Movie review: 'AK vs AK'

First time I am sharing my review of a Netflix-launched movie! Changing times but in regards to the visual content, this has turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

With that said I am turning to what you are looking for. Firstly, this movie title is nothing but initials of Anil Kapoor and Anurag Kashyap, just in case you are challenged in that respect. It begins on the back of a decade-long and still-simmering resentment between both actors. This picks up heavy steam in the media after they engage into a rather insulting interaction during a live TV programme.

Both are offended to the point of showing the other who he really is and what he can be. Anurag offers Anil a movie, the most dangerous hostage thriller in his words, with a plot that Anil absolutely cannot deny despite him being overly busy. The plot includes Anil searching for his real-life daughter Sonam who is kidnapped. Also, he must save her by sunrise without involving police or anyone else, and all his calls are to be placed on speaker phone. Lastly, in that limited time of ten hours whatever he does, wherever he goes, whoever he talks to would be filmed by Anurag’s assistant. No retakes. No lights. One camera (always on). All actions.

To add music to the mystery, this has popped up on Anil’s birthday night. He has to evade proper answers to frequent calls from Harsh (his son) to get home sooner and from Anand (his son-in-law) to check up on Sonam’s whereabouts. Anil zooms past one location to the other, running through streets to find some leads to reach Sonam. Both AKs roam around the roads of Mumbai in the late hours of night. By the morning, they are sorted in a way that I don’t want to spell out how.

I found some of the portions of the movie a little, only a little, stretchy. But in most parts, the story moves along quite well. Vikramaditya Motwane does a good job in knitting this together while engaging the audience well. Performance wise, Harsh takes this as a redeemer and gives his best which also is well noted. Sonam is only for a mute cameo with disturbed facial expressions. Anurag is very good with his expressions and delivery of his villainy lines. To me, the movie rested on the sturdy shoulders of Anil Kapoor.

With the strict eye of a school principal our sensor board has never allowed our actors to spew cuss words in a way they normally do. Especially the kids and adults of 80s and 90s who have carried a typical image of Anil Kapoor would love to see him in a different character. Here the senior AK would not only rattle out Hindi slangs like a pro but also break into his iconic Lakhan dance on a public demand even while he is being screwed.

This movie has made me watch Anil the actor I hadn’t known thus far. For a change, this time he may have wanted his audience to say for him: Jhakaas!

Movie review: 'Soul'

I saw the movie because I heard so well of it in such a short time, and then I had to write about it since I felt quite strongly about its theme. Thanks to this movie I visited my blog after what seemed like a lightyear to me! Anyway, let’s get to it.

It opens with Joe Gardener teaching band lessons to middle-school students sharing his own story of how he came to know of his passion. He is sure that he is born to play jazz and that too at serious level with all his freedom by his side.

When one day which is supposed to be the biggest one of his life, he thinks he would finally “arrive” on the scene, the excitement doesn’t make him notice a manhole. He gets up in another world altogether. The world of souls, with him being one of them! This world is like the intermediate station between one life and another one. Joe obviously is freaked out and is far from accepting his death. He escapes somehow to another compartment in that world called The Great Before – the place where souls are to be readied for the next birth.

From the whole lot of eligible souls which are gearing up for the next birth, there is one named Twenty-two. She is rather clear-headed and doesn't give a rat's ass to being born again. She is fine in not getting her "spark" and is enviably at ease with herself. Anyhow, she and Joe got on well with each other and become good pals. Their friendship is very endearing to watch. With Joe raring to go back on his big day, she decides to help Joe get a return pass to Earth. How she helps and what follows afterwards is something that I would like you to watch rather than me being a spoiler and suck all the fun out of it.

All in all, the theme highlights the importance of having a “life”. It is about not letting yourself take the unimportant-looking things for granted while you await a few events to make your mark. It tells you to stay in the moment and enjoy the little joys of life – be it holding a little leaf spiralling down from a tree or taking interest in the anyone assisting you or running fingers on railings to make a music or whatever that brings you a smile! Twenty-two turns out to be a rather eye-opener for Joe. And you too. “Letting out yourself” is the key message she sends in all her actions which are all brilliantly shown without a P of Preaching.

I particularly loved the portrayal of that another world where differently-sized souls are designed so superbly in that light green-and-blue transitioned colour with a faded border to give it an adorable look. In fact, their figureless inspiration managers – Jerrys- too are sketched to perfection. It is pure delight to watch the imagination come alive so beautifully. Since it revolves around sparks and purposes, it is clear as daylight that Pixar and Docter know theirs so damn well.