Sachin Review: A Straight Drive Direct To Our Hearts.

Whaaaaat? Released already? Yess mister! Sachin has hit the theaters this Friday and people can't seem to stop talking about it. To be more specific, I can't. I tried my best to hold back the tears, but I cried my heart out. It was like a trip down the nostalgia portal, from which I never wanted to return.

⏩ Genre :  - Sports Documentary.

⏩ Runtime:- 2 hrs 20 mins. 

⏩ Cast: - Sachin Tendulkar, his friends and the whole country (including you). YES, YOU!

⏩ Director: - James Erskine.

⏩ Plot – Seriously? Still, wanna know? Just Google "Sachin Tendulkar." Google it! Arre karr na. 🌚

⏩ Direction and Screenplay :-

Sachin: A Billion Dreams is a tale of a restless 10-year-old boy and his journey from watching India's first World Cup-winning skipper Kapil Dev lift the trophy, to the fulfillment of his dream of holding it in his hands for India. He is the most celebrated sportsperson in India, a virtuous hero who created an era, which Indians are proud of.  It is more of a documentary, wherein you get to see Tendulkar's cricket and personal life in substantial detail, as well as it reveals few aspects of his life which have never been heard of or seen before. 

Directed by Emmy-nominated James Erskine, the film took over four years in making and features some real never seen before and some made-up footages to trace the journey of Tendulkar from a young boy to unarguably the greatest batsman of all time.

The fantastic narrative style of Lil Master touches every corner of the viewers' hearts. The sequential picturization of every important aspect is very beautifully crafted by James Erskine through words. Insertion of the logs from Dhoni, Kohli, Ajit Tendulkar, Sourav, Bhajji, Yuvi, Sir Don, Sir Viv. Richards and lot more gift a gorgeously decorative frame to the film. 

The film showcases finely the relationships between Sachin-Anjali, Sachin-His Father, Sachin-Ajit but the relationships like Sachin-Sourav, Sachin-Rahul and so on are not so well-narrated but fine.

⏩ Editing and Cinematography:-

Cinematography by Chris Openshaw is cool suiting the light-hearted feel of the movie. He has used cool and subdued undertones for the most part of the movie.

Editing by Avdhesh Mohla is smooth and the bites of all his friends and family are appropriately allocated. 

 ⏩ Music :-

The background score by A.R Rahman has been rightly placed and it gels beautifully with the narrative offered by Sachin and keeps you fascinated throughout. The usage of ‘Vande Mataram’ is one of the finest in our Hindi cinema. ‘Hind Mere Jind’ and ‘Sachin Sachin’ will stay with you for a long time after you leave the hall.

⏩ The Highs -

▶If you’re of the generation that grew on Bhajji’s off spins, Sachin’s masterstrokes, Ganguly’s aggression and Dravid’s ‘Mr. Wall’ days, this will bring you back to Cricket once more. And not to mention, ‘Sachin… Sachin… Sachin… ’ never dies. Because Sachin isn’t a name. It is an emotion.

▶ No matter how many times we’ve seen the clip, it’s impossible to not cheer at the World Cup Win, 2011 or choke up while watching Sachin deliver that heartfelt retirement speech at Wankhede. 

▶ I am so thankful this isn't a biopic, but a documentary about a man, narrated by the man where he tells his own story in his own words. Not a journalistic or potboiler approach but a sincere and honest depiction which is so intimate and personal, in a way where the audience claps and cheers alongside those who clapped and cheered live, years ago. That beautiful feeling of having already experienced the present situation in the past and still enjoying it with the same sense of euphoria.

▶ What makes the movie endearing is a peek into his private life like his love story, footage from his wedding, the birth of his two children and the special bond he shares with his father. The footage might be blurry at times, but you don't mind as it engrosses you. 

▶ People who are not associated with cricket might not experience the same magic but still will like the film. The documentary styling might not highly appeal to the masses. But come-on, his life doesn't involve controversies for you to expect masala and high voltage drama. Calm yourself. 🌚

▶ Sachin has squeezed his heart into the narration. One can see the spark in his eyes in many scenes (especially when he talks about his father and mother) making you connect with his feelings and emotions.

⏩ The Lows -

▶ The dramatized version of Sachin’s childhood track could have been better as well as engaging but honestly, this doesn't cause any void in your movie viewing experience since you're so overwhelmed by all the other things. And after the childhood phase passes, there isn't a single dry spell in the movie.

⏩ Performances :-

▶ Since this is a documentary, there are no performances as such but yes, Sachin seems to have done a lot of work in his delivering style, approach, and expressions. Definitely more convincing than "Boost is the secret of my energy." 😹

▶ Jokes apart, he might not be an actor but he engages you with his story-telling and it's impossible to be unmoved with his disappointments and achievements.

⏩ Watch o Not? 

Defi-fucking-nately! You gotta watch this one if you're a cricket fan (well that's almost the entire country) and have grown up watching this legend bowl us over with his extraordinary prowess in the field and his humble attributes in real life. 

⏩ Verdict : 

This ship sails through the air of nostalgia, relatable moments, motivation, achievements, spirit, admiration, hardships, never say no attitude and our collective love for a man whose name we turned into a chant. You gotta be too ignorant or ahem, Maria Sharapova, to miss this masterpiece our very own, Lil Master.

Get ready for a goose-bumpy ride! I can bet on the fact that by the end of the movie, you'll be the happiest you've been in any movie so far. Do yourself a favor, please!

Pro tip - Get yourself some tissues just in case, you know. 🙈 Also, please don't hold yourself back from cheering with the audience - "Sachin... Sachin!!" 

Ratings -  4.5/5

Meri Pyari Bindu - Not your regular run-of-the-mill movie. This one melts your heart. ❤

Bollywood has often faced flak for its melodramatic plot and clichéd endings. But YRF's latest offering Meri Pyari Bindu is different. And by that I mean, good different. 

Genre :- Romance/Drama

Run-time :- 1 hr 59 mins.

Cast : - Parineeti Chopra, Ayushmann Khurrana, Aparajita Auddy,

Director : - Akshay Roy

Plot – (Later in the review)

Direction and Screenplay:-

Director Akshay Roy seems to be away from the regular formula of love stories. He is definitely good at his craft of telling a simple story in a quirky manner. His film surely breaks the idea of 90’s about two individuals can’t be just best friends. Childhood love, college friendship, heartbreaks, Meri Pyaari Bindu has every conventional trope ingredient of a love story but still, stands out in the crowd. 

Written by Suprotim Sengupta, Nostalgia is the essence of this film. The journey of two people, spanning three decades is not less than a nostalgic trip to the old cities in 80’s and 90’s. The film has its own share of glitches - There might not be many takers for the kind of platonic combined with love relationship that has been portrayed by the Writer-Director duo. 

Cinematography :-

Tushar Kanti Ray paints this world with a warm light– so it’s beautiful but not so much that you don’t believe in it. The atmosphere feels authentic and lived-in.

Music :-

Sachin-Jigar’s music is extremely apt and novel. Maana Ke Hum Yaar Nahin, Haareya and Afeemi are not just incredibly hummable but also have been shot beautifully. 

PERSPECTIVE

Okay so as I've heard opinions from many that this movie is "half-baked, slow, average, what's the point if it focuses just on the man, etc."

Skipping the 'Highs and Lows,' I am trying to put forth my (or maybe the writer's) understanding/perspective of the movie. 

The framework of a typical Bollywood heroine has already been set - No matter how maverick or full of life the woman is, she will eventually settle down with a romantic, disillusioned secure hero who has left no stone unturned to woo the lady, because that's what a hero should do, right?  This is the outcome of most romantic flicks these days. Always about what BOTH the protagonists achieve/strive to stay together and that's it. Definite.  

This is exactly where Meri Pyari Bindu distinguishes. 

Here, Bindu is a game changer. She is THAT GIRL who does how she pleases, who'll not settle for less, who'll go to any heights to achieve the satisfaction she desires from life. Volatile, unreliable, warm, cold, shrewd, selfish are all her second names. Since she is determined to live life on her own terms, she doesn't bat an eye to storm out of a relationship or even wreck her own engagement. (Much like 'Gayatri' and 'Raina' from 'Shudh Desi Romance' and 'Ekk Main Aur Ekk Tu' respectively).

She is the type, Bollywood parents warn their sons about. She is like living art. It's easy to feel bitter about her, but too hard to get over her. 

And in this film, the  Writer-Director have demonstrated a progressive perspective. It is about one person, not a couple. And since the film is about one individual, it doesn’t carry the narrative baggage of having to explore and analyze the other person.

Therefore if it's half-baked, one-dimensional, incomplete or whatever you might have felt, that's because the writer (Ayushman) who is writing a romantic story with Bindu as the protagonist, remembers her that way. If she isn’t convincing, it’s perhaps because he didn’t understand her. If there isn't any chemistry or reciprocation from her side, that's probably because it wasn't there, to begin with.  It’s a story of a writer who is using his own heartbreak as fuel for his next book. 

THIS MOVIE IS A MOTION BOOK!! Getting it?

You may find the non-linear narrative, plastic supporting characters like family for friends (who are merely there for entertainment purpose), the breaks in emotional continuity, as that's all playing in the hero (Ayushmann's) mind. And he is recollecting all the pieces to form a book.

On the contrary, the main problem is the mere crux, which prevents the director from tapping into the true moods of romantic closure. Therefore, leaving the audience unsatisfied, not being able to accept the climax.

I bow down to the makers of this film, for they have managed to make Meri Pyari Bindu quite quirky, fun and lovely, overshadowing the reality that a writer's life can be quite boring to watch.

Perhaps at a different stage of my life, I might not have liked this movie at all. I might not have found the need to engage with it. As of now, owing to certain circumstances, I do, which is why I expected to be more moved – or shaken, healed or affected – by Abhimanyu’s plight. By Bindu’s callousness and energy. By the writer’s words. By his coming of age.

Performances :-

▶ After the sleeper hit 'Dum Laga K Haisha,' the bar has already been set quite high for this beautiful man with a soulful voice. Although he got no songs to his credit this time, he certainly amazed everyone with an exceptionally good performance as Abhimanyu "Buubla" Roy; a horrotica writer, with a gracious heart and an innate innocence. 

▶ Parineeti's portrayal of a bright and bubbly woman is repetitive but that doesn't take away from the fact that this woman is extremely convincing as a lady from Kolkatta who aspires to be a singer like veterans Asha Bhosle, etc. She displays her fine acting chops in 2-3 particular scenes -

during the hospital sequence, towards the climax and through a conversation with her dad. 

With Ayushman and Parineeti being the central characters, not much focus is dedicated to the supporting characters but each of them does a fine job with the little that's offered to them. 

Watch o Not? 

YESSSSS!! I insist. It's been a while since Bollywood has produced a decent romantic flick with nothing OTT. Do give it a watch.

Verdict : 

If you are into films that take a while to build on, but is worth the wait, this one might excite you. Meri Pyaari Bindu is slightly different from the typical run-of-the-mill love stories. It's a light-hearted romance saga which will melt your heart whilst making you laugh, cry (might) but man oh man it certainly will make you smile. ❤

Ratings: 3.5/5

Guardians Of The Galaxy 2 - Double the fun, Double the emotions.

Guardians of the Galaxy ($140mn) is the second-highest opening of the year, behind Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” ($175 mn), and marks a solid official start to the summer movie season.

Genre :- Fantasy/Sci-fi/Adventure/Comedy

Runtime:- 2 hrs 15 mins.

Cast: - Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Kurt Russell, Michael Rooker, Karen Gillan, Elizabeth Debicki, Sean Gunn, Chris Sullivan (XII) Cameo by Sylvester Stallone.

Director: - James Gunn

Plot – The Guardians' troop continue the adventures as they traverse the outer reaches of the cosmos with a view to keeping their newfound family together as they unravel the mystery of Peter Quill's true parentage with a mysterious outer space army chasing to kill them.

Direction and Screenplay:-

After a quick flashback prolog, we find the Guardians in an off-the-wall opening credits scene, battling a space monster while Baby Groot dances to "Blue Sky" in the background. Meanwhile Raccoon ticks off the members of a powerful race consisting of Gold-colored aliens, and they find themselves on the run, along with some foe turned friends. And things go haywire from here. To be more specific, the script does. There is not much power or innovation involved in the script. It's the same "Save yourself, Save the world" shit. But there are many reasons as to why this basic ship doesn't sink. 

Directed and written by the writer of sleeper hits 'Slither' and 'Dawn of the Dead,' this one is fresh as far as the characters are concerned, who continue to interact in an effortless manner supporting the story’s narrative involving the notion that family always comes first (too many similarities to Diesel's FnF Franchise).

The first was well-made and profoundly clever in its use of nostalgia as part of its storytelling rather than just appearances, but the sequel has a more perfect magic - emotional honesty. This is a real roller coaster of emotions right from the word go.

The intergalactic battle sequences, lots of quirky humor with adorable antics of Baby Groot are scene-stealers, along with an extraordinary lot of CGI except the ending.

Editing and Cinematography:-

▶ Editing by Fred Raskin and Craig Wood is fine but some of the scenes feel pitch-forked and immaterial to the aura of the scenes.

▶ The Shangri-La esque cinematography by Henry Braham of a larger-than-life planet bursting with colors, bubbles, lush vegetation, and waterfalls appear more animated than dimensional but that's a good thing considering the comicbook accuracy. Also, ACES used for the color space works wonders for the most part of the film. But heaven knows why they chose to distribute the reel with such a big blunder towards the end. 

Music :-

Can a mixtape save the galaxy? If you're James Gunn, perhaps. After Gunn's film Guardians of the Galaxy exceeded all box office expectations, the soundtrack comprised of 70's and 80's era tunes that the film's protagonist Peter Quill kept handy in his Walkman, also made a major impact. 

Thus giving way to the Awesome Mix Vol. 2, which is the type of Spotify playlist I'd want to dive into — a healthy dose of rock education punctuated with a few familiar favorites like "Wham Bang-Shang-A-Lang" and "The Chain" to hold my attention.

The Highs -

▶ Remember that scene at the end of GOG? The part where Baby Groot dances whenever Drax isn’t looking and freezes whenever the big guy turns around? Well if you found that adorable, you're in to spend all your "Awws" for the day, every time the little man's on screen.

▶ Most of the scene-stealers are devoted to a wise-cracking Raccoon (Rocket) and a miniature tree trunk creature (Baby Groot) recalling Ally McBeal’s Dancing Baby.

▶Gunn manages to make this installment pleasantly weird by including pop-culture references to “Pac-Man” and Julie Andrew's “Mary Poppins.” Plus there are a couple of Stan Lee cameos (continued straight from Civil War), along with “Awesome Mixtape #2.” (One of the tapes that Meredith left for her son Peter before her death). Also, it marks the return of 'Howard the Duck.'

▶Nothing this summer will top the eyeball-popping cartoony of Rocket Raccoon (Bradley Cooper) and Yondu (Michael Rooker) careening through jump gates. 

▶ After all the unwanted CGI and sequences, James redeems himself with that twisted sense of humor and running gags. Involving around a debate over what kind of animal Rocket is, Drax and Mantis' conversations, Rocket and Quill's banter on who is better and much more. 
▶ I like the way all the characters are all a beguiling mix of imperfections; there is no such thing as black and white. Even when it comes to who is the enemy. Battle scenes are elevated into an entertainingly choreographed ballet set to music: violence is refreshingly played down. Music is a tool for humor.

▶ You see tons of weapons in the deadly arcade, but none can compete with the small, shining eyes of Baby Groot, a creation whose immaculately crafted adorableness could level cities and sink small-to-medium continents. No, seriously guys, get your tissues along. 💓

Marvel/Disney

The Lows -

▶The original “Guardians” was the coolest – and most surprising – movie of the summer of 2014. This second installment essentially kicks off this summer’s season – and let’s just say the ball is short of the end zone. It’s a letdown, especially at a strained 136 minutes. Not much distinguishes the two movies. 

▶Gunn fires a lot at us all in unnecessary 3-D, of course with too many colors and CGI to distract us from the plot. A la "Too many cooks spoil the broth."

▶ The plot and subplots are too tangled to keep straight. I mean, nowadays, you don’t meet a hero without daddy issues. Come on Marvel, the father-and-son drama has been done time and again.

▶ Also, Marvel uses a new roster of boring villains. And to make things worse, lots of them are just a set up for the inevitable MCU phase 4.

Performances :-

▶ Chris Pratt is reliably charismatic as Quill aka Star-Lord, but he is majorly coasting on his appeal in this installment, plodding through beats that you can see coming from the stratosphere. On the other hand, Pratt gets to play to more serious and heartfelt moments that deepen the character.

▶ Zoe Saldana as Gamora seems like she is stuck between a hard place and a rock, in both her not-quite-romance with Quill and her combative relationship with her sister Nebula.

▶ Baby Groot (voice of Vin Diesel), the star of the movie, the clone of the late co-Guardian, Groot is exploring his bombastic environment with all the wonder and innocence that childhood can confer. Brought to stunning animated life, his range of facial expressions, and general affability is far more eloquent than words. He is also gifted with the largest character arc, as his innocence is trampled, but not his spirit or his slow-wittedness.

▶ Dave Bautista as Drax, the brawny literalist, gets a better showcase, positioned as an observer of the other characters, offering filterless and often inadvertently insulting thoughts to whoever he’s with, and playing especially well off Ego’s naive servant Mantis (Pom Klementieff).




▶ Only the character Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper) with his patented snarky smart-ass and that sassy smirk can, ahem, have the spheres or chutzpah to bring low the antagonist (Taser Face), who is about to kill him by pointing out that his choice of name is inordinately silly.

▶ Quill’s long-lost father, Ego, is played by Kurt Russell, with a full serving of mac and cheese (a metaphor for sweet and salty) and a gorgeous wavy Hasselhoff  (Quill's idol) like flow.

▶ Michael Rooker, as Yondu, with his whistle-controlled Arrow, gives his best as the bright blue, extremely dangerous, disgraced Ravager who is an unexpected figure of emotional significance. Just as you feel it's getting drowsy, Yondu's arrival gives the film the jolt of momentum and genuine feeling it had been missing; Although he isn't cute as Groot and possesses a habit of joking about eating children, he is the real MVP by the climax.

▶ Karen Gillan, as Nebula (the avatar-like sister of Gamora), has got not much to prove her acting chops but enough to acknowledge her existence.

▶ Elizabeth Debicki, as Princess Ayesha, of the Sovereign, a snooty civilization of overdressed and overgroomed golden narcissists does fine with the deadpan expression and delivery.

▶ Sean Gunn, (brother of James Gunn) a side-kick to Yondu has been offered a significant role in GOG2 and he slayed it as the observant, loyal, lean and vulnerable lad.

▶ Cameo by Sylvester Stallone is as pointless as the "ay" in "Okay."

⏩ Watch o Not? Definitely. I know it's been a few days already (Yes yes, I am sorry). I earnestly request you guys to watch it in the hall for it's an effects laden spectacle propped up by its out-of-this-world (literally) ensemble. It will give you your money's worth. It's chock full of wild characters, action, comedy, music and locations. What brings it all together is color - eye-candy design, ear-candy dialogue, soul-candy emotion. 

⏩ Verdict: It's more like the first but with more humor kicks and honest sentiments. If you were a fan of the first (I was) you’ll dig this one too, but your enjoyment will depend on your tolerance for redundancy and your willingness to succumb to Chris Pratt’s hotness, Rocket's sardonic humor and well, BABBYYYY GROOOOOOT! ❤ With stunning visuals and incredible chemistry from the ensemble cast, it's just as amazing and as fun as the Vol. 1.

PS - Stick around for the handful of credit scenes (Count - Five).

Ratings: 3.2/5