This one sorely lacks the Mirza Magic
Originally published on NOWRUNNING.COM
Quentin Tarantino, while explaining why he deleted one of the scenes from his 1994 masterpiece Pulp Fiction said, “It sounds like someone trying to write like me, (rather) than me.”
No line could better describe Aziz Mirza’s new film Kismat Konnection, which marks his return to direction after a span of nearly five years. It feels like Aziz Mirza trying to make an Aziz Mirza film, which is a pity- for despite their apparent ordinariness, it was the effortless charm and generosity of heart that characterized his previous films that made them so very endearing.
On the face of it, Kismat Konnection has all the trademark themes of an Aziz Mirza film- the struggle of the everyman to survive and succeed, the conflict between morals and ambition, and of course love and romance- why, even the main leads are called Raj and Priya. But while even the rather unsatisfying Chalte Chalte was irresistibly romantic before it became unbearably screechy, that Mirza Magic that never failed to connect with us feels strangely amiss here.
The attempt to make everything oh-so-familiar clearly shows from the beginning, and in an emotional scene Shahid almost seems to be unconsciously channeling Shah Rukh Khan, which also makes you yearn for the original Raj- perhaps the only actor who can make doing mush, look like mush.
Shahid Kapur does a decent job but never really manages to come totally into his own, alternating between earnest and trying-too-hard. To be fair, he is an actor who is always easy on the senses- and that sure does help- but the angst of his character never really comes through effectively. Then again, maybe that’s also because despite the number of times it is mentioned in the film, Raj never really seems to be ‘struggling’. Frankly, if you ask me, he seems having quite a gala time in picturesque Toronto, attractively lensed by the ever-dependable Binod Pradhan.
Vidya Balan, who quite literally plays ‘lady-luck’ here, could do with some luck herself, or perhaps some better choice of roles and hairdresser/stylist. Her woefully vapid character is a sorry rehash of her roles in Lage Raho Munnabhai and the disastrous Heyy Babyy. The film does absolutely nothing to justify her presence, and it is sad to see the immensely talented actress do little more than well, just look immense.
A great supporting cast can often raise a film by many notches (like we saw two weeks back in another rom-com that has since become the flavour of the season), but that doesn’t happen here either, as all we see are loud stereotypes playing themselves out here.
Having said all this, it’s not as if the film’s all that bad- it’s never exactly unwatchable, and after seeing most other films this year, trust me when I say I’ve seen much worse. But a feel-good film should make you feel good, and that’s not exactly the emotion I’m feeling right now. Well, well- what can I say, Mr. Mirza, except- better luck next time?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
Poor Vidya.I find her career choices nearly inexplicable.Why does she continually keep picking these stand around and do nothing roles?An LRM followed by a Guru should be enough but pray why Eklayva,Heyy Babyy,Halla Bol and now Kismat Konnection..
Generally the female characters in Mirza's films are a lot more interesting,what was wrong here(sorry,I havent seen the film yet)?It seems to me Vidya just picks her films based upon the Director's reputation,otherwise I don't really understand her choice of roles..
There is just nothing special about her role, Abhinav- it's just the been there done that kind. Mirza's films have often had strong female characters in the past, but Priya is bereft of strength or spunk. Very disappointing. Besides the romance was hardly given any chance to develop, given that Shahid-Vidya share a nice comfort level on camera. And I have never seen Juhi Chawla seem so remarkably unfunny in a film.
Okay so I did catch the film.The film was very naively hoping to wrap us in a cocoon of feel-good mushiness in order to con us into overlooking the sketchiness of its plot and characters.The worst thing about it is that the film mires itself pointlessly into references(there is a reference to Ishq Vishq in the title cards,a reference to DDLJ,a reference to Parineeta,one to Yess Boss and one to Vivaah(ugh!)).What also bothered me was the terrible forgetfulness the film exhibited-almost all of Shahid's lies are forgotten.He goes to meet Vidya on the Harbour front,nothing happens,so how does he meet her the next time?They could have used this situation to make a reference to Gumshuda from Chalte Chalte as well.
I found the chemistry between Shahid and Vidya not very inspiring.They were never really following the same impulse.Vidya's role doesn't require her to act-she just needs to be,which she does fairly well.Her tone in her introduction scene mainly established her character traits,and there was nothing more to it.Shahid I found extremely dorky.He has an incredible tendeny to over-act(what with those exagerrated hand gestures and needless raising of his voice).Vidya forms the film's moral center so given that all she needed to do was make you care for her,which I think she did-she had a naked vulnerability about her in the scene where she catches her fiancee.Pretty much sealed the deal for her.Shahid on the other hand gave a performance short on depth and nuance.Not even close to the kind of empathy Shahrukh engendered in Raju Ban Gaya and Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa.
Shockingly I found Binod Pradhan's work incredibly mediocre.The outdoor lighting and the camera angles used to shoot Vidya just don't go with her complexion.No wonder she looked so drab.He used two shots when one would have done,over shoulder shots etc etc.just incredible creative laziness.
Post a Comment