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Brahmotsavam Movie Review

bramhostavam-mahesh

Caption: Ekkuga aalochinchaku (don’t think too much, just watch)

Ap2uk’s Rating: N/A

Quick 5 on the movie:

  • 1) What’s Brahmotsavam movie all about?
    1. Family Tree, Relations, Relationships, Emotional Security, Family Feuds and Festivities
  • 2) Define the meaning of Brahmotsavam?
    1. Original meaning: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Srivari_Brahmotsavam
    2. Movie based meaning:
      1. Utsavam (festivity) = Joint family; kith and kin all are happy and jealousness is not overboard
      2. Brahmotsavam = Movie has made this word synonymous to marriage ; another way of looking at is, the Hero bringing back broken family together is a Brahmotsavam i.e., a milestone event in their lives
  • 3) Zephyr (Senti) see (Mental) below:
    1. Good family oriented story which touches on bondings, love and enviousness within the families (Intentions were good but Implementation gone bad)
    2. Casting: Mahesh Babu, Samantha, Rao Ramesh and Vennela Kishore ; Mahesh is just one of the characters, not a hero, in this movie. Samantha and  Rao Ramesh equally shared the responsibility of running the movie
    3. Creativity: Novel games like “say a good word”, or Mahesh trying to be silly with his father or families taking the sides of Gods and trying to win the debate, dance on ice cube etc.
    4. Folk songs used in this movie are refreshing (and informational)
    5. Cinematography
    6. Kajal and Samantha’s wardrobe gets 5 stars ; interestingly Kajal has taken a lot of care in her make up (remember her look in Sardaar) ; out of two heroines, Samantha stole the show
    7. Dialogues – some dialogues are very thoughtful ; dialogues by Kajal’s as an urban/independent girl are very insightful / realistic
  • 4) Brush-offs (Mental)!
    1. Very, and very, bad job in screenplay like abrupt ending of scenes like Mahesh Babu’s sister restricted to one scene, Samantha’s entry, Kajal’s exit, and no smooth transition of why Mahesh and Samantha starts on family tree search. This is a biggest turning point of the movie and it was not handled well
    2. Bad Editing goes hand in hand along with point 1 above ; there’s a great room to edit some unwanted scenes
    3. Pranitha’s character is wasted
    4. With all food, festivities and mandatory smile thingy (smile = happy) almost every other scene, it reminds “Seethamma Vaakitlo” movie at times
  • 5) Why Brahmotsavam may not reach all audience well?
    1. Incomplete and hasty work always result in semi-cooked product. Period!
    2. Movie starts with a slow pace and not-so-good screenplay and editing are partners in crime too to lose the audience
      1. Remember, Telugu audience are used to one thunderous Hero entry song and one Item song ; both are amiss
      2. In addition, except “Vacchindi Kada Avakasam”, no other songs were catchy
    3. Although movie responds – through Rao Ramesh – to all unanswered questions, it was too late in the game. Overall, audience have more “sighs” than “high-fives” at the end of the movie

Aps2uk’s Punch:

There are only two types of people in the world. 1) SuperStar fans and 2) Others. Former will watch the movie no matter what AND the latter too shall watch the movie only to lament. Decide what group you are in?! 🙂

Ap2UK’s Hearts:

Let me save my hearts for another occasion!

ap2uk-admin by — May 21, 2016 in Movie Reviews
Sardaar Gabbar Singh Movie Review

sardaar-gabbar-singh-poster

Caption: Pawan pulled “Aagadu”?

Ap2UK Rating: 2.5/5

Zephyr: Story

Brush off:
1) Movie definitely needs a sharpened scissors to reduce the length
2) Considering a major league heroine, Kajal should have taken extra care on her make up ; she lost charm and looked uninterested
3) Believe it or not, overall package (the movie) has linkage issues. It appears like last minute stress on entire team. I could see some flashy unexpected or confusing scene transitions
4) Story, Screenplay, Direction – Pawan Kalyan  😉
5) Quality of the movie is not consistent in terms of video quality. Beginning of the movie is no less than any youtube video quality
6) Pawan and Veena step was a dud.  Pawan tried  his best to dance in the movie but let me put this way, we should limit him to do easy teenmaar steps, period
7) Pawan Kalyan creative works team needs to be strengthened to do better graphics
8) Movies are not a platform to get into politics in full fledge
9) Inconsistent and unappreciated dubbing
10) Mega family – STOP abusing Chiru’s songs and dialogues. Never thought, Pawan needs Chiru trump card at least for his movies

Ap2uk Rede:

It is very clear that Pawan was sandwiched between Gabbar Singh and Attarintiki Daaredi success and was feeling overly burdened to make this movie work. It’s totally Pawan’s baby. Good thing about established heroes is they can make 3 hour length of movie only for their fans. And, surprisingly, he has enough fans to watch to get ROI.

My two cents, the heroes who are investing in the movies they act, should only ACT and control the urge of involving themselves in any other department..

Story in a nutshell (spoiler alert):

Sardaar Gabbar Singh is a new age version of a cowboy in a police dress. He’s affected and reacts to every bad thing that happens in and around him. How Sardaar saves Ratanpur village and his love interest is what this commercial flick offers. Entertainment with an overdose of unwanted screenplay.

What worked well

  1. Story – it reminds you of a Chandamama story till boring sets in with unwanted scenes
  2. Sharad Kelkar❤❤❤ – Pawan’s choice of having a handsome villain actually worked for the movie. Sharad gave his best
  3. Mukesh Rishi was a great support all through
  4. Sangeet song – DJ version – was entertaining ; “Chepakallu” song is catchy
  5. Kajal’s costume designer definitely needs some recognition. Archa Mehta, if I am not wrong, did commendable job
  6. Few dialogues were very intellectual ; there was one dialogue that says something like “if oppressed get strength no one can beat their progress” ; Sai Madhav Burra did put his best efforts to pen some good dialogues

 

Ap2uk Verdict:

I am hesitating to recommend. Not just Guns, Guts, and Horses, Patience is much needed to watch this lengthy movie!

ap2uk-admin by — April 10, 2016 in Movie Reviews
Masan Movie Review

Masaan-Hindi-Movie-PosterThe Movie: Masaan (Graveyard / Burial ground)

Caption: Yin and Yang

Rating: 4/5

Zephyr: Story, Screenplay and Direction

Imagine a bad hair day! Imagine a bad day at work day! Some people tend make big fuss about little things until they see the real “bad” day in people’s lives. Masaan gives a real taste of life with right amounts of shade covering struggles, love, emotions, loss, compromise, acceptance and moving on. This movie is a fight between life and a living, a compromise between likes and dislikes, a war on emotions and wants, and a no-line between moral policing and privacy. This movie definitely unfolds the so-called biased society with unwanted moral policing, red tapism, exploitation, casteism, and lastly, zero-value to a poor man’s life.

Story in a nutshell (spoiler alert):

Masaan showcases complicated lives where everything they encounter is nothing but negativity and/or ill-luck. With a very positive ending on how they thrive and grow out of their misery. It has 2 stories which are shown intertwined with clear distinction for better clarity. Backdrop is based in Banaras. This movie is very intriguing and haunting.

First story talks about a young girl’s date going going wrong and the boy committing suicide because of over enthusiasm from the police. Female protagonist in the first story is very courageous, determined and confident. She and her father are harassed by police for saving her name from suicide case. This story talks about exploitation of poor by policemen, relationship between a father and daughter, a father’s stress on societal pressure, and finding all means and ways to pay 3lac rupees to police as bribe are very well shot. The female protagonist tries and succeeds in getting out of her past, and succeeds in getting a Govt. job in a nearby city. Her character is very gutsy. She endures all insults that come upon her and fights back with brave heart.

Second story talks about a low caste boy – who’s day job is working in the graveyard to burn the dead bodies – liking an upper caste girl. Love or attraction is beyond religions, castes and society. A teenage boy liking a girl, a normal process. The protagonist in the 2nd story is highly ambitious. He goes to college to do a white collar job and do well. When he confesses his love to the girl, the girl accepts his proposal. However, she encourages him to do well in his studies and get job first before they share their love news with her parents. A pure / innocent love that goes on with long phone calls, being around and talking together, riding on a bike are very well shown. One day when the protagonist was working in the graveyard, he gets to burn a body which ends up as his girlfriend’s body. She dies in a bus accident when she goes on a tourism along with her parents and relatives. The boy get devastated. He almost loses interest in his life. But one day, he decides to put his past to rest and start a new life. He succeeds in getting a good job in a nearby city.

Climax: Female protagonist from first story meets the male protagonist from the second story on a boat. This open end leaves audience to think a positive outcome in their lives.

What worked well:

  1. Story, screenplay and the direction
  2. Very good casting. All artistes out-did their jobs
    1. The little kid’s scenes where he jumps into waters to bring coins as a part of local betting is very gripping. Audience empathize with his character and gets to the edge of the seats in the scene where he jumps into waters and doesn’t come onshore
  3. Songs are well timed and are of great composition. “Tu Kisi Rail Si .. “ is worth listening as lyrics touch your hearts. “tu kisi rail si guzarti hai, main pul sa thartharata hoon” – meaning if you pass like a train, I shiver like a bridge … watch full song here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpf8hrbT2d0

Conclusion:

If you like off-beat movies then this is the one. Weak and emotional hearts and reality-averters, please stay away.

ap2uk-admin by — January 5, 2016 in Movie Reviews
“Tamasha” Hindi Movie Review

tamasha-movie-reviewCaption: Weak first half and Strong second half

Savvy’s Rating: 3/5 (reluctant rating)

Zephyr: Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika

Brush off:
1) Ranbir Kapoor’s irrational / mental reaction at a party and few other similar scenes
2) It’s time for Deepika to check her roles. Metro girl look and roles are good but repetition may impact her career. Technically, she didn’t get meaty role to prove in this movie (she looked chic though)
3) Songs are out of place (in the movie)

Savvy’s Rede:

Life’s a PLAY. Lucky are those who get a chance to direct their lives. And the rest are called common people.

Imtiaz Ali did it again. Weak hearted female protagonist again. Heroine’s role-o-meter drops to Zero by the climax. 😀

Check this out:

1) Heroine, a naive girl, goes all alone to Corsica and falls for an unknown Indian guy (the Hero). She has a good time with him but doesn’t think she’s in love with him. Cut! Fast forward, she re-enters into the Hero’s life by stating she never forgot him all these years and starts painting the town red with him. But, later rejects his proposal “because” he’s not cheerful the way he was in Corsica. Wait, picture abhi baaki hai, after the rejection, she convinces herself that she’s totally in love with him and tries her best to win him back. All in all, a confused female role. Weak, volatile and fickle minded.

2) Hero’s role confuses you, if not alert. A lost soul in the real world. He’s strong willed at times (trying to take the rejection maturely), looks mentally ill at times (party scene where makes a big ruckus), frustrated (cz of parental pressure and not likeable job) and depressed (cz his love insults him) many times and all in all not happy with his live at all. If this is what the Director wanted to show to audience then he’s successful to some extent.

Story in a nutshell (spoiler alert):

At a hi-level, the movie is all about “love what you do, do what you love”. Hero succumbs to parental pressure as a kid and picks up Engineering over his love for story-telling. Later, on the job, he becomes a corporate robot under societal pressure. Technically, he becomes a life-less machine who does everything the same way again and again with no zest.

Once the goes to Corsica and meets an Indian girl (the Heroine). The same girl enters in his life after few years. She expects him to be cheerful and lively but very soon realizes that he’s no more like that. She rejects his proposal. The inner demon takes a toll on this already depressed soul (the Hero). He’s now caught between parental wish (Engineering and a white collar job) and the girl he had fallen for (who’s trying to change him). After many twists, the Hero convinces his parents, leaves the corporate job and starts his own troupe of shows (hi-end story-telling). The movie takes you to the past, present and the future throughout its duration

The movie starts off with very confusing and fast paced scenes. Audience may feel very disconnected and baffled. After an hour or so, things start falling in place and you get involved in the movie.

Few questions that movie tried telling us:

  1. Kids who undergo parental pressure to study what they don’t like over picking the career what they are good at
  2. Touches on compromised – plastic – lives (aka lifeless life) that few people live in the society and the rat-race they follow to compete with others
  3. Love err a girl enters your life and wants to change your life to a “U” turn (this would never change in any generation 😉 )
  4. Glory of childhood and special attention one gets as a kid ; and how that angel-ring disappears as people grow up
  5. Last but not the least, it’s never too late to pursue your ambitions. Change of careers can happen any time in life. Whatever is the time, it’s the right time, go for it!

What worked well:

  1. It’s all about Ranbir. He has done good job as a frustrated son and strong-willed lover. He just mesmerizes you with his acting in the later part of the movie. Wish movie had a great start
  2. Songs are good to listen ; picturization and placement are not so good. My fav is 1) Safarnama and 2) Agar tum saath ho

Savvy’s Punch:

This movie is for a specific set of audience. Not for all. I am in split thoughts to recommend this movie as I am not convinced of myself.

ap2uk-admin by — December 2, 2015 in Movie Reviews