Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Luck ... By Chance!

I will echo a lot many others who have seen this movie...

I loved, loved, loved the movie!

And it was the perfect setting for me too. I went with a friend and her sister to watch it in one of the AMC's on a week night. Almost empty parking lot, almost empty theater. There was only three of us, and then three more people joined later. Nice people, quiet as mice, with no crackly candy wrappers, no cell phones ringing, no kicking my seat. And hopefully they did not mind the three girls giggling away to glory!

Blisss!!!

Will not go into the story line of course. So will list out a few things that stayed with me even after I left the hall...

There is SO much talent in the Indian film industry! The opening credits featured a lot of the "menials", their hard work ... and their hard life! The set designers, costume designers, makeup artists, choreographers, editing artists, oh my, I wouldn't even know how much goes into making one single movie! I wish there were some laws about minimum hourly wages in India like there are in the US. It is heartbreaking to see such hard work, such beautiful work being taken for granted like this!

Then there was the whole unfair business of how people get a foot-hold in the industry. Such a stark contrast between the thousands of talented artists struggling for years and still getting nowhere; and the people with "connections" who get in (and are some times forced in!) so easily with no talent, no experience, no nothing! I suppose it is sort of like the political scene in India too. No qualifications needed, except for connections! How I wish that would change. But I digress...

And then there was the life of the poor little rich kid! Who could not eat enough because there were millions of rupees riding on her waist line as opposed to the poor kids (not featured in the movie, of course) who cannot eat enough because, well, there isn't anything to eat!
Niki Walia was a very believable character in spite of, like Vikram says, living in a cake! She was still so innocent and good at heart, just like most people are deep down within.

And now for the best thing about the movie according to me: the strong, independant and sensible Indian woman! Sona truly represents what the Indian woman is today.
She is not "Sati Savitri" who will sacrifice all for the man
She is not the wife from (I forget the movie...anyone remember Radhika with the curled up "choti" married to Rishi Kapoor?) who lives like a servant in her husband's house.
She is not Rekha from Khoon Bhari Maang, going all out to kill the enemy.
She is no Meena Kumari who will die pining away for her husband!

She is one very sensible woman, who knows what she wants.
She is very strong and refuses to patch up with her very selfish lover
She is very honest and tells him exactly what she thinks of him! She is neither mean to him, nor does she waste time in seeking revenge. She figures out what is right for her, and goes her own way!
She is very realistic and understands that she can either be sad that she could not act in big movies, or she can be happy that she is doing good work and is well liked by people.
She has oodles of self respect!
She chooses to be happy!

She is the perfect role model for women! Not just in India, but all over the world!

Move over Sita and Sati and whoever undermines the power and strength of a woman...

The world belongs to Sona Mishra!!!

I know there are too many !!!! in my post, but then that is how much I liked the movie!

26 comments:

Renu said...

This type of unfairness either in politics or films or anyother profession is rampant everywhere,may be that is life..its not fair, but good.
seems to be a good one:), I will have to watch. Nice review.

--xh-- said...

have heard lot fo good reviews abt teh move :)

Anonymous said...

Cool, so added a movies to watch this weekend. Now days, some of the movies being made a quite simply amazing and surprise you.

DeeplyDip said...

ya i too liked the movie - in fact loved the role juhi and rishi played...
as renu said, connections work in every spehere of life...we notice this more maybe because it is a more visible industry...

D said...

I loved the movie too!

Anonymous said...

I agree with each and everyword here.. but move over "mother india" ?? Have u seen mother india ?

Anonymous said...

It was actually a very nice movie. Honest, subtle humour, the genius gene runs in the family I guess.

I am said...

I did not like the movie for the basic fact that it shows how connection and not hard work, simplicity and honesty gets you to the top..

BUT I liked the things you pointed out...

1. the initial credits WAS my best. Loved IT.
2. Sona Mishra for knowing what she wants, giving her best and learning to be happy :)
3. The rich being.. nice at heart.. :)

and I obviously hated that opportunistic Vikram character.. and his ability to reach the top ...with his slimy ways... sala..

In general a well directed movie.. but not my fav.

I liked Billoo Barber more...specially the way two friends choose to remain...

Rià said...

Perfect review gurl!U said everything tht i cud hav said abt the movie. And i jus loved Konkona's role in the movie. Coz fiercely independent woman is what i m. :) Really loved the movie.

Mysterious Mia said...

havent seen the movie yet.....i think i will go for it this weekend

aneri_masi said...

@RenuDi, yes, you must watch it! Pakka!

@xh, you not seen it?

@chirag, yeah, am so glad to see the changes in what's being made lately!

@deeply, I think not only is it more noticeable, but it is also more rampant. Because well, it is one big industry controlled by a few unlike other fields, right?

@d, :)

aneri_masi said...

@wolfy, yeah dekhi to thi, but I don't quite remember what it was about. While I didn't specifically mean that movie, I guess you are right in thinking what you did :) So have edited the post to be more correct..thanks for pointing it out!

@rakesh, genes and well, training too, i suppose?

aneri_masi said...

@tanu, but that was not the message, right? Sona did get good work later on. And vikram just got lucky. He did not have to do what he did at all. He was wrong in thinking that it was needed. Hai na? Billu Barber dekh lee already???

@ria, and I loved it coz I SOOO want to be like her. But I guess I am still rooted two generations behind :(

@mia, yeah, you must go see it!

Anonymous said...

Thank you :).. Move over who undermines the power of women.. yes.. not those who are the embodiment of it.. in times and social setting much tougher than sona mishra..

See Billu Barber..

ceedy said...

It was ok movie for me.

Indian Home Maker said...

This movie sounds great, me going to watch!!!

I loved how you have described the woman!!

Bud-Wiser said...

Do you remember the last part where Soha says
"isme tumhari koi galti nahi hai, kuch log hote hi aise hai".

I loved it so much.Wonder what Soha was doing? -->
1)Pacifying farhan because he was sorry for what he did ("isme tumhari koi galti nahi hai")
(OR)
Insulting him ("kuch log hote hi aise hai")

Any clues?

I am said...

yes, he got lucky... but then he was not simple, straight forward or honest he was opportunistic...

that's what I have problems with... why will people have to be opportunistic to get what they want.. if you are not u don't get it !!

Sona, compromised and LEARNT to remain happy that's but was cheated on her trust and faith.. I have problems with that..

the good thing is she did not QUIT.. I liked that part...for sure :) and that she saw through Vikram instead of being a victim of emotions...

aneri_masi said...

@wolfy, while I agree that Mother India's situation was much worse, it is not as commonplace as Sona's. Extreme adverse conditions mein most of us will forget our differences and grudges and work together, it is daily life issues like these that make life miserable in general. Think about an alternative, predictable ending to this. She accepts his apologies and everything is good for some time, but then he reverts back to who is. He will, because that IS who he is! And there won't be the peace and happiness that she got by taking one tough decision early on. Ok, enuff lecture :)

aneri_masi said...

@ceedy, ok :) I liked how normal everything was!

@IHM, you MUST watch it!

@chikki, oh yes, that was the absolute best part! I was telling my friend, wow that is brutal! What she was trying to do, well, she was simply being honest. She was showing him what he himself could not see. And she is right. Kuch log aise hote hain, jaan boojh ke nahi hote, but hote hain. Hai na?

aneri_masi said...

@tanu, well, define opportunistic. Is it wrong to seize an opportunity you see coming your way? No. Is it wrong to step over someone else to grab it. Yes. He was wrong in misleading the other actor. He was wrong in carrying on with Neena and Niki. Wrong and unnecessary.

Sona was naive in the beginning and waited for the fraud producer to start his movie. She could have done her own ground work on the side and gotten her place much before. I don't think she compromised on anything! She chose from whatever path was available to her, and made the most of it. That is the true lesson! That you are the only one responsible for your happiness. The world has always been crooked. Learn to be strong and stand for yourself. People will try to take advantage of you (like the producer and the gossip magazines), people will try to put you down (like Vikram did when the gossip mag printed abt her), so it is completely up to you to get out of your mess and stay out! That is the message I got out of it. And I think it is a very important one for the Indian woman who is, for the most part protected all her life by her family.

You say WHY is the world like this? I say stop questioning it and learn to deal with it! Change your own attitude and things around you will change. Be the change, right?

Aathira Nair said...

Loved the movie, just that I felt could have been short by a wee 30 mins... or maybe I have become accustomed to short movies.

Anonymous said...

Arey I agreed on what you said about her.. It was just that move over mother india did not go down with me ..thts all.. masi ho bolke likh diya ...

and well.. lecture.. Dont worry.. I'll sleep just the way i am sure you did at college.. or maybe u din turn to class at all.. like u said once....techer ne poocha aapko ki tum isi klass ki ho ?? hahaha..

aneri_masi said...

@athira, I watch so few Hindi movies that I am still stuck in the 3 hr long era. I thought it got over too soon...I could have seen some more of Sona's life shaping up :)

@wolfy, arey, I was not offended. I just thought about what you said and then started comparing the two situations and then poured out all my thoughts :) Sochne ki beemari hai, thats all :D

Supal PAtel said...

I too love the movie !!! You did not mention my favorite Rishi Kapoor in the movie :( He is outstanding in the movie... My favorite scene was.. when Rishi tries to convince all actors for his movie.. (Specially Akshay Khanna..) that's hilarious.. .. but overall awesome movie... jai ho bollywood (i know dimple will not like this word :) )

aneri_masi said...

@supal, THANKS for telling me it was a good movie :) Ok, will do a whole new post on your Rishi Kapoor, if tomorrow's Delhi 6 turns out just as good :) Khush?