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December 28, 2007

Comments

a ppcc representative

Awww. No mention of the casteist controversy? Roswitha has a good blog post about it: http://roswitha.blogspot.com/2007/12/dancing-in-dark.html

SwatiS

I agree with some parts of your post-- but I don't think this movie was good, and I think it highlights some glaring problems that Bollywood has (as I've written on my blog on a post about this movie). I really do wish it was a hit and an entertainer-- but I was grossly disappointed.

carla

ppcc: I can't mention everything, and I don't; I need to keep my posts short enough that at least I would be willing to read them! But I know I can always count on others to fill in the gaps, as you have done here. There was some controversy about a line in a song in this film - I don't know much about it, and certainly don't feel qualified to comment on it, but fortunately others have explored it in detail.

SwatiS: Thanks for the comments. I read your post, and I'm surprised to say that I don't agree with it at all! That is to say, while I think the movie had its faults, I don't think too many characters (or too many songs) was one of them. I'll say more on your own post.

DG

I just saw this movie last night and I have to agree that it's light on character development and plot development - like you said there was SO much potential there, but it's almost as though they were afraid to harness it properly and really give us something to think about.... But watching Madhuri dance was definitely worth the price of admission. No-one does it quite like her.

MovieZen

Let's be honest - this movie was a showcase for Madhuri. Period. I never expected a Sholay-like movie with great character development, superb plot, etc. I went in expecting to see Madhuri dance, and boy, was I not disappointed. It's all about proper expectation setting.

carla

MovieZen, thanks for the comment. I don't really disagree. The movie *could* have been more, but for what it was, it was just fine.

"The movie *could* have been more, but for what it was, it was just fine."

I think that phrase nicely sums up why I don't write and publish my own film reviews. Being a profoundly shallow person, very much of the "sometimes a cigar is just a presidential sex toy" school of thought, I seldom see subtexts or get hidden messages from a lot of movies. That's one of the reasons why I like reading reviews from those people who do see deeper than the surface. The insights of people like yourself Carla, and others, such as the PPCC, often add a great deal to my appreciation for a film, or enhance my desire to either see it for the first time or watch it again.

Nevertheless, there is a certain irony here. Despite my lack of aptitude and/or interest in subtexts in movies, I tend to see one in comments like the one above. It's not unique to this review, but whenever I read a comment like the one I quoted, I'm left with the impression that, at least to some degree, the reviewer thinks the movie not only *could* have been more but SHOULD have been more. This particular movie seems to have drawn more than its fair share of such comments. Most of the reviews of Aaja Nachle which I've read, not only say that the movie could have been more, but proceed to provide examples of specific areas in which the movie could have been more, could have done more, could have carried more weight, or been more meaningful. However, I don't think this implicit criticism is unique to Aaja nachle. There is a very good chance that I am reading something which isn't there, but quotes like the one above really do seem to be damning with faint praise, in a manner akin to that in which the word "satisfactory" now implies at least a modicum of dissatisfaction.

I have not seen it yet, since the nearest cinema which regularly shows Hindi films is 300 km away, but I am looking forward to its release on DVD. I suspect my eager anticipation might have something to do with the fact that when I see a movie title saying simply "Aaja nachle", I don't go in expecting to see (or to measure it against) a Satyajit Ray interpretation of "À la recherche du temps perdu".

As I said, this is not a criticism of people who make these assessments, since I have benefited greatly from reading them. It's simply an observation, noting that there are times when watching a movie can be simply about switching the brain off and having a good time. This I can say from very recent personal experience, having both watched and enjoyed "National Treasure: Book of Secrets"!!

Sundus

Dear Carla,
After much expectation, I finally watched Aaja Nachle. I had read so many reviews about it, and of course yours was quite important in my preparation for it and after watching it I can say that I was not disappointed at all. Yes, it was quite bothersome to see Madhuri dancing Western music, wearing 'bebe' tight shirts, and raising a child who refuses to speak Hindi and seems unappreciative of her heritage. Not to mention Madhuri's character rejecting loyal Mohan one more time, and drinking Starbucks with the bad but rich guy. But after I thought about it, I figured Madhuri's character was quite consistent. When young, she was a little arrogant and much immature, and 11 years later she had learnt some lessons, but not all of them. At the end, isn't life the journey and once we are done learning we die? In that regard, I don't have to love the character, because I love Madhuri :) I got my Madhuri fix; I fell in love with her charm again just like when I first watched her dancing, and I very much enjoyed the music, the supporting cast, the photography and of course the ending! The rhyme of the ending was fabulous; and each and every performance was superb! I don't speak Hindi, and the Spanish subtitles (since I am Latin American) were terrible; but the English ones were good enough for me to sigh, and laugh, and get inspired with the movie.
So, as much as I love Madhuri dancing traditional khatak in ostentous traditional dresses; I thought it was quite bold of her to come back with such an 'unpopular' character and Western flavor. It is still a movie to ponder about globalization, and the equilibrium of modernity and tradition. And I frankly think that those who criticized the movie harshly are just like the harsh and negative audience in the ajanta right after the delightful "Aaja Nachle" dance... many blessings! Sundus

carla

Sundus, what a wonderful thoughtful comment, thanks so much for posting it here. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on other films too!

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