No One killed Jessica - Movie Review.

No – One killed Jessica, second film directed by filmmaker Raj Kumar Gupta is based on the real life murder trial of Jessica Lall, a model in New Delhi. The film in the beginning, promises to be a hybrid of fact and fiction. The backdrop of the film revolves around the city “New Delhi”.
The movie has a strong story to tell and it has a huge responsibility to do justice with the actual happenings. When I went through the reviews of many critics, I noticed that they were beginning to judge the over-dramatization of the script. When the real Sabrina Lall, is quite content with the outcome of the movie, then who are we to decide the over-dramatization of the film.
Talking about the movie, well the screenplay is written keeping in mind the events that occurred from 1999 to 2009. The screenplay-writer had a huge role to play in this movie and Gupta has succeeded in many parts. There are scenes that evoke your feelings, with heart-wrenching performances by two lead actors of Indian Cinema – Rani Mukherjee and Vidya Balan preferably because of good character sketch and honest attempt at portraying the case. In some parts, the film become a little to exaggerated or clichéd, especially in the second half of the movie. There are beautifully written and portrayed scenes, my favourite being when Sabrina gets a call at night, where the caller says – “Jessica has been shot”
The movie’s another strong point is its music. It acts as a pillar against scenes where the screenplay fails. Amit trivdedi does his best in the soundtrack ‘Delhi’ which describes the cruelty of the city. Vidya Balan honestly plays the part of Sabrina. The look of frustration, anger and sadness is perfect in her acting skills. She quite easily steals the show from Rani Mukerjee preferably because her character demands more screen presence. Rani Mukherjee is portrayed as a nonchalant and a rebellious journalist with foul-mouthed tongue. She adds power to the screen by her acting presence. The writer fails to depict other prominent characters that hold significant importance in the issue like Jessica’s parents, Manu Sharma. However the actor who plays Shayan Munsi’s part is brilliant. Bina Ramani’s role becomes more of a caricature in the movie.
The direction isn’t quite impressive. Gupta could have done a lot better job with his camera techniques. However from the point of view of a common audience I would suggest it’s a must watch movie, especially for its content and gripping thriller. Go for it!
P.S. if people complain about the movie being a masala movie, I have one thing to say “had it been an art movie, who would have watched it” – so don’t complain about its commercialization because when it involves huge bucks, a filmmaker has reform his techniques.

The Beauty Of Keeping Quiet.

Keeping Quiet is just not a poem by Pablo Neruda; it teaches you the aspect of life. I remember being absent on the day it was being taught by our English teacher Moushumi Ma’am. The basic idea of the poem is to introspect by keeping yourself mum for a moment.
Yesterday night I remember feeling low, for some silly reason (which I can proudly claim today, but not yesterday :D). Anyway, in that situation I chose to keep quiet.
Try it! Just distract yourself from the world and from all those luxuries that you are a part of. Music,Movies,Television,people, and most importantly your tongue.
When I chose to keep mute, I realized how we always jabber and jabber, anything, just for the sake of talking. But nothing could match the peace of not talking, even for a minute. After you have kept yourself shut in a room, which is dark, your mouth oblivious of what talking is like. The voices from inside begins to speak. Like some magic has been cast on you, or the gods speaking, they show you your real fault, where you went wrong and how you should not repeat the same mistake in future.
All great people have said “follow the voice of conscience” and in moments of stillness and darkness, the voices from inside begins to guide you to lead life. After doing this experiment, for 1 or 2 minutes come out and face the real world, the world of light, the world of jabbering, and the world of people.
You notice how foolishly engrossed we are in this world, how we just never try to attain peace, which is the basic necessity of life more than anything.
After doing this experiment, I realized the law of life lies in literature, in poetry that uses words and situation to make you rise, like the rising sun, not to fall like the falling star. 

Here is a poem - Keeping Quiet By Pablo Neruda.



And now we will count to twelve
and we will all keep still.

For once on the face of the earth
let's not speak in any language,
let's stop for one second,
and not move our arms so much.

It would be an exotic moment
without rush, without engines,
we would all be together
in a sudden strangeness.

Fisherman in the cold sea
would not harm whales
and the man gathering salt
would not look at his hurt hands.

Those who prepare green wars,
wars with gas, wars with fire,
victory with no survivors,
would put on clean clothes
and walk about with their brothers
in the shade, doing nothing.

What I want should not be confused
with total inactivity.
Life is what it is about,
I want no truck with death.

If we were not so single-minded
about keeping our lives moving,
and for once could do nothing,
perhaps a huge silence
might interrupt this sadness
of never understanding ourselves
and of threatening ourselves with death.

Perhaps the earth can teach us
as when everything seems dead
and later proves to be alive.
Now I'll count up to twelve,
and you keep quiet and I will go.

A personal note.

Looking back at the year that went by, a year of complete bliss where I didn’t have time for anything except for myself.
I would go to Kolkata Film Festival all alone, sit in a cinema hall filled with people who were crazy for “world cinema” and I got to see movies from Greece, Germany, Denmark and of course classic Indian Films of Bimal Roy. I used to watch three movies in a day, then go back to school the another day come back from school and I would hurriedly rush off towards the metro station to reach Nandan. The days were busy, and more importantly those were days of self-exploration. In between the break time, I would go to Starmark and read books. I met people who were amazed to see a young guy like me watching movies of world cinema. It was an exhilarating experience. This wouldn’t end here.
After the film festival got over, I became the member of BIG FLIX, which gave me exposure to parallel cinema of 70’s and some classic movies of Hollywood ranging from Hitchcock to Scorsese. It was like a dream world, where I didn’t have time for anything but to discover myself.
But then the twist came and I had to compensate for good times. This year was really tough, ranging from emotional trauma due to family problems and then the excessive burden of studies. Now, I have to follow the regular norms of life – of waking up at 6, getting ready for school, coming home, taking my nap and waking up to get ready for tuition. In between my journey I relax myself by listening to music and surfing net on my mobile. Time has taught me to be tough and face the life. It’s not easy, but then sometimes discipline has to be inculcated in life for better future. I am giving satisfaction to myself by saying “only for 6 months” though every day is like 6000 minutes. The unbearable part is my own personal computer got ruined up and I am waiting for October to come fast, where 50% of my luxuries will be back. :D. My new pc with internet connection: D.
Sometimes we just cant follow whatever we want to, because to lead a better life you have to screw yourself. With patience and perseverance everything can be achieved. I am happy after writing this, I attain such peace of mind. True, nothing is better than the life of a creative person.

Common-Wealth-Health-Games?

Common-Wealth Games are "in news", and it makes you absolutely ludicrous to watch the condition of the country. Aah, let's go to the flashback. 2004 - Where bollywood stars came for 5 minutes, danced around, in full enthusiasm calling everyone to "Delhi" for the next common-wealth games.

Cut to at present, where you hardly get to see any enthusiasm from anyone. Sports personalities are failing to clear the drug dope case and yes the system of the country is at its best satire. I hope Anusha Rizvi is reading this. Her next film can expose the hypocrisy of the "wealth-common-games"

It’s amusing to see Sheila Dixit keeping mum about everything. Media is after the government from day 1 for its irregularities in meeting up the exact date to finish off the work. As reports are to be believed still some of the works are pending. Delhities must be suffering a lot.

The other harsh reality of this sad situation is that the army of the country is "supposed to be serving for free" and the Oscar winning music composer A.R. Rehman is being paid 5 crores for 5 minute song. (Ah, it hurts). The song is being criticized too. The very beginning of the event has created such commotion that no one will get peace until the event is finally over.

Let’s not talk about corruption charges again and again. Accept the fact, that it’s a "major" part of the system. Organizers are filling their pockets, while the army is made to serve for free.

I was wondering that does this problem exist in every nation before hosting a major event? Or is it india who is having a serious heart disease after trying its level best to suck out everything possible in way of making money through this "game". Certainly it’s a common-wealth-game, which ensures corruption, injustices, lies and umm games? Swanand Kirkire should be thanked for writing the lyrics of "Desh Mera Angrezi Babu". Till then, just wait and watch.More to come. Afterall, "Atiti Devo Bhav" is what india believes in.Hahah!

The 51st post.

Ah! This being the 51st post of mine makes me absolutely clueless about everything. Its like a new beginning, new venture and lots of hope. I remember initially when i started to write something over here, i was really bad. Bad with language and grammar but not with ideas I suppose. This place has had a great impact on me.
While many people think that blogging is a waste of time, but i have to disagree with them to a big extent. In this real world, people are too busy in their own world and hardly have any time to give their views or opinions on any other thing.
And talking about myself, i had an enormous change in my being and thinking process because of this place. Writing about other people and their lives, makes you selfless and contented. Its like an urge that disturbs your mind and until you write about it you are not free from it. Whatever i have written till now be it humour,stories,juvenile poems,reviews,articles all of them have been the outcome of an urge that has driven me to give time to the blogging world.
In the beginning I was an active blogger, 1 post in 2-3 days and then I became lazy or didn't have anything to write about but the best part is I have managed to make this blog alive from the last 3 years. Just like in a relationship,initially you are very happy you spend 24*7 into each others business and then time plays it role, but if your relationship is true nothing can avoid it and my relationship with my blog is just the same.
I dont read many blogs because i have less exposure to them but i love to read Shobha De's blog - her humour, her blunt nature is amazing and more importantly interesting to read.
There are many people who are an active blogger, its a selfless hobby where you have so much to say in a space and if you are lucky, people have time to give a reading to what your mind has delivered.
Nowadays facebook and twitter are nothing but "mini blogging" where you share your ideas with people,get responses. Now there are many sources of killing man's isolation and interacting with people who share like minded interests. Indeed, I have been fortunate to have a blog and if you are reading this then please share some interesting blogs with me specially of youngsters. :D. (would love to read blogs of people of my age)

The 'Reality' Of Reality Shows?

Reality shows in India have undoubtedly produced many Paris Hiltons and Taylor Hicks. Some so called reality shows which promises to 'hunt out fresh talents' are mocking at the sensibility of audiences by adding their money making schemes to it. The list of growing reality shows in India are eternal and endless - He got talent, she got moves, The couple can dance, the kid can cry well. Its an over-dramatized version of the saas bahu saga which get into your nerves every time you watch it.
Yesterday when the news came that "Dimpy Ganguly walked out of Rahul Mahanjan's home" I didn't react at all. But then I wanted to laugh at their onscreen misery by watching headlines on hindi news channels saying "do dilo ka milan" "shaddi ka attut bandan tut gaya" and the english ones claim that "Mahajan is a wife beater".

It shows how reality and media have both forgotten their "creativity" in the midst of searching for other fresh talent. Of course everything is about business and politics. you cant eradicate it from human race but with such things also come "Social Responsibility". While some people who participate in such shows thinking that they have got the talent, are shown their way to home because they cant contribute much votes which the show needs, so they are forced to do "emotional drama" and "other unwanted" things to win over the sensibility of our audiences.There are shows where the participants are more talented than the judges and they have to bear public humiliation which can have a deep psychological impact on a person and its family. Kids on the other hand are introduced to "strong competition" and "jealousy" while their parents are busy fetching lump-sum money from the producers.

Media and Reality-shows cannot be blame at all. Indeed, entertainment sells and we gain pleasure from seeing abuses, fights, emotional drama. Audiences love the very idea of "voyeurism" and it sells throughout the world but then again if it continues to be like that than instead of producing true people we will have more Rakhi Sawants and Mahanjan to clown around in India Media and at the end of the day filling their pocket with money by trading their self respect.
Even Mtv has produced twits like "Raghu" who the younger ones admire because they think by asking a guy his bedroom secrets and a girl her past boyfriends, he is being blunt and straight-forward, but he is actually being a businessman by entertaining the audiences while advocating "voyeurism".
Now the Indians have dared to step in shows like Sach ka Samna, where you will paid to speak the truth. Ah! the world has come to stage where money matters the most, the on-screen reality as we all know is the remix of fiction+reality where there are millions waiting to advertise their nautanki, by participating in "talented show".what an oxymoron!

Movies this week.

Although i have left this place to rest in peace for a while, but i cant seem to get nostalgic about the days when i was hooked to writing on my blog and there were many people appreciating as well as criticizing the posts i wrote.

Last week was hectic, but i always manage to entertain myself and what better way to keep yourself occupied than to watch a movie! My second best place after home would be cinema hall. I love the aura of it. Darkness all over, people concentrating and willing to bid their precious time to see the characters and story that are fictional.

Anyway the day before my English exam, I saw Udaan - a touching portrayal of a boy who struggles to fight for his own dream in the film. A movie which i could possibly say the most underrated and beautifully made by Vikramaditya Motwani.No one was willing to produce it, but thanks to audacious Anurag Kashyap who believed in the story of the film and now its soaring the skies.The film received wonderful responses both from the critics as well as the audiences (which is a very rare case,mind you). The film also received a standing ovation in the Cannes film festival.

My Sunday morning was dedicated to another 'hyped' and talked about Christopher Nolan's "Inception". The movie is brilliantly executed, the concept could have been totally whitewashed or ignored by the audiences but thanks to the director and the lead actor Leonardo Di Caprio who carried this surreal film of Dream Vs Reality so well that you cannot dare to move your eyes from the big screen (until and unless you dont get the film). The film is like a dream and you wouldn't want to wake up from it. The funny part is, I saw this movie the day before my accounts exam. :D

I deserve to fail in exam, but who cares? As long as life is treating you with the magic on Big Screen. Au revior! More posts by August.