ASLI NAQLI

   I keep telling my friends that anyone can become a director. One just needs a producer willing to finance the conversion of your dream into reality (or reelity). Most of the Bollywood flicks are remakes of Hollywood movies. “Alag” was a copy of a shady movie titled “Powder”, “Hum Kaun Hai” – inspired from “The Others”, “Zeher” –a replica of “Out of Time”, well, the list goes on. In case the movies are not inspired, then they are crappy like Dus, 36 China Town, and the likes of them.  

   Once in a while you do get to watch movies that are not only original but also brilliantly made compared to current Bollywood standards. Two movies released in 2006 come to my mind. In both, the lead actors were not big names and had embarrassing screen names. Both movies had heroines who are still new to the show business. Both can be classified in the ‘comedy’ genre. As usual, both had happy endings – but I didn’t mind. The movies are – “Anthony Kaun Hai?” and “Khosla Ka Ghosla”.

   “Anthony Kaun Hai?” directed by Raj Kaushal (husband of Mandira Bedi) starred Arshad Warsi, Minissha Lamba and Raghuvir Yadav. Sanju Baba makes a guest appearance. Arshad Warsi plays a con man named Champak aka Champ. The movie is set in Thailand and has been presented via the “Flashback” route. Arshad helps a fellow inmate (Raghuvir) get out of prison in return for a share of the loot stashed away by Raghuvir. After some twists and turns, Arshad finds himself held hostage by a hitman but at the end he gets the loot as well as a nice chic. The story was original or I havn’t come across the master copy – I hope there is no master copy. The comedy didn’t look forced neither was there any problem with the climax. Though, I felt the end could have been different. It was a well made movie with the right choice of actors.

    The other movie – “Khosla Ka Ghosla” was a debut for the director Dibakar Banerjee. It starred Parvin Dabas, Tara Sharma, Anupam Kher, and Navin Nischol. Parvin Dabas plays the character of Chironji Khosla. Anupam Kher plays a middle class man who has invested in a plot. Parvin is not interested in his father’s plans to build a home. He is shown to be detached from his family but ultimately helps his father get back his plot of land wrongly occupied by the bad guy played by Boman Irani. Ranvir, Boman, Navin & Anupam give some memorable performances. The movie is amazing considering it Dibakar Banerjee’s directorial debut. It is a very good example of how a moviemaker can pick up a story from his surroundings and turn it into a movie worth watching.

    These two movies from the 2006 Bollywood lot were my favourites and I would suggest the readers to watch them if they haven’t already. Hopefully, we will get to see some more original movies and not just remakes in the new year.  

Awara mesiah