Swor -review

200 something odd music video maker Prasanna Poudel has raised bar himself and yes expectations are already soaring high after seeing his first directorial debut SWOR. With Swor, director PRASANNA POUDEL promises a true-blue band film, but ultimately delivers a masala Nepali film that just happens to be about a band. Raj Ballav Koirala, Sraj Garach, Amit Pokhrel , Joes Pandey , Reema Bishowakarma and Benisha Hamal star as once-aspiring musicians who chucked up their dream of taking their band professional. But in between their dreams comes a filmy twist. What's that i'm not here to say in depth detail.

The film's basic plot stays faithful to the blueprint of your standard coming-of-age film, but the screenplay of SWOR is bursting at its seams with so many clichés that fifteen minutes in you can predict pretty much everything that's going to happen then on.

Despite freshness in castings and pacy screenplay, SWOR has few surprises because the writers stick to the safety of tried-and-tested formula instead of pushing the envelope. As a result the film moves at a formula circus.

Yet, SWOR is rescued by some marvelous moments that stay with you until the end. Like that hilarious scene in which the band act before their first musical apperance on the stage. Or the one in which Raj's character blows a handycam 'moment' with Keki when he doesn't know how to get in touch with her.

There are many things to like about this film. Its little moments reveal so much. Like how the band's 'home-made' music and lyrics are instantly put into perspective in that telling scene in which Keki makes her first love impression and Raj instantly makes up a song about it. How can anyone criticize the amateurish lyrics of their songs after they've shown you exactly what inspires them to come up with their lines?

Or then that scene in which Sraj, the idea maker, gives a filmy idea of Hire the villians and be on the spot to rescue the girl. It seems like such a mundane scene, unnecessary even, but it stays instantly for a good smile.

It's difficult to believe the writer who came up with such layered subtlety, is also responsible for all the gaping holes in the script. The tiff between Raj and Tripti Nadkar that leads to the mysterious exile looks so contrived; Raj's overnight abandoning of his mother is hardly convincing; and where was Raj living after that is very confusing.

You cringe during that predictable scene in RAJ is diagnosed with a fatal brain damaging problem but insists on performing nevertheless; you sigh when you've correctly guessed that a character who was expected to cure after his big musical night eventually dies performing. This is one minor fault and I'm sure nobody'll bogg it big.

The heart of any film lies in its characters and your ability to empathize with them. The protagonists in SWOR are full of flaws and many aren't even particularly well written, especially the background of the band members. Yet they come off as endearing, and the credit for that must go to the actors inhabiting those roles. The extremely talented Sraj Garach may be reduced to the comic sidekick here, but he gives the film some of its nicest moments.
Keki Adhikari, saddled with what I think is the film's trickiest role, comes off unscathed because she's an actor who oozes warmth. Reema Bishwokarma exercises both beauty quotient and her acting chops to play the band's female singer / rythm guitar and the film's memorable character. She does both adequately. Benisha Hamal is just okey. But it's Raj Ballav Koirala who towers above the rest with an earnest performance as the idealistic musician. Raj is a new star in the making. See him emote, sing and play pranks.
This is a performance that stands out for its combination of strength and vulnerability.

SWOR wouldn't be half the film if it wasn't for Sugam Pokhrel and Satya-Sworoop Acharya's remarkable score. The one composition that stays long after the film is 'Mutu Nichori'. Take a bow Sworoop for composing this beautiful track. Bhupendra Khadka's lyrics is not up to the expectation barring 'MUTU NICHORI' .Suren poudel(editing)has done a terrific job in an otherwise technical fault narrative.

SWOR is not extra ordinare, does not try hard to be diffrentand that's what works in its favour. Its an easy film which has got a bunch of wonderful moments. For the novelty of the experience I'll go with three out of five for this film. Extra five points for bringing in lots of fresh actors.

Watch it because it doesn't let you down.

3/5 stars
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JAICINEMA

Raaj KI Baat.

Raj Ballav Koirala is a star in the making. Don't get me wrong , he has been in the bussiness for a time being now but let me make it loud and clear, Raj is a star in the making. You go see Swor and you come to me then will you agree that he is a newstar in the making. Rest you judge people. For now here is some candid gestures of the actor himself. ENJOY !

1.One role you wish to do before you're retired.

A lot of them actually but may be as Lieutenant Colonel Frank Slade, played by Al Pacino in the mocie Scent Of a Woman or as Sam Dawson, played by Sean Penn in I am Sam.

2.Two habits of your that bug your director Prasanna.

LOL I don't actually remember as I make him laugh most of the times. Umm let me think. I still don't remember.

3.Three scenes you'd never do.

Never get bare from the front, Never do complicated Action scene and make love infront of the cameras, for the movies apparently.

4. Four heroines you find very hot.

Carlize Theron, Megan Fox, Monica Bellucci, Sushmita Sen.

5. Five things you've learnt being an actor.

Improvisation, Negotiation, Patience,Tolerance, Optimism

6.Six words or phrase you use a lot.

Huncha Ni, Milayera, Jhyau lagne, Tehai ho, Ah, How do i put it.. LOL

7. Seven things you miss about Kathmandu when you're outta town for too long.

My Macbook, My Room, Parents, Solitude, Loved Ones, Food Cooked by MUM, Movies (watching them apparently)

8. Eight books you would love to see as films.

A lot of books have already been made movies however I would love to see these books and stories build up into the movies - Antarman Ko Yatra, Karnel ko Ghoda, Binajhu ko Sweator, Chemaki, Gauri, Eleven Minutes, Zahir, A Wild Sheep Chase

9. Nine persons you would like to show your first film 'SWOR' to.

Gagan Thapa, Robert Zemeckis, Ang Lee, Martin Scorsese, Quentin Tarantino, Karan Johar, Julia Roberts, Faran Aktar, Karan Johar ;)


10. Ten films you can watch over and again.

Up, Forest Gump, Casabalanca, The Shawshank Redemption, The Pursuit of Happyness, I am Sam, City of Angels, August Rush, Schlinder's list, Andaz Apna Apna


11. Most irritating question you're being asked these days?

These days, every cliche questions irritate me.

20MOST POWERFUL NEWS MAKERS OF 2010

1. Rajesh Hamal : In 2010 Rajesh Hamal got as close to controversy divinity as possible. When he became involved in the Real-Juice campaign as its brand ambassador, his fame almost came into the halt.
This was the same year Mr. Hamal asked veteran Indian actress Nadita Das -What it takes to make an art film. Nandita in reply smiled at him ; now this is what we would love to call the power of being Rajesh Hamal.

2. Alok Nembang : Sometimes numbers don't tell the whole story. They don't tell you for instance that Alok Nembang has more fans following than any other directors have. Not only his music videos are a huge talk in the gossip tinsell, he has a much larger eyeballs rolled at his films too. Kohi Mero might have been an acid test on Box Office but that's not going to change the spirit of Mr. Nembang. Its a fact that his failure is talked much then the success of others. Love him, or hate him but you can't ignore him and that's what power is all about.

3. Manoj Pandit: Was it the recurring soul of Late. Madan Bhandari or was it the whole accident episode ? Dasdhunga turned out to be a huge profitable film for director Manoj Pandit. Critical acclamiation both from the classes and masses. This makes enough of why he is in our power list.

4.Rekha Thapa : She can take a worst script and make it large at the Box Office like nobody else can. HIFAZAT and KASLE CHORYO MERO MANN were duds but Rekha Thapa gave them her best shot. No wonder nothing, but nothing seems to affect Rekha Thapa's standing at the B-O. She was in the news for her infamous dance with Comrade Prachanda and who can forget that Bhai Tika propaganda.

5.Anup Baral: 40 plus and he made it big with Das Dhunga, got first ever national award and if that's just not enough of him -he is now stepping into small screen with COLORS t.v backing him a serial.

6.Daya Hang Rai: It’s no mean feat to have your role win the coveted National award; but it’s something Daya Hang managed to pull off in 2010 with ‘DASDHUNGA’. Ironically, he was given the award in Best supporting actor category, but minus him & DASDHUNGA is incomplete. A power house of talent & this power emerges in our list too.

7.Sanchita Luitel: So she was the another woman in Nikhil Uprety’s life. She shifted to Mumbai and there was this news of her screen test for Ekta Kapoor - the queen of Indian Soaps. The year 2010 was famous for her quote ‘ The trouble is I never take Nikhil from Parbati’s life, he chooses to come along’.

8.

Nir Shah: Perhaps it was Nepal’s insignificant presence in ‘CARAVAN’ that started it. Or may be those hot-tongue-in-cheek words of arguments with Rekha Thapa in, B.B.C Sajaa Sawal did it. But Nir Shah suddenly became the talk of the town. The Royalists have disappeared and that was a history now; but for Nir Shah, he is the new found debate Prince . Those roar in B.B.C Saaja Sawal and he is in the power list

9.Bhaskar Dhungana and Nakim Uddin: Quest entertainment may not have seen success with production to begin with, but their intentions of getting into the quality cinema are clear. If any entity poses a threat to ‘Multinational BIG Cinema’s monopoly in the arena of multiplexes, it’s new arrival QFX. After the successful Jai Nepal and Kumari ,Quest has now geared into the Nepali brand of cinema culture - with the renamed QFX. Taking the fight of quality cinema further, they’ve successfully running up a distribution arm as well with DCN. Bhaskar Dhungana and Nakim Uddin have gradually made themselves one of the major players in the filed of - Production, Distribution and Exhibition. Power to Them.

10. Namrata Shrestha: She was in the shell for sometimes after that infamous sex video occulted and it’s true she gave her piece of mind on that very sex video on REPUBLICA. She had no releases for the whole of 2010-but still maintains to be here. Her reputation as an actress remains untouched & 2011 promises to be her year with some releases, we believe. Go lady go.

11. Vinay Shrestha: It was Vinay Shrestha who made us believe that we could rape our own girl friends and should not be apologetic doing it at all. No we are not saying he is a Rapist. In his 2010 released FIRST LOVE, his character was much talked about than the film itself. Some columnists found the film wrong for the youth for conveying the message that you could rape your lady and she would be in your arms in return.

12.Babu Bogati and Yash Kumar: They were so painfully low-key and low-profile that their movie ‘BAATO MUNI KO PHOOL’ came as a total surprise-. The movie was slick, colourful and entertaining and refused to let you go till the very end. Okay, their storyline wasn’t that extra-ordinary, but they sure knew how to spin a good masala movie out of them. Though Suraj Subba ‘Nalbo’ directed it, he was over shadowed by the duo of BOGATI and Yash Kumar. Now they are in Power List and we aren’t surprised.

13.Arunima Lamsal: Interestingly enough, Arunima Lamsal managed to get an attention from the public when she decided to confine herself to script-writing with ‘Dip-Shikha’. But the film certainly didn’t paid off well at the box office and declared a dud in no time. She is in the power list for making power writing shame.

14.Bhushan Dahal: He must be the only behind-the-camera guy who’s seen oftener in front of it. In fact, he’s more photographed than most celebrities. Three plus years and no films from his side. But to our relief he was a whole busy in 2010 with his television serial- ‘HAMRO TEAM’. Dahal will have to contend with frighteningly high expectations for the very serial. Now, the anticipation begins to build up to fever pitch but deliver anything short of extraordinary and you’re in trouble . Period!.

15.Manisha Koirala: In a world of airbrushed beauty, Manisha Koirala tiptoed in quietly through the frames of love saaga Pheri Bhetaula. That was way back 20 odd years. She then entered in the world of Hindi cinema and quickly managed to be in top lists with the films like Akele Hum Akele Tum,BOMBAY,KHAMOSHI,GUPT,DIL SE and COMPANY. In 2010, after nearly 20 long years in mumbai she returned back what with the promising Dharma -a Nepali film. But sadly the film was very horrible experience then her C-grade Hindi films. This same year, she got married with seven year junior Samrat Dahal and it's heard the marriage is already the down hill. We suggest her to write a book on self-desctruction and what are the bets it will prove to be a best seller .

16.Reecha Ghimire: The high priestess of oomph and outrageous, Reecha Ghimre could do Mallika Sherawat to Shame. 2010 was quite a year of controversis for Reecha as she was doing many not so-cool things to mention. First she naughtyly danced with Nepali Emraan Hasmi 'Ramit Dhungana', that's too in swim swit, in FARZ and if that's not enough she did an item in recently released GURUDAKSHINA and to our surprise ,that even didn't save the fate of the film.

17. Prashant Tamang: In 2010, Gorkha Paltan was the only film that survived at the Box Office. It wa struely a money spinner for movies.com who lost a heavy Chunk of money in KOHI MERO the same year. And now if trade insiders are to believe, Gorkha Paltan was a Prashant Tamang magic- The power of true GURKHA, they say.

18. Gopal Bhutani: '' He is unforgettable''. That's the unanimous verdict on veteran Action-master Gopal Bhutani. He passed away this year with a prolonged desire of getting a National Identity Certificate, which now remains unfullfilled. A strict disciplinarian, Bhutani, was soft spoken, with a smile in his face. Some people just have that knack of leaving an impression. Goodbye Gopal Bhutani. We are sure he must be making Gods up there dizzy with that smile.

19.Aryan Sigdel: The whole 2010 was spicy for Aryan as he had been continuously in news for wrong reasons - First it was his love for late night in bars and then there was this rumour of him misbehaving with girls when he was at the top of alchohal. This is not the end- he made headlines with this alleged affair with his co-star BABY THAPA (Recent development - Baby is ousted from the project for this very reason). This was the same year we got to know that he was signed for a whopping amount of Six Lacs for an upcoming film. Phew!

20: Bhuwan K.C: Power starts and ends with Bhuwan K.C, a superstar who brings in glam factor with every little things he does . October 2010 saw the release of KHUSHI - a Gopi Krishna production; and Bhuwan K.C was literally attending all the premiers that concluded with this Gopi Krishna venture. If rumour is anything than Uddhab Poudel,MD of Gopi Krishna movies, reportedly got a bad mouth from our superstar. All was well till the end of KHUSHI's premiere but it was in the reception Mr. K.C was said to have had unpleasent comment coming over Uddhab Poudel. We are informed Uddhab Poudel was scolded by K.C for having a premire of this very bad film to P.M Madhav Nepal.

EK DIN EK RAAT (review)

Cast: Vinay Shrestha, Diya Maskey, Anup Baral, Pooja Lama, Karma Shakya,Menuka Pradhan, Prabesh Giri, Gauri Malla, Sabhya (Jasper Neupane)

Director: Dev Kumar Shrestha

At a running time of Two hour and ten minutes, Dev Kumar Shrestha's Ek Din Ek raat is a  an irritating experiment that you boast for nothing.
The film starts introducing Utsav(Vinay Shrestha), a news reporter (T.V/ NEWSPAPER -Not clear), in his gut feeling in unseen power of a road Accident . This doesn't satisfy his Boss who asks him prove what he said within 24 hours; so the supposed-to-be- the edge of thriller begins with his gangs of friends…. Ichchha (Diya Maskey), Jen (Karma Shakya), Rushan (Menuka Pradhan), Nil (Prabesh Shrestha), Sabhya (Jasper Neupane)),Pralaya(Anup Baral) and Pooja Lama added...

When this  unit goes into chasing their thrill for news, an unknown, inexplicable entity begins killing them one by one. With every one's lives at stake, hierarchical differences in the team no longer matter; each must fend for himself, and soon people's real personalities begin to surface.

Ek Din Ek Raat, interestingly, is as much a comment on major human fobiles in the worst of unseen power. Shrestha spends the film's first10 minutes or so establishing his characters and the group dynamics.

This what supposed to be chilling Highway journey then starts  to drag us at an agonizingly slow pace - with so many loud characters and toilet humours nagging our temper. The first half is a very very poor show, while the film's second half is marked out for the suspenseful killings. But it also leaves us half thrust , as the preceding concludes with out any suspense revealed .

This in fact, works against Ek Din Ek Raat which ultimately feels like two different films.

Shrestha might have done better to jump straight into the action, establishing his characters and their equations along the way, thereby giving this film the breathless, edge-of-the-seat tension that is sadly missing here. It's something was well pulled off so well in Kagbeni, which dived straight into the tension, creating that ominous feeling at the very start. Likewise Kagbeni (Directed by Bhushan Dahal) , this too bears the very dull first half with an splendid background score. But let me remind you only background music could not stand a bad film.

Nevertheless, the pace in Ek Din Ek Raat picks up post-intermission as one after another the characters are knocked off in thrilling attack scenes that never visually reveal the attacker, but use excellent sound design to conjure up your imagination and confront your worst fears.

Ek Din Ek Raat is neither Kagbeni nor Kaal (hindi film ) which may be obvious inspirations but were different because of the real-time, documentary feel that both films had. Ek Din Ek Raat reminds you more of the early disaster
of Ram Gopal Verma's AGYAAT and AAHAT (SERIAL), where even the audience has no clue what it is exactly that is attacking the characters.

Ek Din Ek Raat has some chilling moments that could make you jump out of your seat, but sadly they were done with so amateurish-finishing.

Coming into performances :
Only Gauri Malla and Vinaya stand tall. Anup Baral looks total fake - gosh what is his character all about, ha! Diya maskey is wasted. Pooja Lama (a model. from nowhere drop in the journas team) looks just sexy . Karma Shakya tries hard to scare you. Newbie Prabesh Giri and Menuka Pradhan look as if they are caricature actors. Jasper Neupane in the film speaks like Einstein, Hilarious!

The writing of the film sucks and Director Shrestha suffers this BIG TIME.

On the whole, barring background score of TSUJIL KARMACHARYA , the film has nothing to boast about. From the business point of view, the masses and classes both will have them closed in their T.V soap-operas rather than running for their hard earned money destroyed. 2010 ends here with this stale film.

I'm going with one and half stars out of five for director Dev Kr. Shrestha's Ek Din Ek Raat; at a time when special effects and digital tricks can be used to create just about anything, here's a reminder that what really scares us is the stuff we can't see.

1.5/5 STARS

JAI CINEMA

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