The Altered Reality of Saaho: Why I love the film!
It’s a
little over two weeks since Saaho released. I already watched the film twice in
the theatres and I plan to watch it at least one more time on the big screen. I
thought it was a kickass thriller, with a screenplay unlike anything we’ve
seen so far in Indian cinema.
The critics
had something else to say though. They all hated it.
I suspect
that they haven't grasped anything about the movie at all.
This
blogpost is actually a lament about them and not a movie review in the
conventional sense.
I speak
about the film, but more to set a context as to how the critics went horribly
wrong this time. I just couldn’t resist the urge to write about this topic.
Critics, critics, and
critics:
Do film critics matter these days?
Conventional
wisdom would say NO. Everyone is a critic these days, thanks to social media.
But truth
is - there is so much noise and manipulation on social media that it is hard to
trust any trend or voice as a genuine one at first glance. The vast majority
are left with no choice but to gravitate towards these big media houses, or
those with considerable influence in terms of follower count.
Film critics
are still considered influential enough to alter the outcome of most movies at
the box office. We have ample proof of that when we see promotional material of
movies carrying star ratings of these critics.
Film criticism
is a tricky business though; multiple factors come into play - ranging from
analyzing techniques, to aesthetic preferences, to someone’s personal beliefs clashing
with the content of the film as it happened in the case of Kabir Singh recently.
There is an
element of suspension of disbelief that comes into play too – you don’t go in
expecting to see a SLB film while going to watch a RGV film, or mix up a Farah
Khan film with a Zoya Akthar film, and so on. One’s expectations are set based
on the filmmakers’ and the actors’ past work. If there is a mismatch – then one
might get pleasantly surprised or utterly disappointed.
In the case
of Saaho – maybe because of a mismatch in the suspension of disbelief, or in
their hurry to share their point of view, most critics (almost all) forgot to
watch the movie properly. Instead of providing their expert insights and helping
the viewers to catch the nuances of the film and its structure, they outrightly
misled everyone.
Let me now tell
you why I find Saaho to be so unique, and what the critics missed.
There are
no spoilers ahead; it’s safe to read even if you haven’t seen the film.
The Heart of Saaho:
Remember this scene? It’s there in the trailer too. Shraddha points a gun at Prabhas and then…
Tumhe yahaa
maar ke koi faidaay nahi….
(No use
shooting you here…points at the heart)
kyon ki sab
yahaan hai
(Because
everything is here…points at the brain)
Boom!
This scene,
in a nutshell, explains what Saaho is all about. We go in expecting emotions; all we
get is a heartbreak. We exercise our brains; a rollercoaster ride
awaits us.
Not an easy
thing to comprehend for a regular audience looking for simple escapist
entertainment.
I’ve
written about this phenomenon in the past too when I spoke about Manirathnam’s
Raavan. Click Here to read that post. I called that movie an iPhone, and that it needs an
internet connection (our brains) to make sense.
Some movies
just demand that attention from us. We are not always ready for it.
The beauty
of Saaho lies in reflection; and without that reflection it makes minimal
sense.
Let me
explain further.
The Structure of Saaho:
Pause for a
moment and read this poem by Chanie Gorkin.
Worst
Day Ever?
Today
was the absolute worst day ever
And
don't try to convince me that
There's something
good in every day
Because,
when you take a closer look,
This
world is a pretty evil place.
Even if
Some
goodness does shine through once in a while
Satisfaction
and happiness don't last.
And it's
not true that
It's all
in the mind and heart
Because
True
happiness can be attained
Only if
one's surroundings are good.
It's not
true that good exists
I'm sure
you can agree that
The
reality
Creates
My
attitude
It's all
beyond my control
And
you'll never in a million years hear me say that
Today
was a very good day.
I am
assuming you read every line of this poem, from start to the end.
Now assume
this poem is the story of Saaho.
The poem paints
a negative picture of the world…it is called the ‘Worst Day Ever’ so what else
could this be. You formed an opinion on the poem and the poet and raced ahead
to share that with the world.
Now here’s the
twist.
Read that
poem again – this time from bottom to top, the other way.
Read it…don’t
cheat.
Surprised,
right? Everything we assumed so far has turned out to be different. The whole
meaning of the poem changes, from one of despondency to hope. Every line seems
important in relation to the other, and it feels like a jigsaw puzzle has
automatically rearranged itself. Everything changes.
That is exactly
the structure of the screenplay of Saaho. It is a story told in the opposite
direction. Nothing is what it seems at first glance. Everything needs to be
revaluated based on new info that’s presented to us.
Depending on whether we choose to use our heart or our brains, and our capacity to process the events of the film - Saaho can either become an exhausting or an exhilarating ride.
My very
first reaction after watching Saaho for the first time was – I am going to
watch it again for sure. There’s a certain joy in discovering the way
writer-director Sujeeth placed multiple Easter eggs throughout the film. He was
literally teasing us – telling us to look at the surface, not even beneath the
surface, but we keep getting fooled repeatedly.
There are
amazing nuances in the film that make sense only in the second viewing.
For
instance, the best acting scene in the film involves no dialogue but only eye
contact between the characters of Arun Vijay and Lal when they meet for the
first time. On first viewing one wouldn’t even notice their eyes but watching
it a second time, after already knowing how the movie ends, the brilliance of
that scene hits us like a ton of bricks.
Everything makes sense in hindsight and not while it’s unfolding in real-time.
This is what I call ‘The Altered Reality of Saaho’.
Don’t go by
the altered reality of negativity created by the critics and those that didn’t
understand the film. Watch Saaho at least twice and you can thank me later.
If you
still don’t like the film, then I’ll assume you have a large heart… oh, wait;
never mind J.
Till then,
Cheers!!!
Kartik Dayanand Boddapati
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Here it is, finally; my answer to all the critics of #Saaho.
— Kartik Dayanand (@KartikDayanand) September 13, 2019
Read, reflect, and spread the word!
Thank you!!!
The Altered Reality of Saaho: Why I love the film! https://t.co/rBhGklqDlG
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