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Review
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Yatra: to boredom
indya.com rating: 1.5 out of 5 *
Cast: Nana Patekar, Rekha, Deepti Naval and Nakul Vaid
Director: Gautam Ghose
Synopsis: Having missed the trial show yesterday, I reached a suburban Mumbai
multiplex for the first show of Yatra at early noon today but I was
told the show was cancelled for the lack of audience. Minimum patrons
required were six they told me and I was the only one who had dared to
come for it. I rushed to a single screen cinema hall playing Yatra to
catch the 12:15 pm show but they said it was postponed to 6:30 pm show
as they are now showing Paris Mein Hungama (Hindi dubbed version of
Mr. Bean's Holiday) instead. Finally, caught up with the film at the
evening show, with just ten more people in the audience apart from me.
Out of which were four couples who had come to seek solace in an empty
cinema hall and two old men who seemed genuine Rekha fans. They didn't
even venture out in the interval fearing they might miss a shot or two
of Rekha incase the movie began.
Indian audience has become smarter today as they have started to
reject films even before their first show is played. I saw Yatra and
understood why. This art film is neither artistic nor entertaining
from any angle.
Dashrath Joglekar (Nana Patekar) is an acclaimed writer, on his way to
Delhi to receive a prestigious Literary Award. During this train
journey he meets a young film-maker Mohan (Nakul Vaid) who is an
enthusiastic fan of Dashrath's writing. This encounter brings back
memories from the past. They start discussing Dashrath's famous novel,
Janaza. The novel based on the true story of its main protagonist
Lajvanti (Rekha) brings back many old memories for Dashrath. They both
try to put their personal viewpoint about the novel and Lajvanti.
In Delhi after the award ceremony is over, Dashrath goes missing from
his hotel. His wife (Deepti Naval) and two kids get tensed. They are
oblivious that Dashrath has actually gone to Mehendi Galli, a place
famous for listening mujras. As he sees Lajvanti he is in for a
surprise as with the passage of time even she has changed manifold.
The once famous mujra singer is now reciting popular Bollywood songs
to her clientele. The story takes an unexpected turn after Dashrath's
unplanned visit to Lajvanti. And the audience has no option but to
keep wondering at the absurdity of events that follow right till the
end.
In its initial reels Gautam Ghose's Yatra seems to have an interesting
storyline but it's difficult to understand screenplay and the abstract
nature of storytelling the celebrated director makes a mess of the
project. The climax of the film deserves an award for its bizarreness.
Nana with his natural acting is always a treat to watch, especially
when he is devoid of his set mannerisms. Rekha looks jaded throughout.
Her heavy make up makes you cringe whenever the camera captures her on
a close up. Deepti Naval gets no scope. Poor Nakul Vaid, a decent
performer but seems to be developing a track record for having no
audience for his films. (For his last release, With Love Tumhara, I
faced the similar show cancellation problems)
Stay away from this Yatra and watch those travel shows on Discovery
Channel instead, atleast you won't discover new heights of boredom.
-- Abhijit Mhamunkar
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