Review: Delhi-6

DELHI-6 (2009)

Director: Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra

Screenplay: Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, Prasoon Joshi, Kamlesh Pandey

Starring: Abhishek Bachchan, Sonam Kapoor, Waheeda Rehman, Rishi  Kapoor

Plot: The NRI Roshan comes to India (more specific: Delhi) for the first time in his life, together with his grandmother. While everyone in the city is afraid of the "Kaala Bandar", a human large monkey that causes trouble ,Roshan learns a lot about his roots - and falls in love, too...

Reviewed the 12th of August 2010

"Who would voluntarily leave the streets of Delhi?", asks a famous indian poet, and is often citet in "Delhi-6".  At the beginning only by the supporting characters, later also by main character Roshan, as he recognizes his love to the city. It is a love-hate- relationship, that somehow - although on a smaller scale - rubs off on the audience. Even people like me, that have never been to India, or for that matter Delhi, can get a rather realistic view on life in the capital of India. The movie probably shows only a fraction of the different groups of population, but masters it wonderfully by portraying the seemingly stereotypical characters in a more of a "grey-zone" way. In some ways, the film resembles "Rang De Basanti" - it plays in Delhi, shows the problems of young Indians and the political turmoil in India. Nevertheless, there are small aberrations; the political aspect isn't as extreme, as in "RDB", and even though, it in the beginning, Roshan (Abhishek) and Bittu (Sonam Kapoor) seem to be the most important characters, the many (and often older) minor characters are very important for the film, and surprisingly profound, too. Particulary surprising is Divya Dutta, who usually is known for small and rather unimportant roles. Here, she plays a woman from the lowest caste, who has got a lot more in her brain, then some of the more distinguished persons. A similar (but male) character is played by Atul Kulkarni, who also contributes much to the film. Sonam Kapoor is unexpectedly better, than in "Saawariya", after which many (including me) had already almost given up their hope for her. She convinces as a young, rebelling representative of the Indian middle class, who's on the search for her identity and wants to be free, instead of submitting herself to a man. We can be curious, if Sonam will master a bigger role too - however, she's very good in this one. The leading character of the movie is played by Abhishek Bachchan, and there could not be found a better one for this part. Firstly, he speaks with a real American accent, contrarily to many other NRI-mimes. Furthermore, he plays his part calmly and naturally and doesn't steal too much attention from the smaller roles. He's passionate too - after a while, most of the characters recognize, how narrow-minded and oldfashioned they act. 

All of this is accompanied by a wonderfully modern and multifaceted soundtrack from the pen of India's favourite composer, A. R. Rahman. The songs match Delhi perfectly - thoroughly Indian, but also very new and creative. 

With "Delhi-6", Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra succeeds in making a modern portrait of India, a little similar to "Rang De Basanti", but also with many new aspects, that "RDB" didn't come up with. 

Rating: 8.3

Thank you for reading my review,

Mette M. K.

Review: Kites

KITES: THE REMIX (2010)

Director: Anurag Basu

Screenplay: Anurag Basu, Robin Bhatt, Akarsh Khurana

Starring: Hrithik Roshan, Barbara Mori, Kangana Ranaut, Kabir Bedi

Plot: J is an Indian dance teacher in Vegas on his search for wealth. When he meets Gina, a rich girl who's in love with him, all his problems seem to be resolved. He joins Gina to the engagement party of her brother, but when he meets his fiancé, the Mexican woman Natasha, everything changes...

Reviewed 24th of October 2010

Knowing that Kites was released at the same time in both India and North America and shot at several “exotic” locations, I was still somewhat surprised seeing it at a DVD-store on my holiday in México (actually, part of the story takes place there). Naturally, I had no other chance but to buy it – as is would seem to any other fanatic Bollywood-Fan, this “coincidence” seemed to me as a sign of destiny! “Kites” had to be perfect.

Well, I can assure you: It is not. “Kites” does have several flaws. For the better understanding of these flaws, firstly, I need to mention one of the best things about this movie: The idea. Though it is a often warmed-up plot (two poor people on their way to wealth fall in love and forget everything about money), I quite like the idea of the mixed-cultures setting (a Indian man and a Spanish woman in America), which isn’t yet totally common in Bollywood. Add a handsome Hrithik Roshan and the good-looking (+ sympathetic) Barbara Mori, a couple that definitely has some chemistry – and there you have a fun Summer-Movie/ Movie-for-DVD-nights-in-cold-winter! Or: you would. For there are some aspects in the movie, that calm out the fun a little. Firstly, and don’t get me wrong: I do like action, like burning cars etc., but there are sequences, where the violence just goes one bit to far for a Action-Romance movie. Then, some parts of the plot seem a little too unlogical to me: For example, the falling in love just happens too quickly. Investing some more in this part of the plot would certainly have been very healthy for the movie.  There are some more small errors, but all right, I think I can close one eye and just forgive the makers. And… well, maybe I’ll some day be able to forgive Hrithik for his song “Kites In The Sky” (but I need to think about it). No, just kidding, the song wasn’t that bad, and thank you for giving you best, Hrithik – but please stick with dancing in the future! As for dancing: The movie has some great dancing scenes, which also include Kangana Ranaut, who is a great dancer, but her character leaves no room at all for showing her great acting skills. Same for all other supporting actors: None of the side characters are very profound; they are all just decorating objects.

Despite all those flaws, “Kites” is a true Entertainer, a masala-movie with some new ingredients, and it’s not at any time boring.

Rating: 6.6

   

Thank you for reading my review,

Mette M. K.

Review: 3 Idiots

NB: This was my very first post, so read it with caution.


3 IDIOTS (2009)

Director: Rajkumar Hirani

Screenplay: Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Rajkumar Hirani, Abhijat Joshi

Starring: Aamir Khan, Madhavan, Sharman Joshi, Kareena Kapoor, Boman Irani

Reviewed 10th of August 2010

In India, "3 Idiots" became not only the biggest Blockbuster ever - it also succeeded in winning (almost) every major movie award of 2010. At the beginning of the movie I found myself asking a simple question: "Why?". What was it about this movie, that amazed the Indians that much? There was one fact, that, for me, spoke rather against the movie: Aamir Khan is TOO OLD! He does (surprisingly) look more handsome than in RDB... And he plays well, as always. But come on, playing a college student while being 44 years old?! I didn't know, what to think of this. However, the movie is funny - even though some of the jokes seem a little like American Pie to me, a movie I do like, but my amusement is always a little overshaded by guilt: I ask myself - Is this actually funny, or is it just stupid?
Main essence of the movie seems to be: Have fun in your life, do what you want to... or so. I translate this to the fact, that we should just forget some of our moral values for a while, and just enjoy the experience of watching "3 Idiots". This was something I realised, when I already had seen half of the movie: Do not take this movie too seriously - it is not supposed to be. Neither the characters, nor their actions and attitudes, nor the rushing shift between joke and melodrama. (Oh, but I have to say, the actors were fantastic!). You must let yourself be lulled by the overexcited "All Izz Well" or the sweet "Zoobi Doobi", and be amused about Ranju's cute black-and-white house. Because, when I accepted all that, I found "3 Idiots" to be a rather succesfully made movie. Not the best Indian Movie ever, not for me, and it does not at all come anywhere near Avatar - but when the credits rolled over the screen, I was truly satisfied by this movie, and I was happy. And isn't that just, what a good movie should make you feel like?

I think, the Indian comedy is on it's right way! (Please (!!!), no more Phir Hera Pheri or Bhagam Bhag)!

PS: Well, Akshay Kumar can't let it be, can he? Just saw the beginning of "Housefull"... I turned it off, when Malaika wouldn't marry him and the Loser-song came up... Never again will I watch a stupid Akshay-Kumar-Comedy. 

Rating: 9.3

      

Thank you for reading my review

Mette M. K.