Click here
Not to say I told you so......ok what the heck. I told you so! (See post #3)
If you click the link above it talks about France (Yes, Ze French!) giving up its ideal of the 35 hour work week. Newly elected Sarkozy wants to put France back on the map as a country where productivity and innovation are as common as the red wine and excessive smoking that already prevail most French quarters. And this seems to be a step in the right direction. Now I am a big proponent of work-life balance and not overworking oneself to the point where your dreams are power point sideshows (with pie charts!); but in today's competitive go-getter world where your job security depends not on the abilities of your neighbor but Amit from Ahmadabad or Lee from Beijing, this is the only way for the French to survive. And maybe a chance for some ambitious Frenchmen to get some real work done.
Another socialist legacy comes to an end in France
My Jaane tu review.
Here is a movie review I wrote for Jaane tu ya Jaane na
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Abbas Tyarewala is no stranger to films. During his 10 years in the film industry he has built an impressive resume with writing credits on titles such as Main Hoon Na, Maqbool and Munnabhai MBBS among others. With Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na he adopts the esteemed mantle of director and lyricist in addition to his usual writing stint. For me, the most surprising thing about JTYJN is that, amidst adapting to all his new responsibilities, the main thing that draws my criticism is the writing itself. But more on that later.
Jaane Tu is a fun rom-com about puppy love among college kids. Right from the opening credits, you can tell you are going to watch something original and fresh. Ok so the story is tried and tested: Boy meets girl, boy and girl become close, certain events ensue to cause the appropriate amount of drama, and everything is wrapped up neatly with bow in the end. Yes the story is predictable, but the beauty (as is with all stories) is in the telling. That’s where you find the proof in the pudding.
And debut director Abbas has told this story very well indeed. He and producer Aamir Khan have nailed down the right feel for today’s young urban crowd. College age kids will watch this movie and very easily identify with the clothes, banter, characters and the events unfolding on screen. A.R. Rehman has definitely broken new ground with this soundtrack; very different from anything he has done before. But it is in the same league as any of his best work. And that is high praise indeed. Newcomer singer Rashid Ali deserves a special mention: a prize Rehman find if there ever was one. Watch out him in ‘Kabhi Kabhi Aditi’ and ‘Kahin to Hogi’.
In his big debut, Imran Khan doesn't disappoint his Aamir Mamu. As mild-mannered Jai he lives and breathes in his character’s skin. Jai is completely believable and very likable. And that’s what makes a good performance. Genilia returns to Bollywood after a very successful hiatus down south. Her character Aditi is loud and in your face; and so is she! However her expressions speak volumes, even when words fail her. These two main leads are supported very ably by their on screen friends Rotlu (Karan Makhija), Shaleen (Sugandha Garg), Jiggy (Nirav Mehta) and Bombs (Alishka Verde). All of them are cast perfectly and are a delight to watch onscreen. Their interactions and the camaraderie they share seems very genuine, showcasing their great chemistry together.
It would seem this movie has everything going for it: good direction, production, great music, a wonderful cast. And it does to a great extent. But as focused as Abbas is in writing his cutting one-liners and dialogues, he is as equally sloppy with his script. A number of sidetracks and side characters distract from the main flow of the story and serve as unnecessary interruptions. A perfect example is Jai’s mother’s (a delightful Rathna Pathak Shah) never-ending conflict with the local policeman (Paresh Rawal in his usual avatar). By trimming down subplots like the above along with others (e.g.: the 3 tasks of the Rathore - frivolous and detracting from the realism) the film would have felt tighter and less haphazard. Perhaps that extra screen time could have been used to go more into the supporting characters who received too little screen time for my liking.
All in all Jaane tu is a very enjoyable and well made film in a time when the standard of Bollywood fare seems to falling. It is nice and simple fare that reminds of us of a simpler time. Go and check this one out in theaters if you can. It is nothing if not Paisa Vasool.