" PAGE 3 "

This is about a movie that I saw this evening. It is directed by Madhur Bhandarkar and the main characters are played by Konkona Sen, Atul Kulkarni, Boman Irani, Tara Sharma, Sandhya Mridul, Bikram Saluja. The story happens at two places simultaneously ... in the Glam- sham of Mumbai city and in Madhavi Sharma's ( Konkona's character ) sensitive mind ..... in a very tandom manner ...

Madhavi Sharma is a journalist doing a "Page 3" beat for a local newspaper. Along with her is her roomie (Sandhya's character). ... and Tara who's playing an aspiring actress's character, .. joins them. Then there's Madhavi's gay friend (played by Rehan Engineer) and loads of other characters as politicians, photographers, models, fashion designers, celebs, party animals, social workers, car drivers (they have a very interesting spot on this whole plot !) and lots n' lots of others ....... Boman Irani plays Madhavi's boss and Atul Kulkarni plays a crime reporter ... both extremely good and talented actors. This is one contemporary bollywood movie wherein there are three national award winners working as leads .... Konkona sen, Boman Irani & Atul Kulkarni ! Boman Irani was amazing in "Let's Talk ... " ... Atul Kulkarni an established marathi actor .... gave a mind-blowing performance in "Khakee" ... and finally Konkona sen ... a not so beautiful (but her eyes are really beautiful ) but wonderful actress who gave her best ever performance in "Mr. and Mrs. Iyyer ".

The movie is about human relations and it talks about how easily they are valued and devalued in a metropolitan city like Mumbai; where everybody is after money, fame & position. At another level this movie talks about love, commitment, emotions, principles of jounalism, sexual relations, child abuse, child molestation, sexual harrasment ( perticularly w.r.t. the glamour industry), homosexuality and typical manipulative nature of so called high society ( Page 3 people of the city ) and their relations.

It sends a very sensible and meaningful message regarding "truth" .... it says that ..... " To spaek out the truth is important but how you go about doing that is even more important. One should understand the difference and act accordingly. " (of course this has a reference to a scene in the movie where Atul says this to Konkona, trying to convince her to join some news paper ... after she gets fired from her earlier job for speaking out the truth.) ..... but what Atul says to Konkona after that is even more appealing .... " To change the system, you have to be in the sytem ! " .... clap clap clap ..... and believe me the movie is full of such catchy lines !!

Youth, business community, police, politicians, glamour industry, drug dealers, social workers and common public are the social domains that are involved in this plot. Madhur has successfully captured the essence of their intricate relationships with each other. There's a scene in this movie which starts from the police inspector giving a matchbox to Atul for lighting his cigarette and ends with Atul giving the inspector the same matchbox to light his cigarette !! ..... Nobody could've written and directed a better scene than this one .... and you should see it to appreciate it !

In a way this film is very very bold in itself as it speaks ( and shows quite a bit ) about things that have remined unspoken in this country for many many years now. If you are a very orthodox and culture-bound person ... then watching this film would definitely be a cultural shock for you and you would feel extremely disgusted at the end of it. But, if you care to think about it even for a minute, you'll feel and appreciate the need of such films in our country ...... because it is so REAL .... it is real to the extent that you would want to ask yourself that do I want to be a part of SUCH a society anymore .....

The film is very effective in sending it's message across the people ..... and frankly speaking, people who can't see it (the message), have wasted their money !!

All in all a very good movie ! ... worth watching ..... though I won't be able to watch it for the second time ... coz, I can't take that scene where they show child molestation and child abuse ... I won't be able to take it again .....

Anyways, a good time spent with close friends .... what more can I expect ??

Here's your chance to take a look at "Page 3 " poster .... it has Madhavi Sharma aka Konkona Sen ... a reporter ..... take a look ....

Well, I guess this is the lengthiest post ever on my blog , but worth it !!

So, do make it for the movie ... i'm sure you'll be stunned !

Till tommorow ... it's b'bye from me ...

take care.

@mar.