Thursday, April 22, 2010
P+P
Paathshala
The country’s education system has become cinema’s new whipping boy—whether it is Taare Zameen Par castigating teachers for not recognizing dyslexia, 3 Idiots asking for a compassionate system, Shikshanachya Aai Cha Gho fulminating against everything.
Milind Ukey’s Paathshala criticizes the commercialization of a “noble profession,” but does it in such a fake, over-the-top manner, that the film can’t be taken seriously. However, all of them have another thing in common—teachers are portrayed as total morons – all but the lead actors, that is. If a film that purports to focus on the ills of the education system has no respect for teachers, the whole exercise is futile.
The school in Ukey’s film stands in splendid isolation (obviously a set in Film City), somewhere in the suburbs of Mumbai. The kids who study there and the teachers seem to live on campus. The principal, Sahay (Nana Patekar) is supposedly so strict that if he asks a kid why he is late, the child pees in fright. Yet, the man is most seen either mooning around his office or mumbling some ineffectual lines.
This is a respected school, but, the kind that has a music period without a teacher. In comes Rahul (Shahid Kapoor) with bouncy hair to teach English, but becomes an all-purpose do-gooder. Ayesha Takia plays the school’s nutritionist, and Rahul’s ally-- the only one dressed as if she were on a hill station.
Problems arise when the school’s greedy management puts the children’s safety at risk and forces them to do publicity and money-making things like participating in nasty reality shows. While the kids are ill-treated, the parents and the principal are conspicuous by their absence.
Rahul leads a revolt against Sahay, and the whole city is agog, but parents seem to be indifferent to their kids’ plight. The film is just so badly written and directed, so ridiculous in every way, that it is a wonder stars like Nana Patekar and Shahid Kapoor agreed to do it. Forget awakening the audience to important issues, this film won’t even be able to keep then sitting on in the moviehall.
Phoonk 2
Ram Gopal Varma’s factory regularly churns out a few of these low budget horror movies in between other kinds of films—maybe to keep the staff busy. There could be no other explanation for a Phoonk 2—there’s no creative challenge left in the horror genre the way these factory-assembled quickies approach it.
And it is a genre perfectly suited for potboilers—stars are not needed, plots come pre-packaged; a good cameraman, a hardworking sound engineer and a special effects team will usually suffice. Those, and actors, (or dubbing artistes) with the lung power to emit blood-curdling screams. If they can also keep their eyes dilated in fear for extended periods of time, it is an added asset. Then, some help from a make-up team, and they can overact to their heart’s desire.
In the first Phoonk, two disgruntled employees of Rajiv (Sudeep), wreaked havoc on the family by using black magic on his daughter (Ahsas Chanana). The sequel, Phoonk 2 has been directed by Milind Gadagkar, who had written the first film (with some inspiration from The Exorcist). Madhu (Ashwini Kalsekar), the evil woman with the loony laugh in the first part, who was defeated by a tantric, returns in spirit form and grotesque get-up. And yes, the stuffed crow is back too!
Rajiv and family are visiting their new beach-front house, but the demonic spirit follows them. After the settling in routing, eerie voices are heard, weird things like reflections vanishing from mirrors, and an ugly doll found and brought home by the kids, daughter Raksha (Chanana) and son Rohan (Rishabh Jain). Then the ghost of a vengeful Madhu traumatizes the kids and Rajiv’s wife Aarti (Amruta Khanvilkar) by possessing her body. Extra characters here, Rajiv's sister Arushi (Neeru Bajwa) and her husband Ronnie (Amit Sadh), just for a change of facial scenery and some noise-making capacity.
The film is scary, but predictably so. You know what’s coming next, and brace yourself in advance. A horror film with so few surprises, is asking for trouble. Logic is not delivered, and not even demanded, but still, sense and suspense ought not to be abandoned completely.
In spite of all the effort by the technical crew that has gone into it, there is nothing in Phoonk 2 that hasn’t been seen before. Varma and his director seemed to have counted on the fact that there is a loyal audience for horror films, and they can be taken for granted. Maybe not any more, as the failure of the slightly superior Shaapit a few weeks back proved. It really is time for some new tricks.
The country’s education system has become cinema’s new whipping boy—whether it is Taare Zameen Par castigating teachers for not recognizing dyslexia, 3 Idiots asking for a compassionate system, Shikshanachya Aai Cha Gho fulminating against everything.
Milind Ukey’s Paathshala criticizes the commercialization of a “noble profession,” but does it in such a fake, over-the-top manner, that the film can’t be taken seriously. However, all of them have another thing in common—teachers are portrayed as total morons – all but the lead actors, that is. If a film that purports to focus on the ills of the education system has no respect for teachers, the whole exercise is futile.
The school in Ukey’s film stands in splendid isolation (obviously a set in Film City), somewhere in the suburbs of Mumbai. The kids who study there and the teachers seem to live on campus. The principal, Sahay (Nana Patekar) is supposedly so strict that if he asks a kid why he is late, the child pees in fright. Yet, the man is most seen either mooning around his office or mumbling some ineffectual lines.
This is a respected school, but, the kind that has a music period without a teacher. In comes Rahul (Shahid Kapoor) with bouncy hair to teach English, but becomes an all-purpose do-gooder. Ayesha Takia plays the school’s nutritionist, and Rahul’s ally-- the only one dressed as if she were on a hill station.
Problems arise when the school’s greedy management puts the children’s safety at risk and forces them to do publicity and money-making things like participating in nasty reality shows. While the kids are ill-treated, the parents and the principal are conspicuous by their absence.
Rahul leads a revolt against Sahay, and the whole city is agog, but parents seem to be indifferent to their kids’ plight. The film is just so badly written and directed, so ridiculous in every way, that it is a wonder stars like Nana Patekar and Shahid Kapoor agreed to do it. Forget awakening the audience to important issues, this film won’t even be able to keep then sitting on in the moviehall.
Phoonk 2
Ram Gopal Varma’s factory regularly churns out a few of these low budget horror movies in between other kinds of films—maybe to keep the staff busy. There could be no other explanation for a Phoonk 2—there’s no creative challenge left in the horror genre the way these factory-assembled quickies approach it.
And it is a genre perfectly suited for potboilers—stars are not needed, plots come pre-packaged; a good cameraman, a hardworking sound engineer and a special effects team will usually suffice. Those, and actors, (or dubbing artistes) with the lung power to emit blood-curdling screams. If they can also keep their eyes dilated in fear for extended periods of time, it is an added asset. Then, some help from a make-up team, and they can overact to their heart’s desire.
In the first Phoonk, two disgruntled employees of Rajiv (Sudeep), wreaked havoc on the family by using black magic on his daughter (Ahsas Chanana). The sequel, Phoonk 2 has been directed by Milind Gadagkar, who had written the first film (with some inspiration from The Exorcist). Madhu (Ashwini Kalsekar), the evil woman with the loony laugh in the first part, who was defeated by a tantric, returns in spirit form and grotesque get-up. And yes, the stuffed crow is back too!
Rajiv and family are visiting their new beach-front house, but the demonic spirit follows them. After the settling in routing, eerie voices are heard, weird things like reflections vanishing from mirrors, and an ugly doll found and brought home by the kids, daughter Raksha (Chanana) and son Rohan (Rishabh Jain). Then the ghost of a vengeful Madhu traumatizes the kids and Rajiv’s wife Aarti (Amruta Khanvilkar) by possessing her body. Extra characters here, Rajiv's sister Arushi (Neeru Bajwa) and her husband Ronnie (Amit Sadh), just for a change of facial scenery and some noise-making capacity.
The film is scary, but predictably so. You know what’s coming next, and brace yourself in advance. A horror film with so few surprises, is asking for trouble. Logic is not delivered, and not even demanded, but still, sense and suspense ought not to be abandoned completely.
In spite of all the effort by the technical crew that has gone into it, there is nothing in Phoonk 2 that hasn’t been seen before. Varma and his director seemed to have counted on the fact that there is a loyal audience for horror films, and they can be taken for granted. Maybe not any more, as the failure of the slightly superior Shaapit a few weeks back proved. It really is time for some new tricks.
Labels: Cinemaah
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