I am the last person who would write a movie review. Honestly I am.
If a movie blew me away, sure I'd talk about it or at the most quote its best dialogs.
But write about it? Probably never.
Today I find myself forced to do so. I hate it when a creative piece does not get the appreciation it deserves.
Exhibit A- Kites.
The movie directed by Anurag Basu and produced by the infamous Roshan Family of Bollywood Fame was according to me a very good movie indeed.
Even several months before its release, it was spoken about....for several reasons.
1) Hrithik Roshan starred in the movie in the capacity of Lead Actor (Male) and everyone knows this man's capacity to lure massive crowds and attention with his pure raw talent.
2) Barbara Mori- A Mexican actress and model who didn't speak a word of Hindi and had somehow managed to get cast as the Lead Actor (female) in the marketing machine that was Kites.
3) Rakesh Roshan's production stints especially with his son (Hrithik) in actor capacity and brother Rajesh providing the music, had practically acquired the midas touch... if history was to be reviewed.
4) The budget for the movie, as expected was huge and therefore a lot was expected of it. Also a major part of the movie was shot in Vegas, which was not the norm for bollywood movies.
Many were curious about Hrithik and Barbara's chemistry on screen and if tabloids were to be believed (heh) off screen as well. The off screen rumors were put to rest and Hrithik managed to retain the squeaky clean image he embodied.
Now prior to the release, Hrithik on a visit to Shirdi (temple) along with family was found hounded by the media and practically harassed... when the almost unconceivable event occurred.
Hrithik snapped.
He shoved a cameraman/ media person away from his family and was caught on tape yelling at the media for the very first time. You see as normal it is for celebrities in Hollywood to snap at the media, in Bollywood everyone just prefers to be in the good books of the media. What was most surprising is that the ever calm, peaceful and composed Hrithik Roshan had snapped at the media. His actions would definitely seem justified, as in the tape you can literally see the media circus harassing his family and Hrithik reacted like anyone who was out to protect his family.
The media frenzy at a place of worship, literally shoving and pushing to get a piece of the Roshans was a pathetic sight to watch. Privacy should be a right that every person must have when he/she chooses. But that would be in an ideal world.
In our crappy world however, Hrithik reacted ... and the media hit back in a way that would probably hurt him more than any physical harm. They targeted his movie.
That is the only justified explanation for the ridiculous reviews this beautiful movie received, other than the fact that most critics are a bunch of retarded douchebags who not for the lack of trying did not make it as eminent writers.
Before the movie even released to the general public, some critics had thrashed Kites, after having seen the premiere.
The pen is mightier than the sword is a very old saying. Times like this one could safely confirm that, that statement is valid and true.
A lot of people read these reviews that the so called professional critics splattered in a bunch of newspapers and were disappointed.... as they had expected only good things from the movie.
Most of the reviews had similar things to say-
They said
1)Hrithik was good...but he should have 'danced' more. Ridiculous.
2) Barbara Mori was apparently just eye candy and couldn't act to save her life. Bull!
3) Kangana Ranaout should have had more of a meatier role and apparently she was given unfair screen time. HAHA (I'll explain in a bit)
4) They gave out the so called 'plot' of the film as- Hrithik is a con-man who gets married to rich women and then steals their money and flees to the next (green) damsel. While barabara mori is an ex victim of the con-mans charms, he meets her again and falls in love with her the second time around. ABSOLUTE BULLSHIT!. That is so not the plot. They got everything wrong. (Please watch the movie to confirm and agree with me)
5) They said they didn't understand why the movie was called Kites and that apparently no reference to any sort of kites was ever made in the movie. HAHAHAHAHA..
I lol at this one. Those dipwads with their collective reasoning and comprehending ability probably missed the opening shot of the movie....where Hrithik as the narrator explains i n Hindi that Kites... they fly around...usually together..they compete...but then for a few fleeting moments they sway together like they are dancing...but eventually they end up cutting one another and fall to the ground (or something to that effect).
When I went for the movie , I admit that I was not too eager.
I waited for the bad part to come the whole time.
It never came
Here's what I saw...
Anurag Basu should have been applauded for his creative symbolism application that anyone with any bit of a creative bone would get.
The story was probably not the most original...but it was new and damn it they played it out brilliantly
Music was definitely above average.
Performances...ah now here is the piece de resistance
Hrithik was brilliant. His best performance yet. The man danced, romanced, fought, sang, cried with a passion that was applause worthy. Note*- His final scene was brilliant....his eyes spoke volumes. Watch out for that last scene. He looked like a god in this movie. He acted like the best of them. This man with every talented bone in his body deserves the adulation that he enjoys as a superstar.
Barbara- Was the surprise package. She was extremely good. Her innocence and her portrayal of a lady completely in love was extremely believable. She matched Hrithik take for take and that is saying something. She looked delicious. She has extremely good screen presence.
Kangana- was referenced and thanked during the credits roll as a special guest star. (I told u i'd explain that one)... hahaha stupid critics.
The movie was about two people who loved each other, in spite of unavoidable barriers...one of them being a language barrier as Hrithik spoke in Hindi and English, whereas Barbara true to her heritage conversed only in Spanish. The Dialogs were extremely touching, almost poetic. The language barrier was essential to the story however..the fact that they loved each other , in spite of not being able to understand one another shows a lot about their chemistry through body language and through emotions. But language was the least of their problems.
Their Love I thought was beautifully portrayed in the movie. Their chemistry undeniable.
*a SPECIAL MENTION to the brilliant SHOTS in the movie. The camera angles just blew me away. The scenes, the way they were portrayed- MAGIC. There's a scene towards the end where Hrithik shoots a bunch of guys in the dark , while its raining....brilliant as the shot has no background sound/ score . The complete silence is symbolic for the situation of the scene.
Kites for the Indian audience, was probably way ahead of its time. The talent this movie had should have been rewarded and recognized. A major part of the movie was in english and a lot of spanish..(subtitles were given for spanish in english) and perhaps this was a major factor why this movie could not appeal to the masses in our country also this is my theory but I don't think that a majority of the Indian audience could digest the fact that Hrithik's character chose a Mexican Bombshell over an Indian Woman in the movie. The very last scene according to the papers was unintentionally funny, while I sat there completely into the movie and intense as ever...surely enough a bunch of ninrods with the mental capacity of 18 year old boys with out of control hormones started a bout of laughter at a not at all funny scene....
The symbolism unfortunately is just lost on the idiots.
I'm glad that at least abroad this movie has been greatly appreciated and acknowledged.
We have a long way to go....here. For creativity to be truly recognized and appreciated.
A lot of people i spoke to loved the movie. As did I.
A lot of people didn't. They apparently didn't get it....
Heh. Not surprised.
I think the media has a lot of influence on people's decisions and the media should take this responsibility a lot more seriously. Misleading the audience because of a personal vendetta is pathetic.
If they truly gave their unbiased opinion, I do not think that they would have been this harsh, in fact I firmly believe that it would have been the contrary. But they did what they did...and people with the whole 'Collective thinking' and their 'herd mentality' and its cool to dislike something or like something cause everyone's doing it is just plain stupid. If u liked it, man up and admit it.
Worst of all Barbara Mori , a guest in our country...left India feeling rejected and sad in spite of giving a great performance. She was extremely unhappy with the reviews in India and thought it undeserved..and hence decided to leave India ahead of time.
This is just my opinion....but I think Kites deserved to soar.
Especially at home....here in India. I applaud the effort and presentation of this entire creative output team.
I'm a fan. I loved it
For whatever that's worth.
She's made of the prettiest things.
