Movie Review : Bol Bachchan

Directed by Rohit Shetty

Imdb link -> http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1728986/

He is one director, whose films dont appear appealing to me from trailers, but more often I end up liking them (Golmaal3 was an exception). Bol Bachchan also gets added with that exception now. 

I liked the way Rohit Shetty uses, old Golmaal (Amol Palekar one) in narrative. That was good thought. But, the reason this film fails for me, is the humour isn't good. The jokes fall flat, and most of the times its a forced comedy. 

For instance, the loud character of Ravi (Krishna Abhishek) is highly irritating. Since there is nothing new in the story, it was important to have a screenplay that keeps you entertained with good humurous dialogues. But such scenes are very less in the film. The climax is completely over the top, and so is the role of Archana Puran Singh that is completely made to look like Comedy Circus.

Songs are more or less irritating, except for one song, where the non-moustache character of Abhishek goes to Ajay's house to teach his sister dance. That song which ends with Ajay dancing too along with Prachi, was good one.

Abhishek Bachchan was decent, he does hams a bit in the 'without moustache' character. Though, his dance test scene was very good. Ajay Devgan's comic timing is once again too good, infact he's the reason you get some laughs out of the film. The way he says the hindi lines in english, or the scene where he says 'Sunooooo..' were hillarious.

Asin looks completely out of the character to me, for me the part where she plays the lover of Ajay in past i.e that irritating Himesh song.. thats where she looks best. Prachi Desai looks cute, but hardly has got much to do in her role. Archana Puran Singh and Krishna Ahishek just hams.

Neeraj Vora and Asrani in supporting roles do good work. While Amitabh Bachchan shouldn't had done the item number, poor choreography as well as the song.


Overall, Bol Bacchan doesn't work for me at all. Ajay Devgan provides some entertainment, but the script and dialogues are a total let down.


Verdict : BELOW AVERAGE

Movie Analysis : Heroine

Directed by Madhur Bhandarkar
Imdb link -> http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1949548/

Tum star ho, tumhe actress banne ki koi zaroorat nahi... 

Its trailer was very average, the songs didn't live upto the hype some of the friends of Salim-Suleiman built on twitter. Yet, the name 'Madhur Bhandarkar' kept the hopes alive for me who aint fond of Kareena for some obvious reasons. And Heroine fails like how...

Last venture of Madhur was 'Dil Toh Baccha Hai jee', a light comedy.. but with Heroine, he was to get back to his known cinema i.e Fashion, Page 3 , Corporate etc. The problem here is, that he doesn't show anything new to you. Its like I was re-watching Fashion, the story, scenes, actors maybe different, but the main theme and feel of the film never appeals. Once again, there is a girl who is at the top and then due to her own mistakes falls badly, and thereafter its her struggle to regain the top place. The difference in screenplay this time for Madhur is, that the rise to fame aint shown unlike Fashion, here we are taken directly to the point where Mahi Arora (Kareena Kapoor) is at the topmost position in the hindi films industry. To add drama and suspense (if you may say so), he begins the narration in non-linear way.. to be frank, that was not required at all.

There is the predictability factor with the screenplay, the over-use of typical characters we are now accustomed to in Madhur films, the gays, lesbians (yea thats also there this time). Even, Madhur's direction is so weak that I couldn't feel bad for Mahi Arora after the film ends, could just not connect with the ending.

Also, the story is narrated through a journalist, which also in my view was a wrong move. Madhur should had kept Kareena herself narrating it.

Music is pretty ordinary, with only 'Halkat Jawani' sounding good thanx to mainly the beats this song has, plus the choreography was good too. 'Saiyyan' is decent. The less I talk about the title song, the better. While, the background score is another weak point of this film.

Special Mention to 'Manish Malhotra', his costumes for Kareena especially were completely in synch with the film.

Only Kareena Kapoor's performance keeps you going till the end in this long tiring movie. I wonder if she has seen any of previous Madhur films, if yes.. then its quite silly from her side to do a movie that has nothing new to offer. For me, the scene where she creates a controversy to make her film get success at Boxoffice, was the best sequence in the movie. Mahie's character goes through variety of emotions in there, which Kareena captured brilliantly. Also, liked the scenes where she questions herself, whether she is a good actor even or not ? And, her scenes with the director who makes realistic films.. the struggle she faces to adapt to a altogether new kind of cinema was well portrayed by her. Also, special mention to the confidence and attitude she brings in her walk during the interval scene.

Arjun Rampal was decent, in a role that's not properly etched out. He has one key moment still, when he tries to help Mahie, but feels terribly dissappointed by the lack of trust of Mahie and the move she makes on him.

Randeep Hooda is getting one dimensional for my liking, the chewing gum and the casual approach.

Ranvir Shorey was superb in the small cameo, infact that part of the movie involving him was Madhur's best direction in this movie.

Shahana Goswami was fine. Mugdha Godse is totally wasted.

Among the supporting cast, Govind Namdev as the secretary and caretaker of Mahie Arora was very good, also Divya Dutta in a slighltly glam role as she helps Mahie get back to the top. I liked the style in her acting.. And Helen in a special apperance, had some of best dialogues in the movie.


Overall, Heroine is a very mediocre film, it may appeal to you if you are watching this as your 1st madhur bhandarkar movie, otherwise you are bound to get dissappointed only. Being a lover of Aishwarya Rai's acting, I am happy she didn't do this movie.


Verdict : BELOW AVERAGE

Movie Analysis : Oh My God

Directed by : Umesh Shukla
Imdb link -> http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2283748/

'An anti god film', just this much of plot is enough to make me little excited even though the trailer was very average.

Until the entry of Leeladhar (Mithun Chakraborty), the film was going in right direction. But this character was so irritating throughout the film, I dont know whom he was idealizing from the real saadhus.. only thing I can say is, I hated each frame of Mithun in this film.

Also, the modern Lord Krishna (Akshay Kumar) appears hard to digest for a start. Though Akshay Kumar does the role very well, he has in the past done such characters that presents him as a very polite person efficiently.. my memory goes way back to the film 'Dhadkan'.

Its Paresh Rawal who carries the film from the start till the end, amazing performance and probably very apt for the role of a person who doesn't believe in God. The scenes to look out for are, where he fools a devoted to god person at his shop, or the way he fights his own case against Mahesh Manjerkar as lawyer, and the one where he reveals various activities of saadhus that has been looting people in the name of God.

Apart from the mentioned characters, where the film suffers is the typical hindi film feel given to lots of sequences by the director, taking the realism away.. for instance the courtroom scenes, or the entry of Lord Krishna or the way modern Krishna uses the key of motorbike to represent Chakra or how easily Tisca Chopra as a reporter gets convinced to Paresh. Also, at many places the film is preachy through the dialogues.. that should had been taken note of while screenplay was formed.

The way they try to bring 'belief in God' in the heart of Kanji Lalji (Paresh Rawal), was to certain extent impressive. Plus, that hospital scene was well done. Also, showing how these saadhus may actually be looting, and do loot people was good thought. That scene where the saadhu is doing anshan in public, and eating in private.. was superb.

Nice small cameo from Om Puri too..


Overall, 'Oh My God' was a film that looses its track, and gets too preachy in the narration. Better screenplay as well as writing would had made the film look better. Still, for Paresh Rawal's performance, and the thought behind the movie.. its a decent watch.


Verdict : AVERAGE

Movie Analysis : Kamaal Dhamaal Malamaal

Directed by : Priyadarshan
Imdb link -> http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2278422/

I haven't seen Malamaal Weekly, whose sequel this film is. But, there's hardly any link between the old film, except for the starting scene in the film. Priyadarshan is one director I feel should make more intense and realistic films like 'Aakrosh', but his heart it appears lies in these comedy movies. Here, he once again presents a movie that has got a meaning somewhere, but won't end up making you like the film in totality.

The main reason why the film doesn't work for me is, Shreyas Talpade, he is asked to act so loudly, or maybe thats how he has become now, with his choice of films since some time. There are many times when you would feel irritated with either what Shreyas is doing with his character, or what his character is doing in the story.

Only respite in the movie comes from the two veteran actors, Om Puri and Nana Patekar. In case of Nana Patekar, I would say he may well say opposite to what I said about Shreyas. Nana, these days does characters that have less dialogues, maybe I miss the one who would show his anger with those heavy dialogues. Nevertheless, Nana Patekar does very well in this movie too. Those khana sequenes specially when he enters the house or goes to dhaba were very funny.

Paresh Rawal has a half baked role, and the climax scene just cracks me up with the unusual and typical change of heart I have seen in dozen hindi films. Yea, in real life we change too that quickly, right ?

The girl opposite Shreyas, looked very beautiful.. though her acting was just about okay.

And the songs in the movie appear from no where, forced into the narrative for the sake of it. Only the title song is somewhat nice.

The climax is completely stretched, and predictable.

Among the supporting cast, only Neeraj Vora and Asrani have a decent enough roles.. rest all are totally wasted.


Overall, Kamaal Dhamaal Malamaal is watchable only for Om Puri and Nana Patekar, otherwise its a film that has nothing new to offer or remember at all.


Verdict : BELOW AVERAGE

Movie Analysis : Barfi

Directed by : Anurag Basu
Imdb link -> http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2082197/

Umeedein ho toh kaagaz ki chidiya ke bhi pankh hote hai ... 

Characters : Barfi (Ranbir Kapoor), Jhilmil (Priyanka Chopra), Shruti (Ileana D Cruz)

Always been a admirer of Anurag basu film-making since Gangster days. I was among very fewest of people who liked Kites too. Barfi works for me a lot, though it hasn't yet over-taken Gangster.

Once again Anurag builds screenplay in a non-linear format. Editing is fantastic. Maybe 1-2 flashbacks are over-done, and could had been done in a linear way. Because to hold attention of viewers for 10 mins, and then shift them to 6 yrs behind/ahead for 5 mins before going back/forward, does disturbs the love you formed for the seen part. Though for me, that problem didn't happen.. and I could easily remain connected with the story. Only, the 2nd last flashback, could had been avoided, that was probably the quickest of all in the film.

Also, the cinematography is excellent. I never have been to Darjeeling, and I so wished to go there watching those visuals which had the romantic feel in them.

Only problem I found in the film was the mystery sub-plot, there were too many flaws in those sequences.. plus it wasn't too hard to guess what was happening, could had so easily written that part in more complicated way like Saurabh says 'ghatiya jasoosi novel ki tarah ghoom raha tha'. It was only the screenplay that allowed this sub-plot look not total silly, which it actually was.

The songs are properly used, love those dance steps of Barfi's father when the lines come 'barfi jab duniya mein aaya'. While 'Kyun' is my fav song from the film, Jhilmil giving rose to Barfi and the smile on Barfi face makes that scene so adorable. 'Aashiyan' has that getting back to happy days mode for Barfi, plus the romantic chemistry it has between Jhilmil and Barfi. While 'Kya karun' very well establishes the young first love of a guy and girl's life. 'Phir le aaya dil' was the only song that didn't go well with the film, only for the reason that I felt the pitch suddenly goes too loud not with the mood of the situation, even though lyrics fit in. Though, personally I didn't like this ghazal either.

Also, special mention to the use of those 3 musicians, just like Anurag did in 'Life in a Metro', though here they are seen just playing their instruments, not singing anything. Plus, Anurag makes use of them to change the time period of the story aptly. Not sure if Pritam was actually there in any one of those 3 musicians ?

The fact that most part of the film is without dialogues, background score becomes important. And Pritam has done great job in that (lifted or inspired). The one theme that plays when Barfi rides cycle towards the train and notices Shruti for 2nd time, and its repeated thereafter a lot. My fav one was when Barfi meets Shruti after 6 years in Kolkata, and its raining. Also, the one that 3 musicians are shown playing all the time.

The heart-broken sequence is the only place where the silent scene is extended and you have to understand through the gestures of Barfi, what he wants to say. The way the scene's built right from the moment Barfi watches Shruti with her fiance, his resistance to keep looking at her hoping maybe she would change her mind, a formal congratulation followed by everything going wrong with head hitting door, umbrella not working, cycle's chain getting broken. And his angst against poor vs rich equation. Since his character is meant to keep everyone happy, he calms himself down, brings smile on Shruti's face and then leaves. Perfectly directed and acted scene.. perhaps my most fav.

Both Ranbir Kapoor (Deaf and dumb) and Priyanka Chopra (Autistic) play their characters brilliantly. They had the toughest parts in the film, and they didn't dissappoint. Ranbir's acting talent has never been a question and here he just builds on the mark he has set in the hindi films industry within few years with yet another performance that could quite well make him win lots of awards next year. Love the 3 scenes where he takes friendship test of his friend, later Shruti and lastly, Jhilmil. There's that scene where he and Ileana are riding bicycles, and the expression of Ranbir is ditto you would had seen Rishi Kapoor in past. And then the scene where he goes to ask Ileana's parents for marriage, reminds me completely of Raj Kapoor though here the reason were mainly the coat looks he had.

It took me probably 3rd viewing before realizing how good Priyanka was in the autism character. Its her character that stays with you even after the film ends, such was the scale of her performance. The constant blinking of eyes, and the way she calls barfi as 'Buhhh fiiii'. She made the character very lovable just like Ranbir did with 'Barfi'. Not to forget that habit of little finger holding to show the people she has trust on, specially the intermission sequence.

Ileana D Cruz was simply marvellous as a debut, to add to it she's my latest crush so it was hard to not think about her when Priyanka's sequences began. The heart just wanted more of Ileana only...  Though she ain't given a role with a health problem, yet her character sketch has lots of complications. To choose between right life-partner, to listen to heart or mind and to be selfish in love at times. Watch the sadness in her eyes when she listens 'Buh fiiii'. The 'Best debut actress' awards are all hers atleast for now. Only place where she looked odd was the old part, where despite the wig she never appeared to be old in reality.

Among the supporting cast, Saurabh Shukla as the tired and frustrated cop excels, he finally does a role that isn't making fun of him entirely. He has got lots of his own moments in the film. Plus, Roopa Ganguly, who plays mother of Shruti, has that key scene in the film in a discussion with her daughter. Also, Ashish Vidyarthi as the father of Jhilmil does good job, only wish the mystery part was properly written to allow him more scope. And Akash Khurana, as well as the female servant at Jhilmil's house were good too.

Jishu Sengupta dialogue 'dobara wapis mat aana', was so cliche and required to be edited. That was the only scene that made me dislike his character despite him having hardly any role in the film.

Lastly, special mention to the end credits sequence, the feel good romantic sequences during old age between two lead pairs. Reminded me of Rab ne bana di jodi to a certain extent.

I have seen all the copied scenes, the charlie chaplin inspirations and the notebook or other films Barfi is inspired from. But, nothing of that takes away my love towards this film.


Overall, Barfi is a film I connected to very easily and Anurag Basu once again gives me a film I can happily say I loved a lot. Its a feel good movie despite a lot of tragedy in all the three lead actors stories.


Verdict : EXCELLENT

To Rome with Love [Views]

Directed by : Woody Allen
Imdb link -> http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1859650/

There's a normal job guy, who wakes up one day suddenly to realize he has become a celebrity, a architect who walks through the place where he lived once as a student, a young couple who have come for honeymoon and a frustrated opera director who finds a singing talent in the father of the boy his daughter loves.

Woody Allen creates a good comedy out of these 4 seperate stories. There's some very funny sequences like the one where Jerry (Woody Allen) recognises how good Michelangelo (Flavio Parenti) sings during shower in bathroom, and then the way he urges him to sing at opera, that too under a shower because he sings well only when having a bathe.. too funny. Also, Leopoldo (Roberto Benigni) during the scene where he is followed by lots of journalists, and he returns back to home feeling scared, or the one where the camera shoots 'we will show him shave till the last and final stroke'.

Also, I liked the idea of John (Alec Baldwin) disturbing the conversations between Jack (Jesse Eisenberg), Monica (Ellen Page) and Sally (Greta Gerwig). Many times, he would give advance warnings or advice as what could happen if it isn't stopped now, and that brought good humour moments. For me, this story starts on a good note, but as it moves on.. it gets dull and also its quite predictable too except for the end maybe. I liked Ellen Page, she looked cute and still fit into the role of playing a girl who ends up seducing guys. Jesse (the social network fame), somehow looked odd to me in the character, somehow I wasn't satisfied with his performance, can even say he was the weakest among all in the film.

In the story of young honeymoon couple, the idea of call girl Anna (Penelope Cruz) and the wife Milly (Alessandra Mastronardi), of Antonio (Alessandro Tiberi) getting lost in a new place with no ways to get back in contact was good writing. My fav part was, all the uncomfortable meetings Antonio has to go around with that call girl, and the hotel sequence of Milly with a movie star she loves, and the entry of a thief to make it super hillarious.. my best infact from the movie. Probably felt that there were less scenes given to Antonio-Anna part, more importance went to Milly and her adventures. Woody Allen could had brought more humour out of the tough situation Antonio was in with that call girl.

Since, I haven't seen any of previous Woody Allen films.. so the locations of Rome were quite pleasing to see. Also, another good thing about the movie for me was, the ending.. If you notice, all the characters have committed some mistakes, specially young couple and Jack story. But, the director doesn't go into the mode of 'You did this, how could you', instead he shows their lives go smoothly and they never admit what mistakes in a particular moment happened with them. Maybe they would had admitted later in life, but in the film's time length it never happens.

Among the performances, I liked Roberto Bengigni the best, the way he portrayed a normal guy, and then a guy who has suddenly become so famous that he can't have free time with himself alone. Also, Woody Allen's funny reactions to the way he thought he has found a singing talent, and his continuous urge at the dining table, another hiallarious scene. Plus, Judy Davis who plays his wife in the movie gets some of the best written dialogues in the film.  I like the conversations they both have at many parts of the movie, there would always be one line to crack you up.


To Rome with Love does bring enough laughs, but the film has lots of weak points especially if you try to think about 'how on earth is that possible' logics. Still, a good enough film to get entertained...

Fire in Babylon [Views]

Directed by : Stevan Riley
Imdb link -> http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1727790/

Its my 1st sports documentary, and first time I am writing on a documentary film. The first audio of the film begins with a bouncer that hits the batsman very badly, and the commentary of Geoffrey Boycott. Great commentary and aggressive bowling, makes cricket double exciting to watch. Something today's cricket is missing.

The documentary shows the times when WI cricket were struggling, they were termed as players who would entertain the crowd, but end up on the losing side. And given the name of 'Calypso Cricketers'. Until, Clive Lloyd stepped in as captain, considered very calm in his approach to handling the team. His first major challenge was playing against Aus in Aus, and he failed at it as Wi lost that test series 5-1 (yea, 6 match series use to happen then.. and today there are silly 2 match series at times). Wi were made to struggle, with some very pacy fast bowling by Lillee, Thompson and co aimed at their bodies. Lloyd took that strategy, and Wi pacers Robert and Holding took inspiration from it to make India suffer during their Wi tour(it was the same tour where they chased 406 in 4th innings, but this documentary didn't mention it).

Then, it was followed with England series, their major enemies as shown in documentary who treated them as slaves during 60's and before, plus the racism that was strong at that time. Tony Greig's comment 'We will make them grovel', and it costed his team badly as WI aggression doubled, and they had a easy test series win.

Later, they took revenge against Australia in Australia, winning 3-0. They always kept producing great fast bowlers then, Holding, Garner, Roberts, Croft, Marshall, Ambrose, Walsh.

Also, the batting heroics of Greenidge and Viv Richards (the master blaster of that time) were shown in few games. Plus, the narration with the players telling how it was then, Viv describing his team's policy of banging the ball short as, aggression meets aggression, no one ever intended to kill people. They were just doing their job. Also, the crowd that would be non-sporting to them specially while playing in Australia, along with the sledging of Australia.

They included Wi music, without which the documentary would had been incomplete, plus 2-3 Wi supporters footage. The latter half of the film was slightly less appealing, mainly because I just wanted to see cricket related things only instead of racism, and different cities of Wi. Even then, Wi had probs with their board, all players getting ban for playing world series, and then the public protested making Wi players retun back.

Holding states in the final scene of the film, that Wi didn't lose a single test series for 15 continuous years from 1980 to 1995. Maybe, they could had shown more of those clips..

There is definately a favourism done towards the Wi cricket in the film plus lots of drama enforced through continuous body hits and crowd background, but for someone like me who hasn't seen any cricket of that time.. this movie works a lot. The passion, overcoming hard-times, the aggression Wi cricket had at that time, they considered themselves unbeatable. Watch this film to see the rise of Wi cricket during late 70's. You would definately love batsman being hit all over by Wi bowlers (at a time when there were no helmets either, and some players didn't prefer wearing).