Sunday morning, simmering tea and Haider. Then saw it again last night (Torrents FTW). And still playing it on my TV while writing this piece. I am still in complete awe and the last time a movie enthralled me this much was Black Friday. Not to forget, "chutzpah".
Watching a movie is a fairly complicated process for me. For starters, I can always visit Anshul Purswani's timeline and get a firsthand, Bhopali review of all the five movies screened for that week (a process which he describes "HECTIC") and move on. But in most cases it is not limited to that alone. I need to know the backdrop, I want to know whether it is a copied script, or a typical Allies vs Axis WW II flick, or a no holds barred gravity defying remake remake of a South Indian hit. I need to know which book it was adapted from, who wrote that book, then search that writer on Google and Goodreads. I check on the nominations it received, then look up the hash-tag on Twitter. Then if I am convinced, maybe I'll watch it. Simple process right.
Movies genres are the closest you come to the word assorted. You have movies like Haider which come once in a while, movies which shake you up and make you think beyond the actress's legs. Then there are literal no-brainers like Happy New Year which make you sad for SRK. As much as you want a cult classic like Haider Gangs Of Wasseypur, you need these lesser movies to make you realize their importance. Chutzpah all over again. You can't live with something, and you need the other to make the first one tick.
I'll tell what else is chutzpah: pseudo-intellectualism. Pretending that you understand what Nimmi, Dolly or Ghazala was up to in Maqbool, Omkara and Haider respectively. That you understand the tragedy in Miyan or Omkara's romance. The multiplex thing has damaged the movie culture as now the movie matters less than your check-in and your tags. I am no different, and having not read Shakespeare at all, had little idea about what was coming up next. Less chutzpah than you guys I dare say!
And before you forget it, it's the the 30th Anniversary of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy this year. Will be writing about it, some pointers are welcome. Till then ciao.
Watching a movie is a fairly complicated process for me. For starters, I can always visit Anshul Purswani's timeline and get a firsthand, Bhopali review of all the five movies screened for that week (a process which he describes "HECTIC") and move on. But in most cases it is not limited to that alone. I need to know the backdrop, I want to know whether it is a copied script, or a typical Allies vs Axis WW II flick, or a no holds barred gravity defying remake remake of a South Indian hit. I need to know which book it was adapted from, who wrote that book, then search that writer on Google and Goodreads. I check on the nominations it received, then look up the hash-tag on Twitter. Then if I am convinced, maybe I'll watch it. Simple process right.
Movies genres are the closest you come to the word assorted. You have movies like Haider which come once in a while, movies which shake you up and make you think beyond the actress's legs. Then there are literal no-brainers like Happy New Year which make you sad for SRK. As much as you want a cult classic like Haider Gangs Of Wasseypur, you need these lesser movies to make you realize their importance. Chutzpah all over again. You can't live with something, and you need the other to make the first one tick.
And before you forget it, it's the the 30th Anniversary of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy this year. Will be writing about it, some pointers are welcome. Till then ciao.
Well said. This balance makes it special. Though I don't think much regarding movies, your point seems valid.
ReplyDeleteYou know what else is chutzpah when just by reading few lines you can get a flash back of last 3 years of your life.
ReplyDeleteIsn't that the best part about this article and this topic.
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