For Your Consideration: Dil Dhadakne Do [2015]

HIndie Awards 2016

For Your Consideration: Dil Dhadakne Do [2015]

The latest Zoya Akhtar films like her prior works has an amazing re watchable quality to it; it's breezy, light and harmless fun without necessarily deriding and looking down upon its audiences [apart from that god awful annoying dog!].

Anyways, not much to say about Zoya Akhtar's latest; it is very much the definition of urban filmmaking for urban filmgoers and in some cases urban Indian people [of a richer class] of course.

And that doesn't mean it's bad, hence why it is here.

So let's get the cruise ship on its way;

Best Picture [Comedy/Romantic]: Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar for Dil Dhadakne Do [EROS International]

Another case of distribution but not production; Junglee Pictures and Excel Entertainment's Dil Dhadakne Do as presented by EROS is the story of...

...The Mehra's; an illustrious family of the upper crust Delhi. Like any family, they have there own problems and secrets. To give the film away would be a disservice, but the greater disservice would be to not promote my review of the film instead: http://www.devotiontocinema.com/recent-movie-reviews/dil-dhadakne-do-review-by-aneesh-raikundalia

Sorry for the lame plug in.

Anyways EROS has big campaigns prepared for big films and the new Akhtar film is one that they are boosting with its top class superstar cast as well as both being a box office success and a critical darling.

It's a full force campaign that however might be slighted by its strongest piece; the editing.

The film considering the massive cast and multiple is justifiably long, but a bit too long for its own good. The editing informs a directors vision and hence the film; it could crucify the film despite the weak genre category.

Also one has to consider the fact that the film is competing in the easier Comedy category, when it is being promoted elsewhere's as a light hearted breezy drama.

Best Director: Zoya Akhtar

A former two time nominee, Zoya Akhtar has one hell of a chance with her latest despite a few misfires.

The first is that; is the cut is terribly too long and could have done with some scissors. The second is; this is by far Zoya's weakest work of her two films [three, if you count the short in Bombay Talkies].

It would be hard to get into a crowded field especially with just the five nomination in tow, as better directors for better films have proven to fall by the wayside.

Yet one can never discount her biggest strengths, that are always some things worth looking out for when it comes to nominating a director;

She shoulders and pushes a phenomenal cast while bringing Anil Kapoor out of a possibly near decade long rut; into giving another lifetime performance.

At the same time with the ensemble, she is also able to handle the technical aspects of a film down to fine detailing especially when one considers how little regard modern day tales get for their production/costume work.

She's got a two to two fight, how far can that take her is the question to a third nomination.

Best Screenplay [Comedy/Romantic]: Reema Kagti and Zoya Akhtar with Farhan Akhtar and Javed Akhtar [dialogues]

While one can never go wrong in placing slight blame on the power duo of Akhtar and Kagti of "thinking English, writing Hindi" when it comes to their screenplays; they still cannot deny how effective they are in molding a certain genre to their will.

It's a smartly written dysfunctional family comedy [drama] that stick its main family of characters in inescapable situations with unsuspecting events in the horizon, forcing them to confront their feelings, issues and most likely reconcile or at least grow.

It is simple, it's easy and it therefore cannot miss out.

Except for one massive wrinkle...the family dog;

Oscar Mehra.

While it can be chalked up to a blame at the producers feet or the unbelievable belief that the masses are unbelievably stupid. The use of Oscar the dog as a narrative device spouting unnecessary exposition, falls on the feet of the writing [due to the horrendous dialogues as well].

This is some of Javed Akhtar's worst workings of dialogue, another reason I feel this was a shoehorned in element at the end of the film rather than an initial prime decision.

The exposition that comes out is so god damn awful and obvious it threatens to derail much of the picture, more importantly overshadowing some fine subtle scenes and destroying them completely.

It's another question of what the film has and what goes against it.

Best Actor [Female and Male] in A Leading Role [Romantic/Comedy]: Priyanka Chopra as Ayesha Mehra and Ranveer Singh as Kabir Mehra

I pair these two together because they are both co-leads [as leading as you can get in an ensemble piece] of this film and equally complement each other in the brother-sister act.

 As the awards grow closer and closer, the chances Singh walks out with a nomination for his role as Kabir seems highly unlikely. Looming in the horizon, is the large shadow of his turn as Peshwa Warrior Bajirao I in Bajirao Mastani.

It also doesn't help that Singh has stated that it was a breezy holiday for him, for his shoot in Dil Dhadakne Do where as him and many critics and veterans touting his turn as Bajirao as a monumental struggle to get into character.

Singh also doesn’t have the meatiest portions to chew on, instead being both the romantic and comedic element that binds the film; even though the climax revolves around his actions. He could have been pushed to supporting [EROS's fault being the campaigners for both films]

On the other end Priyanka Chopra is likely heading for a nomination, it helps that her other performance in Bajirao Mastani is in the supporting contention as well as very much well loved. Her turn earlier in the year as Ayesha was thus overshadowed, but not enough to be not considered.

Already a stellar two time winner in this category, Priyanka has the nomination in her bag. That is only if she doesn't become a casualty for two things;

A] Her nomination in the other film, overshadowing her work here.

B] The Angry Indian Goddesses Gals making a complete or at least majority sweep of the category.

Best Actor [Male/Female] in A Supporting Role [Comedy/Romantic]: Anil Kapoor as Kamal Mehra and Shefali Shah as Neelam Mehra

Once again pairing these two together simply because despite their performances stronger without the need of actual support, they also end up playing well off each other as the father-mother of the Mehra's.

Touted as a return to form for Anil Kapoor the actor, it has been a decade or more of dry spells for the man who has granted made headways in Hollywood, but not too many and not too great in past years. His Kamal Mehra is a character he sinks his teeth into, also finally accepting that there is nothing wrong in going for age appropriate roles.

In a film full of excellent turns, he is a towering presence.

The same can be said for Shefali Shah, whose subtle heart breaking rendition becomes the anchor of this ship.

Both are stalwart actors; one on a comeback trail and the other underrated and much loved putting in phenomenal performances. Are they the frontrunners?

Best Ensemble

Of course biggest surprise is the omission of both Anushka Sharma and Farhan Akhtar from supporting contention, though their small roles might justify this.

Neither one has enough time or scope to leave a huge impact, as such they fail to secure individual nominations but included with a host of other actors doing well in bit parts; they bolster the nomination for an ensemble while also aiding the four leads and vice versa.

Considering her film sensibilities; an ensemble is always a great stepping stone for a directorial nom for Zoya Akhtar, proving her prowess in her being able to control and channel such individual forces on screen as a unit.

Best Cinematography: Carlos Catalan

He won the big one for his gorgeous work that captured the glories of Spain. Can Istanbul be as magical for him?

Of course, Catalan would be nominated just on the basis of the efforts he pulls off for the one take song 'Gallan Goodiyaan'. It's a piece of art in which he translates his directors vision; poetically.

It's a tough ask this year, the cinematography section is stuffed to the brim with brilliant pieces and Catalan is a top choice as usual amongst others.

Best Production Design and Costume Design: Neil Patel and Arjun Bhasin

Detailing is key to any Zoya Akhtar film and Dil Dhadakne Do carries forward that legacy.

From ships, to mansion to even exotic locales; the set up of the production design is exquisite and first class. There's nothing that feels odd, out of place or doesn't look elegant to match the affluent Mehras.

Color choices are as such apt, being both mute and rich looking with soft blues and whites dominating; making for a seamless patterned film yet realistic.

Costuming also takes the cake, giving us some real pretty things to look at; the finely tailored suits for Anil Kapoor to a lot of Anushka Sharma's much more free designs exemplifying her character without being overt to that oh so wonderful sun hat for Priyanka Chopra.

Its simple film related work that most forget because of how obvious period production and costuming is, but this time one cannot overlook such works and that is for the best.

So there it is; Best Picture [Comedy/Romantic], Best Director, Best Screenplay [Comedy/Romantic], Best Cinematography, Best Actor [Male] in A Leading Role [Comedy/Romantic], Best Actor [Female] in A Leading Role [Comedy/Romantic], Best Actor [Male] in A Supporting Role [Comedy/Romantic], Best Actor [Female] in A Supporting Role [Comedy/Romantic], Best Ensemble, Best Production Design and Best Costume Design

EROS International are putting up a full on campaign in the top categories, though missing out in key technical noms and the usually contested musical noms.

It will be worth seeing where they strike on an especially weak year and on the strength of the films varied and well crafted performances.

'Nuff Said

Aneesh Raikundalia