Cinema Cinema

This cannot be said movie, but a nice documentary on Indian Films. Krisha Shah has done a brilliant job in collection of masterpiece of Indian cinema, Specially Hindi Films. Cinema Cinema gives you the inside history of Films and system of film making in India. I liked this movie because he has put it as simple and focused on the masala era of Hindi movies. We all know 70's is the golden era of Hindi Film Industry, at least that time it was not called "Bollywood". Documentary is collection of clipping of the movies released from 1905 to 1978. Narrated by stars of 70's Amitabh, Dhamendra, hema and Zeenat Aman. each and every segment is properly covered, my recommendation everyone should watch this docu-movie. A sub-plot also runs with this documentary where various character sitting in a old kind of Indian theater and enjoying this documentary, that is rare in Multiplex era. Enjoy

Mr. Arvind Vyas has got it absolutely wrong. He says Cinema Cinema is a collection of unreleased movie shoots but it's not true. Cinema Cinema is a nice review of Indian cinema starting from mute films to 1979. All these films were censored by board & officially released. Mr.Arvind Vyas is confusing himself. What he is saying is all about Shahab Ahmed's "Film hi Film". This film contains cuts from unreleased films like Naya Mandir (Manoj-Mala), Shikwa(Dilip-Nutan), Behrupiya (Raj Kapur), Sajan ki Galiyan(Dev Anand-Sadhna)and many more. Notable inclusion of a song picturised on Mr.Bachchan & female co-star. Amitabh Bachchan was removed from the film & same song was repicturised with Sanjay as hero, with same heroine, same location. The film was officially released but sans Mr.Bachchan. I am not recollecting the name of the film. Also this film has a some cuts from a film starring Guru Dutt-Sadhan. A Duet picturised on deck of a ship. A club Dance picturised on Helen. A cut from Ye Basti Ye log (Balraj Sahni-Madhubala). So it's Film Hi Film my friend not Cinema Cinema!

Documentaries are rare in the mainstream cinema of Indian movies, and perhaps "Cinema Cinema" is one of such rare movies encapsulating the history of movies from 1896 when the Lumiere brothers first showcased their moving pictures to the current trend of "masala" movies.

It begins sincerely with the history of silent movies in Indian cinema ushered by Dadasaheb Phalke and presents few genuine facts. But soon the film drops into incoherent collage of film clips and advocates the success of "masala" movies, which very inadequately pursues to give the glimpses of Indian Cinema. Besides, another disappointment was the cheaper depiction of Indian audiences in the cinema halls, which overall disturbs the narration and nullifies the cinematic legacy. Overall, Indian Cinema needs a better and more researched documentary to encapsulate its legacy.

Rating: 1 star out of 4