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Nishabd, what a disgrace in movie making!

posted 17 years ago by infinityToHeaven
25 replies | jump to latest

After going through the promos of Nishabd and a few promising TV shows on a mature subject like this, I was hooked on to watch the movie this weekend and I was blown away (not for the right reason though)! It's a pity that there is an inherent lack of understanding of art, creativity and passion of remarkable cinema in India both with the filmmakers and the majority of the audience. Take Nishabd for instance, its a classic example of a movie with a great subject and so much of a promise in the name of art and mature cinema but all that you get in the end is a desperate attempt showcasing an egomaniac director.

I don't feel like narrating the story of Nishabd as it fails horribly in the main plot & in convincing the characterization, that it leaves
very little respect for the film or the protagonist. The mood of the film begins with scenes which are below the barometer of dignity and any sense of aesthetic beauty. The first 40 mins of the movie which were spent on showcasing the chemistry between the old lonely man and the young confused 'bitchy' girl are only filled with sleaze, lust and unnecessary skin show. This is totally uncalled for. When you go out to watch for a mature unconventional love story, you expect to see how great minds come together, you expect visual poetry, chemistry that cannot be told but felt, feelings shared with art, mind and music. Those silent scenes of absolute truth where there are no dialogues but yet powerful acting which portray even more powerful emotions. There is a whole set of creative, artistic elements one can imagine with this subject., but ironically you see remotely nothing of this sorts in this movie. Allow me to highlight some scenes in these 40-50 mins of the movie:-

- The girl wears shorterThanShorts in the house. (Who cares if she is from Australia!) Most of the shots are highlighting her bum or legs -
- There is an extended scene for a full 2 mins with the girl wearing minimal clothing and bathing in the garden with a water pipe. This is the first shot where Amitabh is attracted to her and his is secretly taking pictures of her (wow, is this love?) If you were to capture the essence of a woman's beauty from a photographer's point of view, there are far many scenes once can imagine
- There are many vaginal shots of the heroine. You read it right, its not a typo but there are at least 15 shots in the movie where the
camera focuses on that portion of the girl for no rhyme or reason. (See the above pic in the car). Now this is not only cheap but
desparate attempt to induce love, maybe its lust. Somebody completely is lost between love and lust, I guess
- The heroine sucks her thumb rather very sexy so many times, She pouts, bites her lips throughout the movie as if .. (basically you will never have grt respect for such a girl, then why a 60 yr old man who lives a life if dignity?)

I fail to understand is the pressing need to show the sexuality of this girl so obviously to a 60 yr old man. Are we dealing with a love story or a seduction story for a sexually deprived old man? There isn't any memorable scene engaging the two in intelligent conversations. The old man was a photographer in this movie but we don't see any of his talent except for taking the young girls pictures which he has in his darkroom. The director has destroyed the beauty of love with this contrived, deranged plot and script that it leaves very little respect for the movie and the protagonist before you leave the cinema.

American Beauty + Poison Ivy +RGV’s perception (read perversion) = NISHABD

You cant help but relate to this movie as a heavily inspired version of the lonely, desperate, bored, sad man of American Beauty whose life for a moment changes when he sees the seductress of his daughter's friend.The whole crux of Amercian Beauty was how they show the state of a lonely guy and what happens to him when life changes without his conscience. There are several abstract elements in the movie that make the audience think and question, yet there are no morals attached. Not to mention the heartrending dialogues in the movie. When you come out of the cinema, you really feel sorry for Kevin Spacey, you feel his pain, you touch his heart, you feel a convincing portrayal and justification. That is the effect of the character on you!

The problem with Nishabd is that you wont feel for the character, there is barely an mature feelings on connecting two completely different
minds to something as powerful as Love. Instead what we are fed is a series of distasteful lustful scenes, unavoidably sexual in nature and we are to believe that a 60 yr old man is ready to leave the family for this girl! I understand that they wanted to make a movie with "it happened, what now" theme but you should not forget that RGV spend a good 50 mins on "why it happened" which is was totally unconvincing. I think Varma should remake this movie with Konkana Sen, change the backdrop to some sort of art and try to script a movie where two people fall in love because of the love of art! Thats how you make 'mature' love stories. And with due respect can anyone ask Amitabh that we got bored with his monotone acting style, the same voice modulation and his ‘criorepati’ French beard?? (I hate it when people praise for anything andeverything that stars act these days); Actors need to be truly professionals not just talk of being one.

Watch American Beauty again for the sheer beauty of art and cinema or if you don't like it go watch Poison Ivy. But when you end up making a cheap spoof of Poison Ivy in the verge of making an American Beauty and try to tell the world you're making an artistic, mature cinema, I really have a problem with that, I really do!

[–] calonclick 17 years ago

Aaaah good review.

I was really looking forward to this movie; it was a big let down. But on retrospection the basic theme keeps playing on your mind. It’s kind of titillating but not really there. I wish RGV had done a better job

I think Ab couldn’t pull it off and Jiah was made to look cheap. Hmm an older SRK would have been delicious in this movie.

Most teenage girls have a crush on older men at some point in their adolescent life; it’s a very natural and healthy thing. So this is a movie on a teenage crush, it could have been made more lively and natural.

Well thats my 2 bit i dont really feel much for this movie.

[–] prashantjs 17 years ago

Nishabd is not meant for everyone and I am actually not surprised that you didnt like it. The only thing that pisses me off is you writing such stuff like it's a copy of American Beauty or Poison Ivy or Lolita.
It is not a copy of American Beauty or Poison Ivy. In Varma's own words "Nishabd is somewhere inspired from the biography of renowned author Ayn Rand"

http://www.naachgaana.com/2007/03/03/ram-gopal-varma-i-have-portrayed-dormant-desires-like-a-voyeur/

You should be watching Karan Johar and Yash Chopra movies and that's what you will like. Because you will never be able to appreciate anything different like what Varma has done. I watched Nishabd yesterday and I have to tell this, it was an awesome movie. This was powerful cinema and I am glad someone as bold as Varma made it.

[–] infinityToHeaven 17 years ago

I dont admire Karan Johar Movies nor am I fan of Bollywood. FYI, I have a collection of over 300 foreign cinema DVDS and closely follow a lot of documentaries all around the world, just to let you know that I dont have a limited knowledge of 'movies'. Each person is entitled to their own opinion and I would certainly respect yours had you given justification and clear cut points of why you like/dislike a movie.

We are all in for a healthy debate here and every opinion would be respected if its attributed with certain credibility and viewpoints. Just saying "This movie sucks or This movie is brilliant" doesnt suffice.

Peace.

[–] shanx24 17 years ago

Nishabdh is a horrendous film. Read the original review again. The writer makes very valid specific points. I don't necessarily agree that voyeuristic shots, such as a dozen-odd focus shots on the woman's crotch, are bad in themselves, but in this film they end up pointless, much like the rest of it. AB is at his overacting, look-ma-I-got-a-baritone-if-I-really-try worst. The subject was fascinating, and I am guilty of loving Lolita (Kubrick's), or even the likes of Harold and Maude, or Driving Miss Daisy, or a bunch of others that have explored the theme and its hints, including Mera Naam Joker. You on the other hand make no specific point about why this movie is oh so mature. What about its treatment, screenplay, direction, fascinated you so? It is lackluster film-making at its worst. Want to see good modern Indian cinema? Check out Khosla ka Ghosla. Focused, sincere, well-scripted, even witty, and very convincing. Nishabdh is none of those things. It's polemic for polemic's sake. So much for the 'factory'.

[–] KongKongAGAIN 17 years ago

Couldn't disagree more. "Nishabd" is about what happens to one man in these circumstances in which he finds himself; it doesn't try to give such a person an "answer" as to what to do. Amitabh Bachchan is amazingly brilliant in his performance, and Ram Gopal Varma finally directs a movie that's more intelligent and less loud.

[–] anonmuss 17 years ago

I loved your review. It was uncomfortable to see the girl dressed like that, was it necessary? It just proves that it wasn't love but a pervert's lust.

[–] krazyjovix 17 years ago

Amen to infinityToHeaven. I also have my own collection of foreign movies and documentaries from around the world, close to 300 films. I watch like 5 - 6 movies a day from whatever country I can get my hands on and I can't be wrong when I say this movie was bunch of crap. Pretty much what infinityToHeaven said is my opinion too. I do not need to elaborate on this anymore. Thank god, someone is out there who have same opinion as me.

Man I used to start liking RGV films after his masterpice in "Satya" but after that, this director have gone lame in movie making. I mean he came out with few others like "Company, Main Madhuri Dixit Banna Chahti Hoon, Daud" etc. but most of them are bunch of crap movies he made lately. I don't blame the characters. Amitabh Bachan is a very good actor and he have done thousands of movies in his life time so he don't need to be proved. I blame the director and his script writers who messed up a good acting movie with some lame story. Like infinityToHeaven mentioned the film is more into sexuality, fatel attraction than pure love and it seemed like same old "GHISI PITI" story.

The last scene is nothing to be pondering about. Revathy neeeds to come to that room and give a big ass slap to AB's face and tell him "Abe Sale, Kutte, stop bitchin about her and get on with your family. So you got a "hard on", I can understand that, so from now on, we will have sex and I will make it all up to you" Lol hahahaha. What a waste of time. RGV ki to aisi ki taisi. He should go back to his video store days and quit directing.

We need to bring more directors like Anurag Kashyap "Black Friday" or Ashutosh Gowariker "Swadesh" and definitly more films from "Govind Nihalini" and "Prakash Jha". Now they are some directors who knows how to make films. RGV is just becomming lame. Either he needs to get some good script writers or just take a break until he gets someone good again. For a change, I recommend watching South Korean films and see how they tore it down on love issues. Now that's directing & hard hitting movies. Koi Shak? I am not going to name any movies otherwise I might see a remake again like "Old Boy" and see indian directors screw it up and give a bad name in the industry. Do your own research. :)

[–] ajax_singh 17 years ago

You guys need to take lessons in Cinema appreceation. Coz the 300 DVDs don't seem to have helped. Anyways, I think it was a brave and beautiful movie. Could have been braver.

Any ways, one of the best films of the year and certainly one of the Best AB performances.

[–] Kunal2139 17 years ago

completely your opinion. this is mine: i wouldn't call this cinema. It was like a movie made by a kid in his first year of film school, beating you on the head with every musical cue and shot angle. the blue tones were pretty annoying, the score is completely inconsistent with the film and also quite distracting. the camera movements, tilting back and forth like some kid who was just introduced to a camera. i don't care if it's symbolism, it doesn't work. The girl is hot, but a ridiculously annoying actress. I'm a big Ram Gopal Varma fan, but everything about this movie is dull and mind-numbing and Amitabh is too old for the role, which makes it much less believable. I feel like they give him lesser lines as he gets older, so all he does is look out of frame and tear up.

If that's what they set out to do, whoop de doo, congrats. This movie blew.

Go watch Satya and Company to renew your faith in Ram Gopal Varma.

[–] KongKongAGAIN 17 years ago

I think that's utter bull-$h!t. There are many forms of cinema, and there are many forms of "realistic cinema." I accept that someone can dislike (or even hate) any movie, so I can't try to say you're "wrong" in your opinion (regardless of the "that's bull-$h!t" comment). That said, in my opinion, the technicals worked perfectly for "Nishabd": the blue filters, the background score, the direction, the editing — it all worked toward constructing a more effective movie. Amitabh Bachchan, I felt, was absolutely perfect for the role. Jiah Khan, I agree, came off as annoying at first, but I grew to accept her character within the first fifteen or see minutes of the film.

As for Ram Gopal Varma, I'd certainly begun to find him an over-rated, washed-up hack of a filmmaker. "Naach" was boring and pretentious; "James" was just bad; "Shiva" was worse; "Sarkar" was OK. It is "Nishabd" that has restored my faith in this once-great movie-maker.

[–] calonclick 17 years ago

LAHAUL VILAKAHOT miya YEAH KYA HO RAHA HAI??? HAAIN, DADA DADI , NANA NANI APNAY POTI KAY UMAR KI BACHEE KE SAAAAAAATH ?????

CHEE CHEE CHEEE KITNI SHARAM KI BAAT HAI HAIN ? AMITABH BACHAN KYA BUDHAPE MEIN SATHIYA GAYE HO KYA, HAIN?

GHOR KALYUG HAI BHAIYA HUM AUR KAA BOLI.

[–] vicpatel 17 years ago

"and Amitabh is too old for the role, which makes it much less believable."

You think Amitabh is too old to play a 60 year-old? Let's see, I believe he turns 65 this year, a whole 5 years older! Hmmmm!

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[–] truly84 17 years ago

Ram Gopal Verma accomplishes a new low with every movie he makes these days.
It all started downhill beginning from Sarkar. Infact, this movie crossed the limit - even making AB look like a mediocre actor.

[–] vicpatel 17 years ago

"I watch like 5 - 6 movies a day from whatever country..."

How in the HELL do you find the time?

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[–] infinityToHeaven 17 years ago

I respect your opinion because you've professionally coined each noun and verb in your reply! I've had a few healthy discussions with my friends (movie maniacs) and they did find it good as well. Perhaps my point of view wrt Love, mysery and Loss is different and I couldn't take it at all when this film was coined with the theme of "a 60 yr old falls in love with an 18yr old".

I respect Amitabh as an actor but he still needs to grow up with his caricature (signature look), which is absolutely essential to gel into the character.

PS: Out of context, but still. If you respect my reviews, I would strongly recommend watching 1971 - Prisoners of War. It is by far the most underrated and most ignored film ever in India. I gave it 9.5/10 (less than 10 Indian films so far). Please spread the word if you can.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0983990/usercomments

[–] Savannah416 17 years ago

Fantastic review!

I think this movie is less about Amitabh's character having a real 'bond' with Jian, then it is Amitabh finding joy in life again. Unfortunately though, his character doesn't differentiate between the two--he idolizes Jiah, but all she's done is brought back a child-like wonder in his life that he had lost.

Many men go through a mid-life crisis, and it's mostly because they fear getting old.

[–] VineethJose 17 years ago

nice review.
I personally liked this movie, acting, the cinematography, the blue tint, background music...i liked it!!

[–] anshuman-manur 17 years ago

yeah man, i liked the movie too! AB's decent for a change, Jiah's hot! and some of the scenes are pretty intense! like the one where she shouts out "you're a hypocrite!" and he replies, "yes i am, now get out!".....Fantastic *beep* man! How many times do we talk about idealism but do the opposite of that! no one relate to that man?
Also, as someone mentioned before, the film does inspire from Ayn Rand's life. She falls for a younger man, a young psychologist, who she thinks is brilliant, but who turns out fake!

[–] Sexxii_DeviL 17 years ago

i dint even bother watching that movie

itz jus not my type

well a 60 yr old wit a 16 or sumtin...?? i mean 4get da movie...i dint even watchin da trailer!

a horrendous movie...4 sure

cant believe amitabh actually accepted!

Life is one damn thing over and over.

[–] KongKongAGAIN 17 years ago

Yeah, right on! Someone with the balls to pass judgement on a film without feeling obligated to do something silly like actually watch it.

[–] vjoshi2002 16 years ago

I caught the movie on TV from somewhere in between so maybe I missed those initial 40-50 mins that everyone seems to be having a problem with. I would recommend everyone to skip this part and continue with movie because I happened to do that and thoroughly enjoyed the movie.

Since I think your criticism stems from what you expect, and your understanding of the plot, I'll try and explain what I understood of the movie and and ended up liking it.

I didn't see it as a love story in the sense that people here are expecting/demanding it should be. I saw an old family man smitten helplessly, yes lust, by a nubile young girl. "Helpless" - the keyword that emerged. In that, I believe this is a mature movie since society at large (and you guys here) simply seem to think that if an old man had to fall for a young girl, there ought to have been something grand about their attraction. However, it need not be so, a man can (and does) lose battle to the baser instincts and that exactly what I felt the movie was about.

No character is wasted. In fact, I felt engaged with how each character had his/her own confusions and conflicts regarding the events to deal with.

Under duress from the family, the guy snaps the relationship, but only to end up with more suffering. It turns out he's ended up going down a road there is no coming back from. He realizes this and is thus a broken man, and ironically is left with only the memories of this little sin of his to pass his life by.

In all of this, I found all of the performances, the dialog and screenplay spot on.

[–] thrillkiller-1 15 years ago

InfinitytoHeaven lied! There are no crotch shots in this movie at all. No skin,or anything. No sex. This film is strictly ABC Family Channel fare.

I Kill Kids!