“Why would anyone like to watch a movie with 10 different stories? A movie should be a full length experience. Is cinema a good medium for multiple story telling?” all these questions I had in mind when I had thought of reviewing “Dus Kahaniya”. While handing over the ticket to the boy at the door of the theater, I felt like I am entering a film festival or for an arty sharty film.

The White Feather Montage has the “kaante” song in the background… it was exactly what I was thinking… “jaane kya hoga rama re….”

As there are 10 different stories, we will divide those into the best, the good and the bad categories:

The Best:

‘Matrimony’ directed by Sanjay Gupta:
Story: Simple, but with intense twists. Story about a married couple. Mandira Bedi plays the bored wife of busy businessman, Arbaaz Khaan. Every Thursday, Mandira visits her aunt who is aging and ill. However as story unfolds we find out that she isn’t really doing that Thursday ritual. Whom she meets and whats the end of the story is good to watch. The twists and turns in the story keeps audiences hooked to it. Performances are perfect by all the cast. Caption of the Ship (or small boat?) Sanjay Gupta impresses with his stylish yet apt narrative and crisp direction. Very good choice to keep it first story of the movie. Makes audience ready to be acceptable for more.
BR Rating: ****

‘Pooranmashi’ directed by Meghana Gulzar:
Very unusual setting from all other stories. Has the “mitti ki sugandh” to it. Very beautifully narrated by Meghana Gulzar (sans any style, glitz and glamor). Settings are in a panjabi village (not very bollywood stylish with dancing sardars or makke di roti sarso da saag types). Its between the mother (Amrita Singh) and her daughter (Minisha Lamba). The story has unpredictable twists and makes you emotional. Very beautiful.
BR Rating: ****

‘Rice Plate’ directed by Rohit Roy:
I am impressed with sanjay gupta’s perfect choice for this stories director. Rohit Roy surprises all with his sensitive story telling style. He keeps the grip on the story and keeps audience interested in it. Handling stalwarts like Nasiruddin Shah and Shabana Azmi and using them best isn’t always easy. But Rohit the does the job he has given by gupta with perfection. Extraordinary story which depicts sensitive issue of communal differences and falseness very simple and human manner. Performances are ofcourse outstanding.
BR Rating: ****

‘Strangers In The Night’ directed by Sanjay gupta:
Neha Dhupia and Mahesh Manjarekar are celebrating their anniversary. They have very unusual way doing that. Every anniversary, they tell a most unforgettable moment of their life to each other which they have not told each other till date. Last anniversary Mahesh had told his unforgettable moment of having a one night stand experience in a drunken mood with another woman. Neha ofcourse as they had pact, forgiven him for that after his apology. This year, its her turn and she tells her unforgettable moment she had with a man in the Railway Station waiting room. However as the story unfolds, our understanding of her and her story changes as it does for his husband. Worth a watch. Striking story with very sensitive issue at the end of it. Sanjay Gupta is surely a master storyteller and again takes us by surprise by his way of narrative.
BR Rating: ****

The Good:

‘Zahir’ directed by Sanjay Gupta:
A Banker turned writer, essayed with ease by Manoj Bajpai, shifts to his new home which is opposite a nice young lady (Diya Mirza). They get familiar and spend quality time with each other. Manoj who is recently out of a broken relationship, gets attracted to her and tries to say be intimate with her. She says NO to him and says she will never see him again. A guilty Manoj is sulking within for his mistake and can not enjoy the fun he is supposed to have with his group of friends. But there only he faces a shocking secret about her. Whats that? You can watch the movie for it. The shocks does not stop there only. At the end of the story you get to know something which hits you like 4000 watt current. This is again directed by Sanjay Gupta. Very well told emotional story. The performances are first class. Young audience goes ga ga over this.
BR Rating: ***

‘Sex On The Beach’ directed by Apoorva Lakhia:
Directed by Apporva Lakhia, this is suspense thriller story presented in a spine chilling way. Dino Morea who is chilling on a beach listening to his favorite music, finds a book with a pen. There are signatures on it and he also signs it with that pen out of curiosity. He starts reading it and the events in the books starts happening to him…. What are those… you can watch yourself. Debutante Tareena Patel exposes her assets with ease as per the demand of the script. Dino is good. Apporva Lakhia has done remarkable job.
BR Rating: ***

‘Love Dale’ directed by Jasmeet Dhodi:
Follow your heart and take your chances to win your love of life. This is what this story is about. But its depicted in a very mystical magical fashion. Neha is a good thinking girl going to get married soon. While traveling back to home, she meets a woman who wearing only one earing in her ear. She asks her about it. This incidence changes her life and helps her meet her love of life, Aftab Shivdasani. Her dad, Anupam Kher, tells her to choose what her heart says over her brain. She finally opts for her love. Good performances by all in the cast. Newcomer Jasmeet Dhodi proves to be a good director.
BR Rating: ***

‘Gubbare’ directed by Sanjay Gupta:
“Jindagi utani bhi lambi nahi jitna ham samazte hai” tells nana patekar to newly married Anita who just had an argument with her husband Rohit Roy and sat near him. He is having balloons in his hands which he tells he uses to apologizes her wife. Nana’s intriguing discussion with Anita bring interesting chemistry he and his wife has. As the story unfolds, Anita understands that its better to use the time we have in our life to it fullest happiness and avoid fickle arguments. Nana Patekar breaths life into the character of the man with balloons in his hands. Sanjay Gupta handles the simple heart touching tale with Elane. Good one again, Sanjay!
BR Rating: ***

The Bad:

‘Rise and Fall’ directed by Sanjay Gupta and Hansal Mehta:
Is this outcome of the rise and fall of relationship of Sanjay Gupta and Sanjay Dutt? Just kidding, but hey, Gupta has wasted Sanjay Dutt in this. Totally confused story without nothing much to talk about. The overtly stylized direction confuses the story more. Sanjay Gupta has collaborated with Hansal Mehta for this story. Why two directors needed for a 10-15 min story? I think the collaboration was confusion and the outcome is totally confusing to audience. The actors are wasted.
BR Rating: *

‘High On The Highway’ directed by: Hansal Mehta
We wonder what the two young urban friends, Jimmy Sheirgill and Masumeh doing on the highway. While listening to the dialogs we come to know that they are college students whose college years are near completion. Then why do they look like they are staying in a road side dhaba like home on the high way? Do they have a home near the high way or what? The director tries to be stylized however the screenplay does not give any clue to the audience whats exactly happening and why? Also the story does not create any experience or tells any significant philosophy or something else for that matter. Hansal Mehta has spoiled this. This should have been put somewhere in the middle. Performance by the lead actors are ok.
BR Rating: *

Overall, it is a good experience to watch this movie. However it will be be a trend setter hit. This is like a chill out experience. Kind of seating in a lounge with friend listening to good music or seating in a coffee shop reading a short stories book. It does not create a whole fun filled bollywood movie experience for us. But the attempt deserves applause and support.

However, finally I come to conclusion that cinema is not a good medium to tell multiple stories. But I would certainly prefer if any good literature, short stories are made into small 10-15-20 mins movies like these. It can be made available for purchase by choice online as a downloaded file for personal video players or assorted DVD posted later to the purchasers. Something kind of that. Some commercially viable system shall be made for such short movies (not necessary to be released as full movie backed by good production house to reach it to audience). But good directors certainly shall create short stories also and not only full length movies. It will be good to watch a collection of our choice of such short movies whenever we want with friends or alone. Afterall watching a full length movie is a big task, so small ones like this can be some kind of literary experience… we can call it visual literature.

BR Rating: ***

BR Verdict: Good!

BR Advise: If you want some different cinematic experience, you can watch it.

- Reviewed By : Prashen H. Kyawal

Tags: Jaane tu…ya jaane na, Mission Istanbul:, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi