Opinion 2011 will be for women
How girl-power movies and all-women starrers are replacing item songs
New Year Audacity
The new year comes with some nice little surprises. First off,Udaan,a small film (strictly in terms of its budget,a modest Rs 3 crore),wins the best film award at the 17th Star Screen Awards. Then Bollywood decides to kill one of its age-old superstitions,of not releasing a big film on the first Friday of the year because of its almost 100 per cent flop track record. Producers UTV Spotboy and director Raj Kumar Gupta took up the January challenge with No One Killed Jessica (NOKJ) and,last anyone checked,they have no reason to complain.
The Rani Mukerji-Vidya Balan starrer is cruising along well,fuelled by a good opening,positive reviews and heartening word of mouth.
In a hero-dominated industry,it is generally believed that women dont make a poster and hardly ever sell a movie. The Rani-Vidya combo has tweaked the belief. Even as a film,NOKJ should be able to break the glass ceiling. It has everything going for it: its budgeted smartly,marketed strongly and tells a story we all know by heart and have invested a lot in emotionally. The intention of the film is noble but director Raj Kumar Gupta does not let that become a cross around his neck. In this fast-paced thriller Gupta takes the middle path between fact and fiction.
Albeit there are a few broad strokes but as a film experience,NOKJ rivets and moves.
Gupta opts for a number of shrewd choices. Mukerjis character has been conceived as the hero of the film. As the fiercely ambitious journalist,Meera Gaity,Mukerji,who seems to be channelling Erin Brockovich,displays her badass side with relish. Hers is a new character in the commercial Hindi landscape: she swears profusely,smokes unapologetically,gets hot and sweaty with a random guy (maybe she picked him at a bar or maybe they are friends with benefits,we dont know because the guy doesnt show up again). Gupta even gives his shero a slo-mo exit. She is the yang to Balans yin. The latter of course is the soul of the film. As Sabrina,Balan pitches in an affecting performance as she fights to get justice for her slain sister,Jessica. Together,Balan and Mukerji make a formidable team. They go after the villainous system and,yes,they emerge triumphant.
NOKJ underscores that heroine oriented subjects when made smartly can work.
The Main Items
Bollywood in fact is revelling in a show of women power. Some of the years most high profile films are being helmed by women. Kiran Raos Dhobi Ghat is on its way. Zoya Akhtars Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara,toplining Hrithik Roshan,Farhan Akhtar,Abhay Deol and Katrina Kaif,is an eagerly awaited summer release. The biggest cherry of course is Reema Kagtis untitled cop thriller with Aamir Khan,Rani Mukerji and Kareena Kapoor.
Our leading ladies are also seriously championing the cause of sexy stories driven by them. Priyanka Chopra gets into seven get-ups as she plots the murder of her seven husbands in Vishal Bhardwajs Saat Khoon Maaf. Girl power gets a thirties edge with Gul Panag in Turning 30. Vidya Balan is gearing up to enact the life of southern siren Silk Smitha in Ekta Kapoors The Dirty Picture. In Sujoy Ghoshs Kahani,she does a desi Kill Bill as a pregnant woman who goes looking for her missing husband.
Girls just wanna have fun,it seems. Sheila and Munni are so last year. This year,its all about the stories. The item songs can wait.
harneet.singh@expressindia.com
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