Eat Pray Love Movies

Go Goa Gone (2013) - Intoxicating, crazy, wild!

2013-05-18T10:34:00.000+05:30

After hearing mixed reviews of the film, I wasn't sure what to expect. But somewhere in my heart, I knew it won't disappoint. I had been waiting for it ever since I saw the first trailer on Facebook. This one was not to be missed, I had told myself. Whether it was Saif's dilli se hu bhen* or Kunal Khemu's globalization! pehle HIV, ab globalization! yeh phirangiyo ne waat laga ke rakh di hai... this one looked hatke.

Thankfully, it DIDN'T fail me. It was 2 hours of entertainment - hilarious, mindless, expletive-spewing zomedy. The film works, for most part, mainly because of its snappy, jaw-droppingly eccentric dialogues, (courtesy Sita Menon, Raja Sen and Kunal Khemu himself) and the chemistry our boys Kunal (Hardik) Saif Ali Khan (Boris, oops Bu-rees) Vir Das (Luv), Anand Tiwari (Bunny) share on screen.

Kunal was, indisputably, the star of the show. The child artist in award-winning films like Zakham, Hum Hai Rahi Pyar Ke, and Raja Hindustani, hasn't had much luck in films lately. Go Goa... will hopefully give his career the much-needed push. Comedy is his territory, his zone! He almost owned the film. Vir Das, too, is effortless as always. Anand Tiwari's timings are brilliant (like in the mockumentary I saw him recently in - The President is Coming). And I always love Saif for the style and attitude with which he carries any role.

Life's drab for buddies Luv, Hardik, Bunny with nothing really to look forward to. Luv is loveless, Hardik is jobless (and always looking for some action ;-), and Bunny's too lost in work to notice life around him. The threesome set off to Goa one day and are all too excited about a party happening on a nearby island. Life gives them more action than they'd asked for ;-) when the rave party turns into a zombie party.

Try not look for logic. Sit back comfortably with your bucket of popcorn, and you're sure to enjoy this madcap ride.

PS: The film might not appeal to the non-Hindi speaking audience as much for all the dialogues and cuss words that only the Hindi-speaking can connect with ;-)

Have you seen Go Goa Gone? Did you like it? Did you not? Shout out in the comment section below :)

Bombay Talkies (2013)

2013-05-16T15:24:00.001+05:30

Karan Johar's ajeeb daastaan hai yeh appealed to me more than all other stories. A man struggling with his sexuality was depicted extremely well by Avinash (Saqib Saleem). A few scenes (the gay kiss) along with some corny dialogues may have been off-putting for some but this was by far Bollywood's best portrayal of a subject this bold. Surprisingly!

I say that coz you'd least expect it of a director better known for his star-studded, flashy, mass appealing films. This one's subtle, succinct and hits the right note.

Next up is Dibakar Bannerji's story of a small-time struggler. "Struggling actor" has caught on to become the most cliched term in the industry today. But Dibakar's story-telling of this struggler is anything but cliched. Witty dialogues and Nawazzudin's yet another brilliant act (watch out for him in the climax), makes it watchable.

Zoya Akhtar's story is about a boy Vicky (Naman Jain) confused about his gender identity. Sports is not his thing. He loves to dress up like girls, do the things girls do. The 12-year old, by the way, is a powerhouse of talent. The story, but, felt not quite there. I understand the boy's confusion about his sexuality. I couldn't relate to the father abstaining his son from picking up feminine ways coming in the way of his son's dreams. Botched up? (We can disagree :)

Anurag Kashyap's murabba story about an ailing father's last wish, was the least impactful. Despite it being a story of many star-crazed fans like us, I could barely connect with it. Overall, my experience of the last 2 films was 'underwhelming.' They may have been deftly narrated, but weren't quite rich in content and engaging in themselves.

How did you like the film? Do share your thoughts in the comments below.

Aashiqui 2 - Old-world romance makes it worth a watch!

2013-05-01T16:20:00.000+05:30

It's love at first sight for singing-sensation-who-has-now-lost-his-mojo Rahul Jaikar (Aditya Roy Kapoor) when he meets Arohi Shirke (Shradhha Kapoor), a small-time singer at a bar. He's clueless where he's headed in life but in that moment, he's found a purpose. A reason to live.

Aashiqui 2 is a selfless tale of love, hard to come by and a refreshing break from the usual underpinnings - revenge, backstabbing, jealousy - in love stories today. The duo share a great chemistry on screen. Aditya showed promise in Guzarish and has pretty much lived up to it in this film. Aashiqui 2 is solely his show. His charm and confidence make up for the mediocre storytelling. Shradhha is endearing as the girl-next-door who dares to dream big but lacks the spunk. She appears lifeless in a few scenes.

Musically, Aashiqui 2 is a treat. The opening track, Sun Raha Hai blew me away. The female version by Shreya Ghoshal is even better. The title song, Meri Aashiqui, too is tastefully done. The music often comes to the rescue of an otherwise clumsy narrative.

Overall, a sweet love story that tugs at your heart, with unforgettable music. And yea, the old-world romance makes it worth a watch! :)

15 singers, 21 actors! But something's missing...

2013-04-28T10:14:00.000+05:30

Bombay Talkies unveils its new track Apna Bombay Talkies starring an ensemble of Bollywood actors Shahrukh, Aamir, Saif, Ranbir, Anil Kapoor, Akshay Kumar, Ranveer Singh, Shahid, Imran, Farhan Akhtar, Saif, Kareena, Karisma, Madhuri, Juhi, Sridevi, Vidya, Rani, Priyanka, Sonam, Deepika.

But I wonder why people are calling it a Bollywood anthem. Music by Amit Trivedi is thanda at best. It fails to live up to the theme it's commemorating - 100 years of Hindi cinema. It's barely an ode to the film industry. There's nothing exciting about it even visually. With such big names coming together, you'd expect something grander.

PS: The only good part - Shahrukh in the end, in his signature style with DDLJ's title track on the mandolin playing in the backdrop. I can never get enuf ;-)

Trending in the Twitterverse :)

2013-04-26T17:16:00.001+05:30

#8PlacesToVisit hashtag got trending this morning on Twitter with our handle @EatPrayLoveM trending in the topic ;-) So here are some places I'd like to visit before I pack up for heaven (or hell ;) Hope you enjoy them as much as I've enjoyed putting them together.

More pics: Underwater Museum in Mexico #8PlacesToVisit twitter.com/EatPrayLoveM/s…
— Mansi Dutta (@EatPrayLoveM) April 26, 2013

"Aqua Cinema - Zandvoort, Holland" #8PlacesToVisit twitter.com/EatPrayLoveM/s…
— Mansi Dutta (@EatPrayLoveM) April 26, 2013

"Elassaru, South Male Atoll, Maldives" I absolutely love this one! #8PlacesToVisit twitter.com/EatPrayLoveM/s…
— Mansi Dutta (@EatPrayLoveM) April 26, 2013

"The Sawyer Glacier in Alaska where the glacier meets the ocean." #8PlacesToVisit twitter.com/EatPrayLoveM/s…
— Mansi Dutta (@EatPrayLoveM) April 26, 2013

"Portaledge Camping, Yosemite, California" #8PlacesToVisit twitter.com/EatPrayLoveM/s…
— Mansi Dutta (@EatPrayLoveM) April 26, 2013

Waking up in Greece :) #8PlacesToVisit twitter.com/EatPrayLoveM/s…
— Mansi Dutta (@EatPrayLoveM) April 26, 2013

"The Piano House in Anhui, China" #8PlacesToVisit for the music lovers! twitter.com/EatPrayLoveM/s…
— Mansi Dutta (@EatPrayLoveM) April 26, 2013

"Kani (Maldives). A paradise island for divers" #8PlacesToVisit twitter.com/EatPrayLoveM/s…
— Mansi Dutta (@EatPrayLoveM) April 26, 2013

This striking beach in Liaohe River delta (China) gets its distinct color from 6K acres of red grass #8PlacesToVisit twitter.com/EatPrayLoveM/s…
— Mansi Dutta (@EatPrayLoveM) April 26, 2013

"Crooked Forest, North-Eastern Poland" #8PlacesToVisit twitter.com/EatPrayLoveM/s…
— Mansi Dutta (@EatPrayLoveM) April 26, 2013

"Agatti Aiport in Lakshwadeep,India." #8PlacesToVisit twitter.com/EatPrayLoveM/s…
— Mansi Dutta (@EatPrayLoveM) April 26, 2013

"The West Side of Taihang Mountain, Shanxi Province in China." #8PlacesToVisit twitter.com/EatPrayLoveM/s…
— Mansi Dutta (@EatPrayLoveM) April 26, 2013

Amazing View during Winter in Whitby, Ontario, Canada #8PlacesToVisit twitter.com/EatPrayLoveM/s…
— Mansi Dutta (@EatPrayLoveM) April 26, 2013

Lovely cafe in the street of Mykonos Island, Greece #8PlacesToVisit twitter.com/EatPrayLoveM/s…
— Mansi Dutta (@EatPrayLoveM) April 26, 2013

"Yushan National Park in Taiwan" #8PlacesToVisit twitter.com/EatPrayLoveM/s…
— Mansi Dutta (@EatPrayLoveM) April 26, 2013

#8PlacesToVisit "Banpo Bridge in South Korea..." buff.ly/15Uf8TW twitter.com/EatPrayLoveM/s…
— Mansi Dutta (@EatPrayLoveM) April 26, 2013

Which places are you looking forward to? Lets talk in the comments below :-)

6 films I'm excited for in 2013!

2013-03-26T21:58:00.002+05:30

Go Goa Gone!
Director: Raj Nidimoru and Krishna D.K.
Producer: Saif Ali Khan and Dinesh Vijan
Starring: Saif Ali Khan, Kunal Khemu, Vir Das

So many things about it make me want to watch it - crazy, quirky humor, dialogues, zombies, Saif - our Zombie hunter with his weird hairdo, stand-up comedian Vir Das who is better known after Delhi Belly, directors Raj Nidimoru and Krishna D.K. who gave us Shor in the City...

Within a few hours of its theatrical release, the film is already trending in the Twitterverse. I hope the film lives up to all the noise!

Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani
Director: Ayan Mukherji
Producer: Dharma Productions, Ronnie Screwvala,
Starring: Ranbir Kapoor, Deepika Padukone, Kalki Koechlin

Big names Ranbir Kapoor, Karan Johar are obviously a huge draw for this film. But a bigger reason why I'm looking forward to this one is Ayan Mukherji, the guy behind Wake up Sid. I hope Mukherji can repeat what he did with WUS - breaking through the stereotypical clutter and giving us a reason to look beyond big banners and names.

Bhaag Milkha Bhaag
Director: Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra
Producer: Viacom 18
Starring: Farhan Akhtar, Sonam Kapoor

The much awaited Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, a biographical work on the life of Indian athlete Milkha Singh, will hit the theaters in July. The name of the film comes from the last words spoken by his father, to save his life during the Partition riots. Eager to see how Farhan Akhtar will carry off this role, a first of sorts for him.

Shaadi Ke Side Effects
Director: Saket Chaudhary
Producer: Balaji Telefilms, Pritish Nandy Communications
Starring: Farhan Akhtar, Vidya Balan

The sequel to Pyar ke Side Effects is finally set to release towards the end of the year. An unusual pairing like its prequel (Rahul Bose and Mallika Sherawat) with both my fav actors Farhan and Vidya, makes me want to watch this one!

Bullett Raja
Director: Tigmanshu Dhulia
Producer: Rahul Mittra
Starring: Saif Ali Khan, Sonakshi Sinha, Jimmy Shergill

The man known for films like Paan Singh Tomar (director), Saheb Biwi aur Gangster (director), Haasil (director), Dil Se (writer), is all set to come up with this gangster thriller come September.

I can never get enough of Jimmy Shergill, one of our most under-rated actors (some of his best works include Yahaan, Saheb Biwi aur Gangster, A Wednesday). It will be interesting to see what he and Saif (after Omkara) have to offer in this film. Tigmanshu's all-time fav Irrfan Khan, however, will not be seen in this one.

Ram Leela
Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Producer: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Starring: Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone

Reportedly based on Shakespeare's classic Romeo & Juliet, this one too brings an unusual but fresh pair. Bhansali will be back 3 years after his last film Guzarish, which received a tepid response at the box office. Hoping this one does what Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam and Devdas did for him, a decade (or more?) back!

Which films are you looking forward to this year? Let's talk in the comments section below! :-)

Jolly L.L.B (2013) - Has its heart at the right place...

2013-03-17T23:53:00.002+05:30

Jolly LLB's trailer was catchy enough to get you to the theaters. The story has meat but the presentation could have been so much better. Unlike most Bollywood films which lose steam after the first half, this one only picks pace in the second half. But it's one of those films you want to root for, for the reason that it's made with a heart.

Subhash Kapoor manages to pull off a court room drama which is hilarious and realistic at the same time. Saurabh Shukla is his usual entertaining self with the most unforgettable of all roles and punchiest of dialogues. Arshad Warsi boldly plays his part and unsurprisingly impresses as the snarky, loud-mouthed Meerut ka launda. Boman Irani does his bit with equal conviction. Amrita Rao doesn't have much to do.

The songs seemed unnecessary and broke the pace (except the tiny winy mere toh...lag gaye ;) in the courtroom. Overall, it's time well spent but I'm sure a DVD watch would be as great!

My Liebster Moment :-)

2013-02-28T15:28:00.001+05:30

"Time for a party... but first, the Thank You speech?" teased a friend, when I told him my EatPrayLove... had won an award. I can blabber all day but its times like these that I draw a blank.

Thanks Aishwarya for this one! I treasure it.

So what's the Liebster Blog Award all about? It's basically a blogger's way of saying "You're one of my favorites! Good job!” Liebster is German for dearest.

Rules for receiving this award:

1. Each blogger should post 11 random facts about themselves.

2. Answer the questions the tagger has set for you, and then create 11 new questions for the bloggers you pass the award to.

3. Choose 11 new bloggers (with less than 200 followers) to pass the award to and link them in your post.

4. Go back to their page and tell them about the award.

5. No tag backs.

1. So, here go 11 random facts about me:

1. I can go underground for longer than you can imagine and watch movies and more movies back to back!

2. My most treasured B'day gift - iPad from Dad last birthday.

3. What cheers me up? Buy me clothes and I'll forget you beat me at Scrabble ;)

4. Which brings me to my favorite pastime, besides films. Word games!

5. Bollywood character I identify with - Geet of Jab we Met.

6. When I'm in a mess and trying to talk it out of my system, I just need you to hear me. Keep your advice to yourself :P

7. What you'd normally read in the mirror, I can write it with my left hand (cursively!)

8. I can gaze at the sea in the night for hours. My idea of a perfect date: Moonlight night, movie, dinner by the sea!

9. I've seen DDLJ more than you can count on your fingers.

10. What turns me off? Arrogance.

11. If you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best. [I'm stealing that one from Marilyn Monroe]

2. ...And my answers to Aishwarya' s 11 questions:

1. Your most memorable vacation ever?

Europe. Florence is breath-taking. Austria beats Switzerland. It's heaven on earth. [Yash Chopra, apparently, shot most of his films in Austria, not Switzerland].

2. Your one wish for your country.

If I could change one law - Rapists should be stoned to death like in Islamic countries.

3. Your meaning of love.

It's not a feeling. Feelings are fleeting. It's not a state of mind. It's a state of being!

4. Your favorite food when you're depressed?

What beats chocolates?

5. The most adventurous thing you've done ever?

You're asking an indoors person? :-)

6. Something you wish to do, if you had no societal/monetary limitations?
Shelter for homeless kids.

7. If you could have life-long subscription to any magazine, which would it be & why?

Umm... Magazine I'm not sure. How about a *free* life-long subscription to a DVD store? :-)

8. The one famous person you would be struck dumb upon meeting. And why! :)

Ranbir Kapoor. Need I say why ;)

9. 5 most favorite television series!

As a kid I wouldn't miss Jungle Book (Mogli), I Dream of Gennie, Small Wonder, Zabaan Sambhalke, Dekh Bhai Dekh, Flop Show.

10. Harry Potter or Twilight? Give me reasons!

None. Let's talk Bolly. The list will go on....

11. Your dream job. Or business. Or vocation.

Own a movie production house!

Questions for my 10 nominees:

1) One song to describe your life...

2) One film you could watch over and over?

3) Your idea of fun?

4) If you could live someone else's life for a day, who's would it be?

5) One film you wish had never been made?

6) One crazy wish?

7) Films that didn't get their due?

8) What freaks you out?

9) What is love?

10) What are things you like to do alone?

11) If you had only 5 more minutes to live, what would you do?

A big thank you to my readers before I get to my nominees for the Liebster Blog Award.

The award originally began with honoring blogs with less than 3000 readers. The number soon changed to less than 200 (not sure when!). Blogs below may not strictly have less than 200 followers/readers.

3. So here go my 10 nominees, in no particular order:

Lime Reviews & Strawberry Confessions

Life in Bits & Bytes

Indolent Insomniac

Pixel Buffet

Shahrukh Is Love

From India with Pyar...

A Diva & Her Bollywood

Bollywood-ish Blog

Bolly hoo ha

The Movie Review Blog

@ Nominees. You may choose to accept the award and pass it on to your favorite bloggers, following all the above rules.

Don't break the chain guys. Let's keep it rolling!

Kai Po Che (2013) - Breath of fresh air

2013-02-24T21:04:00.000+05:30

Kai Po Che is film making where perfection meets style. Director Abhishek Kapoor strikes a fine balance taking care of every detail from the script to the characters. With a plot that covers so many elements from cricket to politics to religion, things could have easily gotten out of hand. But Kapoor has full control of the film till the very last. He manages to impress without trying too hard. The film moves at its own pace bringing the best out of every character.

The carefree, living-for-the-moment Ishaan, played by Sushant Singh Rajput, stands out among the three friends. His timings are brilliant. Amit Sadh is at his best in the second half. Watch out for him post the accident scene. But Raj Kumar Yadav of Love Sex Dhoka fame, playing the timid and restrained Govind, steals the show. And he proves it in the scene where he lashes out at Ishaan for his reckless ways. He's only getting better with every film. Their bromance takes you back to Dil Chahta Hai. It didn't feel like they were doing it for the camera.

Overall, it's a much needed breath of fresh air after what's blatantly come to define Bollywood - mindless '100 crore' cinema. Certainly can't afford to miss this one. It's a film for keeps!

Have you seen Kai Po Che? Did you enjoy it as much as me? Your best bits? Lets talk. In the comments section below :-)

Worst of Bollywood - 2012

2013-01-25T11:22:00.003+05:30

The nominees for the Golden Kela Awards are out. For those who haven't heard of Golden Kela - they are in their 5th year of honoring the worst of Bollywood.

Here are my picks for the worst. Enjoy!

Worst director

Sachin Kundalkar for Aiyyaa/ Prabhu Deva for Rowdy Rathore

Worst Actor - Male

Akshay Kumar for Rowdy Rathore

Worst Actor - Female

Anushka Sharma for Jab Tak Hai Jaan (3 cheers for the 'twice in a row' winner!)

Worst film

Aiyyaa

Worst Pair onscreen

R. Madhavan & Bipasha Basu (Jodi breakers)

Most Irritating Song of the year Award

Chinta ta ta chita chita

Most Atrocious Lyrics Award

Po Po Son of Sardar

'Why are you still trying' Award? For people who still seem to be around even though we thought their careers were over

Karisma Kapoor

'When watching the trailer you know the film is doomed' Award - And the irony is you know it would end up earning 100 crores

Housefull 2

'When did this come out' Award

Char Din Ki Chandni

'Bas Kijiye bahut Ho Gaya' Award

Khiladi 786

Your thoughts? Did I miss out a well-deserved mention ;) Shout out in the comments section below.

Inkaar (2013)

2013-01-23T11:40:00.000+05:30

Inkaar starts off on a compelling note. The director wastes no time building up characters. You meet and get to know them as the film progresses and even then you're not sure you can tell the black from the white. That's the USP. You hope you can put together the scattered pieces as the film takes you back and forth. Unfortunately, while it does so, it gets trapped in a cliche-land. And the climax commits the worn-out Bollywood folly.

The characters are portrayed in a stereotypical fashion, particularly Chittrangada's, in the way she's made to look and even some of her dialogues. She's a great actor and she's proved that in her previous films. I just wish her character was etched out more realistically. Arjun Rampal is a surprise packet. The element of mystery about him and the ease with which he carries himself, is intriguing. Together, the two make a great couple. Deepti Naval comes after a long time on screen adding freshness and color to an otherwise no-nonsense role.

Overall, the film has its moments, but won't stay with you for long!

Back with Da(bangg)!

2012-12-24T23:29:00.000+05:30

Like all of his recent films, Dabangg 2 celebrates Brand Salman all the way. Chulbul Pandey wins you yet again with his silly yet endearing ways. You end up nodding and smiling to yourself at the silliest of things he does or says. One swirl of his hand becomes a stunt, one shake of his leg becomes a step. It's the style that uniquely typifies him, the style that belongs only to him.

A pistol in hand is more than he can ask for, to fight 20 odd beasts (no one questions why they won't get him all together instead of trying their luck one by one) a spin of his arm gets his opponent down in one fell swoop, his presence most times, is enough to scare away the scariest looking brutes. He's as macho fighting the goons as romancing his wife with all the smirkish liveliness and the giggles, that by the way, does not make you balk. It only makes you fall more in love with this Chulbul 'charming' Pandey.

There's a story that keeps you engaged with some brilliant performances, from Prakash Raj (we loved him in Singham), Deepak Dobriyal (of Gulaal and Tanu Weds Manu fame), Vinod Khanna, Sonakshi Sinha and sooperbly cinematographed stunts but its not the characters that are working together to come up with one good story/film. It's the film as a whole that is working its way to bringing that one character stand out loud. Louder than the film. Watch it for him!

The ones who've seen the film, don't forget to share your thoughts in the comments below ;-)

Talaash (2012) - Slick Thriller

2012-12-04T15:58:00.001+05:30

If suspense is what rocks your boat, Talaash is going to be a treat for you. Perfectly paced with some brilliant cinematography and slick dialoguery, Talaash is a thoroughly satiating experience. Running so many themes parallely and weaving them all neatly at the end, Reema Kagti and Zoya's treatment to the plot is praiseworthy. Music is like another character in the film, adding to the eeriness of it.

Aamir comes on screen after a long time, playing the tough, restrained-yet-vulnerable police officer smack dab. Kareena and Rani pull off their bits with equal conviction. Special mention to Nawazzudin Siddique. A lot of people have come to recognize him after Kahaani or as the Faisal Khan of Gangs of Wasseypur but his tete-a-tete with Bollywood began in 1999, co-incidently with Amir-starrer Sarfarosh. His expressions are enough to make you want to sit back and watch out. Raj Kumar Yadav (of LSD and Ragini MMS fame) makes his presence felt despite the tiny role.

Overall, don't miss it. Enjoy this one on the big screen!

Jab Tak Hai Jaan (2012)

2012-11-18T02:16:00.002+05:30

I'd been starved of a meaty love story for a long time. Jab Tak Hai Jaan Hai, I thought would make up for it. The film, unfortunately, fails miserably. Logic is completely thrown out the window. It's a flawed script through and through. And I sat there blaming Yash Chopra all the time until I found out the story and screenplay was by Aditya Chopra. Given the limitations of the script, Yash Ji has churned out a pretty decent film.

JTHJ had glimpses of Veer Zaara, coz it has a similar 'love lives forever' undertone. And while I loved Veer Zaara so much I can still watch it over and over, JTHJ is not even close.

Shahrukh hams through as Samar. He's better off playing Major Samar (and with his stubble on, he ups the hotness quotient ;) Katrina's dialogue delivery seems clumsy as the film begins, thanks to her broken Hindi, but smoothens out as the film picks pace. Visually, she's the only saving grace besides the beautiful locales ;) The film takes quite some time to set the mood, and even when it does, it's littered with too many distractions. Anushka is one of them. I'm done with her over-the-top, full-of-life cutesy act.

The one comforting factor in the film is the music. Saans mein teri is a trademark YRF number. Shreya Ghoshal completely owns the song.

The film has its moments. But they are few and far between. Honestly, the only bit that wrenched my heart was Yash Chopra's video clip at the end of the film. A re-run of a beautiful journey. I'm going to miss him!

Luv Shuv tey Chicken Khurana - Could've been spicier!

2012-11-17T15:29:00.001+05:30

Luv Shuv.. is not your regular dose of Bollywood, which is pretty evident from the title. It takes you back to films like Oye Lucky Lucky Oye and Vicky Donor and while it may have done a better job recreating a Punjabi milieu (be it the dialogues, the uninhibited use of profanities, the music or the setting), the film isn't something I'd remember too long. Something felt missing.

The film has no big names to piggyback on, but has a script that keeps up an element of unpredictability and some good performances. Rajesh Sharma's (Titu mama) comic timings are perfect. His dialogues jaw-droppingly hilarious! The one film-old Huma Qureshi (the Pears ad girl, seen in Anurag Kashyap's GOW) is brilliant. Kunal Kapoor didn't quite fit the role. Abhay Deol would have been a perfect choice for this one!

With names like Anurag Kashyap backing it, it's no path-breaking film. A one-time watch at best. Have you seen Luv Shuv...? What do you think about the film?

Chakravyuh (2012)

2012-10-31T21:13:00.001+05:30

With names like Prakash Jha & Abhay Deol, one only hopes for the best. With many good films this year, I may not want to place Chakravyuh under the creme de la creme but it definitely makes for a pacy entertainer that keeps you riveted till the end with a subject that couldn't have come out at a better time. Aptly titled, the film exposes the ugly reality of the govt, the politicians, the business houses and the fallout of their amorality. While all these things aren't under wraps any more, thanks to the media, the film keeps you glued all through. Cheers to the songwriter of Birla ho ya Tata. A perfect fit, the song neatly summarizes the entire film.

I was expecting some mind blowing performances for a subject like this. I have to admit here though that Chakarvyuh left me disappointed on this front. Arjun Rampal looks pretty much dead barring some of his aggressive dialougery. Wonder how Isha Gupta was given this role. Manoj Bajpai is good but not as impressive as in some of his other films. The one character that stands out, camouflaging all, is Anjali Patil (who plays Juhi, one of the Naxalites). She's bang on with her dialogues, her attitude!

And as much as I want to avoid writing this, it felt as though Abhay Deol sleepwalks some of the scenes. There isn't a bigger admirer of him than me, which is why I still loved watching him but he has definitely done better. I liked the unpredictability that Jha lends to Abhay's character and his equation with Arjun.

Overall, its a good film that leaves you with a bad taste of the sour reality. Watch it!

Student of the Year (2012) - Popcorn flick on a lazy weekend!

2012-10-23T01:07:00.000+05:30

Surkh wala soze waala faiz waalaa love
Hota hai jo love se zyaada
Waisey waala love

Totally in love with this number. 8 on 10 for the music. Vishal and Shekhar have also done a great job remixing all the old numbers. Couldn't get hold of the Gulabi Ankhein track. Coming to the film, its a fun watch though nothing new to look forward to, as expected. It took me back to so many films I've seen but only looked fresh coz of the three new faces.

Great start for newcomers Varun Dhawan (Rohan Nanda) and Siddharth Malhotra (Abhimanyu). You can't tell its Varun's first time on screen. The opening number introducing Siddharth felt quite funny as if I were back to the Kuch Kuch Hota Hai/Rehna Hai Tere Dil Mein days but watch out for him as the film moves on. He's packet of surprises that unravels bit by bit. He wins you over with his sincere, restrained act. His lovesick puppy dog chemistry with Alia Bhatt (Shanaya) is perfect. I won't be surprised to hear if they're actually seeing each other. Alia doesn't have much to offer besides her Jimmy Choos and Louis Vuittons but she's adorable whatever little we see of her.

Varun and Siddharth make the best buddies. Their timings couldn't have gotten better. @KJo you've got to reconsider your Dostana 2 cast or how about Dostana 3? Their camaraderie aside, they screamed sexy every time they had their shirts off ;) And it looked even better on the big screen :) The good news is, Siddharth has already got 2 more films. Looking forward!

Individually, all performances are good. Overall, SOTY makes for a light, fun watch when you have nothing better to do!

English Vinglish (2012) - Delightful Cinema!

2012-10-05T20:33:00.003+05:30

I have just stepped out of the theater and flashes of the film are all over my head. EV is an honest effort beautifully executed. It casts a spell on you right at its outset and charms you through to the end, walking you through every emotion - love, hatred, happiness, sadness, fear, anger, aggression, submission. It isn't quite the script but the execution that's makes all the difference. Debutant director Gaurie Shinde, Balki's (the man behind Paa) wife, tenderly and skillfully handles every detail.

Every character in the film from Adil Hussain (playing Sridevi's husband) to Priya Anand (playing Sridevi's niece) to Sulbha Deshpande (Dadi) to all her coaching class friends commendably justify their screen time. Special mention to Laurent, the French actor (played by Mehdi Nebbou). His screen presence is spell binding and works wonders for the film. And last but not the least, the 'entrepreneur' Shashi Godbole aka Sridevi. The star of the show! She is effortless as an actor and a perfect cast for this role. No one emotes like her. Her face does most of the talking. The cotton sarees adorning her lend an irresistibly desirable look. I'm sure the men will agree :)

The film is hard hitting without being overly dramatic and that's its USP. A trademark Balki film! 3 words to express my love for the film - Go watch it. For the ones who've seen it, I'm waiting to hear from you!

It's raining good Bollywood films in 2012. Which one is your favorite? Paan Singh Tomar, Vicky Donor, Gangs of Wasseypur, Kahaani, Barfi, OMG, English Vinglish? Did I miss out any?

Oh My God (2012) - Hard-hitting Entertainer!

2012-10-05T13:43:00.001+05:30

The onus of OMG making the cut does not lie in the hands of the director or the script writer as much as the protagonist. You'll know what I mean when you watch the film. Paresh Rawal holds fort through the film, frame after frame. A hot-headed, agnostic Kanjibhai Lalji Mehta who calls a spade a spade, goes all out to defy superstitious religious beliefs that people unquestioningly bind themselves in. He refuses to give up his cause, even if it means losing everything! That's what makes the film all the more gripping. Despite the mess he gets himself into, he manages to hold his own, boldly sometimes, reluctantly at other times, but eventually coming out victorious.

Mithun Chakraborty initially felt awkward in the role of Leeladhar, but believe you me, as the film moved on, his expressions were enough to leave you in splits. His every move was hilarious. (Those of you who have seen it are nodding their heads right now ;) A bow down to our Siddheshwar Maharaj (played by Govind Namdeo) who gives a tough fight as an actor to Paresh Rawal. Akshay Kumar strikes a positive vibe every time he's on screen, completely justifying his role.

Overall, every minute of the film is worth your attention. A paisa vasool pichhar you can't afford to miss! How about making it tax-free? :)

Barfi (2012) - Warm, Snugly hug!

2012-09-15T01:36:00.001+05:30

Barfi by any other name would have tasted as sweet :) You forget about the technicalities of a film - script, cinamatography, screenplay - when it comes to films like these. The emotion captured by that lens is all you care for.

Performances
Jhilmil (Priyanka Chopra) tops my favorite list when it comes to acting - it's effortless and effective! With every film she comes, she makes me think this one's her best performance. She wrongs me with every subsequent film. I loved her work in Aitraaz, Fashion, Dostana, Kaminey, Anjaana Anjaani (haven't seen 7 Khoon Maaf) but Barfi is her best work till date :) See I'm getting caught in it again ;-)
Murphy (Ranbir) with his cutesy Charlie Chaplin act, the all-in-one charming, sensible and sensitive (no wonder he has both his heroines falling for him ;-) works like magic. Every time your eyes begin to well up with tears, his naughty goofy antics bring back a smile. He's probably one of the only star sons who's proved his mettle in the industry.
Shruti (Illeana d Cruz) doesn't give the slightest hint its her Bollywood debut. She is certainly not the prettiest faces around, but definitely someone who can act. I loved her voice. It's intense and heartening (it totally compensated for our dumb duo ;-) and yes, she does give a glance of Amrita Rao - the much forgotten Ishq Vishq girl next door?

Favorites scenes
I have too many of them but here are the ones that are bubbling in my head.
* The one where Barfi comes to ask for Shruti's hand, with the 'jhilmil sitaron ka aagan' letter
* The one where our 'knight In shining armor' Barfi sitting (well, falling off a horse) is trying to escape Shruti's mother's eyes
* The one where Jhilmil (Priyanka) passes Barfi's friendship test

Music
That's the soul of this film. Barfi wouldn't have been half as good had it not been for the music. Is dil ka kya karoon is my favorite.

Overall
Barfi's first half is fast-paced and engaging. Somewhere in the latter half, I thought the film could've been tighter. It slightly dragged but thanks to songs and the background score which kept me going. It's a DVD for keeps.
If you have a heart, you're going to love this one!
Have you seen the film? How did you like it? I want to hear from you :-)

Gangs of Wasseypur II (2012) - Killer Thriller!

2012-08-09T01:51:00.001+05:30

If Gangs of Wasseypur 2 were a book, it would've been a best seller. It has you hooked from the first frame right until the end and is certainly more engaging than its prequel. That is primarily because it helps you connect the dots, weaving the entire plot together for you.

The raw setup, quirky humor, rich content, hard-hitting performances, superb cinematography, fast-paced screenplay, blood, gore, REVENGE - all come together to create an entertaining thriller. The music has a character of its own. It lends words to the film at a point where even dialogues would have fallen short. Kashyap couldn't have chosen a better song for the pre-climax.

Every character is perfectly cast. Nawazuddin Siddique aka Faizal is the backbone of the film. Tigmanshu Dhulia keeps up as the restrained, timid Ramadhir Singh. I'm not sure if he's a better director or a better actor! Richa Chaddha (Faizal's mother) is a surprise package. It's hard to believe she's the same Dolly of Oye Lucky Lucky Oye. Huma Qureshi (Faizal's wife), whose performance I was looking forward to, couldn't have gotten a better launchpad.

All in all, a must watch for film connoisseurs!

Cocktail (2012) - Breezy Entertainer

2012-07-16T19:07:00.000+05:30

Surprise! Surprise! Cocktail is for all Deepika Padukone fanbois. And the ones who're shy to count themselves part of the club might just change their mind by the end of this film. Cocktail promises there's more to Deepika than long legs ;) The film should do for her what Fashion did for Priyanka Chopra.

Diana Penti is an onscreen delight. She stands out even among the established names she shares the screen with. Her chemistry, however, with Saifu doesn't quite come through. Did she go overboard with her innocent, cutesy act? I'm not sure.

Saifu is his usual charming self as Gautam (aka Gatloo). His mother Dimple Kapadia is hilarious and she along with Boman Irani evoke the loudest laughs with amazing dialogue delivery.

Visually, the film couldn't have gotten better. Courtesy cinematographer Anil Mehta. Every frame looks slick, stylish. Musically, its peppy and enjoyable. Daru Desi and Angrezi Beat make you want to go the theaters to watch the film. (Songs slacken pace in the latter half of the film)

Overall, Cocktail is a breezy entertainer. Just the kind of film you'd want to pick up on a boring weekend. Certainly a one-time watch. All those who've seen the film, do share your thoughts in the comment section below. Waiting to hear from you all!

Bol Bachchan, Gangs of Wasseypur, Shanghai

2012-07-08T16:20:00.002+05:30

Bol Bachchan
Like all Rohit Shetty's films (except Singham) this one too is a no-brainer entertainer. Ajay Devgn's harrowing english does evoke laughs but he's better off as Bajirao of Singham or Vanraj of Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam for me. The star of the show was unsparingly Krishna Abhishek (of Comedy Circus fame). Perfect timings! While he had some of the bestest dialogues in the film, his actions are enough to hurt your jaws. Archana Pooran Singh makes the film come alive for whatever little screen time she gets and is as hilarious playing Zohra as Madhumati. Asin and Prachi had little to do as expected. Abhishek Bachchan 5 minute mujra-cum-kathak-cum-disco will have you in splits.
Watch it if you have really nothing to do!

Gangs of Wasseypur is certainly not the kind of the film you'd want to watch on a boring weekend. I hoped for some entertainment as I walked in, after a long week at work. And I was evidently, not impressed. Bad timings, I guess. But keeping my expectations aside, the film was great, certainly not something expected of our Dear Bollywood. The plot, the revenge, the characters. It all worked but I doubt it really lived up to all the Cannes hype. Among the revenge-themed thrillers, Rakht Charitra remains my most favorite film. Power-packed performances by Manoj Bajpai, Tigmanshu Dhulia (Ramadhir Singh), Piyush Misha and Richa Chaddha (of Oye Lucky Lucky Oye!). Huma Qureshi (the Pears Ad girl flaunting fake Ray Bans in the film) doesn't get to show much of her acting skills but looks promising. Hopefully we'll get to see more of her in the sequel. Anurag Kashyap is lucky to have earned Rs. 27 crore already from GOW. He spent Rs. 18 crore on both I and II. Kashyap will be back in the limelight on Aug 8 with GOW's sequel. Here's a sneak peak. The music was quirkishly delightful. O-ghumaniya has to be my favorite. Loved the Beat and the Back ;)

Shanghai is well-scripted and screen played, with characters that keep you hooked to the story till the last. But I'm not sure it delivered as much as the noise it created before its release given that it came from a director like Dibakar Bannerjee. His Khosla ka Ghosla still remains my most favorite. The good part about Shanghai is that the characters were not superimposed on the story. The story was the hero of the film. The film was not about characters. It was the characters that together made the story work. A special mention to Kalki Koechlin here. I thought it was her best performance. (I have yet too finish That Girl in Yellow Boots though) Emraan Hasmi. Way to go! Abhay Deol impresses. Though I've seen him do much better.

For all of you, who have seen the film, tell me how you liked it. For the ones, who haven't, enjoy it on your DVD!

Ishaqzaade (2012)

2012-05-18T22:24:00.001+05:30

It was ironical that the essence of the film - Param and Zoya's love story - is what failed to receive the attention of the director as much as it should have. Minus the intimate moments, the film doesn't have much to bank on, to call itself a love saga which it attempts to claim. While the first half is gripping and promises many great moments (the scene where Param comes after Parineeti apologizing after breaking into her election rally), the second half only undoes all the good. The run-and-gun affair lasts too long to hold your attention.
That, however, doesn't take anything away from Parineeti and Arjun Kapoor who have put up an unbelievable show. The two films old Parineeti stands to compete with our well established actresses and even give most of them a run for their money. Newcomer Arjun is cute and immensely likeable.

The soundtrack perfectly kept up with the mood of the film. Main pareshaan stood out among all other songs. (I still need to figure out who was the singer. Haven't heard her before).
All in all, its a decent film but could've been better.
I'm eager to hear what everyone of you thought about the film. Don't forget to share your views in the comment section below.

Vicky Donor (2012) - Rib Tickler!

2012-04-21T13:12:00.000+05:30

Where do I begin? Ayushmann. Dolly Aunty. Dr. Chaddha. Dadi. Rum Whisky. The script. The Sp-rums (That's how 'sperms' read in Dr. Chadhha's dictionary. Vicky Donor has too many things to boast about.
Producer John Abraham. Bold sperm. Hats off to him for putting his monies on a subject as risky as this one.
Script writer Juhi Chaturvedi. Intelligent sperm. It's so not easy to put together an interesting script on as boring a subject as sperm donation. A script that makes you laugh, a script that makes you effortlessly laugh!
Ayushmann. Entertaining sperm. He shined out and out as the typical Dilli da munda. I can't praise him enough for how well he acted. He was natural throughout and I guess that's what worked best.
Dr. Chaddha (Annu Kapoor). Phunny sperm. He surprises and how! It wasn't his dialogues that were funny. It was his delivery (no pun intended!) that made all the difference!
Dolly Aunty. Loud sperm. The film wouldn't have been half as enjoyable without our on-the-face yet endearing mummy.
Dadi. Progressive sperm. She had some of the best-est moments in the film. Don't be deceived by her age ;)
The high point of the film was the Bong Punjabi wedding. Their confrontations are hilarious. It was after a long long time (after Pyar ka Punchnama) that I had a good laugh at a theaters. A few dialogues went unheard among the audiences' laughs and whistles. I also missed the first 10 minutes of the film. Isn't that reason enough I do it one more time at the theater ;)