1930. Chittagong in undivided Bengal. A small group of young men, mostly in their teens, hatch an outrageously daring plot to take on the British. Block the rail lines, capture the British officers and ladies in the European club, smash the Telegraph office, attack the police lines and armoury. With Gandhiji's one year of non-violence not giving results, it's time to fight fire with fire for freedom. The plan moves switfly, but the revolutionaries make two fatal errors in planning. One, it's Good Friday, and none of the officers are in the club, they've all gone to church and from there, home. Two, the armoury has weapons, but no ammunition! The revolution is quickly crushed, and over the next few months, the revolutionaries are tracked, captured, tortured, and many killed.
Life's short, and after reading all you ever really needed to know about the Chittagong uprising, there is absolutely no excuse for you to waste another 3 hours enduring the movie.
So, what's wrong with the movie? Everything, and trust me when I say that. The first half is too slow, the "build up" quickly looking like endless retakes of the same shot with different actors that never saw the editor's knife! The second half sees the British trying so hard to capture the revolutionaries, one by one, that I never imagined I would see a movie and actually clap when one of our own is captured by the English! On to the next one, get them and finish them, you hear yourself pleading with the British soldiers. After all, it's been a long time since you got some fresh air! The dialogues are immature and unrefined ("Kya woh aapke gehere dost hai?" "Woh paas aa rahe hai, ab woh aur paas aa rahe hai"), an uncomfortable mix of Hindi and Bengali, the actors forcing their mouths into pouts to get the rounded Bengali names right. The opening scene itself should prepare you for what is to come. A bunch of "chikna" boys in sparkling clean white dhotis and starched cotton kurtas, each of a different color (from M&S?), acting and talking like overgrown six year olds. A I-can-show-only-one-emotion-on-my-face chota big B and a I-told-you-I-wouldn't-be-able-to-pull-this-off Deepika looking sick and emancipated in two chotis and a saree add absolutely nothing to the movie. The sound track is jarring and repetitive. And finally, the unnecessary blood and gore towards the end, using sensationalism and shock where subtlety and emotion should have done the trick. The only saving grace is the authentic and beautiful setting, including the quaint houses, and the quainter vintage cars.
At 3 hours, it's criminal. Avoid it. Read a book instead.
13 comments:
The movie fails miserably at leaving any impact whatsoever on the viewers.
I think that writing that script was a serious crime! Was the writer trying to tell us that training teenagers in picking up rifles, in shooting people and in making bombs, instead of going to schools is acceptable if you do it in the name of the country? How is that any different from what the terrorists all over the world are doing in the name of religion or patriotism??
The fundamental ethics of the script aside, it's more improtant to highlight that the script was actually quite weak. Without discounting all the efforts that went into out freedom struggle and with all due respect to the various acts of bravery performed by our extremists, I think that the movie would have done a lot better if Ashutosh had not tried to make a movie on a "true story". I would have loved seeing a movie about a bunch of kids trying to get their playground back and succeeding at it, using their wit and passion..Although, if that was done, maybe the movie would resemble Lagaan too much. So, my conclusion - Ashutosh shouldn't hav made this movie! Lol :)
Pathetic..Bachchan Jr should be careful how to choose the next movie..There is absolutely nothing in the movie.
This might be a big big disaster at the box office..
Siddhesh, I agree...the acting and talking like overgrown six year olds annoyed me to no end, too.
I was rolling my eyes when the senior revolutionary instructs the teenagers about arms, holding up a musket and a bullet with: "Isey musket gun kehte hain aur isey musket ki goli".
Um....okay....! Thanks for the FYI.
Next: When a bottle of chloroform is held up with the "explanation":
"Ise chloroform kehte hain".
I just wanted to laugh but felt it was too much effort and too pointless to even laugh. Because Gowariker has become a film-maker who won’t simply show when he can show and tell. LOL!
Is there anyway to sue this guy called Gowariker. He has wasted 6 hours of my life , first Whats ur Rashee and then this.
Where is the Gowariker of Lagaan and Swades?
LOL@ Ray. Nicely put.
It is really sad for the producers who put in their hard earned money and it gets blown off within few days of release with negative publicity.
To all u guys , It is very easy to pass a negative oomments. But atleast this man had made an effort to put the unforgotten heros in front of u. Did'nt u feel a thing at the last when the real heros photos were posted. Common atleast apprecite him for that. U dont mind see a crap movie of Farah Khan or Sajid Khan which is a mere copy.
the review is totally wrong. The movie is far better than what the review has been written. Change your views. Don't expect item song and aamir khan to act in every movie.
what you say about Dhobi ghat then ?
third class movie of century.
I liked the movie. Don't understand why the review has been written this way.
thanks
prakash
this movie is awesome. hey brother why have u written such a bad review
Hey anonymous-who-loves-KHJJS-so-much-that-you-send-me-one-comment-about-it-every-day-most-of-which-tells-me-nothing-different-and-hence-gets-rejected, this is a personal blog where I jot down my personal opinions and thoughts, and a few friends of mine read it and comment on it. I didn't like the movie, just as I didn't like RDB, or Ghajini, or even my fav SRK's Paheli. I do not think a movie's box office collection will be influenced by my review, and I am sure Ashutosh will not care about what I feel about his movie. Then why do you take it so personally? Go ahead watch the movie a few times to make up for the "bad publicity" I have given it, and you should be able to rest in peace :)
This is really great movie. I watched it 2 times. Your review is bias towards romantic movies. That's bad
Have to agree, a horrid movie over all. The movie fails to underscore the significance of Chittagong revolt to the freedom movement. Instead makes the revolt appear a amateur escapade of vague and anonymous characters. Weak script, weaker characterization.
As an audience you don't feel any genuine empathy or even remorse for the death any of the krantikarees, because even in three hours none of the characters make an impression or impact on the audience.
And this point is the biggest failure. Of course, music was largely ordinary, and yea...why can't AB or DP act?
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