Chameli
MAIN CAST:
Kareena Kapoor -- Chameli
Rahul Bose -- Aman
FILM -- 4.5/5
The "prostitute with a heart of gold" story is old, but Chameli manages to add some fresh twists to the idea, and it turns the focus to the two main characters and how they change each other. At less than 2 hours in length, the film is short by Bollywood standards, but it manages to add a few mini-plots--like the elopement between Haseena and Raja--without getting bogged down. The script isn't gold, but I liked it, and the film is certainly engrossing. There's some necessary Bollywood melodrama, which I thought actually added something special to the story. One of the niggling aspects of the movie is the picturization; it's decent enough, but there are always a few parts of the songs that make you go, "Okay, that just looks STUPID," like the lounge dancers in "Jaane Kyon Humko" and the slow-mo on Kareena's rain-warped face in "Bhaage Re Mann". The ending teeters on the edge of ridiculous as well.
The "prostitute with a heart of gold" story is old, but Chameli manages to add some fresh twists to the idea, and it turns the focus to the two main characters and how they change each other. At less than 2 hours in length, the film is short by Bollywood standards, but it manages to add a few mini-plots--like the elopement between Haseena and Raja--without getting bogged down. The script isn't gold, but I liked it, and the film is certainly engrossing. There's some necessary Bollywood melodrama, which I thought actually added something special to the story. One of the niggling aspects of the movie is the picturization; it's decent enough, but there are always a few parts of the songs that make you go, "Okay, that just looks STUPID," like the lounge dancers in "Jaane Kyon Humko" and the slow-mo on Kareena's rain-warped face in "Bhaage Re Mann". The ending teeters on the edge of ridiculous as well.
CHARACTERS -- 4.5/5
Many people consider Chameli Kareen Kapoor's best character to date, and I have to agree. She'll never be one of India's best actresses, and despite the general brilliance of her performance, Kareena does get a bit too over the top at some points. But it's a completely convincing job on her part, and she brings a lot to the character via body language and line delivery. Between the gaudy paint of a prostitute and the raw, plain face of a woman caged in her profession, Kareena Kapoor finally manages to make a serious film without her usual "glamazon" image. I truly enjoyed her. Rahul Bose shines with an understated brilliance, like a piece of cloudy quartz amidst rocks. He manages to keep Aman introverted without making him seem boring or 2-dimensional. His performance in Chameli got me interested in him as an actor, and I fully intend to see more of his films. The supporting cast is awesome and manages to bring Chameli to life completely.
Many people consider Chameli Kareen Kapoor's best character to date, and I have to agree. She'll never be one of India's best actresses, and despite the general brilliance of her performance, Kareena does get a bit too over the top at some points. But it's a completely convincing job on her part, and she brings a lot to the character via body language and line delivery. Between the gaudy paint of a prostitute and the raw, plain face of a woman caged in her profession, Kareena Kapoor finally manages to make a serious film without her usual "glamazon" image. I truly enjoyed her. Rahul Bose shines with an understated brilliance, like a piece of cloudy quartz amidst rocks. He manages to keep Aman introverted without making him seem boring or 2-dimensional. His performance in Chameli got me interested in him as an actor, and I fully intend to see more of his films. The supporting cast is awesome and manages to bring Chameli to life completely.
SOUNDTRACK -- 4.5/5
Outside of its semi-tacky picturization, "Jaane Kyon Humko" is a really great tune, especially the duet version. "Bhaage Re Mann" is beautiful and really stands out, and it really adds some lightness to Chameli's character. Club scenes tend to annoy me, and this one is no different, but "Sajna Ve Sajna" is a great track, even if it is almost ridiculously western. Chameli suffers from the same fatal flaw as Asoka: it has songs that are really good, but the soundtrack is so short that it leaves something to be desired; even if they just added filler tracks, it would make the soundtrack much more price-worthy.
Outside of its semi-tacky picturization, "Jaane Kyon Humko" is a really great tune, especially the duet version. "Bhaage Re Mann" is beautiful and really stands out, and it really adds some lightness to Chameli's character. Club scenes tend to annoy me, and this one is no different, but "Sajna Ve Sajna" is a great track, even if it is almost ridiculously western. Chameli suffers from the same fatal flaw as Asoka: it has songs that are really good, but the soundtrack is so short that it leaves something to be desired; even if they just added filler tracks, it would make the soundtrack much more price-worthy.
OVERALL -- 4.5/5
My copy of Chameli--a T Series copy of the film that cost me $4, if you include the shipping--was bought as a blind purchase, and it's definitely one of the best blind purchases I've ever made. Chameli suffers from some minor flaws in execution and presentation, and it isn't a movie I'd show all of my friends, but the film as a whole is really good, with top-notch performances and a wonderful (if woefully short) soundtrack. With decent replay value, a few changes from the usual Bollywood formula, and a short run time, Chameli is certainly worth a rental.
TOTAL SCORE -- 18/20 (almost perfect)
0 comments:
Post a Comment