 Debuting with the off-beat indie rom-com such as 'Hyderabad Blues' in 98's, actor-director Nagesh Kukunoor has proved to be among the most prolific movie producers to leave India during the last years and a half, when you check out the subjects he is managed.
When it had been a romance he began off with, utilizing movies like Rockford, Bollywood Calling and Iqbal, he has shown that he's equally skilled at handling some other type of theatre as well, be it coming-of-age stories, out and out comedies or perhaps a brave sports movie. But, with his previous couple of outings, specially the twisted, 8x10 Tasveer, the good actor director has faltered a great deal.
It might be great news then, that his latest, Mod, has more in popular with Nagesh Kukunoor's older, improved works than any kind of his recent outings.
Before one obtains their wants up, it has to be reported right at the outset, that Mod isn't a full come back to form for Nagesh. For somebody that showed excellent skill in handling delicate stories in movies such as Dor and Iqbal, there is still a little bit of large handedness which comes through here.
But, after trying his hands from absurd comedies in Bombay To Bangkok and suspense thrillers in 8x10 Tasveer, the sort of innocent romance that Mod brings along, is certainly a throwback to the Kukunoor of yore.
A romantic drama, Mod is really an official remake of a '07 Taiwanese flick known as Keeping Watch. The movie sees Kukunoor get in touch and among his favourite actresses, Ayesha Takia, that is cast here as Aranya Mahadev, a very simple girl that has inherited her family watch fix store.
Aranya leads a basic, very individual type lifestyle in the hills of Ooty, together with her father and aunt for company. Things improve for her when 1 day, an individual, who calls himself Andrew, appears at her doorstep seeking to get his watch restored. When he reveals that he's, actually, her old high school friend Andy Raymond, played by Rannvijay Singh, the 2 start a lovely romance, where he holds returning to her to obtain his water-soaked watch repaired every day. There's something tasteful about Andy, though, whose actions seem a touch too child-like and basic for somebody like him.
The twist is revealed mid-way from the story, being an Aranya crazy about Andy finds herself faced with some very difficult truths as well as to decide whether she could carry on with their relationship.
The movie's story is flawed majorly as a result of pace that Kukunoor sets for it. As the courtship between Aranya and Andy is good to start with, it takes much too long for the twist from the story to appear in, with the entire first half being put in this romantic movie. The 2nd half drags too, as, following the big reveal, it's mysterious why Aranya returns to Andy, or, even when she does, why she takes such a long time arrive at the decision. There is no exposition of her causes of returning to Andy, or why she acts the way she does inside the climactic performance. The unnecessary angle with Rannvijay's parents also drags the movie down.
Such as an actor, Ayesha Takia shows a lot of adulthood in Aranya's role. Takia performs wonderfully within Kukunoor's direction, and her measured performance here, as being the conflicted lead of this movie, is the one other feather in her cap. Rannvijay Singh, who had been last noticed in Action Replayy last year, gets his 1st topline role here, as Andy, but fails to make use of it. He's wonderful in parts, especially in the 1st half because the wooing lover, but does not quite deal with to take care of the role in the second half, which sometimes, requires some acting chops. However there appears to be disconnect between Rannvijay's show presence and also the shyness with the stars he performs, maybe the movie justifies this.
Tanvi Azmi and Raghubir Yadav are offer in side-line roles, and do well, as always. However the movie fails to captivate totally using its story, what's enchanting here is Chirantan Das' cinematography.
With the backdrops of Ooty and it is environment, Das captures some exquisitely beautiful photos regarding his camera perform, and even, 'Mod' is really a worth a watch only for these pictures.
The movie's songs is due to Tapas Relia, even though a couple of tracks are wonderful, overall, there isn't much to keep in mind here. During the larger frame of things, Mod is a positive entry in Nagesh Kukunoor's filmography, exclusively for providing him back to the right side of things. The movie itself, but, works only in parts.
Though Kukunoor still shows off a flair for direction, extracting good quality tasks and great pictures, his story-telling skills appear to have lost some sheen during the trip. While one good luck hopes which he locates his way back for great form again, and comes back to the type of theatre he has made in the past, right now, 'Mod' is not quite the right meeting point for Nagesh and his viewers… |
