Tuesday, July 06, 2010

The Great Indian Butterfly


Remember Yaadein? It was a Sunil Dutt movie with just one character - Sunil Dutt himself. The film was made after the sad demise of Nargis Dutt, and was a tribute to her memories. There was only one problem though - even an actor of the stature of Sunil Dutt could not really carry a movie on his shoulders alone for 3 hours.

Therefore, the achievement of The Great Indian Butterfly is amazing by any standards. Just 2 characters. 90 minutes. And you are spell bound every single minute. No thumkas, no item numbers and no comedy dialogues. And yet, 3 minutes into the film, you shut down everything else, forget the popcorn, and just focus on the screen. Show me another film that can do that in recent times.

Technical - The cinematography is awesome. Places close to Mumbai and yet scenic. The Mumbai - Goa highway has not looked this pretty, not even in Bombay to Goa. Lighting again needs special mention because natural and artificial light both has been used to create the desired effect each time.. distincly enough for one to sit up and notice how well light is being used. Very little Art Direction, but all of it blends very well with the film. Only one thing - I am not sure if the story needed a gorgeous Sandhya Mridul to look so haggard. A little good makeup on her would really have helped.
The acting has already been talked about. It takes a lot to hold interest for 90 minutes. With the same "look" on both characters. Of all the things that are remarkable about the film, performance in acting is completely, absolutely the most notable.
The story is not new, neither is the theme. Urban couples losing "it" and each other, looking to reunite and find solace. But the treatment.. aah! The treatment! This is one of those films that one must watch in one's growing years.. and if one is a student of filmcraft, then this film is a textbook.
One line review: 5 stars. Must watch.

PS: Here is a writeup by the director. I quite enjoyed reading it.



8 comments:

BK Chowla, said...

Honestly I had never heard of this before

rainboy said...

I have not heard about this. but After reading your review I am going to watch for sure.

take care
http://smellofearthafterrain.blogspot.com/

The Phosgene Kid said...

No thumkas? How could they make a movie without Thumkas? What the heck are thumkas anyway???

Onkar said...

Thanks for the review. I will check it out.

How do we know said...

Chowla sir: not many people heard of it.

Hi rainboy: Do watch and tell me what you think.

Hi Phos: Thumka is a kind of Indian dance step that is mandatory for almost all our choreography. You shld c it sometime.

Onkar sir: Please do. it really is gud cinema.

Neha said...

I have not even heard about this movie...but now that you bring up the topic, try and catch Udaan...it is a movie not many will enjoy...with most of the people complaining it as as slow movie, but whoa...what a solid movie...and the soundtrack is unbelievable!

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India Online shopping said...

I too, net know about this..