Post by pimpinainteasy on Mar 16, 2017 2:54:03 GMT
my write up for IMDB:
Dear Anurag Kashyap,
Is the Bombay shown in this movie real? Were there really clubs like the one in the movie back in the 1960's? And were there such decked up classy looking singers, dancers and stand up comedians in these clubs? I find it hard to believe. I have read about V.S.Naipaul's travels across Bombay in his book An Area of Darkness. The book paints a different picture of Bombay in the 1960's. Naipaul described it as a dreadful and crowded place where people had no individuality.
I thought your film was quite uninspired. I could not watch more than half of it. The problem with the film was that it spent too much time showing off the sets and the jazz clubs. The clubs and the jazz music needed to be in the background but somehow they encroach into other areas of the film. They serve as a distraction and not as a feature of the film that lends weight to the narrative.
Another source of irritation for me was the acting. I guess you had to cast phony and overrated actors like Ranbir Kapoor and Anushka Sharma to finance this 120 crore film. The actors were described perfectly during a discussion on the Indian cinema board on IMDb by another user - they simply slog through their roles.
Karan Johar had reasonably good screen presence. But his performance was nothing to write home about - he does not take too many risks and simply underplays it. Ranbir Kapoor was unbearable. He seemed to be working under the impression that playing an upstart working class man involves making silly faces and running around like a monkey. I cannot understand the excessive praise for the actor who played Chiman. I am sure he would be forgotten like Deepak Dobriyal (who was unnecessarily hyped up after an above average performance in Omkara). Also, there were too many wooden actors in the supporting roles.
The film was nice to look at. But I cannot remember a single scene that stood out. It all seemed so counterfeit.
Bombay Velvet was a disappointment. But I will definitely watch your next film, Anurag.
Best Regards, Pimpin.
Is the Bombay shown in this movie real? Were there really clubs like the one in the movie back in the 1960's? And were there such decked up classy looking singers, dancers and stand up comedians in these clubs? I find it hard to believe. I have read about V.S.Naipaul's travels across Bombay in his book An Area of Darkness. The book paints a different picture of Bombay in the 1960's. Naipaul described it as a dreadful and crowded place where people had no individuality.
I thought your film was quite uninspired. I could not watch more than half of it. The problem with the film was that it spent too much time showing off the sets and the jazz clubs. The clubs and the jazz music needed to be in the background but somehow they encroach into other areas of the film. They serve as a distraction and not as a feature of the film that lends weight to the narrative.
Another source of irritation for me was the acting. I guess you had to cast phony and overrated actors like Ranbir Kapoor and Anushka Sharma to finance this 120 crore film. The actors were described perfectly during a discussion on the Indian cinema board on IMDb by another user - they simply slog through their roles.
Karan Johar had reasonably good screen presence. But his performance was nothing to write home about - he does not take too many risks and simply underplays it. Ranbir Kapoor was unbearable. He seemed to be working under the impression that playing an upstart working class man involves making silly faces and running around like a monkey. I cannot understand the excessive praise for the actor who played Chiman. I am sure he would be forgotten like Deepak Dobriyal (who was unnecessarily hyped up after an above average performance in Omkara). Also, there were too many wooden actors in the supporting roles.
The film was nice to look at. But I cannot remember a single scene that stood out. It all seemed so counterfeit.
Bombay Velvet was a disappointment. But I will definitely watch your next film, Anurag.
Best Regards, Pimpin.