With films like Rajneeti, Rockstar and Barfi, he has put his towel dancing days far behind him. The Kapoor family good looks and charm only add to his accelerating star power. It won’t be soon before his Filmfare Award wins outnumber his list of girlfriends!

Ranbir has wrapped up shooting for Yash Raj’s Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani and has moved on to his next big project, Abhinav Kashyap’s Besharam.

The first look of Besharam has Ranbir in a very roadside Romeo avatar. The actor is sprawled inside the trunk of a very pink car with the words “Na sammaan ka moh, na apmaan ka bhay” scrawled on top. Ranbir does complete justice to the ‘tapori’ look in a loud printed shirt and gaudy sun glasses.

The film has been written and directed by Abhinav Kashyap, the man behind Dabangg (and scandalously,not behind Dabangg 2)

Ranbir’s co-star is newbie Pallavi Sharda. He will be sharing screen space with Bollywood greats, who are also his progenitors, Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh. Music will be composed by Lalit Pandit. Honey Singh will be lending his vocal chords to the album, I am guessing for a party song with questionable lyrics.

Besharam will release on October 2, 2013. Interestingly, that is the precise day on which Salman Khan has decided to release his next film, Mental.

If you are wondering why Mr Khan has ditched his highly successful ritual of releasing films on Eid… well, they say that Bollywood hath no fury like Salman Khan scorned.

It won’t be the first time that Salman and Ranbir disagree on something. It will probably be the first time they disagree on something someone other than a certain Ms Kaif. With this move, Salman will successfully manage to ruffle friend-turned-somewhat-foe Abhinav Kashyap’s feathers as well. Two birds, right?

Anyway, we will have to wait for the Gandhi’s birthday to see if the rising star can trump the magic of the Khans. Besharam looks good on paper, but will the shamelessness translate this well on screen?

Vikramaditya Motwane directing Ranveer Singh and Sonakshi Sinha. I immediately think of a rustic yet charming Punjabi boy, a coy girl-next-door and an angry father with a heart of stone. However, my predictions took a serious hit when I saw the trailer of the film in question.

Lootera is nothing like it looks on paper. Ranveer Singh has thankfully ditched his “Band Baaja Baaraat” accent and antics! Sonakshi Sinha hasn’t achieved much in the transformation department. But I swear I saw some of her acting muscles in play while watching the trailer. And I did not see a belligerent father, so we know that Vikramaditya Motwane’s “Udaan” days are behind him.

All in all, Lootera seems to be a promising flick.

Yes, Lootera is going to be a classic Bollywood movie involving star-crossed lovers. Set in the 50’s, it is a story of Varun (Ranveer) and Pakhi (Sonakshi) who are, you guessed it right, in love. Some unforeseen yet highly predictable force will probably pose as a threat to their love. And amidst song and dance sequences, they will struggle to fulfill their destiny as lovers.

In spite of all the painfully predictive clichés, I have my money on Lootera.

You may ask why?

Well, I see Anurag Kashyap’s Phantom Films along with Ekta Kapoor’s Balaji Motion Pictures at the helm of the project. Vikramaditya Motwane has already showcased his ability to turn a simple story into a heart wrenching film. Remember Udaan? The many tears we shed along with Rohan and the pure hatred we felt towards his steel hearted father was a result of great acting extracted through masterful direction.

Amit Trivedi is handling the musical reins, and he has a habit of scoring hit albums like Ishaqzaade, English Vinglish and more recently, Kai Po Che. Plus, Sonakshi Sinha seems to have more than a few dialogues. If that is not ground breaking, then what is?

Watch the trailer of Lootera and let us know what you think:

Matru ki Bijlee ka Mandola

The year began with a hint of bizarre. Vishal Bharadwaj introduced the world to the pink talking cow, Gulabo, in his film, Matru ki Bijlee ka Mandola. The film, which witnessed some extraordinary work by Pankaj Kapoor, used Shakespearean undertones to reveal the shades of politics in the country.

Speaking of politics, it seemed to be the main theme in the month of January. Whether it was office politics as seen in Inkaar where a woman struggles to hold her ground in a patriarchal work environment or family politics as seen in Race 2, all the films were made quite tastefully although they did not receive the expected results at the box office.

Amidst all the politics came a silent thriller in the form of Table 21, which offered nothing more than mind blowing performances by Rajeev Khandelwal and Paresh Rawal.

February, although the shortest month of the year, saw the longest list of prominent films. Asha Bhonsle’s acting debut in Mai was a great beginning to the month. The film that portrayed ideal family values failed at the box office, however. Kamal Hassan’s Vishwaroopam that released amidst lots of controversy did not deliver as expected but managed to grab the audience’s attention thanks to the brouhaha.

Based on a real life heist, Special 26, became the first proper hit in 2013. The excellent script and awe inspiring performances by Akshay Kumar, Anupam Kher, Manoj Bakpai and Jimmy Shergill won excellent reviews. The high of this success was slightly washed out by Vivek Oberoi’s Jayanta Bhai ki love story and the ”only meant for titillating”, Murder 3.

Then came the biggest hit that yet again proves Chetan Bhagat’s Midas effect. Abhishek Kapoor’s Kai Po Che released with the most unorthodox star cast and unique storyline. The film is surely going to bag many awards this year for some amazing technical display and natural and earthy performances by the three newcomers,  Sushant Singh Rajput, Raj Kumar Yadav and Amit Sadh. The film, based on the novel, “The three mistakes of my life” has already become the first Indian Film to be showcased at the World Panorama section of the 63rd Berlin International Film Festival.

Three of the latest hindi movies failed to get much love from the audience. The much hyped Attacks of 26/11, unfortunately, lost out because of inefficient storytelling and incorrect flow of the actual events that occurred. I, Me aur Main seems to be quite the disappointment. Even the only song that made it to the charts from the film is a poor rendition of a popular yesteryear track. Sahib, Biwi aur Gangster returns managed to gain the approval of the niche that it was meant to entertain.

In the coming days, there is the much awaited horror film, Aatma, the musically ‘thanda’ Nautanki Saala and the “evidently-poor” Himmatwala. The films that will be the talk of the town this year are Chennai Express, Ram Leela, Shoot out at Wadala, Yeh Jawaani hai Deewani and of course, Ragini MMS 2. The list is longer but we will have to wait and see what unexpected turns these films will face at the box office.

Cast: Sanjay Dutt, Arshad Warsi, Vivek Oberoi, Paresh Rawal, Divya Dutta, Minissha Lamba

Movie review – A sorry tale!

Zila Ghaziabad is irony at its best. A film that claims to be an authentic portrayal of the real life violent gang wars that created havoc in Ghaziabad in 1990s is unbelievably deprived of any originality. This film is an example of how some Bollywood film makers love to thrive on filmi formulas that have worked well at the box office. Zila Ghaziabad is Dabangg sans the charm and unique Chulbul Pandey essence perfected by Salman Khan. Every scene seems to put the audience through a ‘been there seen that’ moment making it absolutely an uninteresting watch. The film is a déjà vu of Bollywood cinema from the 80’s and 90’s in totality.

The plot is based on real life incidents. Two fierce gangs are at loggerheads because of a plot of land. One group is led by Satbir Gujjar, played by Vivek Oberoi and the other is led by Mahender Fauji Bainsla Gujjar played by Arshad Warsi. Sanjay Dutt plays the macho cop who is in the middle of this feud, trying to resolve issues in a pseudo- Dabangg style. The action in the film is a slight overtone, making it a little uncomfortable for the audience as the film proceeds. The cast seems to be on a rampage slitting throats, throwing knifes at each other, explosives and some unimaginably loud punches and fight scenes. The film fails miserably in its appeal as it does not live up to the title even remotely! There is nothing that visually convinces the audience that the film is set in Ghaziabad.

The characters fail to be believable or original. Sanjay Dutt’s character of the policeman is quite shamelessly borrowed from Dabangg. He is playful, funny and still quite the stud, just like Chulbul Pandey. Vivek Oberoi seems to have put in some effort to live the role that he portrays and has done justice to it. he comes across as a dedicated actor in his portrayal of a “school teacher gone bad” role. Arshad Warsi, who is otherwise quite the performer, seems to have just floated through the script without paying any attention to the character he is playing. It is a very “for the heck of it” performance and is quite a disappointment. However, it does salvage some expectation to see Arshad is a quite different role when compared to his regular comic capers. The only other actors who are worth noticing in this film are Paresh Rawal and Divya Dutta. Both of them have delivered the expected natural and believable performance.

Had director Anand Kumar put in a little more effort into actually researching the events that took place during the gang wars, he might have been able to generate better reviews. Also, more effort on actual screenplay and effective dialogues rather than merciless and gruesome action screen might have saved the film.

Zila Ghaziabad is a lesson to all film makers who think that the audience is only looking for an impressive star cast. The magic formula is only complete with a strong screenplay and authentic moments that the audience can react to. You could skip Zila Ghaziabad unless you are a diehard fan of one of the many stars in this film and live by your promise to stand by them through their worst films.

Jolly LLB

Jolly LLB has been directed by Subhash Kapoor. Formerly a political journalist, Subhash entered filmmaking with the critically acclaimed 2010 hindi movie Phas Gaye Re Obama. The story is based on the struggle of a small time law graduate to make a name in the field of law. The role of Jagadish Tyagi, aka Jolly, who is an advocate from Meerut, is essayed by Arshad Warsi. As expected, his impeccable timing and distinct screen presence have helped him do justice to the rather difficult role. After all, when a law graduate who expects crowds to follow and worship him ends up spelling “prosecution” as “prostitution”, you can imagine the complexity of the character. Jolly showcases the rather pitiful state of a struggling law graduate who has to really work up a sweat to maintain a balance between his unrewarding job and the unavoidable chores, thanks to his bachelorhood. When he tries to ‘patao’ the pretty Amrita Rao to at least fill some void in his life, Jolly realizes that like the rest of his life, even this is going to be quite the rollercoaster ride. She comes across as the ‘matter-of-fact’ kind of girl who, instead of sympathizing with Jolly’s condition, asks him to man up and face the rough patch.

In a desperate attempt to find a shortcut to success, Jolly moves to Delhi and has a high profile case reopened. This is when he is pitted against a high profile lawyer whose role is played by Boman Irani. As the case progresses, he realizes that the truth is the ultimate struggle in a world where the wrongdoings are very skillfully hidden under a carpet of wealth. Jolly experiences many personal battles while fighting this case and finds himself answering deep seated conflicts between values and ambition. Whether ambition gets the better of Jagadish Tyagi or whether good still triumphs over evil is the question. Will this case be able to turn Jolly’s life around or will it throw him into oblivion like all those other law graduates who dared to question power and money? This you must watch to find out.

Check out the Jolly LLB movie trailer:

You can certainly look forward to some rib tickling comedy and some crisp, tongue-in-cheek dialogues. The slightly exaggerated courtroom drama is, obviously, the icing on the cake. From all that is visible of the film, one can definitely say that this is going to be a film with power packed performances by Arshad Warsi and Boman Irani. The film will hit the theatres on 15^th March 2013 and is definitely recommended if you like some ‘hatke’ comedy with warm popcorn and soda.

Cast: Sushant Singh Rajput, Raj Kumar Yadav, Amit Sadh

Kai Po Che Review – A beautiful tale of the human spirit

Kai Po Che is one of the most earthy and relatable films in the recent times. It is a unique and effortless portrayal of friendship, forgiveness and love and with absolutely no filmi frills. “Kai Po Che” literally refers to a victory cry that is often heard during the kite flying season when someone is successful is cutting another kite. The title completely justifies the film that was quite a victory not only on screen but also off screen. Chetan Bhagat’s bestseller, “The three mistakes of my life” lends the plot to the film. The ease with which Abhishek Kapoor has portrayed the journey of three friends makes this film very easy on the mind and even the filmi Bollywood lover’s heart.

Kai Po Che

The story begins with three buddies, Ishaan, Govind and Omi starting their dream venture – a sports shop with a training facility alongside. The deep bond between these friends is the highlight of the film. However, it is too good to be true and gives the audience a slight hint of the flaws that lie beneath the overtly loyal relationship between these friends. The seemingly successful business is then affected quite badly by the Gujarat Riots and sends the friends on their downward spiral. Omi is forced to join familial politics as compensation for the loan that they borrow for the business. He drifts away from his friends and from the only remaining bond between the three – their business. Meanwhile, Govind develops an affair with Ishaan’s sister and tries really hard to keep it a secret. As the plot moves along the complexities because of the riots affects the “almost- divine” friendship and ends in an extremely dramatic and emotional climax.

The film actually puts you through experiences that you can actually recall from your own personal life. These instances make it possible for you to actually relate to the film and appreciate the subtlety. This film is the perfect example of the wonders possible with the crew working on the movie is completely in sync. Abhishek Kapoor has been able to extract the best performance from even the most insignificant character of the film. The portrayal of the riots is sheer genius. It packs quite a blow without making you twitch in your seat or feel ashamed or proud of the community that you belong to. It is the most diplomatic portrayal of a subject as serious as the Gujarat riots. The newcomers in the film have established a standard that even experienced stars may have to try and match to retain their fan following.

The film is realistic and so, it is not free from flaws. The screenplay does get a little stretched at some points and reduces the pace of the film. However, the beauty with which the characters have been woven and established in the film lets you forgive this shortcoming. In addition, the music is extremely soothing, the cinematography is visual excellence and the storytelling is terrific.  You will laugh, you will cry and in the end, be entertained thoroughly.

Once upon a time in Mumbai 2 is the sequel to the 2010 movie, Once upon a time in Mumbai. The film is essentially a love triangle story, but it’s also a crime drama. It’s been directed by Milan Luthria and features actors Akshay Kumar as Shoaib Khan, Imran Khan as Aslam, Sonakshi Sinha as Mumtaz, Sonalid Bendre as Rehana and Anil Kapoor as Patrick.

Another Anil Kapoor film is due to be released in May 2013. Shootout at Wadala is a crime film that has been written and directed by Sanjay Gupta. It’s a sequel to the film Shootout at Lokhandwala which was released in 2007. The actress Priyanka Chopra will have a cameo appearance and other cast members include Kangna Ranaut, Sonu Sood and John Abraham. Both films were based on the book Dongri to Dubai by Hussain Zaidi, which documents six decades of the Mumbai mafia.

And Anil Kapoor stars in yet another Bollywood sequel this year. We will see him in Race 2, due to be released on 25 January 2013. This action movie is the sequel to the 2008 film Race, and as well as Anil Kapoor returning for the sequel, so does Saif Ali Khan. They play the characters Robert D’Costa and Ranveer Singh. Script writer Shiraz Ahmed also returned to provide the screenplay for Race’s sequel movie. New cast members include Jacqueline Fernandez, Ameesha Patel, Deepika Padukone and John Abraham.

2013 promises to be the year of Anil Kapoor as well as the year of Bollywood sequel movies. Other sequels planned for release this year include comedy movie Yamla Pagla Deewana 2, action thriller Dhoom 3, superhero sci-fi movie Krrish 3 and thriller Murder 3. Time to get cracking on watching the first movies on DVD so you’re ready for the sequels when they arrive at the movie theatres later this year!

Amitabh and Dharmendra in 'Sholay'

If you’re like me and you like watching old Bollywood movies, I am quite certain that you switch on Set Max or Zee Classic every once in a while to watch reruns of Bollywood movies from 40 years ago. A different sort of feeling rises within – the pace is slower, the dialogues are better, the impact much more powerful.

Those are movies from the golden age of Bollywood when superstars such as Vinod Khanna, Rajesh Khanna, Dev Anand, Dharmendra and of course, the legendary Amitabh Bachchan ruled. Popular actresses such as Parveen Babi, Hema Malini and Rekha donned film posters all over India.

Today, these very names are  often remembered with the term ‘superstar’ and there is no reluctance in saying so.

Many of these superstars who ruled then have faded away, some gracefully, some not so gracefully. Most have opted to retire to a life of memories, spending their years in peace and quiet. There are very few who still remain and who have managed to remain a part of the filmy scene.

We reminisce some of these superstars from the days of yore.

Aradhana

Rajesh Khanna

Undoubtedly the first superstar of Bollywood, tales Rajesh Khanna’s superstardom are now legendary. He debuted in 1966 with the film Aakhri Khat directed by Chetan Anand which was quickly noticed by filmmakers across the industry. However, it was the 1969 blockbuster Aradhana with Sharmila Tagore (a remake of the Hollywood film To Each his Own) which propelled him to national fame. His influence also led writer duo Salim-Javed and one of the most iconic singers of Hindi music, Kishore Kumar to various opportunities and jobs in the industry. In fact, Kishore Kumar became the voice of Rajesh Khanna in all his films till 1991.

Stories of girls sending him love letters written with blood, killing themselves, mobbing him in public are quite famous. Film critic Monojit Lahiri remembers -

Crowds of fans would stand outside his bungalow everyday, chanting and singing his names and songs. Cars of producers would be lined up. His car would often have to trudge through heavy crowds with girls kissing it and covering it with lipstick marks. Imagine someone doing that for a Bollywood actor today!

Amitabh Bachchan

Amitabh Bachchan is perhaps one of the oldest and most enduring superstars of classic Bollywood. His first super-hit, blockbuster film, Zanjeer catapulted him to widespread fame and critical acclaim and he began to be known as the “angry young man” of Indian cinema.  So powerful and dominating were his films in the 1970s and 1980s that the late French director Francois Truffaut called him a “one-man industry.” Consider the fact that his first film was released over four decades earlier, and he undoubtedly becomes the most enduring star of all times. Currently, Amitabh Bachchan is recuperating in a Mumbai hospital and we hope that he recovers soon!

Hema Malini

Hema Malini, fondly remembered as “Dream Girl”, was one of the most successful female actors in the 70s and 80s. Known for her grace and beauty, Hema held a remarkable presence on screen. Baghban brought her back on the box office stage with a bang and we look forward to many more years of fine performances.

Rishi Kapoor

Rishi Kapoor is another actor who despite having become nice and round, does a great job as the avuncular uncle or father in the newer films. He carries years of experience and tradition on his shoulders, and his joy in his craft is evident in every role.

Mithun Chakravarty

Mithun Chakravarty, the ultimate Disco Dancer, is synonymous with so many traits of a super star that it’s quite impossible to not include him on this list. He has done tons of ridiculous action movies, performed tons of now legendary dance sequences, and said many hit dialogues in his film career. has become popular as “Dada” on Dance India Dance – a dance based reality show. He may no longer be very nimble on his feet, but he still has the grace and the expertise to guide the newer aspirants who would like to step into his dancing shoes.

And some others

There are many more superstars who we would like to see once again, even though it may be for short scenes or roles. Dev Anand does keep coming back with new flop shows, but he only seems to remind us of the fact that he is no longer a superstar, just a mockery of his old self. Naseeruddin Shah was never a superstar, but he along with Amol Palekar has managed to retain his own niche as a phenomenal character actor. We miss Shammi Kapoor, Dilip Kumar, Zeenat Aman, Mumtaz and many others – they were the true superstars and in their heyday they could give any of the new “stars” a run for their money.

Synopsis

Based on Mukul Anand’s original cult film, the plot of Agneepath is quite simple. It’s belongs to the good old fight-for-right and avenge-with-revenge type of Bollywood films.

Agneepath is the story of Vijay Deenanath Chauhan (Hrithik Roshan) who is out on a mission against, Kancha (Sanjay Dutt), the bald, evil looking villain to avenge his father’s (Master Deenanath played by Chetan Pandit) death in the village of Mandwa.

Agneepath star cast

After his father is wrongfully murdered by Kancha, young Vijay (Arish Bhiwandiwala) along with his mum Suhasini Chauhan (Zareena Wahaab) go away to Bombay. There he rises from a little kid to a little gangster under Rauf Lala (Rishi Kapoor), the leader of Bombay’s underworld.

Kali (Priyanka Chopra) is his only friend who is pining away for his love. Inspector Gaitonde (Om Puri) is the long arm of justice who understands Vijay and wants to help him.

Where Agneepath Failed

A plot based on fighting for righteousness and vengeance is a hackneyed story line for Bollywood films. But in the original Agneepath, Kader Khan’s superbly written dialogues and Amitabh Bachchan’s delivery of them managed to create a powerful impression. It had eventually turned out to be one of Amitabh Bachchan’s most epic performances.

Cut to 2012, when debut director Karan Malhotra and producer Karan Johar decide to rip off  remake a cult classic by shredding the original screenplay to bits and adding masala to suit the taste of the new generation. They only thing epic about the new Agneepath will probably be Sanjay Dutt’s style and performance.

If you go watch Agneepath, be prepared to see Hrithik kill a whole gang of villains armed with automatic machine guns with a single revolver and later, dying in the arms of his mother with cheesy Bollywoody dialogues spilling off his tongue. Some find this stuff good but for some, it can get too ludicrous to digest.

They have gone too far to make the new Agneepath a crowd puller. There really was no need for ear blasting background scores or irreverent action scenes.

A Few Good Points

Cinematography.

Some of the visuals in the movie are beautifully painted on the screen, giving Agneepath a surrealist tinge to it. Color and depth seem to have has been meticulously worked up in almost every single frame. Kudos to Sabu Cyril and Kiran Deohans for such stunning visuals.

Sanjay Dutt – The Best Bollywood Villain in recent years

Sanjay Dutt in as Kancha in Agneepath

The most noteworthy and original element of Agneepath is Sanjay Dutt’s role of Kancha which had originally been played by  Danny Dezongpa. Bollywood villains have often entertained audiences more than the heroes. In The new Kancha is looks disturbingly evil and is a thousand times meaner. This is one of his best performances after Munnabhai and I’m quite sure he will take away many awards for the role.

Conclusion – Lots of noise, little substance

Agneepath has all the characteristics of a Bollywood film which usually make us love Bollywood. It has conflict, it has souped up drama and emotion, unbelievable action scenes, a much talked about Chikni Chameli, powerful dialogue, a hero, heroine and villain.

But it just somehow doesn’t make the cut for a blockbuster. It will probably make 70-80 crores at the Bollywood box office and push off into the archives without making that impact which we thought it would make.

Watch it for Sanjay Dutt and his constant reminder from the Bhagavad Gita:

Tum Kya Laye Thay, Tum Kya Leke Jaoge

Talaash - The Answer Lies Within

Talaash might just thrill your brains out. Let’s hope it does – the last decent Bollywood thriller that we saw was I don’t know, 7 Khoon Maaf? Even that was okayish only.

But the director is just one film old!

Reema Kagti debuted as a director with Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd which was a quirky romantic comedy. The film bombed. She next co-wrote Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara with Zoya Akhtar, which did pretty well. And Reema has assisted talented directors such as Farhan Akhtar, Mira Nair and Ashutosh Gowarikar. Some say she’s just one film old, so the hype is uncalled for. But that is all bullshit. Let me give you three solid examples from Bollywood history:

1. Ashutosh Gowarikar was just two films old (Pehla Nasha and Baazi – both bombed) before he came together with Aamir Khan and directed Lagaan. The film almost won an Oscar.
2. Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra had Aks to his name when Aamir signed up for Rang De Basanti. And that was a time when two Bhagat Singh movies were being released every weekend.  The film earned more than Rs. 1.36 billion (approximately US$30 million) worldwide.
3. And Farhan Akhtar had never made a movie before he made Dil Chahta Hai. And this film is widely recognized as the epic of our generation.

Trailer of Talaash

From the 1 min long teaser, you can make out that Talaash is going to be a suspense thriller of the highest order. There will be blood. There will be dialogue. Action. Masala. Almost everything that we love Bollywood for. And there will be Aamir Khan. With his stamp of approval, everything seems fine. We somehow believe that the film will be really good.

I cannot remember the last time I came across any Bollywood (or even Hollywood!) celebrity who had consistently delivered good films like this guy. So without further ado, here’s the trailer of Talaash:

Talaash – We’re anticipating something really solid!

Talaash is going right on top of the list of the most highly anticipated upcoming Hindi movies to be released in 2012. Yes, the expectations are so high. The trailer is so good. I am an Aamir Khan fan. Not because all his films tend to work exceptionally well but because he’s one of the few actors who believes in creativity and improvisation.

In the last 10 years, Aamir has really experimented with the kind of roles that he has picked (village hero, romantic hero, historical hero, revolutionary hero, undercover terrorist, art teacher, crazy killer with six packs, student, painter). But never before has he played a suspense drama. Surprised right? He’s been in a number of commercial action films but never a suspense thriller.

Read more about why Aamir Khan’s movies are invariably so successful.

What do you think? Will Talaash be a hit or a flop? Do share your thoughts in the comments below!