My first 'Kahani'

Hi diary,

I needed a strong reason to start my blog based on my day today random thoughts. I found one today after watching  the movie “kahani” starring Vidya Balan.

The story is amazing. It is real and riveting. I was struck by its underlying  theme. The theme which is the  motivation on the basis of which the whole story unfolds. The theme is not at all uncommon but the way it strikes the viewer is touching. And that theme is ‘love’. 

It is shown in distinct two shades.  The first shade of love is the love of a woman for her husband. It is for the sake of her husband and also for the sake of her unborn child that that she takes up a challenge knowing fully well that it would certainly put her life in danger. 

And the second shade of love shown in the movie is that of the love of the police inspector for Vidya. Well, “love” is not the right word here to describe his feelings for her. I would say they are tender feelings, mixed with sympathy, respect and also somewhere a sense of awe for her. Looking at her helpless state, it is not difficult to feel an intense feeling of sympathy and the urge to help Vidya. I think any unemotional man’s heart would melt looking at a heavily pregnant woman lugging at her luggage, lost in an unknown city, nowhere to go, no one to help, having no clue where to look for her lost husband. Yes, the script is mind blowing, as it has been rightly said in the reviews, it is a plot within a plot and the fast paced story keeps everyone on tenterhooks.

Another thing which was truly impressing is the way the city of Calcutta is portrayed. I would like to quote one review in a newspaper which said, “Kahaani has only one main lead which is Vidya Balan and she is accompanied by the City Of Calcutta casted as her supporting actor” yes its true, Calcutta is shown in its true colour and spirit. And needless to say, the true spirit of a city comes out during its festivals as in this case it is the Durga Puja which is shown in the backdrop. 

It is refreshingly different to watch the goddess Kali Ma’s procession and the festivities and the celebrations surrounding it as compared to the Ganesh chaturthi and Visarjan  very often shown in Hindi movies. Well nothing against it, but it is simply good to see something different.

The cinematography is awesome, the last shot which shows the  beautiful face of the Goddess slowly getting submerged in water with the flowers floating on the silent water, white saree with deep red border clad ladies taking part in the procession , the dance, the chanting, the commotion, the milling crowd, the rigour and the intense  feelings of devotion are so beautifully captured. 

The hand pulled rickshaws, the stalls selling hot puris and tea, the everyday life of so many homeless people, the dingy and seedy by lanes, the trams, the rush hour commute in the metro trains, the scenes of the painters and sculptors in the process of making the statues, their skill at painting some mind blowing pieces of art, small children working as minions, helpers, the sweet and innocent expressions of joy on their faces, the scene where the small boy who works for the ‘0-star’ hotel runs up the staircase, fetching an aluminum kettle full of hot water for vidya, the sweet camaraderie which develops between Vidya and that little boy and many more such things.  I would say it’s the work of a real gifted director to have screened such beautiful shots letting us peep into and also look at the lives of these people because of whom the heart of the city actually throbs, who actually infuse life into the city. 

As for Vidya, well any number of words of praise is not enough for her. She has delivered a sterling performance. She is capable of expressing a myriad of emotions through her intensely expressive face in particular, her eyes.  She portrays sheer grit and determinism and a sense of vulnerability with an equal ease. Clad in a sari as shown in the last part of the movie, she epitomizes the grace and beauty of a woman.  With a red bindi on her forehead and her cheeks smeared with vermillion as is a tradition observed by the married Bengali ladies on the last day of the puja (I think it is called shendur khela, I am not sure) she looks strikingly beautiful and vibrant, looking every inch a perfect Indian lady, a parineeta, in a true sense.

I read in one of her interviews in which she said she loves to wear saris as wearing them gives her an opportunity to celebrate her womanhood. How true.

I would also like to make a mention of “Rana” the police inspector here. He has beautifully acted so as to show his feelings for Vidya in a subtle way. I loved the scene when he presents her with a sari with red border for her on the last day of the puja and asks her to wear it as that was the day they both hoped that they would find her husband. He says to her “please wear it as the day you finally find your husband will be an auspicious day for you”. He also brings the receipt of the sari for her to keep and tells to ask her husband to pay him back so that it would be like Arnab (vidya’s husband) has gifted the sari to her. Such a thoughtful and touching gesture shown on his part.

His expressions, his body language, his soft spoken Bengali accented words all convey his feelings for her very well. I found him a very endearing character full of empathy.  

So in all, it’s a delight watch such a movie which comes in a long time. It apart from its paisa vasool factor haunts you for its powerful and engaging storyline, hard hitting performances and breathtaking direction and cinematography.  It’s a must watch, yes definitely.  So don’t think twice, just grab the tickets and go to watch the brilliant movie “Kahaani”.

Bye bye, see u soon..  

Meenal