Karwaan, a journey riding on Irrfan khan

The movie reminded me of Finding Fanny, perhaps the similarity in the approach and the overall theme of self- discovery of the three key characters in the movie. The plot begins with Avinash (Dulquer Salmaan), an IT professional from Bangalore who hates his job, a career choice he didn’t consciously make but was forced to by his estranged father. He lives his life in ennui and curses his dad for not having let him take photography for a career. On an uneventful day, he gets called by a travel agency that they were shipping his Dads body to him, who died in an accident on a religious trip. The cargo company messes up and the Dead Body is exchanged with that of a lady who is from Cochin. Shaukat (Irrfan Khan), a friend offers to drive his van to help transport the wrong dead body to its home. The road trip has many detours, including having to pick up the brazen granddaughter Tanya(Mithila Palkar) of the diseased lady from an Ooty Hostel.  The Karwaan (journey) gets interesting with the creditors of Shaukat, a group of miscreants who enter the scene as well. The movie ends on a high note with characters making peace with their pasts and aligning their lives to their ultimate calling/ dreams

A few hilarious twists and thanks only and only to Irrfaan khan who is perhaps holding the movie together and makes it entertaining. Dulquer Salmaan is a bit disappointing with his Hindi diction and I am not sure if he can connect with the bollywood audience. The big surprise package of the film was actress Amala Akkineni, it was delightful to see her on the silver screen after ages. She truly captivates the audience, even just in the last few minutes of the movie. I kept wondering if the movie was a remake of a Malayalam movie, given the plot and the casting of the film. I wasn’t surprised when I discovered that Bejoy Nambiar is the writer of this film, this movie will be more impactful/ relatable in Malayalam.

Although the script could have been more unpredictable, the dialogues are well written -some quotes in the movie are truly memorable.  The movie rides on Irrfan Khan's performance and I wish him a speedy recovery from his illness. Movie watching for me has been an experience and for years of being a patron at SPI, I am totally disheartened that they are being taken over by a large theatre chain. I wonder if the popcorn is going to be the same and my movie experience will remain the same. Crossing fingers for both Irrfan and SPI, some things cannot be replaced but here is wishing both the very best for a great comeback

Sanju- Jaadu Ki Japi from Me!

So after watching the movie last week, although I loved it, I had decided I wasn’t going to write about Sanju, because I truly believe this is not a biopic and given that I swim in the air of my own righteousness sometimes :P. then I watched it one more time this week, I just said to myself- come on!...enough already!! So after making the following disclaimer “this review is not attached to any emotional connect to the character or the real life & events of Actor Sanjay Dutt and merely a reflection of my joy of being entertained by the absolutely amazing screenplay and the outstanding performances of all actors in this movie” I write this heartfelt review.

This is what perfect writing, screenplay and direction are suppose to be like, there is so much detailing that I had to sit and wonder how organised and thorough Abhijat Joshi (writer) would be in real life? The movie is so absorbing and the dialogues absolutely mesmerise you.  There is research, thought and timing and obviously a vision that Rajkumar Hirani has beautifully imbibed in making this movie.  The intentional casting and the makeup can only make the actors look like the real characters they play, however I think each of them was given a “jaadu ki tonic” to have enacted these roles so true to the actual body language and speech of the real people they were playing. They all deserve a “jaadu ki Japi” and the first Japi goes to Ranbir kapoor.  Apart from the body transformation of the different stages of Sanjay Dutts’ life, this man has gone to as much as to move his neck (and other mannerisms) and even deflect his voice to match Sanjay Dutt to the T. The movie begins with Sanjay struggling to find a writer for his biography before he is up for surrender to the Supreme Court. He manages to convince Winnie(Anushka Sharma), a renowned writer,  to whom he makes insightful confessions and presents his side of the story- right from his drug addictions, to criminal offenses and jail term. In the midst of his narrative he highlights his insecurities of the past, his evolved relationship with his father (Paresh Rawal) and the loss of his dear relationships with his girl friend Ruby( Rhea Kapoor) and friend Kamli (Vicky Kaushal). Winnie plays the biographer, an investigator  to bring the life story of Sanjay together and in the end plays the peacemaker and  reunites Sanju with his dear friend Kamli.

Paresh Rawal is surely one of the finest actors, and so is Vicky Kaushal, whose presence makes the film even more solid. Vicky Kaushal's background in theatre surely is an added advantage and you can see how he finely blends in to Kamli or his role in Raazi as Iqbal, as if he were living it each day. Anjan Srivastav, who plays a Minister, has barely a screen time of 2 mins in which this Mr. Srinivas Wagle of  “Wagle he Duniya” fame knows how to get your attention and has you in splits. Boman Irani, Manisha Koirala, Sonam Kapoor too have done their shorter bits with noteworthy performances

The music of this film is just as engaging and meaningfully threaded in the story. The song Baba Bolta Hain Bas Ho Gaya’  ends the movie on a super energetic mode with a message.  I was glad I took my teenage nephew to watch this movie with me, this probably was a moral science lesson which was entertaining and not rhetoric.