Change Your Image
reelG
Reviews
Theeviravaathi: The Terrorist (1998)
Just a visual exercise - nothing more
The movie lacks in substance. It is a very simple plot yes, but the telling doesn't have to be so simple. The movie is devoid of substance, innovativeness and anything interesting. Visually it is appealing but so are lot more films from India. That doesnt necessarily mean the director can dwell on slow motions, extreme closeups and some pictureseque shots without getting on with the story.
What's good? Photography, a couple of ideas/concepts, the girl. What's not? Screenplay, sound (major sound problems), direction (wayward), acting, production values (every gunshot in the movie looks/sounds fake and the movie is called the terrorist) and the movie.
Bollywood Calling (2001)
Nagesh matures...
Hyderabad Blues was an experimental film that got lucky, Rockford was a pathetic filmmaking exercise and Bollywood Calling is finally a bonafide movie.
It has maturity, good plot lines, well-developed characters, humor and realism (though a little exaggerated at times). Even though it seems like a movie for a niche audience (people who are interested in the filmmaking aspect of movies), it's not just about that - it's a regular movie for regular audience.
It's a better-made movies than most of the junk we see lately. Watch it - it's fun! BTW, Om Puri is extremely funny. I've always seen him poor and dying but this role is particularly refreshing!