Hacksaw Ridge
Starring: Andrew Garfield, Vince Vaughn
Directed by: Mel Gibson
Rating: *****(5 Stars)
Once in a while there comes a film that transcends its cinematic obligations to become a comment on the quality of human existence. Hacksaw Ridge is one such rarity. It communicates the power to change human perceptions on living,to change the way we look at human lives.
This is the true-life story of an incredibly brave and inspiring young American soldier Desmond Doss who refused to pick up a gun during the World War 2. No matter how much he was cajoled, bullied, threatened, heckled and taunted for what was initially seen as cowardice,Desmond wouldn’t shoot an enemy during battle.It was against his creed and religion to shoot another human being.
No violence. No gun.As simple as that.
Director Mel Gibson shoots this amazing inspirational tale with minimalist flourish and drama. Desmond Doss could easily have ended up looking like a sanctimonious fool.In the capable strong yet sensitive hands of Gibson and the film’s writers Doss becomes a sublime symbol of ahimsa , modern-day Gandhi who can stand up for what he feels to be right without the fear of being shamed .
Early scenes showing Doss’s ragging in the army camp are done with a mix of wistful malice and regretful humour regarding the false sense of machismo associated with guns.The soldierly life is visualized with a keen sense of heroic pride. This soon dissolves into prolonged unbearably graphic sequences of men at war.
It is here that we see the sheer futility horror and barbarism on the battle ground played out at an octave of shrill protest without for a minute precluding our guilt or distancing us from the violence. Gibson’s cinematographer Simon Duggan, a magician of mayhem, shoots the war scenes with agonizing intimacy , as though the audiences’ rapidly receding sense of decency is fastened to the bayonets.Every bullet fired hits us where it hurts the most.
As the bullets fly and Rupert Gregson-Williams’ mystifying apocalyptic music surges forward in waves of protest, the film acquires all the greatness of a David Lean war epic without the mood of heroism that is attached to Lean’s cinema, or for that matter, in Mel Gibson’s Braveheart.
The soldiers’ suffering is intense and relentless while the battle scenes last.They effectively create a stark contrast with the life of peace and non-violence that Doss embraces .
I hear Mel Gibson was reluctant to direct this true-life saga of a young man who battled societal definitions of heroism to conquer the acrimony on the battleground. In hindsight Gibson seems the only director who could denude soldierly valour of all romance and glory so effortlessly.
Of course casting Andrew Garfield(better known as Spiderman) is a stroke of providence and genius. Garfield brings to Doss’ part both righteousness and heart . He is angelic without being sugary, stubborn without seeming selfrighteous. It’s a miraculously innocent but intense performance shorn of vanity and flamboyance.
The supporting cast specially Vince Vaugn as Doss’ superior in the army is first-rate.
Come to think of it, every player bit or big, seems to instinctively know he or she is partaking of a project far larger than the immediate on-camera moment. Hacksaw Ridge is a film whose statement on non-violence will be quoted in textbooks and on talk-shows years from now when nukes have probably destroyed half of mankind.
For every war-monger who wants to battle it out in India and Pakistan a sincere request.Go watch this film.And stay till the end credits when we meet the real Desmond Doss who tells us show he washed the muck and blood off a wounded fellow-soldier’s blinded eyes.
“The smile on his face when he could see was all the gratitude I needed,” says Doss.
Thank you for reminding us of that smile of appreciation when something miraculous is given. Something like this film.

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Why On Earth Is Sushmita Sen Smoking A Cigar In Aarya’s First Look?

Season 3 of Aarya is being shot as you read this, and naturally Sushmita Sen is super-kicked about it, so kicked that she has put out a video where she is seen in the best Lady Boss version of herself.
Alarmingly, she is seen puffing away at a cigar, to complete her Badass Lady Boss image.
There was a time when women smoking cigarettes in Hindi cinema signaled vampishness. If a female actor was shown smoking it meant she had evil designs over the hero, and life in general.
Sushmita being Sushmita, a cigarette won’t do. A cigar it is, to go with her formidable image. The last Bollywood actor I saw smoking a cigar on screen was Premnath in the 1970s. Back then so many people didn’t die of cancer by smoking.
These are different far more dangerous and deadly times.
Sushmita is an iconic actor.She needs to be more careful about the image she projects . Smoking a cigar doesn’t enhance a woman’s(or a man’s) muscle power. Nor does it make her look cool.
About shooting for the third season of Aarya Sushmita says, “Aarya is synonymous with my name. I have lived as Aarya for two whole seasons and the love received by the audiences has only encouraged me to do more. Walking on the sets of Aarya Season 3 makes me feel at home and gives me a sense of empowerment. I’m grateful to the entire team at Disney+ Hotstar, Ram Madhvani Films and Endemol Shine India for the vision of creating Aarya and taking it to newer heights with every season.”
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Shah Rukh, Deepika, John Will Meet The Media On Monday At 4 pm(But There’s A Catch)

Pathaan has effectually discredited the efficacy of media interactions to promote a film. The film’s lead actors Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone and John Abraham did not conduct any press or portal interviews to promote the film.
And yet Pathaan is a blockbuster.
This weekend the Pathaan producer Aditya Chopra of Yash Raj Films took a call on behalf of the Pathaan team to do one media meet at the Taj Land’s End in Mumbai on Monday January 30 at 4 pm.
The three principal actors and director Siddharth Malhotra will address the media.
But here’s the catch: the media will not be allowed to ask any questions. There will be no Q& A s or one-on-one interactions.This basically means that the Pathaan team will have an opportunity to say what it wants to the media. But the media will have no say.
Make what you will of this one-way traffic.
A source close to Yash Raj informs me that this is the pattern regarding the media that Yash Raj will follow for future releases: no press meets no promotional engagements.
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Fake Projects of Pathaan Director Being Planted In Media

Siddharth Anand Denies Considering Any Project With Deepak Mukut
A word of caution to those marketing and publicity wizkids who think it’s okay to plant fake stories on (fake) projects with the Pathaan director.
It is not.
Such baseless announcements are meant only to raise the equity of the producers with whom Siddharth Anand’s name is linked. One such producer whose name has cropped up after the spectacular success of Pathaan is Deepak Mukut.
There were reports everywhere that Siddharth Anand’s next would be with Mukut.
Turned out to be a false rumour.
A source in the know informs, “Siddharth now has to complete Fighter starring Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone for Yash Raj.Then he is committed to direct the sequel to War 2 for Yash Raj films. They will then start work on the next film in the Pathaan franchise. There is no scope or room for any outside projects for Siddharth Anand. So every announcement that you read of a new film to be directed by Siddharth Anand for an outside producer is likely to be a hundred percent fake.”
When I asked Siddharth Anand about the supposed project with producer Deepak Mukut he promptly replied, “NOT AT ALL.”
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Pink Director’s Next Featuring Yami As A Crime Reporter To Stream From February 16

Anniruddha Roy Chowdhury whose Pink featuring Amitabh Bachchan and Taapsee Pannu was one of the most important films of 2016, is all set to release his next Hindi film.
Entitled Lost, Anniruddha’s film , based on true events, will see Yami Gautam Dhar(that’s what the actress calls herself after her marriage) as a crime journalist. LOST is an emotional social thriller that represents a higher quest, a search for lost values of empathy and integrity.
Inspired by true events, Lost is a story of a bright young woman crime reporter in her relentless search for the truth behind the sudden disappearance of a young theatre activist.

Lost
Says Aniruddha “The shoot of LOST has been an incredible journey. I have been eager for the release of our hard-worked venture. The film is a realistic highlight of media in a social context and I am sure that it will give the audience a compelling watch. I am curious about its release and see the responses it shall get. I hope they will welcome it with open hearts.”
Yami Gautam Dhar who plays the lead of the crime reporter says, “I can’t be happier and more proud of the film’s selection for the opening night at CSAFF. I feel like its one that the people will connect to and will be the one that you cannot miss, especially in the current age and time. I have loved playing this role because it was such a special experience, it allowed me to explore so many layers of emotions as an actor and the entire team has worked really hard on it. I genuinely cannot wait for the film’s release, especially to see the reactions of the audience to it.”
The crime investigation drama boasts a stellar cast. Along with Yami, the film will feature Pankaj Kapur, Rahul Khanna, and an ensemble of younger talent, including Neil Bhoopalam, Pia Bajpai, and Tushar Pandey, in pivotal roles.
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