Sulemani Keeda (2014)

Such a frustrating disappointment

It's no definitive masterpiece but it's damn close.

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.

Sulemani Keeda has been billed as one of India's first mumblecore films, as its low-budget shooting style, amateur actors, naturalistic dialog, and rather plain directing have made it easy to lump into the American-born subgenre (not movement) in filmmaking. If this is any key to where low-budget Indian cinema is headed, I'll be a full-fledged supporter, for this is one of the funniest films of the subgenre I've seen in quite sometime.The film concerns Dulal and Mainak (Naveen Kasturia and Mayank Tewari), two slacker roommates that dream of making it big in the Bollywood film industry one day with their script "Sulemani Keeda" (Hindi for "pain in the ass"). The two wind up going all around their community, being rejected by producers all over, until they finally find the financial and distributional assistance of Gonzo Kapoor (Karan Mirchandani), the drug-addicted son of a famous B-movie producer. He hires them to write a quirky art-house film for his directorial debut, which will serve as the game-plan for the two men to break out into the movie business until Dulal meets Ruma (Aditi Vasudev), a gorgeous photographer, his goals become secondary to pleasing his newfound love interest, much to the dismay of Mainak.Sulemani Keeda has the kind of showbiz comedy that isn't so meta and reliant on the interworkings of Bollywood to remain interesting nor as basic and as insubstantial to resort to dreary comedy clichés. It exists somewhere in the middle; a film that is pleasantly human and memorably comedic, as it focuses on two optimistic but unmotivated men who know they want to create beloved films but have a hard time figuring out how exactly to get said film out to the public.Such a film wouldn't be as successful without the pleasant chemistry of Kasturia and Tewari, who provide Harold and Kumar/Bill and Ted like sensibilities here. They are men engulfed in their own laziness, but pleasantly so, never resorting to malicious tactics but simply caught in their own realm of off-color jokes and goofy nature. Consider when Dulal tries to get the attention of Ruma in a bookstore, upon first meeting her, and the end result is a tragic misunderstanding that has Mainak simply grateful it wasn't him who embarrassed himself.Scenes like this are the gas in Sulemani Keeda's tank, which is a thoroughly pleasant comedy that could very well introduce people to Bollywood in a casual manner. Many Bollywood films are long (some long as seven or eight hours), and here is an eighty-nine minute film that feels more like a cinematic exercise than a formal film. It's a sweet, endearing story of the struggle to make one noticed in a sea of independent talent and corporate-controlled industry, and Kasturia and Tewari work to give the film a rare, lively spark of unbridled chemistry that charms as much as the simple script and basic shooting methods of a memorable, foreign comedy.Starring: Naveen Kasturia, Mayank Tewari, Aditi Vasudev, and Karan Mirchanadani. Directed by: Amit V. Masurkar.

I watched Sulemani Keeda in an almost empty theatre and throughout the film I just kept asking the question: Why? Before I begin writing anything about the merits/demerits of the movie, I must say that we need more movies like this. The story of Sulemani Keeda is nothing to go gaga over but the almost non existential direction in its depiction of friendship gives it a conspicuously vicarious emotion; almost nostalgic at times. The story starts with a couple of aspiring writers trying to make it big in the big bad world of Bollywood. Dulal played by an excellent Navin Kasturia marvelously underplays his character. His naivety in many scenes makes you root for him. And, Mayank Tewari playing Mainak, complementing the almost tangible innocence of the Dulal with his loudmouth and unkempt attitude makes us believe the character even more. In one particular scene of the movie, Mainak recites a profane poem in a bar with gusto and 'I don't give a damn' attitude just after Dulal had read a poignant poem. The scene becomes extremely sweet and corny in equal measures. The title 'Sulemani Keeda' refers to the title of the film which Mainak and Dulal desperately want to write. In the pursuit of becoming writers, they meet with a producer's son called Gonzo (Yeah, the name is enough to crack you up) who is hell bent on making Bollywood film in Eastern European style cinema with full frontal male nudity. What ensue are some really funny scenes and an emotional one towards the end. The love track between Dulal and Ruma (Aditi Vasudev) is a sweet and introspective one. The discussion between them inspires Dulal to not succumb to the societal pressures but chase his dreams. Ruma's pragmatism makes you appreciate the character. The film's bare bones depiction of friendship, the anguish of lost love and most importantly the struggle to make it big on your own terms resonates long after the movie is over. It is mature and fun in equal parts. The only problem I had with the film was its ending. It felt like a desperate attempt to make the film unconventional and hatke. It certainly could have been different. This minor qualm aside, the film is a little gem and definitely deserves a watch. ~Shubham Rakheja

I first saw the movie at Mami and then at a college festival, i genuinely loved the movie. Title of the movie is something which also caught my attention but i would like to praise about the movie for one and one reason.. The Dialogues! Every dialogue is just so right and real.Characters are quirky and the movie is full of witty dialogues and fun elements. Actor Mayank, Naveen, Aditi and Karan(especially) have done a fantastic job with their characters. I would recommend to watch it in theaters.Kudos Amit"Sulemani"Masurkar!Cheers:D

Watched this at MAMI festival in 2013. Was one of the 3 best I saw that year! The audience was in splits. The film has a very simple story and yet you are completely engaged with the characters and their journeys. The two leads play struggling screen writing partners who are constantly aspiring to reach the "next level" in their careers- and you completely feel for them. The lead girl (who was earler seen in Talaash) is gorgeous. There are also some cameos by Bollywood insiders who spoof themselves in a sporty way. The best part about this film is that it is not trying hard to make you laugh or make a point. It is breezy, light and funny. This is the kind of film that makes you want more and the kind of fresh Indian cinema that I would like to watch more often.