The movie was really, really enjoyable! I must say I didn’t pick up on the ending just before it happened, which is a big thing! Very well executed, very well shot, very well edited, and all the small tidbits added to the whole thing!
1) Rangeela avatars in the opening titles
2)The fight sequences were brilliant! brilliant! brilliant!
3) Alfred Hitchcock-usque cameo appearance!
4)Ahh the original reference to Junoon’s “Woh” opening dialogue! oh man! that was great!
5) Upper middle class boy talk!
6) SHUGAL! SHUGAL!
7) Chup video!!
you know i credited you in the film for your help with the script music etc.
but this comment was really what i had made this movie for. you have every single reference i had set out and more! and so excited that the end hit you at the end! btw the rangeela avatars are from Aurat Raj, the greatest pakistani film ever made. no jokes.
the cameos were enforced but if they get me compared to hitchcock, nothing like it.
the dialogue for the boys were the ones i was very proud of because that was my scriptwriting being put up to its test of not having cliches to fall back on…
the fight and video were actually done by my wife after i had a meltdown!! they are the best part of the film. liked the band in the castle?
thanks – i’d love to hear more! maybe you could do a blog post about it i know i am shameless, but what the hey. safieh (my wife) implores me to have some respect, so maybe you could just type a long comment
better late than never-but to begin with,congratulations! Making an indie film in Pakistan may not be impossible, but accomplishing something relying on mostly just friends and family and not being a millionnaire to begin with – really,really tough.
i have to copy some of dishoomdishoom here:
WOH!! I swear that line (ye gaane kis ke liye likhe hain) made me sit up INSTANTLY and it was wonderful to hear that music kick in!
Shugal! As a friend would put it…ohhhhhhhhh snap!
Obviously I got the feeling that the girl was going to fuck over the guy in some way and when she did her damsel in distress routine, I smelled fish, but – did not see the connection between the girls.
Also, I felt the conversation was really natural, and the actors did a great job, but…for some reason it just seemed a little forced, if you know what I mean. Maybe it’s the echo, maybe it’s the edits in between.
at 7:50 in Part 1, Talha’s hand holding the cellphone is shaking-not a comment on you or him,it’s just funny that he was so nervous.
questions:
1) I’m not sure I understand your message in terms of 92 and 09 – what’s your comment on the cricketing narrative there? What stands out for me is the contrast between the raw Arif Gondal and suave Imran in 92 and raw Afridi and suave Khitab in 09. So – you’re saying that the roles have been reversed on the field?
2) I initially disliked the heavy use of split screens and effects (just personal preference), but i guess they work. am i completely wrong to interpret that you’re passing a comment on the current flashy-effect-heavy youtube age and contrasting it with the Lollywood style of the early 90s?
but that Woh reference takes the cake.
it also hints that junoon, along with cricket, is one of your enduring points of reference.
a reaction like yours is the ideal thing to see – in a lot of ways, i am reaching out to more people and more varied people than ever before with this film. but to see people from our generation, around whose references this film is built, get what was intended is really really fun.
in terms of the cricket symbols, i used the two world cups merely to tell the change in time. 1992 – 2009. at one point i wanted to use cornered tigers (from imran) with t20 is like wwf (from younis) but then liked the afridi moment better. what is really fun is to see the extremely interesting, and certainly unintended interpretations arise. i think that is the part of a film where it starts creating its meanings out of the limits of its own production, rather than purely through the author (director)
the acting, as i mentioned, was possibly where i struggled the most because i wasn’t used to directing people, and not very good at it either.
Janab-e-Wala!
The movie was really, really enjoyable! I must say I didn’t pick up on the ending just before it happened, which is a big thing! Very well executed, very well shot, very well edited, and all the small tidbits added to the whole thing!
1) Rangeela avatars in the opening titles
2)The fight sequences were brilliant! brilliant! brilliant!
3) Alfred Hitchcock-usque cameo appearance!
4)Ahh the original reference to Junoon’s “Woh” opening dialogue! oh man! that was great!
5) Upper middle class boy talk!
6) SHUGAL! SHUGAL!
7) Chup video!!
*Taaaliyaan*
you know i credited you in the film for your help with the script music etc.
but this comment was really what i had made this movie for. you have every single reference i had set out and more! and so excited that the end hit you at the end! btw the rangeela avatars are from Aurat Raj, the greatest pakistani film ever made. no jokes.
the cameos were enforced but if they get me compared to hitchcock, nothing like it.
the dialogue for the boys were the ones i was very proud of because that was my scriptwriting being put up to its test of not having cliches to fall back on…
the fight and video were actually done by my wife after i had a meltdown!! they are the best part of the film. liked the band in the castle?
thanks so much dishoom yaar. made my movie
Well, i didnt do anything apart from being a well wisher! but thanks for the credit nonetheless! I’ll take what i can!
And the pipe band was an inspired addition!
Bravo! (and I heard about Aurat Raj, heard it was more than a big derogatory, but will see it when i can!)
Yaar. I fucking loved this.
thanks – i’d love to hear more! maybe you could do a blog post about it
i know i am shameless, but what the hey. safieh (my wife) implores me to have some respect, so maybe you could just type a long comment
I actually just read this. Will do a post for sure.
I am very laconic with my words. I – I apologize.
Where can i get that song in the begining, “karye pyaar” with Naheed Akhter and Tafo?
Your help is much appreciated.
youtube has it… alternatively you can download the whole album from here http://www.mediafire.com/?my5ozwnenry
better late than never-but to begin with,congratulations! Making an indie film in Pakistan may not be impossible, but accomplishing something relying on mostly just friends and family and not being a millionnaire to begin with – really,really tough.
i have to copy some of dishoomdishoom here:
WOH!! I swear that line (ye gaane kis ke liye likhe hain) made me sit up INSTANTLY and it was wonderful to hear that music kick in!
Shugal! As a friend would put it…ohhhhhhhhh snap!
Obviously I got the feeling that the girl was going to fuck over the guy in some way and when she did her damsel in distress routine, I smelled fish, but – did not see the connection between the girls.
Also, I felt the conversation was really natural, and the actors did a great job, but…for some reason it just seemed a little forced, if you know what I mean. Maybe it’s the echo, maybe it’s the edits in between.
at 7:50 in Part 1, Talha’s hand holding the cellphone is shaking-not a comment on you or him,it’s just funny that he was so nervous.
questions:
1) I’m not sure I understand your message in terms of 92 and 09 – what’s your comment on the cricketing narrative there? What stands out for me is the contrast between the raw Arif Gondal and suave Imran in 92 and raw Afridi and suave Khitab in 09. So – you’re saying that the roles have been reversed on the field?
2) I initially disliked the heavy use of split screens and effects (just personal preference), but i guess they work. am i completely wrong to interpret that you’re passing a comment on the current flashy-effect-heavy youtube age and contrasting it with the Lollywood style of the early 90s?
but that Woh reference takes the cake.
it also hints that junoon, along with cricket, is one of your enduring points of reference.
a reaction like yours is the ideal thing to see – in a lot of ways, i am reaching out to more people and more varied people than ever before with this film. but to see people from our generation, around whose references this film is built, get what was intended is really really fun.
in terms of the cricket symbols, i used the two world cups merely to tell the change in time. 1992 – 2009. at one point i wanted to use cornered tigers (from imran) with t20 is like wwf (from younis) but then liked the afridi moment better. what is really fun is to see the extremely interesting, and certainly unintended interpretations arise. i think that is the part of a film where it starts creating its meanings out of the limits of its own production, rather than purely through the author (director)
the acting, as i mentioned, was possibly where i struggled the most because i wasn’t used to directing people, and not very good at it either.
thanks again for the great words