INFIDELITY OF THE LUST
It was a cold day in the early 2003 when a movie called ‘Jism’ released in theaters. For the very first time, small hinterland-ish towns of India were uncomfortably comfortable to watch the body. They were no longer the same flock, thriving on the imagination. This new horde had no belief in compromises. It was ready to take anything served on the table. And here it was, all and well.
After a very long time, passersby saw 100’s of people jostling again outside a theater. A giant poster of the film became symbol of sexual liberation for young minds with opening of an unknown parallel universe.
Yes, it was the start of inquisition and curiosity for boys and girls. A very new concept of erotica which was not cheap, had some content with familiar good-looking people and was running as a day/mainstream movie in the middle of the city. People were actually going and watching it without covering their faces. People were watching it with their wives/girlfriends in daylight without being ashamed.
Before that, erotica as a genre of cinema was untouchable. It was not explored in Indian cinema with so much offerings. Of course, with the sacrosanct concept of the ‘good old Indian family’, none of those ducklings were allowed to watch it. It could liquefy the vows of chastity granted to all of them at the time when they were conceived. But then, it had always been in the minds all the time and became one of the solid reasons to take a step towards puberty. It was projected in an era when a whole generation (at least many of us) was flinching to accept the sex as part of their physical needs and pleasure. Before that it was a mysterious, controversial, secret and dirty act. Those who were comfortable with it were either rich or characterless people (in most cases both but if not one then another).
But then times changed. With the advent of this movie, a whole new evolution took place and a new generation fell in love with the lust. The voluptuous actress represented the perfect fantasy of Indian males surrounded by under-balanced bodies. The carelessness, vagrancy and flinching protagonist lured everybody to be like him. His body language, his personality reflected all that was alien to a small town. It all was so enthralling.
And then this generation moved on, they grew up, moved to college, started breathing bandwidth and explored cinema beyond India, and found out “Body Heat”. Till now, this generation did not know that “Jism” was a rip off of “Body Heat”. They felt betrayed and were angry. A whole phase of their life was founded on a spurious piece of art. They didn’t want to be associated to “Jism” anymore. They pretended to laugh off their woes and turned themselves in paramours of Non-Indian Cinema. No more “Jism”. It would be “Body Heat” forever. But As “Body Heat” progressed, “Jism” kept running back in their heads. “Body Heat” became one of their favourite movies but none of them could forget “Jism”.
“But Why? Why was it so difficult to let “Jism” go? What happened back there then?”
The answer lies in a very simple fact. Because both the movies are not about titillation or teasing. Both these movies are not one of those “THE GREAT” films. This is a very simple plot that any of us can guess. The attraction lies in the mood, in the characters, in the atmosphere, in the images, in the shots, in the sequences, that are created. Whether it is ‘Ned Racine’ or ‘Kabeer’, both are destructive as hell but both have a sense of ease, a sense of passion that we all lack and want to own. We all become sultry, when it comes to sex because sex is always best when it is illegal. “Body heat” has its own place, but “Jism” creates its own moments.
The iconic shots of the ‘mysterious beauty coming out of the sea’, the ‘wind-chime shot’ in “Jism” will go into your pores and make love with every single cell of your body. You will be in control of that projection, that connection during certain period of time when it casts the spell on you. Unfortunately, the enigma does not last throughout the movie. As it all converges to the end, it succumbs to the mundane art of story telling and like any lust, it brings your irritable dispositions out.
Not to say much but Songs, background score and cinematography is good. No comparison with “Body Heat” but dialogues are really poorly written. Subplots again are a bit disappointing. However, If you are really deep into Indian women and liked “Body Heat”, this could make your day.
