Kabul Express

(Long post warning!)

The diversity in the audience was something I really did not expect. It should probably have set the tone of the movie but nonetheless. It was extremely endearing to see so much diversity at that small theatre.

The row in front of me was completely occupied by about 10 americans, something I sincerely have not seen in all the years here. So many americans for an indian movie is not a common sight.

The row behind me was occupied by a pakistani family (yes, I can make out, thanks to the impeccable urdu-ish hindi or hindi-ish urdu that they speak).

A little further out what I could only guess was a family from Iran or thereabouts. The only reason i even venture a guess is because their spoken language reminded me of what this friend of mine used to speak with her mum(they used to speak in persian, were from Iran you see). But even if I am wrong , definitely from a middle eastern country.

Apart from the diverse crowd that turned up to watch Kabul Express, the movie is special for a lot of reasons.

In my opinion, its the emergence of the new hybrid generation of movie makers who venture into the un-tapped and un-chartered. Yes, I call them hybrid because there is a unmistakable external influence no matter what, not that its a bad thing. External influences are not a bad thing at all as long as they remain just that, an influence. A lot of times the film makers exploit the very term influence by totally ripping reel by reel of another movie or adding too much of what they absorb directly into the movie.

But Kabir khan, I am happy to say is not one of them. He comes across as a very talented director who knows exactly what he wants to see in his actors and where he wants to take the story. Preppy and modern nonetheless and it shows in every reel of the movie.

The protagonists are not idealistic, un-flawed or holier than thou. They are modern, guys next door with their share of prejudices and sentiments. I am so glad there is no so called heroine in this movie. thumbs up to the director just for that bold move. :)

There is a palpable excitement from the first scene. Cut back and forth it tells the story of two Indian journalists stranded in afghanistan searching for a story in the post 9/11 era. The prelude by Roshan Seth helps set the precedent for the movie.

I do not want to make this into a spoiler but I get carried away, so venture at your own risk.

What the movie has going for itself more than anything is the inbuilt satire track through out, very very expertly churned out by Arshad Warsi. That guy really cracks me up. He is so bloody talented its not even funny (pun intended!). But very very under-used in indian cinema. Hopefully this movie will help him in terms of making him more bankable for solo hero projects.

John Abraham is understated and that really works for the movie coz according to me he still has a whole lot to improve as an actor. In this movie he has a lot of unspoken to present and I think he does a good job of that. There are a few one liners that his cynical character has and that makes the scenes! I think it was a very intelligent screenplay to make him an indian muslim in the movie.

And truly only after a certain scene in this movie have i come to truly appreciate the meaning of Indian muslims in this world of today which has an anti muslim bias after 9/11.

This movie takes us through a country we have never really seen in its true form. It is heart wrenching to see a country so ravaged by war and nobody cares to do anything about. Ok, I take that back, there are red cross and other charitable institutions that are 'trying' to do something about it now. But think about it. 10 years (oops, corrected to 27 by a good friend) of ravage either by outsiders or civil war and no one cared to interfere to make the situation better.

No matter how much we see on news or TV channels, nothing drives the truth home like building a story out of it and presented on celluloid. Which is why movies like RDB and Yuva have such an impact. Movies, especially in the Indian sub context, have that power to influence and affect people in more way than one.

In this case, I think creates an awareness more than anything else. There is a certain sense of gloom, desolation and helplessness that runs like blood thru the veins in this movie. Whether its the bonfire scene where they discuss what they can do as journalists to help the cause or whether its the wise crack by Arshad where he say - yeh karo mar jaoge, woh karo mar jaoge.

The movies gives you a first hand look of Afghanistan post taliban era. Indian cinema has seen glimpses of kabul either from the old Khuda Gawah or the even older Kabuliwala (which doesn't show the country but somehow gives you the feel for it). But this something we were probably not prepared for.

The story packs a punch to begin with, 2 Indians, an American , an afghan and a Pakistani stuck together for 2 days in a jeep. I think that itself is such a powerful setting for anything.

The American journalist and that too a female journalist is a very sharp move by the story teller. When it comes to America and all it stands for, as far as Indians are concerned, they are all stereotypes, some good and some not so much. This movie makes you appreciate the good ones and completely cracks you up on the silly ones. E.g. Linda saying - I am an American, of course I can drive :)))

But like I said, there are other stereotypes as well, of a bolder woman who ventures out for reasons of her own, of a certain sense of arrogance and display of money :) Not really bad but you appreciate it nonetheless.

The actor who plays the pakistani in the movie is outstanding, he really is! I have very little clue about him but Boy can he act! In fact you come out of the theatre feeling really sorry for him inspite fo him being a talib. Which i think is a huge achievment for any director, if he can turn the whole character of a terrorist enough to evoke pity from the audience.

There are a lot of moments in this movie, which make you sit up and take notice or crack up completely. Like the incessant gun shots through out the movie, the gun fires are almost like background scores here. Arshad has you in splits continuously to lighten up the strong effect of the controversial subject. This movie would have a huge huge void if not for him. I think he is the sole thread which saves the movie from being discarded as a documentary or a movie with an extremely serious overtone.

A lot of people claim that the movie is aimed towards an intelligent and urban crowd and not the masses. And I think I agree. But I believe any movie should be made out of conviction and not for a certain audience demographic.

Now... yes we have to talk about some negatives as well right, nobody's that perfect :))

There is a serious undertone of paki bashing in the movie, you may justify it by giving a sentimental twist of father daughter or even patriotic overtures but you cannot escape from it. I am as patriotic as anybody but I am a little skeptical about controversial tones like this. I think I feel bad for the people who are in fact not even in the country but are subjected to bashing one after the other by indian movies. Anyways, not that I want to start a debate of anything but its something that is apparent in the movie.

I also think the ending is a little skewed. As long as the director refrains from making a personal comment of a global issue, things are ok. But you find that towards wee end, he cannot contain himself. And he ends the movie by tying up the lose ends with a sentimental dialogue for talibs. But get this, its a generic statement drawn completely from the incidents in the movie. To say anybody is blameless or that just because you empathize or make friends with somebody, they stop being phantoms. I think thats completely skewed observation to end the movie. I appreciate the humane touch to the story, the bondage between the hostages and the terrorist is a classic Stockholm syndrome. Even if we disregard that, we forget that we indians have a certain capability for tolerance and forgiveness no matter what.

Its an emotional statement no doubt and something the director wants to evoke thoughts with but ending a movie with that almost makes you wonder if its really that trivial or small an issue to be commented upon.

It is not, its a global issue with too many affected parties.. Can you really argue about humane talibs with parents of that girl who lost her life in 9/11 or the London blasts or the Mumbai blasts ?? You cannot! Nothing you can/show or argue will ever ever justify anything.

Which is why such subjects are sensitive and require to be treated with respect and no personal bias.

There are 2 train of thoughts I left the theater with:

1. Indian Muslims and their sentiments in the throes of this political agenda and bias the world seems to have in the post 9/11 times. The scene where Imran khan in the movie asks John's character whether he is a practicing Muslim resonates with cynicism for indian muslims and their liberal attitude, at least the so called modern ones. John retorts saying - Haan islam ka thekha to tum logon ne le rakha hai, siliye to AK-56 paas mein raklh kar namaaz padh rahe ho. (Translation - Sure, its you guys who have taken the reins of Islam, is that why you have an AK-56 by your side when you pray?) Its something I find extremely interesting and somehow, just somehow is linked with the second.

2. Indians and the so called indian mentality and value we have- This is so interesting, I spent almost half a day trying to read more and more thoughts ,so articulately penned by people around the world. Without further ado, I will only point you to some of those here and here.

Amen...

There is a certain sense of satisfaction and contentment knowing that somehow, by some random stroke of fate you lucked out..
With so many losers and jerks out there, you can very very easily lose faith, become cynical and become absolutely petrified to start all over again.. But then there is this one person who restores that faith back.

I have always believed that you lose a bit of yourself with every relationship, more they are, more jaded and cynical you get. But there is something to be said about that one person who inspires you to start all over again, all in good faith.

And you want to believe.. In all good things.. In love.. In togetherness for ever...In families..In unconditional support, In the unspoken ...

And then by some quirky stroke of fate you luck out.. You don't expect it, you are almost certain you wouldn't. Even after you do, for a while you wait with bated breath with a palpable feeling of the unknown (or known?) telling yourself that you would not be suprised, you will at least be prepared.

But it doesn't happen...

I was talking to this friend of mine the other day and I was telling him that no matter what and how thinge were in the past, I have always felt blessed to even have what i have or had.. There are worse things out there believe me !

And now as i type this, I feel blessed than ever before. There is a certain warmth and security that engulfs me, which tells me you know what Rads, no matter how things go, it will all be ok... There is something to be said about that one person who no matter what can put a smile right back to where it belongs.. Whether its torturous days at work, irksome family, uncertainties in life which irritate you, or just plain unfortunate events in life...

I was crying like a banshee last nite and am sure he felt quite helpless not even being there by my side but he did not show that. He has a magical way of calming people down, I don't know how.. I guess I never gave it much of a thought :) But last night, I felt it. And believe me i have not felt like that ever ! I am quite a hyper-ventilating character and my mum is worse than me.. So at home, there is really no one to calm anybody down, people only worsen each other's panic stricken condition :))

But here I was, calm as ever in a minute.. In fact god only knows how, he even managed to make me laugh in the middle of a serious banter...And just like that said - forget about it doesn't matter.... And just like that it didnt......

**********************************

Why does any problem have to be a reflection of how you are as a person?? Try as I may, i am not able to shake that feeling off.. Once, twice, how many times?

Stuck

I am a sucker, a total sucker for nice going, melodious songs.. It may sound like a simple enough criteria for soundtracks..
But nope, is not for most parts. Most of the tracks out there don't even come close.

Seriously you wonder whats wrong with music directors of today, the songs are not even melodious, forget catchy! (E.g. Dhoom 2, soundtrack of which sucked big time!)

In the middle of all that there are 2 soundtracks that outshine the rest by some outer space metrics :)

Guru - A lot of people did not like it, I guess I wasn't too impressed myself at the outset. But I stuck to my gut feelin about Rahman soundtracks which have to be listened to in repeat mode to appreciate them. Which I did, and I have come to appreciate the songs. I don't think its spectacular, but I will not make the mistake of comparing it to any other Rahman creations coz its just not fair. As long as a soundtrack has at least 3 songs that have you humming, you have a winner and this one definitely does that for me.. I will not get into hashing and rehashing of the album, you can check out this, which is an echo of what I think of it :)

Salaam -e - Ishq - Now this is a typical SEL (Shankar Ehsaan Loy) composition. They are also quickly getting into a stereotype.. at least in my head :) But thats not such a bad thing coz their stereotype is Good Music ! Till date their soundtracks have not dissapointed me, even if the movie is a complete zero (e.g. Dil jo bhi jahe, Yeh kya ho raha hai etc). There are at least 2 nice songs per album if not more..

Now, even SEI (yes, I am heavily into acros now a days) is a winner as far as I am concerned, there are 3 songs that I have in repeat mode right now in my player. I just cannot stop listening to them. I am sure the rest are nice as well, but I just havent gotten over these 3 so I will get to them in a couple days :P

"Dil Kya kare" - This one is an Adnan Sami song sung with such an understated energy and attitude, sheer pleasure to listen to it. Very nice guitar work as well (maybe some scottish pipes too :P). The song has an acoustic feel to it..

"Mera Dil" - Ha , every album of theirs I wait for that Shaan song which will outshine the rest :) And I got one as expected in this one, breezy song that reminds you of "Kuch to hua hai" from Kal ho na ho.. But a lovely duet nonetheless with the new singer Nihira whos done a good job...

The title track is typical number, you get a sense of deja vu with it. But its again a foot tapping number so you are not disappointed. A lot of talented singers again (SEL are second only to Rahman to get so many singers for a single number, remember the title song of Dillagi? It had 10 accomplished singers!!). This one has all the top singers, Sonu, Kunaal, Shreya etc.. (yes, yes, I am on first name basis now :p)

All in all, I think Nikhil and SEL have another winning soundtrack on their hands, hope the movie lives upto the expectations. Its supposedly inspired by "Love actually".

Hmm.. waiting....

The weekend that was....

T'was a movie filled weekend for most parts.. Hubby an I decided not to travel this weekend (means he doesn't come here an I don't go there and not la di da lets not take a vacation :p)

So, I had to find alternative means to keep myself engaged.. Considering I swore to myself, subsequent to moving to SD, that I am not cooking unless I have more than 1 person to cook for, kitchen held no prospects for me.. Well, the dishwasher and laundry did, but given all the advanced technology involved, the prospects of engaging my time limits itself to approximately 2.7 mins (coz thats all it takes to load any of these jazzy things!)

So I decided to dedicate my precious time to the lappy and the TV :))

Friday night saw 'Vivah' - the new sob/senti flick from the infamous makers of HAHK an such.. You know I almost felt sorry for the director.. As he grows older, I feel he regresses, I don't know why.. At least his last movie was not so bad (Main prem ki diwani hoon), Ok, when I say it was not so bad, I do not mean in general, it was a really sucky movie, but compared to this one, even that seems bearable.. God, that reminds me of the lengths we went to to see that one.. Winky, remember getting drenched in the rains and the innovative multiplex ! Really, some dedication to movies we had :)) (I miss my movie buddy tho' :()

Anyways.. its interesting to see that the director who in his younger days (hay days) made movies that were so much more modern (I thought even MPK was quite modern for the times we lived in, at least frm my school girl eyes it seemed that way) is regressing much beyond his years.. The characters are extremely jaded, Theres a stereotype associated with every character he has, whether its the girls father or the boys father, brother, sister, whatever.. exteremely stereotyped. I am not sure why he's not capable of making movies a little bit realistic.. The Bhabhi character in the new movie was the most believable one, despite that fact that she almost seemed like a super human effort in order to make her look completey indian although being modern. Apart from that, the movie crashes from scene 1 coz its an effort to show how an ideal indian whoever should be like.. Its an ideal world according to Mr. Sooraj Barjatya. Unfortunately, its not something we can relate to..

The characters seem surreal coz they all seem to be from epics and mythology :)) The main bone that I have to pick with the director is the complete lack of purpose that women seem to have in his movies. Why are they all so meek and so eager to settle into matrimony and thereby into maternal roles. I just don't get it.. Is it a subconcious wish of his to see all women in the world like that in real life or is he really in denial?? I fail to understand which.. There is a certain sincereity with which this guy makes movies, I just feel he needs a reality check. I wish someone would inspire him to make movies which has empowered women who have careers or at least some semblence to profesional life. Women, who do not wear pallus over their head at the drop of the hat and who look up when speaking to people. And most importantly, please move away from small town movies like rampur, ramnagar, ramgarh etc. They just don't have that appeal anymore..

Saturday was the day for 'Vaisa bhi hota hai part2'. Yes, I did not understand the title at all. Anyways, it was infinitely better watching experience than the disaster on friday. Its not the greatest movie but it has its moments.. (Like I said earlier in some post, that its become so unrealistic to expect good hindi movies end to end, you should be glad if they even have moments worth mentioning)

In fact I think its a very very worthwhile effort from the young director. Its a technically well made movie with a very good cast. I don't think anybody's acting was below average in the movie, every single person was top notch. Especially Arshad Warsi and his gangster friend. The story is quite innovative and manages to capture your attention for most parts. But .. yes.. there is a but.. like most indian movies, it looses steam post intermission. The story dwindles and you just wanna fast forward it.. There are some songs that could have been left at best as background music..

The story itself has a few parallels which all tie up together, but unless you are familiar with that kinda theme, you maybe left wondering what the hell and who the hell :))

Arshad Warsi is, I have realized has been one of the most underutilized actor in todays times. He is quite capable of a varied character range and is quite versatile.. Its worth watching this one just for him..

Finally... sunday - Dhoom 2 :))))

So many people dissuaded me from seeing this one.. But how could you assume that I would miss anything that has two of my sweethearts ?? :))

This movie from start is full of eye candy.. There is no denying that.. I went in to admire and drool over AB baby and hrithik and wonders of wonders came out being completely impressed my missy ash.. She is quite a surprise package in this one.. I think with the newly acquired tan completely agrees with her, she looks almost human and not the usual stunning picture she usually resembles.. She seems to be finally at ease with her surroundings enough to explore and just be comfy.. And that shows big time in the movie.. For most parts, she doesnt seem cold or detached.. She looks stunning in hot pants and short skirts !!

Hrithik.. ahhhhhh He's god.. demi god.. He's in control through out the movie and knows the movie belongs to him.. When he's on screen, everything else just seems to fade away. All you see is his absolutely fab and toned body and of course the groovy moves when there is a song :))) Ahhh.. thats what I call eyue candy.. Damn my inability to whistle !!!

AB looks at best average in this one.. God knows I luv him, but he looks desperately in need of a good hair cut and shave.. I think it was just the fact that this movie was filled with all his childhood buddies (Uday, Adi, hrithik) that he thought he coudl just get up in the morning an come for the shoot. Anyways.. usko to har mishtake maaf hai :))

The movie looks extremely jazzy whether its effects, technique or even costumes an locales.. Its fast paced and does not lag for most parts except when there is Bips(the twin) or Uday on screen. There are certain things which seem extremely unnecessary in this movie e.g. the Bipasha twin, now what was the purpose of that, instead you could have the cop sis tag with the 2 dudes! But i guess they wanted Ash to stand out in the second half in all the cat and mouse game.. And stand out she does with all the oomph and show.. :)

Its has the usual dose of hindi masala and whats a hindi movie without these things. I swear the day they stop making hindi movies without masala or song and dance sequences, I will just... well.. do something drastic I guess :p

I completely enjoyed the movie right from the start, I went all prepared for lotsa action and eye candy.. and I got all that I expected :))) I don't know what the guys who did not enjoy the movie were thinking, really.. What expectations did you go in with ? Did you expect a fast and furious or Ocean's 11? I mean, you should know better... Its a hindi movie after all and in keeping with the traditions, you are never (repeat after me Never) to compare it with the subsequent prequels.. Enjoy the roller coaster ride as is, enjoy the songs (tho' I personally thought the songs sucked in this one, it was just Ash and Hrithik's dance prowess that saved the day), enjoy the locales...

If you are still expecting a hindi flick sans masala and babes with skimpy clothes and utterly meaningless sequences, I suggest you refrain from watching a hindi flick completely and stick to 'Italian job', 'Fast and furious' and such..

Do not complain about hindi movies if you cannot learn to appreciate the packaging as is.