OTT: Yesterday I watched four movies and a wide range of them. Was to visit with a friend, but felt a little under the weather, so instead watched another film. Good movies with brilliant performances. Maybe because I am watching so many films in so many languages, one gets to see and lot of different actors and boy! are they good. Where were they all this time?
By the way, I did not know till now that we were paying for Amazon Prime Movies. It suddenly sprang on the screen asking me to pay just as I clicked on Prithvi Raj’s Kaduva, I was asked to get a membership. Good old Murali tried to do everything and could not and then our trusted driver Raju, who I think is a genius with all stuff electronic pressed a couple of buttons and then declared that I had to renew my membership. Which was ok by me, except that till then I did not know I was paying for Prime.
So I did the needful and continued watching movies, till I wanted to see Top Gun: The Maverick. It said it was available on the Prime OTT but I had to pay Rs. 119 to view it. Hackles rose and all kinds of curses sprang to mind. But I had watched it on the tiniest screen on the aircraft and wanted to see a larger version. Planes and air force pilots can do that to you. You want to watch repeatedly. There is something so compulsive about the title song sung by Lady Gaga, and the guitar is maybe by Harold Faltermeyer. They show these fighter aircraft, snug for two persons, whizzing away into the sky, leaving smoke behind, till you see the plane again. They land dangerously to be literally stopped by a rope, so to speak. And if in trouble by a net.
I, unfortunately, describe it badly, but you have to see these beginning shots of Top Gun and Top Gun: Maverick. And it always leaves me wondering and breathless. I hate flying, but it has become a way of life, has it not. Prayers help. But to get back to this movie. They show these whole bunch of guys signaling, almost dancing, throwing their hands in the air and flights take off and land safely……so many guys needed to let one jet to take off and so much of public money wasted when one fighter jet has to be ditched.
Questions might arise but the fascination does not diminish. Finally paid for the movie and watched it. Just for those few shots, for otherwise the entire film is just feel-good film about American fighter jet pilots who are also known as Top Guns. And of course who know every trick in the world when it comes to flying.
Those were the days when we used to wait for the designate day for a serial to be aired on TV and then it became an episode a day and in recent times it has become binge watching. So, it comes as a very pleasant surprise when Disney Hotstar OTT releases one episode each of Criminal Justice: Adhura Sach, every Friday. So, there I am with my hot cuppa and switching on TV early in the morning. While this is not confession time, I start watching TV only after 11 am, except on a Sunday when I switch it on at 8 am for Rangoli.
The above mentioned serial is well done, with enough twists and turns to keep you waiting for the next episode. One among the very interesting ones. There is this other one Maharani, which also held its own. Also watched Dahan: Raakan ka Rahasya, which kind of stretched along but ends on a happy note and it was nice that Good wins over Evil.
And then I saw many movies in between, but Laal Singh Chadda on Netflix OTT took my breath away. Yes, it is a fantastic copy of Forest Gump and it is beautifully made, soft through out and yet not shying away from telling the truth. It was a delight to watch Aamir Khan and Kareena Kapoor. They make a good pair, she and he both with rosy cheeks and inquiring eyes.
Imitations can fail miserably, but this is a homage to the makers of the Hollywood movie. Detailing is so important and they have brought every scene to life with sensitivity, for even if the character is harangued, he does not feel anything. It is all believable and the kid actors take away all the marks with their brilliant performances.
Loved the movie and learnt a new way to carry paani puris. Wonder why I had not thought of it earlier.