Supermen Of Malegaon, A Documentary worth watching

Hello everyone, recently one of the authors from the blog, madaboutmoviez.com offered me an opportunity to attend a premier of a documentary. I was not sure if I should grab this opportunity thinking that it is just a documentary, but then the title of the documentary fascinated me to go and watch it (another reason why I thought several times before going for this documentary was because what followed next was this review). But trust me guys (without exaggerating it) I do not regret even a little ,the documentary touched my heart and soul and I could so connect with it. What is so great about this 64 minutes documentary is what I am going to tell in this post (I don’t call this a review because I don’t consider myself qualified enough to write a review.)

Supermen of Malegaon is an extraordinary documentary, (and when I use the word EXTRAORDINARY, I quite literally mean it) releasing this Friday, that is, 29^th of June, 2012, after almost four years after it was made. Before we get into what is shown in the movie let me just tell you a little about what exactly is this place called Malegaon. Around three hundred kilometers outside of Mumbai in Maharashtra is the small industrial town of Malegaon. For a long time Malegaon is driven by its power loom industry and is also known for its unique film industry, Mollywood, which makes small-budget spoofs of Bollywood hits A few years ago one man , Sheikh Nasir, decided to make a spoof of a very famous Hollywood movie, and he titled the movie as Malegaon ka Superman.

Faiza Ahmad heard about the 'cinema fanatics' from the town of Malegaon, and decided to film a documentary on them.The documentary concentrates on the situations and the complications that haunt Nasir continuously when he is the process of making the film, Malegaon ka Superman While assisting Bollywood filmmakers in Mumbai, documentary filmmaker.

We all in love with cinema, but I personally  have never come across such crazy and passionate people who make movies facing many hardships everyday without expecting any material returns except the appreciation or satisfaction for themselves.. It’s funny sometimes but it really gets heartbreaking as well. Quite personally I have always hated spoofs but after watching this particular documentary I couldn’t help appreciating the makers of the film. There was a time when I was tempted to point fingers and laugh but the film did not allow me to. I would rather be proud of these people than have pity on them, they are passionate, ambitious, talented ARTISTS. I want to give a special credit to the movie’s villain Akram, for his multi talented nature. He not only acts in the movie, but he is the man behind the editing and the dubbing. The music by Sneha Khanwalkar and Hitesh Sonik is great. Both have even given music for the recently released movie gangs of wasseypur. Shafique Shaikh, the lead of the movie ‘Malegaon ka superman’ died of throat cancer last September but he will always be remembered for his role. The reason why I say this is only because when you watch this documentary what will hold you in its captive is the depiction of each and every small emotion of the actors and the makers of the movie. How Shafique fights with all the shortcomings because he is passionate about acting and proud of himself is commendable. And the way the makers and the other cast take care of him remind brings tears into my eyes. Shafique desired to do any Amitabh Bacchanji role once in his life and that was what he considered the greatest thing in his life is what surprises me in this materialistic world.

These bollywood spoofs that Nasir makes are the only source of entertainment for the residents of Malegaon. 12 hour power cuts are something these residents face on a daily basis. It is amazing to know that these funny movies are made using a simple camcorder and without not much technical equipments or a proper set but still they are so entertaining. The dubbing, editing, background score, one really funny song are all worth appreciating. The honesty the makers show towards their work is very difficult to believe.

The documentary is going to leave a smile on your face, especially amateur film makers and cinema students who can relate with these cinema fanatics of Malegaon. The film is warm and engaging and will compel you to follow with the journey of these passionate film makers. The film is tribute to all of those out there who have real passion to put across their thoughts with the help of cinema, ignoring all the hardships they face on their way.

PAVITRA RISHTA Vs DEXTER

You seriously believe there would be any comparison between these two?

Being at home for almost one whole month is such bliss but it turns into a nightmare when your mom is an avid lover of daily soap operas. Yes, the second half of my vacations went watching ‘Balika vadhu’, ‘Saat nibhana sathiyaa’, ‘punar vivah’ and blah blah shit like that. And quite ironically the first half of my vacations I was watching ‘Dexter’, ‘House’, ‘Modern family’ and my all time favorite ‘how I met your mother’. And now when my vacations are coming to an end all that occupies my mind is a continuous comparison between our very own daily soaps and those thrilling, funny, entertaining American shows.

Before getting into the actual comparison I would like to share some questions that are in my mind from a really long time. Why is it that these Indian soap operas so popular in India? What is it that keeps Indian audience so hooked to these soap operas? Why do women believe in whatever is happening on television? How can someone sleep in heavy saris? How can someone cry so much? And most important why do they never die? Why isn’t there any sense in these soap operas? Are we so jobless, so useless that we waste our time watching such shit? Apparently these soap operas are most criticized yet most watched and most advertised in Indian society. Like I always say everything in India is ironic (this isn’t funny but seriously serious).

Recently I showed my mom an episode from Dexter (till date I regret acting smart and making my mom watch something thrilling) and the reaction was quite obvious “you watch this shit regularly for hours and hours, isse acha toh mera pavitra rishta hai”. Seriously? My mom compared Dexter and Pavitra rishta. She should be sued by the television association of the world (if there exists any).

Would the drugs, sex, suspense fueled TV shows be worth watching without sex, drugs and suspense? Today Indian TV is trying to adapt American shows in a bid to attract young viewers but at the same time they cannot offend the older audiences and that’s where they lose the edge. Take for example ‘Masterchef’. ‘Masterchef Australia’ and ‘Masterchef India’ are beyond comparisons. And only a true ‘Masterchef’ fan knows that. The worst part is getting Akshay Kumar in the show.

Dear Indian makers,

Masterchef is a talent show; you don’t need to commercialize it, especially when it’s already so famous all over the world.
Yours sincerely,

Sensible (tortured) Indian television viewer.

And the reason behind getting Akshay Kumar is that he was a cook in Thailand sometime before. By the same logic, because I have learnt Classical dancing I should be judging some dance show.

All we Indians can think about is saas-bahu sagas. I am not against the very well known TV series ‘Balika Vadhu’ because to some extent the concept of child marriage is still prevalent in lot of Indian villages but daily soaps like ‘pavitra rishta’, ‘yeh rishta kya kehlata hai’ and ‘punar vivah’ (I feel shameful to even know the names of all these soaps) are not needed on the television. India is known for its culture, for its family values and what we are doing is spoiling our very own culture by showing those jealous females on television. Where bollywood is moving on to female centric movies, Indian television is still stuck on degrading feminism.

People have forgotten the true meaning of the term ‘entertainment’. Entertainment is what we get when thrill runs through our blood while watching Dexter, entertainment is when we girls fall in love with Barney Stinson and don’t believe that he is a gay in real life (no offense). Entertainment is when Rachel makes every guy smile. I am not advertising American shows but rather I am criticizing the well-known Indian soap operas. Even now when I am writing this article my mom is sitting besides hooked to the tv and watching Hitler didi and at the same time telling my 14 year old brother that ‘ aaj kal k bete aise hi nalayak hote hai’.

Now you know how much these operas are effecting our minds and at the same effecting the minds of young children.

Well let’s not end my first article on a serious note, so like barney always says I will strive to make my presence here Legend---(wait for it)---dary…LEGENDARY!!!

PS: Microsoft word doesn’t have any word as bollywood but it very well has Hollywood. SHAME!!! UTTER SHAME!!!

Just can't be Missed by Movie-lovers!!!

Okay so here I am back with another movie which changed my whole perception about movies ( previously it was that traditional belief of watching movies for mere entertainment) The Hunger Games is a wildly popular new movie set in a dystopian future where an all-powerful, high-tech centralized government rules over "districts" of impoverished populations barely surviving in third-world conditions. The film, based on the book of the same name by Suzanne Collins, is not made for mere entertainment but it is important to understand because it depicts the very future that the global elite are trying to create. In fact, much of what is shown in The Hunger Games has already begun.

Every year in the ruins of what was once North America, the evil Capitol of the nation of Panem forces each of its twelve districts to send a teenage boy and girl to compete in the Hunger Games. A twisted punishment for a past uprising and an ongoing government intimidation tactic, The Hunger Games are a nationally televised event in which "Tributes" must fight with one another until one survivor remains. Pitted against highly-trained Tributes who have prepared for these Games their entire lives, Katniss is forced to rely upon her sharp instincts as well as the mentorship of drunken former victor Haymitch Abernathy. If she's ever to return home to District 12, Katniss must make impossible choices in the arena that weigh survival against humanity and life against love

While watching the Hunger Games, it was difficult to for me to believe that it is actually coming true in America but then I read about these recent armed raids on Rawesome Foods in California. There, armed government thugs confiscated and destroyed $50,000 worth of food and poured gallons of raw milk down the drain even while a food bank that could have used all that food was right next door. The Hunger Games is coming true in America today

 The acting in this film is superb. The key female character in the film is played by Jennifer Lawrence who delivers a convincing, heart-warming performance. She demonstrates both strength and vulnerability with astounding authenticity
Woody Harrelson also delivers a convincing performance, but that's not surprising given his reputation and experience as a performance professional.
Screenplay is surprisingly outstanding, i have heard about a lot of people saying that movies aren’t as convincing as the books they are based on but this film is outstanding considering that this film is based on a novel. Something else that amazed me in this movie is the costumes and the sound.

Verdict: Can’t be missed!!!!

Fascinated by this one man called Alfred Hitchcock!

I had heard a lot about this fellow called Alfred Hitchcock during my ‘Understanding Cinema’ lectures in college. So I picked out this movie named Psycho (forced by my keen interest in the subject psychology from my junior college days) .Psycho is a 1960 American suspense/horror film directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Anthony Perkins, Vera Miles, John Gavin, and Janet Leigh. The screenplay by Joseph Stefanois based on the 1959 novel of the same name by Robert Bloch. The novel was loosely inspired by the crimes of Wisconsin murderer and grave robber Ed Gein, who lived just 40 miles from Bloch.

As i googled about this man what i found was that in 1960, Alfred Hitchcock was already famous as the screen's master of suspense (and perhaps the best-known film director in the world) when he released Psycho and forever changed the shape and tone of the screen thriller. The acknowledged master of the thriller genre he virtually invented, Alfred Hitchcock was also a brilliant technician who deftly blended sex, suspense and humour.

The plot goes like this. Phoenix office worker Marion Crane is fed up with the way life has treated her. She has to meet her lover Sam in lunch breaks and they cannot get married because Sam has to give most of his money away in alimony. One Friday Marion is trusted to bank $40,000 by her employer. Seeing the opportunity to take the money and start a new life, Marion leaves town and heads towards Sam's California store. Tired after the long drive and caught in a storm, she gets off the main highway and pulls into The Bates Motel. The motel is managed by a quiet young man called Norman who seems to be dominated by his mother. The Master's most notorious film is still terrifying after all these years, as larcenous Leigh picks the wrong place to spend a night: The Bates Motel (12 cabins, 12 vacancies and 12 showers), run by a peculiar young man and his crotchety old "mother."

What amazed me was Hitchcock's murders set-pieces are so potent, they can galvanize (and frighten) even a viewer who's seen them before! With its casual depiction of sex outside marriage, fleeting nudity, bursts of shocking violence, killing off a major character less than halfway through the movie, and focus on the psychological subtext of the murderer's personality, as well as the geometric imagery of Saul Bass's credit sequence and the percussive strings of Bernard Herrmann's score.

Some amazing and funny facts i read about this movie and sir Hitchcock:

Hitchcock bought the rights to the novel anonymously from Robert Bloch for just $9,000. He then bought up as many copies of the novel as he could to keep the ending a secret.

The blood in the shower scene is actually chocolate sauce.

The shot of Janet Leigh flushing the toilet is believed to be the first such shot in American cinema history.

The MPAA refused to pass this film because they claimed to be able to see Janet Leigh's nipple during the shower scene. Hitchcock didn't edit it out, but merely sent it back, (correctly, it seems) assuming that they either wouldn't bother to watch it, or miss it the second time.

Hitchcock insisted that audiences should only be allowed to see the film from the start so as not to ruin the surprise. This was unheard of back then as people were used to just coming in at any point during a movie.

After the film's release Hitchcock received an angry letter from the father of a girl who refused to have a bath after seeing Diabolique and now refused to shower after seeing Psycho. Hitch sent a note back simply saying "Send her to the dry cleaners".

So if you happen to watch this movie make sure you don’t refuse to shower the next day!!!!(have borrowed some more Hitchcock movies)


Read more about this great man:

http://hitchcock.tv/

Hallucinatory movie i watched!

The same day after watching ‘Hachiko’ I decided to watch this movie called ‘Limitless’. I was absolutely unaware of the story or the plot of this movie. I just randomly picked out this movie out of the 4 given by a friend (loosely knowing that the lead was Bradley Cooper).

From start to finish, "Limitless" is Bradley Cooper's movie. The "Hangover" dude seems to shape-change before our eyes as he morphs from chinless slacker to colorful con artist to perfectly sculpted Ken doll. But it's this actor's total commitment to whatever role he's playing that gives him a leg up from pretty-boy-with-great-abs to real movie-star status. Limitless is a 2011 thriller film directed by Neil Burger and starring Bradley Cooper, Abbie Cornish, and Robert De Niro. It is based on the 2001 novel The Dark Fields by Alan Glynn with the screenplay by Leslie Dixon.  It is a head-trip movie about pharmaceutically enhanced intelligence in the Age of Information to make you larger, wisdom-wise.

The plot goes at follows. , Eddie Morra (Cooper) can't come up with even the first word of his promised novel about the "plight of the individual in the 21st century." For this soul, reality is thick and dim; like most of us, he's mostly unaware of the ocean of data in which he blindly swims, and sinks. Then his ex-brother-in-law (Johnny Whitworth) pops up to offer him a pill that will make him large. After dropping NZT-48(the pill), everything in Eddie's brain fires at once. The whole world lights up. Words literally drop out of his brains as he whips out 40 brilliant pages.

One thing that urged me to keep watching this movie is the hallucinatory visual effects .Anyone that trips on speed should appreciate the movie's attempts to faster and hotter reality. (Significantly, when Eddie flashes back into memory) And then Eddie goes into NZT-48 overdrive, the dark side of drugging comes alive. Eddie scores a bagful from his Ex-brother-in-law, after the guy's been brutally murdered. Soon he borrows money from a Russian gangster and starts doing wonders in stock market, which brings him to the attention of Carl Van Loon (Robert De Niro) a corporate mogul poised for a global merger that will make him king of the world.

I won’t be telling you more because i want you to go and watch this movie. No disputing that "logic and proportion have fallen sloppy dead" in "Limitless." So don't expect this jiggy little head-trip movie about pharmaceutically enhanced intelligence in the Age of Information to make you larger, wisdom-wise. But Neil Burger ("The Illusionist") deploys this genre mishmash with all the aplomb of a director on speed, while Bradley Cooper puts pedal to the metal in a performance that fast-forwards from schlub to über-Gordon Gekko to Bruce Lee action hero to Teflon politico. Yes, you wish "Limitless" was smarter and sharper about its tantalizing premise (drawn from Alan Glynn's 2001 novel "The Dark Fields"), but be happy that this week's offering of cinematic soma isn't "The Adjustment Bureau" all over again. "Limitless" delivers some pleasurable punch -- and rarely makes you feel small.

Movie that made me cry!

Summer and boredom are interrelated for me. From last 18 years I have been either sleeping or eating during summers. But this year is different. Suddenly I discovered this weird (weird only for me and my parents who do not understand the advantages of watching movies all day) and amazing
(for my friends who are great movie buffs) pastime this summer. And after watching some 3 movies in 2 days (that’s my capacity for now) I thought of creating this blog (media student- can’t think beyond sharing their ideas and thoughts). So here I start with the movie I saw recently on afternoon when I had no option left but to watch a movie.

Hachiko: A Dog’s Story- This is the heart-warming story about the close, unique bond between a master and his dog, highlighting the loyalty and faithfulness of the animal. I am not a keen animal lover and more precisely not at all a dog lover but this movie is responsible to urge me to watch more and more movies. Like in the first line I describe it as a heart-warming story, I am not just using that adjective to make my post look sophisticated but this movie will actually make you cry even if you aren’t a dog lover.

To summarize the plot I would say, a college professor Parker Wilson (Richard Gere) finds the dog at a train station. Hachi is an Akita dog from Japan, characterized by its delicate features and milk-colored fur.

The sudden appearance of the cute, homeless animal does not immediately impress Parker’s wife, Cate Wilson (played by Joan Allen) who wants to get rid of it. But the bond that gradually builds between Parker and Hachi eventually melts her heart, and she allows it to stay.

Parker’s best friend Ken (Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa), who is of Japanese descent, tells Parker some wise words: “It is not you who found the dog, but the dog found you.”

Parker and Hachi build an unbreakable friendship. Parker plays with the dog and teaches it how to catch a ball. And Hachi accompanies the professor every day on his way to the train station, and then returns to the station in the afternoons to greet Parker on his way home.

One day the professor passes away in class, and does not come back to the station. But Hachi continues to wait for him. Parker’s daughter, who lives out of town eventually, goes to collect the dog to take it home, but afterwards Hachi faithfully returns to the station to wait for the professor.

The story of Hachi soon becomes the talk of the town. During its daily visits to the station Hachi touches the hearts of many people who work or live in the area. The dog teaches the local people about love, compassion, devotion and loyalty.

This film is an American adaptation of a true Japanese story about a loyal dog named Hachiko, and is also a remake of the 1987 Japanese film Hachiko Monogatari.

The real star of this movie is Hachi and I love how the director showed scenes from the dog’s point of view. What amazes me is the dog’s emotion in the whole movie. Richard Gere wasn’t too bad himself here; just being his classic self while the others made an adequate supporting cast. . I believe that a movie is hit if it captures the viewer’s heart or if the viewer connects with it. Hachiko did that to me.

This one’s a really nice, heart-warming film that shows us the value of family loyalty and life-long friendship. Everyone can learn something from Hachi.

Verdict: I did cry and for a moment thought of getting a pet dog for myself but.....forget it. If you haven’t watched this film yet please go watch it. Dog-lovers might want to prepare some tissues when watching this.