madanmarwah

Some movies have a novel concept but suffer from poor execution and this is one such example. Director Ashwani Dhir has written and directed good comedies like " Son of sardar" and " Atithi tum kab jaoge" and so this movie is truly disappointing. Since the movie is poorly structured and has a weak narrative even Madhavan has not been able to make it absorbing enough. The plot is about an ordinary railway ticket collector who is good in accounting and who discovers an error in his bank account showing that a small amount has been siphoned off. He takes up with the bank, relentlessly pursues this and finds that this irregularity is only a tip of the iceberg. His personal safety is in jeopardy as he takes on the establishment exposing a scam of huge proportions. ( After seeing this movie it is possible that some account holders may have examined their bank transactions in detail.) One only wishes that the screenplay was more coherent and had more focus. Presently it is lackluster, not at all convincing and hence the movie is not able to connect with the audience. Madhavan does try to make things work but doesn't succeed. Priti Kulhari doesn't impress in an indifferently presented character. Neil Nitin Mukesh as a quirky boss of the bank has overdone it and hammed his way through. He is reduced to a caricature.

If " Boys will be Boys " is true then " Girls Will Be Girls " should equally be true. This movie more or less proves this and this is admirably done collectively by a talented girls team of actresses, cinematographer, music director and editor led by director Shuchi Lalati. A coming-of-age story which girls/women would like watching and relate to. As I started watching the movie, initially I was put off by the slow pace of the narrative but it soon turned interesting. Preeti Panigrahi plays Mira a senior school girl on the threshold of adolescence who has her hands full balancing issues like a strict helicopter mother, focus on studies, responsibility of school head girl, attraction to a boy student and satisfying her curiosities. It is a learning process for her every step of the way. Preeti has brought out the internal conflict, awkwardness, insecurity and vulnerability of the character very effectively.

Director Shuchi Talati has made a well crafted, simple, sensitive and endearing movie dwelling on a mother-daughter relationship depicting emotional nuances which are truly touching. She has extracted good performances from Preeti Panigrahi ( Mira), Kani Kusruti ( mother Anila) and Kesav Binoy Kiron ( boyfriend Sri). The sequences are framed and photographed artistically and the cinematography is top class. The different aspect ratio has been used effectively.

An emotional and touching movie based on the relationship of a mother with a seven year old boy. Those who are fond of sitting through such stories will find it very satisfying. The setting is war-torn Italy in 1946 where children are collectively sent by train to live with families in the prosperous northern part of the country. This is a temporary arrangement to prevent the children from the ill effects of war. In the new place seven year old Amerigo now has mother figure in the shape of Derma who showers him with motherly love. The other members of the family also love him and look after him. When he goes back to his mother Antonietta after some time he finds a stark difference in the quality of life. Whereas with Derma he was looked after, had a good standard of living and encouraged to play violin, back home to his mother Antonietta he has to work to earn money day to day.

Director Cristina Comencini has made a heartwarming, poignant, sentimental and touching movie which will be generally liked by family audiences. Special appreciation must be expressed to the director for depicting the environment of Italy of the 40s so realistically with the help of some fine cinematography. I however felt that the black and white format would have suited the story and characters better.