Keertimaan hai, Gyani hai, Daani hai, Antaryaami hai,
Balki... main to yeh kahoonga ki aap purush hi nahi hai
Villian: Kya????? (With a raised eyebrow...)
Hero: Mahapurush hai… mahapurush" ;-)
Do these lines ring a bell? For most of us who have grown up through the early nineties, am sure this is one line we wouldn't have missed from the cult movie 'Andaz Apna Apna' (AAA).Starring Aamir Khan, Salman Khan, Raveena Tandon, Karisma Kapoor, Shakti Kapoor etc, this movie was one of the best made comedies in Hindi Cinema! To this day, it remains a favourite among many movie lovers including me :-)
AAA was truly a cult movie in those times. A classic example of pure humor devoid of the derogatory comedy we see in movies today. This movie didn't have cheap dialogues or a mindless mockery of the word called 'comedy'. It wasn't slapstick or tasteless. It was a pure laugh riot! So pure that you would love it for the sheer innocence of its protagonists. Watching the two heroes always trying to outwit each other evoked a laughter unmatched! Cant believe these are the same two Khans we see today! They have come a long way, haven't they? :-)
If you are assuming I'm writing this post 'coz I watched this movie recently, you're wrong! No, I didn't watch this movie this week but I thought I needed to give an ode to the man who made this movie after I watched one of his recent movie 'Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani' (APKGK). The man called 'Rajkumar Santoshi' (RS)!
Yes, the same man who has given us movies like Damini, Ghayal, Pukaar, China Gate, Lajja, AAA, Halla Bol, The Legend of Bhagat Singh etc. His movies may not have always been blockbusters but always had original content. His screenplays were original & his direction was unique in the sense of not compromising on content for commercial success. To this day, he is counted among some of the good film makers still remaining in Bollywood!
Yes, the same man who has given us movies like Damini, Ghayal, Pukaar, China Gate, Lajja, AAA, Halla Bol, The Legend of Bhagat Singh etc. His movies may not have always been blockbusters but always had original content. His screenplays were original & his direction was unique in the sense of not compromising on content for commercial success. To this day, he is counted among some of the good film makers still remaining in Bollywood!
So what happened with APKGK? Was APKGK an attempt back in the comedy genre like AAA? Did you finally succumb to the commercialization of Bollywood Cinema? I am not bashing APKGK 'coz let me be honest, it deserves a fair review. Ranbir was outstanding & you've definitely captured the simplicity of his character.
On the plus side, the execution was simple & sweet, had good music, a wonderful fresh on-screen pair in Ranbir-Katrina. On the flip side, it wasn't path-breaking! You didn't have a story out there and ended up with cliche content. On watching this movie, something made me wonder, were you trying to make another AAA???? It very much looked like you wanted to come back to the genre of comedy after all your good but not commercial attempts at real content.
On the plus side, the execution was simple & sweet, had good music, a wonderful fresh on-screen pair in Ranbir-Katrina. On the flip side, it wasn't path-breaking! You didn't have a story out there and ended up with cliche content. On watching this movie, something made me wonder, were you trying to make another AAA???? It very much looked like you wanted to come back to the genre of comedy after all your good but not commercial attempts at real content.
Know what? I do not blame you! Bollywood does it to the best of people!
This post of mine is an ode to you & your kind of film making!
Your direction may not portray the gloss of a Karan Johar or the romance of a Yash Chopra. You may not give us the very hard-hitting movies of the Bhatts or the Bhandarkars. If there is something you really give us, it is an original!
Most film makers take the easy way out by copying successful scripts but there are very few directors who know their craft well. And you are one among them. You may have movies inspired by books or incidents, but there is something about your content & direction that only a man who appreciates fine film making would understand!
Most film makers take the easy way out by copying successful scripts but there are very few directors who know their craft well. And you are one among them. You may have movies inspired by books or incidents, but there is something about your content & direction that only a man who appreciates fine film making would understand!
Sadly Bollywood does not run on talent alone. A box office success is necessary to establish your credentials. Maybe your deviation from serious cinema back to comedy was an attempt to re-establish yours. Do you really have to?
If actors or producers knew that fine film making consisted in not just another Bollywood box office success, but also the courage & ability to inspire a true blue intelligent audience, your kind would definitely survive the onslaught of a mindless genre of trash cinema! Never mind, its gonna take years to realize that!
We may continue to have box office successes no doubt but one day Bollywood needs to wake up & take a hard look at innovative content 'coz there in lies the key to capture the intelligent viewer's mind & heart!
Until then, no matter what Mr.RS, keep making good movies, good work never ever goes un-noticed!
We may continue to have box office successes no doubt but one day Bollywood needs to wake up & take a hard look at innovative content 'coz there in lies the key to capture the intelligent viewer's mind & heart!
Until then, no matter what Mr.RS, keep making good movies, good work never ever goes un-noticed!
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3 comments:
I have not watched most of the movies you have mentioned including AAA (although it has been on my list for a long time for the same famous reason you have mentioned). Now I am even more enthused about watching it!
Yeah Kantesh...U should definitely watch it! Its hilarious & pure fun!!!! Very different from the kind of movies u see today!
AAA was a good one...this APKGK does not come upto it's level...the scenes like the one in which Aamir points gun & salman tells that this gun is not having bullets only are truely original & very hilarious, can't get such things nowadays in hindi ones...
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