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Trying times

Photo: S. Subramanium

Bad copy Aamir Khan’s take off on Kishore Kumar’s act in Half Ticket is terrible

After “Bombat” bombed at the box-office, Rockline Venkatesh is pinning his hopes on “Junglee”. The film comprises part of the crew and cast that made ‘Duniya’ a big hit. Directed by Suri, “Junglee” boasts of Vijay and Aindritha as the lead pair and cinematography is by the talented Sathya Hegde. The long-defunct Mysore Lamps factory is a vast expanse of dilapidated buildings and unkempt wilderness. It is a haven for producers wanting to shoot action sequences. A fight sequence was being canned featuring Vijay and Adi Lokesh with the heroine watching from the sidelines. There was artificial rain and lightening. “I think I’m going to catch a cold,” said Aindritha warming her hands over burning embers. “I’ve been drenched for four days and there are four more to go,” said the chirpy heroine without a trace of irritation. Everyone likes her and even when she suddenly disappeared for three days thanks to her manager bungling her dates, nobody complained. “She’s very camera friendly and has absolutely no airs. You’ll never hear her complaining about the conditions,” says Suri. Vijay badly needs a hit. None of his films after “Duniya” have done well and he has no one to blame but himself for his predicament. “I’m working really hard,” says the bundle of energy especially when it comes to action sequences. Suri shouts, “Lights, rain, action.” Adi grapples Vijay who wards him off, steps back, jumps and kicks him on the chest. Adi is flung back toppling a coconut sapling. The steady-cam follows every moment and pans to Aindritha who covers her mouth in awe. “Cut,” shouts Suri running to the monitor to watch the canned shot. Adi shakes off the slush while Vijay reaches for a cigarette. Aindritha covers herself with a rug and seeks the warmth of the embers silently praying there is no retake. Suri shouts ‘pack up’ and everyone beams in relief.

Does Chandrashekar, the censor chief court controversy or is it vice versa? The articulate and amiable Central Government servant laughs at the question. He has refused to watch “Buddhivantha” because basic formalities were not followed. Bigwigs in the industry have met their match in this man who swears he will not deviate from the guidelines laid nor will he discriminate between the so-called big and small producers. The usual phone calls from heavyweights in the industry failed to move Chandrashekar. “It really doesn’t bother me how big a producer claims to be or when the birthday of a superstar is.” A producer is not supposed to announce the release date before his film is censored. Industry bigwigs feel might is right but Chandrashekar has made them realize that right is might. If things go according to schedule and there are no major cuts then “Buddhivantha” will hit the theaters today.

Imitation is definitely the best form of flattery but when it is badly done it is an insult. Aamir Khan is a good actor but the way the Mumbai press is going ga ga over his shoddily written and terribly enacted take off on what Kishore Kumar so effortlessly did in “Half Ticket” for an ad is laughable. Sonu Nigam is a gifted singer who adds soul to ordinary songs but when I heard him labouring over a few Rafi songs I realized the greatness of that effortless original singer. It is only when a Sudeep or a Anil Kapoor does a role that Kamal Hassan has essayed (“Swathi Muthyam”) that you realize that they’ve sadly missed the basic essence of the original performance. Do what you are good at and leave the greats alone.

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