Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil girl (गुन्जन सक्सेना)

"Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil girl (गुन्जन सक्सेना)"

Watched Hindi movie "Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil girl (गुन्जन सक्सेना)". This movie is directed by Sharan Sharma. Writing credits Nikhil Malhotra and Sharan Sharma. Produced by Dharma Productions, Essel Vision Productions. Music John Stewart,  Amit Trivedi. It stars Janhavi Kapoor, Angad Bedi, Pankaj Tripathi, Manav Vij, Vineet Kumar Singh. I watched the movie on Netflix with Aditi on 14th Aug 2020.

Gunjan, daughter of a retired army colonel, dreams of flying and yearns to become a pilot. Against many odds she becomes a pilot, not for commercial airlines but for Indian airforce. 

Was the road to becoming airforce pilot easy? Were there hurdles? Were there pre conceived notions? Was there cooperation? Did she give up? Who was her rock of Gibraltar?

The story proceeds on expected lines and there are no twists or surprises. Director narrates the story simplistically. Not much drama, not much melodrama, no love angle. But while trying to keep the story close to reality, it has become plain. 

Manav Vij is very good. Angad Bedi and Vineet Kumar are good. Janhavi is not bad, but she could not get the bearing of tough girl, she looks vulnerable even when she is not supposed to. She looks silly rather than smart. 

Indian airforce is shown as masochistic, intolerant of females and resenting females. 

Watch it to understand the story of a real life hero, not for quality of movie or value for money. 

Shakuntaladevi (शकुन्तलादेवी)

"Shakuntaladevi (शकुन्तलादेवी)"

Watched Hindi movie "Shakuntaladevi". Direction Anu Menon. Written by Anu Menon, Nayanika Mahatani, Ishita Moitra. Produced by Sony Pictures, Networks India, Vikram Malhotra. Music by Sachin-Jigar. Cinematography Keiko Nakahara. The film features Vidya Balan, Sanya Malhotra, Amit Sadh and Jisshu Sengupta. The movie runs for about 2 hours 7 minutes. I watched it on 31st July 2020 with Aditi.

Shakuntaladevi was a genius. The one and only person who could do ultra complex sums mentally faster than a computer. She was called human computer. In this movie Shakuntaladevi is shown as vein, self centred genius.

However, this movie does not delve into her genius or try to find how she could do it. The first half is about her move to England and rise to fame. Her legendary skills and her stage shows. Second part is about her complex marriage and her tempestuous relationship with her daughter. Shakuntala hates her mother for not intervening when father was being tyrant but over compensates by interfering with her daughters life. A genius, huge publicity, lot of money is a recipe for disastrous personal relationships. 

It appears as if the director could not decide whether to present her life or relationship of mother-daughter. As a result there is a lack of focus on either. Thus the movie appears shallow rather than profound. 

Vidya does well, but doesn't look her beautiful self. Sanya does good, except the horrible wig she wears while portraying her younger self. Amit is very good. Cinematography of old era is eye pleasing. Don't remember any song. 

End of movie doesn't come naturally with the flow. It appears made up. Things happen too conveniently. Shakuntala's visit to ancestral house is very superficial (the light bulb works after so many years, there is just 1 trunk in empty room and it has exactly those important things that movie needs). Sudden realization of Shakuntala and her daughter about their respective mothers, daughter's laughable realization that she had a happy childhood etc..

The movie doesn't capture audience's imagination. Ok, not wow!

Not a must watch. 

Love shuv te chicken Khurana (लव शव ते चिकन खुरना

"Love shuv te chicken Khurana (लव शव ते चिकन खुरना"

Watched Hindi movie "Love shuv te chicken Khurana". This movie is directed by Sameer Sharma. Produced by produced by Ronnie Screwvala, Siddharth Roy-Kapur, Anurag Kashyap. Written by Sameer Sharma and Sumeet Batheja. Music Amit Trivedi, Cinematography Mitesh Mirchandani. It stars Kunal Kapoor, Vicky Koushal, Huma Qureshi, Anangsha Biswas, Rajesh Sharma, Rahul Bagga, Manish Makhija, Nimrat Kaur, Vinod Nagpal. I watched the movie on Netflix with Aditi on 5th Jun 2020.

Omi Khurana, a struggling man in UK owes 50,000 pounds to a gangster. Gangster packs him and sends to India to bring money because his grandpa runs one of the most popular Dhaba in Punjab. The prodigal son returns to his family (grand father, uncle, aunt and cousin) in Punjab.

What will he find in Punjab? Can he get the money from his family? Will he find his sweetheart there? What is Chicken Khurana?

His grandpa was famous for his secret recipe 'Chicken Khurana'. No one knew what he did to make it taste heavenly. On arrival he realizes that Grandpa can't cook anymore. The secret recipe is lost. He wants to sell Dhaba and get away with the cash, but there is a catch. 

Kunal looks handsome and acts well. He looks better in beard. Huma plays Dr. Harman and looks perfect Punjabi kudi. Acts decently. Rahul Bagga impresses. Vicky Koushal has only a guest appearance, as young Kunal. Others play supporting roles. Rajesh Sharma is good as usual. 

Direction is good. Keeps you entertained. Tries to end like a slapstick comedy. Music was ok, couldn't remember any song. Cinematography of rural Punjab is pleasing. 

Good time pass during Corona lock down.