Anuranan (2006)

Director : Aniruddha Roy-Chowdhury

Rating : 2.5 out of 5

I usually enjoy watching Bengali films which are more arty forms than Hindi Masala. So such kind of expectation, I choose to watch “Anuranan” over my Vidya starring “Halla Bol” for this Friday.

Directed by debutant “Aniruddha Roy-Chowdhury”, this film explores the relationships of two married couples. Unlike Karan Johar’s “Kabhi Alvida Naa Khana”, this is not marital affair, pure relationships and the public brittle reaction on this relationship.

Architect Rahul (Rahul Bose) has a happy marriage with Nandita (Rituparna Sengupta) living in London. Their only unhappiness is that Nandiata could not get children. They move back to Calcutta for Ruhul’s project in Sikkim to build a resort.The couple meet Preeti (Raima Sen), unhappy wife of the man who is plugging in money for the project. The two couples have known each other for long and have a smooth relationship. Rahul and Raima become close friends and they share their feeling each other.

Being a nature lover Rahul suggests Preeti to take a trip to Kanchenjunga. The two spends a day there and next morning Preeti finds out Rahul’s dead form heart attack. This follows the bad situations of the remainders from the defects and public opinions on their relationship.

Having some bad points and un-necessaries setting, the delight of this film is the depicting resonance between people. For the performances, all casts done good jobs . Raima Sen is simply amazing; showing very expressive in her different moods and moments for different situations of her character. Other goods points are the heartbreaking films background music and the amazing scenery of the hill station in the mountains.

For conclusion, the film Anuranan is a pure film that penetrates the issues of humans relationships especially for relationship between a man and a woman need not necessarily be that of husband-wife or boyfriend-girlfriend. Watchable film for drama and art films lovers.

Rudaali (1992)

Director : Kalpani Lajmi

Rating : 4 out of 5

Watching an art film is very different from commercial films, which is very hard to proceed whether you do not care the character performances. Art films most prominent different from commercial is the performances. In commercial ones, you just only care the star power and popularity, but in art film just the character’s performances.
I am simply not a fans of Dimple Kapadia , since I know her in commercial hits like “Bobby” and “Saagar” as exposing sex symbol. But when I watched , her National Award winning role in “Rudaali” I just amazing .
Her performances, her unspoken sorrows, her body languages everything she done is just amazing and I cannot express how she is natural in the movie.

Set in the small village at Rajasthan , unfortunate woman named , Shanichari ,her life struggle and the traitional culture of India is the main plot of movie . This film title “Rudaali” means professional woman weeper at funeral ceremony.

This film open age Shanichari make friend with aged professional weeper (Rudaali) and tell her life story. Shanichari cannot cry throughout her life. She was left by her own mother and bought by drunker to marry him. Property owner favored her, she was call to him as a savant, and they have afire. When her husband died in village festival by plaque, she has to borrow 50 rupees from land load for her husband funeral and her son served at the land load 15 years. When her son came back after his loan, they happily live together but the fortune turns again when her son marries prostitute. Shanichari quarrels with the couple and her son leave her. Now, lonely Shanichari now live togather with the old Rudaali. She suggests her to become a fellow Rudaali with her. However, the problem is that Shanichari can't weep.

Even when the old woman dies, Shanichari comes to know that she was her mother, Shanichari's tears come back to her eyes after long years and she becomes a famous Rudaali taking over her mother's profession.

This film has different storyline from others and many special facts like ; performances, setting in desert of Rajasthan and have very good songs. My favorite one is “Dil Hoom Hoom Gare”(My heart beats with fear) with very sad melody and sweet voice of “Lataji” .
For me, this is one of the saddest films I have watched , and Dimpleji gives one the best performances that come deeply to my heart.

Taare Zameen Par (2007) तारे जमीन पर

Director : Aamir Khan

Rating : 4.5 out of 5

Undoubtedly one of the best films of century, a beautiful story about a young boy who suffered Dyslexia. The creative presentation of debutant director Aamir Khan is the clear proved that he also could establish as director. And art direction, a lots of scenes are beautifully shoot and very heart breaking music.

Of course, it also has wonderful performances. The real star of the film is neither big star Aamir Khan nor other adult casts: “Darsheel Safary” a young boy gives the unforgettable performances as central character. His facial expressions, body languages definitely will make you laugh, cry and take pity on the character that he portrayed. Another is “Tisca Chopra” who can achieved her best as suffering mother and other supporting casts like father and brother are all OK . Aamir Khan enters just the half of the movie and his role is not more than supporting. I am not fan of Aamir, but I love his character (his passion, love, pity on the children) is loveable.
Moreover, one point I love is the main idea of the movie. Parents can accept the genius of their children, means that every child has his own talents and parents have to proud it and allow them to achieve.

Another good point is the film music, exactly not like other masala the misic has its own good way. It can reach the inner sprit of the characters and has very good melody aslo. My favourite song is “Maa” which is very heart breaking song, medlody with meaningful lyrics.

One point I want to admit is I had no expectation on this film at first honestly. But I go and watch this film just to refresh my mind but fortunately, I got wonderful period of time for this.
Overall, this is one of the best films for this year and must watch film before you die. Make sure you go and watch with your children, and rethink again your paternal guide after you have watched whether it is appropriate or not.

Chak De ! India (2007)

Director : Shimit Amin

Rating : 4 out of 5

My last night late watch of "Chak De! India" make me feel so nervous through the entire show. The most exciting , delightful tale of Indian Women Hockey Team win the World Cup. Definitely one of the best film came out from India Film Industry in this decade , is presented by the outstanding story line, powerhouse talents and remarkable direction.

Story of a team-spirit , unity , loss and gain , national spirit and dignity. The performances are really nice , even commercial king "Shahrukh Khan" came out from "Raj-Rahul" shell and give the career top natural performances as "Kabi Khan". A man of big hope , a loser and try to pay back his dignity to country is remarkable.

Moreover, all hockey girls make the substances for each of their part. Vidya Sharma , Preeti Sabarwal , Komal Chautala make the unforgettable characters for the whole film.
For me the most significant lady is "Bindia Naik" , a player of experiences , own dignity , jealous and hard-to-train type. Her seduction on Kabi is one the best scene in film. Shilpa Shukla will be the most outstanding thing of Chak De after King Khan. She should make herself more well-known face and hopefully she will make more movies.

Another character I like is Karishnaji , the woman in-charge of the team . Her reaction between the girls and coach , her still simple but nice performances are left in my mind.

Anyway this is one of the best film I watched these day and simply you also agreed with us that this film should have gone to Oscar this years if you been watch. So for me , what is your next Mr.Shimit Amin ?

The Story of Qiu Ju (1992)

Director : Zhang Yimou

Rating : 3 out of 5

This movie make me remind the beautiful mind and honest spirit of country people , their helpful and quiet straight mind . The film tells the story of a peasant woman, Qiu Ju, who lives in a rural area of China. When her husband is kicked in the groin by the village chief , Qui Ju, despite her pregnancy, travels to a nearby town, and later a big city to deal with its bureaucrats and find justice. But the chief doesn't mind her and even help her when she was troubled in her child birth. But the end , at her child first month ceremony ,the counts take the chief , for her case to the city and she run along with the police car.

This story is very simple and this is just about human mind for justices and open-minded.Qui Ju not angry with the Chief and she just want him to prologize her husband. And the Chief also don't mind her and help her when she was in trouble.Moreover this film also show the Chinese traditional believes and their child policies.

Mr. Zhang try this movie to be more natural in every scenes. And Gong Li (talented Chinese Actress) give the outstanding , natural performances by her rural looks. But for me I just like this film and cannot make as my favourite.But should watch for drama and art film lovers.

15, Park Avenue (2005)

Director : Aparna Sen
Rating : 3 out of 5

Aparan Sen's movie "15, Park Avenue" is one of the movies which cannot make me bored for rapid watch. The sensational and natural acting from all the casts and director's talent make me to have a very good movie time.
Starring the hindi cinema finest actresses : Waheeda Rehman , Shabana Azmi and Konkona Sen Sharma : and the most sensational director "Aparna Sen" : What the great perfect chose to watch.
This movie ia about two sisters Meethi, (Konkona Sen Sharma) who suffers from schizophrenia, and her much older sister Anjali (Shabana Azmi)

. This movie beautifully features a girl love , sister love and the imaginary world of mentally-ill girl. Konkona play the character of a girl : Meethi who love in world created by her own apart from her unfortunate real life. She once love a man named Jojo and they engaged. But the gang rape by political goons during Meethi's work assignment , her Jojo left her . But in her world she married him and live happily at their home 15, Park Avenue ( I guess they engaged on 15th December and may be that why she think her home no is 15) . But she was managed by her sister and she cannot chance to find her own world (totally mad). My favourite (Konkona) play her part remarkable and give the finest performance in cinema.
Another talented lady : Shabanaji (who play Meethi's mother-like-sister) is another perfect character in movie. She is physics professor , a smart and perfect lady and much love and sympathy on her 18 years younger sister. But she cannot manage for her personal love ,relationship and she always think about her family and sister. Shabanaji performance the complex of her character very well.
Most reviews states the final scene that not too much clear . For me , Meethi find her world , her dream husband and her children ( totally mad , free her mind without any boundaries) and this scene is most outstanding from film.

Anyway 15, Park Avenue is watchable film but not perfect like "Aparna"'s previous " 36 Chowringhee Lane" and "Mr. and Mrs. Iyer " . But the performance are worth enough to cover the imperfect script. For me I love this just for "Konkona" and "Shabana". I am waiting forward for Aparna's next release "The Japanese Wife" which will come on next year January.

Not One Less (1999)

Director:Zhang Yimou
Rating : 4 out of 5

Another heart warming movie from Zhang Yimou : "Not one less" give me a excellent and precious watching time. A beautiful storyline of teacher and student relationship , very natural direction and innocent performance by the central character will make you get a precious movie time. Yimou Zhang has given us a little gem, a beautiful story, with such wonderful participation by all those children, as well as the fine photography and Bao San's occasional accompanying music.

This movie is about 13 year-old substitute school teacher, Wei Minzhi (played by the actress of the same name), in the Chinese countryside who is placed in charge of the school after the previous teacher leaves temporarily for a month. Minzhi is told not to lose any students, and when one of the boys, Zhang Huike ; class troublemaker , takes off in search of work in the big city, she goes looking for him to bring him home .
This movie has no high-profile actor but all the casts are very brilliant . This moralist , documentary style film effectively blurring the boundaries between drama and life.

The the part of the film is relation between the young teacher and class troublemaker . She try to control him at first and punished him for this bad habits . But when he have to go city for his family financial issues , she try to find her (but also a teacher spirit , not only for her duty). This film also give us the spirit of unity , problem-solving skill , the knowledge and difficulties of rural education.
For all . "Not One Lee" is another must-watched film from early Zhang Yimou . For me this film reminds all of my school teachers and gratitude of them for being me today.

Salaam Bombay! (1988)

Director: Mira Nair
Rating: 5 out of 5

A perfect movie, movie of satisfaction : When I start watch "Salaam Bombay" about 2 hours ago in my school library, I am very excited. Usually I watched such arty film in my own room with peace and usually in cinema halls. But this film draw me into its deepest scene of Mira's directional talent.
I just cannot catch up how she control the whole sets with these street-children. The most realistic movie that makes me thinking whether I am watching reality show or a man made movie.

The performers are really amazing and so sure that most of the cast were never faced the camera. Even in such condition the most cast give the outstanding , fabulous and memorable acting. Mira's debut film make me feel the perfect satisfaction , sorrow and some scenes were even kept in my memory for long.I just want to share the some memorable scene for me.

"Mera Naam Chin Chin Chu" song scene dancing prostitute, her daughter and Chaipau . The scene make you warmly feel the beautiful , kind mind of a prostitute and very sweet relationships of mother-daughter. "Hansa Vithal" may be she is 10+ years old but her performance is really amazing for me in the whole movie.
Next is the scene where Chaipau steal a little chicken and give to "Sweet Sixteen". Really cute scene of a boy's pure love to his unknown older girl. And Manju jealous on "Sweet Sixteen" is another outstanding scene in movie that show the human mind.
Chillum and Chaipau is another good plot of the movie and the friendship spirit keep me cry at funeral scene.Chillum character is another prominent character in the movie : a destroyed man by the drug and trading of drug.

The most stunning female character is Rekha played by Aneeta Kanwar : a prostitute , neglected wife and mother.
Anyway "Salaam Bombay!" is a must-watch film before you die and this movie give the lowest lives in Bombay and can regarded as the most realistic movie from India Film Industry.