Independent Cinema

Independent cinema is actually widely present. Life is nothing but a cinema from one angle but nobody bothers to capture (sach ka saamna karo mere bhai). But, the happy scene today is that people are pissed off with 40+ overactors and those K…k…r (kabaadi!) types stars. So, with the advent of ‘within-range-SLR/DSLR’ (am still out), people are gaining confidence to experiment with something meaningful and not just stardom.

The company with which I am currently associated is promoting this angle. Their brand Tzinga, a sensible energy drink is energizing independent cinema through its facebook platform. So! Thanks to them I have a better perceptive towards that angle. A couple of their movie associations.

Will not review The Forest and Love Wrinkle Free, rather will review somewhat more independent. Someone recommended this short movie, goes by the Pyaar Vyaar aur Cigar (referred as PVC from here).

Review –

The name is catchy as it has been well adapted from the genre of movie-names like ‘Love, Sex aur Dhoka’ and ‘Pyar, Ishq aur Mohobbat’. Though start is clichéd and nothing exciting (the first impression was too amateurish and one did thought investment of his 11 mins; would that be worth it, afterall it looked day-to-day software work). But time investment for me wasn’t an issue (vaise bhi am a vella these days…yawn). The whole movie was 11 mins long.

My rating for this movie is 2.5/5.

Story –

Raja ko rani se piyar ho gaya hai par picture abhi baaki hai mere dost (kyuki isme sutta bhi hai). Raja cannot leave his sutta (because sutta has this recall equity in it, best illustrated by the legendary song - “ek baar se dil nahi bharta mudd ke dekh mujhe dobara…tan tana tan tan tantana..”). That’s it. Nothing spectacular except the twist!

Star Cast –

Actor – good, Actress – good, Harami Dost – like you have in your daily life

Analysis –

Short movies or for that matter independent cinema need to have a strong story. Only that can attract the initial traction. Story in PVC lacks that. The start is standard and there is a high probability that you may not see the whole movie (though critics will, they have to, it’s their job, they did it for RGV’s Department TOO).   

So if your eyes are governed by law of inertia, you will somehow complete the move and eventually see the best part. The climax is the best part – nice late twist (should be a bit longer though) but awesomely shot. Better than many bollywood ones.  But cinematography is not all good especially in the first few scenes. The backdrop is too bright for girl while the boy gets the darker side (MCP huh!). It seems that the sequence for boy and girl are disjoint shots and then emerged in that phase. The remarkable ones are college scenes like taking-it-out-on-your-roomie, the daaru-hooka-sutta-focus-group-discussion.

PVC moves on an awesome background score (movie won’t be half good without it) and there is some smart camera work in parts but the screenplay is weak. One advice which I got from an experienced cinema-maker can be used here. The start of any short movie should be with a poster of the movie, depicting the ‘attitude’ of the movie. That is the best way to convey your movie since trailer for short movies are not possible. Obviously, if you can make a movie, poster will be a child’s play. So, PVC could have a poster in the starting depicting Pyaar, Vyaar aur Cigar (would have been impactful). Another interesting activity which is practiced by many is to test-screen the movie and then ask for feedback and adjust to them (whatever is within range) - the makers of PVC should have done that too!

Short films don't have marketing budgets, you don't hear that buzz from them. But the makers of PVC have done commendable work to release it around 'World No Tobacco Day'. Kudos!  

Should I see PVC - yes

What works – background score and camera work (in parts)

What not – story, dubbing (in parts)

SPEAKing PICtures Verdict – Watch it for its climax and college settings

ps: PVC features ‘cat’ in special appearance towards the end (the shots are I think borrowed from Discovery channel but don’t know why?)