Tag Archives: Sumit Gulati

Aligarh (2015)

Aligarh review

written by Souranath Banerjee

A cinema not just about gay rights, it’s about humanity. 

My Ratings: 4.2/5.

On the night of 8 February 2010, two men forced their way into a house in Aligarh where two adult people were having consensual sex. These hired goons who later claimed to be from a TV channel, took pictures and videos while illegally invading the privacy of aligarh-poster-1someone’s bedroom, and in the process humiliating and even beating up the residents.

It was the house of Dr. Shrinivas Ramchandra Siras, and he was ambushed by these local TV-channel camera crew while having sex with a rickshaw puller; gay sex to be specific.

And effectively the very next day, the 64 year old professor Dr. Siras, specializing in Marathi literature and also the head of the Department of Modern Indian Languages at Aligarh Muslim University, was suspended from his post because of his illicit misconduct resulting to such a scandal.

Fortunately such an act of atrocity, discrimination and injustice was noticed and denounced by those few, who still believe in terms like justice and equality. With the help of efficient lawyers a case was filed against the University and eventually the verdict was in favor of Dr. Siras. But probably, the man was too heart broken to enjoy his victory.

aligarh-poster-3The film Aligarh is a sincere account of Dr. Siras’s life; a calm and composed man by nature, a poet who won the literary award by Maharashtra Sahitya Parishad in 2002. He loved to listen to Lata Mangeshkar songs with a few many drinks at night till he gets drunk.

And Manoj Bajpayee as Dr. Siras has given the performance of a lifetime. Such emotions in his eyes, the way he talks in a slow intellectual manner, his overall body language, even the way he moves his feet enjoying the song ‘Aap Ki Nazron Ne Samjha’ in Lata Mangeshkar’s voice – pure brilliance! 

Rajkummar Rao surely did support Bajpayee very well, the young reporter’s role was rewardless yet so important from the film’s perspective. Ashish VidyarthiSumit GulatiDilnaz Irani all were at their best. 

Almost 2 hours of screen time, slow paced, long single takes,  aligarh-poster-2emotional and brutally honest; the sheer authenticity and conviction of storytelling is enough to make this biopic a special one.

And exceptionally well directed by Hansal Mehta (this is even better than Mehta’s earlier two triumphs Shahid and City Lights).  

Based on the last two months of a man who was the victim of the university campus politics, framed by his own colleagues out of utter jealousy, a man whose life was turned upside down just because he was a homosexual.

‘I spent two decades here. I love my University. I have always loved it and will continue to do so no matter what. But I wonder if they have stopped loving me because I am gay’

Dr. Siras was a man who loved his life and expected to be loved back.

The film Aligarh has managed to keep alive his sentiments, it has the same poetic feel that so resembles Dr. Siras’s nature.

Poster courtesy:  www.bollywoodmdb.comwww.goldposter.com

Titli (2014)

Titli review.

written by Souranath Banerjee

My Ratings: 4.2/5.

Throughout the film, even when there is no actual violence shown, there is a sense of muffled tension and subdued hostility that tends to suffocate the audience.

Finally i had the privilege to watch the most anticipated film of this year!

Titli-posterA film that was completed mid last year (2014) and since then it has being taking the rounds of numerous international festivals including the prestigious Cannes Film Festival; a film that makes Indian Cinema proud – Titli.

‘har family, family nehi hoti’

Residing in the dark underbelly of Delhi is this unique family of three brothers and their retired elderly father, who by profession are all car-jackers. They forcefully stop cars and violently rob the people inside.

The youngest brother among them is named Titli.

Though Titli regularly takes part in the dangerous episodes of their brutal family profession, he secretly has plans to escape. And his quest for freedom is what propels the dark film ahead – into more darkness!

Directed by Kanu Behlco-produced by Dibakar Banerjee and Yash Raj Films, Titli is probably the most realistic and intense cinema of our recent times.

Titli-poster1

Throughout the film, even when there is no actual violence shown, debutant director Kanu Bhel has managed to maintain a sense of muffled tension and subdued hostility that tends to suffocate the audience.

And that’s the most important achievement of Titli.

Brilliant work by cinematographer Siddharth Diwan and editor Namrata RaoThe claustrophobic feel of the dingy rooms in comparison to the wide shots of Delhi-skyscrapers make young Titli’s yearning for freedom more real and desirable.

Apart from excellent direction and script, the reason for the film’s success is the brilliant performances by each and every actor. Thanks to casting director Atul Mongia.

Debutant Shashank Arora has done a terrific job in portraying the anger and ruthlessness, and also the frustration and helplessness of the lead character Titli.  

Titli-poster2Shivani Raghuvanshi, also introduced in this film has shown great potential. Amit SialLalit Behl and Sumit Gulati are all spot on.

But Ranvir Shorey is one actor who has reinvented himself through this film, or may be been utilized to his full potential – outstanding performance!   

The actors were allowed to explore the scenes and improvise as there was no proper scripts provided on the set!

Gritty circumstances and such casual aggressiveness, unpredictable characters and their selfish motives, so damn real and mean.

Titli is an experience, disturbing and totally worth it.

poster curtsey: newznew.com/www.ebharat.in