IQBAL : A Cliche which did not elicit a cliche....
IQBAL . It is not a secret that I am a hardened cynic.Especially when it comes to Bollywood/Collywood movies. Not that anyone cares ofcourse :whatthat: Yesterday I was asked by my friend to make a choice between IQBAL and NO ENTRY . I put up a snooty air and asked him what he would do if asked to choose between the devil and the deep blue sea? *Even* if the deep blue sea as in this case was awash with three err.."mermaids". 'Much vaunted eyecandy after a lack lustre software job' So tempted my friend.And the Devil in this case was 'unknown'. Literally. But better sense prevailed (actually NO ENTRY was housefull..) we opted for IQBAL. Now the story would have been done to death in many a place so let me say what it was about the movie which impressed me.
*Spoilers ahead*
The movie is a smorgasbord of the following cliches....
** A protagonist who is handicapped
** A protagonist who is from a minority community (which may or may not be intentional...)
** An underdog who excels amidst tribulations.** A sprightly,vivacious precocious sister for the aforementioned protagonist.
** A strict,initially intransigent father
** An understanding mother who has to handle the tough job of running with the hares and hunting the hounds.
** A promising talented artist(or sportsperson) who was duped in the past and never could go on to achieve his dreams. Yes Alchemist wasn't probably published by then. :p
** A villainous person who coerces the protagonist by putting him in a moral dilemma.
** Soundtrack which reminded you of snippets of Enya and Enigma.Somehow didn't sound original. Had a feeling of have-heard-them-somewhere-before
** A well endowed heroine who plays the love interest of the protagonist and adds to the err.."sizzle" element.
(Actually am not sure of the last statement above....I *could* have got confused with the distraction of the coochicooing couple sitting next to me :whatthat: whom I am pretty sure didntsee half the movie. I can vouch for it. I only hope they had a good time as much as I did. I mean watching the movie. )
Yes I hear some say "Really? I have seen them all in various 'avataars' before!What is the big deal about this movie then?"
Fellow brethren of the cynic club you know all there is to know, not much use for me to say anything to you. And others go..
"Well so what do you expect in a movie?it is not a documentary for heaven's sake! surely some leeway has to be given...and some of these cliches are necessary evils. As most cliches are."
And to them much as I would like to cock a snook I would have to acknowledge that they have a point. And this is precisely why after watching the movie one cannot help but detect a "feel good factor" prevalent among everyone(including me) who came out of the theatre with smiles on their face .(Though as a side note I would like to add the couple next to me were smiling for totally different reasons....:whatthat: ) I was smiling (or as my friend not-so-politely says 'st00pidly grinning") all the way back with a feeling of bonhomie towards all and sundry. I almost felt like a virgin would feel after his first night.(well speaking from other's experience ofcourse....) And was almost gonna offer my friend a fountain pepsi when out of the blue he asked money for the ticket. A solid 170 Rs. in the INOX theatre in Garuda Mall. And there ended all my bonhomie :whatthat: Even bonhomie has it's limit.. :(
Anyway trivialities and cliches apart Nagesh Kukunoor never disappoints with his dialogues...this movie is replete with one liners and thankfully were not "forced" or non sequitur as they were in Hyderabad Blues 2. Sure you second guess some of them but the feeling is more of a elation at matching a master at his own game than guessing what a dumb pupil might say...The acting is quite good and Shreyas Talpade will go a long way.Hopefully. Shweta Prasad as the precocious sister is brilliant too! :thumbsup: Her dialogue delivery is immaculate. And need one say anything about Naseeruddin Shah? He is a natural...on the lines of Tom Hanks one might say if feeling a little bit generous. Inspite of the lighter wallet(170 bucks!!!) I am feeling generous...:)
And those who felt slightly disappointed with "The Rising" might have something to rejoice about after seeing this movie. So I recomemnd go and watch it. That way atleast I will get the tickets for NO ENTRY......
Girish...!
*Spoilers ahead*
The movie is a smorgasbord of the following cliches....
** A protagonist who is handicapped
** A protagonist who is from a minority community (which may or may not be intentional...)
** An underdog who excels amidst tribulations.** A sprightly,vivacious precocious sister for the aforementioned protagonist.
** A strict,initially intransigent father
** An understanding mother who has to handle the tough job of running with the hares and hunting the hounds.
** A promising talented artist(or sportsperson) who was duped in the past and never could go on to achieve his dreams. Yes Alchemist wasn't probably published by then. :p
** A villainous person who coerces the protagonist by putting him in a moral dilemma.
** Soundtrack which reminded you of snippets of Enya and Enigma.Somehow didn't sound original. Had a feeling of have-heard-them-somewhere-before
** A well endowed heroine who plays the love interest of the protagonist and adds to the err.."sizzle" element.
(Actually am not sure of the last statement above....I *could* have got confused with the distraction of the coochicooing couple sitting next to me :whatthat: whom I am pretty sure didntsee half the movie. I can vouch for it. I only hope they had a good time as much as I did. I mean watching the movie. )
Yes I hear some say "Really? I have seen them all in various 'avataars' before!What is the big deal about this movie then?"
Fellow brethren of the cynic club you know all there is to know, not much use for me to say anything to you. And others go..
"Well so what do you expect in a movie?it is not a documentary for heaven's sake! surely some leeway has to be given...and some of these cliches are necessary evils. As most cliches are."
And to them much as I would like to cock a snook I would have to acknowledge that they have a point. And this is precisely why after watching the movie one cannot help but detect a "feel good factor" prevalent among everyone(including me) who came out of the theatre with smiles on their face .(Though as a side note I would like to add the couple next to me were smiling for totally different reasons....:whatthat: ) I was smiling (or as my friend not-so-politely says 'st00pidly grinning") all the way back with a feeling of bonhomie towards all and sundry. I almost felt like a virgin would feel after his first night.(well speaking from other's experience ofcourse....) And was almost gonna offer my friend a fountain pepsi when out of the blue he asked money for the ticket. A solid 170 Rs. in the INOX theatre in Garuda Mall. And there ended all my bonhomie :whatthat: Even bonhomie has it's limit.. :(
Anyway trivialities and cliches apart Nagesh Kukunoor never disappoints with his dialogues...this movie is replete with one liners and thankfully were not "forced" or non sequitur as they were in Hyderabad Blues 2. Sure you second guess some of them but the feeling is more of a elation at matching a master at his own game than guessing what a dumb pupil might say...The acting is quite good and Shreyas Talpade will go a long way.Hopefully. Shweta Prasad as the precocious sister is brilliant too! :thumbsup: Her dialogue delivery is immaculate. And need one say anything about Naseeruddin Shah? He is a natural...on the lines of Tom Hanks one might say if feeling a little bit generous. Inspite of the lighter wallet(170 bucks!!!) I am feeling generous...:)
And those who felt slightly disappointed with "The Rising" might have something to rejoice about after seeing this movie. So I recomemnd go and watch it. That way atleast I will get the tickets for NO ENTRY......
Girish...!
posted by The Man Who Wasnt There | 8/29/2005 06:35:00 PM
9 Comments:
Hey Girish,
As usual I love the way you express yourself. Dude but i need more updates from u ( I meant in the blog). I know u r too lazy to do that but do try..
@Praveen...And this comes from the guy who is lazy by himself...*escape*
Bah! I have stopped expecting any good movies any more from Indian cinema......can't think of the lst movie that held my attention for more than 15 minutes.......sad but true....
And no, I am NOT a cynic......just a realist.....and quite honestly, there aren't too many English movies that are able to hold my attention eiter...I just think of most of them as being a total waste of time that could be spent much more fruitfully doing something useful like listening to music, reading a book or watching a football match...or jamming or blogging....basically anything but watching the same old BS in a new and even more boring form.....
Hi girish,
First time here. i hope u remember me! Great read there! Expected from you. I havent watched it as yet. Guess, for me its a must watch. U know why, rite?
And i always keep dictionary.com open whenever i read anything written by you. :))
Happy Bday! And do post your job dilemma, if possible.
Just one suggestion. If possible, try to make the post look a bit aesthetic, i mean by way of paras. I know its not important. :)
tho' u'r analysis of the movie is very good, still some off the mark comments baffle me!!!
wondering whether u r still single!
will take a long time 2 belive so...
mangal pandey - a bit disappointing? frustrating 2 say the least!!!
this movie bothered yuo so much that it moved yuo to blog about it??!!! i will definitely watch it - at least to find out what motivates the girish.
tada.. keep up the good work.
I read your Wonder Years ting... it was cool. This feeling is so very eternal, every other adolescent will narrate it in his own way, and this is what makes it so special ....
I think everyones personal memories and crushes in this wild world are tempered when put to words... and this damn blog thing , I think it makes a mockery of your own emotions....The person for whom you intended the blog won't read it probably, so whom is it for...... just kidding... this blog is a public diary , that only close friends care to read about... and besides it satisfies your creative streak...
oops! My aplogies for the tardy response for the comments! Strangely i just saw the comments...
@Praveen: I guess I can kinda vindicated your comemnt did I?;) And pray which Praveen is this?
@VK: That isnt much of a clue :D And the inevitable qn..have we been acquainted...?
@Mike: Yes we along with so many others still hope dont we for that elusive "coming of age"? :)
@Amar: Welcome Amar..err..I know it's been quite some time but better late than never eh?;)
@yogi: Ah as usual you read way too much into my words;)
@consumerdemon: I am quite an err.."sensitive" soul you know.. :P
@Manish: tnx d00d...that was the err.."mushy" part(or as close to it I ever got) of my life..
@anonymous: What shall I say? Except that it is a frigging brilliant way of advertising with having a url in a "." after thanks...:P
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