Madhur Bhandarkar’s much awaited reality-based film Fashion released this week and no surprises I happened to watch it First Day First Show. And I liked it. But I didn’t really like it. Comparison wise, I thought it was on the lines of Corporate and far off from the likes of Chandini Bar, Page 3 or even Satta for that matter.
Drugs, sleeping around, homosexuality, plagiarism, arrogance, workings of Indian Media, High Society crap, etc –Bhandarkar has left no stone unturned. However a closer look and you would realize that Fashion neither enlightens nor does it startle us with anything that we don’t already know about the industry.
Dissecting the film a little….
- Casting of actress Kangana Ranaut as emotionally fucked up, alcohol-cum-cocaine dependant supermodel Shonali couldn’t be more apt. The woman excels in enacting such dramatic characters. And yet the most competent of the three (Priyanka Chopra and Mugdha Ghodse) has been given the least screen time (I have seen actors doing guest appearance get a better deal than this, honestly). Why oh why Mr. Director?
- Priyanka Chopra, clearly the meatiest role of her career till date, has given a so-so performance. Barring the last 30-40 odd minutes of the film. A wasted opportunity!
- All homosexual men exhibit feminine qualities. With success has to come arrogance. Only way to the top is by whoring around. Women are dependant on Men. Just few of the many typical Bollywood clichés in the film.
- Mugdha Ghodse is impressive for a first timer.
- The first half drags.
- Personally I love the music of this film however repeating the same tracks a zillion times as background score doesn’t do much good.
Final words – At one point in the film I couldn’t help but compare Bhandarkar to one of those desi-fiction authors who are obsessed with ‘Indian misery’ because this is the only way they know how to sell themselves to the Western audience. Overall, Fashion is a decent one time watch and that’s about it.
Ps – Also happened to watch the other Diwali release, Golmaal Returns. And as expected; the film has no plot, typical slapstick madness, done to death Bollywood jabs and mediocre acting. However in spite of its many pitfalls, I say watch it. Watch it only for Tushar Kapoor. I haven’t laughed this loud and hard in a very long time, by God ki kasam.
Comments
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Money Money Money
Oct 31st, 2008 at 6:19 pm | #
NIce review, i have not watched Fashion, gave Golmaal the preference, i like comedy
Haridas Dave
Nov 1st, 2008 at 5:17 am | #
Fashion did not have much novelty to it. It was dragging big-time. I liked Roadside Romeo, it was much better.
yaseen ch
Nov 2nd, 2008 at 5:03 pm | #
i think priyanka chopra is too much artificial.
Paras
Nov 3rd, 2008 at 12:02 am | #
I’ve heard a lot of bad reviews about this movie and gonna stay away from it. Most of the guys say Kangana is the only one who did a good job in the movie.
Nidhi
Nov 3rd, 2008 at 12:59 am | #
Nice review. I felt the same after watching Fashion.
Kangana Ranaut was too good!
think priyanka chopra was a wrong choice for this role..
HOBO(nickname)
Nov 3rd, 2008 at 6:18 am | #
I say :
Madhur Bhandarkar is an intelligent film-maker who knows how to market his product.
Om Shanti Om – another example no matter what the product was.
Iya
Nov 3rd, 2008 at 3:19 pm | #
hey.. watched the movie and here is my take:
Priyanka – a miss fit in the role. she has absolutely no screen presence. she looks like a cold cat on the ramp..
Kangana – was awesome in the role. Stunning and very convincing
the movie needs some very tight editing. the end dragged itself.. lot of scenes were not needed..
the movie breaks no stereotype. on the contrary it only emphasis on it.
Ps: been reading your blog for a while and like your writing style..