How does the 'Chashme Buddoor' of 1981 and the 'Chashme Baddoor' of 2013 stack up against one another? Film critic Mayank Shekhar shared his perspective in an interaction with IBNLive readers.
Q. Do you think bigger stars could have helped the new 'Chashme Baddoor'? Asked by: Sufi from Roadies
A. A common problem with stars or star-system as understood by several big budget filmmakers is that they should not play characters. In that sense, I suspect having better known names in the film would've screwed up the basic motive of the picture -- a story about real, believable people like us -- even further.
Q. Do you think the Sai Paranjpe's 'Chashme Buddoor' encouraged smoking? Asked by: Sufi from Roadies
A. Smoking was a college fashion statement in the earlier generation. I don't know if it's true for teenagers at universities now. But Sai Paranjpye was merely reflecting campus life, and the cigarette had to inevitably show up in this story of young boys, as did checking out girls at public places etc.
Q. Do you think it has been a downward spiral for Sidharth in Hindi Cinema from RDB to Striker to 'Chashme Baddoor'? Is it better for him to stick to South Indian movies? Asked by: Sufi from Roadies
A. Siddharth, I think, is quite a talent-house, phenomenally under-explored still. He's also from Delhi University and would probably understand the nuances of the original 'Chashme Buddoor' more than David Dhawan. Sadly it's hard to tell what is it that they wished to remake in the 2013 version.
Q. As far as I understand, Earlier days of Hindi Cinema was known for its originality in execution and 'Inspiration' had a limited role to play. Now its a flood time for direct remake of Old Hindi Films, lot of South Indian Films, Titles, Songs etc.. Why it is happening? Is it normal or something is going wrong? Asked by: Prabal Bhardwaj
A. Market has the money to make movies, but no time to sit, incubate, develop new and novel ideas. Remakes, sequels etc are lazy ways to crack the crores, it seems. Unless audiences unequivocally reject these dunder-headeded movies, this trend will continue to eat into our intestines.
Q. Aisi filmon mei kahani ke plot ko kitni tawjo di jani chhaiye. Asked by: anu
A. Jee ha, plot, character, kahani. Sirf puns, word-play or double-meaning ke dialogue ke liye aap kitne der tak theatre mein pak sakte hain?
Q. 'Chashme Buddoor' of 1981 was a cult film. What are those factors? Asked by: priya
A. According to me these are some of the factors: http://thew14.com/2013/04/05/mayank-shekhars-review-chashme-buddoor-re-release/
Q. What do you think of this trend of remaking over the top south Indian movies? Asked by: Dr. Van Nostrand
A. Terrible, it's taking us back two decades with every Friday. No one wants to bust a party so every conversation is about how much money has the movie made, given crores were spent on its marketing and advertising. No one's interested to know how many people loved the film, or will remember it even few weeks from its release.
Q. Do you think that David Dhawan should have cast his son Varun Dhawan and his buddy Siddharth Malhotra instead of Ali Zafar and South Indian Siddharth? Would that have helped the movie? Asked by: Sufi from Roadies
A. Ya, why not, wouldn't have helped the script though, which was the problem, and not the actors. The actors are only as good as the characters they play: these were aliens on the move. http://thew14.com/2013/04/05/mayank-shekhars-review-chashme-baddoor/
Q. We all know that David Dhawan is a great director and usually understands the pulse of the populace. Were do you think that he has been going wrong in his last few movies? Asked by: Sufi from Roadies
A. David Dhawan was a good filmmakers of low brow comedies in the '90s. He hasn't improved one bit from then. Govinda could pull off anything with David Dhawan. These things have a sell-by date. The audience inevitably moves on, unless you move up. Sadly David Dhawan's last few films have been totally unbearable. I remember I couldn't get myself to review Do Knot Disturb, the fingers refused to move :)
Q. Remake ke naam par ham sirf naam ka istemaal karte hain. To fir use remake kyu kaha jata hai. Asked by: amit
A. True, I think this is to avoid a legal notice or law suit. Pehle zamane mein log filmein copy karte the, agar unke khud ki ideas na hoti thi toh. Ab samay badal gaya hai, and this explains remakes when they don't even try to capture the spirit of the original.
Q. Why couldn't Sai Paranjpe repeat her cult success after 'Chashme Buddoor'? Would it be right to call her a one film wonder? Asked by: Sufi from Roadies
A. Not at all. She made a significant contribution through documentaries, children's films, made-for-tv movies... Some of it isn't mainstream commercial work, but if you get a chance, watch her most entertaining films Katha (Naseeruddin Shah, Farooque Sheikh) and Sparsh (Naseer), you will be floored.
Q. Do you think it is fair for D Dhawan to use a title like 'Chasme Buddor' to get a good opening? Isn't this a negative trend? Asked by: Sufi from Roadies
A. Well he paid for the rights of the original movie, so he is entitled to use its name.
Q. Do you think Ali Zafar has hit his lowest ebb after London Paris New York and particularly after 'Chashme Baddoor'? Do you think it makes sense for him to quit movies now? Asked by: Dhawan
A. He's been given some shoddy work to do. Would be unfair for him to quit movies altogether. How about exploring better scripts instead? An actor's only as good as the movie he stars in.
Q. Do you think David Dhawan could have the played a better Omi (Rakesh Bedi)? Asked by: Dhawan
A. Haha, I think David Dhawan's pet actor Govinda would've killed it in Omi's role, if he was much much younger of course.
Q. When you say 'Unless audiences unequivocally reject these dunder-headeded movies'...Audiences ever forced Movie makers to sit and rethink over making sensible films? When an audience at large goes to theater to go into 'No Thinking Zone', How this transformation will ever happen? Don't you get ever bored watching Movies all the time... :) Asked by: Prabal Bhardwaj
A. Audiences have various motivations to watch movies, not everybody wants to leave their brains behind. After all what do you do letting your brains to rot at home, that can't be good for you! I love watching movies, all kinds, sometimes the trashier the better :)
Q. If David Dhawan paid for the rights of the movie, why was Sai Paranjpe upset during the release of the new CB? Asked by: Kukkad Kamaal Da
A. Because it's not Sai Paranjpye who sold the rights, but her late producer's (Gul Anand's) family. I am told she was upset about someone with the sensibilities of David Dhawan being given that right.
Q. Do you think that if Sid and Ms Chamko had got married in the old CB, would they be a happy couple today (after 30 years of marriage)? Asked by: Dhawan
A. I think so, though 30 years is a long time to judge, but they certainly would have the best love story to tell their grandkids :)
Q. Do you think that the old CB represented Delhi University life in a correct manner? Asked by: Dhawan
A. Absolutely, and without making it obvious. Ms Chamko is from Daulat Ram (she says it once), the boys probably went to SRCC (you see their college sweat-shirt in one shot). The areas in North Campus used to be quiet, leafy with bigger homes for old families and smaller barsati type apartments for students. The detailing is quite sweet I think.
Q. What's the role of a movie critic in bringing a change in cinema? or is it just about stars and reviews? Asked by: Prabal Bhardwaj
A. I don't think movie critics exist to tell filmmakers what they must do. They only tell their readers what the filmmakers have done. There is dialogue about popular arts where everyone has a stake, and that's always a good thing.
Q. If the old CB was to be remade scene by scene today, who would be the best actors to play the characters of Sid, Jomu, Omi and Ms. Chamko? Asked by: Dhawan
A. Scene by scene, hmmm... Can't imagine anyone replacing the three from the film, and they've already made the film for you, why not watch it instead, it still looks and feels as fresh and relevant as it would have in 1981!
Q. According to you the Must haves of a good remake. Asked by: SufiyanaSoul
A. The spirit and not the story of the original.
Q. If the three protagonists of the old CB; Sid, Jomu and Omi, were alive today, they would be about 50 years old. What do you think they would be doing if they were real characters? Asked by: Dhawan
A. Making a living, worrying about promotions, raises, retirement homes, like all of us. That's what's beautiful about these guys, and makes you connect with them instantly.
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