Film: Raazi
Director: Meghna Gulzar
Year: 2018
Cast: Alia Bhatt, Vicky Kaushal, Jaideep Ahlawat, Shishir Sharma
Genre: Thriller
During this lockdown, this movie was playing in some channel that took us back to the time when we really enjoyed watching the film on big screen.
Plot: The film is an adaptation of Harinder Sikka's novel "Calling Sehmat", which is inspired by real events. Set during the Indo-Pak war of 1971, Raazi is a story of a young girl Sehmat whose father is a secret service agent for Indian government. He asks his daughter to carry on his legacy of being a spy when he learns he has lung tumor and a few days to live. He arranges her marriage to Pakistan's Brigadier Syed's (close friend) son, Iqbal (Vicky Kaushal). Khalid Mir (Jaideep) trains Saimat to be a spy and she had to learn all the skills before the wedding, like code language, self defense, transmitting information, eavesdropping, and so on.
Sehmat comes to Pakistan as a coy bride and dutiful wife. She starts working and passes important information without being suspicious. She gets required help from other undercover Indian spies in her dangerous endeavors. She had to ruthlessly eliminate two members of her new family. By this time Pakistan government gets message that secret codes had been transmitted to India from Brigadier's residence.
Now Sehmat had to escape before she gets caught. Will she be rescued by fellow countrymen? Or will she die in Pakistan?
WeReflect: As it is based on true events chances are that Sehmat gets killed. The story is gripping, thrilling, and totally frantic. It is out and out Alia Bhatt's movie. The girl is super talented. When we thought she couldn't do a better job than Udta Punjab here she is playing Sehmat to a T. You feel her vulnerability, you sense her fear and dread, you heave a sigh of relief every time she manages to pull off a scary situation, and you cry with her breakdown. Vicky Kaushal is endearing as Iqbal. People who criticize him for his role, we have only one thing to say, "Please go watch Masaan and Raman Raghav 2.0 first". Then you maybe able to understand what a brilliant actor he is. In this movie he has few scenes and he downplayed without going overboard, mostly he let his eyes do the talking. Jaideep as Mir is wonderful. He is another bright actor and we hope this film gives him much adulation he rightfully deserves (for unknown he was in Gangs of Wasseypur and Vishwaroopam and of course the Patal Lok). Meghna Gulzar handled a rather controversial subject with utmost sensitivity without preaching or badgering us about patriotism. We genuinely believe every countrymen/women is patriotic. It is just that they don't have to wear it on their sleeve every single day.
The best thing we liked about Raazi is it takes no sides, that it shows humanity and ruthlessness exist in both the countries. Don't miss to watch it if you haven't already.
Title: Gone Girl
Author: Gillian Flynn
Publisher: Crown Publishing Group
Genre: Thriller
Publication Year: 2012
Blurb: On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy Dunne's fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick's clever and beautiful wife disappears from their rented McMansion on the Mississippi River. Husband-of-the-Year Nick isn't doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams about the slope and shape of his wife's head, but passages from Amy's diary reveal the alpha-girl perfectionist could
have put anyone dangerously on edge. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media--as well as Amy's fiercely doting parents--the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he's definitely bitter--but is he really a killer?
As the cops close in, every couple in town is soon wondering how well they know the one that they love. With his twin sister, Margo, at his side, Nick stands by his innocence. Trouble is, if Nick didn't do it, where is that beautiful wife? And what was in that silvery gift box hidden in the back of her bedroom closet?
WeReflect: Gone Girl is the international best seller. Book blurb was intriguing and it didn't fail me. Although, the ending baffled me a little, I assume it is the most befitting conclusion.
It is told in two perspectives. Nick's narration in the present time and Amy's diary entries of 7 years from current date. It is in their point-of-view, and both of them are very good deceivers. The two stories progressively merges into one. First half is tad bit slow. It deals with what happens in normal couple's life; losing job, moving to another city, in-laws, parent's illness, death. The book picks up in the second half. The truth unravels and it is revolting.
Amy is beautiful, super intelligent, manipulative, conniving, psychopath. She has an equally shrewd parents who wrote immensely popular "Amazing Amy" series, which is idolized version of Amy, their daughter. Nick is the handsome husband of Amy, narcissistic, selfish, insensitive, faithless, and carries a lot of parental issues. The way Amy and Nick play mind games with each other is thrilling. I felt really sorry for Amy's fairly controlling freak ex-boyfriend. He became a collateral damage in this dangerous game. Amy is rather in love with the idea of love, not really in. Her description of "cool girl" is engaging and disturbing. When Amy forces Nick to stay in the marriage, I couldn't sympathize with him. Maybe they deserve each other.
The story is edgy, racy, fresh, deeply disturbing, sinister, chilling and absolutely original. However, Flynn's previous thrillers, Sharp Object and Dark Places are even brilliant than Gone Girl.
PS: We loved Rosamund Pike's performance in the film adaptation. I could imagine no one better than her as Amy Elliot-Dunne.
Language: English
Seasons: 6
Genre: Historical period drama
Starring: Hugh Bonneville, Jessica Brown Findlay, Laura Carmichael, Jim Carter, Brendan Coyle, Michelle Dockery, Maggie Smith
There is always a void and sadness when an epic show ends. I was unwilling to watch the grand finale of Downton Abbey. Tarun convinced me that we will watch it from the beginning after sometime. I'm sure many share our feelings. We have cried with it, laughed with it, have fallen in love with them, have lived with them.
WeReflect: Downton Abbey a historical period drama created by Julian Fellowes, a Baron and married to an heir. Who could tell a better story than him? I have read many historical novels, mostly of Barbara Cartland whose characters are always around noble men and women, but a drama in TV show, it is the first time.
Downton Abbey is set in fictional town of Yorkshire County Estate between the time period of 1912 and 1925. It depicts the story of Robert Crawley, 7th earl of Grantham, his American wife Cora, their three daughters (Mary, Edith, Sybil), and their near and dear ones. Simultaneously it follows the lives of their servants in downstairs.
The title and estate will go to male heir next in line because of the entail as Robert has three daughters and no son. He married American heiress, Cora with an intent to solve financial difficulties. Now that money is integrated to the entail. Elder daughter Lady Mary is betrothed to heir-presumptive who dies in RMS Titanic sinking. That makes Matthew Crawley, a lawyer from Manchester the new heir.
John Bates, Earl's new valet arrives in Downton. He has an adversary in Thomas Barrow who is determined to see Bates leave so he can go back to his position as valet. This is just the beginning. It is next to impossible to narrate the whole story.
The series involves major historic events like sinking of RMS Titanic, Suffragist, first world war, Spanish influenza pandemic, formation of Irish free state, Jallianwala Bagh massacre, UK's general election, etc.
It is about changing time and acceptances. Lady Sybil's marriage to family chauffeur, Tom Branson tells you about the class barrier. Lady Mary's almost scandalized one-night stand with Turkish ambassador and how she was called damaged goods by her mother gives glimpse of women's oppression. And not to forget Edith's unmarried status and later child out of wedlock. A gay character in the role of Thomas Barrow is most despised for his scheming nature.
Stunning sets, beautiful costumes, exquisite hair styles, crisp dialogue, gripping narration, splendid music, brilliant casting, and powerhouse of acting by each and every characters makes Downton an epic drama. I cannot decide which is my favorite role because I loved them all. However, the one role that entertained us the most was Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Granthm. And the the one character I look up to and inspire to be is Isobel crawley, widowed mother of Matthew Crawley. She is liberal, forward in thinking, appreciates the importance of education, and always trying to help the poor and destitute. As a trained nurse she works during first world war and later stars working for sex workers and holds her ground by employing one.
And Highclere castle is on our to-see list whenever we get the chance to visit UK. I highly recommend "Downton Abbey" if you love period drama and a stellar performance.
Movie: Raincoat
Director: Rituparno Ghosh
Starring: Ajay Devgan, Aishwarya Rai, Annu Kapoor
Year: 2004
Last evening it was raining and the conversation moved to Monsoon in our respective cities while growing up. We had multiple stories to ponder over raincoat. As mind wanders off all the time, it started recollecting the movie named "Raincoat" and how it warmed our heart. Adding to it is the pleasant, breezy, and cool Bangalore climate compelled us to jot down few lines. We have watched the film quite a while ago.
Directed by Rituparno Ghosh 'Raincoat' is the filmy adaptation of O'Henry's (William Sydney Porter) short story 'The Gift of the Magi'. Coincidentally we were reading 'O'Henry's 101 Short stories' during the lockdown.
WeReflect: The plot starts with newly unemployed Manu (Devgan) visiting Kolkota to pool money from friends to start a new business. Here he stays with his friend, Alok and his wife who is extremely considerate and helpful. Manu has another reason to be in Kolkota, which is to meet his ex, Neeru who is married and settled in this city now. On a rainy evening he visits her. The former couple starts conversing about old and current life.
Here both Manu and Neeru pretends to lead a happy and affluent life. Manu bluffs being a successful TV producer wherein Neeru spins off stories about her grand lifestyle, globetrotting husband, maids, chauffeurs, rich heritage. In between Neeru goes out to fetch food for Manu wearing his raincoat. Now enters the landlord (Anu Kapoor) and film takes a different turn. How their pretense comes off and how they realize hard realities of each other's life is what rest of the story is.
The on-screen chemistry of Ajay Devgan and Aishwarya Rai in Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam was beautiful. No, we didn't feel Salman-Aishwarya's pairing very appealing in that movie. Ajay Devgan's acting is intense, powerful, and he has sunk his teeth in to the role Manu. Aishwarya's appearance is pale, simple, and very much natural like any other house wives, nowhere near her drop-dead-gorgeous self. And this is the only film where we could appreciate her as an actor.
Almost entire film is shot in a single room and attention to detail is very well taken care of. The background music lingers throughout the movie. A lot of people dismiss this movie as an art film. And yes, we agree. We agree this is not a film, this is indeed an art, an art that weaves an elegant story with such intensity that it fills the heart with emotion and longings. It could be counted as one of the best love stories in Indian cinema if you ask us.
Title: After You
Author: Jojo Moyes
Genre: Adult Romance
“I loved a man who had opened up a world to me but hadn’t loved me enough to stay in it.”
Blurb: “You’re going to feel uncomfortable in your new world for a bit. But I hope you feel a bit exhilarated too. Live boldly. Push yourself. Don’t settle. Just live well. Just live. Love, Will.” How do you move on after losing the person you loved? How do you build a life worth living?
Louisa Clark is no longer just an ordinary girl living an ordinary life. After the transformative six months spent with Will Traynor, she is struggling without him. When an extraordinary accident forces Lou to return home to her family, she can’t help but feel she’s right back where she started.
WeReflect: I picked up this book without realizing there was a prequel to it. It is only halfway through the book I felt something is missing and I was right. "After You" indeed had a well-known prequel named "Me Before You" and a film adaptation too starring Khaleesi of GOT fame Emilia Clark. Now there are two options in front of me; one to order the first book, finish it off, and continue reading the second; another, just continue with the current book as a stand alone. And I chose the second option.
The story of Louisa Clark begins after 18 months of Will Trantor's death. Now she lives in a flat in east London, which she purchased from Will's money. She is stuck in a meaningless job at the city airport's pub. She keeps cold distance from her family. But an unfortunate accident forces her to move in with her parents for recuperation. Her father is worried about her mental health, coerces her to attend a therapy group, aptly named "Moving On". The falling off the roof incident introduces two new people in Louisa's life; one ambulance Sam with whom she romantically gets involved eventually; another, Lily, a 16-year-old teenager.
The other supporting characters are Lou's parents, her sister, nephew; Will's parents; and Lily's mother. The angle where Lou's mother's new found feminism and her father's difficulty in coping with it is quite amusing. Who is Lily? Will she be able to help Louisa to move on in life?
Louisa greatly suffers from grief of losing Will and guilt of helping him end his life. This is where I thought I should have read the first book because I'm unable to feel the love and loss in Lou's life. Maybe I would have felt different if I had read the prequel. Nonetheless as a stand alone it is pretty decent read. And this is the book that introduced me to the author Jojo Moyes.
