No Smoking

Why am I writing anything on No Smoking? The other day I was watching a news channel(English) and one analyst was putting her views and rating the just released movie No Smoking . She was searching for a number to rate between 0 to -10 and that made me curious so, on Saturday evening I saw much talked about movie (although with a horrible review) of well known director Anurag Kashyap and I couldn't resist myself writing about it. I would say the movie was excellent and it was a sincere attempt by the director to achieve what nobody has tried yet in Bollywood. It has less to do with smoking and more with John's arrogant and self centric character. One can replace habit of smoking with anyother obsession and make this movie. What went wrong? I think it was difficult for Indian public to digest the concept that a gate to Pataal lok can be through Dharavi(Asia's biggest slum area) but easier for hollywood viewer to accept that Angles and Demons wearing black corporate suits in Constantine. One need to take similar level of pains in understanding No Smoking as for Fight Club. The movie is far before its time with respect to the kind of public that provide hit status to a movie and hence it lacks business sense. But sometimes we have to put that business sense aside to pursue what we want to do. I like the bit when John chose life(jumping in bath tub) over a pack of cigarette but still din't get through because one need to pay for what he has already done.

I know this post is as difficult to understand as the movie itself but it is all about mind games.