And Then, The Cashew Tree Shed a Dozen Leaves

Masak Kali Masak Kali; Ud Matak Matak Matak Kali...

Films just happen. Good films just happen, rather. Rang de Basanti just happened, and its already part of my soul. The wait seemed over when they said Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra is coming up with another gem. The wait proved amazingly good. In fact, better than the movie itself.

I never wanted Mehra to be just another director, who came, showed, and failed to conquer. He indeed did conquer my senses and sensibilities in huge proportions the moment Rang de Basanti started rolling. Mehra dear, what ails you now? Rang de Basanti turned out to be a gem. An opus. The cast, the storyline, the roobaroos and the padhsaalas all make me think sane, every moment, moment after moment. Remember, the television set that starts blaring when hit from all sides. You portrayed the Indian psyche with elan when you placed the telly in your frames. RBD's characters never carried a mobile phone, they communicated with their souls. Delhi proves to be India's soul in RDB, where all things good, bad and the ugliest happen. RDB, my gosh, made me think a tad extra. I just loved you, Mehra --- until now, sadly.

Delhi 6 is another tale, less intimately told by the man who just loves, adores Delhi. An ensemble cast, most of them excelling in their perfomances, good music (Masa kali Masa kali.... yummy) and a whole lot of moments go wasted. Mehra seems to have lost his heart somewhere in between, may be on the flight from NY to Chandni Chowk. RDB was told straight from the sanctorum of his soul, Delhi 6 just hovers around Pin Code Six. The Monkey Man references go awfully awry when the protagonist arrives in a fully illuminated motherboard tied to his tummy and a mask that could be picked up at shacks around the Ram Lila Maidan.

What shocks me is the lack of chemistry displayed between Divya Dutta's untouchable sweeper girl and Atul Kulkarni's character when she hands over strands of hair from her crown and asks him to pass it on as Kaala Bandar's baal. Baal baal bache hain aap Mehraji, I would have just walked out if I weren't with my family watching the movie with enthusiasm. Such a scene would have been the moot point of emotions dear Mehra, if you had put your heart into it. I had my heart pounding molten when in a song sequence the cast of RDB stands up to salute the India Gate from atop a jeep. You knew how to do it right, but where did you pack off your mind while shooting this scene in Delhi 6?

Look what you have done with the brewing of the communal riot and its Kaala Baandar link. Loud mouthed Sadhvis and the cop in a fox's armour come good, but then Uncle Baig's love-lost existence wasn't just worthy of just a mention. When Rishi Kapoor mouths Ek (ishq) tha and then 'Tere papa le gaye', I was hoping to shed a tear at least. Holy ghost, you ruined the scene. To be fair to Kapoor, he played his role well for a change, and ruined the whole exercise with an emotionless rendition of 'tere papa le gaye'. This from you Mr Mehra, the same Mehra, who had an emotional son shooting down his criminal dad and then speak volumes just with the glistening of the tear softened eyeball in RDB? Emotions come in when you give your heart to what you do, Mr Mehra. And I thought you knew this better than even the veterans when you made RDB. What went wrong?

Thank Om Puri, Abhishek, Pawan, Waheeda, Cyrus and Mr Bachchan Senior for doing wonders to your film, Mr Mehra. They just excelled in this less-than-ordinary craft of yours. But then I always do believe cinema is the director's baby. You had given us an illustrious kid for us to look up to when you made RDB. Sorry to say, Delhi 6 proved to be a miscarriage. Mr Mehra, lemme add. I loved you just once through the film – when you blended New York with Delhi in a song sequence. That was brilliant. I gotta give you another chance, I guess. What's next dude?