Tashkent files (ताश्कंद फाईल्स)

"Tashkent files (ताश्कंद फाईल्स)"

Watched Hindi movie Tashkent files (ताश्कंद फाईल्स)". Directed by Vivek Agnihotri, Produced by Vivek Agnihotri and others. Written by Vivek Agnihotri. Cinematography Udaysing Mohite. Music Rohit Sharma. It stars Shweta Basu Prasad, Nasiruddin Shah, Pallavi Joshi, Pankaj Tripathi, Mandira Bedi, Vinayak Pathak, Rajesh Sharma and Mithun Chakraborty. I watched this movie with Ravi and Mihika. The movie is about 2 hour 15 min long and was released in 2019.

Shweta, a journalist looking for a coup, gets a call from a mysterious anonymous caller with a lead.  She raises questions about death of India's second Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri. A committee is formed under Mithun, the opposition leader, to determine if Shastriji died of natural causes or he was killed.

This movie analyses all theories, conspiracy theories, hypotheses and facts about the events in Tashkent. It highlights discrepancies, loop holes, missing links and mismatches to raise a lot of questions. Information from Mitrokhin files lends authenticity to the questions. 

I have read the chapter about India from Mitrokhin's book, which is widely quoted in the film. It's scary. It appears like Indian politicians were in a race to sell India. KGB was  happily controlling intellectuals, politicians, academia and even Indian secret service. If that is true these traitors have caused unimaginable damage to India.

Mithun surprises with good acting. Shweta is also good. The committee members play their part well, trying to reach conclusion while ensuring that their own vested interests are protected at the same time. The committee is comprised of interesting characters. An intellectual, a historian, an ex intelligence officer, an ex judge, a political protege and a leftist socialite. 

Direction is good. Apart from the fact that Shweta travels between Delhi and Tashkent and back, between committee daily meetings, as if they are located 3-4 km apart, director has made the film realistic. 

As expected, the film ends without a conclusion. Identity of mysterious caller is not a surprise. One who benefits most is the culprit. 

The film manages to raise a lot of questions about why Shastriji was systematically erased from public memory and whether he was killed. The first question deserves answer even if second remains unanswered. 

Recommend watching. 

Mission Mangal (मिशन मंगल)

"Mission Mangal (मिशन मंगल)".

Watched Hindi movie "Mission Mangal (मिशन मंगल)". This movie is directed by Jagan Shakti and stars Akshay Kumar, Vidya Balan, Sonakshi Sinha, Tapasee Pannu, Nithya Menen, Sharman Joshi, Kriti Kulhari, H. G. Dattatreya, Sanjay Kapoor, Dilip Tahil and Vikram Gokhale. Music is by Amit Trivedi & Tanishk Bagchi. Writing credits R Balki and Riturraj Tripathii. This film was released on 15 Aug 2019. I watched it with Ravi, Akshata, Mihika and Aditi.

After failure of GSLV, Akshay Kumar and Vidya Balan are given charge of Mission Mangal, a project that is never expected to take off. They are also given a team of junior scientists (mainly women).

Will Akshay and Vidya overcome the odds? Will Mission Mangal happen? Will it succeed?

All the main characters were introduced through an impact scene. But that scene had nothing to do with rest of the movie. If only director had chosen a scene that highlighted a characteristic of the character! Akshay is not shown doing any real work. Akshay is very good but Vidya is simply too good. Other scientists have done good job. Dattatreya remains in memory as loveable oldie. Tapasee looks beautiful in saree. 

Too much time is wasted for the build up that takes us to intermission thereby leaving little time for the main movie. Real story starts after intermission.

There were a number of female scientists in this mission. This movie shows the difficulties they faced in their personal lives, which they overcame and succeeded in launching Mangalyan.

All scientists worked hard for the mission. Movie shows how they were motivated but does not show any details of how exactly they worked. The movie lacks technical details. It appears like 6-7 people working in a garage did the project. There is only one mention of 17000 scientists working on the project, but you don't see any of them. It also shows scientists cleaning and painting the work area, as if ISRO doesn't have cleaning staff!

It appears that the objective of this movie is to convey the success story of Mission Mangal and what scientists did to make it successful, to common audience. Director's achievement is passable.

This movie is a simplistic dramatisation of mission Mangal. Director has taken artistic liberty for the movie but sometimes he has overdone it. For example, there is a storm at the launch site at Sriharikota. Scientists look out of their windows in Bangalore and notice that the rain has stopped and determine that it has also stopped in Sriharikota. Next minute everyone is back in office. I have read a WhatsApp post in circulation,  of an ISRO scientist, that highlights the mistakes in the movie. 

There is one pub song in the movie that is completely out of sync with the story. But it draws audience applause because Sanjay Kapoor dances on Akhiya milaoon..., his old song. 'Om Mangalam' is a good song. Special effects are ok but could have been better. Not as good as I expected.

In short, if you want a dramatized, simplistic account, watch it!

Uri (उरी)

"Uri (उरी)"

Watched Hindi movie "Uri (उरी)". This film is directed by Aditya Dhar. Written by Aditya Dhar. Produced by Ronnie Screwvala. Music by Shashwat Sachdev. It stars Vicky Kaushal, Yami Goutami, Paresh Rawal, Swaroop Sampat, Kriti Kulhari, Rajat Kapoor and Yogesh Soman. The film runs for about 2 hour 15 min and was released in 2019. I watched it with Ravi, Akshata, Mihika and Aditi.

This film is dramatisation of India's surgical  strikes in PoK, in response to the dastardly terrorist attack in Uri, launched by Pakistan sponsored terrorists. 

As far as the story goes, it's hard to tell which part was fact and which was dramatisation. However, director has done a good job of presenting a flowing story. He has added right quantities of emotions, action and drama to the recipe to create a heady concoction.

Vicky Kaushal is good. Looks like a soldier and acts like one. Yami Goutami is beautiful but has limited role. Paresh Rawal is good as usual. It was good to see Swarup Sampat after a long time. Yogesh Soman looks exactly like Parrikar. Can't imagine anyone else playing the role. Rajat Kapoor looks like Modi but doesn't portray the strong leadership vibes, he appears like an old grandpa. Unconvincing!

Action scenes are convincing but final action could have been more exciting. Vicky's speech to the selected batch of commandos is not very effective. Why an officer who is an excellent marksman is chosen as chopper pilot? Why does the strike team celebrate when they reach the caves at the border rather than after reaching at the base in India?

The surgical strikes was an important milestone in new India's muscular foreign policy and was a defining moment. Dramatisation of the surgical strikes into a movie has ensured that surgical strikes remain in public memory for a longer time and enlighten the ones who are not in the know. 

Recommend watching. 

Barsat (बरसात)

"Barsat (बरसात)"

Watched Hindi movie "Barsat (बरसात)".  Produced and Directed by Raj Kapoor, Story and Screenplay Ramanand Sagar. Music Shankar-Jaikishan, Cinematography Jal Mistry. It stars Raj Kapoor, Premnath, Nargis, K.N.Singh and introduces Nimmi. The film runs for about 2 and half hours and was released in 1949. I watched it with Aditi.

Raj Kapoor and Premnath are best friends. Premnath is a casanova and thinks that girls are incapable of loving and don't deserve to be loved. Raj Kapoor is a poet and believes in love. Premnath makes false promises to the hill girl, Nimmi, and she intern worships him and waits for his return. Raj Kapoor meets another hill girl, Nargis, and they fall in love. 

What happens next? Will Raj Kapoor and Nargis come together? Will Premnath return to Nimmi? Will Nimmi see through Premnath?

It's basically a story of belief in love versus non belief. Eternal love versus carnal pleasure. Serious relationship versus flirtation. There are a number of songs in this movie and each one is a melody and a hit. One can watch this movie only for the songs. They are sung even today, 70 years after the release. Unique feature of this movie is that there is a background score playing for the entire duration of the movie.

'Patli kamar hai tirchi najar hai' is a fantastic song. Every alternate line is by Premnath (who is enjoying life in the company of beautiful girls) and by Nimmi (who is hoping against hope that Premnath will return). The style of showing contrast in alternate lines of a song is original.

Raj Kapoor acts like himself,  a wistful lover boy. Nargis probably looks best in this movie and acts well. Premnath stands out. He gets to Express himself. This was before he let himself be typecast. Nimmi does well for her debut. K. N. Singh is shown as a rough man and he handles Nargis and Raj Kapoor really roughly. His character and director's handling of his roughness is realistic. Cinematography was good at that time of black and white but appears elementary  today. 

Watching the film today, 70 years after its release generates mixed feelings. On one hand one is amazed and on the other the technology, direction and acting appear primitive. Nevertheless, one can't help but admire the crew and efforts. 

Watch it for the experience.

Office Christmas Party

"Office Christmas Party"

Watched English movie "Office Christmas Party". This film is directed by Josh Gordon and Will Speck. Written by John Lucas and others. It's produced by Guymon Casady and others. It stars Jennifer Aniston, T. J. Miller, Jason Bateman, Kate McKinnon, Olivia Munn, Courtney B. Vance, Vanessa Bayer. The film runs for about 1 hour 40 min and released in 2016.

Clay is branch manager of a company who's CEO is his sister Carol. One day,  just before Christmas, she decides to either lay off majority employees or close Clay's branch. Now they have one Christmas party to land a mega deal and save the branch. It's the Office Christmas Party.

How will they land a deal during Christmas party? Till what extent will they go for the deal? Will it end well or in a disaster?

It's a simple story, uncomplicated, spiced up with individual side stories (using electricity to carry internet signals, hooker for non-existent girlfriend, divorce, single mother etc. )

Acting by all the actors is overdone, probably as part of comedy. Jennifer Aniston is largely wasted. The role has little substance and scope. TJ Miller is likeable as a kind hearted, bumbling, hulk of a boss. Jason and Olivia are the only serious actors. 

Direction is ok. Sometimes director goes overboard. Cinematographer does a decent job. Casting is good.

In such a movie the end is a foregone conclusion, its how the end is achieved that matters. This particular movie is nonsensical and if you decide to watch it, do it without using brain.

Watch it,  forget it or give it a miss. 

Jack Reacher: Never go back

"Jack Reacher: Never go back"

Watched English movie "Jack Reacher: Never go back". This film is directed by Edward Zwick. Written by Zwick, Richard Wenk and Marshall Herskovitz. It's produced by Tom Cruise and others. It stars Tom Cruise, Coby Smulders, Danika Yarosh, Patrik Heusinger . The film runs for about 2 hours and released in 2016.

Jack Reacher busts a human trafficking racket (although he has no formal authority) with the help of Major Susan Turner. Turner is arrested for espionage. Jack Reacher senses more to it and spirits her off the prison. Then the chase and action begins. A possible daughter of Reacher adds to the complication. 

Typical Tom Cruise movies have little story. Sprinkling of emotions. Chases, high octane action & thrill. This movie is no different. It is what you expect of Tom Cruise movies. 

Lee Child, author of the book by same name, on which this movie is based, makes a guest appearance in the movie. 

Protagonists do justice to their roles.  Cinematography is good. Action sequences are good. Direction is adequate. This is second movie of Jack Reacher series.

Watch it for action, not for substance. 

15 August (१५ ऑगस्ट)

"15 August (१५ ऑगस्ट)"

Watched Marathi movie 15 August (१५ ऑगस्ट). Directed by Swapnaneel Jaykar, Produced by Madhuri Dixit and Shriram Nene. Story & Screenplay Yogesh Vinayak Joshi. Cinematography Milind Jog. It stars Mrunmayi Deshpande, Adinath Kothare, Rahul Pethe, Abhishek Deshmukh, Namrata Kadam, Satish Pulekar, Vijay Patkar, Naina Apte, Vaibhav Mangle, Chandu Parkhi & Uday Tikekar. I watched this movie with Aditi. The movie is about 2 hour long and was released in 2019. It's a Netflix film.

It's the story of an independence day in a chawl. Mrunmayi and Rahul love each other but her family disapproves. On the fateful day, a prospective groom, Adinath, and his parents are coming to meet Mrunmayi and her family to finalize marriage. At the same time a boy in chawl has stuck his hand in a hole made for flag and solutions are coming fast. 

How did the boy stick his hand? What does the chawl do to extract it? Will Adinath like Mrunmayi? Will she say yes? What about painter Rahul?

The story is light. But it's not really about independence day. It's a love story. Director spends too much time on the hand stuck in the hole. Rahul's character appears too passive. Otherwise direction is ok, finishing could have been better. 

Mrunmayi looks beautiful,  but the age has started showing, on occasions. She acts well. Rahul plays the silent lover and unsuccessful painter well. Adinath scores in the short but decisive role.

Supporting cast is well known and they are all good and accomplished actors. The chawl has all kind of characters and they are used to create humor. The child artist is cute. 

Cinematographers idea of transposing from one scene to other using a common thread is very creative. 

It's a good entertainment. Ok for family viewing, except the swear words. 

Recommended watching.