Raavan – Why and How of it?

I know it’s too late to actually discuss about the movie, “Raavan”, especially these days when the highly anticipated are doomed in three days (maybe first date or during pre-release even) and the much celebrated last 10 days. But still its better to let out the autopsy report after all the dust has settled.

As the saying goes, an exceptional filmmaker is granted pardon for one exceptional blunder of his career. But its still hard to digest, when you name, Mani Ratnam.

Honestly I was not so bored as everybody was while watching Raavan. Not because I have spent money and we should try to enjoy the movie. Every movie has something or the other to offer. In case of Raavan, it was Santosh Sivan’s work. The way he has shot the visuals of the movie even if Abhishiek sliding down the mountain goes out of the frame is worth it. Just enjoy, we only dream about such visuals and places. When you visit, it’s never so enchanting or out of the world, so definitely a high point of the movie.

So the big question is, Why was Raavan made at the first instance? Everybody said before the release, it’s the career defining film for the first couple of Bollywood. It’s definitely career defining movie, I hope they make more sensible choices in future.

Yesterday watching a repeat telecast of IIFA awards and Amitabh was receiving award for Best Actor for his role in PAA. How many great actors in Bollywood have won a Best Actor award without a trophy like actress in their arms in movie? Leave aside SRK, Aamir, none. Actually barring the two, hardly others get a chance. Amitabh Bachchan out of his magnanimity in 1991 or 1992 gave his Best Actor award to the other nominees in Best Actor category and told the baton should be handed over to the next generation. Not that he is less magnanimous or his craving for awards has increased. Its perhaps the first family of Bollywood should only get such awards, since the next generation is not taking the responsibility (the son), hence the elderly has to take the charge (the father). In Bollywood, its not your work or the character you have played, but rather you and your out of the movies personality should exhibit that yes I do deserve an award. The big award winners are always in media circles for most of the things which are not related to movies.

I can bet on it, the best villain award for 2010 goes to Abhishiek Bachchan husband of Aishwarya Rai Bachchan (former Miss World) and yes he is still son of Amitabh Bachchan, the lead actor of Bollywood.

Couple of years back, Abhishiek said, paa got an award, maa got an award, I was nominated; I would have been good had I got an award even. I truly and with whole heart sympathize with you Abhishiek. When you are brought up in the setup where only receiving awards and adding honours is the need and purpose of your existence. It definitely feels bad. Even I am undergoing similar type of circumstances, my brother and sister always agree with my father and I am the one, who is always arguing and add to the fact, they always scored good in academics and I was always floundering.

Everybody in the Bachcan family has been awarded Padma Shri, except Abhishiek Bachchan. Going by the profile of the family, isn’t it justified and time for the junior AB to be awarded few or most of the stupid Bollywood awards and followed by the big Padma Shri award in 2011 or maximum by 2012.

Some people have already started crying for what?
For his stupid, uniconic and very useless and superficial act of Beera. The most boring and disturbing element of Beera was his trademark bur-bur-bur-bur or bak-bak-bak while shaking his head, which is like a necessity to be provided to any villain in a Bollywood movie. Gone are the days, when Mogambo would say, “mogambo khush hua”, everybody would get sad on hearing about his khushi. Children living in villages, towns and cities actually feared the Gabbar of Sholay. That was where Mr. Mani failed, casting the Bachchan scion as the villain, a villain never deserves a sympathy. Even if he deserves, it is for his situations and not for his way and means. Beera got it all. Ram and Sita were like unfit blocks disturbing the Raavan. Even the actress was convinced with the villain. The hero, the quintessential good man of Bollywood movies was lost looking for his place in the script. Perhaps that’s the reason it was named RAAVAN and not Ramayana. For the audience, the real RAAVAN still is Mr. Mani Ratnam.

PAA – Movie and Thoughts

Everybody is talking about how fantastic the film is. Amitabh Bachchan crosses yet another milestone of his life, experiments and shows his brilliance and knowledge in the field of acting and wants to say, whichever few honorary and felicitation awards are left in few countries he has not visited should gift him one. Some of them are dejected to know that they didn’t find Amitabh Bachchan in the movie. It was the character ‘AURO’, who got all the space. An actor wins the brownie points, only if he allows the character to supersede his persona and image. I’d say Amitabh Bachchan has given one stellar performance. You don’t talk about Amitabh Bachchan after leaving the halls but about the wittiness of the AURO. While I was entering the hall, I told my friend, the name of Amitabh Bachchan helps in creating hype. They could have put on the make-up on any other actor. But the makers had to show the hands and arms of an old man. Of course, you could have applied old skin patches on hands and arms too. AURO had to maim the behavior of a child and the body language of a child and an old man. It is extremely difficult to project for an actor. Probably somebody as experienced as Amitabh Bachchan could have handled it with elan. If we keenly observe the designing of character ‘AURO’, he acts and behaves with a child’s mind and yet he is mature as he is shown physically. AURO makes Vidya Balan and Abhishiek Bachchan seem like a supporting cast. The poster of the PAA features only the character, AURO. Abhishiek Bachchan has a bigger role in terms of his importance in the film. AURO’s maturity came in handling and making his parents come together. He does not say Abhishiek, father since he met him inspite of knowing the fact. A child longs to say MA and PAA. AURO gets to say ma but not PAA. What a moment they have captured to justify the brilliant title? Without revealing further details, I would like you to go explore the same in the movie.

Balki has cracked a whacker with his second film. We should not forget he is an adman and he delivers stories in less than a minute’s time. It is difficult as a writer to get into the child’s mind. And at the same time, he has touched upon an upcoming issue in Indian society. In 1980’s and 1990’s, there was huge movement against anti-abortion and people marched through streets to tell the Govt in USA. about passing anti-abortion laws. The slogan ran, “It’s not a CHOICE, it’s a CHILD”. Going forward, when Indian economy and society is opening up by breaking the shackles of the past, these issues will gain more importance. To abort a child is equivalent to murder. I read a quote around at SV Road, Bandra, “A child gives birth to a mother”. Had this movie been made, fifteen years back, people would have rejected it.

Balki has dealt with some other issues in the movie. They make us lose the plot of the movie. Some of the issues handled are the development of Mumbai’s slums, a foreign educated politician wanting to transform India, giving one hand to media. It is neither effective nor consequential. Probably the whole sequence should have been tightened.

Many people forsake lives of children who are born abnormal. It would not try to be figurative on this topic. Its personal choice because at later stages, it becomes extremely painful for parents and the child. Vidya Balan had to raise this child. It was not the question of the child, it was the question of her existence for which she has struggled, fought and left her love. Vidya is sensational in the movie, she performs her role effortlessly. Middle-aged ravaged roles suit her. She should not try to look young and sexy. Keep it Simple Vidya.

Should we watch the movie or not? Go and explore for yourself the brilliance of Balki, the cinematography, music, the look, feel and the appeal of the movie.