[Movie Preview] Raajneeti. 2010 (June). Hindi.

Raajneeti. noun. (Sanskrit/Hindi). Meaning: Politics.

I am eagerly waiting for it's release. For one, it has the stars that I admire: Manoj Bajpayi, Ajay Devgan, and Naseeruddin Shah.

The promos look promising. My only fear is that the screenplay will get lost following such a huge star-cast. But then again, it's Prakash Jha, so I still have my hopes up.

All the hype of relating it to real characters, and presenting known issues apart, I am most interested in what Jha brings as possible solutions to World's largest sovereign democracy.

The last movie I saw with Manoj Bajpayi in it was the movie '1971'. He played Major Suraj Singh. No matter how close the character was to the real hero, his rendition pricked a few in my conscience. I will probably never forget that movie as long as I am alive. And who can forget his portrayal of Bheekhu Mhatre in Satya?

Ajay Devgan is another such actor, who has gained immense versatility over the year since his debut in 'Phool aur Kaante'. His renditions in Zakhm, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, and Omkara will always feature in his top performances.

And need I say anything for Naseeruddin Shah? He is, because he acts. That should suffice:-)

Let it roll... cannot wait to write a review. In case you want to know, here is a link to the movie's official website.

[Movie Review] Matrubhumi: A Nation Without Women. Hindi w/English Subtitles. 2003.

It is an articulated nightmare that rattles your sub-conscious and then slowly recedes back into reality. I watched this movie as a petrified, collapsed, and disgusted soul. The most dangerous part: it didn't seem far from what has been happening in one of the world's richest cultures. More than shame and humiliation, I felt relief that none of the people of my generation that I know are participating in such gender discrimination.

Somebody said that this movie is perverse, and doesn't fit what Indian culture stands for. Well it is perverse. But it is ultra-fiction. It is to art cinema what sci-fi is to action movies. It is a bit too much to grasp, but nothing that you can't imagine happening if newborns were to be killed based on their gender.

The best way to describe this masterpiece is that it cut a piece off my existence, and then smeared it with burning gun powder. It's a mark that probably will never go away, and will keep reminding me how not to treat a female child, teen, or adult.

I rate it 4.9/5.0.