Film Review : 13B

Iss Thriller ko na dekha Toh Kya DEKHA ?

I somehow didnt went with high expectations,call it coincidence or what,but mostly such times the film turns out to be really good and same happened here .

Before I get into further details, First and Most Important Thing - 13B is not a Horror Film but a Suspense Thriller.

13B is a story about a family that has just shifted to a new building on the 13th floor.Manohar(Madhavan) with his wife(Neetu Chandra), mom(Poonam Dhillon),brother and sister start to live a new life adjusting to the environment. But Manohar starts to experience some strange things happening in his house,like lift not running,milk getting spoilt every time and etc etc. One day he comes to know how the events are connected to a serial that comes on T.V. Now, whats the relation of that serial with Manohar's life. How will Manohar find it out, and will he be able to stop the events that are about to happen or not is what 13B deals with.

13B works a lot for the special fact that you are simply engaged with the film,especially the 2nd half when the suspense and thriller part increases even more. Its very hard until the actual climax to tell what will really happen.

Madhavan gives a superb performance, indeed he was right in his interview,he chooses performances that would leave a mark as this one would be remembered.The expressions of disbelief,shock,helplessness are so well portrayed by him.

Neetu Chandra is very good too,though she hardly has a role in the film,but her chemistry is awesome with Madhavan.

Poonam Dhillon is good and nice to see her in a film.

Deepak Dobriyal does a great work yet again in a inspector role.

Sachin Khedekar is good in his small role.

Direction is superb.Screenplay is very good.Background Score is excellent and Good Camera work too.

Songs could had been done without,especially Aasma odh kar which was a misfit, though I personally love the song for Chitra n Shankar's rendition. Sab khairiyat and Bade se shehar mein were properly used.

Some of my fav scenes were,the lift scenes,the dog entry in house scene,interval scene,entry of dobriyal and many many more,cant write all as you should watch them first.

Its hard to find the weaknesses of the film,except for misuse of Aasma odh kar song, may be lift scenes were done one too many though I personally didnt mind it as it was a build up required for the story.

Also, the suspense part is solid and you wont feel at all that your 2 hrs were wasted, Oops sorry 2 hrs 28 mins(Right taran adarsh).

Overall, 13B needs to be seen as soon as possible, stay away from any reviews, even this one until u see it urself. If you know the suspense before, the real magic of the film would be destroyed. So, Watch it as you would surely love it if you prefer Thrillers and ofcourse Madhavan fans have all reasons to cheer for after all its a performance to watch for .

Ratings :

Direction : 4 Out of 5

Screenplay : 3.75 Out of 5

Dialogues : 3 Out of 5

Cinematography : 3 Out of 5

Choreography : 2.5 Out of 5

Entertainment Value : 3 Out of 5

Performances : 4.5 Out of 5

Story : 4.25 Out of 5

Music : 3 Out of 5

Film Rating : 3.85/5

Recommendation : If you love watching Thrillers, then Dont Miss this one as chances are you would like it.

Film Review : Dhoondhte Reh Jayoge

Spoofs ko Dhoondhte Reh Jaayoge!

I went to see the film as felt the spoofs would be interesting as shown in the promos and ofcourse an article revealed that around 14 different films would be shown as spoof. So, it would be a good interesting watch. Hmm, does it really succeed in doing it ?

Talking of the story, Raj Chopra(Paresh Rawal) has taken lots of money from some investors in his previous flop films which he is yet to return and Raj tries to get dates from Aryan Kapoor(Sonu Sood) who is a good actor but going through crisis too. Then, we have Anand Pawar(Kunal Khemu) who is a chartered accountant and believes in becoming rich by hardwork and not frauds,quite opposite of Raj Chopra. One day, Anand Pawar decides to go on the track of fraud as his girlfriend Neha (Soha Ali Khan) warns him that she would go to her homeplace. Anand gives a scheme to Raj chopra of making a Super flop film and yet earning a profit of 100 crores. How this scheme is implemented and does they really succeed in it or not is what the rest of film deals with...

The thing that goes against the film is that the spoof part comes way too late and there arent too much of spoof that you see,matter of 10-15 mins at max. Instead the film goes other way,developing the story how a flop film is tried to be made,getting flop singers,writers,directors and a new heroine to let the film not become a hit at any cost.

Songs arent great either,though Kunal makes nice moves in his entry song. Title track is used very welll as background. Rest arent worth mentioning.

Paresh Rawal gives another superb performance and this time I didnt feel the repititiveness at all in his act.

Asrani also was better than last films.

Kunal Khemu was good,in promos I didnt quite like him but in film felt he was much better.

Sonu Sood gave another good performance, a actor who is on high since Jodha Akbar.

Soha Ali Khan was good though this film wont do much to her image as an actress.

Johnny Lever was superb in some scenes and okish in some.

Direction is okish.Its good that film is just 2 hr 10 mins long,never makes you bored.

Climax is good,lagaan se jodha akbar tak .

In the end, its just that you are left desiring for lots of spoofs that arent in large amount at all. The Gadar one and Lagaan one were probably the best ones. And ofcourse, use of Himesh "Bolo bolo huzoor" as sambha was good one.

Overall, Dhoondhte Reh Jaayoge needs to be seen with a thing in mind that its not a complete film based on spoofs at all as there is a story build up that leads to the finale involving all the spoofs on some of the well known films. Even still, it would be at best a timepass film, one time watch film.

Ratings :

Direction : 2.65 Out of 5

Screenplay : 3.25 Out of 5

Dialogues : 3 Out of 5

Cinematography : 2.5 Out of 5

Choreography : 2.65 Out of 5

Entertainment Value : 3.5 Out of 5

Performances : 3 Out of 5

Story : 2.25 Out of 5

Music : 1.75 Out of 5

Film Rating : 2.45/5

Music Review : Aloo Chaat

Aloo Chaat Rdb - 3.25/5

Typical background music in a rdb song which gets bit too loud at places,nindy kaur's voice is a mystery for me,I want to say its bad but still i end up liking her voice but still I dont quite find it match for song but still I keep hearing her part more in the song then rdb.The lyrics are very good,liked it.

Dhadke Jiya - 3/5

Nice romantic song,xulfi sings it well,might take time to catch on with more listenings.

Boliyaan - 4/5

Excellent,Nindy kaur excels in this punjabi track,ladies should love this track specially,the punjabi flavour is superb.

Boliyaan 1 - 3.75/5

The sudden fast version in middle n the starting way are the ones that differentiate it from 1st version,I personally loved 1st one more.

Aloo Chaat 1 - 2.5/5

Nice song,kailesh kher is fine nothing special this time.

Life is a Sizzling Aloo Chaat - 2.25/5

Okish song.

Background Music : 3.25/5

Specially due to Boliyaan n Dhadke Jiya

Lyrics : 3.5/5

Except Aloo chaat 1 and Life is sizzling,all have very good lyrics.

Vocals : 3.25/5

Nindy Kaur impresses and confuses,while Rdb is good but not brilliant this time,Kailash is fine,Xulfi is good while Kunal ganjawala is okish.

My Picks : Boliyaan Both Versions and Rdb's Aloo Chaat

Recommendation : Punjabi Music Lovers...

Music Rating : 3.25/5 (Good Album)

Film Review : Delhi6

Delhi6 chaa gayi !

I think All have very HIGH expectations from the film,one being Rakeysh Mehra film post RDB and second the music of Rahman has catched on so much.Does Delhi6 live upto all the expectations or not? It does, but not entirely.

Talking of Story, A NRI Roshan(Abhishek) comes to Delhi with his grandmother(Waheeda Rahman) who wont live for long and wants to die where she was born.Now, how Roshan connects to Delhi and their people,what he finds good in them and what he doesnt like,how he tries to change it, all this forms the main story of Delhi6.

I will straightaway come to faults first.Firstly, I think wife of Rakeysh Mehra has chopped off some key scenes from the film,I felt the desire for more at many stages.Secondly,I felt freshness was missing in some of the songs and also Arziyan wasnt properly used.

Coming to Performances, Abhishek Bachchan does very well in a Nri role,his accent looks so real,though for some it might irritate but thats how a NRI accent has to be. This performance cant be termed as his best at all,he wasnt at his supreme best, yet there were many scenes where he left his mark.The mannerisms he follows,clicking photos from mobile camera,finding truths of India strange and shocking,he does it all very well.

Sonam Kapoor,she doesnt have large role in the film,but it was a treat to watch Masakalli n title track filmed on her. As far as acting is concerned,she was nice.From Delhi6,she can take Masakalli only with her

Vijay Raaz was mindblowing,Om Puri was nice(better than billu).

Divya Dutta was so bold(in her lingo),it was great to see her in a cameo,cant believe its the same Shabbo of Veer zaara.

Rishi Kapoor though in a minor role has got some of most important sequences of the film with Abhishek and as always he was very good.

Prem Chopra was okay, Pawan Malhotra was superb(After black friday,finally I liked him).

Waheeda Rahman was superb,specially 2 scenes which i will tell later in review.

Atul Kulkarni who is nicknamed Gobar is excellent.

Rest of cast was fine,Amitabh scene was fine as I couldnt really love it though the message was got very well .

Coming to Music now,

Songs that are perfectly used are Delhi6 Title,Masakalli,Dil Gira Dafatan,Rehna Tu,Tumre Bhavan Mein,Genda Phool,Hey Kaala Bandar,Bhor Bhayi.

Arziyan song dissappointed me, I wanted it to be used in a more better way,though its 2nd part used in later half of film was superb but 1st one couldnt strike a chord at all.

While Delhi6 and Masakalli though very well used as part of film,yet a desire of freshness comes in mind as its almost what we had already seen in promos,hardly new scenes,though I still loved watching them again.

Dil Gira Dafatan is very creatively used song which enlightens the feeling of Love inside Roshan for Bittu.

Genda Phool is superbly used for the dance done by the ladies including Waheeda Rahman with Nri touch given by Abhishek and on other hand Pawan flying kite.

Rehna Tu wont be liked if you are expecting a romantic picturisation,even I didnt like it but now When I heard it again and thought of the scene,it actually makes me feel the song was not made for Bittu but for Delhi6 and its people,thats why the last stanza is not taken in the film which wont look good in the narration.

Hey Kaala Bandar is awesome,this song had to be used in splendid way and it indeed was done,and what a way,using it in 2 parts.

Talking of Some of the Best Scenes of the Film :(Some Spoilers)

Slap exchanges between Vijay Raaz and Abhishek.

When Rishi tells Abhishek that this is India,thats how it works here followed by Rehna tu song.

The hypocrite baba doing okay and the copy done by Atul kulkarni was very comical.

The dress change during Delhi6 song by Bittu,changing herself from a typical sweet si ladki to a modern girl.

The scene of Pagal person showing Mirror with the Noor quote of Amitabh.

When Abhishek tries to tell everyone to look into mirror but to no avail.

When Abhishek tells Rishi about his feelings for people of Delhi6.

When Atul Kulkarni tells the reason why he always picks 2 coins instead of 1 note.

Waheeda Rahman's emotional scene after Riots.

The Kala bandar 2nd part,completely awesome.

How Hindu-Muslims collectively search for kala bandar when just a min ago they were ready to kill each other in a pre climax sequence of film.

The Kala Bandar theme is very well used throughout the film,and so is the message given out through it.While some great references are taken,the ram leela sequences referred to kala bandar was very good one.

Direction is very good. Narration though quite good, yet you miss the charm of Rdb's narration in Delhi6 at many places. Camerawork is excellent,be it the arziyan song or the bandar attack.While Sets do get repititive after some time.

Overall, Delhi6 provides you with a strong message,it tells you how much two faced people really are,yet how good they are by heart.This one line from the film says everything "India works,we the people make it work".

In the end, I think the film was 20 mins less and also I would had gone for the Sad climax only though this one also works for me but I have a feeling other one would had worked much more.

Watch the film,for who so ever you like,Dont expect another RDB and take Delhi6 as another film from Rakeysh Mehra,you will end up liking the film if not loving.

Ratings :

Direction : 4.5 Out of 5

Screenplay : 3.5 Out of 5

Dialogues : 4.5 Out of 5

Cinematography : 4.5 Out of 5

Choreography : 4.25 Out of 5

Entertainment Value : 3.75 Out of 5

Performances : 4 Out of 5

Story : 4.5 Out of 5

Music : 4.65 Out of 5

Film Rating : 4/5

Recommendation : Watch it for the way the story is narrated.

Music Review : Dev.D

Emosanal atyachar - 5/5

Cant cut a mark, its a simply awesome song, superb composition, beats and use of some ahem words in between,and lastly it lived fully upto my dreamt picturisation.

Duniya - 5/5

Though picturisation didnt satisfy me, yet as audio its awesome track,reminds of ghumiyo at starting, i specially love the last stanza.

Nayan tarse - 4.5/5

Another very good track,special reference to lyrics n composition.

Pardesi - 5/5

Superb in all 3 departments - lyrics,rendition n composition, love these lines "waqt ne kar daala banta dhaar,eib ke hovega re agge yaar".

Saali Khushi - 4.25/5

Very good one,wish the last part of instrumental was shortened a bit.

Paayaliya - 3.25/5

Good rendition but not my types to hear again n again.

Maahi Menu - 3/5

Nice song.

Aankh Micholi - 4/5

Quite good song for the lyrics and feel of the song.

Yehi meri zindagi hai - 4.75/5

Fell in love with this song only after the film,very good one in all departments.

Dhol Yaara Dhol - 5/5

For Shilpa rao's excellent rendition, too good.

Ek Hulchul Si - 3/5

Nice song.

Hikknaal - 5/5

Labh Janjua rocks this song,the punjabi flavour,a track which I feel punjabi music lovers especially should love,excellent composition and love the part "mutiyaaro ta bachna".

Dil Mein Jaagi - 3.5/5

Good song)

Emosanal atyachar(Rock) - 4/5

Didnt like use of some words in song, otherwise excellent.

Ranjhana - 4.25/5

Very good one,sad version of dhol yaara dhol.

Maahi Menu(Sad) - 3.25/5

Little better than original.

Dev Chanda Theme1 - 3.5/5

Good one.

Dev Chanda Theme2 - 3.25/5

Nice one.

Background Music - 4.25/5

Dhol yaara dhol,emosonal atyachar,hikknaal,duniya.

Lyrics - 4.25/5

almost all.

Vocals - 3.75/5

Shilpa rao,toshi n amit trivedi.

My Picks - Duniya,Emosanal atyachar,Pardesi,Dhol yaara dhol,Yehi meri zindagi and Hikknaal.

Music Rating : 4.25/5

Music Review : Jugaad

Tu hai rab mera - 2.65/5

Nice song,krishna has sung it well.

Kisse awaaz dun - 2.25/5

Lyrics are very good but composition n rendition of song dissappoints a lot.

Tension lene ka nahi - 1/5

Poor song.

Tabahi Tabahi - 0.5/5

Super poor.

Mushkil haalato se ladna kaisa - 3.5/5

Good one,especially due to lyrics n krishna's rendition.

Jai Sai Ram - 2/5

Okish.

Background Music - 2/5

Only for tu hai rab meran mushkil haalato.

Lyrics - 2.5/5

Kisse awaaz dun n mushkil haalato.

Vocals - 2.25/5

Krishna mainly.

Music Rating : 2/5

Music Review : Billu

Marjaani - 2.5/5

Quite avg but beats are good.

Love Mera Hit Hit - 2.65/5

Again avg but beats are really good.

You get me rocking n reeling - 3.5/5

Very good one,neeraj does very well here.

Ae aa oo - 3.25/5

Kay kay is good but could had been more better.

Jaayu kahan - 3.75/5

Very good one though expected much more being rahat fateh ali song.

Billu Bhayankar - 2.25/5

Serves the purpose for film,but as audio below avg for me.

Khudaya Khair - 4.5/5

Superb song, loved it more now,soham,akriti n monali have sung it brillaintly,specially soham kya mast rendition hai.

Khudaya Khair Reprise - 2.75/5

Sort of didnt like abhijeet,thoda feeka laga.

Background Music - 3.75/5

Lyrics - 3/5

Vocals - 3.25/5

My Picks : Khudaya Khair(Soham version) and Ae aa oo.

Music Rating : 3.25/5