Rahul Dev Burman and his unique composition techniques!

Rahul Dev Burman and his unique composition techniques!

written by Souranath Banerjee.

The King of the 70s, the super-talented composer, a passionate singer, an actor, son of renowned singer/composer Sachin Dev Burman – the legend – Mr. R.D.Burman (Rahul Dev Burman) popularly known as Pancham Da is the man who revolutionized Bollywood Music Industry!

rahul-dev-burmanHe composed musical scores for 331 films (including Hindi, Bengali, Telugu, Tamil, Oriya and Marathi ) and four non-film albums; he was nominated 16 times for Filmfare awards and won thrice.

Not only did Rahul Dev Burman created new-age songs that has influences from Western, Latin, Oriental, and Arabic music,  his unique techniques  of composing music is legendary till date!

Here are some of his innovative and most unique music recording ideas that will remain with us forever:

1. In the song Chura Liya hai tumne from the film Yaadon Ki Baaraat (1973) Rahul Dev Burman used the sound of a spoon hitting a glass as a prelude!

2. In O Manjhi Re from the film Khushboo (1975), Rahul Dev Burman used bottles filled with water at different levels and by blowing into them created a hollow sound that was used as the background music throughout the song!

3. Rahul Dev Burman blew into beer bottles to produce the opening beats of melodious Mehbooba Mehbooba song in the blockbuster film Sholay (1975)!

4. In Master Ji Ki Aa Gayee Chitthhi from film Kitaab (1977) Rahul Dev Burman brought some desks from a classroom in the recording studio and banged them to compose the rhythm of the song!

5. In Rajesh Khanna, Zeenat Aman starer film Ajanabee (1974) Rahul Dev Burman improvised all the train sounds and interludes himself in the famous song Hum Dono Do Premi.

6. The mouth-organ played by Dev Anand in the famous song Hai Apna Dil To Awara from the film Solva Saal (1958) sung by Hemanta Mukherjee is actually played by Rahul Dev Burman himself.

7. Once Rahul Dev Burman made the singer Annette Pinto gargle to produce a unique type of background music while other times he created music by rubbing sand paper or hitting bamboo sticks together. 

Perhaps words like ‘legend’ and ‘genius’ were invented only to describe such personalities like Rahul Dev Burman.

And finally one of my all time favorite composition from the film Yaadon Ki Baaraat (1973) – the famous singing competition sequence with super-hit musical-numbers one after another!

Best of Stanley Kubrick

Best of Stanley Kubrick.

written by Souranath Banerjee.

Regarded as the most talented and versatile film-maker of all times, Stanley Kubrick indeed was responsible for evolving Cinema to new heights.

Inspiration to the likes of Martin ScorseseSteven SpielbergJames CameronWoody Allen,The Coen brothersRidley Scott – in 2000, BAFTA renamed their lifetime achievement award in the name of Stanley Kubrick!

He never won an Oscar in the ‘best director’ category (the only time he won was in 1972 for his film 2001:A Space Odyssey in ‘best visual effects’ category) but all his films are immensely popular and groundbreaking in their own ways.

Introducing visual effects never seen before, using steady cams for the first time ever, shooting with lenses meant to be used by NASA and combining all that with brilliant selection of music – Stanley Kubrick is unique and awesome.

All of Stanley Kubrick’s films are favorites of mine and this list almost covers his entire life’s work.

Ok then, here we go.

10. Spartacus (1960)

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcIMY1Ah3aw
Spatacus

A slave revolting against an empire – this film was the first of it’s kind.

Thanks to Kirk Douglas not only for his superb acting but primarily for looping in Kubrick as the replacement director for this film.

Won four Oscars Spartacus is one of the best historical film ever made.

Kubrick’s last Hollywood project.

9. The Killing (1956)

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiDUFG56wT4

the killling

Kubrick’s first so-called professional film that has the touch of his genius.

Only in his twenties Kubrick managed to create a superb suspense thriller. One of the best in it’s genre till date.

Good performances and a gripping story line.

A classic heist story told in style – film noir at it’s very best.

8. Lolita (1962)

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRVqgvW8100

lolita

Kubrick was bold enough to adopt Vladimir Nabokov’s controversial novel and that too successfully.

A young girl ‘a nymphet’ and a middle-aged professor (her step dad) – a scandalous affair in the making.

In those days when censor boards were proudly rigid only Kubrick could have done justice to such a plot. And believe me he did.

7. Paths of Glory (1957)

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmDA60X-f_A

paths of glory

WWI was never been shown in such realistic and non-glamorous way before this film.

According to many this film is Kubrick’s first masterpiece. Shot beautifully, superb script and great acting by Kirk Douglas.

An anti-war film that stands the test of time, one of my personal favorite.

A must watch.

6. Barry Lyndon (1975)

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lzSoKOs1fc

barry lyndon

An artistic, slow yet passionate film that got seven Oscar nominations and won four of them.

A simple story of an Irish man, his love and his passion shown in gorgeous details.

Kubrick’s craftsmanship as a director is simply extraordinary in this film; each frame looks like a painting.

 

5. Full Metal Jacket (1987)

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9f6JaaX7Wg

Full metal jacketThis time Kubrick tags the audience with a soldier’s journey- through the training till the actual war in Vietnam where as the poster says ‘the wind doesn’t blow, it sucks’.   

The first half connects us more strongly but the second half is equally important – the film is like an open-ended justification. (if that makes any sense at all).

The music is awesome – a special treat for war-film lovers.

4. Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964) 

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IE9CmX15PYA

Dr. Strangelove

A cup of fresh, dark, black comedy for you.

Only few filmmakers can take the most serious topic of the season and turn it into something hilarious. Kubrick yet again proves to be the master of it.

George C. Scott is too good in the film but Peter Sellers steals the show by playing three different characters in the film including Dr.Strangelove (as the title goes).

3. Eyes Wide Shut (1999)

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEfyfcEdW4Y

Eyes Wide Shut

The last film of Kubrick – a film that denies to clarify realism from fantasy.

It talks about sexuality in a way completely different from any other so-called sexual films.

The suspense that a single note of piano can create, the exquisite acting capabilities displayed by Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman – Kubrick’s ultimate swan song.

2. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2UWOeBcsJI

2001

According to many this film is Kubrick’s artistically most productive one.

A slow-paced film that tops the Sci-Fi genre (as most of Kubrick’s films tops their individual genre ratings).

Incredible advancements in visual effects (the film got an Oscar in this category), Kubrick not only makes a futuristic film but also enlightens the future of Cinema.

1. The Shining (1980)

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S014oGZiSdI

the shining

It’s time to get scared as Kubrick contributes to the horror genre.

The film is interpreted in many different ways but still at the core it is a terrific horror thriller and probably Kubrick’s best creation ever.

Great performances by Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall and the kid who knows how to shine – Danny Lloyd.

and (The ‘+1′ film is not necessarily the best but certainly the most crazy one. A must watch)

+1. A Clockwork Orange (1971)

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmm5jeeH8mY

Clockwork Orange

Extreme violence, painfully sexual, emotionally draining, often perverse and deeply wicked – according to me this is the ultimate film that Kubrick made in his lifetime.

A crazy film and hat’s off to Malcolm McDowell for such a performance.

Art of film making at it’s best, Kubrick’s disturbing yet entertaining satire will make you uncomfortably satisfied.

Famous quote by Stanley Kubrick.

“How could we possibly appreciate the Mona Lisa if Leonardo had written at the bottom of the canvas: ‘The lady is smiling because she is hiding a secret from her lover.’ This would shackle the viewer to reality, and I don’t want this to happen to 2001″

Chef (2014)

My ratings: 3/5

One thing is guaranteed, after watching the film Chef you are bound to feel hungry!

Director Jon Favreau (of Iron man fame) teases your taste buds and keeps tempting you with exotic variety of dishes throughout the film. Almost one third of the film consists of close-up shots of cooking – food being sliced, diced, chopped, minced, steamed, fried, roasted and garnished.

Well, that’s exactly what a Chef does … isn’t it?

Carl Casper, the Chef (Jon Favreau himself gets into the lead act) is artistically suffocated while working in a restaurant owned by hot-tempered, business-minded Riva (a brief encounter with Dustin Hoffman).

What follows is Carl’s comic twitter battle with famous food critic Ramsay Michel (Oliver Platt) who writes shit about his food; which eventually leads to Carl getting famous but also fired from his job.

According to Molly’s suggestion Carl (since unemployed) decides to spend more time with his young son Percy (Emjay Anthony). By the way Molly is the super hot waitress/receptionist played by none other than sexy Scarlett Johansson. Another brief appearance.

Now Carl’s curvy ex-wife Inez (Sofia Vergara) arranges an old food truck for him so that Carl can start his independent business, free to cook whatever he wants. With his trusted assistant Martin (John Leguizamo) by his side and Percy (his kid) as a helping hand Carl starts selling Cuban sandwiches. The tasty ones.

Some more tweets after, Carl is successful, happy and content, and also turns out to be a great family man. Wow!

A predictable storyline – the film has absolutely no surprises other than Sofia Vergara being restricted from being sexy and bitchy.

Overall a lighthearted, fun film which gives you just enough laughs and a great appetite.

Oh! and Robert Downey Jr. also makes his cool special appearance as Sofia Vergara’s ex-husband who humiliates Carl but also gets him the food truck.

Any other cameos to mention?

Ya – Russell Peters as a Maimi cop!

The genius of Ritwik Ghatak

The genius of Ritwik Ghatak

written by Souranath Banerjee.

Renowned Indian Film Director Ritwik Ghatak made his first film Nagarik in 1952 (even before Satyajit Ray filmed Pather Panchali) but unfortunately the film was released twenty four years later, after the death of the director himself.

Probably Nagarik was the first art film of such caliber in the history of Indian Cinema but certainly never got the recognition it deserved.

Did Ritwik Ghatak himself got the recognition he deserved?

Well, I guess so.

Ritwik Ghatak was awarded Padma Sri for Arts in 1970 by the government of India.

His name is always taken in the same breath along with Satyajit Ray and Mrinal Sen considering them as the Best Indian/Bengali directors of all times.

Bagged the National Award for the story of his film Jukti Tokko Aar Goppo (Reason, Debate and a Story).

The popular film Madhumati (staring Dilip Kumar and Vyjayanthimala, directed by Bimal Roy) got nominated in the Film Fare Award for the Best Story category and guess who wrote the story – Ritwik Ghatak.

Some of his films especially Meghe Dhaka Tara, Komal Gandhar, Subarnarekha, Ajantrik, Jukti Tokko Aar Goppo and Bari Theke Paliye are immensely appreciated and analysed by all the students in all the major film schools (especially in India).

Isn’t that enough recognition?

May be. May be not.

But one thing i can say with certainty – in this world some people doesn’t give a damn about other’s recognition and Ritwik Ghatak was one such genius.

His unique faming and composition techniques, his innovative sound designing, his realistic take on the society challenged the regular norms of film-making in that era.

In both conceptual and practical levels Ritwik Ghatak dared to be artistically different and he redefined Cinema in his own way.

Probably Ritwit Ghatak’s biggest recognition would be the influence he had (i am sure he still has) on the future generations of film makers including the likes of Kumar Shahani, Mani Kual, Mira Nair, Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Ketan Mehta, John Abraham among many others.

The genius of Ritwik Ghatak, his dedication towards cinema and his vision can be best expressed in his own words –

Film-making is not an esoteric thing to me. I consider film-making – to start with – a personal thing. If a person does not have a vision of his own, he cannot create.

I believe in committed cinema.
I mean, commitment in the broadest sense of the term.

Best of Roman Polanski

Best of Roman Polanski

written by Souranath Banerjee.

Known as the ‘truly international filmmaker’ Roman Polanski has evolved as a legendary name in the world of cinema.

Though nominated several times for the Oscars in the best director category Roman Polanski has won the award only once in 2002 for The Pianist.

Roman Polanski has directed four actors in performances that have earned them Oscar nominations: Ruth Gordon (Rosemary’s Baby), Jack Nicholson (Chinatown), Faye Dunaway (Chinatown), and Adrien Brody (The Pianist). Gordon and Brody have actually won the Academy Awards.

There has been many ups and downs in his personal life but as a filmmaker Roman Polanski has consistently given his best.

Listed are some of his best films till date. Let the fun begin!

10. Repulsion (1965)

Film Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iO0niGPR5S4

repulsion posterPolanski’s first film in English – a classic psychological thriller.

The first in Polanski’s Apartment Trilogy as well, it is the story of a beautiful girl (Catherine Deneuve) whose repulsion from reality later leads to dangerous alleys of hallucinations and murders.

Scary and twisted yet disturbingly brilliant. A trademark Polanski film indeed.

9. The Ghost (2010)

Fil m Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_AerBW0EcI

the ghost writer posterStylish political thriller that is justified only by Polanski’s superb direction.

A ghost writer (Ewan McGregor) is hired to work for the former British Prime Minister (Pierce Brosnan). Certain secrets get revealed and the writer’s life is in danger!

Suspense and thrill gets a new definition in this film.

8. Bitter Moon (1992)

Film Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69cGkcHEfuU

bitter moon posterPassion or lust, love or torture, victim or the master?

In this film the roles of the characters keep changing as Polanski plunges deep into our human psyche and create such conflicting emotions.

Brilliant performances, one of the most cool and sexy films i have ever seen. And yes, Emmanuelle Seigner is super hot.

7. Tess (1979)

Film Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvGZ5XXPCSM

Tess poster Nominated in the Oscars for six different categories, Tess is visually one of the most beautiful film ever made.

Adapted from Thomas Hardy’s novel “Tess of the d’Urbervilles” it is one of those rare moments when you like the film version even better than the book. 

A slow paced film that gives the perfect picture of rural Victorian England – a delight to watch.

6. Carnage (2011)

Film Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPX6-4Bo7XU

Carnage posterOne apartment as the location, four characters Jodie FosterKate WinsletChristoph Waltz and John C. Reilly as the cast – the film is unique in many ways.

A fight between the children leads to an even bigger drama between their parents.

Master director Polanski plays with the his brilliant cast like puppets and brings out the best in them.

5. Rosemary’s Baby (1968)

Film Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PewtQsgN5uo

Rosemarys Baby poster One of the most popular films of Roman Polanski and probably the best horror film ever made.

Mia Farrow‘s best performance and the second in Polanski’s Apartment Trilogy.

Pregnant wife and her unborn child’s safety is all that matters, isn’t it?

Well,  people can get even murdered to protect the mysterious baby!

4. Chinatown (1974)

Film Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T37QkBc4IGY

chinatown posterPrivate detective (Jack Nicholson) is hired to solve a mystery that gets too dangerous to handle.

This film reminds me of the old Film noirs that Hollywood used to make in the 40s and 50s – the best modern age  Film Noir.

Nominated for Oscars in eleven categories – won only for original screenplay.

3. Knife in the Water (1962)

FIlm Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaBa2Wj3gHk

the knife in the water posterRoman Polanski’s first feature film and it was nominated for the Oscar in the best foreign film category.

Unfortunately the same year Fellini’s 81/2 was also nominated.

But never the less Polanski showed in his very first film his class as a director.

A gripping tale of human psychology and emotions.

2. The Tenant (1976)

Film Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmhIMbdecEU

The tenant poster My personal favorite, very disturbing to watch, this film haunts you  for days after you have seen it.

The last in Polanski’s Apartment Trilogy and probably the most terrifying one.

Polanski acted himself as the main character and did a superb job.

Believe me, getting a new apartment can’t get more scarier than this.

1. The Pianist (2002)

Film Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_jE7-6Uv7E

The pianist posterFinally the film Roman Polanski is known for and it is undoubtedly his best film.

Won Oscar as the best director, the film is about a pianist who being a Jew in the times of second world war had to struggle for his life but his love for piano remained unaltered. Adrien Brody at his best.

A must watch.

and

(The ‘+1′ film is not necessarily the best but certainly the most crazy and innovative one. A must watch)

+1. Death and the Maiden (1994)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cnnz214wwkI

death and the maiden posterWith three characters and one location, a crazy story where you are never sure who is telling the truth – you are afraid to take sides.

A dark film that touches pain and trauma; outstanding performances by Sigourney WeaverStuart Wilson and the legendary Ben Kingsley.

A perfect Polanski thriller.

How to train your dragon 2 (2014)

My Ratings: 4/5

How to train your dragon 2 is Dream Work’s sequel to their earlier immensely popular film by the same name (of course without the ‘2’).

Think twice before you say ‘the sky is the limit’ since the Vikings from the island of Berk have no limitations when it comes to riding their dragons at lightning speed; soaring up through the clear blue sky either for an entertaining  sheep-scoring game or may be just for an adventurous ride in search of unknown territories.

In How to train your dragon 2 the bonding between Hiccup (voiced by Jay Baruchel) and his leathery pet dragon Toothless is undoubtedly the spine of the film but that’s not all – this sequel promises to be much bigger and better.

With voices of Gerard Butler, Cate Blanchett and Jonah Hill (just to name a few) and a superb story-line that’s amusing and emotional at the same time, How to train your dragon 2 successfully manages to awe not only their target audience group – the children but also the adults.

In one hand it is the touching story of reunion – Valka (who devoted her life to protect dragons) meets her family after twenty years – young Hiccup (her son) and Stoick, the Viking chief (her husband). A perfect little love story lost and found.

On the other hand it is the tale of an epic battle fought when an evil madman Drago Bludvist (Djimon Hounsou) challenges the Vikings with his dragon army.

How to train your dragon 2 has dragons of all shapes and sizes you can possibly imagine – from the two mammoth size alpha dragons who can freeze entire townships by their frosty breaths, to the little fun-loving dragon cubs impossible to tame.

Technically the best work in computer graphics I have seen till date.

Details in textures, super-smooth animation and brilliant camera work to give the audience the ultimate 3D experience especially in the numerous dragon-flying sequences.

Director Dean DeBlois and his team have done an amazing job.

Overall How to train your dragon 2 (in 3D) is visually spectacular, has a great story line and most importantly entertaining.

How often have you seen kids nagging their parents for a repeat show of a film while coming out of the cinema hall?

Do enjoy the show.

Film trailer link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9a4PvzlqoQ

Is Edge of Tomorrow just a Sci-Fi version of Groundhog Day?

Is Edge of Tomorrow just a Sci-Fi version of Groundhog Day?

written by: Souranath Banerjee

Well, the recently released Edge of Tomorrow (2014) is an action pact futuristic thriller where the human race (or rather Tom Cruise) fights the ambitious aliens to save our beloved planet.

The film is supposed to be inspired by the novel ‘All you need is kill’ by Hiroshi Sakurazaka.

Unlike most of the latest Sci-Fi action flicks which look more like amazing VFX show reels, Edge of Tomorrow does have a proper story line and believable performances – it’s actually a well made film.

The theme on which the film is based is that each time Private William Cage (Tom Cruise) dies, his day starts again! So basically no matter how many times and in how many ways Tom Cruise dies, the last day of his life gets repeated again and again and … again.

Yes, the first time I saw Edge of Tomorrow’s trailer it struck me too – the core plot very much resembles the good old comedy Groundhog Day (1993).

If you remember Phil (Bill Murray), the weatherman was repeating one particular day of his life (the Groundhog Day) again and again in the small town of Pennsylvania.

Though Edge of Tomorrow and Groundhog Day are films of totally different genres and are made for entirely different target groups, but still they share the same basic theme or story structure based on repetition of one single day in a man’s life till some desired purpose is achieved.

In the case of Tom Cruise he repeats his first day in the war zone till he becomes an expert warrior and finds the clue to destroy the enemy. And for Bill Murray I suppose the repetition was just to make him a better man.

In the Edge of Tomorrow the director Doug Liman gives us enough logical explanations of Tom Cruise’s repetitive phenomenon (the alpha male alien’s blood being splattered on him and blah blah blah) though it kind of makes sense in the film’s futuristic circumstances.

But surprisingly enough there was no such clarifications given when poor Bill Murray got stuck in time. Only a couple of decades back director Harold Ramis didn’t even bother to come up with a reason for such a concept of repetition and amazingly we (the audience) never did look for any explanations!

It is kind of obvious in a comic way that Phil (Bill Murray) has to become a better man, be compassionate and kind, and find love and then only he can break the spell of repetition. Groundhog Day is something special that doesn’t need any logical theories and justifications, and we still love it.

Anyways, except for the core theme Edge of tomorrow and Groundhog day are completely different films in all other aspects.  Both of them are entertaining in their own ways. Better watch them.

My only concern is that Hollywood shouldn’t start repeating itself on the same concepts again and again and again.

 

The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)

My Ratings: 4.5/5

The Grand Budapest Hotel is the most stylish comedy I have seen in years.

Don’t expect intellectual witty humor – on the contrary the treatment is often slapstick but the classy execution of the story, the richness in each and every frame and the dead-pan honesty of the characters make the film a classic in it’s own way.

The story telling can’t possibly be more bizarre and direct at the same time.

It all starts when a girl comes to a park and looks at a bust of a man titled as ‘Author’. We are quickly taken back in time as we see this ‘Author’ in flesh (Tom Wilkinson) who recounts his younger days (becoming Jude Law) when he met Mr.Moustafa, the owner of the Grand Budapest Hotel (played by F.Murray Abraham) – who again tells his stories in flash back. Wow!

The film is set in Zubrowka, a fictional place somewhere in Europe where the once majestic Grand Budapest Hotel stands tall.

Young Mr.Moustafa named Zero (played by Tony Revolori) is been appointed as a Bellboy under the wing of then-concierge of the Grand Budapest Hotel – Mr.Gustav (Ralph Fiennes have given a superb performance).

Mr.Gustav is a refined man who is in a habit of serving the old, rich and blonde guests (especially the female guests) of the hotel in many intimate ways. He soon comes to know that such a rich beloved old acquaintance of his named Madame D. (Tilda Swinton) has passed away leaving him a painting worth a fortune. But of course Madame D’s family won’t give up their claim that easily.

Once the basic plot is set the rest is just a brilliant visual treat of the epic adventures of Mr.Gustav and Zero as they struggle to legally own the priceless painting and also to survive the wrath of Madame D’s son Dmitri (Adrien Brody) and his henchman Jopling (Willem Dafoe).

Honestly I feel this story line (nothing exceptional) wouldn’t have had any influence on the audience if Wes Anderson wasn’t the director of the film.

Wes Anderson is reputed for his unique technique of emotionally detaching the audience from the characters of his films – it’s like you can see them but rarely feel for them. Yet the master filmmaker in most of his films manages to enthrall us by his sheer cinematic brilliance.

This time Wes Anderson’s obsession for perfect production design, bold color schemes, faultless framing and as always the cheeky humor brings out an unique creation. The Grand Budapest Hotel is simply wonderful to watch, probably his best work till date.

Excellent camera work by Robert D.Yeoman (Wes Anderson’s favorite cinematographer) and a special mention of Adam Stockhausen for outstanding production designing. Alexandre Desplat, one of the best composers of this age has done justice in the music department.

The film can either be interpreted as the saga of The Grand Budapest Hotel’s sad legacy or it can be about the giddy tale of Madame D’s inheritance or maybe it is simply the adventurous accounts of M.Gustav and his loyal Bellboy Zero.

The Grand Budapest Hotel is a must watch for all cinema lovers, especially recommended for the fans of Wes Anderson and Ralph Fiennes.

Film Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Fg5iWmQjwk

Filmistaan (2014)

My Rating: 4/5

Hindustan … Pakistan … but … where is this Filmistaan!?

Filmistaan is actually a dream country where there are no boundaries, no religion, no politics, no caste – people only get together to enjoy the magic of cinema.

Debutant director Nitin Kakkar in his National Award Winning film Filmistaan has successfully created such a magical environment where the only thing that binds people together is their common love for films.

Pakistani militants hoping to kidnap some foreign film-makers by mistake take hostage of an Indian guy named Sunny (the assistant director of that same film crew).

Sunny aka Sukhwinder Arora (superbly enacted by Sharib Hashmi) is a major Bollywood buff, an aspiring actor and a super jovial fellow by nature.

Though kidnapped in Pakistan and unsure of his fate Sunny never sighs away from delivering cheesy filmy dialogues or from imitating famous Bollywood stars. A man with a genuine smile and a good heart he quickly become friends with the villagers especially with Aftab and his father (the people who sheltered him).

Aftab (Inaamulhaq) who is also crazy about Bollywood (by profession sells pirated dvds) promises his friend Sunny to help him escape from the clutches of the two on-guard Pakistani militants Mehmood (Kumud Mishra) and Jawaad (Gopal Dutt).

A thrilling attempt to reach the border of India, a special bond of friendship tested to its limits, a terrorist who chooses to become human first – a very entertaining film that portrays all that and much more.

What I love most about this film is that Filmistaan deals with pretty sensitive issues but always with a divine comic touch.

Be it the hilarious India-Pakistan cricket match episode or the comic making of the terrorist video; even the treatment of the stupid Pakistani Police force in the film, they are neither interested in Militant activities nor aware of the hostage situation – all they need is enough dvds of porn!

Filmistaan also raises the genuine issue of the depressing situation of Pakistani Entertainment industry. What is the use of talent if there isn’t any available platform to showcase it? In Pakistan people thrive only on Bollywood films. Actors, singers and other talented performers have no other option but to come to India for work.

But again if you see in a positive way Filmistaan as a film is a celebration of one of the biggest film industry in the world – Bollywood.

In Pakistan when films like Maine Pyar Kiya and Kuch Kuch Hota hai are shown – people get so engrossed in the story, they love the actors and actresses, they simply adore the emotions. For those two-three hours people seize to belong to Pakistan or Hindustan – they only exist in their beloved magic world called Filmistaan.

The film ensures a completely innovative take on the India-Pakistan issue. Great acting performances overall; especially the dynamic, often hilarious Sharib Hashmi. Sensible music by Arijit Dutta and good camera work by Subhransu Das.

I enjoyed Filmistaan … hope you enjoy it too.

Film trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-0LWnz8Ut0