Kabaddi Kabaddi - a proper sequel

Movie: Kabaddi Kabaddi

Director: Ram Babu Gurung

Photo Courtesy: www.facebook.com/cinemaartproduction

Starring: Dayahang Rai, Saugat Malla, Rishma Gurung, Buddhi Tamang, Bijay Baral, Aruna Karki, Shishir Bangdel, Pashupati Rai, Junu Bista and more.

In my eyes: *** point some (out of Five)

There has not really come a proper sequel of a Nepali movie before. Kabaddi Kabaddi is the one that holds the virtue of continued story. In this sequel of the blockbuster of last year, the charm and the core aesthetics of Kabaddi remains the same even though not being flawless.

Set in Naurikot, a village of Mustang, Kabaddi Kabaddi continues the one-sided love story of Kaji and Maiya. Bomkaji (Saugat Malla) enters the scene as the other solti to woo the soltini. This triangular love story has the backdrop of politics this time. Apart from this main line, there are two sub-courses of two friends of Kaji: B.K. and Chhantyal. Relating each sub-plot to each other and mixing them together with few twists and turns, the movie packs a punch.

One of the good things is that - with all the humor and comic elements, the sentiments and emotions projected at certain places remain strong in the movie. You get not only to laugh from the beginning to the end but also the emotions to feel. A complete package!

EVEREST - Men vs Mountain

"Everest is another beast altogether!" Final word between men and mountain - is always of mountain!! 

photo courtesy:
www.facebook.com/EverestMovie

Based on the real events of the 1996 Mount Everest disaster, Everest mainly shows the survival attempts of two expedition groups when they get hit by a disastrous snow storm on their way down from the summit of Mt. Everest. This disaster drama and adventure thriller takes us on a trip to summit and down with several jaw-dropping moments.

The best thing in the Everest is its breathtaking cinematography. The success of this movie reflects in the feeling that we get while watching it on screen – the feel of an adventure! It’s terrific and it’s horrifying. It’s like the battle between the mountain and men. The every scene from the base camp to the summit is marvelous. Although not entirely shot in Nepal as it is difficult to shoot on the real top, it never feels that it was shot in Italy or some studio.  Well, it is thrilling and astonishing, is the fact.

PLEASANT - Highway to Dhampus

“The best thing in the life is to change.”

photo courtesy:
www.facebook.com/highwaytodhampus

“We look at the sky but we walk on the ground”, says Laxmi to Ajit. She has desires but she is happy and content with whatever she has in the present. The simple, yet complex elements of life such as love, happiness, compassion and gratefulness are the things that Highway to Dhampus has captured wonderfully.

Elizabeth, a rich socialite trying to change her image visits an orphanage in a village in Nepal with Colt, a photo journalist and Ajit, a sincere helpful pilot cum guide cum translator. Laxmi is a headmistress of the orphanage. With their several meetings onwards, they get connected to each others. The series of events then show how they change – change for the better.

Everyone has the ability to change; life is dynamic and changes are bound to happen. Highway to Dhampus is the tale of ‘change’ – how a person can evolve with the emotions.

Woda No. 6 - 'Halka Ramailo' Bhanda Mathi Chha!

Movie: Woda No. 6

photo courtesy:
facebook.com/PriyankaKarkiOfficial

Director: Ujwal Ghimire

Starring: Deepak Raj Giri, Priyanka Karki, Dayahang Rai, Kedar Ghimire, Sitaram Kattel, Jitu Nepal and more

In my eyes: *** (out of 5)

A comedy that does not say ‘leave-your-brain-at-home’. A social drama that has the ability to touch the hearts. Combined together and blended just right. Presented in a way that entertains the audience thoroughly. This is Woda No. 6. Every places has both good and bad elements there; likewise, this “woda” is also not free from the flawed elements. But as long as the entertainment matters, this movie is super successful.

Time-zoned at fictional place Jhulebasti Woda No. 6, Nuwakot in 2058 B.S., this movie is set against the backdrop of civil war. Smells different? A bunch of comedy actors and the serious issue? Do not worry because it carefully balances both in the way we have never seen in a Nepali movie. Neither does the maoist conflict over-sensitize nor does the comedy over-shadow the core point of the movie. This is the best thing of Woda No. 6.  

It does not discuss the goods and flaws of civil war, neither does it portray the political backdrop. What it shows entertainingly and sometimes heart-touchingly is the small effects of that war period on common villagers that turn their life upside down. Story is simple where dialogues play the winning role and the plots happen to be the engaging factor. Credits goes to writer Deepak Raj Giri and the director Ujwal Ghimire, specially for taking out the controlled performance from actors and preventing it from being loud.

Margarita, with a Straw - Heartwarming

photo credit:
facebook.com/MWASOfficial

A girl in her late teens is talent, confident and full of excitement. She loves a guy, seeks for his love and want to have the sexual pleasure. This is very normal for other ‘normal’ beings but supposedly, not for a girl with a cerebral palsy. What if she starts loving a girl too? Not normal, eh! But meet Laila and think again about the people with disabilities and different sexual orientations. Like any other normal people, they also have the similar desires and pursues. Their abnormality is but just one other side of a life. Love your ‘self’ being, love for what you are. This pretty much sums the Margarita, with a Straw – directed by Shonali Bose.

photo credit: www.bollypedia.in

Margarita, with a Straw is not about the cerebral palsy or bisexuality; it is a heartwarming tale of a teen girl suffering from cerebral palsy and discovering her sexuality. It is wonderful that the movie shows the normal features of the character Laila. She is wheel-chair bound and depends highly on her mother but that doesn’t let her self-esteem down. She studies creative writing, she wants to flirt, she watches the porn, she has a crush on a guy, she writes lyrics for a band and she dances. When a judge awards the band as a consolation just because the lyrics is written by a girl with disability, she can show them a middle finger too. She is challenged - yes, but defeated - NO.

Singing Ladies from Nepali Movie Industry

Acting and singing – they’re interrelated. This has to be one of the wonderful traits of performance art.

photo courtesy: You Tube

We have pretty cool singers in Namrata Shrestha and Priyanka Karki. They can literally go professional on the lines of other good singers we have in our country.

Namrata Shrestha crooned the cover for Bistarai Bistarai (original by Rohit John Chhetri) in her movie Soul Sister. Her voice is damn good; it's soothing and beautiful.

Hostel Returns - for an average entertainment

Director: Suraj Bhushal

Starring: Nazir Husain, Sushil Shrestha, Shashi Shrestha, Abhaya Baral, Sushil Sitaula, Swastima Khadka, Sunil Rawal, etc.

photo courtesy: facebook.com/hostelreturns

In my eyes: 50 % of Five Stars                     

Apparently, the basic story-line is the 'returned quotient' in Hostel Returns where faculty has gone into Engineering this time. Like Hostel, it deals with the college life of students staying at hostel. Overall, it makes an entertaining watch.

Plot:

Four boys: Heroic Pratap (Sushil Shrestha) with toned body and the rich father, too innocent and talented Rameshwor Yadav (Nazir Hussain) all the way from Janakpur Dharampur, the hawa Kumaar (Abhaya Baral) for whom is everything sahi ho except from becoming an engineer and normal-er Sameer (Sushil Sitaula) with the far-western accent.

8 Witty and Meaningful Dialogues from Tin Ekanta

photo: A still from video on background

Tin Ekanta (Three Solitude) is a set of three extended monologues. Three stories Weekend, Dhoop ka Ek Tukda and Dedh Inch Upar of Indian story-writer Nirmal Verma are translated by Aashant Sharma and turned into a play by Anup Baral. Good stories, better performances, attractive set design and lighting, nice music, dosage of humor, a good use of videography on background to support the narration but still, have to deal with boredom. The play, as a whole is just not up to the mark.

Nevertheless, dialogues are utterly symbolic and meaningful. Here are some of them:

1.    It is very unlucky to not being able of getting used to certain habits. Choosing is one thing and getting used to that choice is different, difficult.

2.    When you get old, it gets difficult to sleep at nights. Whether you need 200 grams of worries with 100 grams of tiredness or 300 grams of beer, to get a sleep.

A Bored Evening with Tin Ekanta

Director: Anup Baral

Translation: Aashant Sharma

Story: Nirmal Verma

On stage: Menuka Pradhan, Aashant Sharma, Deeya Maskey, Suraj Malla

(Play is being staged on Theater Village, Lazimpat till 25 August, 2015)

I was eager to watch this play and when I finally did watch it this evening, I feel bad to say that I’m disappointed. I won’t say that play is not good because it has all the good intentions but I, individually, felt it boring. Good stories, better performances, attractive set design and lighting, nice music, dosage of humor, a good use of videography on background to support the narration, but still I couldn’t help but feel bored.

Bajrangi Bhaijaan - Being Human

First thing first, the show stealer in presence of towering Salman Khan in his movie is angelic Harshaali Malhotra, and how. She just wins our heart.

Okay, yes, people are telling the truth, i.e. Bajrangi Bhaijaan is indeed Salman Khan’s best till date. However, I wonder which one is better, Radhe of Tere Naam or Pawan Kumar Chaturvedi of Bajrangi Bhaijaan! Both these movies showcase the actual acting prowess of Salman Khan. He is the ‘Being Human’ Bhaijaan, onscreen and off-screen. And we cannot stop loving him, in fact, this love has just got high after the encounter with Bajrangi.