The (Not So) Dirty Picture

After a long time, yesterday I decided to go and watch a movie in theatre. First I looked for watching "Rockstar", but came to know that it was lifted long back from theatres. So after some research on the net, settled for "The Dirty Picture", mainly because I came to know that it is based on the life history of Silk Sumitha and another reason is Vidhya Balan :-).

Decided to go to the nearby PVR cinemas in Ampa Skywalk for the last show which was to start at 10:30 PM. Started from home at 9:40 PM and reached at 10:00 PM and took a ticket at the counter. "Children learn faster than we think. So do not take them with you for movies rated A", was something I enjoyed reading on a board above the counter. Ticket rate Rs. 120. Costly. They are physically frisking us and checking us.Though they give the reason as for our own safety, they are actually checking whether we are taking any food or beverage(including water) with us. All such items are prohibited, since if we take such items, it will affect the sales at their stalls where the price of the items is atleast 3 times their normal price.
The multiplex is very posh and hi-fi and I started feeling myself as the odd man out, as I am not much used to these multiplexes.

I felt a bit thirsty after entering the mall and since I knew that water will not be available, decided to buy a pepsi and went near the counter. Seeing that the price was Rs. 70, I decided to stay thirsty for the next 3 hours and go home and then have water. The complex was very neat, including the wash rooms. Exactly at 10:25 PM, they let people inside the hall. I went inside the hall, and it was beautifully lit in mild red color tone. The interior was pleasant. But the hall was small with only about 400 or 450 seats. The screen was large. I went and sat in my seat - J-18. Next to me were seated a couple of college students, who didnt knew Hindi. Initially they made a lot of sounds and whistles, but soon they lost track of the movie and started sleeping.

The picture had a linear story line, about the life of a girl from childhood until her death (while she was still in her adulthood). Childhood portion of her was shown in just 2 to 3 minutes and the story jumped straight to her adulthood when she runs away to Chennai to secure a chance in the movies as an actress. So Vidhya Balan started appearing within 4 minutes after the movie started.

No double meaning dialogs, but just straight single meaning ones - she says after showing her photos to an assistant director "Sir, please give me a chance... Do you want to see what is not seen in these pictures...". Through the well-known technique of "adjustments" in the cine-industry she secures a position in the cine-world. Her failed loves makes another part of the story and when her love is about to be successful, she fails in her life. Her adjustments with an aging(or already aged???) top actor occupies the main portion of the story. Finally, like most ladies in the cine-field she gets ruined and goes to the extreme of comiting suicide.

Nashiruddin Shah has played the role of the top actor who exploits her. His introduction was superb. The girl, Silk, goes to a movie and in the intro scene of that movie, the Top Star appears. First a Villan throws 2 one rupee coins into the air and fires 2 bullets from his gun, the bullets hits the coins. Then the Top Star throws a 100 rupee note into the air and fires a bullet from his gun. When the bullet hits it, 100 one-rupee coins fall from it. The whole audience burst into laughter. One can easily understand who that top-star in real world is from this scene.

Though the movie had a sad end, since it was an expected one, it didnt affect me much. Some of the dialogues were nice, if we take them their straight meaning. "Opportunity comes only once, if you dont take it, it will go to someone else". "If you ignore and leave a job half-way, that job will never come to you again"... to give samples.

When the movie ended, it was 1:10AM. Was surprised to find a tea shop open on the road. Had a tea, and walked back home. Suddenly a bike that came from the opposite direction with 2 men slowed down near by and when I looked at them, and found that they were policemen. The policeman in the back seat said to the other "He is coming after seeing the movie". It seemed to convince the other policeman and they went away and I walked home. Good to know that they are people who are awake in the night and going around the city for our safety.

I would suggest a one time watch, but not with family and obviously not with kids.

- Pavala.