Confessions Of An Abhay Deol Enthusiast ...

So like I promised...here's my review of Road, Movie and while i'm at it a review of Dev D. too!

I'm not really sure what I love about Abhay Deol, he just has this way about him that I really enjoy watching on screen whether it's his films or his interviews.  After reading a fantastic review of Dev D. I knew I had to see it for myself.  Being a fan of Shahrukh's 2002 version of the Devdas story I was a bit apprehensive as to how a modern version of the story would play out.  Based on the promos there would be a lot sex, drugs, and Rock & Roll.  So I was, but then I wasn't interested in watching when it was out in theaters.

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Dev D.

So, after reading some blog posts on the film I knew I had to see it, it was the best decision I ever made.  From that opening scene I was completely engulfed in this new world of Dev D., not that his world is different from my world but going into the film I was waiting to compare it to the 2002 version, but I was wrong to even assume that.  This is so far from that version, that there can't really be a comparison.

This film was the one that made me fall in love with Abhay, those familiar with the Devdas story will be pleasantly surprised  at this take on a classic love story.  I loved how much the music played such an integral part in the film.  Now, I know that in Bollywood films music are an integral part of a film but this was very different, this is one of the best soundtracks i have come across in a long time.  I was so glad the music director Amit Trivedi won the Filmfare award for Best Background Score and the R.D. Burman award.

One last important detail I must mention is the new talent introduced in the film, i'm talking about Kalki Koechlin and Mahi Gill, but the girl who really stands out is Kalki.  WoW!!! I can't wait to see what else she becomes involved in.  This girl deserved all the praise she got for her performance it was stunning!

 Intermission

END OF INTERMISSION

Road Movie

I was so happy I actually got a chance to watch this film at this years' Indian Film Festival in Hollywood.  The theater was sold out, which was good for the makers of Road, Movie.  I was really surprised, but then again this film has been selected to play in various film festival around the world, the most recent being the Berlinale Film Festival.

Already being an Abhay fan girl I already kinda knew I would enjoy the film.  But it truly was a good film, i miss those kinds of films in which a character decides to leave everything behind and just go...with no real destination, it's just a fascinating concept.  Maybe it's just one of my secret fantasies to just leave my house or where I live, and leave my job, the people i know, and just everything. Whoa!

Overall, the film was very entertaining, Abhay has a knack for playing jerks.  The premise of the film is that of Vishnu {Abhay Deol} who grows restless with each passing day and his lack of purpose in life while working for his fathers failing hair oil business.  He then gets a chance to drive a truck, which he later discovers to be a touring cinema truck, to an antique museum.  

He then encounters an orphan, a mechanic, and a wandering young woman who help him in his journey, a journey of self discovery you could call it, in which he if able to get to his destination and eventually start a new life.

I absolutely loved the music for this film, some of the songs that truly stand out is the enchanting kaisi tanhai and fun revamped tel malish beautifully performed  by Sylvia Gordon.

Indian Film Festival Day 2!

So, in case you follow me on Twitter of on my Facebook, you are already aware of my adventures in this years Indian Film Festival (IFFLA).  I'm getting a chance to volunteer this year in many different areas of the festival...which adds even more excitement to my life!  Plus I got to see Omi Vaidya {From 3 Idiots!} but I got too nervous to approach him...oh, well...he'll probably come back for the 3 Idiots screening on Friday night!

The festival has been hosted every year at the fabulous Arclight theater, located in the heart of fabulous Hollywood, CA.  For any of you unlucky people whom have never been inside and experience the magic of this theater, let me tell you there's none like it.

Most of the Hindi films I have watched have been in the local theater which are the most beautiful theaters and sound and picture quality are just good.  So, to see them in this theater was just AMAZING!  I'm starting to sound like an ad...oh Gosh!  Now onto the films!  I actually didn't think I would get a chance to watch any films based on my volunteer hours...so when I was told I could...I was just ecstatic to say the least.

The first film I really wanted to see was Harishchandrachi Factory.  This was the first ever Marathi film I ever saw, and it was fantastic to say the least.  I have never laughed so much in my life, this was a great film to start off my festival experience with.

The story of H. Factory is that of Dadasahed Phalke, also known as the Father of Indian Cinema, and his struggles of creating the first ever Indian film, the epic story of Raja Harishchandra.  The movie follows him and his family as they struggle to pursue this dream and all the craziness that follows from trying to find and shoot in exotic locations to casting the main 'female' lead of the film.

I would say that the only fault in this film is that everything happened too quickly in that there was no real struggle in getting the money for the film, the actors, etc., there was always way in which the main character just got everything very easily.  This really keeps the film from actually being realistic, but overall an absolutely  fantastic film.

 Next movie I saw was Road Movie, with my newest obsession Abhay Deol *swoon*, unfortunately I missed the first 15 minutes so I need to find an online link and watch to truly feel like I have watched the whole thing, soo I will post up my thoughts once I get to that.

In case there are any of you Los Angelenos {?} that are not aware of the festival, hurry up! There's still time to buy tickets, but I will warn that most of the Bollywood films are getting sold out very quickly!!! As of right now there are still tickets available for tonight's Bollywood film, Kaminey.  So enjoy!