Monday

Rocket Singh: We call it Plane, Excuse me!





First of all, it is not a great or a very good film. This film is merely watchable and different than the stereotypical bollywood films. You are better off watching this film than other ongoing films. The normal audience may take this film by storm by calling it different and innovative but they would unanimously agree that something is definitely missing from that film.
You take out 'sales' from this film, still it wouldn't make a difference to the narrative of the film. And it is the biggest failure point of this film. 
TAKING OUT SALES DOESN'T MAKE DIFFERENCE TO FILM
It is an out-and-out 'experimental' film and not a commercial one. Although my introspection and an endless discussion with my partner Sameer tells me the film is either good or bad (and not experimental or commercial), I reserve my term 'experimental'. Largely because the 'screenplay' of the two types differs significantly. 
I'm assuming that the people reading this post have already watched the film. Because I'm not going to give the synopsis of the film. I'm just trying to analyze it from the screenplay's point-of-view. 
The 'TRIGGER POINT' of the film as to why Rocket Singh joins AYS as a salesman is not absolutely clear. Okay, he just manages to pass the exam and apparently he is good at persuasion. 
Remember, I'm just trying to reinforce the fact that why it is an 'experimental' film. In a traditional 3-act structure commercial film, this point would have been made absolutely clear or ignored downrightly. It, obviously, becomes clear further when Rocket expresses his penchant for liking people made him to choose sales. See, this point was important in the film because in one particular scene Rocket particularly mentions that 'salesman is not a good-for-nothing person'. So he had to have a strong reason to become one.
TRIGGER POINT IS EXPERIMENTAL (read subtle)
The 'Plot Point 1' is when Rocket Singh makes a sale independently and afterwards decides to form Rocket sales corporation. 
Now there are two points - two important points. I didn't mark the time when this point comes but it comes out-of-a blue moon and I believe it comes at least a bit late than it should. This point comes after a bit confusion as to how the story is going to shape up further. 
For example, 
Rocket Singh joins the sales company and starts learning the ropes of the trade. Now we think the story would be about how Rocket becomes the king of the tricks. But, nope! 
The earlier built religious conscientious prevents him from dishonesty. Okay, no problem! What's next? Point to be noted his religious conscientious is not fleshed out, it is subtle. It is not at all a traditional 3-act structure. 
Next Rocket files a compliant against General Manager for which he is backfired was an excellent scene. It only showed: in sales you have autonomy to cheat customer but not to be honest. One has no independence. It is this very independence why his boss Nitin joins him further in the film. 
So Rocket has no active job now and I start thinking the film would be about how Rocket Singh becomes a super-salesman through his honest ways or how he wins back his superior and works his way around the system. But surprisingly, no!  
The office administrator gives him leads, he follows it, learns the dishonest pricing of the AYS and decides to assemble the PC for the young entrepreneurs (one of whom has the least regard for the salesman) on a reasonable rate (Plot Point 1). Now I understand what am I being driven to? Understand, the plot point 1 comes after much tossing and turning. 
PLOT POINT 1 COMES OUT OF THE BLUE MOON 
Is he cheating? Yes. Most probably he is taking revenge on AYS. The writer of the film, however, was clever enough to show Rocket even feels guilty about what he has done and he offers to pay for the usage of AYS infrastructure. Rocket goes further to form 'Rocket Sales Corporation'. Now this turn totally comes out of the blue moon. There is not even preemption about it. I'm not complaining about it. It's okay. It happens in real life. Since this point was the crux of the film, even the commercial cinema would have had it without preemption. But I would have loved it if brilliant team like Jaideep and Shimit would have incorporated it intelligently. All of Rocket's partners are justified except his senior Nitin. If his need for independence was more fleshed out, it would have been better. But may be the screenwriter didn't feel like giving it more attention. 
There is no confirmed 'MID POINT' to the story. The supposed mid point Rocket attempting to confide in Puri comes in too early and is not used interestingly apart from glorifying the scene when Puri coins the term big-zero. What could well have been an interesting mid point when Puri is alerted about Rocket Corporation is not treated as mid point. It only indicates the soon arrival of plot point 2. It could have had more intelligent scenes. 
The planks to drive the story to plot point 2 are inane. Why do they have to use the office land line, couldn't they have simply dedicated a mobile number for the service? Using the office land line is such a foolish and unacceptable act! 
Anyways, the 'PLOT POINT 2'  arrives when Puri catches them red-handed. Plot point 2 to Resolution is a pretty long but necessary journey. But can't deny the fact you start awaiting the resolution - it gets lengthy. They could have definitely made it shorter.  
The climax couldn't have been negative; it ought to be positive. 
PLOT POINT 2 IS DRIVEN ON STUPID PLANKS
These very loopholes keep this film from being complete. 
You feel like something is missing from the film. This film feels different (read strange) partly because it is experimental (not a bad point) and partly because of the loopholes (bad point). 
I couldn't understand half of the dialogues. May be because it was meant to be: to create the chaotic atmosphere of the sales. Something Sidney Lumet has done with Network. But it was justified. Or may be the theater had bad sound. 
The sales people are going to relate to this film more readily because the visuals in the film look real.
THE SCREENPLAY IS NOT COMPLETE 

Do check out the interview of Jaideep Sahni & Shimit Amin on: 
 
        
  


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