PIKU - Movie Review

‘PIKU’ movie is comedy drama film directed by Shoojit Sircar, starring Deepika Padukone, Amitabh Bachchan and Irrfan Khan.

STORYLINE

Piku Banerjee (Deepika Padukone) is an architect but at the same time looking after her really old father Bashkor Banerjee (Amitabh Bachchan). They are on-route to a road trip journey where Rana Chaudhary (Irrfan Khan) drives them to Kolkatta. Bhashkor suffers from constipation and causes tantrums over it causing mental stress to Piku. The film is an enjoyment about life and that is exactly what Bashkor begins to do after Rana can’t deal with it and tells him everything that was on his mind. A heart warming story based upon parenting and responsibility, something that will keep you smiling.

POSITIVES

• The look of the film is appealing and the simplicity that has been portrayed helps the type of movie we are witnessing. Credit goes to the director for managing to compliment the storyline along with the visuals.
• What I also liked with this was that the main leads were introduced straight away in the first scene, which keeps you completely focused to the movie, no filler scenes to help drag the movie runtime.
• All characters, Irrfan Khan, Deepika Padukone and Amitabh Bachchan, all bring a smile to the viewers face. The on screen presence is so worthy to see and keeps you engaged to the film throughout.
• First half and second half, no complaints about how slow or dragging either may have been. Both were entertaining and the type of film that keeps your attention stable and focus, wanting to know what shall transpire to the next scene.
• Screenplay was good and film that is neither luxurious nor classy, glamour was kept away in this basic looking movie. But that is what makes it a gem of a movie, the average appearance and set up, keeps the viewers attention solely on the characters.
• Dialogues are something that will keep you smiling throughout. The film did contain comedy, even when Piku’s father dies, a few tears occur but everyone is remembering him on a happier note so that is the type of film you can expect to see, a full of heart film.

NEGATIVES

• It really is hard to pinpoint something negative from such a fantastic movie. If I had to complain about something then I would say the film lacked a bit of romance between the characters that Irrfan Khan and Deepika Padukone played. Something more should have been shown at the end before the end credits.

CAST

• Deepika Padukone – Simple and not presented in a glamorous form that a beautiful actress would be associated as. She is kept to an average appearance and that makes her character much more realistic. Taking matters in her own hands and having to deal with a father pressure looking after him, you would feel sorry for the struggle she has to face but then the love that she has for her father in the film, she may not express it much through dialogues but her performance clearly shall portray this. Deepika is one of the finest actresses in the cinema and once again she has notched up another hit performance.
• Amitabh Bachchan – The legend puts in a spectacle for the audiences. He brings the comedy to the film, manages to keep you engaged to the screen. You can’t help but to laugh at him, not in a negative way, but in general the way that he has performed and his stubborn old-aged character. He will be annoying but that is what will bring the comedy because of the issues his character is dealing with. Absolutely amazing performance.
• Irrfan Khan – This actor seems to do nothing wrong. Playing a character on the side whilst Deepika and Amitabh are the ones taking more of the screen space. Irrfan does plenty in his scenes to make you remember his character on the same level as the other two. You want to see more of him, because even when he is serious, you can’t take him seriously. His dialogue delivery was perfect and he brings a childishness to the scene and that is something the audience would love seeing.

MUSIC

The music is fitting for the type of movie you are expected to see. The pick outs for me firstly is ‘Bezubaan’ sung by Anupam Roy. A soft melodic song with a good flow to your ears, with light instrument touches and vocals that make this a beautiful track. ‘Journey Song‘ by Anupam Roy and Shreya Ghoshal is another worthy song with Anupam Roy in the vocals. The song has a bit more of a higher tempo to it but it is the vocals of the duo that keeps it on the loop. ‘Lamhe Guzar Gaye’another track by Anupam Roy, much slower but lacks an impacting edge to it. Still la worthy song to litem to but I felt that with the vocals it could have had more feeling coming out of the song. ‘Teri Meri Baatein’, sung by Anupam Roy. Most likely the standout song from the whole album, the vocals are a blessing to the listeners and the tone at which the song is performed, keeps you glued to the song wanting to hear so much more and not wanting it to end. Lyrics were impressive and the touch of tabla in the background scoring makes it a satisfying song to listen.

RATINGOverall I would rate Piku movie 4/5. A film that showcases about parenting and responsibility, it keeps you so attached to the movie and makes you consider life. This is a happy and a heart-warming movie that shall keep you thinking everything about life. The characters played well in their respective roles and the script was a gem. Everything about it was impressive and it is a fantastic on screen performance from all the cast even the side role characters, they impressed with their small screen space. The dialogues were brilliant and overall film will bring a smile to your face. Something that I certainly can and will be able to watch more of again. Go and check out this movie, you will not be disappointed, a gold film for family to see together.

NOVEMBER 2015 - Movie Of The Month

During November 2015, it was Tamasha film that managed to spark a winning outcome from the main competitive film release in the month. 

TAMASHA directed by Imtiaz Ali, starring Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone in the lead roles. Now this film never appealed to me at first, but having watched the film, it was very thought provoking. I needed to sit back and re-evaluate the film because it does become a bit of a bore at first but as the film developed, the act that Ranbir Kapoor delivered was exceptional. That kept me wanting to watch the remainder of the story that unfolded.

As for the storyline, the film tends to drag heavily leaving a viewing experience disrupted mainly in the first half. As the second half is showcased, it really keeps you gripped to the relationship between Tara (Deepika Padukone) and Ved (Ranbir Kapoor). The film portrays a mixture of emotions hence the reasoning behind the gradual headway of the film. The slow start eventually picks up pace to keeping the viewers lured within. Imtiaz Ali has managed to keep an attractive screenplay which may raise doubts at first but the audience possibly would get proven wrong.

Performance wise, both the leads put in a notable effort that you cannot raise fingers upon. Ranbir Kapoor nails it with his scenes ranging with a variety of changes in mood. His character is one that you would prefer seeing much more of and when not in the scene, then he is heavily missed. The dialogue delivery and change of character during segments in the film helps to instigate a praiseworthy visual for the viewers. Deepika Padukone puts in a good chemistry with Ranbir Kapoor on screen. Her character helped nurture the film from an art to a romantic angle and that dictated the Tamasha to be carried out.

So what I would take from Tamasha is the strong subject of playing with feelings, this is the conclusion that I managed to figure out from watching it and I actually enjoyed it once it began to progress further. The acting was the standout with some fantastic scenes that stood out from the rest.

Prem Ratan Dhan Payo was the major movie to challenge Tamasha during the month of November. It had a good concept with some parts being likeable, but it just never gave me as an audience something new. Whilst Tamasha had more of a significant script it had to be perfected to portray a worthy film.

DECEMBER 2015 - Movie Of The Month

During December 2015, 2 of the biggest movies from the month clashed on same day release but it was Bajirao Mastani film that managed to stand tall ahead of the rest. 

DILWALE directed by Rohit Shetty, stars Shahrukh Khan, Kajol, Varun Dhawan and Kriti Sanon in the lead roles. The film had high expectations but never lived up to the potential it had. It was good and impressive at times, but lacked a structured story. The acting was good, Shahrukh Khan and Kajol reunited, blossoming a good love chemistry whilst Varun Dhawan and Kriti adding a younger feel to it. The director known for over-the-top and exaggerated sequences failed to tie down a cast of a different calibre which then caused the film to not live up to its potential. I was hoping for a better screenplay that would juggle both love angles in the film perfectly but it just never clicked. The biggest positive from the film was seeing various emotions, comedy, humor, action, fighting and love but not only between the couples but also to the brotherly bond between the two male leads. The biggest negative from it was the ineffective script that just does not gel the backdrops of the two stories, one being the present moment and the other being the flashback. It was worth a watch and you will enjoy it for the sake of Shahrukh Khan's presence but parts of the script was unnecessary and not up to the mark.

BAJIRAO MASTANI directed by Sanjay Leela Bansali, starring Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone and Priyanka Chopra. Usually I struggle to watch movies associated with battles and kingdom. But this film was a well constructed movie, from the script to the acting, this film was an impressive one. This historically based film is a must watch. Majority of the film has perfection with the exclusion of a few flaws. What you will walk away with is the cast who perform with excellence. Without a doubt one of the finest performances by the leads who bounced off each other on screen perfectly to ensure a collaborated performance. Script was well written and dialogues are likeable. Along with the positivity of the director and the cast and the script too, credit needs to be given for the filmmaker and film writer for ensuring that women are given a much more of a presence in a movie that should have been and usually often is, male orientated. The only let down from the movie was the visual effects, it was evidently unreal and lacked the realism that the film tried to maintain. It became a distraction, the only dark shadow to a great film. I recommend to go watch this film as it will keep you on the edge of your seats, not only because of the battle that is created but also the type of love story and chemistry that blossoms in the film to help progress an enticing movie.