I took Jim's advice and was 40 mins late and when I saw Sanjay Dutt doing a dance in front of a monster statue of a cockroach I thought I had arrived too early ! But it is spectacularly different from normal Indian movies. Urmilla is just fantastic . The jungle snake dance - Zahrila Pyar ( Poisonous love) is alone worth the admission price especially when she does the hissing bit . The background of orange hues !! Beautiful ! ! Another one which starts off with a Western classical piece ( what was it ? ) and dancing on a glacier ! The camerawork is so superb it makes the heart sing !
Bollywood cocks a snook at all those demanding 'realistic ' scenes by doing a superb song and dance when Urmilla and Sanjay in a motorcycle with a sidecar are being chased by the villains and the police- she changes her outfit twenty times - each more beautiful than the last one - and they sing along in a ski water jet , a sailing boat.... May Bollywood always make songs and dances like that and ignore the naysayers. The story is about Sanjay stealing what he thinks is a box with $2m and Urmilla wants half of it , but #spoiler on # it has India's first .... bomb #spoiler off#. Even the Americans have not made one that compact yet so maybe the GOI is trying to send the world govts a subtle message using Bollywood !
Paresh Rawal is good in the role ( he is one of India's best actors - just see him as the old man in Hero No. 1 , and as a policeman in Mohra ) and there are no violent bits- most of the onscreen violence is great comedy - but a lot of offscreen violence - for eg it was unnecessary to kill the family in the car . This just spoils the effect and will lead to less people bringing their kids. Far better to show them just tied up. There are no weepy bits so women may come out feeling unsatisfied but if you want to sit back and just enjoy one of the best made movies this year then go and see it . Pakistan govt censors should see this one - they have just as good scenery and if it relaxed rules for onscreen drinking - some of the best dances in movies are 'drunken' ones by the women eg DDLJ , Aur Pyar Ho Gya , and rules about female dress it could make movies just as entertaining as its output of good plays shows that it is not second to anyone in the dialogue bit.
I am going to have to see it again for the 40min I missed. The photography is magical -so see it ONLY on the big screen . The camera pans very slowly so giving you time to take in the scenery. Do not be tempted by pirate videos - you are depriving your senses of a great visual treat . ..Mo
There are even advantages to going late. You will assume that you have missed a few things. You'll assume that they have made the relationship between Urmilla and Sanjay understandable, that there is a reason why she is with him, and that they have built enough of a character for him that it is a believable relationship. (Knowing that they have done neither, as you would by being there from the begining, is a distraction.) You'll also think that everyone knows what has been stolen or is missing, the "McGuffin" to the picture. Wrong again, but this time the ignorance is a good thing. More importantly, you will miss the one unforgivable scene in the movie. there's been a lot of discussion whether it is too violent, or too sexy. It isn't, at least for me. The sexiness works and is very enjoyable, especially "the scene in the woods." And even though the movie is relatively violent, that can be fine in context. EXCEPT for one scene. The villain's murders are acceptable as part of the story, and even though they are bloody, they do not detract even from the comedy at the end. Nor does the seriousness of his nefarious schemes. (See below, beyond the spoiler space.) But there is one scene, purely gratuitous, where the villain is threatening a child, and showing the child his parents tied up and helpless. It's just too strong for the film. (And as far as i can see, it doesn't advance the plot at all.) The main advantage in going late though, is that you will be spared some of Sanjay Dutt's acting. This is not to be underestimated. His presence grates throughout the film, and it is not a coincidence that the last half hour of the film, which is a delight, and, other than the Urmilla songs and scenes, the main reason to see the movie, shoves Dutt almost entirely into the background. But Sanjay Dutt simply can't dance. He's awkward, and not as a character point, simply through inability. He misses beats and steps freely. He seems to be neither within the music nor to have the music within him.
One is Urmilla's performance. She is so well known for the sex scenes that nobody mentions she's a fine actress in other parts of her role. Not outstanding, certainly, but very good. (I have to fault the writers, not her, for failing to explain why it is she gets involved in the whole chase, or what she sees in Dutt to attract her.) She is quick, attractive, smart, and again, she fits her character. She also, i was pleased to see, is shown as someone who can physically hold her own with Dutt in a fight, and who can fight against men. This has not been something I had seen in Hindi films, and i was going to ask if it was ever shown, if there was some equivalent of Xena or Buffy around.... Jim ( full article on Ramli)
There are four great performances in this movie....
ARRahman is awesome for the music in the songs as well as the background part. The songs start off with 'Oh SaiNyaaiNyaaN' where the initial picturisation isn't as good... where Urmi is not in sync with her dancing troupe, but corrects itself halfway thru the songs and after that the songs 'n dance leave nothing to be desired. Watch for a brilliant piece of background music just after Urmi is scared by strange noises.
Sanjay Chhel for his absolutely brilliant writing skills. His dialogues-writing skills now are something to watch for!! After Rangeela and Yes Boss, he has this to his credit. A guy to look out for. He is brilliant in making fun of the normal cliched dialogues {Look what he does to "yeh kaam tumheN abhi karna hoga" } and adds those small touches that make even names humorous. His brilliant writing of the second guy (the guy who played a hunchback dwarf in the tv serial 'Circus' ... what's his name?) takes care not to make him too buffoon-ish but relies on verbal tomfoolery. The way he utilises something as mundane as names to have fun was amazing.
Ram Gopal Verma's command over the movie and his slick direction were grreat. Watch for the sequence with the bad guys chasing the good guys picturised in the factory. Also, Usha Uthup's version of the title track, is picturised in a sequence which was curiously reminiscent of a sequence in Mani Ratnam's Thiruda Thiruda/Chor Chor {Has Chor Chor had a video or theater release?? }. Was it his way of paying tribute to Mani?? Also, his *curious* reworking on the Hairaan script. At the place where we had the 'jaamu rathiri' song, we have 'zehreela zehreela pyaar'. The two songs can't be more further apart in emotions evoked and picturizations.... Also, the way he took the tribals song and changed it in such a way that it'll be acceptable to the Hindi audience {Can't one have a group of tribals suddenly appear, sing a song and disappear in a Hindi film?? :) I wonder why he felt this way...} and how he colors Paresh Rawal's character in more blacker shades, than in Hairaan {Paresh was soooo cute in Hairaan :), and he still is so tho' in a much more weird way } is very curious. His imagination of Urmila's character is also most interesting.....
And finally we come to Urmila.... Hmmm... what can I say here??... Lemme put it this way - She tries her best to have all the males break out into pimples. {I think the stock price of Clearasil should go up :)} Also, she portrays one of the more liberated heroines I've seen in Hindi cinema with great aplomb {Pun wholly unintended}
Finally, I would add this to my must-see list of movies released this year. {"Must see" because the movie is overall good and not just for individual performances... Pardes and APHG lose out. :(}. The list now reads "Hero No. 1 , Sapnay, Judaai & Daud", with a consolation prize to "Yes Boss"...Ikram Ahmed Khan
At the end I reproduce with permission an email from Andrew. Feelings of an American couple who went to see a Hindi movie without subtitles. People I feel are the same world over and like similar things within reason. There must be some reason for the popularity of Bollywood movies in India, Pakistan , Middle East , the West and now even in Korea and amongst the Spanish speakers in California. Pakistan could make similar movies -but on Zee one of the producers moaned that whenever the movies got popular -ie when the dresses for the female dancers got skimpier the govt clamped down . It has now I believe banned 'mixed ' dancing.
I love the Marx Brothers films. The word play , innuendos , the music and romances , 'insults' -all great fun . It might look easy but it is not -there is a lot of thought that goes into making such entertaining movies. Of course film critics dont like them , but who listens to them anyway ?. Another classic is Life of Brian. You really have to know your Bible very well to understand all the jokes -no wonder it was banned in the Christian state of Texas. Anybody who has not seen it -rent it out tonight. Once I saw an Iranian play/movie with subtitles - where the Ayatollah sends somebody to kill one of the Shah's generals in the USA , but the killer falls in love with the General's daughter and ... I wont reveal the ending. It was fascinating stuff even though I dont speak Farsi - so if the story and music are good movies from all over the world can become popular regardless of the language.
In the last thirty years however Hollywood has not produced many memorable movies. Some Bollywood movies -maybe 30 or so -one can see again and again and enjoy them more each time but apart from 2001, I cant think of any Hollywood ones. I am surprised that with all the obstacles put in its way Bollywood has not collapsed. Just consider.
1. No write offs to investors , compare that with 100% for British films and a bit less for Americans. Producers have to borrow at 20% a month or more.
2.Low ticket prices - 60 cents - so that the profit margins are tiny compared to $5 or more in the West.
3. Taxes imposed by states. To encourge other languages , Hindi movie goers have to pay higher ticket taxes.
4. 30 channels via cable to most city people at about $2 a month ! Three or four channels supplying Hindi movies all day. Its surprising people still drag themselves to the theatres. 5. Video piracy - some Cable operators show these bootleg copies before release in the theatres !.
6.Zee in most of Asia -free via satellite -crystal clear recent movies.
The number of movie theatres has fallen by so much that many movies cant get screens -hence the large number of 'flops'. Shilpa was delightful in Chote Sarkar and yet it flopped.
Inspite of all the above -we dont hear of producers going bankrupt as they used to in the 50s when a very expensive movie flopped. The reason I think is that nowadays no movie loses money. The music , video and satellite rights are so high that all movies make a profit. The NRIs also have an income as big as all of India -hence many of the Bollywood movies like Pardes and DDLJ directed towards them and also the increasing use of Punjabi and Gujarati as most of the emigrants are from those communities.
The choregraphed dances , fights , the beautiful dresses for the women , expensive sets , foreign locations , the scenery from increasingly remote places like Arunachal Pradesh in Koyla etc. , the superb dialogue all of these take a lot of thought and a lot of effort and audiences are intelligent to know that and are flocking to see these movies.
This movie shows why Bollywood will soon conquer the world. Even those who dont understand the language can sit back and marvel at the magical camerawork. Everytime they showed the beautiful scenery around Dehra Dun there was a sharp intake of breath in the cinema hall. The Rift Valley in Kenya is just as good but I dont think that has ever been filmed. Shots of Taj Mahal , and the Qawwali sung on the raised manch in Fatehpur Sikri must have been exactly as Emperor Akbar used to hear it. The music is truly innovative and a big advance in filmi music.
The dialogue by I think Javed Siddiqui is out of this world. Maybe Urdu/Hindi lends itself to comedy more than other languages and it was great to see both being used - Ganga ki Raksha and Ganga ki Hifazat , most people couldnt stop laughing at the clever word play and situational comedy. The aunt who drops the metal pots - a real clanger , when Ganga relays Rajiv’s request that she go with him to the fields so that they can have a private talk ! , the Police chief at the engagement party saying to Rajiv that if he could be of any use - kisko danda lagana ho , to ! the Sardarji who gets ‘offended ‘ at every reply - all hilarious stuff. Just contrast this with ‘Men in Black’ - there was not a single laugh in this ‘comedy’. Bollywood treats its audience far more intelligently.
Those who moan that many of the stories are the same do not understand the economics of film making . India is a very poor country with a GNP smaller than New York City , but it has a very rich culture and Bollywood makes use of it. The average ticket price is Rs 20 or 60 cents while in the USA it is ten times that. So Bollywood has to attract many more people since the raw material costs of movie making are the same. Hence the weepy bits for the women , the jokes for the children , the ‘vulgar’ teasing dances for the men and above all the poetic use of language for the high IQ ones. One thought provoking sher from this movie - Wo Nadi , Nadi kya jis me pani na ho , Wo Hawa , hawa kya jis me rwani na ho ... Wo shadi , shadi kya jis me prem kahani na ho ! ( What good is the river without water , the wind without force , the marriage without a love story ? ) .
I am generally against censorship . Blasphemy is great fun and nudity essential for mental health . Just see the camera angle for the shot at the end of the Qawwali number where the fair Rajasthani dancer looks up at the camera - a real sweet innocent look and so much of the bosom is showing- the men were squirming in the seats- eroticism at its best -far better than any Playboy stuff. However I think the Censor board are quite right to hold up Pamela Brook’s ‘Train to Pakistan’ unless the expletives are cut. That Punjabis talk like that (her words) is no excuse- who wants family audiences exposed to expletives f words with mother and sister etc. ? I know many English people who refuse to watch Hollywood movies because of such unnecessary bad language.
The complaints a few people have been making in these newsgroups about songs being cut , have been heeded by Eros. This movie was essentially complete. The one devotional song -Om Brahmo Dev namaste -was missing but I have a feeling that the makers didnt use it , and I cant recollect the children singing ‘major not , minor note -in the I love India song ‘ but I think I may have missed it . Otherwise all the songs were there complete and the results have been phenomenal . People are flocking to see this movie two or three times -and the local theatre has had to put on extra shows. After seeing it first time , most people come back just for the songs and dances and if Eros leave them uncut they will reap huge benefits . Even though the movie didnt start till 9pm , not one person walked out before the end , and I know many like myself who will see it again. So well done Eros - leave the songs complete.
Talking about songs , I think Pakistan should borrow female singers like Kavita (who sings the I love India song most beautifully ) or Alka Yagnik if they want to make their movies more popular in the West. Pardes is not an emotion wrecker like Border or thought provoking like Virasat but it is a beautifully made movie and will be a blockbuster.
Andrew wrote:
Mo-
I saw your posting in RAMLI about Pardes, and I wanted to thank you
for it.
I am an American who loves Indian cinema, and am a recent reader of
the
RAMLI newsgroup. My wife and I went to see 'Yes Boss', and there was
a
preview for Pardes. I knew from that preview that it was going to be
a
special film. (That, plus they were playing the soundtrack in the
cinema
before the movie started, which sounded fantastic!)
When Pardes opened, it was advertised as having English subtitles,
but,
alas, it didn't. I avoided seeing it for a week, because I thought it
was
a rather deep film, and that I would miss a lot by not understanding
it.
Well, a week went by, and I could not contain myself, so I went to see
it.
I had read many reviews of it on various Bollywood web sites, so I
thought
I would understand enough.
Everything you wrote about the film was true. It was breathtaking to
look
at, the music and the dancing was great, and the performances were
really
excellent. SRK impressed me so much. However, without the subtitles,
I
know I missed a lot of the story. Many have commented on how well
written
the film is. It's my loss, but it didn't take away from my enjoyment.
I
only pray that I can see a subtitled copy one day.
A question I have is why do you think this film caused such a split among the readers of RAMLI? Some, such as yourself, praised it, while others destroyed it. Do you have any idea why this film stirs up such strong reactions? Also, if you can recommend any other Indian films that are as impressive as Pardes, please do so. (And any other films that have such wonderful soundtracks! This is quite different than the usual Bollywood soundtrack.) Thanks. Andrew -Judwa has a very different sound track.
The movie is full of subtle humour - the bit where Mahima and the cleaner discover Rajiv's collection of dirty magazines ! All men must have felt a shiver run down their spines. I loved the way she dances the -lali , poder, kajal , bindya bit in the I love India song, with the momentary closure of the eyes -sheer genius. Two verse I believe were cut . To all Ramlires and movie fans , if you find that songs have been cut DO COMPLAIN to the local trading standards inspector . You are entitled when you go to see Pakistani and Indian movies to see the full one - and if they cut the songs in half without telling you beforehand they are STEALING from you and could be fined heavily. In Border by cutting the Sanskrit peace prayer and the commentary in the Hindustan meri aan song- they have made a peace song into a war one -contrary to what the director intended. If you dont complain to the authoirities they will do it again and again- in one town they didnt run a whole reel and anybody coming to see the movie first time would have found it disjointed .
Of course Bollywood has to treat its audience intelligently -why are the English and Spanish and others flocking to them -inspite of the language barrier ? Its complete entertainment -romance , songs, emotion ,comedy .. all rolled into one. Hollywood with its bad language and its single subject has slid into an awful era - thats why in India it has failed to compete. Bollywood with its supermovies this year - Judwa , Judaii , Border, Virasat, Pardes, .. and my favourite Chote Sarkar - is a source of immense pride for NRIs and also NRPs-with contributions from Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan , Sabri Brothers and others.
What I love most about these movies is the word play in Hindustani and BTW I am lucky enough to live in a town where I can see one on the big screen most days of the week ...Mo