Ferrari Ki Sawaari

Just last weekend I was lamenting the state of Indian cinema. I accused it of not making movies. Not telling stories. And just a week later, Rajesh... read more

Just last weekend I was lamenting the state of Indian cinema. I accused it of not making movies. Not telling stories. And just a week later, Rajesh Mapuskar, Rajkumar Hirani and Vidhu Vinod Chopra come out with their film Ferrarri Ki Sawaari. Basically, showing me the finger. It doesn't only show me how there are still good movies being made in our country, it does it with a big smile on its face. There is a distinct audience divide in our country - the masses that want to enjoy the same old masala and the multiplex audience that likes to keep things a bit bland (same old again). Well, there is another audience, the one that wants to watch good cinema. This is the kind of film you can't insult by putting it into such sorry categories as commercial cinema or art cinema.

The good cinema I'm referring to is driven by a story. The other ingredients are on auto-pilot, organically introducing characters, sub-plots and taking us through their journey. Moreover, it is characters like that of Rustam, an astounding performance by Sharman Joshi, who are probably one of the primary reasons why I love to watch movies. The kind of characters that are inherently good, untarnished by this cruel world. Rustam is so innocent that he almost makes every other character in Bollywood movies look evil. Even when characters like these do things that aren't exactly good, I'm still rooting for them. This is an instance where you don't have to cast a movie star for me to root for him, you just have to create a character which makes me want to. The film not only has great characters acted out by ingenious actors like Boman Irani and Paresh Rawal, it also has wonderful dialogues that these characters are given to speak. It sometimes restrains from being melodramatic, creates beautiful delicate moments and sometimes explodes into escapist fantasy. How many times do we see that in one movie? And done well!

The plot is so simple that in a lesser film, it wouldn't be this charming. Rustam (Sharman Joshi) wants his son (Ritvik Sahore) to go for a cricket camp in London. He walks the path of righteousness. Until he decides to take a detour and steal a Ferrari (who said steal? He just borrowed it!!) in exchange for a sum of money that will help his son chase his dream. This isn't exactly what you call an inventive, path-breaking story. The sub-plot of a politician and his son, and two attendants are definitely out of a bad movie. But here, these minor characters glisten with the shimmer of the terrific screenplay. A scene which depicts bribery and corruption here is better than entire films made on the subject. The final act of the film is a miracle, the resolution is something most movies shy away from. In between I wished the film would go on and on (The wish was granted and it kind of did). Yes, the film is a bit long but only when your heart is not in the film. In fact, the biggest compliment I could give this film is that the overlong finale felt like getting a free candy, an extended treat. The film (especially the ending) also reminded me of a favorite film of mine, It's A Wonderful Life (1946). Frank Capra made movies about innocent do-gooders who don't belong in this harsh world. A final compliment I'd like to give this film would be that even Hollywood has forgotten how to make movies like these. It may not be a great movie but it has movie magic, something that is missing from cinema screens these days. This is easily one of the best films of the year so far.view less

In Pursuit of GoodnessJo Dekhega wahi sikhega tells Rusy (Sharman Joshi) to a traffic cop. I am very worried about the cinema our kids are watching... read more

In Pursuit of Goodness

Jo Dekhega wahi sikhega tells Rusy (Sharman Joshi) to a traffic cop. I am very worried about the cinema our kids are watching. With Rowdy Rathore crossing the 100 cr mark and kids I see near theatres screaming excitedly to watch that film the best gift a father can give his child on fathers day tomorrow is show her/him this flawed and yet lovable film that looks at the brighter side of life.

Following the same template as the two Munnabhai films and 3 Idiots, Ferrari ki sawaari directed by Rajesh Mapuskar picks up the mantle from Rajkumar Hirani of telling a fable like tale of goodness and honesty.

Rusy(Sharman Joshi) is a single parent living with his father Deboo (Boman Irani) and his 12 year old son Kayo (Ritwik Sahore). Kayo is a cricket fanatic, captain and star of his team. An opportunity comes knocking for him to go to lords for a coaching camp. Rusy promises to arrange the 1.5 lakhs required for the camp. After a couple of failed attempts at arranging the money through honest means Sachin Tendulkars Ferrari becomes his only hope to get the money required.

Twice you have to suspend your disbelief while watching this film. One is while watching Maharashtrian characters speaking in Hindi amongst themselves and the other is the unconvincing action of Rusy stealing Sachins Ferrari.

Though this is Rajesh Mapuskars debut film the influence of Raju Hirani hovers around the film a lot, because the dialogues are written by him. If Raju Hirani decides to write a self help book he could be Indias answer to Rhonda Byrne who makes people see the goodness around them through her books The Secret and The Magic.

Sharmans character at times comes across as an offshoot of Raju Rastogi from 3 idiots and his dialogue delivery reminds me of the interview scene from that film. He is perfectly cast as a lovable person who cant do any wrong but doesnt cut out as a convincing Parsi. Boman Irani on the other hand plays his part pitch perfect. His scene with Paresh Rawal is a delight to watch. Ritwik Sahore as Kayo who has an uncanny resemblance to Sachin appears more mature than Boman and Sharman put together.

But, what you leave with are not these three characters but certain moments where yet again like Shanghai the smaller parts shine above all. My favorite is Mohan played by Akash Dabhade. I am fan of his after this film. His track with Deepak Shirke is the best track in the film. Then there are other characters like Pakya (Nilesh Diwekar), his father, Baboo Didi (Seema Bhargava) & Shamshu bhai who with just one scene leaves a memorable impact.

Word of mouth In times of such chaos releasing in the name of cinema a film like Ferrari Ki Sawaari is the balm that can soothe the senses and calm the cynic in us.

Rating 3.5 (Good)

Ticket Meter Worth a family visit to the theatre.
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Indian cinema seems to be on a rapturous transitional phase where experimentation is the keyword and fearlessness the driving force. For Bollywoods... read more

Indian cinema seems to be on a rapturous transitional phase where experimentation is the keyword and fearlessness the driving force. For Bollywoods fixation with star-dictated films seems to be calculatedly threatened by a number of heavy-duty small films where content accelerates the pace on-screen and imaginatively penned stories walk the red-carpet. How many times could we get to see a film which has an aristocratic car as the central plot device? Or a sperm-donor in its titular character? Or a film on a former athlete-turned-dreaded-goon which goes on to validate his acts and makes us nod in favor? Not many in the past. But the present is drastically evolved and joyfully different.

Vidhu Vinod Chopras Ferrari Ki Sawaari features an adorable Parsi kid Kayo, who harbors the dreams to be the next Sachin Tendulkar of the country and has the goods to deliver. Sharman Joshi plays the affectionate and encouraging father, Rusi, who has a strictly ordinary job as the Chief Clerk at the Worli RTO. When the quintessential life-changing opportunity for Kayo comes in the form of an expensive cricket camp to be held at the legendary Lords stadium, Rusi finds himself in a moral catastrophe as tough ethical decisions must be taken to tackle the financial dilemma faced by the typically average household.

When an over-zealous wedding planner promises a local corporator that shed get a Ferrari rather than the traditional horse for his sons wedding, she has no idea how to get there. Bumping into Rusi, she devices a method to somehow convince the master-blaster to rent out his Ferrari for a couple of days as shes willing to pay heftily for the services. When the supposed lease turns out to be an unintentional robbery on part of Rusi, the city-roads go for a toss as a luxury item of the rarest variety sprints across with alarming liberties.
Poor father Rusi only wanted his son to get the best of the training and even hobnobbed for the loans, but was left with no alternative but to capitalize on the accident. However things escalate beyond control making the characters eventually confront their helpless limitations as well as question the quality of their initial decisions.

What Ferrri ki Sawaari manages to do, and does it very well, is capture the simplicity as well as the uninhibited ambition of the forever struggling middle-class. Thus Ferrari represents not only the symbolic luxury but also the boundless dreams of the countless working-class people. Director Rajesh Mapuskar along with writer Rajkumar Hirani designs his characters which are monetarily restrained but that remains only a part of their lives and not something which hampers their ambitions. This automatically brings in a lot of conviction in the characters which also helps in generating a compassionate relationship with the audience.

You root for Rusi till the very end despite the logical lapses visible in the plot and despite him not functioning in accordance with our heads. For now, you are totally concerned for the kid and want him to sway his bat triumphantly on British grounds.

Review Continued Here : http://www.desimartini.com/reviews/ankur-pathak-ferrari-ki-sawaari/rd15836md1672.htm
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Ferrari Ki Sawaari is a totally feel good movie. It is choc a bloc with bittersweet moments that make you go Awww and bring a tiny tear at the edge... read more

Ferrari Ki Sawaari is a totally feel good movie. It is choc a bloc with bittersweet moments that make you go Awww and bring a tiny tear at the edge of your eye and twist your lips in a sad smile. It is in the same genre as Munnabhai (since it comes from the same stable-Vidhu Vinod Chopras. Also, Raj Kumar HIrani is the Creative Consultant for the movie and the Director Rajesh MApuskar has worked with HIrani) but is not as good as Munnabhai and does not even come close to Three Idiots in its story or its telling.

Horribly honest Rusy is the head clerk at the Worli RTO. He lives with his grouchy dad (Boman Irani) and his super talented at cricket son, Kayo. Things become challenging when Kayo gets picked to go to a coaching camp at Lords, which costs 1.5 lacs. Rusi does not have the money, cant get a loan and is desperate. This starts a totally unlikely chain of events where he is promised 1.5 lacs if he could get a Ferrari for a politicians sons wedding. His attempts at doing this snowball into something bigger than Rusy had bargained for, before the movie finds a solution.

The pace at places is slow and there are a few things that dont follow through logically. But these are minor glitches that come to you only after you are out of the theatre. In the dark, you are entranced by Kayos innocent acceptance of his talent, Rusis desperation to do the right thing by his son and the grand dads fear of history repeating itself. You cry with the characters and laugh when they score small victories. And so the movie works.

The cast is beyond first rate. Sharman plays a mild mannered Parsi man pushed into a corner, to perfection. Ritwik Sahore as Kayo is effortless and he just has to smile to win you over. Boman Irani playing the frustrated old Parsi cricketer who does not get his due is simply amazing. There are plenty others in the cast too.. the watchman of Sachins building and his servant, the Koli politician and Paresh Rawal as the oily cricketer who cheated the granddad. Each person pitches perfectly and hits sixes and fours all over the place.

Except for a tiny part in the end, which is a bit melodramatic, and over the top, the rest is like being in Toyland with Noddy. It is a fairytale that reminds us of values like honesty and bravery and that with a little bit of luck most of us will get by. That is the true triumph of this movie. Go, enjoy!
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In typical Vidhu Vinod Chopra and Raju Hirani style, Ferrari ki Sawari tugs at your heart strings, makes you teary eyed and at the same time leaves... read more

In typical Vidhu Vinod Chopra and Raju Hirani style, Ferrari ki Sawari tugs at your heart strings, makes you teary eyed and at the same time leaves you with a sense of warmth and hope.

Sharman Joshi plays Rustam, father to a twelve year old Kayo who is very good at cricket and needs a lakh and a half for a coaching camp at the Lords London. To help raise the money, Rustam steals Sachins Ferrari for a wedding of a corporator. How he manages to raise the money, return the Ferrari escape jail and be a good father to Kayo is the crux of this delightfully entertaining film.

While Sachin as an inspiration to millions is a stated angle in the film, Ferrari ki Sawari at its core is about father and son relationships, depicted brilliantly in three different stages of life-Rustam and his twelve year old kid Kayo, Boman as the old ex cricketer Debu and his son and now a father himself, Rustam and the politician heavy weight Corporator father and his neglected young son, the groom wanting a Ferrari even at the cost of rebelling against his dictatorial fathers.

In characters that are real, rooted and believable, the film fleshes out nuances of how this relationship morphs as both the father and the son grow together. As the bright red Ferrari gets driven around the city, covered in flowers or even transforming into a Red Saree clad Vidya Balan dancing a Lavani number, it becomes a metaphor for the lengths a father can go to keep his child happy.

Then there are the quintessentially Raju Hirani school of character sketches like the goofy security guard, the loud jugadu wedding contractor and sundry other bit roles that provide some hilarious yet emotionally poignant moments. Like the Munna Bhai series, this one too makes it a point to preach without pontificating.

So you have Sharman offering to pay a fine for cutting a signal though he isnt caught only because his son saw him and he would learn what he sees. Dialogues are the biggest hero here, with intelligent witty and completely clean comments on everything from the govt. EPF scheme to loans being denied to those who need them and how the loan givers would someday go bankrupt thrown in for good measure.

Ferrari ki Sawari rests on the shoulders of Sharman Joshi and he carries the film with effortless ease. His smile is disarming and he excels in the emotional parts making one wonder why it took him ten years to get his due as an actor. Boman Irani as the grandfather and Ritwik Sahore ad Kayo are the other mesmerizing performers. A fun energetic background score keeps the pace light despite some heavy duty emotional scenes towards a tad elongated climax.

At a time when mindless remakes of southern potboilers are ruling the roost, Ferrari ki Sawari comes as a breath of fresh air. Clean, well meaning and warm, this one will leave you smiling long after the film is over. Watch it for sure.
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