Chhalaang-Film Review

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Film: Chaalaang

Director: Hansal Mehta

Year: 2020

Streaming Platform: Amazon

Starring: Rajkumar Rao, Nushratt Bharuccha, Mohammad Zeeshan Ayyub, Sathish Kaushik, Sourabh Shukla

"A teacher's job is to teach. Anyone can take a student who gets 90% to 100%, but if you can take a student who gets 10% to 40%, then that's some achievement"

While reading an interview of Hansal Mehta we came to know about his next directorial venture Chhalaang with his muse Rajkumar Rao. What piqued the interest was the genre. It was a detour from Mehta's previous work.

WeReflect: Chhalaang is story of Montu who becomes a PT teachers in his old school with his father's recommendation. He has zero interest in that job. He is a habitual quitter of everything from science to LLB to state level championship. Moral policing the young lovers is his part-time job. He gets infatuated and develops friendship with newly appointed computer teacher Neelima (Bharuccha). Everything was working fine until the principal (Ila Arun) of the school appoints more qualified Singh (Zeeshan) as PT teacher. Singh also befriends Neelima that infuriates Montu. Singh's method to train the children was harsh and ruthless. Insecure Montu challenges Singh for triple round competition between his Student and Singh's. Who wins the game? Will Montu be able to take that proverbial leap?

It's not hard to guess the ending. The story is funny and have you in splits in certain scenes. Mehta's subtly taunts the establishment. For example take the Romeo squad who roams around targeting young. Performance by Rao, Shukla, and Kaushik is brilliant as usual. Bharuccha has nothing new to offer, though her character is pretty straight forward. It falls short if you compare it to Mehta's other works. It's rather unjust to do so considering the genre. The film is simple, funny, and easy to watch. Yes, the story is predictable and old. That is the beauty of it. It is an art to hold audience's attention with the age old formula. If you are looking for something intense watch Hansal Mehta's web series Scam 1992.

The Dutch House-Book Review

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Title: The Dutch House

Author: Ann Prachett

Genre: Historical

Year: 2019

“Mothers were the measure of safety, which meant that I was safer than Maeve. After our mother left, Maeve took up the job on my behalf but no one did the same for her.”

This is my first book of Ann Prachett. The novel was in run for Pultizer prize in fiction category 2020. I'm usually skeptical picking up the award winning type books. I assumed it to be of horror genre seeing the cover and title. And I was in for a surprise, what a pleasant surprise it was.

WeReflect: Maeve and Danny Conroy, extremely close siblings live in a mansion with their father in Philadelphia. The palatial Dutch House was brought by Cyril Conroy as a gift to his wife, Elna. After the end of Second World War 2, Cyril ventures into real estate and creates a great deal wealth for the family. The events set into motion when their mother leaves them to help the downtrodden.

Andrea with her two daughters soon enters their life. And in no time becomes their step-mother. With untimely death of their father Andrea gets hold of the entire Conroy business as per will and Danny was kicked out of Dutch House. Maeve was already financially independent working for a Philadelphia produce company. The siblings slowly get used to the less privileged life heavily depending on each other. Fortunately a trust fund was set aside for Danny's education. He finishes medical school from Columbia University just to keep Maeve happy. However, his heart is set on real estate just like his father. His career path takes in that direction bringing him enough success. He marries Celeste and has two children with her. When Maeve has heart attack their absentee mother shows up to care for. Are children ready to forgive their mother for abandonment? What happens to Andrea and her kids? Who owns 'The Dutch House' in the end?

The story is narrated by Danny that oscillates between different timeline. He often ponders overs his early childhood memories relating to the house. Starting in early 1940s, the tale spins for another five decades. 

Being an elder sister to a brother I could easily relate with Maeve, the fiercely protective and never stops being a mother to him. Danny on the other hand adores and idolizes his sister. The siblings found home in each other while being deserted by the elders. And their obsession with the house is comical at times when they park their car across the house, gazing at it, recalling fond and painful memories related to that. The strong bond between them is truly endearing and that is focal point. I fail to relate to the character Elna Conroy who abandons her young children to serve the helpless and needy. Sandy, Jocelyn and Fiona are three charming characters who watch over the children like fairies. The writing was absorbing and crisp. As a matter of fact there is nothing new in the story. That simplicity itself makes it a good piece of work.

The Dutch House is a story about family, loss, grief, forgiveness and hope. I will definitely check out Ann Patchett's other literally work in the coming days.

Evidence of The Affair-Short Story Review

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Title: Evidence of Affair

Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid

Year: 2018

“It is funny the crazy things our brains make up to save us from the truth.”

I was not very keen on reading short stories. I would rather invest my time and emotion reading a lengthy novel where I could truly connected to characters and be part of their journey. And I felt these category are abrupt and unsatisfying. However, R.K. Narayan, Ruskin Bond, Tagore, O'Henry, Edgar Allan Poe and many others changed my perception in due course.

Having liked Taylor Jenkins Reid's Daisy Jones & The Six in the beginning of the year it was an easy pick when recommended social media.

WeReflect: In December 1976 Ms. Carrie Allsop writes to Mr. David Mayer after finding out about extramarital affair between her husband Ken Allsop and Mrs. Janet Mayer. She asks him a favour to send letters written by her husband to his wife if he could find any. And she offers to return the favour by sending his wife's letter. In this totally bizarre and awkward situation they continue corresponding. They are hesitant to confront their respective spouse's despite having solid evidence of their infidelity. Who could understand their situation better than each other. In no time they develop a friendship. Will they be able to forgive their spouses? Will their friendship elevates into something equally sordid?

The complete story is narrated in letter forms. Most correspondences are between Carrie and David. And some are of the illicit lovers. I was able to finish the novella well within an hour. The shock, anger, hurt, low self-worth and self-confidence one feel being cheated on is written poignantly. Despite the betrayal there is still hope and joy paving way for a happy future is the essence. I have seen the end coming. Since it is an epistolary the time line had to be 1970s, otherwise who writes physical letters in this age. This simple short story was perfectly able to convey what sometimes full blown novel fail to do.

Still I Rise-Poem Review

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Poem: Still I Rise

Book: And Still I Rise

Year: 1978

Poet: Maya Angelou

"You may write me down in history

With your bitter, twisted lies,

You may trod me in the very dirt

But still, like dust, I'll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?

Why are you beset with gloom?

’Cause I walk like I've got oil wells

Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,

With the certainty of tides,

Just like hopes springing high,

Still I'll rise.

Did you want to see me broken?

Bowed head and lowered eyes?

Shoulders falling down like teardrops,

Weakened by my soulful cries?

Does my haughtiness offend you?

Don't you take it awful hard

’Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines

Diggin’ in my own backyard.

You may shoot me with your words,

You may cut me with your eyes,

You may kill me with your hatefulness,

But still, like air, I’ll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you?

Does it come as a surprise

That I dance like I've got diamonds

At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history’s shame

I rise

Up from a past that’s rooted in pain

I rise

I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,

Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.

Leaving behind nights of terror and fear

I rise

Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear

I rise

Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,

I am the dream and the hope of the slave.

I rise

I rise

I rise.

WeReflect: Reading poetry was never my thing in the past. I needed a tune to like anything poetic or lyrical. The poem that made me to sit up and take notice was "Still I Rise" by Maya Angelou. Her powerful quotes have never failed to motivate. It always helped me to think independently.

Being a civil rights activist poet narrates she doesn't care what twisted lies society tells about her. Even when an oppressor walks all over her she has the spunk to get back on her feet. She questions whether her success, sex appeal, arrogance and happiness troubles the oppressor.  She lets her tormentor know that she cannot be bogged down with verbal abuse or offensive looks. Even the hatefulness can't defeat her.

It's in her bone to stand up against the oppressor just like how tides respond to moon and sun. She is certain yet questions the society if they would be happy to see a black woman broken, defeated, bitter and sad. She has a painful past. She calls slavery as history's shame. And she intends to leave behind all of it, the terror and fear. She would not let any of it to stop her from doing what she wants to achieve. In Still I Rise she makes a bold statement of not allowing the vile society to dictate her life, independence, or success. And encouraging others to do the same.

Being an advocate of equal rights and feminist this poem struck a chord right from the word go. Despite enduring worst of life a person can rise above everything with the right spirit and the poem inspires to do so. No wonder this poem was recited by Nelson Mandela at his inauguration as first post- apartheid president of South Africa after being imprisoned for 24 years.

Scam 1992-Web Series Review

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Web Show: Scam 1992

Language: Hindi

Genre: Drama

Episodes: 10

Director: Hansal Mehta

Cast: Pratik Gandhi, Shreya Dhanwanthary, Hemant Kher, Chirag Vohra, Rajat Kapoor

Streaming: Sony LIV

"Risk Hai Toh Ishq Hai"

We're appreciator of Hansal Mehta's work. The films like Dus Kahaniyaan, Shahid, City Lights, Aligarh, and 

Omerta were not commercially successful. We have stopped believing the box office hits guarantee a good movie. If you've not already watched the above-movies then you must. We were in the middle of binging Tales from the Loop. And during a conversation we heard glowing praise for Scam 1992 from brother.

We remember hearing about Harshad Mehta in dinner-table conversation while we were very young. The Scam 1992 is about him. A stockbroker who climbed the ladder of Bombay Stock Exchange and manipulated the money market to 24,000 crore scam.

WeReflect: This periodic drama is set in the 80s and 90s of Bombay. The first half sets the narrative of Harshad leaving his sales job to join a stock brokerage to be a jobber and his steady growth from rags to riches.  The second half is about his gradual fall from grace.  Sucheta Dalal, the financial journalist at Times of India is the one who investigated and uncovered the shady financial irregularities of Harshad. In fact the web-series is based on the book 'The Scam: Who Won, Who Lost, Who Got Away' by Sucheta Dalal and Debashish Basu. 

Understanding the financial lingo is quite tedious and challenging for a common man. All those details are simplified right from the beginning with a word BR (Bank Receipts). A great deal of research went to create this otherwise tough subject. The creators were smart enough not to take any sides. Here the protagonist is not a magnanimous megalomaniac, just you average Joe. Those were the days when journalism was about investigation, publishing with evidence backed by documents to verify. Sucheta Dalal's character tells us good journalism matters.

A round of applause to the casting director for selecting amazing actors, lead as well as supporting.  Though the creator was unbiased we could not help but root for Harshad to get away from all the charges.  We could hear ourselves suggesting Harshad to stop being greedy, you've made enough. And shaking our heads in distress when he goes ahead rigging the market. The sole reason for our deep involvement is Pratik Gandhi, the man who played Harshad. Now even the real Harshad Mehta cannot replace our image. He breathes into the character and totally owns it. This theater actor is here to stay for a very long time. Hope Indian cinema would not stereotype this versatile artist. While scrolling down his insta we came to know he has put on 18 kilos for this role. 

Shreya Dhanwantary as Sucheta Dalal is brilliant. Special mention to Hemant Kher who played Harshad's brother Ashwin Mehta to the T. Seeing Rajat Kapoor as a tough CBI officer is a treat. Satish Kaushik as foul-mouthing Manu Mundra, Chirag Vohra as Bhushan Bhatt, Faisal Rashid as Debasish Basu and rest of the cast were amazing. The bond between Mehta brothers is heart-touching and beautiful.

Biased we maybe we don't to watch the upcoming "The Big Bull" where Abhishek Bacchan plays Harshad. We are loyal to Pratik that way.    

WeReflect Rating: Highly recommended