By Ishan Kukreti
Cinema is better than any history book. It is better than any waking dream. It is an alternate form of reality looking back in time, giving everyone a chance to live differently within that window of 2-3 hours. Cinema is that one medicine that wears off a week's soot from the soul.
However, not everyone has 2-3 hours to escape reality on a usual day. But weekends bring with them that time when the brain is not constantly checking the to-do list. On weekends, NewsGram brings to you movies which will help you get your catharsis, and unclog your chocked system.
So, for those who like to unplug every once in a while, here is a 2-day film festival schedule, where you just have to download the movies and then to infinity and beyond! This list of three movies has been made with the sole reason to give you a break from the all-pervading kitsch in today's society.
Plan a mini film fest of 9 hours, do nothing, just live differently.
1. Sulemani Keeda, Director: Amit V. Masurkar
The film is an indie slacker comedy with many philosophical underpinning. Had it not been so jaw-achingly funny, it could have been an excellently shot crash course in existentialism, dreams and the nature of reality. Take this for instance, 'How can one see herself in memories as a third person while the same is not possible in reality?'
It's the best movie to snuggle to with someone special on this rainy day.
2. Gandu. Director – Qaushiq Mukherjee aka Q ( viewer discretion is advisory)
Q has a thing for making absurd cinema. His films have acquired cult status in the Indian indie film circuit. Gandu, dealing with, is somewhat more alt, if not weirder. The film becomes increasingly mind-boggling towards the end with Dhatura trip taking over the protagonist (Gandu) and his sidekick (Rickshaw). But the movie not once leaves the viewer behind or frustratingly confounded.
Gandu is a monochromatic journey through passion, obsession, addiction and satisfaction. It explores Rap and crap of Kolkata through a narrative on frustration that the self faces when it fails to express itself completely.
The film is just right to shake you around siesta time, enough to pump you up, but not enough to make you leave your film fest.
3. Tamas, Director – Govind Nihalani
Tamas is a masterpiece. It's a relic from the golden area of Doordarshan. It was released as a four-part TV series for DD starring Om Puri, Pankaj Kapoor, Amrish Puri and other prominent actors from that era.
The film traces the rioting and mayhem during partition through a set of precisely carved characters. The film is so powerful that it chokes the viewer with emotions at various points of time. The brilliance of some of the scenes will be hard to match for a long time in Indian cinema.
The film will leave you feeling light in a sense that will help you carry the burden of the coming weekdays.