And this is why animation is still best left to Disney. *sigh* There are a few recent non-American animated films I have been gaga for: Loving Vincent and Ruben Brandt, Collector come to mind. And the common denominator in those films was not an awesome plot, necessarily, but an impeccable style of animation.
So what if there’s a style you don’t love and the plot all over the map? Welcome to Bombay Rose. It’s worth note that while I didn’t like the style, there are clearly many viewers who love the animation of Bombay Rose and thus tolerate the confusion that abounds within the screenplay. I do not speak to or for them.
Part of the problem with Bombay Rose is I can’t even relay exactly what the plot is. Lessee if I can recall the elements: Ok, there’s a working woman, Kamala (voice of Cyli Khare) who after years of amateur flower peddling has taken her trade to professional status cuz that’s where the big bucks are. I’m kidding, of course. And there are endless flashbacks about her life as a l’il petal pusher and her grandfather (Virendra Saxena) who has a gift for turning outdated, pointless, broken toys into outdated, pointless, functioning toys.
Meanwhile, there’s a gangster constantly after Kamala, hence we welcome the intervention of a hero, Salim, marred only by a porn ‘stache and severe button fastening handicap. Seriously, animated of not, this guy can’t seem to button a shirt. Ever. It’s possible Kamala wants Salim but can’t make it work. The film was too busy throwing things at us to make that point clear. Among the random elements showing up in the present, past, and sideways are: the local theater playing “Pyaar ka fasana” (“Love’s Trap,” oh that’s deep), a talking bird, dancing ghosts, and an old woman still reliving her own past.
My biggest issue with the animation is not that it doesn’t look pretty; it’s that the characters don’t seem to interact with one another. So when situations and timelines are jumped, the disconnect is exacerbated creating nothing but confusion. This viewer’s only response was to stare blankly at the pretty pictures. And that wasn’t enough to get me through the film pleasantly.
When I summon reviews of Bombay Rose, each in turn wants to tell me how pretty a picture this has been. The lesson is pretty clear here: with all due respect to Vincent and Ruben Brandt, Collector if you inquire about an animated film and all you get back are reports on how cool the animation is, you should be wary.
A city rename was never meant to imply
That “Bombay” didn’t greet one eye-to-eye
Like “Constantinople”
The framers could hope-el
It’s fun and games until somebody loses “Mumbai”
Not Rated, 93 Minutes
Director: Gitanjali Rao
Writers: Asad Hussain (dialogue), Gitanjali Rao
Genre: Look at my animation!
Type of being most likely to enjoy this film: Do you like the style? Here’s 93 minutes of it
Type of being least likely to enjoy this film: Do you like plot? Here’s 93 minutes of confusion
