Watch it for great 1st half and Konkana/Emraan performances : Ek Thi Daayan

Directed by : Kannan Iyer
Imdb link -> http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2406676/

I loved the story the moment I read it, and was curious to watch the film hence. Upto the 1st half everything went right, but the film slips badly in 2nd half.

Konkana is to certain extent very scary, the way she delivers her dialogues, or the eye expressions she gives, her movements.. though in a 2nd half scene she goes over the top but the director is to blame there. Her first entry scene, or the one where she plays hide and seek, and her change of voice as she counts were my favs scenes.

1st half except for dream sequence (which was unwanted, but then you cant make a horror film without it). Intermission gives you feeling of what will happen next, it keeps you interested and the director plays with the story of Bobo (Emraan) past life when he was haunted by Daayan much more, instead of all the typical horror elements one gets to see.

But in 2nd half, the screenplay goes haywire, even the good songs totey udh gaye or yaaram create less impact, the entry of Kalki also appears bit too late, her character should had been etched better. Then the final culmination to the story is where the director takes it to the same tried formula's where a human fights evil in a dramatic way, defying logics that had been applied until then. Plus, a particular twist which I thought before watching the movie or while watching the movie... also falls flat when you rewind the entire story again. Wonder why Daayan  had to wait so long to return again. Also, what was with the over-dose of chotti thing (daayan ki shakti choti mein bandh hoti hai), If i was the director, I would use it only twice, once in favour of daayan, and once against. Baat khatam.

Emraan Hashmi does a commendable work once more, the way he handles the scenes where he feels haunted by his past. His 1st magic act, and then the kalki one were best scenes. Huma Quereshi is good, I specially love her dance steps in Totey udh gaye (just like I loved her in O Womaniya). Kalki is okay. Special mention to Vishesh Tiwari and Sara Arjun, who play young Bobo and Misha (sister of bobo), they were super good, cute and funny.

Overall, Ek Thi Daayan had in it to be one of best horror/supernatural movies, Kannan does extremely well in giving a dark feel to the movie plus keeping suspense till interval, but a weak 2nd half spoils the chance.


Verdict : AVERAGE

Trailer : Ghanchakkar

Raj Kumar Gupta's first two movies were serious ones but they did show his capability to film entertaining scene when the situation aint favourable for it. This time, its a total fun ride and how good he has done from the looks of trailer.

Emraan Hashmi could have pulled off one of his memorable roles pretty much like Shanghai here. Vidya Balan loooking super naughty and typical punjabi with those dialogues.  Rajesh and Namit also in supporting roles would be great to watch.

That Kulfi scene was hillarious, also the choice of actors on 3 masks. And the Ghajini dialogue.

Amit Trivedi's music would appeal to me or not is a question. I found the song with the trailer good but audio wise not special. Last time around he and Raj Kumar Gupta gave me NOKJ, his 2nd best soundtrack till date. Hoping he repeats that this time too.


Saala, Ghajini ka Salman Khan hai ...
Shahrukh, Ghajini mein Shahrukh Khan tha.. Salman Khan :/
Saale bandar, itna bhi pata nahi hai Ghajini mein Saif Ali Khan tha..
Haaaaaaaaaaaain.

Trailer : Ek Thi Daayan

Very Spooky, and the story remains the plus point for my so much interest in this movie. Bas few things now, will they use all those stereotypes (door opening slowly, cat, dream death scenes etc) in abundance or have a change. And, the climax would have anything wierd about a human vs ghost fight. (Aatma failed badly in that department for me)

For now, it appears to be good horror movie. I still couldn't understand those lines recited when daayan shots start, and wonderful use of Kalki shot over it. I can't say who is the real daayan, if there are more than 1 daayan or there are no daayans. Special mention to the way trailer begins, no image with conversation and spooky background and then the footsteps of daayan going in other direction.

Even Kalki looking very promising in the trailer, which I was little doubtful with the last trailer/teaser.

And the final dialogue of Konkana 'So sweet, I could just eat you up'.

Waiting for Musiiiiiic and then  the film. Yaaram is too good and 'Totey Udh Gaye' growing on me with each listenings.


Jab tak tum apna kal nahi phenkoge, tab tak hamara kal saans kaise lega ? 

Trailer : Yamla Pagla Deewana

I didn't understand some of the spoofs (that kyu one specially), the one by Dharmendra on their own YPD was best one.. and Maggi dialogue in the end. But 2 worrying points, one is the character of chimpanzee that will bring irritating humour into the screenplay, and other is the action sequences of Sunny Deol that look way over the top  with a capital T. Then, the romantic angle is always the weak link of such movies, and this time it looks Sunny Deol has it too. I would have loved them to carry forward the heroines too, that would have kept the focus just on the cons and spoofs of all of them.

Aneways, I liked the 1st version in parts, so if this one does the same then I wont mind at all. Also, Neha Sharma has always been among actresses I love watching.. looks too good.


Aap aur aapke bhai ke beech mein kitne minute ka fark hai ? 
Do.. Do minute.
Do minute ka 
Yeh paida hua, maine maggi banaayi.. aur prem aa gaya. 

Trailer : Bombay Talkies

Appears to be a quality movie, probably not commercial like Dhobi Ghat kind.  Karan Johar story focusses on 3 way relationship with Rani playing Journalist. Rani-Randeep pair would be something fresh, also Saqib Saleem in a hatke role after having done 2 rom-coms in a row. Zoya Akhtar story is about desire of kid to meet a star i.e Katrina. Anurag Kashyap  story is about a aam guy Vineet (played brother to Nawaazuddin in Gow) who wants to meet Amitabh Bachchan. Dibakar one I am not sure, maybe its about struggle of a theatre actor. Nawazuddin is part of it and he easily was the pick of the trailer.

How these 4 stories are linked or if not linked how would the screenplay be. Good thing is, all 4 directors are best chosen with the stories they would be very much comfortable with.

Right now, my order is Dibakar > Karan > Anurag > Zoya

I wonder if they have music for the movie, or just background scores.. as its tribute to 100 yrs of hindi cinema.

Trailer : Go Goa Gone

From Directors of 'Shor in the City', a zom-com.. first of kind for Hindi films industry. First look is really good. The humour in dialogues, good choice of actors. Great background score, the songs.. khoon choos le tu hamara bloody, and raat one.

Kunal Khemu and Saif's comic timing looking super, waiting for its music now.


I kill dead people.. 

Very much powerful like the 1st part : Saheb Biwi aur Gangster Returns

Directed by : Tigmanshu Dhulia
Imdb link -> http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2362778/

Pyar koi karta nahi madhaviji
ishq mein aadmi hota hai 
aur woh dikhta hai ... 

Just like the last part, the second part of Saheb Biwi aur Gangster is also loaded with powerful dialogues and great direction by Tigmanshu Dhulia. Aditya, Saheb (Jimmy Shergill) despite being on a wheelchair for major part of movie delivers a rocking performance, that dialogue 'Ab hum aur darayaenge'.  Madhavi, Biwi (Mahie Gill) is more vulnerable and still mentally ill. Her bold scenes are very less this time around, instead its her drunk mode that is highlighted throughout, which she does so well.. note her in the 'Idhar Gire' song where she dances along with Ranjana (Soha Ali Khan). And her quest for shayar mard.

Indarjeet (Irrfan Khan) is wonderful as always, Tigmanshu makes sure he gives him much more screen space than others get specially in 1st half. Love the private conversations he has at the old haveli.

Soha is the weakest link in the plot, her character isn't properly etched out but that doesn't take away the fact that her performance wasn't upto the mark at all when other three were superb. The final shot of her would in any other scenario been a classic scene turns out just another scene due to her poor portrayal.

Pravesh Rana was good in his debut, the goggles scene though reminded of Salman Khan, but then in one scene he himself talks of Shahrukh Khan, so he could had been fond of Chulbhul Pandey.

Rajiv Gupta plays the corrupt politician very well, that porn sequence with Irrfan was hillarious. And the end of the item song Media too.

Good supporting performances by rest cast. There's a very good chance of Trilogy, where the post marriage life of Ranjana could be intermixed with the pre marriage life of Madhavi. Just a thought that, probably godfather influence that is for me. But, I hope Soha isn't given any role in the next movie.

Special mention to the way 'lag jaa gale' song is used in the narrative.

Saheb Biwi aur Gangster Returns misses only at two places, one is Soha's below par performance, and other the songs which are very average. Apart from that, the film is a very good watch.


Verdict : VERY GOOD