Totally Filmi

Totally Filmi Episode 010 - Love Love Love Love Love Aaj Kal

Episode 010 - Love Love Love Love Love Aaj Kal (audio file format: 192 Kbps mp3 - duration: 34:15 [mm:ss] - size: 47.1 MB)

Shownotes:

WARNING:  This episode contains spoilers.

In this episode, I look at the Imtiaz Ali directed film "Love Aaj Kal" ("Love Now and Then"), starring Saif Ali Khan, Deepika Padukone, Rishi Kapoor, and Giselle Monteiro.

This is an episode that leaves me somewhat troubled, questioning my own thought processes.  Which, you know, is not a comfortable feeling; yet, probably not such a bad thing in the end either, because how else do we learn and grow except by exploring those things that leave us feeling uncomfortable or lacking in skills.

I do want to refer you to three reviews that have made me think rather a lot lately -- both before writing the episode (in the case of the first one), and after writing it (in the case of the two others).

First, that review from Rajeev Masand of CNN-IBN.  I know I took Masand to task a little bit in this episode, but after thinking about it, I'm wondering about some of his criticisms.  I've been reading Robert McKee's most excellent book, "Story: Substance, Structure, Style and the Principles of Screenwriting" (New York:  HarperCollins, 1997), and thinking even more.  It's too early to have any sensible thoughts on this yet, but Masand's review makes me want to revisit the film at some point once I've digested what McKee has to say.

Secondly, Aspi of Aspi's Drift asks an interesting question regarding "Love Aaj Kal":  Can a Movie Coast on Hipness?  Again, it's not a question I can answer without seeing the film again.  And I think I won't be able to really answer it right away either -- I think it's a question that makes you wonder whether the film is just too hip to be timeless or memorable, something I think Rajeev Masand was trying to get at as well in his review.  But again, I think it's absolutely something worth thinking about further. 

Finally, Beth of Beth Loves Bollywood has a very balanced view of the film, I think.  She doesn't entirely like it; nor does she entirely dislike it, either, but she presents a balanced discussion.  I was delighted to find she'd also picked up on the professions of the various characters -- though I missed out on Veer entirely, and ultimately, I think her take might be more satisfying on the whole than mine is.  We disagree regarding Deepika -- in fact, I think I may be entirely alone in my feeling that Deepika showed improvement in this film -- however, we both agree on the absolutely splendid cameo (yes, I spoil it for you in the podcast, but I do warn you when the time comes) courtesy director Imtiaz Ali.

Now, as to that question:  did we all see the same film?  As I indicated in a previous post here on the blog, no, we didn't.  We each brought different experiences and expectations to the film, and we each got something different out of it. 

If I'm honest, I was, after four absolute duds, ready for a good film.  Too ready, perhaps.  I may have been just so relieved that "Love Aaj Kal" lived up in some way to the hype that came before it, in a way that no other film had done in the previous month.  I was, honestly, rather worried about Deepika Padukone, so maybe I grasped at any small improvement and made more out of it.

Or maybe not.  But who can know, really?  I am old fashioned and I love a love story, so perhaps I got exactly what I needed from this film.  And now that I've got all the love for "Love Aaj Kal" out of my system, I'll be able to watch it a second time and see what Rajeev Masand or Aspi or Beth saw, too.

The Scarborough Dude responds in Episode 209 of the DicksnJanes Podcast , in his own wise, elder-statesman way, to Julien Smith's blog post about long distance relationships.

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Attributions:

Abrar - Ul - Haq
"Cycle" (mp3)
from "Bay Ja Cycle Tay"
(OSA)

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Naseebo Lal
"Kadi Te Has Bol" (mp3)
from "Kadi Te Has Bol"
(OSA)

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"Tablas-Very Sharp" recorded by hammerklavier and uploaded to The Freesound Project

"Loud thunderclap" recorded by Pingel and uploaded to The Freesound Project

Theme music by John Meadows, host of the podcast "On The Log"

this time, my tonstant weaders, you be the judges

Okay, so is it my fault that both publicity departments decide to release new video clips that show up on the Bollywood Hungama website (in the headlines, no less) on the same morning?  No, it is not.

And I do have rather a number of opinions on both of these clips, some of which might surprise you.  Don't assume anything based on previous posts dealing with these films.

However, since I've recently been accused of opinions that lack in depth, I'll refrain from offering them up this time.  Instead, I'll just ask you to watch, and to think about what the publicity/marketing people for these films are presenting to you, with these films, both of them set to release on the same day.  Think about what, through these clips, they are asking you to do.  They are inviting you to spend your hard-earned money and to give up a few hours of your time.  Which one convinces you to do that? 

Hint:  there is no right answer.  Each of us needs something different out of a film.  Each of us brings a different set of experiences and expectations into the theatre, and each of us sees a different film as a result.  Each of us leaves the theatre having seen the same film, and yet each of us sees something different, and each of us gets something different out of it.

So:  which piece of clever publicity/marketing will convince you?  In a perfect world, of course, you'd have time, money and access and would see both.  But this is a cruel, imperfect, unfair world, and you only get to choose one.

Which is it?

"Wanted"?

Or "Dil Bole Hadippa?"

wanted vs hadippa

Okay, I know, I'm kind of going through a whole "September 18th Releases" phase here (be grateful, I could go back to Govinda -- he has a release *this* weekend as well as on September 25th.).

But you know, yesterday I became obsessed with watching the "Hadippa Remix" over on the YouTubes.  And today?  I found the promo for another clip from "Wanted" -- the song "Love Me".  And I couldn't help doing a little compare and contrast as I watched both of them again.

First, "Hadippa Remix":

Next, "Love Me":

Both videos are shot on similar kinds of dance clubby kind of sets, with similar lighting.  But the first one manages to be kind of hip and fresh and fun.  I look at Rani Mukherjee and I think, "Oh, my god, look how stunning she looks, I'm so excited to finally see her in a film again."  I look at Shahid Kapoor and think, "Dude.  I am *so* going to dig out your filmography and see every film you've made up to now."

I also think, "Maybe I should see 'Kaminey' this weekend instead of 'Life Partner'?".  Yes, really, I do. Shadid Kapoor is making me forget about Govinda.

And all I can think when I look at the second video?  "No, Salman, no.  No.  Just no."  And, "Poor Ayesha Takia, could they have made her look any more dumpy?"  Because I kind of like Ayesha Takia (confession:  I loved her in "Dor".  Other films, not so much, but I do find her kind of sweet and fresh), and I cannot for the life of me figure out why she's in this film.   But in this video, all I can think is that she and Salman Khan are dancing around like a couple of lumbering elephants, and that makes me a little sad.

And you know, if there *were* really some kind of contest here, "Dil Bole Hadippa" would be running away with it.  Hands down.

how my mind works (or: scary, kids).

So.  So.

The soundtrack for Salman Khan's next film, "Wanted" is out.  So I'm listening to it.  It's not likely I'll get to see the film, as both it and "Dil Bole Hadippa" open the same weekend (that is, the weekend of Podcamp Montreal, where *I* will be), and unless someone (oh, hey -- BBC's Love Bollywood, you want to send a listener correspondent to the "Dil Bole Hadippa" Gala Presentation at the Toronto International Film Festival?  I'm willing) invites me to the TIFF Gala.

Since that's not likely, and since I'll have to choose one, well, sorry Salman Bhai, but "Dil Bole Hadippa" wins out.

But back to the topic at hand -- the "Wanted" soundtrack.  So.  I'm listening, and I get to the song "Ishq Vishq".  Here's a snip of a clip of it (Beth, watch for the manpris.  Blink and you'll miss 'em.):

And so help me, all I can think of as I'm listening?  Is this:

Yeah, what can I say?  Falco.  I am such an 80s Euro-pop girl.