The Sky is Pink

The Sky is Pink is based on the true story of Aisha Choudhary who is terminally ill due to a condition called pulmonary fibrosis. The film is based on her life and the journey she and her family go through as they deal with the inevitable. Aisha's mother is a possessed woman who will do everything to keep her child alive as long as possible. She and her husband are ready to go to any length to see their child live and fulfill her tiniest wishes. The lives of the members of her family revolve around Aisha's condition as they struggle with their helplessness of not being able to do much.

This film is about the inevitable end we all face. It is also about the process of dealing with it. Not only for Aisha but also for her family as they come to terms with her early death. It's a very emotional story that expresses the feelings and complications of the family who are going to lose a member. The sentimental chaos and emotional roller coaster the audience experiences has to be attributed to the wonderful scenes created by the director that emotes the feelings of a mother, a father, and a brother.

Somewhere during the film, you may begin to think about your relationship with death or the reality of losing someone you love. The film is philosophical at many levels. The experience is close to one of the life and transformation courses some of us may have done. These courses talk about death to wake us up to the reality of the things that really matter to us. Priyanka Chopra fulfills the character so well that it is as if she is about to lose her daughter. She has mastered different emotions related to being a mother and a wife and portrayed them passionately. Farhan matches her as the husband who takes a backseat allowing the emotional mother to take over as she protects her dying child. Zair Wasim gives another subtle performance as Aisha who deals with her own death while watching her family suffer. Though the suffering can get insufferable at some point which can't be helped.

A different film which made me very emotional and made me think of what really matters. You come out of the hall feeling enlightened. I guess Shonali Bose has achieved her purpose.

Rating - 3.8 / 5

War

Of superheroes, exciting visuals, superb stunts, and awesome action, War is our very own modern era James Bond film with two bonds. These superheroes can do anything and everything and put all mythological characters to shame. Jump off from moving planes, jump onto moving planes, ride racing bikes on sharp mountain curves and come blazing out in racing cars from ships that are bombed. You get more than you can imagine. The movie begins with a protege idolizing a defense war hero and trying hard to win his heart. The expressions and the scenes are as if they are capturing a gay love story unfold. I was just waiting to see a wet juicy smooch to happen between Kabir (Hritik Roshan) and Khalid (Tiger Shroff) as they share several deep gazes and close exchanges between them. But alas, this was a film of action and superheroes and one can only dare to imagine such scenarios.

The film has a good cast, a great plot, great fighting scenes, and entertaining action shots. This was the first Tiger Shroff film I watched because I was never convinced of his acting skills. And I was right because that guy just cannot emote. But I must say that he is Jackie Chan, Bruce Lee, and Patrick Swayze all combined in one Indian performer. He has extraordinary fighting action and dancing skills and superb reflex movements that make him a perfect choice for a film like War. He has definitely carved a niche for himself and I look forward to many more action scenes from him. If only he can put as much passion in his acting and dancing skills he would do really well. Yes, dancing too, He lacks emotion and passion in his dancing which is very robotic and programmed.

Hrithik has pumped a lot more oomph in his performance with a strange way of delivering dialogues. Its as if he is trying on some new accent. He is his usual perfect stylish self in is action sequences and dancing. The film could have been much better if they had not dragged it onto an epic that makes Mahabharat look shorter. By the end of it, I was exhausted and in pain. The connecting stories and flashbacks just don't stop! You finally wonder if it is going to have an end, I gave up towards the end and walked out of the last 10 or 15 minutes. It would just not stop! Is Siddharth Anand trying to settle some past tussle with Ekta Kapoor? He could have easily reduced the duration by half an hour at least! Easily. Such a tragedy. A great plot, great cast, great locales, and action scenes all ruined because the director overplayed the hell out of it.

Rating  - 3 / 5