Was October a movie that you enjoyed?

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Posted: 5 years ago

#21

Originally posted by: CLOBBER
Today only I watched Gulabo Sitabo and was instantly reminded of October, so wo bhi dekh dali badha badha ke😆which brought me back to the forum and this bookmarked review of one of my favorite members of one of my all time favorite movie❤️

rogerrocksIF-Stunnerz
Posted: 2 years ago
Finally watched the film. The biggest drawback of the film is that it's too abstract and slow for the average movie goer. My friends usually like fun commercial stuff and like expected, most of the film went over their head Personally I liked it. I wish some of it wasn't so abstract simply because it would have reached a greater audience in that case. And this is where a Piku wins over October. I have my issues with the writing and Shoojit's over indulgence with certain aspects of the film (have felt the same with say an Anurag Basu and Motwane in some of their films) but personally the biggest positive of the film is Varun. He makes Dan so endearing and relatable. His idiosyncrasies, his frustration with the job, his shock over the fact that she asked for him and trying to make sense of it much to the annoyance of the rest, him trying to endearingly explain to her where he was that fateful day, his interactions with everyone in the hospital over the course of the film (his conversations with the receptionist and the nurse in particular are such well written scenes ), his bond with Shiuli's mother and siblings- Varun owns it all with such sincerity. There is this scene where he berates Shiuli for not recognising him and then endearingly tells her to maintain the same facade even the next day. And then another where he instantly understands why she became violent. And then my favourite where she calls out his name twice- Varun is just so good in every frame. I'd go as far as saying his performance is better than the film in a lot of ways. Dan is why the film works and Varun is why Dan tugs at your heart strings and makes you want to root for the 'love story'. A love so abstract and beautiful that you almost don't understand why he would risk his life and job for someone who was not even his friend. That understated subtle connection is both the biggest positive as well as negative of the film (from a commercial POV). Kudos to Varun though for taking it up cos Shoojit and Juhi are one formidable team and it has an impressive cast yet the biggest takeaway from the film is Dan as a character and Varun as an actor.

I couldn't mention some of my scattered thoughts yesterday in the review I posted but here you go -I absolutely love the fact that Shoojit left their relationship undefined. There was not one romantic scene in the film. My friend kept ranting about how they were not even friends and even a husband or boyfriend wouldn't do half of what he is doing for her and he is crazy. That right there is the beauty of the film. So much is left undefined and to the interpretation of the viewer. And almost every character makes sense. His friends trying to understand why he has lost his head over this when they were not even friends to begin with and her mom beginning to see him as a member of their family to his mom's frustration- everything is beautifully done. I actually think it's almost disrespectful to call it a love story. It's so much more. Even in the climax, you only see a tear drop. No wailing or OTT reaction. Such subtlety. It's Shoojit and Varun's win that they make you want to root for Dan. You desperately want her to wake up just to see where they go from other. I'd still say Varun as an actor did better than the film as a whole but the film stays with you long after its over.