Khelen Hum Jee Jaan Se

Medium : Hindi

Starring : Abhishek Bachan, Deepika Padukone, Vishakha Singh, Sikhander Kher
Director : Ashuthosh Gowariker
Music : Sohail Sen

The ace director of 'Lagaan' and 'Jodhaa Akbar', Ashuthosh Gowariker had done something big this time also, he had once again come up with a historical movie. The story is based on a literary work 'Do and Die', which in turn is about a real incident happened in 1930 at Chittagong, a village in Bengal. This time Abhishek Bachan and Deepika Padukone were selected to do the lead roles. Sohail Sen, who gave some excellent songs in the director's previous movie 'What's Your Raashee', is in charge of the music section. Kiran Deohans and Seetha Sandhiri have worked as the cinematographers.

The story opens up by showing few teenagers playing football, an army battalion reached the spot and defended them. The students, who were frustrated at this decided to tell this to a freedom fighter. Surjya Sen (Abhishek Bachan) is a teacher, who is also a revolutionary leader living in Chittagong. He and his companions including Kalpana Dutta (Deepika Padukone), are working silently against the English rule. The young friends told their problems to them and also willing their interest to participate in the movement against the British. Surjya had agreed to admit the youths and using them they form small groups to plan the attack. What happens to all of them is the history, which is shown in the rest of the movie.

The thrill happened while watching a movie like 'Lagaan', won't be there in this movie. This is due to the fact that the director had concentrated on the real life incidents more, rather than focusing on the cinematic punch. He should have added some dramatic incidents that can give more excitement for the viewers. The attempt made by Ashuthosh Gowariker, to make another historical movie (after two in his credits already), should be appreciated. It should be noticed that the making of such a subject is not a simple task. The selection of the location (similar to the Kerala environment), costumes and the art works for making this movie, needs special mention.

Sohail Sen had given an excellent bg score. The songs won't be the best, but goes with the mood. Cinematography by Kiran Deohans and Seetha Sandhiri are simple, but the best. Art director Nithin Desai had helped the director a lot with his immense contribution. Abhishek, Deepika and Vishakha, accompanied by a bunch of new faces had done well.


'Khelen Hum Jee Jaan Se' is yet another movie that raises the history of patriotism. The attempt to make such a different subject needs applause.


Rating : 6.5 / 10

Raavan

Medium : Hindi
Starring : Abhishek Bachan, Vikram, Ravi Kishan, Govinda, Aiswarya Rai, Priyamani
Director : Maniratnam
Music : A.R.Rahman

Though watching films and reviewing them is a passion for me, sometimes writing will felt like a burden. It will happen in the case of bilingual subjects like 'Raavan', as its tamil version which i watched before was not having big positive reports as expected.

A majority of the viewers still don't know that notable director Maniratnam has made his directorial debut in tamil after making a kannada movie ('Pallavi Anupallavi') followed by one in malayalam ('Unaroo'). He was caught attention through hit films like 'Mouna Raagam', 'Nayagan', 'Agni Nakshathiram', 'Anjali', 'Dhalapathi' etc. He entered the bollywood industry in the late 90's through 'Dil Se' starring Shahrukh Khan and Manisha Koirala. Seeing the national market for his movies, in 2004, he made a bilingual subject like 'Yuva' ('Aayudha Ezhuthu' in tamil). His latest hindi-tamil venture 'Raavan' ('Raavanan' in tamil) distributed by Reliance Big Pictures, is shot in the thick jungles of south and north east India. His previous hindi venture 'Guru', based on the life story of business giants, Ambaani group, has also got Abhishek Bachan and Aiswarya Rai in lead roles.

The main difference happening between the two versions is that the title role in hindi is done by Abhishek Bachan (in place of Vikram in tamil). The heroine in both the versions is Aiswarya Rai; it is a fact that she has entered the movie industry through the tamil film 'Iruvar', directed by Maniratnam. National award winning tamil actor Vikram ('Pithamahan','Anniyan' fame), who did the lead role in the tamil version, is also doing an important role (in place of Prithviraj in tamil). He is making his debut in hindi as the pair of the former Miss World. Senior artist Govinda is an unexpected casting (in place of Karthik in tamil). Bhojpuri actor Ravi Kishan ('Welcome to Sajjapur' fame) is also acting (in place of Prabhu in tamil). National award winner Priyamani ('Paruthiveeran' fame) has done the same role in both versions.

Though Manikandan ('Om Shanthi Om', 'Main Hoo Naa' fame) started working as the cinematographer in 'Raavan', due to other assignments he moved out and the majority of the portions are later handled by Santhosh Sivan ('Dil Se', 'Asoka' fame). Songs are penned by veteran writer Gulzar. Choreography for a song featuring classical steps has been done by south indian actress Sobhana. Director's favourite composer A.R.Rahman is in charge of the music.

The movie starts when Beera (Abhishek Bachan), kidnaps Raagini (Aiswarya Rai), the wife of the police officer Dev (Vikram). Ragini is kept as a hostage in the deep jungles under the vigilant watch of Beera's gang. The police troupe headed by SP Dev, searches for Beera's hide outs with the help of a forest guard (Govinda). Raagini tried many times to escape from the custody, but all of them ended in failures. She came to know about the motive behind the kidnapping. What happens to Beera, whether Dev succeeded in catching him and how Raagini escapes from the custody etc are told in the later portions of 'Raavan'.

Abhishek Bachan is doing a character having psychic nature. His role is not stable and he is not fully fit to such a role. His eccentric behavior has even fall into over acting in many areas. Aiswarya Rai is charming, she had adjusted maximum to be suited in such a character. Vikram, with such a body language is good in appearance, but the problem in handling the language has affected his confidence level. Anyway this project is going to give big name for him since he handled characters that needs contrasting behaviors in both the versions. Priyamani has delivered her best in the debut role in hindi, even if it is small. Govinda has also done the role well. Ravikishan and many others who comes here doesn't need any comments as most of them are coming in a fraction and go.

In one way it is true that 'Raavan' is adapted from the epic Ramayana, but the style of relationship developing between the villain and the lady cannot be accepted in such a sense. The scene in the end in which she imitates the villain's 'buck buck...' voice, doesn't felt realistic. The family scenes of the hero and the cause of attack etc are not registered well.

The fight sequences that leads to the emotional scenes in the climax are done well. The visual effects involved in the jumping scenes are also the best. Cinematography by Santhosh Sivan (Manikandan also) is the highlight of this movie, he did an excellent and tough job to capture the rainy jungles. Editor Sreekar Prasad also gave some neat cuts. The music section of Maniratnam movies are also getting the hype unnecessarily these days, his association with A.R.Rahman in hindi has not given many hit songs as expected. The re-recording of 'Raavan' is also not the best, like the songs.

Controversies are accompanying 'Raavan', the latest one being Govinda supported by few actors complaining about their roles being cut down in the editing table to a greater extend; it happened after Amitabh Bachan criticizing the editing done on the title character, few days back. Such things has to be answered by the director, but it is evident that 'Raavan' still has got many unanswered questions in its story line...

Don't expect much from 'Raavan', it is a typical Maniratnam movie which is different from the usual bollywood style of making. Comparing both, the tamil version ('Raavanan') felt better.


Rating : 6 / 10

Paa

Medium : Hindi
Starring : Amitabh Bachan, Abhishek Bachan, Vidya Balan, Paresh Ravel
Director : Balki
Music : Ilayaraja

Can you believe that a 67 year old actor has done the role of a 13 year old boy ? Anyway it happened in the hindi film industry and the credit goes to none other than Amitabh Bachan. The new film 'Paa' has got Big B in such a different role. In his 40th year of filmi career, this old man had not lost his passion in acting. 'Paa' is written and directed by Balki, the director of Amitabh, Tabu starrer 'Cheeni Kum'. AB Corp and Reliance jointly produces this film.


'Paa' is the story of a brilliant boy named Auro (Amitabh), who studies in the city school. He has been suffering from a rare disease named Progeria (due to which the patient's appearance will be changed, he looks almost five times older and slowly his internal organs also damages with course of time). He stays with his mother (Vidya Balan) and grandmother. On an occasion, the young MP, Amol Arte (Abhishek) visits the school. Auro got a chance to receive an award from him and later develops a friendship in between them through the email. As per Auro's wish, he had agreed to take him to see the Rashtrapathi Bhavan. Due to some official difficulties, the MP can't come on time. Later, he said sorry to the desperate Auro and took him to Delhi, which helped to strengthen their relationship. In between, the mother told the son about his father, Amol Arte. While studying abroad, both were lovers, since he was having his own ambitions in the political field, he was not interested in marrying her and thus they got split. He is still not aware of the fact that Auro is his son. Auro, who is spending his last days in his life, became unconscious and was admitted to the hospital. MP visits the hospital and shocked to see his ex-lover there. What happens to their relationship is shown in the climax scenes.


As expected, the highlight of the film is the boy character. Amitabh Bachan has done the role in an extra ordinary way. The make up for the particular character is also brilliant. It is not easy to spot out the actor, seeing his make up or the body language or the dialogue delivery. Since we are aware that this role is done by Bachan, such a task is not needed, otherwise it would be an impossible attempt.


The majority of the dialogues used by Auro had got a comedy touch. The mother-son chemistry has been neatly handled by the director here. Mother's attitude in caring his son and her deep affection towards the son is also touching. Vidya Balan gave her best performance here. The grandmother's (Arundathi Nag) role is also a lovable one. Abhishek Bachan had also done a good job as the clean politician.


Though the director might have included the MP's vision and his sympathy on the poor to justify his escapism from the heroine in the beginning, such things are also needed for the flow of the story. The climax scene might felt cinematic, but in such a situation it is also acceptable. The title sequences done by Jaya Bachan is a different attempt for such a theme.


Ilayaraja's background score gives the life for the film. PC Sreeram's cinematography is excellent. Editing is done by Anil Naidu. The make up team headed by Stephen Dupuis ('Mrs. Doubtfire' fame, the film is the original version of 'Avvai Shanmughi'), are specially notable; they are on the top of the list for giving such an extraordinary output. Unlike from the movie 'Black', which also discussed the lead role as a diseased one, here director Balki had presented the film in a humorous way.


'Paa' is a different attempt from bollywood, where the performance of the old superstar who comes in the little boy's role is the highlight.


Rating : 8 / 10