Dec 292017
 

Tanuja Chandra’s Qarib Qarib Singlle, if you recall, was about Irrfan’s rather ‘rangeela’ character taking his online date to meet his past three lovers, just so he can prove to her how women continue to adore him

Balan in Tumhari SuluVidya Balan in Tumhari Sulu

Tanuja Chandra’s Qarib Qarib Singlle, if you recall, was about Irrfan’s rather ‘rangeela’ character taking his online date to meet his past three lovers, just so he can prove to her how women, even when they’re not with him, continue to adore him still. The first stop on their road-trip is in Rajasthan. You sort of have an idea what kinda ‘Girlfriend No 1’ will show up. The girl who emerges instead is a podgy, giggly Rajasthani middle-class woman, brimming with life and realism, and yet so much fun, that that scene/moment/ cameo/character remains for me the absolute highlight of 2017.

As is the heroine of Qarib –Parvathy — who got introduced to Bollywood with the film (she has over 20 acting credits back in Kerala). And thanks to my interest in her, I got to see another gem (in Malayalam) this year, Mahesh Narayan’s Take Off, which is based on the same incident as Tiger Zinda Hai (abduction of Indian nurses by the IS in Tikrit, Iraq). Parvathy plays the savior, protagonist. She’s a nurse (as against Salman’s Rambo). So you know Take Off is absolutely nothing like Tiger. But more importantly Parvathy’s Sameera in Take Off looks/behaves nothing like Qarib’s Jaya.

Sridevi in Mom
Sridevi in Mom

Further, I decided to catch Anjali Menon’s Bangalore Days (2014), which has three important female characters. It was impossible for me to figure out which of the three was Parvathy, the reason I’d clicked on the film in the first place (she plays a physically challenged RJ in this strikingly mature romantic film).

Pednekar in Toilet: Ek Pre Katha
Pednekar in Toilet: Ek Pre Katha

Clearly Parvathy exhibits a chameleon like quality to transform herself from one photograph to another, let alone roles — something we often associate with actor Kangana Ranaut in Mumbai. Another feature you could tag her along with Ranaut for is an ability to call out hypocrisy, take on detractors, rather than call a spade a donkey. As the brave Parvathy did late this year, taking on trolls who had problems with the fact that she had a problem with misogyny in one of super-star Mamoothy’s films.
Is this a good way to challenge centuries of insensitivity towards women in general (and therefore in cinema)? Yes. But along with playing parts in pictures that change the scenery just as well. As did Vidya Balan walking on to the screen as an over-weight aunty from Virar, and cracking it as Sulu in Tumhari Sulu. Or Sridevi did as a clever mom in Mom, planning to avenge her daughter’s rape. Or in fact Bhumi Pednekar, perhaps more than others did, stepping out in the open, defecating in the wilds, to shine a torch on the problem of toilets (or lack of them) in India, for a film called Toilet, which earned over Rs 100 crore.

Parvathy in Qarib Qarib Singlle
Parvathy in Qarib Qarib Singlle

Gauging global/box-office appeal of Priyanka Chopra, Anushka Sharma and Deepika Paukone, we had dubbed 2016 the ‘year of the woman’ for Bollywood. It takes generations for society (and hence cinema) to go from appreciating the ‘Hot Woman’ to the Everywoman. Sometimes it can happen in a year. It did.

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Nov 172017
 

You don’t always need a strong, emotional tale to make a beautiful film. Sometimes, all you need is a simple story told in the simplest manner and that’s more than enough to touch your heart and soul. Director Suresh Triveni’s latest, ‘Tumhari Sulu’, is one of those films that reminds you of Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s work, giving you a much-needed slice of real life.

Triveni’s story of a middle-class family is so heart-warming that from the first frame to the last, you are totally invested in the story. 

Vidya Balan's Performance In 'Tumhari Sulu' Will Charm Your Boots Off© T-Series

The film tells the tale of Sulochana Dubey (Vidya Balan) aka Sulu of the Jal Padma Housing Society, a happy-go-lucky housewife who lives with her husband Ashok (Manav Kaul) and son Pranav (Abhishek Sharma) in Virar, Mumbai. More often than not, she cooks up silly plans to do something or the other. Fortunately, she lands the role of a late-night radio jockey. Her sexy voice and her unique perspective in dealing with people’s problems makes it an adventurous ride until reality catches up with her. 

Vidya Balan's Performance In 'Tumhari Sulu' Will Charm Your Boots Off© T-Series

Breaking the glamorous rulebook that Bollywood has preached for a very long time, Triveni shatters the stereotype that female protagonists cannot be funny and turns it on its head. And boy, Vidya totally nails it.  She’s is the emotional and comedic core of the film. 

Sulu is crazy and mad but her story isn’t something to laugh about. This isn’t your regular Rohit Shetty film where people crack bizarre jokes, but Sulu’s one-liners are incredibly relatable. You actually feel that you are sitting in your own house and someone is cracking those jokes around you. 

Vidya Balan's Performance In 'Tumhari Sulu' Will Charm Your Boots Off© T-Series

Be it Sulu’s extended family or the people around her…….the film gives off such a genuine atmosphere that it looks like someone is portraying a true story on the big screen. Understanding what the audience likes to see, the debutant director brings the common man and woman’s problems to the big screen. It’s sad that most Bollywood films miss out on this very real feeling. 

This is a film that Vidya totally deserves, and who would have known that she could make you laugh so much? There is no one who could have played Sulu the way she did. You will fall in love with Sulu and admire her because she is so damn relatable. 

Vidya Balan's Performance In 'Tumhari Sulu' Will Charm Your Boots Off© T-Series

Vidya takes you on a laughathon but keeps the character grounded by not ridiculing the role even for a moment, which is a tough job to do. Radio Wow’s Maria, the head of the organisation (Neha Dhupia) and RJ Albeli Anjali (Malishka Mendonsa) are amazed at Sulu but that had been explained perfectly. Everything happens in a streamlined process in the film and nothing is sudden, making it very human. 

Neha and Maliksha are great in their respective roles and it’s lovely to see Neha donning the boss’s hat.

Manav Kaul comes as a complete surprise as he’s a man who is often seen playing villainous roles. In this film though, he is incredibly adorable and brings out emotions so brilliantly that Ashok’s character feels incredibly real and not fictitious. Well, if you actually had a guy who could dance to ‘Ban Jaa Tu Meri Rani’ like he did, he is indeed a keeper! 

What makes ‘Tumhari Sulu’ so impactful is the fact that it gives you an insight into a relationship, where you understand the importance of small things in life and understand how a family works. And, how for two people to live happily, it is important to accept each other’s idiosyncrasies wholeheartedly as well. 

Vidya Balan's Performance In 'Tumhari Sulu' Will Charm Your Boots Off© T-Series

A humorous film can lose its pace when entering emotional territory, but Triveni makes sure nothing is out of the place. Despite the amount of tears you’ll cry, you’ll fall for Sulu, Ashok and Pranav’s chemistry. 

Don’t forget to watch this well woven story of aspiration and achieving extraordinary feats in your ordinary life. Sulu, Ashok, and Pranav will definitely tug the right chords in your heart! With its fresh narrative, heart-warming emotions, ‘Tumhari Sulu’ is surely one of the most entertaining films of the year.

Oct 142017
 

On Saturday, the trailer of Vidya Balan’s slice-of-life film ‘Tumhari Sulu’ got released and Vidya revealed a smart way of dealing with politicians who impose bans, who otherwise maintains a neutral stance during such occasions. Vidya Balan as the ‘saree vaali bhabhi’ is all fun, chirpy and crazy in the film. Her sultry and sensuous voice as a night RJ (Radio Jockey) will make you go weak in your knees.

Present at the launch were the entire cast and crew of ‘Tumhari Sulu’ including Manav Kaul, Neha Dhupia, RK Malishka amongst others. However, the presence of Vidya’s parents made the actress shine with glow and her happiness increased twofold. While Vidya was introducing the film’s cast to her parents, Neha complimented her mother for the way she’s raised Vidya.

Keeping the growing intolerance in the city, when the interaction began with the media, Vidya was asked if she was running her own show as an RJ in reality and a political party imposed a ban on it, how she would charm them? Known for her spontaneity, she instantly came ahead and in her sexy voice said, “Acche din aa gaye hai, radio on kar do” (Turn on the radio as good days have arrived).

Is there anyone wouldn’t fall for this voice? Well, bringing “acche din” is something that our Prime Minister Narendra Modi has promised.

Further, when mid-day asked Vidya about the similarities Vidya shares with Sulu, she revealed, “For the first time ever, I’ve got the opportunity to showcase my madness on screen. I think we are very very similar. Most importantly Sulu thinks that ‘mai sab kuch kar sakti hai’ (I can do everything) and even I think that I can do everything.” With path-breaking films such as ‘The Dirty Picture’, ‘Kahaani’ and many others Vidya has surely proved that she can do everything.

A Suresh Triveni film, ‘Tumhari Sulu’ is all set to hit the theatres on November 17, 2018.

WATCH THE TRAILER HERE: 

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Oct 142017
 

The trailer for the much awaited ‘Tumhari Sulu’ is out and the film looks like it’s going to be a ton of fun. From Vidya’s vivacious style to her sultry voice, she totally steals the show with a spot on performance that keeps your eyes glued to the screen and a smile that never leaves your face.

Tumhari Sulu(c) T-Series

The clip shows Vidya in a totally new avatar as the titular ‘Saree Wali Bhaabhi’ Sulu, who has her own dreams and wants to be more than just a housewife.

Tumhari Sulu (c) T-series

It is exactly that dream that helps us relate to her character in the film. She is a regular caller at a local radio station and has won a ton of prizes. But one day she spots a chance to be an RJ herself and Neha Dhupia, the radio producer, gives her a shot and sets her off on her journey of self -discovery.

Tumhari Sulu (c) T-series

And, that’s not all; we also get a reprised version of a hit song, ‘Hawa Hawai’ from Mr. India that is still as peppy and catchy as we first heard it. Manav Kaul plays Vidya’s husband and the filmmakers have also roped in RJ Maliksha in a pivotal role in the film.

Tumhari Sulu (c) T-series

This will be Vidya’s second release this year after ‘Begum Jaan’. The film didn’t fare particularly well with both critics and fans and it will be interesting to see if ‘Tumhari Sulu’ is a hit or a miss at the box office. Directed by Suresh Triveni, the film is set to hit theatres on November 17th. Check out the trailer below:

 

 

 

 

Sep 222017
 

Vidya BalanVidya Balan

Sanjay Leela Bhansali had announced Padmavati’s release date as November 17, 2017 as soon as the shoot began last year.

The historical will now release on December 1. The Vidya Balan-starrer Tumhari Sulu was to release on December 1, but was recently brought forward to November 24. Was it to make way for Padmavati?

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