SIMC DIARIES – CHAPTER 14 – “Life Isn’t The Same Anymore” – PART 2 – The Grand Finale

The Earlier Journey

Chapter 1     Chapter 2     Chapter 3     Chapter 4     Chapter 5     Chapter 6

Chapter 7     Chapter 8     Chapter 9     Chapter 10     Chapter 11     Chapter 12

Chapter 13

The Finale Journey

The Boys HostelSIMCian – Photo Courtesy – Deiva Rayan / PrakritSymbiosis International University – SIMC – My Home For 2 Years – 2011-13

As I said, I shall return pretty soon with more thoughts, more memories and more nostalgia. Yes “Life isn’t the same anymore.” We have to admit. We because, at this moment, at this very time, everyone who has been an integral part of the SIMC Diaries is either making a presentation somewhere, is either shooting something or stuck in the traffic cribbing about their city’s traffic woes and the week ahead. Weekend is far far away!

Recollecting the days gone by, many may feel attending the odd Sunday lectures still is a better option today than making a presentation over the weekend. Spending a Saturday night at Silver Spoon, The Hangover or just at the city, crashing to a friend’s place is anytime better than working on a supposed half-day turned into a full-day, thanks to the moron boss. While he/she is happily enjoying his weekend, our plans stand screwed. And one’s lucky to have a five-day working week- Well all one may be thinking, how come Monday-Friday seem to pass slow, while Saturday-Sunday passes like a fast Virar local. I am talking from Mumbai’s point of view. I am rest sure that the scenario of my fellow SIMC inmates spread across the world will be no different.

All I remember saying to Rahul Bharadwaj and Humanity was “Corporate Life sucks!” Luckily while I didn’t get a corporate job, the emotion is no different. It still is better though looking into my other friends and the way they are slogging, in a new city (for many) and amidst different cultures. But yes, one thing for sure, with hectic work schedules, awry timings, it’s a blessing if one manages to catch up with friends over the weekend.

It’s now been four months but I haven’t been able to catch up (as regularly) with so many of my friends. I was lucky to have a good time with Siddharth, Smith just before I got a job at Business Of Cinema (all thanks to Ankit Saxena from my junior batch, to have sent me the Facebook Page link). That was probably one of the last great encounters I remember. Oh Yes! Sohom had dropped by home and it was again a great Sunday spent discussing “woes, wow’s and wtf’s!” of SIMC. Felt inspired.

Many will agree on the fact that, we all made promises to stay in touch. Meet over weekends and do something ‘special’. But to be really honest, we haven’t got the time. Few have been really lucky. I also must admit that I had these moments too, but there’s always that life’s one excuse – I am tied up with things, I am busy! While many times, I genuinely had work and I couldn’t make it but there were occasions when certain pressures of your job, career, personal, love-hate, will just keep you away from a social life. I managed to have phone conversations with Ninjaa (Niranjana) and made plans of meeting on a Saturday evening in town with a few friends, but it never happened. I hope it happens this week. I believe that the reason is simple. Many travel by train (again talking from the Mumbai’s point of view) on multiple routes daily. Some from Andheri-Bandra, some from Panvel-CST, some Virar-Churchgate and so on. May be it just gets so monotonous week over week, months after months that we begin to truly miss being at home over weekends, just because we can avoid the train crowds, just for a day! That’s how life has changed! Yes. “Life certainly isn’t the same anymore!”

For many priorities have changed, for many the perceptions about life. In each one of us (including me), I bet something or the other has changed. May be we have grown in the four months after college. Or may-be we have just learnt what taking up bigger responsibilities is all about! But we all have grown up pretty fast. I just realise that the four months, that brought us back from the luxuries of the hills at Lavale to the harsh realities of our respective ‘corporate’, ‘journalistic’, ‘media-planning’, ‘advertising’, ‘directorial’, ‘editorial’, ‘reporting’ and any other LIFE, has passed so quickly, even faster than those Sunday lectures, which we miss. At least then, we still had the company of friends in the class. Now we have our pillow (literally or otherwise) as our companion for LIFE!

The long Saturday night conversations at the hostels have been replaced with the number of mails in our inboxes from bosses and clients. The mixture of breakfast from bad-good-worse have been replaced to appraisals at work, the walk to the academic block has been substituted to tiring journeys of the locals, the boring classes (which now we miss) seem a mere reflection of last-minute presentation meetings, editorial meets or otherwise. We don’t realise when it’s 5:00 PM now, but we had a reason then. We don’t know when it’s lunch time now, when we had a reason then too. Numerous trips to the city have just been replaced by calls tom our bosses. Assignment deadlines have been replaced with client deadlines, and sadly there is no extension here!!!

Forget catching the 9:00 PM bus, now all we wait is when our boss leaves office after those 10-12 hours and sometimes pray that our specific train isn’t late or maybe we just get a sit by the window. Only because that’s the time you have to yourself, your memories and your wonderful moments.

I recollect the best times, the odd laughter, the leg-pulling and maybe just close my eyes into a plethora of memories of college life, only to be woken up by the rush at Kurla station and the constant chattering of people. As I see the odd fifty people barge into the tiny compartment, I realise probably life must have been similar for them some years back, from college to corporate, but they have moved on. Maybe our time has arrived.

First Few Days…First New Friends

FRESHERS @ Dulali

FRESHERS @ Dulali

At The Academic Block With Sameer, Piyush – Photo Courtesy Piyush Bundile

The First Of The ‘BABA’ Meets – BOYS Hostel Moments

First City Outing

Formation Of Symbi Kavala – Sameer, Jithin And Me

@ E-Square Pune – Niranjana , Myself And Sameer

Recreation Centre – Who Knew Then, Rahul and Rahul Would Become Roomies? With Ishan Naman Sinha

SYMBI Kavala Celebrating First Ever ONAM At SIU

Celebrating The Spirit Of Onam

Will ONAM Ever Be Complete Without The Grand Lunch? Onam Sadhya @ Sheetal – With Appu, Kitty, Maroof

An Actor Prepares With Jithin Matthew – Enacting The EPIC ‘Devdas’ Scene @ Symbiosis Studios

An Actor Prepares With Jithin Mathhew – Dressing Up The STAR – Jithin In & As MOHANLAL

BEING FILMY IS FUN!! With Ninjaa

The MALLU Gang With Reshma Ematty, Jithin, Ninjaa

The BEING FILMY Pose Once Again – Photo Courtesy – Niranjana H

I Wish To see beyond the boundaries….I wish to see beyond the clouds…all I want is to look beyond my imaginations….I know there is a road there….the road of success and happiness…maybe you can’t see it…but i can…Try folllowing my path…u won’t be disappointed

FLYING FREE

That June Evening It Was A Fight…Today It’s A Memory with Rosanna and Shefali

Outcome Of The Fight – With Rosanna, Sohom And IDMP Team

AARAMBH – First Year

TIE & TAB Together To Win A Pot Of Dahi! – Janmashtami 2011

The Theatre Clan – SIMC Drama/Theatre Culb

The Acting ‘Keeda’ – Small Talks Play Reading With Tanvi Mishra

The Acting ‘Keeda’ – Small Talks Play Reading With Tanvi Mishra (2)

The Acting ‘Keeda’ – Small Talks And Two Cooks Two Many, Play Reading With Tanvi Mishra & Chandan P From P&G

The First Time – Wearing The SIMC Blazer With Sudhanshu, Nimisha Lost In Some Deep Discussion..Is That An Attendance Sheet Behind??

Mac Book Fun With Parineeta, Niranjana, Pranati

Ganpati Bappa Moraya!! – Ganesh Visarjan

Durga Pooja Celebration @ Congress Ground – Bonding With The BONGS!!! – Photo Courtesy: Saikishore

Bhog, Sandesh, Food, Happy Birthday Sohom – Double Celebration

The ‘Hospital’ Gang – Rippal Bhandari, Sonal, Pranati, Pari, Piyush

Horn Ok Plsss – Piyush, Pranati, Sonal, Piyush

The Three Moods Of SIMC-MMC – Photographer – Nikita, Writer-Myself, Reader/Designer – Vinay Agrawal

Achievement? Or Not!! SYMBUZZZZZZZZ

Social Responsibility Project @ TAMAHAR – Photo Courtesy: Vishakha Pithwal

TEAM TAMAHAR – SRP Bangalore Team – Shivani, Vishakha, Harsha, Vaishali Pai (CEO & Founder Tamahar), Oreo and Myself

Learnings – MMC Also Have Classes!! – MMC – 2011-2013 With Siddharth Sharma- Sports Editor Star/ABP News

Learnings – Miss Laura Taking Documentary Lessons With MMC-2011-13 Batch

Street Photography Trip @ Pune Camp With Humanity And Niranjana

Happy Birthday Niranjana – 1st Year

HAPPY HOLI!!! Photo Courtesy: Our Very Own Rishabh Nagpal

“Aaj Jaane Ki Zidd Na Karo” – Swathi Ravichandran and Siddharth

Runway Talks With Pari, Mayuri, Vinay And Pseudo SIMCian Kalyan

Welcome To Second Year With Rahul & Rahul

Happpy Birthday Jithin

Colours Of SIMC – At SIMC Library

SYMBI Kavala’s ONAM – Second Year With Rosanna

Preparing Late-Night For SIMCatalyst – Photo Courtesy: Alenkar With Sohom, Ritwik, Prateek

The Winning Moment @ SIMCatalyst With Sohom, Prateek, Ritwik (playing Football)

Iyer Brothers – Play Readings @ Ashish Sen Class – Siddharth And Myself

Happy B Day To Me – Turning 25 – My Birthday On SIMC Campus

KHATARNAAK Zone – After The 10:00 PM Coffee With Rahul Bharadwaj, Siddharth, Divya Gupta, Jassi, Pooja G, UW, Vishakha, Vineet, Prutha, Rishabh

With Nikhil (Roomie 1st Year), Barkha, Chitnis, Bhaskar

GROWING UP FAST – FROM BOYS TO MEN

FRAMED – GROWING UP FAST – FROM BOYS TO MEN

FRAMED – 2 GROWING UP FAST – FROM BOYS TO MEN

Friends For Life – With Pari and Pranati

Brothers For Life – 206 Will Not Remain The Same: Vineet (We Couldn’t Land A Job At The Same Place Bro!!) And Siddharth

That Last Night – KHATARNAAK!!!!! – Thanks For The Memories

Of Lonely Evenings And Lonelier Nights….

ONE LAST TIME…

Good Bye Siddharth – Siddharth”s Last Day – Photo Courtesy: Rosanna

FRIENDS FOREVER – From First Year Our Friendship Saw The Good And Bad…Yet We Moved On…With Niranjana. Photo Courtesy: Jithin Matthew

The Last Meal : Poha And Chai

Nanben Da!!! With Jithin Matthew – Aliyaaa

Farewell Is Just A Reason, To Meet Again

There isn’t always a reason to say goodbye.
It’s probably an assurance that we shall meet again.

– Rahul Iyer – 

SIMC DIARIES – CHAPTER 13 – “Life Isn’t The Same Anymore” – Part 1

SIMC Diaries – Chapter 13 – Life Isn’t The Same Anymore – Part I

The Earlier Journey Of SIMC Diaries:

Chapter 1      Chapter 2     Chapter 3     Chapter 4      Chapter 5      Chapter 6

Chapter 7      Chapter 8      Chapter 9     Chapter 10     Chapter 11     Chapter 12

Hi All,

Another four months have passed. The journey that began in 2011 has ended but the memories of the place still hit hard. Remembrances are the only thing I have, of the place, of SIMC. I don’t want to end it here, but looks like this might well be the end. 12 chapters, two years and a bundle full of emotions. 13^th chapter of SIMC Diaries could well be the last chapter for a supposedly ‘Perfect Ending’, but is there ever an end?

Photo Courtesy – Rosanna Abrachan

Soon after our exams there was a small farewell from our professors and the director. With many already headed home (the MBA guys, who already had jobs and the many MMC unplaced) it never seemed a moment of celebration. Yet we knew deep within that such times wouldn’t be back again. There was a BIG Farewell (at a lounge) planned, but that was much later. We walked to the auditorium and kept ourselves entertained with the special programme, the speeches, the leg-pulling and the odd sarcastic digs at people. I don’t know, but for a strange reason, there was a strange silence among people. Including me. I couldn’t figure out the reason for it either. It was a day meant for us. It was our farewell. Yet there was that bit of half-excitement in faces. Was it tension, emotion, I was clueless. Luckily the great food and some good photo-sessions cheered up all. For once, in those two years, the mess food really tasted delicious. Not that it was bland earlier, but again that x-factor used to be missing. Maybe it was made with more love and affection. After all it was a farewell dinner. The last supper!

I preferred to stay for an extra week. There was nothing to do at home so the one ‘extra’ week, especially with no liabilities at SIMC, was a luxury. We – Sidharth, Rahul, DG, Jassi, Pooja, Prutha, Prachi, Vineet, Rishabh, Smith, Aashray and myself had all decided that we shall spend a week enjoying ourselves. It was a week meant to spend some time until we explored the BAD world awaiting us. I still remember the previous few nights. We used to head down hill to Silver Spoon. Everyone had a gala time at Silver Spoon drinking till even the bottles of vodka and rum dried out.

The next few days, campus began to get deserted by the day and lonelier by night. There were few people around. My roomie Rahul (Bharadwaj) left after the last party at Silver Spoon. I still recount, him leaving a bottle of ‘Royal Stag’ behind. Was it a parting gift? Well, not really since I don’t booze (that much) so Mr. Mani (the Vizag gaaru) was lucky to get the bottle. Rishabh left soon after. Siddharth left the following Sunday. I still remember that hot Sunday afternoon. It was Rosanna, Abhay and me that bid adieu to Humanity (Siddharth). Rosanna couldn’t control her tears, as Abhay tried to console her. Rosanna and Sid were together in Journalism and thick friends. So the emotion was certain. I was sure, I will meet Siddharth soon. So a hug was all. Siddharth left. Sohom and Smith had already left. Sohom had a job in hand, so preferred going home to spend time with his parents. Almost my entire group had gone. But, thankfully, there were still some people left.

I tried to curb my loneliness making trips to Crossword and redeeming my gift vouchers. Be it book hunting, movie hunting or relishing the last few meals at Good Luck Café. The chai  and bun maska still is fresh in my mind, just like the daily baked bun. If it was not Good Luck, it was the Maggi at the NCC Canteen. Another place, in the two years, that had become my dearest companion. The ideal place to visit during the month-end! When the craving to eat something delicious would arise, but the pocket would be nearly empty! Days passed and soon it was time to say goodbye. Goodbye to SIMC and the people there.

20^th March 2013. I still remember that day and the experience. It was my last day at SIMC. I still had a few things to pack and my room was in a mess. Leaving all aside, I headed to have my last breakfast on campus. Poha and chai. Jithin and Ninjaa accompanied me to the mess. We clicked some photos. We decided not to talk about our future as it was pretty uncertain! (at least at that point of time). We laughed at our best times and bonded like never before. Why is it that, when you are leaving, all memories gush like a burst hose pipe, in full force? I didn’t have an iota of clue. We just re-winded to the day we landed here, our respective journeys, our fights for petty reasons, our fights over assignment groups and silly ego issues. It was a realisation of sorts, which made me realise that life (surely) wouldn’t be the same again.

With those bundle of memories, I came back to my room. The cab was to arrive at 3:00 PM and I decided to take a shower. Ninja and Jithin said we would meet for lunch again. Vacating a hostel is a tedious task. Especially with the luggage you have. In spite of taking, almost all my things, as and when I went home, I was still having good 4-5 bags. The dirty bundle of clothes, the heaps of hangers, the three pairs of shoes, the unused blazer! And the framed SIMC photograph of batch 2011-13.

As I slowly packed these things carefully, I couldn’t hold back my emotions. I headed to the bathroom and cried. My tears gushed through the flowing water from the shower. Even during the years of my graduation, I didn’t get this emotional. I lost touch with my graduation friends ever since I had joined Citibank way back in 2009. But the present was completely different. Two years, Two long long years, where the bundle of memories felt heavier than those 4-5 bags. It was now certain, as tears continued to flow by, that “Life certainly won’t be the same again.” Period.

In the long span of my education, it was here that I made the most of my friends. It was here that I identified what it means being away from home. It was here that I experienced what is good in me and what’s bad. It was in SIMC that even after fighting with some people, there was a courtesy to forget and forgive. It all happened in speed, like a flash of thunder. The last few days, taught me the value of maintaining friendships, relationships. It taught me to laugh, cry, be sarcastic, be straightforward, be snobbish at times, be dignified and yet be a good person to each and every one. Isn’t that too much of a lesson? There surely can’t be a better lesson for life than this in a finishing school. Academically I learnt a lot and also have forgotten, but things like these will never be forgotten till the last breath. While, my future still was uncertain, I began to get that confidence. I believed that with all that bundle of learning’s, that I have achieved, I will surely manage to stand up to my parent’s expectations and not disappoint them. If not with the academic values, certainly with the learning’s and my rich experience at SIMC amongst  my friends, peers, well-wishers, seniors and amazing set of young and talented juniors.

The cab had arrived. I wanted to make a quiet exit as I wondered if like a baby the tears would start flowing once again. But there were friends to see me off. And there were a few juniors, whom I had really bonded well with. It was time to leave.

The cab slowly made its way to the main gate and in a jiffy sped down the hill. Like the two years, the journey from Pune to Vashi also passed away like speeding dust. The driver of the cab, Imran bhai asked me, why my eyes were red? I simply said, “You are driving the car a bit fast. It’s because of the speed that some dust has gone into my eyes.” He rolled the windows up and switched on the AC. As the chill wind of the air-conditioner made the windows foggy and as Imran sped the car, the memories of SIMC also sped away.

As I write the last few lines, I realise that there are still many words, which are unspoken, some huge bundle of memories, which need to be penned down. So I leave you here and promise to return back, pretty soon with the second part to “Life isn’t the same anymore” – Chapter 14, one last time.

– Rahul Iyer-

 

REVIEW – BHAAG MILKHA BHAAG – A Riveting Tribute To The Legend

Hi All, 

It’s only after tasting defeat that one tastes the sweetness of success. That’s been the philosophy of many sporting legends and Milkha Singh’s life has been no exception. Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, after a hiatus of four years (his last directorial was ‘Delhi 6’) brings ‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’ the journey of the living legend Milkha Singh alive on screen. 

Right from the first frame one sees the story begin with a bang. Shuttling between past and present, an art that Rakeysh Mehra seems to have mastered since Rang De Basanti, we see the life of Milkha Singh unveiling and putting us through some surprises. 

Be it the young, innocent yet roaring Milkha Singh (played superbly by Master Jabtej Singh) trying to come to terms in a refugee camp, with the fact that his entire family has been killed in front of his eyes. Or his tryst to become one of India’s leading sprinters in his youth, rising with arrogance, making major sacrifices and vetting his  guilt by slapping  himself to not manage to stand tall to his coach’s expectations. 

But even before we see the heroism of Milkha Singh (Farhan Akhtar) and his sprints on the field unveil, there is a journey about why Milkha Singh went on to join the armed forces and his transformation from a street-smart, jolly -good rogue to a disciplined sportsman. From stealing coal from trains, to being stripped and beaten with shoe spikes for attempting to steal a national athlete’s blazer, there is a strong motive to why Milkha Singh’s journey needs to be told. His haunting past! Which just keeps coming back to him each time he is on his way to make history. Until its that one final race which takes him down memory lane and it’s here when he remembers his father’s last words, ‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’. 

With almost three hours and seven minutes long, there is enough to be told about the legend. His small brush with romance with Biro (Sonam Kapoor) when he is whiling away time, or a fling with one of his trainer’s grand daughter (Rebecca Breeds) only to realise that love for women is not what Milkha is born for, it’s the love for running that he yearns for. Be it for just a glass of milk or otherwise. 

Prasoon Joshi and Rakeysh Mehra need to be credited for telling a story with such strong conviction. While Rakeysh Mehra, just goes a little bit too commercial here, never once he deviates from the journey of the legend. There are scenes which leave a lasting impression, especially the ones where Farhan Akhtar is practising his sprints, be it on the rocky terrains, the sandy rough grounds and more. At the same time Mehra adds a perfect blend of emotions to the story, not for once going melodramatic and overboard. The relationships, between the coach-student, brother-sister, family-son are so well tackled by Mehra that leaves one spellbound. 

Binod Pradhan’s cinematography is again a ,master stroke. Post his stint in Rang De Basanti, Binod once again experiments with his fast movements on the field, his framing and angles and more importantly playing with colours. PS Bharathi deserves a pat on the back for editing ‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’ exceptionally well. Be it the use of sepia tones while narrating Milkha’s childhood or the rich shades of brown and green on the track-field, or simply the sleek cuts of montage videos of the prestigious events, taking us back in time to experience it in present, giving you the feel of watching a sports documentary. 

Shankar Ehsan Loy’s music maight have been a bit off track, but yet the background score with a mix of rock is engaging and riveting. While ‘Mastanon Ka Jhund’ is funny, ‘Slow Motion Angrez’ (with a cameo by Loy) looks forced. But the best ones that stay even after leaving the theatre are  ‘Zinda’ and ‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’ beautifully blended in Arif Lohar and Siddharth Mahadevan’s voice. Goosebumps. 

There is a sense of heroism to Milkha Singh’s character on screen. Farhan Akhtar, with those abs and perfectly toned in body might quite be uncanny of the real Milkha Singh in his youth (we don’t know), but he does five hundred percent justice to his character. Whether its his dual emotions, being funny and being serious, arrogant and brash or just his running on the field. He does not run, he flies, like the Flying Sikh himself. His style, his mannerisms and his talks all adapted well and just perfectly. 

Sonam Kapoor in a cameo is delightful and so is Divya Dutta as Milkha Singh’s sister. Prakash Raj as the military trainer is funnily serious (with his Veerappan mustache). Dalip Tahil is good. Rebecca Shields and Meesha Shafi shine in the small part. 

But Yograj Singh and Pawan Malhotra as  Milkha Singh’s coaches are dual winners along with Milkha Singh aka Farhan himself. Both these actors as coaches are motivating and emotional at the same time. I give a two thumbs up to Pawan Malhotra, who goes a step ahead of Yograj in terms of performance. Its probably after Black Friday that we have got to see the best from this versatile actor. 

In the end, inspite of Farhan Akhtar finishing the line first with his class act, its the captain of the ship (justified in his cameo), Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra himself who needs to be given an ovation for paying a riveting tribute to the legend. It is his strong  narrative and direction that makes ‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’ inspite of being tedious an applauding affair. Salutes. Also another point that I want to make is, the director surely has a fascination towards patriotism (his previous films Range De Basanti and Delhi-6 both had the flavour) and it’s his love that makes ‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’ more closer to the heart.  

Final Verdict: Bhaag Milkha Bhaag is the best films to have been made this year. Celebrating the 100th year of cinema, this is double happiness. Inspirational, touching and sensitive. Run and grab a seat, this one’s surely not to be missed!

Rating: ***** 

Rahul Iyer

LOOTERA REVIEW – Steals Hearts With Its Powerful Story And Visual Masterpiece

Hi All,

If  anyone who has watched Vikramaditya Motwane’s ‘UDAAN’ and loved it, trust me ‘LOOTERA’ is one film that you wouldn’t like to miss. For many of today’s generation (I am all of twenty-five, and I feel dejected to say this) Lootera will be nothing less than a boring, torturous endeavour, as a young lady in her mid-twenties complained sitting next to me in the multiplex.

But that’s been the problem with this country. A good piece of art, be it films or anything else, does not get its due respect that it deserves. I am not quite surprised to say that ‘Lootera’ will unfortunately have a similar fate.

Back to ‘Lootera’. The film, an adaptation of O.Henry’s ‘The Last Leaf’ (I haven’t read that one) begins in 1953 – Bengal. It is that time, just after independence that the aristocratic zamindari system is being brought down by the government and all the richness is being vanished away into thin air. It is here when Paakhi Roy Chaudhary (Sonakshi Sinha), the beti of the zamindar (Barun Chanda) meets Varun Srivastav (Ranveer Singh) an archeologist. She is drawn towards him by his charm and good-looking nature. She like Charulata (Charulata of Satyajit Ray)  is lonely, passionate about writing and loves peeking through her binoculars and magnifying glass towards her admirer, Varun.  A series of encounters and some  ‘silent whispers’ make Paakhi and Varun come really close to each other, until Varun’s reality is revealed. Pakhi is grief-stricken and so is her zamindar father. A year later, Varun knocks doors at Paakhi’s door once again. This time it’s the snow capped mountains of Dalhousie where Paakhi is trying hard to forget Varun, and has lost all hopes of living.

From the first frame of the film, you are drawn into a different world all together. Each frame in the film, is nothing less than a painting in itself. With grainy frames (intentional) and some great lighting (colour tone), you are immediately drawn into that era and then there is no looking back. Lootera is slow and takes it own time to build, but that’s the charm of the film. It draws you into the world of Paakhi and Varun. It needs to be reminded that Lootera is a vintage romance and there was no mode of modern communication.

It is here that it scores. The conversations between Paakhi and Varun, their silent whispers on a chilly windy night, their nasty fights and the love for writing that Paakhi shares with Varun. It all flows like a poetry.

Vikramaditya Motwane surely has utilised his directorial skills best working as an assistant to Sanjay Leela Bhansali and the similar school of thought is evident in Lootera too. The grandeur in his sets, the setting of each frame is so well set.

The director also plays a very symbolic tribute to O Henry and ‘The Last Leaf’ in a way, when on several occasions we see Sonakshi aka Paakhi counting her last days, staring outside her window, looking at a single leaf hanging to a snow-clad branch. It is so artistic and intriguing.

Mahendra Shetty needs to be acknowledged for capturing the locales of Dalhousie and Calcutta brilliantly. Half of the magic is taken care of by the exquisite and beautiful cinematography. As I mentioned, each frame that one sees on screen is a painting on celluloid.

Amit Trivedi is in fine form and unlike other music composers hasn’t been in a race to compete hard. Each song in the fiilm, fits the scene perfectly and credit to Motwane for not using background scores at regular intervals. Sometimes even the ower of silence is underplayed in Hindi cinema and Lootera is a fine example. Be it ‘Shikayatein’   or ‘Manmarziyan’ or ‘Zinda’,  each song stays with you. Sadly ‘Ankahee’  is left for the end credits and it’s a feeling of leaving the hall incomplete. But no complaints.

Vikramaditya Motwane again needs to be credited for casting such an unconventional pair in Ranveer Singh and Sonakshi Sinha.

While the Sonakshi has a meatier part, Ranveer Singh is in terrific form. Unlike his regular  Dilli wala munda kind of roles, ‘Lootera’  is strikingly different from what the actor has attempted earlier. His subtle nature and his restraint and persistence to win over Paakhi makes him so convincing in his act as Varun.

Sonakshi is a revelation in Lootera. I am not surprised that the lady may surely be gearing up for a few worthy awards this year. It is an act which isn’t quite easy at the onset, but yet Sonakshi pulls it off with great ease and conviction. Whether it is her sudden attraction to Varun, her underplay of emotions when she is in her shell or her grief when she is expressing her frustration over a series of letters, it’s just beyond words. Fantastic!

Final Verdict

On the whole, Vikramaditya Motwane, in his second outing has proved that he isn’t a ‘One Film Wonder’ like many of his counterparts. He is surely her to stay. Lootera is and may be for a long – long time stay for being what it is. A simple yet powerful story, convincingly told with sheer cinematic beauty and a visual treat. Take a bow Mr. Motwane. Lootera stays with you even after you have left the cinema hall. It steals your heart. 

Yes you said in a Reuters interview, you don’t make obtuse films for the niche audience. Sadly, Lootera is niche and will not be preferred by the Smartphone, Tablet generation. It has been quite a while now and Indian audiences have completely (or should I say partially) forgotten what Quality Art and Cinema is. Lootera is your answer to them. Truly a highly crafted piece of art. A visual masterpiece in recent times. 

Rating: **** (4 Stars) 

Rahul Iyer