Sulemani Keeda

Mainak and Dulal, the chemistry between them leaves you in splits. This 90-minute film, low budget film is a laugh riot. Ruma (Aditi Vasudev) charms with her screen presence, and confirms that her performance in Do Dooni Char was not a mere co-incidence.

With just songs and some background scores, music is spot on. 'Door' song deserves a special mentions.

However, the winner in this indie is by far the 'dialogues'. Kudos to actors for timing each of them so well.

This movie would grow with word of mouth! At a breezy speed, 90 film just passes by leaving smile on your face. The movie is so real yet so filmy.

Watched this at MAMI festival in 2013. Was one of the 3 best I saw that year! The audience was in splits. The film has a very simple story and yet you are completely engaged with the characters and their journeys. The two leads play struggling screen writing partners who are constantly aspiring to reach the "next level" in their careers- and you completely feel for them. The lead girl (who was earler seen in Talaash) is gorgeous. There are also some cameos by Bollywood insiders who spoof themselves in a sporty way. The best part about this film is that it is not trying hard to make you laugh or make a point. It is breezy, light and funny. This is the kind of film that makes you want more and the kind of fresh Indian cinema that I would like to watch more often.

If you have a few brain cells, a sense of humour, and are as sick of the '100 crore' rubbish being churned out by Bollywood on a daily basis, please do watch this movie. You will love it. It is as indie as indie movies get, so don't expect it to look as slick and manufactured as your typical Bollywood Khan starer, but the very fact that it is an indie movie is what makes it so charming and refreshing (and lights another beacon of hope for a more diverse Indian film industry).

The movie is about two struggling writers trying to get their screenplay produced - one a relatively straight-laced idealist, the other an in- your-face, street smart guy on the make, with a hidden vulnerability. The caste is virtually unknown - in fact most of them were not actors before this movie was made, but they are all from the movie industry. The lead, Naveen Kasturia (Dulal) worked as an Assistant Director, the co-lead, Mayank Tewari (Mainak), is a columnist, screen-writer, poet and amateur stand-up comic, the pseudo European art-house cinema loving producer's son and actor in waiting Karan Mirchandani (Gonzo) is a director. Only Ruma (Aditi Vasudev) was a professional actress at the time the movie was shot, but a very young one who had only just started in the industry (she had acted in Do Dooni Chaar and Talaash). And this really works, because they all bring a freshness and naturalness to their roles.

The movie itself is a 'slice of life' piece about the fringes of the film industry, the hopes of the new aspirational middle class (who can now dream of being more than just doctors and engineers), young love, and above all, friendship. What shines through the most are the dialogues, which are crisp, sharp, natural and very very funny. Apparently a lot of them were improvised during the shooting process, which gives them a very unrehearsed feeling. There is the odd sequence where the editing could have been a wee bit tighter, but it doesn't take away from the charm of the movie.

I wouldn't be surprised if this becomes the next big cult film in India, which people will be talking about 20 years from now, like Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron and Andaaz Apna Apna.

Bottom line - watch it.

An original, autobiographical portrayal of struggles so unique to anyone who dares to follow his/her dreams. 'Sulemani Keeda' is about two bumbling amateurs struggling to make a mark in the world of script-writing for Hindi cinema, their attractions and distractions, with a lot of fun and hilarity thrown in.

The character portrayals are amazing and many of them are funny especially the lead actor's sidekick Mainak, Gonzo, Sweety and Nene.

Masurkar has done a great job with the script and direction. The chiaroscuro of hilarity with spells of seriousness, the international influences neatly tied with 'desi' locales and deliberate kitsch with sublime poetry all blends in superbly in the yarn he has spun with words as well as with the visuals.

This movie has a lot of taste and in that it is very Woody Allen - the writers' influences are from Andrei Tarkovsky; the movie collection shows 'Cinema Paradiso'; the book being casually read is on Francois Truffaut; the cat is named 'Fellini' (feliney?) and even the title of the movie, and this is my guess, is inspired by Salman Rushdie. The poetry and music in this movie is little but profound and timely. And Masurkar's muse, Mumbai, is depicted charmingly using local trains, Colaba eateries, beaches and bachelor pad apartments, right down to the last detail.

A thoroughly entertaining, fresh and hilarious watch - one of the best I have seen in a long time.

Beautiful, liked it.

2015 Indie comedy film directed by Amit Masurkar (Manipal dropout, later completed B. A history from Mumbai Uni).

He later went on to direct Newton which was sent to Oscars from India.

Distributed by PVR director's rare, when PVR used to go good stuff like producing and distributing good cinema unlike their overpricy Popcorns.

Released in Mami.

I rather saw it on TVF play as pay per view, TVF did a good job being a online partner for the movie. (You can find the movie on Amazon Prime outside India, TVFplay doesn't host this movie anymore.)

Two writers Dulal and Mainak (names will be struck for a long time) dream of shaking Bollywood with their script Sulemani Keeda... Rather end up shaking their own selves.. (no pun intended).

Naveen Kasturia and Mayank Tiwari form this bromantics essence, Aditi Vasudev spices things up.

Experimental, interesting, strong and weak at parts. Yet watchable and enjoyable.

Do watch it with some cheese rolls or just spicy rolls. Try with shezwan sauce and green chutney.