Sing Geetham – A Golden Musical That Restores Faith in Storytelling

Some films entertain. Some make you think. And once in a while, a film comes along that quietly touches your heart. Sing geetham is one such rare gem.

The biggest reason I walked into the theatre was, of course, Singeetam Srinivasa Rao garu himself. At the incredible age of 94, he continues to dream, create and surprise us. This is the filmmaker who gave us timeless classics like Aditya 369, one of India's earliest science-fiction films, the unforgettable silent masterpiece Pushpaka Vimanam, Bhairava Dweepam, Brundavanam, and several other unique Telugu and Kamal Haasan classics. His storytelling has always been refreshingly different.

The second reason was Ayaan. I had first seen him perform as the lead vocalist with Band Capricio a few years ago and was completely mesmerized by his singing. I was curious to see whether he could carry the same magic onto the screen and he absolutely did. His acting feels as effortless and sincere as his singing.

I walked into the theatre with very few expectations, but walked out with a heart full of admiration.

A Story Wrapped in Fantasy

The story is set in a mystical mining village called Kuberapuram with gold beneath its soil, and some unknown power leading to unexpected repercussions - that makes people mysteriously sing instead of speaking. It is whimsical, magical and unlike anything we usually saw in Telugu cinema. I will try to express my love towards the movie without revealing any spoilers...

Like any other human on this earth, every one in that village has their ulterior motives to earn riches by hook or by crook, except some pure souls like Gauri - who is fighting for well being of the village and for the one single tree that is like mother figure to her... Pratap Mannem ( Ayaan ) enters the village and what happens between him , Renu, Renu's father and the business deal that leads to all the whimsical happenings... What has happened in the past that may have cast an unwanted and unwarranted curse on the village? What is the solution and how can one stop it - all these be better watched on large screens!

As the film unfolded, its message gradually found its way into my heart. By the time it ended, I realized I wasn't just watching a fantasy but was reflecting on our own world and the values we often overlook. Here are a few things I truly loved about the film, along with some of the key takeaways that stayed with me long after the credits rolled.

What Stayed With Me...

• A meaningful message hidden beneath a fantasy

Beyond gold and greed, the film beautifully touches upon caste discrimination, social inequality, exploitation of nature, and how wealth often widens the gap between the rich and the poor. These themes are never preachy - they emerge naturally through the narrative.

• Refreshingly natural characters

One of my favourite aspects was how authentically everyone looked. Especially the women, who appeared with little or no makeup, allowing their emotions to shine through naturally. It was beautiful to watch characters who felt so real, as real as the mother nature...

• Music that becomes the language of the film 

Creating a musical where conversations seamlessly become songs is no easy feat. Huge credit to Singeetam garu for writing and directing such a challenging concept. Every song moves the story forward.

My personal favourite is the beautiful sequence between Gauri and Pratap - "Ee Kotha Feeling Ne Emantaro." It carries an innocence that reminds me of melodies from another era.

• Children give the film its soul

The presence of children in the movie added an emotional heart beat to it. Children who are pure souls may also get misdirected - well not revealing any spoilers but watch the tale to know more

• A refreshing break from formula cinema

 During the time of massive 100 crore movie budgets, commercial formulas and big pan India banners with a forced glamour of a vulgar item song infused in it,  this movie feels like a respite from all that . It reminds us that good storytelling never goes out of style

• A film that restored my faith in Telugu cinema

 It is not an exaggeration if I say that Sing geetham revived the hope in me , that good stories and enjoyable experiences can be brought back to Tollywood. As a person who was not watching Telugu movies much, this movie restored my faith and redeemed tollywood for me!

• Like Stepping in to a Chandamama Storybook

The entire film feels like reading one of those magical children's fables we grew up with. At times, it even reminded me of the timeless tale of King Midas - but with its own unique soul.

A Truly Golden Ending

The ending literally felt "Golden" and the final song and the concluding moments gave me goosebumps. To know more you surely must watch and know for yourself. What made the experience even more special was watching it with my daughter. She was deeply moved by the ending, and was almost in tears. Throughout the film, we found ourselves humming the songs - even during the interval, and continued talking about them long after we left the theatre.

That's perhaps the biggest compliment I can give to the film.

It gently reminds both children and adults to value kindness, humanity, nature and Mother Earth...

8 AM Metro - A Gentle Ride Through Unspoken Emotions

The moment I started watching this 2023 film, I was struck by a thought - how we seem to have a dearth of soft, warm, feel-good films today. Everything now leans towards overstimulation, violence, or excessive skin show.

The film’s premise is simple, yet deeply layered. It touches upon issues like anxiety, panic attacks, and depression with quiet sensitivity.

                            

Two strangers meet, greet, and feel an instant connection - not an entirely new premise for Bollywood. But here, that connection stems from their vulnerabilities, their incompleteness. Two poetic souls - Preetam and Iravati - find themselves drawn to each other.

Preetam, played by Gulshan Devaiah, is someone with a growing love for poetry and literature. Iravati, portrayed by Saiyami Kher, writes not just as a hobby, but as a way to release her thoughts and converse with herself. As a poet, I found her character deeply relatable. There is something profoundly comforting in watching her pick up her pen after a long, mundane day and simply pour her heart onto paper.

Preetam admires her - her poetry, her essence - while she begins to admire him, his life, and even his wife, Mrudula, who also writes poetry. Yet, as the film progresses, an underlying unease creeps in. Is there a hidden darkness behind Preetam’s effervescent smile? And is Iravati’s anxiety deeper than what meets the eye?

At times, the dialogues arrive unexpectedly - almost abruptly - without dramatic buildup. It feels more like a stage play unfolding in fragments. But perhaps that rawness works in the film’s favor.

One particular moment stayed with me - when Iravati questions why people wait until their deathbeds or moments of tragedy to express their feelings:

"लोग अपने जज़्बात कहने के लिए हमेशा किसी आखरी पल का इंतज़ार क्यों करते हैं?" [Why do people always wait until the last moment to express their feelings?]

One of many favorite conversations

Reflecting on her father’s death, she voices a thought many of us have quietly carried. A lifetime lived within society’s rigid frameworks, only to be flooded with regrets when time begins to slip away.

Preetam, an extreme introvert, struggles to open up. Iravati gently nudges him to speak to a stranger, just to overcome his fear - and they laugh about it. Through beautifully captured frames and poetic exchanges, the film flows like a calm river on a summer afternoon - until the floodgates open, revealing the silent battles both are fighting.

Their bond grows during brief metro rides - conversations, shared silences, random anecdotes. It becomes something profound, yet undefined. Not everything needs a label.

Another line that quietly lingers:

"हर इंसान के अंदर एक कहानी होती है, बस कोई सुनने वाला चाहिए।" [Every person has a story inside them; all they need is someone to listen.]

Watching them sipping filter coffee standing near Durgam cheruvu ( of Hyderabad) made me almost vicariously live the moment where I was also enjoying my coffee listening to two close friends. In a world where meaningful connections are rare, finding someone on the same wavelength feels like a blessing. And if we fail to hold on to such bonds, what remains are regrets - which many among us successfully have!

The film might feel triggering for those dealing with severe anxiety or depression, but it also serves as a gentle reminder - no matter how difficult a phase is, it will pass.

The reference to Franz Kafka’s doll story, symbolizing loss and healing, was a beautiful way to conclude this conversational narrative. It highlights how strangers sometimes become our comfort, even if briefly. And in today’s world of fleeting connections, dating apps, and emotional superficiality, such a story feels like a soothing balm.

Dhurandar: Why the Spectacle Didn’t Work for Me

I walked into Dhurandar genuinely curious, given the massive hype and near-universal praise. I walked out puzzled after an ordeal of 3 days - I watched 1 hr per day on OTT!

Despite its slick execution, catchy music, and reasonably effective albeit gory visuals, the film left me uneasy, not because of its violence or dark themes, but because of what those elements were ultimately used to convey.

The film leans heavily on loud nationalism, stylised brutality, and exaggerated bravado to project an image of a “New India” that is supposedly tougher and more decisive than before and prepared to wipe off terrorism and crimes from the face of India. Like seriously ?!!

Unfortunately, this comes at the cost of nuance. What could have been a layered spy thriller, often felt more like a glorified gang or mafia war wrapped in the language of patriotism.

Violence is provocative and almost nauseous. While cinema has every right to explore brutality, here it felt excessive and unnecessary. Certain scenes were so graphic that I found myself closing my eyes. They are tough to watch and added so little to the narrative.

Akshay Khanna’s performance deserves a mention. He brings restraint and some nuance to the role, aided by his accent and dialogue delivery, but the character never feels truly intimidating or powerful. Hence the hype for his role of Rehman Dakait - I didn't get it at all.

Considering his body of work - negative roles like Humraaz, intense performances in Drishyam, patriotic films such as Border, and softer roles in Taal and Dil Chahta Hai - this portrayal does not rank among his best. The character may appear dangerous on paper, but that impact doesn’t fully translate on screen.

What troubled me most was how the film quietly fuels hatred in the name of nationalism. It doesn’t rely on loud slogans, but it constantly pushes an Us versus Them narrative through its visuals and storytelling. The emotions are engineered to provoke rather than to reflect, and that subtle manipulation is where Dhurandar completely lost me.

Films like Roja (not a spy movie), Raazi, Mission Majnu, or even Kamal Haasan’s not so greatly made Vishwaroopam ( all espionage thrillers) manage to evoke patriotism without political chest-thumping. The love for the country in those movies feels organic and sincere. In contrast, Dhurandar often feels like a platform to glorify the present while discrediting the past, a framing that felt simplistic and immature.

Homebound: A Story that unravels the labels we never chose!

So I watched the movie Homebound and it made me think, more than I actually want to. Neeraj Ghaywan the maker of Masaan did a fantastic job in making this well balanced tale of friendship, religion or caste, class discriminations, poverty, unemployment struggles, and crushed dreams. It is tender and soul crushing - the film received huge praises and was selected for Oscar entry from India which feels absolutely justified! The film holds mirror to multiple aspects of a downtrodden life - which often are unseen or just casually dismissed by a much blessed crowd.

There isn’t much I can add about the movie that hasn’t already been said, but what it reflected back at me were echoes of my own past and present. I am a Muslim and my label is reminded to me time and again sometimes without any rhyme or reason. It's not an exaggeration if I say - that for atleast 30-40% of public around me, we are still aliens with ancestry else where ( Turkey , Arab, etc) and they feel that we enjoy the luxuries here, where as our roots are not from here. People point to 1000 - 1500 year old invaders from Moghul dynasties etc and it's hilarious that some hold the grudge even now. Sometimes I jokingly say , in the tangled historical tree - I may very well be having a Brahmin great grand father or a Christian Uncle. Who knows how mixed our genetics are by now? But some people love tracing back the ancestry and stamping some unnecessary labels. The funniest and most outrageous is the Pakistani label. It boils my blood when friends and foes alike jokingly say that I am From Pakistan or if I know any from there....or question me why there is much Islamic terrorism - as if I hold the answers?

I wanna scream and say "Bro I know as much as you know...and I am an Indian national damnit!" But over the time it became so casual and so continuous that may be I learned to push it away or just swallow it. I will share some real life incidents which happened amongst groups of very well educated, broad minded and scholastic individuals !

source : here

Lumbini park terror attack incident in August 2007

On a fateful evening of 2007 ( I newly joined job then) , a dual attack happened in Hyd. 100s of people died in the bomb blasts happened at the historic famous Gokul chat and Lumbini park. I myself was shopping in an area called Koti, where the famous Gokul chat is - while that blast happened. Seeing sudden mayhem, we didnt understand. Our stars aligned that day and we were not near the Gokul chat and were almost returning home, when that terror attack happened.

Following that, may be its first time in my life after 9/11 - may be as it is home ground and my city - that I heard many many talks in office, in bus stops, at the water cooler, during lunch hours etc. etc. - that how Muslims are becoming a threat with each day and that you can trust none! And one random Friday when I was in my cubicle, couple of people passing by me - one among them being someone who strongly loathes Muslims started saying, "What is this yaar, every Friday we have to be scared of a terror attack. These people plan attacks on their holy days!" Needless to say it broke my heart, just like how Shoaib's heart breaks during a dinner party  - when the bully asks him if he can check the authenticity of a Lahore's cuisine - a kebab (Lahore is place in Pakistan). Shoaib ( Ishaan Khatter) would be resisting his anger ( and he gets harassed multiple times even before that - sometimes purposely , at times in the disguise of fun), but his limits get pushed by the bully when he also hints that Shoaib is sad as Pakistan lost the match! That's when he finally snaps. I can't really tell how many times I was in Shoaib's shoes in multiple scenarios. 

I lost count of how many times, I may have ignored the taunts or casual jokes - like once some one seemingly a friend asked me - "Afshan - do u know any hiding in Charminar or Tolichowki ( hyd area) who prepares bombs - may be we can place it under managers car. hahahaha", and everyone guffawed. I was young and I managed an awkward chuckle as I was not sure how to retort. I think the problem arises, when rest all chime in or stay indifferent! When you don't show solidarity and are apathetic to these things, you are part of the problem too - how much ever u deny it! If some one is painting extremists and normal folks with same brush, I strongly believe it is our duty to call out - to talk, to discuss or just explain the after effects in all its rawness like how Neeraj did in the movie!

It's not an exaggeration if I say that due to my label, I was not preferred in certain interview of a famous company...It is also not an exaggeration If I say that I had to restrict or block many people specially in the past decade due to their religious chauvinism and derogatory remarks on other's/my religion. I hate to be defined by any religion but for many extremists that's the primary recognition of a person. Wish they could watch a movie this beautiful where friendships blossom irrespective of the religion! 

There are innumerable happenings in my life where I lost people to this religious bigotry... Recent was during the Pahalgam terror attack , seeing some posts - I had to remove or restrict them...and seeing my strong questioning or arguments some removed or blocked me on social platforms :) 

Cut to 17 years later (2024) : My Daughter’s First Encounter

My daughter in her grade 1 - a mere 6-7 years old girl who is in school, where friends don't have any religion and wear the same uniform, gets inquired about her religion in the rest room during her recess period by a random girl (not using any names or giving away identities) 

Random girl : "What religion are you?"

Zaara: " I am a Muslim"

Random girl : "Oh! You should be in Pakistan I believe . Why are u here?"

Z: "What do u mean? I am an Indian"

RG :" No you Muslims should move to Pakistan." 

To this Zaara replied that she is from India and that it's not good to get questioned like that.

Just imagine a squishy soft brain of a child who has only started to learn spellings, has absorbed all this from somewhere . It could be parents, fellow friends , Neighbors or bus friends, but the girl quite unapologetically questioned my daughter this. Just imagine the foundation on which the girl is building her bonds in school? That's how segregation and categorization starts early on and people pick their sides...and million questions buzz even in a small child's brain!

Zaara came back home and seeing her many questions about Pakistan, I asked her why she is curious all of a sudden - then she told about this particular girl - how she asked such questions 2-3 times already. It took all my energy to explain to Zaara that Pakistan also has people like us...and that she is as much Indian as her friend. I highlighted the issue to class teacher and the girl who questioned Z was explained about right and wrong.

As it's a reasonably good school and has integrity in its core and has no religious aspects or preferences - my complaint worked. Now think about those many schools and the incidents which are coming in to light - where a clear discrimination is shown based on religion, where many mishaps are happening on and off. I don't want to share all the news items and make this a morbid post...but I am highlighting this to make people think and PLEAD them to not destroy unpolluted brains/ minds of your children. They are our only hope!

8 Vasanthalu - Soul Stirrer on a rainy day!

I am happy to say on my blog that I am in the process of getting published, a collection of my poems. While aimlessly scrolling through my final manuscript on a dull rainy gloomy Sunday (as I didn't have much zeal to sit or look at it due to some events in my life),  I remembered this movie recommendation from my intermediate friend Poornima - who now is a Gastro surgeon in Hyderabad! What started as a casual time pass watch became a much needed brooding piece for me!

I finished watching it and I wondered why no one is talking about it! We’re quick to troll Tollywood for mindless content, but when rare gems like this quietly shine, they somehow go unnoticed, so I felt a need to write. Even I thought maybe it's originally a Tamil or Malayalam movie - that's how the brains got wired 😀 but felt happy to see that it's a true blue Telugu movie! 

What can I say about the movie? It felt like chicken soup for the soul. It’s been ages since something so pure, so soulful, and deeply rooted in emotion has graced our screens. It gave me the warm, nostalgic vibes of Geetanjali ( may be due to locations), Yevade Subramanyam, or even Aanand and Godavari (the classics by Sekhar Kammula) - those timeless, feel-good films from the late 90s and early 2000s that made you pause and feel. [Non telugu folks may not be aware of all this but read on :)]

The film explores many aspects like feminism, heartbreak, outdated societal norms, and above all, the strength of the human spirit. It’s a must-watch for women, especially!! The story follows Shuddhi Ayodhya, a passionate poet-author played gracefully by Ananthika Sanilkumar ( she played roles in some other telugu flicks), and her journey through love, self-discovery, and resilience.

Yes, the script does fumble at a couple of places, but it hardly matters - because what you walk away with is a deep sense of having felt something real. The dialogues are raw and powerful, and the connection between the two writer characters will especially resonate with anyone who writes or feels deeply!

Here’s a dialogue that stayed with me, when Shuddhi sees the Taj Mahal, she reflects :

“Magaadi premaku sakshyalu ga palarathi soudhyalu, bhagyanagaralu unnai. Aadadaniki emunnayi? Manasulone samadhi cheskunna gnapakalu tappa.”💔

(A man has grand symbols like the marbled Taj Mahal or cities like Bhagyanagar ( Hyderabad ) to prove his love. But what does a woman have? Just the memories she buries in her heart.) - translated for non telugu folks!

That line alone is worth the watch.

The writing feels like it comes from a place of lived emotion, of quiet pain and silent strength. Hats off to director-writer Phanindra Narsetty. He’s on my radar now - I truly hope he keeps making such honest cinema. He has given a new face to the female protagonist by not reducing her to an oomph exuding male magnet. Thanks for that🙏🙏

The poet in me now may be inactive, but this movie has definitely stirred the soul. 

PS: I also felt learning self defence could be really important for a girl, yes our protagonist is a black belter and that one fight sequence in the movie is just😲 fabulous, again laced with great dialogues!

Reflections💡and Life Lessons from the Movie (for all):

BaahuBali - A Milestone for the Indian Cinema

Source : here

I rarely write reviews for tollywood movies as going to theater and watching a Telugu movie became once in a blue moon activity. After so long I felt like writing a review for this magnanimous flick - Baahubali which got the attention of many countries and was ofcourse a treat to watch, After years of dedication and hardwork of the entire cast and crew I felt it would be good to write something about the movie!

Story line, Characters and review

After watching Baahubali the beginning, I was intrigued like many other viewers, not because I was curious about "Why Kattappa killed Baahubali?"  I mean it was very easy to guess why he might have taken that  step. Anyone can guess the story line . Good Vs Bad, Valor Vs Cowardice, honesty Vs lies and so on so forth and in the end the positive things always taste the victory but what intrigued me the most is the question - how will Rajamouli and all other creators make it a memorable watch? I was not disappointed as the movie lived up to the hype. The story doesn't dwell much in past, gives us a brief recap, before plunging directly in to the actual prequel which felt good. The opening song "Oka Pranam" is apt while titles scroll in the background. The opening scene where Amarendra Bahubali enters has stolen all women and mens' hearts in equal numbers! I fell in love with the character, the persona  and the screen presence through out. Even if the way Baahubali pulls a cart, stops the elephant and climbs on it is unrealistic, the grandeur with which it is presented, was received by audience with whistles and hoots.

Shivagami sticks to the same intimidating  glance and demenour she had in part 1 but this time she is kind of crushed between her biological son (BhallalaDeva) and the raised son's (Bahubali's) conflicts which was very much expected. Devasena looked extremely gorgeous as  the warrior princess, who is ever-ready to defend her kingdom and husband and the love story of  Amarendra and  Devasena  seemed OK too as it was not too sketchy and unreal, the way it is shown in many other historical biopics. Also I liked their story more than the dreamy story of Sivudu and Avantika. The sets were humongous as always. If Mahishmati looked Royal, Kuntala Kingdom seemed dreamy. Few scenes seemed to be straight away lifted from some epic hollywood movies and historical biopics but they did have an impact on audience. My personal favorite scene is the fight between the warriors of Kuntala kingdom and the attackers in which Amarendra uses his skills and intellect. The flames on the horns of the oxen which run around the palace is well shot. There are many other favorite tid-bits but my most favorite is when the infant Sivudu (Mahendra  Bahubali) drops his tiny palm on his mother's palm as a promise to come back, before Sivagami leaves the palace with him. May be it is my new found baby love but the scene touched me!

Kattappa holding Mahendra- here

Some minuses

Of course there are loop holes too and it is easy to find them as the movie is continuously put under scanner after so much hullabaloo. I found the scene where Devasena gets in to boat using the strong arms of Bahubali as a bridge, funny and overrated and the song following this scene had too many special effects and did not suit my taste.  Kattappa being so foolishly devoted to his masters, seemed idiotic to me. Sivagami trusting her tyrant husband and son seemed illogical but may be the  only explanation which holds good here is that love blinds people and  makes them lose the  intellect and sanity and with out this trust the story wouldn't have budged, so may be it was inevitable. Avantika's role is wasted after being shown as a great warrior in the first half. I felt Aslam Khan aka Sudeep would have some role to play even in the 2nd part. It would have been good to see him assisting the war forces but there was no hint of him. I did not like the movie after the death of Amarendra Bahubali. May be as I watched a similar and even a better war in first half, I didnt enjoy Sivudu fighting with all his might to ward off Bhallaladeva and his supporters. Last but not the least like every one I was also curious about BhallalaDeva's wife :-)

Summary and My Verdict

The movie has heated up the state more than the summer of the May .All in all, the movie experience is enjoyable due to elements intricately projected in the movie . By elements I again don't mean the graphics or the stunts or war scenes as I honestly liked the CGI and VFX effects more in first half, which were subtle and beautiful. In Bahubali 2 what I loved are the intricacies of expressions, emotions , seamless storytelling which will not bore you even for a second, the grandeur with which everything was projected on screen, cool personas of all the actors and a fitting conclusion for the audience who eagerly waited for 2 years !

The ending scene seemed a bit dragged or may be I was just wanting more of Amarendra Bahubali , but all in all Bahubali makes a magnificent watch and the man of the moment- Prabhas- completely deserves all the attention he is getting. Three cheers to him. While getting awed by him let us take a moment and not forget the wonderful effort by BhallalaDeva (Rana Daggubati) who maintained that awesome physique and was looking great in his negative shade. I read in news that he is blind in one eye which made me appreciate his efforts more. Needless to say RamyaKrishna rocked as Shivagami and Devasena and her attitude were as natural as it can get. Anushka effortlessly looks gorgeous whenever she acts in the historic roles . Last but not the least, a round of applause to Rajamouli and a big round of applause to his dad K.V. Vijayendra Prasad who is the story writer . Good amount of research must have been done while writing the story of Bahubali and many historical movies , relics and books would have been studied to make this an appealing watch and the Mahishmati experience almost a realistic one !

Man who attracted many with just one movie. He sure deserves being the heart throb he is. Source : here

Having said everything, yes I have a big new found crush on Prabhas  and the viewers, by and large  liked Bahubali, though there are some who have done all the autopsies and biopsies and declared that going to theater and watching the movie is a waste of time. I felt the movie can be fully enjoyed only in the theater and can be savored only if judged less. Bahubali did become a milestone for Indian cinema, earning some 1000+ crores worldwide and all the products from the Bahubali franchise are also in demand in the market, including toys, video games, clothing so on so forth !

Hoping to see Rajamouli working on a unique story next and Prabhas to retain the fame, name and work in something different after a long hiatus :)

The biggest "Tamasha" called Life

After a dilemma to choose from some new movie releases (like Cheekati Rajyam & Size zero ) I finally zeroed on Tamasha.

Film: Tamasha
Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Deepika Padukone, Piyush Mishra
Director: Imtiaz Ali 
Writer: Imtiaz Ali

Tamasha - After watching it, I felt reviewing is tough because  not every one can be an Imtiyaz Ali who can explain all the complicated emotions in such a simplistic way ! Like some one told in a review , only he can understand the complicated heart matters like no one else and also succeeds in letting the viewers understand them! 

Tamasha makes you go in to a pensive mode. Fun and emotions are blended well and it presents to U the finest PAIR OF THE YEAR Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone heart emoticon - Both have evolved beautifully and Imtiyaz brings out the best in both the actors. Deepika is drop dead gorgeous and Ranbir is no less. His demeanor which naturally gets transformed, his expressions, the Dev-anand act , the very acting prowess will just charm you.They both complement each other perfectly well.

Story line, songs and my views: 
Tamasha is a fantasy world created by Imtiyaz which is not actually full of fantasies and depicts the real tamasha we all face called life. It is an off beat movie which suits only a niche audience. It is like a stage show from start till the end where you get enchanted by the characters dancing on the screen and also the characters which come to your mind from your real life experiences :) 

If the song Chali Kahani kick starts the story showing the little Ranbir who gets intrigued by all the magical stories embedded in the universe and happily lives in his world, the song Matargashti gives you a picture of a fairy land and fills a kind of zeal in your heart which makes you want to go out and be the free spirited person, you actually are from your heart. The song Heer to badi sad hai shows the transition and transformation of characters which evolve in a period of years. The song Safarnaama sung by Lucky Ali, shows the path to your own heart and describes the journey.

The imaginative narration and unique story telling technique used in songs will definitely create happy and sad emotional waves in you! In the first half the bonus is the beautiful Corsica in France where our mystery boy and girl meet. 

image source : here

Deepika is more or less like Ranbir from heart, who loves stories and Asterix in Corsica is the reason she travels to the place which shows that she longs to live the stories she reads or hears. She gets totally awestruck by the hero. However, as per their pact of not revealing their identities, they separate without the knowledge of who they actually are and the second half of the story shows the transition of hero who gets used to the maze created by the world, becomes a product manager and lives the same day every day and is tuned to being monotonous and boring! I loved both the story telling DON in the first half and the robotic Ved in second half, who is more realistic and strikes a chord with 90% of population who kill their hobbies or passions to earn money for a smooth life! Ranbir showed his excellence in both the roles.

 You may occasionally remember the Jordan of Rockstar where he finally succeeds in making passion his career but doesn't succeed much on the personal front. There are glimpses of Ranbir from Yeh Jawaani hai Deewani as well in the movie!

The story is all about the journey of the boy Ved, who loves hearing stories and dwells in the spirit of all stories but eventually gets burdened by the education, mathematics, management and in general the life which makes him do everything he dislikes. Meeting Tara creates ripples in his head and he ultimately decides to explore his own story and embrace his inner self. The way hearts are broken and distanced is also so beautifully shown , that you almost want to go in to the screen and hug Tara and Ved during the song , agar tum saath ho and the book shop scene. However I would have preferred a more supportive Tara who could have helped Ranbir when it’s traumatic for him!

Some of the scenes which will stay with me:

• The scene where Ved’s storyteller from his childhood- Piyush Mishra mocks him, when Ved requests him to give an ending to his story. He shouts, ” Kaayar , apni kahani kaise khatm hogi mujhe poochta hai. (You are such a wuss, you ask me your story’s ending?)” It is like an eye opener to all the viewers who seek advice from others and wait for approvals!

• The entire Corsica episode and the fun and frolic side of Ved and Tara which is beautiful and heart warming. 

• The scene after the stark realization Ved has , where he narrates a story of Heero to his dad (Javed Sheikh) , mom , Sushma Seth (grandmom). You should go to theater and hear to the actual story which makes you question yourself!

• All the songs of the movie which are unique. I loved the way the wat wat song  (sung by Arjit Singh & Shashwat Singh) is shot (the auto driver whose passion is singing is shown in this foot tapping song).

Even if this is not something which You haven't watched before, You gotta watch this just for the unique "story telling" style! Three cheers 2 the team! Jab we met is undoubtedly Imtiyaz's best to me . The music of Rockstar and Highway is heart touching and the music and story of Tamasha is like Chicken soup for the viewers' soul which is soothing and nerve tingling and definitely helps in clearing your head :)  "Tamasha is the best possible reason to divert yourself from all the Aamir Khan's Tamasha" 
tongue emoticon smile emoticon Go for it glasses emoticon . 

All those creative people who are more or less like Ved, can identify with Ved’s character; who is mesmerized with stories but has outgrown his imaginative self due to the mundane life he chose. The film definitely helps them to recognize and revive their old self. The concept of the movie is rather appealing, but it may not every time work in real life, because a lot of home work needs to be done before turning your passion into a full blown career!

PS: You may either love or hate this movie but cannot have any mediocre feelings after watching. You will definitely get high on emotions! I end the post with my favorite song.

Originally Published at The Views Paper

Kanche movie review

I went to watch the movie Kanche with out any pre-plan. This post is not necessarily a review. I just wanted to write it for two reasons. 1.) It's been long that I blogged on movies which impacted me and 2.) I rarely write about Telugu movies which I always think, should be done often as I love watching a good Telugu cinema! Needless to say Kanche falls in the category of good cinema. It has a unique script, a thought provoking story, powerful dialogues, a good director Krish and a fresh star cast who did manage to do their best!

Kanche - Who's who!

Directed by	Krish
Produced by	Saibabu Jagarlamudi Y. Rajeev Reddy
Written by	Sai Madhav Burra (dialogues)
Starring	Varun Tej Pragya Jaiswal Nikitin Dheer Sowcar Janaki Singeetam Srinivasa Rao Gollapudi Maruti Rao
	Source : Wiki

About Kanche stars

I watched Gamyam and Vedam  made by director Krish and became an instant fan. I trusted him and hoped this to be a watchable flick and he did not disappoint me. Kanche has Varun Tej in the leading role. It is quite a bold and modest attempt by Varun Tej, taking in to consideration, the biggies of film industry who back him up and who mostly do meaty and massy roles to allure the audience. I am not saying the mass impact is not important but I applaud Varun Tej for picking a story which actually suited him, instead of being under the stress of out shining the uncle or cousins! For those who never heard of him like me, he is Chirenjeevi's brother Nagababu's son. So it is natural to have the immense peer pressure which might have lead him to mimic what his seniors in family are doing but I appreciate him for trying to gain his USP, and for standing out of the crowd ! I did not watch his debut movie Mukunda . I only saw posters and hoardings which showed an intriguing fresh face. He does have a spark in eye which is charming. If hero is around 6 ft tall, the villian Nikitin Dheer is equally appealing who stands tall at 6ft 3" or so . Both seemed apt for their respective roles. Varun Tej who acted as Dhupati Hari babu in the movie is calm, docile, poetic yet strong and bold. Nikitin as Eeshwar is rude, crude, angry and violent. Pragya Jaiswal as Sita Devi is a fresh face who looked a bit like Nargis Fakiri and played a passionate role as the lover of Hari babu. All other veteran actors Sowcar Janaki , Gollapudi Maruti Rao are all known faces who were just fit in their roles.

source: here

Kanche Story line and Review

Kanche starts with a war backdrop and a monologue in the background where the context to the movie is set. You will get a fair idea in the opening scene that movie will revolve around a no-nonsense serious theme. The story oscillates between past and present , presenting to viewers , lives of people set up in two totally different locations and conditions but the problems , ignorance and wars waged with in a society are quite similar. Kanche, a Telugu word means fence . The entire movie shows how people demarcate the society with many fences laid due to various reasons like caste, creed , religion , region and status and how these fences can lead to disaster. The male protagonist Hari (played by Varun Tej) falls in love with Princess Sita Devi. They both hail from same town where the feelings of demarcation are strongly imbibed in all the dwellers. Hari, a person from lower caste and Sita Devi belonging to a royal family try their level best to persuade their elders , society and also the brother Eeshwar played by Nikitin Dheer but Eeshwar stays stubborn which leads to a outrageous fight between hero and heroine's brother leading to some tragic consequences. The story is set in the year 1936. After 3 years , in 1939 the hero and villian are seen to be serving Indian military forces and supporting Italy during the world war when Hitler and his followers are ruthlessly slaughtering people. The hero and villian have same amount of valor but their ideologies differ.

The scene where Hari saves months old baby girl whom the German forces are vehemently planning to kill as she is born to a jew and non-jew, is quite touching. The plight of people during second world war makes us shiver and the viewer can effortlessly draw an analogy between the world war battle field and the fights across the fences in the small town to which Hari belongs to. It dawns on every movie watcher that it is just a matter of time to witness an unfortunate event like world war 2 if people don't wake up. Director subtly connected both the stories and the way Hari breathlessly tries to erase the borders and shows us the big picture of humanity is like a wake up call to all of us. Be it 1936 or 2036 the problems we face were, are and will be similar is the gist I got from the movie!

By the end of the movie you feel tragic but you leave the theater with a contentment in heart which makes you think that with a strong resolve and a pursuit to change the wrong doings around us, we can actually do miracles and make our life worthy!

Varun Tej's role and most of the sensitive dialogues will be etched in the mind.

Few loopholes in the movie

• Direction and editing are faulty at some places. For instance war scenes are  repetitive and will bore the viewer. Editor should have put some more effort in making it flawless!

• Srinivas Avasarala's light tone and jokes work some times and fail some times

• Not every one understands German or English. I felt subtitles should have been provided for every viewer to understand the conversations.

All in all the movie is an engaging watch which will impact most of the viewers :)

"Piku" - It's all about Pee, Poo and Paa :)

It has been 3 months since I last dusted my blog and I choose poo, potty and pee as my come back topic ;) . Do not wrinkle your noses. Strangely the topic I am going to talk about is sweet , cute and heart warming.. Last Saturday I booked tickets for Piku after too many raving reviews and I must say I felt good, as I can't remember the last hindi movie which is worth my time in theater. Movies getting relayed on TV in 3months after the release and the fact that the finest print is readily available on torrent in no time, lessened my enthusiasm to go and watch every movie in theater. I am glad ,I made the decision of going to theatre to watch Piku because the fun-experience wouldn't have been half as good, if I watched it alone sitting on my couch at home!

 Story line and my Review:

Piku is a hilarious journey punctuated by too many loo breaks. We use the terms shit or pissed when we think of something disgusting but the shit or piss are projected in such a humorous manner here, that you will forget the unpleasant odors or memories associated with it and actually enjoy the Poo-dynamics. I am amused by Shoojit Sircar's  and Juhi Chaturvedi's  innovative skills. Only they can bring humor to the bodily secretions so neatly. Last time they made all of us smile broad, when they had dealt with semen & sperms in Vicky Donor. However this time the topic is much lighter as it is not something important which is coming out, still is discussed so often and is analyzed with such a high priority that it will make audience guffaw!

Image source: here

Bhaskor Banerjee's favorite topic anywhere any time is constipation and motion. He is an irritating character who can bring up the topic in an untimely manner on dining table, during a dinner date or even inform the status to his daughter Piku, when she is totally absorbed in office work. Amitabh Bachan is so befitting as Bhaskor Da . He reminds you of a common old man who is nosy, prickly, cranky, who can give stubborn responses to neighbors or pick fights and argue till he wins with maids or relatives and who is so astonishingly selfish and liberal, that he is OK if his daughter has casual sex but is not ready for her wedding as she might not be able to look after him. The director again portrays the modern and liberal thinking of Bengalis which is different from the thought process of stereotypic moms and dads who keep a tab on their kids' life’s events and happenings. The twisted views of Bhaskor on women-liberation and freedom will definitely make you laugh. His irritating, selfish demeanor slowly gets to you and you feel for the man and his emotions along with motions which he discusses with immense passion :) 

Piku- The name suits Deepika Padukone so well. It just feels like it is the shortcut of her original name - Deepika. The name adds that extra cuteness to the movie and the audience don't even feel the necessity to know the actual name of Bhaskar Banerjee's daughter Piku, as her other aspects like independent thinking and mental strength grab your attention. Piku patiently but loudly responds to his dad’s hollering and her unconditional motherly love towards him can be felt at every juncture. She is funny in her own way and is curt with her irritating 70 year old dad but still is a a loveable daughter who learns to be strong and she sure is an inspiration to all the daughters out there. At many points I felt emotional when I realized I never did my part for my parents at any point of my life till now. Deepika is at ease playing the role of Piku and not even a single time you get the whiff of artificiality in the movie!

The actual journey of Piku starts when Rana Chaudhary (played by Irrfan Khan) the owner of a taxi service company comes in between the dad - daughter duo. He drives them and their helper Bodhan, from Delhi (C.R. Park) To Kolkota. The humor quotient shoots up when Khan adds his trade mark comic skills to the movie. His quirky dialogues like for instance the telephonic conversation he has with Piku's boss and his friend- " ye baap beti to aise hi time pass karrahe hai. Mujhe to nai lagta inhe calcutta jaana bhi hai" will spice up the humour. His eyes speak more than his words and he has all your attention whenever he appears on the screen. Even if he is facing the brunt of father and daughter, he starts respecting Deepika for her patience and love towards her 70 year old Pain in the ass dad. He himself is bothered by his nagging mom and sister and looks up to Piku for what she is doing is no less than waging a war on battlefield according to him!

The story is slow and even the road trip doesn't pick up the pace but the viewer actually starts relishing the journey and the heart-heart conversations Piku and Rana have. The attention to detail skill of Shoojir Sircar is wonderful. The way Kolkota, delicious Bengali cuisine, Varanasi and Ganga ghat are projected is a treat to eyes. The chemistry between the trio is so natural and sizzling. Thanks to the director for not stressing on the romance between Piku and Rana and one cannot resist from smiling broad when Rana and Bhaskor bond over a commode and discuss the Poo-logics :) Needless to say the rest of the characters, Bodhan (the helper at home), Maushami Chatterjee ( Piku's maternal aunt) and Piku's other bua and her boss Jisshu Sengupta just blend in the story.

All in all Piku is an original, warm, fresh, quirky and a charismatic watch which will steal your heart. The ending can be predicted but it leaves the audience with warmth filled in their hearts. They can leave the theater happily humming the song- "Dheere chal na hai mushkil to jaldi hi sahi" - a song which refuses to leave my head.