A Little Bit of Heaven (2011)

If you don’t mind watching romcoms on a Saturday morning, this sappy movie can be watched atleast in parts. The movie hasn't got good reviews, so if you are particular about them please give the movie a miss.

It is nice to see the lead character Marley (played by Kate Hudson) have a genuine and intelligent sense of humour - she laughs easily, she can make others laugh and she has an excellent approach towards life. For a variety of reasons, women prefer to laugh at what men have to say rather than make them laugh.

The relationship between Marley and her mother and the daughter is done well. When Marley complains to her friend and colleague Lucy about how her mother drives her crazy, Lucy tells her – “Duh. That’s what mothers do.”

Towards the end of the movie, there’s a scene where Marley’s mother is driving her back home and has just smiled and told her, "That's what daughters do." in response to something Marley said.

Marley: "Will you help me plan my funeral?"
Marley's mom: "Sure."
Marley: "'Cause I don't want it to be some somber affair. I want it to be a celebration. I want to put the F U N back in funeral."

I question the generalization – all mothers and daughters drive each other crazy? What if one had role descriptions for personal situations (e.g. JD for mother in this household) and people complied / didn’t comply? Life would be more specific, and easier in many respects.

Watch the trailer here.

Hera Pheri (2000)

This movie is the adaptation of a Malayalam movie, and is sure to make you laugh. Wiki tells me that the movie has become a cult classic, and rightly so.

While I always remembered that Tabu’s character is called Anuradha, I was suddenly reminded of a scene from this movie last week. It features a telephone, Baby bhaiya and several callers.

:-)

Taking offence…

…becomes quite easy when it has something to do with the big screen. Communities, business houses, actors – all of them are quick to react based on what is shown about them. Taking offence is about telling the audience the stereotype / portrayal is untrue. This has its merits, and limitations.

Deepika’s accent in “Chennai Express” is causing angst among South Indians Tamilians, even when the entire cast and crew of the movie is South Indian – save for SRK.

“Billu Barber” was renamed to “Billu” because the barber community raised objection. Muslims and kathak dancers took offence when “Vishwaroopam” was to be released. As for “Being Cyrus”, a few Parsis took offence.

Zandu balm makers Emami took offence at the song “Munni Badnaam Hui” and Malaika later endorsed the product. Rooh afza makers took offence when YJHD released - the lead character had unflattering things to say about the drink.

There were objections raised to the spoof on Doordarshan's music in "Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara".

Manoj Kumar took offence at his portrayal in “Om Shanthi Om”. Nearly 6 years after its release, the man is still going strong with his protest.

Given that movies are about creating impressions that can be viewed repeatedly and by a large audience, everybody is keen that the 'right' impression is created. Compare all of this with Brad Pitt being banned in China because he acted in “Seven years in Tibet” or Richard Gere being permanently banned in China for his support to the Dalai Lama.

To me, taking a stand (and a clever sense of humour) seems more valuable.

Govinda music

Recently, I saw a photo doing the rounds on facebook that spoke of how it feels like we are back in the '90s. Well, Madhuri Dixit is back in Bollywood and Sanjay Dutt is back in jail – that’s where the similarity ends. I am not the teenager I used to be, and I don't feel nostalgic when I think of the rotten and often raunchy music from the '90s.

As you can see, the title of the post has nothing to do with the original Govinda and rasa lilas.

This morning, I got reminded of this song.

“Main Apni Shaadi Mein Na Jaun Meri Marzi
 Main Pairon Se Table Bajawaau Meri Marzi

 Main Kutubameenar Pe Ghar Banawaau Meri Marzi”

As a teenager, I laughed at the first line - ‘bunking’ one’s wedding came across as daring and different, and I had never bunked classes. As an adult, the line and its repeated usage of “Meri marzi” makes me think of the word ‘loser’ readily. Marzi is all about rights / wishes and associated freedom. Where are the duties?

The song makes for awful listening, yet I'll let you go ahead. Don't miss the children who give Govinda company.



When I was even younger, I mostly couldn’t stand Govinda – those were the days when the vulgar ‘Sarkay liyo khatiya’ and its likes were big hits. The dance steps were atrocious, and even fine dancers like Karisma and Govinda couldn’t save the song for me.

See for yourself.



This ‘item’ song is better. This is mostly attributable to the presence of Ms. Dixit (as she was known in those days). Strangely, this is when I noticed for the first time how expressive Govinda really is.



When David Dhawan decided to exercise his marzi and move on to Salman Khan, Govinda's career received a jolt. He has still not recovered fully from it. As for his stint in politics, I think he got away by singing "Meri Marzi" there as well.

Post his comeback, he played an IIM-A alumnus and serenaded Katrina. Ironically, this was in a David Dhawan movie starring Salman Khan as the lead hero.

I am not sure why this post has developed into a full-fledged post on Govinda (my intent was quite different). I remember reading in magazines how close he was to his mother, how her death affected him deeply and how he talks to his dead mother.

To the humble actor who arrives late on sets - what's next?

Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013)

A few years ago, there was a controversial episode in “Koffee with Karan” where Deepika spoke candidly about her ex-boyfriend Ranbir Kapoor. Ranbir came across as a momma's boy, and that's a post for another day.

On momma's boys, i.e.

Today, Deepika and Ranbir are good friends. Recently, Ranbir’s mother Neetu (who reportedly disapproved of Deepika) warmly hugged Deepika. Why not? Deepika is on a roll with “Cocktail” and “Race 2” being declared as hits. Now, YJHD is the third-biggest grosser ever in Bollywood. It makes sense to be good to her, no?

This is my teaser post on the movie. As expected, many songs from the movie are still stuck in my mind even if I was disappointed with their sudden appearance. The songs are picturised really well, and the movie is worth watching just for them.

A group of three friends (Ranbir’s Bunny, Kalki’s Aditi and Aditya’s Avi) are on a trip to Manali, and Deepika’s good-girl, bespectacled, "topper" Naina joins them on an impulse. She is worldly unwise unlike them, and can sing Bachchan songs and use her calm head when required.

At Manali, when Bunny tells Naina that if he had a heart, he would have fallen for her smile. He then tells her that she is the sort of girl one romances, not flirts with. Finally, he says - “Apne aap pe daya karna chod do. Apne aap se pyaar karna seekho.” 

One must admit that Bunny knows how to flirt with all of them.

Naina develops a liking for Bunny and doesn’t declare her love for him because she knows that Bunny doesn’t believe in commitment. A mature head on her young shoulders, she concentrates on her studies and goes on to open a clinic close to where her parents stay.

She also wisely invests in contact lenses, or perhaps lasik eye surgery. She doesn't let go of her competitiveness as well.

Aditi is silently in love with Avi, and finds her love not reciprocated. She decides to get married to a ‘boring’ engineer with a BMW rather than wait endlessly for the drunkard, fast-losing-money bar-owner (or was it a restaurant?). She has a destination wedding in Rajasthan, and that’s where Bunny and Naina meet after years.

Bunny's real name is Kabir Thapar. He is self-centered and doesn’t wish to get deeply involved with anybody. “Main udhna chahta hoon. Bas rukhna nahin chahta.” He is an only child, his mother is dead, he has a step-mother who he hates (a charming Tanvi Azmi) and his father (Farooq Sheikh) is the indulgent sort who silently praises his son for having the courage to lead his life the way he wants and for paying the price for indulging in his dreams. This is true in Bunny’s friendships as well. He finds it easier to deal with the non-demanding Aditi when compared to the demanding Avi who has expectations from his friend. 

In short, Bunny's commitment phobia is celebrated.

Much later, while spending time with Naina, he tells her - “Tum right nahin ho. Bas mujhse alag ho.” He rightly realises that she is very different from him. Why is he drawn to her then? She has turned drop-dead gorgeous, you see. She also mouths lines such as - “Zindagi mein kuch na kuch hamesha chooth jaayega. Isliye jo hai, usi ka mazaa le lo!”

Bunny scores when he points out her double-standards when it comes to her consumption of alcohol. Earlier, his father scores when he points out to Bunny's habit of lying.

Later, when in true Hindi movie style Bunny comes to woo his girl and asks for her hand, she asks him – “Tum bhaag to nahin jaaoge?” Bunny has rejected the offer to host a new TV reality show, and is jobless when he woos her. Conveniently, both his parents are dead by now and hence Naina has no in-laws to contend with. As for Bunny, he is suddenly willing to let go of his dynamic career and independence in order to be with a pretty doctor whose life begins and ends in the same locality, and who has a controlling mother.

Hindi movies obviously don’t deal with the operating nuts and bolts of daily life. Two months later, Bunny would be cursing his decision to be with someone so different from him. He will complain that he doesn't get time with Avi, Aditi and Aditi's husband. He will find his wife's structured career boring. The fact that his wife spends lots of time at her clinic will irritate him. Her clothes will be declared as revealing, and he will act possessive. He will (subtly or otherwise) ensure that Naina loses her friendship with Vikram.

It is good for Naina that like her, Bunny isn't cynical. Perhaps their marriage would work. The rooh afza would taste just as bad as before though. Hey, the manufacturers don't think so.

In terms of performances, it is Deepika who shines in her role and is the best part of the movie. This is high praise considering that she is paired opposite the oh-so-awesome Ranbir Kapoor. I loved Kalki’s Aditi – feisty and practical, and an absolutely fantastic friend. I didn’t think much of Aditya’s portrayal of Avi, and Rana Daggubati as Vikram is wasted in his bit role. 

As for Madhuri Dixit, with the pun (unintended?) on ‘via Agra’, she shows why she remains Queen Bee.