Couch bound

Phew!

This holiday season has been filled with watching Hindi movies. In the past 45 days the roll-call goes thus :

Jab we met :
After a very long time, a delightfully cute film has kept me engrossed. Pure, simple entertainment- these are the only words I can find to describe this movie. If one could rehash a love story, this has to get an Oscar for doing it in such a way to not come across as cliched, boring or repetitive. Shahid and Kareena just had to have been the pair for this.

Manorama 6 feet under:
Despite critics claiming it to be a rehash of Jack Nicholson's Chinatown, this movie definitely is a decent watch. If one has not watched Chinatown, then watch and just follow the suspense...like sitting through an Agatha Christie novel. The movie definitely delivers what it set out to do...entertain...with a murder mystery. Abhay Deol is an actor, sans the star hangups. Gul Panag, what can you say. She's an actress who also happens to be Miss India. With Saarika in her comeback role, the movie definitely had to be noteworthy.

Jhankaar Beats :
Stupid me! How could I have not watched this movie till now? Rahul Bose, Sanjay Suri, Juhi Chawla....again pure and simple masti. With a little bit of optimism thrown in. I mean, who doesnt like a happy ending? Enjoyable is the right word.

Pyaar ke side effects :
When I realised I had two vcd's of this movie...one that someone brought from their desh trip, another that I brought, cos I didnt realise the former existed...well of course, I had to watch the movie. Decent fare...Mallika Sherawat and Rahul Bose...not a spectacular movie. Passable, watchable...hey you have a couple of hours to spare, sure why not!

Taare Zameen Par :
What can a commoner like me say that can match all the good things thats already been said about this movie? Nothing much. Except chant...definitely watch. The casting, cinematography, dialogues, songs...every aspect...in this package..make it an award winning offering. For such an unusual topic as dyslexia for Hindi movies, coupled with such an unusual setting for a children's movie..its moving, its touching, its emotional...yet powerful. Aamir Khan is amazing as always...consistent and superb. Darsheel Safary is outstanding. None of the chocolate faced kid action that we are so used to from Bollywood movies. And my favorite song? In keeping with my trend, I gravitate towards soulful songs...this one moved me to tears. Shankar Mahadevan has outdone himself, yet again, in this song...with a bare minimum instruments, his voice shines through..bright and clear.
Excerpt from the song...
Meri Maa

Jab Bhi Kabhi Papa Mujhe
Jo Zor Se Jhoola Jhulate Hain Maa
Meri Nazar Dhoondhe Tujhe
Sochu Yahi Tu Aa Ke Thaamegi Maa

Johnny Gaddaar :
There are some so called "suspense thrillers" where you know exactly what is going to happen next...how it happens is why you stay glued to the seat and watch. When I watched "Ek Haseena Thi" I could never predict where the movie was headed at any stage. Such is the case with Johnny Gaddaar as well. Not surprising...cos both movies have been made by the same man..Sriram Raghavan. I will surely be watching out for more of his movies. Cos he sure knows how to weave a tale. Again, critics might cry aloud...about references to Johnny Mera Naam(the Dev Anand starrer, which I havent watched, so no comments) and many other Bollywood movies. Take it for what it is, and you find yourself with a decent thriller. Certainly kept me hooked to the screen...which is saying a lot, considering how distracted I can get. And Neil Nitin Mukesh? What can I say? Just a very promising young lad, with plenty to show in the looks department.

The End

Footnote :
Did someone say what about books? ONE, just ONE! To account for these past few weeks. And that was "Q&A" by Vikas Swarup. Tale of a waiter boy in Mumbai who lands in a KBC type of show and goes on to win the grand prize. A very good read, with interesting experiences in the life of an orphan who is tossed around between Mumbai and Delhi, with a brief stint in Agra. The people he meets, the folks he has worked for, his friends, some acquaintances...a circle of social interactions. And a grand prize.

Dismal as it sounds, yes just one book made it all they way to the end. The rest were disappointing. Within a few lines, pages, I'd stop and before long I had a pile of returns. The clerk at the book store definitely didnt approve. But what to do, it appears I have turned into a very picky reader. I refuse to read, for the sake of reading. Its got to grab my attention and keep me chained, else it just aint worth it!