowie's portrayal of Tesla.


There are two aspects that I haven't understood yet.. (correct me if anywhere I interepreted the plot wrong)

• Who wrote the diary that Angier reads.. was it Borden or Alfred.. or both wrote a part of it.

• What does Angier in final scene want to convey to  Borden when he says 'You really don't know, it was the look on their faces'. Was it a routine before death confession, or he meant something more with that ?


If there is a single thing I have to say against hte movie... then it would be the choice of song at end credits... it looked totally misplaced, a simple background theme would had been better option.



Overall, The Prestige adds to the long list of Nolan movies that I love.. and probably new secrets will keep getting revealed with each watch.. there's a lot in the movie, that comes across the more you think about or pay attention or in Bale's words 'Watch closely'.

Movie Analysis : Satyagraha

Directed by : Prakash Jha
Imdb link -> http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2275802/

Strong 1st half is let-down with a disastrous 2nd half.. Average Movie

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

My journey with Prakash Jha cinema began with Raajneeti, and unlike many others I very much loved it. I am yet to watch his two much acclaimed movies, 'Gangaajal' and 'Apharan', hoping to catch them sooner. But ever since Raajneeti, Jha's films hasn't left me with the impact I thought I am gonna have with his films. Much on the lines of Madhur Bhandarakar since Fashion.

Like his previous films, Satyagraha again is a political issue based movie on the lines of Anna's anshan. Though the movie isn't based on anshan, it just forms a important part of the narrative. To be frank, Prakash Jha begins the film on perfect note, the 1st half is very close to flawless or worth sitting for 2nd half thinking this may be a winner. The reason is that he doesn't try to show Manav (Ajay Devgan) lifestyle and the corruption he himself has been part of. Instead, he focusses on the main character i.e Dwarka (Amitabh Bachchan). The adarsh and usool he lives by, and the ones he taught his own son Akhilesh (Indraneil Sengupta) too. Dwarka finds problems in the way people like Manav live, he believes its these modern people who are contributing to the corrupt system of India.

Jha keeps the Dwarka's family story as main plot, while he shifts the story some years forward. A tragedy happens with Dwarka family, Manav returns and thereby starts the revolution against the system.  Everything looks going good, but in 2nd half he divulges into un-necessary parameters. First, the awkardly built romantic relationship between Manav and Yasmeen (Kareena Kapoor), who even break into a romantic song which had to be avoided for the narrative sake. Then, the way he directs the scene where Dwarka decides he will go on anshan was unconvincing. Thats a reason why I never felt that special feeling when Raghupati Raghav Rajaram song comes, even though I love that song and the way Prasoon Joshi has changed lyrics to match the current system of India.

And then to make it worse, Jha quickly ends the film in few minutes, a powerful minister Balram (Manoj Bajpayee) for almost 100 minutes of movie, suddenly becomes weak and without any power in final  10 minutes. That scene was most funnily edited when they show a shot of character telling Balram is missing from his house, and the cut to a location where Balram is and Manav opens the door and beats him. At that time, only thing I was wondering that Jha was surely in a hurry to end the film either while shooting or while editing happened.

1st half promises you a revolution that would anger you against the system, as we all know how badly corrupt it is. But, the 2nd half diverts in every possible direction and almost defeats the purpose the film had set it to do. The sub-plots of Manav's corrupt life before coming to Dwarka place after death of his son, and the secret search as to how he was killed by Manav and a police inspector.. was stretched. Also, showing Yasmeen go against Manav feeling he is taking wrong direction.. to add drama.. didn't work for me either.


Performances wise, Amitabh Bachchan shines brilliantly, special mention to that scene where he enters the collector's office, slaps him saying 'janta ke naukar hai aap, aur battmeezi bardaasht nahi karenge hum'. That for me was the most powerful scene of the movie, or maybe the only one.

Ajay Devgan is decent, seen him in such roles too often. so doesn't really bring anything new. Same goes for Manoj Bajpayee, though his way of delivering dialogues always gives same roles something extra, along with the way he improvises. Arjun Rampal is fine, not as impressive as he was in Raajneeti.

Kareena Kapoor looks beautiful as a journalist, thats it.. her performance was weak. Amrita Rao is wasted in a small role, only worth scene for her was when she goes to collector's office to get the money Balram had promised to her family.


Overall, Satyagraha had a great intention.. it looked like going towards it but in the middle it lost its way and ended up nowhere. The message they wanted to convey comes across but not in the manner one would have liked. Still the film is watchable for 1st half and good performances from Amitabh and Manoj.


Verdict : AVERAGE