Author's note: Written - Jan 2008.
Warm greetings for a joyous New Year!
Diwali, bustling with bluster and blitzkrieg is just the time for Bollywood to rain its blockbusters that have been pumped and hyped up all through the year until the much awaited festive Friday.
One one side, there was Saawariya, which I chose to stay away from. Too much dessert, candy floss, syrupy romance, studio snow flakes..the more you saw, the more you worry. Yeah.
One one side, there was Saawariya, which I chose to stay away from. Too much dessert, candy floss, syrupy romance, studio snow flakes..the more you saw, the more you worry. Yeah.
I opted instead for the seemingly easier on your nerves, Om Shanti Om.
OSO, abbreviations et al, is the film with which Farah Khan solemnizes SRK's megalomania on screen, molding him in a role that is a shadow of himself, and more so, one in which he need not fear being harangued for hamming his guts out.
OSO, abbreviations et al, is the film with which Farah Khan solemnizes SRK's megalomania on screen, molding him in a role that is a shadow of himself, and more so, one in which he need not fear being harangued for hamming his guts out.
OSO, the latest version upgrade to moviedom's celebrated genre of reincarnation sagas, is maverick, more like a child with unpredictable moods. It chortles, cavorts, bounds in and out of the laps of its granddaddy films, tugging at their whiskers, sometimes even startling those yester-year veterans out of their reclining chairs, who wave an admonishing finger at the irreverent mischief.
The film spoofs, puts its tongue out almost at everyone, has a ball freaking its neighbourhood out and occasionally, like a school kid running into exams around the corner, breaks into cold sweat and assumes fleeting seriousness.
The film spoofs, puts its tongue out almost at everyone, has a ball freaking its neighbourhood out and occasionally, like a school kid running into exams around the corner, breaks into cold sweat and assumes fleeting seriousness.
So much said, OSO does spell entertainment, in bright and bold. For one, you have SRK flaunting his (graphically generated, of course we are jealous!) six packs with impunity. Then you have the tongue in cheek humour sprinkled all over the film. And as a bonanza, a big Bollywood constellation shines down on a cheesy Filmfare award function. The Akki cameo made waves but my favourite is Subhash Ghai's extempore!
Songs are aplenty and upbeat. Faraheography does ample justice to the music.
Songs are aplenty and upbeat. Faraheography does ample justice to the music.
And now, appraisal time. SRK revels playing a partial imitation of himself to the hilt. Performance wise, he is what he calls himself in the movie - OK. Deepika Padukone can let histrionics be for a while. For the moment, she can continue to enchant us with that enigmatic smile. Shreyas is reliable. He is especially effective in the first half. Kirron Kher plays her part with gusto. Bindu adds spice to the act. New find Uvika Choudhury steals your attention.
Arjun Rampal digs out the intensity of his previous roles in Don and Ek Ajnabee and wears it with new sheen. He makes for one of the most polished antagonists on screen.
Arjun Rampal digs out the intensity of his previous roles in Don and Ek Ajnabee and wears it with new sheen. He makes for one of the most polished antagonists on screen.
OSO was last year's Diwali fireworks gift wrapped by Red Chillies entertainment.
And like those whimsical firecrackers, while Saawariya fizzled out, OSO did the dhamaka!
And like those whimsical firecrackers, while Saawariya fizzled out, OSO did the dhamaka!
Pal,
ReplyDeleteI'm hunting for a dictionary :DD. I don't have to explicitly tell you this; I take a bow!
P.S: This is for your first post 'In the beginning'