Tuesday, March 15, 2005

Musings, Black, etc...

Hello everybody! I am back. Thatw as quite a break I took. But this ain't new for me coz I keep taking breaks often. Funnily enough all these days, I just didn't feel like posting at all. The thought of quitting blogging also came into my mind. Well, it was just not a thought. I gave it a good deal of thought. Then decided against it because this is a hobby I really enjoy and that I don't think I will ever quit it as such. Blogging is an integral part of my life now and that expressing my thoughts, opinions over here really matter a lot to me. So there would be extended breaks taken by me now and then just when I feel a little bit bored about it.

Ok, I HAVE SOOOOOOOOOOOO MANY THINGS TO DISCUSS ABOUT OVER HERE. Ok, I know many of you want to know about my Indo Pak experiences. Well, sorry guys, I dont think I would be posting anything major in this post. Will sure have a decent write up written by mid of April. Nevertheless I still have tons to say. Ok, I had my final submission today. It felt a bit weird that this was my last assignment that I would ever submit. 3 years of assignments, projects, submissions, presentation........ALL DONE, OVER, KHATAM, Finished. In a few days I would be graduating also. Things are changing in a speed that is really tough to fathom. Sometimes, I am like, hey life, wait a minute, let it sink in! But I guess from now onwards it is all about adapting oneself quickly because I know for sure the one thing that is going to be constant is change and I better get adjusted to it. Oh well...enough of my rambling.

Ok, now what prompted me to post here was Reiya's post on Black. She has reflected upon her thoughts on Black. I thought I will add my two cents too. I saw Black twice. First time it was with the Pakistani delegation. They were all dying to see a Hindi Movie in a THEATRE in MUMBAI. So we booked tickets for Black in Liberty. Black got me hooked on right from scene 1. I remember I didn't speak a word with my friend who was sitting next to me. Poor thing, she had loads to say about the movie but well i was engrossed. I was engrossed to such an extent that the scenes in the movie had an effect on me emotionally. I remember during the break, I just wanted to be alone, with myself. The movie drained me completely. The emotions were probably too much for me to handle. During the second half of the movie, I cried buckets. I simply let go of myself during the end. Oh well, it's another story altogether as to how everybody (my Paki friends included) ragged me to death coz I was the only sole person crying over there. :P:P

I have always maintained in this blog that when I see a movie, I see like any normal viewer. I really don't sit and analyse, "Wow, what an awesome shot, what a great camera angle" and the works. Whenever I watch a movie for the first time, I get completely involved with it. I allow the movie to take me for a ride. It is only during the second or third time that I watch the movie, can I be completely objective about it and can only then form opinions. Therefore I have always wondered how critics rate a movie immediately after watching it. I take time to form opinions. Or maybe this has got to do with the fact that I don't watch too many movies as such. I am sure a movie like Black might have left majority of the audience emotionally drained, confused or whatever. I wonder how one can really evaluate a movie like Black just by watching it once. Emotions tend to cloud proper decision-making and this applies to everything in life. Therefore I wonder how do movie critics rate, critique a movie just by watching it once? I think they are programmed to watch a movie in a certain way and that is what helps them. Hmmm....

But nevertheless, I went to watch Black for the second time. I was and still am to a great extent completely enamoured by the movie. I wondered if I would cry again. But surprisingly I didn't. Maybe it had to do with the fact that the last time I watched the movie wasn't a long time ago. This time however I came out oft he movie with mixed feelings. I think this has got to do with the fact that both my friends didnt like the movie the way I did. It never really occurred to me that the acting of Amitabh Bachchan went over the top. I still don’t think so. Yea, there were scenes wherein his acting was animated. But never once did he come across as irritating. What would be over the top acting would be Hrithik’s performance in Main Prem ki Deewani Hoon. I am not trying to compare Hrithik and Amitabh’s performance. Hell, No! I am just giving a reference to what irritating over the top acting would be like. There are eccentric characters like Amitabh’s character in real life too. If you see in India, almost all the art forms are mostly synonymous with over dramatisation. It is a genre in itself. If you see Bharatnatyam for example, a simplest of emotion or a reaction would be over dramatised. It has always been the case. But dramatisation I feel is ok if done in a proper way and not in an irritating way. Irritating would be the eye-brow twitching dramatisation in Saas-Bahu serials. But then, it sells. People love it. Melodrama is in the psyche of majority of the Indians if I can add. Most of us being the urban audiences and being exposed to a lot of Hollywood movies where subtlety rules, we might pan Black down. But I think this is our style just as subtlety is theirs.

Also, I think Melodrama was used to convey the anguish of the child who can’t see, can’t hear and hence can’t talk. To communicate is an inherent need of every human being. I can’t even fathom the anguish and the pain that a child like this might go through in real life. How many of us actually sit and think about what it might be like being Michelle. Melodrama was effectively used a tool. The film forces you to think so.

I thought the kissing scene between Amitabh and Rani was one of the most beautiful scenes I have ever watched. Michelle is like any normal teenager if one would discount the disabled side of hers. I thought it was but natural for her to fall in love with someone who was her sole link to the real world for a long time. He was the only male friend in a lonely world of hers. It was but natural for her to fall in love with him. The vulnerability was beautifully shown. I guess never has such a topic been broached by any Indian movie as such. It is challenging enough to portray the emotions of people who can’t speak, talk and hear. It is quite an effort to translate those emotions on screen and for that Bhansali deserves an ovation.

Also the scene wherein the child regards her mother “Ma” and her father as “Pa” is another lovely scene of the movie. I get goose bumps even thinking about the scene. And yea, Shernaz Patel was awesome. She was the perfect mom. Also the wonderkid Ayesha Kapoor, great find.

However one thing did trouble me when I watched the movie for the second time. I really didn’t like it when Amitabh hits the child. I agree the child was obstinate to the core. But still hitting a child is not the right way to go about it. I am firmly against hitting and spanking children. I am shocked at myself as to how this thing didn’t trouble me when I watched the movie the first time. I don’t know but is this a norm with the children who are visually challenged and mentally impaired? If no, then how do they deal with the kids. Hmm....

Also one of my very good friend Dodo starts blogging. YAYYYY! for that (drumrolls please:P:P) Do check her blog out, she surely does write well. Dodo, you really did surprise me :)

Dya guys remember this post of mine on Meena Mami? Well, guess what, I met her a week back. More on that in my next post. :)
Bye for now :)

1 comment:

Shobha said...

I, Me and Media!

BlogBack Closing 13th October 2005. Read more...
reiya:

wah wah. kitna bada post padha maine. :P. this time also u cried..dont tell dhaap. haaan, all i know :P. movie was nice re, but it was too overwhelming for me:|. next time better movie he will make, i'm sure:). cant wait:). bachhi was awfully cute:D.

2005-03-15 19:20
Khushee:

Well, firstly, nice to see you back!

And Black. Hmm. I cried so many times in that movie. It was really very emotional. And I came out of that movie thinking - WOW. I also don't analyse movies. I don't get how people go in there thinking about the cinematography and what not. When I watch a movie, I am usually totally engrossed in it, and I never analyse. I think you can bring apart any movie by analysing, no matter how good the movie is. Even Black. But then, critics have to do their job I guess :D

2005-03-15 22:44
Pallavi:

good to have you back.. liked Black.. except for the last scene.. and I am sure you had interesting experience with your assignments ! 1:)

2005-03-16 10:56
andy:

NOW THIS is more like it..item!..;) :D nice supaak long post che!.
and all just about one movie?. sahi hai..i dont think AB overacted at all!!.. hell your dead right.. hrititk in any of his movies.. ( even in tht sad karizma commerical… get set.. ZOOOM!) can overact!! :|… &^$^*%#$…AB played that role to perfection..
about the emotional content in da movie… i dont think it was tht great. i found swades to be MUCH more touching. but yeah… tht scene where she learns to say ma n pa is a really good tearjerker!..
awwwww. nothing about your HOT paki friends!!..shucks!..:P

2005-03-16 12:27
Ashwin:

hmm..finally a post! good! :D

Black is a wonderful movie and beautifully filmed but it definitely didnt have the overwhelming effect on me as it had on you. in any case…tastes differ but I am surprised coz our movie tastes usualy match!! :D. in my case..all movies that i consider classics have had that stunning and mind-blowing effect on me the FIRST time i saw them. it wasnt so with black. nonetheless…its a wonderful movie thats worth a watch and proves the amazing talent of SLB.

2005-03-17 01:02
sat:

I guess we had a lot of discussion the other day.
But my point is, I prefer subtlety to other forms of expression anyday.
In that line, I would rate Finding Neverland to be very good (if you have not seen it, DO ). Its a classic and conveys its point very forcefully and emotionally without the (over?) dramatization in India films.
Somehow, I have come to not like generic Indian films simple because of being over-dramatic. Thats too much for a viewer to absorb, when, as it is, he/she has so many other things to soak in.

I still havent watched Black it, and definitely will not be able to watch it twice!! (unless they release it with English subtitles ;-) )

Have fun.
Cheers.
Sathish

2005-03-17 08:08
aNTi:

Hey.. wb :)

Meena Maami, I remember that post… looking forward for another about ur meeting with her…

2005-03-17 15:54
Dhinchak!:

…wheww…sooo long post why dear!see how i comment in sooo short!:P

2005-03-17 18:31
Tarun:

Ab to apun ko black dekhna parega……isme emotion ha deerama hai……rani mei aa reha hoon……Shobha, you have written very well about this movie now definetly I am goint to watch this movie. :)

2005-03-18 05:01
Kishore:

Black was beautiful :)

2005-03-18 07:22
Russ:

assume amma on pms :|
run 4ur lives……save urself

2005-03-18 16:59
Shobha:

Reiya: 2 drops of tears dont qualify as crying Reiya:P Wot all u know, u were sitting far off edge mein:P:P

Khushee: hey Khush :d we both think alike :D :D

Pallavi: I am glad that I am done with it…..whoa!

Andy: Swades was in a different league in itself….

Ashwin: Even Iw as surprised when you said it didnt have an overwhelming effect on you….hmmm!

Sat: More than 50% of the movie is in English. You wouldn't have any trouble comprehending it.

Anti: You are the best reader of my blog. No one noticed it except for you. hehee! Would be putting up a post soon :)

Dhinchak: Itna din se post nahi kiya na, I had so much to say……tht's y the long post :P

Tarun: Hey Thanks for dropping by…. good, watch the movie, its worth it :)

Kishore: Yes, it surely is…

Russ Shut up, poda russ!:P

2005-03-20 06:03
vani:

wow!
so you're a journalist!! Khewl!!!
I'm also in the communications line…got a sis who's also a journalist.
That was a good "review" of Black. haven't watched it yet, will check it out when i go back home!

2005-03-21 01:38
Shobha:

Vani: Heeheee! not yet a journalist, am still a student but very well on my way to become one :) If I am not mistaken, you study in Singapore na? What exactly is your degree in communication?

2005-03-21 09:02
Keshav:

So u will be graduating soon !! congrats and good luck :). Do you have campus recruiting and all that ??

2005-03-21 14:31
Shobha:

Keshav: Hey Keshav, long time :) How have you been? Thanks, I need all the luck in the world :) Umm…..our course is relatively very new. There have been recruitments as such but nothing really worth talking about.

2005-03-21 19:56
Sowmya:

Hi sweety
I read your blog along with a very good friend of mine. Well I had seen Black with my classmates and came out of the movie numb. My heart felt heacy for that girl who had to live such a bound life but still make it a great one….

This classmate of mine Abhishek who quoted this"I was crying because i didnt have shoes to wear, but i saw a happy man who didnt have legs at all"

Well i hope the age of sensible movies are to stay….howerver i cant help contradicting myself sayin that"the very reason we go watch movies(most do) is to unwind and just watch fantasy creations on screen….

So long for now…

And i am glad ur back to ur blog writing…Missed it

2005-03-24 10:33
Shobha:

Soms: Awwwww! hugs Yea, I'm glad too that I am back to blogging now. I agree majority of us enjoy fantasy creations onscreen. But I guess there is space for all kind of movies and that is the way it should be. So while some movie would be like food for thought, others would be sheer nonsense but entertaining…..hehe! Yea, the quote is quite poignant, have heard it before….apt for the movie!

2005-03-24 14:03
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