nakulkr

Shekhar Kapoor shows the world how Indian movies could be. He doesn't break any of the basic rules. There are songs and there is melodrama, but Kapoor actually backs it up with a strong script and brilliant acting, which of course is to be expected with Naseeruddin Shah and Shabana Azmi in the cast. Jugal Hansraj and Urmila Matondkar are easily recognisable in their pint-sized selves. Pity Jugal Hansraj never got a decent part to play after this one..

They've never quite managed to make a movie like this one. Naseeruddin Shah and Ravi Vaswani play photographers caught in a messy affair involving corrupt politicians, wicked businessmen, canny journalists (and some hammy actors). Giving director Kundan Shah (who has, surprising, gone on to the make some of the most awful films of the last decade) the chance to unleash his brilliant satire. He hits all his targets. Satish Shah is hilarious as a dead body on roller skates, and the 'Disrobing of Draupadi' scene in the theatre is one of the funniest ever shot. Like the rest of the film, it could have been cringe-inducingly-awful. If it weren't so funny, that is.

This is the first Ken Branagh's film I've seen and, well, what can I say - this man is a genius. I'm afraid I don't quite understand the negative reviews - I absolutely loved this movie. Emma Thompson, Andy Garcia, Derek Jacobi and Robin Williams are all brilliant in their roles. This would be a classic in my books, but it seems a lot of people don't agree. I've seen it twice already, but I'd be willing to see it again, and again, and again, even if just to see Ken as Roman Strauss. This gets five stars from me!