Tribute Post To Sushant Singh Rajput. I am not very good at writing emotional things, but I have loved most of his movies and as far as I remember I have memories attached to each of Sushant’s movies. I’ll describe the memory in release date order of his movies.
1. Kai Po Che (2013)
It was a mid term exam on the release day of the film. Me and my friend studied whole night to catch first show and later write the exam in the afternoon. Funny thing which happened was that Cinema operator played the 2nd half before and there were not many people in the early morning show so no one realised it until after one hour, the end credits stared rolling. Then the cinema manager came and apologised to us. And then they played the first half. Having read the book, this film was based upon the thought of some hiccup came in my mind but the other side in my mind thought that Abhishek Kapoor is a visionary film-maker, he might have made the film in flashbacks. So in short, I saw the whole film but in backward order.
2. Shudh Desi Romance (2013)
It released with Zanjeer remake on the same day. I was more excited for that one and had planned to watch both back to back with Zanjeer first. But the traffic got me late for Zanjeer show and I saw SDR first and then Zanjeer. Loved SDR more, Gulabi song still feels so refreshing even 7 years later is still a part of my playlist. SDR showcased the variety that Sushant possessed as an actor very early in his stage.
3. PK
My first film I ever saw in America. I went to stay with my brother for Christmas holidays. We drove 40 odd miles from his place to watch this in cinema on Boxing Day and telling something about my brother, he wouldn’t drive 4 miles for anything unless it was his work or some other emergency, let alone a movie. But he promised me that if I will come to stay with him he’ll show me PK and he kept that promise even if it meant driving 40 miles. And remember one thing, ‘Sarfaraaz Dhokha Nahi Dega’.
4. Detective Byomkesh Bakshy
I was in Canada when it released. I didn’t know how to drive and none of my friends would accompany me as they read online that the film had already flopped. So on tuesdays, the tickets are half rate in Canada theaters. So I told my one friend that if he drives me to the movie, I’ll pay for his ticket and also for a coke popcorn combo if he takes me to watch DBB and it was a really enjoyable movie. Sad Part – It was only 2 of us in the hall to enjoy that movie. Bollywood doesn’t make that many thrillers, but had DBB clicked, a franchise was surely on the cards of the makers.
5. MS Dhoni – The Untold Story
Never been so much excited for any movie before or after this one. Never shouted or hooted so much in any movie like this one. Saw this film First Show in an India Jersey as if I was going to a stadium. Bought the ticket a week in advance and still have kept the paper ticket safely with me. But the reason for all the above was not SSR but MSD. But SSR gave a memorable performance which is unforgettable. The way he perfected that walk of Mahi, those shots, that look. For a moment it felt like Dhoni himself was portraying his role in his biopic.
6. Raabta
Well…Raabta was a film which seemed so good on paper. The film had a happening pair, great music, shot on foreign locations & what not. Some films need that extra bit of luck. It was not that bad of a film, but our media…What can I Say to that? Sushant’s performance was all right. Some films work and some don’t, simple.
7. Kedarnath
What a scenic beauty this film was. All the negativity about the film left me hopeless but as soon as the first teaser arrived the hopes were back up. It was not not playing in my city so I travelled 35 kms to another city to watch it on 1st day itself in winter time. It gets dense foggy here in Punjab but the excitement took me places. Those scenic visuals, that background score, that character of Mansoor played by SSR, still fresh like I saw it yesterday. There was a touch of a tear towards the end of the film in my eyes, and if something like that every happens to you in a film, that means the film has done it’s job.
8. Sonchiriya
One of my most favourite films from 2019. I travelled 80 odd kms to watch it on first day itself. The film was released on very limited screens. Ended up watching the dubbed version but have watched it twice on ZEE5 in the original version since it’s digital release. The most sincere performance I feel, Sushant has given ever. Just watch that film, words are not enough to talk about that film.
9. Chhichhore
Could not watch it in Week 1 due to travel plans. Saw both Chhichhore and Dream Girl back to back and thankfully I saw Chhichhore before Dream Girl and ended up liking it more. Also I managed to see Chhichore again in Cinema after 5-6 weeks of its release. At that time I did not know that it might be the last release of SSR in Cinema. Destiny would have it and I was able to watch Chhichhore twice.
10. Drive
Drive was not a theatrical release, so won’t talk much about it. Saw it at home on Friday night as Netflix films in India release according to midnight in California.
Just like the great Steve Jobs would always have a ‘One More Thing’ before most of his Apple Keynote Presentations ended, seems like Dil Bechara is that ‘One More Thing’ for Sushant’s fans.
Dil Bechara
If I believe the grapevine, that film will release directly on Disney+ Hotstar but I feel now Fox Star (Disney India) has got to show it on the Big Screen. Think of it as tribute to SSR. If the makers have kept the ending of Dil Bechara the same as the original one in The Fault In Our Stars Book & Movie, then for sure it’ll be very very tough film to watch because of what has happened today.
#RIPSushnat
– A Fan
