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Mausam - Review
Mausam
Mausam is beautifully shot, no doubt about that, but a regular love story takes forever to finish, and then there's some more left. And nope, after the first half of the first half is over, there is nothing at all that could make the lovers' frustrating journey engaging.
![[Poster for Mausam]](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6080/6096355684_4c91731298_m.jpg)
Mausam is like a pleasant evening breeze - you enjoy it for a bit and then fall asleep. Which is extremely sad, because you see the labour of love in each frame. It's pretty in every corner. But, the love story unfortunately goes on and on like a battery in its advert. Fine, I didn’t fall asleep but that's because I don't believe in sleeping in films, especially the ones I'm reviewing. But, I could completely imagine someone dozing off for a bit, and guess what they wouldn't have missed much when they woke up.
Ironically, the eased-out pace Mausam starts with, is the only bit that's charming about the story. It's so pretty, so serene, so simple that high expectations are set for the drama to unfold. I enjoyed the leisurely life of a village with its cute sense of humor. But maybe, like life in the village, the story doesn't move. The characters move on, their problems and state of mind remain the same. Which is fine, that's what happens when we are in love. But, I'd enjoy my love story, I lose connection with the love between Harry (Shahid Kapoor) and Aayat (Sonam Kapoor). And there are enough, "aawwww, so sweet" moments in the first half hour.
I also admired how the "sarson de khet" (mustard farms) I've been fed for over 15 years, felt fresh in the way they have been captured. The straight lines that railway tracks and electrical poles formed; the curves that bumpy paths and underground water pipes lying around the said "sarso de khet" formed - all very painstakingly framed. In fact, except for a tacky video-game-ish air-attack sequence, Mausam is beautifully shot.
But, the sweetness of a relationship and the cinematography of a film can take it only so far. Of course, there is value to getting exasperated along with the characters' frustrations. But, not if it translates to irritation with the film itself. Not if, in a love story, you are forced to say, "true love and all is ok, make them meet and get done with it already!"
And it's not like the writers haven't put in distractions along the way. There are enough of them. And I'm not talking about just the energetic songs which make you feel like you can watch Shahid Kapoor dance forever. There is historical and political context within which our lead pair struggles. Politics that you and I have witnessed. Times that we have horrific memories of. We should've gotten involved, we should've rooted for the lead pair. We don't.
This is despite the fact that you see at least one of the two beautiful people in each frame of the screen. I didn't quite get why Harry went so rigid. I was almost going to blame Shahid Kapoor for not being able to carry off the "serious" facet of Harry, but soon realized that Harry had lost all his charm and vigor. Sonam Kapoor on the other hand maintains a status quo throughout the film. In fact, her expressions are a carry forward from her debut film, Saawariya.
A love story between a Hindu boy and a Muslim girl minus the parents who usually raise hell. The lovers' bad luck keeps getting worse and the hatred around them won't let them be together. Hatred that isn't even directly linked to their lives. The tragedy is rather poetic, in that, the two who want to live in a time and space oblivion are separated by geography and a timeline. But poetry can be boring.
- meetu, a part of the audience
Parental Guidance:
- Violence: Communal violence and a war bombing.
- Language: Clean
- Nudity & Sexual content: A hint of a kiss. Characters are undressed half way because their clothing catches fire.
- Concept: True love. Does it break all barriers?
- General Look and Feel: Slow and pretty.
Mausam - Movie Details
- Official Sites:
Website
![[Facebook page of Mausam]](/site_media/images/icons/facebook_small.png)
Facebook
![[YouTube channel of Mausam]](/site_media/images/icons/youtube_small.png)
YouTube
- Banner: Eros International, Vistaar Religare Film Fund, Cinergy Production
- Producer: Sheetal Vinod Talwar, Sunil Lulla
- Director: Pankaj Kapoor
- Lead Cast: Shahid Kapoor
![[Has twitter account]](/site_media/images/icons/twitter_small.png)
, Sonam Kapoor - Supporting Cast: Anupam Kher, Aditi Sharma, Supriya Pathak
- Story: Carl Austin
- Screenplay: Pankaj Kapoor
- Dialogues: Pankaj Kapoor, Pankaj Kapoor
- Cinematography: Binod Pradhan, Binod Pradhan
- Editor: Sreekar Prasad
- Background Score: Pritam Chakraborty
- Action Choreography: Sham Kaushal, Perry Costello
- Choreography: Ahmed Khan, Ahmed Khan
- Music Director: Pritam Chakraborty
- Lyrics: Irshad Kamil
- Costume Designer: Lovleen Bains
- Facebook Page: Link
- Running time: 160 minutes
- Reviewer: meetu
- Categories: Hindi Movies
- Genres: Docu-drama, Romance, Thriller
Mausam - Trailer
If you cannot see a video above, click here to see it on YouTube
Mausam - All reviews summary
External Reviews
43 reviewers have given Mausam an average rating of 1.5/5.0. 6 yays, 23 nays, 14 so-so. See all external reviews »Twitter Reviews
On twitter, 308 twitterers have given Mausam an average rating of 2.9/5.0. 167 yays, 115 nays, 26 so-so. See all tweets »
Comments (22)
I saw the trailer for this movie and instantly got reminded of Parineeta. I just saw three serious movies back to back - Aarakshan, Bol and That girl in Yellow Boots, so I was quite delighted with the feel of the film from the trailer. Why do you want to see a grim and gritty film ? Been a long time since we saw a decent romantic film, right ? I really hope Pankaj Kapoor does as good (if not better) a job as Pradeep Sarkar did in Parineeta !! Now, if only Vidhu Vinod Chopra produced this one...:):)
I think Anupam Kher did direct a movie... Om Jai Jagadish!!! isn't it??? If not then apologies for an unnecessary comment... And yes I also expected something different from Pankaj Kapoor... I oscillate between the fact that it either is a Veer Zaara re-hashed (boy-girl separate due to partition and meet later... my guess from the interviews and trailers) or shock horror an Aradhana remake (probably the Air Force look)... I think the first story line will match Kapoor's sensibilities more than remaking a movie!!!
@Anand I'm not saying I want to watch a grim film, I just felt Pankaj Kapur would make a grim feeling, just the setting in my head. for the rest, I hope so too!
@Rachit Apologies. Completely missed that one. I'm going to change that to Kay Kay Menon. Thanks for pointing out the mistake.
Also, interesting...Aradhana + Veer Zara + Parineeta. Also means, we get a feel its not original. Let's hope we are wrong, no?
omg....i had the same expectation and the same feeling as you have had after watching the trailer. I think veteran like Pankaj Kapur just gave himself up in the race of making his son a bigger and better actor, and he lost the race the very moment. I had such a big expectation from Pankaj Kapur, he could have molded Shahid's character into a stud with a moustache with something, atleast a little bit, new. Disappointed!!
Adding to what i wrote above:
Punjab khet + Bhangda number + love + hindu - muslim affair + air force stud with a moustache + duty calling + crying + foreign location + 5-6 love songs...UFFFF, another one!!!!!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdFiV9yDHG4
Now this seems like totally my kind of movie....soothing yet tempting. Review it.
@Rohit i'll still hold on till i see the movie, who knows, it might have something different after all.
Trishna - Nicely shot, etc but i feel like I know the story already. Only name that makes it interesting is Michael Winterbottom.
Honestly, I've been waiting for the film ever since I heard Shahid was being cast opposite Sonam (this was around the release of IHLS and Aisha). The picture-perfect pair is sure to perk up the screen.
http://eatpraylovemovies.blogspot.com/2011/09/mausam-buzz.html
:( I so want to watch this movie, I love Pankaj Kapoor and he is the reason why I will go!
@chintan I know exactly what you mean! :( :(
I was hoping that you'd at least say "Catch on DVD for sure" :( I'm gonna see this one tonight and I hope at least the cinematography will keep me awake.
@Anand Good luck! and let us know what you thought.
Meeta pechana ;-)I think you saved my time & money. Jaane ki soch raha tha, but now will not go for sure. Rajan (MMHS)
ohh !! you've dashed my hopes :(.
I was so much looking forward to this movie. And yeah you're right, we do expect some dark, grim plot from pankaj kapoor. And he was the reason why i wanted to watch this movie.
But atleast it has some good cinematography as you said. This shows that it is an honest attempt to make a movie. This is what is expected of such people like maniratnam, anurag kashyap et al having good taste in art. They don't make any movie just for the sake of making. Atleast I won't feel cheated while coming out of the theatre.
For now I have my hopes on 'Sahab, Biwi and Gangster' and nagesh kukunoor's next movie which has ayesha takia in it. And Mausam, i'll catch on DVD.
@Rajan Haanji pehchana! :D next time you are in India, party!
@Kapil I know...sorry... :P
I'm just coming back after seeing the movie. I found it should have been trimmed. Quite a few scenes and probably few characters were unnecessary. The romantic scenes between the leads were also slow but honest - I liked that. It was an okay movie to watch but I expected more from Pankaj Kapoor.
bakwas movie i ever see 1st half superb than 2 hour tottaly bakwas
Meeta, I totally agree as always - I just wished they would meet and get it over with!! Also there was zero chemistry between Shahid and Sonam! And you know what completely did my head in - that ridiculous last scene where he single handedly (mind the pun!) rescues that child from the giant wheel and then that horse walking home with them!!! OMG - people in the theatre burst out laughing and trust me it was not the humour that they were mocking!! If I had a shred of appreciation for the efforts of Mr. Pankaj Kapur, he took it all away with that last scene. Shame really because it could have been a good movie - ah never mind, well at least I only paid half price for the tickets ;-p (friend's discount) - LOL!
What a mistake this was. In the last 10 movies that I've seen, this is the only one that was such a let down. I should have waited till your review came out. But the tickets were selling like hot cakes and I had to make an advance booking :(
But I'll give them this - the trailer was extremely well made !!
Yesterday I went to watch this film (Mausam) with my friends with lot of expectations.
This is one of the worst movies this year which I've seen.
Conceptually or at script level film was good. But the took 3 hours to illustrate the story but failed badly.
Sonam is so irritating in movie... it seems that she has no sincerity for work.
They were showing the locations the cinematography is good...but in Gujarat scenes it was like they showing shooting clips.
Bad direction and very bad Editing.
Overall a bad movie don't waste your money and time.
One thing I loved about Mausam is It's Music. Pritam has done a great job. almost every song is superb and we can Mausam is one of best music album of the year.
@Simy we are movie-soul sisters, looks like.
@Anand only a lesson for next time. :P ;)
wow so many interesting reviews, should check it out.
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