Let's do something...

I always refrain from writing any film reviews even though I eat, drink and sleep movies; feel so strongly about the theme, script, execution, actors, performances, cinematography etc etc. One reason is I have seen such passionate film reviews that it belittles my understanding of movies. Also, the range of movies I watch may not be as broad in spectrum as others. It's like sending a bathroom singer to judge performances of wannabe singers. And among various reasons also lists the fact that in spite of best of my intentions I don't get to see most of the movies, which hit screens in their very first week. With gap comes the unavoidable exposure to reviews, opinions and box office verdict of the movie. So, the charm of doing it first goes away lest you find your ideas resonating with others and then it seems just a copy of what other think. Anyways, with time I realize that I am not claiming myself of to be a film critic nor the blog site is exclusively dedicated to film reviews. And everyone who goes to watch a movie does not stop at just watching a movie to pass his/her time; it explains movies are just not a “time pass”, nobody can help having an opinion about a movie. After all we are not known as among the craziest nations for movies for nothing. So, I thought if the movie is what I have in my mind to write about as a blog, why not? Why carry the baggage of self-expectation of doing it fully and justifiably. Let me just scribble the way I would scribble any other blog. So, here I am.
Nothing went right for this movie. Les concierge booked tickets of a wrong audi in a far off place and we were good 20 minutes late for the show which made me realize how much I have got used to watching movies alone (for that matter, doing all things alone like shopping, checking out food joints…) I surprise myself (and certainly, scandalize others too) with the ease with which I can do these things alone without craving for a company and actually enjoy doing that. So when I was running late for the show, it made me all the more determined to do things alone as it works for me and (for others too) just too well. I found Wake up Sid refreshingly fresh. It had already generated huge curiosity factor due to odd pairing of Ranbir and Konkona. I must confess I was equally unsure of the chemistry this pair could generate onscreen but hold your breath. As you start watching the movie, it takes you over leaving your apprehensions behind. And you would end up asking yourself; if not Konkona who else could do justice to the role? As for Ranbir, did we even question who could better Sid than him? Both are born actors, unquestionably and can carry off there clearly etched out roles with great élan. Konkona does not have to prove herself to anyone. Just that I found her little plastic at moments in initials shots, which were close ups. It might me a bit of Karan Johar effect too who's known for giving her heroines a makeover and Konkona being slightly conscious of it for her comfort. Second thing which I found overdone was Ranbir's T-shirts with all those cartoon characters to highlight his 'bachpana' that refuses to go away vis-a-vis very subtle transformation to check shirts to show streaks of maturity in him. I mean simple Tees with some messages or sporty numbers etc. could have done the trick either. Those cartoon tees irritated me to no end by being such a huge distraction and shouting and overemphasizing the point. To me, Sid was meant to be immature but not a kiddo/spoilt brat in the brutest of sense. The storyline was not entirely path breaking but that's where vision and treatment makes the difference. Aimlessness of Sid can't help you reminding Hrithik's essaying the same in Lakshya but nostalgia ends there and Ranbir lends a fresh perspective to his character. The movie has far and a few characters but everyone does justice to their onscreen presence. Surprising was Sonia. Supriya Pathak was perfect with her level of emotions (just right, not melodramatic for god’s sake). Anupam Kher has been doing such a thing nth time now, no complaints, though high time he moves beyond such typical father roles and high time industry finds some fresh faces to replace him. Music is nothing too much to write about but you won’t miss it either. Coming to some of the best moments of the movie, Sid taking Konkona to Marine Drive on their first meeting and the movie culminating there. why and how Mumbai sucks people into its system could not be done better, especially from a “new girl in the city’s” perspective. When Aisha asked Sid which is the one thing that he would show her in Mumbai, if he could…Marine Drive was impromptu the response in my mind and yes, it tallies… When in Mumbai, I would exactly go to the same spot and look out to the sea, turning my back to the madness and rush and savor those lonely moments that could infuse sanity into me. It’s the sense of freedom for women to dream and to run after them...this city allows them to do so. A simple platonic live in relationship planned by destiny and not the couple, how beautifully has been captured and so is the friendship between Aisha and Sid...so perfect and so real life like. All thumps up. Aisha's outbursts, who's so levelheaded, are done to perfection by Konkona...and Sid's “what you see is what you get” attitude wins you many times over. And I am glad that there was no greatly earth shattering event that turned his life around. I savored gradual transformation...emotions are Karan's forte, and it did not let me down to give apt dose of subtle emotions of anxiety of a father, helplessness of a mom, frustrations of a happy go lucky chappy, nervousness, confidence, shades of jealousy etc. of a new girl in the down and undertones of love...go and get refreshed with wake up sid.