Pappu Can’t Dance Saala...then why watch him

Because Pappu here is Vinay Pathak.

He is back with same kind of role, same genre with same performance (again). This movie offers him the same ‘innocent-man-in-shit’ role (remember Chalo Dilli! read here). Moreover, this movie will be cited as an illustration when it comes to desperate naming of movies. Needless to say, the movie-owners named the movie on a famous Hindi song “Pappu Can’t Dance Saala” from “Jaaaaaane Tu....Ya Jaane Na”. Why? Desperate initial attraction (the side by release is Ranbir’s Rockstar).
Desperation unfortunately didn’t work. Pappu Can’t Dominate Saala – 2.25/5

Story –
UP sends bhola bhala Vidya (Vinay Pathak) to the fast forward Mumbai. He works as the marketing representative of a Pharmaceutical company (I can smell that). Apart from him, you are also introduced to Mehek (Neha Dupia). She too comes from a small town but has an opposite style of living life. Mehek and Vidya are neighbours and bingo! The chemistry of cations and anions begins. The first half is enjoyable and thought-provoking in some scenes. Watch out for Vinay Pathak’s acting skills, his acting totally transfers the frustration of this survival in some scenes (you will surely remember Rajat from Pyaar Ka Punchnama! A bit more mature Rajat that is).
The second half is boring and very monotonous. In it, Vidya and Mehek now start living peacefully. Mehek is offered a ‘bold’ music video and Vidya starts to help her and then eventually fall for her is the rest. Nothing new and very very standard.

Star Cast –
Vinay Pathak – loved his performance, but before the words of appreciation can I caution him for again doing the stereotype ‘goody-innocent’ roles. Consequently, I only liked him when he was acting his frustration part.
Neha Dhupia – not impressive in most of the movie. Good in some senti scenes. You can find better than her in Bollywood for sure.
Rajat Kapoor – looks like a Rockstar in the movie. Quite similar to Milind Soman in Bheja Fry. Awesome actor, awesome performance as usual.
Brijendra Kala – an effortless performance. Bollywood is anyday incomplete without these small performances.

The music is also standard. With the likes of Kailash Kher and Mohit Chauhan, the music ought to be better. But it isn’t. Lastly, to say the least the team of artists like Saurabh Shukla, Rajat Kapoor, Vinay Pathak, Sanjay Mishra are expected to produce better films. Peace.

What works : Vinay Pathak’s acting (especially in parts where he shows his frustration)
What not: concept is repeated many times before, nothing new

SPEAKing PICtures’s verdict: why pay again to see the same.

"Jo banta hai! Wahi chalta hai"*

*Not applicable for this movie

Rockstar feat. Rocky Ranbir

Few years back in 2008, a movie by the name of ‘Rock On’ bought immense popularity of band music. What Chetan Bhagat did to English writing, Rock On leveraged the same feel in youth with its music (and especially lyrics). No matter whether you are good or bad, you are expressive for your emotions, the antidote to the monotonous work life which you do for money!

Some definitions. What do you understand by a ROCKSTAR?
A rockstar is anybody who overcomes his conscience to get his passion fulfilled and if his passion is true, we say it’s ROCKing.
Meanwhile this Rockstar deserves 4/5 rocking stars.

Story –
Janardhan Jakhad sings in Delhi University and at Delhi’s bus stops so that people don’t feel bored. Quite kiddish but yes! he is. So, when the canteen manager tells him to undergo pain to become like Jim Morisson, he takes it quite literally. He innocently flirts with a Kashmeri ballet beauty, Nargis Fakri (Heer). Post some attempts, the story goes into Jab We Met mode (travelling bindaas and then one of them falling in love with other). This is the forte of Imitiaz (director) and he is successful this time too. The story in second half reaches abroad in Prague, with Heer falling ill and JJ aka Jordan growing in music and violent clashes with media. Both meet & share some past moments but the love angle falls weak. When the movie ends, you feel the climax is not convincing (Imitiaz’s Love Aajkal!).

Star Cast –
Rockstar Ranbir – This is his best performance. With this movie, he has officially entered the league of extraordinary superstars who ride millions on their performance. Rockstar belongs to Ranbir in every true sense.
Nargis Fakri – satisfies the beauty quotient but fails in passing on her pain to the audience.
Piyush Mishra – can’t miss him to appreciate. Just look his facial expressions in the massage scene.
Kumud Mishra – plays the role of canteen manager. Impressive and believable.
Late Shree Shammi Kapoor – gracefully played the role of a famous Shenai-vaadak. Full of charm.

The music is awesome. AR Rehman along with the versatile voice of Mohit Chauhan has created the music journey quite successfully. The movie builds on music. From acoustic, to sufi, to romantic, to cross-cultural, to instrumental, to live college fest aggression, to a foreign concert performance.
Another point to appreciate is the dressing of Ranbir when he performs as Jordan. The modified redesigned Jawahar Topi rocks and reflects attitude.

Can we, the Indians can be a bit bolder?
Why do we see an unnecessary love angle in every movie? Why do you need heartbreak as a cause of pain? Why can’t Imitiaz Ali relate suffering to today’s youth frustration? Pain from multiple job rejections, failure to get admission, etc could have given a lot of pain for Ranbir to turn Jordan. Its high time quality Indian directors like Vishal Bharadwaj and upcoming ones like Imitiaz Ali take the route of quality over commercial. @Anurag Kashyup – take a lead.

What works: Ranbir, the music journey
What not: the pain punch in the script

SPEAKing PICtures verdict: 1.1.1 = 3 +1 = 4

ps: Tibet flags @ Sadda Haq song…touching

that night from Ghaziabad

Travelling in chilly cold night from Ghaziabad in an old jerking bus (route is named ALT; alternate in many ways), I am still thinking on why ‘WHY’ is bothering me again! Somewhat a strange gush is slowly coming in. “Mujhe aaj daar nazar aa raha hai” as I slowly silently fought the thought but such was the emotional push that it prevailed me to seep (yet again) into career planning.

Back in the afternoon, I along with few friends was discussing what is important to succeed. A night before, it got a different perception, that of a girl of my class which confirm my belief that ‘everybody is different’. Yep. God made everybody unique BUT circumstances make everybody different. Nice creative one liner but will I get an opportunity to use it? Is the liner that beneficial? Not that I am cribbing but the fear of controlling yourself amidst so many uncontrollable factors is indeed a fiery idea. What a waste of time it was! that to think.

Continuing the journey, while passing I saw an empty warehouse. Then the board read it was a mall (somebody tagged it WIP – work in progress; must be a MBA). Stalled work or may be intentionally delayed. It speaks for growth without conviction of total confidence. It seems to me that because builder needs to do construction, he is doing so. So many flats on sale, builder billboards – what’s the mood? Keeping guessing would be an obvious answer. Now I am pursing management. I will say good words in a confident tone. Hence I shall observe, analyse, estimate and then forecast. My heart had the answer ready already. What a waste of managing wealth for a degree! Anyways…

Sorry for playing ‘Inception’, but I need to go back to afternoon. Discussing with a friend pursing management in Finance, the concepts of ROI are a cause of concern. “Maths is a bastard, you see” – famous saying of a practical teacher. It teaches you objectivity. The whole ROI concept is 99% relevant but 1% fraudant. Learning is never featured into it. ROI takes care only of tangible parameters, not of non-tangibles. May be I am talking to0O much OB here! I obviously hate it – I am subjective, but I like objectiveness. Bank balances are objective. World sees objectivity! Subjectivity invites filtration…another one

Coming back, travelling in metro is always fascinating. Why? Randomness. Delhi Metro always surprises you with train sizes, timings, midway stops, women reserved coaches, escalator functioning. But still it seems planned, or is it jugaad. Jugaad, the faith bearer to remove fear (daar; previously mentioned). May be that will drive optimism; wait for the budget next year. The UPA govt. shall jugaadify something (next election bribe)!

Why am I going into politics, is it because I am coming from Ghaziabad? I am in Delhi now (@home); civilized thinking shall prevail. The conclusion - the mall shall be back, so will the jobs, so will the money, so will the peace of mind, so will the greed, so will the justified learning…so will the sleep?? Anytime any-posture any-lecture :P

“Razai garam ke saath hai safar
Shayad aaj sona vapaas aa jaaye”

ps: temperature outside 4 degrees only