The Movie Review – Kismat Konnection

Star rating:
Actors: Shahid Kapoor, Vidya Balan, Juhi Chawla,
Director: Aziz Mirza
Producers: Kumar S. Taurani, Ramesh S. Taurani
Music Director: Pritam
Writer: Sanjay Chel
Lyricist: Shabbir Ahmed

After six years of a sabbatical, Aziz Mirza has made his directorial comeback with the much awaited movie Kismat Konnection. With leading stars such as Shahid Kapoor, Vidya Balan, Om Puri and Juhi Chawla and Aziz’s focus on the storyline, we as viewers, expected a perfect movie from end-to-end.

The movie touches Aziz Mirza’s favorite topic – the common man’s struggle to make it big in the wicked world, and in the process, the mental war he has to wage to stop compromising with his values. The story seems good but fails to make a connection with the audience. This can be attributed to the poor screenplay and editing, because of which the viewers loose interest in the first half of the movie itself. However, the story never becomes completely boring and the comic timing by the cast as well as the classic man-woman mushy relationship lightens up the viewer’s interest from time to time.

However, the point to look forward to is the stellar performances delivered by all the leading actors. Shahid Kapoor gives a Shahrukh Khan-like performance, but is able to do justice to his role as an intellectual-but-unlucky architect who is on a lookout for a chance to change his destiny. His love interest, Vidya Balan also wins the audience’s hearts with her winning smiles and expressive acting, although she is unable to carry off the modern-girl-with-a-gold-heart appearance very well. Even Juhi Chawla, Om Puri and Vishal Malhotra (who plays Shahid’s friend) have given brilliant performances.

The background score by Pritam is good and peppy, and one tends to enjoy some of the music numbers such as the title song and “Ba-Khuda”. Another good thing to look out for is the picture-perfect locales in Toronto, Canada. The beautiful sceneries coupled with the lovely autumn season in Canada makes one want to rush to the place right away.

To sum up, the movie might not be one to look out for, but is a good way to spend a leisurely afternoon with your friends or family. And since romantic comedies are the flavor of the season, this one won’t disappoint you either. Though we did expect more from Mr. Mirza, after his hits such as Raju Ban Gaya Gentelman, Chalte Chalte and Yes Boss!

The Movie Review – Contract

Star rating:
Cast: Adhvik Mahajan, Sakshi Gulati, Amruta Khanvilkar
Director: Ram Gopal Varma
Producer: Ajay Bijli, Sanjeev K Bijli
Lyrics: Prashant Pandey, Mehboob

After the very successful ‘Satya’ and ‘Company’, here comes another thriller about the Mumbai Mafia with its tentacles of widespread terrorism from the camp of Ramgpal Verma- Contract. Probably it all started with ‘Satya’ in 1998, when we as viewers were introduced to the hard core underworld operating in from the financial capital of our country- Mumbai. This was followed by more intricate details of the underworld when the director made the movie “Company” in 2002. And now the unconventional director completes his triplet with “Contract” which presents the viewers with a nexus of the underworld and terrorism.

I think like me many other viewers would have huge expectations from the movie even without a great star cast. This is because of the director’s reputation of making astounding films on the underworld and its mechanisms. Though Ram Gopal Verma showed some signs of coming back to form with “Sarkar Raj”, I was some what disappointed with this venture. My mood reflects the moods of the rest of the audience who feel equally thwarted. This reaction of viewers right in the first week of the movie is probably bad news for Ram Gopal Verma.

Though it has been a constant effort at the director’s end to make every scene look different from the other, I think its story and concept does not click with the audience anymore. The concept is more like Satya, but the idea of the underworld joining hands with terrorism did not connect. I also felt that the plot was too predictable with the concept of revenge playing a major role in the entire movie. The story is based on a former soldier, who seeks revenge, infiltrates an underworld gang to establish contact with terrorists who are responsible for the death of his wife and daughter. Further, it is also full of juvenile humor and puns of the underworld which hardly gives you any time to concentrate and be serious about the plot. That’s a tragedy because Prashant Pandey’s screenplay comes across as a tribute to crime-dramas like “Drohkaal” or “The Departed” where an honest officer has to go undercover to infiltrate a gang. I thought the climax was very absurd too with the hero of the film taking on and finishing off the entire criminals single handedly. Probably Mr. Verma needs to realize that the present audience is mature and not dreamers like the audience of the seventies. So, the concept of an almighty hero doesn’t really click anymore.

For the star cast, I thought Adhvik Mahajan did a decent job in the movie as a new comer, though he needs to work harder on his dialog delivery. For Sakshi Gulati, even if she looks amazing in the movie she hardly has a substantial role to play. For the rest of the cast, it can be said that they supported the new comers well.

If you ask me, then overall I expected a lot more from Ram Gopal Verma, at least with a genre like this. There could be a lot more in between the underworld and terrorism disaster. Contract looks like a hurriedly made low budget action film that has totally wasted all resources used.

The Movie Review – Love Story 2050

Star rating:
Star Cast: Priyanka Chopra, Harman Baweja, Boman Irani
Director: Harry Baweja

Introducing the dashing Harman Baweja, Love Story-2050 is a movie that takes you into the future. The movie wonderfully showcases what our future would be like. Special effects have been marvelously implemented to give a picture of future Mumbai- flying cars, skyscrapers, sky rails and robots becoming an integral part of human life. However, it is only the special effects that can keep the movie running in theatres. The story has failed to make an impact. Karan [Harman Baweja], a young, spirited, sporty boy lives life off the rules, while Sana [Priyanka Chopra], a petite, shy girl lives life following a set of rules. Opposites attract… and love blossoms. Karan’s uncle, Dr. Yatinder Khanna’s [Boman Irani] much developed time machine finally works. Sana expresses her wish to travel ahead in time to Mumbai and suddenly they find themselves in a new world……twist comes when they get separated….Karan in his attempt to get back his love confronts the villain Dr Hoshi. How he wins back his love and fights against all the evil intentions of Dr. Hoshi forms the rest of the story.

The failure of the story to keep you binding to your chairs has been due to a poorly written script. The screenplay also could not done wonders with this ski-fi fare that has been tried in a big way for the first time in Indian cinema.

Apart from fantastic special effects, two things that have stood out in the movie are the debut performance by Harman Baweja and the terrific chemistry between him and the gorgeous Priyanka Chopra. Harman Baweja, the son of the director of the movie Harry Baweja and the producer, Pammi Baweja has been quite impressive in his acting skills. Not even for a single moment he could be found struggling against the experienced and talented Priyanka Chopra. More breathtaking were his dance moves and gymnast strokes. The cycle chase or to see him wooing his lady love were simply superb. If Hrithik Roshan became an overnight star after the release of Kaho Na Pyar Hai, Harman too is surely not lagging behind. He has emerged as a new promising star, sure to give a tough competition to our very adorable Ranbir Kapoor. The sparkling chemistry between the two leading stars has made the title of the movie apt.

Priyanka Chopra has suited the role of both the simple and sweet Sana and the gorgeous red haired Zeisha. As for the other characters, Boman Irani again looked good in the role of a scientist and proved himself as a truly versatile actor. Archana Puran Singh, Dalip Tahil, Sharad Saxena and others contributed their parts sincerely. The child actors did not have much to do in this.

Director Harry Baweja, though came out with a great idea has been let down by the script. Anu Malik’s music is just up to the mark. He has not been able to impress the audience like he has done in the past. Cinematography, sound quality, dialogues and sets have complimented the story well. Of all these, truly imaginative sets deserve an applause. Great work by Omung Kumar.

If you are really looking for a blockbuster, the movie may disappoint you. However, if you are waiting to see a star born, just go and watch this movie. Harman is there to steal your heart.

The Movie Review – Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na

Star Rating:
Director: Abbas Tyrewala
Producer: Aamir Khan,Mansoor Khan
Star Cast: Imran Khan, Genelia D’Souza, Naseeruddin Shah, Ratna Pathak, Manjari Phadnis

Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na is the directorial debut of writer Abbas Tyrewala of Maqbool, Main Hoon Naa and Munnabhai MBBS fame. And true to his work, Abbas provides the perfect narrative for the story. The movie’s story is not woven around a new subject, but the storytelling approach used by the director makes it completely different than what you had ever seen. The movie revolves around two friends- Jai Singh Rathod (Imran Khan) and Aditi (Genelia D’Souza), and their warm friendship despite their completely contrasting nature. During the five years of their college, they were the closest friends and everyone from their friends to their parents believed that theirs was a match made in heaven. However, they don’t agree to this, and after their college is over, they decide to look for the perfect spouses for each other. In the event of looking for one another’s prospective love interests, they realize that they love each other.

Though we have heard the same story so many times over and over again, but it is the director’s approach that would appeal to the audience. The movie starts with a bunch of college pass outs that have arrived at the airport to receive their friends. Since the flight is late, they start relating the story about Jai and Aditi to their disinterested friend Maya. Although the screenplay keeps zipping from the flashback to the present, it is able to hold the audience’s interest completely. In the end, after the story is completed, we see Jai and Aditi coming back from their honeymoon and Maya hugging them as if she has known them for years!

With the right punch in the narrative said at the right time and backed by excellent performances, one is sure to be gripped to their seats till the very last minute. The rom com has some superb music scores by AR Rahman and lyrics written by Abbas himself. Every character in the movie has portrayed their roles to perfection.

Imran’s boy-next-door looks and Genelia’s wildcat attitude adds a gust of freshness to the movie. Apart from that, there are some superb supporting performances by Naseeruddin Shah who plays Jai’s dead father in a portrait, Ratna Pathak Shah playing Jai’s mother, Paresh Rawal playing the ungentlemanly policemen, Arbaaz and Sohail Khan who play cowboys and Jai’s cousins. Even the performances by the couple’s group of friends are perfectly pieced.

All in all, the movie is surely worth watching, with a completely fresh narrative and some well placed characters. Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na has been really liked by the audiences, and is going to reign at the Box Office for the next few weeks!

The Movie Review – Thoda Pyar Thoda Magic

Star rating:
Director: Kunnal kohil
Producer: Aditya Chopra , Kunal Kohli
Star Cast: Saif Ali Khan, Rani Mukherjee, Amisha Patel, Rishi Kapur, Baby Shriya Sharma, Sharat Saxena, Razzak Khan, Mahesh Thakur, Amisha Patel, Ayushi Burman, Rachit Sidana, Akshat Chopra, Taranna Raja Kapoor.

After directing the food for thought movie “Fanaa,” director Kunal Kapoor is all set to make you giggle, cry and understand the value of family life and relations. His recent release “Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic” is the perfect example of all important attributes that should adorn each one of our lives. Though little non-realistic, the movie falls into the bracket of a romantic-comedy and a complete family entertainer. The film has no drama, suspense, actions, thrills, unexpected turning points. Rather, it has a plain and simple, in fact, predictable script. Adorned by powerful performances from one of the most acclaimed actresses of Bollywood- Rani Mukherjee and the one and only Saif Ali Khan and surprisingly fine performances from the kids, it has clicked quite well with the audiences.

Inspired from famous Hollywood movies like “Mary Poppins” and the “Sound of Music”
Thoda Pyarr…. is a commendable Indian adaptation. The story of the film starts off from the childhood of Ranbeer Talwar, who was brought up in an orphanage and eventually attended a boarding school. Ranbeer, played by Saif Ali has been depicted as a brilliant boy who grows to be an ace businessman. His life takes a turning point forever when once when his car collides with another at night, thus killing all the occupants. His association with the four kids in the film starts from here…when the court sentences him to take care of the orphaned kids. Initially, he is given custody for a trial period of three months, failing which he would be sent to jail for twenty years. At this juncture, God intervenes by sending in an Angel Geeta to build a rapport between the kids and Ranbeer, who were otherwise estranged to each other.

Good cinematography, excellent comic timing and translucent music are the added attributes of the movie. While the main leads give powerhouse performances, even the kids Ayushi Burman, Rachit Sidana, Akshat Chopra and Baby Shriya Sharma and Amisha Patel have chipped in with important functions too. The portrayal of the kids shows the current genre and mentality that they grow up with.

Though the audience has been receptive to the film till now, it is unlikely that it will be able to sustain itself in the long run. Expected to get average collections at the box-office, it will be able to cover up the cost incurred in production.