Thursday 28 February 2013

Jolly LLB Daru Peeke Nachna Official Video Song | Arshad Warsi, Amrita Rao

This is the third film of writer director Subhash Kapoor, and comes after his last Phans Gaye Re Obama, which had a fair amount of success at the BO and was critically appreciated by one and all.

He is back with a satire, this time on the courts of our country and the business of Law and Justice.

This song is in with the trend of a "Daru Song", in a punjabi setting.

Wednesday 27 February 2013

Aatma - Lullaby (Aaja Nindiya) Bipasha Basu, Nawazuddin Siddiqui

First song video from Aatma, a Horror movie, Directed by Suparn Verma.

I am extremely curious about the film, thanks to the unique casting of Bipasha Basu with Nawaz.

The song has an extremely haunting and goosebumps inducing composition.

Enjoy.

Guftagoo with Gulzar

Sharing this special conversation with Gulzar, aired on Rajya Sabha TV originally.

Enjoy this exclusive interview.

Sunday 24 February 2013

Review Kai Po Che! The Politics of Friendship

Director  Abhishek Kapoor

Starring  Raj Kumar Yadav, Amit Sadh, Sushant Singh Rajput, Amrita Puri, Manav Kaul



This is the third outing of Gattu, Abhishek Kapoor. First was highly forgettable (had forgotten it totally) Aryan, the second was Rock On which I loved, and thought what a gutsy casting with Farhan Akhtar also singing the tracks, and Arjun Rampal, who had never impressed me for his acting, but in this film, AK made him human. The film had a lot to offer for us looking for freshness and some more sensibility in our films.

Kai Po Che, based on Chetan Bhagat's The 3 Mistakes Of My Life firmly entrenches Abhishek Kapoor as one of the better talents we have today and who will now go on to make many more films. I am not going to compare the two, as I am going to see this as a stand alone film experience.

To pick up a story like this, cast new comers, take a stand and make it the way you envision it as a director, credit is due. We are living in disturbed times, politics has become a sinister word, and people are clamoring to be seen as moderates, without taking any stand, shying away from the truth that is staring at us in the face. The Hindu Muslim divide is widening, instead of closing up. All of course fanned more by the politicians of the country.

This therefore is a very very relevant film. The Godhra carnage and post Godhra riots, which write the crux of this film, are still scars that refuse to heal. DO we need to keep re-visiting Gujarat, YES we do. Now more than ever.

Cricket and Religion, friendship and love, bonds that tie us and the pain when they are cut loose, Kai Po Che (meaning "I have Cut" in Kite flying parlance) is a film that looks into all this, sometimes hitting hard, sometimes a bit haltingly, but never letting go.

Omi (Amit Sadh), Govind (Raj Kumar Yadav) and Ishaan (Sushant Singh Rajput) are brothers from different mothers. They share their passion for cricket and dreams. Omi is that friend we all have who will actively support your pro-active decisions. Laid back, yet something simmering always behind his sad, soulful eyes. Ishaan is the hot blood, who has lost out on big league cricket but burns bright with passion for the game. Govind is the moderate India, sensible, focused on earning the bread through honesty and hard work. His world is about numbers.

He spearheads their leap into setting up a sports shop cum cricket training academy. All is golden and happy and Shubharambh plays as they find the path to success. It seems that they will now never look back, as they somehow manage to get a shining shop in an upcoming mall.

This is when calamity strikes, and from then on it's life that happens when they are busy making their own plans. Friendship is put to test, as Ishaan is fully committed to Ali, a child prodigy who can strike sixes off any ball you send his way. He wants to ensure he gets a future which Ishaan could not, and his religion is only cricket.

But Godhra changes it all. Omi is drawn to politics in a way he had never imagined. Govind is torn between two friends, between his right hand and left. What will become of these 3 lives, is what the film will tell you in a very moving, exciting, loving, passionate way.

The acting is superlative, with Raj Kumar Yadav shining in the toughest role to play, Sushant makes a pitch perfect debut, and looks every bit the part, Amit Sadh, god bless him, who has gone through a lot of upheaval in his life, his eyes alone can make you feel everything that goes inside his heart, though I wish he was given more to do. Kudos to Abhishek Kapoor for taking these three. They become Govind, Ishaan and Omi. Amrita Puri works breezily in her role as Ishaan's bubbly sister who falls in love with Govind. Great Chemistry between Raj Kumar and her. I particularly loved their moments together. Then there is Manav Kaul as the Hindu Party Politician, just about adequate, not impressed.

On pace, the film is stretched in the first half and the real drama unfolds post interval. Despite adequate time given to the "setting-up", I still felt I have not seen their bonding and friendship at its best. One drunken trip was not enough. But I am letting that pass.

There are so many good reasons to watch this film, I do not think anybody will come out without a piece of the film that plays on their mind.

The music. Yes, I feel the music by Amit (Genius) Trivedi is the soul of this film. Manja holds some very important moments together, and manipulates your heart strings into walking on the beat of the director's vision.

The cinematography is commendable, from catching the flickering divas to the all destroying Earthquake in just the right way.

Eventually it all comes down to the script and Direction. Where script loses steam, the director could have made it smoother, and for those who have read the book, there are some surprises in store.

All in all a film that satisfied me in the end, and made me excited to be in these times of new stories and newer ways of telling them. Made from the heart, its Abhishek's labour of love and persistence.

You still reading? Go watch. I was going to go with 3 stars, but today morning when it was still playing on my mind and making me think beyond the film... here goes.


My Rating 3.5/5



Monday 11 February 2013

Aatma Official Theatrical Trailer Bipasha Basu Nawazuddin Siddiqui

Directed by Suparn Verma and starring Bipasha Basu in a very interesting coupling with my favorite Nawazuddin Siddiqui, here is Aatma.

Boo!!

Friday 8 February 2013

Review Special 26 Asli Hai

Directed and Writer  Neeraj Pandey

Starring   Akshay Kumar, Manoj Bajpai, Anupam Kher, Jimmy Shergill, Divya Dutta



There was no way I was not going to watch Special 26. Neeraj Pandey is one of the most promising talent in our Industry today. With "A Wednesday", we saw what a taut screenplay, and controlled performances and a talented director can bring to the table. Thrillers are a genre where more often than not our directors have failed us miserably in recent times. And I respect anyone who can deliver an engaging thriller, that too with a social theme.

Neeraj Pandey returns with Special 26 with a twist in the tale Con caper, in very good form. It has all ingredients which will make it watchable for both the masses and the classes.

This time he has the power of Akshay Kumar to make it even more appealing and saleable.

The story is based on "Real incidents", nationwide raids conducted by con-men posing as CBI at the homes and premises of politicians and businessmen in the late 80's. An extremely interesting subject, laced with some good humor, intelligent screenplay and fun dialogues.

Neeraj's writing is excellent, keeping it flowing without a dull moment. The only time the film slacks down is when the romantic track comes. It is totally unnecessary to the story, but I can understand that when you have Akshay Kumar, you need some "masala", but the songs just slow down the pace.

Neeraj Pandey is in total control of his storytelling and direction, and makes it a really good experience at the theater.

The casting is excellent, barring a few false notes like Tiku Talsania as the famous opera house Jeweler.

Anupam Kher delivers a delightful performance as the aging con-man with a battalion of kids and one on the way. But what will surprise you is the controlled, underplaying Akshay Kumar.



 He makes his role of a con guy "no one can catch" a pleasure to watch. Jimmy Shergill... aah, what to say, I think he deserves this inning... and I want to see him more. Divya Dutta is good, as usual. Their pairing really works. And after playing Titu in Love Shuv, Rajesh Sharma is back in this. The other supporting actors are well chosen, though they are the usual suspects in an ensemble like this.



And then there is Manoj Bajpai. I love this man. He has never disappointed me... barring a few banal films he did in his lean period. But his time is now. First GOW, and now this. He has lost weight and is looking the part. He stops being a person and totally becomes the character. His "real" CBI officer Wasim Khan is sheer pleasure. Watch out for his performance in the climax.

Sadly the DOP of the film Bobby Singh is no more, he has done a commendable job.

The music is very average, but the background score is good in places.

Neeraj Pandey has delivered. Its time for you now to go and buy your ticket.

My Verdict 3.5/5

Shubhaarambh - Kai Po Che Official HD Full Song Video

Here it is. The third song promo from Kai Po Che. Shubhaarambh. Amit Trivedi in his Gujarati form.

Enjoy.


Thursday 7 February 2013

Chashme Baddoor - Official Trailer | Ali Zafar, Divyendu Sharma, Siddhar...

Here it is, the trailer of the official remake of the classic Chashme Buddoor .

Do not know if it is going to be that but definitely looks like a David Dhawan film, which it is.


Wednesday 6 February 2013

Nautanki Saala Theatrical Trailer | Ayushmann Khurrana, Kunaal Roy Kapur...

Rohan Sippy returns after a long gap with Nautanki Saala. The trailer evokes mixed reactions. I am finding it a bit wannabe all the latest low budget comedies which try to impress with "funny one-liners". Not expecting much here.

The thing that is really going for this film is the combination of Ayushmaan and Kunaal. Will the extra A's in both their names help, ye to aane waala waqt hee batayega!

Do share your views based this trailer.


Meethi Boliyan | Kai Po Che | Official Song Video

Amit Trivedi, creates another wonderful melody. Can Not Wait for Kai Po Che.

Here is Mili Nair and Amit with Meethi Boliyan.

Enjoy!!


Monday 4 February 2013

Partly Cloudy Animation Short

Sharing with you one my favorite short animation films.

Its full of heart and is made so beautifully. Excellent watch.

Enjoy.


Friday 1 February 2013

David Movie Review Ride It.

Director  Bejoy Nambiar

Starring   Tabu, Neil Nitin Mukesh, Vinay Virmani, Vikram, Isha Sharvani, Nasser, Monica Dogra



David, as the promos clearly state, is the story of 3 characters, all with the same name, but set in 3 different eras.

Neil Nitin Mukesh's David exists in the 1975 Britain and is a gangster with the Ghani clan, Vinay Virmani's David lives in Bombay of the late 90s and is a struggling musician, and Vikram's David is a drunkard who falls in love with his best friend's fiance Roma in Goa of 2010.

The theme of father and son resonates through every David's life. Of passion, love, hatred, revenge and destiny.

The set up is very interesting, and definitely more massy than Shaitan, Nambiar's debut film.

There are guns and god, revenge and religion, loving and letting go.

The black and white world of the gangster David in Britain is anything but that. It is full of grays. Neil does a very competent job in this film and even surprises me with his Johnny Gaddaresque vulnerability in certain scenes.

David the musician, is a happy go lucky musician with dreadlocks and big dreams. Living in a chawl with his father who is a christian priest and 2 sisters, his world revolves around music. How a politically motivated attack on his father by Malti Tai (Rohini Hattangadi) shakes him and leaves him rattled and looking for answers.

David of Goa is an adorable drunk who was jilted at the alter and has become the butt of jokes in his village. His mother wants to get him re-married, and in comes the deaf and mute Roma (Isha Sharvani) in his life, only for him to realize she is engaged to his best friend Peter.

So where is the connection between these three tales, for that you will have to watch the film or else you will cry SPOILER.

The film is long, yes, but I enjoyed most of it, and a little bit of tightening at the edit would have made it even more enjoyable.

The constant to and fro can be a bit unsettling in the beginning but then you just go with it... as you are pulled deeper into the lives of David.

There are some amazing moments in the film, but my favorite track is the one set in Goa, with scenes where u can not stop smiling... And the presence of Tabu lifts it up that much more.

The king of this film apart from the excellent cinematography is the sound design. Terrific, and rarely seen in our Hindi films.

There are some extremely valid questions raised in the film. The dialogues are good and some will remain with you even after the film is over.

David is not for everyone, but it is a ride worth taking.

I might watch it again.

My rating : 3/5