I Hate Luv Storys
For my final film I watched I Hate Luv Storys, and I have to say it was an amazing film. Considering its extreme cinephilia, I was constantly thinking about and comparing it to Om Shanti Om, but I Hate Luv Storys felt like a much stronger film to me. It follows the story of “J” and Simran, put together by fate to work on the next typical Bollywood love story. J is constantly stating his obvious hatred of love and the movies it produces, while Simran revels in the thoughts of love. She begins to develop feelings for him, but when she professes her feelings he states he does not love her back. Then he realizes his feelings for her, but she has moved on. The rest is obvious, but I will refrain from spoiling it too much.
My favorite piece of the movie was the way in which it use cinephilia. In Om Shanti Om, the obsession with movies is viewed much more through the lens of the culture, with references thrown in for those truly dedicated to film. The elements in it seem extremely saturated, as is even the color scheme. I Hate Luv Storys, however, worked from a view I found I was able to relate to much more. Through most of the actual film, we saw the creation of a film from the point of view of someone working on set. Not the main actor, or even an extra, but someone who was there for pre-production onward. I have had the pleasure of working on a film set, and there were so many details with which this film succeeded.
Although the typical points of emotion in the film had an affect on me, the moment that had the greatest impact was when the director of the film called wrap, and I could feel myself with the crew. I had been with them through the building of the set, and all the odd little jobs each person had to do. Then during filming when everyone was standing by watching the scenes unfold, again and again. The wrap is such an emotional moment in the life of a film, with the joy of finishing, but also the realization that this huge project everyone has been working on is now in a new stage of production, and all the bonding that had been done on set would be over. So, even though the film spent only a minute or two on the wrap, I still felt a bit like I was there.
For someone who wants to watch a film all about Bollywood and the typical stories it holds, and if they have a background in Bollywood, I would recommend Om Shanti Om. But if someone wanted a Bollywood film that could resonate with anyone who had worked with film, I would whole heartedly suggest I Hate Luv Storys. I would recommend it to anyone really, but the meaning it held for me was strengthened by my experience on a film set, and the film was very fun to watch.
Filed by jeremyap at May 9th, 2013 under Uncategorized