Jab Tak Hai Jaan (Till there is life, Hindi;2012)
In keeping with the tradition which spans a time before RRF, Diwali is not over till after an Indian movie is watched, this year it is SRK's turn. The films on their part, in keeping with their own tradition, keep churning out convoluted non brainers devoid of Indian values in the name of entertainment and stress relieving temporary intoxication of music, dance, pretty people and scenery. Here too, location of shooting is 75% in the UK and the saree and bindi/thikka (pottu) are conspicuously absent too. Are the Indian movie watching public lost interest in the things deemed Indian? This film generated great interest, as during the post production time of the movie, the 80 year old thespian of a director, Yash Chopra, succumbed to dengue fever. In fact, to me, the most touching part of the movie was at the end. Live footage of an elderly fit full of life jovial man seen mixing around with cast and crew of the production. An unshakable mogul of the Hindi silver screen floored by a tiny virus carrying arthropod just like the bug's great great ancestor floored another, a Macedonian, some more than 2000 years previously.
The small town at India Pakistan border comes to a standstill. The bomb disposal unit of the Indian Army is at its wits end trying to disarm a complicated home made bomb. Coolly rides in Major Samar Anand (SRK) in cool shades and 3 days' unshaven stubble on a Royal Enfield motorcycle to the awe of his subordinates. They awe at his unblemished record of being able to defuse 97 bombs before. As expected our hero does his work in no time and rides into the sunset reciting some poetic lines.
Next scene, a young journalist, Akira (Anushka Sharma), who is quite at ease at being out of relationships rather in tries to gets the attention of hero by faking a drowning. Hero saves her in the nick of time, giving her his camouflage top and cup of coffee for warmth and rides again.
Back in her room, she discovers his diary in the pocket and reads it without raising an eyelid! Samar's life story unfolds...
10 years previously (2002), Samar is a loafer doing odd jobs in London, clearing driveway off snow, helper in fish market, basking and waiting at tables etc. During his shoveling jobs, he meets a drop dead gorgeous Indian lady, Meera (Katrina Kaif), entering a church. He eavesdrop her confession on wishing not to marry an Indian boy. Meera is a daughter of a self made entrepreneur, a single parent (Anupam Kher), after his wife scooted off with a lover after a clandestine affair.
Samar befriends Meera (who was already engaged to a gora, Roger) and shows her that Indian guys are not as square as she thought they were. Heh... I thought a another man's lady is a no-touch zone, but I guess Indian prestige is at stake here so it is okay.
Along the way, she communicates with her estranged mother (Neetu Kapoor) who justifies her absconding from the family and unfinished maternal duties for her undying love of her true love (Rishi Kapoor) whom she truly adore. In a way, she justifies Meera's next move. Meera did not want to discover the same mistake.
Just when Meera decides to end the engagement, inform her father and marry Samar, Samar smashes onto a moving bus.
Upon seeing Samar sprawled in a near death scenario, Meera makes a childish plea with God. She believed that the fate that had befell on Samar was due to her infidelity and pleaded God for his life for which she would give up marrying him! Sure enough, she lived to her side of her promise. A disappointed Samar left all his life savings to his room mate and leaves for India. ...intermission...
Back in the future, Akira (obvious bastardization of world's favourite director, Akira Kurosawa) is surprised that she actually shed a tear reading the diary. She decides that she is in love! With ulterior motive of trying to woo this broody hero, she infiltrates into the Indian Army compound with the pretext of doing a cover story on the life of the personnel of the bomb disposal unit. After a few failed unashamed literally falling in front of Major Samar for his love, Akira still manages to cut an excellent offering for the Discovery Channel. (In spite of the broken camera, the ever resourceful Samar managed to repair it in the Himalayan wilderness). Shh... Don't ask how the loafer in London became such an expert in bombs and a Major in Indian Army in 10years!
Samar is required to present himself in London to authenticate the documentary. Here, whilst trying to save a childish jumping for joy Akira, Samar gets hit by a van. This time, his memory lapse into 2002. He pines for Meera! Akira, with the attending neurosurgeon, concoct a elaborate plan to contact Meera. The old room mate is now a world class restaurateur, thanks to Samar's contribution. Together, they make believe they are married. In real life, Meera never got married! Akira leaves the scene as Samar's memory seem stuck in 2002. Until..
A underground station is evacuated after a bomb is discovered. In a torrent, Major Samar instinctively moves into action and saves the day. (Yeah, right!) Everything falls in place and Samar returns to his military life. Akira's Discovery Channel documentary named 'The Man Who Cannot Die' is well received. Whilst disarming his 108th bomb, Meera joins Samar to say 'I do'
The cheesy dialogue on why he does not don protective gear: We die every day with what do and so to us, with the bomb you only die once! (paraphrasing and lost a lot in translation, as well...)
In keeping with the tradition which spans a time before RRF, Diwali is not over till after an Indian movie is watched, this year it is SRK's turn. The films on their part, in keeping with their own tradition, keep churning out convoluted non brainers devoid of Indian values in the name of entertainment and stress relieving temporary intoxication of music, dance, pretty people and scenery. Here too, location of shooting is 75% in the UK and the saree and bindi/thikka (pottu) are conspicuously absent too. Are the Indian movie watching public lost interest in the things deemed Indian? This film generated great interest, as during the post production time of the movie, the 80 year old thespian of a director, Yash Chopra, succumbed to dengue fever. In fact, to me, the most touching part of the movie was at the end. Live footage of an elderly fit full of life jovial man seen mixing around with cast and crew of the production. An unshakable mogul of the Hindi silver screen floored by a tiny virus carrying arthropod just like the bug's great great ancestor floored another, a Macedonian, some more than 2000 years previously.Next scene, a young journalist, Akira (Anushka Sharma), who is quite at ease at being out of relationships rather in tries to gets the attention of hero by faking a drowning. Hero saves her in the nick of time, giving her his camouflage top and cup of coffee for warmth and rides again.
Back in her room, she discovers his diary in the pocket and reads it without raising an eyelid! Samar's life story unfolds...
10 years previously (2002), Samar is a loafer doing odd jobs in London, clearing driveway off snow, helper in fish market, basking and waiting at tables etc. During his shoveling jobs, he meets a drop dead gorgeous Indian lady, Meera (Katrina Kaif), entering a church. He eavesdrop her confession on wishing not to marry an Indian boy. Meera is a daughter of a self made entrepreneur, a single parent (Anupam Kher), after his wife scooted off with a lover after a clandestine affair.
Samar befriends Meera (who was already engaged to a gora, Roger) and shows her that Indian guys are not as square as she thought they were. Heh... I thought a another man's lady is a no-touch zone, but I guess Indian prestige is at stake here so it is okay.
Along the way, she communicates with her estranged mother (Neetu Kapoor) who justifies her absconding from the family and unfinished maternal duties for her undying love of her true love (Rishi Kapoor) whom she truly adore. In a way, she justifies Meera's next move. Meera did not want to discover the same mistake.
Just when Meera decides to end the engagement, inform her father and marry Samar, Samar smashes onto a moving bus.
Upon seeing Samar sprawled in a near death scenario, Meera makes a childish plea with God. She believed that the fate that had befell on Samar was due to her infidelity and pleaded God for his life for which she would give up marrying him! Sure enough, she lived to her side of her promise. A disappointed Samar left all his life savings to his room mate and leaves for India. ...intermission...
Back in the future, Akira (obvious bastardization of world's favourite director, Akira Kurosawa) is surprised that she actually shed a tear reading the diary. She decides that she is in love! With ulterior motive of trying to woo this broody hero, she infiltrates into the Indian Army compound with the pretext of doing a cover story on the life of the personnel of the bomb disposal unit. After a few failed unashamed literally falling in front of Major Samar for his love, Akira still manages to cut an excellent offering for the Discovery Channel. (In spite of the broken camera, the ever resourceful Samar managed to repair it in the Himalayan wilderness). Shh... Don't ask how the loafer in London became such an expert in bombs and a Major in Indian Army in 10years!
 |
| Yash Chopra (1932-2012) Merchant of romance |
A underground station is evacuated after a bomb is discovered. In a torrent, Major Samar instinctively moves into action and saves the day. (Yeah, right!) Everything falls in place and Samar returns to his military life. Akira's Discovery Channel documentary named 'The Man Who Cannot Die' is well received. Whilst disarming his 108th bomb, Meera joins Samar to say 'I do'
The cheesy dialogue on why he does not don protective gear: We die every day with what do and so to us, with the bomb you only die once! (paraphrasing and lost a lot in translation, as well...)
Comments
Post a Comment