The Movie Review – Dhoom Dhadakka

Star rating:
Movie name: Dhoom Dadakka
Actors: Shaad Randhawa, Samir Dattani, Shama Sikander and Aarti Chhabria, Rakhi Sawant, Satish Shah, Satish Kaushik, Gulshan Grover, Anupam Kher
Director: Shashi Ranjan
Producer: Shashi Ranjan
Music Director: Roop Kumar Rathod
Lyricist: Praveen Kumar Ashk, Shaqeel Azmi

To venture into the genre of comedy is not a cup of tea for every film maker. A loose end at any of the aspects involved and there is always a risk to topple over. This is what has happened with Dhoom Dadakka. However, all the ends seem to hang loose in this flick resulting in a complete disaster.

Although the movie begins with a promise, the inefficiency of the script seems to surface very soon with its loop holes. For the initial forty minutes, you can at least endure owing to the comic timing of the veteran actors like Anupam Kher, Satish Shah, Satish Kaushik and Gulshan Grover. After this starting, the whole plot dwindles with the actors unaware of what they are doing. The movie opens with All Asians Bhai Meeting in Bangkok. The Godfather (Jackie Shroff) is shuffling portfolios and mentions the deteriorating sensex of the underworld. Here, a plot at Alibaug is alotted to Phursat Lala (Gulshan Grover) who intends to transform it as the ultimate entertainment destination. However, Mungilal (Anupam Kher) wants the plot to build a hospital, for his father had died due to lack of medical aid. Godfather gives the plot to Phursat because he has an heir to take things forward while Mungilal is a bachelor. But Mungilal lies that he has an inheritor whom he would produce within a month. At this juncture, Jignesh (Satish Shah) Mungilal’s partner, discovers that Mungilal estranged sister Angoori (Bhavna Balsaver) has an heir named Kamal.

Three youngsters, conman Ranbir (Sammir Dattani), wannabe actor Rahul (Shaad Randhawa) and item girl Shivani Sawant (Aarti Chhabria) show up at Mungilal’s Bangkok estate claiming to be Mungilal’s long lost niece/nephew. Henceforth, follows the hunt for real Kamal with crazy plans leading to a case of mistaken identity and hilarious situations.

Now, the whole story if divided into two halves, the first half is quite fast paced with the funny bone tickling at intervals. Satish Kaushik, as the cue-less detective, has some of the most comic lines. The other performances are only mediocre. It works to certain extent till the interval. The second part is a major disappointment for the viewers. The pace of the film abruptly becomes slow. There are some irrelevant chases and the forceful inclusion of emotional scenes. In all these chaos, the main story line melts into flimsy air and the film comes to a sudden end.

Neither is the plot constructed properly, nor the actors’ potential is thereby harnessed to the best. Only you have some foot-tapping music to enjoy. So decide for yourself whether it is worthwhile to go and spend those two hours or not?

For more information on Dhoom Dadakka, visit www.reviews4movies.wordpress.com

The Movie Review – Aamir

Star Rating:
Movie name: Aamir
Actor: Rajeev Khadelwal
Director: Rajkumar Gupta
Producer: Ronnie Screwvala
Music Director: Amit Trivedi
Writer: Rajkumr Gupta

The Urdu word ‘Aamir’ means ‘leader’ and the movie truly stands to its name. It is not a run-of-the mill flick with dance numbers and foot-tapping songs to catch the audience attention. Nor is there any star power to lure in the cine-watchers. This is a niche film and is meant for a selective audience.

‘Aamir’ lays before you the story of a Muslim doctor, Amir Ali who arrives in Mumbai from London after three years of his study. At the very moment he steps out of the airport premises, he begins getting threat calls on the mobile given to him by a stranger. The character is depicted as a commoner, an average middle class Indian Muslim man who enjoys his share of dreams. He is miles away from any communal or political issues, but is drawn into the mess for just being a member of the Muslim community. The phone call and the instructions that came from the other side turned his life topsy-turvey. The conspirators threatened to kill Amir’s family enforcing him to do whatever they tell him to do. The plot flows to show how Aamir finds his way out of this gimmick and decides at the cross road between his own destiny and others’.

The film takes a plunge into the thought process of the modern Indian. It is an attempt to strike at the minced patriotism of an Indian heart. In fact, the film can also be said to trace the common man’s reaction to racialism, crime and anti social elements that he generally tries to keep a safe distance from. This is what is shown through the eyes of the protagonist, Amir. Here, stands the aptness of characterization. Rajeev Kandelwal (Amir) is a superstar on Indian television but does not carry any air of stardom on the silver screen. Moreover, the no-macho-man-image of this debutant gave the audience every opportunity to identify with the character.

Firstly, the story line of the film perfectly holds the intensity of the subject, making a remarkable impact on audience’s heart and mind. Secondly, the direction is meticulously performed where every frame has the exact elements it requires. The movie is shot like a docu-drama striving to be as realistically artistic as possible. The camera jerks and angles long close-ups, the leitmotif tone and the brilliant editing contributes to the overwhelming impression on the celluloid.

Go and watch the movie for a life-time experience and to earn some vital food for thought.

For more information on Aamir, visit www.reviews4movies.wordpress.com

The Movie Review – Woodstock Villa

Star Rating:
Movie Name: Woodstock Villa
Actors: Sikander Kher, Neha Oberoi, Gulshan Grover, Shakti Kapoor, Arbaaz Khan, Sachin, Khedekar, Boman Irani, Anupama Verma & Saif Ali Khan (Special Appearance)
Director: Hansal Mehta
Producer: Sanjay Gupta and Sanjay Dutt
Music Director: Anu Malik
Writer: S. Farhan, Rajiv Gopalkrishnan, Sanjay Gupta
Lyrics: Aryans, Virag Mishra, Manoj Muntashir

An innovative attempt with a regular story idea is what we can best define “Woodstock Villa” to be. There are many things one may like about the flick in parts, but the whole package falls flat on the audience. Foraying into the thriller genre, Hansal Mehta fails to justify it.

The first thing that you can appreciate about the film is its length, unlike the common pack of Bollywood movies. The movie stretches only up to ninety minutes of duration. The second aspect is the fresh star cast of Woodstock Vila. On one hand, Sikander Kher, son of Anupam and Kirron Kher has made his debut with this film, while on the other, semi-debutante Neha Uberoi (already seen in a small role in “Dus Kahaniyan”) plays the ultra confident lady here. Produced by White Feather Films of Sanjay Gupta fame, Woodstock Villa tries its hand at stylized film making. Hence, you can see rapid-speed editing, minimal dialogues and different variety of camera angles. Anu Malik’s music gives life to the songs. The songs are pretty interesting. People would definitely feel like humming them as well as some of the tracks are weaved into the plot leading the story further. The editing is expertly done keeping in view the modern taste of the viewers.

The tragedy with the film is its weak story line that is not able to create an impact on the audience mind. Sam (Sikandar Kher) is a young playboy who is an absolute prodigal. In fact, he spends more money than he makes. This gets him into faulting on rent payments and in debt to bad men such as Gulshan Grover. He is in dire need of cash. Here, comes Zara Kampani (Neha Uberoi) whom Sam spots at a nightclub and wants to take her to his home.. Together they hatch a master plan. Zara wants Sam to feign her kidnapping and demand a fifty lakh rupee ransom from her husband, Vishal Kampani (Arbaaz Khan). The purpose of testing her husband’s love and Sam’s intention to get easy money both fulfills by their evil plan. A money greedy Sam agrees to the proposal, except that by the time he returns from his skirmish with Vishal, he finds Zara dead. Though this seems to be the turning point in the script, the subject fails to live up to the audiences’ expectation. Thereafter, follows only a few twists, no major turns and a pitiful revelation at the end.

So, go and watch the flick at your own risk. For more information on Woodstock villa, visit www.reviews4movies.wordpress.com

The Movie Review – Sarkar Raj

Star Rating:
Movie Name: Sarkar Raj
Actors: Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai, Govind Namdeo, Tanisha Mukherjee, Victor Banerjee, Supriya Pathak, Sayaji Shinde, Dilip Prabhawalkar, Upendra Limaye, Rajesh Shringarpure, Shishir Sharma, Ravi Kale, Javed Ansari, Sumeet Nijhawan
Director: Ram Gopal Varma
Producer: Praveen Nischol, Ram Gopal Varma
Music Director: Bapi – Tutul
Writer: Prashant Pandey
Lyrist: Prashant Pandey, Sandeep Nath

‘Ram Gopal Varma ki AAG’ and thereafter Ram Gopal Varma ki ‘Sarkar Raj’! One would definitely move into the theater with some apprehensions in mind. Moreover, being a sequel to ‘Sarkar’, which was much acclaimed critically, Sarkar Raj leaves behind a huge scope of comparison too. However, Varma can be seen to bounce back in his latest attempt.

Sarkar Raj has performed wonderfully at the box office. Every aspect of the movie is worth praising. Let us start with the script of the film. Anita Ranjan (Aishwarya Rai) is the Chief Executive Officer of an International company, Sheppard Power Plant. She presents a power plant project to be set up in rural Maharashtra before Sarkar (Amitabh Bachchan). He rejects the plan at once for the land chosen is home to over 40,000 villagers. At this juncture, Shankar Nagre (Abhishek Bachchan), son of Sarkar comes to the scene. This youngster realizes the immense benefits that the power plant could bring to the people of Maharashtra and to the growth of the state. Shankar believes in the advantages of the project and thereby goes on to convince his father. He then assists Anita to the villages to garner public support. The turning point in the plot emerges when the projects turns into a controversial issue and lands into a political mayhem. Following this, many anti social elements crop up on the scene and tries their might to pull down the Sarkar legacy and displace Shankar.

It would, however, be wrong to categorize Sarkar Raj into the genre of ‘political film’. A good amount on emotion and relationship elements flows as the undercurrent in the movie. One is sure to be surprised as the plot unfurls and especially as it nears the culmination point. Indeed, the subject has got power in it to hold you tight to your seats.

Now, apart from the content, the direction of Sarkar Raj is done with brilliance. There is the signature style of Ram Gopal in almost every shot and sequence. The background score of ‘Govinda Govinda’ duly complements the intensity of the scenes where used. Again, the cinematography of Amit Roy is excellent. The setting lends a raw and rustic feel to the film, which defines the soul of the film. The camera angles included close-up shots in abundance throughout the movie. This definitely marks an indelible impact on the audiences’ mind. Last but not the least, the editing being crisp gives you no chance to complaint.

So, go and treat yourself to RGV’s special flick and judge for yourself. For more information on Sarkar Raj, visit www.reviews4movies.wordpress.com

Sunday

Actors: Ajay Devgan, Ayesha Takia, Irrfan Khan, Arshad Warsi
Director: Rohit Shetty
Music: Daler Mehendi, Shibani Kashyap
Lyrics: Farhad Sajid, Kamran Bari

‘Sunday’, a moderate thriller with little romance, revolves around solving the mystery of some incidents that took place on a particular Sunday night. The film begins with an element of suspense — a scene of a cold blooded murder, the body of a woman found floating in a lake with unexplained scratch marks on the neck of another.

The story starts with a simple girl named Seher (played by Ayesha Takiya) who one day decides to have a night out. She goes to a night club with her friend on a Saturday night and her drink happens to get spiked by some guys looking for fun. The drink takes effect and from then on she loses control of herself and ends up on the streets of Delhi meeting five persons on the way. The sixth one she meets tucks her in bed. She suffers from amnesia and is forgetful, the cause of all troubles. Then comes Mr Cop — Rajvee (donned by Ajay Devgan), who is confused as to whether the girl could be a suspect in the murder. After the night’s incident, Seher finds herself being chased by some gangster who thinks that she is trouble for them. Arshand Warsi (a cab driver) and Irfan Khan give the audience comic relief throughout the film.

Inspired by the Telugu film Anukokunda Oka Roju (2005), Director Rohit Shetty has directed ‘Sunday’ on the lines of Teesri Manzil. He has tried to give the audience more reason to be happy than any other recent comedy. The film evokes giggles and laughter although the story is not path-breaking. Shetty whitewashes his previous highly competitive works (Zameen, Golmaal) with this movie. The screenplay holds your attention all through the first hour. The second half is a bit slow. Shetty, however, steers it clear through uncomfortable waters with his expert execution.

The songs in the film have been scored by six music composers. ‘Missing Sunday’ is a hip-hop number with a groovy beat. Mahua Kamath sings the song ‘Missing Sunday’ with an attitude and carefree abandon. Composed by Sandeep Chowta, the song features good musical arrangement and mixing. Kamran Bari and Mohammed Ali sing the romantic song Pyar Toh Hona Hi Hai. The Pakistani band ‘Suroor’ sound like ‘Strings’. Loot Liya is a masti song, sung with gusto by Daler and Sunidhi Chauhan, ‘Loot Liya’ has a very desi flavour with dholkis, dhols and baaja. Kashmakash by Shibani Kashyap is a situational track with a strong dose of drama. Cinematographer Aseem Bajaj captures Delhi with all its brightness. On the whole, Sunday is a well-made Bollywood entertainer and has the potential to click with moviegoers.