Bhavai - Artful Performances. Stupid Controversy. 

It could have been Ravan Leela without any problems.

Prateek Gandhi, aapdo Gujarati, talented, national acting sensation finally in a lead role in a Hindi Movie, and it had to be a controversy, Why? It is anything but a controversy. 

A simple Ram Leela in a town takes manifold proportions turning the life of an aspiring actor down side up and upside down. Raja Ram Joshi (Pratik) wants to join the Nautanki and a series of coincidences fetch him the role of Ravan. Now, the nautanki's owner (the earlier ravan), Sita (Aindrita Ray) and Raja Ram has an ensuing love triangle resulting in some amazing dreamy poetic sequences. There are amazing funny scenes and lines which will keep you engaged. 

The entire hindi heartland humour, the heart burn of being a spiritual actor, the politics of religion, simple aspirations of village folk have been extensively well captured. 

What stands out is Pratik's act, simply flawless. Aindrita too is fresh and has a cute presence. Abhimanyu stands out with his perfect performance outshining Pratik in the role of Ravan. 

The film exposes us on the dilemma of Politics and Religion on the blind faith people have on the characters who protray Ram and Sita. 

Music is nice soulful but not exactly hummable. Cinematography too rules. 

All in all, it is a must watch. It is simple story and yet there was a useless controversy!

Go Watch it.

Golkeri – Awesome Foursome

Jignesh Vasavada

4 (.5 for Mansi)

Life ends one Saturday evening and toils through the entire Sunday before coming to a full circle in the evening. Yes, 24 hours of love, life and relationship is a delightful Golkeri.

Now here is the fear. Good movies just don’t get the right promotions and thus there is a fear of them missing out. Golkeri producers, guys, please go all out, you have a good product. Many a movie, earlier, has messed up with poor no promotion.

What is!

Well, this is a sweet gargle-your-way-to-a guy’s-heart love story (read Gujarati re-make of the Marathi Muramba) of a boy Sahil (Malhar) & girl Harshita (Mansi) which begins with a Break off (not Up) and traverses through Divorce (there is a difference here) and then ending with a Patch up (yeah the same thing).

Yeah yeah, once you settle into the movie you know how it is going to end, but the beauty of the story is in the way it folds, unfolds, re-folds and finally packs up. Honestly, I was waiting to see the climax hoping it would be a taxi-wala-taking-police-wala-helping-aircraft-stopping or simply running with the train ending. But the climax is truly a nice anti-climax.

Here Sahil and Harshita are aided by Sahil’s affable parents played by Sachin Khedekar and Vandana Pathak. The story, screenplay is a delightful journey of values, love, upbringing, generations and the bond called love. Good Movie.

All that is Wow

All four lead actors, simply rock.

Mansi Parekh, take a bow. What a performance. Brilliant portrayal of a stand-up comic going off and on, all the while alternating between being a girl-friend, would-be bahu and a girl. She really connects and takes the movie to an altogether new level.

Vandana Pathak, a veteran, who just keeps getting better and better. She is literally the life of the movie.

Malhar Thakar, yes, not the star Malhar, but the actor Malhar who has been emerging with movies, breaking his stereotype since Sharto Laagu excels in a great portrayal of a scared genius in love. His classical punchy style lends the much needed humour and life to the narrative. He infuses the pace and helps keep the interest alive.

Sachin Khedekar (also acted in the Marathi original), in a brilliant light portrayal of a loving, understanding and evolving father steals hearts. He too binds the narrative and is crucial in some situations where the story needs the push.

DoP, Vikas Joshi paired with the Art Director keeps the film clean and fresh. Despite very limited location you are captivated by the way the scenes have been captured.

Dialogues, by Viral Shah also add the delta in the movie’s Gujaratikaran. Most, other language re-makes miss the mark in this department. Viral has kept it real and Gujarati.

All that is Saav

Background Music alternated between being jarring, loud and sometimes forced. This department could have done with mellowing down.

The Story, while was a huge challenge, could have done with a bit of trimming and appeared to slow the pace at times.

Some scenes really looked like they were an after-thought and the green screen was visible.

Low focus on marketing would really cause a scare for an otherwise good product.

Do not miss moments

Read this more than once. Manan, aapno comedy factory waalo, hosts daaru parties where girls come home late night, drunk. Why didn’t I know of this earlier? Why did I have to learn this from a movie?

The four-seater-scooter is a nice side kick which has a maruti car’s key-chain!!

So, our hero kick-starts his bike with a slight stubble, travels few kms the stubble grows thick and then becomes light again at the end of the journey.

Looks like there is a lot of money in the spectacle shop, simply going by their bungalow.

Jenga, the game, mends relationships, yes, it is true.
Giving out Golkeri bottles, what a great PR victory!

Blatant favoritism by the producer ensures that his wife is always wearing a helmet and the hero is not :))

 

The Verdict

Oh, please go and watch it with your entire family. It is a nice delightful fun foursome ride of relationship and love. You might even end up thanking god for not making you a gold-medalist or a ranker.

Luv ni Love Storys – 1B3HK Story

One boy vs three girls and you thought he had all the luck? Well, grass is always green on the green screen, while reality is completely non-filmy.

Jignesh Vasavada

2.75 stars (.75 for the Look)

 

I have been checking every grammar site on whether it should be stories or story, nowhere it says storys...but what the heck, my grammar teacher isn’t coming to watch a Gujarati movie, so we grant the creator the creative licence as we focus on the Love Stories (I got this right).

Our Hero:

Luv, a cute kid who refused to give kheer to his father is packed off to a Boarding school and grows up to become Pratik Gandhi who can play golf like he plays cricket. Initially he plays a guessing game with the viewers teasing us to guess his profession (love guru, negotiator, hair-stylist, rich man’s son and chef). Finally, he settles down for one profession. His entire family knows all aspects of love. Luv falls in love far more easily than she can say Jalapeño (with a pronounced H). The entire movie revolves around his falling and failing in love (remember bachna ae haseeno, well don’t). And yes, there is a strong hidden political leaning with Luv’s surname. 

Love Interest 1:

A super hot, super beautiful Mishti (Shraddha Dangar) who gives all the right signals of love and while the viewer and kids in his family know everything, Luv just does not get it. All the slow-mo scenes here are really nice and effective.

 Love Interest 2:

A cute, bubbly, Sonam (Vyoma Nandi) who is so beautiful that the entire society notices her, but our man doesn’t. Who misses a hot neighbour? She too is completely into Luv, but not so much into him and yet he is into her. Confused? Well so were we. Did someone refer to the Kaula Lumpur Police Department?

Love Interest 3:

Amongst the most sorted, gorgeous and intelligent of the three, Preeti (Deeksha Joshi) flirts with a yes, no, yes, no, yes, no to the extent that she even has a T-shirt to that effect (just in case the audience does not get it). Confuses Luv, his friend, family, Golawala, balloonwala and the audience equally.

All that is Wow

Well, the film gets its look so so right.

Good Locations, good Art Direction and above average camera work by Suraj Kurade sets the tone of the movie.

The music by Parth Bharat Thakkar is good, soulful and in most cases takes the story forward. Ghoome Ghoome is a rocking number sure to hit the Top Charts.

Acting, all four have done a great job. Each of them excels in their individual roles. All in all, it makes the movie very watchable.

Dialogues and some situations were truly funny. The cast carried it well.

Hardik Sangani too rocks in the friends role.

All that is Saav

What is with the story? It just vanishes in thin air. Towards the end one feels completely lost and just wants the film to end.

Casting. While Pratik can make any role look like a cakwalk, he seemed just misfit for the role. A chocolaty, cute and dreamy boy (remember Ranbir) could have been more appropriate for the role. Did he look a tad bit uncomfortable in the lover/playboy/Casanova image. I thought so.

Logic, in most places seems misplaced. The story becomes predictable and slow. Situations are questionable. You want to run away with a girl but have not thought of what next. The entire third sequence of love is all over the place and stretched.

Pretty predictable ending.

And please don’t miss moments:

So, when you are heartbroken, you can waste water.

Men are like Golas...and...hello...this was a family watch...

You say Undhiyu and serve Pulao.

2023 is when the movie starts and yet 2019 they are checking FB timelines????

Teacher goes in and walks out for balloons and the bell rings and kids get the balloons. I want to study in this school (for the teacher, though).

The video has just begun playing and the characters end the same (wait for it).

The Verdict:

Should one watch this movie, of course yes. It is as glamorous as they can get. Besides lessons in love, prem, ishq and what not, you will surely fall in love with the cast.

x

Kem Chho – Maybe Majama

Jignesh Vasavada 2.75 Stars Universal saga of a married man trapped with a gorgeous kathiawadi wife, nagging parents, wayward brother and an underpaid job in this beautiful world.

 

It is one of those times in my life as a movie reviewer (as opposed to a critic) that I am bemused (not confused). People next to me, around me were all laughing away to glory while I was chuckling once in a while and scratching most of the time.

That is the effect Kem Chho has on you as a movie. And Mind you, there was more male laughter than female laughter. No marks for guessing why.

Taking a break from the routine let me try and present the rights and the wrongs.

All that is Right

The premise of the movie is perfect. Happy to note that filmmakers are now experimenting with slice of Gujarati life concepts in films too. It is a positive change.

Promoted as a saga of a married man, Kem Chho got its Target group right. They know, like all Bollywood does, connect to the heart of a married man, he will spend any amount of money to watch his own plight projected on the large screen.

Next is the star cast. Tushar looks like a poor, tall, bechara married man (with a slight paunch). He has done an above average job and could have done better if the role and story had been defined more.  Kinjal Rajpriya rocks in the look and the dialogue department. She has been the girl to watch in recent times. Right from Shu Thayu, Kinjal has shown that she is capable of not only acting well but adapting to characters and presenting herself very effectively. Watch out for her too.

Chetan Dahiya, the natural humorist always scores effortlessly. His presence brings life on the screen. Ditto with Jay ‘Palty’ Panda.

Rest all, fit into their respective places decently.  

Dialogues, some punchy and some funny, overall, this department scores well too. Sorryavansham joke was a killer. 

Songs are nice and hummable. They sound good to listen to and may hit a chart or two.

The hoardings, publicity, outreach and the timing is all in the right place. You cannot afford to miss any of this.

All that is NOT Right

Why the subtitles, baba? The dialogue and subtitles were all over the place.

Where is the story? Why so many sub-plots? Why digress from the married man’s gatha to force the audience to pakdo their matha? Story is loose and at most points appears to be dragging. There are just too many subplots which could have been done without. Somehow we keep losing the focus from the dreary life of the hero and heroine and get dragged into unwanted storylines. Too many loose ends are not tied too.

Connected to this is the pace and duration. This film could very well have been 20-30 mins crisper and would have communicated the same message well.

The viewer feels stupid at some very illogical twists.

Why would an insurance guy go to a 80 year ill man to sell a policy?

So, your wife is talking about divorce and you simply jump out to meet an ex-flame?

Your son/husband/brother has locked himself in a room to commit suicide and all you do it just keep banging the door???? Really?

You want to supplement your family income and you only make one feeble attempt at selling?

Your father has been a violent person for all your 20+ years of life and just two dialogues make him forget everything and turn into a good man?

Come on, please. I am confident the writer and filmmaker is much more intelligent to commit such mistakes.

Still, I suggest, go out and watch this once, especially if you are a married man. You never know what scene, dialogue or event you may connect with.

No, I promise you, no married man cried at the end of Kem Chho (still wonder why this name!)

Pics Courtesy Movie Promotions 

Hellaro – Helluva Movie Mate!

Jignesh Vasavada

4.5 Stars

 

Story of 13 women rising up against circumstances, societal evils and their love of Garba as an expression of freedom (guess, a true-blue Gujarati movie).

There are times in the life of a movie reviewer (I am not a critic) when loss of words is a real possibility. Times when the product or the presentation so overpowers you that you end up forgetting to note. Objectivity takes a back seat and you tend to go with the flow.

One such human moment happened with me last night as I finished watching the much-hyped-much-publicized and much-national-award-among-all-language-movies marketed movie, Hellaro. I actually noted only few basic observations as I let my senses overpower me.

Nope, no major Observations here, more so because the review was always a substitute for the lack of entertainment in the product. I didn’t even notice that popcorn came to me late or that the noted Gujarati director had to ask for them to serve me even as the purser conveniently forgot (I am truly blessed). Not to mention delayed starts or that the filmy folk who are not in the movie dressing up much better than the stars themselves.

But today is not about these inconsequential, there is much to note and write, hence I intend to dive straight in. 

Is Hellaro the most perfect Gujarati movie ever? Of course not.

Is this the best Gujarati movie ever? I dare say, not.

Is this among the most flawless movies in recent times? You could say so.

Is this a movie that deserved the coveted National Award, hence should we watch it, heck, I am no jury, yes, the movie is very good. Period.

Put to rest all your doubts and allow yourself to be transported to 1975 in a small parched village in Kutch desperately awaiting rains (yes, this is before the Narmada Canal days when there was not even hope!!!). A typical male dominated society, like then and now, Hellaro is a folklore of brave village women mustering courage to not only stand up against societal evils but to showcase their love for Garba, here, an expression of freedom and rights.

 Any more and I am spilling the beans. Yes, the story is about this much only. But just like most things in life, there are twists and turns, invocations and emotions that take you on a wonderful journey replete with fun, humour, dance, fights, hatred, love and loads of memorable liners.

 Hellaro is a multi-starrer in a unique way. The hero, fighting for the top spot, is the music. Mehul Surti, (the much acclaimed Mozart of Gujarat) revels in this brilliant rendition of folk flavor interspersed with a touch of the modern. The music drives you all along, helping you define emotions and journeys along giving you fantastic highs and lows.

 A close second is the Cinematography & Choreography. Tribhuvan Babu Sadineni, a veteran of Wrong Side Raju, Ragini MMS & Emotional Atyachar had a brilliant canvas in the form of the Rann of Kutch. And he captures it like a painting. Every frame, composition is a complete painting captivating you in its full glory.

 The choreographers Arsh & Sameer Tanna kept the emotions so well defined with their moves that the listener actually got involved. Each emotion had a different step. I can bet there was not a single feet that was not tapping with the beat.

Next comes Dialogues from the Pitamaah of theatre, Saumya Joshi. He gets it right all the time and gets applauded more than once, a rarity on the big screen. Some gems, delivered by the lead actress shows the maturity of writing and lends a lot of depth into the character.

Everything else can be bundled into the next few. Editing by Prateek Gupta, yet another stalwart from Goonga Pehlwan to Love ni Bhavai, keeps us on the edge with his tight craft. The brilliant climax is full credits to screenplay and editing giving us a lump in the throat moment.

In the acting department, people would jump to praise the thirteen National Award winning Heroines, I would stray a bit and begin with Maulik Nayak who lightens up the screen with a flawless performance. His portrayal is so strong, easy, un-noticeable yet he leaves a strong impression in his role. The Pack of leading ladies led by Shraddha Dangar, Denisha, Kaushambi and others get their fair share of screen and opportunity and they make the most of it.

Aarjav is under-utilized so is Jayesh More. While he is the face of the movie, Jayesh did not seem to have a lot of opportunities to show case his talent. Also, the role of Jayesh's daughter Reva could have been done by someone more talented. 

 

All in all, Abhishek Shah (who seems to be present in every department of film-making) needs to take a Bow. You made a classic which has lifted the benchmark for Gujarati Movies and Film-makers. A big thank you for the entertainment.

Hellaro, sooner or later you will have to watch it, why not sooner.

Montu ni Bittu – Pol Ni Bhavai

Jignesh Vasavada

3.75 Stars (.75 for Hemang Shah)

Boy loves girl, who doesn’t love-love him, falls in love with another boy and then triangulated, story brings us back to the same point. Have we seen this before?

 

Full predictable entertainment, thy name is Montu Ni Bittu. A good laugh fest that begins and ends exactly as you know it will. Yet you don’t mind it at the end of 2 hrs 13 mins. You get up feeling good.

Then, you start thinking, evaluating and the fun begins.

Like always, few observations:

1. This is my first ever film which I saw sitting next to the heroine’s parents. Oh my God! It was intense.
2. How many ads precede a movie? Just so many that when we see the cancer ad, there is a collective sigh of relief and happiness, now the movie would start. Arrey even the interval has scores of ads.  
3. Wonder why Vijaygiri Bava had to thank so so so many people (including myself). He has made a good movie, we need to thank him.
4. Which Pol was the movie shot? I want to see women doing the Ketchup Dance as morning exercise, again. Yeah yeah, that is how these women exercise.
5. Sorry, if this sounds eeech…but Mehul Solanki has a mole in the ear! 
6. Now, this film is better than others, the rider wears a helmet and pillion does not. And, none of them wear helmet at night, what re!
7. Funny to see police wala parking their vehicle during night checks opposite a NO PARKING sign board.
8. You know a person is a painter if he has paint all over his body, most of the time.
9. Now, this is perfect Amdavadi opulence. You can spend on a multi-crore bungalow but cannot afford a security system or a watchman.
10. I am just curious, the heroine kept saying, What The…but never got to complete it…wonder how she wanted to complete the same…(Hell, Fafda, Time, Film, Faydo, Help…) Couldn’t get the right answer from people sitting around me.

Now, the movie.

A perfect-for-everything-and-everyone Pol boy Montu (fun-masti-rocking Maulik) is visibly in love with a Pol Girl Bittu (cute-beautiful and natural Aarohi). He does everything to impress her including managing/repairing her home appliances to guiding her 30 plus suitors. But she has Friend-Zoned him (I relate to this feeling). During one such outing they come across an abstract painter Abhinav (handsome, dashing, boring Mehul) and she starts crooning Painter Babu, I Love You.

Now the triangle keeps getting murkier and things keep moving around, guided by Montu’s friend Darri (Magnificent, Lively, Great comic timing, Hemang). Love leads to engagement and then to marriage to Montu’s misery and predictably towards the climax. Keeps you gripped despite you knowing right from the day the trailer was released how it was going to end.

Right then, let us play evaluate, evaluate.

Story: By Ram Mori is the weakest link with glaring gaps. Somethings just don’t add up. How come a breakup happens over something so silly? The characters, though fairly well defined, some of them just do not have relevance or closure. Many such characters like Bittu’s Father, Montu’s Mom, Neighbour Bahu (played by a very talented Kaushambi). The twists and turns are just too casually handled. Dialogues are crisp, fresh and funny. They keep tickling you to laugh out loud.

Performances: Imagine the story where the side comedian takes the accolades in the presence of stalwarts! We waited for Hemang to come and liven up the screen. Very happy to see Maulik carrying the film so well. Aarohi, nothing new, oodles of natural talent despite a casual character sketch. Happy Bhavsar is just perfect bundle of talent. Her portrayal of Mohini Madhuri is just class apart. Mehul Solanki is the weakest link. Poor dialogue delivery, deadpan, yet good looks. We wish he had less-to-none dialogues. Vishal and Bansi (her first movie and she looks so beautiful!!) excel in the presence they get. Pinky Parikh too makes a good mark.

Music & Lyrics: Mehul Surti scores like a legend. My personal favourite is the Aditya Gadhvi voiced Pardesi Mena. Great Beats. The garbo penned by Chirag Tripathi too is

powerful (I have been asked to write this :) no but seriously, it is good). Rang Dariyo by Parth too is hummable. Amdavadi Song by Dilip Dave too is a good ode to the city. 

Cinematography gives it a grand and colourful feel, though we catch lights in some scenes.

All in all, Vijaygiri and Twinkle have made the Janmashtami Weekend rocking with a nice and funny Montu Ni Bittu. 

Go Hopeful (with a capital H), watch it with full family, because even if the heroine wants to swear, What The…Montu stops her and she ends up saying Rani No Hajiro (whatever that means).

Good Going Vijaygiri Filmos…

Pics Courtesy Montu Ni Bittu Promotions

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