Boring

It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

In other words,this film is a surreal ride.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

Indie films are a rarity in India. Rarer still are good ones. Sulemani Keeda is a little film that satires life in the periphery of the film industry. It's a bittersweet tale of how struggling writers' lives unfold in the glitzy by lanes of Mumbai. Some of it is truly hilarious, some profound and a little bit just doesn't make sense. Like any piece of art, it has its imperfect strokes. The story for example, is a tad too simple. Yet, the movie reflects upon certain insider truths of the industry that make for an invigorating experience.This is the story of two writers waiting for their big break. They're dug into the dream of making a film called Sulemani Keeda. But neither has any serious professional guile other than their honest aspiration. They also come with a set of prejudices and stereotypes. Mainak (Mayank Tiwari) for one is the trash talking guy who thinks he's better than the world. Dulal (Naveen Kasturia) on the other hand is a classic case of hesitation getting the upper hand on talent. The two make an unlikely writing pair and you're introduced to their lives as they beg for a chance to the likes of Mahesh Bhatt, Anil Sharma and Amrita Rao. Let's just say their career prospects are borderline pathetic and it doesn't help that the two know nothing about scoring with chicks. But when Dulal meets Ruma (Aditi Vasudev) things seem to change for the better. But they also run in with trouble when Mainak and Dulal decide to write a film for Gonzo Kapoor (Karan Mirchandani). The only big conflict in the film is predictable and yes you could argue that's how the cookie crumbles in real life. But then again, good writing can make fact stranger than fiction. That's what worked for films like Jaane Bhi Do Yaro and Chashme Buddoor. With Sulemani Keeda, it's the dialogues that steal the show. They're funny, quirky and then on moments they're a revelation. The 'perhaps it's time to grow up' line hits you like a rock. Masurkar does a fantastic job with the lines, not so much with the script though.Then to say that visuals could've been better is really nitpicking. End of the day, this is an indie film. It doesn't even have the budget of a commercial b-grade movie. Even so, one has to contend with unimaginative camera work. This point only becomes a subject of criticism because we're talking mainstream exhibition. If Sulemani Keeda had been a niche product one could've overlooked the lack of quality in its imagery. Especially because certain parts show you the team was capable of shooting good frames. But the inconsistency robs the movie of its punch. It's not a major deterrent. But it is enough to put off the average movie viewer.The great thing about the movie though is its cast. Naveen, Mayank, Aditi and Karan are the four pillars on which Masurkar builds his story. Naveen's performance with the subliminal nervous energy and the totally gullible personality is good. Better still is Mayank's performance which shows a character with brazen disregard for the system. He swears everywhere and he's just spearheading into everything he jokes about. These are real characters and the actors do a more than good job. Aditi and Karan are in shorter roles but their performances are superb. Karan especially looks creepily awesome in his Tarkovski inspired role.A special mention to the CGI scene where Karan's character snorts cocaine. This particular scene belongs in such memorable movies like Pineapple Express and This Is The End. This is beyond hilarious. It will give you a stomach ache. A thousand likes to Masurkar for deviating from the norm and having the audacity to try something different. But, a story is the heart and soul of a film. And Sulemani Keeda falls short on that aspect by some margin. Clever writing and word play do save the scene. But then it could've been better.

Suleimani Keeda was a film which was recommended to me by someone who loved TVF Pitchers, I was told that Naveen Kasturia is a good actor and since I am also a writer, i will be able to relate to the bros in suleimani keeda. Suleimani keeda looks promising from the outside with a feel of Mumbai, relationships and a look at the life of two struggling writers. Well, looking into the detail, Naveen's character looked promising at first, when you look at him, he is the one who reads books, recites poetry and looks like someone who loves poetry. Now the flaw. If Naveen is in love with poetry, you expect him to recite it in a clearer tone, he recites the poetry in a very immature manner. His love for writing is not at all visible in the film. Why would a struggling writer who is getting an opportunity of a lifetime is not interested in writing, instead of doing his work, he is more inclined to meet the girl. The friend( i am sorry, i forgot his name) is not a writer. He has no perspective and he looks more like a TV writer rather than a film writer. Watching tarkovsky or trauffat will not make you a writer. Now the delhi connection- They don't look like delhiites, they don't talk like delhiites and none of them had the attitude of a delhiite (I know this, because I am from Delhi). We hardly see the change over of naveen's character, He wanted to see the world and become the writer he wanted to be, but the trigger point was too weak. The fight between the two was contrived. It was useless, the writer only wanted them to part ways so that Naveen can become a novel writer and the friend is still a screen writer. The direction was much better than the story at hand, Chemistry between the Bros was missing. Over all it was a good effort, but not a movie. I am surprised to see so many good comments, maybe TVF is at it, but the movie is a fail.

There are few good things about a debutant's work. Firstly, you don't have any expectations from the work. Secondly, you can be as critical as you like without worrying about the trolls. Also, you are elated when such a work leaves you tickled in the end. The film portrays beautifully the solution to the age old problem of the 'writer's block'. Through the two friends, Mainak and Dulal, it depicts different choices one makes to overcome the block. The film considers overcoming this block as a life changing event in the life of a creative professional. The film reminds one of the 'cult' classic Barton Fink(1991) where the directors Coen Bros. took a deep dark turn when their protagonist was faced with same writer's block. The film is drenched in a amateurish style which adds a raw edge to the film and hence an eight(8). Humour is good and apart from the theme this is the only other thing which sticks with you for a little longer. The film seemed too self aware sometimes, i.e. giving details of what is transpiring, a signature evolved from Fellini's(Gonzo's cat :P) 81/2.

If you have a few brain cells, a sense of humour, and are as sick of the '100 crore' rubbish being churned out by Bollywood on a daily basis, please do watch this movie. You will love it. It is as indie as indie movies get, so don't expect it to look as slick and manufactured as your typical Bollywood Khan starer, but the very fact that it is an indie movie is what makes it so charming and refreshing (and lights another beacon of hope for a more diverse Indian film industry).The movie is about two struggling writers trying to get their screenplay produced - one a relatively straight-laced idealist, the other an in- your-face, street smart guy on the make, with a hidden vulnerability. The caste is virtually unknown - in fact most of them were not actors before this movie was made, but they are all from the movie industry. The lead, Naveen Kasturia (Dulal) worked as an Assistant Director, the co-lead, Mayank Tewari (Mainak), is a columnist, screen-writer, poet and amateur stand-up comic, the pseudo European art-house cinema loving producer's son and actor in waiting Karan Mirchandani (Gonzo) is a director. Only Ruma (Aditi Vasudev) was a professional actress at the time the movie was shot, but a very young one who had only just started in the industry (she had acted in Do Dooni Chaar and Talaash). And this really works, because they all bring a freshness and naturalness to their roles.The movie itself is a 'slice of life' piece about the fringes of the film industry, the hopes of the new aspirational middle class (who can now dream of being more than just doctors and engineers), young love, and above all, friendship. What shines through the most are the dialogues, which are crisp, sharp, natural and very very funny. Apparently a lot of them were improvised during the shooting process, which gives them a very unrehearsed feeling. There is the odd sequence where the editing could have been a wee bit tighter, but it doesn't take away from the charm of the movie.I wouldn't be surprised if this becomes the next big cult film in India, which people will be talking about 20 years from now, like Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron and Andaaz Apna Apna.Bottom line - watch it.