Category: Movies & Entertainment

David- My take

On February 23, 2013

Director: Bijoy Nambiar

Cast: Neil Nitin Mukesh, Vikram, Tabu, Vinay virmani

3 lives. 3 names. 3 same names. 3 different, yet intermingling to give out a message that they try to convey by not being either black or white, but by just showing shades of grey.

The opening scene, or to say the scenes of the three lives, deals with the ultimate decision in changing certain things that the Davids need to make. And then the story begins.

The fight scene involving a drunken Vikram with the backdrop of a song, only makes it less violent and intresting. Although, with the kind of role that vikram plays, would make you feel as if the whole of Goa only does one thing, Drinks, drinks and drinks. The scenes involving him and his dead father (played by Saurabh shukla) are funny and sweet at the same time, where his father comes in various point of time to “advice” him as to not interfere in his friend’s marriage plans with Ishaa sherwani, while Tabu advices him otherwise.

Our second David, Vinay virmani, is from Mumbai, who aspires to be in the music industry and struggles out by even doing odd guitar lessons, performances in restaurants, etc while his father is a priest trying to help the poor in the city. Life, even with little difficulties was going good. Until, a Hindutva-fudamentalist organization’s leader accuses his father of forceful conversions to Christianity and life takes a sorry turn.

The other David, played by Neil nitin Mukesh, essays a complex story of an orphaned kid being adopted by a Don in 75’ London and his past life. David is one of the most important of the lot, that the Don Ghani has fires bullets with ease of a no-nonsense Don and the attitude of one too. The love of his life, Noor, played by Monica Dogra and their love story suffers as she gets forcefully married to Don Ghani’s womanizing-and-drunk son as a face saver and at the same time Neil discovers some old history about his mother .

David is about the lives of three different people who face a situation where their one decision can completely change things but in making that change they need to do something wrong. Their journey towards this decision-making process is what you are going to see. Bijay does a commendable job in bringing out all three stories as almost one and continues his Shaitan-like show of making it realistic and not completely good or bad. There are things that could have been better, like a little more depth in Vikram’s character and story. Tabu was underutilized to some extent too.

But, even with its little shortcomings, David fares well, with good music to support its cause of giving out a good story. The movie also raises issues of religious fundamentalism and Rohini hathangadi plays the role of one such politician with quite an ease. Neil nitin plays the role with elan and stands out from the rest of the cast.

The film is almost like a book, which you remember before watching it the second time.

A 3/5 from me for this titular, David.

Special26- My take

By farooq

On February 13, 2013

In Movies & Entertainment

Directed by Neeraj Pandey, whose “A Wednesday” is still etched as a masterpiece in our minds, Special 26 stars Akshay Kumar, Anupam Kher , Manoj Bajpai and Kajal Agarwal in lead roles, with many faces from his previous film making appearances too.

The plot, as was evident in the trailers, revolves around a fake CBI team conducting raids on Ministers and businessmen. Taking us to different places where one can hide money, from secret safes behind Idols to ceilings packed with money to crooked walls and what not. The “Catch me if you can”-isque attitude with which Akshay and his team conducts raids with sincerity to rob the black money from corrupted people where no one wants to file an FIR for obvious reasons or “for reasons best known to them” as would be corrected by one. All goes well until the Real CBI gets involved and here comes Manoj Bajpai.

While this chor-police game continues to take shape, there is a complicated love story running along with it between Akshay and south-starlet Kajal, where we don’t exactly know the reason why they cannot be together, maybe “for reasons best known to them”. There’s also a “wedding song” pitched in, of obvious reasons of being a Bollywood film.

Akshay comes out good with this Special26, and may have finally realized that movies shouldn’t be just made for commercial success, and that’s a good sign. Anupam kher, Manoj Bajpai, Jimmy shergill and all the others do put up decent performances to make special26 special.

There are of course loopholes, but in the end everything falls into p;lace and you are made to believe that this was the same guy who directed Wednesday, with evident touches of that amazing movie coming in.

The sluggishness in some parts has been tried to be fast-tracked forcefully, which gets evident in the frst half, but automatically gains pace in the second. The movie is a good watch, if you are okay with keeping this in mind that it captures the late-80’s in its backdrop, yet tries to entertain you in 2013 and does a pretty decent job.

So, here’s a 3/5 for Neeraj pandey’s special26 and a suggestion to not miss Akshay’s Once-in-a-blue-moon act in this movie with some fine touches of a wednesday.

Matru ki Bijli ka Mandola- My take

By farooq

On January 13, 2013

In Movies & Entertainment

Going with a lot of expectations might just ruin your “long time” in the theatre if you are going there to watch “Matru ki Bijli ka Mandola”. And yes, let me clear this out first, if you are going in with watching three bollywood actors in action on the big screen, i.e, Pankaj kapoor , Anushka Sharma and Imran khan, well you are in for another disappointment because there are just going to like just two.

One, of course being THE Pankaj kapoor and the other, well neither Imran (which is expected) and nor Anushka ( yep, another disappointment), it would be” Gulabo”. If you don’t know who is Gulabi, let me spoil the suspense, its just a Bhains and that too a pink one. 🙂

The movie’s plot is “aimed” at being a satire, but in course of getting it right and also trying to give a Vishal Bharadwaji touch, of showing both the good and the bad side of a character, it ends up becoming just a meaningless long journey.

The story is about, Mandola, a village named on the family of Mandola and Pankaj kapoor plays the heir of the family. named Mandola, who suffers from “split personality issues” after drinking. And yes, the liquor that the village drinks is also named “Gulabo”. When, sane (i.e without drinking), speaks in english and is bent on making his Car plant project see getting approved, while when drunk, he ends up becoming a Haryanvi bursting bhen*** every sentence. And his partner in crime is, Imran khan’s character Matru, who happens to be fighting for the rights of the farmers, whose land is going to be taken away by the government for the car project, by disguising as an accomplice. And yes, the title does speak about “bijli” (one prime reason, I went to watch the movie in the first place), played by Anushka, who is the daughter of Mandola. A girl, who just wants people’s attention, is ready to marry a politician’s idiotic son even knowing all that, someday or the other goes in just her kachaa baniyan to bathe in the local pond while the villagers cheer.

The story shows, rather tries to show the struggle villagers have when vested interests try to take away their land, politicians and corruption, reasons for the rise of Naxalism, etc but yes fails on many counts. If delivering haryanvised accented dialogues with almost the same emotion is what Imran khan was roped in, then he did a pretty good job. Anushka, well acting wasn’t an issue, but some of the key scenes that she had, were with Imran where there was an evident lack of chemistry. But yes, the most paisa vasool thing of the movie was Pankaj kapoor. His range as an actor in just this one role is so amazing, that watching him shift effortlessly from one to the other is just speechless. The way, in which he delivers the dialogues, those little drunk dance and antics that he does, comic scenes or the ones with drama, he just changes gear at the click of a second.

Won’t say the movie is a total disaapointmnet, but the entertainment quotient is very limited and it all lies on the shoulders of Pankaj kapoor. Along with that, Shabana azmi plays a very greedy and cunning politician’s role who is ready to marry her son to Bijli just for the sake of more Power. Her flirtatious role with Mandola, is enjoying and would have been better if Vishal could have put a little more effort of extension in this direction rather than filling it with other things to make it this long.

Well, if my review sounded too long for you to keep your patience intact, you might just be disappointed. if you want to watch a gem of a character played by Mandolas, then go have a one-time watch. Otherwise, it’s up to you.

My rating- 1.5/5 stars.

What it means to be a Farhan Akhtar Fan

By farooq

On January 9, 2013

In Movies & Entertainment

The music of a new movie based on rock band was released, the songs were really catchy.

It was the first time that I had got addicted to not one but an entire album.

I was in High school, and I still remember those jamming sessions in the last bench with classmates, where it didn’t mattered how bad one sang. Even I was a singer. Of sorts.
No, really.

One needed to know the lyrics. And I did.

Singing songs of this movie, in classes, in corridors, in playgrounds, on bike rides. To tell you the truth, it was actually and actually shouting. Shouting our lungs out.

If I’d say that the songs were the only reasons for me to get addicted to them, I’d be giving too much credit to Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy. No disrespect. Love their composition.

Another reason was the entry of this new guy, well, not “new” per se. But yes, new in the avatar of an actor and singer.
Had liked him for his directorial skills in the coming-of-age movie Dil Chahta Hai and then Lakshya, even seen him quite a number of times in chat shows showcasing his good sense of humor.

But you know, back then he was just a director, son of a famous lyricist and story-writer.

What changed things was, Rock ON!! Those long locks gave way to curls of a rockstar and yes, an onscreen rockstar singing in his very own husky voice. Yes, that was Farhan Akhtar and that was the time he added another fan among many. I head-banged my way to the list. I became one of the many die-hard fans of him with Rock on.

If Rock On marked his debut, along with a relatively new cast and director in Abhishek kapoor, his next venture Luck By Chance marked the debut of his sister Zoya Akhtar in the director’s hat.

Although, the film didn’t do that well at the box office, yet I’d rate it as Farhan’s best performance till date. Each scene of this movie is so etched into my mind, that as soon as the name of the movie pops up, the whole movie, scene by scene slowly plays down before my eyes.
Special mention to this particular scene.
Dimple Kapadia, who is the lead heroine’s mother and a yester-year actress (in the movie) . Farhan, playing a struggling actor, ends up in the success party of a movie. Walks down to Dimple and chats up. He tells her, how he is there in this world because of dimple.
Shockingly, she replies, “What??!!”

And then he explains, that how both his parents ended up together because of both being her fans. As cheesy as the line may sound, it is portrayed pretty well.
And this is not the only scene, there are numerous others too, in this particular movie itself. I advise you, to watch it a.s.a.p if you haven’t done already.

His next acting installment came with Karthik calling Karthik, where he was paired with Deepika padukone. The film was a psychological thriller and dealt with concept of split personality. Although, the film didn’t do that well in the box office, his chemistry with Deepika was much appreciated and so were the songs in the movie. What I thought of it was, the first half was really great, but in terms of describing the plot in the end, they couldn’t do much justice. Still, a brave attempt.

Zoya Akhtar’s next, starring Farhan-Hrithik-Abhay in Zindagi Milegi Na Dobara, was a breath of fresh air.
Who can forget Imran, which was so easily by Farhan and his poetries? Even the “bagwati” is something that everyone remembers. So much so that, there is a twitter handle dedicated to it too.

Of course, he was not just limited to, his new avatar of acting in one movie. He remade Don, starring Shahrukh Khan, and added his own touch to the cult classic. He even went on to do a sequel to it, which turned out to be another hit for his Excel entertainment. He owns the Excel entertainment, along with his childhood friend Ritesh Sidhwani. All the movies that he has acted in have also been produced by the same. Talash being the last movie to come out from the Excel’s stable. He even came out with a celebrity chat show, “Oye! It’s Friday!!” on NDTV-imagine, which had his trademark style and was really entertaining. How, I wish, he could again come back with that show.

Farhan started his filmography by assisting in movies like “Himalayputra” and “Lamhe”, and he only got his director-writer debut with Dil Chahta hai. If, there is one person in bollywood who is truly versatile then that has to be Farhan. From assisting directors to being a director and writer to being an actor, singer and producer to writing dialogues and lyrics, he has done them all. A jack of all trades, who excels in everything he does.

Now, eyes are set on Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, an official autobiography of the legend Milkha singh. The teaser has just blown away the audience. The well chiseled out body has surely taking breaths away, and the whole look of farhan have become the talk of the town. And the movie is months away from release. Wishing all the best to Farhan akhtar, for his next movie and the future which promises to look great with every little thing he does. One of the rare celebs, who does not fear voicing his opinions on any social issues and his tweets bear a healthy testimony to it.

[Read the review of the amazing Bhaag Milkha Bhaag here]

Right now, he is relaxing at home after getting a haircut from his hairstylist wife Adhuna and celebrating his birthday with his two lovely daughters.

Here’s wishing him a very happy birthday on his 39^th birthday. Farhanaitte for life. 🙂

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[Post Edits: Farhan’s Bhaag Milkha Bhaag became a superhit, and is Wazir is on his way to become another hit]

Jab tak hai Jaan Movie Review

By farooq

On November 19, 2012

In Movies & Entertainment

Low expectations always helps. Watched “Jab tak hai jaan” with the same mindset of low expectations. Although my die-hard-SRK-fan siblings, who had already watched the movie, were not helping at all in keeping those expectations low. Still, managed to keep my brains intact before entering the cinema hall. One of them even said, “You should leave your brain and only go with your heart to watch a Yashraj movie”. Classic, I tell you.

Yeah, Right!

What would you expect from a Shahrukh-YashRaj film?? Romance!! right??

Well, you do get that from the script. Flawed, but still the script is designed to be romantic. Film starts off with Shahrukh, in Indian army uniform defusing a bomb, actually successfully defusing (Indian hero, how can you not expect him to diffuse that).

A stubble-carrying SRK looks uber cool. The poetry recited in his voice is amazing.

Anushka Sharma’s entry is surely a mouth-watering one. She is vivacious and lively in the character of Akira, which she plays. Displaying that “makeup-breakup-generation-girl-attitude” is what she does quite beautifully. Making you smile at the way she goes about her “fitoor” (passion) of filming SRK for her documentary.

In the backdrop runs SRK’s never dying love for Meera (played by Katrina) who tries her best to act apart from looking glamorous. But fails, miserably. Acting is something that you should least expect from her (and I know, you won’t).

The chemistry between Samar (SRK’s character) and Meera is unconvincingly boring. Even with liplocks being planted in between. (Yes, SRK’s first onscreen kiss!!!) But it all looked too unconvincing and the romance that could have actually taken the movie to the level that you do expect from a Yashraj movie falls flat.

Songs are good, if not A.R Rehman-isque but with Shahrukh being the one on whom it was picturised, a Sonu Nigam would have appeared better. Picture a song like heer on an emotionless-katrina!! Many of these things take some of the magic already away from the songs.

Dialogues are good, but some scenes, especially when SRK angrily challenges God in the church could have reached that Amitabh-God talk in Deewar.

But, even with all these flaws, be it in terms of script, acting, song picturization, etc. what stands out is the man in the centre of it all. The SRK. Delivering a solid performance as someone who is in love. Love which never dies. Each phase that he lives through in the movie makes you connect with his rage, his anger and the reason of all this, his love for Meera. The stubble-look reminds you of Chak-de, and he lives to that performance, although the script does not make him go beyond that.

There should always be something that you can take back from a movie, and Jab tak hai jaan will make sure you do. Watch it for the love-struck SRK, the bubbly Anushka and glamourous doll Katrina. There was one joke that was going viral on twitter a few days back, “Human beings love jab tak hai jaan, while Being humans didn’t”. 🙂

Filmy Barometer

By farooq

On September 20, 2012

In Movies & Entertainment

When the credits for a movie are rolled, there are names of all those people who have contributed in it. Right from the directors, to producers, actors to even the spot boys, each of them gets some “screen-space”. Each of them acts like an ingredient used into the making of a special dish to be served to the audience in theatres and subsequently in their living rooms from their screens. The storyline, being one of the most important one, used in making it all ingredients come together to enhance the enjoyment quotient of the audience. The entertainment value that they are able to generate is directly proportional to the mixture of ingredients and the proportion in which they are mixed up in accordance with a particular recipe. The manner, in which a particular dish is served, also forms an important role in the whole process of making that dish. The aroma that comes out from the dish makes others desire to have it and maybe because of that, publicity has become such an important part too. But is it the only one that can explain how the dish is???

Some movies (or in the Indian bollywood context, most of the movies), the ingredients (as mentioned above, if you remember J) are only concerned as to how to let the aroma of the whole dish (read movies J ) reach out to others, so that everyone gets a “bite” (read tickets J ). The Great Adam smith’s said, “It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own self- interest.” So, each of the ingredients, work up their asses for their own interest to make something which will earn money for them. In the process of doing so, this all tends to become what we now term as “commercial cinema” and each and everything, over the time is becoming commercialized and with it the enthusiasm of ingredients to combine and bring out the best dish is going down. Now, no one is concerned about how the dish might be, but how much money it will generate. Will it be correct to be concerned only about the record it will break or in how many days will it cross the 100-crore mark??? (there is also a 100-cr club of movies too)

The success barometer these days depends on how much moolah you generated and not how many stars you got from the critics. Why bother when you have the “people’s verdict” with you? And what is this people’s verdict? Blind fan following, excessive media hype or just good PR strategy??

Nevertheless, there is always a ray of hope building when one sees filmmakers putting their effort into living the life of the story on screen. One can actually see parallel lives running in the screens. They are not just bothered about how much money they are generating but also the correct treatment that a story should be given. They just don’t want people coming in, taking that one “bite” (which may just be because of the hype surrounding it) and go back. They also want them to take something back from the theatre too.

There are recent Indian movies like Udaan, Luck by chance, Wednesday, aamir, Gangs of wasseypur, Barfi on one side and then there is bodyguard, ready, houseful, Singh is king, and the list goes on. Such contrasts between the two sets of movies. While the second set boasts of movies that grossed over 100-crores, it’s hardly the case with the first one. But what differentiates them, or in my opinion makes them stand apart from the rest is in the sheer craftsmanship that is on display by the filmmakers who make them. It was not about the item numbers, big stars or cheap publicity that drew the audience towards them, it was their content which mattered. The prime reason being that these movies was made from heart to touch the audience’s hearts and not just their pockets. They might earn or they might not, still what mattered to the filmmakers to portray their thoughts and ideas and stories to the audience.

To take a recent example, the two movies that I saw recently made me again believe in this idea of content scoring over masala, one is the Gangs of wasseypur and the other is barfi. Both are different in their own rights. The former displays the dynastic enmity and mafia rule in bihar, while the latter is a mute protagonist’s life story where he always has a smile on his face, even in difficult circumstances. Wassepur displays characters which selfish, neither good nor bad, just selfish people who have an both the characteristics. To say it simply, this is just the actual description of the people that we are, only with the backdrop of violent dynastic politics and vengeance. While barfi is that kind of sweet that even a doctor would prescribe a diabetic patient. It’s not just about melodramatic love, but the choices one has to make in reality and how that influences our life. The one we love may not love us back, but we still are there for that person, smiling and helping them. Don’t think before falling in love, and don’t think after falling in it too.

Both the movies had one thing in common (apart from the first name of the directors in both of them), that they were made with a big heart. These movies might not even come close to being in the top grossing Bodyguards, tigers, singhs, etc yet they show us the kind of cinema which makes us think. It’s about the zeal with which these movies are made th at differentiate them, they may earn or they might not. Blockbuster hits have come and went, but after years, what remains with you is not the figures that each of these movies earned but what content it had. It may be possible that some might like all those commercial movies, and they are right in doing so. But question is should the barometer of success be judged only in terms of money alone, or does the content even matters????