Rajkahini

Description- Movie
Language- Bengali
Origin- India
Genre- Drama

I will not go for frame by frame discussion but will restrict myself to only the pulse of the movie.

Disclaimer- Contains Spoiler

My Understanding

Rajkahini is not exactly a film about 1947 Indo-Pak partition but a film about the fight against the oppression of Men towards Women and yet again a fight for existence and freedom. Carefully and very intelligently interwoven behind the backdrop of partition. Its a political satire which questions the very meaning of the word ‘FREEDOM’. On one hand the director is portraying freedom through fireworks and long speeches by our the then prime minister while on the other hand he is showing the aftermath through dead bodies and rape victims. The movie depicts that freedom is just another political gimmick veiled to hide a simple fact, that people are bound to follow a certain class, and will follow. Otherwise consequences can be severe.
Begum Jaan, The king/Queen of her land/place/ house/brothel has potrayed strength, power and loyalty towards her subjects. She has a strong personality and motherly emotions. She hates men but she has her faith on Salim, who like a Senapati fights by her side. She also has her affection for Sujan, the jester of her queendom who equally fights and dies as a martyr protecting his mates. Though Begum Jaan has her weakness for the teacher but she never allowes her heart to rule her head. The Director stresses on the part that Begum Jaan’s territory is the only place which is in its truest sense secular and more free than the country itself.
People like Kabir and Master are omnipresent. They have no country no religion and have no one. Prafulla and Ilias manifest bureaucrats who are mere puppets in the hands of corrupt politicians. Acceptance of death by Begum Jaan and her fellow comrades depicts the sacrifice and emotions all the freedom fighters have endured not just for the freedom of the country but for the protection and preservation of our roots. This also speaks about our modern times where we are losing our attachments with our roots and background. The director introduces Kamala Thamma as the connecting bridge between the generations. Breast is just a lump of flesh and vagina is just skin, denoting that love is pure and beyond any materialistic want of few weak minds who feed on them. Two scenes first that of between Sujan and his love along the river bed and Secondly between Buchki and policeman towards the end of the film confirm the same.

Technical aspects

Multiple shots, wide camera angle are beautifully utilised. Background scores by Indradeep Dasgupta are amazing and used very aptly.
Rituparna shows amazing grace and delivers compact acting. Screenplay is worth mentioning.

I’m not happy with the editing though.
Narration of fables in the end is unnecessary and melodramatic. The National anthem could have been used during the credit.
In the beginning ,dialogues of Fatima’s father are not apt and and the emotions are not rightly portrayed.
Girls in the brothel do not suit the character requirement.  The Bengali dialect used in the film does not resemble that time period.
Use of pejorative words by the characters seems forced at places and not spontaneous.

Thanks to Megha Bhattacharya for her help. Her strong grip on English Language helped me to make this article almost error free. But I take no responsibility for this acknowledgement part 😛

Fartodos- The King

I made my way out in this world with a gush of hot wind. Everyone were excited and started farting loud and clear. Everybody knew from that day,  that I am going to bring some changes in the society. Everyone will know me by my fart and will pay me respect for the kind of fart I will blow. I was named Fartodos. As I started growing up, my farts became loud and strong. I believe that all men and women are equal, and should have the equal right in the society to fart. But as I grew up and became mature, I realize, that those who control masses, controls the world. So I started preaching fart, to all people. People who were ignorant about farting, slowly started farting. Soon smell was all around me. Smell of trust, faith and my favourite fart. Those who tried to oppose me, were neutralized with a strong blow, more lethal than any nuclear missile. Oppression soon paved way for repression. I was content, happy and calm. Now I am old, feeble and my farts ain’t that strong, but yes, they are the symbol of trust for those aging men/women of my time. No harm in admitting that I was a bit of an arrogant. I never taught anybody, my secret art of farting. A whole new generation, treated me like a king but was not aware of my techniques.

Like all monarchs, I was replaced. I was replaced by Ms Flatulent, a fart sensei. I was thrown from my precious throne like a ragged doll. Flatulent promised a wave of changes will come, and people will be freed from the oppression and tyranny  of Fart makers. But  soon enough started farting louder than people could take. Soon, chaos were everywhere, people were constipated, they tried farting, but failed, anal cavity started rupturing, bleeding, scream. it is a total pandemonium now. But no one is there to listen.

But still I believe, someday, I will rise again, and my fart will blow throughout the eastern sky.

Chotushkone- The Movie

Disclaimer :- I’m an ‘Independent’ Blogger and not some film critic. I’m keen on scribbling about the movie, because I feel good, that Bangla cinema is going through some changes and for good. After watching a handful of utter gibberish on celluloid, this one is really a ‘kick’. Don’t consider this write-up as a review..

Panning, Wide angle shots, Mid-focus, Jerky  movements. Seems like Srijit Mukherji is instituting his style of film-making. Use of colloquial terms as communication means between subjects, addressing each other in an informal tone, and most importantly illustration of urban culture are some of the key facets that Mr. Mukherji prefers, while writing down his scripts.( My belief, I don’t need opinions)

The story is convincing enough and almost flawless. Was the character of Konnennicca (sorry if i have used extra/less letters)  a necessity? Unless the film is absolutely non-fictional and characters are real and all resemblances are actual, if correctly decoded. But if not, then maybe some sort of internship? And I’m reluctant. I like her face but not her teeth! Period. Everyone has a strong screen presence, except Chiranjeet’s boy. Personally I don’t like elaborate tattoos on men. It’s not really goth. And what was that Tattoo!!?? Angel of Death, Sleeping Morrison, Young Waters, Dead Lennon or Jesus after crucification? It was pathetic and he looks dumb. But why do I care? Its Kolkata and not downtown America, with Underground bands and death metal but unfortunately we are in a hangover, colonial hangover.

While  watching the cinema, especially Chiranjeet Chakraborty, somehow I felt, that Mr. Mukherji, has actualized this character out of his own or someone he is aspiring to be. The perfect practical personality(often confused as cynical)  with great sense of style, wit, ego,  humour and ofcourse with some aching  past, best left alone and away from mediocre eyes. Though Middle aged, the passion and sensuality have not yet subsided. The Phrase “Mid-Life Crisis” was used in the film Thrice. To my judgement and understanding, the creator is speaking about the crisis he is facing, or might have faced earlier in personal or professional life, or might have heard from someone, of importance, which had created an impact, or amused him. But I would prefer go with amusement bit. Though I must admit that as much as the creator’s forte, raw human sentiments and complexities of relations are my favourite subjects as well. So, If I call Chiranjeet’s character, a subtle manifestation of writer’s own self, then I must also have to believe that the character of Parambrata is yet again another facet of the writer’s mind. Or maybe the “Dark Side of the Moon”. While the former represents the art of subtlety, the latter speaks of aggressiveness. Calm, Classy, Suave VS Aggressive, Persuasive, Convincing, Mask. Suits me fine. However, both the characters of Param and Chiranjeet are reconciled on a common platform of wit. Needless to say, Mr. Mukherji, has an upper hand on wit and punchline.

Will I be called an arrogant or insolent if I say, it’s a story of  an underdog director who made his way from nowhere to the top in the industry, with a flair to do something out of the box, and in due course of time has made success his muse and  the ‘intellectual’ urban audience his puppet. Notwithstanding the factor, that, there are other three prominent and veteran film-makers present who may have tried, may have succeeded doing films on the same genre. But the dark horse of critics made his way to victory. He smiles like an Ace, triumphs like a race horse, while others remain completely helpless (the climax scene). It was good and perfect until this, then, something happened. The dark horse dies. I will be deemed too melodramatic if I call this a prophecy 😛 . But, but, but. As said in the film- ” Life is only the original story, everything else is just a copy” and film, my dear friends is an art.  Vincent Vega and Mia Wallace are not the only couple who knew the essence of Twist. So, killing all other three would have been much obvious and the effect of shock couldn’t have been established better. But the death of Param’s character and subsequent reconciliation of  the other three protagonists  brings out the true essence of the film. Its not about triumph of good over evil, but experiencing the horrific moment, where death is inevitable, can change people.  .

A man with a parallel movie background, followed by a commercial foray finally making his way as an director, prefers wayfarer. An Alcoholic. The King 😀

A woman who was also an actor, but later became a renowned filmmaker. A smoker. The Queen 😀

Another man, who is a director, a selective few commercials. Subtle, tight with words. Meddle into other people’s lives. The Jack,  ^_^

Last but not the Least, The Dark horse of the critic. Hidden up in the sleeves! The Ace,  :O

Is this the sublime meaning of the film “Chotushkone”? It’s only my insight. Reality can be deceiving. Yes, I know, I use my brain a lot. But it’s good to use it at times. Makes me realise who I am. Whatever may be the real theme, 😉 Srijit Mukherji has truly  aced his presence in the Bangla Film industry, both on the box-office and in the audiences’ mind.

** This work of imagination (only if you think so) is not solely my brain child, I had my inputs from my very own grammar nazi friend, who not only took the ordeal to rectify my errors, but have also given some valuable insights. The Woman 😀 😀

P.S- I liked the Kill Bill Theme Ringtone 😀

Constantly

I lack expression, I lack the impression of emotions on my face. Arrogant, egoistic, rough. An aggregate of all possible unfavourable aspect a man could have. Yet she sees a human, long-lost in the thick of life. Through her merriment, I ferret out myself. I smile at my despondence, when she glee with innocence. I reach at the brink of my judiciousness at times, but still at the end of the day, like a hoggish moppet, I let go my sentiments, and go back to her arms, while she snuggle, I feel safe and I sleep, while she looks at me and shed tears of melancholy.

Hypocrisy Vs Politeness

“I believe I shall write no more History but proceed directly to attack the Lord’s Prayer and the ten Commandments, and to recommend suicide & adultery”.. David Hume

My good friend Tilak Datta, tried to understand my views on hypocrisy and politeness, he urged me to write something on the topic. I realise, though simple but yet its a very complicated topic. Complicated, because, it’s very difficult to draw a line and decide the extent of politeness and hypocrisy. I tried to get inside myself and took some help from the internet. Believe it or not, I have read one complete e-book on the topic. ‘Hypocrisy and the Politics of Politeness’ by Jenny Davidson. Jenny tried to dive into the depth of time to bring out the essence of these two words. She has brought in many references from the work of Hume and Chesterfield. Hume,argued that philosophers who call God – God are hypocrites and accepted that god is a civil union.

Both Chesterfield and Hume used the term ‘Gallantry’ to articulate ideas about dissimulation that are inseparable from the forms of politeness they endorse. Hume used the word gallantry as a synecdouche for civility which rendered him vulnerable and was attacked by reformers. Hume it seems believed adultery is accepted as long as it is discreetly conducted and that gallantry and civilization are mutually dependent.

Hypocrisy is the negative aspect and conceived as the root of ill-mindedness. On the contrary, Politeness gets an upper hand. Research shows that gallantry requires politeness, but I believe that hypocrisy has a huge chunk of politeness hidden in it. Either that hypocrisy is a conscious attempt or it can be a subconscious attempt. Every human being is a hypocrite at some point of time, depending on the situation and state of mind and not to forget the socio-economic scenario.

I believe that hypocrisy is largely  visible with public figures, and with people with less or no substance, trying desperately to seek attention of their sexual counterparts. Hypocrites create a world of illusion around themselves and start believing in that world after sometime. But as this world gradually starts to collapse, they not only fail others but most importantly themselves.

Politeness is a natural expression, a natural emotion and has no motive/s. Hypocrisy is dependent and grows either naturally or superficially inside a head, depending on motives. One can be Hypocritically Polite, but not vice versa.

Identity

I was standing in a metal box, moving fast, faster than my imagination could perceive. It was taking me to where I belong. Many faces unknown, came and went by but I stood where I stopped. Few more moments maybe until I reach, where I want to be, but no, I have misjudged, and then I realized, the wait continues. I saw few faces at a distance amidst the crowd. Felt like, I have seen them somewhere, maybe they are from some other time long-lost, maybe I knew them, perhaps I have forgotten them, like the way I am now a non-existent to them, but my mind kept their almost faded images intact. Few smiled and few ignored, but I was reluctant enough to reciprocate. This is not me, this is not what I am, this is not what I have learned, but still i am doing it, like as if it was destined to be like this. Many came and went, but what remained, is what we may assume to be learning. The crowd was growing leaps and bounds, and it was becoming hard for me to stay still. Perspiration, agitation and all worldly knowledge started crawling , they were also tired like I was.  They looked at me, and gave a feeble smile, as if to say, we are still alive, and that what matters.

I couldn’t help but notice a woman standing at one corner, she looks shy, her eyes were cold, and expressed disgust. Her dress suggests, that she is from the lower strata of the society. Her overly done face, blood red lipstick on smoked lips, awkward jewelleries indicated maybe she is a sex worker. She had pierced eyebrow and lips, very uncommon to that class of people, maybe she is trying to imitate  posh call girls from rich areas of town. Maybe, those people whose hormone levels urges for more but economy holds them back, for them she is the ideal candidate. I stared at her for a while, and I felt bad, really have no idea why? maybe because of the music I was listening that time, or maybe some other reason, I am not aware of.    But I saw many people was also staring at her, raping her, molesting her, and making her mourn in public ,stripped her naked, oozing every ounce of steroid with every thrust, until  perspiration paved ways to cool breeze of ejaculation. Vivid Imagination have some benefits, it can remove the line between benevolent and malevolent. I knew from inside, she feels that maybe everyday.  I felt angry, i felt like saying something, but I remained silence. The voice said Maidan Station, door opened, she went out, door slammed back. I am still at that same place, and still moving.

Don’t Cry

Loss, Remorse, Joy, all these are the vagaries of a cycle, called life. Expecting and excepting life is absolutely a far cry from what is we can say is, expectations. As beautifully said in a popular cinema, “The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place and I don’t care how tough you are, it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard ya hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward.”

They say, “A friend is somebody you wants to be around when you feel like being by yourself.”  Holds true at least for me. When I think from the core, and try to priorities; A mother caressing, a girlfriend kissing, a brother caring, and showing unconditional love, even from a distant land or five friends holding each other, and all of these people are saying, ” I/We are there for you no matter what”. I lose balance.  When you are blessed with so much love and care, what more can be asked? Even though sentiments have its own dis advantages.

But still at the day end, the selfish mind, scavenge over the loathsome ideas and end up been a mourn face. Pretensions  become daily bread. It’s not that I am a coward, but human wants are unfathomable. There is no harm in thinking that I am also a common face amongst other thousands, maybe million.

Jab Tak Hain Jaan- The Movie

Disclaimer:- This is not a film review, neither I am a critic, and neither do I have sufficient knowledge to criticize works of great Filmmakers. These are my reactions after watching the movie.

I am smoking cigarette and drinking coffee while writing this blog, but that doesn’t mean I am promoting cigarette smoking or caffeine intake.

Smoking and Drinking is injurious to health.

——————

Sharukh Khan, as I always say and believe is a brilliant performer, he did best in the movie what he does best- Romance. And ofcourse Katrina, who else could have suited best to portray the grandeur and aristocracy of yashraj films? (and again, I am not speaking about acting)

Phase 1 –> What I like about most of the grand Indian cinemas is the method. Actors are not chosen so as to suit the characters of the film, on the contrary films are made so as to suit the actors. Whatever. But my intentions were simple, enjoy 220 mins, because life is so much boring, and I needed some relaxation. I am a very emotional person, so I liked the last 15 minutes more than the first 2 hours 40 mins. I am not going to discuss why I liked only the last 15 mins because of only one reason, I will have to type more, and apart from been an emotional person I am bit lethargic too, sometimes. Oh yes, how can I forget about  Anoushka Sharma, I liked her in the movie. Her belly, abs, chiseled buttocks, thighs and mama mia!! those thighs. she has improved a lot.

Phase 2 –>  What I have understood and learned?

a) Power of Jesus is either limited to only english speaking nations or ten million hindu god and goddess has the ability to subdue the Jesus effect.

b) It is quite possible to join Indian Army after 28 years of age.

c) Electrodes can be unplugged from a live RDX without detonating.

d) I thought Army promotions are subject to strict norms which is : Promotions are based on a time scale for the first three ranks: one becomes a Lieutenant after 2 years of service, a Captain after 4 years of service and a Major after 13 years. After this, promotions are based on selection depending on the frequency with which positions become free. But the movie taught me, one can rise to become a Major within 10 years.

e) Fall in love while you are young, so that if you crash you have sufficient time to hold on to it. Atleast before your sperm count starts falling. and you might get back your lost love.

Last but not the least-

f) Sign of aging For men, white beards here and there and since women don’t grow beard, hence no sign of aging.

I am good at pissing off people. So if you are feeling abusive, don’t resist abuse your heart out!! Cheers!!

Raunch Culture

Some get astonished, some raise their eyebrows while others enjoy the lunacy; such is the impact of the Raunch Culture. Considering it as a movement against male chauvinism, the degradation of woman is worth noting. Male chauvinism is a term used to describe the belief that men are superior to women. It is often used interchangeably with ‘sexism’ and is closely associated with misogyny and perceptions of women as inferior to men, especially intellectually. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Male_chauvinism#As_sexism].

This statement created a worldwide consciousness among the womankind especially in the first world countries, seeping gradually down to the third world countries. And somewhere deep within women accepted it as fact. It is worth noting that the term ‘Male Chauvinist Pig’ was first coined in the year 1960, by feminists [http://womenshistory.about.com/cs/60s70s/g/gl_mcp.htm]. So, it can be argued that, it is the women who inculcated the idea of male chauvinism which is now a popular camp of bourgeois feminists known as “sex positive feminism”.

Now the question is what is actually this Raunch Culture? The answer is:

It is a society where women are free to drink, party, have casual sex and behave badly. Though these women, often times, seem to go to the extremes to keep the eyes of the media, or even their friends focused solely on them, some of the proponents of such lifestyle argue that this behavior is actually liberating and empowering, no matter how notorious it may seem. The argument is that these women are merely acting the way their male peers have acted for centuries.

So, what really are the implications of this culture for the future generations of women? Is today’s ultimate struggle of a woman to be like a man in every aspect ever going to be recognized as such? Or can these ladies’ only contribution to the modern world be summarized in several DVDs of “Girls Gone Wild”? [http://www.helium.com/items/950665-raunch-culture-liberating-or-disempowering]

Adrienne Levy, in her book “Female Chauvinist Pigs” (2005) traces the history of Raunch Culture back to conflicts between the women’s movement and the sexual revolution. She targets as manifestations of Raunch Culture the new trend of Playboy Bunny merchandise for girls and women, TV shows and other popular culture media that encourages girls and women to strive to be the ‘hottest’ or ‘sexiest’ rather than the most intelligent or accomplished.

Levy argued that it wasn’t ‘liberated’ or ‘feminist’ to learn to the pole dance, wear T-shirts saying ‘porn star’ or have lots of no-strings sex ‘like a guy’ ; but rather, this was a trick created by men who were twisting the idea of ‘liberation’ for their own ends. Levy criticizes two types of feminists of this generation, ‘lipstick feminists’ and ‘loophole women’. According to Levy, lipstick feminists believe that stripping is empowering and is not contrary to the goals and ideals of feminism. Loophole women refer to women who have successfully entered men’s world by playing by men’s rules, often at the cost of undermining feminism and female peers, or even by objectifying other women. Even to those women who make their way in their field legitimately, but shy away from feminism, Levy protests: “But if you are the exception that proves the rule, and the rule is that women are inferior, you haven’t made any progress.” [http://www.wikigender.org/index.php/Raunch_Culture_and_Feminism]

 

Prejudice!!

What we call it, that makes us feel weak towards another person? Is it just another word from dictionary? Or just another phenomena of the complex human mind? People usually react to situations unprecedented and deduce their perceptual reality of the unknown future. Considering it as a normal event from the psychological aspect! can we say, that such vehement act, actually works as an invisible barrier  towards the growth process(often described as dream by some)?

In one of my post, I have described Love as an event, followed by perpetual succession of hormonal secretion. But to many it was a bit difficult to grasp, because human mind is never ready to accept the truth beyond their own logic.  History bears evidence, that from time immemorial Love is considered as one of the purest form of human emotion. Zillion of stories, books and cinema, speaks the same. And I am least interested to deny such a beautiful aspect of human life. Not for any other reason, but from my own chapters of life, I have seen, that love has brought some transformation in me . Few good things have happened and few bad, but I believe its life. If you ask me, I will say, people never change when they are in love, it’s just that they try to understand the shortcomings within themselves and tries to rectify.

I have a questions in my mind,popping, due to some concurrent events in my, as well as in the life of some great people in my vicinity. What is the role played by few man-made attributes like  Age, Marital Status, Nationality, Virginity and Religion in Love and its subsequent effect on society, and in the life of the people within the close or far away proximity of the individual? Mind boggling sessions with fellow people led me nowhere. After hours of rigorous debate what I understood, is quite peculiar. Though we (Human), claim love as the most  purest form of emotion but actually deep within, we are helplessly bonded by shackles, often referred as  culture. Though we claim, that we are the flag bearer of Gen-X, but ironically our chromosome rings the bell of primitive maturity.

I am not promoting cultural revolution, but asking to free your mind from the duplex idea of cultural rigidity and wisdom.