DelHi 6

I watched Delhi 6 yesterday! 5 days into its release the theatre was almost totally khaali. Even as I was headed for the film, I was warned by many that it was horrid and stuff. So I kept an open mind ... And silently heaved a sigh of relief that I did not choose to watch it in a multiplex, and pay a whooping amount for an impending punishment!

Honestly ... Until the intermission, I found the film to be like chaayaa-geet! The songs were lilting ... The ‘Maula’ number gave me goose flesh! Rahman outdoes himself when he composes songs of devotion! Looks like the affection is two way; the gods certainly love him too! The visuals of the film were also were gorgeous and I saw Delhi in a new light myself! Actually I hate Delhi as a city; since each time I have been there, I have been robbed, chased, lost, and a family member has been either hurt or dead! Yet, after the film, even I wanted to give my own capital city another chance!

Oddly what many people hate about India, I seem to love; the intrusive cacaphony ... The mêlée, the over involved affection, the touching hospitality of rank strangers, traditions that seem baseless but actually have a marvellous binding force. I was told before watching the film, that as they were shooting for the pooja in the film, there were many accidents. Finally, apparently, Om Puri said, "its a pooja, so it has to be real, with a real pandit.” It’s only when they filmed a real puja, with multiple cams (I presume) did things go smoothly. The western world will never really get this Indianness! (That should be a word) But the sheer lack of logic in it all, is so innate to who we are in the core!

Having said ‘Allllllllllll Thaaaaaaaaaaat,’ I have to say I did not like the film! The first half was delightful in a corporate film of Delhi sort of way! It had no story and as a writer, I missed that! But the visuals (Binod Pradhan is a magician) were awesome, the colours riveting, and I loved the easy secularism of the first half, without saying it aloud. The second half lost the plot completely.

Oddly, the moment the story started to unfold I missed the corporate film. The first half was story-less but at least engrossing. The attempted story jarred tremendously and I, as the harrowed viewer, fervently hoped at every fade out ... Prayed for it to be the last frame of the film. That sentiment in a viewer is never good for a film!

The Abhishek meeting his grandfather Amitabh in heaven act reminded me of Harry nearly dying in the Deathly Hallows book, and meeting dead Dumbledore his own head. I know I should have thought it innovative, but after the numerous reddened Ram Leela recounts in the film, this only seemed like another gimmick and I was too exhausted from sitting in my seat until then despite my agony, to enjoy it.

Actually I feel, the concept was interesting, but the film should have been about 30-45 minutes for the essence to be appreciated. Honestly, the last five minutes of the film was really the whole films and again ... even there ... I liked it for the mad indianness. But seriously, after the trauma I had been put through until then, I was past caring; weather Abhishek lived or not ... Peace was restored or not ... The kala bandar was caught or not.

By the time the film reached its climax ... The kala bandar inside me was certainly wanting to break lose and wreck havoc on every one who had made such an infuriating ramble of a celluloid debacle.

The characters were separately nice; loved Divya Dutta as always, as also Atul Kulkarni. It’s amazing how these actors bring dignity and charm into the most inane of roles. I thought Om Puri was wasted. Pawawan Malhotra, the erstwhile 'Hari' was charming. The women were appropriately wifely. But frankly I felt the women were sweeter than the real delhi ki choriyaan who are characterised by their chunt-ness! Deepak Dobriyal was good too in his short role. After Omkara I never thought he was capable of looking genuinely vulnerable! It was a treat to see KK Raina on screen after so long! I love the Raina brothers. The child actors lent a nice energy to their scenes!

As for the lead pair, Abhishek was warm and wide eyed enough to be some one who was falling in love with not just a girl but also a whole other life! Though why he fell in love with bittu, I have absolutely no idea! Probably beaus she told him he needs glasses, or that she sported a belly button ring he never got to see (Unlike the one in dance that antara mali wore and he admittedly loved), or probably because she spat on him once or that a pigeon sat on her head… Beats me!!!

Maybe I am biased! I don't like Sonam. I find her very fake! And she also chooses her roles very badly! Her greatest asset seems to be her gorgeous hair. She also has a supremely annoying off screen demeanour. She appeared on Indian Idol and said she becomes an Idol in then film! When??? Where??? Maybe it’s not her fault. After all, as anil kapoor's daughter she has been probably brought up on the staple diet of glib talk, and megalomaniacal rambles that constantly attempt to shield mediocrity! Ok I know that is mean; true but mean nonetheless!

And yes Rishi Kapoor! Oh my ... What can I say of him??? I have to admit I am biased once again ... but this time with affection! Maybe I should say nothing! Sometimes I do say it best when I say nothing at all! Which is often rare!

Well ... enough said for 75 rupees worth of cinema! Plaza Zindabaad!