Still from the film Parched

Film Review: Parched

Director: Leena Yadav

Music: Hitesh Sonik

Cast: Tannishtha Chatterjee,Radhika Apte, Surveen Chawla

Ratings: 2.5 stars

Parched is a story of patriarchal tyranny. Of four oppressed but courageous women Rani, (Tannishtha Chatterjee) a widow, Lajjo, (Radhika Apte) who is childless, Bijlee (Surveen Chawla) , a sex worker and Janaki (Lehar Khan) a child bride.

The film proves that India lives in multiple centuries simultaneously so while this village is reformed to possess mobile phones their dream is to own a dish TV so that their men will return home early.

What works: is the spirit and the urge to break shackles. Shot by the renowned Russell Carpenter of Titanic every frame is a treat to the eyes.

What does not: is the story because we have watched these issues (oppression, promiscuity, tyranny, bi-sexuality and sexual gratification) addressed in Rudali, Aastha, Mirch Masala or Rihaee and Fire. The climax is somewhat crazy where the women in search of happiness drive away in a bicycle cart into the rainbow and to feel empowered let go off their vanity and cut their hair.

Would men ever do that, no and it is time to question that why do women need to emphasize their freedom, should not they be taking it for granted?

All the characters are believable and all the performances sensitive. Tannishtha Chatterjee and Radhika Apte are acclaimed actresses but this time Surveen Chawla has the better role and makes a better impact.

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Still from the film Banjo

Film Review: Banjo

Director: Ravi Jadhav

Music: Vishal-Shekhar

Cast: Riteish Deshmukh, Nargis Fakhri

Rating: 1 star

A slum dweller and his friends work on mundane jobs for a living and in the evening for refreshment play a band at local events. They are untrained but talented and are discovered by a musician of Indian origin in America who has to create an album with new sound.

A friend sends her what he has recorded in the by-lanes of Mumbai at the annual Ganpati festival and she is charged. She packs her bags to arrive in Mumbai to search the band and offer them a platform. They are ready for the experience but there is a communication problem.

Nargis Fakhri does not speak their language but through trial and error they somehow strike a chord and deliver the album she is looking for.

If only director Ravi Jadhav had also managed to communicate with his audience. Sadly all he manages is to create colorful ambience, great posters and cacophony in the name of music. It is difficult to believe that this is the same man who made acclaimed Marathi films like Bal Gandharva and Natarang.

There is not a single, soulful moment in the film that bonds you to the character or the story. No attention to logic, detail or sensibility. Nothing works about the film, not the music, not Riteish Deshmukh unfortunately and certainly not Nargis Fakhri, can she please rethink of a career option.

@bhawanasomaaya

My previous posts can be visited on the following link:

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Academy Award winner Ron Howard returns to direct the latest bestseller in Dan Brown’s (Da Vinci Code) billion-dollar Robert Langdon series, Inferno, which finds the famous symbologist (again played by Tom Hanks) on a trail of clues tied to the great Dante himself.  When Langdon wakes up in an Italian hospital with amnesia, he teams up with Sienna Brooks (Felicity Jones), a doctor he hopes will help him recover his memories.  Together, they race across Europe and against the clock to stop a madman from unleashing a global virus that would wipe out half of the world’s population.

The film is the sequel to The Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons, and stars Omar Sy, Sidse Babett Knudsen, Ben Foster, along with Tom Hanks, Felicity Jones and Irrfan Khan. The film has been shot extensively across locations in Italy, Istanbul and Budapest.

@bhawanasomaaya

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(L to R) Motu, Sushant Singh Rajput and Patlu on the trailer launch of Motu Patlu King of Kings.

India’s favorite awesome twosome from Furfurinagar, Motu Patlu are all set to enthrall children with their maiden theatrical outing – Motu Patlu King of Kings. The magnum opus is Viacom18 Motion Pictures’ first ever homegrown 3D stereoscopic animated movie based on the very popular Lotpot characters Motu Patlu currently featuring on Nickelodeon. Releasing on October 14, 2016 – the  producers are targeting for a family audience and have roped in Sushant Singh Rajput playing Dhoni in his biopic MS Dhoni – The Untold Story as the brand ambassador. What is further interesting is that some of the leading names from the Indian film industry have also been roped in for this movie like Vishal Bhardwaj, Gulzar and Sukhwinder Singh, who has lent his voice for the soundtrack.

Motu greeting Sushant Singh Rajput with his favourite dish Samosa.

@bhawanasomaaya

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Mira Nair with Lupita Nyong’o

Internationally acclaimed filmmaker, Mira Nair’s forthcoming drama, Disney’s Queen of Katwe is all set to release in India on 7 October, 2016. The movie will premiere at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival in September, 2016.

Based on real-life events, the film chronicles the inspiring story of an underdog from the streets of rural Uganda. She’s a young girl whose world rapidly changes when she is introduced to the game of chess; as a result of the support from her family and community she develops confidence and determination to pursue her dream to become an international chess champion.

The film stars Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o, Golden Globe nominee David Oyelowo and newcomer Madina Nalwanga and it is said that Lupita Nyong’o read just ten pages of the script and was bowled over by the film. She decided she had to do the part and sent an email to her agent to block her dates.

Are we surprised, not really because Mira Nair has that effect on most people.

@bhawanasomaaya

My previous posts can be visited on the following link:

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India Film Project is a filmmaking challenge with a twist where participants from across the globe create a film on a given theme and within a time-limit of 50 hours, starting from September 16, 8pm to September 18, 10pm. The submission will be viewed by an unparalleled jury and showcased at different festivals globally.

The grand film event has now moved to the film making capital of country, Mumbai and will be held on October 01 at Hall 6, NESCO Goregaon and more than 5000 filmmakers from different cities will fly down to attend this gala. The eminent jury this year comprises Madhur Bhandarkar, Nagesh Kukunoor, Sriram Raghavan and Southern Super director Vetri Maaran.

There are so many festivals but the truth is for cinema buffs every festival makes a difference.

@bhawanasomaaya

My previous posts can be visited on the following link:

http://bhawanasomaaya.blogspot.in