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December 21, 2009

Rocket Singh - cinema as it should be!




Rocket Singh was unique even before its release. For the first time people were talking about the scripting directing team more than the cast. And why not? Jaideep Sahni had written Khosla Ka Ghosla, Bunty Aur Babli and Chak de India, while Shimit had directed Ab Tak Chappan and Chak de India. Of course the fact that star in the making Ranbir Kapoor was playing Rocket Singh only upped the ante. Here are my brief thoughts on this lovely film:

Most film-makers can do lavish and plush and wow are senses, in fact once they taste success, they want to go for the big show and the standard graph for any new director is of progressively bigger and bigger films. In contrast, Shimit is on a downsizing trend. After the blockbuster success of Chak De India, he and Jaideep craft an intimate look at a lower-middle class boy, his aspirations and his failures and successes. Even the business environment he enters is that of the door-to-door salesmen, who celebrate their minor triumphs with office parties that are more real than any seen on screen in a big studio film.

Ranbir Kapoor goes from strength to strength and as Harpreet Singh, a guy who barely passes his college exams but has aspirations (and who does not?), he comes up with another ace performance. He is ably assisted by Prem Chopra who plays his father in the most heartwarming and authentic role he has played since and including the time he ripped bodices as villain in the 70s, Guahar Khan as the office receptionist, Mukesh Bhatt as the office boy, Shahzahn Padamsee as the much muted love interest, Naveen Kaushik as Nitin the master salesman, Manish Chaudhary as the boss, and D Santosh as the porn watching Giri! Each character is well etched and the story moves forward slowly but in a very muted and low key manner. When Harpreet decides to freelance from his office premises and adds more and more people to his team, giving each one an equal cut, he is like a child who does not realize what these percentages mean! And the staff meetings are held in dhabas or on rooftops in a furtive and hurried manner.

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12 comments:

Khanabadosh said...

Haven't seen this but I have seen Avatar :)

Pardesi said...

I have not seen Avatar - to ab aap hi likh do ek chota sa AVATART ka review?

khanabadosh said...

You know how much I write. I can write 5-6 lines if I am arguing or stating my position :)

It sure is a good watch for its visuals but story wise it is long and could have been trimmed in middle portions. I saw it on normal 3D, will probably go for IMAX 3d when all the noise stabalize.

Pardesi said...

You only write when your head is on the block and as assignment is due - got it! Ab 3 Idiots ke time aapki writing ko flush out karenge :D

Khanabadosh said...

Ha ha ha..

BTW taran review of 3 Idiots is up
3 Idiots

Pardesi said...

Thanks! I have made a new post of the review. He has made all the right noises so film should be HUGE.

Angelica said...

Haven't seen this movie yet, but I saw Avatar in 3D. :) Special effects ARE impressive, but no more than in any video game. The plot is weak and boring: old, familiar Dances With Wolves and Pocahontas rolled in one with the addition of "they-killed-green-mother-goddess-on-their-planet-and-now-came-to-do-the-same-on-ours" twist. Very Al Gorish and environmentally/politically/Hollyweirdly celebs *correct*. There's no more to it, really, besides the usual Hollywood hating on their own country and military-the bad missionary army comprised of evil, gladly using napalm and racial slurs ("blue monkeys", when it comes to natives) Americans only. In a normal plot of a movie that takes place in the 22nd century, the invading force would be at least half Chinese, Asian, African, Mexican or...Russian (check the birth rates for America and dying Europe).
BTW: Does Bollywood hate India and its military as much? No? I thought not. Anyway, there are lots of cliches, and stereotypes, and blue avatars, and natives flying on pterodactyls, and brontosaurs (reminds me of British movie Dinotopia), and... Sigourney Weaver as expected in Cameron's movie.

Pardesi said...

Angelica - thanks for your take on Avatar. I think the politics of Hollywood is crystal clear and has been for a long time. The extreme leftist and often Luddite nature colors all Sci-Fi films. I think Avatar has to be evaluated not for its "plot" but for the imagining of a new world and the effort put in to realize this imagination. And I say this before seeing the film. My opinion may change after I see it!

Angelica said...

Avatar is a must see and makes big impression when you are watching it in 3D. Enjoy while it lasts. When it's over, it leaves no message in your mind, no lessons learned, and no desire to see it again, really.
It was complete opposite for me with Lord of The Rings they dare to compare it with.Not only have I watched it a dozen of times, it also prompted me to re-read all Tolkien's books again and again.
BTW: The 2002 movie(series?)Dinotopia, that Avatar has stolen quite a few ideas from (it's the same genre), is more worthy (very nice story line)without such countless fancy-shmancy CGI inserts.

Back to your wonderful post. LOL. Thank God for Comcast's Bollywood on Demand- I'm catching up on all new movies and will see Rocket Singh soon.

Pardesi said...

But then did Titanic leave an impression? I have a feeling I will enjoy Avatar more. Definitely catch Rocket - you will like it. Simple, sweet and message laden story :-)

Khanabadosh said...

You will enjoy Avatar. There are lot of things but I think story and climax are not its USP.
I think Titanic had more emotional connect for an avarage audience.

Pardesi said...

Maybe I am not part of the average, Titanic made me laugh in the "heavy" emotional moments!

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