Bajirao Mastani (2015)

Truly the big fat Indian movie in all its glory. 

 I was all set to watch Starwars last weekend, but unfortunately had to encounter a 'houseful' situation. Now that I had made up my mind to watch a movie, I explored alternatives. "Bajirao Mastani" was the next best choice. My friends had given me a good review and I took a chance.

This is an epic movie based on the life of Balaji Baji Rao, who was the most powerful of the Peshwa's from the Bhat family and served under the leadership of Chatrapathy Shahu. This movie particularly focuses on the relationship of Bali Rao and his second wife Mastani. Keeping in with the famous Bansali love triangle, the movie revolves around Baji Rao (Ranveer Kapoor) , his first wife Kashibai ( Priyanka Chopra ) and second wife Mastani ( Deepika Pedukone).

One of the things I liked about the movie was the casting. Ranveer's portrayal of Baji Rao was near perfect and  Priyanka made a wonderful Kashibai. You will also get to see some sizzling chemistry between Ranveer and Deepika who are rumoured to be real life couple as well.


The historical facts weren't diluted much. There were some modifications made ofcourse, to add to the entertainment value. For example, there is a dance performance by Kashibai and Mastani. Some historical scriptures talk about Kashibai being inflicted with arthritis thereby inhibiting her to dance and also its unlikely that women from conservative Maratha families would dance in public.


On the whole there was no stone left unturned to make the movie opulent and grand. Even though it is a lengthy movie, by all means it was entertaining.


Its a definite one time watch and is likely to refresh some long forgotten history.


Verdict :- 8/10. This is a good family entertainer.



Gone Girl ( 2014 )

It was a sizzling hot afternoon that I decided to catch up with a friend that I hadn't met in a long time. Both of us share our passion for retail therapy thereby meeting at the nearest shopping mall. After shop hopping for a while and acquiring a few bags along the day, H suggested that we watch a movie. Since I did not have anything significant on my "To Watch" list, I went ahead with her recommendation blindly ( Literally !!!)

And "Gone Girl" happened. We managed to get tickets quite easily even though the movie had just about released. I was sceptical!! but went with my friends recommendation any which ways.

I didn't know anything about the movie Not even the genre !!! But I must say that it turned out to be the best movie that I had watch in a while.

Based on Gillian Flynn's novel by the same name, this psychological thriller is bound to keep you on the edge of your seat.

This is the story of the Dunne's. Nick Dunne's ( Ben Affleck ) wife Amy ( Rosamund Pike ) disappears on their 5th wedding anniversary and Ben is the primary suspect. This leads to a series of events - Cops, forensic, the Dunne's traditional treasure hunt, blood stains, deception,  secrets, lawyers etc. etc.

Don't miss this one. Definitely worth the watch.

Verdict :- 9/10.

50 Shades of Grey (2015)

Based on E L James book by the same name, this was one of the much awaited movie of the year. After a friend recommended, I managed to read all the not only this book but the sequels as well. If you are in to Mills and Boon, you won't find the books difficult to read. It's got a sense of romance and its got a story line with several other characters apart from Christen and  Anastasia.

Though this movie is banned in India ( I wondered Why !!! ) , I managed to harness the online resources and get hold of the movie. I was looking forward to watching this movie since there was so much hype about the casting and of course the entire movie. But disappointed ...I was ...

The underlying element of this movie is  BDSM. This movie is all about Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele.

Christian Grey is a super rich industrialist. He is young, drop dead gorgeous and he has a secret. Anathalisia is spirited and innocent young girl who has just graduated from college.

The " Boy Meet the Girl " happens when Anasthasia is requested by her best friend and roomy , Kate Kavannah to interview Christian Grey for the college magazine since she was unwell. Christian is instantly attracted to the simple, beautiful and gawky Anasthasia Steele.

Anasthasia is soon drawn into Christian's magnetic and mysterious world and soon falls madly in love with him. She tries her best to come to terms with Christian's dark world of sexuality.

Dakota Johnson, in her role of Anastasia Steele was just perfect, but Jamie Dornan passed off as a 27 year old millionaire but failed to exude the magnetic aura.He was a disappointment

Unfortunately, the movie was not able to capture the essence of the book. The several other characters that were prominent in the book sort of faded away in the movie. All the focus was on Dakota and Jamie leading the movie towards the status of "soft porn".

Tonnes of skin show and hence not a family movie by far stretch of imagination.

Verdict :- 5/10. Watch it if you are looking for some skin show...and nothing else....

My Sister's Keeper ( 2009)

This movie is based on Judi Picoult's novel, " My Sister's Keeper and revolves around the Fritzgerald Family.

Genetic sciences have improved dramatically, making the impossible into a possibility. Designer babies are a reality. This movie revolves around one such designer baby, Anna (Abigial Breslin ) who was created as a medical intervention to save her Sister Kate ( Sofia Vassilieva ).

Kate is ill with Leukemia which disrupts the Fritzgerald family which otherwise could be an advertisement for a perfect family. Mom Sara ( Cameron Diaz ) leaves her successful law practice to devote her time and total energy towards keeping Kate alive. Dad Brian ( Jason Patric ) a fire chief is fighting a constant battle in keep some semblance of normalcy in the family.

So intense is Sara's determination to keep Kate alive that she conceives and gives birth to daughter Anna whom she turns into a medical aid for Kate.

From the time she was born, Anna has donated blood, bone marrow and stem cells to her sister, Kate. Now she has been told to donate a kidney.

Brother Jesse ( Evan Ellignson) is ignored most of the times and he feel left out.

Anna engages lawyer Campbell Alexander ( Alec Baldwin ) decides to file a law suit against her parents for ' Medical Emancipation ". Sara is appalled and decides to represent herself. Father is shocked but respects Anna's view points.

Fritzgerald's are otherwise a close knit family and there is ample love between the three siblings..

Will Anna win the case ?

How long will Sara take the battle of keeping Kate Alive ?

This movie is not too much of a tear jerker and is a regular family drama.

Verdict :- 7/10. One time watch.

Phoring ( 2013)

This Bangla movie of Indranil Roy Choudhury is of children but not for children. Indranil, through the character of  "phoring" has explored the journey of the young boy from the innocence of adolescence to the complicated world of the adults.  The story is told with a lot of simplicity and is bound to bring you back a memory from your school days.

Phoring ( Akash ) is a boy of 15 who is in the early rung of adolescence who is gawky small town boy struggling with the realities of life. An physically abusive father, inability to do well in school and poverty continue to add to his miseries. But none of these is successful in deterring his highly imaginative mind from fantasizing. Phoring is like the ugly caterpillar stuck in a pupa and dying to emerge to explore the world as a beautiful butterfly. He find companionship in his best friend Lattu ( Saurav ) with whom he shares his fantasies

Life changes for Phoring with the arrival of Doel Mitra, his new history teacher. Doel, a graduate of Presidency college with modern ideas wakes up the sleepy little town. She notices the spark in Phoring and takes him under her wings. She starts to give him private tutions at her house.

Phoring basks at the attention being bestowed on him by Doel. This proximity to her stirs up confusing feeling in Phoring He starts to fantasize about her. His focus keeps getting diverted to the occasional glimpse of her bare legs and he sees red at the mere mention of her boy friend. 

But Phoring's happiness does not last too long and his world comes crashing down when Doel suddenly disappears under a cloud ambiguity. 

This movie is simple and well made and is bound to stir up some small little memories from school days covered in layers of dust.

Verdict :- 8/10. May not be suitable for children.

Queen ( 2014)

The queen by Vikas Bahl is a wholesome Bollywood entertainer without the brainless trivia. It has big fat Indian wedding ( Loud, boisterous Punjabi wedding !!!! ), songs and dances , the drama but with a fresh story-line. Definitely a women oriented movie and Kangana Ranuat has done full justice to her role. I knew she was someone to watch out for after I watched her in Madhur Bhandarkar's "Fashion". 

Kangana is the undisputed "Queen" of this movie. Absolutely natural and vibrant. she plays the role of Rani, an upper middle class, girl next door from Rajori Garden quite effortlessly. 

Rajkumar Rao dissolves his character into oblivition which is what the movie needed

Kangana Ranaut ( Rani) is ditched by her fiance Vijay ( Rajkumar Rao) a wanna be who thinks he is gods gift to mankind post a day before the wedding which shatters her badly. However, she quickly licks her wounds and with the support ( albeit reluctant) of her family, decides to use her honeymoon tickets to visit Paris and Amsterdam. It was her cherished dream to visit these two cities which she was hoping to visit during her honeymoon.

  It is quite an adventurous step for a girl next door from Rajori Gardens who has hardly been outside her city to venture out travelling on her own to tour Europe. 

She lands in Paris and life hits her in full force and she stares at life with confused eyes. Everything is new and alien. Luck is on her side and she bumps into Vijayalakshmi aka Vijay ( Lisa Haydon) who quickly takes Rani into her protective fold. Vijay's unconditional supports gives the much necessary boost to Rani's adventure and she thrives. 

Her confidence grows and she decides to pursue her vacation plan by going to Amsterdam all by herself. She even survives the shock of sharing the room with three unknown men. she bring herself to break away from her cocoon of reservations and emerges out as a confident woman who develops a remarkable friendship with her three roomies - Taka from Japan, Tim from France and Oleksander from Russia. 



Eventually she gets Vijay ( her ex-fiance ) out of her system, returnsback to her old life...but a confident woman...

12 Years a Slave ( 2013 )

Originally this movie was not in my watch list but once it was in the running for an Oscar, I couldn't miss it. And I am glad that I managed to finally watch the movie.

This is not your regular family entertainer and is a very intense watch. I have read several books - both fiction and non fiction which has given me a fair idea of the pre-civil war slavery in United States. Steve McQueen has brought a near perfection portrayal of slavery with single minded determination via this movie. 

Based on the memoir written in 1853, the movie portraits the life of Solomon Northrup, a learned , intellectually endowed free man living with his family in Saratoga, New York City. As a gifted violinist, he doesn't think twice when a couple of men invite him to Washington DC for paid performance. They have a good time with him drinking and making merry and in the morning sell him to Slavery. 

Thus begins Solomon Northrup's 12 years of Slavery. He is transferred from plantation to plantation with his pleas of being a free man falling to deaf ears. 

Steve McQueen has brought to us a piece of history which brings alive the gory realities of the American Slavery. Solomon Northrup's ( beautifully portrayed by Chiwetel Ejiofor) 12 years of journey is tough, frustrating and violent. He not only looses his freedom but is stripped of the basic dignity that any man would want. It is unbearable to think that one human being could do this to another. The fate for the women were worse. They were brutally beaten up, mercilessly separated from their children and several were savagely raped.

In Epp's (Micheal Fassbender) cotton farm, Solomon meets Patsy ( Lupita Nyong ) who is also a Slave. She is a star performing slave who manages to  pick the 500 pounds of cotton a day. Epps is lavish with his praise for Patsy, lusts for her and repeatedly rapes her. Epps attraction for Pasty does not go unnoticed by his wife who also chooses to unleash her wrath on Patsy. 

Patsy's fate seems so much more worse than solomon's. Patsy being tied naked to a tree and whipped till her skin's is mangled is probably the most hear trenching scene of the movie. The hopelessness of the situation just leaves you with a sense of frustration.

On the whole the movie is a testament to the degradation of Sal very. Hats off to Solomon Northrup for not only surviving this worst form of human degradation but having the guts to write a Memoir and tell his story. Haven't had the time to read the book, but I sure have put it in my Bucket list.

Verdict :- 10/10. But definitely not for weak hearten.