NOVEL VS MOVIE - (4) 2 STATES

Novel – 2 STATES (2009) by Chetan Bhagat

Movie – 2 STATES (2014) by Abhishek Varman

Characters – Krish Malhotra, Ananya Swaminathan

THE PLOT

2 States is a story of Krish (a Punjabi) and Ananya (Tamilian) who meet each other at India’s best educational institution, IIM-A, become friends, fall in love and eventually plans to get married. They get down into the art of convincing their parents and their to-be in laws instead of eloping. 2 States are involved and so the culture, tradition, mindset, way of living of their parents differ. Krish and Ananya struggle a lot and finally make it to a big fat Indian wedding! 

NOVEL VS MOVIE

There were not many differences between the novel and movie. But the second part of the film which was the crux to the whole story, seemed like quite hurriedly taken. A few scenes (included in promo) were cut off, just not to hurt the sentiments of the South Indians (Offo!) and there were some changes with the Companies where Krish and Ananya gets placed. The boring episodes of Krish getting transferred, his boss and his colleagues at Chennai are omitted (Thank God)  

NICE QUOTES FROM THE NOVEL

1. “Life is not to be taken seriously, as we are really temporary here. We are like a pre-paid card with limited validity. If we are lucky, we may last another 50 years. And 50 years is just 2,500 weekends. Do we really need to get so worked up? It’s ok, bunk a few classes, goof up a few interviews, fall in love. We are people, not programmed devices.” 

2. “Why should any guy want to be only friends with a girl? It’s like agreeing to be near a chocolate cake and never eat it. It’s like sitting in a racing car but not driving it.” 

3. This is the absolute, last humiliation I will go through to get the love of my life. 

4. See now all your wedding pictures will have mickey mouse, uncle said, confirming that my humiliation would continue for the rest of my life. 

5. I love you and your father and your mother and your brother  and your relatives, I said.

I love you and your clan too, she said.

MY REVIEW

Firstly, Arjun and Aliaa’s cross culture romance is subtly adorable. Ronit Roy plays an amazing role of Krish’s father and their relationship is well shot. Amrita Singh, who casts a typical Punjabi mom role, does her best but is quite annoying from a South Indian’s point of view, especially when she assaults Madrasis. “90% of the Tamilians are literates” – the reply from Ananya’s mom (Actress Revathy) makes us raise the collars. Anyway am not in here to create a clash between Punjabis and Tamilians as the roles have been played just based on the novel. It has to be understood that every individual irrespective of caste and community are special in their own way!! 

Few scenes from the novel were excellently adapted and depicted, which made me spell bound (Ananya’s speech at Duke’s wedding).The scenes have various locations like Ahmedabad, Chennai, Punjab, Goa and there is a strong connectivity between the happenings in different states just like it did in the novel. The marriage scene (climax) was the shortest and all the expectations dropped down when it ended so quickly.  The songs, potrays their intimacy and strikes the chord thereby attracting the young gen of the Country. 

Overall a very nice movie and is definitely worth a watch, but needless to say the essence of the story is still retained back in the novel. 

Rating 4/5

NOVEL VS MOVIE - (3) THE DA VINCI CODE

NOVEL : The Da Vinci Code (2003) By Dan Brown

MOVIE: The Da Vinci Code (2006) By Ron Howard

CHARACTERS – Jacques Sauniere, Robert Langdon, Sophie Neveu, Silas, Sir Leigh Teabing. 

GENRE – Adventure/Thriller

The Plot

Harvard Symbologist Robert Langdon is awakened by a phone call in Paris. The Curator of the Louvre has been murdered inside the museum, and he has baffled his body with various symbols which he knew would be visible to all but could be deciphered only by Robert Langdon & French Cryptologist Sophie Neveu. There starts the race throughout the castles and cathedrals of Europe. Adding spice to the story, the late curator, had preserved with him an ancient breathtaking secret, which Langdon and Sophie tries to trace and finally accomplish it. 

Character Analysis:

Langdon’s knowledge about the symbols, religions, history, the interconnected relations between them makes one spellbound. He is likable, good-hearted and trust worthy. When Sophie wonders how she would all alone trace the secret, Langdon assures her that he will be by her side. Sophie replies, “Just because you will be there with me, Jacques Sauniere has connected both of us to search The Holy Grail”. It is really hard for me to believe Robert Langdon is a fictional character, who was portrayed by Tom Hanks in the movie.The character was created by Dan Brown as a fictional alter ego of himself or "the man he wishes he could be" (Source : Wikipedia)

Sophie is a unique character, quick-wit, agile, caring and compassionate. She hints Langdon to escape the murder case as he was the prime suspect to the eyes of French Police. She is highly motivated to solve the mystery as her grandfather was the one who was murdered. She tries linking the childhood puzzles her grandfather ever gave her and continues her journey of the mystery along with Langdon. She is a self-motivated woman, who does what she wants no matter what others tell. 

My Review :

International Bestseller. 18 Million copies sold in the last decade. 

I read this book when I was in tenth grade. Of late, I got to watch the movie. It’s been adapted extremely well. It is not that easy to convert a novel to a movie especially when it describes about the entire ancient history way back from the period of Jesus.  I felt the story so real as if it was happening in front of me. The entire race through Europe for the search of the secret, happening in a single day is unbelievable yet interesting. Dan Brown has well connected himself with the readers through his simple language and crisp chapters. The alternative chapters’(Alternate scenes in the movie) talks about different incidents at different places and finally everything gets correlated. Sir Leigh Teabing’s character is worth noticing. Starting from his warm welcome till his gun point at the protagonists, there are so many twists and turns in the story and every chapter unfolds a thrill. When Langdon and Sophie find out the secret during their journey, Langdon finally figures out the location of the Grail. 

Absolutely worth a watch and worth a read! 

Rating 4.7/5 

NOVEL VS MOVIE - (2) THREE MISTAKES OF MY LIFE

Novel – 3 MISTAKES OF MY LIFE! (2008) by Chetan Bhagat

Movie – KAI PO CHE (2013) by Abhishek Kapoor

Characters - Govind Patel, Ishaan Bhatt, Omi, Vidhya, Ali

THE PLOT

"3 Mistakes" novel starts with the story of Govind Patel (Govi), a mathematician and a businessman. With two wonderful friends around Ishaan (Ish) and Omi, he decides to start his own Cricket Academy and Tutorial. They set a location for their business outside the temple, pooling in money through various resources. Govi realizes his dream is not going to be an easy chase and strives hard for it. Omi, being persuaded by his Uncle (Bittu Mama) deviates into Politics, perhaps in a wrong track.  Ish, a true cricket genius , decides to coach the young teens on Cricket. Ali is a gift to the entire story where Ish notices Ali’s talent challenges him and fights so hard to fulfill his dreams. Ish sees his own reflection through Ali and coaches him the best regardless of Ali being a Muslim. Vidhya (Ish’s sister) is being tutored by Govi on Ish’s request and their “tutorial” classes gradually change to “Love-making” classes. 

• With the presence of Socio-Political factors, will the trio win in life?? 
• Will Ali make it up to the International Tournaments? 
• Will Govi succeed in his love ? (His best fren's dear sister)

NOVEL VS MOVIE

Some differences between the movie and the novel -  

1. Novel – At the end, Omi is killed. 

    Movie – Ishaan is killed. 

2. Novel – Vidhya  plays a deliberate role.

    Movie – The scenes in which Vidhya appear are not much effective.

3. Novel – Ali is sent to London for a surgery.

    Movie – This doesn’t happen. 

4. Novel – Govi narrates the whole story, as Chetan Bhagat listens to him.

    Movie – Chetan’s son (Ishaan) enters the big screen, as there is a twist in the story.

MY REVIEW

Of all Chetan’s novels, “3 Mistakes” is my personal favorite. It kept me going in all the chapters as it was based on a real life story. “Kai Po Che” however disappointed me to an extent. It was not fully adapted from the novel as there were some major changes. I could not keep guessing the fact as in how Ali made it up to the International Tournament without Ishaan all these years! The movie was really worth a watch, inspirational and all that., but definitely not for the one who had read the novel. There are so many romantic scenes in the book, adding up spice to the already burning Cricket and Politics. Abhishek Kapoor reveals a grip on the buddy bonding theme and all the three actors leave an indelible mark. “Kai Po Che” is definitely worth a watch but the original story still remains in the book :) 

Rating - 4.5/5 

NOVEL VS MOVIE - (1) LIFE OF PI

Novel – Life of Pi- Yann Martel (2001)

Movie – Life of Pi – Ang Lee (2012)

Genre – Fantasy Adventure

Main Characters – A boy (PIscine Patel ), a tiger (Richard Parker) and a life boat.

Story-line

Piscine Patel (Pi) an Indian presently living in Canada, narrates his story of survival in a ship-wreck at the age of 16 losing his family and being stranded upon in the pacific ocean with a life boat and the Bengal Tiger.

The Plot

Piscine Molitor Patel is named after a swimming pool in France. He was tired of being called “Pissing Patel” and changes his name to Pi (π) Patel. Pi’s father owns a zoo and Pi takes good care of the animals and develops love towards them. He is a Hindu – vegetarian but he is introduced to Islam and Christianity at the age of 12 and he chooses to follow all the three as it is all abt “Loving God”. 

Pi’s father decides to immigrate to Canada so that they can sell the animals at North America. They all board into a cargo ship, bringing the animals also with them. Unfortunately, the ship wrecks. Pi spends 227 days in the Pacific Ocean initially with hyena, zebra, orangutan and finally with the tiger Richard Parker. 

Novel Versus Movie

Here are a few differences which I spotted between the movie and the novel – 

    1. The Opening – 

   Book starts with “This book was born when I was hungry” and some 16 pages of author note.

   Movie starts with “This is a story that will make you believe in God”  (Jumping straight into the story)

    2. Pi in hospital – 

    Book – There is a detailed expression of Pi’s time in hospital after being spotted at the Beach of Mexico. It tells about the love and care, the nurses showed despite language differences.

    Movie – There is a scene where Pi meets only the Japanese Officials who enquire him about the wreck (Climax).

    3. Pi’s girl friend – 

Book- There is no such mention about Pi’s love episodes.

Movie – How on earth will a movie be directed without adding spice of Romance to it? Ha!

    4. Pi’s family – 

Book – Way-through the book, the author hints “The story has a happy ending”

Movie – In the Climax, the writer meets his family when they enter home as Pi introduces his Wife, Children and Pets. (Pleasant Surprise factor) 

    5. Tanker ship at night –

Book – A giant oil tanker comes close to Pi, but doesn’t notice him and quickly disappears

Movie – This never happens.

MY REVIEW 

     This is basically a tale of the survivor, conversing with himself and the Bengal Tiger. It is not so overwhelmingly positive or negative but it is set plainly great. Surviving in the Carnivore island and the Meerkats has a touch of fiction, where in reality it hardly happens.  Pi’s mother narrates him the story of Lord Krishna which is amazingly visualized. 

      An immaculate story of battle between life and death. The narrator through his simple yet clear explanation , attracts the readers/audience. Lessons about Science and Spirituality is worth mentioning. 

      Well, coming next to “This story will make you believe in God” does strike the chord. When pi actually survives from the unknown island, the storm and etc, he prays God and the touch of his body over the sands of Mexico makes one believe, there does exist God, because it is no simple for a man to have survived (227 long days) with an oversized CAT!! 

The sea adventure is very inspiring but it lacks suspense factor, as we all know Pi had survived the wreck and was narrating the story to the author. 

Life of Pi movie is a “Visual Treat”. People who haven’t watched or read the same, I would recommend you to watch the movie first for the better understanding of the story! 

A feast for eyes than a food for thought :)

      Rating 3.5/5