No Smoking

Runtime: 127min 3secs
Language: Hindi (with English subtitles)
Written and Directed by: Anurag Kashyap

Plot Outline:
K (John Abraham) is a 30 year old man who thinks of himself as quite the catch and refuses to listen to advice from anyone. Overly confident about himself and whatever he does, he is also a chain smoker in the true sense of the word. Catching hold of this habit from a very young age, he hasn't looked back ever since. His well wishers have tried in vain to see to it that he kicks the habit but all to no avail.

When his wife decides to leave him over this, he finally decides to take a move in the right direction and approaches a clinic recommended by a close friend. Here he finds the one man who will help him: Baba Bengali Sealdahwale (Paresh Rawal).

Baba guarantees results, but first he offers a quick look at the terms and conditions (a huge book) and forces the signing of a contract. K can't leave until he has signed. Once he has, he's stuck. Baba has his own simple way of curing his patients. They must follow all his orders as per the terms and conditions signed and if they don't, he turns their life to hell, quite literally.

Overall Impressions:
It would be no overstatement to say this is by far the most surreal Indian film I have ever seen. It'd also easily make my Top 5 films this year. Since a lot of the events are beyond the realm of logic, the quirk factor fits the mood of the film perfectly. The story is connected in such a way that it leaves a lot to be understood by the audience, rather than being spoon-fed all the answers, thus making it a movie for quite a selective crowd. That and the parts that are just deflecting you from the actual on-goings, make this an instant cult classic.

It's the kind of cinema I can proudly recommend to others. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the masala flicks like Partner or Namastey London just as much as the 'generic' audiences, but if someone hadn't seen a Bolly-flick before, no way would I recommend them, I'd pick something smarter, like this.

Beneath the gloss there is a lot being portrayed here that is being missed (judging by the reviews I've read). It seems the expectations of the critics as well as the masses was of a generic entertainer. Why though? I don't really understand that logic. From what little promos I've seen, it was advertised as a film that promotes anti-smoking. How can you make a flick about this, that wouldn't seem bland? Let's see how that could have panned out: He decides to attempt quitting at plot point 1 (all same upto this point), end resolution of he does or does not, what could you put in the middle that would keep you engaged??

The way it has been handled is definitely ground-breaking as far as Indian cinema is concerned. I would compare it to what the Russians did with Vampires in Nightwatch, mixed perhaps with what the Americans did with sports films in Field of Dreams. If I am to complain I'd say the songs are the only points where I felt the time to look at my watch, meaning if they were removed, no harm would be done. Otherwise the background music too was totally fitting.

Perhaps the advertising could have been altered too? I don't have any suggestions as to what I would do though so I won't dwell on this too much, but after the film I felt torn between whether this is a film that is anti-smoking or anti-anti-smoking. I guess I should clarify: It's clear that Smoking is injirious to health, kills, etc, etc, it isn't disputing that. In fact if kids were made to watch this film, one way or another, they'd probably get the message. (but being a 15 rated film, 'obviously' no kid will see it -- HA!).

So yes, smoking is bad is certainly 'a' message, but the impression I got more strongly was that the people convincing him that he should quit, were just as sadistic & in the wrong - if not more. Having read the director's blog entry about it afterwards, it did make more sense. It's certainly worth a read.

Some other subtle touches such as Hindi subtitles when English is spoken and thought bubbles, was novel to see. You have to give the production credit for not doing a half-baked job, amongst so many out there that will do the minimal in post-production.

A respectable film about our battles with our own demons, as well as a swiftly judging society that we live in. A total two-thumbs up.