Sting, Fried Wontons and a Refreshing Indian Movie
In: movies music experiences
So I was in IHOP (International House of Pancakes) for a waffle with strawberry syrup and without cream. As I was finishing my sugar quota for the day (make that a week), I could hear this old Sting song called ‘When we dance’ playing faintly in the background. The last time I had heard the song, I must have been in the final year of my B.Sc. program. But anyways, returned home, we started watching this Hindi movie called Zinda directed by Sanjay Gupta and starring Sanjay Dutt and John Abraham. I had read somewhere that the movie was good. But I was gladly surprized that the movie surpassed my expectations. I think Zinda is a brave bollywood movie that does away with a lot of old bollywood formulae. More importantly I’m mightily pleased that Bollywood directors are now willing to make off-beat movies. Please don’t worry. I woun’t spoil the movie for you by telling you the plot. But do see the movie if you can. The only thing I would like to add is that I thought the main theme sounded very much like “When we dance” – yes, the very same song I mentioned above. Also I noticed that (correct me if I’m mistaken here) no guns were fired during the entire movie. I think there is one scene where a gun is pointed at a person. But even then it isn’t fired. How’s that for a bollywood movie? Check it out and let me know. And to find out about the fried wontons you will have to see the movie.
Update: I read that the movie is based on a Korean movie called Old Boy, which is high on my movies-to-watch list.
Themocracy
The movie’s an absolute ripoff of OldBoy. There’s nothing original or praiseworthy here, except the fact that the Bollywood directors have now started copying cult movies too… Go watch oldboy, it’s a million times better…
negative_creep,
old boy is certainly high on the priority list of movies I want to watch considering all the reviews I’ve read about it. But as for Zinda, often time I have gotten into discussions about how bollywood directors are’t willing to take the bold step and instead stick to tried and tested formulae. Even though Zinda is not original, the fact that a Bollywood movie of that nature actually made it to a movie screen in India is atleast a good first step.
I loved Zinda myself. And i watched Old Boy after it, and I loved it even more. I think this was the correct sequence of watching them.
People wouldn’t, I guess really like to see it the other way round.
http://theevilp.blogspot.com/2006/01/zinda-gushing-review.html
prakriti,
I’m still waiting to watch Old Boy. Hopefully soon. Btw, I read your nice review about Zinda. Normally I haven’t paid much attention to the visual treatment in movies. Steven Soderbergh’s Traffic was once exception where I thought I saw a distinct yellow tinge throughout the movie. But now onwards I’m going to pay more attention to this.