ROAD, MOVIE
A watery, oily, escape from the cinema of yore which even fails to impress the arty cores
by Vishal Verma

An Indian Film Company release of an August Entertainment Private Limited production in association with Studio 18.

Producer: Ross Katz and Susan B. Landau
Writer –Director: Dev Benegal
Genre: Kept Open
Target Audience: for those who are not close to any wood be it Bollywood, Hollywood, Irani, Korean, European cinema and believe that shot taking and weird imaginations are the only norms for a compelling cinema.



Starring

Abhay Deol...... Vishnu
Satish Kaushik...... Om
Tannishtha Chatterjee...... The woman
Mohammed Faisal Usmani...... The boy
Virendra Saxena………cop
Yashpal Sharma…….water smuggler



Technical Analysis

First thing first, there is no thesis or theory in how to shoot your cinema but there is a theory and explanation required for a compelling cinema be it for the masses or the classes. A good cinema is never left as an incomplete story regardless of whatever mystery the helmer creates.

The problem with Dev Benegal’s ‘Road, Movie’ is that even though it has the prodigious assistance of Cinematographer Michel Amathieu, Editor Yaniv Dabach, Amba Sanyal’s costumes, Vikram Joglekar’s sound and of course sincere and strong dedication from Abhay Deol, Satish Kaushik, new entrant Tannishtha Chatterjee and Mohammed Faisal Usmani still the movie doesn,t give you the ‘kick’ required in such adventurous trip like ‘The Passenger’ or ‘Easy Rider’ which made history in the American artistic independent cinema.

‘Road, Movie seems to be aimed at young-minded people aka modern day cowboys who shoot the routine cinema of yore and try to test the boundaries of liberal thinking bollywood cinema circa but sadly the makers fail to understand in their dream that all this scrupulously real and surreal cinematic experiment requires the understanding of the counter-culture movement that revolve around the premise and in the end the movie appears as an incomplete naïve attempt.

What could have been a seminal film of this year turns into a leftover coming from the head and mindset of those cross culture filmmakers who struggle to find their cinematic roots. There are interesting points in the film like the way Abhay deals with the water gang but it gives you a dark comedy feel which doesn,t seem to be the genre of this film, Satish oiling the projector with hair oil are wonderful moments but that’s it.

No comments on the remix of the song ‘Sar Jo Tera Chakraye’   from Guru Dutt’s classic ‘Pyassa’ but the movie though doesn,t gives you a headache but it definitely ‘Dubaos you dil’ meaning disappoints you in the after an interesting start.

Yes it defines the routine bollywood norms, yes its not the normal cinema of yore but does it strikes any chord? The answer is no.



The Story

Vishnu [Abhay Deol], a restless young man, itches to escape his father's faltering hair oil business. An old truck beckons, which Vishnu sees as his ticket to freedom. As he sets off across the harsh terrain of desert India, he discovers he's not merely transporting a battered vehicle, but an old touring cinema.

Along the way, Vishnu reluctantly picks up a young runaway [Mohammed Faizal Usmani], a wandering old entertainer [Satish Kaushik] and a gypsy woman [Tannishtha Chatterjee]. Together they roam in the barren land, searching for water and an elusive fair. The journey turns dire when they are waylaid by corrupt cops and a notorious water lord.



Promotion

Any ways the promoters has done a good champi sort of promotion and it looks ‘cool’ in its indoor and outdoor publicity



Businesss Analysis

Might fit in some festival board but an instant B.O. offload.



Other Credits

Executive Producer / Co-Producers: Sanjay Ray, Sopan Muller, Fred Berger, Maulik C Mehta and Vandana Malik. Music Director: Michael Brook. Cinematography: Michel Amathieu. Editor: Yaniv Dabach. Sound: Vikram Joglekar. Costume: Amba Sanyal. Media Awareness: Spice. Reviewed at Famous studios, Mumbai on March 04, 2010. Running time: 90 minutes.

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