On Guzarish...

My admiration for Bhansali as a filmmaker started with Khamoshi. It was indeed pathbreaking a film and refreshing to come across a filmmaker who treated his craft with so much passion and sinceretity, when the norm of the day in the nineties was mindless films catering to the baser senses of the masses and the demands of the box office; a Roja or Bombay or Rudaali or an Akele Hum Akele Tum in sporadic bursts notwithstanding. Bhansali’s sensitive handling of the topics dealing with the physically disabled (both Khamoshi and Black ) and his directorial prowess to extract such splendid performances from his cast, have always held me in awe of him. Much like the auteur of the French New Wave during the 1950’s, Bhansali manages to leave his indelible mark on his celluloid dreams.

So with the all the rave reviews that the movie had garnered, it was but inevitable that I went in to see the film with highest expectations. Dealing with an extremely challenging topic like quadraplegia is no mean task for any director and when the star hero is not romancing the heroine or bashing up the villain in a “ mainsteam Hindi film” and stuck to a wheelchair for the larger part of the film, the Director and Producers are sure taking a risk. Sure the times are a changing and the new breed of multiplex movies are managing to pull in the crowds...but albeit a niche audience. Kudos to Bhansali for believing in his dreams.

The signature Bhansali style of filmaking with grand opulent sets and rich visual imagery is obvious in every frame of Guzarish. So whether it is the decaying remnants of a once magnificient Portugese bunglow or the panoramic seascapes of Goa, cinematographer Sudeep K. Bhattacharjee has managed to create some alluring and enthralling visuals. From the almost chiaroscuristic magician’s playground to the lush green countryside, the transition is almost Raphaelesque. The subtle poetic background score of Guzarish is definitely the highpoint of the film and threads the cascading emotions from despair to joy to ecstasy of the two main protagonists Ethan and Sofia.

So is the movie yet another masterpiece by Bhansali? I am afraid not so. I am far from declaring Guzarish as his best work till date. So what is it that fails or doesn’t work for me? For starters the dialogues-Ethan Mascarenhas’ frequent references to sexual gratification- as his last dying wish, as an objectionable pass at his nurse (though we come to know later in the course of the film that Sofia is the “love of his life”) : okay maybe a little bit of harmless flirting in a slightly lighter vein and different level altogether, and almost hidden and suppressed desire of his best friend Devyani to sleep with him.(which again we come to know only towards the end of the film!) The name of his protege is Dick! (I beg your pardon but did you just say your name is DICK!). That the sexual innuendos are completely out of place and distasteful is to say the least. It is almost insensitive and offensive. Impotency along with a host of other medical problems like total loss of motor and sensory control (which even includes control of bladder and bowel movement and is even mentioned in the film) is one of the most obvious symptoms associated with paraplegia/tetraplegia. For a quardiplegic who is crippled and restricted to a wheelchair and who is in such a state of despair that he wants to end his life in dignity, I wonder if his priorities are a little off the track ! Bhansali has sure committed cinematic blasphemy!

A has been written about Hrithik and Aishwarya’s sizzling onscreen chemistry in their earlier pairings in Dhoom 2 and Jodha Akbar. Somehow it just fizzles this time. Understandably the script demands a more subtle and old world romance where its not so much about spoken words or physical expressions of love, but a more restrained and almost unsaid understanding of each other’s emotions. There are moments when the two create magic together like in the backseat of the car, when both of them go out of the house 12 years after Ethan’s accident for the court hearing; but for the larger part, the growth and the changing dynamics of their relationship remained unexplored. The transition from Sofia’s selfish need of clinging on to her love, to her understanding and empathy for Ethan’s pain and finally agreeing to his plea of mercy killing could have been exploited further.
Much of the flaw remains in the script itself. Told through a series of flashbacks, the story often meanders through several sub-plots. There is nothing wrong in this form of storytelling, and is a credible and established editing style in contemporary cinema. The characters of his past life however needed to be fleshed out more as they seem to emerge and disappear out of the plot without any significance. Case in point Estella and Yaseer, who the director would like us to believe were vital to the life of Merlin- Ethan Mascarenhas the greatest magician of the world. I also fail to understand the forceful connection between Yaseer and Dick which could have been easily done away with. That a young aspiring magician also considers his father’s arch rival a better and greater magician is almost forcefully implied and not really been established.

Bhansali’s inexplicable penchant for period costumes is but well known and though Sabyasachi managed to create some beautiful dresses for Aishwarya when viewed in exclusivity, she looks ridiculous in those outfits as a jaded and love forlorn maid/nurse. It is almost like a wax figurine trapped in a time capsule has been juxtapositioned against a Stephen Hawkingish character. Talking about ridiculous, I cannot fathom why Aishwarya tries to air guitar, drum and dance flamenco all at once. This stupid act of hers almost overshadows the one moment of brilliance in the court scene.

The only saving grace in the entire movie was Hrithik himself. (supported by Shernaz Patel) Hrithik has effortlessly managed to shake off his larger than life image and essay the role of a paraplegic with ease. His zest for life and incorrigible humour totally beguiling the despair and anguish that he is suffering from within.


By now almost everybody knows that Guzarish is not the most original screenplay and I am not referring to the novel of Dayanand Rajan. Movies like internationally acclaimed The Sea Inside and Whose Life is it Anyway have similar storylines and have already touched upon the sensitive and controversial subject of Euthanasia. Somehow Guzarish fails to come to grips with the underlying theme of mercy killing. References can also be seen to Christopher Nolan’s Prestige and The Illusionist. (the inspiration behind Merlin or magician) and The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. (the stubborn fly scene) So no points to Bhansali for originality.

One expects much more from a filmmaker of Bhansali’s calibre. His devotion and dedication towards his craft is truly inspirational and motivating. The magnificently penned story of an incapacitated and debilitated man who desires to end his life with dignity has so much of promise but the film fails in to pack in the punch mainly because of its predictable dialogue and weak script. Guzarish is definitely one of the better films made in recent times, and is worth a watch, but it is definitely several notches behind The Sea Inside.

A few wishes for Christmas!!!!!

“If wishes were horses then beggars would ride,
If turnips were watches I would wear one by the side”

There goes the old proverb, but hardly does the moral of the old proverb ever teach us anything, for we can’t stop wishing do we? So here’s a few of the things top on my wishlist…
I wish more than anything else I could write well. I really like the way some of my friends put their thoughts into words so coherently.
I wish I had someone to love and love me back.
I have wanted to go backpacking alone before I get married and try atleast one adventure sport.
I wish I was a good public speaker.
I wish I had some talent or maybe all, that has some thing to do with music. Sing, dance or maybe even play some kind of instrument.
I wish I could travel round the world and see those amazing places. Europe is top of my list.
I wish I wasn’t so touchy, hot headed, sentimental, moody and temperamental.
I definitely definitely wish I was more tech savvy.
I wish I could get wet in the rain whenever I wanted to.
I wish I had more life skills like bicycling, swimming and driving!!!
I wish I could bring home a dog.
I wish I was better at time management
I wish I wasn’t so lazy.
I wish I was more constructive.
I wish I was more diplomatic and could get myself out of sticky situations.
I wish I had a job that would pay me for experiencing the finer things in life like maybe a travel anchor or a food critic or a model!!!!

Well that’s all that I can think of right now…

On love, marriage and a contemporary film …...

I happened to see “Revolutionary Road” the other day. A film by Sam Mendes ( of American Beauty fame) always raises your expectations. His films have always been known to be out of the ordinary and touch that human chord. It’s a rich cinematic experience, watching his movies. Revolutionary Road is a worthy successor to American Beauty, not at one moment failing to disappoint his fans cinematically or otherwise. It was a pretty intense movie I must admit ( as was American Beauty)- so serious that there was a time; pre - interval that I almost felt like getting up and walking out halfway. Its not that I don’t like intense drama; infact I look out for movies that are thought provoking and move you inside in some way but I guess the recent slew of intense movies (by the average cine-goer’s standards) that I had watched got a little into me. But nevertheless I’m glad I sat through it.. the story telling grew better… and the pace picked up after a few dramatic and unexpected turns. However it not the merits of the film that I want to discuss here… it’s the subject of the film… a take on the post marriage life of a suburban American couple in the 50’s.The setting may have been in the 50’s of a suburban Connecticut but there is a certain timeless appeal about the theme, in the sense that we are still trying to find that magic element in our lives… trying to find that perfect balance between our professional and personal lives, the balance between our needs and our ambitions, between who we aspire to be and who we are… existential angst …is that what it is called in the more refined and erudite circles?


I’m pretty vocal and unabashed about my feminist leanings ( my guy friends would vouch for that) sometimes even to the point of coming across as too strong and offensive to most people. And that is why I am surprised at the reactions that this film evoked in me. Cause in some unexplainable way my sympathies lay not with the female protagonist who seemed to suffer and have a poetically tragic end but with the male who survives to live a painfully miserable life of grief, anguish, loneliness and even regret to a certain extent. I know most feminists who have seen the film will probably say I am not a true bred here…cause it was April Wheeler ( the character played by Kate Winslet) who leading the drab life of a homemaker trapped in a stifling marriage to Frank and having to seek passion outside the confines of her marriage eventually aborts her child towards the climax of the film that deserves the viewer’s compassion. I am not being judgemental here saying April Wheeler didn’t suffer or didn’t do enough to save her marriage or bring about a change in the quality of her life. That was far too obvious .But somewhere I did feel her part of the play in making that marriage work was somehow not enough compared to Frank..

But like I said I don’t want to come across as judgemental… I not married as yet and I have no experience to make comments on something I don’t have the remotest clue about. But some wise people who are married …. some for a short while… others longer than that, say- marriage essentially means COMPROMISE. That’s sad…. Or is it really the truth? Does the secret to making a marriage work really means sacrificing, making compromises or like one of my wise friends said….. sometimes you just have to take a backseat.. after all marriage means coming together of two people.. so both the people really can’t have their way all the time. But what if that taking a backseat means compromising with who you are…letting go of what your dreams are. Don’t we live for our dreams? I mean if we let go of our dreams … then what is the purpose of this life? Somewhere along the film I knew April was right in pursuing her dreams and wanting to start life anew even though it was a highly risky proposition. Yet my heart also went out to Frank Wheeler, he was a practical man who chose a stable though unsatisfactory job to support his family, an honest man too, who inspire of his momentary affair with his secretary came back to his home and confessed that to his wife coz he loved her. In another time and place a man doing the same would be completely inexcusable for me and in the film I felt no grudge against April Wheeler for not reacting to it cause she had ceased to love Frank. But in the very context of the film and the circumstances I felt April was too idealistic and selfish a woman… As an individual I can empathise with her sense of frustration, despair, loss, helplessness, but as a woman….. I surely feel she was selfish … she was a mother of two….. pregnant with the third. She had a loving supportive and caring husband who was wiling to make sacrifices (or as some might even say he didn’t have the b@*^s to be man enough and make the right choices). Yet April couldn’t come to terms with her mundane life.


I feel a sense of disbelief at my own reactions at this movie. Faced with a strange dichotomy at the possibility of having to face something similar in my life, would I let go of my career or hobbies for the sake of a successful marriage or kids. What if the passion in my marriage died down and both me and partner turned out of the confines of marriage to seek love and fulfilment elsewhere. Would I continue to be in that marriage? I know most women make these choices everyday of their lives….. I admire them for the strength and ability to make these choices… and I hope and pray that I find the strength to make the right decisions at the right time without ever feeling I compromised … especially when it comes to LOVE and MARRIAGE.

A few thoughts on Republic Day….

Its strange how we take Republic Day and Independence Day so for granted…..like just another date in a calendar. We go about our ways… mechanically, with a clinical coldness and indifference that would put even a robot to shame. Or maybe some of us actually look forward to it; but just as another holiday…. like it was this time… an extended weekend. To tell you the truth I am just one of those people.

I am not saying it is the same for everyone… (and thank God for that) … but for most of us ordinary citizens who belong to the middle class we have far more important things to think about then to remember some date in history some 60 years ago. Umpteen questions about our daily life cloud our minds- like what the recession will bring for us… … is my job safe or will I be handed out the pink slip… am I going to get my salary by the end of this month… where am I going to get the money for the next EMI. .. can I even afford to have a small 2 bedroom house in this sky rocketing real estate prices?

I am no different. With every passing year I used to look forward to these two “National Holidays” as just that-holidays. I had studied in missionary convents all my life where not much was done about Republic Day or Independence Day. All that I had learnt about my country, its Independence and the fact that it became a “Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic in 1950” was from the Social Studies books that some highly unimaginative fellow from NCERT had written. And they were just that….heavy sounding words that were just meant to be roted, crammed into your memory and reproduced in exams at the end of the year. College was the same. Only the intensity of these heavy sounding words increased coupled with some more names that were alien to my mother tongue, and whose names sounded like Greek to me (literally!!) and I could barely spell or pronounce-Socrates, Aristotle, Herodotus, Rousseau (the last one was French I know!)

And so the years passed. When I started working a couple of years back I was expected to be present at office celebrations and since it is a PSU it was mandatory. I started to loathe these official functions; trying to avoid going there by finishing off the requisite arrangements for the functions beforehand and thus managing to enjoy the “holiday”.

I don’t know what changed this year. Maybe a sense of despair or was it hope…? The last one year hadn’t exactly been great for the country. With bomb blasts in every major city of India; the memories of 26/11 still fresh in the minds and the New Year literally beginning with a bang in my own home town Guwahati (there were bomb blasts on the 1^st of January, 2009) there was not much really to celebrate Republic Day.

But like the old saying goes…..When the going gets tough, the tough gets going. I guess it is the undying spirit of the common man in the face of these adversities that have kept all of us going. And yes all hope is not lost, after all hadn’t it been for those brave men in uniforms who laid down their lives….. the nation would have been held ransom by some of these monsters!!! So just this one time I went to see the Republic Day parade today to see the kin of these slain heroes receive a posthumous Ashok Chakra.

I must admit that I feel so ashamed. Inspite of being in the capital for 5 years I had never made an attempt to either attend the Republic Day or the Independence Day functions. And this inspite of the fact that I have close friends in the “defence” who could easily have arranged VIP passes for me if only I had wanted. It was also such an eye –opener -to see that those multitude of people who walked such long distances from Maulana Azad Road to Rajpath were not the young and healthy but the very old and the very young. Most of the people were also not the upper middle class or the elite of the society but the common man. Their enthusiasm was remarkable.

It’s a weirdly humbling feeling- to witness the R - Day parade, and at the same time it makes your heart swell with pride. To witness the platoons of soldiers from the different contingents march in rhythmic progression, to gape with wonder and awe at those indigenously designed yet highly powerful and technologically advanced missiles, to admire those taut and brave men who guard our frontiers, to cheer the tableau representing the unique culture of your state, and to laud those children whose bravery and heroism are far beyond their years….. its a kind of pride I had never felt before and I have no words to express.

I don’t know if this enthusiasm will last until next year ....or I will be caught up in the multitude of problems regarding roti , kapda or makaan… but until then…..

Maa Tujhe Salaam…

Sorry…..

I
Why is sorry the hardest thing to say?
Don’t know why it is so?
I am trying to say sorry here…
Don’t judge me before I even begin to say….
Hear me out just this once…
I know you are angry.... and justly so….
I have made mistakes … I know….

II
You have been my wings when I needed to fly,
And yet I left you behind when I wanted to soar
I am sorry for that….
You were the wind in my sail,
And yet I left you in the stormy sea
I am sorry for that….
You have been my strength when I was weak,
And yet I looked the other way when you needed me
I am sorry for that…
You have been my solace when I was down,
And yet I left you alone when it was my turn
I am sorry for that…
For thoughts that have hurt you inside
For words that have cut you deep
For actions that have made you bleed
I am sorry for all of that…

But most of all
I am sorry
For having to let you go….

Waiting….

It’s been a long time….
Since you went away…..
Aeons it seems…
Since I saw your face
Kissed your lips…

Was in your city the other day,
And the memories came flooding back…
You and me coccooned from the world
Me a girl of eighteen and you a boy of twenty…
Life seemed a breeze…
Dreams in our eyes and love in our hearts…
We made promises…
And took vows
Of being together forever and a day
Of love eternal
You and me hand in hand
The love we shared and the dreams we dreamt….
And then you left…

You are gone now
And I wonder if its still me…
Dreaming the same dreams..
Renewing the same vows…
Wonder if I will see you again
In this life ….. or another …..?