Mani- Mithun- Mallika

Mani Ratnam is one film maker I used to think highly of…..till I watched ‘Guru’. Mani Ratnam’s ‘Nayakan’ finds a place in Time magazine’s list of All Time Great Movies ( a sort of 100 movies to see before you die!). But I believe that has something to do with ‘their’ quota system! “Throw in some Asian movies or they’ll crib.” The 21st century belongs to Asia after all. ( Who ever said that doesn’t care much for the 21st. century! This vast continent works on bribes!).

But….but, Mani Ratnam is good. His ‘Yuva’, although it bombed at the box-office (the dumb brigade strikes!), and heavily borrowed from Innarittu’s brilliant Amores Peros, is good cinema. By our desi standards, mind you. Excellent performances, taut script, top-notch direction, competent cinematography and memorable music. But Guru? Atrocious story line, amateurish art direction (horrid sets), lousy make-up, and acting. Abhishek goes back to where he belongs – between the bottom and the lower middle rung! Aishwrya does precious little with her histrionic skills, as if she had any. Mithunda stands out. But then he always stands out. Vidya Balan and Madhavan gel well. (a fact that the Airtel TV spots are exploiting to the hilt. They should give royalty to Mani Ratnam).

Mithun Chakraborty is the greatest tragic figure in the history of Indian cinema. He has the abilities to give a run for their money to anyone in the industry, starting from the Big B down to the small Z (whoever that may be...Zayed Khan, perhaps?). He had everything going for him, acting skill wise, and he threw it all away because he was anonymous and poor and desperately wanted fame and fortune. He succeeded, as he should have being highly intelligent and hard working, but in the process Indian cinema lost a great actor. No one will put him in the same bracket as Balraj Sahani, Sanjeev Kumar, Naseeruddin Shah, Om Puri or Anupam Kher. But believe you me that is where he belongs. Among the very best. He’s on over-drive now, trying to make up for lost opportunities. But I think he has missed the bus, although directors keep saying that his best is yet to come. If they mean it they should do something about it.

Talking about ‘Guru’ it’s difficult to give Mallika Sherawat a miss. Her ‘Maiya Maiya’ item number is, to put it very very mildly, simply mind-blowing. Now, that girl has what it takes! Oodles of oomph! Sounds horrible, but this alliterative expression does complete justice to her. A touch of semi-rustic, small town Indian sensuality (vulgarity?) that is the main-stay of our popular erotic literature and art is best epitomised in this lanky and lithe woman! No two ways about it. No one comes even a distant second. Preity Zinta, Aishwarya….? Com’n, give me a break! Baby dolls all! They are too plasticky, too un-real, soul-less and anorexic. Priyanka Chopra is doing good and has the correct balance of vulnerability and sang-froid, classic Indian good looks, sexy smile, thick lips, but then she is less feminine than Mallika. So Mallika rules! I think we should all be thankful to Mallika for working so hard to satiate our lust, our drooling and leching. She has dedicated herself to the lecherous ogling Indian male and with telling effect. Thank you kind girl!
Bye for now,
Uday