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Directed By
Sushi Ganeshan
Produced By
Mani Ratnam
Written By
Sushi Ganeshan
Original Music By
Parasuram Radha &
Timberland (Thiru Thiruda)
Cinematography By
Ravi Varma
Art Direction By
Thota Tharani
I had the privilage to see Mani Ratnam's latest production "Five Star" on the big screen and dispite the soundtrack to be quite dissapointing, I was amazed that regional commercial cinema can produce a film (with a lesser budget/stars) with much higher qualities then that seen in Hindi cinema - the main cinema market in India. If this continues then it won't be long before Tamil (and Malayalam) cinema takes over the Hindi threshold to become the major leaders and infulence of South Asian cinema.
The film tells the story of five youths (two girls - three boys) who are just close friends living in southern India. One of the boys is then unexpectedly forced into a marriage by his overbearing father. This causes the boy to run away to London inorder to begin living his life, the way he chosses.
Meantime his wife continues to live her life, while waiting for her husband to return. One day she meets one of her husband's friend on a train. The friend ends up falling in love with her not realising she is his mate's wife. When he does find out who she is he (and his other friends) decides once and for all to go to London to find her husband inorder to unite the two...
The screenplay is a part adptation of Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, but with major changes that actually evalates the story to a higher plane then its Hindi/Gujarat predecessor. Locations have changed, showing London and western values in an unbaised manner.
Also the film challenges the tradtional old Indian culture...with the wife (who would normally be shown to be suffering having her final say on the matter in the cilmax when she confronts her husband.) The screenplay becomes more contemporary with themes that present youths can relate to in some instances.
The friendship protrayed in Five Star might not be as uncinematic as the way it is shown in films like American Desi or Dil Chata Hai, but like these films it continues to show the ever changing ways of modern Indians and how it conflicts with thier tradition and how it also celebrates with it. This film should actually be seen by the parents so they can get an idea of how the youths feel and even think, thus getting a better undertanding of them and the situations they live in.
Performance wise it is quite commendable from the new fresh faces in this film. I can see why Ratnam/Sushi chose them. Also the technical values are prehaps one of the best seen this year on Indian celluiod, with stunning cinematography that even shows London in a new Light. Instead of the typical Yash Chopra landscape shots in songs, we see the reality of London with the graffiti, litter and even the sex shops in Soho!
Also good are the background score, art direction (no rich NRIs here), and editing. The only snag in the film is the actually songs themselves. While they help with the story telling the actual melodies are somewhat poor, with exception to the song Thiru Thiruda, which is actually Timberland's "We Need A Resolution and Bills Bills Bills" rolled into one tune.
However the picturisations of the songs are quite well done and makes them watchable during the feature.
Overall I found this film to be one I really enjoyed while watching and I'm sure its a film that would help make Ratnam's name more growing in international film curcuits. I also look forward to director's Sushi Ganeshan work in Indian cinema who shows more maturity in his work then the likes of Kunal Kohli, Karen Johar and even Rajat Mukherjee...
On cinemas now in London, Limited release...and expected on DVD in Jan 2003 from Ayngaran (so the quality will be decent)
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) the marriage with her Hubby