Harry Potter and Maut Ke Tohfe!

Did Warner Bros. one fine day in their wrong mind, read my blog? Really? Well, let's not ask the wrong question and instead celebrate the cinematic progress of the Harry Potter franchise. Almost 70% of the cast came of age during the filming of the series, but apparently so did the technique and method of shoot.

The amazing thing about the 7th HP book was that it was extremely fast-paced and full of adrenalin that made it immensely enjoyable and succeeded in firing the imagination of its readers, without the bang and boom of audio-visual aids. To match that level of intensity in the movie would always be a challenging task.

Part 1 of the 7th HP movie tries it's best to remain loyal to the book and it does manage it admirably. It succeeds at various levels from establishing the characters and their various actions to explaining the tale and its numerous twists. This is a huge leap from the disastrous showcase of the 6th movie where the meat of the 6th book was simply glossed over.

It always is difficult to convert books into movies. A lot is lost, just like in translation. The intent with which a book is written is different from the intent with which it's captured on screen. No wonder the director's vision is different from the writer's idea. But, the underlying fact remains that they both are telling the same story and "nothing is more telling than a story".


A lot of times while reading books, I tend to imagine and visualize them in their onscreen avatar. Some stories are in essence so powerful that their progression to the big screen is indeed the next logical step in the process of evolution. And therein is where lies, the curse and boon of a good story- it just might in the process of this conversion lose its soul.

The pen has always been mightier than the sword, but when did it become swankier than the camera?

men to the last movie that will end an era!

Oh, Sinnerman, where you gonna run to!

The following video depicts a step by step manual that teaches how to return a stolen painting and steal another one and go through all this trouble just for the fun of it. I know it's kinda old but quite a lot of fun and still all golden. Hope it proves to be educational!

From the movie- The Thomas Crown Affair
Clipped from- You Tube

I am an Idiot. Are you?

This is to inform and educate all the dim-witted out there who haven't caught 3 Idiots yet, that they should go watch it immediately and promptly and proudly confirm their status as an Idiot.


This post is not about the merits of the film nor is it a review of the movie. Both the merits and reviews are aplenty and have already been discussed aplenty. What this post is about is my extreme happiness- happiness that I have been so right about the Hindi Film Industry. Of my belief in the "system".


The last year had been particularly path breaking- of experimental cinema, of young blood, of new visions, of varied themes, of veiled social messages, of the celebration of love and sexuality aaj kal, but most importantly of the appreciation of the viewer's mental faculties. Dev D, Gulaal, Delhi 6, Kaminey, Love Aaj Kal, Luck By Chance, New York, Paa, Rocket Singh, Wake Up Sid, 3 Idiots were all not the oh-so-typical Bollywood masala flicks. They were smart, slick, polished and professional packages. Arrival of world-class cinema at a theater near you?


It's time we understood and accepted that we make different movies; movies that suit the sensibilities of a billion plus Indians. And it is more important to remember that we'll get there. It takes time; everything does so why should the sensible movie-making business be any different? We are already seeing a resurgence of a new wave of cinema, akin to the one that permeated the Indian Film Fraternity in the 1970s to the 80s. It's not as dramatic and drastic as its 70-80s Parallel Cinema counterpart but is competitively hard-hitting and more in tune with commercial viability and the need to reach a plethora of audiences, not just a targeted viewer. It is made of people who have been brought up on movies; people who eat, drink, sleep cinema; people who understand not just the craft but the art of making films. So, even if such people make a few glitches on the path to glory, even if they stumble and slip on their way to stardom, even if they succeed in bringing only a quarter of the world to India's doorstep, so what? They'll ensure that the journey is memorable- and what's more, they'll take us along on this roller coaster.


So, why exactly am I an idiot? Simply because I believe- believe that even if Awl isn't well, Awl will be well. As they say Dil Idiot Hai, Pyaar Se Usko Samjha Le!


To an even brighter, bigger, brainier Bollywood in 2010! Amen!!!

Kaminey- Dhan Te Nan!

Caught the movie over the weekend and the verdict is- Kaminey is an extremely kamini movie! Shahid is the cutest kamina around. Priyanka is not a bad kamini at all. Amol "Bhope" Gupte is a nasty kamina. Chandan "Mikhail" Roy is an endearing kamina. But, the biggest certified kamina is Vishal Bhardawaj. Well, if you sing, compose, direct, write, live and breathe your movie, you do turn out to be the best kamina ever, don't you?

The script is refreshingly kamini; the screenplay is tautly kamina; the dialogues are scathingly kaminey; the music is melodiously kamina; the cinematography is breathtakingly kamini; and of course, the direction is kamingly kamina.

All in all, the most intelligently-made Hindi kamini movie in a while. So, all you kaminas and kaminis out there- don’t miss it or rather miss it at the expense of your own kaminapan!

Thought for the Day: Zindagi mein waat tab nahin lagti jab hum koi raafta chunte hain, waat tab lagti hai jab hum koi raafta chhodte hain.

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