Tuesday, October 07, 2014

Movie Review: Haider

Based on Hamlet and set in modern day Kashmir,  Haider is a hard hitting movie about a son's search for his father,  missing after the Indian Army picks him up during an anti terror operation. But it's not really about the army or the insurgents,  although that thread plays strongly in the background. It's about raw human emotions, about love and betrayal, misplaced sympathies, about our greed and our mistakes, and about redemption.

Shahid and Shraddha Kapoor put in strong performances,  ably supported by Tabu and Kaykay Menon. But the real star is the screenplay and the camera work,  which evokes the poignant beauty and loneliness of this paradise on Earth, torn between politicians and separatists and the army...

Surprising to see the Indian censor board allowing such a movie,  we are really coming of age in India,  I guess!

Sunday, October 05, 2014

Movie Review: Bang Bang

Jimmy Shergill walks in looking absolutely dashing in the opening scene. Hrithik can safely claim the legacy of James Bond in India, with his blonde curls,  white blood stained shirts and air brushed and enhanced body shots. Katrina looks amazing even when she puts on weight,  speaks ridiculous dialogues,  and wears clothes that seem to have been stitched for Alia Bhatt. Prague and Greece,  and exotic desert and island locations transport you to a mesmerizing world. It's a treat for the eyes. So much, that you can safely shut off the dialogues, ignore the silly and predictable plot, the blatant copy of Knight and Day, and let your eyes soak in a Swacch Duniya.