Dhunki – Trance by Chance

A cosmos of chef-turned-entrepreneur meets coder-turned-entrepreneur meets realities of life.

2.75/5 The .75 for Kaushambi and Vishal.

Jignesh Vasavada 

Well the good times for Gujarati cinema for the year 2019 seem to have begun rolling. With a good film last week, this week too appears promising, not to mention, the coming few months. However, there are miles to go in few departments.

What is heartening is that film-makers are experimenting, with styles and genres. Dhunki is one such experiment, slightly late in time, yet not too late.

1. The Film begins with a lot of people to thank. Just too many.
2. Why Why do these actors not wear seat belts or wear helmets, why? (Or am I too paranoid/hopeful).
3. Deeksha Joshi has 5 clearly visible moles, 2 lightly visible ones and one highly invisible mole on her face.
4. ISRO just did not have to spend so much for a moon surface landing, this movie offers a lot of space on the heroes’ faces.
5. Daaru is injurious to health, even in Mount Abu, so relieved.
6. English subtitles of Gujarati movies are a huge distraction. I learnt, Dadagiri is Bossiness.
7. Just because it is a movie about a chef does not give you a reason to forget your manners, never talk with food in the mouth.
8. Looks like Radio Industry is truly throwing up good actors and rich bosses, RJ Ankit (the firing boss), RJ Aarti (the tycoon boss), Chirag Tripathi (the non-hiring boss), wow, good cameos.
9. Daaru Peene Dhingli thai jay chhe! What a line, Loved it.
10.  It will always haunt me, you go to an investor to seek 1 million of funds and have no plan on hand!!

And therein lies the challenge.

But before that, the story.

Nikunj and Shreya, colleagues in a digital firm, quit based on a goof-up and follow their passion of opening a food delivery start-up. Nikunj’s wife (kaushambi) and Shreya’s fiancé (Vishal) keep giving them reality checks even as they duo struggle to keep their passion up and running. Looking at the clever trailer, we are sure how this will end for the protagonists, however, there promises to be some twists. The way the movie ends, it is good.

But can someone please tell me, why does the story need to have so many close-ups? Extreme Close-ups? With a weak story line and average sub-plots, there is just no scope for any kind of facial expressions, then why did Anish and his DOP adopt this classical line of film-making. Beats me, even as I count Pratik’s nose hair, get irritated by Deeksha’s every interfering hair-line, Dr Vishal’s ear (I assume he is an ENT surgeon). Why! Why!

Also, I am confused. Is this film about food? Then where are the array of very well shot extreme close-ups of dishes? Only three dishes, Dal-fry, some non-veg dish with cream and something else? Why? If it was about an app, then why focus on a chef? And if it was about a start-up then where is the marketing plan, the passion, the ‘Real Disappointment’. To be fair, there is a lovely sequence of investors giving gyaan, not money. Very relatable.

Yes, there are some really good sequences, emotions, connects and attempt at humour. Once in a while you also feel the pain, you relate to incidents (home selling, struggle for jobs, at jobs). But all in all, had some more hard work gone into the story and detailing, I am sure, this movie would have been more gripping. Ditto, the pace, it is sometimes too slow, sometimes just ok, but never takes off.

Anish Shah’s directorial debut is commendable. But he just needs to get more story oriented and practical. Among the actors, Kaushambi and Vishal score high, a truly commendable task considering they were number 3 & 4 in the cast. Kaushambi looks and acts fresh and confident while Vishal does a great job of a MCP. Pratik is a natural, but I feel is more of a package than just a face. Extreme Close-Ups spoil the plot. Complete opposite stands for Deeksha, who does not get too many emotions to show her strength. Her Extreme Close-ups are futile.

Music by Siddharth Amit Bhavsar is fine, Niren Bhatt’s Urdu-Gujarati lyrics are good but not catchy.

All in all a truly good urban effort. Definitely worth a watch, worth spending your weekend. Dhunki times for Gujarati cinema are here.

Pics Courtesy Dhunki Promotions

Chasni – Just Sweet not Diabetic

A 25 year old love meets a 25 year young lover and interesting family fun happens. Good performances, great visuals and rocking music.

3.5 Stars

Jignesh Vasavada

It took a long time to arrive, yet it seemed worth the wait. Chasni does add the much needed sweetness to the dry and coarse run that Gujarati Film Industry had been witnessing thanks to the World Cup and Exams.

Yet, it is not still the perfect film of 2019.

1. Love and values still seem to rule the Gujarati film narrative.
2. Finally, some Ariel shots of a city, other than Ahmedbad’s Nehru Bridge, Surat, rocks.
3. So, you are in love with a girl, you know her house and don’t know who her father is? Wow!
4. The saga still continues, seat belt and helmets are still missing.
5. This is the first Gujarati film that goes by the rule, Actors refer to permit while drinking.
6. Sejal ben is so beautiful that she actually sleeps with her make-up on, seriously!
7. The daadi seems to have a voice of a young lady, wonder what she eats?
8. Brushing of teeth is not the priority of our actors, bed tea and breakfast is the norm.
9. I still don’t understand, is the girl living in a hostel in the same city? Surat?
10. There must be truly lot of money in a driving school!

All said and done, Chasni is a nice, well-paced light-hearted movie which is definitely a one-time watch, with the family.

A simple story line which yo-yos between a Gujaratified ‘Crazy Stupid Love’ to Dikri Vhaal No Daryo, it keeps you engaged.

Ramnikbhai, a typical Kathiyavadi living in Surat is married for 25 years and gets shocked by a 25 yr young kid Rahul into realizing that he is married in a love-less relationship. Thus begins the journey of a love-guru advising the veteran in re-gaining his wife and life. In between we also journey upon the love-lost-re-united life of Rahul and Shreya.

Now, Abhinn-Manthan, the director duo do a good job over-all. But the story is quick in the first half, drags with unwarranted emotional scenes in the second half. Some scenes are weak, some a just not required. A deft re-look at the over-all product could have actually cut 20-30 mins making it a crisper product.

However, what really stands out in the film which has great performances is the class cinematography of the veteran Tapan Vyas (yes, I am his work’s fan, and no, I have not been paid to write this!). He just hooks us with his skills forcing us to marvel at the shots and at all times reminding us that we could actually be watching a Bolly/Hollywood kind of product.

The other department where the film scores is the music. Some truly hummable, well-timed songs help the narrative and keep us hooked. Tuj Re is not only pictured romantic but actually feels soothing. The Break-Up song reminds you of the Heer toh Badi Sad hai ji format, rocking and fun for a Gujarati Movie. Take a bow Manthan Joshi and Prashant Satose.  

Next up is a cameo sort of role of the under-utilized Ojas Rawal. What lovely comic timing. Simply lights up the screen, every time he enters. We could actually hear the audience delighted with his presence. Maira Doshi is cute and beautiful, but could work on her dialogue delivery. Sejal Shah as Vasanti is just perfect. You can’t get it wrong with her or for that matter with Divyang Thakkar. Only challenge with Divyang was the limited expressions, which however were completely overshadowed by the confident body-language and the chemistry.

Last but not the least, Manoj Joshi. He seems to be carrying the film on his shoulders. Which is good as well as painful some times for the viewers. He gives us some truly amazing scenes in the bedroom (arrey baba veg ones), drinking, fantastic Cinema Hall scene, but he could have given some more screen space to the youngsters and there could have been a balance. No, I am not complaining, just hoping the good product could have been better. More power to the ever-green Joshiji. 

Go out and watch Chasni, with your family, it is full of fun, humour, values and a paisa vasool. 

Trust me, it is not every time that I get to say this.

Pics Courtesy: Chasni Promotions on the Internet