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December 29, 2005
Eight days a week
FILM
I watched the first half of Mein, Meri Patni Aur Woh with a permanent smile etched across my face. It’s a throwback to the kind of films made by Basu Chatterjee in the 70s in that it’s about common folk. Self-effacing university librarian Mithilesh (Rajpal Yadav) has no interest in getting married until he’s introduced to the charming Rituparno Sengupta. How the two meet, get to know each and end up deciding to get married is rather delightful and naturalistically told by director Chandan Arora and is the best part of the movie.
My smile faded somewhat in the second half though the movie kept my interest when the couple moves in to Mithilesh’s small apartment and his insecurities start coming to the fore because his wife is so much more attractive than him and a foot taller, to boot. However, the movie starts to flag in the last third when the two get a new neighbour (Kay Kay Menon) and Mithilesh works himself up into a tizzy. It’s not that this part isn’t believable but just that it goes on a bit too long. Still, the ending is nicely handled by Arora and nicely acted by Yadav and Sengupta. With a little tighter editing this could have been a real winner but it still remains worth checking out, especially for those looking for something different.
—Khusro Mumtaz
OR
Writer Shane Black (Lethal Weapon, Long Kiss Goodnight) directs his first feature in Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang. This is a smart little private detective noir black comedy with crackerjack dialogue, great deadpan performances by Robert Downey Jr. as a small-time crook sucked into the world of Hollywood under a bizarre set of circumstances and Val Kilmer, a gay private detective working the Hollywood beat, and an over-convoluted plot that doesn’t really detract from the fun of watching the movie because it’s the ride that counts here and not the destination. When dead bodies start appearing the two team up to solve a mystery which gets stranger and stranger and more and more dangerous as it goes along.
Black makes the movie even more fun for fans of hard boiled detective fiction because he names each chapter of the film after a Raymond Chandler (author of the Philip Marlowe books) novel or short story. This is not something that the average viewer would be concerned with but it just adds a nice little touch to those who are Chandler aficionados (like me). Those of you who liked Get Shorty should thoroughly enjoy this mixture of crime, comedy, danger and Hollywood.—K.M.
SINGLE
Kelly Clarkson continues to go from strength to strength as her smash Breakaway album releases another hit single, this time the emotion-packed Because of You.
Clarkson entered the spotlight when she won the premier American Idol. She later placed second at the World Idol, but her debut album Thankful didn’t create many waves. Breakaway, on the other hand, reflects her maturing talent and the runaway title track and the poppy Since U Been Gone garnered her fair attention. Because of You underlines the strength of her talent and solidifies her sophomore album as her true arrival.
The lyrics to this autobiographical single were originally penned by the American when she was just sixteen years old and were recently “buffed up” by wonderboys Ben Moody and David Hodges who co-wrote and produced the track. The words express the frustration and sadness of Clarkson’s troubled family life growing up as the starlet sings, I heard you cry every night in your sleep/I was so young/You should have known better than to lean on me/You never thought of anyone else/You just saw your pain/And now I cry in the middle of the night/For the same thing.
Clarkson’s voice perfectly captures her despair and genuine bitterness stemming from her parents’ turbulent marriage and subsequent divorce. The accompanying video brings to life the pain in the song and further reveals the unexpected depths in Clarkson’s songwriting and musical talents.— T. U. Dawood
ALBUM
Alternative rock band Korn has just released their seventh studio album titled See You On The Other Side to much controversy. This is their first CD without founding member Brian “Head” Welch (who has left the band for religious reasons) and instead the boys have turned to “outside” help, such as the renowned songwriting team of the Matrix and producer Atticus Ross (Nine Inch Nails).
Long-time Korn fans will likely be disappointed in this more mainstream collection but in the end these catchier tunes may just get the band a whole new set of fans! There are some impressive highlights on the CD. Getting Off and Coming Undone especially are triumphs for the band and some singles like Liar are effortlessly catchy and radio-friendly.
Too much of the rest of the album, however, suffers from overdone mid-tempo tunes and many half-hearted efforts. The finale track Tearjerker, in particular, feels like it belongs on a different disc and its inclusion results in the CD ending on a disappointing note.
Without a doubt the band suffers from the loss of Head. Left with just one studio guitarist James “Munky” Shaffer, there is a lot less alchemy and definitely a whole lot less guitar.
Still, it’s nice to see the band continue to evolve – growing pains and all — and if gems like Liar are any indication, the remaining quartet definitely made a wise decision in turning to heavy hitters Matrix and Ross.—T.U.D.
EXHIBITION
An exhibition of watercolour paintings by 18 artists is being held at Momart Gallery. The exhibition will remain open till 7th January, 2006, daily from 11am to 7pm. Phone 4530725.
OR
Solo exhibition of calligraphy by Chitra Pretam is being held at Gulmohar Art Gallery. The exhibition will continue till January 3, 2006. Daily from 10.30am till 7.30pm. Phone: 4385440.—A.S
TV
A complete catalogue of music of 2005, Rewind is a one-hour long programme hosted by Mariah Arif, which has details of all the musical happenings of 2005. Be it breakups, tours, concerts or audio/video releases, the programme encapsulates it all. Scripted, directed and produced by Ali Tim, Rewind will go on air on January 1, 2006 at 7pm on Hum TV.
OR
Human relations in their social set ups is the main theme in the serial Jahan Basain Dildar, written for PTV by Taj Haider and produced by Ali Rizvi. There is no drama without conflict which manifests itself in our society through sharply divided classes.
The story reflects the tyranny of the powerful, the greed of the social climbers, the hidden goodness of those rejected and the strength of the meek and the powerless, springing from their firm belief in high values of life like love, truth, justice and honesty. The cast includes, Mona Lisa, Sohail Asghar, Aisha Khan and others. Jahan Basain is telecast every Tuesday at 7.45pm on PTV.
—A.S.
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