Film Review: Sachin: A Billion Dreams

Director: James Erskine

Cast: Sachin Tendulkar, Anjali Tendulkar, Mikhail Gandhi (as young Sachin)

Release Date: May 26, 2017 (INDIA)

Running Time: 2 hrs 19 mins

CBFC Rating: U

STORY:

Based on the celebrated and immensely revered life of God of Cricket, Sachin Tendulkar, the film is a biographical with the living legend himself narrating his cricketing and personal life in substantial details in most part. If not Sachin, then the film has either his family, match commentary or news bulletins or mates from cricket field, including legends like Sir Vivian Richards, sharing the Sachin story throughout the screenplay. The childhood of the Master Blaster is either through documented pictures and interview but largely through biopic format with actors portraying real life characters, including  that of Sachin.

SCRIPT:

Sachin's life is mostly been an open book, with very few controversies. Living a public life since the age of 14 when he became the youngest to play in a Ranji tournament, Generations of Cricket loving Indians have grown up to reading and watching everything about him. The script therefore is mostly a brilliant ensemble of huge archival footage from the long and illustrious career of the cricketing legend.

The new parts are his childhood, his family, the personal video footages with his kids and a little bit from inside the dressing room. One is likely to enjoy the real life training of Arjun Tendulkar as a bonus. The childhood story is endearing and bound to bring smiles on the naughtiness of Sachin as a kid, and the part about him growing up with cricket practices alongside regular school is sure to at least make #lifegoals like learning time adherence from the cricketer himself.

There is enough laughter moments in the film, especially the talk of Sachin's injuries like that of his always troubling Tennis elbow which used to make everyone in the country become "expert on human anatomy."

The India-Pak rivalry, the loss of his father, the Sachin vs Warne matches and the world cup losses and the subsequent win in 2011, it's all in there. Sachin shares time period of Match Fixing allegations and Greg Chappell coaching but they are a bit sketchy, unlike he how clearly mention about his initial captaincy period in 1993 dividing the dressing room into two groups. 

The Script could have been more insightful in terms of the dressing room talks and relationship between the team-mates, even if as a narration, like Sachin locking himself inside the room for 2 hours after one particular loss. It is clear that the film was written for the love of Sachin Tendulkar and for the audience members to re-live the stadium atmosphere of the SACHIN SACHIN chants. It is too positive, straight and simple.

PERFORMANCES:

Sachin Tendulkar is probably one of the most soft spoken celebrity in the country. So you would not really expect a narration in that voice. But it's the magic of Sachin that his voice works. Even if you are not a Sachin or cricket fan, him narrating one of the most inspirational life story is bound to root for him and join the SACHIN chant.

The film is biographical, so any score of performance comes from the childhood parts of the film. Mikhail Gandhi as the young Sachin is as endearing as the legend's most famous childhood pic with the curly haired him holding a bat half naked. It's a sincere performance that will leave an impression. The teenage Sachin is wonderful with his strong eyes and how he trains, showcasing the legend's technical upbringing.

There is a host of cricketers from around the world, commentators, experts and cinema legends Amitabh Bachchan and Lata Mangeshkar sharing their Sachin story in the screenplay and it's all a real treat. If only wishes were horses, one may wish to have seen alleged rival camp members like Mohammad Azharuddin and Vinod Kambli share their part.

The cricket audience reactions throughout the film, either from inside the stadiums or from news archives are very well researched for final edit. They carry good emotions.

PRODUCTION:

Emmy nominated Director and co-writer James Erskine is loyal to Sachin Tendulkar - the God of Cricket. The script does leaves quite a bit uncovered. The screenplay is sketchy but there are enough moments that make up for the jumps.

The dialogues and narration are a mixture of hindi, english and marathi. So be prepared to cope up with the subtitles when needed.

Music by AR Rahman is good as stand alone but the lyrical part of original compositions don't gel with the screenplay. The Sachin chant is very well utilised, and so is the positioning of Rahman's decade old Vande Mataram composition. Background score by the music maestro is however very effective.

Cinematography is very effective and will evoke déjà vu and emotions, even if you are not much of a cricket buff. It just tugs your Indian heart. Editing by Avdhesh Mohalla is pretty neat and praiseworthy in terms of the archival footage available. In terms of film's length, it will not bore you.

FINAL WORD:

The movie is an experience from the word go. If you have ever seen the God of Cricket at work, you can relive the experience. If not, then this is your opportunity to know what it feels like. The film is about realising your destiny as the only way in life, the very way Sachin always lived for cricket and the country. Sachin: A Billion Dreams is a must watch, despite the shortcomings of the script. Go ahead and chant SACHIN.. SACHIN.

Film Review: Half Girlfriend

Director: Mohit Suri

Cast: Arjun Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, Vikrant Massey, Seema Biswas, Rhea Chakraborty

Release Date: May 19, 2017 (INDIA)

Running Time: 2 hrs 15 mins

CBFC Rating: UA

STORY:

Based on Chetan Bhagat’s bestseller with the same name, HALF GIRLFRIEND is about Bihar Boy Madhav Jha who meets Delhi Girl Riya Somani after both get enroll in Delhi’s St Stephen’s College. Madhav is from a royal background in his hometown but is short in English language, a complete different lifestyle as compared to the very elite Riya. But both bond over their sports background in Basketball.

A series of interactions in their first year lead to both falling for each other but when Madhav finally dares to ask Riya about the name of the relationship the two share, she tells him that she can be his Half Girlfriend. However, Riya has to leave the college after first year, almost the same time the two have their first but very big fight.

The two come face to face after few years in Patna where both have come for their own reasons. This leads to another short but ill-fated love story because while Madhav is the quintessential simple guy from small town, Riya is the big city rich girl with troubled home who runs away from everything when it gets complex.

Told from Madhav’s perspective, the film may be having few supporting characters but it’s the lead around whom the story revolves, as they share an innocent and true love but in a complex world.

SCRIPT:

Chetan Bhagat is the bestselling Indian author ever. His books may be widely criticized by literature elite but no one can take away the connect he makes with his young audiences. Even the film adaptations of his books, be it 3 Idiots and 2 States have been major hits. This time, Bhagat collaborates with Mohit Suri, who like Bhagat, seems to have understood the romantic genre unlike anyone in the present crop of directors. Suri’s film may have clichéd moments but the way he mixes them with the best musical score is almost an unparalleled feat.

HALF GIRLFRIEND belongs to the good old romantic genre scripts which will fill your heart with love and even make your eyes moist by the depiction of love. The best part of the script is that, despite being slow in pace, both first half and second half are equally engrossing. If one credits the same to the placement of songs, then it won’t be probably entirely wrong too.

PERFORMANCES:

HALF GIRLFRIEND is all about it’s leads, especially Arjun Kapoor, and the film works because of them only. Shraddha Kapoor seems to have found her comfort zone of the simple girl, no matter the richness, with whom you would love to fall in love and even take to a romantic bed. Nevertheless, there is no saturation to her portrayal and she continues to bring a rare sweetness and freshness with her performance, making one feel for her character’s shortcomings. A good singer herself, never does she look forced while performing as her character is also a singer.

This maybe Arjun Kapoor’s second time as a Chetan Bhagat hero but the actor is at his best in HALF GIRFRIEND. His body language, those trembling fingers, the powerful eyes, the dialogue delivery as a royal boy from a small town in Bihar is seen to be experienced. Arjun is Madhav Jha in every sense of the world. You will feel for him, for his love, his innocence and his life. Never does his Bihar dialect in his language seems forced.

There are few supporting characters, most notably Vikrant Massey as Madhav’s college room-mate Shailesh and Seema Biswas as Madhav’s mother. The two leave an impression on viewer despite their limited screen time. Certain characters, as is essential in a Chetan Bhagat story, are pure clichés - such as college interviewers and Madhav’s two other college friends, but serve their purpose fine. Rhea Chakraborty seems to be in a special appearance but is still endearing.

PRODUCTION:

Mohit Suri remains unbeatable in the romantic genre. This seems to be his forté and with Chetan Bhagat’s HALF GIRLFRIEND was meant for his sensibilities only. Not only does Mohit seems to understand the pulse of romance, he also seems to mix it with the best music compositions. The film has an eccentric ensemble of music directors, from Mithoon, Tanishk Bagchi and Rishi Rich to Farhan Saeed, Ami Mishra and Rahul Mishra. The songs have that rare quality that make you want to sing along with the simple yet beautiful lyrics.

Dialogues by Ishita Moitra Udhwani and Screenplay by Tushar Hiranandani are very effective, though one never really gets to know how and why does Riya SOmani coin the term HALF GIRLFRIEND. I as an audience member, who has not read this book by Chetan Bhagat, really wished to know but did not get it.

Cinematography by Vishnu Rao is splendid. From the Delhi college life, to the city’s archaeological heritage, to Bihar countryside and the New York City, every city is captured amazingly, making it a supporting character in Madhav Jha’s life. Editing by Devendra Murdeshwar is not very fast, but the film did not deserve a very pacy editing also.

FINAL WORD:

Simple boy loves simple girl but still life is not easy. Mohit Suri’s HALF GIRLFRIEND is your quintessential romantic movie and not a tired rom-com. It has a wonderful lead pair that is fresh as daisy and share sparkling chemistry together. Watch it for Arjun Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor and for its absolutely gorgeous musical score. Perfect Date Movie in a long time.

Film Review: Hindi Medium

Director: Saket Chaudhary

Cast: Irrfan Khan, Saba Qamar, Deepak Dobriyal, Swati Das

Release Date: May 19, 2017 (INDIA)

Running Time: 2 hrs 13 mins

CBFC Rating: U

STORY:

A wealthy couple (played by Irffan Khan and Saba Qamar) from Chandni Chowk aspire to give their daughter the best English medium school education, unlike their own Hindi Medium schooling. This leads to a series of incidents, funny and social, as the couple struggle to be a part of and accepted by the Delhi elite. The film is a light hearted take on the nursery admission system in the national capital.

The couple, owner of a big ‘branded’ store in Chandni Chowk, realize that they need to move out of the locality into Delhi’s posh Vasant Vihar if they want the best English medium school for their child as all Top Schools are in that area and they don’t take children from other areas that are more than 3 km in distance.

However moving home doesn’t get them the acceptance in elite class, who may be equally wealthy if not more but speak English fluently even as the Chandni Chowk born and educated couple struggle to even understand the basic language. They realize that social groups are formed among the rich as per the school of their children and if they did not get theirs into one, their daughter will apparently be outcast, made fun off and lose the best opportunities in life.

After a series of funny, weird and emotional events, their daughter does get into the Best English Medium School in Delhi but it makes them socially conscious of how their money power to arm twist the admission process depriving a worthy poor man’s child of his right to education. But even after the realization, the social system in the hands of few challenges them to make amends in society.

SCRIPT:

The first half half is full of comic satirical moments on the rich and elite class of Delhi and how the Chandni Chowk based Business tycoon husband and his wife try to fit in. School education, a serious matter, is shown in very light hearted funny takes and the audience can relate to them easily, either in person or in family or at least from news on admission process. However, the second half changes track from less of comedy to more of social message, making it a bit stretched yet watchable.

Certain characters are introduced for playing a good part but almost vanish as the story progresses towards the end. The script is more of like different plots thought separately and then brought together to make a full fledged movie, though one with a very good idea. You may tend to wonder how a Business tycoon, born, brought up and running his fashion store in Chandni Chowk, is not at all street smart as is expected from people from the area. How is a couple with very humble childhood in same Chandni Chowk acting so weird to small homes and locals and the lifestyle of a certain Bharat Nagar where they move for one month to act Poor. Characters like a Hindi Teacher and School  Principal are one moment shown strong but the very next moment shown passé.

PERFORMANCES:

There may be many loopholes in the script but it’s the performances that are extremely effective. Not just the leads, but even the supporting cast who face sketchy characterization end from the script was extremely good. Irffan Khan is extremely good, the hero of the movie. His natural ability to carry a straight face even as he makes fun of his character is hilarious and gives the best moments of the film, even in the serious bits - a very Woody Allen-esque type of performance. Saba is a fresh as lily, both in light moments and as the elite-class-obsessed wife. Makes you wonder her backstory, as to what made her hate her Chandni Chowk upbringing.

Among the supporting cast, Deepak Dobriyal is brilliant but sadly poorly utilized. He owns the screen whenever he comes, from making you laugh at his Dengue mosquito antiques to tugging the emotional strings in the scene after the lead couple’s daughter hugs him in school.

Cast members like the Swati Das (playing Deepak Dobriyal’s wife), Pia (the adorable daughter of the lead couple) and Rohan (playing son to Deepak and Swati’s character) have small part but still leave good mark.

Shockingly, actors like Amrita Singh, Sanjay Suri and Neha Dhupia enter the story like they might be imperative to the film but end up with extremely vapid parts.

PRODUCTION:

Director Saket Chaudhary, who share writing and screenplay credits with Zeenat Lakhani, is back in his good zone that he was in with PYAR KE SIDE EFFECTS which is a good thing. He really needs a stronger writing team. Dialogues are funny and quirky and among the strongest point even in the stretched ending. Editing couldn’t have been more effective, considering the script loopholes. Music is situational to the story but extremely hummable, especially the Ek Jindari song picturised on a talented group of children. Background score is effective. The cinematography does now really gives different take on Delhi but is fresh and wonderfully supports the narrative.

FINAL WORD:

Satires tend to be easy to start with but difficult to close and HINDI MEDIUM suffers with same. Nevertheless, it is good one time watch, especially for some light fun on Delhi society and Education system. Watch it especially for the tremendous acting ability of Irffan Khan and the fun he brings with his fresh pairing with Saba Qamar, a really good actress by herself.