The filmi year 2008.

I already said in the review for Rock On!! that it felt like 2008 was less of a year for Indian films than 2007. Each year I miss out on films that came out during that year, and weirdly enough, the films I missed out on in 2007 (such as Chak De India, Aaja Naachle and Bhool Bhulaiyaa) were some of the ones I enjoyed the most this year. So perhaps 2008 will also reveal some interesting flicks during 2009, but so far, having seen most of the big films of 2008, I feel rather unexcited.

Filmi Girl detailed her disappointments and favourites for the past year, but I'll lay out how the year was for me in a different format.

The Film That Should've But Wasn't: Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na

I understand I am completely in the minority for this one. I guess it was hype overkill; all the praise showered onto the movie, its plot, "freshness" and its stars, you forget it's still a debutante film director and first films are rarely if ever flawless. I liked Imraan and the kind of youthful romance/friendship themes should be exactly just my thing but something fell short in Jaane Tu. I thought about it a lot and came to the conclusion that despite loving Genelia in Bommarillu, I wasn't into her character in this film at all. While I love the song "Kabhi Kabhi Aditi", the picturization of it pinpoints what turns me off about her character; she feels things so extremely and doesn't even try to get over the devastation of losing a pet, and so comes off as this generally high maitenance little lady. I just raised my eye brow like, "Geez, cheer up emo kid!".

The romance doesn't quite work, I suppose because we see them being friends and essentially already in love. When you fail to see the process of the relationship, sometimes you buy it, sometimes it makes you feel like you're missing out on something that would've made you more into the movie.

But I don't want to argue these points - if you liked the movie, I'm happy for you. Just trying to detail the reasons - more to myself than anybody else - of why I didn't like it, even though I was so sure I would!

Ladies And Gentlemen, We Have a Clear Loser: Race

In my initial review, I was almost happy to have seen Race, because it's sometimes nice to mock something so completely. But in retrospect, god, what a wasted opportunity. You have perfectly capable actors like Saif, Anil and Akshaye, and some okay-to-whatever actresses like Bipasha and Katrina and the only real offering of the movie are awkward songs with skintastic picturizations. Yawn. And yet, this one was a box office success! India, sometimes I just don't understand you...

Veracious Goes Against The Grain: Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic & Tashan

So I hated Race but the other two Saif films this year, yes, the ones that absolutely tanked in the box office, I quite liked! Thoda Pyaar was a saccharine sweet Disney film in Hindi but it worked, thanks to the sincerity of the director and the brilliance of Rani Mukherjee. Tashan on the other hand, flawed movie that could've been so much better, but also a fun action masala that proves why Akshay Kumar is one of the top stars in India and why Kareena Kapoor excels if you give her a good role.

Close But No Cigar: Dostana

I really enjoyed Dostana but it doesn't quite end up on the "oh em gee favouritest ever in the universe" list of films. It had flaws, but even more annoying, it had flaws that bugged me. The first half was a pretty damn good comedy, though, and I'll be getting it on DVD. The soundtrack is also my most-listened-to of the year.

Call Me a Groupie: Rock On!!

I don't have quite as clear a favourite this year as last year with Aata, a Telugu film I loved to pieces despite it's cheesiness. But if I had to pick one, it'd probably have to be Rock On!!, a fun film that I'll probably be rewatching a lot.

Missing Out on the Biggies: Bachna Ae Haseeno, Rab Ne Jodi.., Ghajini, Yuvraaj, U Me aur Hum..

It seems like the best films this year were the not-so-big, not-so-mainstream ones, but I definitely do want to see some of these big name movies. Maybe next year.

Film Experience of the Year: Jodhaa-Akbar

I saw this in the theaters thanks to being able to visit the UK in March and wow, what an experience. The most epic film of all time, surely, and the epicness was certainly over-whelming. It gets boring every now and again, but to make up for it, there's hot chemistry, intense romance and elephants. There are few things I love more than elephants. Did I mention .. elephants!

And a final plug to everybody and anybody visiting London:

Ayngaran Video
30 High Street Colliers Wood
London, SW19 2AB

Take the Jubilee Line (if I recall correctly) to Colliers Wood, follow the street you get on when you get out of the tube station, and find this shop. Ayngaran is the best releaser of Tamil DVD's and their London shop is full of offers, and a very nice helpful staff, brimming with movie recommendations. Highly recommended!

PS.

Navel-gazing ahead: Yeah, my blog was featured in the press a smidgeon this year. It was awkward, but also pretty cool. Here's the latest, on Filmfare October or November or whatever:


Thanks to Reema for the scan!

I might post before 2009, I might not. If not, have a great new year, guys!

Twenty-one going nine, that's me. Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic.

Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic is all of the following: an unapologetic children's movie, Sound of Music meets Hum Hai Rahi Pyar Ke meets supernatural, jam-packed with filmi philosophy and filmi religion (cheesy, but in the right mood, oddly touching), a wonderful Rani-run show, a CGI-infested and pastel coloured fluffball.

The plot goes something like, grumpy-looking Saif Ali Khan plays all-work-no-play millionaire Ranbir who doesn't know love (or any other human emotions, but inside is just dying for a hug) and happens to run over a couple with four children. In the weirdest filmi court decision to date, the judge orders Ranbir to look after the kids - he must not abuse them, if they're unhappy in any way, he goes to jail. The kids have revenge on the brain and so even though Ranbir tries to adjust and make the kids happy in his mansion of a house, everybody ends up miserable. Cue Rishi Kapoor the God (only in Kunal Kohli films!) who decides to send his favourite angel Geeta (Rani Mukherjee) to nanny the kids and spread some smiles around the house.

The kids are wonderful, and surprisingly good actors. There is room for improvement, of course, but I hope we hear about them again - especially the oldest kid, playing Vishasht, was convincing. I was dreading the whole kids' movie aspect of the film but ended up enjoying it regardless - the kids and their pranks, Geeta and her pranks, I was worried I would eventually lose sympathy for either or both, but I luckily never did.

This doesn't mean the plot doesn't have a few misteps - it does, and as usual, Americans actors bring down the "good acting index" of the film considerably. There's a lot of cheese to go around, some cutesy animated sequences and one nationalist notion in the song Beetey Kal Se but it's so non-militarist I can well agree to it (I also love the bit in the song where one of the girls asks, "But didi, are we all [ie. Indians] going forward or just some of us?" and Geeta replies, "Good question" and sings a verse about how progress isn't really progress if everybody isn't included - it's an unrealistic wish, perhaps, but it's important all the same).



Saif and Rani have a great chemistry, even before the relationship between their characters gets romantic. They just gel together so amazingly well, and yes, I say this as fully biased fan of both (and as somebody who loves Hum Tum). Rani's Geeta is definitely a show-stealing character, and she's the only actress who I would buy in such a role - Saif's Ranbir is less attention-grabbing, but he does a good job portraying the loveless businessman who is not all dead inside. There could've been better development for their eventual romantic connection, but the film is so obviously made with children in mind, I can't really blame it.

TPTM is a delightful movie, but not something I will rewatch endlessly; the caveat of being an adult watching a kids' film is ever-present. Regardless, for Rani's performance it's easily recommendable and as a fluffy, colourful film it's not the worst thing you could tune in on a rainy day. There's something about Geeta; she's a talkative, lively sort of female character you see every now and then in Hindi films and she's clearly manipulating the situation left and right, but in a way that doesn't bother me. Rani really sells the character, and even though I rolled my eyes at the pre-release promotional fuss about "the first angel in Hindi cinema!", I was charmed while watching.