Lai Bhari

Lai Bhari has probably been the most hyped Marathi movie in recent times and the expectation is probably what left me feeling a bit let down at the end of it all.  If I had taken my usual trip in the weekend of release, it would have helped up my rating a notch I guess.  So, in the spirit of a fair rating, I will still put this as a 6 on 10 – watchable for sure but not necessarily on the screen.

Force

This is the 2nd movie involving Nishikant Kamat that I have seen this year. The first one was 404 as an actor where he was quite solid. But Nishikant Kamat the director has probably not translated his acting talent or for that matter his directorial talent - from his the Marathi Cinema repertoire (I hear Deool is really good and will be watching it soon) into Force. The direction is sincere no doubt but I would rate it as average at best. Not impactful in any manner. Plus the lack of emphasis on consistency just keeps getting to me. Do Indian directors really believe that the population is naïve enough not to catch up with some of them – maybe they are true but I guess that’s what differentiates the great ones from the good ones. So if Nishikant Kamat wants to be a great director the I guess he has to start paying attention to the finer details.

Now I agree that one can probably do only this much with a chatterbox who speaks through her teeth and thrives on saying, “ACP Sir” all the time so much that you forget that the ACP is actually called Yashwardhan (John Abraham). After a point of time Maya (Genelia D’Souza) starts sounding like the chalk scratching the black board which makes the kids cringe and clamp their ears shut. Not that the hunk of meat is far superior. But at least he isn’t a put on. I have always believed that John Abraham is one of the most sincere actors in Indian cinema. That he will stick to commercial cinema that may require him to take his shirt off (he gets paid for it unlike Sallu Bhai who does it gratis) is not a surprise. And then there is the supporting cast of a constipated Raj Babbar, a mature looking Mohnish Bahl, a less irritating Sandhya Mridul, A young Shashank Shende, a crass and unpolished Kamlesh Sawant and an insignificant Anaitha Nair (please please start finding more meaty roles – I would love to see you on screen more often. I think you have looks and talent. Why waste it )

A typical formula movie of a lead good looking inspector, a young upstart who will get killed, An older mature officer in the team and a crass hot blooded honest cop to complete the quartet. Sincerely made for certain. Could have been better. Has generated enough interest in me to look for the Tamil DVD. But not a bad way to spend a Saturday or Sunday afternoon and its playing on TV. Not required to watch on the big screen at all. It’s a little weird but I just noticed that this was a remake of a Tamil movie by a Marathi director in Hindi – anyone knows if other such combinations exist? Never Mind my “google swamy” avatar speaking. 5 on 10 to Force

Trailer on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MpB95_ArXA

404

To what lengths would you go, to prove a point? Is proving to the world that your theory is right, only thing that matters to you? Do you believe in something so much that you would not care who comes in the way to ensure that the objective is met? Do you live by the adage – The ends justifies the means? One of two people who embody this spirit are Dr. Anirudh Kaushal (Nishikant Kamat) aka Charles to the dean of Dehradun Institute of Medical Sciences (DIMS) one of the leading institutes of medicine in the country. The other one is Abhimanyu (Rajvvir Aroraa) who is a first year student of medicine and determined as hell. Both professor and student are convinced that there is no such thing as the supernatural and that all of it is a figment of one’s imagination. They are a product of the modern world and believers in science and definitely disbelievers in ghosts, spirits or anything remotely related to them. And the good doctor’s next thesis is that on Bipolar Disorder – a psychiatric diagnosis that describes a category of mood disorders defined by the presence of one or more episodes of abnormally elevated energy levels, cognition, and mood with or without one or more depressive episodes (thank you Wikipedia :D). So when Abhimanyu decides to take on the legend on campus about the ghost of Gaurav Gupte which occupies Room 404, the doctor gives him all the support that he can. Room 404 is opened 3 years after Gaurav committed suicide in it and a brave Abhimanyu moves in.

In what is probably the first attempt to make a movie on bipolar disorder in Bollywood, director Prawal Raman gives us some really scary moments through the lovely use of camera angles. Just that the use of reflections on windows and cupboards and of course mirrors goes a tad over the top at times. And so does the use of music. It seems to be a common fallacy amongst Indian directors that deep resounding eerie music is the only way to generate thrill / fear in the audience. So much so that they forget that some of the best movies to create horror in the minds of the viewer have used just ambient noise and silence. But rest assured, Raman has come a fair distance after moving away from mentor Ram Gopal Verma with whom he made Darna Mana Hai and Darna Zaroori Hai.

The movie also touches upon aspects of ragging albeit in a good manner. I say good because it doesn’t taint the concept hollow. I am of the opinion that ragging is one of the necessary evils of society. I do not support going over the top but do not object to the healthy poking of fun of freshers into college. I may have stirred a hornet’s nest here but that wasn’t the intent at all.

I have always maintained that a director’s task is significantly eased out with the right casting. 404 is no different. Newbie Rajvvir Aroraa delivers a decent first movie. And Satish Kaushik & Tisca Chopra are both effortless as always. Immadudddin Shah in the role of the final year student Chris is calm and confident but a tad over the top. Needless to say, the genes do show. But a top notch performance from Nishikant Kamat is the hallmark of 404. The role was initially offered to Farooq Shaikh if the reports on the net are to be believed. I am sure Kamat is not complaining.

Solid performances coupled with able direction give you a 7 on 10 movie for your Sunday. Be prepared for a hard hitting end. Do not take your children along with you. I was surprised to see 10 year olds in PVR Bangalore. Its definitely not for those below 18.

Watch the trailer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACTrF8OGQ5k