Rajendra Talak’s movies are always awaited. When ‘O Maria’ promos started showing on TV, it had its elements which are characteristic to a Talak movie. A few notable faces from Bollywood, Goan flavour and a plot with a message- this movie had it all..! But this time there was a touch of a slightly different look-and-feel then his past movies.
Cut to a village probably in South Goa, where we are introduced to Maria [Shernaz Patel], a forty-plus hardworking spinster who runs beach-side shack alongside her house. She also shelters tourists as paying guests, and we are soon introduced to one Mike [Cory Goldberg], an American resident who lands in Goa as a tourist, but ends up staying here more and more (at Maria’s guest house of course!) in search of inner peace. Maria does well to run the house, the business and also look after her bedridden mother [Sulabha Arya] who cannot talk because of her paralysis.
In the immediate neighbourhood, Maria’s late brother’s [Rosefern] wife [Meenacshi Martins] and her elder son Jack [Aryan Khedekar] have an eye on Maria’s property. Maria’s late brother, we are then told, had signed a contract with a top real estate developer Jitu Shah [Tiku Talsania] to sell his entire property. But Maria refuses to sell her share citing her mother’s deep attachments with the property and also because she believes in preserving the sanctity of Goan culture. Her denial results in a tiff between the brother and sister. The rest of the movie portrays Maria’s struggles with her family members in keeping the property intact and away from the selfish eyes of the real-estate builder. In the process, the story gives a message about Goa’s land being put to sale rather meekly to foreigners.
Screenplay by Rajendra Talak doesn’t bore, but keeps the audience engrossed. Cinematography is not exceptional, but serves the purpose. Background score by Ashok Patki also adds to the Goan flavour. Music by Remo Fernandes is soothing and adds life to the beautiful lyrics penned down by Sai Panondikar, to result in a wonderful and trademark song- “Laara laarachi… aik ti kataraan…”
Of the cast, Kevin D’Mello as the well-cultured nephew is pretty impressive. John D’Silva with his short cameo (surprisingly a serious one) is still able to bring a smile on the audience’s face. Aryan Khedekar as the spoilt brat looks apt and delivers well. Sulabha Arya, Tiku Talsania, the American actor- Cory Goldberg and the lead- Shernaz Patel are all great actors, but they all had very little opportunity to show display their talent.
The biggest flaw with “O Maria” is its lack-lustre and shallow treatment of the subject. The story and the message could have been told with a much better conviction. The film makes the audience thinks, but in the process, if it could touch the heart, then it would have made a much better impact on the minds. The narration was so much uni-dimensional, that it looked like just reading an essay on a stage. The characters could have been worked upon better. The old mother’s attachment towards the ancestral house could have been shown by showing some snap shots of her past- some good times that she spent there. The American resident’s craving for peace in Goa could have been justified by telling a bit more about him. The well-natured nephew and his close bonding with Maria should have been shown visually in a couple of scenes rather then just saying it in dialogs. Maria’s struggle with his family and the real estate builders was the most promising part, where the best out of the talented actor like Shernaz Patel could have been tapped. Look at Shernaz in Black or Guzaarish, and look at her in O Maria, and then you will know what I mean.
But let’s not be too cynical. What I liked about the film is its realism. The dialogs between the American citizens are shown in American English and not in Americanized Konkani, like in some Bollywood movies. No unnecessary songs. Rajendra Talak is still the best when it comes to Konkani film industry. Perhaps we expect the best only from people who show promise. And we know he is getting better with every new film.
My Rating: **
My Reality Check: ***
The debacle of “Saawariya” didn’t stop me from advance booking the tickets for Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s next – “Guzaarish”. And it didn’t let me down. This is another masterpiece from one of my favourite Directors…
Cut to Goa, where we are introduced to a helpless, quadriplegic Ethan Mascarenhas [Hrithik Roshan], a victim of Paraplegia and is paralysed from neck to toe. He is dependent on his sincere nurse Sophiya [Aishwarya Rai] on everything but talking. We are then told that Ethan was in his glory days, a big time magician- the best in the business. As fate would have it, 14 years ago he meets with an accident and because of a grave injury on spinal cord, ends up being a paraplegic. He now earns a few pennies by working as a Radio Jockey on FM for a show called- “Radio Zindagi”, inspiring people to live a beautiful life.
But this magician who is full of life despite his disabilities, surprises all by his decision to file a petition in court for Euthanasia – Mercy Killing! He turns to his old friend Devyani Datta [Shernaz Patel] to fight his case for him. Initially reluctant, Divyani decides to fight the case for his friend. However Ethan’s doctor, Dr. Nayak [Suhel Seth] is not too convinced about the idea, but his mother [Nafisa Ali] and his assistant and love of his glory days Estella [Monikangana Dutta] stand by him with his decision.
In the meanwhile, we are also introduced to a young lad with a bushy hairdo who calls himself Omar Siddiqui [Aditya Roy Kapoor] who sneaks into Ethan’s house with a lie, and persuades him to teach him his magic tricks. With his little family, the rest of the film is a wonderful journey of Ethan’s struggles with his court plea for a mercy death. It also reveals a strange and unique love between Ethan and Sophiya, as the story unfolds.
Like all Bhansali movies, this one also has exotic sets and minutely worked costumes. The scenic beauty of Goa is shot with an eye for aesthetics. Cinematographer Sudeep Chatterjee’s work is praiseworthy with Hrithik’s magic tricks defying the laws of physics like dancing on light beams, floating in the air, lighting a candle under water, are shot to perfection. Sanjay Leela Bhansali debuts as the music director, and his music adds to the narrative. The songs are not at all a hindrance. Just one song- “Udi..” could have been avoided, but even that is made enjoyable with Aishwarya’s classy act. The story is undeniably different, but it’s sad to hear claims from the critics that the story is lifted from movies like – the Oscar winning “Mar Adentro” and “Who’s life is it anyway” (1981).
Of the cast, Nafisa Ali as Hrithik’s mother touches the audience’s heart in a scene where she speaks for her son. Shernaz Patel and Suhel Seth as Ethan’s well-wishers do a very commendable job. Aditya Roy Kapoor as the obedient student was better noticed as compared to “Action Replayy”. Aishwarya Rai as Ethan’s nurse is superb. But the show-stealer is Hrithik all the way. He is mind blowing playing Ethan. With this, Hrithik has raised his stature to be with great actors like Raj Kapoor, Amitabh Bachchan or Kamal Hassan. I can’t imagine any other actor playing Ethan as perfectly as Hrithik.
Finally, Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s direction is the heart of the movie. His eye for such a detailed portrayal is an attribute worth admiring. A few glitches like, having a court hearing taking place in a house could have been done away with. A bit more light into Aishwarya’s dark past could also add a bit more credibility to the story. But all these can be ignored very easily when we look at the end product.
My Rating: ***1/2
My Reality Check: ****
The nostalgic look and feel of the promos did create a bit of a curiosity in my mind. Akshay Kumar shaking a leg with the Rajesh-Khanna-like hair style and bell-bottoms, and the playback songs sounded like Uma Devi of yesteryears.
Vipul Shah’s “Action Replayy”, attempts to take you back in time, and the journey is more painful than a journey in packed Mumbai train from Andheri to Dadar!!
The story is about one Bunty [Aditya Roy Kapur], who is a misogamist. His girl friend [Sudeepa Singh] insists him on marriage. But Bunty hates marriage because he has only seen his parents at loggerheads. His girl friend’s grandfather [Randhir Kapoor], who looks like Einstein, is a scientist who has invented a time machine.
Fed up of his parents spats, he decides to go back to time on this time machine, to create love between his parents. Zoom he goes to 1975 to find his bachelor Dad Kishen [Akshay Kumar], who looks like a nerd, and his beautiful Mom- Mala [Aishwarya Rai], who is goonda wearing mini-skirts (I wonder if mini skirts were a common sight in 1975!). The rest of the movie has some painful scenes which has been tried and tested, outdated and thrown out from the lot of plots in Bollywood. Through such scenes, Bunty somehow creates love between his Mom and Dad, and all’s well that ends well!! There are too many songs, and sometimes it really bores. The only song that leaves some mark is – “Zor ka jhatka”.
The story is pathetic, and you really wish there was atleast some amount of substance. It was purely old wine in new bottle. We have seen tens of movies of a makeover of good-for-nothing kind of heroes to smart and cool dudes.
Akshay Kumar as the simpleton Kishan looks horrifying before the makeover. Thankfully after the makeover, the dentures suddenly disappear (Were the braces introduced in 1975?), but he is sincere in his role. Aishwarya Rai as the hot tempered Mala was also good, but the story was too weak to have an impact by such good performances. Rannvijay Singh (of the Roadies fame) as Kundan – the villain is not bad. Neha Dhupia has nothing to perform. Music by Pritam is good only in “Zor Ka Jhatka…” Direction by Vipul Shah is confusing. I am still confused if this movie was a comedy, or a drama or a science fiction. However costumes and set design were very apt. Re-creating the streets of Mumbai in 1975 is really a commendable job! Hats off to the set-designer. If you are looking for comedy, you won’t find much. If you are looking for drama, there isn’t any. And if you come to theatres expecting a science fiction, then you will go back with a big “topi” on your head. The best part of the movie was – “The Popcorns”.
My Rating: *
Reality Check: Not Eligible.
