Chillar Party – Movie Review

Film: “Chillar Party”
Cast: Irrfan Khan, Sanath Menon and Naman Jain
Director: Vikas Bahl, Nitesh Tiwari

At one point in American history, dogs and blacks were not allowed in public places. During the British occupation of China, it was ‘dogs and Chinese’ while at the first Mumbai marathon the rule was against dogs and wheelchairs. A dog has thus become a metaphor for seclusion, for denying someone their fundamental rights.

“Chillar Party” uses this metaphor in a brilliant, but hilariously entertainment manner to make a statement against those who seclude, be it Shiv Sena in Mumbai, fanatic Hindus who want Muslims out of India, or upper class Hindus who refuse lower caste people basic rights etc. That it does so while making you laugh, is its greatest strength.

After a street kid Phatka (Irrfan Khan) and his stray dog Bhidu begin cleaning cars in a rich locality, the rich, school going kids first try to fend him off, but later become great buddies. When a minister offended by the dog passes a law to ban all street dogs from Mumbai, the kids resort to some unconventional activism to save their beloved dog. But is it even possible for the powerless kids to take on a high and mighty minister?

“Chillar Party”, in essence, is a children’s film. But those who can read between the lines and see between pictures know that the most brilliant, imaginative and metaphorical literature and cinema in the world, are for kids.

Thus in literature you have your ‘The Prince’ and ‘Gulliver’s Travels’, while the films of Iranian auteurs, though simple and innocent, attack an unjust system. “Chillar Party” is a welcome addition to these greats of world cinema.

Yet, what does a children’s film need to be good? A simple story, good metaphor, oodles of cuteness and innocence, fun and humour and a band of actors to carry it all off. If you have these, any other drawbacks can be excused. “Chillar Party” has these and much more.

The film is filled with observations and idiosyncrasies that will leave you laughing your guts out. Every child in the film has acted with such restrained understatement that they give your popular stars a run for their money. And yet, beyond all these beautifully working elements, it is the metaphor of the dog that takes the cake.

Unlike nature, the world of humans is full of seclusion. Thus a Bal Thackeray in the 1960s wants the South Indians, in the 1990s the Muslims, and now the North Indians out of Mumbai. Fanatic Hindus want Muslims out of India. The Americans wanted blacks out of America. The Australians want Indians out. The Sri Lankans want the Tamils out. The list is literally endless. But as the film so valiantly, sincerely and emotionally argues, what is needed is inclusion.

“Chillar Party is filled with allegorical moments that hint at how the poor, the disenfranchised, the adivasi, the handicapped, the minority survive. When the rich kids take away his cleaning cloth, Phatka has no qualms about washing cars with his only tshirt. The rich consider poor to be pests and want them out, but the poor strive and ironically serve the same rich. Some, pushed to the edge, take up arms against mighty odds, like in the tribal belts of India.

Besides saluting the creative genius of writer-director Vikas Bahl and Nitesh Tiwari, one has to bow to UTV and Salman Khan, for flexing their muscles for something so beautiful.

“Chiller Party” may be a small film. But as cinema goes, in its adroitness, it is much more mature than 99 percent of the films ever made in India. And that, you’ll reckon, is no ’small’ achievement.
- IANS

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Jacqueline Fernandez wants to work with Aamir, Ranbir

After the recent success of 'Murder 2', newbie actress Jacqueline Fernandez has her eyes set on Aamir Khan and Ranbir Kapoor as her next co-stars.

Jacqueline, who made her Bollywood debut with the 2009 release 'Aladin' opposite Ritesh Deshmukh, is now aiming high.

“I would like to act with Aamir Khan or Ranbir Kapoor next,” said Jacqueline, when asked by a fan which Bollywood actor she would like to work with, during a telephonic chat on Airtel Talk2Me.

The 26-year-old's sizzling look in 'Murder 2' has made a mark and when a fan said that she had to expose in the sequel because Mallika Sherawat had done so in the original movie, Jacqueline said, 'I agree'.

With no godfather in the industry and still struggling to master Hindi, Jacqueline said it does get tough at times to survive in Bollywood.

“It is a difficult place to be in, but if you keep going and keep a level head, you will be fine,” she said.

On being asked by a fan that there are speculations of another 'Murder' movie in the making and whether she'll be a part of it, Jacqueline said, “I don't think Murder as a brand and as a franchise can repeat its female leads. Like Mallika wasn't repeated in Murder 2.”

“It generates a lot of curiosity and buzz around the movie to know who the next female lead would be. For 'Murder' as a brand, it would be nicer to see a new girl in the next movie. So, I don't think I'll be part of 'Murder 3' but I hope it will also do good because it is such a great production team,” she added.

The actress has other sequels in her kitty, including 'Housefull 2' and 'Raaz 3'.

Murder 2 – Film Review

Film: “Murder 2″
Starring: Emraan Hashmi, Prashant Narayanan, Jacqueline Fernandez, Sulagna Panigrahi
Director: Mohit Suri

The sequel to “Murder” is nothing like the first part of the frenetic franchise. And Jacqueline Fernandez who has been built up in “Murder 2″ as the next Mallika Sherawat is nothing like the overrated Mallika….Thank God for that! Fernandez exudes an unbridled sunniness even when pouting in the bare minimum. Alas, she doesn’t have much to do in “Murder 2″ except swathe the dark drama in a spot of sunshine.

God knows this film about the devil-unleashed, surprisingly written by a woman (Shagufta Rafique) needs that little of sunshine. It is a desperately dark film. The characters are wretchedly unhappy. No matter which side of the moral line they are positioned they are standing screaming into the abyss that is suburban life. These people need serious help.

This then, is the world Mahesh Bhatt has bequeathed to us. Take it and bleed it.

Director Mohit Suri who earlier took us on a jolting trip through the world of prostitution, pimps and desperate cops in “Kalyug” takes the same route again. On this occasion the journey is far more ruthless and rigorously implemented to create horror repugnance and hatred for a word that we’ve created for coming generations.

In the typical Mahesh Bhatt style “Murder 2″ doesn’t waste time in back-projections and story build-up. He goes straight for the kill. With trenchant immediacy director Mohit Suri (back in “Kalyug” form after the misfire that was his last film “Crook”) tells us the story of a psychopathic killer who kills prostitutes with the pleasure that makes your stomach churn and look anxiously towards the future about your daughter who is just stepping into the big wide world.

Who knows if the man sitting next to her in the movie theatre is a closet-nutcase with a collection of hacksaws in his house, and not to carve up the Christmas turkey.

Prashant Narayanan as the psychopath plays the character at such an even pitch he makes your blood freeze in fear and revulsion. Here’s a man who could be that ghoul who butchered all those kids in the Nethra killings and then ate them up without a burp.

The ‘hero’ in “Murder 2″ is a burn-out suspended cop who makes money out of criminals, stays sullen and haunted throughout the film except when he goes for the kiss, and offers his girlfriend a wad of notes after making love. To buy the fridge, he says. Naturally the lady freezes.

Force of habit, we say. Hashmi has done this kind of a role repeatedly. The kissing and vigorous bedroom activities are quickly taken care of in the first 15 minutes. Wouldn’t want the lovers of the serial kisser to feel they’re being cheated in favour of the serial killer.

The wacked-out killer in “Murder 2″ doesn’t eat his victims. He just cuts them down to sighs…and groans and shrieks of pain and records their dying voices to get his rockers off….

The plot seems original. The narration is clenched and the characters driven by a desperate urge to assert themselves before death rings their doorbell.

The savagery with which the college-going call girl (Sulagna Panigrahi) is brought to her gruesome death becomes a metaphor for the loss of innocence and the triumph of diabolism that is often garbed in designer labels these days.

“Murder 2″ is not a pleasant film to view. The psychopath’s killings are done in graphic detail. The storytelling offers no respite from the brutality. Most of the time we are looking at happenings that we would rather not see. But see, we must.

“Murder 2″ is a mirror of our amoral venomous times when no relationship is sacred anymore. Mohit Suri remains in command of the murky material and traumatized characters. While most episodes hold together in a riveting rhythm of life’s most unsavoury truths, the sequences featuring Prashant Naraynan work better than the rest of the film. He lends the proceedings a credibility that is unsettling.

I'm nervous about 'Murder 2': Jacqueline

Kolkata, Jan 27 (IANS) Sri Lankan actress Jacqueline Fernandes, who is playing female lead in 'Murder 2', says she is a 'little' nervous about her much-talked about competition with Mallika Sherwat who was in the part one.

'I am a little bit nervous. That's natural, you know,' giggled Jacqueline when asked about the comparisons with Mallika.

'Murder 2' is a sequel to the 2004 movie, which made headlines for its steamy scenes picturised on Mallika and Emraan Hashmi, who is also in the part two being directed by Mohit Suri.

'We all know what 'Murder' did for Mallika... It's natural that people will make comparisons and it's also natural that it will make me quite nervous and put me under pressure,' said Jacqueline while talking to reporters at the sidelines of 'Let's Design season - 3' programme here.

'Lot of people are expecting 'Murder-2' to be like 'Murder'. But it will be a totally different narrative. I play a totally different character. It's obviously a thriller and it's got lot of interesting and mysterious kind of characters,' said the former beauty queen who feels every woman can relate to her character in the movie.

'The character I play is balanced. She is bold. She is sensuous. She is clever. But at the same time it's a character every girl can relate to,' Jacqueline said when asked about her role in the film, which is being produced by Mukesh Bhatt.

The three-film-old Jacqueline praised the director and the producer of the film, saying she she is in good hands.

'They are very cool. They are like family. I am just looking forward to the shoot as I know that I am in good hands,' said Jacqueline who entered Bollywood in 2009 with 'Aladdin'.

After that featured in 'Jaane Kahan Se Aayi Hai' and also did a cameo in 'Housefull'.

'Murder 2' is more of an edgy thriller: Emraan Hashmi

Mumbai, Jan 11 (IANS) The serial-kisser of Bollywood, actor Emraan Hashmi has already started shooting for the sequel of one of his most sensual hits 'Murder' (2004) and hints that this instalment would be a more 'edgy thriller' in which he plays the role of a serial killer.

'We have started shooting. Our main schedule will be in Goa. There is quite a bit of work left. I think we will be looking forward to release it this year,' Emraan told IANS.

'We are taking it away from the space people are actually thinking it's in. It taps the simple angle of lust and all that was there in the first part. But it doesn't dwell primarily on the area of lust. It takes into more edgy thrill space,' he said.

'Thrill was there in 'Murder' but people associated only with the sensuality, probably that kind of boldness. This is bold in a very different way. All the presumptions what media and people have would be probably put to rest when they see the film. We never had films with serial killers. It deals with those different areas. That's what makes it new and unique,' Emraan added.

Sultry Mallika Sherawat has been replaced by actress Jacqueline Fernandes as the female lead in 'Murder 2'.

Emraan is next to flaunt his six-pack abs after actor Aamir Khan, Shah Rukh Khan and Shahid Kapoor, but the actor is quite nonchalant about it.

'I don't understand that six-pack band thing anyways. I did it because my director said that I need to look tough for a role. I am not obsessed with the pack thing,' he said.