Dhobi Ghat (2011) - movie review

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I have just stepped out of the theatre clueless. Clueless as to what was it really? A documentary? A day in the life of Kiran Rao? A dream she had last night? Did she have a story to tell? No. And the characters? All lost souls, hanging in there not knowing what to do.

The film opens with a woman in a taxi capturing Mumbai - the streets, the people, the life! I sat back and awaited what lay ahead of me, with all eagerness. Fifteen, twenty, forty, sixty minutes went by but I waited, (thinking there's got to be something in here), until the screen turned dark and credits started rolling.

It wasn't just me fidgety and cringing in my seat. I could hear people behind me whispering, '15 more minutes to go,' and comments which, honestly, were more entertaining than the dialogues. And then came the final applaud from the audiences. The claps. For it was finally over.
Even if you have all the time in the world, spare yourself the horror! 

Waisa Bhi Hota Hai (2003) - movie review

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This film is a mindless work of fiction. The characters happen to be fictional, despite our sincerest efforts. The locations however are real. The story has been plagiarised from several films. When you see a disclaimer like this you know you're not in for the usual.

Puneet Sayal (Arshad Warsi) is a creative director with an ad agency, leading a boring civilised life, harboring the great Indian dream of becoming a crorepati and retiring in Nainital (??, out of all places), away from the hustle bustle, until he chances upon a guy one night bleeding to death. Will he care to involve himself into the needless mess?

At some points, it might have you thinking if it was even worth being filmed but it's two hours of entertainment, nevertheless. A concentrated shot of adrenaline! There's suspense, there's thrill, there's humour. An unconventional masala film that's sure to keep you riveted till the end. Shashanka Ghosh, the man behind MTV and Channel V, does a fairly decent job as a first-time director.
Don't miss it! 

Matrubhoomi - A Nation without Women (2003) - movie review

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If you're looking for some sort of entertainment after a busy day at work, this is not the kind of film you'd want to pick up. It's disturbing and despressing. But it's one of the most picturesquely filmed piece of work I've seen in recent times. From the very first frame, the film transports to you to a world you're oblivion to or rather wish to remain oblivion to...

Female infanticide is widespread in a village in North India, the repurcussions of which carry the film forward. A woman, far and wide, is hard to come by. Tulip Joshi surprises as the oppressed 'Kalki,' who happens to be the seemingly only woman left. [The last I saw her was in Yashraj's Mere Yaar ki Shaadi hai where I thought she even found it hard to deliver her dialogues straight out]. It's disturbing to see what she goes through in a world that reeks of ruthless, beastly men. Sushant Singh is endearing as the simpleton Suraj, one of the few men sympathetic towards Kalki.

Every character delivers his best. The background score, by Samil-Suleimaan, perfectly gels with the sombre mood of the film. The film gets a little repetitive and slow in parts but definitely a one-time watch! [It won four awards at International film festivals].

Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999) - movie review

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I am a sucker for love stories (which is visible from most of my posts :) and HDDCS remains an all-time favorite. I missed it on the theatre but have seen it umpteen times, and more, I believe ;) otherwise. Based off a Bengali novel, Na Hanyate (It Does Not Die), Hum Dil... is inarguably among Bhansali's, Aishwarya's and Ajay Devgn's best works.

Nandini lends Aishwarya enough scope to draw the best out of her acting skills. It's beautiful to see a young, headstrong, Nandu evolve into a mature, sensible Nandini as the film spans her intense pyar for Sameer in the first half and her slow but eventual understanding of what pyar really is all about. Ajay too had his act in place as the honest, large-hearted Vanraj, a highlight in the second half. With all due respect to Sallu fans, he may have entertained as the Chulbul Pandey of Dabangg or the Big Boss host, but someone tell him a little bit of acting won't hurt. (My bollyblogger friends are sure to come to blows with me on this one ;)

Rewinding back to the plot, Nandu (as he calls her) is besotted by Sameer and hasn't imagined life without him while her parents have other plans. Vanraj (Ajay Devgn), they believe is best suited for their daughter. The plot may seem another run-off-the-mill love triangle, but it's the treatment that won it all the appreciation and awards (31 to be more precise!) for the year. Repeat value - Once, twice, thrice.......? You'll keep coming back to it!

Hum Tum (2004) - movie review

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Karan (Saif Ali Khan) meets Rhea (Rani Mukherji) in a flight to New York. Rhea is all too uninterested in Karan Casanova Kapoor everytime they bump into each other, then or later [be it three months hence in New York or three years later in Delhi]. Karan, though disgusted with Rhea's absurd mannerisms, leaves no opportunity to hit on her. After (and despite) the intial hiccups and uneasiness, the two get hooked. Hum Tum is a fun-filled romcom you won't mind picking up more than once.

Besides Rhea and Karan's applaudable performances, the vivacious Kiron Kher and Rishi Kapoor hold the fort in the film. Their onscreen presence is loud enough to camouflage the lead actors.

The music is pretty average. Apart from the title track, one number that's catchy is ladki kyu na jaane kyu (we can relate to the lyrics all too well - Jaane kaun kaun se din vo tumko yaad dilaaye, pyaar ko chaahe bhool bhi jaae, tarikhei na bhulaye (*.*)

Besides the sometimes offputting ek ladka aur ek ladki kabhi dost nahi ban sakte cartoonish rhetoric, Hum Tum makes for a pretty decent watch.

[Titbit - the film won 13 awards for the year]