Filmistaan

After I had seen the trailer, I knew I had to watch this one. I went expecting funny sequences, off-beat story and good acting. Well, I did get just that but so much more.

The film gives a strong and poignant message that deep down inside, all human beings are the same. They have the same fears, aspirations, fun loving characters. It shows how childhood conditioning can influence our thoughts and form preferences about good, bad, right and wrong. And how real life experiences can break those beliefs.

As far as the script goes, it is very basic and straight-forward. Absence of big stars and their trademark acting styles is such a big relief.

About funny sequences, there is one in particular (which I cannot describe in detail) is when the hero gets a chance to act in front of the camera. I am a person who laughs with abandon. I think the people near my seats did not like it very much becoz I was laughing my head off.

I recommend you to watch this movie as I enjoyed it very much. I wish I could forget the whole movie just so that I can watch it again :)

An adorably sweet, entertaining movie having many enjoyable references of three most talked about subjects in our country i.e., Bollywood, Cricket and Pakistan. Plus it's a rare film talking about cross border terrorism without any kind of negativity and full of hope wherein the lead character of the script is just having great fun with everyone around enacting hilariously.

Having said that, its frankly also not a perfect movie without any flaws as is being projected in many high star reviews. The film leaves many big loopholes unaddressed in its story-plot like what was the actual reason of kidnapping, how was the warning tape used which they shot after making so much effort and what did the shooting crew do after finding one of their members missing? However despite having such big issues left as it is, FILMISTAAN does provide you the promised entertainment constantly in its two hours and doesn't have any kind of dull moment as such in its enjoyable narration, right from the word go.

Actually the film works mainly due to its individual amusing sequences and not because of any detailed plot. It wins over the viewer largely when the characters make an instant connect in many well directed and acted scenes. Like, when Sharib sings "Yaara Seeli Seeli" (to a similar tune of legendary Reshma) & "Maar Daala", when he renders the dialogues of a complete scene from MAINE PYAR KIYA, when there is a discussion over the cricket players and a world cup match, when an old Hakim talks about his days spent in Amritsar before the partition, when Inaamul Haq talks about his business of pirated Indian film DVDs and when they make the ultimate plan in the end.

The scenes immediately form an emotional relationship with the viewer despite having glimpses of some similar gags of Pakistan's famous Umar Sharif and a quite predictable progression post the intermission. But certain warmth in the brilliant natural performances and the convincing direction never lets you count anything damaging in the project and you do enjoy spending time in the theater with both the Hindi film loving characters, entertainingly interacting on the screen.

As a known fact already, the film was shot at a very limited budget but the camera-work doesn't let you feel the same at all. Background score provides the right feel at some key moments and the soundtrack (songs) neither attracts nor teases you when played intelligently in between the important sequences. Dialogues do grab your attention at times, written by Sharib himself and it was a great relief not to see any footage wasted on some silly love angle incorporated deliberately, following the set routine.

Becoming the most appealing feature of the film, Sharib Hashmi delivers an outstanding act and many might not remember that he was only the guy playing Shah Rukh Khan's Pakistani friend in JAB TAK HAI JAAN too. Sharib completely looks like a filmy keeda in his character of Sunny Arora and so does Inaamul Haq playing the second lead making an equally impressive impact. Their chemistry together makes the second half a treat to watch and the open ending does leave you with a feeling of hope quite positively (whereas many may not like the climax too without any clear culmination). Kumud Mishra plays the terrorist perfectly and Gopal Datt supports him well as his close associate. Among the supporting cast Habib Azmi certainly deserves a special mention playing the old Haqim and the rest do perform their roles efficiently.

Summing up, such small but innovative, experimental projects need to be encouraged by the Industry people itself as the viewers are indeed ready for them in this new age of cinema undoubtedly. So do watch FILMISTAAN as a must if you love these kind of unexpected surprises made on interesting subjects in a limited budget, with no star attractions at all………….but also keep your expectations level in control in order to enjoy it more.

Further moving ahead of the review, I would like to share a personal feeling I had while watching this lovable work by a talented team, lying unsold for two longs years quite shockingly………. And the film made me think that

Why many of these big shots of the industry could not judge the potential of a well made film like this through their own inner instinct, controlling everything sitting at the top? OR Why any of them couldn't feel the possible chances of this film winning hearts all over? OR Why the big stars like the Khans, Kapoors, Kumars and more are not coming forward to take up or promote such kind of honest and worth releasing efforts being made by many independent producers individually.

Further, isn't this short shortsightedness followed by the system fast becoming another kind of a big blockage or hindrance in the path of great cinema being made within the country by some talented yet unknown names? Besides, as a concluding thought just think for a while that if a film like FILMISTAAN kept waiting for its turn, lying unsold for two long years, despite being awarded as the BEST Hindi FILM by the reputed National Award Jury in 2012, ……..then how many more similar or may be better small films must be roaming around in the lobbies of these production houses searching for a buyer.

No doubt the thought indeed is a quite scary one for all independent film-makers and this is the reason, why I had an inner feeling of pain, discomfort and repulsion, while leaving the theaters after thoroughly enjoying FILMISTAAN.

Anyway, with a note of thanks to UTV, I hope the thought reaches many other reputed production houses too and we get to see many more such unknown, hidden yet praiseworthy small efforts in the coming times.

With the amount of crap bollywood is generating these days this movie come as a much needed break....

As a frequent movie watcher i watch the maximum movie releases in India but there very few movies that i actually like.... This is the 2nd movie after Queen that i liked very much...

The story is very simple but the effect that it leaves is very deep....

Performances are the backbone of this movie....

Every person in the movie looks like they are not acting but actually living that character... i recommend this movie to every one who like or dislike bollywood flicks.. In one word this movie is celebration of Indian Cinema.....

I watched this film at the 17th International Film Festival of Kerala. It was the second and last screening of the film. Though i did get great reviews about the film, i didn't expect this much to be frank. It turned out to be the most satisfying film of the fest...It was the biggest crowd puller of the festival ,needless to say i struggled a lot to watch the film and it paid off well.Each and every aspect of the film was just fantastic , be it the direction, photography, screenplay, editing, music and coming to the performances Sharib Hashmi as Sunny just mesmerized the audience with his splendid act. He was the real star of the film festival.Another notable act was that of Inaamulhaq who came up with a stellar performance.Filmistaan is easily one of the best debut i have ever seen. First time director Nitin Kakkar has made a gem of a film. The Silver Crow Pheasant Award (Rajata Chakoram) for the best debut director which he won at the festival affirms it. Don't ever miss this astounding work !!!!!

No wonder it won so many awards. Because the USP of this film lies in its story, which strives to bring out something excellent out of the age-old conflict between two great nations.

I am spellbound with the performances of the two lead characters, played by Sharib Hashmi & Inaamulhaq. They nicely maneuver the plot which talks about a botched kidnapping of an Indian by foreign terrorists. Apart from entertainment, it provides food for thought: how cinema can bring people together like it does to the lead characters. Filmistaan basically is a comedy-drama but it doesn't limit itself to it; issues like rivalry between the cricket fraternity & its fans is a prime talking factor in the film. How not all people are affected by the beliefs about terrorism is also a point. Then you would ask, does it give a solution for terrorism? No, it doesn't, but at least it tries to bring out a new approach.

Bollywood has been spoken loudly throughout and there is lots of humor surrounding it. We can enjoy the good narration while it makes a point. Music is good, with fine direction & cinematography.

BOTTOM LINE: A pretty watchable flick although you can't complain about the hugely dramatic climax. It is high time that we invest our time & money in such indie films and support them rather go for those absurd cliché-driven potboilers. Recommended!

Can be watched with a typical Indian family? YES