The Cloud Door (1994)

Instant Favorite.

This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.

The storyline feels a little thin and moth-eaten in parts but this sequel is plenty of fun.

I wasn't aware until very recently that the great Indian filmmaker Mani Kaul made an erotic film titled 'The Cloud Door' back in 1994 with the ravishing Anu Agarwal (remember Aashiqui?) in the central role of a mysterious courtesan. Within a short run time of 20 odd minutes, Mani Kaul gives a demonstration of his cinematic mastery. Had Kaul been born in Europe he would have been hailed as one of the greatest filmmakers of all time. Nonetheless, Kaul is to Indian cinema what Andrei Tarkovsky is to the Russian cinema. One cannot really think of another Indian filmmaker who succeeded in constantly reinventing the form. Some may mention Kumar Shahani but his body of work clearly pales in comparison to Kaul's formidable oeuvre which includes masterworks like Duvidha, Uski Roti, and Siddheshwari. Coming back to 'The Cloud Door,' I encourage you all to watch it (you can find it on YouTube) but please don't hold it against me if you can't see much beyond its breathtaking images, a voluptuous woman and her naughty parrot that keeps repeating erotic verses, and a laughing fish. And because it's Mani Kaul at work, it is quite possible that the fish may be laughing at our ignorance that compels us to find purpose in a great artist's creative imagination.P.S. It's a real pity that when Anurag Kashyap asked Mani Kaul about his films the master told him that he himself would love to watch them again if somehow Kashyap could help locate them for him.For more on world cinema please visit my film site "A Potpourri of Vestiges".

Beautiful emptiness maybe, but emptiness nonetheless. Sure, the actors in here are all very attractive, the costumes and sets are opulent, but the story has simply too few memorable moments to make this film a memorable watch. It is an Indian film that runs for half an hour with a bit of a German impact in terms of the producers. The "Regina Ziegler presents" part was possibly the most embarrassing moment and the film hadn't already started there. It's probably only a good watch for huge fans of Irrfan Khan, who is still very young in here. Or maybe not as I like him and wasn't really impressed either. Yes there are boobs in here, but you can watch porn for that. Anyway, it's not really the actors' fault they were given such an underwhelming script here by the late writer and director Mani Kaul. Prime example of style over substance that would definitely have needed more meat to make for a compelling watch. Not a complete failure, but also not good enough to let me recommend it. Thumbs down.

The only reason I watched this movie was because Mani Kaul was associated with it. Acclaimed in the critics circles, I wanted to have a taste of his body of work. "The Cloud Door" is a technically sound product. High on stunning visuals, sound department and beautiful locales but sadly the premise is empty. Due credit is given to Bhasa & Jayasi on which "The Cloud Door" is based upon but it crystal evident that Mani Kaul has failed to translate it on the screen. Anu Agarwal:: She was riding high on the success of mega-block buster Aashiqui, wonder what made her sign the dotted line for this movie. Should you dare to watch it, there is nothing much to lose - the running time is 29-minutes.

A little parrot who chatters incessantly is the star performer in this short film. It's a knowing little bird especially in the aspects of love. It can work a spell on lovers' hearts (just like Cupid can ) and can give advice on intimate acts such as foreplay. I thought it was an exquisitely mischievous bird in a beautiful palace setting as the sitars moaned and groaned their rather melancholy music.Sadness reigned when the little bird flew off over the mountains beyond the clouds and was imprisoned in a cage by a bird catcher. But a young man Ratnasen set him free with the promise that the bird would lead him to Kurangi a beautiful princess residing in the palace.The lesser characters are no more that a part of the moving scenery giving the cinemaphotographer ample opportunities for filming beautiful underwater scenes of naked girls searching for a string of pools dropped into the palace pool.The sari costumes are no more than an artistic drape half-covering naked bodies. They are very sexy and so easily cast aside. There is constant reference to burning desire.It's a refreshing mystical little tale and I suspect just a fragment of an age-old legend. It certainly has that feel about it. And I feel there are certain omissions. I think the title refers to the passing clouds which render what lies beyond invisible and out of reach. As for the final scene with a laughing fish on a dinner platter, I am still trying to find a reasonable explanation. Perhaps it is best left unsolved. After all this is a fairy tale where birds and animals seem to play an equally important role as human beings.