A welcome dose of realism in Hindi Mainstream Cinema

Bollywood seems to have woken up and smelt the coffee....of late, its movie offerings have become more realistic, authentic and grounded. They have actually begun to make a lot of sense! You don't have to leave your brains at home, and the take-away from Hindi movies can actually be very positive.

Recent Hindi films like Queen, Neerja, Nil Batte Sannata, Dear Zindagi, Jolly LLB are quite engaging while being firmly rooted in reality. Sentimentalism and maudlin melodrama are kept firmly in check, and larger than life heroes without any flaw do not emerge to solve all problems. The ultimate is of course Dangal, which is actually a slice of life story, based on the struggles of the Phogat sisters. Kahani 2 and Akira have raised pertinent social issues as well.

What is even more heartening, is the involvement of top stars and the backing of big production houses in these projects. Stars like Aamir Khan have always been involved in backing socially responsible films like Taare Zameen Par and Rang De Basanti. Of late, more Bollywood A-listers like Shahrukh Khan and Akshay Kumar, Kangana Ranaut, Sonam Kapoor and Alia Bhatt, have put their muscle and acting prowess behind these slice of life films. Even a Dharma Productions chooses to back Dear Zindagi and Kapoor and Sons. Small realistic films can certainly do with such support.

Let's hope this movement towards realism gains momentum, and stems the tide towards fantasy and larger than life melodrama that had become the cornerstone of Bollywood mainstream cinema. Hindi cinema can regain its former glory and social relevance if responsible directors and stars keep this up. ☺☝

Comments

Enough! No more rape!

The recent horrifying, stomach-churning incident in Kolkata is not a one-time aberration. It keeps occuring in our country. And we women are also responsible for this stinking rot in society. Ask yourself these uncomfortable questions. How many of you protest when a girl wearing "revealing clothes" is cat-called? Did you show your support for our wrestlers protesting against a habitual offender? Did your blood boil when you saw pictures of our sisters in Manipur paraded naked? When rapists are released from prison or routinely escape punishment, do you raise your voice? How many of you have tolerated violence or even casual sexism in your own home? Do you turn the other way when transgenders are leered at? Do you grin and bear it when the men in your family crack obscene jokes? Do Kathua and Hathras ring a bell? And lastly, how many of you thronged cinema halls to make misogynistic horrors like Animal and Kabir Singh blockbusters? I have asked myself and am distinctly feeli...

All We Imagine as Light- Lyricism on Celluloid

When an Indian film makes it the prestigious Cannes film festival, the world sits up and takes notice! And the lovely ladies swinging on the stage is a recent memory that brings a sense of pride. I had the good fortune to catch this film on screen recently. A review of such work is unnecessary, but still am bursting to say a few words. Right from the scintillating background score, to the events that unfold like pages fluttering in an open book, to the effortless performances, it's a masterpiece all right! The first half romances Mumbai- in the rains, at night, in the bazaars, in dingy rooms, in the local trains. Image source: Wikipedia The second half shows what light truly is, brilliant sunshine, crashing waves and salty air in a small coastal village in Maharashtra. You can feel the taste of salt, the breeze in your hair and the touch of sand under your feet, the cinematography is so real. Payal Kapadia masters the art of holding back, of showing beauty in the mundane. The hosp...

Laapataa Ladies - the Unfortunate Story of Lost Women

Laapataa Ladies is a deceptively simple, yet extremely thought-provoking satire couched in a simple story of exchanged brides. Image Source: IMdB This is the unfortunate story of countless ordinary women living under the veil, in the shadow of uncaring men. Who can't remember any details of their husband or the sasural they are married into. Who are trained only to obey their husband, do their duty in the kitchen, and follow orders of in-laws. Who don't have the liberty to study or do something for their own betterment. What can we expect for such women, except a lifetime of slavery? If the husband happens to be good, then there's some ray of hope. If he's a rascal, then God save her. Thanks to Kiran Rao for addressing the woes of 80% of Indian women living in nameless villages. And thanks for calling out the "greatest fraud" - the fraud of getting ready for marriage and domesticity. Where you can make the perfect kalakand, but you can't find your way...

My Page

Search This Blog