Paheli - No Riddle
It's really no riddle why Paheli got chosen as India's Oscar entry. From a list that included the likes of Sachin, Anniyan, Veer Zaara and so on, its damn obvious that a "good" movie is going off to the Oscars - not that it is going to win. The only other reasonably good movies mentioned were Swades and Black.
Most people will be wondering why Black didn't get the go ahead. As far as I'm concerned, Black is a lukewarm disaster that doesn't really have any weight to it. It's far too stereotypical, eccentric and unabashedly dogmatic for my liking. The story is also ripped straight from an American film: "The Miracle Worker" - not that that makes it a bad film - half of Kamal's films are "influenced" by other films whether they be American or Japanese or French.
I just didn't buy into Black. What the hell was that post modern Indian setting? It mixes fantasy and realism - that mixture just doesn't work too well for my liking. Granted the cinematography was good - but compared to Paheli?
Swades was a good effort from Gowariker, but like so many efforts, it had some sections which were totally unwarranted. The romantic angle (the cornerstone of any nutritious Indian film) was definitely out of place. The generator idea, had a good premise which became a damp squid. It became far too stereotypical. However there were some absolutely fantastic pieces of filmmaking in that movie here and there. The section where the train comes to a stop and the boy selling water comes out - sheer class. Swades should be congratulated for tackling a rather taboo subject and showing the world what real India is - not what is shown in Black or Dhoom or K3G or K4G or K5G etc etc etc...
Out of these 3 definitely I would recommend Paheli for sheer visual inventiveness, a story which (although thin) is something that I haven't seen and daringness to have a female centric story in a rather male dominated industry. The film is also very "Indian" in that it is rooted in culture and tradition which can't be said about the above. More than anything - Ravi K Chandran's camera weaves magic. The p(a)laces shown are beyond beauty and into another realm. Mysticism is brought out perfectly and the film succeeds admirably in what it aims to do. Call me a romantic - but this is one of my favourite Hindi movies of all time.
Rani is perfect - in fact she is better than Black, in more ways than one. SRK, well continuing on this infamous tradition after Swades, he decides to act aswell. Here and there, SRK the star, did turn up, but for the most part - he is both entertaining and engaging.
Paheli going to the Oscar's is a wonderful choice - however I strongly doubt the chances of it winning. But like Kamal says - how does it matter? We don't need foreign judges of our films and we must work to make the National Awards equally well known. With Saif winning this year - at least we can be assured that they are equally stupid.
This entry was posted by Blogpur, on
Tuesday, September 27, 2005.
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3:35 PM
Venkat,
Just when I thought of posting about the oscar nominations I read yours! . I have seen sachin and Anniyan. I am surprised that they were considered for oscars..ridiculous. I completely agree with what you have said. I haven't seen any of those Hindi movies that were considered but Paheli I think would be lot better than Black which going by the trailers is not to my taste.
1:39 AM
Hi Venkat,
I have not seen "Paheli" yet. But now that it is nominated to the Oscars, I think I would definitely like to see if it is worth it (in my view, ofcourse). But "Sachin"??? I just can't imagine the thought of it. Now can they ever consider such movies?? Is the Tamil movie industry doing that bad?? Hmmmm...definitely makes me think!
6:39 AM
Thank God they didn't choose Black....and regd. Anniyan & Sachien ROTFL....
7:35 AM
Prahbu, yeh Anniyan and Sachin - I suppose they could be sent as Parodies (although they aren't particularly funny_
Preethi, definitely see Paheli, it's a very enjoyable and immersive movie.
Yaaro, Swades was considered and so was Anniyan and Sachin - something going wrong with those guys.
Cipher, totally agree with you man.
10:03 AM
hey venkat, completely agree with you - Paheli is a much better movie than Black.
It deserves to go to Oscars
1:44 AM
Haven't seen Paheli but have heard rave reviews... The other movies are absolutely shocking... The Thamizh ones at least (ones I have watched)... I thought Black was ok, some of it I thought was just to "spice" things up... But overall a pretty good effort... But if an Indian movie is going it should be one that actually has something to do with our culture and portrays it in the right way...
8:03 AM
Hi Guys
Yeh I agree with you Aatma, Paheli is much better. Preethi, nominating the Tamizh movies given a chance was almost a comedy - what the hell were they thinking?
Paheli is rooted in Indian culture, has good performances, a nice story and some wonderful cinematography - I like it the best of the lot. Black - well it's not something I believe is good. It is melodramatic for no particular reason and has hamming in abundance. I don't think it's a good movie.