The Awesomness of Wake Up Sid

A look at my blog's webstats reveals that one of my most popular posts has been my review of Wake Up Sid - even during the few months when this blog was not updated, I got traffic based on the websearch for this review. I am beginning to think that this film might just become a classic in the future, given how people still google it up. Now, this blog is not shy of playing to the gallery, so in a big to get more people, I shall talk some more about the awesomeness of Wake Up Sid.
That movie is a homage to the city is already made clear in my previous post. Hell, they did not even call it Mumbai, it was always Bombay! This issue has not been resolved till now, even 15 years after it was renamed. For old timers, it is still Bombay. But whatever you may call it, the city is still unique.
And the rains. Mumbai rains. The film makers know how to use them to their own benefits, like Ram Gopal Verma did in Satya. But unlike that movies, which caught rains in its fury, Wake up Sid catches it in its laziness.
The beginning of the movie needs mentioning. It starts on a very slow note. We see Sid,trying to learn an economic theory. But just a he starts paying attention, it wavers. Then he focuses again, only for it to waver again. A perfect introduction for the character, who is clueless and laid back. Of special note is the look of serenity on his face, as his focus wavers. We instantly know that Sid does not take life seriously.
The character of Sid is well sketched. For a person who does not know what he wants and does not even care, he shows a lot of shades in his character. They may be subdued, but they are there. In contrast, Aisha comes off as a little superficial. Big, independent girl, alone in the city, who loves all things traditional (purane gaane), falling for her boss...all these seem to be created just to make her the opposite of Sid. It is a nod to the talent of Konkana Sen Sharma that it comes off as believable. Other characters, of the mother and the father have their moments of believability. The father Anupam Kher, sleepwalks through most of his part, but the part where is scolds at Sid for failing his exams, he shows his talents as an actor. This is not a father screaming belligerently at his kid, but a frustrated father, telling his son to mend his ways. He wants to scream, but he doesn't. Instead, his voice grates in helplessness. The mother, Supriya Pathak, is endearing when she is seen trying to learn English, and also when she comes to visit Aisha when Sid id not at home. But in all this midst, there is one ultra fake character, and that is Rahul Khanna. I could not help laughing whenever he came on screen, trying to be an overstressed intellectual. I have met quite a few editors in my time, and none of them have been overstressed. On the contrary, editors, with their flunkeys, are expert at delegating, tasks to other people, while they pretend to be busy.
The decor of the office and also Konkana's home, though is done well. I happen to like homes and offices done in that manner, with a very Indian tough, bright colors, Indian motifs. Full marks to the set designer here.
Another big surprise for me was to find the song 'Shaam Tanha' by Agnee in the movie. I was not expecting it at all, and was surprised it played in the movie. To those who haven't heard the song, I highly recommend along with the other songs in the album. Also recommended on the album is 'Karvaan'.
The movie does follow a predictable path, but the able direction sets it above similar movies, though I can't think of a Hindi movie with a similar theme.
Like I said earlier, its been a long time since I wrote a review for the movie, but people are still searching for info about the move. Though 3 idiots may be a bigger hit and more talked about, I have a feeling that this move will prover to have a better staying power. Twenty years from kids from today will fondly remember this movie as an overlooked masterpiece. And if it is overlooked, it will be.