Margarita with a straw

"Margarita with a straw"

Watched Hindi movie "Margarita with a straw". This movie is directed by Shonali Bose Screenplay by Shonali Bose, Nilesh Maniyar, Atika Chohan, Sölveig Anspach. Cinematography by Anne Misawa. Music by Nicky McCleary. It stars Kalki Koechlin, Revathy and Sayani Gupta in main roles. It released in 2014 and is 1 hour 4o minutes long. I watched it with Aditi.

Kalki is spastic, but intelligent. She can't lead a normal life and can't have a boyfriend because of her condition but she longs for it. She applies and gets scholarship in NYU. In America she meets a blind girl and they connect. 

What are Kalki's inhibitions? Can she do something out of sync with her upbringing? Will her mother support her?

Shonali had handled a very unique subject deftly. The movie slows down on a couple of occasions but retains the audience interest and attention throughout. She has handled the subject well and chosen a good cast. 

Kalki is superb. She has brought a powerful character to life and almost always keeps the spastic bearing. Can't imagine any other actress doing this role. Sayani is a good actress and fully justifies her character. Revathi is good as usual. These three ladies are the mainstay of the movie. 

Music is good. There are some likable tunes. Cinematography is also good. 

This movie has some bold scenes. Kalki and Sayani have given bold shots for this Hindi movie. Although they are necessary for the subject, one can't watch this movie with full family. 

End of the movie is very good. It has a significance. Kalki becomes independent. She decides to live for herself. She decides to enjoy life. 

Margarita with a straw is a fantastic movie title. Margarita signifies freedom. Freedom from tradition, freedom from norms, freedom from inhibitions and freedom from culture. Straw signifies adapting to special needs, customizing to the requirements. 

Kalki, deservedly, won two national awards for this film and Shonali has won Stardust award for this film too. ThereTo film has won many other awards. 

A very good movie. Must watch. 

Mohalla Assi (मोहल्ला अस्सी)

"Mohalla Assi (मोहल्ला अस्सी)"

Watched Hindi movie "Mohalla Assi (मोहल्ला अस्सी)", directed by Chandraprakash Dwivedi and Produced by Vijay Tiwari. It stars Sunny Deol, Ravi Kishan, Sourabh Shukla, Sakshi Tanwar, Nilesh To earn, Narendra Gupta, Mithilesh Chaturvedi. The movie is about 2 hours long. 

Sunny (Pandit Pandey) is a staunch supporter of of Hindu traditions and self proclaimed protector of values and traditions and an influential figure in Mohalla Assi which overlooks the famous Assi Ghat. With a lout of foreign tourists and ample weed in circulation, things are changing. 

Director has used Pappu's shop as a melting pot of personalities and point of views. There's a doctor, a lawyer, a right winger, a communist, a socialist and a Muslim. They chat every evening and it is through these chats that we understand the changes happening in India. From VP Singh becoming PM to Mandal commission and protests to Ram Mandir and demolition of disputed structure etc. Director uses these chats to carry the story forward. It's interesting. To some, it may even be boring but I liked the idea. 

Basically this movie tells the story of Sunny who finds himself becoming redundant in changing times. He has no means to fight money and globalization and decides to make deal with the devil to remain relevant. Will he succumb?

It was a bold step to cast Sunny in very unglamorous and non macho role. However, Sunny does well. He portrays the character responsibly. Sakshi is the best performer in thus movie. She looks good and conveys her anger initially, angst later and love throughout powerfully. The characters at the shop are played by able and well known actors and one can't find a fault with any of them. 

Bhosadike, a curse word, is used in Benaras regular in daily parlance, even by the learned. This movie uses the word more than 100 times.

Mohalla Assi looks authentic. I don't know how the real one looks. Otherwise audience is treated to the sites and sounds of Benaras and rustic lifestyle. Cinematography is good, though most of the shooting is indoors and there are no breathtakingly beautiful locations. 

This movie is very much off the beaten track. Without Sunny and Sakshi it would have appeared to be an art film. Were they casted precisely for that? The message is subtle but impactful.

Watch of you like the genre. 

Anandi Gopal (आनंदी गोपाळ)

"Anandi Gopal (आनंदी गोपाळ)"

Watched Marathi movie "Anandi Gopal (आनंदी गोपाळ)". This film is directed by Sameer Vidwans and produced by Kishore Arora, Akash Chawla & others. Writing credits Karan Shrikant Sharma. It stars Lalit Prabhakar, Bhagyashree Milind, Geetanjali Kulkarni & Yogesh Soman.

The film runs for about 2 hour 14 min. This movie is based on a unforgettable book by same name. I watched the film with Jayant, Sucheeta, Mihika and Aditi on 15th Feb 2019.

This is the story of Yamuna who was married to a widower, Gopalrao Joshee, many years older. Her name was changed to Anandi after marriage. Gopalrao was a whimsical and eccentric who was obsessed with educating his little wife. Anandibai Joshi goes on to become the first lady doctor of India.

Lalit Prabhakar portrays the role of Gopalrao authentically. We have seen his acting in TV serial earlier, but the performance he delivers in this movie is superlative. Geetanjali Kulkarni, as Gopalrao's mother in law also excels in her limited role. Bhagyashree does justice to the role of Anandi. Yogesh Soman is a good actor but he is wasted in an insignificant role. Jayant Sawarkar and Geetanjali Kulkarni play cameo. 

Direction is good. Director leaves his mark in some of the scenes, especially in the final scene when Lalit just shakes his head imperceptibly. Director chooses to present this story as a love story, which it wasn't. What was his objective in romanticizing it? He  presents only the good side of the story. He conveniently omits Anandi's treatment on boat, her suffering in America and the acidic letters of her husband. In general he covers her America stay very fast. However, whatever he chose to show, he had shown very well. 

Locations chosen are very good. The house where they stay in Alibaug, the beaches, the ferry etc. all fits the period. Cinematography is also good. The movie had a couple of good songs.

Watch at its face value, don't compare with book to avoid disappointment. 

Chittagong (चिट्टागोंग)

"Chittagong (चिट्टागोंग)"

Watched Hindi movie "Chittagong (चिट्टागोंग)". This movie is directed by Bedabrata Pain. Written by Bedabrata Pain and Shonali Bose. Cinematography by Eric Zimmerman. Music by Shankar-Ehsan-Loy. It stars Manoj Bajpai, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Rajkumar Rao, Jaideep Ahalawat, Barry John, Delzad Hiwale, Vega Tamotia, Dibyendu Bhattacharya, Alexx O'Nell & Barry John. It released in 2016 and is 1 hour 44 minutes long.

Pre-Independence undivided India. Chittagong. Local populace is suffering from British atrocities. Jhunku, a teenager, is son of an Indian barrister. Their family has cordial relations with the British Magistrate. A band of youth led by Durga Sen (Manoj Bajpai) wants to do something for Azadi. A plot is hatched. 

What triggers the plot? What is the plot? Will Jhunku side with British or freedom fighters? Will the uprising succeed?

This is the story of 1930 Chittagong uprising where more than 30 teenagers led by older Surya Sen captured the armoury of Chittagong. This story is narrated through the eyes of Jhunku (Subodh Roy), a real life hero, who was 14 at that time. 

Writers have remained true to the real story and have avoided spicing it up under the guise of artistic liberty. 

This movie is directed by a NASA scientist who resigned from NASA to make this movie. Although he is a First timer he has done a good job and his newness is not apparent. 

All the actors are known good actors. So there is hardly anything to write about individual acting. However, Vega who plays Pritilata, leaves a lasting impression. She is also one of the producers of this movie. Manoj Bajpai underclass the role too much. He appears subdued. They have found good places and scenic locations for the movie. Camera work is good. 

At the end of movie there is a video clip of real Jhunku (Subodh Roy), recorded weeks before his demise. He was the youngest to be sent to the dreaded Andaman jail for Kala Pani.

This film has won National film award for best singer (Shankar Mahadevan) and lyrics (Prasoon Joshi) in 2013.

Watch of this review interests you. 

Trivia: Another movie 'Khelein hum jee janse' was also based on the Chittagong uprising.