Showing posts with label Shamitabh. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Shamitabh. Show all posts
Review | 5 reasons why you must watch Shamitabh
So, one of 2015's much anticipated release - Shamitabh, has been viewed and that too, twice (press show and then, another trip with the family). While I can't stop raving about how handsome Mr.Bachchan looks in the film and how Dhanush wins our heart with his incredible act, we must give it to R.Balki for experimenting with a fresh and unique plot. Being a voice actress, I do understand the importance that voice acting plays, be it in a television commercial or film. It can make or break an individual's career and hence, several actors have opted for voice over artistes in their early films. While some critics may argue over the length and pace of Shamitabh and analyse it in their own way, I thought we needed this kind of a film that not only celebrates cinema, but also the support behind it. We give you 5 reasons why we loved Shamitabh and why you must watch it soon!
1. Amitabh Bachchan
The name says it all. Mr.Bachchan's performance in any film needs no introduction or recommendation. He is known to raise the bar and make any role look real. So real, that you tend to cry while seeing him shed tears on screen. And he does that exactly that to the cynical, old and drunken Amitabh Sinha, his character in the film. The energy, emotion, expression and above all, his charisma is absolutely phenomenon. There couldn't have been a better tribute than making a film that is dedicated to his rich, priceless baritone. Remember how the receiver would burst into tears on the phone after hearing, "Hello, Main Amitabh Bachchan bol raha hoon..." on Kaun Banega Crorepati? Yes, his magical voice has got that effect and his performance in Shamitabh is absolutely flawless. Be it mouthing those dialogues in style or walking inside the graveyard while looking dapper in a velvet blazer, you have to witness the Bachchan magic. Do not miss the last 15 minutes of the film. It left me with a lump in my throat. Respect!
2. Dhanush's incredible act
I loved his performance in Raanjhanaa. But in Shamitabh, Dhanush goes a notch above with a great act. As the film fanatic Danish, Dhanush wins your heart with his journey from struggling to find a foothold in the industry to becoming the biggest superstar in Bollywood. One can witness the change in his body language and style, as the film progresses. Dhanush has confidently pulled off scenes where he challenges Mr.Bachchan and has performed some emotional scenes in the most natural way. Don't miss a sequence where Dhanush stylishly poses for the shutterbugs, while playing around with Phantom cigarettes. It will remind you a lot of Rajini sir. With Shamitabh, Dhanush has proved that if an actor gives it his best, he can deliver a memorable performance, even without mouthing a single dialogue.
3. Illaiyaraaja's music and background score
This is not your usual Bollywood fare. The music in Shamitabh is unconventional and yet, the compositions touch your heart. Mr.Bachchan sings Piddly effortlessly and the stylish tunes that go with it make this song extremely addictive. Stereophonic Sannata and Ishq-e-fillum fit the script perfectly, with the latter proving to be an ode to film buffs, who can never get enough of cinema. There is also a track called Lifebuoy, which again, is included keeping the plot in mind. I love Caralisa's rendition of Shamitabh, another stylish track that you might continue humming even after the film. The background score is apt and does not overpower the scenes.
4. Understanding why Ego is useless
Ego does nothing except harming an individual. And Shamitabh puts this across very well. With fame comes ego and Danish's (Shamitabh) greed for doing everything his way. Well, that does not go down too well with Amitabh, who decides to teach him a lesson in his own way. Needless to say, both fail and things that follow only prove that both were incomplete without each other. It was ego that led them and their success towards destruction. Shamitabh is a lesson in letting go of both internal and external conflicts as well as the 'E' word (ego, I mean).
5. Dialogues
The subtle yet sharp humor and brilliantly penned dialogues add an additional charm. Although the whiskey-paani dialogue was a tad bit overplayed, we still love it. There are tons of memorable dialogues that will stay with you after the film. And, don't miss portions where the dialogues mouthed by Dhanush and Mr.Bachchan mirror the situations faced by them in real life (jokes on Dhanush's persona or rejection as an RJ for Bachchan). We love how the writers have thrown in witty lines to keep the flow going. There are references to the way things work in Bollywood, be it a journalist's question about Dhanush's six pack abs or the scene where Dhanush mumbles that award functions are fixed; it is amazing how the film that celebrates cinema, sportingly takes a dig at it too.
and a special mention
We love how Balki has moved up the names of Mr.Bachchan, Dhanush and Akshara's valets in the closing credits. Don't know if you noticed, but for me, it was lovely to see their names appear before the rest of the crew. Even they deserve some love, right? (And I am sure Amitabh Sinha will agree, because he frowned after looking at his own name appear towards the end, as Shamitabh's valet - Robert).
Well, these reasons should be enough for you to drag yourself to the cinema hall. Now!
Watch Shamitabh and let me know your feedback on Twitter - @priyaadivarekar
Love,
The Dancebee
Shamitabh was the best thing that happened to me - Dhanush | Exclusive Interview
Admit it, we have all loved his performance in Raanjhanaa. And then of course, the country danced to his tunes, when this talented artist crooned "Why this Kolaveri di?" But, this versatile actor is much more than just that. For someone who was already a superstar down south, he made a rather quite and humble entry in Bollywood with the Sonam Kapoor starrer in 2013. A two year long wait (and a few more super hit films down South) later, Tamil industry's blue eyed boy, Dhanush is back with his second outing in Bollywood. And this time, he has scored a biggie with none other than Amitabh Bachchan. The promos of their stylish and intriguing flick Shamitabh are already creating waves.
Ask him about his character in the film and prompt comes the reply, "Well, my character... (pauses) I don't know. You have to see the film to know about it. Yaar, what to do? You ask Balki. He has to be blamed for this, not me. I can't say anything." While they continue to build the suspense, within a week of Shamitabh's release, he will have another much anticipated Tamil film called Anegan hitting the screens on February 13. Dhanush fans, meanwhile, are going crazy on social media, praising the actor's look and dialogues in the two films. But this down to earth artist does not allow any form of hype or hysteria to affect his work. Very few actors of his stature have such dedication and honesty. And during one of our recent interactions with Mr. Bachchan, the legend too couldn't stop praising his co-star.
Each day on the set was like a learning experience. I observed him (Amitabh Bachchan) a lot
We met the actor for an exclusive chat on a weekday, in between several promotional activities that were lined up across a few states. After hours of different interviews (and repetitive questions for sure), Dhanush looked exhausted and didn't feel too well. He had an early morning flight to catch. But throughout the interview, not once did he show it on his face or act like he needed someone to look after him. Instead, he welcomed us with a huge smile and hug, made us feel comfortable and then, settled down for a lovely conversation. Excerpts from an inspiring and honest interview with the extremely versatile actor, one half of Shamitabh - Venkatesh Prabhu Kasthuri Raja aka Dhanush:
Two films in two weeks in the same month. How excited are you?
(Smiles) Well, the promotions for Shamitabh are on a bigger scale and since this film releases first, all my energies are focused on it. Once Shamitabh hits the screens, I will have a week to promote Anegan, which should be good. February couldn't have got better. I am very happy.
Working with the legendary Amitabh Bachchan in your second Bollywood film must have been quite an experience.
Working with him was nothing less than an adventure. I was very excited and thrilled. Each day on the set was like a learning experience. I observed him a lot. It was a phenomenal experience to watch the legend himself perform live in front of my eyes.
I have nothing to lose, so I am free to experiment with my characters. Also, I am aware that I am not really the quintessential hero material
With Shamitabh promos getting an excellent response, do you think the two year long wait worth it?
Absolutely! In fact, I am just happy to be a small part of it. I couldn't have asked for a better second film. I have been trying to mix my characters as much as possible. But down South, there is a certain of image of me that has stuck, so I am restricted. Here, I have nothing to lose, so I am free to experiment with my characters. Also, I am aware that I am not really the quintessential hero material. Plus post Raanjhanaa, the scripts that came my way were very similar. Some were actually good, but I just thought they were not apt for me. This wait was definitely long and agonizing, but Shamitabh was the best thing that could happen.
Tell us about K.V.Anand's Anegan. The trailer looks very promising.
At its core, the film is a love story and shows how love finds its way against all odds. It is very different from the kind of films I have done in the past. There are different looks and set ups involved. It was definitely one exciting project and will be one of my biggest Tamil releases, with 400+ screens in Tamil Nadu and some 1000+ screens overall, excluding the Hindi version. I couldn't have asked god for anything better (smiles).
Did it help having a challenging and emotionally packed film like Raanjhanaa as your launch vehicle, in order to put a firm foot in Bollywood?
That film means everything to me. It's like my identity card. Even if I shower the best of praises and compliments on Raanjhanaa, it will never be enough. I am what I am in Bollywood today because of that film.
I couldn't complete my education, nor can I speak good English. I haven’t experienced college life. But today, I feel like it hasn't been that bad a journey
Talking about your beginnings, what was it like being a part of a film family?
It's not like the typical film family stories. I have seen my father struggle and work really hard. During his younger days, my father worked in a mill and our family lived in a very small room. We would go days with just one meal. So yes, I have seen poverty up close during my younger days. My father would pen a lot of stories. After working in the mill, he used to come home, write stories and sell it to people, who would then sell the same stories to film makers, calling it their own. It was through one such contact that he got a break in the Tamil film industry as an assistant director. He worked hard for almost 15 years before making his directorial debut.
Your journey from a 16-year-old newbie to the Superstar down South has been quite something. Was acting always on the cards?
Not really. I was more keen on becoming a Marine Engineer. At 16, I wasn't ready to do get into films and would often cry. My father wanted to start filming within a week and was looking for a school boy to play the role, so he asked me to step in. Today, I am glad I didn't take a step back. It is only with time and a few films down the line that I realized, I cannot do anything else. I suffer from stage fright and just being around people makes me nervous. But, when I am in front of the camera, I feel comfortable. I couldn't complete my education, nor can I speak good English. I haven’t experienced college life. But today, I feel like it hasn't been that bad a journey. 30 films, a National award and being in the industry for more than 13-14 years makes you realize that it has all been worth it.
How did you handle the early criticism that came your way?
More than the critics and my work, I was more worried about how my friends or relatives would talk to me. In addition, I knew that my looks would be criticized. But being a director’s son, I understood that only the script and your performance matters, not looks. The script, that may look like mere pages, can create a star out of an actor, no matter how he looks. And the same can bring him down too. So, I don't think about criticism, competition or anything. I just put my blinders on, read scripts, focus on the projects and allow my work to do the talking.
The script, that may look like mere pages, can create a star out of an actor, no matter how he looks
Has the pressure of being Superstar Rajinikanth's son-in-law affected you?
It doesn't affect me. I am a huge, huge fan of him. I have always been happy to be his son-in-law and our relationship is extremely precious to me. Call me his son-in-law, fan or even a driver, it will still be an honor. As for the pressure, I don't really take it. I allow my films to speak for themselves. If the audience likes my work, they will eventually know and appreciate me for who I am.
Vela Illa Pattathari was your 25th film down South. After hitting one milestone after another, how do you look back at your journey as an actor?
While I can't thank god enough for all that he has bestowed upon me, I feel 25 films is very little for me to turn and look back. Maybe, I will be more comfortable to answer this when I cross 50 films (smiles).
So, what's next for you after Shamitabh?
I prefer taking one step ahead at a time and like taking things as they come my way. After Shamitabh, as I mentioned, there is Anegan. Then in Hindi, I will be doing Aanand.L.Rai's next film, which is a love story. In Tamil, I am working with director Balaji Mohan on a family entertained titled Maari, which is a name, the first look of which was revealed in November last year. And then there is my production venture titled Kaaki Sattai, which releases on February 27.
Vela Illa Pattathari was your 25th film down South. After hitting one milestone after another, how do you look back at your journey as an actor?
While I can't thank god enough for all that he has bestowed upon me, I feel 25 films is very little for me to turn and look back. Maybe, I will be more comfortable to answer this when I cross 50 films (smiles).
So, what's next for you after Shamitabh?
I prefer taking one step ahead at a time and like taking things as they come my way. After Shamitabh, as I mentioned, there is Anegan. Then in Hindi, I will be doing Aanand.L.Rai's next film, which is a love story. In Tamil, I am working with director Balaji Mohan on a family entertained titled Maari, which is a name, the first look of which was revealed in November last year. And then there is my production venture titled Kaaki Sattai, which releases on February 27.
Call me his (Rajinikanth's) son-in-law, fan or even a driver, it will still be an honor-- By Priya Adivarekar --
