PS Creation Presents Lockdown 'e' Dil-Down: A Quarantine Short

The novel coronavirus and its effects have been affecting people across the world and apart from daily wage earners, if there is one sector that has been really caught in the midst of the pandemic, it has to be that of artists. This has given rise to several artists coming up from all over the world to combine and bring to the fore their talent in the form of Quarantine Movies. The first of which we had seen from the Bollywood stars, has now taken a new shape and come into the world of Tollywood.

PS Creation, in a new venture, has brought together well-known names from Tollywood under one roof in his candidly conversational romantic comedy, Lockdown 'e' Dil-down! 

Story Synopsis:

There is a worldwide lockdown.

But, what about love?

Well, love is like a flowing river, a flying bird. You can't put it in quarantine!

Let's embark upon this journey and see what will happen to this love and whether it would find its destination or not.

Design By: Indranil Sengupta

Written and Directed by Antaheen Partha, the cast and crew of this short include the very talented  Debraj Mukherjee, Tanusree Goswami, Ridhish Chowdhury, Boni Mukherjee, Sovan Roy, and Labani Mondal. Edited by Subha Bhattacharjee, this film has its music in the form of Dolaan-Mainaakk's magical theme song and background score. The other two retro songs sung in the movie are re-arranged by Prithwish Kumar Basu and sung by him and Labani Mondal.

The director of the movie calls it a movie that opposes the ideal idea of love and stirs it up by adding elements that state it's okay to love even without seeing or knowing the person. He also wants to make a special mention for all those family members who have helped the artists make the movie with their amazing skills behind the camera and support. Without them, this wouldn't have been possible.

With views slowly inching towards the 1000 mark, this movie is all set to release in the upcoming weeks.

We hope to see all of you in your homes and make you fall in love with this laugh riot! Till then, enjoy the promo...

Alauddin Khilji, Ranveer, Jim and Padmavat!

I have no clue how do I start writing this. So, I'll start with the basics. Disclaimer: I had no intention of writing this but I HAD to. First day first show. It had to be so. Padmavat! The first glimpse of Alauddin Khilji (his intense eyes) and I had goosebumps. As I write this, I still do. "Har nayaab cheez pe sirf Alauddin ka haq Hai" and I couldn't agree more. I guess I won't be the only person who would easily compare the movie to Bajirao Mastani because of its premise, SLB, cast, but I also guess I won't be the only person who would say that this movie is way different than that. As the movie went on, I thought I'll write a review for it but then my mind shifted- this is me writing on the one and only Ranveer Singh.

Wallah Habibi! God! I couldn't take my eyes off the S&S (Savage and Seductive: Thank you my dear friend Prarthana for the abbreviation) Khilji. As a child I have grown up learning more about Khilji and his dynasty than any other 'villian' and as a dialogue and a scene in the movie goes something like, "Jis itihaas ke panno mein Alauddin Khilji ka naam na ho, wo itihaas hi nahi padha jaayga" , with Khilji burning the pages of such a history, he succeeded and how!

As I close my eyes right now (almost 7 hours after coming back from the hall and going through a busy day post movie), all I can see is Khilji's madness, his passion, his dance, his restlessness from the songs Khalibali and Binte Dil. His role of being bi-sexual and portraying it with such elegance. Kudos to Bhansali for the execution. Here, let me take a moment to clap for the one and only person without whom the portrayal wouldn't have been possible: Jim Saarbh. Man, you have a fan in me for the second time now. From accent to body language. From talking with the eyes to the acting. I can actually watch Jim and Singh together for a whole film and still not have enough of their chemistry.

Coming back. This movie is Khilji's. It is Ranveer Singh's. I wonder why the movie wasn't named Khilji. It would've spared the film all the cuts, controversies, VFX's and re-shoots. A tad too long on the viewing side because the film didn't have much material to show barring the main story, Khilji had a much more screen time than Padmavati herself. Shahid, I am a bit disappointed with. So I am with Deepika. Aditi Rao Hydari, not surprisingly, did extremely well in the time she had.

I can name scenes after scenes where Khilji owned. But that would give in a lot about the movie. There were rumours (or was it true?) about Singh having to visit a psychiatrist to make him come out of character. After watching the film, I would love to believe it was the truth. No one, in their sane self, can act so brutally realistic as this man. There were rumours that Singh saw Khilji's ghost on set. I would love to believe, Khilji's ghost possessed Singh. Or else, it wouldn't have been possible. Khilji's eyes would haunt me. Or, being the sadist I am, comfort me.

The scars, the hair flip, the beard, the hunger, the rawness, the meatiness (you would know what I mean once you watch the movie) are oh so seductive. Yes, I'm crushing on a villian. No, he wasn't a villian. Yes, he would always remain Sultan-e-Hind. No, he isn't a hero. He is so much. He is so much more. Singh brings the character so much life.

"Ek Jung Husn Ke Naam..."

So be it. At the end of the movie if you see his eyes, reflecting on which is the fire of the Jauhar committed by Padmavati, you would easily feel his reaction... All this, for nothing? But then life goes on. According to historical facts, Khilji wasn't so barbarian as portrayed. According to historical facts, Khilji went to depression while the cries of the women commiting Jauhar in front of his eyes haunted him. But he lived. And that's all that matters.

Khilji would be one of those characters portrayed by Ranveer that would remain with me (along with Malik Kafur by Jim Saarbh) while I might just forget the movie completely.

Ranveer baba, I can write so much about you in this but I would end... End with the lines...

"Aatish kada adaaon se, Jal uthega aap ke, Deeda ae tarr ka hijaab..."

Amazon Adventure by Kamleshwar Mukherjee: a review

I was waiting for this day. Amazon Obhijaan released yesterday and I guess this is the best time for me to post what I felt about the graphic novel which I received a long time back. Amazon Adventure: the graphic novel is director Kamleshwar Mukherjee's tribute to Bibhutibhushan Bandhopadhyay's Chaand er Pahar. The book carries forward Shankar's story to another adventure. Here's the blurb of the book…

According to the blurb- Amazon Adventure is an enthralling story of two adventurers – Shankar & Anna who travel thousands of miles to reach the mythical city of Gold – El Dorado. With natural difficulties, wild animals, savage tribes, and vicious gold digger, it’s story of discovery & knowledge, unrelenting courage, survival, loss & pain. But above all, it is a tale of universal human bond and connection & the wisdom an individual gains from it.

Just as the blurb says, this story is a tale of universal human bond. The book has beautiful illustrations made by the talented artist- Arghya Das. One look at the book makes you go back to your childhood. Talking about childhood, this generation’s favorite actor essays the role of Shankar and kudos to Arghya for actually making the character of Shankar in the book look like him at places.

This 71 page book brushes through the main pointers of the book and you might as well feel that this book is a great introduction to what the larger than life film would look like. But I must warn you that if you're looking for a book that matches the scale of Chaand er Pahar then I would hold you there for a second. NO. This is a tribute and should be read as one.

The main story is told through shorter dialogues and makes you crave for what the movie might have in store for you. All inclusive of the pros and cons keeping in mind, I wanted to read probably more of the story that the movie holds. A few more pages of the book wouldn't have harmed. The characters are nice but in the book, certain things lack depth. Probably because this book is a translation of the movie and not Vice versa as is usually done. For me, it is a 3.5 out of 5 and I would really wanna congratulate Mr. Mukherjee for even attempting this. 

Samantaral: a review

“Bésame,
bésame mucho
como si fuera esta noche
la ultima vez.
Bésame,
bésame mucho
que tengo miedo a per-derte,
perderte después…”

The first time I had seen the trailer (or rather, stumbled upon the trailer) I knew that I had to watch this movie. By hook or by crook. There was something there. Something that probably I still can't pinpoint, which attracted me to the movie. I am a person who hasn't watched any movie at a movie hall alone and so I badly needed a partner to accompany me. Sadly, no one was free enough. Finally, I decided that l will watch the movie alone but not before having that one last try. Guess what? A friend agreed. So at last, one Saturday evening, decked up in warm clothes we reached the multiplex. A 5:35pm show of a bengali movie in Kolkata at a place like Diamond Plaza, I got to have this special mention: the screen was houseful. Enough for us to get seats where we have to crane our neck to watch. All thanks to the push back chairs that made it at least a bit comfortable.

Once inside the hall, seated, I knew that finally Samantaral is waiting for me. An out an out Parambrata Chattopadhyay film, this film surely deserves a mention. I wonder why it wasn't promoted that well or not many people know about it. But what I do know is the fact that you, as a viewer don't choose the film. The film will choose you. I would like to believe that the film is not for the masses who love watching action or romance but it is for the selected few. Also starring in a family as the head is Soumitro Chatterjee, his sons- Kushal Chakraborty and Anindya Pulak Banerjee and their wives- Aparajita Addhya and Tonushree. In comes the new entrant of their family, the son of the only daughter of their family and now an orphan- Riddhi Sen. His returning from hostel to carry on his further studies is liked by a few family members, while the others don't really like it.

Riddhi’s Arka comes in with a fresh mindset and has no idea about what has happened all these years in the house and instantly shows a liking towards his mejo maamu, Parambrata’s Sujan. And dare I say, we start showing a liking towards him too. Throughout the film and his journey in understanding his mejo maamu, he is supported by his Facebook friend of 3 years turned college mate, Titli played by Surangana Banerjee. Their friendship off screen reflects on their on screen chemistry. A special cameo is also reserved for Sambit da, Titli’s cousin who is a psychiatrist. Guess who aces the role? Our very own Sidhu (Siddhartha Shankar Roy). Now, having you introduced to the characters it is time for the story and its presentation.

Partha Chakraborty, the director of the movie has taken a bold step into showing what he has shown through the movie. The societal message that the movie portrays would leave every viewer gobsmacked. I am a lover of books. I love to read a good fiction and try to predict what's gonna happen in the end. A lot of times I am correct while other times, I am wrong. But this time, the director takes us on with the journey of Arka and Sujan and it is during the climax that both Arka and the viewers (including myself) know what actually is the truth. I would like to give kudos to the director for achieving such a feat. The end surely gives you the answer of why this movie was made. Small incidences make this movie what this is. Like the one where Sujan is sitting quietly with his food in front of him while he watches the ant eat all away. The reason, why? A smiling, innocent Sujan with dreamy eyes of a child says- the ants have come over to dinner at his place. Or the one where he runs away from home only to be found later on. And the  only two scenes with Surangana where it shouts Parambrata all over the scene. The easy camaraderie shared between Parambrata and Riddhi makes your experience watch worthy.

Aside from the climax and the why's of the movie, this movie didn't have enough weight. Heavy actors failed to put in the much needed impact on the story. Certain things, I believe, should've been shown with more convenience or more strongly while the others, according to me, could've been left to the imagination. For me, the screenplay was weak. Padmanabha Dasgupta has a lot of expectations riding on his shoulders and he could surely have given the movie the much needed push which somehow went missing. The first half of the movie to a certain extent at times felt dragged but I know that it was creating a base for the movie to stand. Another thing that put me off the movie a bit was the fact that the shots were too tight and close. Too many closeup shots and lose subplots doesn't do much good to the movie.

The sub plots of the movie didn't give in much of the punch needed. Neither were all the characters memorable. I still do feel about the movie that it could've been a stellar book if written rather than a movie but again, a movie is the only way to show what the director wanted to. This movie will get its share in due course of time, I am sure. Coming to the music, Indraadip Dasgupta has done a splendid job and songs like Dekha hobey boley and Tui chhuli jokhon surely catch the mind of the viewer but the only song that stayed with me throughout the movie and even now in repeat mode has to be Bhalobashar gaan, originally a song of Lalon Fakir and Mexican Pianist Consuelo Velázquez, recreated and sung by our one and only- Parambrata. The innocence, the eyes, the profile, the bold attempt at even agreeing to do such a role shows how versatile an actor he is (and now even a singer too).

I can somehow go on and on about the movie because I still can't pin point, after writing over 900 words on it now, what about the movie I like and dislike. I hope, I just hope, this movie gets its due. I just wish this movie was promoted more strongly. I just hope this movie is made into a book. So if any of you reading this (if at all you could make it till the end of the write-up) want to discuss the movie and make me talk about it, mail me, ping me and I promise I will be there.

To the spirit of being equals. To the spirit of Samantaral. Let us, like Sujan, open our arms wide and know that everyone deserves happiness. Let us sing out loud...

“Khuji taare aasman jomi

Amare chini na ami..

Ki bishom bhromero bhromi

E bishom bhromero bhromi

Ami konjon se konjona

Ke kotha koy re dekha dey na...”

Befikre: a review

To begin with, I would really like to say what made me think of writing about this movie. Well, to be true it wasn't that I thought of writing about the movie but it was when the National Anthem was played on the inox screen with a majorly full house at 9 AM on a Friday morning where cinegoers were mostly within the age group who love to party and have fun or couples, no one even flinched or batted an eyelid before standing up in respect. EACH AND EVERY ONE stood up. Almost humming Jana Gana Mana with a pin drop silence, I would be wrong if I say that I didn't have a lump in my throat at the respect. It was that moment after sitting down that I thought that this was such a capturable moment.

Then, breaking the trance Labon ka Karobar started playing showing off, in true YRF fashion, the beautiful scenario of the place the shooting has been done. In this case, my favorite place in the whole world- Paris. And how beautifully the camera pans from one place to the other following couples throughout. The loudest hoots I'm sure came from me as the song ended and we see Ranveer Singh (okay! I'm biased), scantily clad (or clad, at all?) and Vaani Kapoor. At that one scene I knew that I'm game for the movie. Around me, everything faded away. The film goes back and forth over a period of a year or so and fast forwards time at time as you are taken through the relationship between Delhi ka launda Dharam Gulati and Paris born, brought up punjabi "chudail" Shyra Gill.

Ranveer in his carefree mode after a series of serious performances delivers a power packed performance and being a blind fan, I missed this part of him. Vaani, in her second (is it?) film is so comfortable and camera friendly that by the end of the film, she had a fan in me. I would be frank here, no matter how blind a fan I am, I was very skeptical about the chemistry that they'll share but to me, they sizzled. Through the picturesque city of Paris, through dares they take their relationship forward.

Okay! I'll give in to this. The story was cliche and even predictable but to me if a story is predictable but still presented well enough, it works for me. It worked for me big time. If there's one thing that I have to mention that had me in the movie was the dance. Oh God the dance! Who knew they dance so well? I'm gonna watch all those videos again. And if I have to specially mention something then it has to be a 1 sec blink and miss of something that made my day. I'll leave it for the people who watch the movie to see and guess what it might be.

Vaani, in her emotional parts could have done better but Singh nails it. One look and his eyes do wonders. I can't still get over a few looks that he gave. The pain, I felt too watching him. Their clothes and look suited them so well. The songs, I am listening to even now. Entertainment to the brim, a paisa vasool movie.

The take back from the movie? Be carefree, love carefree, kiss carefree. Be befikre!

Zulfiqar (the film): a review

Shoshti morning. Heavy rain. Almost cancelled plans. Sadness because I couldn't wear the Saree I was hoping to wear, couldn't stop me and two of my girl friends from visiting the nearest multiplex to watch a movie which I'm sure I'll be remembering forever. I'll start with the trailer of the movie. A top star cast and a very interesting concept grabbed many eyeballs since its release. Then, the songs that were released caught my attention. Finally, Shakespeare had me. I would be frank here, even though it might sound cliched but my whole career was shaped by Shakespeare. It was in Class 5 or Class 6 that I got introduced to Shakespeare and I couldn't let go. Julius Caesar has always been one of my favorites and most read plays by the man and Antony and Cleopatra has always been a close part of the list.

The film started with a bang and I completely forgot whatever was happening around me. Prosenjit Chatterjee as Zulfiqar (Caesar), Koushik Sen as Bashir (Brutus), Jisshu Sengupta as Kashinath (Cassius), Dev Adhikary as Marcus and Parambrata Chattopadhyay as Tony (Mark Antony), Nusrat Jahan as Rani (Cleopatra) were ON POINT. And ofcourse, there has to be special mentions for Paoli Dam, Rahul Arunoday Banerjee and Ankush. Who would've believed that Jisshu could be a villain? The list of characters is endless and so will be my list of praises. The mix of two famous plays were seamless and so was the whole execution.

I didn't expect such beauty in the film. Speaking of the characters, I was a bit apprehensive of Dev and his performance and trust me on this, he hit it out of the park and I guess no one could do it better than him. As I read another review of the film on my social media, "This is Dev's rebirth" and rightfully so. He still needs a brush of acting skills but he also needs good films his way. You wouldn't know it until you watch it. It feels odd to say this but the chemistry between Marcus and Tony was splendidly shown.

Now, the execution. Any Shakespeare lover would adore the way Mr. Mukherjee as dealt with the subjects. The Julius Caesar part was so on point. Every single detail was kept in mind. Now, I have a problem with these movie retellings and that is usually people aren't true to the central plot or even if they are, it seems like we know the story and there's nothing more to add there. But here, it seems like it's a poetry in motion. There wasn't even one moment where you would feel bored or you would feel that the story is known. Every moment of the film is an experience.

Much like most Srijit Mukherjee films, the special appearance by him called for a loud hooting from the audience and so did various parts of the film. Not to forget, a grand ovation after the film ended. As I was leaving the hall I overheard so many people talking to themselves how they would want to watch the film again and hey! Even I want to.

Now, the music. This is one album that has been on the most listened charts for a long time and I guess I don't know anyone who isn't humming Ghawrbari. Every track of the film adds to the film in its own way and has its own meaning. How I wish there were a song or two more but who doesn't want the most of all things good? As I type this I'm listening to my favorite track from the film, Ami aajkal bhalo aachi.

Speaking of the cons of the film, there were NONE. I'm so glad to see that those two plays by Shakespeare which have been literally by hearted by me has been executed well to the T. Voice modulations to poetry, acting to execution, Zulfiqar which is basically the sword of Prophet Muhammad, slices like a sword.

I would end this post by saying one line- Srijit Mukherjee is Kolkata's Shakespeare! I so wish Srijit makes more retellings in the future. And yes, treasure Zulfiqar.

And finally, "Et Tu, Brute?"