ultra star, del mar? thats where i saw it. i am glad you liked the movie. didnt quite work for me though.
-Rajeev --- In [email protected], Arunkumar Balasubramanian <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Hey guys, > I watched JA on friday in San Diego but dint find time to write abt it though... anyways here it goes... Actually taken right from my blog ;) > > > > It's been a really long time since I wrote about some Bollywoodmovie. Probably its just that I am lazy or that the movie does not deserve myanother one hour or so apart from the 3 I would have spent watching it..(SometimesI would loose interest even half way through ;)) > > I seriously wanted to write about Taare Zameen Par.. I watched it in India on mywinter break and boy.."Was I impressed with it?"... Definitely.... Nosecond thoughts about it. After having watched some really ordinary or belowaverage movies it was like a refresher. Most of the movies lacked in alldepartments while some did have good things in bits and pieces but none of themas a package, did impress me. I did not have time to review the movie on myvacation. But to say in one line, TZP had some very fine acting, a nice script,beautiful music and good direction. > Thats how the year 2007 ended in terms of movies for me. > > 2008, the biggest release in the first quarter "Jodha Akbar" had allpossible delays and the release dates were postponed like how a softwarerelease would happen. The had some bigwigs > from the industry , right from the producer to the director , the lead pair andof course the music director 'A.R.Rahman'. The canvas was big but the promotionwasn't . If only it were SRK, you could have imagined how he would havepromoted the movie. Either no one was interested to promote of it was theconfidence in the movie and its stars which the producers believed would get theaudience to the halls. Believe me, if there is one star whose movie wouldattract audience even without any kind of promotion would be the "TamilSuperstar" Rajnikanth. But I don't think anyone else has such a crazy fanfollowing to get the investment back without advertising the movie. > Anyways, I had no big hopes on this movie except that it had some great songsby AR Rahman. I just loved all of them when the music was released sometime inJan. He proves now and again as to why he is way above the rest of the league.Well then again Gowariker has given Swades and Lagaan, which according to mewere very good, so thought I should give it a shot. "May be he has comeout with some good stuff again", I said to myself. > The movie released on 15th of Feb in San > Diego at a really small hall in one of the multiplexes.(The hall was super small for any multiplex standard.... at least I would notgo there again). I was surprised to see a housefull show. ("How the heckdid so many of them come to know abt this movie?" ... just thinkingaloud). The movie started off with Amitabh Bachchan's narration about India duringthe Mughal period and soon the camera panned on to the battle field. I guessthis was around 9.45 in the night and from then on till 1.20 a.m it was a spectacularshow of audio and visuals. Many complained about the length of the movie butfor me it was worth every minute. "You are there to be entertained. Thenwhy not get entertained for a little longer, why do you complain???? Think itslike a 'Buy 2 get 1 free offer'..... a few extra minutes free for the money uhave paid". Probably it is a prejudice that a movie should run for just 21/2 hours only (get that out of your heads guys). > I am not reviewing this movie but re-viewing a few moments from my memory whichI thought made this film a piece of art, worth the money I paid. Although themovie has a lot of characters and thousands of extras, it belongs to theelegantly beautiful Aishwarya as Jodha Bai and sophisticated nobleman JalaudinMuhammad played by Hrithik Roshan. They are such a striking pair. I dint saythis when I saw Dhoom-2 though. The chemistry they share is simply superb. Thecasting could not have got better than this for the roles of the protagonists. > > (Eye)shwarya was more beautiful than ever, should I say cute or charming? Ijust loved the way she played Jodha, seemed perfectly tailor made for her. Thesoftness in the character, her gait, her long hair, everything suited her."The lady in Red" mesmerizes the audience with her simplicity. MeanwhileHrithik seems to have enjoyed the character and played Jalal with ease (he hasgiven an outstanding performance). Not sure if anyone would have done justiceto his role. > > The main theme of the movie is the love story although it does have other plotsjuxtaposed to the story line. Bollywood has beaten this theme in all directionsand has come to a saturation point but still the director has succeeded ingiving us a simple and beautiful story, really well told. There are a lot offine points I can think of. > First and foremost, this movie would not have been what it is , if not for thegrandiose music by the "Mozart of Asia". The background music isoutstanding, spell bounding. Rahman, who has given some great background scores,is one person who knows its importance and has done his job commendably. As faras I know there are only two music composers who can create magic in backgroundscores. One of them is Rahman and the other is Ilayaraja.( interesting both ofthem are from the south). There are moments where his instrumentals enliven thescene and make it > special. > > I shall present a few scenes which are worth mentioning and then later throwsome light on the songs as well > 1. The emperor is holding a session with the Muslim leaders who are complainingabout his marriage to a Hindu. They are angry that he accepted her proposal fora temple inside the palace. And he assures them that nothing will happen andshe will not change anything. While he is doing so there is this beautifulbeing sung by Jodha. He is so immersed in her voice that the whole world comesto a standstill for him. He adjourns the session and strolls closer to thesource of the voice.( Well now who doesn't want a beautiful wife with a sweetvoice?) He walks into her chamber and removes his shoes before entering theGod's chamber. The director has shown the smallest details although he couldhave missed it and not have shot the shoe scene at all. But thats what makesthe difference. Then the emperor moves closer to Jodha who on noticing theemperor stops singing, and offers him the aarthi and sindhoor. He has no clueas to what it is. This one scene is good enough to > show the cultural differencewhich Jodha stresses on in the night of her marriage. (She restricts theemperor to move closer to her until they know each other well) > > 2. Jalal tries to impress Jodha by presenting her with some fine jewelry anddedicating the lunch in her honour. So Jodha feels she should cook for theemperor. Then comes this scene where Jodha is forced to taste the food beforethe emperor can, for security reasons. This is an intense scene (the backgroundscore makes it feel intense). But this is so finely turned into a light momentwhen Jodha asks the Emperor to stop just as he is about to eat. "Don't eat thefood. The amount of salt in it is not optimum", says she. This just brokethe whole audience into laughter. And then she looks at Maham Anga with a smileof victory. Words aren't necessary always to express something so powerful. > > 3. The sword fight between Jodha and Jalal has been choreographed and shotwell, highlighting the intimacy between the couple. For a moment Jodha losesher control and almost gives in to Jalal who has overpowered her and tries toget close. > > 4. The scene where Jalal tries to coax her and convince her to go back with himto Agra hassome wonderful background music. This scene would not have been as effective ifnot for the music. It's so mellifluous, beautifying the already amazingly shotpiece. I love the lighting and the sets of her chamber. The cinematographergets full credit for using the lighting so effectively. The close-up shotsalong with the music are mesmerizing. > > 5. I kinda enjoyed this one a lot. Jodha is learning Urdu while Jalal walks in.The teacher walks out of the room.Jodha shows Jalal what she has written. Sheis really excited and wants to know how he feels. "Whatever you have written inyour calligraphic handwriting is beautiful", he says. She asks him to readit out aloud. He just replies back asking her to read it out instead. She isbaffled as to if she has written something wrong, but he insists on her to goahead and read. "A hindu girl does not tell out her husband's name ", is herreply. And then he reveals to her that he doesnt know how to read or write (Iwont use the word uneducated though- this would be an understatement). > > 6. The scene when Jalal walks into Jodha's chamber after she has gone back toAmer is again worth mentioning. The music makes you feel the emptiness and hislonging for his love. But the highlight is when he misses the Krishnastatue in the mandir in her room. It's actually Jashn-e-Bahara which is playedin the background. > > I might have missed out on a few more interesting moments. When you have tochoose between two things which are superlative its a tough decision. Over hereI dint know if I should be enjoying the music or the cinematography. Theycomplemented each other excellently. > > Now moving to the songs. > Each is a gem. Nothing short of a masterpiece! I should saythat ARR-Ashutosh combo creates wonder every time. > 1. The first song is Mann-Mohana which is played in parts. The voice isbeautiful and gels with Ash's character. The first part though is a sadderversion where Jodha prays for saving her from the marriage alliance with theMughal Emperor. The second one is sung when she is in Agra and creates a first impression on Jalal.I have already put down the situation above. > > 2. Khwaja Mere Khwaja comes next and leaves a lasting impression. ARR has givenan outstanding number. He has sung with sincerity and devotion which you cantell from his rendition. This Sufi number is indeed a masterpiece. Shot very well.I kinda like the finish though, all the singers are in a trance and dancing,Jalal is also so involved in the music that he leaves his inhibitions behindand joins the group in trance. > > 3. "Kehne ko Jashn-e-Bahara hai", my favourite in the album ( and formany other too, I beleive) has been picturised pretty well, in the lush gardensof the Agrafort and its interiors. Their love is depicted wonderfully; the way that eachof them maintains distance yet want to stay close has been shot really nice.However the song cuts short and I longed for it be longer. The couple looksawesome. > > 4. Azeem-o-shaan shenshah....... This song reminds me of a song in an old movie"Chandralekha". > Both of them are grand and has a lot of dancers. Amazingly choreographed, to aneven amazing music. It sets the screen ablaze with the visuals. I wish I hadwatched this movie in a better theater . The sound system sucked big time. WhenI had heard this song on CD I thought it was a victory song. Victory of a War,but this was for Victory of Love and faith of the subjects. It has ARR writtenall over it. > > 5. "In Lamhon ka daaman Me"... For me this is the most beautifullyshot song in this movie. I just fell in love with this song after havinh seenthe way it was shot. Everything was perfect.... "Picture Perfect!" tosay. The body language and intimacy between the couple is romantic but thedirector does not cross the line to make it erotic... Sonu and Madhusreejustify ARR's selection for the lead pair. > > Now..... Don't u think this is much worthier a movie than those u would haveseen in the recent past? This movie is grandeur exemplified. Whether it'sthe draped leading lady (I just can't forget how beautiful she was in the reddrapes) or the muscle-man king, or the singers, dancers et all have put insincere effort which deserves your appreciation. > > Nothing is more valuable to the artist than the appreciation he gets from theaudience. JA stands for "Just Awesome!" > And here I bow down to all of them who have made this movie and epic,Especially ARR-Ashutosh :) waiting for more from the duo . > > > > > > > Thanks guys, > Arun > http://arunmanian.blogspot.com/ > > > > > > ____________________________________________________________________________________ > Be a better friend, newshound, and > know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ >
