SUNDAY, MARCH 19, 2017 (PAGE 4) MOVIE-REVIEW HERITAGE Royals and Ruins Not much about Machine Aruditya Jasrotia Eberhard Fischer have written a book “Nainsukh of A concerted effort to preserve our heritage is a Guler: A Great Indian Painter from a Small Hill-State”. MACHINE is essentially a love story (written which mars the film in a big way. The film’s screenplay This book glorifies the importance and magnificence of by Sanjeev Kaul) which happens amidst the does not offer anything new and lands up following the vital link to our cultural legacies and it literally the Nainsukh painting style. same path which had been adopted by many films till date. At this time hardly anyone goes to see the beautiful greed for money and mysterious circum- makes us who we are. People tend to believe The weak script also lands up making the film all style and that to be modern you have to disengage from fort which is holding a number of beautiful artworks on stances. The film starts off in picturesque no substance. There’s no denying the fact that the film’s its walls. The condition of the fort is pitiful and brings the North India, with the introduction of the writing could have been notches higher. The film’s dia- your heritage, but it’s not true. feeling of hollowness to the visitors. The walls are falling logues besides being devoid of one liners, are very average one by one, roofs have collapsed, vegetation has taken extremely helpful Saira Thapar (Kiara One of the important heritages of Jammu which is and fail to leave an impression. A few lines do come across waiting to be explored and preserved is Jasrota Fort. over almost all of the fort and it is in shambles. The dete- Advani). as corny. The comic in the films seems totally thrusted. Jasrota is a place, situated just 10 kilometre away from riorating condition of the Jasrota fort has exposed the After having directed thrillers like BAAZIGAR, RACE, true approach of the tourism department towards the This is followed by the ‘racy’ introduction of Ranch the National High way Rajbag, Kathua, in the Shivalik RACE 2, the director duo of Abbas-Mustan changed gears upliftment of the spot while it has been claimed many (Mustafa Burmawalla), who is smitten by Saira at first Hills of the Western Himalayas. It was the capital of the with their last film KIS KISKO PYAAR KAROON, which times by the tourism department that they are investing sight. This is followed by a car race, which is won by the Jasrotia Rajputs. It was founded by Jas was a rom-com. This time round, with MACHINE, Abbas- dashing Ranch, who doesn’t believe in the concept of ‘using Dev, a ruler of the Royal House of Jammu Mustan are back to what they are doing best - directing brakes’, which forms his secret to success. Saira, who is and Kashmir, who gave it to his brother, thrillers. Everyone knows that a typical Abbas-Mustan extremely famous and immensely likeable amongst her Karan. Jasrota was one of ten states found- friends, starts getting mysterious gifts from a secret admir- film is eagerly awaited because of its stylish presence, ed by members of the Dogra dynasty. er. And while Saira expects her secret admirer to be the thrills, unexpected twists as well as the suspense. Stories tell that Karan Dev was a son of adorable Ranch, it turns out that it was her best friend Raj. MACHINE does see the trademark film making style of Bhujdev, a ruler of Jammu, and that the And when Raj steps ahead to tell his feelings to Saira, he Abbas-Mustan, but, the average storyline plays the spoil- state came into existence in either the 12th is hit by a speeding car, which kills him immediately, along sport. The proceedings of the film’s first half is slow as it or early 13th century. There is an agree- with yet another friend from the gang who incidentally is is entirely devoted to the typical routine boy-meets-girl ment that Karan Dev was the founder of the also in love with Saira. An extremely disturbed Saira not romance, which is followed by their marriage. The ‘actu- ruling Jasrotia family. Ajab Dev was ruler only finds solace in Ranch, but she also eventually gets al’ story of the film begins from the point of interval. As of Jasrota between 1790-1800. He married to him. This is immediately followed Ranch reach- the film proceeds, one just cannot help but draw compar- arranged the construction of Jasmergarh ing Georgia to take part in a most prestigious car racing isons between MACHINE and Abbas-Mustan’s earlier film Fort (near to the present-day town of championship. It is here where he falls madly in love with BAAZIGAR. The film’s second half sees unexpected twists Hiranagar, then on the border of his terri- Serena Altar (Carla Ruth Dennis). Ranch, then, meets up and turns, which ‘accelerates’ the pace of the film. Because tories) in order to protect Jasrota from with Serena’s father Kriss Altar (Dalip Tahil) and asks for of the fact that the film’s climax is extremely long-drawn, invadors. The last member of the Dev his daughter’s hand in marriage. Does Ranch have a mys- it fails to touch the hearts. In movies where the mainstay dynasty to rule Jasrota independently was terious past and is his life more than what meets the eye are the twists, thrill and suspense, it requires a simplified Randhir Singh, who reigned from 1805 to is what forms the rest of the film. way of narration and less confusion. However, despite hav- 1820. Although Randhir Singh's brother, When MACHINE’s promos were ing all the elements of a thriller, MACHINE starts moving Bhuri Singh, was nominally recognised as released, it did not create the kind around in circles and gets confusing. his successor, Ranjit Singh annexed the of impact and impression that As for the performances, the film is completely tailor territory in 1834 and converted it into a one generally would associate made for the debutante Mustafa Burmawalla. The film jagir that was gifted to Hira Singh, a son of with an Abbas-Mustan film. acts as a complete platform (read ‘dream platform’) to dis- Dhian Singh, the Dogra Prime Minister of Without beating around the play all his skills. The sad part, however, is that, despite Lahore, who was also a nephew of Gulab bush, one can say that it’s coming from the famous Abbas-Mustan’s lineage, Singh. the film’s extremely Mustafa Burmawalla (visibly) struggles in It is not the honour that you take with weak MACHINE. Mustafa, who is decent at places, does you, but the heritage you leave behind. screen- have lots of raw edges which require polishing. Hira Singh contributed enormously in sav- play ing the art and traditions of that time and These areas include his dialogue delivery and lakhs of rupees in order to save this fort. Jasrota is wide- while handling emotional scenes. Even though because of his efforts the art and architecture flourished during his rule. It was Hira Singh who built the present ly famous for its natural scenic beauty which has huge his performance looks sincere enough for his existing tourism potential which needs to be tapped prop- character, the flip side is that, it fails to look fort at Jasrota, although its foundations date from around the 12th or 13th century. Hira Singh resurrected a con- erly. While having the enormous tourism potential the convincing. The film gives him ample Jasrota fort has been ignored in tourism upliftment by opportunity to showcase every possible nection with art. In building palaces of architectural splendour within the fort walls, he brought in painters to the government. ‘heroic’ skill. He definitely has a long The condition of this fort is very distressing and dis- way to go before he makes it big in Bol- ornately decorate them. Jasrota had been particularly associated with the Dogra school of painting during the turbing. The locals say that the department is fully aware lywood. On the other hand, the 2-film about the condition of the Jasrota Fort, but no action will old Kiara Advani (who was last seen in M. reigns of Bhupal Dev, Sukh Dev and Dhruv Dev, which began in the late 17th century and ended in 1735. Charak be taken by the authority. Number of articles and S. DHONI: THE UNTOLD STORY), has a and Billawari say that "The great miniature tradition in columns have been written about the condition of the fort strong author backed role. She shows immense the hills owes much to Jasrota", noting in particular the but the locals are still waiting for the government to step promise and utmost potential as an actress. She patronage of the family of the painter Nainsukh by Raja in and help them in saving this heritage. The Jasrota fort turns out to be the surprise element of the film. Balwant Singh and also the ongoing attendance at the and its architecture are fighting against time and it’s not With a right combination of good looks and talent, royal court at Jammu, where Jasrota rulers sometimes too late to save the heritage which holds an important she is simply raring to go with this film. Ronit Roy, served as diwans and would have been influence by its spot in the history of Jammu. It’s the need of the hour to who is at his menacing best, is excellent in the film.