On Cinema and more..

Nearly everyone in my house asks, 'Have you gone mad after being cooped up for two years in that blasted college?' Maybe i have, i dont know, but i cant seem to stop myself from watching any kind of motion-picture. And being subject to viewing master-pieces and trash indiscriminately, i've developed a (temporary) attitude towards cinema- i see it as a piece of art, just as prose or poetry, or even a painting (if i can ever understand its meaning). Cinema to me has become an expression of thought and emotion, the director synonymous with the author of a book. i've begun to notice allegories and also, in some, the beauty of how well emotions can be portrayed. 'Black' (that was a few years back though) still hasn't loosened its foothold in my head and though its unfair, i keep comparing the actors' performances to those in that. And any kind of mockery (Heyy Baby or the likes) seems to prick me up. Haven't been able to say, Heck, its all for entertainment. But then, thats what it is, its another medium of expression, evolved over the years to suit the tastes of common audiences, mercilessly commercialised. 'Metro' for one is so skilfully made, 'Swamy', the touching story of the journey of the protagonist, 'Devdas' (also a few years back) though terribly commercial, did have some very moving dialogues, and barring the 3 hours and a half, that one has to sit through, is not all too bad. Regional Cinema needs no mention. After all, its a matter of investment and businness. Invest fifty crores in a top-banner film and get back double or even triple the amount, thanks to advertising, the media, and a super-star cast. Even if the movie is crap. Maybe it is plain joblessness that makes me think like this (:p) but no one ever gives a damn to the storyline or what the director is trying to convey or how he does it. Oh, no. Here is our hero, (his father and his grandfather was our hero too) (definitely not intended at any particular star, but then, intended at almost every other one) and we as fans, cannot allow his movie to bomb. And so come the Fifty-Days functions, consequently the Hundred-Days one. Our hero is the new superstar. Whistle when he appears on screen. Stick his banners outside the theatre and write your name below it. And me in my (temporary) attitude wonder, is this an expression of art? Really, Except for some skin show (on the part of the hero as well) and some foot tapping numbers, (i'll come to the part of the foot tapping numbers in a while), why did i spend my money on the ticket? (In black, if its the first week) And i'm being asked, "why would you bother about regional cinema? You would only watch John Abraham or Abhishek Bachchan." What am i supposed to say? Of course Hindi Cinema does have its share of potboilers as well, but hey, there are always a handful of movies upholding the true nature of cinema (sadly they don't really click). I'm not looking down on either of the industries. Om shanti Om, you see, is a purely commercial film, which would have done well, but has reached the complete acme only because SLB was slightly off (no, way off) his track with Saawariya, and, instead of handing his master-piece to the public on a platter, plopped it from the top of a building. i say masterpiece, because anything out of a genius' mind is a masterpiece. If we don't understand its point, its our fault. (Thats my unwavering loyalty to you, SLB). Whether it is patronising the institution of marriage ( Hum Dil De..) or telling us that blindness just makes u look at th eworld differently (Black), or portrayng the other side of passion (Devdas) he's the master director and storyteller. People, do not contradict me, it would be useless. And of course, Madhur Bhandarkar. Giving us such a bitterly-real picture of various aspects of metropolitan life. Why isn't he the top director today? Why dont half his movies even reach our city's theatres? Anurag Basu, with 'Metro.' How he handles nine lives, all intertwined with one another, with such subtlety and craftsmanship is something that hasn't been seen in a long time. 'Pyar ke Side/Effects' was another hilarious but very blunt flick about the boyfriend-girlfriend-to-husband-wife transition, about egos clashing and finally, showing that love wins over 'em all. Nagesh Kukunoor. Deepa Mehta. How many would actually remember these movies after, say, five years? Its a showcase of talent, not only of six-pack-abs or of long legs. And definitely not of 'our hero and his clan'. Its a platform where acting, directing and working prowess is displayed, where the beauty of love, the bitterness of hatred, the passion in anger, power, joy is expressed. We do have a part too, in encouraging art in all its forms, of course we need to be entertained but one feels so pained to have to see these works go without claiming their rightful place in the hall of fame.
A point to note: i have not mentioned a couple of movies worth mentioning - 'Happy Days' and 'Taare Zameen Par' simply because i believe i have not earned the right yet, to comment on them. 'Happy Days' , is the movie, about which is asked, "How many times have you seen it?" instead of the usual "Have you seen it?". I think you got the point. And Darsheel Safary, who's tiny shoulders carried off the whole movie so beautifully, just leaves me with no words to say. Amole Gupte as well.