By Eye TV India Bureau
Critic's I-view
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Deepa's different genre doesn't click
By Eye TV India Bureau
Critic's I-view
Deepa Mehta for once has proved that she is capable of making movies on a genre other than the ones she has touched so far in her earlier controversial trilogy of 'Fire', 'Earth', 'Water'. This time she has come out with 'Videsh' also titled 'Heaven on Earth'. This movie has been titled 'Videsh' in India only. This is to recall that it was released in Canada in 2008 under the title of 'Heaven on Earth'. The film is originally in Punjabi. Now, it is released in both Hindi and Punjabi versions in India. 'Videsh - Heaven on Earth' is based on a group of Punjabi migrated to Canada. That's why it was released a week earlier in that country.
The movie centers on a newly wed bride from Punjab who marries a man whom she has never even met in her life and lands herself in Canada after the marriage. This reflects a lot of cases of Punjabi girls opting for NRI bridegrooms carrying green cards, especially from Canada, for seeking greener pastures. Soon, the bride realizes that her husband isn't the guy she expected him to be. Usually, these bride ends up in a really bad situation. So, 'Videsh - Heaven on Earth' highlights the sufferings of Indian brides in the movie. Fortunately, Deepa's choice of Preity Zinta to play the role of a young bride named Chand from Punjab is perfect. She has carried herself excellently well by truly portraying her assigned character. Chand lands in Canada after marrying Rocky, played by Vansh Bhardwaj. Similarly, Vansh Bhardwaj, though a first timer and that too from Chandigarh in Punjab, has proved his acting skill well. He is impressive and leaves a mark. This isn't amazing though as Deepa is capable of handling her cast very well.
Though it's not just a usual masala movie, it has all the necessary elements of love, passion, humor and most of all supernatural powers of devotion and magic. Hence it's worth a watch! This is another matter that some of the audience might not appreciate the inclusion of supernatural elements like the power of Sheshnag (snake) in the movie. Basing a movie on ancient fables and related imagination isn't going to work with today's scientific minded audience. So, a section of the audience may not appreciate Chand's belief in the power of sheshnag as related in Indian ancient fables. In fact, the lord of snakes comes to her rescue and thus she is able to survive all the brunt of abuses by her husband and her mother-in-law.
The moot question is about Deepa Mehta's concept of "Heaven on Earth". Is she trying to mock at Canada for being considered a heaven by Punjabi emigrants or does she really admire her country of abode? Maybe she describes Canada as heaven because of the presence of Lord Sheshnag there.
On the whole, the movie is worth the cost of a ticket because of Deepa's excellent direction coupled with the amazing performance by Preity Zinta. The acting of Vansh Bhardwaj who plays Rocky isn't far behind. The cinematography by Giles Nuttgen is great indeed, especially the scenes pertaining to the marriage of Chand and Rocky, followed by the usual merry making Punjabi environment captured by Nutten. The camera work of the ghettos where Preity lives with her husband and his family is also good in portraying the true picture of the living conditions of the most of the Indians there. Would Deepa avoid touching such subjects in her forthcoming movies?
By Eye TV India Bureau
Critic's I-view
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