Movie Review: Azaan….na hi aazmaana…

I guess the writing was already on the wall for this one…please don’t ask me why I still decided to check it out..am still trying to provide myself with a reasonable explanation

To be fair though, Azaan does very much give you a glimpse of the standards that Bollywood is beginning to reach – from a cinematography and even action point of view. In fact, the first 10 minutes of the movie, were so impressive, I almost believed I had actually made the right decision by spending that money for the ticket to the movie hall. Watch the first 10 minutes and you can comfortably compare it to Hollywood action flicks (read Vantage Point etc). After that, however, you get introduced to Azaan and that’s where the bubble bursts..at least the first time

The character of Azaan is meant to be that of a (pardon the comparison) James Bond or a Jason Bourne. And when you get Sachiin Joshi to fill those shoes…well let’s just say it doesn’t paint a pretty picture. The first few minutes of close up scenes where Azaan is getting ‘introduced’ extinguish the little interest that the movie generates in the beginning. Add to that some very confusing direction and you’ve got yourself a real mess. A friend of mine while watching the movie commented – it seems as if 2 separate people have directed the movie….I couldn’t have put it better myself. Some scenes are right up there (like the opening scenes of the movie) and some are downright amateurish stuff wherein the audience wonders what message did the director wish to convey with the scene they just saw.

Don’t get taken in with all the talk of Hollywoodish action that you would get to hear from people. Blatantly copying frames from Bourne Ultimatum and the plot from Mission Impossible II is not Hollywoodish action..it just feels sad that they couldn’t come up with their own action/ plot. On the bright side though, the background score is just right for an action movie and Salim Sulaiman have done justice to the requirement – though, it was a little sad to see that some of the background score was remarkably similar to Bourne Ultimatum. This was especially disappointing, given that this is by Salim Sulaiman, a duo that I have immense respect for and are known for very good original background score (read Hamesha, Dhoom etc).

All that apart, the action is pretty impressive and camerawork is simply breath-taking given Bollywood standards. They have clearly lifted the game. As for the acting, well there isn’t any..apart from the support cast that have put in a decent performance. The female lead is more of a guest appearance so I wouldn’t put too much stock on her either. As for her role, amidst all the confusion, there’s also supposed to be a love story of some sort in there..you figure it out if you watch it…I couldn’t

Towards the end you get pretty much tired of all the action and you wish the movie could end somehow..the director obliges with an abrupt ending when you least expect it.

There, I think I’ve given you all the warnings I could…the rest is up to you..

Movie Review: Saheb Biwi aur Gangster…all three keep you interested

While it doesn’t boast any big names, Saheb Biwi aur Gangster does manage to hold your attention pretty much all through out the 2 hour period of its runtime. The start of the movie is particularly impressive and despite the unfamiliar and fairly dated period that the movie seems to be set up in one gets quite interested as the plot begins to build up

You get introduced to the three central characters one after the other and most of your time goes in trying to understand these characters, unravelling their many layers and complexities.

Then, just when things seem to be getting interesting, the thread is broken with a completely unnecessary song. Unfortunately, this happens five times in a two hour movie. I have till date been unable to understand or relate to the need to have songs in a movie that just doesn’t seem to require them. The answers don’t seem to be in the offing any time soon either.

Anyways, in this case it just spoils otherwise decent movie fare and at a time when the plot should actually gather pace, it only slows down further. The movie intervals at the worst possible juncture, leaving the audience bewildered as to whether it got ill-timed altogether and wondering if there’s anything in the movie worth returning to.

Thankfully, there is and in spite of the songs, the second half keeps you engaged. As the action heats up towards what might be presumed to be a predictable climax, little twists keep you guessing. The writing and dialogues are also better than average and lend a distinct sheen to the movie. Overall the package offered is quite satisfactory and you come out of the hall, satisfied, though wishing that it could have been even better. There are shades of Omkara to this movie, what with a similar setting and very distinct characters. However, don’t even think of comparing this to that masterpiece of a movie…it would just be unfair

No complaints in terms of acting and all three leads have put in a commendable performance. Though Mahie Gill is unconvincing in some scenes, she’s equally overwhelming in others so that balances out. Jimmy Shergill could’ve probably done more since his character has perhaps the maximum airtime but its not a bad performance per se. That said, one wonders what the real stalwarts could’ve done with a movie like this (I am thinking, Irrfan Khan, Saif in a Landa Tyagi kind of avatar etc.)

Still, as it stands Saheb Biwi aur Gangster is definitely watchable movie fare…now if only you can figure out a way to fast forward songs in a movie theater…