DVD Review: Dus Kahaniyaan 
By Joginder Tuteja, February 21, 2008 - 12:18 IST
CAST and CREW
Cast: Sanjay Dutt, Suniel Shetty, Arbaaz Khan, Dino Morea, Dia Mirza, Shabana Azmi, Neha Dhupia, Naseeruddin Shah, Anupam Kher, Minissha
Lamba, Nana Patekar, Aftab Shivdasani, Amrita Singh, Mandira Bedi, Parmeet Sethi, Anita Hasnandani, Jimmy Sheirgill, Masumi, Rohit Roy, Manoj
Bajpai, Mahesh Manjrekar, Neha Uberoi, Anuradha Patel, Tareena Patel.
Director(s): Apoorva Lakhia, Hansal Mehta, Jasmeet Dhodi, Meghna Gulzar, Rohit Roy, Sanjay Gupta.
Producer: Sanjay Gupta
Music: Gourov Dasgupta, Shafqat Ali Khan, Anand Raaj Anand, Bappa Lahiri
Lyrics: Virag Mishra, Panchhi Jalonvi
THE FILM
Was it a bad precedent set by Darna Mana Hai and Darna Zaroori Hai that resulted in Dus Kahaniyaan meeting with a way below
average response at the box office? Perhaps yes, because in spite of a holds-no-bar promotional campaign by Sanjay Gupta for his most ambitious
film ever - Dus Kahaniyaan - the audience turnout was quite low on the film's arrival. Typically, one doesn't find critics being too lavish in their
appreciation for Sanjay Gupta films but Dus Kahaniyaan was an exception as majority hailed the effort as being a novel experience.
Still, audience didn't quite give the film much of a chance as the six-stories-in-one-film format hadn't worked in Ram Gopal Varma's earlier two
attempts. Even though Sanjay Gupta announced loud and clear that his film boasted of each of the stories belonging to different genre rather than
sticking to one theme and particular, the messaging perhaps didn't quite reach the audience.
Those who saw the film had their favorites though. Some liked 4 stories, some 6 and some 8. No one said that none of the stories worked while there
weren't many who were bowled over by each of the 10 stories. The favorites though were stories like 'Rice Plate', 'Poornamashi', 'Zahir' and
'Matrimony'. On the other hand, 'Sex On The Beach', 'Lovedale' and 'High On The Highway' got maximum flak. As for 'Rise &
Fall', 'Gubbare’ and 'Strangers In The Night', they hung somewhere in between.
In any case, it would have been unreasonable to expect each of the 10 stories to work for everyone. When even a single story finds it's own share of
advocators and detractors regardless of it's box office fate, how can one even dream of as many as 10 stories working with each and every
individual. What matters is the effort and the fact is that Sanjay Gupta and his team of writers and directors strived to give audience something new
to cheer about.
Whatever could be audience's eventual response to a story, not many would deny the fact that each of it boasted of good production values and
competent acting. In those 10 minutes, every director went the complete distance to make a crisp tale that at the least looked on screen. However,
the ones who come out trumps were Amrita Singh (Poornamashi), Dino Morea (Sex On The Beach), Shabana Azmi & Naseeruddin Shah
(Rice Plate), Neha Dhupia (Strangers In The Night), Manoj Bajpai & Dia Mirza (Zahir) and Jimmy Sheirgill (High On The
Highway).
The film saw Jasmeet Dhodi and Rohit Roy making their debut as a director with 'Lovedale' and 'Rice Plate' respectively. Amongst
actors, Neha Uberoi was the only debutant in the pool of 25 actors as she faced the camera for 'Lovedale'.
PACKAGING
The film comes in an impressive thick paper case with an attractive-n-eye catching layout. There are also carries flattering comments from numerous
positive reviews that the film garnered from reputed sources. There is a surprise within the DVD case as well with a 12 page glossy booklet
highlighting the synopsis along with pictures of each of the 10 stories.
DURATION
The film comes in a single DVD pack with the film's duration being 110 minutes. In addition, there are special features lasting close to 33 minutes.
SPECIAL FEATURES
- 'Making of film'
- Music videos
- Dus Kahaniyaan
- Remix version of Dus Kahaniyaan
- Jaaniye
- Aaja Soniye
- Bhula Diya
- Theatrical trailer
'Making of film' in Dus Kahaniyaan follows a similar trend as that of numerous others DVDs where instead of true 'making of the film' or
'behind the scenes happening', the content is mainly centered on interviews of cast and crew members. This is why one ends up seeing people like
Sanjay Gupta, Dia Mirza, Shabana Azmi, Naseeruddin Shah, Parmeet Sethi, Masumi, Rohit Roy, Manoj Bajpai, Tareena Patel, Jasmeet Dhodi, Meghna
Gulzar, Anand Raaj Anand and Aanchal talking about the film.
Though it would have been quite some experience even if 2 minutes each were dedicated on the true filming of each of the 10 stories, there is some
consolation as instead of clichéd 'I loved working with so-and-so co-star' statements, there are some other interesting facts shared around the films.
For example when someone like Gulzar saab says that each of the stories is literature in itself, it is expected that one believes him. Or when a veteran
like Naseeruddin Shah expresses his own interest in seeing how the eventual product has turned out to be due to short story format, as an audience
you get excited too. In fact Shabana Azmi, who chooses her projects rarely and carefully, goes on to add that Dus Kahaniyaan is a complete
'paisa vasool' affair due to presence of numerous stars on one common platform.
Diya Mirza too reveals how Sanjay Gupta wanted her to be a part of Dus Kahniyaan since he was impressed with her eyes. Finally, Gupta
himself expresses his gratitude for Sanjay Dutt as he confesses that if not for Dutt encouraging him for making Dus Kahaniyaan, the film
won't have happened.
Full length music videos of all the aforementioned numbers are an interesting inclusion too while the theatrical trailer is enticing enough to make
you play the film's DVD again.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
- 16:9 Anamorphic Widescreen format
- Subtitles In English
- Dolby Digital 5.1 and Stereo
- Remastered from High Definition (HD)
CONCLUSION
Now this is what could be termed as a perfect home viewing film! Where else could one find an opportunity to watch a film on 10 consecutive nights
and still not worry about the continuity factor? With each of the ten stories lasting barely 10 minutes each, Dus Kahaniyaan can be watched at
one's own comfort at home. Go ahead and own the DVD - it's a novel outing worth experiencing time and again.
Rating: ***1/2
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