The Cult of Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron (Part 1 :Sudhir Mishra)

When that great black comedy Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron was re-released in theaters this month (without much fanfare, sadly, much to the chagrin of the lead players of the film), it brought a thought to us at Filmistani that we should do a series of tangential posts on the influence of the film and the people involved in it.

Being a quizzer, one of my favourite filmy quiz question is about naming the film in which the two lead characters are named after the assistant directors, and since you have already read the opening paragraph of this article, you get no points for guessing it.

Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron was about two photographers who get caught up in a scheme of things that they have no control over. Their names were -

Sudhir

and Vinod

Sudhir Mishra started his association with films by living with his brother in the FTII hostel, although he never attended the college himself, living in the place rubbed off on him. He went on to assist Kundan Shah and Saeed Mirza (Mohan Joshi Haazir Hon) before making a name for himself as a director. And after almost three decades in the industry, he has a cult following of his own. It would be difficult to sum up his contribution to Filmistan without reading out like a wikipedia page, so what we will do instead is recommend three of his movies, because a director's work is what speaks for him.

Is Raat Ki Subah Nahi

Had this movie been released today to an audience used to 'multiplex' movies, it might have done better at making money. It starred a young and hopeful Nirmal Pandey (May his soul RIP) who at that time could have easily fit into roles as a replacement to Sanjay Dutt.

Sanju hai naam mera, main husn ka deewaana

It also starred Tara Deshpande (where is she these days?) and a normal acting Ashish Vidyarthi, who does well in this movie, really well. Nirmal Pandey plays an ad film executive who cheats on his wife and on a fateful night gets caught by his wife. And on this painful night for this ad man with dubious morals, he also crosses paths with gangsters owing to the general lack of cell phones in that time period (he gets into a fight with a gangster over the use of a phone in a bar) The gangsters have their own issues (naturally) with an impending all out war looming over their heads, and they decide they cannot take shit from an upstart long haired service industry guy.

The story unfolds over a period of a few hours in the night, and Sudhir Mishra crafts the tale of one man's desperation after getting deep caught in the troubles of his own life and a gang war which he would sooner have not been any part of. And even though the film almost moves in real time, there is enough space for some truly wonderful music (provided by M M Kreem), the songs of this movie have a fan following of their own

There are other elements of the story that my fingers are itching to reveal here, but I would leave it to you to watch the film and find out on your own.

Hazaaron Khwahishein Aisi

Another of those posters which have nothing whatsoever to do with the film

This film became a festival favourite before Sanchaar Kraanti helped it become an Engineering college favourite, and thus helped in spreading the word of mouth about it. It was a film about multiple disillusionment, fear and hopelessness in the 70s, some measures of which the whole country felt in that intriguing decade (with India winning a war against Pakistan, Emergency, the rise and rapid fall of Jan Sangh and the return of Indira), the movie is populated with good actors and Shiney Ahuja. It is a very different college story, which captures the essence of the westernized Beatnikgiri that a lot of students in our country were following, Sudhir Mishra even got an authentic rock band 'Them Clones' for a cameo in the film.

Kay Kay Menon played a rich kid who thinks that the social revolution is a cool fad to be a part of, but then as he joins the actual revolution, he gets immersed headfirst into it, and it is heartbreaking to see his belief in his ability to bring about a change.

Chitrangadha Singh is a padhaku College chick who loves Kay Kay Menon for his Viva La Revolucion ideology but can't quite subscribe to it herself. And her story in the film seems quite normal until she decides to fuck the mundaneness (sic) of being married to an IAS officer and joins her lover who is caught in the revolution in Bihar.

And the third angle of this love-story is Shiney Ahuja, who pines for Chitrangadha Singh (even after seeing her make sweet sweet love to Kay Kay Menon) but who realizes that pyaar alag hai but Kaam dhandha is more important, and concentrates mostly on being a big wheel in Delhi's political system.

The film for most of its second half presents a bleak picture, but ends on what can said to be a coda for the three characters, who gets the raw deal - watch the film and decide.

This movie too is full of good music -

and

Dharavi

Way before 'Slumdog Millionare', this was a film about that claustrophobic, hazardous, perilous and yet wholly industrious place where a hyper dense crush of humanity lives and thrives daily. Dharavi is perhaps the largest slum in Asia, and thus houses the upward aspirations of the maximum number of souls.

And in this teeming mass flows a river of stories, sadly most of them are either too sexed up in our films (for suspension of disbelief). Sudhir Mishra, who has defied conventions throughout his career (except for Traffic Signal, where he followed the convention of bad acting in a Madhur Bhandarkar film) made a very engrossing film about a taxi driver (Om Puri) who falls in a Get-Rich-Quick scheme and gets caught in a series of events that are much bigger than he is (this can be seen as a motif with many Sudhir Mishra characters, perhaps partly influenced by the photographers of Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron).

Dharavi (like many other films of its period) also had Anil Kapoor and Madhuri Dixit, but it was totally an Om Puri film. If the only experience of Om Puri that you have comes from Priyadarshan's brand of comedies, add this to a list of films that you should watch to see how Om Puri kicked ass as a lead actor.


PS : Part 2 - Vinod Chopra shall follow soon.

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Machuca.

   

We live in a world of contradictions. So much so that contradictions are actually central to our existence. And we know it. Searching for solitude in a crowd and looking for company in isolation. Wanting to have everything one day and the feeling of all of it being useless the next. The need to love and be loved and the reality of every feeling being ephemeral. Of having people close to share all that passes and to see them going away every now and then.

Mustering all our energy trying to hold on to things all the time, while also learning to let go in the background. That is what we are. Trying to be consistent can take up one’s life and yet to no avail. This write up is about a movie that brings all these thoughts to mind. One that, through a fragile and unexaggerated friendship, tells us how incomplete every notion is, and how momentary. The contradiction of communism and capitalism. Our weakness and struggle with these contradictions. And being perpetually caught up in it. This one tells us how deeply a matter of politics can affect lives of people, friendships and their ideas of the world. How small things get related to big things and how friendships are not immune to differences in colour, class or cultures.

It is about Machuca. This movie will not blow your mind. It is subtle and silent for most part. But if you notice properly it has a lot to say. Based in Chile during the rise of communist ideals among the lower strata of society aiding them to ask for more rights and opportunities, it observes a frail friendship walk through the tumult and eventually succumb to the circumstances. To the forces of man’s nature. Politics. Politics of nations, ideals, families, and classes. While showing a fairer side of the communist ideal it deals with how inequality affects lives. But the stand on ideals is more or less inevitable in any society in one way or the other. It is born out of the same contradictions.

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Movies that put wind in your hair

Here is a genre that Indian filmmakers rarely attempt: road movies. Maybe it’s because Indians don’t travel a lot - when Thomas Roe gave Jahangir the then map of the world, far from being excited, Jahangir didn’t even accept it (so much for naming himself the king of the world).

Anyways, if you think you are a traveler, active or dormant, here are some movies that I hope you will love.

Road, Movie

Arguably, one of the finest movies made in recent years in Hindi cinema, this is a dreamy and magical masterpiece by Dev Benegal.  Even though it is primarily about the magic of cinema it is still a travel movie at its core and an awesome one at that. Obviously, it flopped at the box office and that again makes one wish that India had some academy/organization offering awards to movies that are actually good.

Watch it if you love traveling or movies or for its breath taking visuals if nothing else.

Into The Wild

A traveler’s delight, Into the Wild follows Christopher McCandless’s journey through whole of North America as he plans to, and finally visits, Alaska. Although based on his travels, this is not a typical road movie. Unlike the most travel movies which are about some transforming journey that the protagonist (and others) takes this movie is about an alternate lifestyle devoid of dehumanizing “necessities” like credit cards and id proofs.

The Motorcycle Diaries (Spanish: Diarios de motocicleta)

This fabulous movie about an expedition across South America that 23-year-old Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara undertook along with his friend needs no introduction. This line by its screenplay writer says it all:

"Every generation needs a journey story; every generation needs a story about what it is to be transformed by geography, what it is to be transformed by encounters with cultures and people that are alien from yourself, and you know that age group 15 to 25, that’s the perfect generation to get on a motorcycle, to hit the road, to put on your backpack and just go out."

Watch this movie if you like good movies or traveling or if you want to be touched by human experiences or if you simply want to know about that face on your t-shirt.

Sideways

Sideways is a comic, dark and poignant movie about a middle-aged, wine-loving, unsuccessful author , Miles, who takes a road trip with his about to be married friend Jack. While Miles wants to educate Jack's palate and enjoy the countryside, Jack plans to spend the holiday getting laid one last time before his wedding. Despite its slow pace, Sideways grows on you with its real characters and gripping script.

Little Miss Sunshine

A troubled family gets on the road in a bright yellow Volkswagen microbus to take its daughter to a senseless beauty pageant in California. “The story is really about this family's starting separately and ending together." - Michael Arndt, writer. 

Watch this movie if you take your life, your dreams or your love too seriously.

O Brother Where Art Thou

Set in American south during the depression of 1930s, this movie follows the bizarre road trip of three fugitives as they look for a treasure while avoiding the law. This Coen Brothers’ adaptation of Homer’s Odyssey is one of those rare movies that leave you feeling happy.

Y Tu Mamá También (English: And Your Mother Too)

It’s hard to say whether this Mexican movie is more liberating or scandalizing, but, either ways, it’s a quintessential road movie and one of the best of its kind.  Julio and Tenoch, two boys, take Luisa, an older woman, on a trip to an imaginary beach called Boca del Cielo. Eventually, they do find a secluded beach and discover a lot about each other and themselves on the way.

Please do mention in the comments any good travel movie that I haven't mentioned here.

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5 Films That Actually Deserve a Sequel

A lot of movies release these days with the appendages ‘2’ ‘3’ etc with them, which have no goddamned connection with previous movies of the same name (and lesser digits), these movies are NOT sequels, their names are a result of a creative deficit on part of the bloody filmmakers. However, for the past 5-6 years or so, the film industry has warmed to the ideas of actual sequels and not just repeated names, and for some reason Aamir Khan is acting in the atrocious Dhoom series (perhaps in an attempt to make it less atrocious), Dabangg 2 is going to be released soon, Ab Tak Chappan 2 too is ready (but unreleased). Here we take a look of some of our favourite films which can easily have an awesome continuation of their story

5. Dil Chahta Hai

It was the movie which shifted Bromance from two heroes firing bullets and jumping in tandem like the Blue and Red soldiers of Contra to three guys sitting around and ‘chilling’. Of course the difference being that the dilemma in their life wasn’t about battling terrorists or evil ‘ladki ke baap’ with huge mansions, it was more about falling in love with older women, mishandling dad’s business and stealing girls from boring boyfriends.

Why it needs a sequel –

Admittedly the movie started with a ‘Flashback’ and had friends in the end grappling with what happened between them in the past, it also ended with a Happily Ever After moment. But ten years down the line, it would be interesting to think where Middle Age has brought the three friends (in real life it has meant obscurity, marrying Kareena Kapoor and becoming a social crusader), the story could be about how these three friends who would have by now settled into the quiet mediocrity that a happy marriage has to offer, and the time would be ripe to go on another trip, there might not be much past water under the bridge, but it won’t stop them from having new adventures.

4. Baadshah

In a serious error of judgement, the writer of the previous post  on SR left out this film while listing out his versatile endeavours. Although heavily Pritam-ized from many films (including the awesome Rush Hour) this is perhaps SR’s only attempt at an out and out comedy (the ‘fun’ in K-Jo films doesn’t count). And the result was good, Baadshah is as watchable today as it was around 15 years ago when it was released. It’s a sad thing that not many producers directors saw this flare for Comedy that SR has (which he has borrowed heavily from a good source, viz. Jackie Chan). And hence in that spirit it is time for an update on what is happening in Baadshah’s life.

Why it needs a sequel –

Unlike the previous example, middle age would not have brought mediocrity into the life of the bumbling detective and his posse of efficient buffoons. The last movie ended with him becoming rich and famous, and thus it opened up to a lot of possibilities, he can now have cases which take him international, money that would have let him enhance his already brilliant rotating revolving house, plus, Twinkle Khanna looks much much hotter now that she has moved into the MILF (Mothers I Like Fine) category. Shah Rukh Khan is in any case doing a film with Rohit Shetty, it won’t hurt his resume at all to produce and act in The Return of Baadshah.

So..so..fine

3. Sarfarosh

We have already discussed about how ACP Rathore (NOT Rowdy Rathore) is one of the best policemen to be played on celluloid. But then the movie Sarfarosh was not just about the top-cop. It had a bevy of interesting characters, ranging from the upright Mukesh Rishi (where is he nowadays?) to the comic network of informants (Aasmaan mein...tedeun....laakhon tare). Plus, despite the debacle that was ‘Shikhar’, we would like to watch John Mathew Mathan’s direction once again.

Why it needs a sequel –

The movie ended with ACP Rathore and his men going on another case, in the first movie he battled an external enemy (our friendly neighbour) but a decade and more from then, there are a lot of internal enemies being rapidly exposed that need to be dealt with. A ruthlessly honest officer would have trying times, besides it would be interesting to see him investigate cases wherein the enemy is too big to fail.

2. Aankhen

A movie which should have made more money than it actually did. The plot, based on a Gujarati play was good (and the execution also more or less, except for the skate-board present in the bank, but...never mind). It had Amitabh Bachchan returning to being an anti-hero, and it had three blind men robbing a bank and outwitting their boss.

Why it needs a sequel –

Akshay Kumar has fallen into a weird-ass rut which he needs to get out off, Arjun Rampal, while not so awesome in the acting department has consistently done better films since then, and looks better too. Amit ji is unfortunately not that big a draw at the box office anymore, perhaps a return to this character would make the difference. And although a considerable amount of time has passed since the movie came out, if it is ever made, it should start exactly where the previous movie left off (although a movie about a time period of 10 years ago would seem like a period film), and continue the chase between the fallen Banker and his protégés.

1. Zanjeer

Yes, we try to fit in Amit ji (and Zanjeer and Deewar and Sholay and...) into as many of our lists as possible. But hear us out first, Zanjeer was the kickstart to Amit ji’s career. It was the film that gave him the angry young man name. And it is a film that would do well to have a sequel because as a concept it worked quite well in the west (Harry Brown and Gran Tarino). We are not suggesting a complete Pritamization, but perhaps the same central idea can be used.

Why it needs a sequel (and not a remake) –

Angry cop Vijay would (let’s face it) have not risen very high in the Police ranks because of his honesty and his aggression. Post retirement, (10 years post retirement, using Amitabh B’s actual age), he would have a pent up anger in him which without his uniform he would have no outlet for. So this anger can easily turn him into a vigilante, an angry old man who takes on young thugs, within the limitations that his old age imposes upon him.

PS – Govind Nihalani once said that the character that Amit ji played in Dev is his imagining of what Vijay would have been, so that can be said to be a quasi-sequel.

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The Versatility of Mr Shah Rukh Khan

As filmistan gears up for the release of the next SR film, in the wake of the untimely death of Sri Yash Chopra, we look at the trailers and ponder over the age old question that each one of us (including you) would have raised at some point of time in your life (specifically yesterday), Why does Shah Rukh Khan play the same romantic role over and over again for the past I don't know how many years? (Ask the manager of Maratha Mandir)

Also, why does he have the same pose in every film?

Something like this

But then, here we are to prove that SR is not unidimensional (sic) at all, and in fact he has done a variety of roles that Johnny Depp would be almost proud of. 

Consider this - 

1. Acted in a short film written by Arundhati Roy

Art house SR

2. In the beginning of his career, acted in three films as an anti-hero and villain, with a habit of terrorizing women with dazzling smiles

He liked to bleed

3. Worked with Ketan Mehta on weird projects

It had an awesome song featuring Javed Jaffrey

4. Made a beautiful film in which he starred as a lovable loser

5. Returned to being a troubled anti-social anti-hero

He dressed up for 'Contra'

6. Worked in a movie about Terrorism before it was mainstream

7. Played mute in a movie

Contra Too

8. After having reached a peak in popularity, readily played a supporting role in a Kamal Hasan film

9. Produced and acted in a film that portrayed what News Channels in India would become a few years ahead of its time

10. Helped an artist achieve his dream of making a film which no one quite understood 

11. Produced and acted in a film about one of India's best known kings

Although the result was...unfortunate

12. Despite his 'Romansak' tag, always tries to make films with a focus on guns and explosions

13. Effortlessly played 'Geek who saves the world'

14. Brought back the 'stache' from the 80s (years before it was made a pre-requisite for the 100 cr mark)

15. And most recently, played an Out and Out villain, with not a shred of 'Positive character' 

And the main thing is, he is not even done yet! If you look back, you will see an actor who has tried a lot of different roles (although the results were mostly not good, but then you can't say that he didn't try).

Hence, the next time someone tells you that SR is not a versatile actor, show them this list, and see them wilt.

Disclaimer - We at Filmistani, do not endorse any of the movies above, please watch at your own risk.

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Bollywood's Biggest Grossing Debuts

Did you know that on evaluating the earnings of Bollywood movies, with adjustments for inflation and other factors in place, Uday Chopra (and you have no idea of the tortures yet to come if you don't know yet that he is learning film-making at UCLA) makes it to the list of actors whose debut stands among the all-time biggest grossers? Did you know what special recognition Sooraj Barjatya of Rajshree has, talking of big-earners? His first serving Maine Pyaar Kiya was the 2nd highest earner (with all economics taken care of) in its decade and his third movie Hum Saath Saath Hain also made it to the top ten earners in its own decade but thats not all. His second film Hum Aapke Hain Koun is said to have changed the complete picture of the distribution and earnings of Indian films. It was a defining moment in Indian Cinema history since its demand went so high that it was distributed to only a limited number of Cinema Halls which met certain eligibility criteria and this pushed many a Cinema to actually upgrade their standards just to obtain the prints! This also marked a significant increase in the earnings of subsequent large banner films in India as reported here.

Well, enough of trivia for now. Let me ask you a question here. What comes to your mind if I say Bollywood's biggest all-time earners? Well, keep your answers floating in your head and answer another one. What about Bollywood debuts? Now then, any intersection points? So Bollywood has had, till date, three movies crossing the 300 Crore mark in earning, 3 Idiots, Hum Aapke Hain Koun and the recent addition Ek Tha Tiger and a handful of them crossing the 100 Crore mark. Well, first let me emphasize that all the figures used are taken from internet (mostly box office india website and wikipedia) and also, most of the time I will be talking of inflation-adjusted gross earnings as reported on the box office website. What my little research told me is that the exact figures are not that exact and hence, don't really matter since the comparisons are the only thing that hold meaning and our figures are indicative enough for that. So then lets embark upon our today's menu of movies that had debutants in lead roles and that stand among the greatest earners in Indian cinema (ah yes, I have kept 100 Cr. as the benchmark).

Thappad se darr nahi lagta sahab, pyaar se lagta hai. You already knew it with the first word, didn't you! The typical-indian-woman-look Sonakshi Sinha with her playground sized forehead is at the top of our list. So Sonakshi Sinha was offered Dabangg by Salman Khan who saw her dancing at some function and Sonakshi later revealed that after this, she lost 30 kgs in 2 years to suit herself for the role. Inference? Salman Khan was really drunk in that function and had fallen for some kind of tribal rhino dance or something (did someone say lap dance? No, no that can't be, Salman is still alive). Anyway, so Dabangg (did you know that it was the directing debut of Anurag Kashyap's brother Abhinav Kashyap) grossed around 215 Cr. and Sonakshi has since found another blockbuster in Rowdy Rathore. Lets not talk about Joker because I still have to finish this article.

2008 blockbuster Ghajini was the first Indian movie to cross the 100 Cr. mark (in net earnings) and our list features it because its adjusted earnings were around 190 Cr. and it had Asin in her Bollywood debut. Asin had already been around for quite some time in the malayalam movie scene and had also acted in the original Tamil Ghajini from 2005. So well we can't really compare her "debut" with the others, but yes, she had more than a sizeable contribution in the movie unlike most of the others I will discuss today. Amir Khan obviously and expectedly ran away with all accolades for his perfection, dedication, attention to detail and what not, but Asin's big break in Hindi cinema has earned her a lot of recognition and further success in movies like Ready (which is again one of the biggest grossers in Hindi cinema ever).

The same year 2008 saw Aditya Chopra's return to direction (after Mohabbatein) with Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi. Anushka Sharma was casted to represent small-town Punjab and she was chosen from among hundreds of girls through rigorous auditions for acting, dance, looks etc. The movie made over 158 Cr. at the box office and became Yash Raj's and SRK's biggest grossing film till that time and once again proved that big banners and big-name heroes can really pave a path for a newcomer heroine (please, nothing intended here) in the industry. Since, Anushka has been among films and is also starring in the upcoming SRK starrer Jab Tak Hai Jaan (earlier called A Yash Chopra Romance).

Deepika Padukone debuted in Bollywood with Farah Khan's Om Shanti Om which registered around 149 Cr. at the box office. Deepika, with some modelling and acting experience in Kannada film industry was chosen by Farah and is said to have been given plenty of time around SRK (six months) to mingle well before the movie started shooting (SRK, being one of the busiest stars around and the most sought after too, meeting a newbie often for lunches and dinners, as she claims, doesn't sound fishy to me at all). So OSO did pretty well and so did Deepika in her re-incarnation based double role. She has had enough appearances since, and to say the least, has disappointed me in terms of the expectations I set of her. Also, lately she looks like becoming huge (yes physically) and broad-shouldered and thus, a little masculine (a very personal opinion though).

You will eventually see how most of these blockbusters are about a big-name-big-fame hero and a newcomer heroine and a tried-and-tested remake-story plot. The 2011 Ajay Devgan action film Singham crossed the 140 Cr. mark at box office and hence, qualifies Kajal Agarwal (you really deserve a pat on the back if you knew that name) for this list of big-grossing debut films. The critics praised Kajal's eyes more than her acting (you can praise something only after seeing it, to be fair to the critics) and Ajay Devgan surely can make some action sequences justifiable, as he showed in Bol Bachchan (my recent mistake). Despite a non-existent storyline and a very weak looking antagonist, Singham, with all the Sallu-bhai inspired hit-movie-making-formula, went on to become one of the biggest earners in Indian Cinema. Hail Salman Khan. And for the record, Kajal had played a role earlier in Kyun, Ho Gaya Na but this was her first lead appearance and hence, appears here. For me, the greatest gift Singham gave to me, was the youtube hot-favorite trailer featuring someone else (you-know-who) in place of Ajay.

Next in the descending order of earnings is one of my all-time favorites Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai. Yes, I have watched the movie like a 50 times (just thrice in a Cinema though) and like every school-child in those days, have danced to the catchy Ek Pal Ka Jeena tune at every possible chance. Rajesh Roshan's music was a phenomenal aspect of the film and Rakesh Roshan's story-telling and Honey Irani's (you can find out of her talent with the fact that she gave birth to Farhan and Zoya Akhtar) screenplay did wonders to the debut of Hrithik Roshan and Amisha Patel. Though the current status of these two stars are quite incomparable, they couldn't have asked for a better debut. With the film making over 138 Cr. at the box office (yes, with inflation adjusted), Hrithik became a superstar overnight with his dancing and acting abilities and a hot favorite among teen girls. Amisha went on to act in another huge grosser Gadar but later faded off (and I'm sure that is because of her asthma-patient-like over-acting in the sad scenes). For me, the best and most unexpected part of the movie was Raj, not being "Rohit transported from Mumbai to Australia through ocean". 

This one I will talk about least, since it was 
probably the greatest disappointment I have ever faced inside a Cinema Hall (and hence, deserves a video). A very poor, old, dying, and crying for mercy plot in a tragic love story and a blunder in choosing a seriously export-quality-garbage actress in Nargis Fakhri (I know lot of you out there like her for a lot many of her pics over the net, but I am telling you despite all those, I hate her) to replace the earlier choice Kareena Kapoor made Rockstar an above average movie despite Ranbir going out of his skins in many a shot and Rehman producing probably the best album he ever has, in terms of versatility. The movie grossed around 108 Cr. at the box office and hence Nargis Fakhri (oh, I really, really hate her, take a look at her face even in the thumbnail of the video - My God, how hasn't she gotten killed yet) qualifies for this list of mine. Rockstar's Ranbir and Rockstar's Rehman specially will remain memorable for me, and Nargis Fakhri, equally forgettable. I also hear Akshay Kumar has her signed for a 3-film contract. Oh Akshay, what higher degrees of tortures do you have in store for us, after Joker (which also reminds me that Nargis has lips which won't need the makeup for playing Joker's role in a batman movie)?

The last one in today's menu I am serving is the 2001 Amir Khan starrer Lagaan. Excellent story-telling, brilliant music, Amir Khan, Gowarikar and what else you need. Lagaan made it to the Oscar nominations and also finds a place in TIME Magazine's all-time best 25 sports movies. Gracy Singh's debut was as powerful as mellow was her disappearance from the silver screen in a few years time. She did well in acting, dancing and I am glad she was chosen after rejecting Amisha Patel who had offered to do this role (so had Rani Mukherji, but her voice!!). Lagaan also became the third movie in Hindi language to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film and makes it to the list of all-time epic favorites in India. Gracy Singh though had played some roles in movies like Hu Tu Tu and Hum Aapke Dil Me Rehte Hain, she qualifies here because this was her debut lead role.

Now, as I had mentioned earlier to scare you, that Uday Chopra actually makes it into this list, and indeed he does, with Mohabbatein, but I really didn't find any of the six (you know who all) in lead roles in there, with Mr. Bachchan and Mr. Khan eating it all up. And, I am really relieved to know that Kim Sharma looks the way she does, because her mother was Japanese (yeah, I am evil). Also, I wanted to include some "other" pic of Nargis Fakhri for this article, you know, which can be a worthy thumbnail for the article to attract some unlikely audience (yeah, now I feel the horns coming out my head finally).

So here's hoping that Salman lives another 50 years and makes another 50 of those money-eating-machine movies with newcomer heroines who look like his ex-loves, and provides Bollywood with monumental personalities like Sonakshi Sinha (looking at her, I wonder if the human race was like chickens and some larger predator used to feed on us, she will make one hell of a barbecue, won't she !!).

And yes, keep on rocking in the free world. Its really free, see? I said so many bad things about so many big stars of the country and I am still smiling.

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The Shantaram Movie : Another Good Film That'd be Never Made

We have previously talked about how a movie on Raag Darbari would be awesome (and why it would unfortunately never get made). The same can be said about Shantaram, a book that has more twists, surprises and adventure than around ten movies combined.

It is a thinly veiled roman a clef by the author, and it makes us wonder - Gregory David Roberts has lived a more colourful life than any of us can hope to have. And that is why this book makes the perfect material for a film

Why a Film Should be made on Shantaram

Apart from the fact that each page literally begs to be translated on-to the silver screen, it is a story about the human heart, and how it copes with laughable loves, the tragedy of loss, about dramatic tensions and more MacGuffin's than Roger Ebert can stomach on a good day, it is the story of a foreigner coming to our country and falling in love with it, it is about a man with a strong appetite for adventure, a philosopher Mafia boss and the city of BOMBAY! There are two books three good books that spell out their love for this great metropolis, one is Midnight's children, the second is Maximum City, and the third is Shantaram.

The characters of this book are multi-dimensional, and the canvas of the story is beautiful and vast. It would whet the appetite of many-a moviegoer, and we as Filmistanis deserve nay demand this film.

Why it won't be made

The film has already gone into development hell, and not many good things have come out of it (case in point - Duke Nukem Forever). It was supposed to be made a few years back with Johnny Depp at the helm of acting and production, but the writer's guild strike left it into cold storage. Apart from that, the complexity of the story and the depth of the philosophy of the mafia boss and the protagonist is quite unfilmable (sic).

Besides, it's a 900 page book, to do true justice to it would require at least three full length feature films.

Still, ummeed par duniya kaayam hai (etc) and we hope for a film on Shantaram (even the author has repeatedly expressed his feeling saying that the film has not been completely shelved) and for the fans of this book, we present an exercise in casting

Lin (Shantaram)

Take your pic...

Prabaker

Karla

Didier

Abdullah

(I know he hasn't done a side-role since Hey Raam...but still)

Johnny Cigar

Vikram Patel

Lisa

Kader Khan

Kader Khan would have been perfect to play the role of (well..) Kader Khan, but given his age etc the role would be better in the hands of Amit Ji

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