Videsh, also titled Heaven on Earth, was my first experience watching a Deepa Mehta movie. An Academy Award nominee for her movie Fire, Deepa Mehta is one of most globally recognized directors from Canada. She is well known for her controversial ‘Elements’ trilogy (Fire, Earth, Water) of movies based in India. This movie has been titled Videsh in India. It was released under the title of Heaven on Earth in Canada earlier in 2008. The film is originally in Punjabi. It’ll be released in both Hindi and Punjabi versions in India. Videsh – Heaven on Earth is based on a bunch of Punjabi immigrants in Canada and a newly wed bride who marries a man whom she has never even met in her life and comes to Canada. The film stars Preity Zinta, Vansh Bhardwaj, Balinder Johal, Rajinder Singh Cheema, and Ramanjit Kaur.
When I first checked out the promos for Videsh on Apple, I was really impressed. It did seem something on the lines of Aishwarya Rai’s Provoked. A girl from Punjab marries an unknown guy settled abroad. She realizes he’s not the guy she expected him to be. Something quite relevant back there in Punjab. Wannabe brides are desperate to marry NRIs with green cards for greener pastures. Things don’t go well usually and most of the times the bride ends up in a really bad state. Videsh – Heaven on Earth highlights the pain and suffering these brides undergo in an incredibly magical way.
Preity Zinta plays the role of a young bride, Chand, from Punjab who moves to Canada to marry Rocky, played by Vansh Bhardwaj. I’ll say this has got to be one of most amazing performances ever by Preity Zinta. The way her character is portrayed and the way she has carried herself throughout the movie, she deserves a standing ovation. Vansh Bhardwaj, a first timer, is a young promising actor from Chandigarh. He’s managed to impress throughout the movie. The film has been shot so well that I’ve certainly become a Deepa Mehta fan. The entire wedding scene is one of my favorites in the movie.
Although Videsh – Heaven on Earth is a movie on domestic violence, hatred, love and passion, Deepa Mehta doesn’t miss out on the humor. A few comic touches here and there brings out some smiles during the movie. And then there’s this imaginative magic touch to the movie. A very innovative one I must say. The film isn’t a usual Bollywood/Hollywood masala flick. Don’t expect a fast paced Bollywood-like drama content here. It’s brief yet very effective.
Videsh – Heaven on Earth is an absolute must-see movie for all those who seek some quality cinema. Some really brilliant performances, some really comic characters, some really interesting ones and some magic. If you think all Deepa Mehta could cook was controversy, here’s a flick that’ll change your mind.
My Rating: 5/5
Article by Harry
Harry has written 461 awesome articles on HarryJerry.com.
About: ...an engineering student, a freelancer, a professional blogger, a loving lover, too shy, an Internet freak....and everything I shouldn't be.
|
|
Tags: deepa mehta, preity zinta, punjabi, review
Related Posts
- Movie Preview: Heaven on Earth
- Movie Review: Slumdog Millionaire
- Movie Review: Burn After Reading
- Movie Review: Dev D
- IPL:Lalit modi checking out Preity Zinta!
- Movie Review: Seven Pounds
- Movie Review: Clash Of The Titans 3D
- Movie Review: Raaz 2
