Morning walk upcoming movie

Director: Arup Dutta

Cast: Anupam Kher, Sharmila Tagore, Rajit Kapoor, Divya Dutta, Nargis, Shayan Munshi and Avika Gor

The first thing that goes against this film is its title. Frankly, a title like "Morning Walk" with a plot revolving around senior citizens, has every chance of alienating a large segment of the audience. Also, the film's release is a little ill-timed. Arriving at theatres when there is a plethora of new releases, "Morning Walk" can't be expected to attract audiences enough.

What one gets to see is a tale that immediately reminds one of the 1980s. Of course the makers may argue that the emotions have remained the same for generations, let alone just a couple of decades. But at the end of the day, audiences look for entertainment in whatever shape or format it is served. And that is not really the high point of "Morning Walk".

What is further surprising is that the entire angle of Anupam Kher, his one-time beloved Sharmila Tagore and her daughter Nargis is straight out of a lesser known film called "Lovesongs - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow".

You can't be blamed if you haven't even heard about this English film starring Om Puri and Jaya Bachchan. It was one of films that did really badly in 2008.

That film too saw its lead protagonists accidentally meeting after decades with a revival of bond between them. The film was an exhausting tale that read like a chapter in the life of a woman who had seen major lows in her life and had come out mentally stronger.

In case of "Morning Walk", the story is told from the point of view of a man. Even though the storyline is predictable but it is the performances that keep the film afloat to an extent. Of course that's something which is expected when a filmmaker manages to rope in veterans like Anupam Kher and Sharmila Tagore.

Meanwhile Divya Dutta, who plays Anupam Kher's daughter-in-law, bags one of the meatiest roles of her career. Some of the better scenes in the film are reserved for her. As for Rajit Kapoor, a regular with Shyam Benegal, he plays his part of Kher's son mechanically.

Shayan Munshi may not be the most pivotal part of "Morning Walk" but thankfully perks up the proceedings every time he comes on screen. He carries forward his 'Mr. Nice Boy' image - something that he has built from his "Jhankaar Beats" days.

Actress Nargis, whose claim to fame has been "Garam Masala" opposite Akshay Kumar settles down for a lesser part in "Morning Walk".

All in all, the film is a regular family drama, something that may have worked 20 years back. But in today's time when there are 100 entertainment channels airing 500 daily soaps with 80 percent of them taking a sneak-peak into a regular Indian household, it is expecting too much from audiences to step out of their living rooms and spend money to watch "Morning Walk" in theatres.

Love Aaj Kal

Love Aaj

London, San Francisco, Delhi - 2009.

Jai and Meera is a modern-day couple in London. They are very happy together but do not believe in tying each other down. So when life pulls them in different directions, they decide to go with the flow. "These Heer-Ranjha, Romeo-Juliet type janam janam ka saath type couples exist only in story books," Jai says. In the real life, we have to be practical.

Love Kal

Delhi, Calcutta - 1965.

Veer Singh is struck by a thunderbolt when he sees Harleen for the first time. Soon after, he stands under a tree and swears that "is janam mein aur har janam mein... yehi meri votti banegi - Harleen Kaur." He travels a thousand kilometers by train to stand under her balcony only to have a glimpse of her face. And yet not speak a word with her.

Love Aaj Kal

Veer does not understand how Jai can treat matters of the heart without passion, like a financial transaction. Jai does not understand how Veer Singh could have been so naive and silly about Harleen in the days of his youth. But as both stories unfold, we realize that the process of relationship might be different in different eras, but the experience of being in love remains the same. So there is the frolic and despair of modern living, the liberation and confusion. And there is the past - the times of innocence and compulsion. And there is distance, and the fondness that increases with distance. Gaps widen between two people, but bridges keep growing too.