Morbid Stuff- Masaan : The Bugle's Verdict

The latest output by Phantom films, Masaan, upholds the honour of the production house, as was anticipated. A painful, gritty, pulsating story, it drowns in the deepest colours of Hinduism and Varanasi, to blossom out like a lotus.

For those that are unaware, ‘masaan’ is a Banarasi slang for ‘shamshaan’ or cremation point. Masaan (known internationally as Fly Away Solo) is the tale of two completely unrelated individuals, Devi and Deepak, whose lives go through a twisted journey to come and converge at the common point i.e. a cremation ghat in Varanasi. Deepak, a civil engineering student, works at the funeral pyres near the Ganga, eventually falling in love with Shaalu, a girl from better circumstances. Devi is a working girl, who is embroiled in a case of the suicide of her student with whom she was caught having intercourse.

Unlike films like Raanjhanaa, Masaan isn’t a pleasant tale showcasing the beauty and culture of Banaras. Sure, it explores into Hinduism and its practices deeply, but to present an extremely sordid view into the lives, desperations and aspirations of the smaller people in the holiest city of India. It explores into the religious and social shackles, restricting people from evolving out of an outdated mindset.

A deeply touching story, coupled with a stellar star-cast and the added name-tag of Phantom films, ensure the arthouse appeal of Masaan, which, as many must be knowing, has been selected to be screened at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival, in the Un Certain Regard category. Though the movie skips ahead at particular points, and is often unable to establish a firm linkage between the characters and the narrative, it eventually succeeds in what it initially set out to.

Richa Chaddha gives another splendid performance as Devi. Her work is a standing testament to her ever-blossoming talent.

 Shweta Tripathi and Vicky Kaushal

Newcomer Vicky Kaushal plays Deepak Chaudhary. His performance is extremely pleasing and he very effectively manages to pull off the Banarasi character.

Sanjay Mishra churns out one of the finest performances of his career, and not too late after his award-winning performance in Aankhon Dekhi. He plays Devi’s desperate father who is losing control over his daughter as well as the situations she has landed herself in.

Neeraj Ghaywan, who assisted Kashyap in the GOT duology, makes his mark in the film industry with this Indo-French collaboration, and brilliant is the one word to describe him.

The music department has been handled by Indian Ocean, who have given exquisite, soulful tracks like 'Tu kisi Rail si' and 'Bhor'. The music and background score ride parallel to the film's mood, and carve out a place for themselves in this beautiful work of art.   

VERDICT – 4 out of 5 stars

This movie isn’t your quintessential Bollywood film, but then you don’t expect one when you go in for a film that is remotely linked to Anurag Kashyap or Vikramaditya Motwane. Though a beautiful film, Masaan is an emotionally afflicting tale and is NOT for just anyone.

But then again... maybe it is. 

Cross Border Skirmish- Bajrangi Bhaijaan : The Bugle's Verdict

It’s that time of the year. There’s this festival that takes place every year, which all and everyone come out of their homes to celebrate, unifying an entire country of 1.2 billion individuals, of all religions, as a people, though for the worthless task of whistling and howling at a God-by-popular-demand. We know that festival as Salman Khan. Coincidentally, Eid always seems to happen alongwith it, gathering some attention too.

There’s no mention required on the general storyline of the movie. If you exist in India, and basically speak with fellow humans, you will have already heard in detail about Bajrangi Bhaijaan; from the neighbour, the colleague, the classmate, or in some cases, the girlfriend. Such is the phenomenon called Sallu bhai.

It’s a futile job reviewing a Salman Khan film. The people, who would actually kill to see the film, are the ones because of whom the multiplexes run out of tickets for an entire week, thereby causing problems for regular movie-goers, and leading to a late review (apologies).

This article is for those poor souls who will probably wait a week (maybe two) for the crowds of Bhaivotees to subside, and might rely on a good foreword before making up his mind. And it is at this juncture where I step in to say – go ahead.

The film features some of the signature cinematography and scenic locations expected from Kabir Khan. Compared to most other Salman Khan films, the story has a much more realistic tone to it (not too much though), seeking to bridge the turbulent gap between Hindu and Muslim, as well as Hindustan and Pakistan.

Nawazuddin shines in his role of the Pakistani reporter Chand Nawab, never staying in the sidelines, and manages to maintain footing beside the towering star such as Salman. Kareena is, well, ordinary, and extremely beautiful as Rasika.

Salman churns out one of his more effective performances by, surprisingly, being un-Salman, in the sense that for once, his character is not the testosterone flowing, He-Man that most people pay to watch. We see an affable, Hanuman-loving (and fearing) simpleton, who doesn’t promise anything exceptional, other than an unshakable sense of duty, and a belief in Bajrang Bali. There is minimal action, and the little that is there, is correctly timed and justifies the narrative.

The best feature of this movie though, has to be the little heroine, Harshaali Malhotra, who is probably the cutest thing to have ever happened to Bollywood. The film tries to find a possibility of peace among the various sects of today, through the eyes and innocence of a little girl.

Though the film makes up for much of Salman’s <previous> offerings, it is riddled with clichés that are definitive of a 90’s masala film. For instance, everything seems to be an easy task for Bajrangi Bhaijaan, with entire armies and border forces and governments yielding to his glorious mission. These are moments where the film tries to prove its soul, and it does; but in the process, a lot of spoon-feeding is being done. After a time, the audience was coughing cliches - at least the more wary members.

It’s not the film’s fault probably; the Bhaivotees wouldn’t have it any other way.  

Verdict – 3 ½ out of 5 stars

When you go to McDonald’s, you don’t expect a healthy salad. You expect a loaded hamburger with secret sauce, along with deep-fried, oily and unhealthy nuggets on the side. Likewise situation exists for a Salman Khan film, specially one such as this. Bajrangi Bhaijaan is exactly what Salmaniacs wait for, year after year, with the added heart and feel-good factor, and lesser oil for the more delicate palette. 

Terminator Mario - The Bugle's Verdict : Terminator Genisys

It’s the age of bad sequels, it seems. Genisys is the latest to join the fray, and is it successful! The more you watch, the more you lose track of what’s going on in this inter-time-loop roller coaster, eventually leading to a headache, and an urge to hurl stuff at the screen.  

The war is almost over. Skynet, on the verge of final defeat, is retreating to the cheap ploy of time travel that would go on to form the theme of the series. Everything is going smooth, with Kyle Reese being sent back and all, until it is revealed that the entire history of Sarah Connor has changed, with the arrival of a guardian Terminator – yes, that ex-governor of California – who is partially human tissue, and thus ages accordingly.

If audiences hadn’t been able to cope up with a twist of such a magnitude, the makers decided to make John Connor a Skynet drone. Yes, you got that right – JOHN CONNOR IS THE TERMINATOR IN THIS FILM!!!

*No spoilers there. All of the above has already been revealed in the trailers ... Actually, most of the movie has been revealed in the trailers. I’m just ranting here.*

This movie is like the rich spoilt kid, who sullies his daddy’s reputation via his frivolous indulgences. It completely lays waste to the foundation that was constructed by the earlier films, chewing at it like a termite.

The story keeps leaking through the countless holes in the script, which is unable to maintain a steady, crisp control over the narrative. Before one can grasp a situation fully, the movie jumps forward to a completely different setting and circumstance.

Most Terminator fanboys would swear by the fact that after Judgment Day (1992), no instalment in the series packed the same punch, especially after the departure of James Cameron, but still, there was continuity, and there was a sequence and explanation to things. Genisys seems far from being acquainted with the concept of inherent comprehensibility, leaving numerous important questions, unanswered – who sent the guardian Terminator back in time to save Sarah Connor and from whom? Considering the fact that John has become a Skynet stooge, immediately following Kyle’s departure to the past.

Emilia Clarke a.k.a. Khaleesi, puts on some tight hugging clothes, and a not-too-good American accent as young Sarah Connor. Jai Courtney plays Kyle Reese. Bad performances by both, coupled with a non-existent chemistry, add to the already delightful film (sic). Schwarzenegger plays the monotonous robot, AND he is our beloved old Terminator, so no problems there.

Jason Clarke assumed the role of John Connor. Though his performance is quite pleasing, it just doesn’t feel so John Connor-ey, owing to the hardened, military persona of John that has been established in previous films. Clarke seems way too charismatic. Other than that, we can’t blame the guy for messing up a character who had already been stripped of all importance by the filmmakers. 

Matt Smith (Doctor Who) and J.K. Simmons (Spiderman and Whiplash) make a short guest appearance too.

VERDICT – 1 ½ out of 5 stars

Sorry, Arnie. It's the ugly truth.

Some things are meant to be terminated, this series being one such subject. Going by the grapevines, and a post-credit sequence, this seems to be a distant goal. All throughout, Arnie continuously states that he is ‘old, not obsolete.’ I can’t say the same applies to this film.