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Jamtara: Sabka Number Ayega (2020)
Lost its way after a promising start
It started off well. Poor and illiterate, but industrious and ambitious bunch of kids start making insane amount of money by scamming unassuming people. When things start getting too big, law-enforcement, media and politicians start taking interest. System has fallen behind in technological race, and is ill-equipped to tackle the problem. Without many checks, the scams take over the economy of the small town. So far so good.
Then things start falling apart. It seems like Mogembo cast a long shadow on the psyche of indian screen writers. There has to be a one-dimensional straw-man who embodies nothing but evil. I didn't like his character at all. His whole reason for existence is to draw reaction from audience. His family members appear and disappear without much explanation. In this supposedly nuanced world on Jamtara, everyone has shades of good and bad, except Mr. Bhan. Acting of Amit Sial doesn't help the character at all. It is job of an actor to humanize the character he or she is playing. Otherwise anyone can play a Ravan.
I have some other minor issues with the writing, but they are not deal breakers:
1. Why does a small town has a SP posted there?
2. Since when a local police can interfere with the state or the central police?
3. How do they get CASH from credit cards or debit cards? It usually involves by expensive stuff on internet, and then selling it. But it is left unexplored. I guess stereotypical villainy is a lot easier to write.
4. How much money is actually involved? It changes from 7.5 lacs per week to 12.5 lacks needed in total for illegally immigrating to Canada, to a bagful to get his father off the hook.
5. Who are those rich and important looking people coming to his parties. Where are they when things are quieter.
6. Where is CBI, or other central agencies?
7. Why are there computers in his home based call center? Are they making calls using VOIP? If so, then towers should not be able to trace them.
8. No one questions disappearance of Bhan's cousin? I am assuming he was probably a prominent person like Mr. Bhan. And why is he buried in the lawn?
Dil Kabaddi (2008)
Terrible Woody Allen rip-off
Rahul Bose was very smug on "Coffee with Karan" about trashing his movies. When it comes to bad cinema, he is an integral part. Konkana is just a prodigal daughter of an influential mother with more aspirations than talent. What disappointed me was the performance of Irfan. He deserves better than this crap serves him. Soha Ali, although another prodigal daughter, displays much more promise. This sad attempt at parallel cinema with brazen display of plagiarism, only goes on the prove that a bad director can undo any classic script. Woody Allen's "Husbands and Wives" not only provides script for the movie, narration is a verbatim copy too. Look for Irfan making a fool of himself towards end by trying to pull a Govinda.
Bazaar (1982)
Not worth the hype
This movie is considered one of the greater achievements of Indian independent cinema. It is deemed as one of the classics. I got a chance to watch it recently. It was such a let down. The acting is theatrical at its best and terrible in general. All the big names disappoint in a big way. I guess director has to take a lot of blame. The script is so loose that whole thing falls through it. Why is Naseeruddin Shah in a hyperbolic state of mind all the time? I have not seen so much of Samita Patil, but I was left wondering why is she considered such a great actress? She never came close to delivering the pain and anguish of Najma, who is still hanging onto some hope. Farooq Shaikh otherwise a good actor, was a washout. Towards the end he becomes unbearable.
It does have some of the most loved musical score. But that is no accomplishment on director's or any of the actors' part. Khayyam does a great job, but the poetry of Mir has a music of its own. It is such a shame that Bazaar is considered gem of Indian cinema, when it fails so badly as a film.