Another review by Bidisha Bagchi, a film buff who lives in Michigan, and, for fun she like to write film reviews! Thanks, Bidisha!
~ Sangeeta
“Anyone who has watched Saif Ali Khan in films like Ek Haseena Thi and Omkara will perhaps agree to the fact that when it comes to portraying a negative character and still keeping it cool, the ‘chhote nawab,’ as he is lovingly called by the film fraternity, has no competition whatsoever.
Kurbaan is yet again a film in which this versatile actor showcases his talent, and this time he is supported by none other than his real life lady love Kareena Kapoor. Along with Vivek Oberoi, all three of them have put their best foot forward to create this film….a gripping tale of the ‘holy war’ and the fight against it.
Many viewers will actually thank God almighty because even though this film is produced by Karan Johar and the story is jointly penned by him, Rensil D’Silva, Niranjan Iyengar and Anurag Kashyap, KJo is NOT the director. Hence there isn’t any lovey dovey romantic story supported by songs that invariably spoil the mood and the flow of a good film.
Kurbaan is directed by debutant director Rensil D’ Silva, and is quite a speedy film with some sensitive scenes shot quite well and not exaggerated.
The story opens with Avantika (Kareena Kapoor) a professor of Psychology, meeting another professor in the same college Ehsan Khan (Saif Ali Khan). Both fall in love and decide to marry. Point to be noted here was till the end of the story Avantika remained a non-convert. After the usual romance, it is time for Avantika to return to the US where she actually belonged. The story takes a totally different turn here when the couple reaches New York City and their entire life story changes. With moderate twists and turns the tale gets narrated in enough speed and keeps the audience glued to the storyline.
Once in NYC, Avantika comes to know of some terrorist operation that is being planned in her so called ‘Indian neighborhood’ from a neighbor/friend Salma (Nauheed Cyrusi) and she soon realizes how she and her American passport has been misused and that she had become a part of a huge conspiracy.
The story flows grippingly as the terrorists blow up an airplane that was carrying reporters and UN officials to Iraq and Riyaz Masood (Vivek Oberoi) steps in here as a TV reporter just back from Iraq and also the one who lost his fiancée in that ill-fated flight.
Vivek Oberoi is a fine actor though he is not really utilized much and even does not share a good screen rapport with most of his heroines. But Mani Ratnam’s ‘Yuva’ highlighted him as the youth of India and his chemistry with Kareena Kapoor was just too good in the film. The duo once again creates magic here in Kurbaan when Avantika helps Riyaz in the fight against terrorists and their plan to bomb US.
Considering the fact that Kurbaan is the first film of debutant director Rensil D’ Silva, he does a very good job of holding on to the main story line and not deviating from it in order to cash on to the sizzling chemistry between Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor.
Music by Salim-Suleiman is soothing and is mainly based on some Arabic tunes to bring in the Islam effect. Cinematography is by Hemant Chaturvedi and through his lens the audience sees the historical monuments of Delhi and even NYC very differently and enjoys it too.
There isn’t much to write about Kareena Kapoor as she always excels when her role is of a simple girl; like the ones she plays in Jab We Met or even the latest blockbuster 3 Idiots.
Overall, a good and speedy film. Asif Ali Shaikh’s editing could have been a little better, especially the encounter scenes and the scenes of Nasreen (Kirron Kher) which perhaps made the audience a little bored and did not allow the critics to give a perfect 10.”
~ Bidisha Bagchi
St. Joseph, MI
Official movie website
Good morning!
I am back from India, back from Canada, and back to blogging again! My friend, Bidisha Bagchi, sent a couple of film reviews while I was in India that I was not able to post until now. Some may already be familiar with her write-up on 3 idiots. Happy reading!
~ Sangeeta
“What makes a typical Vishal Bharadwaj film click? The answer is a gripping plot, the rustic backdrop, gang wars, violence that is a part of daily routine, crude language that perfectly suits the story and some melodious numbers and NO chocolaty stuff whatsoever. If Omkara and Kaminey were directed by this genius then viewers/readers may be a little unhappy to know that Ishqiya is only produced and partly penned by him. But that does not make the film unworthy of watching as debutant director Abhishek Chaubey does a good job as he holds on to the story firmly and does justice to the film.
Ishqiya has a very simple storyline that is set in the backdrop of Uttar Pradesh, a northern state of India where gang wars and kidnapping for ransoms are regular things and teens are trained to handle country made pistols even before they complete schools. Two crooks or thieves Khalujaan (Naseeruddin Shah) and Babban (Arshad Warsi) are on the run from Mushtaq, another goon who threatens to kill them. Both land up in the house of an old friend, Verma ji, to take shelter and meet his widow Krishna (Vidya Balan) instead.
The story takes off smoothly from here as both the men fall in love with this simple yet beautiful village girl as she uses her charm to make them dance to her tunes and seduces both…handling each accordingly. Vidya Balan is a fine actress and she expertly uses her passionate voice, clear diction and good dialogue delivery to bring out the seductiveness in Krishna. The sensuousness is portrayed well and is also balanced very well as she deals with the elder one in a reserved manner, discussing about songs of his era and being soft and caring whereas she is rough and tough with the younger one even when she becomes physically intimate with him.
Arshad Warsi has come a long way from his days of Sehar, Anthony kaun hai, or even Munnabhai series where he plays the role of ‘Circuit.’ He takes his acting to a totally different level when he has roles to play where he can show off the ruggedness of the character and his versatility can be admired when his role as SSP Ajay in Sehar is compared to the goon Babban in Ishqiya. With heavily kohled eyes and ridiculously printed shirts, the role of Babban was perhaps created keeping him in mind.
Naseeruddin Shah does not need any introduction and is always a pleasure to watch. The character of an affectionate uncle who also becomes a competitor in love is so brilliantly portrayed. His chemistry with Babban and Krishna is also great. He expresses his frustrations in his own style and calls Krishna a prostitute when he realizes that she had become very intimate with Babban who was also his nephew. The emotional setback here is expressed very naturally and when he breaks into a fight with Babban, his eyes expressing the heartbreak is just fantastic.
Bharadwaj’s films usually have good music, and the songs penned by Gulzar are superb, especially ‘Dil to Bachha Hai’ and ‘Ibn-E-Batuta.’ Cinematographer Mohana Krishna does a good job by bringing out the beauty of the villages of northern India. Editing by Namrata Rao could have been better especially for the scenes during the end of the film which drags the film a bit. Payal Saluja does a good job in designing the costumes as she is successful in giving Arshad Warsi the rogue look and the simple cotton sarees and revealing ‘cholis’ (blouses) for Krishna brings out the traits of her character excellently.
Overall, a very good film with powerful performances from all the three stars that makes the audience enjoy every single moment of the film.”
~ Bidisha Bagchi
St. Joseph, MI
Official movie website
April 15, 2010 5:30 p.m.
5:30-7:30 Broken Embraces by Pedro ALMODÓVAR
7:30-8:00 Discussion
Details
Director: Pedro ALMODÓVAR
Writer(s): Pedro ALMODÓVAR
Stars: Penélope CRUZ, Lluis HOMAR, Blanca PORTILLO, José Luis GÓMEZ
Type: Drama, Romance, Thriller
Year: 2009
Rating: R for sexual content, language and some drug material.
Length: 2h 7 min
Language(s): Spanish, English
Filming Locations: Arucas, Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain (street scenes); Lanzarote, Canary Islands; Estudios Barajas, Madrid; Parla, Madrid
Aspect Ratio: 2.35: 1
Synopsis
A man writes, lives and loves in darkness. Fourteen years before, he was in a brutal car crash on the island of Lanzarote. In the accident, he not only lost his sight, he also lost Lena, the love of his life. Whilst attempting to heal his wounds of the past, a deadly love triangle evolves.~ Screenrush.co.uk
Basic Information & Reviews
IMDB
Official Movie Site US
Official Movie Site SPAIN
The New Yorker by Anthony Lane
The New York Times by A.O. Scott
Maguiremoviesblogspot-by John Maguire
Salon.com by Stephanie Zacharek
Plumenoire (in French)
Cineparaleer (in Spanish)
Eldoctormaligno (in Spanish)
Filmography: Pedro ALMODÓVAR
Pedro Almodóvar’s Biography@Allmovie.com
Explore Almodóvar’s films @ The Auteurs.com
Broken Embraces @ Cannes
Pepi, Luci, Bom y otras chicas del montón aka Popi, Luci, Bom 1977
Laberinto de pasiones aka Labyrinth of Passion 1982
Entre tinieblas aka Dark habits 1983
Matador 1986
La ley del deseo aka The law of desire 1987
Mujeres al borde de une ataque de nervios aka Women on the verge of a nervous breakdown 1988
¡Átame! aka Tie me up! Tie me down! 1990
Tacones lejanos aka High heels 1991
Kika 1993
La flor de mi secreto aka The flower of my secret 1995
Carne trémula aka Live flesh 1997
Todo sobre mi madre aka All about my mother 1999; Review from Popmatters
Hable con ella aka Talk to her 2002
Mala educacíon aka Bad education 2004
Volver aka To return 2006
Interviews and articles — Almodóvar
Director Spotlight–Popmatters on Almodóvar
Referencing-recycling–Popmatters
Female roles chez Almodóvar–Popmatters
Pedro Almodóvar’s Quintessentially Pansexual Oeuvre–Popmatters
The place Pedro Almodóvar occupies in Spain, in Europe, and in the United States
Viva Pedro–Popmatters interviews the Director
Interview with Indiewire (with video and transcript)
Pedro Almodóvar on Penélope Cruz (video)
Tue, Mar 16, 2010 by Sangeeta
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