DRONA

Movie Review : Drona

Director : Music : Lyrics : Starring : Goldie Behl Dhruv Ghanekar Vaibhav Modi Jaya Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, Priyanka Chopra, Kay Kay Menon, Akhilendra Mishra Big wind, loud thunder, no rain! This in short describes Goldie Behl's DRONA the best. The film drags, over two continents, and how! It can be best described as a costume drama. The producers might have spent huge monies to get the costumes and sets in place, not to forget the special effects, which are very, very good. But what is the use of special effects and good costumes if there is no script? DRONA lost the battle at the writing table itself. To quote the makers, ''DRONA is rooted in the vibrant tapestry of Indian mythology. DRONA is the compelling modern tale of one man's spectacular voyage through the labyrinths of mystic myths and legendary legacies. It is a journey that will force him to face his fears and make him the hero he was born to become.'' DRONA is Abhishek Bachchan. For the first half of the movie the director is getting him to realise who he is; during the latter part of the second half, he realises who he is. And towards the end, he accomplishes what he is supposed to be by eliminating big bad Riz Raizada (Kay Kay Menon). DRONA also has Priyanka Copra as Sonia, his bodyguard. One look at Priyanka and you want to give a hug to make-up artist Mickey Contractor who has done a fabulous job. Priyanka looks gorgeous. Will Madhur Bhandarkar be able to go one up on DRONA as far as her look is concerned in FASHION? That is for another review! The huge hype will pull in the crowds, but it will be another task to keep them in during the course of the movie. You go back with just one thought after watching DRONA, a colossal waste! Rating - 1/5

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DHOOM DADAKKA

Movie Review : Dhoom Dadakka

Director : Music : Lyrics : Starring : Shashi Ranjan Roop Kumar Rathod Praveen Kumar Ashk, Shaqeel Azmi Shaad Randhawa, Rakhi Sawant, Satish Shah, Satish Kaushik, Gulshan Grover, Anupam Kher The movie begins with a lot of promise. But for a lack of script falls flat on its face. Despite boasting of actors of the caliber of Anupam Kher, Satish Shah, Satish Kaushik and Gulshan Grover, you can endure the movie for just 40 minutes. After that, not even the actors know what they are doing with four youngsters (Shaad Randhawa, Samir Dattani, Shama Sikander and Aarti Chhabria) screaming all over Bangkok. The film opens with the All Asians Bhai Meet in Bangkok. The sensex of the underworld is supposedly dipping and Godfather (Jackie Shroff) is shuffling portfolios. In the bargain, the plot at Alibaug is given to Phursat Lala (Gulshan Grover) who wants to make it the best entertainment destination this side of the globe. Mungilal (Anupam Kher) is slighted because he was looking forward to that plot to build a hospital for the people of the place. A few flashbacks later, we learn that his father had died in a blast for lack of medical attention. Hence, the desire. But Godfather gives the plot to Phursat because he has an heir to take things forward but Mungilal is a bachelor. However, he lies that he has an heir and will produce him within a month at the same place.

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DOONDTE REH JAOGE

Movie Review : Dhoondte Reh Jaoge

Director : Music : Lyrics : Starring : Umesh Shukla Sajid - Wajid Jalees Sherwani and Shabbir Ahmed Kunal Khemu, Sonu Sood, Soha Ali Khan, Paresh Rawal, Deepal Shaw and Johny Lever view DHOONDTE REH JAOGE videos Call it creative bankruptcy or just another take on creativity. Whichever way you look at it, you cannot help but come out smiling from the theatres. Dhoondte Reh Jaaoge is one such exercise, which I dare say, is not futile. At least it conforms to the basic requirement of cinema, that to entertain. And entertain it does in huge doses. If you are looking to lighten your mood, backed with 'recession rates' at multiplexes, this movie will definitely give you your fix. It's a spoof all right, but not slapstick comedy. Director Umesh Shukla (who has also written the screenplay) has mixed five hit movies and topped it with the situation of a failed producer who owes his investors huge amount of money. The movie also takes a dig, albeit lovingly, at the workings in the industry with anyone and everyone being qualified to direct a movie. ''He will learn as he makes films along the way,'' says Paresh Rawal's character, Raj Chopra, of his selection of a masseur as a director of his enterprise, which he hopes will flop big time. CHECK OUT: Will DHOONDTE REH JAAOGE break the jinx? Raj Chopra (Paresh Rawal) wants to sign the reigning superstar Aryan Kapoor (Sonu Sood) for his film. The star obviously gives him a tough time. Anand Pawar (Kunal Khemu) is a righteous man who will not do any wrong. But situation gets him to cross ways with Raj because of his girlfriend Neha (Soha Ali Khan), an aspiring actress. In the first meeting, Anand is conned by Raj. He later exacts revenge, but soon realizes that the two can actually make millions together. Their plan is simple. Float a company; take Rs 5 crore from 21 investors, without letting the other know. Stack away Rs 100 cr and invest Rs 5cr to make a flop film. When a film flops, no producer will demand his share in profits. They float 'Charsubisi' a so-called Japanese collaboration and have a press conference. The next day, there is a queue of financiers. There's also that call from the Bhai in Dubai who wants to finance. That's a hilarious track, especially when Bhai in a burkha, wants to go to the gents washroom at the premiere. Also watch Sholay's Thakur taking strike with bat! CHECK OUT: DHOONDTE REH JAOGE - A unique spoof? To cut the long story short, there's a mix of Sholay, DDLJ, Gadar, Lagaan and Rangeela. Johnny Lever as Rubber Singh, seen on screen after a long time, is a riot. Incidentally, he is also the scriptwriter of the flop film. Parvez Asharraf is his character, a general who is mortified of his wife! Sonu Sood is a competent performer. He needs that big banner to catapult him into the big league. Kunal Khemu and Paresh Rawal combine well in their scenes. Both complement the other. In fact, Khemu is taking giant strides in his acting. Soha fits the role to the 'T', while Hrishitaa Bhatt in a guest appearance completes the situation. Go, lighten your mood. As for the script, DHOONDTE REH JAAOGE! Rating - 2.5/5

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CHAMKU

Movie Review : Chamku

Director : Music : Lyrics : Starring : Kabeer Kaushik Monty Sharma Sameer Bobby Deol, Priyanka Chopra, Irrfan Khan , Danny Denzongpa, Ritesh Deshmukh, Rajpal Yadav and Arya Babbar. Bobby Deol must be getting a feeling of deja vu. Been there done that, still doing it. CHAMKU is another film where Bobby has to train his gun on a target and kill. And kill, kill, kill he goes and kills some more when he is drafted into a government programme. Agree or get killed he is told. Left with no option, he complies. According to the producers, this movie has been inspired from real life incidents. It's a journey of a naxalite from Bihar. Its blood and gore from scene one. In between, Priyanka Chopra appears with no plot or premise. She easily falls for Bobby and does not deem it fit to find out who he is or from where he comes. Neither does she notice the many bullet marks on his body to get curious. To be honest, it's like a dream sequence within the plot and Priyanka has really nothing to do except look beautiful. You also see Arya Babbar, Deepal Shaw and Riteish Deshmukh in cameos. But the film belongs to Bobby aka Chamku. Even Irfan Khan seems to have sauntered on the sets. The songs look forced. Bobby is getting trapped in 'kill roles', Priyanka in 'look good' roles. Irfan is falling into the trap of 'being one of them' roles. To be honest, nothing works in CHAMKU. Ratings : 1/5

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A WEDNESDAY

Movie Review : A Wednesday

Director : Music : Lyrics : Starring : Neeraj Pandey Sanjoy Chowdhury Bulle Shah, Irshad Kamil Anupam Kher, Aamir Bashir, Deepal Shaw, Gaurav Kapur, Naseeruddin Shah, Rajpal Yadav, Jimmy Shergill Three weeks in a row, we have been treated with three fantastic films, which have raised the benchmark for Indian cinema in terms of script, casting and execution. Life could not have been rosier for a film critic. First, we had MUMBAI MERI JAAN, ROCK ON followed last week, and this week we have an absolute stunner, which is even more gripping and equally entertaining and thought provoking like the above-mentioned films. A WEDNESDAY is a thriller, it's an educational film and it's also an eye-opener. Director Neeraj Pandey has taken terrorism as the theme and has given it a whole new twist that is mind-boggling to say the least. The film begins with 'terrorist' Naseeruddin Shah planting bombs in the city and also a police station right opposite the Police Head Quarters. The background score sets your pulse racing and you don't know what to expect at the next moment. You are waiting for that moment when the bombs will explode and wreak havoc in the city as Pandey goes about briskly introducing his characters, Anupam Kher, who is the Police Commissioner, Aamir Bashir (a police officer), Jimmy Sheirgill (ATS Officer) and Deepal Shaw (television journalist). You wonder what Naseer is upto, when in comes the call to the Commissioner informing him about the bombs and sending him on a wild goose chase. Within four hours, the terrorist tells the commissioner, that his demands have to be met. He is seeking the release of four dreaded terrorists in exchange for letting out the information on where the bombs are planted. His calls cannot be traced because Naseer the terrorist is one up on the cops. His 'work place' is the terrace of an under construction building. Cinematographer Fuwad Khan, putting in full view of the viewer the terror that is to be unleashed, brilliantly captures the city skyline. The demands are met. The Commissioner, who has been given sweeping powers by the Chief Minister to negotiate with the terrorist, realizes that he cannot play with the lives of millions of people of Mumbai. He shortlists his two trusted soldiers, Aamir Bashir and Jimmy Sheirgill, to take the four dreaded terrorist to the release spot. And here comes the twist in the tale that will shock you out of your wits. Brilliant execution in the script, which turns the negotiations on its heads. After all, you cannot trust a terrorist! Anupam Kher as the Top Cop is marvelous. His eagerly sinks his teeth into this meaty role with glee. Considering what he has had to do in recent movies, this is a welcome change. To see an actor given his due with the right script is always a delight and he does full justice to his role. Naseeruddin Shah as the timid terrorist is a revelation. Actually, nothing about Naseer really surprises, because this here is an actor who takes pride in his craft. Watch out for his cold-blooded negotiations and how he goes in for the kill. Aamir Bashir stands out with his earnest performance as the cop for whom duty comes before family. A studied performance. Jimmy Sheirgill as the 'sar phira' ATS officer makes a deadly impact. Cool, calculated and cunning, he lends that air of credibility to his performance. His fearless body language, knowing fully well a bullet any time can alter his life, is a revelation. This man here is steadily climbing the charts of stardom, one step at a time, one role at a time. Deepal Shaw does not have much of a role but manages to make an impact as a television journalist hungry for scoops. The only sore point here is her make-up, which is pathetic. However, this can be easily overlooked. A film like A WEDNESDAY is not released every other Friday. This is a film for the common man. My sincere wishes are that this film runs to packed houses. You just cannot miss this cracker of a thriller. Ratings : 4/5

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3 DEEWAREIN

MOVIE REVIEW-3 DEEWAREIN

Director : Starring : Nagesh Kukunoor Nagesh Kukunoor, Juhi Chawla, Jackie Shroff, Sujata Mehta, Naseeruddin Shah A Nagesh Kukunoor film is always awaited especially because it was he with his ''small budget good ideas'' funda had heralded a new genre of filmmaking with his debut film Hyderabad Blues. So naturally one had pinned a lot of hopes on his newest film Teen Deewarein. A documentary-like-realistic-drama-meets-a-mystery film, Teen Deewarein stars Naseeruddin Shah, Jackie Shroff, Kukunoor and Juhi Chawla.Three prisoners are awaiting death in a jail in Hyderabad. Jaggu (Jackie), a lawyer who is accused of murdering his unfaithful wife (Sujata Mehta in a thankless cameo), Nagya (Kukunoor) is an accountant who has been charged for killing his wife in an ''accident'' while Ishaan (Naseeruddin) is a charmer who is a small-time robber and is serving the death sentence for having killed a pregnant woman in the course of a bank robbery. Enters into their lives and the jail Chandrika (Juhi Chawla), a filmmaker who has an unhappy marriage and one who wants to document the lives of these three prisoners. A bond develops between her and each of these three inmates. Nagya hopes Chandrika would tell the world through her film that he''s innocent, Jaggu admits to her how he is willing to embrace death because that''s the only way of penance while Ishaan confides in her how he is likely to break free from the jail. A slow, first half gets its first adrenalin shot at a marvellous interval point after which Kukunoor takes us through a zippy ride to the climax point. And here''s where Teen Deewarein fails, big time. The climax is so hard to believe that you almost feel cheated having watched the film in the first place. The thriller/murder mystery aspect of the film is just not convincing and so it loses points in an otherwise good film, which could have made it to the ''great film'' category. A slow, first half gets its first adrenalin shot at a marvellous interval point after which Kukunoor takes us through a zippy ride to the climax point. And here's where Teen Deewarein fails, big time. The climax is so hard to believe that you almost feel cheated having watched the film in the first place. The thriller/murder mystery aspect of the film is just not convincing and so it loses points in an otherwise good film, which could have made it to the 'great film' category.

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26TH JULY AT BARISTA

Movie Review : 26th July At Barista

Director : Music : Lyrics : Starring : Mohan Sharma Sandarbh Sandarbh Simran Vaid, Rohini Hattangadi, Paramveer, Ashish Duggal. This movie is a disaster, just as 26 July was in 2005. I get a feeling two people met at a Barista on that day three years ago, saw the pouring rain and decided to make a film. Nice idea, but how one goes about making a film, no one told these guys and I guess neither did they bother asking! There is no direction, no dialogues, no screenplay, no commonsense. There is nothing of note in this film and it’s a surprise it even passed the censors. I feel the censors have a duty towards the paying audience. They should not allow such mindless stupidity pass off as cinema. Being cheated of money is one thing, having to endure the torture is much worse. While it rains outside this Barista, it pours boredom inside! TO GO OR NOT: stay away

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1920

Movie Review : 1920

Director : Music : Lyrics : Starring : Vikram Bhatt Adnan Sami Sameer Rajneesh Duggal and Adah Sharma THE STORY IN SHORT: Rajneesh and Adahh are lovers who get married. Rajneesh is an architect and he is selected from his company to bring down an old castle somewhere in India and build it into a hotel. But there is a spirit that resides there that does not allow this to happen. In fact, two architects have been killed but Rajneesh and his wife are not aware of it. Adah gets possessed by this spirit and therein begins the story. Director Vikram Bhatt seems to be redeeming himself with this horror flick... everything seems to be going fine till just before the intermission, when in comes Rakhi Sawant to take away the intensity of the fear that he was just building up. No, there is nothing wrong with the Sawant girl, but just that Bhatt's choice of introducing an item song, if I may be permitted to call it so, and more importantly choice of performer, falls flat on the screen. Rakhi comes with a lot of baggage of 'trying to be there' and this exact weight of hers does not allow her to carry off the scene. Also, he was just building up the scare. A very jarring aberration. He shoots in London and tells you that that piece of irresistible architectural beauty, the castle he is shooting in, is somewhere in India. Very, very annoying. A punch in the nose for the viewer. The choice of the lead actors is very good. Rajneesh Duggal and Adah Sharma give out great performances. In fact, Adah as the one possessed, gives off a performance as one possessed!! A terrifying debut. She has beauty, which dates back to the 1920s, is dressed accordingly and carries off her part with intensity. A word of mention for Anjori Alagh, too. First she stares down at you from a huge painting, then she walks on screen to seduce the villain and the viewer! A word of mention here for the set and costume designers. They have done well to give one a feeling of being there in the early 1900s Bhatt has shown well the way Ada is possessed, her behaviour, menacing talking, her fearful lunges. But he has tried too many things to show how she is cured of her demonic spirit. What he has shown, in the end, is what he thinks is the way the ones possessed are delivered. This can be debated endlessly. In effect, he brings to nought what he has been trying to build up. And I cannot understand why someone would stay the night all alone, without any house help (there is only one, who retires to his quarters in the night)in a Castle the size of two football fields. But yes, this film, is very, very scary for most part. Not for the faint-hearted. On that count, Bhatt has succeeded. NOTE: The 2.5 rating is just for the fact that he has succeeded in giving one the jitters in between. Ratings - 2.5/5

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15 PARK AVENUE

Director : Starring : Aparna Sen Shabana Azmi, Konkona Sen-Sharma, Rahul Bose, Waheeda Rehman, Soumitra Chatterjee, Dhritiman Chatterjee, Shefali Shah Coming from the creator of the timeless 36 CHOWRINGHEE LANE, 15 PARK AVENUE is a bit of a downer. Sen's superb sensitivities seem to peep out at us from all quarters in this attractively packaged, wonderfully performed film about coping with an illness. The trouble is, nothing fits. Not the relationships, not the narrative pieces that keep slipping in and out of Sen's hands with infuriating impunity. Of course the director's heart is in the right place. Isn't it always! But what is she trying to say here? Is this the story of two sisters, one older wiser and normal, the other all messed up in the mind… or is it a treatise on the real and the unreal? And the fact that Mithi (Konkona Sen) in a totally uncalled-for plot convulsion, is gang-raped by Bihari louts during a dangerous mission in Bihar, doesn't help the poor girl's psychological equilibrium… Or our understanding of how painful life could be for those who don't fit in. Trouble is, Sen's screenplay is too troubled by the task of getting the mechanics of the illness right. We get shots of Konkona puking fashionably all over the bedroom carpet, shots of blood from her slashed wrist splattering the bed… or the blood on her thighs after she's raped in a hotel room and thrown out in the corridor. The brutality of life and the beauty of the filmmaker's vision do not fuse in any combustive alliance. We feel for Mithi and her vocally harassed sister. But the feelings aren't allowed to run deep enough. Instead of focusing on the troubled traumatic relationship between the two sisters and how the elder balances her siblings overpowering imbalances, Aparna Sen brings in a crowd of vacationers into the plot. Soumitra Chatterjee and Waheeda Rehman as Shabana-Konkona's parents look bewildered, if not hammy. To make these two veterans act so badly requires a lot of deliberation and attention. One wishes Sen had stressed the emotional crisis rather than the characters' ability to be funny sassy and urbane all the time. Everyone except Konkona talks in trendy exclamations. Maybe being psychologically maladjusted helps Konkona's character to connect with the disjointed words. There's an excruciatingly flat sequence where a talkative woman visitor narrates her extra-sensory experiences with a god-man. This is to show how mental illnesses are camouflaged by blind faith even in elitist circles. All it actually shows is Sen's inability to handle crowds of characters in the same line of vision. Aparna Sen is always more comfortable in intimate moments. You wish there was more to share between the two sisters. The sheer pleasure of watching Shabana and Konkona at work is exquisite. Alas, like the impatient elder sister who wants the schizophrenic sister to give her space, the narrative is constantly gliding in and out of characters' lives. One moment we get a vivid glimpse into the elder sister's scarily solitary battle to keep Mithi's illness in check. The next moment we're privy to Rahul Bose's introspection on the mentally ill girl's romantic liaison with him. Rahul is, as usual, staunchly supportive. You wish a director of Aparna's sensitivities would use him and the other talented male actors (Dhritiman Chatterjee, Soumitra Chatterjee) as more than mere supportive emblems in a ladies' tale. As Rahul’s suspicious and jealous wife Shefali Shah delivers a surprisingly punch-packed performance. She has limited space. And she uses it to the optimum… sometimes a little too much so, as though she knows Hemant Chaturvedi's steady and searching camera would soon move on to the two other distinguished actresses who form the core of the conflict. That again is symptomatic of the narrative's problem with creating proportionate shadows in its architectural design. Light and shade fall in unmeasured patterns, often creating a strangely sterile kingdom of crisis in characters that are driven by demons that they don't comprehend. Finally, what you're left with are the performances. Shabana towers over almost every aspect of the film. Watch her closely when she watches her screen-sister being whisked away to the asylum - a predictably sentimental moment lifted by Azmi's ability to ferret out the truth even in maudlin moments. At times, specially when flirting mildly with the shrink (Dhritiman Chatterjee) Shabana gets skittish, as though she was purposely trying to lighten the burden of being. But this diluted drama of psychological dissent is finally lifted by an absolutely brilliant, nearly flawless performance by Konkona Sen-Sharma. Whether it's her voice - conveying a collage of compulsive dilemma - or her fidgety reactions… Konkona plays her mentally ill character with just the right amounts of angst and detachment. A truly brave and bravura performance. If only the narration was more supportive of these incredible actors… Aparna Sen builds the film to a contrived crescendo. The 'open' surreal ending is more ludicrous than lyrical. And when Mithi's loved ones walk off after the girl's bizarre disappearance at the end, you feel a sense of betrayal that has nothing to do with the characters.

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BARAH AANA

Movie Review : Barah Aana

Director : Music : Lyrics : Starring : Raja menon Shri Raja Menon Naseeruddin Shah, Vijay Raaz, Arjun Mathur, Tannishtha Chatterjee Naseeruddin Shah gives a lesson in acting in BARAH AANA, which is worth a million bucks. That he is a brilliant actor is a given. His performances in the past and the more recent ones have had the cynics, critics and his fans watching in rapt attention when he comes on screen. In this film, he does not speak for a full three-quarter of the film. But his acting speaks volumes. No, he is not playing a dumb character, but leaves everyone dumbfounded with his super body language that portrays every emotion he is going through. Another performer who hits out at you is Tanisha Chatterjee. This chatterbox of a character who is in love with Aman (Arjun Mathur, very competent) leaves no doubt about her abilities as an actor. She portrays the pesky girl who is besotted by the good-looking Aman in her chawl to such a believable extent that you can feel the pulse of her emotions at the common tap, where they always bump into each other. CHECK OUT: AAMIR director's script is the USP of BARAH AANA Then there is Vijay Raaz, who as the watchman of a housing society, brings to light, the plight of thousands of migrants who land in the city in the hope of making a living. A security guard is now the surest way of landing a job. No, you don't have to be 'super fit', or have any basic knowledge of security. Just switching the tap on and off is enough along with running errands for the society members. Double duty now seems to be the bane of housing societies who always find their guards sleeping not knowing that the poor man has been up since early morning! Director Raja Menon begins well in depicting the lives of three such migrants who live in the same chawl. Naseeruddin Shah (Shukla) is a driver; Vijay Raaz plays Yadav while Arjun is a waiter at a local cafe. They all lead diverse lives, making ends meet with what they get at the end of the month. Shukla is being ridiculed by his boss's wife who leaves no opportunity to insult him, while Aman is madly in love with a foreign guest at his cafe, Kate (Violante Placido). He in turn, is being chased by Rani (Tanisha Chaterjee). Yadav has a situation back in the village where he has to send money for his ailing father. No one at the housing society comes forward to help and it is left upto Shukla to help him out. But fate plays a cruel trick on Yadav as he is robbed at the station. Forlorn, he spends time sitting at a food stall when three drunks drive up for a bite. They call out to him but Yadav does not respond. One smart guy gets out to 'teach' him a lesson but ends up being the victim. He gets a solid whack from Yadav that sends him reeling on the floor. Until here, Menon has got the track right. After this, the screenplay takes a nose-dive. CHECK OUT: BARAH AANA impossible without Naseer! Yadav gets the unconscious man at home (there was no reason to do so). But I guess this was to support the madness, Menon was to step down to. Yadav calls the man's family and tells them he is unconscious. Thinking he has been kidnapped, they force him to take money. Yadav agrees and makes a quick Rs 30,000 without the knowledge of the other two. It's only when he goes to give them their share of Rs 10,000 that they realise what he has been up to. They then agree to make it their business to kidnap people and ask ransom. While the first half of the film is thoroughly enjoyable, the second half slides rapidly. To Menon's credit, he does succeed in touching upon everyday situations that you can immediately relate to. Watch it for the first rate performances. Rating - 2/5

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ALOO CHAT

Movie Review : Aloo Chaat

Director : Music : Lyrics : Starring : Robby Grewal RDB, Xulfi, Vipin Mishra, Mehfuz Maruf RDB, Xulfi, Vipin Mishra, Syed Gulrez Aftab Shivdasani, Aamna Shariff, Linda Arsenio, Kulbhushan view ALOO CHAAT videos The headline says it all, Dhimaag Chaat! Mirchi Movies have come up with yet another dud! The story is weak, the acting below average and the cast just not upto the mark. Get a load of this: The story is based in Delhi. The family is happy that their boy is returning from America. Unknown to him, preparations are on to find him a bride. But boy already has a Muslim girlfriend back in the US. So boy and uncle decide to stage an act where they will hire a firang girl to play his girlfriend, and get his actual girlfriend to come to his house as her friend, and make her win his parents heart while the firang runs riot and makes his family hate her.

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Aa Dekhen Zara

Movie Review : Aa Dekhen Zara

Director : Music : Lyrics : Starring : Jehangir Surti Gourov Dasgupta and Pritam Chakraborty Sheershak Anand, Irshad Kamil, Syed Gulrez and Prashant Pandey Neil Nitin Mukesh, Bipasha Basu, Rahul Dev and Sophie Choudry Time-n-again it is proved that Bollywood has still a long way to go and polish itself in futuristic, sci-fi thrillers zone. First-time director Jehangir Surti's so-called fast paced sci-fi thriller AA DEKHEN ZARA is another good example of sort. Jehangir who had a very interesting concept at the helm of AA DEKHEN ZARA - using a gizmo - a camera that can look into the future, had all the chance to explore and give away an exhilarating thriller. But the slick thriller that starts off well fades away just after the first hour. Post interval it loses its sheen as the script seems to go haywire with no specific direction. The post interval portions have been written without much imagination with convenient co-incidences coming up at regular intervals. CHECK OUT: BIPASHA BASU Interview Ray Acharya (Neil Nitin Mukesh), a seeking work, freelance wild-life photographer inherits such a magical, antique-looking camera from his grandpa (Biswajeet) that changes things overnight for him. How? Well the camera has the special ability to reveal the future through the photographs taken from it (but it only takes pictures 24 hours into the future). As anyone in Ray's place would have done, he takes a peek into the future and bets on horses, lotteries and stock market through photographs. And starts enjoying life with his girlfriend Simi (Bipasha) who works as a DJ in a night club. The audience roots for Ray as he starts winning the horse races and lotteries thanks to his future seeing camera. But Ray soon discovers that the camera has mysterious powers. It shows the future, including Ray's impending death. Suddenly this camera with special powers becomes a national issue and many hands try to grab it including one Captain (Rahul Dev). Now Ray has to keep the camera safe from the evil forces headed by Captain. AA DEKHEN ZARA is painfully inconsistent and doesn't even stay true to its own wrapped logic. Picture this; suddenly the camera which can only take pictures 24 hours into the future, as told in the beginning, takes the photographs of the happenings six days away, in the latter part of the movie. After winning wide accolades & awards for the stupendous performance in his debut flick JOHNNY GADDAR, all expectations were pinned on Neil for AA DEKHEN ZARA. But Neil appears expressionless for most part of the movie and fails to leave any mark as the film doesn't offer him much scope to perform. Bipasha is glowing by the day, she looks hotter & fit but sadly even her character has been given limited horizon unlike what she could do with a thriller like RACE. Not only the performances of the lead actors, but even the desired chemistry lacked between Neil-Bipasha. Sophie Chaudhary who is playing a R. A. W. agent in the film is utterly wasted. Her presence is hardly felt. Rahul Dev is okay in his part but his character could have been developed in a better way. CHECK OUT: AA DEKHEN ZARA Music Review One thing is worth mentioning that despite of several flaws and loopholes in the script the film manages to keep you on the edge of your seat, nah, not because of the characters or story but because you get hooked to know about the futuristic events shown by this magical camera. Could have been better fare had the director & writer worked on the script part harder. Psst... Is the director hinting a sequel in the last reel? AA DEKHEN ZARA Rating: 2/5

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8X10 TASVEER

Movie Review : 8x10 Tasveer

Director : Music : Lyrics : Starring : Nagesh Kukunoor Salim Merchant and Sulaiman Merchant, Bohemia and Neeraj Shridhar Irfan Siddiqui, Sameer and Bohemia Akshay Kumar, Ayesha Takia, Sharmila Tagore, Benjamin Gilani, Anant Mahadevan and Javed Jaffery. Nagesh Kukunoor gives this flick a super Hollywood feel and manages to pull off a slick thriller. But I have a problem with the end, which escalates, or should I say degenerates to a climax of a typical Bollywood masala film. But this is not to deny the finesse with which this film has been captured on camera and the climax when the murderer is revealed. But you pretty much guess the involvement of one of the characters in the film. CHECK OUT: Will 8X10 TASVEER click well at the Box Office? Akshay Kumar is shattered by an incident, which takes place when he is perhaps eight years old. Deeply traumatized he absorbs the power of venturing into a photograph to understand what could have transpired, thus helping many who come to him for help when the police have failed. He now has the unenviable task of venturing into a photograph, clicked just moments before his father could die, to find out whether it was murder or natural death. His journey to unravel the mystery keeps you on the edge of your seat. What the incident was that moved him to these powers is vaguely shown, and you realize towards the end that it was not a convincing shot because his parents were not at all shattered by that huge loss. In fact, it looks like a picnic out when the tragedy was colossal. I will not divulge what the tragedy was, because that would mean giving the story away. But I have a question for Kukunoor. How could you show such a tragic incident so nonchalantly? I mean, we as an audience think it is the loss of a football, when the fact is little Jai (Akshay Kumar�s) world has come crashing down. And his parents, I mean they do not even acknowledge the loss, or were they not told of the scene you were canning? Even the hospital scene where Akshay is helped by a staff on duty for a blood transfusion in a storeroom is not happening. Akshay Kumar as a forest officer in Canada is convincing and so is his performance. No tomfoolery here. There's not much for anyone else to do, with the exception of Jaaved Jaffery who impresses in his role as a cop. The action sequences are slickly shot and the camera moves delightfully capturing every thrill. The background score is fantastic. If only Kukunoor had been more open about the sequence in the flashback, the finale would have been well received. I mean, the audience is no dodo. Or perhaps he had no faith in his script that he had to indulge in a vague hotchpotch of a plot (read flashback) to come up with the climax. What Kukunoor was looking for was the climax of Wolfgang Petersen's 1991 thriller, SHATTERED. That climax was out of this world. Having said that, this movie does thrill and chill. Rating - 2.5/5

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DASHAVTHARAM

Movie Review : Dasavtharam

Director : Music : Lyrics : Starring : K S Ravikumar Himesh Reshammiya Vaali, Vairamuthu Kamal Hassan, Asin Thottumkal, Mallika Sherawat, Jayaprada, Napolean, Santhana Bharathi, M.S. Baskar, Nagesh, K.R. Vijaya. The background score hammers incessantly making you immune to the melody (or the lack of it). The story is as far-fetched as the characters and the ultimate climax is the understanding of how the Tsunami of 2004 came about. At least that is what the makers are driving at. There are also two parallel stories running across, one of Kamal Haasan the sting operator (a fearless TV reporter) and another of Kamal Haasan the kung fu expert from Japan who is out to avenge his student's death. Add eight more Kamal Haasan's, and you get the drift of the title of the film! CHECK OUT: Can Kamal Hassan entice the Audience? The only actor working hard is Kamal Haasan who has to sit through various sittings of makeovers. The movie sometimes, borders on insanity. In the midst of a very intense scene, there's suddenly a PJ. You wonder what the intention of the director was - comedy or action? The action scenes too get robotic after a while, with another Kamal Haasan, the villain, jumping and flying around, reminding one of Arnie in TERMINATOR. As for the story, everyone is after a vial, which contains a deadly virus. The vial surprisingly reaches India, Tamil Nadu to be precise, from an American laboratory. And following it for its safekeeping is scientist Kamal Haasan. The rest of the plot is of every Kamal Haasan crossing paths, some in search of the vial while others thrown in for comic relief.

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CHOWRASTA

Movie Review : Chowrasta

Director : Starring : Anjan Dutta Atul Kulkarni, Victor Bannerjee, Roopa Ganguly, Naved Aslam and Neil Bose CHOWRASTA is an interesting flick. It's like a well-written novel you read on a lazy afternoon, one you do not wish to put down until you reach the last page. The build-up of the assortment of characters is subtle and their story interestingly narrated. Victor Bannerjee, the protagonist, if you may call him so, begins the narration, which then moves into sizing up every character. There's a couple who have eloped who are on their honeymoon in Darjeeling; there's a wife, long divorced, a struggling Bollywood actress, who surfaces from Mumbai to meet her ex-husband; there's a guy fleeing from himself, caught unwittingly with unscrupulous characters and of course, there's Victor Banerjee who is lamenting the loss of his wife. Every tale connects with you. Take for instance the story of Sunny and his Bengali girlfriend who have eloped because her father will not agree to a Punjabi son-in-law. Their fresh romance, in-your-face exhibition of love, painful tiffs and then making-up is something any one will connect to. Both the actors who play the part are rock solid. Then there's Atul Kulkarni who is afraid of where he is headed. You could say Atul has come of age with the portrayal of Kenny, the rough dude with a heart of gold. A very complex character, indeed. Rupa Ganguly as the failed Bollywood actress who surfaces in Darjeeling after 12 years with her kid is a delight. Her constant bickering with her 'typical Bengali' ex-husband makes for interesting viewing. So also, her exploits with her many male friends, one of whom she brings along to Darjeeling. Then there's Victor Banerjee himself and his struggle with self, wanting to go to where his wife is. Go for it. You won't be disappointed. Rating - 2.5/5

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RU-BA-RU

Movie Review : Ru-Ba-Ru

Director : Music : Lyrics : Starring : Arjun Bali Sameeruddin and Satyadev Burman Aditya Narayan, Shuja Haider, Soumik Sen and Arjun Bali Randeep Huda and Shahana Goswami. What's the use of publicizing the 10 or 12 odd kisses that the lead pair share in this film, when you do not look at the film in its entirety? The little publicity that has come this film's way before its release only sent signals of it being some sort of a sleaze fare. This may be the reason why the public is keeping away. Moreover, the lead pair of Randeep Hooda and Shahana Goswami are no big stars. If you look at it in that respect, the publicists are right in creating a 'negative' buzz for a positive result. But what the think-tank failed to understand and see is that this here is a good film and the kisses are an integral part of the film. It's a beautiful relationship that Nikhil (Randeep) and Tara (Shahana) share. The kisses, too, are appropriately filmed. No awkward moments between the two and it just goes with the flow, without once making you squirm in your seat. Such marvelous chemistry between the two. Randeep and Shahana are both brilliant actors who do justice to their part. Randeep has proved himself with his earlier films, while after ROCK ON, Shahana goes on to show that 'Debbie' was no fluke. She's such a natural that as a film lover you are impressed with the talent. It's a film everyone in love would want to watch. Agreed, it's a take-off on the Hollywood flick IF ONLY. But it's done beautifully. For those who have not watched the original, this is a good time to catch the desi version. Till the intermission, Randeep's character and his relationship with Shahana is spelt out on screen. At the break comes a surprise, which then never leaves your side until the end. There is a change in Randeep, which takes Shahana by surprise. The two have been sharing a 'live-in' relationship for two years. While Shahana wants to marry, Randeep is afraid of a commitment. Post interval, everything changes. The romantic moments are simply awesome; their fights, making-up, complete understanding of each other. Shahana has put herself in the race for a few awards in the coming year. I mentioned in my ROCK ON review that her performance is addictive; she cements my faith in her performance with another applause-worthy act. As for Hooda, he is slated for big time. Like Arjun Rampal, I believe his time will come, too. It's a very decent fare. Director Arjun Bali has managed to keep the viewer involved until the very end. Go watch it. Rating - 3/5

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ROCK ON

Movie Review : Rock On!!

Director : Music : Lyrics : Starring : Abhishek Kapoor Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy Javed Akhtar Arjun Rampal, Farhan Akhtar, Luke Jenny, Koel Purie and Prachi Desai Guess what, I'm going to watch this movie again. And maybe, a third time, too! Excel Entertainment excels yet again. With ROCK ON, the team of Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani are spot on. The movie has a Hollywood feel; the casting is just perfect, every character is given due importance, the music is way above brilliant, and the lyrics are something you will rarely hear in a rock ballad. I guess, it will soon be a trend; simple, inquiring questions that are actually everyday happenings. Hats off to Javed Akhtar. The styling of clothes by Niharika Khan and of the sets are given a minute detailing. The background score captures the mood of the film. Shankar Mahadevan, Ehsaan Noorani and Loy Mendonca have teamed with the makers to come out with melodies that will easily knock off the frequency of Kabhi Kabhi Aditi and Pappu Can't Dance from the film JAANE TU... ,on radio stations, to the background. In short, this film is a lesson in filmmaking. On how to scout for the right actors for the part; of how to blend lyrics with the mood and how to add music to the flavour. Director Abhishek Kapoor who made his acting debut ages ago alongside Twinkle Khanna has shown immense talent behind the camera getting the best out of each and every character. And what about Farhan Akhtar? Yes, what about him? I mean, how do you describe his performance? It's easy to go overboard when a performance just blows you away. And this here is not just one good performance from one actor, but the product as a whole, which leaves you shaking your head in disbelief. Farhan proved himself as a director of repute with DIL CHAHTA HAI and then DON. As an actor, he is simply honest to his craft. You don't get the feeling that this here is his first outing on screen in front of the camera. Agreed he began shooting for THE FAKIR three years ago, but what he comes out with is stuff of what seasoned actors are made of. His singing is awesome. His unique voice texture lends that freshness to the rock ballads and his miming to his own songs on stage is what legendary rock stars are made of. You rock dude. Prachi Desai has vowed viewers as the bahu on television; she takes her performance a step further making her Bollywood debut with confidence. She adds a touch of freshness to a very complex role for a newcomer. Shahana Goswami, who too makes her debut, is a talent to watch out for. As first the bubbly girlfriend of Arjun Rampal, and then the nagging wife who has to bear the burden of taking care of the household, she is impressive, almost addictive. Arjun Rampal is slowly coming into his own. After playing a character with a negative shade in OM SHANTI OM, he returns with another powerful performance as Joe Mascarenhas the lead guitarist of the band. Vibrant at first, and then subdued he walks the act with a rock star gait. Purab Kohli's cute act as the Killer Drummer, and 'life' of the group enchants you. Catch his 'I Will Surive Act' and you will know what I mean. As for Luke Kenny, he has got a role that suits his personality and he does full justice to it. Did I forget to mention about the editing? Take a bow, Deepa Bhatia. A word of mention for Jason West too, the film's cinematographer. The filming of the concerts is almost real! ROCK ON is about four friends in their twenties for who music is a passion they dedicatedly pursue. Music binds them; rehearsals make sure they are always together. They have a band called 'Magik'. The movie is interestingly sewn in flashbacks. Abhiskek gives the flow a seamless look even though he has to travel a few years back and forth every now and then. As a band, Adi (Farhan), Rob (Luke Kenny), KD (Purab Kohli) and Joe (Arjun) were a treat. They brought the house down whenever they performed. But somewhere down the line, something went wrong and each go their separate ways. For 10 years, they do not meet each other. What was it that blew their friendship away? The simple narration keeps you on edge while the music builds up the suspense, if you may call it that. Because you want to know what it was that made these four thick pals, who stood up for each other, go their own way. And what it is that brings them back together for that one last gig? This movie, I'm sure will inspire a generation of youngsters to pick up the guitar and also dabble with lyrics. I could go on and on, but I'll end with this: This movie is PURE MAGIC. Don't miss it. Ratings : 4.5/5

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Movie Review : Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi

Director : Music : Lyrics : Starring : Aditya Chopra Salim Merchant and Sulaiman Merchant Jaideep Sahni Shah Rukh Khan, Anushka Sharma and Vinay Pathak. It's very rare for another actor to steal the thunder right from under Shahrukh Khan's nose. Even though the script is the winner here, newcomer Anushka Sharma walks off with an applause-worthy performance. It's difficult to believe that this is her debut. RAB NE BANA DI JODI will be spoken more for the spunk in her performance than for SRK's dual role. Knowingly or unknowingly, SRK is supporting Anushka! Right from the first frame, until the last, Anushka captures the screen and keeps her character alive with effortless ease. She portrays a gamut of emotions with the gra ce of a seasoned pro. Here is a natural beauty with an impish grin and an infectious screen presence. A crazy dancer, too. A star is born. With her performance, she has thrown her hat in the ring for a plethora of awards. Best Actress, Best Debut, Fresh Face of the Year... This film too, will be a top contender for the Best Film Of The Year Award along with JODHA AKBAR, JAANE TU... and ROCK ON. Of course, GHAJNI is still to hit the cinemas. For a newcomer, Anushka has handled well the pressures of standing up to one of the biggest stars in Bollywood. She matches SRK scene for scene. So powerful is her presence and performance, that SRK at most times, pales in the shadows. This, in no way means that SRK has under-performed. Keeping his character in mind, he has stayed 'within', playing perfectly to the script and the direction of Aditya Chopra. To his credit, it must be said that it's a brave decision to have played the character he played because the role of Anushka has turned out to be the central point on which the film rotates. And this would not have missed the sharp eyes of SRK at the post-production stage. The movie plays within itself and the concept that some relationships we choose, while others are ordained by God. This is exactly the story of Surinder Sahni (SRK) and Tanni (Anushka). By a twist of fate, they are married off. While Surinder loves her deeply, Tanni cannot bring herself to love her husband and she also makes this fact clear to him. She marries Surinder because her father asks her to on his deathbed after suffering from a massive heart attack because her husband-to-be and the entire marriage party are killed in an accident. He is a simpleton working in a government office while she is, or rather was, just the opposite. She expresses her desire to take part in a dance competition. Surinder encourages her and also hits upon an idea of going in for an image change (for fear of being recognised by her) to take a closer look at her during her dance rehearsals. What was meant to be a one-time makeover goes on until the end. So who wins in the end, Surinder, or Raj, the makeover persona? This movie is loaded with the right dose of emotions, action, lighter moments and 'masala' scenes. In one song, SRK does an ode to Raj Kapoor, Dev Anand, Shammi Kapoor, Rajesh Khanna and Rishi Kapoor. He is accompanied by Kajol, Bipasha Basu, Lara Dutta, Preity Zinta and Rani Mukherjee. A clean take on the yesteryear stars, without fear of lawsuits. Remember Manoj Kumar and OSO? On the flip side, I fail to understand why every film from the Yash Raj banner needs to have references from their past hits... or flops. Anushka, once again, take a bow. Aditya Chopra, you too. This one is an ordinary love story told in an extraordinary manner. In the current scenario where everyone's emotions have taken a beating, this film is sure to lift up your spirits. Ratings : 4/5

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