Film Review : Billu

Well, me didnt have much expectations from the film and so in that way I didnt come back dissappointed. It was nice watch with some good moments at intervals.

Billu is a story of Barber named Billu(Irfan Khan),who lives a poor life,no electricity at home,doesnt get loan for his barber shop also.One day,Sahir Khan(Shahrukh Khan) arrives at his village Budbuda.Now, Billu happens to be old friend of Shahir,this news spread throughtout the village and all villagers start to talk highly of Billu,helping him getting his shop done and suddenly Billu's life changes. But Billu has promised everyone that he will make them meet Shahir Khan including his family. Now, what will Happen when Billu meets Shahir Khan,will he recognise Billu and if not, then will the villagers spare Billu who have penned their hopes on Billu totally.

The film is mix of simplicity and stardom.Needn't be told,Irfan plays the former part. What the film lacks for me is the emotions dont really come out.One song could had been chopped out of 3-4 shown during shoots of Shahir Khan.And then add to it, one does feel repitivity watching Om Puri,Asrani and same set of actors again and again, and doing almost the same exact thing. Rajpal Yadav completely irritates, wonder when will he make us laugh with his acting as he seems busy to go loud and just loud in his roles.

Irfan Khan,without a doubt gives another great performance.His expressions works big time and so does the accent. Wont call it his best work,but probably among his good ones.

Shahrukh Khan was nice, he could had been even more better as per me.Though, the climax scene was superbly done by Shahrukh.

Lara Dutta was good in her part.

Om puri got some good dialogues. Asrani was fine. Rajpal Yadav was poor.

Songs were well used though I feel they were one too many in the end. Ae aa o was very well used showcasing lots of Shahrukh's old film clips.Khudaya Khair was the best song for me. Jaayu kahan could had been more better.

Direction was nice.Dialogues were good in parts.Camerawork should had been more better specially the way it kept zooming Shahrukh Face time n again.

The climax is very good.

Some of my fav moments were :

Shahir's comment to doobe ji

Shahir's final speech.

Billu's phone call scene before interval.

Om puri in Billu's shop to get sasta cut

I wish the emotions were brought about in better way and the repititivity was decreased but still it was quite a nice film with some good moments here and there.

Ratings :

Direction : 2.5 Out of 5

Screenplay : 2.75 Out of 5

Dialogues : 2.85 Out of 5

Cinematography : 3 Out of 5

Choreography : 2.75 Out of 5

Entertainment Value : 3.25 Out of 5

Performances : 3 Out of 5

Story : 2.5 Out of 5

Music : 3.25 Out of 5

Film Rating : 2.65/5

Recommendation : Watch it only for Irfan's great performance and Shahrukh's Screen Presence(Not his acting this time).

Music Review : Jai Veeru

Sufi - 2.85/5

Tulsi spoils it,such bad voice modulation in ending part.

Sufi(male) - 3.25/5

at few places he went wrong,but still good work.

Dhun laagi - 2.75/5

nice in parts.

Aisa Lashkaara - 1.25/5

didnt like at all.

Agra ka Ghagra - 1/5

Feel bad for javed ali to accept this song,raja hasan is below avg,mauli dave takes wrong song to step into playback singing if this is her debut.

Tennu Le - 1.5/5

composition doesnt really impress,naya style tha but didnt look good.

Background Music - 2.85/5

specially sufi n dhun laagi.

Lyrics - 2.5/5

Good in Sufi,gud in parts in tennu,bad in rest.

Vocals - 2/5

only saim impresses though not fully.

My Picks : Sufi and Tenu leke

Music Rating : 2.25/5

Music Review : 13B

Sab Khariyat Hai - 3/5

Bade se Shahar Mein - 3.5/5

Aasma Odh Kar - 3.65/5

Oh Sexy Mama - 2.5/5

Theme - 3/5

Background Music - 3/5

Lyrics - 3/5

Vocals - 3.5/5

My Picks - Bade se Shaher Mein n Aasma Odh Kar

Music Rating : 3/5

Music Review : Aa Dekhen Zara

Gajab - 3.25/5

Nice fun song,sunidhi overpowers Shaan in it,lyrics as per feel of song.

Rock the Party - 2.25/5

quite avg song.

Power - 0.5/5

Very bad,bad composition,bad singing,bad lyrics.

Mohabbat Aapse - 1.75/5

Start was so nice,but it fades once vocals begin,lyrics are avg too.

Aa Dekhen Zara - 4.25/5

Superb song,neil himself sang it,gr8 composition recreated n best part is the 2nd antara has some english lines with background music giving a dark feel of film and tune matches with johnny gaddar theme.

Aa dekhen zara lounge version is so bad,1st time i have heard a lounge version in slow mode

Background Music - 2.25/5

Vocals - 2.25/5

Lyrics - 2/5

Music Rating - 2.25/5

Film Review : Dev D

No Atyachar at all!

An Advice - Girls who believe in values and respect n things should stay away from film as its a very bold film.

Now,there are 2 ways of viewing this film for me,one is to think how much badly they have exploited the characters(especially girls) or second,how true they yet are. I will go by 2nd one.

I havent read the novel, not seen Srk Devdas and dont remember Dilip one either.I have just read few information before release of Dev.D, and on that basis I feel film was quite good.

Dev.D is a story about Dev(Abhay deol) who loves Paro(Maahi gill) madly, but one misunderstanding ruins their relation and Dev abuses Paro to a extent that she decides to marry a boy whom she doesnt love. Dev becomes alcoholic and one day meets Chunni who tries to use the money of Dev for his benefit.He makes Dev meet Chanda(Kalki),who is a escort now after the famous MMS Scandal which forced her to leave home and now she is happy working as student in college during day and as escort during nights. Chanda falls in love with Dev but Dev still loves Paro. Will Dev be able to forget Paro? Did he ever really loved Paro? And what will be the fate of Chanda? Thats what is the remaining part of the film.

Abhay Deol gave a excellent performance as Dev, a spoilt boy who has got a big ego and end result destroys relations never understanding his own mistakes.Abhay very well portrayed all these feelings in the film.

Maahi Gill was good as a actor,though I feel her character could had been made less vulgar or I should say bold.

Kalki was very good in terms of looks while acting was inconsistent,still there were scenes where she made her presence fully felt.

The two things that went against the film for me were, excessive use of songs,even if they are used as narration,18 songs are way too many. While the second was,overuse of boldness n repititive scenes of dev in 2nd half.

Anurag kashyap's feel can be seen in many scenes. His direction is very good.Dev himself commits mistakes yet his ego doesnt let him accept it and believes in blaming Paro for what she hasnt even done.Then,the emosanal atyachar song is so well placed.2 band singers singing the song,paro dancing in her own marriage madly while Dev is gulping alcohol in his room.

Yeh meri zindagi song used to show the life of Chanda before she becomes a escort.Duniya song I feel should had been used in more unique way.Aankh micholi and nayan tarse are very well used.Saali khushi again good,with 3 people and their expressions done as a reference point to Dev's life,though people laughed at it here.

Maahi mainu nahi karna pyar both versions again very well used,and so is the punjabi track played during wedding party.Emosanal rock version is so well brought about,how Dev reaches Chanda and meets Chunni. Rest songs could had been avoided.

The climax was good, though it could still had been more stronger.

Camerawork is superb. Dialogues are fine. Chunni's dialogue delhi ki billi khaayo,maaro lekin paalo nahi and Chanda's "If you are in pain then talk, jab dard ho toh kisi se baat karni chahiye,dard kam ho jaata hai", n the reply of Dev to it was very good too.

I also loved that scene when Dev drinks lot with Chunni with Pardesi song in background and then he goes to wash his face,the camera zooms to his face under water and the music goes silent. Also, when he takes drugs,how the camera zooms to show his tougue.

Before the film, I had read Anurag saying its a film on how the youth destroy their life just because of their ego and certain misunderstandings. I feel this is very well shown on the screen. How Dev allowed his ego to let Paro go away, and as a result he dipped into Alcohol,drugs,misusing all the money his dad had given to him. No wonder,in the end he had to meet with the reality.

Though I wished, the film was less bold then it is.

On the whole, Dev D is a good watch. It should be liked more than No Smoking of Anurag.

Ratings :

Direction : 4.15 Out of 5

Screenplay : 3.5 Out of 5

Dialogues : 2.75 Out of 5

Cinematography : 3.25 Out of 5

Choreography : 3.5 Out of 5

Entertainment Value : 3.15 Out of 5

Performances : 3.85 Out of 5

Story : 3.75 Out of 5

Music : 4.25 Out of 5

Rating : 3.35 Out of 5 (Deducted Points for Execessive boldness n repititive scenes in 2nd half)

Music Review : The Stoneman Murders

Qatilaana - 1.75/5

Sooni Raah pe - 2.75/5

Stoneman - 2/5

Midnight at Matunga - 3/5

The Stoneman Cometh - 2.25/5

Killer in the Kholi - 2.5/5

The Chase - 2/5

The Ritual - 2.5/5

Requiem to the Stoneman - 2.25/5

Background Music - 2.5/5

Lyrics - 1.75/5

Vocals - 1.85/5

Music Rating : 2/5

Music Review : Delhi6

Tumre bhavan mein - 5/5

Excellent,simply excellent when a religious song can be loved by a naastik then what else u want.

Arziyaan - 4.75/5

At 1-2 minor places,the song slips else a very good 9 min rendition from Javed n Kailash and lyrics are worth a mention.

Delhi6 - 5/5

Now, here's A R Rehman for you, a composition that has to be loved.

Hey Kaala Bandar - 5/5

Another fantastic composition,note the part where naresh renders "Aayo hum sheesha dekhe" and then the latter fast version from him,simply supeerb.

Masakalli - 5/5

Mohit Chauhan impresses yet again this time in a different type of number,hakte song from his non stop romantic doses.

Dil Gira Dafatan - 4.85/5

And here we have,another set of new singers launched by Rahman and as always they leave a deep impact.

Rehna Tu - 5/5

The maestro chooses himself for the best track of the album,a song that should touch your soul with last 2 mins of flute used.

Noor - 4/5

A Shayari rendered by Amitabh bachchan just 1 min long.

Bhor Bhayi - 3.5/5

Very well sung by Shreya n other one, but classical touch thora sa jyada hi tha, so I couldnt really love it.

Genda Phool - 3.25/5

I ddint like it,though the fun part was visible in it,somehow song didnt click with me.

Background Music - 4.5/5

Specially delhi6 and rehna tu.

Lyrics - 4.75/5

All songs, hats off to prasoon joshi, just read his comments also on each song in the audio cd, so well described.

Vocals - 4.75/5

Except for minor fault by Kailash kher, Everything was near to perfect.

My Fav Picks - Delhi6, Rehna Tu, Dil Gira Dafatan and Kaala bandar

Music Rating : 4.65/5