Post all Aarakshan Reviews Here - Page 3

Created

Last reply

Replies

116

Views

16k

Users

29

Likes

89

Frequent Posters

you2 thumbnail
18th Anniversary Thumbnail Visit Streak 365 Thumbnail + 6
Posted: 14 years ago
#21
Movie Review: Aarakshan
Reviewed By: Dailybhaskar.com | Last Updated 22:49(11/08/11)
Movie Name:Aarakshan
Critic Rating:
Viewer Rating:
Click here to vote
2
Click here to vote
0
Star Cast:Amitabh Bachchan, Saif Ali Khan, Deepika Padukone, Manoj Bajpai, Prateik Babbar
Director:Prakash Jha
Producer:Prakash Jha, Firoz Nadiawala
Music Directer:Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy
Genre:Drama
Story

Story: 'Aarakshan' is the story of Dr. Prabhakar Anand (Amitabh Bachchan), who's been running one of the best colleges in India, since 30 long years, based on his idealistic principles and disciplines. His comments on the law of reservation land him in trouble and even render him homeless. The story takes you through Prabhakar's idealistic principles, his ultimate decisions, viewpoints on reservation and how he finally reclaims his lost glory and respect.

Review: 'Aarakshan' deals with the controversial and sensitive issue of 'reservation,' but doesn't aim to give any permanent solution to the issue; instead it leaves the platform open for discussion and interpretation. The first half is quite gripping, but the narrative loses its grips by the end of the story. Had the editing been crispier, it would've allowed the message to be delivered briefly with an immediate effect, nevertheless the story takes you through a roller coaster ride with a high dose of drama. Some moments have been created marvelously, including- Dr Prabhakar's last glance towards his College and the hunger that seems so visible in his eyes. The first scene, where Saif storms off from the interview room, due to some insulting remarks on his caste, also creates an impact.

Star Cast: Amitabh Bachchan as Dr. Prabhakar Anand, delivers an outstanding performance as an idealistic Principal, who believes in merit as well as, giving chance to the deserving students, who belong to the lower strata of the society. Saif's portrayal is realistic and Deepika is quite good as a supporting lead. Manoj Bajpai plays his negative character to perfection, which makes him pretty realistic and believable. The character sketches are strong and emotions that are exuded are hard-hitting and real.

Direction: Director Prakash Jha's direction is flawed to some extent, as the film does not provide any solution to the sensitive issue of 'Aarakshan,' but it might as well provide an alternative to the debate of reservation. He shows the conflicts between the characters quite convincingly, but fails to create an impact with the climax, as he takes too much time to convey the message. He tries to give this socio-political film, a blend of conflict and drama, but the climax becomes too good to be true.

Diologues/Cinematography/Music- Dialogues are quite impactful and hard hitting and present the conflict between the characters quite brilliantly. Cinematography by Sachin Kumar Krishnan is nothing great, but thankfully the camera work complements the storyline, especially the mass congregation scenes and the locales of Bhopal. Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy's music is nothing great, with only one song, 'Seedhe point pe aoo na' being worth a mention.

Ups and Downs: Watch it for the conflicts between the characters and an outstanding performance by Amitabh Bachchan.

On the flipside, if you expect drama and finesse that you witnessed in Prakash Jha's last release 'Rajneeti', you will be disappointed.

bollywoodbabe1 thumbnail
16th Anniversary Thumbnail Voyager Thumbnail Engager Level 1 Thumbnail
Posted: 14 years ago
#22
Wohooo!!!!Go Mr Bachchan 🥳 Still the baap of acting!
Can't wait to watch this one!
you2 thumbnail
18th Anniversary Thumbnail Visit Streak 365 Thumbnail + 6
Posted: 14 years ago
#23
Printed from

Aarakshan

Nikhat Kazmi, TNN, Aug 11, 2011, 10.00PM IST
More from Aarakshan
Trailer
Aarakshan: Song Promo - Mauka
Aarakshan: Dialogue Promo
Achha lagta hai
Story: Amitabh Bachchan, a principal of a premier college in Bhopal, is forced to resign from his post after he makes a controversial statement about India's reservation policy. Having alienated himself from his well-wishers and students, which includes his dalit protegee, Saif Ali Khan, he tries to rebuild life again. More importantly, he tries to save the Indian education system from unscrupulous sharks like Manoj Bajpayee who want to totally commercialise it and convert it into India's largest money-making enterprise, courtesy private coaching centres, capitation fee etc.

Movie Review: Filmmaker Prakash Jha is a breed apart. Beginning as a premier proponent of India's parallel cinema movement in the 1970s-1980s, he never chose to lose his moorings. Instead, he opted to increase the contours of his canvas by opting for a kind of cinema that combined art with mainstream, meaning with masala. Hence the importance of films like Gangajal, Apharan, Rajneeti, where you will manage to focus on some of India's burning issues, without getting bored to death.

Aarakshan follows the same rules of the games, where the filmmaker attempts to take an incisive look at India's policy of reservation and its impact on the Indian education system. Atleast that's the issue he begins with and focuses on in the first half of the film. The tensions that the Supreme Court's verdict on the Mandal Commission's recommendations elicit find a resonance in the day to day functioning of Bhopal's premier private college as pro and anti-reservationists threaten to shatter the campus calm. Principal Bachchan tries hard to impose discipline within the stormy precincts but soon, the turmoil sears both his personal and professional life. His favourite student and ward, Saif Ali Khan, who has managed to fight the odds despite his underprivileged background, accuses him of being a casteist and turns his back on him, while upper caste student -- another favourite -- Prateik Babbar, accuses him of being a pro-reservationists and holds him responsible for messing with the career of meritorious students. But more dangerous are the moves of the managing committee which begins to see a potential enemy in him and replaces him with the corrupt, insincere, vice-principal, Manoj Bajpayee, who chooses to concentrate more on his umpteen coaching centres than on the affairs and the concerns of the college and its students.

So far, so good. As long as the film concentrates on the key concern, it is full of high drama, with powerful encounters between the prime players. The confrontations between Amitabh Bachchan and Saif Ali Khan are absolutely explosive and riveting stuff, with Saif pitching in one of his finest performances after Omkara. But poor guy! Little does he realise what happens to him in the second half. He is suddenly and arbitrarily removed from the screen as the movie completely loses track from the main issue and peters off into a completely different story. One that tries to follow the usual hero versus villain formula where a larger-than-life Bachchan battles a mean and machiavellian Manoj Bajpayee. The issue of Aarakshan is totally forgotten as the film becomes a diatribe against private coaching institutes, with Professor Bachchan providing an inspiring alternative by giving free tutorials in a tabela (cow shed). Needless to say, all his admirers soon join the tabela revolution, including Saif who is reduced to a mere by-stander in the entire show.

Sad. Because as a film on the issue of reservation, Aarakshan was rocking till the first half. But as an omnibus on the travails of India's education system, it flounders into no-man's land. Watch it for the intermittent high drama and the gritty performances, scattered as they are.

Tip Off: Serious cinema meant for serious cinema buffs who like issue-based films.
576281 thumbnail
Posted: 14 years ago
#24
Disappointed to read most of the reviews saying Saif has been sidelined in the second half...I was looking forward to see his full blown performance based character...Prakash Jha always does this...Even in Rajneeti he took Ajay away entirely and turned Ranbir's into some larger than the life character in the later half...

Hopefully Saif is not meted the same fate...
Sultan.Mirza thumbnail
14th Anniversary Thumbnail Achiever Thumbnail + 5

Sarcastic Chatterbox

Posted: 14 years ago
#25
Huge promotion all over news channel, finally controversy the main trump card of Jha is showing it's true color... Movie will open huge... 👏
Terenaina thumbnail
19th Anniversary Thumbnail Trailblazer Thumbnail + 4
Posted: 14 years ago
#26

Originally posted by: Da_BagarhBilla

Huge promotion all over news channel, finally controversy the main trump card of Jha is showing it's true color... Movie will open huge... 👏



I hope so⭐️
desigal90 thumbnail
17th Anniversary Thumbnail Visit Streak 180 Thumbnail + 5
Posted: 14 years ago
#27

Originally posted by: you2

The confrontations between Amitabh Bachchan and Saif Ali Khan are absolutely explosive and riveting stuff, with Saif pitching in one of his finest performances after Omkara. But poor guy! Little does he realise what happens to him in the second half. He is suddenly and arbitrarily removed from the screen as the movie completely loses track from the main issue and peters off into a completely different story. One that tries to follow the usual hero versus villain formula where a larger-than-life Bachchan battles a mean and machiavellian Manoj Bajpayee. The issue of Aarakshan is totally forgotten as the film becomes a diatribe against private coaching institutes, with Professor Bachchan providing an inspiring alternative by giving free tutorials in a tabela (cow shed). Needless to say, all his admirers soon join the tabela revolution, including Saif who is reduced to a mere by-stander in the entire show.

This SUCKS.
And this isnt the first review to say Saif was relegated to the back.
fly2me thumbnail
17th Anniversary Thumbnail Sparkler Thumbnail + 3
Posted: 14 years ago
#28

Aarakshan

A still from the movie More Pics

Critic's Rating:
Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Saif Ali Khan, Deepika Padukone, Manoj Bajpayee, Prateik Babbar
Direction: Prakash Jha
Genre: Drama
Duration: 2 hours 47 minutes






Story: Amitabh Bachchan, a principal of a premier college in Bhopal, is forced to resign from his post after he makes a controversial statement about India's reservation policy. Having alienated himself from his well-wishers and students, which includes his dalit protegee, Saif Ali Khan, he tries to rebuild life again. More importantly, he tries to save the Indian education system from unscrupulous sharks like Manoj Bajpayee who want to totally commercialise it and convert it into India's largest money-making enterprise, courtesy private coaching centres, capitation fee etc.

Movie Review: Filmmaker Prakash Jha is a breed apart. Beginning as a premier proponent of India's parallel cinema movement in the 1970s-1980s, he never chose to lose his moorings. Instead, he opted to increase the contours of his canvas by opting for a kind of cinema that combined art with mainstream, meaning with masala. Hence the importance of films like Gangajal, Apharan, Rajneeti, where you will manage to focus on some of India's burning issues, without getting bored to death.

Aarakshan follows the same rules of the games, where the filmmaker attempts to take an incisive look at India's policy of reservation and its impact on the Indian education system. Atleast that's the issue he begins with and focuses on in the first half of the film. The tensions that the Supreme Court's verdict on the Mandal Commission's recommendations elicit find a resonance in the day to day functioning of Bhopal's premier private college as pro and anti-reservationists threaten to shatter the campus calm. Principal Bachchan tries hard to impose discipline within the stormy precincts but soon, the turmoil sears both his personal and professional life. His favourite student and ward, Saif Ali Khan, who has managed to fight the odds despite his underprivileged background, accuses him of being a casteist and turns his back on him, while upper caste student -- another favourite -- Prateik Babbar, accuses him of being a pro-reservationists and holds him responsible for messing with the career of meritorious students. But more dangerous are the moves of the managing committee which begins to see a potential enemy in him and replaces him with the corrupt, insincere, vice-principal, Manoj Bajpayee, who chooses to concentrate more on his umpteen coaching centres than on the affairs and the concerns of the college and its students.

So far, so good. As long as the film concentrates on the key concern, it is full of high drama, with powerful encounters between the prime players. The confrontations between Amitabh Bachchan and Saif Ali Khan are absolutely explosive and riveting stuff, with Saif pitching in one of his finest performances after Omkara. But poor guy! Little does he realise what happens to him in the second half. He is suddenly and arbitrarily removed from the screen as the movie completely loses track from the main issue and peters off into a completely different story. One that tries to follow the usual hero versus villain formula where a larger-than-life Bachchan battles a mean and machiavellian Manoj Bajpayee. The issue of Aarakshan is totally forgotten as the film becomes a diatribe against private coaching institutes, with Professor Bachchan providing an inspiring alternative by giving free tutorials in a tabela (cow shed). Needless to say, all his admirers soon join the tabela revolution, including Saif who is reduced to a mere by-stander in the entire show.

Sad. Because as a film on the issue of reservation, Aarakshan was rocking till the first half. But as an omnibus on the travails of India's education system, it flounders into no-man's land. Watch it for the intermittent high drama and the gritty performances, scattered as they are.

Tip Off: Serious cinema meant for serious cinema buffs who like issue-based films.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/movie-reviews/hindi/Aarakshan/moviereview/9566235.cms
you2 thumbnail
18th Anniversary Thumbnail Visit Streak 365 Thumbnail + 6
Posted: 14 years ago
#29
The New York Times
  • Reprints

This copy is for your personal, noncommercial use only. You can order presentation-ready copies for distribution to your colleagues, clients or customers, please click here or use the "Reprints" tool that appears next to any article. Visit www.nytreprints.com for samples and additional information. Order a reprint of this article now.

August 11, 2011
Movie Review | 'Aarakshan'

A Battle for India's Soul

By RACHEL SALTZ

Nothing less than India's soul is at stake in Prakash Jha's "Aarakshan," a Hindi movie about the battle — as intense as any gang war — between a righteous teacher and the hucksters who would make education a commodity available only to the privileged.

Mr. Jha likes to take political stories and turn them into pulpy, populist epics. His last film, "Rajneeti," a sort of "Mahabharata" meets "The Godfather," set in present-day Bhopal, was about corruption in a dynastic ruling family. Here he grapples with caste prejudice and the Indian version of affirmative action: the reserving of spots in schools for low or "backward" castes. ("Aarakshan" means reservation.)

To help tell his big story, he has enlisted Bollywood's Mr. Big, Amitabh Bachchan, who plays Prabhakar Anand, a Bhopal college principal whose integrity costs him his job. Among his protgs is the low-caste Deepak (Saif Ali Khan).

"Tell us about your father," job interviewers demand of Deepak in the opening scene. Yet even as the film works to overturn the idea that family status determines worth, it can't help placing its hopes in a good daddy figure: namely, Mr. Bachchan's Prabhakar, who looms as large to his students as the man who plays him does to generations of Indian moviegoers.

At times "Aarakshan" comes off like a pep rally for pluralism and inclusion. ("Just give me a chance and watch me take flight" go the lyrics to one song.) But Mr. Jha doesn't stint on the melodrama, unabashedly pitting smirking corruption against heroic rectitude. Subtle it ain't and subtle it needn't be. It is, though, mostly involving (if Bollywood long, at 2 hours 45 minutes) and even occasionally stirring.

AARAKSHAN

Opens on Friday nationwide.

Directed by Prakash Jha; written by Mr. Jha and Anjum Rajabali; director of photography, Sachin Krishn; edited by Santosh Mandal; music by Wayne Sharpe; choreography by Jayesh Pradhan; art director, Jayant Deshmukh; costumes by Priyanka Mundada; released by Reliance Big Pictures. In Hindi, with English subtitles. Running time: 2 hours 45 minutes. This film is not rated.

WITH: Amitabh Bachchan (Prabhakar Anand), Saif Ali Khan (Deepak Kumar), Deepika Padukone (Poorbi Anand), Manoj Bajpayee (Mithilesh Singh) and Prateik Babbar (Sushant).

Sultan.Mirza thumbnail
14th Anniversary Thumbnail Achiever Thumbnail + 5

Sarcastic Chatterbox

Posted: 14 years ago
#30
Ormax predicts Aarakshan to collect Rs 170 mn in opening weekend
Indiantelevision.com Team
(10 August 2011 7:45 pm)


MUMBAI: Ormax Media, which uses Moviescope predictive model, has forecast Prakash Jha's Aarakshan to take a net opening weekend collection of Rs 170 million, assuming it releases across 1200 cinemas.

Considering the scale of the film, it's an average to good opening.

The film, starring Amitabh Bachchan, Saif Ali Khan and Deepika Padukone, releases on 12 August. There are no other releases this week.

Aarakshan is being distributed by Reliance Entertainment.

Last year, Jha's film Raajneeti released across 1356 cinemas with an opening weekend of Rs 337.5 million. However, the film had a much biggerstar cast including Ajay Devgan, Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif.

Moviescope is a film research engine designed to take care of all the needs of a producer. This includes four components - Ad Pre-Test, Film Pre-Test, Awareness Tracking (Cinematix) and Exit Polls.

Ormax Media partners with Yash Raj Films, Fox Star Studios, Viacom 18 Motion Pictures and DAR Media among others.

http://www.indiantelevision.com/aac/y2k11/aac852.php

Related Topics

Bollywood Thumbnail

Posted by: oyebollywood

2 months ago

The Bengal Files - Reviews And Box Office

https://x.com/vivekagnihotri/status/1946940660067803443...

https://x.com/vivekagnihotri/status/1946940660067803443
Expand ▼
Bollywood Thumbnail

Posted by: oyebollywood

19 days ago

Baaghi 4 - Reviews And Box Office

https://x.com/UmairSandu/status/1962932305451716881

https://x.com/UmairSandu/status/1962932305451716881
Expand ▼
Bollywood Thumbnail

Posted by: oyebollywood

16 days ago

Inspector Zende - Manoj Bajpayee - Reviews

https://www.indiaforums.com/article/inspector-zende-review-a-retro-chase-filled-with-comedy-chaos-and-manoj-bajpayees-quirks_226785

https://www.indiaforums.com/article/inspector-zende-review-a-retro-chase-filled-with-comedy-chaos-and-manoj-bajpayees-quirks_226785
Expand ▼
Bollywood Thumbnail

Posted by: oyebollywood

19 days ago

Lokah Chapter 1 Chandra - Reviews Box Office

Has any one seen this movie...

Expand ▼
Bollywood Thumbnail

Posted by: Maroonporsche

1 months ago

War 2 -Movie Reviews & BO Discussion

https://x.com/umairsandu/status/1954950592771895651?s=46 Tis is review thread ?

https://x.com/umairsandu/status/1954950592771895651?s=46
Expand ▼
Top

Stay Connected with IndiaForums!

Be the first to know about the latest news, updates, and exclusive content.

Add to Home Screen!

Install this web app on your iPhone for the best experience. It's easy, just tap and then "Add to Home Screen".