Review of Phir Bhi Dil Hain Hindustani

Introduction

Quite a disappointment from the main cast and crew, which brought the superhit films Yes Boss (1997) and Raju Ban Gaya Gentelmen (1993). These two movies has much inspiration and fine innovation from films made by Frank Capra and Raj Kapoor making them just as good as the classics from that era. However the film Phir Bhi Dil... is pure glamour, making the overall impact of the story and performances seem too weak for the high-octane screenplay.

The sets of the television offices are too colourful and cartoony, while other set pieces don`t match with what is needed or required on the film. Perhaps the only real set pieces used are the editing facilities and the prison settings. Also the movie delivers an over the top dramatic message that we have heard many times in other patriotic films, making this one seem redundant.

The technical values are very good, especially Santosh Sivan`s camerawork that helps the audience to be amazed at the photography. Also editing is very slick and sharply done, to fit with the cinematography. Music and song score is average and forgetful. The film also has some fine performances from an excellent cast who outshine the ill plot.

The comedy moments, which the actors perform with great timing, will amuse while the romance glows. Only the high drama in the screenplay doesn`t seem it fit in well with the film. But here the actor, Paresh Rawal, gives the best performance in this film while doing his absolute best to make the drama fit in. The scene with him and his wife, just before he is about to be hanged is a touching moment.

The drama and mild comedy at times attack on issues that are funny and true but when the film actually supports it subconsciously then it backfires. An example of this is product placement, during the hanging sequences. Here the sequence attacks product placement in any big public event, yet the film itself does product placement for Swatch, Pepsi, Crush and others throughout the film. So while abusing big corporations with their big banners seen everywhere in the plot, it is also seen in the film.

The film was a flop at the box-office making it a disappointment to the fans that had high expectations of this film.

Video

The film is presented in its original widescreen aspect ratio of 2.35:1 displaying to us the whole frame that the director shot and intended the audience to see. It`s about time EROS International showed us the director`s vision in full scope rather then it cropped.

The picture however has plenty of compression artefacts problems and grain can be seen during many scenes. Distortion of picture information is therefore imminent. The picture also had weak dark details, poor shadows and a lack of sharpness.

The fact that this DVD is non-anamorphic will also affect viewing on a widescreen televisions as it will be hard too make out information. An example can be seen during the end credits, when reading the text as it is quite impossible as we lose out on resolution when you zoom in on the picture.

It could be argued that since the source material used for this title was bad to begin with, an anamorphic transfer wouldn`t have improved upon it. EROS would have benefited if it was transferred from an interpositive source via a DLT tape, instead of using an analogue beta source, which they have done here.

The picture has awful colour fidelity that shows signs of bleeding, skin tones are at times very unnatural while shimmering is nearly existent in every scene. Just damn right awful!

Audio

Not a movie that relies on ear-blasting effects but the soundtrack on this DVD is well design and put together, delivering fine soundfield immersing you eminently. A couple of action sequences and song numbers have the LFE channel performing very actively and never going over the top. Indeed another above average Dolby Digital 5.1 track from EROS.

Features

The menu is quite poor in design but is very easy to command over. Supplements are OK but they are not chaptered so you have to watch the t.v. spot in order to watch the making of feature. The t.v. spot is good but I would prefer a cinema trailer. The making of feature, which I saw on Sony Entertainment Television India (UK), was half an hour long and very good. However the making of feature on this DVD is cut by 20mins, which is a shame as the stunts and bloopers are missing, and this let me down.

Once again the packaging of the box and leaflets of this DVD are of high quality, well designed and are appealing to the eye. It also suits the overall feel of the film. The English subtitles are at times too fast in speed and this makes it harder to understand what is occuring on screen.

Conclusion

Nice sound quality let down by an awful visual presentation that is distasful to the eyes. Avoid!