MOD MOVIE REVIEW

BY MINAL ABHANGE

– OCTOBER 14, 2011

Cast: Rannvijay Singh, Ayesha Takia Azmi, Raghuveer Yadav, Tanvi Azmi, Anant Mahadevan

Poster of MOD

Director: Nagesh Kukunoor

Music: Tapas Relia

Producers: Sujit Kumar Singh, Elahe Hiptoola, Nagesh Kukunoor

Genre: Drama

Lyrics: Mir Ali Husain

Singers: Shivam Pathak and Shreya Ghoshal, Shivam Pathak, Shankar Mahadevan, Shreya Ghoshal, Raghubir, Shreya Ghoshal and Hrishikesh, Vijay Prakash, Raghubir and Shreya Ghoshal

Ayesha Takia with Ranvijay Singh

MOD rests on a very engaging plot which is much beyond romance though it touts to be a romantic film. The well-knitted story, however, loses essence with extremely slow-paced screenplay. The initial 40 minutes showcase the shabby rural climate of a family living on a hill station Ganga out then surprises unfold as Nagesh Kukunoor introduces each character.

Inspired by Taiwanese film ‘Keeping Watch’ it is an innocent romantic story. Ayesha Takia and Rannvijay Singh suit the theme perfectly as Nagesh Kukunoor unfolds yet again a story based on school romance with a different twinge.

Ayesha Takia

Ayesha Takia Azmi plays Ananya about 25 year old girl who lives in a hill station called Ganga, she lives with her father Raghuvir Yadav who plays Ashok Mahadeo and her aunt Tanvi Azmi who plays Gayatri Garg. Anant Mahadevan and Nikhil Ratnaparkhi play their parts well. Ananya’s father is the head of the local Kishore Kumar Fan club while her aunt runs a restaurant. Ananya and her father still wait for her mother who leaves them to fulfill her dreams. Ananya runs a watch repair store where she meets her lover boy Rannvijay Singh, Andy he lands up at her doorstep to have his watch fixed, he is shy boy, and repeatedly comes to get his water logged watch repaired and leaves a 100 rupees note shaped into a swan.

Andy’s introduction is innovative like his character “Andy Raymond last bench class 10^th B”. Post interval, as the story opens out with hard to predict twists, as things fall on diverse paths. The very thin line between the characters of Andy who actually turns out be Abhay is beautifully portrayed by Rannvijay in a manner worthappreciation. He has indeed proved his caliber on the big screen. Only the climax could have been more powerful in terms of writing as it doesn’t complement the flow with which narrator unravels the plot.

Rannvijay Singh is superb with switching lanes from a timid Andy to a flamboyant Abhay. It is a treat to watch him enact his role with such confidence. Ayesha looks graceful and acts well, living up to the expectations of the character.

Ayesha Takia and Rannvijay Singh in MOD

Nagesh Kukunoor a serious filmmaker has expressed the genre of romance too with his subtle nuances. MOD touches both heart and soul with the innocent situational accident of fate. Nagesh leaves one at the edge of the seat as soon as Andy moves in the plot despite the slow screenplay which is expected as he is never in a hurry tosurprise his viewers.
Music is the drawback and makes the screenplay look dull. Cinematography superb, capturing the locales of the small town Ganga in which the film is set. Dialogues complement the intense situations and leave a big impact at some places. Editing is crisp to compliment the slow screenplay Interesting storyline, power-packed performances, dialogues and intelligent direction are the strengths. On the whole, MOD is a one time watch which surely won’t disappoint you due to the fresh concept.