Year : 2005
Language : English
Cast : Naseeruddin Shah, Corin Nemec, Sarika, Parzan Dastur, Pearl Barsiwala
Direction : Rahul Dholakia

A hard-hitting movie, which came in the guise of a birthday gift to me, Parzania was one movie that I regretted having missed it in the theatres. One rainy day, a morning when, incidentally, I had called in sick, I stayed home and watched this movie.

The movie is based on the true story of a missing boy. A child who went missing in the Gujrat carnage. This movie centers around a Parsi family living a mediocre yet happy life in Gujrat. Then, one fine day, they are just hurled into social unrest and religious insanity that has gripped the state. The ten-year-old son, Parzan, goes missing. Cyrus, the father, goes berserk after this. He sets on a search for his missng boy.

There are many threads of many themes revolving around the main story. Gandhism, people who follow Gandhism, religion, fanaticism, scholars, messed up First World, innocence, childish fantasy lands, death…. everything. And to encompass all this into one movie, is a skill. Rahul Dholakia has succeeded in delivering the movie to his audience.

Look out for Sarika’s endearing performance. Naseeruddin Shah only competes with his own excellence. A very fine job, all in all. A must watch.

Year: 2007
Language: Hindi
Cast: Seema Biswas, Sarala, Lisa Ray, John Abraham
Direction: Meera Nair

There are a few images that you take home, when you are finished watching this film.
There is the portrayal of a wedding, under plantain leaves, in front of the holy flame, like a smudge on a black canvas.
There is the rustling of dried red chilly, when a widowed girl-child runs past it, chasing a black mongrel.
There is the poignant and maternal Seema Biswas.
There is the budding tinderbox romance between Kalyani and Narayan…

It is certainly a heavy theme. But Meera Nair has proven that you needn’t feel sweaty at the end of a serious film. For, even though serious issues are being touched upon, even though the story is dated to a past we easily assume was so long ago, you can leave the theatre thinking about a few happy sequences. And thankfully, this isnt a sepia-smeared nostalgic take at history.

Watch out for Seema Biswas in yet another one of her sterling performances. Watch out for little Sarala. Her cherubic smile and flawless acting skills.
And above all, watch out for Water in Her various avatars.

Film: Kannathil Muthamittal
Year: 2002
Language: Tamizh
Direction: Mani Ratnam
Music: AR Rahman
Starring: Keerthana, Simran, R Madhavan, Nandita Das, Prakash Raj

What happens when you have to depict a mature and serious theme through the eyes of a child? Most directors try hard, give up, and then come out with a half baked version of whatever was in their heads. Thankfully, Mani Ratnam doesn’t believe in being one of them. He simply gets down to making a multi award winner.

The movie revolves around a child who is in search of her biological mother. Her search leads her foster parents and her, to a war-torn Sri Lanka. Amid hard-hitting scenes of fanatic patriotism and conflict, she meets her firebrand mother. They finally exchange kisses, the kisses that she yearned for ever since she got to know about her mother…
The movie is named after a line from a Tamizh poem, and it roughly translated to a peck on the cheek?…

It took me just a few seconds after the movie to find out that the intense child artiste in the film is a little girl called Keerthana. She reminded me of the protagonist in Navarasa (2004). This, again is another Tamizh movie. [I should write about it sometime.]

Madhavan and Keerthana displayed matured acting skills. Simran simply surprised me. I am afraid I wouldn’t be able to comment about the dialogues, though. [I do not speak/understand tamil.] I don’t think a television channel airing this film, was a good idea. What with the commercial breaks and all!

Must watch it again.

Name: Navarasa
Language: Tamizh
Year: 2005
Direciton: Santosh Sivan
Cast: Swetha, Bobby Darling, Khushboo

Just got out of a truly wonderful movie experience…right in the comforts of my own living room

Was watching “Navarasa”, the 2005-best film award-winner, by Satosh Sivan. Smitten. I think that is the best word

Details:
http://www.nowrunning.com/film/review.asp?movieNo=2549&mv=Navarasa

More on Santosh Sivan:
http://www.santoshsivan.com/

Name: 15, Park Avenue
Language: Hindi/English
Year: 2005
Direction: Aparna Sen
Cast: Konkona Sen Sharma, Shabana Azmi, Soumitra Chatterjee, Waheeda Rehman, Dhritiman Chatterjee, Rahul Bose, Kanwaljeet Singh, Shefali Shah

Its been just a few minutes since I got out of the movie hall. They were airing 15 Park Avenue in there. I was looking forward to watching it alone, but found someone who would have made ideal company for the film. I dont know how to review this one. In fact, I am not attempting to.

On my way back, with the chilly breeze on my face, with the panting rickshaw puller cycling in front of me, all that kept ringing in my head was what Shefali Shah mouths in the movie – that we are all looking for something that isn’t really there.

I guess this really is one movie that you will keep recommending people to watch, at least for a few days. This is one movie that will make you scroll through your address book on your cell phone, looking for the right people to recommend it to. This is one movie where you go, “masha-allah!” about Konkona-Aparna-Shabana-Rahul team’s power performance.

Too many things are floating in my little head at the moment. I guess the movie will take time sink.

Schizophrenia, unreal reality, insane sanity, violation of beings, sensitivity, love over barriers yet succumbing to realities… I don’t know how they managed to pack all this into one single movie. Poignant.

Then there is the love (whether real or imaginary) between the characters played by Rahul Bose and Konkona Sen. He walks out on her just when she needs him the most, admitting that he is not man enough. Yet, years later, he comes into her life again. she doesnt remember who he is. And she makes him her confidante! Trust of the highest degree. What more can lovers ask of each other??

Reminded me of something I read not so long ago… about a mad man who wandered about holding his bleeding ear in his palm, for the woman he loved. All for love, he said.