Prem Prakaran

A love triangle between the Hot, Hotter & the Hottest.

First & Foremost hats off to the team for withdrawing their release to accommodate The Kashmir Files.

A rare gesture.

Such rarity is also the film, rare to see a good, classy and cool Gujarati film.

The film is a great product.

The hero of the film is the music. Begins and ends only at the climax. Take a bow Amit Trivedi, you have created pulsating scores that not only maintain the pace but also gives a brilliant direction to the entire prakaran. Songs like Laagni, Zidd, Yaado Taari Tu Nahi To, Kori ne Kaachi liven up the entire experience of the prakaran. Niren Bhatt’s lyrics too touch your heart, though none have yet become hummers. Singers Jigardaan, Ishani, Siddharth Amit Bhavsar too have responded very well.

But first, there are some Prem Lessons you will get:

Prem is Love

Prem is like a label

Prem is not like cigarette.

Prem is like Nasha.

Prem is like Memory.

Prem goes but memories remain.

Prem needs to take memories with it.

Prem is a letter from the past.

Prem break-up & make-up always happens best on a bridge.

Prem is not all signals.

Prem failure makes you paddle your cycle harder.

God so much pressure on Prem, wonder what would happen to his performance.

 Furthermore, we learnt:

If you are a science student you will do arranged marriage.

If a girl gives the mother a chitthi meant for a boy, she will not read it.

MICA has an MBA and MNC job pays only Rs 22,000, might as well have joined a local.

Now, lets get serious. I went to the movie to watch two of my favourite actors, Deeksha Joshi & Sanjay Galsar. They did not disappoint. Deeksha at her goofy and beautiful best and Sanjay in his normal elements always stole the show.

But as I came out, I had added two more to my favourites list.

Director Chandresh Bhatt. Man, you are a find. What a great package.

Esha Kansara. Always liked her act, but here she completely lit up the screen from her first scene. What an amazing essay.

The story is about Aditya (always-teary-eyed, Gaurav Passwala) who falls in love with his school mate Aarti Vyas (Deeksha) who friend-zones him and life goes on. A series of turns later Aditya is dejected and shifts to Ahmedabad where not only does he become rich (wonder how!) but also classy and beardy. But his love continues to burn for Aarti till one-sad-rendition-of-the-sad-song-hothon-se-chhu-lo-tum, a rendition so sad, even Jagjit Singh cried in his grave, he meets Riya (Esha Kansara).

Now the story takes off from here and comes to point where it forms a triangle. Who will Aditya choose? That you will have to go to a theatre and watch the glamour in person.

All I can say is, you know who it would be and yet you will enjoy the reveal.

The movie is at least 20 mins too long, but the music does not make you feel the length. There are times when you wish it would pace up. But the overall chemistry among friends, lovers and the team, makes it really stand out.

Gaurav Passwala looks good and carries the role well. Besides the lead even the friends are well chosen and the entire team led by Maulik Chauhan, Manan, Deep, Aariz, Mehul Nilesh do a great job in keeping the film lively. Even the Katko, replaced by Chashma act of Manan is good.   

The frames are Bollywood, the feel is classy Suraj & Pratik have done a good job on the camera. Even Junagadh looks classy in the entire experience. Heck even the costumes are truly a class apart lifting the film.

All in all, it is a good movie, worth investing your time and money. It is not every day that you come across such good movies from

One dialogue stands out: Past is a good place to visit not to Stay.

Go Watch it Today 

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

What the Bhakt!! I Am

भक्त {bhakt} = DEVOTEE(Noun)
Usage:Mira Bai was a devotee of Lord Krishna.

भक्त {bhakt} = ADMIRER(Noun)
Usage:she had many admirers

भक्त {bhakt} = AFICIONADO(Noun)
उदाहरण:गांधीजी सच्चाई के भक्त थे |
Usage:Mahatma gandhi was aficionado of truth

And then there is Bhakt Prahalad (better name for Blue Prints in days when they were not so easily available).

Wonder what kind of A Bhakti am I demonstrating when I speak good and positive about the Country and its leadership?

But off late this word has come to haunt anyone who speaks in favour of the Government (read as Modi). Not to mention, anyone who speaks against is called sickular.

I have a pro-Congress ex-boss who revels in calling me a Bhakt (a Modi Bhakt). I have no issues whatsoever being referred to it, but what hurts is that this polarization is making people miss the moot point that people cannot be branded with the same colour for the stance they take. As, both stance and life are dynamically related to experiences and circumstances.

There was a time when most of Modi lovers had developed a soft corner for Arvind Kejriwal and would have surely voted had it not been for 49 days debacle (I for one would sure have), then why am I still a Modi Bhakt?

Why am I not a Bhakt for Society? Why am I not a Bhakt for India? Why am I not a Progress and Development Bhakt? Why am I not a proud Desh Bhakt?

At the core of the issue are two facts,

Others cannot tolerate change.

Others are still caste ruled.

Others believe Congress is meant to rule and hence deserves to rule no matter what.

Bhakts believe Modi should be given a fair and positive chance, change is way of life.

Others feel India second rulers first.

Bhakts feel India First and Modi second.

Others believe Rahul will rise and rule the world.

Bhakts believe, that too may happen, till then let the next best man run the country.

Others believe, Modi is always wrong and can do no right.

Bhakts believe he can be right and can be wrong too. But you cannot see him in a single lens.

Others cling on to the past and refuse to allow the future.

Bhakts learns from it and attempts to better the future.

To Others, people cannot change, cannot make mistakes, cannot go wrong.

Bhakts believe everyone is human and can and should get a second chance (let Rahul return)  

 

Others will dig, compare and bring out statements from the past and compare them.

Bhakts will move on and look forward.

But, if this is not affecting me, why am I even writing a blog on the same. Guess, I am right. I should stop it right away and focus on living a life, rather than be bothered.

Yes, if it pleases you, I am a Bhakt. Any Bhakt you may want me to be maxkyahoga Others 
will be happy bus.