As with Kites, ZNMD, was my alternate movie for 2011/12. Of course, I'm biased. I only watched it for my leading man, Hrithik Roshan. And I will probably continue to follow his career because he seems to choose movies for their storyline, rather than for their glitzy kitsch romance of typical Bollywood.
The story follows three friends who made a pact in their childhood to go on a 'boy's trip' to Spain before any of them decided to get married. Enter Laila (Katrina Kaif), their dive instructor, and of course, the subsequent love story between Hrithik's workaholic character, Arjun and Laila.
I think what made this movie for me was the cinematography featuring Spain, and the way in which each character discovered a part of himself on this journey. The humorous scenes were placed at the right moments to add a touch of quirkiness to the storyline. I laughed and I felt like I was with each character in Spain discovering new experiences. I guess the movie spoke to me because I live for new experiences and travel adventures. But more so, because of something that Katrina said to Hrithik in one of the Spain scenes - Hrithik describes his plan to work his butt off as a stock trader so that he can retire at 40, and Katrina stops him short by saying that he may not live until 40, so what would be the point of not living right now in the moment!
That was the message for me. I strive to live my life in the moment and stop planning so much for the future because life is too short to live any other way! I can't wait for my next adventure in July. Keep you posted. In the meantime, watch Zindagi na Milengi Dobara - its a good two and a half hours spent.
Theatre - Le Grand Cirque Fantazie
Just by chance, Vimesh and I came across this fantasy world of acrobats on a TV insert on Top Billing. It's been a while since we've been to a show at the theatre. Le Grand Cirque Fantazie proved to be a great spur of the moment booking.
We arrived at Artscape Opera House a little earlier than usual, fearing that traffic into Cape Town would be backed up due to the World Cup soccer match ending just before the show could start. We were pleasantly surprised to get into town without too much hassle amidst German and Argentinian fanfare.
The acrobats and performers of Le Grand Cirque Fantazie hails from Las Vegas and is dubbed as 'the next generation of Cirque du Soleil'. Claimed to be hand-picked from across the globe, actually translated into being hand-picked from anywhere in the East. Majority of the performers were of Asian descent with their nimble bodies most suitable for the stunts performed. Much can be said about the choreography and lighting without which, the show's play on fantasy would have been lost. I dared not blink or miss a moment of the spectacular feast of colour.
I have new-found respect for the human body thanks to their display of unbelievable posture and poise which kept us glued to our seats. My verdict - a performance I would equally recommend to the young and the young at heart.
Movie - Kites
Ok, so I occasionally feel the need to cry my eyes out when I've had enough of my own life. If you haven't discovered it yet, there is no better way to bring out the waterworks than watching a Bollywood movie. Still, my discerning taste will not allow me to watch any old Bollywood movie. There has to be something different about the story. So I heard about the 'crossover to Hollywood' movie, Kites. It stars my all-time favourite leading man, Hrithik Roshan as a Salsa dance instructor and introduces a Spanish beauty named Barbara Mori. Set in Las Vegas and Mexico, I thought that this was my alternate Bollywood movie for 2010 (It only seems to come once or twice a year from the East!).
The verdict - I wasn't disappointed. It was different but at the heart of the direction, it was still a love story. Roshan and Mori found mutual attraction beyond their inherent physical attributes. They were both in a foreign land trying to make a better life for themselves. The language barrier added quirkiness to the storyline and the movie ended with a twist which did justice in wrenching my heart out of my chest. I am now more than ever irrevocably in love with Hrithik! He plays the role of action man/lover like a true professional. But I think it's those hips of his that really reel me in. Nobody else in Bollywood or Hollywood for that matter can move their hips the way he does.
Can't wait for the next IIFA awards. I'm sure Hrithik and Barbara will feature prominently.
