Rock On: The Great Indian Sexist Tamasha review

I think its a very well directed film. The conditions n emotions shown are real...n ya even the narration is interesting (the flashback bits n pieces). The actors have performed really well specially Farhan n shahana are superb. And despite not being the usual bollywood stuff, it is doing well. This is proof enough that audience have welcomed Rock On.

I think your review is completely off and confusing (even convoluted)...
it's a story well-told and technically, almost pitch-perfect. As a film/docu editor, I usually have grouches/grudges against the pacing and rhythm of most Hindi films, but here, Deepa Bhatia's editing and Jason West's cinematography was pitch perfect. So was the sound design and the sound mix. Didn't find much incongruity in the story progression or characterisation either (not even the brain tumour bits or Debbie's hyperactive ways, Aditya's alpha-male struts or Prachi Desai's - what's her character's name, I forget - dolled up, ever-smiling woman, happy with her husband' s happiness... One can't have all over-liberated characters living in hyper, 'post-modern' world and if that's what Prachi's character had become, it would surely have stuck out like a sore thumb. In the telling of the story, I didn't think she needed any extra identity in the course of the film and didn't think it was 'regressive' at all...)...
Also, the film was about lost dreams... rock was just a backdrop used conveniently and the relationships pretty incidental to the main crux of 'trying to regain those lost dreams'- a tad sentimental but in the right places and the right dose... as for the 'rock life', it's not a film about a rock band per se...
I don't see why we have to succumb to political correctness ('sexist' etc etc...) only because film's a popular mass-media...
Had a great time watching Rock On and going to watch it again soon...

Hi Ankur,
I don't agree with your review. I felt that Rock-on was a very mainstream offering, staying well within the conventions of the "friendship" genre, but it was well crafted and entertaining for sure. As for Prachi Desai, shes not much of an actress, more of a pretty face really, but her character was actually pretty realistic. As a counter point to her was Shahana Goswami's character as the aggressive, long suffering wife, and she acted well in a meaty role. The flashbacks were stylish and worked well here, as they served to camouflage the predictable storyline. All in all, above average entertainment.

Having said that, do keep writing more often as I find your views always interesting. And Bikas, would love to see your reactions on this one. :smile:

This much I agree that Rock On is not entirely about music or rock but can't deny I enjoyed watching it. Whereas the character of Preeti Desai is concerned, I've absolutely no problem as long as she is justified withing the film. I don't know if Ankur has an issue with portraying a woman in such a (demeaning??!!) role, he must clarify if he does.
Ankur, this "short review" calls for an elaboration.

Cheers!
Bikas

1. What’s the need of a character like Prachi Desai in a film on a rock band? I can hardly envisage any of the rockers having such a girlfriend. It was worse than showing no drugs.
2. Yes, Prachi Desai might be one of the realistic characters, as someone said. Yes, I know there are many women all over the world who simply think how to please their boyfriends or husbands or whomsoever. So yes, pretty realistic. But, as in (1) above, hardly realistic here. Also, why don’t I ever see a man trying to please a woman, when this also is not that rare in the world, and thus would also be realistic?
3. Flashbacks cut in this way, and with each character recalling a part of it (and not one single character everything), are good when there’s a certain climax, a tension in the story. This story was too weak. Simply the other band members being treated as “sidies” wasn’t that great an aftermath to drive that. Especially considering that the film director himself is doing the same: all the band songs are more cinematographed on Farhan Akhtar and Arjun Rampal.
4. Yes, Rampal and Shahana both have done their parts well. But they, as do all the others, seem to be just parts of the story balance that is left out after dealing with Farhan and Prachi. The whole surprise dinner party sequence is simply hateful, to say the least. Of course, most scenes in the film are.
5. Prachi Desai was more “demeaning” for the character of Farhan Akhtar, Bikas, than the idea of woman “in my mind”. If a guy loves a woman to wait for his pleasure always, I really don’t have a high opinion of that guy. And if you portray the lead actor of your film, a rock singer, in this light, then I definitely think it’s demeaning for his character.
6. I hate political correctness. It’s just that I don’t meet women like Prachi Desai anywhere in my life, even though I admit she could be lurking just right round the corner to pounce upon me with her sickening saccharine smiles. And if that was just an imagination, then it wasn’t the most beautiful one.
7. The audience, especially the Hindi film one, usually welcomes all the stupid films. Proof enough about the film’s quality. That’s in answer to the first comment.

First time on this site via a link on enlighten.co.in. (Without meaning too much offence) after the very first lines Ankur, I got the feel that I was reading one of those dismal responses/feedback/comments that follow some news items on rediff.com. Have you guys ever read those? One of the most filthiest things happening on the net. I wonder when the moral police would discover that.
Anyway, this is not a personal attack (!).....just felt like expressing my disappointment because randomly I felt like reading something nice (as in strong, well informed, informative, mature, enlightening) on cinema on a really sad Monday afternoon. Maybe I will return to this site a few months later hoping the writers have matured (can add value to enthusiasts understanding of cinema).
All the best.
Warm Regards.

Tend to agree to what you think about this particular article but suggest you must read Ankur's earlier reviews before passing a judgment on his writing. I think he's one of the maturest of the lot.

I think, you're passing too big a judgment with spending too little time on DearCinema.com or probably you came here with some fixed notions about it.

All I say, maybe just having a look at the front page could make you change your mind.

(and no, I'm not their PR agent...just a reader)

Dear nani, I didn't quite understand your comment, in except that you were disappointed by the quality of the site (though my review doesn't make or mar the site; you shouldn't pass off judgements based on me alone, there are other reviewers too here, and we all are film enthusiasts, not "content writers" that you will find on sites like rediff.com). I anyway don't like defending myself, for the simple reason that if I am living among 100 and the rest of the 99 agree with me, say, then also that doesn't make me right, even if granting there is an absolute "right" (that is completely different debate, in a different realm). The only thing I could say, or rather reiterate, is you should not have read anything on "Rock On" if you were looking for something informative - hardly an ideal choice. What informative you could find on, even if you liked it a lot, an ordinary, come-and-go movie? I of course don't want to intrude with my judgements again.

Hi Nani,
Its a little sad that you based your opinion on Dear Cinema by reading one review alone. There are two other reviews on the same film by the way. Unlike Rediff none of us here write for money, but being film buffs express our opinions and reactions honestly. Yoy dont have to return to the site after a few months. Just read the article on Guru Dutt (currently on the front page of the site). If thats not mature writing then I dont know what is.
Aniruddha