KARMA AUR HOLI
NO STORY OR ANY CINEMATIC GLORY IN THIS COCTAIL RANGOLI
by Vishal Verma
Saregama Presents a Rapture Productions Film. Producers: Drena De Niro, Prashant Shah & David Roma. Writer- Director: Manish Gupta. Screenplay: Marcus Guillory
Genre: Drama. Target Audience: NRI’s, English speaking Indians & hindi learning Indian firangi.
Starring
Sushmita Sen...... Meera
Randeep Hooda...... Dev
Rati Agnihotri...... Vani
Suresh Oberoi...... Shekhar
Suchitra Krishnamurthy...... Sujata
Deepal Shaw...... Preeti
Naomi Campbell...... Jennifer
Sticky Fingas...... Rich Smooth
Christopher Walken
Debbie Mazor
Drena De Niro...... Megan
K Anand...... Guler Hassan
Vikram Chatwal...... DJ CK, Vicky
Vincent Curatola
Kumar Pallana
Technical Analysis
They say you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, and, as a rule, I certainly agree.
There’s also another rule which says if there is an acceptable low-budget cross over thingie happening then be ready that there must be some horrible cross overs with an international cast to balance the act.
Karma Aur Holi’ is a prime example of the second rule. Picture this & measure the degree of waste over here. One of India’s leading music company ((Sa Re Ga Ma) & the legendary actor Robert De Niro’s daughter (Drena De Niro) as partners in production.
Indian diva Sushmita with her ex desi stud Randeep as her hubbie, super model Naomi Campell in the star cast. & still your are reading all this cause all of the said names agree to dance to the tune of this writer- helmer Manish Gupta who made a strictly average Indian American comedy – ‘Indian Fish in American Waters’ before this which can now be qualified as a haunting masterpiece.
Now I know why Sushmita was not promoting the film. Because it has nothing to offer as a cinema. This meet my family on a holi could have been shot on phone by my 9 year old nephew, who knows how to shoot family videos.
On top of that we were shown the dubbed hindi version for reasons better known to the Saregama people who believed that we may not follow this desi biryani cooked in an American oven. What was in the mind of the helmer Manish & what did Sa Re Ga Ma saw in this plagued & utterly boring dastan – e- holi. And in this non-stop, chatty kind of boring that somehow makes a 90 minute movie feel like 180. What?
It just makes no sense whatsoever of this bizarre amalgamation of karmic connection with the concept of holi which is of forgetting the past, forgiving others and be positive with those who have hurt and whom you have hurt.
The identity crises on Indian American (IA), ABCD( American Born Confused Desi) & Fresh Over Boat (FOB) has already become increasingly boring. Manish’s ‘Karma & Holi’ is nothing but a tedious exercise which ends up as an apology in the name of cinema.
Most of the problems or dilemmas faced by the characters are plain clichéd. Sushmita Sen with her NRI accent act is the only shinning line in the whole development. Her much publicized lip locking with the expression less Hoonda is a cold affair. The haryanvi must surely having a dilemma now, what to learn first acting or kissing.
Amongst others who leave an impression are Suchitra Krishnamoorthy and Suresh Oberoi.
And the international ramp stunner Naomi Campbell neither gets to walk or to act, what a pity to waste such an opportunity, how can any maker do that.
The Story
The writing is even shoddier. Meera (Sushmita Sen) and Dev (Randeep Hooda) plan a get-together with a few close friends and relatives at their place. As time passes by, the guests get involved in each others' lives. The evening takes a dramatic turn when an unexpected incident triggers tipsy partygoers to confess their innermost secrets that have never been revealed.
Promotion
Well, the movie had nothing to offer so it tried to get attention from different angels. The Sush Hoonda zagada over promotion & all. Another shocker is the fact that a movie produced by Sa Re Ga Ma had no music to be used as its highlight. This is height.
Business Analysis
This pathetic waste of international talent will start biting the dust from first day itself.
Other Credits
Cinematography: Lisa Leone. Choreography: Bosco Martis & Caesar Gonsalves. Editor: Chandan Arora. Costume: Lysa Cooper. Reviewed at Ketnav Preview Theatre, Mumbai on March 05, 2009. Running time: 90 minutes.