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‘Julie 2’: A look at the murk behind the glam
Film: ‘Julie 2’;
Director: Deepak Shivdasani;
Starring: Rai Laxmi, Ravi Kishan, Aditya Shrivastava, Pankaj Tripathy;
Rating: *** (3 stars)
Films about the movie industry tend to demonstrate the sleazy side of showbiz – but with a gentle touch.
“Julie 2” goes about it with hammers and tongs. The story of the rise and fall of an ambitious actress has a familiar ring to it. A lot of the experiences that Julie (Rai Laxmi) goes through seem inspired from the events that transpired in the life of actress Nagma. The whole episode where Julie has a roaring affair with South Indian superstar Ravi Kumar (Ravi Kissan, delightfully Telugu in his speech and manner) is borrowed from Nagma’s link-up with Sarath Kumar, as is Julie’s subsequent link-up with a cricketer which ends rather crudely with the cricketer declaring to the shocked actress that he can’t marry her as she has been with too many men before him.
“Not that I expect you to be a virgin. But there has to be a limit,” he drawls.
This is where the audience either hopes for the character to be killed or commits collective suicide.
Then there is veteran actor Anant Jog who smacks his lips as though he has just found a juicy chicken leg when he meets the heroine.Subtlety is not a quality that the characters of this film value. Writer-director Deepak Shivdasani strings together the betrayals of the men in Julie’s life with a sledgehammer impact. There is no ambivalence in the way Julie’s men are presented in the plot.
Apart from her faithful man-Friday endearingly named Ambani, all the men in Julie’s life are jerks, lechers and potential rapists. By the time she sobs: “No one wants to love me, they all want only my body”, Julie’s slump into self-destruction is nearly complete.
The only man who seems to genuinely care for her is her first film director played with an affectionate swagger by Nishikant Kamat. One of the film’s most compelling episodes has Kamat ticking off a sleazy film financier who openly propositions the shocked and tearful Julie, by hinting at a sexual liaison with the financier’s 18-year old sister.
At times like this, the narrative gathers its wits to deliver a telling blow on the grime behind the glitz of show world. At a time when the predatory culture of Harvey Weinstein has come out in the open, “Julie 2”, in its subverted way, tells us why the sexual predators of Bollywood cannot be exposed.
The film deploys an unusual level of melodrama to create an aura of progressive ruination around its protagonist. It finally slumps to a groaning halt. But not before executing an end-game that attempts to take the saga of the casting couch to a suspenseful level. Debutante Rai Laxmi stands impressively tall even as her character crumbles to the ground. She has a fairly firm grip over her character’s messy life and proves herself quite a “chick’ off the old oomphy block”.
It is a little startling to see seasoned actors like Pankaj Tripathy, Rati Agnihotri and Ravi Kissan pitching in with bombastic performances. But then, bombast is the need of the hour. “Julie 2” is an old-fashioned high-pitched melodramatic take on an actress’ journey from zero to wow. It has plenty of unexpected twists and turns in the plot, not all of them convincing. The narrative neatly balances the engaging and the corny.
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.
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