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LailaMajid
Reviews
Darkness Divine (2022)
Magnificent Moving Attempt!
It was undoubtedly a pleasure to watch this short in a Film Festival that made the entire Audi absolutely go 'mute'. So very profound! So very soulful! Actors have done a magnificent job. Everyone remains silent but verbalises aloud the deep concept so beautifully that moves heart, mind and soul. WOW! Not so easy to get back to your own self after having watched this short. Kudos!
For Love with Love (2018)
Worldly Issue... soulfully handled!
It connects. It connects deep. Beautifully Scripted and directed this film is packed with remarkable performances, beautiful camerawork and soulful music and singing. When it comes to short films generally we have some episodic portrayal, a situation, incident, accident, occurrence etc. but this short looks like a miniature feature. A full film. Neither less nor more, the duration of 27 minutes holds each scene well and the emotions too. The chemistry between father and daughter is exceptional and husband-wife relations are so very amorous. Father utters no word but what a performance! The scene of a Rehearsal Hall is very well choreographed and editing is superlative. The two Muslim characters are awesome. And the message finally! Wow!!! Not available otherwise, this short moves you deeply. Do not miss it, if at all it is available to you. It is being circulated that this is India's first short that has been screened in 49 International Festivals worldwide. Saw this film in Angaelica Festival, Duluth, USA. Still feel connected to it. Wish, the same team do something bigger now.
Shikara (2020)
Categorically Constructive Cinema
It is undeniably a very perplexing situation here when you see around 400 reviews about this specific film on IMDB. What a colossal achievement for this film! 400 Reviews! Forget about negative or positive reviews... but around 400 people have taken pains to write a line or more about this film. How many films enlisted on IMDB from all over the world EVER have attracted such a GREAT number of people! Certainly NONE. So this film deserves ** Stars straightaway for this very achievement.
Now more than 75% of reviewers (are they reviewers?) are out-and-out first-timers and we know very well that they wouldn't be contributingin the near future at all. And honestly speaking, they do not know even the meaning of a word 'review'. Do they? To see a film once and write a review is an absurdity. And to write just a line is utter stupidity. It is an unfortunate reality that a very few critics ever see a film twice or write about films from a relaxed and restful, rapt and reflective perspective. Writing a long review is likewise terrible when it comes with 'spoilers' and only detailed story is disclosed. The best reviews vocalise each and every aspect/department of the film. The reviews that differentiate most critics, sadly, are those slam-bang pans which are easy to write and fun to write and completely ineffective and inadequate. There's not much in a critic showing off how clever he is at writing stupid, supercilious gags about something he hates.
It is so very unfortunate to learn that submitted comments (they are not reviews certainly) appearing to be integral part of some sabotaging operation. Imagine the collective creation in which lot of time, energy, effort and money have been infused, how could somebody give just ONE out of ten? If the film deserves just ONE Star out of Ten, if it is so BAD or should the word 'WORST' be used, why would one even take pains to open an account on IMDB, scribble a line and click on ONE Star? Noticeably, there is something shady and shifty taking place.
So, in our opinion this film deserves furthermore ** Stars for being victimised for no reasons.
Shikara attains **** Stars in the very start.
We group of more than 20 people watched the film SHIKARA this morning and we loved it. We wouldn't say that it's a perfect product (nothing can ever be perfect) but it is certainly very admiring, very promising. Mr. Vidhu Vinod Chopra, the producer, writer, director has made a film on his own community that was forced to leave Kashmir. Yes... he is the very first one who has tried to tell something about Kashmiri Pandits after 30 years but then he hasn't made a documentary but a love story... a love story with the backdrop of the difficult times. And people do not comprehend this very sole fact.
Shikara is basically a love story. People are against him for showing not the real scenario, condemning the film by saying - Vinod Chopra has commercialized the subject. Sorry! We deny it totally. Look at the track record of House of Vinod Chopra Productions! The VCP has made block busters in the past. Why would he make a film with new comers and that too with such simplicity? He could have made another block buster but no! He chose to make Shikara.
The main problem that is being faced is - People are trying to look for their own individual story in the film. The biggest allegation has been - 'Vinod has shown less'. Come on people! Showing less in not 'bad', showing 'bad' is bad. Critics are doing their 'dharma' - agreed. Creative souls are doing their own 'dharma' too. But believe us - Creative souls in our opinion are far above than those who criticize.
Shikara is one genuine attempt certainly. It is Undeniably Compelling. It is a fine work that works with great ability and aptitude to involve your emotions, while at the same time making social and political circumstances that are profoundly troubling. On one level, it narrates a story of a young boy and a girl who have dreams that almost anyone can identify with. On another level, it applies an unkind and unforgiving assortment of terrifying actions of people motivated by dominant forces.
We strongly recommend that the film be seen, for two reasons. One reason is because of the undeniable dramatic strength of its structure and performances. The second reason is harder to explain. I believe the movie should be seen because it is an invitation to thought.
Direction is dynamically leading the entire story... incredibly with oneness while passionate acting of new finds Aadil and Sadia prompts the feelings magnificently, background score and lyrical music beautifully woven with the storytelling touch your core. And yes... camerawork takes you to a journey that is magical.
And let us suggest you that when you enter the auditorium... walk into the unknown with what you know in your heart not mind that is conditioned. Shikara is a collective effort of coherent, critical, creative and compassionate thinking that doesn't just entertain; it gives you something to think about.
Maazii (2013)
Simple but Striking
Not meant for those who believe in fast and furious glitz and blitz. Here, you have simplicity. Something simple yet startling. What hang backs is the sensation of being spellbound, shaken, shocked and thrilled by this mind-blowing piece of story-telling by director Jaideep Chopra. Great performances indeed. Loved the very start. The duo Pankaj Tripathi and Manav Kaushik, the crooks scare you to death. Sumeet, the main protagonist is superb. Ayub as always leaves a mark. Performances and cinematography are impressive and so is the story-telling. Nowhere does the film slow down or lose momentum. In spite of no big names associated with it, it manages to hold your attention till the end.
Not to be missed. Unfortunately, it is not available on DVD.