Satyagraha Reviews Topic - Page 4

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.khoobsurat. thumbnail
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Posted: 12 years ago
#31
Why isn't this topic pinned so it can stay on the first page? 😳
.khoobsurat. thumbnail
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Posted: 12 years ago
#32

edit review already posted :P

Edited by beboholic - 12 years ago
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Posted: 12 years ago
#33
I am surprised that Amitabh is not promoting this movie. He has not posted anything about this movie on his blog. He is posting everything about KBC.Weird!!!!
.khoobsurat. thumbnail
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Posted: 12 years ago
#34
Bollywood review: Amitabh and Manoj Bajpai are the only high-point of Satyagraha

Despite investing in all the tricks of the trade, Satyagraha' just doesn't make the cut

By Sneha May Francis

Published Thursday, August 29, 2013

Armed with the same wardrobe of ethnic, linen costumes and his motley bunch of actor-friends, some who've reappeared in (almost) every film, director Prakash Jha embarks on yet another political journey that's inspired by real-life social activist Anna Hazare.

Unfortunately, Jha's revolution this time round ends up unforgivably long, inadequately scripted and way too superficial to merit applause.
Yes, there are moments of optimism, but those are far too few to evoke any real passion.

Blatantly plugging a brand of basmati rice just minutes into the story just doesn't gel with his projected political ideologies, almost endorsing the capitalist culture that Jha appears to disregard in his movies.

If he had practiced what he preached, then probably it would've gone a long way in uplifting the essence of his political drama.

His revolution, much like what he earlier staged in Aarakshan' is way too dramatic and idealistic, and ends without hinting at any solution. It even projects an anthem " Janta Rocks' " that's played out enough times by a bunch of aspiring rockstars.

Music band Indian Ocean' also joins in during a celebrated strike.

Jha even refuses to ignore Bollywood staples and creates space for an item number (a few minutes into the narrative), and a mushy romantic track, into his over-indulgent 150-minutes of screen time.

While the frail Anna's epic fast is shot in glorious frames and amply recaptured by a visibly aged Amitabh Bachchan, the struggle gets diluted into a political conspiracy.

Manav is an orphaned man, who willingly sells his soul to the devil to earn the riches. Greed, he claims, is the only key to development.

A point vehemently opposed by his only friend Akilesh's idealist dad Dwarka Anand.

Despite sharing a close bond with Manav, Akilesh isn't tempted by money, and obediently lives under his dad's shadows.
It's his untimely death that reunites Anand and Manav in the most unlikely manner.

They soon end up in a fight to regain what's rightfully theirs from a conniving political leader Balram Singh. And, they are joined in this battle by Akilesh's wife Sumitra, journalist Yasmin and local leader Arjun.

A jail visit, social media marathon, hunger strike and numerous candle-light vigils later, their revolt attains some level of prominence and credibility.
But not enough to evoke any real patriotism.

It doesn't remotely match what directors Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra and Rajkumar Hirani had effectively achieved in their epic sagas Rang De Basanti' and Munnabhai MBBS'.

Jha and Anjum Rajabali's story glorifies some characters and abandons others at their whims and fancy. They even weave in a murder plot and love story to a drama that's otherwise loaded with plots and sub-plots.

And, his characters, much like in his earlier endeavors Aarakshan' and Chakravayuh', invest substantial screen time lecturing the audience about society and its various evils. Everything from capitalism to corruption is touched upon in ample doses.

The only silver lining in this otherwise mundane tale is Manoj Bajpai's electrifying act as the manipulative leader Balram. He's effortless, and owns every frame he's in. Surely the movie would've benefitted more from allowing him more screen time, something that Jha would now regret.

Amitabh Bachchan is reliable as the retired teacher, who is Gandhian in his thinking and action. Much like his reel image, he carries the burden of the movie on his shoulders. And, he's adequately assisted by Ajay Devgn, who excels as a reformed capitalist. Even Arjun Rampal is faultless and appears to have mastered the role of a fiery leader.

The women, however, aren't allowed to do much. Amrita Arora is instructed to play the dutiful daughter-in-law, who indulges every wakeful hour in shadowing the aged Anand, while Kareena Kapoor is told to toss the microphone around to play a TV journalist. Hers could possibly be the most uneducated portrayal of a journalist.

Jha himself makes a blink-and-you-will-miss cameo.

"What sort of a nation have we made?" asks Bachchan during one of the most poignant moments in the movie.

But, that left us wondering; "What sort of a movie have you ended up making, Mr. Jha?"

http://www.emirates247.com/entertainment/films-music/bollywood-review-amitabh-and-manoj-bajpai-are-the-only-high-point-of-satyagraha-2013-08-29-1.519256
.khoobsurat. thumbnail
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Posted: 12 years ago
#35
Nikhil Arora's Review - Satyagraha

Satyagraha Review - Sabko Sanmati De Bhagwan Aug 30, 2013 10 4.0/5
Verdict - Satyagraha is an intense and emotional experience with a staggering performance by Amitabh Bachchan

Satyagraha is a film that works solely on your emotions. It is topical and socially responsible. Moreover, it is an intense and emotional experience. For this, I credit two men: Amitabh Bachchan and Prakash Jha. Jha made pertinent films like Damul (1985) at the onset of his career but it took him many years to find that loophole in the paradigm of commercial cinema where he made a non-masala film work with Raajneeti (2010). With Satyagraha, he has made his most important film, if not his best. That loophole will again be breached as Jha makes a film directly for the audience's idealistic fantasies and emotional zeal.

Now, I would like to talk about the second man in question. The actor who single-handedly sweeps the floor clean. There are few actors in the history of cinema like Mr. Amitabh Bachchan. There is nobody more loved and respected in the Hindi filmmaking community than this giant of the silver screen. And for good reason. In Satyagraha, he gives his best performance in years. Watching Mr. Bachchan during the hunger strike scenes and not feeling a tiny spur of emotion is next to impossible. Collective national heartbreak is in order.

The film is clearly based on the anti-corruption movement that took place in 2011 started by Anna Hazare. He was tipped as the modern day Mahatma Gandhi. Satyagraha is a combination of two words: satya and graha. Sandhi-vichhed - satya means truth and agraha means soul force. According to Gandhi, it meant insistence on truth, a nonviolent resistance movement, which he spearheaded and was followed by many countrymen. This is when we were being oppressed by outsiders. More than half a century on, we are being oppressed by insiders. Our own countrymen are reeking of corruption.

Rating and reviewing a film like this is tricky business. You cannot talk about whether the story works or the characters are explored without missing the point of the film. The point of the film is to show us a story with social relevance that evokes an emotion, furthermore provoking an action. It is sort of like looking back on an actual event that jolted the nation. The film itself is a review of a national event. Reviewing this film cannot be an isolated task.

That being said, on the technical front, the film does suffer a bit. Certain dialogues in the first half are cringe-worthy. The romantic sub-plot between Ajay Devgn and Kareena Kapoor is a roadblock. The intentions are what prevail and the second half is smooth sailing. The storytelling combined with social significance takes over and we get a powerful film in the end. There are certain scenes with certain messages about the difference between revolution and mutiny. The stand on violence and non-violence, it is these ideas that Anjum Rajabali and Prakash Jha's screenplay stimulates which, sadly, are easily done on film, not in reality.

After conceptualizing the film well, half of your work is done when you round up a good cast. Manoj Bajpayee plays the face of a corrupt politician and nails every scene he is in. Ajay Devgn was always considered a good actor before he became a star and rediscovers that territory at places. Kareena Kapoor and Amrita Rao are adequate. Arjun Rampal surprises yet again after a good performance in D-Day earlier this year. As I said before, the actor who takes the cake is Amitabh Bachchan. There is also a funny reference to Kaun Banega Crorepati in the film, which he delivers the way only he can.

I'd give 3 stars for the actual film and an extra star for what it makes you feel and it stands for. It is a film that is worth watching for the simple reason that we are citizens of this country, living in these times. We are aware of the situation. Our economy is going downhill every second and our political system is becoming more and more corrupt. Prakash Jha shows us the mirror but also offers an alternative past, which may not have been optimistic but ideal. It offers a resolution and a future, which will probably not be realistic but earnest and responsible. More importantly, it is a film that stirs you and makes you wish you do something more for your country with a fierce insistence on truth.

Storyline 4/5
Direction 3/5
Acting 5/5
Cinematography 3/5
Music 3/5

Edited by beboholic - 12 years ago
DheeJattanDi thumbnail
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Posted: 12 years ago
#36
The reviews are just making me all the more excited for this film!
desigal90 thumbnail
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Posted: 12 years ago
#37
Movie seems to have gotten great reviews, but Kareena seems to have gotten the raw end of the deal.
Seems like her character was the most flawed.
Some reviews calling it a "dumb journalist" to the "most misinformed journalist". Considering Kareena's not responsible for the reporting content, I'd blame writer here for Yasmin's flawed character.

Blahhh.
DheeJattanDi thumbnail
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Posted: 12 years ago
#38
^ or maybe she, as an actress, just did not succeed in pulling off a character like Yasmin? 😆
Edited by K.Sean - 12 years ago
desigal90 thumbnail
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Posted: 12 years ago
#39
A bad actress wouldnt make a character "Misinformed", "uneducated" or "dumb" will it?
Those descriptions for jounalists concern that reporter's content, what she's saying.
Did Kareena write the dialogues?

Also, it stands out coz Kareena's NEVER gotten this kinda review before.
Even in her 10 min roles in Ra.One and Bodyguard, she gets better feedback and mention.

Logic, see?
briahna thumbnail
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Posted: 12 years ago
#40
Keep wasting ur talent bebo. Been in industry for over 10yrs and still doing 2nd fiddle roles. So much for choosing this BIG movie over ram leela
Damn even katy is smarter than u


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