write-to-balaji

A typical SLB grand movie, with excellent production quality and good screen play which could have been an epic with right casting.

In every frame it is quite evident that Aalia Bhatt was mis-cast for the role and poor girl is working very hard to do live up to the role.

IMHO she does not have the screen presence to carry the role convincingly. No taking away from Alia, in fact in her Genre, she is the queen and I have watched several of her films are worthy of multiple viewing.

Madhuri would have been best choice as per the popular opinion. But I think Vidya Balan (Dirty Picture), Kangana (Thalaivi), or even Dipika (Ram Leela) would have done better justice to this character, and would have made the movie worthy or repeat watching (which is hallmark of an epic movie) Atleast, Aalia could have been cast as the younger Ganga and some other senior actress could have played the mature Gangubhai.

An opportunity wasted. For that reason alone I have given 5 Stars otherwise it could have easily be an 8+ rating.

Went with anticipation of watching the legendary performance of Kangna in the role of one the Politician who I admired greatly.

As in all Female centric movies, the expectation from Arvind Swamy was a second fiddle role, with no much scope of performance.

But the movie surprised me by delivering the exactly opposite goods.

Scene after scene Arvind Swamy delivers delightful performance, not once did it look like a parody.

Even Jaya's character looked convincing in the earlier part of the movie where her character is being developed, but it fails to hold and build the intensity till the end to culminate into a dominant & larger than life persona that the Ex-CM of Tamilnadu was.

Its an irony that in a biopic of Dr. Jaya who rose to power breaking the shackles of Patriarchical dominance, the male protogonist effortlessly manages to do dominate the proceedings. The Title should have been Thalaivaa instead (on a lighter note).

The blame should only go to the writers for not giving any depth to the title role, where Kanagna could unleash her prowess.

Also, the dialogue delivery (in original Tamil version) seems superficial and lip sync is very unconvincing. When your eyes and other facial muscles doesn't speak the same language as your lips then you get something like this. Kudos to her for trying her best, she should stick to Hindi where she can deliver the punch in such roles.

I normally don't watch SRK movies in theaters Just because Imtiyaz Ali name was associated with it and it had the deceiving "Jab" & "Met" in the Title. I made in the fist week. What a waste of time and money. Such a good star cast, reputed director, fantastic locations, story with good potential of being romantic potboiler. But a big let down.!! Is this the same Imtiyaz who gave us "Jab we Met"?. The "Jab" and the "Met" used to fool the audiences. Nothing in this movie comes even a mile closer to the Kareena & Shahid's Masterpiece "Jab We Met" First of all story telling is very half hearted and screenplay is pretty bad, scenes look like they are randomly picked up and joined. No one (the actors or the director) seem be have been much serious about the movie. They seem just to rest on their laurels. (chalo SRK aur Anushka to cast kar diya, log to ayenge dekhne). There is also absolutely no chemistry between the two lead actors, IMHO this movie is not for SRK, it would have been apt on some young actor like Varun, Siddarth or such breed who would have had better chemistry with the heroine and there would have been some realistic oomph in some of the romantic scenes. (or you can say the director has not done his job to bring that out from his cast).

Neither the music for this movie is any relief, while every track of "Jab We Met" can captivate you even today, after 10 years of listening. A big let down.!!!