Kaala kala

काला कला : My quick take on Netflix movie “Qala’

Initially I thought of having “Kalatmak kala” (कलात्मक कला) as the title of my quick take of this new Netflix movie “qala” but when I had ruminated enough on this beautifully shot dark saga, I changed my mind to Kalaa qala. The movie is aesthetically brilliant, where each frame can be frozen and kept as a digital screensaver, the color texture of the movie is apt for a movie depicting 1930-40, and the art director has done a stupendous job in recreating the bygone era, in short, it is a visual delight to watch this period film.

Secondly the plot hovers around an ambitious singer who wants to make it big, hence music is soul of the movie. When you have four talented lyricist in house (Amitabh Bhattacharya, Swanand kirkire, Varun Grover & Anvita) and melodic musical director like Ankit Tiwari to weave what can be labled as the best album of 2022, then the final outcome has to be simply a masterpiece. Let me also laud the camerawork of Siddharth Diwan , the low light photography in lantern lit havelis is simply exotic, it gives a ‘rembradish’effect in the frames where only the face is lit and the background is in dark – take a bow Diwan saab. The movie is also packed with pretty faces (Bong-beauties) and seasoned performers like Swastika Mukherjee, Amit Sial, Samir Kocchar, Tripti Dimri & Babil (Irfan) Khan. Even the producer Anushka Sharma has a pleasant cameo.

Now with so many positives in the movie is the final output brilliant? Unfortunately, my verdict is a big NO. It is because of the dark plot (not to my liking), Director Anvita (who also is a writer) has tried to glorify a sinister who goes to any extent to get what she wants & in the process tries project her as a victim of circumstances (हालात की मारी).

This artistic and melodious movie is certainly not a family affair, though it is not as ‘graphical’ as marlin Monroe’s “Blonde’ but has quite a few “suggestive” scenes which will remind you of Monroe and JFK’s intimacy.

I would strongly recommend you to ‘hear’ the melodious soundtracks instead of watching the entire movie.