Up the down staircase in cheatland!
First things first. Film-maker Sudhir Mishra has his heart in the right place, for sure. His standout Hazaron may still be his best effort but every single film that followed indicated the right intent. If those didn’t quite make the cut, it was more because he is a lesser film director than he is as an evolved, cinema-literate, articulate and culturally-rounded individual forever flattering only to deceive…
Inkaar is the latest offering from that unfortunate bag of confusion. The promise is seductively red-hot: relevant, topical and totally spot-on for the new workplace of a globalised and consumerised India 2013. The backdrop too (Advertising Agency – the want-makers spinning out words and images that romance your wallet!) is very urbane and identifiable in today’s consumerist India and the sexual harassment theme is a hand-grenade ready to explode! In short, theme and setting is hugely eye-ball friendly for the urbane metro audiences keen to see a play-off and power-play between mentor and student, man and woman, colleagues dealing with a subject everybody knows but nobody discusses.
CEO, Rahul Verma is an attractive (chauvinistic) man who mentors copywriter (ambitious) Maya Luthra, teaching her the ropes of writing great campaigns … and reading between the lines. Along the way, they have an affair. So far, so good. However, when Maya – on her zoom up – decides to play her role as NCD and throws her weight around (as only a smart woman can) boss-man and lover Rahul sees red! Allegations and counter-allegations, insults, yelling, tears and heartbreak changes to sexual harassment charges, with both vehemently denying their part in this bizarre charade. The climax is too silly to expose, so you guys need to see it for yourself, okay?
The film has left everyone saddened and confused because Mishra has – once again – let gone a fabulous opportunity to portray this deadly modern malaise in an effective cutting-edge manner. It frequently appears to mimic a Bhandarkar movie where fiction dramatises fact in compelling fashion. The lines are clichéd and situations phoney. Being an Ad professional and knowing the scene inside-out, I can vouch for the fact that while Adville may not be as cerebral and arty as many pretenders make it out to be, its nowhere near as cheesy and fluffy as shown! Creative license has really gone to town! The style of narrative is interesting – flashbacks going back and forth – and the lead players Arjun Rampal and Chitrangada Singh certainly look the part. They do their best too to lift a script that is weak, confused and directionless. Ambition, greed, politics, manipulation, lust… what a combustible set of ingredients!
Unfortunately, while Rashomon-style, it suggests there is always more than one way to look at every issue and Disclosure-style, Maya unleashes loaded lines about woman-power, Inkaar is a very interesting premise gone horribly wrong. Truly for filmaker Sudhir Mishra. Is raat Ka Subah just does't seem to be turning up!
First things first. Film-maker Sudhir Mishra has his heart in the right place, for sure. His standout Hazaron may still be his best effort but every single film that followed indicated the right intent. If those didn’t quite make the cut, it was more because he is a lesser film director than he is as an evolved, cinema-literate, articulate and culturally-rounded individual forever flattering only to deceive…
Inkaar is the latest offering from that unfortunate bag of confusion. The promise is seductively red-hot: relevant, topical and totally spot-on for the new workplace of a globalised and consumerised India 2013. The backdrop too (Advertising Agency – the want-makers spinning out words and images that romance your wallet!) is very urbane and identifiable in today’s consumerist India and the sexual harassment theme is a hand-grenade ready to explode! In short, theme and setting is hugely eye-ball friendly for the urbane metro audiences keen to see a play-off and power-play between mentor and student, man and woman, colleagues dealing with a subject everybody knows but nobody discusses.
CEO, Rahul Verma is an attractive (chauvinistic) man who mentors copywriter (ambitious) Maya Luthra, teaching her the ropes of writing great campaigns … and reading between the lines. Along the way, they have an affair. So far, so good. However, when Maya – on her zoom up – decides to play her role as NCD and throws her weight around (as only a smart woman can) boss-man and lover Rahul sees red! Allegations and counter-allegations, insults, yelling, tears and heartbreak changes to sexual harassment charges, with both vehemently denying their part in this bizarre charade. The climax is too silly to expose, so you guys need to see it for yourself, okay?
The film has left everyone saddened and confused because Mishra has – once again – let gone a fabulous opportunity to portray this deadly modern malaise in an effective cutting-edge manner. It frequently appears to mimic a Bhandarkar movie where fiction dramatises fact in compelling fashion. The lines are clichéd and situations phoney. Being an Ad professional and knowing the scene inside-out, I can vouch for the fact that while Adville may not be as cerebral and arty as many pretenders make it out to be, its nowhere near as cheesy and fluffy as shown! Creative license has really gone to town! The style of narrative is interesting – flashbacks going back and forth – and the lead players Arjun Rampal and Chitrangada Singh certainly look the part. They do their best too to lift a script that is weak, confused and directionless. Ambition, greed, politics, manipulation, lust… what a combustible set of ingredients!
Unfortunately, while Rashomon-style, it suggests there is always more than one way to look at every issue and Disclosure-style, Maya unleashes loaded lines about woman-power, Inkaar is a very interesting premise gone horribly wrong. Truly for filmaker Sudhir Mishra. Is raat Ka Subah just does't seem to be turning up!
For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles
