Love, Sex aur Dhoka - Review

Khosla ka Ghosla
Oye lucky lucky Oye
LSD
Every once in a while comes a film, which changes the rules of the game. Sometimes it is about the story, sometimes about the acting but in this case, it is all about the filmmaking.
Dibakar Banerjee is back with India's first ever digital film. Touted to be one of the boldest, most hard-hitting films in recent times, does this film live up to the curiosity value it has generated. Absolutely.

The movie is split into 3 stories, thematically Love, Sex & Dhoka.

LSD starts with a bang. The first story involves a student filmmaker Rahul, an Adi Chopra devotee who is making a film on the lines of DDLJ. He is smitten by the actress Shruti and falls in love with her. This story deals with how he elopes with her and the madness that follows.

The second story deals with a debt ridden man Adarsh who plans to make a sex-video at a local store by using the hidden security cams & roping in sales girl Rashmi in his trap.

The last one deals with a news reporter Prabhat & his tryst with the Sting operations. He hatches a plan with dancer Naina to catch pop-star Loki Local in the act.

All the 3 stories are inter-linked and have a message. The first one is hilarious & keeps you entertained . The second story is the weak link as the film drastically slows down & is stretched a bit. The film again gains momentum as the last one too, keeps your attention.

The beauty of this film is the earthy, authentic feel that Dibakar manages so beautifully. Each character is well etched & you will remember them even after you are out of the theater. There is unique North-Indian flavour in all his films and LSD is no exception.
There are certain scenes & dialogues that will have you in splits, and also moments in the film where you will get a little bored.

The cinematography by Nikos Andritsakis is interesting. While there are portions that get a little jarring, the digital format makes an interesting watch. One can expect many more such films to roll out in the future.
Both the casting and performances are superb. Notable mentions are Shruti's father in the first story, the watchman in the second & The reporter in the third.

National award winner Dibakar Banerjee impresses again. He makes a film in a modest budget & shows that with a good story & concept, you can still make a movie. One sees many more non-star-script-oriented films in the future.

To conclude, LSD is unique, unlike movies we are used to seeing. One must applaud this effort for the sheer concept. Even though its not the best film, it holds you for most of it. Do catch this one as it is a breath of fresh air, one that opens new doors for Indian cinema.

Rating: 3.5/5

Right ya Wrong - Review

Yes, I did actually see this film.
Yes, It does have a Sunny Deol dance number.
Yes, I will review it.
No, you will NOT watch it !!!!
Right ya Wrong is a movie meant for those searching for a mind-numbing experience.

Lets roll back to the 90's:
Villain has 5 looser goons with him. He's got a moll on one arm. He's gonna get thrashed by the good guys. That's how the film begins, with cops Ajay Singh(Sunny) & Vinay Pathak(Irrfan) leading the way to capture our bad man(Aryan Vaid). They succeed, but in the bargain Ajay gets a shot to the spine & gets paralyzed the waist below.
His Mrs(Isha Kopikkar) is meanwhile having a steamy affair with his own cousin. Frustrated with his life, Ajay tells his wife and bro to put him out of his misery. He also has a 5Cr insurance(yeah hes a cop + he lives in a sprawling mansion). After setting it all up, they shoot him but surprise surprise. When the cops arrive, the Mrs & the brother are dead & Ajay alive !!!
Vinay smells foul play, wondering Who did it? Why? and How?
These questions are answered in the 2.5 hr fiasco.

Lets get to the juicy bit, the classic moments of the film:
1. Sunny Deol screaming WHYYYYYY, 6 times, in an intense scene.
2. Sunny's no-gooder bro, who doesn't do any work, telling Isha.K, "babes, wait till you see my Manhattan apartment"
3. A courtroom where knives are allowed as bookmarks !!!

To be fair, the story is interesting. A lot could have been done with the plot, which has an intelligent element to it. Alas, this one doesn't do justice. The background score too, by Monty is good. The music though, a downer.
The camera has a life of it's own. Ravi Walias cinematography does too much for it to be an enjoyable experience.

The performances. Irrfan Khan is clearly the pick of the lot. He is effortless & a natural. The movie doesn't do justice to his talent. Sunny Deol moves between acting and hamming in parts. Isha Kopikkar, looking sexy, displays her worst acting skills to date. One wonders why Konkana would do such a role as hers. Govind Namdeo is at his dramatic best. The actor playing Sunnys brother cracks you up with every line he speaks.(He is not supposed to be funny).

Director Neeraj Pathak pens a good plot but a shoddy screenplay. The film itself is not exciting enough, except for certain parts.

To sum it up, this movie is meant for those who have won free tickets. Go inside, laugh at the madness and you would enjoy it. At he box office, I see no activity.

For those who read this review not knowing what this film is, Thanks. Its more fun than the film itself.

Rating: 1.5/5

Road, Movie - Review

After creating quite some magic on the festival circuit, Dev Bengal's much awaited Road, Movie finally hits the screens. With Abhay Deol in the driving seat, does this one live up to the expectations?
This is one film meant for those with a penchant for strikingly diverse cinema. If you are going for a paisa-vasool entertainer, DON'T read this review.

The story deals withe life of Vishnu(Abhay Deol) who does not want to enter his fathers hair-oil business. He decides to do a favour to his uncle by transporting his film projector installed antique truck to the required destination.
Vishus journey takes him across the desert along with various other characters, such as a boy working at tea stall(Mohammed Faisal), an animated old mechanic Om(Satish Kaushik) & even a banjaran(Tannishtha Chatterjee) for the latter half of his journey.
The movie also deals with the issue of the water mafia that plagues the villages.

Clocking in at just over 90 minutes, the film is short & to the point. The screenplay is a little loose & the script doesn't hold too strong. The film does slow down drastically at times & leaves you wandering away.
Sometimes, the movie is more of a visual treat than anything else. The locations are stunning & the movie has a beautiful feel to it.

The cinematography by Michel Amathieu is exusisite, as he covers the vast landscapes with great style. Whether is is the sand, or the silhouettes of the villagers, every frame is beautiful.
A special mention for the background score by Micheal Brook.

Of the actors, Satish Kaushik leads the pack. He efforlessly plays the lazy, grungy mechanic & does a brilliant job. Child actor Mohammed Faisal too, pitches in with a thumping performance, as he steals the show from the other actors.
This wouldn't classify as one of Abhay Deol's best acts. He does good but nowhere near Dev.D.

Director Dev Bengal has truly gone & made different cinema. His direction is very interesting & there is unique style to the film. Working in parts & failing it parts, it is an interesting concoction.

At the end of it, Road Movie is a weird yet interesting film. I repeat again that is meant for those with an appetite for the atypical, not all the so-called "Multiplex Janta". At the box office, one doesn't see it working any magic.
So watch it at your own risk, as this abstract adventure might just work for you. It does for me.

Rating: 3/5

Teen Patti - Review

Amitabh Bachchan
Sir Ben Kingsley
The game of probability
Teen Patti arrives amongst much publicity taking on the popular vice of gambling. Is this a wager worth betting on?
Sadly not.

NOTE: This review is for the English-Hindi version of the film which shall hit only 10% of the screens. Most cinema halls shall be screening the Hindi version.


The film works on the basic premise of the Hollywood flick "21" & adds a bit of desi tadka to it. Mathematical genius Venkat Subramaniam(Amitabh.B) is an Einstein like professor who formulates a new theory. He devises a way to use math to beat the game of Teen Patti. To prove his work, he uses the idea of co-professor Shantanu(Madhavan) & they rope in a few students to go beat the game in the underground gambling dens of Mumbai.
What follows is a ride of greed,power,betrayal & suspense, as one of them is a backstabber. The film also has Sir Ben Kingsley cast as Perci Trachtenberg, the math wizard, whom the story is being told to.

The first half of the film plays out very well, as it has its elements of fun, feel of local dens & the build-up of a good story. Unfortunately, the film completely falls apart in the second half. The movie is derailed as the script looses its sense. Logic goes for a toss & so does the audience.

The music by Salim-Sulieman is peppy & songs are well woven into the film. The cinematography Aseem Bajaj is very interesting in parts & good in general.

No guesses in the performances. Amitabh Bachchan towers above all as the quirky, math-obsessed intellect. Ben Kingsley too does a great job in his brief role. His scenes with AB are really good. Madhavan does justice to his role as well. The film marks the debut for 4 new actors. Dhruv Ganesh is superb and definitely one to watch out for. Shraddha Kapoor looks sweet but has a long way to go in the acting dept. Siddharth Kher & Vaibhav Talwar are good.
The film has a string of cameos including Jackie Shroff, Ajay Devgn amongst others.

Director Leena Yadav's second outing doesn't deliver. After starting off on the right foot, she strays too far. The film needed to be more concise & to the point.

To sum it up, Teen Patti is an average film. With a few good performances, the film doesn't create any magic. Good start, bad finish.
At the box office, one doesn't see it going too far either.
In the words of the film itself, I say PACK.

Rating: 2.5/5

Karthik calling Karthik - Review

The much awaited Farhan Akthar-Deepika Padukone thriller Karthik calling Karthik finally hits the screens. Does this one go all the way in providing some edgy celluloid excitement?
Almost there, but not the whole hog.

The movie begins with some of the regular cliches. An under-confident man Karthik(Farhan Akhtar), his rude boss Mr.Kamath(Ram Kapoor), his pestering landlord & a girl he is enamored with Shonali(Deepika.P). Frustrated with his life, he locks himself up at home with plans to kill himself, when he gets a call.....from himself.
The movie now sees a new, confident and improved Karthik, who takes all the right moves. His life changes & everything seems to be going great, when one wrong decision changes his fate forever.
While the movie looks at the romance angle in the promos, it is more fitting of the thriller genre.

The first half of the film is pleasant, with a couple of good songs & lightly humourous sequences while in the second half, the film plays on the suspense angle. 20 minutes into the second half & one is totally gripped waiting for the story to unfold. The issue arises in the last 20. While the film clocks in at just about 2 hours, it would do wonders if it were a taut 1hr 40min experience. For the latter portion of the film, it stretches a bit & you wonder when the credits would roll.

The music of the film by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy is great & already topping the charts. A special mention for good background score by Midival Punditz-Karsh Kale.

Of the performances, all pitch in well. Farhan Akhtar does a great job as the sometimes scared-sometimes suave Karthik. He does his job convincingly. Deepika Padukone looks stunning & does much better than her previous work, giving a spirited performance.
Ram Kapoor surprises with an outstanding portrayal of the angry boss. Shefali Shah is apt in her small bit.

Writer-Director debutant Vijay Lalwani scripts a decent tale & entertains. One feels that with this same story he could have done wonders, had he given it a darker, grittier feel with a more crisp ending.

All in all, KCK is an enjoyable film which does not disappoint. Although not the most terrific, this film shall cater to those looking for a respectable thriller. At the box office, the movie should fare well as it has generated quite some buzz.
Definitely a one-time watch.

Rating: 3/5

(No more critical & commercial-Only Critical).

My name is Khan - Review

Isn't the name enough?
Arguably the biggest release of the year, SRK-Kajol return in this Karan Johar directorial venture which has been backed by Fox. With the biggest worldwide release for an Indian film ever, does MNIK live up to the obscene amount of publicity & headlines(thanks to S.Sena) it has grabbed?
Lets just say, this is Shah Rukh Khan as you have never seen him before.

At the outset, let us clear one misconception. This is not just another New York/Kurbaan. While it does use the WTC attacks as a backdrop, it is truly the story of a man, who despite all the challenges, just wants to do good and live a happy life. It tells us the age old tale of Islamic terrorism through the innocent eyes of Rizwan.

The movie begins with Rizwan Khan(SRK) being interrogated at the airport for suspicious behaviour as he says he wants to meet the President of the USA. The film then moves into flashback & delves into the life of Rizwan, who suffers from the Asperger's syndrome. He faces great difficulties as a child & is guided by his mother(Zarina Wahab). His younger brother(Jimmy Shergill) moves to USA & eventually takes him along, where he by-chances to meet Mandira(Kajol). He understands her, falls in love & eventually the story deals with the twist their lives take due to 9/11.

The first half is superb, as the film builds Rizwan's character. One understands him, his thought process and his issues. The second half on the other hand is a little more dramatic. Many sequences are avoidable & add unnecessary masala to an otherwise heart-warming tale.

The screenplay of the film is good & dialogues apt. Visually, the film is brilliant. While it maintains the sheen of a Karan Johar film, it replaces the gloss with simplicity. Ravi.K.Chandran captures America beautifully & deserves a mention.
The music by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy grows on you & fits well in the film. But this movie stands on it's performances, with one in particular.

Shah Rukh Khan. With a career spanning almost two decades, this has to be SRK's finest performance to date. Underplayed, believable, exceptional. Even for non-SRK fans, this one cannot be missed, you just can't not like him. He steals the show completely & if it wasn't for him, this would be a very ordinary fare. He breathes Rizwan & makes you forget the candy-floss SRK.
Kajol too, supports him brilliantly. She looks gorgeous & displays her acting prowess with ease. Their on-screen pairing is superb & unmatched.
Of the supporting cast, Zarina Wahab is great, Tanmay as the child Rizwan is exemplary, Jimmy Shergill passable, Navneet Nishan slightly obnoxious & Sonia Jehan surprisingly first-rate.

Karan Johar delivers again, but this time all credit to SRK. While the film is great, it is not because of the story or treatment but only the performances. As a director, this is not his best work, as a film it might be.

At the box office, the cash registers will be ringing all the way, as SRK garners the support of the country. Whether or not the fiasco was a marketing gimmick, we shall never know.
To sum it up, MNIK works. Even with some unneeded sequences in the second half, the film has soul and character. So damn the Sena and catch this movie as SRK is back with a bang. With a spate of forgettable films last year, MNIK will show you why he is indeed, a Superstar.

Critical: 4/5
Commercial: 4.5/5

Ishqiya - Review

Fantastic promos, great music, all the hype a film would want. From the stables of Vishal Bhardwaj, the much awaited Ishqiya finally hits the screens today......does it live up to the expectations?
Absolutely, this one's a winner !!

Set in the rustic interiors of India, the film deals with two thieves, Khalujaan(Nasserudin Shah) and Babban(Arshad Warsi) who are on the run after stealing money from their boss. They take refuge at the house of widowed Krishna(Vidya Balan), whose husband died under mysterious circumstances.
As their boss traces them down, the money disappears and they are given a few days to return the loot or go six feet under. The 3 then devise a plan to extort good money and get rid of their woes once and for all.
Although this is the plot of the film, the real joy is in the journey, dialogues, little jokes and the overall experience that has been crafted. Each character has their distinct flavour which add greatly to the tale.

The first half of the film goes past with the blink of an eye, while the second half is a bit more meaty. While the story has nothing special or new, it is the treatment that is noteworthy.
Full marks to Vishal Bhardwaj for firstly, some brilliant dialogues, secondly for a well written screenplay & lastly, for the beautiful music, which adds great value to the film. The picturisation of "Dil to Baccha Hai" is particularly splendid.

First time director Abhishek Chaubey gets two thumbs up. He has arrived with a bang and deserves full credit for this effort. Whether the love triangle or the madness between the two thieves, he showcases it with a unique zest. One shall wait for his next film.

The performances too, leave no room for errors. Veteran actor Naseerudin Shah does a stellar job as the old romantic. He speaks through expressions and shows why he is considered one of the best.
Arshad Warsi too does a great job as the quirky thief. Post Munnabhai, this is his best effort to date. Vidya Balan springs another surprise post Paa. She looks ravishing and teases with her eyes. The chemistry between her and the other two actors is superb.
A mention also for the child actor who interacts with Arshad Warsi. The unmissable boy is fabulous.

At the box office, one sees word-of-mouth strongly helping the film. For all of you reading this, watch this film today.
Take a bow Abhishek Chaubey, this ones a home-run.

Critical: 4/5
Commercial: 3.5/5