I watched three movies in three days last week and here are the reviews.


My Name is Khan (Hindi): (3.5/5)

It seems Karan Johar has grown up. MNIK is a sincere attempt from Karan and the sincerity is quite obvious for most part of the movie. The director never goes off the track while narrating the story. The screenplay is very neat and the story sans melodrama we normally associate with any Karan Johar movie.

As described in the promos, the movie is a journey of an autist, remains a journey throughout and ends on a high. Shah Rukh Khan as Rizwan Khan reminds us of Dustin Hoffman in Rainman, and somehow he isn’t consistent. You feel and even notice the star in him dominating the actor in some scenes. Yet, he makes you feel for him and part of his journey. Kajol is very good as confident Mandira and suits the role to the tee. The boy who played the younger Rizwan looks very confident.

Ye Maaya Chesaave (Telugu): (2/5)

In cricketing terms, the movie is a like a bouncer that goes over the wicket-keeper’s head. Such deliveries provide lot of satisfaction, but only to the bowler.

K. Balachander might have heaped lot of praise, reviewers and critics have given it thumbs up and a section of audience has termed it 'classic', but Gautam Menon's YMC has nothing new to offer new except the heroine's characterization.

Huh! It was like watching a Christian Missionary channel and that too in Malayalam as the director focused more on educating the audience on Christian marriage rituals, Sunday prayers and church scenes.

Just after the first five minutes, I gauged the narration style and the pace of the movie, and alerted my cousin of the impending danger. True it turned out to be. It was a torture to the senses as the movie progressed at a rate that is slower than the slowest of the snails.

Funniest of all was the Malayalam song (Aromale) that runs in the background when the protagonist, who is a Telugu, goes on visiting places (where his love story happened) to write the script for his debut movie. Wonder what's the thinking behind using Malayalam lyrics. The audience was totally flummoxed by the end of the song and was writhing in pain. The makers could have flashed sub-titles for the poor non-Malayali Telugu audience.

I still cannot fathom the reason why none of the characters barring Krishnudu spoke proper Telugu. The hero's sister Telugu sounded more like English. Seems Gautam too has the notion that to be termed a class movie, the characters should make a mockery of the native language.

Yet there are a couple of scenes which stand tall among the ruins showcasing the director’s capabilities. The scenes involving the heroine’s brother are good.

The protagonist Naga Chaitanya shines in couple of scenes, but on the whole looks dull and boring. The director banked on a hell lot of close-up shots of the inexpressive Chaitanya; he seems to believe that the camera should be as close to the actor’s face as possible to be called a realistic movie. Debutant Samantha is the biggest asset of the film and is very impressive.

A. R. Rahman’s background score is like a cool breeze during hot summer. The background score as the heroine walks past the hero in their first meeting is simply mesmerizing.

Nagarjuna compared this film with his Geetanjali, but Naga Chaitanya is no Nagarjuna and Gautam Menon is no Mani Ratnam.

PS: Poetic narration is not everyone’s cup of tea as the margin for error is very little. It requires actors who can speak with their eyes. Unfortunately, the protagonist Naga Chaitanya is still a novice.

Wish my father too belonged to the film fraternity.

Leader (Telugu): 3.5/5

The movie had all the ingredients to become one of the best satirical movies on the current political scenario, but a pale second half, in comparison to the powerful first hour, cripples the movie’s chances of becoming one.

Yet, I strongly recommend Leader to everyone, just for the director’s sincere attempt. Shekhar Kammula’s Leader blatantly echoes the general feeling among the public on politics, corruption and political leaders.

The lanky Rana fits to the bill as the son of a corrupt chief minister. He has a great voice and is very believable as the CEO of a Fortune 500 company in the US. He looks super cool in suits. The young CM’s conversation with the seasoned corrupt politicians and the assembly sessions are treat to watch.

The movie takes off on a high and by the end of the first half, the audience is sure to feel ashamed of their political leaders. The second half, however, concentrates more on a single point and hence appears dull and off-track though the sequences are part of the lead role’s ultimate motive. The director also leaves a lot of loose threads - there is no inquiry ordered after the murder attempt on the CM.

It’s good that the director handled the issue of corruption in a realistic way. I liked the point that age-old occupation like corruption cannot be eradicated completely by one noble person, but requires a fresh set of people, who are led by a strong, committed and visionary leader, not a political leader.

The ending is the biggest asset where Rana accepts defeat, resigns as the CM and goes into the public for support.

It would be a sin if I end the post without giving music director Mickey J. Mayer his due. His background score lifts the mood in many scenes. The title song with the original version of Maa Telugu Talliki is sure to give you goosebumps.

PS: The protagonist’s attitude reflected mine in many ways.