I have been a fan of Shimit’s since Ab Tak Chappan, and while disappointed by Chak De, still went into this film hoping he’d redeem himself.
The story is fairly simplistic – and I shall get to its flaws later – but writer Jaideep Sahni sticks to what he knows best – the realistic middle-class Punjabi milieu. Note the phrase ‘realistic middle class’. As in Khosla Ka Ghosla. This explains why his worst efforts have been set in Sarsson-da-Khet-land, populated by Chopra-esque Punjabis. Fortunately for us, this film has none of that.
The characterisation is good, and the casting is perfect. The porn-addict Giri is brilliantly cast, as is Nitin Rathore. Gauhar Khan slips into her role of Koena Shaikh with ease. Boss Puri is good. Even the other salespersons are outstanding, right down to their attire. Ranbir is superb. The only sore thumb is the Padamsee girl, but if you can accept her as a flaky SoBo (sorry, SoMu) type, she passes muster. So what if she’s a Dadar girl in the film.
It is a story that most of us will identify with – we’ve all had to sell something at some point in our lives, and we’ve all had to deal with pesky colleagues and a prick of a boss. While Shimit initially captured the office politics perfectly, the politics quickly changed into more of middle-school-classroom-type bullying. And you kind of wonder at HP’s (as Ranbir’s character is known) restraint, till you realise that the full effects of any incident hit him with a lag. And is that why the otherwise calm HP gives in to some late and uncharacteristic ranting? You feel for HP, but you wish that Shimit had dared to attach some questionable morals to the character. In my opinion, that would have raised the film to another level. He’s tried a middle-of-the-road approach that works in parts but leaves you wondering about what might have been. But – and this is saying a lot – even when you know how this is going to end, you still wait for it to happen, to reach its very predictable conclusion, because the character works for you. And I also felt it was paisa-vasool just because of the great dialogue and witty lines.
The film plays out at more or less a low level and we thankfully do not have the melodrama that most Indian directors love to resort to. And no songs!
And just in case you were wondering, of course it has its flaws. The whole romance bit, even though its tone was low and even, seemed grafted on as an after-thought – and Padamsee’s lacklustre performance only makes it worse.
Let’s look at the glitches in the story. There’s the bit where HP refuses to bribe a Purchase Manager and even puts in a written complaint against him. For some unfathomable reason, he’s not sacked, but let off with a tongue lashing, and is even given time to complete his training! Convenient, and, in a film that relies simply on the power of a realistic script, it struck a very jarring note. As did the part in the second half where Boss Puri discovers the secret of the phone numbers. So far so good. But why would he keep calling the numbers when it is clear – especially to him – that the office is empty? The reveal was such that it would be clear even to a moron that the receptionist was involved. Why the drama? Why the pathetically amateurish attempt at suspense and entrapment? He could have simply called in the morning. More effective, greater probability of success and, as far as the audience is concerned, more plausible.
Then, the ‘evil’ Boss finally gets his comeuppance, but his resultant change of heart is so mysterious, it comes so suddenly and silently that you go “What the fuck made that happen? What epiphany, what catharsis?” And the explanation seems contrived, inadequate. But I suppose God and Indian film-makers work in mysterious ways.
Having said that, I would still recommend you watch Rocket Singh to see a different kind of Hindi film. Refreshingly low-key. Free of hyperbole, item-numbers, mustard fields and Manhattan. It’s quite likely that you will watch the film in a near-empty theatre, and that will make you truly understand just how painful the tastes (Love Aaj Kal, De Dana Dan) of the Indian movie audience are. I am one of the harshest critics of the Yash Raj School of film-making, but I wish we had given this film a chance. And that’s the unfortunate lesson the fate of this film teaches all of us, including Shimit – in real life, nice guys do finish last.
But for a couple of hours in that dark and depressingly empty theatre, this film made me wish that weren’t true.
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Poonam, Vee, Vimal and the rest have come up with the Avant Garde Bloggers Award 2009. Please visit Poonam’s blog or Vee’s blog to learn about the categories and the rules. There’s just a week left before nominations close, so get over there and nominate your favourite posts!
December 12, 2009 at 6:53 pm
Great movie Dude. Just saw it. House full. Not even a seat empty. 🙂
December 12, 2009 at 7:35 pm
Review: Rocket Singh…
I have been a fan of Shimit’s since Ab Tak Chappan, and while disappointed by Chak De, still went into this film hoping he’d redeem himself. And he did….
December 12, 2009 at 7:38 pm
I’ll have to somehow identify this movie, I’m in marketing after all, haven’t seen this yet, but will soon. But answer this; why was the review toned down? Where is the sarcasm.
December 12, 2009 at 8:46 pm
I was in two minds about this movie. Rajeev Masand (CNN-IBN) a slightly decent critic as far as critics go tweeted that Rocket Singh was worth a watch. But most of the others like Taran Adarsh and his ilk balked at it, which made me feel it might be worth watching since these same blokes went ga-ga over Love Aaj Kal and De Dana Dan. I admire Ranbir for not sticking his neck out in riskier roles….and also for being so dang easy on the eyes 😀
December 14, 2009 at 3:29 pm
Second you on that, Dreamer. Me likey Ranbir too 😉
December 12, 2009 at 8:56 pm
This one seems to be one popular movie!! I hope I find the time to watch it.
December 12, 2009 at 11:28 pm
Found the film highly boring.And repetitive like most Bollywood cliches
December 13, 2009 at 3:15 am
I agree with every word in the review. All the pluses and minuses. Agree about the Padamsee girl and also change-of-heart-scene was contrived. That scene had bit of mumbo jumbo. Though you knew it had to happen (in the movie), you are not sure how it came on. And of course, why didn’t they fire him is a mystery. And then aeroplane thingy was straight out of school, the only unrealistic bit in an otherwise realistic movie.
Movie requires your patience to make most of it. And performances, they were wow. Starting from peon, to sales person, Raghu-like VP-to-be, and boss Puri.
And finally, must thank you for mentioning Avant Garde Bloggies here. But you must make few nominations yourself, from your blog and others too.
(P.S: And sheepishly, I remember now that I haven’t replied to your email. Forgive me.)
And finally, thank you
December 13, 2009 at 4:12 am
Having been an entrepreneur, I found this movie obnoxious and highly pretentious. Entrepreneurship isn’t as easy/simple as it was depicted. And workplaces are not riddled with people who can be viewed in black & white. The reason I found this so obnoxious is because the movie tries to pass off as a realistic portrayal of what happens in life. And what’s with the whole pedagogic tone.
December 13, 2009 at 6:39 am
am a big fan of Shimit Amin too. Though i would still rate Chappan as better than Chak de. Havent seen Rocket Singh yet. Will catch it soon.
December 13, 2009 at 11:36 am
Haven’t seen it yet so haven’t read the review too. But the first few lines tell me, you finally found a good movie to watch 😛
December 13, 2009 at 3:20 pm
Why were you disappointed by Chak De? I loved the movie enough to watch it twice. In a theater.
December 14, 2009 at 10:31 am
i saw it on saturday night and about only 100 people in the hall… and I thought maybe something else… cant believe its everywhere… I was pretty excited by the movie reviews… being a below average student and a sales man going door to door…
the movie was definitely not bad and as you said had a few flaws !! but watchable once and somehow I just dont want to say something bad about this movie..
Like you I am a critic of Yash Raj films and this was a welcome break.. !
I loved the role of Nitin Rathore, infact all… I would watch it anyday over De Dana Dan sorts !!!
and really Chak de was a nice movie… !!! 😀
December 14, 2009 at 3:31 pm
I’m waiting to watch this film, especially after the whole truck load of crap that has been dished out recently (De Dana Dan and Kambhakt Ishq et al). Plus, sonny’s been singing ‘Pocket mein Rrrrocket’ over the weekend 🙂
December 15, 2009 at 4:16 am
Sahni me kuchh toh baat hai…. I have seen all Ranbir movie 1st day (not a fan; just happened) except this… I am too held up…
Thank you for the mention.
December 17, 2009 at 2:03 pm
I found it fresh and nice
December 17, 2009 at 5:55 pm
@Ramit: That’s nice to know. The theatre I was in was almost empty.
@Chirag: The nice review is not really me, is it? 🙂
@Dreamer: It’s not a great film, but it’s worth a watch.
@IHM: Do let me know if you liked the film.
@Debojit: Welcome to my blog and thanks for the comment. Yes, the story was very simplistic. The small good guy won (and easily) in the end, so it clearly was no Bicycle Thief either, was it? 🙂
@Poonam: You’re welcome….and thanks. 🙂
@Vaibhav: Nice to see you back. Yes, the story is very simplistic.
As, I suppose, was Khosla Ka Ghosla’s. But, from the set of movies I have seen, perhaps the best portrayal of office life and entrepreneurship. Did you watch Coprorate, btw?
December 17, 2009 at 6:02 pm
@Liju: I agree, Chappan was better than Chak De. Watch this film and let me know your rating. 🙂
@Rakesh: Did you finally watch it?
@AD: I thought it was still a little hyped, and more cliched than this one. 🙂
@Dhiren: Yeh Kya? Another Chak De fan? 🙂 Chak De wasn’t bad. But for a movie made by Shimit and of that scale I expected better.
@Pal: It’s worth a watch. But don’t go in expecting a masterpiece. 🙂
@Vee: Welcome. Have you watched it yet? What is your view?
@Ritu: Nicely said! 🙂
December 22, 2009 at 10:14 am
I haven’t seen it and have no idea when will i be able to see it!! 😦 😦 SIGH!