Tanu Weds Manu tries hard to ensnare you in its ’small town charm’ and ’shaadi waadi ka DDLJ type drama’ but the end result is a stale, odourless fare with a tame ending that will make you go yaaaaaaawwwwnnn. Director Anand L Rai starts off well and keeps it Real throughout. But beyond a point he loses the plot and it seems he himself didn’t know what he wants to do with a story that criss-crosses its way towards boredom.
Kangna Ranaut attempts an expletive-endowed version of Kareena ’Geet’ Kapoor (Jab We Met). The end result is 50-50. Sometimes-surprisngly-sprightly, baaki time ’Ainvayin’. She flirts luxuriously, shamelessly gulps neat Old Monk, dances uninhibitedly and unfurls the tattoo of his boyfriend’s name inked for ever on her bosom. Madhavan is a London returned Doctor who loves Kangna despite being rejected and how the twain of their love story gradually starts coming together. Where did we hear this story before? And yes, Madhavan is Manu and Kangna is Tanu. Whatever...
In fact, Madhavan’s too-foolish-to-be-true act, automatically qualifies him as a perfect brand ambassador for Sugar Free ’Natural’. He lived in London for 12 years. Had no close friends (read girl friends), led a boring life, parents wanted him married and he falls in love with the first girl he meets. What a story! The lack of story is the biggest downer in Tanu Weds Manu. The director somewhat compensates for it by showing the mischievously endearing bylanes of North India, some crackling dialogues and a couple of fun, boisterous numbers in Jugni and Sadi Gali.
The support cast is impressive. Deepak Dobriyal as Madhavan’s friend Pappi is superb. The subtlety in his body language and dialogue delivery is very impressive. He brings in some genuinely fun moments in the film. Swara Bhaskar as Kangna’s best friend Payal is an absolute natural. When she says "Ek lappad marenge abhi"....its a perfect intonation of someone from Bihar. The camaraderie-scenes between Kangna-Swara are highly watchable. Yes, girls do smoke and one shouldn’t cringe or pass judgments. Jimmy Sheirgill has a few notable dialogues while Ejaz Khan plays the Punjabi card with effervescence.
Writer Himanshu Sharma has penned sparsely-fine-dialogues and a few catchy scenes but you’ve seen most of them in the promos itself. Nothing much happens in the film that you haven’t seen before in earlier love stories. The ’surprises’ are not surprising enough. There’s hardly any feeling of wonderment. On the other hand you end up asking, why is Kangna shown so fickle and overtly expressive while Madhavan doesn’t seem real at all. Why are Madhavan and his family so desperate to accept a girl who drinks, smokes and has a string of boyfriends? Love-is-blind and all that jazz...but still...the audience isn’t blind not to notice gaping holes in the hackneyed screenplay.
If you have a lot of free time and half cooked cinematic masala is palatable for you as a moviegoer, then maybe you can give Tanu Weds Manu a shot. But I’d suggest not to waste your hard earned money on this mostly-listless Band, Baaja and two Baraats! Enjoy the cricket world cup instead.
Star Rating: **
Friday, February 25, 2011
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Pankaj Kapoor's Bollywood Hungama Exclusive Interview
Pankaj Kapoor is one of the finest actors in India. I interviewed him in Bangalore recently. He talks about his directorial debut 'Mausam', how different is Shahid in this film, clarification on rumours surrounding his alleged differences with Sonam Kapoor and what are his forthcoming acting assignments.
http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/broadband/video/Interviews/pgk5Ke77/3/Pankaj-Kapoor-Speaks-About-Mausam.html
http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/broadband/video/Interviews/pgk5Ke77/3/Pankaj-Kapoor-Speaks-About-Mausam.html
Friday, February 18, 2011
7 Khoon Maaf: Art In Blood....
Relentless quest for ’Love’ or ’Need’ or whatever else, but still, the premise for bumping off husbands in 7 Khoon Maaf isn’t convincing and beyond a point, the film tests your patience. And you end up asking yourself, "Kab ’khatm’ hogi". On the positive side, the dialogues are superb, acting is brilliant by one-n-all and its been shot very well. In other words, the artistic merits are sound but the entertainment quotient strictly depends on your ’taste’. Not everyone’s cup of tea for sure.
Why would Susanna (Priyanka Chopra) go on killing all her husbands and why would anyone marry a mysterious woman at various junctures of her life in spite of knowing her enigmatic-n-ambiguous past? Alright, the attempts at reasoning out the murders have been made and almost every time, Susanna is pitched as the victim. She has a battery of trusted lieutenants who are partners in crime and who seem to have no ambition in life other than anticipating as to who’ll be the next husband and how they’ll finally make him ’rest in peace’. Hmmmm...
There are several merits in 7 Khoon Maaf. Lets check them out. Priyanka Chopra will always be remembered as Susanna for the rest of her career. This is her career best performance and it’ll be tough for her to match this role with any other prized roles that she may ever get. The vulnerability of Sultana suffering under the manic Wasi Ullah (Irrfan Khan), the bitch who ’uses’ Inspector Keemat Lal (Anu Kapoor), the spurned woman, spewing venom on Vronsky (Aleksandr Dyachenko), the humiliated wife who takes revenge on Edwin Rodriguez (Neil Mukesh), Jim’s (John Abraham) Suzy who can’t take the deceit beyond a stretch, the betrayed lover jolted by Tarafdar’s (Naseeruddin Shah) selfishness. Or her fantastic interactions with Vivaan Shah at various time frames in the film...Priyanka gives it her everything and etches her name amongst the finest actresses of all times.
The entire starcast puts in stellar performances. Irrfan Khan, Naseeruddin Shah, John Abraham, Neil Nitin Mukesh, Anu Kapoor and Aleksandr are excellent. Shashi Malviya as the midget jockey Goonga is very good while butler Ghalib (Harish Khanna) is brilliant and has some plum moments in the film. Naseeruddin Shah’s son Vivaan Shah makes a fantastic debut. His voice over is the link, the sutradhar that carries the story forward. Extremely effective voice with correct pitching and spot-on Urdu pronunciation.
Ranjan Palit’s cinematography is brilliant. The shots of Kashmir are exquisite. Sreekar Prasad’s editing is sloppy. The duration of the film is too long. In fact, someone rightly said at the press show, "its two husbands too long". Vishal Bhardwaj’s background score goes well with the mood of the film while the songs are a mixed bag. Darrling has a ready-made mass appeal while the rest of the songs cater to a niche market. Bekaran has been superbly sung by Vishal and picturised beautifully too. O Maama is a heavy duty rock number.
As is well known, 7 Khoon Maaf is based on a short story by Ruskin Bond (he is one of the husbands in the film), Susanna’s Seven Husbands. But the screenplay has been written by Vishal Bhardwaj and Matthew Robbins. Again, it has two sides to it. Dialogues are meaningful and sensible. The writing of the film also passes comments on the important events of various generations like India’s Nuclear Test, Babri Masjid demolition, 26/11 attack on Mumbai etc. This also conveys the aging process of Susanna as well in a subtle manner. On the flip side, as mentioned earlier, the premise for Susanna killing her husbands is not convincing. And that is the biggest flaw, for the viewer doesn’t connect with what’s happening after a point of time.
Director Vishal Bhardwaj revels in abstract symbolism and obviously he also has a wicked sense of humour smeared in blood-n-gore. He has made 7 Khoon Maaf for the classes who’ll have the patience to decipher the finer meaning hidden within the various layers of human drama. The aam janta will have to get ’bitten’ by this killer at their own risk. Take a pick for yourself as to which audience you comprise of.
Star Rating: ***
Why would Susanna (Priyanka Chopra) go on killing all her husbands and why would anyone marry a mysterious woman at various junctures of her life in spite of knowing her enigmatic-n-ambiguous past? Alright, the attempts at reasoning out the murders have been made and almost every time, Susanna is pitched as the victim. She has a battery of trusted lieutenants who are partners in crime and who seem to have no ambition in life other than anticipating as to who’ll be the next husband and how they’ll finally make him ’rest in peace’. Hmmmm...
There are several merits in 7 Khoon Maaf. Lets check them out. Priyanka Chopra will always be remembered as Susanna for the rest of her career. This is her career best performance and it’ll be tough for her to match this role with any other prized roles that she may ever get. The vulnerability of Sultana suffering under the manic Wasi Ullah (Irrfan Khan), the bitch who ’uses’ Inspector Keemat Lal (Anu Kapoor), the spurned woman, spewing venom on Vronsky (Aleksandr Dyachenko), the humiliated wife who takes revenge on Edwin Rodriguez (Neil Mukesh), Jim’s (John Abraham) Suzy who can’t take the deceit beyond a stretch, the betrayed lover jolted by Tarafdar’s (Naseeruddin Shah) selfishness. Or her fantastic interactions with Vivaan Shah at various time frames in the film...Priyanka gives it her everything and etches her name amongst the finest actresses of all times.
The entire starcast puts in stellar performances. Irrfan Khan, Naseeruddin Shah, John Abraham, Neil Nitin Mukesh, Anu Kapoor and Aleksandr are excellent. Shashi Malviya as the midget jockey Goonga is very good while butler Ghalib (Harish Khanna) is brilliant and has some plum moments in the film. Naseeruddin Shah’s son Vivaan Shah makes a fantastic debut. His voice over is the link, the sutradhar that carries the story forward. Extremely effective voice with correct pitching and spot-on Urdu pronunciation.
Ranjan Palit’s cinematography is brilliant. The shots of Kashmir are exquisite. Sreekar Prasad’s editing is sloppy. The duration of the film is too long. In fact, someone rightly said at the press show, "its two husbands too long". Vishal Bhardwaj’s background score goes well with the mood of the film while the songs are a mixed bag. Darrling has a ready-made mass appeal while the rest of the songs cater to a niche market. Bekaran has been superbly sung by Vishal and picturised beautifully too. O Maama is a heavy duty rock number.
As is well known, 7 Khoon Maaf is based on a short story by Ruskin Bond (he is one of the husbands in the film), Susanna’s Seven Husbands. But the screenplay has been written by Vishal Bhardwaj and Matthew Robbins. Again, it has two sides to it. Dialogues are meaningful and sensible. The writing of the film also passes comments on the important events of various generations like India’s Nuclear Test, Babri Masjid demolition, 26/11 attack on Mumbai etc. This also conveys the aging process of Susanna as well in a subtle manner. On the flip side, as mentioned earlier, the premise for Susanna killing her husbands is not convincing. And that is the biggest flaw, for the viewer doesn’t connect with what’s happening after a point of time.
Director Vishal Bhardwaj revels in abstract symbolism and obviously he also has a wicked sense of humour smeared in blood-n-gore. He has made 7 Khoon Maaf for the classes who’ll have the patience to decipher the finer meaning hidden within the various layers of human drama. The aam janta will have to get ’bitten’ by this killer at their own risk. Take a pick for yourself as to which audience you comprise of.
Star Rating: ***
Friday, January 21, 2011
Dhobi Ghat: Cerebral Entertainment At Its Best
Arun caresses his canvass in an extremely self assured manner knowing well that he's creating a masterpiece. And that's exactly the sentiment you get about debutante director Kiran Rao who paints 'Dhobi Ghat' with colors of uncompromised brilliance. It is delicate storytelling at its best aided by a mind blowing background score ensuring that the narrative flows like a gurgling mountain stream.
Dhobi Ghat is a fine work of Art. There are many layers and it can be interpreted by different people according to their own viewpoint towards life. It's a superb ode to Mumbai. No, over the top paens about the done-to-death spirit of the city but rather a subtle understanding of the glorious co-existence of the stinking-richness and monsoon-dripping unpredictability in the sprawling chawls. Strangers become friends and redefine selflessness. Also, it salutes a very unique aspect of Mumbai: Self Respect. Whatever one does in Mumbai, they respect what they do.
The film is 95 mins in duration but it doesn't hurry to reach from Point A to Point B. It meanders in the bylanes of subconscious. An artiste in Arun (Aamir Khan) grapples with his personal issues and a quest for an unusual muse. Shai (Monica Dogra), an investment banker and a passionate photographer flirts with physical love and her infatuation for Arun grows stronger because of his rejection. Munna (Prateik), the laundry boy is a catalyst, a link. Yasmin (Kriti Malhotra) had her own small world that accepted whatever came her way with an innocent smile.
It seems the director is in search for her own artistic expression emanating from myriad experiences which has a beginning, a poignant middle and a cathartic culmination. A painting that has its fair share of tumultous how-to-start thoughts and when it is finished, there's a sense of Closure. And once the painting is done, its open to self interpretation by whoever is looking at it. Greatness of any Art is how it gives solace to a cross section of people.
Gustavo Santaolalla's background score is an intrinsic part of the narrative. For the musical pauses, the haunting silences, communication through the mere body language says a lot more than mere words. Nishant Radhakrishnan's editing is seamless. No jarring movements or smart-ass-cuts. The scenes intercut in a smooth manner. Tushar Kanti Ray's camerawork is as Real as it gets capturing the naturalness in all its hues and shades. Art Direction is impressive for there's a minute detailing in what fits the context of various actors and their respective situations.
Aamir Khan is excellent. He internalises the graph of his character. An artist living in claustrophobic circumstances, mood swings, an uncompromising artistic arrogance. No, its not Khan the superstar you are watching. Its Arun. Prateik is a gifted actor with a fine flair for comedy and intensity. Watch his eyes glaze as he innocently lusts Shai or the fervent run borne out of guilt or a sense of shame. Monica Dogra has a raw sensuous appeal and a natural flair for acting. The coquetishness, an urge to absorb the surroundings and a ready smile...she makes a place in the audience's mind space. Kriti Malhotra has the correct North Indian diction and moves you immensely with her simplicity.
Kiran Rao makes a stellar debut with 'Dhobi Ghat'. And she has been supported to the hilt by producer Aamir Khan. I would sum it up as No-Compromise-Cinema! There's no interval, no songs and no trappings of typical commercial cinema. It is cerebral entertainment at its best.
Dhobi Ghat is a fine work of Art. There are many layers and it can be interpreted by different people according to their own viewpoint towards life. It's a superb ode to Mumbai. No, over the top paens about the done-to-death spirit of the city but rather a subtle understanding of the glorious co-existence of the stinking-richness and monsoon-dripping unpredictability in the sprawling chawls. Strangers become friends and redefine selflessness. Also, it salutes a very unique aspect of Mumbai: Self Respect. Whatever one does in Mumbai, they respect what they do.
The film is 95 mins in duration but it doesn't hurry to reach from Point A to Point B. It meanders in the bylanes of subconscious. An artiste in Arun (Aamir Khan) grapples with his personal issues and a quest for an unusual muse. Shai (Monica Dogra), an investment banker and a passionate photographer flirts with physical love and her infatuation for Arun grows stronger because of his rejection. Munna (Prateik), the laundry boy is a catalyst, a link. Yasmin (Kriti Malhotra) had her own small world that accepted whatever came her way with an innocent smile.
It seems the director is in search for her own artistic expression emanating from myriad experiences which has a beginning, a poignant middle and a cathartic culmination. A painting that has its fair share of tumultous how-to-start thoughts and when it is finished, there's a sense of Closure. And once the painting is done, its open to self interpretation by whoever is looking at it. Greatness of any Art is how it gives solace to a cross section of people.
Gustavo Santaolalla's background score is an intrinsic part of the narrative. For the musical pauses, the haunting silences, communication through the mere body language says a lot more than mere words. Nishant Radhakrishnan's editing is seamless. No jarring movements or smart-ass-cuts. The scenes intercut in a smooth manner. Tushar Kanti Ray's camerawork is as Real as it gets capturing the naturalness in all its hues and shades. Art Direction is impressive for there's a minute detailing in what fits the context of various actors and their respective situations.
Aamir Khan is excellent. He internalises the graph of his character. An artist living in claustrophobic circumstances, mood swings, an uncompromising artistic arrogance. No, its not Khan the superstar you are watching. Its Arun. Prateik is a gifted actor with a fine flair for comedy and intensity. Watch his eyes glaze as he innocently lusts Shai or the fervent run borne out of guilt or a sense of shame. Monica Dogra has a raw sensuous appeal and a natural flair for acting. The coquetishness, an urge to absorb the surroundings and a ready smile...she makes a place in the audience's mind space. Kriti Malhotra has the correct North Indian diction and moves you immensely with her simplicity.
Kiran Rao makes a stellar debut with 'Dhobi Ghat'. And she has been supported to the hilt by producer Aamir Khan. I would sum it up as No-Compromise-Cinema! There's no interval, no songs and no trappings of typical commercial cinema. It is cerebral entertainment at its best.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Official Press Release Of Hrithik Roshan's Madame Tussaud's Unveiling
250th Anniversay of Madame Tuassauds brought Bollywood heartthrob Hrithik Roshan today face to face with his wax figure. Back in June, the star worked closely with the team at Madame Tussauds London, to ensure the pose, the frame and those biceps to die for were spot on. Fans and members of the press were eager to see the unveiling of this wonderful piece of art. The actor walked into a line up of his hit songs, from Kaho Na Pyaar Hai, Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham and Dhoom. He was 'bopping' along to the songs as he walked in.
His family; once upon time actor Rakesh Roshan, his mother Pinky Roshan, his beautiful wife Susaane Roshan, sister Sunaina Roshan and Hrithik's maternal grandfather producer, director J. Om Prakesh were present; constantly adorning a smile.
On meeting his double Hrithik Roshan commented ''I can't believe I'm here in Madame Tussauds amongst all these legends. I came to Madame Tussauds 25 years ago with my grand-father and I remember I was so excited, I was misbehaving in the line to enter the attraction. And today my grand-father told me how excited he is to see me amidst of these legends. I think I will need to articulate a new word for the Oxford Dictionary to say how I feel today''.
The star of notable films including Kaho Na Pyaar Hai, Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham, Dhoom 2, Krrish, Jodhaa Akbar and Guzaarish is the youngest male actor from India to be bestowed with this honour by Madame Tussauds.
The wax figure of Hrithik Roshan was wearing a pink glittery waste jacket with denims. As the curtain was raised Hrithik walked around the wax figure shocked to see how amazing it looked. He said he was very impressed with his double and is a fan of the artists who put together the statue.
Liz Edwards, PR Manager at Madame Tussauds London commented; '’We're delighted to welcome Hrithik and his family here today and to be including his figure in our Bollywood area. It is one of our most popular areas in the entire attraction and we know its going to be even more with Hrithik now featured in the line up. The pose is so striking it is sure to wow fans and get ladies hearts a flutters''
Susaane Roshan [Hrithik’s wife] was equally over-joyed “I am so delighted, our whole family is and today is a day that will always be etched in my memory. This is something I am sure my kids will remember and a story that I would share with my grand-children one day”
His family; once upon time actor Rakesh Roshan, his mother Pinky Roshan, his beautiful wife Susaane Roshan, sister Sunaina Roshan and Hrithik's maternal grandfather producer, director J. Om Prakesh were present; constantly adorning a smile.
On meeting his double Hrithik Roshan commented ''I can't believe I'm here in Madame Tussauds amongst all these legends. I came to Madame Tussauds 25 years ago with my grand-father and I remember I was so excited, I was misbehaving in the line to enter the attraction. And today my grand-father told me how excited he is to see me amidst of these legends. I think I will need to articulate a new word for the Oxford Dictionary to say how I feel today''.
The star of notable films including Kaho Na Pyaar Hai, Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham, Dhoom 2, Krrish, Jodhaa Akbar and Guzaarish is the youngest male actor from India to be bestowed with this honour by Madame Tussauds.
The wax figure of Hrithik Roshan was wearing a pink glittery waste jacket with denims. As the curtain was raised Hrithik walked around the wax figure shocked to see how amazing it looked. He said he was very impressed with his double and is a fan of the artists who put together the statue.
Liz Edwards, PR Manager at Madame Tussauds London commented; '’We're delighted to welcome Hrithik and his family here today and to be including his figure in our Bollywood area. It is one of our most popular areas in the entire attraction and we know its going to be even more with Hrithik now featured in the line up. The pose is so striking it is sure to wow fans and get ladies hearts a flutters''
Susaane Roshan [Hrithik’s wife] was equally over-joyed “I am so delighted, our whole family is and today is a day that will always be etched in my memory. This is something I am sure my kids will remember and a story that I would share with my grand-children one day”
Friday, January 14, 2011
All The Tweets On What I thought Of Yamla Pagla Deewana
1) If the 1st promo was a riot,thn d film exceeds expectations.Yamla Pagla Deewana is a full on entertainer with good music that makes u Smile!
2) Deols are Back. And they r all set 2 create a solid hungama.Witty dialoguebaazi,fun, clean comedy that's a rib tickler esp in 2nd half...
3) Dharmendra's vintage charm,Sunny's Dhai Kilo Ka Haath (its 5 kilo ka in this one),Bobby's fantastic comic timing...its total paisa vasool..
4) Anupam Kher is hilarious, Mukul Dev brings a chuckle each time he's on screen,Sunny's firang wife is v funny n so r his kids in d film..
5) Yes, its a bit long n cud hav been curtailed slightly but over all Yamla Pagla Deewana makes u laugh n I enjoyed myself thoroughly.Go 4 it..
2) Deols are Back. And they r all set 2 create a solid hungama.Witty dialoguebaazi,fun, clean comedy that's a rib tickler esp in 2nd half...
3) Dharmendra's vintage charm,Sunny's Dhai Kilo Ka Haath (its 5 kilo ka in this one),Bobby's fantastic comic timing...its total paisa vasool..
4) Anupam Kher is hilarious, Mukul Dev brings a chuckle each time he's on screen,Sunny's firang wife is v funny n so r his kids in d film..
5) Yes, its a bit long n cud hav been curtailed slightly but over all Yamla Pagla Deewana makes u laugh n I enjoyed myself thoroughly.Go 4 it..
Tweets On What I Thought Of 'Turning 30'
1) Turning 30 is a decent account of a fiercely independent girl who's unapologetic 'bout having sex on rebound n fights her battles well...
2) Usage of English in d film is at times poignant n at times cheesy..even story lacks novelty, but d treatment esp in 2nd half touches a chord
3) Impressiv music score,heartfelt camarderie between friends n a nice dose of humour n pathos r interwoven well but pace cud hav been tighter
4) Gul Panag's nuanced performance is diff 4m wat u c in Bollywood.She'll show d middle finger,mouth expletives yet can b delicately vulnerable
5) Watch Turning 30 4 Gul's fine performance and a story that's relatable to an extent..
2) Usage of English in d film is at times poignant n at times cheesy..even story lacks novelty, but d treatment esp in 2nd half touches a chord
3) Impressiv music score,heartfelt camarderie between friends n a nice dose of humour n pathos r interwoven well but pace cud hav been tighter
4) Gul Panag's nuanced performance is diff 4m wat u c in Bollywood.She'll show d middle finger,mouth expletives yet can b delicately vulnerable
5) Watch Turning 30 4 Gul's fine performance and a story that's relatable to an extent..
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