Penguins, A Love Story

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Link:

http://www.ibnlive.com/news/masands-verdictpenguins-a-love-story/38490-8.html

 

Masand's Verdict: Penguins, A Love Story

Rajeev Masand

CNN-IBN

 

You may remember some months ago on Now Showing, I'd recommended the

Morgan Freeman-voiced documentary March of the Penguins. That film was

released theatrically in the US two years ago and even the DVD has

been out for over a year.

 

But this week at our multiplexes across the country, two new versions

of the same film have been released theatrically — an English version

titled Penguins, A Love Story, and a Hindi version called Penguins, Ek

Prem Kahani, both narrated by Amitabh Bachchan.

 

Now the film itself was originally shot by a team of French

documentarians in Antartica, and it's really a tale of love and

survival. It's the heart-warming story of the long and ardous journey

that penguins undertake every winter for the survival of their young ones.

 

Who would have thought penguins would make such a fascinating subject

for a film? But they do, and their story is filled with drama and

pathos and nobility and honour.

 

As far as the narration is concerned, I can't seem to understand why

they'd release a new English version considering the one voiced by

Morgan Freeman was just perfect.

 

I suspect the idea behind roping in Amitabh Bachchan to voice both the

Indian versions was to generate curiosity among those who wouldn't

watch a documentary film normally. It that's the case, I guess it

makes sense.

 

Now I saw the English version Penguins, A Love Story and in all

honesty I have to say I preferred the Morgan Freeman version over this

one, and there's only one reason for that — I feel they haven't fully

exploited Bachchan's voice.

 

Where's the modulation, where's the touch of humour and wit which is

what makes the Morgan Freeman version so engaging? Anyway, having said

that let me confess that while the narration does play an important

role in the film's overall impact, the story itself is so dramatic and

so moving that it wins your hear instantly.

 

For every single one of you who hasn't watched March of the Penguins,

don't miss this opportunity, go to the cinema and watch one of the two

Indian versions, it's a film you will thoroughly enjoy. That's three

out of five and a thumbs up for Penguins, A Love Story, please don't

miss it.

 

Rating: 3 / 5 (Good)