Love, Sex aur Dhoka - Review

Khosla ka Ghosla
Oye lucky lucky Oye
LSD
Every once in a while comes a film, which changes the rules of the game. Sometimes it is about the story, sometimes about the acting but in this case, it is all about the filmmaking.
Dibakar Banerjee is back with India's first ever digital film. Touted to be one of the boldest, most hard-hitting films in recent times, does this film live up to the curiosity value it has generated. Absolutely.

The movie is split into 3 stories, thematically Love, Sex & Dhoka.

LSD starts with a bang. The first story involves a student filmmaker Rahul, an Adi Chopra devotee who is making a film on the lines of DDLJ. He is smitten by the actress Shruti and falls in love with her. This story deals with how he elopes with her and the madness that follows.

The second story deals with a debt ridden man Adarsh who plans to make a sex-video at a local store by using the hidden security cams & roping in sales girl Rashmi in his trap.

The last one deals with a news reporter Prabhat & his tryst with the Sting operations. He hatches a plan with dancer Naina to catch pop-star Loki Local in the act.

All the 3 stories are inter-linked and have a message. The first one is hilarious & keeps you entertained . The second story is the weak link as the film drastically slows down & is stretched a bit. The film again gains momentum as the last one too, keeps your attention.

The beauty of this film is the earthy, authentic feel that Dibakar manages so beautifully. Each character is well etched & you will remember them even after you are out of the theater. There is unique North-Indian flavour in all his films and LSD is no exception.
There are certain scenes & dialogues that will have you in splits, and also moments in the film where you will get a little bored.

The cinematography by Nikos Andritsakis is interesting. While there are portions that get a little jarring, the digital format makes an interesting watch. One can expect many more such films to roll out in the future.
Both the casting and performances are superb. Notable mentions are Shruti's father in the first story, the watchman in the second & The reporter in the third.

National award winner Dibakar Banerjee impresses again. He makes a film in a modest budget & shows that with a good story & concept, you can still make a movie. One sees many more non-star-script-oriented films in the future.

To conclude, LSD is unique, unlike movies we are used to seeing. One must applaud this effort for the sheer concept. Even though its not the best film, it holds you for most of it. Do catch this one as it is a breath of fresh air, one that opens new doors for Indian cinema.

Rating: 3.5/5

Right ya Wrong - Review

Yes, I did actually see this film.
Yes, It does have a Sunny Deol dance number.
Yes, I will review it.
No, you will NOT watch it !!!!
Right ya Wrong is a movie meant for those searching for a mind-numbing experience.

Lets roll back to the 90's:
Villain has 5 looser goons with him. He's got a moll on one arm. He's gonna get thrashed by the good guys. That's how the film begins, with cops Ajay Singh(Sunny) & Vinay Pathak(Irrfan) leading the way to capture our bad man(Aryan Vaid). They succeed, but in the bargain Ajay gets a shot to the spine & gets paralyzed the waist below.
His Mrs(Isha Kopikkar) is meanwhile having a steamy affair with his own cousin. Frustrated with his life, Ajay tells his wife and bro to put him out of his misery. He also has a 5Cr insurance(yeah hes a cop + he lives in a sprawling mansion). After setting it all up, they shoot him but surprise surprise. When the cops arrive, the Mrs & the brother are dead & Ajay alive !!!
Vinay smells foul play, wondering Who did it? Why? and How?
These questions are answered in the 2.5 hr fiasco.

Lets get to the juicy bit, the classic moments of the film:
1. Sunny Deol screaming WHYYYYYY, 6 times, in an intense scene.
2. Sunny's no-gooder bro, who doesn't do any work, telling Isha.K, "babes, wait till you see my Manhattan apartment"
3. A courtroom where knives are allowed as bookmarks !!!

To be fair, the story is interesting. A lot could have been done with the plot, which has an intelligent element to it. Alas, this one doesn't do justice. The background score too, by Monty is good. The music though, a downer.
The camera has a life of it's own. Ravi Walias cinematography does too much for it to be an enjoyable experience.

The performances. Irrfan Khan is clearly the pick of the lot. He is effortless & a natural. The movie doesn't do justice to his talent. Sunny Deol moves between acting and hamming in parts. Isha Kopikkar, looking sexy, displays her worst acting skills to date. One wonders why Konkana would do such a role as hers. Govind Namdeo is at his dramatic best. The actor playing Sunnys brother cracks you up with every line he speaks.(He is not supposed to be funny).

Director Neeraj Pathak pens a good plot but a shoddy screenplay. The film itself is not exciting enough, except for certain parts.

To sum it up, this movie is meant for those who have won free tickets. Go inside, laugh at the madness and you would enjoy it. At he box office, I see no activity.

For those who read this review not knowing what this film is, Thanks. Its more fun than the film itself.

Rating: 1.5/5

Road, Movie - Review

After creating quite some magic on the festival circuit, Dev Bengal's much awaited Road, Movie finally hits the screens. With Abhay Deol in the driving seat, does this one live up to the expectations?
This is one film meant for those with a penchant for strikingly diverse cinema. If you are going for a paisa-vasool entertainer, DON'T read this review.

The story deals withe life of Vishnu(Abhay Deol) who does not want to enter his fathers hair-oil business. He decides to do a favour to his uncle by transporting his film projector installed antique truck to the required destination.
Vishus journey takes him across the desert along with various other characters, such as a boy working at tea stall(Mohammed Faisal), an animated old mechanic Om(Satish Kaushik) & even a banjaran(Tannishtha Chatterjee) for the latter half of his journey.
The movie also deals with the issue of the water mafia that plagues the villages.

Clocking in at just over 90 minutes, the film is short & to the point. The screenplay is a little loose & the script doesn't hold too strong. The film does slow down drastically at times & leaves you wandering away.
Sometimes, the movie is more of a visual treat than anything else. The locations are stunning & the movie has a beautiful feel to it.

The cinematography by Michel Amathieu is exusisite, as he covers the vast landscapes with great style. Whether is is the sand, or the silhouettes of the villagers, every frame is beautiful.
A special mention for the background score by Micheal Brook.

Of the actors, Satish Kaushik leads the pack. He efforlessly plays the lazy, grungy mechanic & does a brilliant job. Child actor Mohammed Faisal too, pitches in with a thumping performance, as he steals the show from the other actors.
This wouldn't classify as one of Abhay Deol's best acts. He does good but nowhere near Dev.D.

Director Dev Bengal has truly gone & made different cinema. His direction is very interesting & there is unique style to the film. Working in parts & failing it parts, it is an interesting concoction.

At the end of it, Road Movie is a weird yet interesting film. I repeat again that is meant for those with an appetite for the atypical, not all the so-called "Multiplex Janta". At the box office, one doesn't see it working any magic.
So watch it at your own risk, as this abstract adventure might just work for you. It does for me.

Rating: 3/5