Tahaan

Alfred Hitchcock, talking about Suspense, said a couple of things that I am reminded of “Always make the audiences suffer as much as possible.” And “There is no terror in a bang, only in the anticipation of it.”

I watched Tahaan this Friday and I experienced what Hitchcock had said. I was suffering every moment of the story from the time Idris gives Tahaan a task. There absolutely was nothing that happened in a bang, so I died anticipating….

Powered by: Chakpak.com	Tahaan

Personally, after a really long time I have seen a movie that cleansed my senses – creative and social. Santosh Sivan has told the story of Tahaan in a very simplistic way, portraying otherwise mundane events of everyday life in the valley. But hidden in the simplicity and everyday activities are the truths that are startling.

Though guns, terrorists, deaths, fears are everyday part of this simple story supported by some amazing cinematography, one notices it but is not alarmed by these truths. The innocence of Tahaan, his quest to get his Birbal – the donkey back is what one enjoys. But all this changes slowly, as Tahaan meets Idrees and the story takes a small deviation. The beauty of this is that nothing is sudden, that’s what makes you feel desperate, helpless and completely stripped off your facades – while you sit and watch in your seats, holding your popcorn. Wanting to know what Tahaan does, thinking of the various consequences of his actions, wishing that he does not do all of those things you are thinking, wondering how an innocent act can be a curse to mankind!

Along with the main story of an innocent little boy and his donkey, the story manages to, though subtly; paint a picture of the lives that people lead in the valley. Missing husbands, frequent visits to the army office, dead bodies, and children playing terrorist games, Kashmiri Pundits living fearful lives underground – prisoners in their own home… It reminded me of that common essay topic in school – I cried for a pair of shoes till I met a man with no legs. I guess, I complain less about things now.

What I hate about the movie is that it is a small event from the ‘issue’ called Kashmir. A convenience for some, a lifestyle for some other, a living for many and a way of life for the rest.

What I love about the movie is that this event in the heartland of Kashmir ends on a positive note. A sign of hope? Perhaps!

Tahaan for me is mastery in storytelling, a landmark film in recent years!

Tahaan means - merciful, tolerant and even cursed.

Taare Zameen Par

Every child is special... I am proud that Indian Cinema has reached a stage where it is making movies addressing issues that are realities to most of us. As much as cinema in India is about the 'naach gaana' , cinema as a medium has had a larger role to play outside of its 'entertainment' garb.

Cinema, with the magic it brings onto the silver screen, it has the ability to influence people, educate people and also propagate messages. Taare Zameen Par has demonstrated how cinema can be utilized to discuss a very common, yet complex specialty that ails our society.

Aamir Khan, one of the major Khan's in Indian filmdom, being a part of this TZP project is also a strategic move. It has brought in the celebrity / influencer factor to the message. Thus, ensuring that the message reaches in the right manner and strikes a chord amongst people in the society.

Cinema for a social cause has been demonstrated. However, this differs from the normal newsreel or the documentary one is used to viewing in typical India. Therefore, my earlier comment that Cinema in Indian has surpassed the stereotype of song & dance.

Following the Popular film making rules, Taare Zameen Par has brought in a fresh perspective to addressing serious issues. This reminds of the movies of the 70's and 80's when during the new wave era or the art cinema times, in India, there were movies such as Masoom, Aandhi and the like that dealt with issues of concern to India.

However, i will place Taare Zameen Par away, above and beyond all of those movies ever made. 'coz this movie did complete justice to the message, did not kill the topic of interest and ensured that the point was driven home with sensitivity.

Aamir Khan has proved himself to be an artist par excellence. As a director, he has ensured that the talent in the young Darsheel is portrayed in the right way. The dilemma of a small child, the frustrations and the sensitivities that impact the kid has been depicted by Darsheel in a very effective manner. It's part Darsheel's talent and part Aamir's knack to making sure the kid delivered as part of his role.

In a day and age of competition, expectations, pressures, tuitions, A Grades, top ranks, excellence and above average performances... TZP is a movie that lays emphasis on the individual than external pressures, which is of utmost importance. It is the self that builds you for the future... we tend to lay emphasis on the world around us, ranks and marks forgetting to focus on building the self, honing the existing skills. TZP makes you stop for a moment and check within oneself, if what i am doing is truly "what I want to do".

I guess i selected the right day and time to watch it - New Year's eve, late night show. And what company, better than your parents?! A movie, a message, a topic that's been dealt with utmost care Taare Zameen Par gets

The eternal dilemma: Did the movie do justice to the book?

Since the time I picked up Order of the Phoenix to read, I’ve wanted to watch it as a movie. The itch to watch the motion picture is higher, especially when I have read the book.

With this 5th Harry Potter book, perhaps the thickest book so far, things take on a different color… Harry and his friends have grown up, so to say. The dark lord strengthens. It’s more like, the characters are gaining more vivid characteristics.

Also, when a book is more descriptive, it leaves so much more for imagination. I am a very visual person. I remember things in images. I make visual story boards out of things I read, listen to or what I have to remember. And so, in a case where the book is descriptive and has a lot of events and characters, I freak out making my own world around that book and its characters. When I am reading such a book, it’s more like I am in that world and I take breaks to come to this ‘real’ world to do mundane personal stuff.

If it’s a shorter book, its easy, since I finish it off pretty fast and the story world may linger for an extra day, but with a book like Order of the Phoenix – the world stretches with you till you finish the book and sometimes fights for its space and dominance.

Anyways, coming back to the book versus the motion picture; I happened to watch the movie finally on Thursday night. I went with my partner with much fan fare. Booked tickets online, reached there just 20 minutes early. Picked the tickets at the counter, had a marathon dinner… bought extra popcorn and coke… all in anticipation to a Harry Potter treat!

Once the movie started, it ended, of course obvious. We contemplated walking out mid-movie, but I can be a hopeless optimist at the wrong times. Scene after scene, we moaned and groaned with unhappiness. About, how a particular episode in the book could have been translated into the script.

I felt that I had watched trailers / promos of the Order of the Phoenix, the movie and the actually movie was yet to come. When we walked out of the theatre, we dint even feel like we’d watched a movie, sadly. The images from my world of Order of the Phoenix were so vivid that I thought the movie was an utter injustice to the book and the series.

After all this disappointment, I am sure I will go and watch the Half- blood prince when it releases and the rest of the Potter movies…. But, I really wish more movies were made that did justice to the book. Yeah, I know this is an argument that swings both ways – as much as I’d say that a movie did justice to the book; I also account to the fact that opinions are subjective. Therefore, this is my subjective point of view 

Final Verdict: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix – bad movie! Good Book!

Sometimes winning is everything!

ChakDe! Is a good movie, when I say good, I mean it is gripping, well written and well shot. It was important that there was no established star cast as part of the hockey team, which it accomplished well; it also meant a very strong persona to put the entire act together, which also was accomplished. In all ChakDe gets super thumbs up!!!

Couple of things that ChakDe! did to me – It reminded of my days as a sports person, when winning meant everything. 100% effort, focus and dedication towards your immediate goal – to win, to be the one on the top, play as a team. Ironically, Indian sports scenario, especially on the women’s end, is rather hapless – be it hockey, cricket or basketball. Its not just organizational politics one has to deal with, but also with internal segmentation, politicking and influences. It’s very easy for players to get disillusioned. Amidst skepticism, I usher ChakDe! as a refresher, perhaps a prelude to the changing fate of sports in India, particularly women’s sport.

ChakDe! also reinforces my faith in the strength of India. The power we as a nation hold, the pride we can extend to win, win over hearts, nations, accolades and most of all immense respect! As a nation, we are immensely talented and perhaps a wee bit disillusioned and I pray a silent prayer that the disillusionment evaporate; and I believe strongly that it’s disappearing fast and a sense of pride is overwhelmingly filling the air.

ChakDe! as it may seem a simple, fun filled phrase, a Punjabi slang; in the context of the movie, it evokes a sense of pride, intense emotion of a want to prove, do something that makes the world take notice. And, as we near the 60^th celebrations of India’s Independence, I take immense pride in saluting all Indian’s who have made India what it is and scream in encouragement – Chak De India! ‘coz winning is everything!