'All is Well' with 3 Idiots

It is 2.45 am and I'm just back from the show of ‘3 Idiots’ and absolutely loved it…I mean, what’s not to love in the movie, guys! Aamir has done it again and Raju Hirani has also done it yet again. In any case, I love Aamir, I have never been out of love with Madhavan since the first time I saw him on Banegi Apni Baat ;-) Well, I kind of like Sharman (he’s a little goofy but that’s OK). I am also not averse to liking Kareena these days because sometimes she also acts well (inspite of herself!). I loved the fact that the movie did not stick to ‘Five Point Someone’ storyline. I have already forgotten the story in any case. Well, I loved the screenplay, and I loved the perfect proportion of flashbacks and momentum of current story.

I don’t care if Aamir has edited the movie in his favour. I don’t care if the songs don’t really stay with you. I don’t even care if there have been any unexplained loose ends (I did not even notice, even if there were). I just know, after a very, very long time, I did not look at my watch even once during a movie. I just know the movie made me laugh, made me smile, made me go crazy and made me cry as well.

I have seen Avatar, a technical masterpiece, but I slept through quite a bit of it. Ajab Prem ki Gajab Kahani was hilarious in bits, but it was slightly over-the-top and not consistently funny or emotional. It was quite flat in a lot of places. It was OK. I loved Paa, but Wanted was more hilarious than an ‘action’ movie! However, ‘3 Idiots’ is certainly a class apart and gets 5 stars from me. I can watch it over and over again.

What do I say, I love you Aamir :-) You rock!

(all you other people, go and watch the movie. It surely deserves to be a hit!)

Tuning in to the Idiot Box

I saw 2 episodes of Khatron ke Khiladi on the new channel Colors. After reading so much about the reality behind Reality shows, I still have my doubts whether the stunts shown are for real. Everyday there is some natak on each and every show. Come on, suddenly everyone started showing their tantrums and arguing on camera.

Coming back to the show, yesterday they showed girls putting their hands in three jars containing some kind of earth worms, cockroaches and frogs respectively. They had to find keys in each jar to open three locks. I had been particularly impressed by Yana Gupta so far considering she did not even wince so far in any of the stunts, whether going up the ladder to as high as 12 floors and moving across the building on an extremely narrow support; or to let 5 crabs hover around her head. She did show hesitation in putting her hand in the jars containing cockroaches, etc, but over all she was commendable.

I read somewhere that Nethra has won this season, but I don’t know how true is that. Anyways, the reality shows are not so alluring any more. There are so many of them and you don’t know which one to watch and all of them have the same TV actors either dancing or enacting something or performing some stunt. Come on, we already get a huge dose of these people in daily soap. Who wants to see them again in rest of the time.

So that is why I choose to watch Star World or Zee Café or any of the English movie channels. I found that they are running Who’s the Boss? on Zee Café. So if I’m home early, I catch up with this childhood favourite on Zee Café. Then it is one hour of FRIENDS - first half hour on Star World then on Zee Café. I really don’t know why I keep watching them when I have seen all of them at least a million times.

Moving on to something completely unrelated. I am shocked to learn that Mahesh Bhatt wants to re-make Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahi with Himesh Reshammiya. I am aghast. I loved that movie. Also, read somewhere that Aamir is planning to produce the re-make of Andaz Apna Apna with Salman Khan. I am game for any Aamir movie. I trust his creative sensibilities. He cannot not make a good movie.

Pappu can't dance! Nobody’s compaining!

After being hounded by Aamir Khan and Imraan Khan on all Channels, and every possible , even the Rakhi Sawant show, there was enough excitement around “Jaane Tu Ya Jane Na”. We were supposed to go last Sunday itself but it is running houseful everywhere. Even this Sunday, after much exercise, we finally got the tickets at City Pride, Kothrud. But anyways, it was all worth it. I loved it.

Yeah, the story was clichéd but Abbas Tyrewala did handle it very beautifully. Imraan Khan is good and almost effortless. Genelia looks very refreshing and effervescent. I think she is very lucky. The way she has been presented in this film, you do not seem to realize that you have seen her quite a few times before. Surprisingly, that she just had another release called “Mere Baap Pehle Aap”, which I am sure was an innocuous movie, there is no baggage of the fate of that movie on this one.

The much talked about song “Pappu can’t dance sala” could have been not there, it does not have any story implications on the movie; and same goes for the other popular song “Kabhi Kabhi Aditi”. But they are there and we don’t mind it. When Aamir Khan is endorsing the movie whole hog, and to top it all when he found value in producing this movie, then it is certificate enough for movie buffs like me to watch this movie.

The Critics have given good ratings to the movie, although they have cribbed as usual on a couple of illogical things or “how this can happen” twists in the tale. But we have been OK with several twists millions of times for the sake of the movie, so just let’s leave it at that.

Everything said and done, obviously, this will appeal more to the younger audience but it is good fun for the entire family as well.

Taare Zameen Par - an experience beyond words

“Taare Zameen Par” was an interesting experience. I don’t know if I can review it impartially because I’m a big Aamir Khan fan. I mean I appreciate his dedication and commitment to film-making, as an actor and as a director. Now it has become cool to like Aamir Khan and his movies but I have always liked him. I loved his Dil Hai ke Manta Nahi, Akele Hum Akele Tum, Mann, Rangeela, Lagaan, Dil Chahta Hai, Hum Hain Rahi Pyaar Ke and of course Taare Zameen Par. But yeah, I hated Mela, Parampara, Fanaa, Mangal Pandey and a few others. There would be a handful of movies which I haven’t seen yet!

Even if you are not an Aamir fan, although chances are miniscule, you still can’t ignore the fact that his directorial venture is a very brave effort on his part. Had it been any other person, a movie about a dyslexic child, would have gone to the so-called “off-beat” or “multiplex” genre. But here it is, and taking everyone, even an out-and-out commercial flick like Welcome by surprise. Come on, you gotta give it to Aamir!

All of us had our special moments in the movie when we got emotional and nostalgic—sometimes we cried for the child and sometime for ourselves. When I look at kids around, I genuinely feel sorry for them. When we were kids, there was only school, home works and hours of outdoor games, fun and playing. But now, there is school, tuitions, tennis practice, dance & music classes, voluntary work for the under-privileged, athletics and obviously the home works. If there is any tiny-winy time for games, it’s only computer games or play station or net-surfing (yeah, it is the most loved sports of this century). In fact, parents start buying books for their kids even before they have celebrated their first birthday, so that their child does not lag behind in the competition. As if all your life, right from the time you are born, is devoted to make a perfect CV. I feel so scared sometimes, what is going to happen to our own kids, who are yet to born? What kind of world are we giving to them! Why such mindless competition! It is really very scary. And it’s not even parents’ fault, look at our education system. Sometimes I feel, if I could give a free and liberating atmosphere to my child, then that would be the biggest gift which one can ever give.

Talking about parenthood, I strongly believe that we take parenthood very lightly in India. Children are born just like that, without asking yourself whether you are ready for it, whether you are ready to nurture a life from the scratch! Why do we never ask such questions in life?

It is truly surprising that in a country which boasts of World’s second largest population, we are yet to learn to nourish one life which we get in our hands. I think, you should choose to be a parent, because you are ready for it and you want to be one; and not for any other reason. The interpretation of “Taare Zameen Par” is actually your own terrain; you translate it in your life, in your own special way; which depends on your own upbringing, your values and your understanding of issues.

Talking about myself, the song “Maa” was my most emotional moment in the movie. It was too endearing and sensitive. I salute Aamir for making such a wonderful movie, and for making a difference.

Lyrics of "Maa" from Taare Zameen Par

Main Kabhi Batlata NahinPar
Andhere Se Darta Hoon Main Maa
Yun To Main,Dikhlata Nahin
Teri Parwaah Karta Hoon Main
MaaTujhe Sab Hain Pata, Hain Na Maa
Tujhe Sab Hain Pata..Meri Maa

Bheed Mein Yun Na Chodo Mujhe
Ghar Laut Ke Bhi Aa Naa Paoon Maa
Bhej Na Itna Door Mujkko Tu
Yaad Bhi Tujhko Aa Naa Paoon Maa
Kya Itna Bura Hoon Main Maa
Kya Itna Bura Meri Maaaaaa

Jab Bhi Kabhi Papa Mujhe
Jo Zor Se Jhoola Jhulate Hain Maa
Meri Nazar Dhoondhe Tujhe
Sochu Yahi Tu Aa Ke Thaamegi Maa

Unse Main Yeh Kehta NahinPar
Main Seham Jaata Hoon Maa
Chehre Pe Aana Deta Nahin
Dil Hi Dil Mein Ghabraata Hoon Maa
Tujhe Sab Hai Pata Hai Naa Maa
Tujhe Sab Hai Pata Meri Maa

Main Kabhi Batlata Nahin
Par Andhere Se Darta Hoon Main Maa
Yun To Main,Dikhlata Nahin
Teri Parwaah Karta Hoon Main Maa
Tujhe Sab Hain Pata, Hain Na Maa
Tujhe Sab Hain Pata,,Meri Maa