Article on Bidri Craft written by me: Home Review Magazine, November 2010
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Monday, November 22, 2010
When Beauty distracts...
Guzaarish is a film you really want to love. Right from the first frame, the visuals strike you. It is as if the director dreamt each and every frame and translated it on screen, with an aim to awe.
This awe, scale and depiction of characters which look like paintings is the very problem of the movie. While the movie mentions the time and place it is set in, it never feels so. Though the characters are human, their portrayal has expressions of the scale of a mythological drama. Understandingly, these all are for a certain dramatic effect, again clearly imagined by the director.
As the visuals and the scale of these dreams awed , they slowly constructed the barrier between the character and the viewer. Coz, as the movie advanced, it's human scale decreased and the dramatic painting like visuals just distracted form the core simple emotions that the movie could have been all about.
Completely appreciate the imagination powers of this director, the notable styling by Sabyasachi. Like the movie, Sophia's beautiful Spanish portrayal has more of a visual impact than emotional (good acting-but glycerine shot eyes were too many). Ethan sometimes seemed too myth-like. I could have still liked the movie much more, till in an act of self-indulgence, it got too dramatic with a party in the end. The main spoiler being a hug with people jumping onto the dying character.
If nothing else, would have appreciated a more poignant end than the unintentionally clumsy and weird end.
Too much going back to expect for SL Bhansali, but still waiting for the basic treatment of a beautiful subject like Khamoshi. Because, 4 films post that, I really do not care about the magnanimous scales, bigger stars, gorgeous textiles and colour psychology palates. All I care is for a good, honest, non-manipulated film.
A witty take - spoiler alert!
This awe, scale and depiction of characters which look like paintings is the very problem of the movie. While the movie mentions the time and place it is set in, it never feels so. Though the characters are human, their portrayal has expressions of the scale of a mythological drama. Understandingly, these all are for a certain dramatic effect, again clearly imagined by the director.
As the visuals and the scale of these dreams awed , they slowly constructed the barrier between the character and the viewer. Coz, as the movie advanced, it's human scale decreased and the dramatic painting like visuals just distracted form the core simple emotions that the movie could have been all about.
Completely appreciate the imagination powers of this director, the notable styling by Sabyasachi. Like the movie, Sophia's beautiful Spanish portrayal has more of a visual impact than emotional (good acting-but glycerine shot eyes were too many). Ethan sometimes seemed too myth-like. I could have still liked the movie much more, till in an act of self-indulgence, it got too dramatic with a party in the end. The main spoiler being a hug with people jumping onto the dying character.
If nothing else, would have appreciated a more poignant end than the unintentionally clumsy and weird end.
Too much going back to expect for SL Bhansali, but still waiting for the basic treatment of a beautiful subject like Khamoshi. Because, 4 films post that, I really do not care about the magnanimous scales, bigger stars, gorgeous textiles and colour psychology palates. All I care is for a good, honest, non-manipulated film.
A witty take - spoiler alert!
Monday, November 08, 2010
A little Different
Apart from the agendas, speeches, dodged questions and reading between lines, this picture is a refreshing change from the usual stiff pictures. And the monument choice is such a relief!
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