B-8 | Friday, May 31, 2019 BOLLYWOOD www.WeeklyVoice.com Modi Biopic Not Historical, But A Mythological By Subhash K. Jha nessman (Prashanth Narayan) who controls an even more cor- Film: PM Narendra Modi; rupt mediaperson (Darshan Ku- Starring: Vivek Oberoi, Manoj maar) and manipulates monstrous Joshi and Suresh Oberoi; Direc- lies about Modiji’s intentions. tor: Omung Kumar B; Rating: * It’s always the media to blame 1/2 (one-and-a-half stars) for the negative stories about statesmen who are dedicated This is not the Narendra Modi to building a nation. While the biopic that we’ve all been wait- world conspires his downfall, ing for. The one that shows this Modiji stands smiling with a pic- powerful, well-meaning, sincere ture of Sardar Patel in the back- statesman taking hard decisions ground. and taking on opponents like a You get the picture? On the lion in a jungle of craven wolves. plus side, the ilm is shot with a No. This is not even a biopic. It reasonable amount of eficiency. is a mythological saga, a passion- The narration from the protago- ate pauranic paean to the power- nist’s childhood to his coronation ful Prime Minister who took his as the Prime Minister moves at a tea-selling childhood to a glori- brisk, though pre-ordained, pace. ous Himalayan summit beyond The climax at Patna’s Gandhi ‘Chai-na.’ rism that our PM has uttered or shishya ready for politics. his political career -- to venerate Maidan where Modiji was saved Seen in that dazzling hagio- not uttered (the line between fact For a brief interlude, I thought I the subject of the ostensible biop- from a terror attack gets it all graphic light, this ilm is not and so iction in this ersatz biopic is was watching “Karate Kid”. ic. In most of the scenes, Vivek, wrong. No one is bothered with offensive. Vivek Oberoi handles non-existent) is given the status Tragically, Vivek is in awe of in his role as Modi, talks. Every- facts. Least of all the audience. the principal role with a certain of a large hoarding. the character he plays, thereby one listens approvingly. There were loud cheers and ap- amount of lair and decency. His You have to be blind to miss the robbing even the genuine mo- Even Amit Shah (Manoj Joshi), plause in the theatre each time eyes speak more than a thou- message. “PM Narendra Modi” is ments, like those shared with his whose camaraderie with PM Vivek made a Modi-inspired sand words. Lamentably, this is very clear about its agenda. And mother (a severely under-utilised Modi is described as Jai-Veeru’s speech (a National award for his a ilm that believes in the powerVivek obliges with overt obse- and over-wigged Zarina Wahab) friendship from “Sholay”, is no travails?). And the celluloid Man- of verbal lamp-posts. Every self- quiousness. In one sequence, he of their shine. more than a sounding-board for mohan Singh, Sonia Gandhi and glorifying thought that this cellu- communicates on metaphysi- What shines through is the the protagonist. Rahul Gandhi were booed and loid holographic Modi feels must cal ideas with his spiritual guru resilience of a ilmmaker -- farThe less shadowy igures are hissed. Such is life in politics. have a verbal counterpoint. Every (played by Suresh Oberoi) which more intense than anything that those who play negative parts, And what about the ‘sach’ in the rhetoric and retort, every apho- ends with the guru declaring his PM Modi has ever attempted in like the conniving corrupt busi- life of a politician? ‘The Extraordinary Journey Of Kashyap’s FIR Against Troll MUMBAI; Filmmaker Anurag in a tweet wherein he wrote: Kashyap says he has iled an FIR “Dear Narendra Modi sir. Con- against a social media user who gratulations on your victory and The Fakir’ Set For June Release threatened to rape his daughter. thank you for the message of in- TORONTO: A-Z Films has Kashyap took to Twitter to clusiveness. Sir please also tell picked up the ilm The Extraordi- thank the Mumbai Police which us how do we deal with these nary Journey of the Fakir, a com- helped him with iling the FIR. followers of yours who celebrate edy adventure by Quebec direc- “Thank you so much for the your victory by threatening my tor Ken Scott (Starbuck, Delivery amazing support and starting the daughter with messages like this Man, Uninished Business, La process. Thank you (Maharash- for being your dissenter.” Grande Séduction) and starring tra Chief Minister) Devendra But Kashyap’s post did not go Indian actor Dhanush, and fea- Fadnavis and thank you (Prime well with Suchitra Krishnamoor- turing Bérénice Béjo (The Artist) Minister) Narendra Modi Sir. As thi as she did not ind any just rea- Barkhad Abdi (Captain Phillips) a father, I am more secure now.” son for mentioning Modi in his Erin Moriarty (Blood Father) Kashyap had taken to Twitter to tweet. “Dear Anurag Kashyap, I and Abel Jafri (Timbuktu). Oth- raise his concern about a rape have been pro-Modi and yet have er stars are Gérard Jugnot, Ben threat his daughter Aaliyah had often received rape threats for my Miller, Sarah-Jeanne Labrosse, received from a social media user daughter and even myself. I com- Stefano Cassetti. through his Paris-based company he ends up in London, then more who claimed to be a Modi sup- plained to the polie and Cyber A co-production between Brio Films. Other co-producers threats follow the young man porter. Crime cell. Not Tag PM. What’s France, India and Belgium, the include Vamonos Films, Little until he inds himself in Rome,Kashyap had then tagged Modi your point?,” she wrote. English-language feature will Red Car Films, Scope Pictures, where an unlikely threat shadows be distributed in Canada by A-Z M! Capital Ventures, Impact the hustler on to a hot-air balloon Sumeer With Salman Again ilms, and released in the US Films and Golden Ratio Films. that rides across the Med. (over 500 screens) by Cradle The ilm has been adapted from “This ilm is a universal story MUMBAI: Actor Sumeet Sam- Sumeet, known for his perfect Walk Pictures, India and Canada Puértolas’ novel “The Extraordi- that is a joy ride for every mem- nani, who featured in Salman comic timing, said in a statement. on June 21. nary Journey of the Fakir Who ber of the family,” says A-Z Khan-starrer “Sultan”, will “I play a pivotal role in the The Extraordinary Journey of Got Trapped in an Ikea Ward- Film’s Zeind. “Director Ken reunite with the superstar on- movie where Salman and I are the Fakir most recently won the robe,” which came out in 2014 Scott has done a remarkable job screen, this time for the forth- co-workers. I am part of the era Audience Award for Best Com- and has been translated into 35 bringing together not only many coming movie “Bharat”. where we are all young. The role edy at the Barcelona Sant-Jordi languages. parts of the world, but also mix- “This will be my second movie is quite serious for me. There is International Film Festival, and A hustler from Mumbai em- ing in plenty of emotion through with Salman ‘bhai’. I think it is comparatively less of comedy was the opening night ilm at thebarks on an extraordinary voyage laughs, telling tales, and social an opportunity that not everyone from my end. The audience will International Film Festival of across Europe in search of his es- commentary. I know Canadians gets...a ilm with Salman Khan. get to see a serious version of me South Asia, in Toronto. tranged father. During his trip, he will be very taken by The Ex- I am happy about that and even in the movie,” he said. The screenplay was written by inds love in a Swedish furniture traordinary Journey of the Fakir happier as its director Ali Abbas Sumeet Samnani has featured author Romain Puértolas, and store in Paris, but danger with and I’m excited to bring this ad- Zafar not only thought of me, but in TV shows like “Kalash” and Luc Bossi who also is producing Somalian migrants ensues and venture to them.” wished to experiment with me,” “Shankar Jai Kishan”.

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