went for a fantastic vacation to srinagar (after 20 years) with family…from the 15-19 of August.

some memories from the place…

http://picasaweb.google.com/warikoo/JKTripAug2007
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during my recent engagement, there was a time when we were trying to understand the film business in India. typically the first response of anyone would be…its a gamble…no one really knows what will work. which seems obvious….i mean cmon…Himes bhaiya kicked everyone’s ass with his debut…and no one has ever attempted a murder attack on bappi lahiri…and ofcourse…KJo (or karan johar for the straight population) still thinks that KANK was his best attempt at maturity…!!

so yeah….at first glance…the industry seems to be not driven by any logic…! what works…what wil work…no one knows…so people jst continue making films in the hope of that pot of luck…

but then…being consultants…with the word anal used as a prefix….it didnt make sense..! a frggin USD 2Bn industry…running on zero logic…! is there no way to ensure atleast a high probability…

and thats when the last week…threw the answer…

last sunday…i watched Chak De
yesterday…i watched Victoria No. 203…

and the difference….wow..!!

Chak De India

i admit…for the first time…SRK wasnt himself. people said that it was the same in Swades too…but frankly i didnt see it. The movie completely rested on him…and he had his moments of ‘pulling back his free flowing hair in the midst of a storm’…! i mean…why the f does he need to run all the way upto the water tank…take off his shirt…and plunge into it to discover that the opening had been choked..there were fifty friggin people standing next to the tank…and all with their shirts off already…! lekin nahi…main to SRK hoon…main hoon naa…

anyways..so yeah…the first time that he wasnt himself. the story was simple…yet unique and powerful. and the director did full justice to it. each and every shot was there for a purpose…the editing was crisp…and we didnt get to see too much of SRK..! the girsl were ofcourse…yes yes…preeti sabharwal included…awesome. komal chautala was an absolute gem…

ofcourse SRK had to piss me off at some point of time…but surprisingly that come through in the movie. rather in an interview…where Mr Khan states…
“the movie required me to wear a beard all the time. it was really stressful for me”
we understand Mr. Khan…we totally do….! not only would the beard have ensured that KJo didnt come close to you for the entire period…it mst have been torturous for your fans to not see your dimple…and your oh so cute cheeks. we understand…

but the main point is…i loved the movie…every bit of it…! its those types whose DVD can be bought…and stored…maybe never watched…but you have that solace that its there…and you can watch it anytime…!

so there….a powerful production house…(YRF)…fantastic direction and editing…perfect placement of songs…powerful performances….and u have a winner..!

now you would want to believe that everyone knows this…but heck…no….

Victoria No. 203

And the best performance in a supporting role…goes to Dora’s bra…!!! and you have to watch the movie to know what i am talking about…!

why…why on earth…would a woman agree for such a role..! money cudnt be jst it..!! but anyways…so this lady…with the screen name dora….apparently a ninja in the movie…steals these diamonds…but not before she decides to show the world her cleavage…all thru the robbery.

you know…i dont understand much of camera work and direction…!! but i sure know somethings that i am convinced everyone does as well….

1. when you rapel down a building….its NEVER…face down…
2. when the artist approaches the camera…and even comes within 12 inches of the camera…the camera shud ideally move back as well….

ofcourse…the reasons why the 2 didnt happen in the movie are obvious….even to women for a change..! in short…disgusting..!!

the movie apart from this….horrible. it had its share of good laughs…thanks to Om puri and Anupam Kher…who are masters in their field but were clearly made to underperform…! but overall…no concept of editing…no concept of song placement…or for that matter song lyrics…(imagine the actors trying to find the lock which fits the key they have…and they burst into a song on the road…”help me please…to find the locker…find the locker…help me please…”)

and some actors were born to overact..! i think kamal sadanah is one of them…or maybe even heads that organization…! imagine producing the movie (its his production) and then sealing its fate by acting in it as well..! crap..!!

so there…another piece of garbage…
…almost twice the size of hollywood…and 1/10th in value…!!!

~a