'Bombay Talkies'

Celebrating cinema; deconstructing and restructuring the Bollywood dreams....
"Har kissa hai cinema ke jaadoo ka......" goes the song accompanying the opening credits, and those words say it all...... it is all about celebrating the magic of cinema, and somewhat magical was this experience of watching this anthology, this collage, of four films, for me. I believe cinema can move us, and that is why they are aptly called movies and the moving images connect with our souls, they let us relive the passion that is ever-present in our hearts. You know, my life has been a journey through films, and Bollywood has been an essential part of it. Watching 'Bombay Talkies' paralleled my personal reflections and my full-bodied association with cinema, in general, and Hindi cinema, in particular.

Four contemporary directors. Four short films, four distinctly different narratives. Connected only by their referencing of Hindi cinema, popularly termed Bollywood, and its obvious appendages and accessories. What better treat could we have asked for as a celebration of cinema, or rather a celebration of Indian cinema's hundred years, hundred years of narrating emotion, after all we are a bunch of emotional fools, and we are not known to eschew emotions..... instead, we love our cinema steeped in emotion, every cinematic frame that has been lauded and will be lauded again is likely to be characterized by the emotions that ooze out, that drench us, and enrich us at the same time. 'Bombay Talkies' doffs its hat in that direction. However, this time, as the format chosen by the acclaimed and/or popular directors being that of short films, the content is definitely non-mainstream, at least not the core kind. Yet, neither are the shorts influenced by the very much thriving and buoyant French shorts, or other European ones. At best, one is reminded of the Iranian films, especially in one or two of the segments.

Now, the question arises - how successful is the entire outcome? Is the bouquet worth celebrating in itself? Does it fulfill its objective? Does it overwhelm? Is it a definitive collaboration of creative contributors? Does the cinematic tribute relevant for the diversity and heterogeneity as much as the monolithic compulsions of Bollywood?
Well, those posers can have one debating, and tearing hair, but the answers are many. For me, the avid movie buff (movie junkie) that I am, the experience as a viewer was refreshing; I smiled, I chuckled, I shed a tear as well, and I marveled...... and I must say that I left the theater thoroughly entertained. I felt that Bollywood isn't facing an extinction threat, our films have evolved - they have come a long way indeed - and will continue to do so, despite the challenges faced by cinema in general, in this age and time.

Karan Johar, Dibakar Banerjee, Zoya Akhtar, and Anurag Kashyap - the four directors - have proved their worth...... they may have varying degrees of success, they may have faltered at places, and made us sit up and take note of their prowess in the best of moments (and moments there are aplenty that stay with us after the curtains come down)..... the makers, their outpourings, aided by superlative contributions of the cast and crew (which include talents both old and new) are what make 'Bombay Talkies' a special film for me (and I know I am not alone).

Best of Hindi Cinema

Here's a listing of one hundred favorite Hindi films of mine:
[I have tried my level best to order them chronologically, based on the year of release - inadvertent historicity bloopers be excused]

1. Awara (1951)

2. Devdas (1955)

3. Jagte Raho (1956)

4. Naya Daur (1957)

5. Mother India (1957)

6. Do Ankhen Barah Haath (1958)

7. Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi (1958)

8. Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959)

9. Kanoon (1960)

10. Mughal-e-Azam (1960)

11. Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam (1962)

12. Bandini (1963)

13. Yaadein (1964)

14. Guide (1965)

15. Teesri Kasam (1966)

16. Bhuvan Shome (1969)

17. Mera Naam Joker (1970)

18. Anand (1971)

19. Reshma Aur Shera (1972)

20. Pakeezah (1972)

21. Piya Ka Ghar (1972)

22. Saudagar (1973)

23. Achanak (1973)

24. Garm Hava (1973)

25. Ankur (1974)

26. Avishkaar (1974)

27. Deewar (1975)

28. Sholay (1975)

29. Chhoti Si Baat (1975)

30. Mrigaya (1976)

31. Manthan (1976)

32. Kinara (1977)

33. Shatranj Ke Khiladi (1977)

34. Bhumika (1977)

35. Kitaab (1977)

36. Gaman (1978)

37. Junoon (1978)

38. Golmaal (1979)

39. Chakra (1981)

40. Chashme Buddoor (1981)

41. Umrao Jaan (1981)

42. Arth (1982)

43. Sadma (1983)

44. Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro (1983)

45. Katha (1983)

46. Mandi (1983)

47. Saaransh (1984)

48. Holi (1984)

49. Party (1984)

50. Utsav (1984)

51. Paar (1984)

52. Mirch Masala (1985)

53. Saagar (1985)

54. Damul (1985)

55. Ijaazat (1987)

56. Yateem (1988)

57. Salim Langde Pe Mat Ro (1989)

58. Raakh (1989)


59. Nazar (1989)

60. Kasba (1990)

61. Prahaar (1991)

62. Rudaali (1993)

63. Maya Memsaab (1993)

64. Bandit Queen (1994)

65. Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge (1995)

66. Daayra (1996)

67. Khamoshi: Sangeetmay (1996)

68. Dil Se (1998)

69. 1947: Earth (1998)

70. Satya (1998)

71. Rockford (1999)

72. Hera Pheri (2000)

73. Lagaan (2001)

74. Dil Chahta Hai (2001)

75. Chandni Bar (2001)

76. Jhankaar Beats (2003)

77. Black Friday (2004)

78. Maqbool (2004)

79. Raincoat (2004)

80. Iqbal (2005)

81. Sarkar (2005)

82. Main, Meri Patni... Aur Woh! (2005)

83. Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi (2005)

84. Rang De Basanti (2006)

85. Kabul Express (2006)

86. Khosla Ka Ghosla (2006)

87. Johnny Gaddar (2007)

88. Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd (2007)

89. Chak De! India (2007)

90. Jab We Met (2007)

91. Rock On!! (2008)

92. Firaaq (2008)

93. Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na (2008)

94. Wake Up Sid (2009)

95. Dev.D (2009)

96. 3 Idiots (2009)

97. Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year (2009)

98. Love, Sex Aur Dhokha (2010)

99. Udaan (2010)

100. Peepli Live (2010)

We've woken up..... !!!!

Bollywood has really woken up.... to new-age cinema! And this time, none other than the much celebrated king of mush, Karan Johar, has backed this very refreshing film called "Wake Up Sid" by first-time director Ayan Mukherjee. Kudos!

Watching the film last night at a nearby multiplex made me many in the audience wake up too.... waking up to the possibilities of films reaching out to the viewers by means of fresh takes on age-old rom-coms. The film adds a lot of zing to the pre-existent romantic conventions which have been worn out with over-use in factory-like Bollywood, that by and large churns out meaningless spin-offs of stale romances and poor man's version of Hollywood make-believe. It's true that there have been many a fresh attempt of late, by the new-age makers, who've infused their own modern sensibilities and have even managed to make a significant difference through their creative outpourings, but the standard Bollywood studio products have shown their indifference by catering to the mass market. Market economics have dictated the perpetuation of staleness, the stifling of growth. But this time the story is different.....

Karan Johar's earlier home-production was "Dostana" which I had covered in one of my write-ups, and it did have some novelty, but again not quite..... it was much of the same.... only toying with the risque, and generating stereotypical fun. "Wake Up Sid" is indeed different, sorry for sounding cliched, it is a coming-of-age story that has tremendous appeal; it's vibrant, zany, frothy, bubbly, spirited and - to sum up simply - fun, sheer fun!

The very young director of the film, Ayan Mukherjee (seen in the last pic with the hero, Ranbir Kapoor) has shown great maturity in handling the subject. Ayan had earlier assisted director Ashutosh Gowariker in "Swades", and he had also assisted Karan Johar in "Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna". In some ways, with "Wake Up Sid", he has even gone ahead of Farhan Akhtar who had shot to fame with his own coming-of-age semi-classic "Dil Chahta Hai"!

The film's ensemble cast is like a dream come true, each member of the cast is just perfect in terms of characterization. Ranbir Kapoor plays the protagonist Siddharth Mehra (Sid), Kpnkona Sen Sharma plays Aisha Bannerjee, the unconventional heroine, Anupam Kher plays Sid's father, and Supriya Pathak plays his mom. Also in the cast are Rahul Khanna, Namit Das, Shikha Talsania & Kainaz Motivala.

The story of this movie is about Sidharth Mehra, a rich, lazy, unmotivated slacker from Mumbai whose life undergoes a series of changes after college. Sid is a happy-go-lucky guy; he lives a breezy, carefree life. He is yet to wake up to the realities and complications of life. The most important elements in his life are his friends, his camera, his car, and his X-box 360. Sid might be the proverbial lazybones, but he is a warm, lovable soul.
Aisha Bannerjee, on the other hand is an aspiring writer from Kolkata, her path crosses with Sid's on her first day in Mumbai. Ambitious, well-read, and driven, Aisha has come to the city to realize her dreams as a writer. Despite their contrasting personalities, Sid becomes Aisha's first friend in the city.

A series of circumstances and events compel Sid to take stock of his life and take a hard look at himself. A wake up call is sounded in his conscience as he is compelled to deal with the emergent situation in his life, and that simultaneously involves his work, his dreams and also his heart.

The music of the film is just brilliant, it is classy, natural, and very much in sync with the screenlay. The talented team of composers Shankar, Ehsaan & Loy and lyricist Javed Akhtar, and also the guest composer Amit Trivedi, deserve genuine applause.

A reprise of personal thanks to Karan Johar, whom I had always had high regard for (especially for his articulate, intelligent & affable persona) but whose larger-than-life romances had always baffled me (and sometimes even irked me), for daring to deviate, for daring to take a risk; believe me Karan, it has paid off! And here's looking at you, Ayan.... for your future endeavors... surprise us with films that we can relate to, and which can make us reassert our confidence in the 'fresh' filmmakers brigade. Here's wishing you all the BEST!
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[pics: courtesy - Dharma Productions]