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Tears of the Sun for lovebirds
Scenes from "Ishq Vishk", now showing at cinema halls across Delhi.
ISHQ VISHK
(At Delite and other Delhi theatres)
THE HEAT is on. Let's talk of romance. After weeks of denial, let's soak in moments of union, unfettered, unshackled. Let's listen to the heart, abide by the dictates of the body. Let's talk of "Ishq Vishk" and all those emotions that make an appearance with the onset of pimples and do not necessarily recede with the arrival of the paunch. Let's talk of this brave new film directed by Ken Ghosh, a film beautiful in frames, lilting in songs, light-hearted in many other moments.
A frothy film with fresh faces you can watch from any moment, and opt out at a moment of choice too. A film with a script too thin to hold anything of substance, and editing scissors gone blunt much before the first half is over.
Yet a film that keeps a smile on your face and makes you believe that someday, somewhere down the line, Ken Ghosh may actually be able to put the pieces together to etch out a consistently outstanding film. For the moment, we have to do with occasional moments.
Yes, "Ishq Vishk" is yet another campus romance with designer sets, designer college, designer clothes. And designer emotions. Nothing ever gets beyond being skin deep, nothing ever transcends the superficial. We have Rajiv, an ordinary boy next-door who won't stay there. We have Payal, an ordinary girl next-door too. She does not belong there too. And we have Alisha, not quite ordinary but then she is not outstanding either. Rajiv loves simple girl Payal for convenience, Alisha for - well, what are women for! The problem is, Payal loves him for all his two penny worth. Who gets the guy? You would know if you have seen Hindi films in the past.
In between, Anu Malik's tunes catch your ear and Amit Roy's cinematography is soothing for the eyes. But that is about all.
A word about debutant Shahid Kapur, son of Pankaj Kapur and Neelima Azim. He has inherited his father's face and his mother's lips. That means he is no hero material, not yet - boyhood seems to have overstayed on his face - but he is not necessarily bad in the acting department.
Amrita Rao does fine as the studious type, yet her designer tops are not quite in consonance with the Behenji image she seeks to portray. And Shenaz? Well, she is unlikely to be on the silver screen on a repeat visit, so why bother?
Yes, watch "Ishq Vishk" for some moments of candour and cheer when the mind is ready to be compliant to your heart. If not, stay home.
KAISE KAHOON KE... PYAAR HAI
(At Golcha and other theatres)
MANY, MANY years ago a bond was forged between Arjun Hingorani and Dharmendra. Both had joined hands for "Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere". The film failed, the music clicked. Then followed films which did better at the box office though not necessarily to send their stock soaring. "Kahani Kismet Ki", "Karishma Kudrat Ka", "Kaatilon Ke Kaatil" followed. Then came "Sultanat". It failed. Chastened, Hingorani rushed to change the title of the film to begin with `k'. And it became "Karname Kamal Ke Sultanat".
Now, many summers later comes "Kaise Kahoon Ke... Pyaar Hai". Good old Dharmendra is still there. In a guest appearance now. Giving him company is Sunny Deol, whose guest appearance overstays its welcome. But this one not about the Deols and the Hingoranis. This is about Amit Hingorani, making his debut as a hero in a family production. To give him his due, Amit comes out the winner in the head-on clash of debutants with Shahid. He reminds you faintly of Karan Shah, that early `80s hero who did not quite make it. Better luck, hopefully awaits Amit, who has a reasonable screen presence without being memorable.
Scenes from "Kaise Kahoon Ke... Pyaar Hai", now showing at cinema halls across Delhi.
He plays a thief who robs the rich to feed the poor here. In between, he takes time out to purvey the charms of Sharbani Mukherjee, still trying to make it nearly half a decade after her debut venture, "Border" became a hit. But as he goes from his night-time assaults to daytime romance, the audience is left thinking whether director Anil Kumaar Sharma - not the "Gadar" guy - wanted to make a love story or a cop and robber chase film. And by the way, whose idea was it to make a film with a thief as the central character, that also a thief with a golden heart, a guy studying in a usual college, hailing from a well-to-do family and not short of riches to distribute among the poor?
Cinemagoers, exercise all the patience at your command not to be swayed by a couple of tuneful songs Viju Sha has been able to compose for the film. They are just a deception. As for "Kaise Kahoon Ke... Pyaar Hai", well, save your proclamations for a better day, better occasion.
TEARS OF THE SUN
(At PVR Saket and other theatres)
IT IS not a film you would like to watch with your grandma and children. They won't like it. Yet it is a film you will secretly enjoy and actually love if you can take a few moments out to pamper yourself.
Scenes from "Tears of the Sun", now showing at cinema halls across Delhi.
A superbly crafted action film that does not rely on special effects to get the message across, it sails on an undercurrent of emotions. This Bruce Willis film sucks up to you, draws you in, feeling like you will implode. Set in Nigeria, it peeps into human depravation, human majesty. The film has an eerie feeling, often fearsome. It is dark, gloomy, operates in isolation, yet never allows you to leave.
Director Antoine Fuqua takes us to the life of Lt. Walters and his squadron forced to choose between their duty and humanity, listening to the dictates of their bosses or the call of their conscience. Democratic government has fallen in Nigeria and the country is under dictatorship. Walter' job is to retrieve Dr Kendricks working in a remote village. The lady refuses until others around her are assured of political asylum. Walters has to choose yet again. Whether to save the life of one person and many others alongside or risk everything by trying to save them all. How he goes about the task makes for some fine viewing, thanks to some brilliant editing, minimal dialogues and pointed portrayal of the goings-on.
Yes, "Tears of the Sun" is an aptly named grim but a pretty gritty film hoping to keep you involved with its portrayal of human pain, human personality. It tells you the heights a human being can reach and also the depth he can stoop too. Watch it even if you don't quite like dark, uneasy films. And watch it if romance is not your emotion for the season.
ZIYA US SALAM
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