CHAMELI FAILS TO BLOOM
By S Pankaj
Critic's I-view
There was a time when aspirants from all over India would come to Mumbai with a dream in their eyes to make a name for themselves on silver screen and would struggle it hard to get their first break. The trend is still there but the top slots these days have been reserved for those who have born with arch lights on them twenty-four hours. One wonders if the people would be lucky now also from amongst those struggling to make it big like Dharmendra who came from a peasant family or like Amitabh Bachchan who lived on tea and bread for many days or like Jeetendra who shifted from the job of a salesman. At present, stars' sons and their kins rule over Bollywood, no matter whether they have right feel of life or not. Kareena Kapoor too is no exception. Born and brought up in the glamour world, she got a heroine's role just because of her family influence in the profession.
There are many girls more talented than her but land up doing extras' role. However, here is this chirpy girl who is out to prove that she is the finest actress. Kareena attempts an offbeat role in 'Chameli' with that intention only. She uses filthy language, gyrates her bigger bumps than normal and gives a seductive look every time the camera zooms in to her, but the real spirit required to do such a role is missing. Comparing 'Chameli', with other films made on the same subject-the profession of a prostitute like 'Mandi' and 'Bazaar', it stands nowhere. Instead, Sudhir Mishra's 'Chameli' is a cosmetic cheap class girl, however, has the best make-up and bright colour suit with finesse and class. Please, don't tell that this is the way prostitutes in India live where girls are sold to make both ends meet.
Fans of serious cinema have every sympathy for Sudhir Mishra right from the day when they were mesmerized by his one nightstand movie 'Is Raat Ki Subah Nahin' but look at the result of his last film 'Calcutta Mail'. Sudhir is son of a top brass bureaucrat in India and would have got offers dropping right and left but just because he fails to understand the pulse of the nation, he has been left alone in his struggle to make better cinema. 'Chameli' was the child of late director Anant Balani. He died while returning home from the sets of 'Chameli' only in an auto rickshaw. Sudhir took over the film after that.
Though Mishra would be a better choice at least for a project that has it roots embedded deep in rural India. But this 'Chameli' is ultra urban. She passes one night on the footpath of Mumbai with a banker. Rahul Bose plays the suave banker who is looking for his wife (Rinkie Khanna). A chance meeting with 'Chameli' makes him meet his past. Rain is pouring and so are the thoughts for this banker. They struck an equation and the whole night is full of events and happenings around them. The film culminates with sunrise but the story stands right there where it was in the first reel of the movie, ' Sala Haath Jala Diya.'
The problem with 'Chameli' is that the director does not know as to where he wants to take his film. He has a brilliant idea (a prostitute and a banker passing a night on footpath) but the execution is very poor. The film starts on a promising note but due to half-hearted screenplay and scene composition the result is not only very dull but heart breaking too. Those who came with high expectations from Kareena will feel cheated. Kareena too will not be happy with the end results. Even a commoner can make out the fakes in her portrayal of the role. Her character has not been built strongly from the very opening scene, which would have made a solid base for the film's takeoff. The film also suffers due to slow pace.
Those who have seen Sudhir's much acclaimed film 'Is Raat Ki Subah Nahin' will be able to make out the difference. As a technician, Sudhir once again proves that he has no match. But as a storyteller he loses ground once again. Sudhir should have worked out the film in a more approachable way. The very ambience that he chose for the film is imperialistic and that fails to create sympathy for the leading players. Has he set the film under a flyover or on a bus stand it would have been easier for viewers to co-relate with the settings of the film. Kareena's make- up looks artificial and she should have been given a more rustic look than this.
Among performers, Rahul Bose tries hard to save the film with his delivery but his accent comes as a big hurdle in this. He is a fine actor but to gel with situations like this, it requires a great understanding of the environment of the happenings. Kareena would be heartbroken with the result of the film, as it has no future in theatres, be it in multiplexes or in small town cinema halls. Music of the film too does not match with the subject. Sandesh Shandilya should have made research before attempting techno beats for the film's music. 'Sajana Ve Sajana' looks good but it not weaved in the film with care. The film needed a brilliant editing and that too is missing. On the whole, the fragrance of 'Chameli' has a very short life at the box office and will only add to the list of flop films of 2004.
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