The Maverick's Mind-Space

MOST AWAITED MOVIES

The New Year is nearing and people say that no one knows what it holds in store for us. But I do. Among others, one thing I know about and expecting are some of the great movies that are going to be released in 2006.

Here is my list of the most awaited movies of 2006.

1. Lady in the water (English):

Written and directed by Manoj N. Shyamalan, this movie is being talked about in almost all the movie forums in the world. Arguments are going on about whether the movie would be a fairy-tale or a thriller, and whether it would have a twist or not. The trailer has raised the expectations. Still not interested? Read the plot outline below:

Cleveland Heep (Paul Giamatti) has been quietly trying to disappear among the burned-out lightbulbs and broken appliances of the Cove apartment complex. But on the night that irrevocably changes his life, Cleveland finds someone else hiding in the mundane routine of the modest building – a mysterious young woman named Story (Bryce Dallas Howard), who has been living in the passageways beneath the building’s swimming pool.

Cleveland discovers that Story is actually a “narf” – a nymph-like character from an epic bedtime story who is being stalked by vicious creatures determined to prevent her from making the treacherous journey from our world back to hers. Story’s unique powers of perception reveal the fates of Cleveland’s fellow tenants, whose destinies are tied directly to her own, and they must work together to decipher a series of codes that will unlock the pathway to her freedom.

But the window of opportunity for Story to return home is closing rapidly, and the tenants are putting their own lives at great risk to help her. Cleveland will have to face the demons that have followed him to the Cove – and the other tenants must seize the special powers that Story has brought out in them – if they hope to succeed in their daring and dangerous quest to save her world...and ours.

2. Rang De Basanti (Hindi):

A star-studded cast (Aamir Khan, Madhavan, Kunnal Kapoor, Siddharth, Soha Ali Khan), awesome music (A R Rahman) and a really interesting plot. What else do you need to make a film so much anticipated? The songs are already topping the charts. They give a feel of what would happen in the movie. The story seems to be a cross between Yuva and Lakshya.

Plot outline: A young idealistic English filmmaker, Sue, arrives in India to make a film on Indian revolutionaries and their fight for freedom from the British Raj. Owing to a lack of funds, she recruits students from Delhi University to act in her docu-drama. She finds DJ (Aamir Khan), who passed out five years back but still wants to be a part of the University because he doesn't think there's too much out there in the real world to look forward to. Karan (Siddharth), the son of Industrialist Rajnath Singhania, who shares an uncomfortable relationship with his father, but continues to live off him, albeit very grudgingly. Aslam (Kunal Kapoor), is a middle class Muslim boy, who lives in the bylanes near Jama Masjid, poet, philosopher and guide to his friends. Sukhi (Sharman Joshi), the group's baby, innocent, vulnerable and with a weakness for only one thing - girls. Laxman Pandey (Atul Kulkarni), the fundamentalist in the group, the only one who still believes that politics can make the world a better place and finally Sonia (Soha Ali Khan) - the sole girl in the group, tomboy and vivacious spirit, engaged to Ajay (Madhavan) - the dashing air pilot. Sue's film makes DJ and his friends stop and stare at themselves for being the actual descendants of these great men and never recognizing and celebrating their courage and spirit. 'Rang de Basanti' is a youthful drama, yet light hearted in the moments that the group shares amongst themselves... before some incidents effect a serious change...which ends in the climax.

3. V for Vendetta (English):

Written by the Wachowski brothers who made The Matrix Trilogy, this movie is being hyped as the most anticipated movie of the year 2006. Hugo Weaving, the baddy Agent Smith in The Matrix Trilogy is the hero V in this venture.

Plot outline: Set against the futuristic landscape of totalitarian Britain, V For Vendetta tells the story of a mild-mannered young woman named Evey (Natalie Portman) who is rescued from a life-and-death situation by a masked vigilante known only as "V." Incomparably charismatic and ferociously skilled in the art of combat and deception, V ignites a revolution when he detonates two London landmarks and takes over the government-controlled airwaves, urging his fellow citizens to rise up against tyranny and oppression. As Evey uncovers the truth about V's mysterious background, she also discovers the truth about herself - and emerges as his unlikely ally in the culmination of his plot to bring freedom and justice back to a society fraught with cruelty and corruption.

Some of the other movies which are being awaited for are:

The Making of a painter – M.F.Husain’s autobiographical venture

Shivaji, the Boss – The Union of two stalwarts, Rajini and ….A R Rahman

Sholay 2 – Ramgopal Varma’s daring attempt at remaking a blockbuster

Fannah – Aamir Khan plays the role of a terrorist

The Davinci Code – Dan Brown’s best selling story + Tom Hanks

Ice Age 2

Mission Impossible 3

Jurassic Park 4

-0-0-0-0-

Antonio Gonzalez

“I love my house. I have been staying in this house of mine for many years. I was happy when I was alone in this house. But now, I am not.

This man, Henry, with whom I have been living for around 3 years, is an extremely boring individual. He never cares for me. I don't have any respect in this house now. Even the dog barks at me. I feel like killing myself but I can't.

Now, what am I doing at this time, instead of sleeping? Why am I pondering over my plight?

Hey! What was that noise? It came from the other room. It’s very unusual in my house. No one moves in the house after 11 PM, except me. And I don't think I am moving either. So what was that sound? Let me go and check it out. No... No... What if it’s the dog? He would start barking at me and wake up my neighbors. Hmm... Let me guess. Would it have been Henry? No… That’s not possible. He sleeps like a log till morning. What if its a burglar? Shall I go and see? No. No...

Hey! Why am I not ready to go and check it out? Am I scared? Never! How can I get scared? No... I am not afraid. I will go and see for myself.

Hey! Did I hear the sound again? Yes, I did. But this time, I guess I saw a flash of light too. Let me move slowly towards the light.5 steps and that's it..

1..

2…

3.…

4..…

5.

AAAAAAH!!

Oh! It’s you, Henry! I was so scared. Anyways you can't hear me talk. What's the point in talking to you?

Everyone knows that humans are afraid of ghosts. But does anyone know that the feeling is mutual?"

-Antonio Gonzalez
1948-2001

Interview: Kunal Kapoor

source: rediff movies

After playing the hero, no actor would like to do a second lead. Actor Kunal Kapoor, however, says, he's different. "If the hero is Aamir Khan, I don't mind playing a fourth lead either," says Kunal, who plays the role of a Muslim boy Aslam in Aamir's latest, Rang De Basanti.

So, what was the reason for his long disappearance?

"It was a long break, but it was not a forced decision. Firstly, I did not get the kind of work I wanted to do and, secondly, when I did get it, I didn't have the time to do it as I was working on Rang De Basanti," says Kunal.

Coming from a family that is into the construction business, Kunal's tryst with cinema began when he started as assistant director with Rakesh Mehra in Aks. After a point of time, the six foot-plus actor decided to try acting instead. "I just felt that I needed to act rather than direct," recalls Kunal, but he is quick to admit that direction is never too far from his mind.

He does not reveal too much about Rang De Basanti, only saying it is a middle class youth film set in contemporary India. When questioned about Aamir playing a youth though he is almost in his 40s, Kunal gets defensive. "You have to see the film to understand it. You will see why he is in it. He is not a college kid chewing gum in the film. This is different from anything else in the history of Indian cinema. The way the story is told is different."

When asked about his role, Kunal says, "My character Aslam is a guy who travels by bus and is studying in a nice college. He is emotional and will not leap into things because he is rational. He will look at things from both sides – someone on his own trip in life. He is very attached to his friends. He doesn't care about his appearance. Friendship plays an important part in this film."

Did he get any acting lessons from Aamir? "Firstly, I learnt how to solve Rubik's cube," he says, jokingly. On a serious note, he adds, "I learnt the importance of team effort in making a film. For Aamir, what matters is the movie. For him, it is all about the character he plays and that is the greatest thing about him. He is always in character."

What next for Kunal Kapoor? "Nothing right now. I have got something and am waiting to sign. I have never been frustrated about not getting work. Also, I was working with Naseeruddin Shah's theatre group for the past year. I have always looked up to Naseersaheb and Aamir. Thankfully, I have worked with both of them."

RANG DE BASANTI

I guess this is the first music review of 'Rang de basanti'. It has been written by a person with a screen name 'univ', in www.uglued.com. And since the page cannot be visited by 'googling', I present it here..

"
I will warn you that usually songs by ARR require more than a few hearings but still I go ahead with the review.

1)Ek Onkar: Seems like a prayer. A small song. OK.

2)Rang De Basanti (Daler Mehndi) This is the song in the first promo. There's a strange bit of music(you must have heard it in the promo) and that's the best part of the song. I would have wished ARR used it more, but it appears only at the start and end. The song is really long and the lyrics sound repetitive. Most probable the song will sound better with the visuals.

3)Paathshala(Naresh Iyer) The best song of the album. There is another rap version to this song. It has youthful lyrics by Prasoon Joshi. Some of the lines in chorus include "I am a rebel","Na koi padhne valla, na koi seekhne valla" ,"apni tho patshalla,masti ki patshalla" and "Cruise Control". Then those who listen to his tamil music will know how they include lot of English lyrics in the song.This song has lots of it with words like yaaron ki equation,love multiplication,alpha,theta, ishq ka practical kiya,H2So4 hai...... Music mainly involves lot of Guitar.

4)Tu Bin Bataye(Naresh Iyer,sadhna Sargam) A very slow long melody song

5)Khalbali(ARR) Sung by ARR the song has a Arabic feel. Hope its not inspired from some Arabic song.

6)Khoon chala(Mohit Suri) Another slow melody.

7)Patshala(Blaaze) Repeat but this is the RAP version by Blaaze. It seems to be a patriotic song with lyrics like " To the mahal of taj,to the minar of qutub,to the kumari of kanya, to the panjim of Goa.... all have something to say". There's also a strange beep that comes twice in the song and it feels as though your PC is making the beep!!!

8)Luka Chuppi(LataM and ARR) Another melody with Lata and ARR singing together for the first time.

9)Lalkaar(Aamir) Sung by Aamir. They needlessly hyped this song. Its just dialogue by Aamir with ARR's typical haunting music in the background

10)Roobaru(Naresh Iyer,ARR) A good song with a Lucky Ali type of feel to it. A good song to listen when ur traveling.
"