Movie Review: Airlift..takes off in nearly grand style

Movies like Airlift are not generally made in Bollywood and that?s really a pity. If this is a harbinger of things to come, 2016 couldn?t have started on a better note (let?s just forget about Wazir for the moment). While its not perfect, Airlift sets the bar really high. More so, it pays a grand tribute to an epic story, that most would never have known had it not been made.

There are two main reasons why Airlift succeeds ? one, due to its powerful storyline which is inspired by real events and two, because of the wonderfully understated yet deeply intense performance of Akshay Kumar. In fact, it?s the second of these that will get you to overlook some of the flaws in direction ? the unconvincing transformation of Akshay?s character, the hurried build up to the sequence of events that play out and even the over-dramatization of the hero towards the climax. I wouldn?t be overstating the case to say that this is probably Akshay Kumar?s best performance till date.

Playing his better half is Nimrat Kaur who is surprisingly a bit of a mixed bag. The dolled up look doesn?t suit her and for someone so naturally beautiful it is the second half where she isn?t wearing that much make up that she is much more appealing. Her performance also has a similar trajectory and it is her acidic monologue in the second half that gets you to sit up and take notice. The side act isn?t really for her and she should take more and more central roles ? she seems most comfortable and convincing in those. The side acts are solid as well ? Purab Kohli, Kumud Mishra, Inaamul Haq (a tad unconvincing in comparison to his natural act in Filmistaan previously) and Prakash Belawadi (as the particularly well delivered obnoxious Malyali) all bring credence to the script.

Unlike Baby, which harped too much on the mission and action, Airlift is about human emotions and you can feel for the trials and tribulations of every person you see on the screen. There are other gems as well ? the good production design, wonderful camerawork and mostly tight and deft direction which keeps your interest going in the events of Airlift pretty much throughout its runtime. There are some special touches too ? scenes where no words are spoken and yet everything is said, the aforementioned monologue, Purab Kohli?s understated character and his story arc. I should probably stop here..lest I spoil your fun.

Its not all a smooth ride though. There is the obvious turbulence with completely avoidable songs ? which do nothing to help the tense nature of the plotline and seek to provide unnecessary relief. Thankfully they are cut short and we go back to the events before they can become more tiresome. There is a distinct focus on keeping things real and balanced rather than making them sensational, that is truly the hallmark of the film and takes the script to greater heights. This has been the bane of most Bollywood commercial entertainers and while it almost teeters on the edge, Airlift doesn?t succumb to that trap.

Instead Airlift gives wings to a tight script and makes a near perfect lift off the runway giving us a flight that is truly worthy to remember and a great start to 2016

Movie Review: Wazir..check but far from checkmate

Making a movie titled Wazir is a risky move to open with. Having themes of chess introduced into it is riskier still. Why? Because It gets your audience thinking in that vein as well. As the director moves his pieces into place, as the audience you too start trying to guess what he is up to. Unless, he?s got something really unexpected up his sleeve, there?s a good chance you?ll see through his game. And that..in a nutshell is the issue with Wazir.

If you hear absolutely anything about the movie, and there?s a fair share of spoilsports who would like nothing better than to ruin things for you, there?s nothing left to go and watch so, read as few reviews as you can (barring this one, of course)

Wazir starts off strong. While the title credits start with a song, it goes for the jugular right from the first few scenes and has you invested in its characters and context. Unlike chess, however, to which the movie alludes every chance it gets, there are no pieces being laid out, no stage being set to reel you in. Still it all builds up well and you are engaged for majority of the movie. However, the climax squarely falls flat.

Maybe if you can?t figure it all out, you?ll have your moment of shock and awe. Me, I could see where it was all headed at the interval itself. Hardly the thrills one would hope for. Also, the sequences are contrived to the nth degree. Throughout the movie, while you?ll have every urge to do so, avoid questioning ?how? did this happen and just assume that is how it is meant to be. The sad part is, even if you accept the sequence of events as they play out, the finale doesn?t create those moments of disbelief that thrillers are supposed to be all about.

Some of the writing is par excellence. A few lines will get you to have a lump in the throat and could scarcely be presented more simply and effectively. Unfortunately that?s not the case throughout the movie and despite all its ?talk? of shatranj and the ?khel khel mein..? strain, the dialogues are quite straight forward.

The acting is top notch as well and the exchanges between the duo of Amitabh and Farhan (which forms a significant part of the movie itself) being particularly engaging. Some of the high strung scenes have Farhan screeching rather than performing, but he does equally well in the more restrained emotional bits. Aditi Rao Hydari while she has a side role, expresses plenty with her eyes and despite less dialogues makes her presence felt. Amitabh performs flawlessly but then he has far more calibre than what his (finally) simple character demanded.

The songs are the other bane of this a little over 2 hours of drama. While sung by the best crop of singers we have today, none of them are particularly melodious and most of the time they only slow down whatever little pace the movie would?ve developed so far.

Much like the game of chess, the checkmate move is what would?ve made this one stellar ? when one had the sinking feeling that they?ve been outwitted by a mind keener and sharper than their own and the gameplan is truly worthy of applause. Unfortunately, instead you come back with the feeling that you spent the last two hours playing with an amateur who while he had the best pieces and played what he thought was a winning move basically led you to the conclusion that you deserved a more worthy opponent.

Movie Review: Bhoot Returns..yawn..really I hadn?t noticed..

 

At the outset, I would like to state that I haven?t seen Bhoot which I?ve heard is a decent watch. In fact, I avoid horror movies altogether as a genre but have been rather intrigued by it off late. So when ?Bhoot? decided to make a ?return? I thought I?d check it out. 90 minutes later it was pretty obvious I had made the wrong choice

Remember Aahat? That TV series that was a standout on Indian television for so many years and provided some real spooks? Well, even though I haven?t seen much of it, I can still safely say that even Aahat was much better than the rubbish you get with Bhoot Returns and even that?s putting it lightly.

Most of the first half of the movie is spent in..yawning. I think they shot about 3 scenes and then decided to run them at a quarter of the normal speed. So in extra slow motion you?ll have characters ascending and descending stairs, over and over again. And then there are the regular clich?s ? the creaking doors, the clock ticking (boy that clock ticks and ticks like there?s no tomorrow) and the jarring sounds that are supposed to shock and awe. Well they don?t ? all they do is hurt the eardrums and jolt you just as you were planning to get into peaceful slumber

Worse is, the second half doesn?t make up for it either, going into a tangent of unnecessary humour and bizarre action with a pathetic climax. There are pretty much only one or two sequences which you are willing to admit are nicely pulled off..but that too would be on a relative scale

When the movie is this bad, the performances generally make it watchable. Well sadly that?s not the case here..there?s pretty much amateur acting by everybody and the panic and shrieking is rather forced than genuinely felt by the characters. The 3D effects will make your eyes hurt and there is a huge amount of blurring of images across scenes- lot of catching up to do in that department as well

All in all, Bhoot Returns offers you very little by way of a spooky experience and with the ear splitting background effects you can?t even plan to take a nap in the theatre as well ? I can?t think of any reason you should catch this. Bhoot was better off lone and distant ? this is an unnecessary comeback

Movie Review: Chakravyuh?is not worth a view

Chakravyuh deals with a sensitive topic that should be thought provoking and a major cause of concern in today?s context. However, while watching this movie in the hall, there was only one ?concern??how much longer would this predictable, over-the-top, pretentious drama still continue!!

The trouble with Chakravyuh is that despite the context in which it is set, its treatment is completely commercial and unnecessarily sensational. What worked wonders in a movie like Rajneeti, is unconvincing and plain irritating, in this different avatar which required considerable research and a well thought out plot. In fact, as a friend of mine remarked, it is such movies that make you realize and admire the level of detailing and in-depth research that a movie like Gangs of Wasseypur had. This, however, is the same old wine in a new bottle and it just doesn?t work

In fact, the last line of the movie that comes in voice-over is probably what the movie should have started with and then told a different tale altogether. Chakravyuh chooses, instead, to just highlight the problem and then makes it a mere background for a clich?d story that has been told many times over. The one saving grace this movie could have had despite its ordinary plot and presentation, unnecessary item numbers and ill placed songs was to have convincing performances from the lead cast

However, when that brigade is led by Arjun Rampal you are heading for failure. Arjun Rampal looks the part sure enough..its the acting that?s the problem. Supporting roles and cameos suit him just fine but when he has to emote through clenched teeth dialogue delivery..well that?s probably expecting too much from him. The usually dependable Abhay Deol is also a touch out of place, especially in the latter half of the movie when his character and his voice lack a certain edge. Top that up with Esha Gupta?s amateurish dialogue delivery and the circle is complete. The only respite is the decent performance of Manoj Bajpai and the surprise package of Anjali Patel who also gives a credible performance

As per its name, Chakravyuh ought to have denoted a conundrum - a puzzling web with no straight answers. With what it delivers though, the answer is simple..Chakravyuh is not worth a hall visit

Movie Review: Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana..is a completely ordinary recipe

This is one recipe you don?t want to try. I know variety is the spice of life but this is taking things a bit far. Despite a decent premise, Luv Shuv.. completely fails to bring home the gravy. Instead what you get served is rather raw and unappetizing

Firstly, its not as funny as it should be. In fact, the only laughs that are to be had are provided by the character Titu Mama, played to perfection by Rajesh Sharma and that?s about the only reason you manage to sit through the movie. For the rest, well, it all stands out for the wrong reasons. The plot, if you can call it that, is abysmal and its almost as if the director was thinking on the fly while shooting the scenes, for all the thought that?s gone into it. I don?t know in what addled state this movie was put together but it simply doesn?t make sense

In fact, given the recent success of simple movies that focused on a particular culture and brought out the laughs from therein, Luv Shuv had all its ingredients laid out. However, its not the stuff you use but the way you mix it together that prepares the meal and that spells indigestion for this particular movie. While it intermissions with some promise, the second half starts oblivious to the little that has already been told. Most of your time gets spent in watching how a meal is made, a meal which by now you would happily avoid

Finally, after considerable agony, the movie crawls towards what can be called the climax or maybe the anti-climax ? one can?t be too sure. In terms of acting, there is further misery as no one other than Rajesh Sharma really stand out. Huma Qureshi looks pretty as ever and puts in a decent performance for the limited scope her character gave her. Kunal Kapoor was given more scope to perform but he is still not ready to take on a mainstream character and fails to emote convincingly when it matters most

As per its ingredients Luv Shuv..could?ve been told simply, with a little more sanity with maybe a decent and clear message. By not doing all that and making a pot pourri of events, this dish is best avoided

Movie Review: Bombay Talkies..tells pretty average stories

Anurag Kashyap, Dibakar Banerjee, Zoya Akhtar and Karan Johar ? each of those names alone set expectations of high quality cinema. Now when those names come together in a singular presentation which is a supposed tribute to 100 years of Indian cinema, that?s epic stuff right? Almost, like a tale of The Avengers, of sorts, coming together to be greater than the sum of their parts and blowing the audience away with heart wrenching and heart warming plots. Well, not quite?.

The truth of the matter is that there?s no tribute. The only ?tribute? you will find in this movie is the start and the end of the film (so don?t leave the hall after the ?the end? message). Other than that, I think its just a coincidence and the tribute angle almost seems forced.  What you really get to see is the off-beat indulgences of 4 really talented directors, that you won?t necessarily connect with. Some of it does shine out but as an overall package, it definitely lacks lustre

I don?t really want to give away who does what so I am gonna be a little cryptic now ? one of them takes a known issue and gives it familiar treatment that was pretty disappointing (clearly expected more from that one), another takes a decent topic and develops it well till he/she falls back on the stereotypical stuff to tell an ordinary story, the third takes the simplest of settings to give a subtle message in a beautiful manner, while the fourth tells an interesting story but misses the moral (in my opinion). For your benefit I have changed the order of the stories as well)

As you can see, not too many shining stars in that description. Its not really bad though but its nothing of the ?blow you away? variety which you would be forgiven to expect in such a scenario. Writing is also strictly okay which is surprising given who all was in the ranks. The little music there is, is fairly tolerable; of course one never tires of the old bollywood classics that play in some of the sequences. In terms of acting, it?s a solid cast of characters and it mostly delivers ? Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Vineet Kumar Singh, Saqib Saleem and young Naman Jain particularly stand out

There you have it ? think of it as Dus Kahaaniyan brought down to 4 off beat stories without looking for meaning or message and forget that it?s a tribute of any kind and Bombay Talkies ends up being a decent, normal watch ? don?t go with high expectations

Movie Review: Raanjhanaa..surprisingly loved it!!

I know what you are thinking..this movie has Sonam Kapoor and Dhanush as its leads. It sounds like the typical boy girl romance love story. There hasn?t even been much noise about its release either. I don?t blame you. These were the thoughts even I had when I hesitatingly entered the movie hall. As I exited it however, there were no misgivings..except perhaps that it still had Sonam Kapoor..as the female lead. Raanjhanaa..contrary to expectation is quite a gem

The movie starts off confirming all your worst fears. The plot context and build up is predictable and stereotypical. Dhanush doesn?t impress on first look. For the first half he looks like a bad version of Vivek Oberoi who has issues with dialogue delivery in Hindi. Sonam Kapoor picks up from where she left off, screeching and screaming and you never stop wishing this movie had another female lead. What is fresh even in this is the writing and the humor. While some might find some of the lines crude, I thought they fit the context well and brought some genuine laughs.

However, as the movie gathers momentum the criticisms dry up. Plot twists happen and connect to the characters builds so rapidly that you have little time for other frivolities. Dhanush introduces you to the range of emotions he can portray despite the restrained performance the script required, pulling off a complex character with finesse. Sonam Kapoor?s expressive face begins to convey far more, though her dialogues continue to jar. Its in the quieter moments that she is far more bearable. Abhay Deol is his trademark dependable self handling a fairly simple character. The side actors, Swara Bhaskar and Mohammad Zeeshan Ayyub deserve more than a special mention. Swara plays her role with such a natural ease that one wonders if she could have done a better job of the lead character than Sonam and Ayyub?s has the most comedic lines delivered with just the right timing

The movie puts you through quite an emotional wringer and some might even find themselves shedding a tear or two or at the very least feel a lump in the throat. While some plot development may seem contrived, I guess it was essential to tell a good story. The writing is top notch and especially Dhanush?s lines seem to have been given a lot of thought. The song and dance routine is smartly done and though there are plenty of songs, most form a backdrop to the progressing narrative so it doesn?t slow down.

Aanand Rai, the name brings painful memories of Tanu Weds Manu (which I am told was a hit with the masses; wonders will never cease..) but don?t let that mislead you into not watching this one. With Raanjhanaa Aanand Rai, hits it out of the park with subtle scenes that convey intense meaning eg.  Dhanush running, but there?s more to it than that..I?ve forgotten that he even made Tanu Weds Manu

Raanjhanaa then is one of the better movies this season. Even if this review doesn?t convince you as much, do give it a shot and you might just fall in love with what you watch

Movie Review: Ghanchakkar..ne kuch khaas nahi ghumaya

After creating unexpected magic at the box office with The Dirty Picture the unlikely hit combination of Emraan Hashmi and Vidya Balan came together for what sounded like a situational comedy with noir elements, with Ghanchakkar. With a trailer that gives away practically the entire plot, one still ventured to the theater hoping that there was more to this story than meets the eye. Unfortunately, there isn?t

First the good part. Let?s start with background score. Surprised? Well, I was too, but a large part of what makes this movie watchable is the near perfect background score that Amit Trivedi puts in place to make even the dull moments come alive with anticipation. That, and the unique and promising premise this movie starts with are its real heroes. Where the train goes off-track is when the director, quite evidently, wondered what to do after such a promising start. He could?ve taken it in 15 different directions; instead he chose to take it in ? well, none (other than perhaps towards the climax but we can?t talk about that for obvious reasons)

As for the comedy. Well, it?s the subtle stuff that bring the real guffaws rather than the obvious efforts to make you laugh..the priceless dinner table moments after the hilarious bank scene to count a few. Emraan Hashmi?s rather confused character seemingly had potential to make you laugh too but considering its Hashmi doing the delivery, the humor element dries up considerably. I am also not sure why the script required a Punjaban housewife and am even more perplexed why Balan was chosen for such a role. While her Punjabi dialogues come in with spot on accent and fervour, her other dialogues seem far too forced and lack the natural Punjabi touch. To make matters worse her character, which had the potential to be the most complex isn?t really so; an actress of Vidya Balan?s calibre ought to have been given a lot more scope and this character even had the potential.

The writing is a real let-down ? even when someone like Rajesh Sharma can?t make you laugh much with his one ? liners, its clear that content must take the blame. This is even more obvious, down the line, where you?ll hear the main characters scream and shout the same dialogues you could swear you heard just 10 minutes ago and this happens multiple times. The movie relies more on frequent swear words than on good dialogue to interest its audience and for the most part ? it doesn?t work

A big problem for Ghanchakkar is that its really not sure what it wants to be ? an in your face comedy, a subtle and quirky satire or a crime thriller. By trying to be all three it ends up being neither. To make matters worse, Ghanchakkar is at least half an hour too long and could?ve been a lot more snappier ? thereby becoming a more engaging watch

As it stands then, Ghanchakkar's premise promised a lot but its execution delivers little ? had hoped for better when I walked into the hall.

Movie Review: Bhaag Milkha Bhaag?is a good tribute to the ?Flying Sikh?

I am glad this movie was made. There is so much that I learned about the greatness and glory of the achievements of our very own Flying Sikh, which would have been lost on me otherwise. In a cricket obsessed nation, such stories tend to go untold and I am glad that wasn?t the case with this one

However, what prompted the makers to make it a freakin 188 minute offering is what I can?t get over. When you emerge from the movie hall, that is your single, albeit substantial, complaint. Especially when as per what?s shown there isn?t too much meat to the story. Quickly told, this story would have resonated big time and perhaps even made for repeated viewings. However, the pace at which it unfolds would weary even the most determined watcher

Bhaag Milkha Bhaag is, no doubt, well made. The cinematography is classy and the movie has a distinct sheen about every sequence. Remove a few songs, a few extra sequences and stick to the main story and you had an explosive offering. Instead, what could have been a beautifully directed and shot movie gets relegated to mere moments ? moments which are brilliantly captured and full-on display how forward movie making has moved in Bollywood ? but that?s what they end up as ? moments. Be it the way his runs are captured to the macabre nature of our partition; a hilarious sequence on a plane journey to the burning of a certain tissue paper - these are the moments that create the real magic about the movie. However, thanks to its runtime and the extra sequences, despite being somewhat of a biopic on a really inspirational life story the film really doesn?t succeed in getting the audience to connect and feel for its main character, which is a pity. Then there are some scenes that don?t really add up with threads that are left hanging in mid-air, making you wonder what was the point of showing them in the first place.

As for the act, well, its Farhan Akhtar all the way. Not only is he visibly fit for the part, he slips into the shoes of his character quite effortlessly. In my view, the character itself isn?t all that complex to pull off but that takes nothing away from Farhan?s performance. The only slight hitch is that his Punjabi accent isn?t all that there ? but that isn?t a problem for most of the movie. However, it does come out in sharp contrast to the natural performance of Pawan Malhotra, as his Army coach. Sonam Kapoor has roughly 2 dialogues in the entire movie so that isn?t a problem for this one and she actually looks quite pleasing to the eye for a change. Divya Dutta gets noticed for all the right reasons in her spirited support role while Yograj Singh also does a good job

Regarding the music, quite simply ? most of it shouldn?t be there. It slows down the narrative and adds nothing to the plot. Only Zinda is a song that really peps you up and maybe it could?ve been repeated in the background for scenes later in the movie rather than all the other unnecessary music. Tu Bhaag Milkha is decent but its no Lakshya and doesn?t have the same kind of energy about it

To sum up then, this movie should have been a 2 hour watch with much less of the song and dance routine and more on the inspirational story. Still, a visit to the hall is a must, if only to celebrate the story of the Flying Sikh, and ensure his legend is not forgotten anytime soon.

Movie Review: D-Day..is a Disaster of epic proportions

I know this is an unusually strong statement but such was indeed the sentiment as I exited the hall. What started as a taut, racy thriller ? the kind seldom offered by Bollywood ? soon became less than ordinary and one witnessed such a fall from grace that it still hurt long after the impact was made. How could Nikhil Advani get it so wrong after such a promising start ? one can only wonder

This movie further bolsters the belief that following the commercial, more popular reviews is a big mistake. D-Day has been hailed as a slick, unconventional thriller with great plot twists and tense action amongst the media. In my view, none of this is true. It starts off in that mould, I?ll give it that. Then the age-old issue of songs interfering with plot developments crops up. That alone, I could have still sat through, but after that the additional love angles and slow pace of the movie kill whatever interest one would have developed previously

The movie intermissions at a point where you only hope that the second half is much better than the first. It isn?t. In fact, its much worse than the first. At one point you are left wondering what the movie is really building up to, if anything at all. At times, it almost looks like a deliberate attempt to make a dysfunctional movie practically as an intentional spoof. If that were true, it could still have made some sense, but the movie tries to show itself as serious and patriotic and that simply looks forced. There are plotholes that are too gaping to ignore as well. As for the plot twist, I didn?t find it convincing at all but that?s probably because it looks more incidental than a real shocker as part of the mainstream plot

The fact that Nikhil Advani had a fairly accomplished cast of characters further added to the disappointment of the movie being so ordinary. Irrfan does a good job but even his best efforts can?t really save the movie. Neither is the striking Huma Qureshi able to do so despite no fault in her performance. Rishi Kapoor in his unusual avatar is probably the worst utilized ? while his character starts off menacing as intended, it deteriorates to practically the aforementioned spoof.

Nikhil Advani made Kal Ho Na Ho well. The setup for this one is demanded radically different treatment. While he attempts a good transition to this genre, it seems as if he himself lost the plot somewhere along the way. The first half of the first half, if I were to put it that way, is a laudable effort. Unfortunately, the rest of the movie becomes almost a laughable effort. A movie that I believe deserved such a title more was probably 16th December. Something of that nature presented with a little more finesse and with this cast of characters would have given a lot more ?bang? for your buck

As it stands though, D-Day is a disaster but not the kind, the movie wanted to portray ? here?s hoping for a better outcome next time around, Nikhil Advani

Movie Review: Ship of Theseus..takes you on a thought-provoking voyage

Ship of Theseus is unlike anything Bollywood I have seen before it ? and I mean this in a good way, in fact, the best possible way there is. There are no unnecessary songs, no unnecessary melodrama, mindless action, trite dialogues ? none of that. In fact, Ship of Theseus is so removed from traditional Bollywood, that if this is to be the new direction then this movie is the harbinger of good tidings for Indian cinema.

Ship of Theseus is not for everyone and the director, A Gandhi, takes no pains to ensure that it becomes so. Nothing is explained more than required and if you choose not to unravel the layers, so be it. Very deftly, he introduces the concept of the Ship of Theseus in the first scene itself (though frankly you ought to look it up before you go for the movie; a simplistic yet thought provoking paradox)  and expects you to figure the rest for yourself

To help you out though he puts across 3 equally shining examples in the form of completely different stories to illustrate his point. You could have your favorites among the three but you can?t say either of the stories is bad. There is the mainstream story and then there are the snippets of the other stuff topped with loads of irony in each story. The quality of the cinematography is exemplary and some of the wide angle shots are the stuff of great picture postcards. The camera is heavily focused a little too close to the action at practically all times but it fits the context well. The dialogues are well written and some of the philosophical angles and the ensuing debate they cause will hold your attention even after you have exited the hall

None of the actors are particularly well known but each one puts in a solid act. The only possible complaint you could have for the movie is that for the 3 stories he has to show, Gandhi takes an awful lot of time and some scenes could be a lot snappier. It?s a moot point but I think hastening any of the sequences would have capsized this particular boat since there is meaning and substance to almost every moment that lingers

Ship of Theseus, then is every bit worth the hype and packed houses it is running to. If you want to appreciate quality cinema and intelligent story- telling its time you headed to the hall before this one sets sail for good

Movie Review: Madras Caf?..serves realistic gritty fare

Madras Caf?, a one of a kind film from Bollywood, is a gritty, realistic, crime thriller ? that isn?t looking at charming its audience. It wants the story told ? the way it deserved to be told, without any departures from reality to make it more palatable. So there are no sudden induced plot twists. The drama unfolds right before your eyes and if you are able to spot it, you would know exactly who the mole is much ahead in the story, if not why. It tells the story from the eyes of its main sufferer and protagonist, Major Vikram (John Abraham) and never once, does the plot stretch reality to make us, the audience, fall in love with or connect with its hero.

Madras Caf? is not for thrill seekers or aficionados of traditional high octane action. There isn?t a single comic line across the roughly 2 and a half hours that it runs for. The drama is brutal, bloody and graphic. The narration is done in a dull, lifeless manner ? a voice that has already lost hope and is merely going through the motions from a formality perspective. Yet, given the context, this is exactly the way such a movie ought to be made

Making such a movie is about walking a tightrope ? how much to stick to the main plot and whether to maintain any sway for those thrilling moments that would make it a commercial success. Madras Caf??s tightrope walker, Shoojit Sircar, is a seasoned professional. He walks the rope, dead in the center and gives us a realistic, crime drama without any frills whatsoever. Does it work? Let?s just say it won?t for all and sundry.  There are some of us who might get bored or irritated with the bland nature of plot development, where things just happen without all the hoopla we are, by now, accustomed to. But that?s the way it is, with Madras Caf?

What it does do right and that too, to a large extent, is offer a glimpse of exactly what could have gone down before the assassination that shocked the country and the world. How events could have unfolded, in parallel and how unglamorously some people would have struggled to make sense of the snippets of messages coming through, getting caught up in a whorl of politics, power games and frame-ups. John Abraham does a good job of portraying his character, though, if he emoted a touch better, it could have added some life to the story telling. Nargis Fakhri?s role is short and functional ? again a huge departure from traditional Bollywood fare

I tried to figure out what kind of movie I had seen once I exited the hall. Without much success, I settled for a pot pourri of Blood Diamond, Black Friday and Zero Dark Thirty minus the thrills in all three. Madras Caf? serves anything but ordinary fare. Yet its gonna be an acquired taste; may not feel great at the first bite. Still, I?d suggest you give it a shot as such cinema is a rare event in Bollywood.

Movie Review: Shuddh Desi Romance..is shuddh desi fun

Shuddh Desi Romance is not for the purists. Those who would get offended by a movie that light heartedly pokes fun at sacred institutions, blanket bans and staunch beliefs, may not fully appreciate the fun that this well written and well presented, ?hatke? romantic comedy has to offer. As to the others, well, hasten to the silver screen ? plenty of fun awaits you

Shuddh Desi Romance fits the day and age it is written in perfectly. It captures today?s confused youth and a bewildered older generation wonderfully well, without taking itself too seriously. Between guffaws you might even pause to take a moment to wonder if there?s a deeper message that the movie wants to give but the movie purposefully gives you no time for such reflections. Its only towards the end, that it gives its subtle message without getting preachy about it. Nailed it

While the storyline and plot development of Shuddh Desi Romance can get extremely weird, its still good fun to watch and that tends to make one a lot less critical. If the plot itself is difficult to connect with, its the background chatter and support sequences that make it seem much more realistic. Society?s observations at the goings-on, random sequences and one line punches that have little to do with the main storyline demonstrate the smart writing of Shuddh Desi Romance. While the 22 kisses in Yeh Saali Zindagi seemed forced and unnecessary, the umpteen kisses in this one fit the context perfectly (okay, so it may be one or two too many)

As for the performances ? its all in place. Some of the dialogues and exchanges would have otherwise sounded silly or cheesy but the sparkling chemistry between Parineeti and Sushant make them seem perfectly apt. Parineeti looks striking throughout in a role that one would now describe as her ?comfort space? but it is Sushant?s performance that stands out. A far cry from his role of Kai Po Che, he demonstrates the range he possesses as an actor and pulls of his character really well. Rishi Kapoor is a re-invented performer given his recent appearances and he plays the bewildered elder to perfection. Vaani also does a good job with her role for a debutante.

There you have it then, good writing, good acting and a refreshing presentation ? what?s not to like. Unless you are the aforementioned purist, go book your tickets at the earliest

Movie Review: The Lunchbox..is highly satiating

If you, like me, feel starved of having watched a really good movie lately, The Lunchbox couldn't have come at a better time. Critically acclaimed and highly lauded, Lunchbox deserves every bit of appreciation that comes its way and more. The recipe is simple, the ingredients pure and the result couldn't have been more pleasing to the eye. This one truly takes the cake

The movie itself is sheer poetry in motion, each scene having its own significance, each lingering moment with its own story to tell. Despite having a predictable plot-line, the director holds your attention for all through the comfortable 104 minutes it runs for. The writing is high quality ? some of it almost seeming as if you are actually reading a book by an acclaimed author rather than watching a movie.

Taking an all too familiar setting and giving it its own desi twist allowing such focus on Mumbai and its daily life is only one feather in the pretty cap of debutante film-maker Ritesh Batra. From the songs that play in the background to the slight instances which might miss you the first time round every frame serves a purpose. If you watch it with a keen eye, there?s many a scene you would want to look back on and discuss with your  friends as to how brilliantly it was executed and the direction that achieved that result

What makes The Lunchbox even more of a treat is the superb cast that delivers it. Irrfan Khan and Nimrat Kaur, the two main leads in the story, make it their own and its hard not to get connected. There aren?t any tight hugs and kisses, yet the bond is apparent and emotions are strong. Simple words convey far more meaning and the ending ? wait..to reveal more would be unfair. Nawazuddin Siddiqui has impressed always and while he isn't at his best in this one, there?s no disappointment either

If you haven?t already placed your orders for this sumptuous meal go do it at once, a feast like this is always in high demand and you wouldn't want (DVD) leftovers with this one.

Bon apetit

Movie Review: Shahid?deserved better direction

Shahid?s is a compelling story. Once you?ve entered the hall, whether you would like to or not, you are going to get drawn to the unique context in which his story is built and follow with great interest, the story of his life. It is truly one of the stories that deserve to be told. But is it deservingly told? Well, not entirely.

Shahid starts with striking all the right notes. The unique point to start off the story itself is a smart ploy. Background score is cleverly used. It is absent most of the time and in some sequences the silence can be deafening. The first half sets up things quite well. You understand why Shahid does what he does and the connect with the protagonist is well established. There are some niggling questions, but you let that go ? maybe the second half will deliver better.

However, its the second half when things become much more aimless than before. After the tense note on which the movie intermissions, you expect it to pick up the thread where it left off, but instead the movie chooses to slows down. It takes you to a point where you make your peace with the fact that is a biographical account of this young man and his unique story before it again changes gears and suddenly starts running through event after event. Editing would be chiefly responsible for this mess-up in my opinion.

The camerawork is good for the most part but towards the end it becomes one trick too many. I almost put it down to malfunctioning equipment rather than an effect that the director purposely wanted to achieve in a particular scene because he over-did it so much. Speaking of over-doing things, Shahid talks a lot of sense, but then the same sentences keep getting repeated, in the same form and it becomes a forced rather than subtle message.

What is invigorating though, is the performance of Raj Kumar. He breathes life into the script and slips into the shoes of Shahid with ease. In Kai Po Che, Sushant Singh Rajput may have stolen the show, but Raj Kumar made his presence felt. With Shahid though, he makes it amply clear that he has the ability to carry a film on his shoulders alone. He is possibly the best reason to watch this movie. He is also ably supported by Mohammad Zeeshan Ayyub, Baljinder Kaur and others who play cameos around Shahid?s story ? though the kind of actors they are, they could have easily been utilized more.

In summary, Shahid?s is a story that people must know about. It was the right thing to make this movie. Only, I am pretty sure it could?ve been made better.

Movie Review: Ram Leela..is an epic disaster

 First things first, there was no particular reason this movie needed to be titled Ram Leela. It has nothing to do with the original epic and while arbitrary references are made, none of them were critical to tell this particular story ? if you can see a story in it that is. All I saw was a two and a half hours of Indian folk dance (with some mindless Priyanka Chopra item song included) with decent music and ostentatious visuals. There isn?t even a semblance of a plot and to look for any depth is pointless, the surface itself would leave a mark if you scratched it the slightest.

A good 15 years back, 10 songs in a two and a half hour movie might?ve been just the way to go. Since we are now in 2013, that alone isn?t enough ? not by a long margin. Unfortunately Mr. Bhansali seems oblivious to the same. While Ram Leela claims to be inspired from the classic love story of Romeo & Juliet (which incidentally is also something I haven?t seen) I doubt if that original classic would?ve had such a banal plot and shallow characters. So pathetic is the character development that Leela almost comes across as a nymphomaniac for all the build up there is between her and Ram ? there was better build up in Ishaqzaade for crying out loud and that itself says a lot.

I am stumped that somebody amongst the elite film critics has given such drivel a whopping 5 stars!! Me, I am struggling between half a star and if possible, three-fourths of one. If I have to give the film any credit at all, it would go only to the nicely choreographed songs and beautiful, picturesque set pieces. That, and perhaps the strong performance of Ranvir Singh, despite the quality of everything else and the imminently watchable Deepika Padukone

Much has been said in the open media of the sparkling chemistry between the two leads ? most of which I don?t agree with. Instead, I would definitely say that Deepika looks prettier in every frame, her facial expression just right. However, she lacks the intensity and pure fire power her kind of character (at least what I assume was intended as her character) demanded. On the other hand, Ranvir does possibly the best job of them all and tries his level best to lift the weak script and bad writing.

Speaking of writing, I have a bad feeling that some of it was contributed by Sajid Khan himself as there were plenty of grimace worthy dialogues, or jokes if you will. The one or two scenes that could otherwise have stood out are given such a weak context that it doesn?t even seem like the work of a veteran. Plot twists and story development has holes that our laughably obvious to all except Mr. Bhansali, evidently

Devdas gave me a headache and I haven?t seen the debacle called Saawariya. If you are a die hard Bhansali fan and believe that it is I who hasn't appreciated the movie despite it having a lot to offer, by all means ? go see for yourself. In my books though, the only relation to any kind of an epic this movie holds is that it is an epic disaster. I couldn?t have been more obvious about it

Movie Review: Highway..derails post interval

 
Highway starts off giving visuals to a nice idea. The initial development is taut, tense and realistic. An interesting revelation leads to an intriguing interval. Post interval there is even a bit of Breaking Bad?esque magic. And then, silence?we are quite clearly lost after that

Highway could?ve been made so differently ? a little more focus on the rear view window to give a solid context to the road ahead and the journey itself would?ve come into its own. It would?ve removed the need for the path to be so meandering and the pace to unnecessarily slow down. The message would?ve been subtle yet screaming in silence, the agony obvious to the viewer..but I digress..that?s not what has happened

The reality is that the second half will take you on a picturesque journey, never mind the story. If you?ve been postponing that vacation to our very own Paradise on Earth, you?ll likely pursue it with renewed vigor after watching Highway. The sprawling landscapes and snow capped peaks make for many a pretty sight. Then the dreams would end and the story would culminate to its by now, inevitable conclusion.

After Rockstar, Imtiaz Ali seems to have done it again. A promising start is let down by a sense of abandon towards the original script in the second half. Much like Rockstar started as a journey of a musician and his coming of age and then digressed to a forced love story, Highway too starts off with a unique idea and then digresses to something else entirely. Given this context the climax is still quite decent but the message is shouted out rather than felt

I am not sure why A R Rahman has given the music for this movie. In my view, the script didn?t require music in the first place and any songs would slow proceedings and take away from the realism of the visual drama. Still as it stands, there are songs and none too great to stay with you after the movie (but then Rahman?s songs have their latent effect so who knows)

What is commendable though is Alia Bhatt?s ability to pull off a rather tough role, in only her second movie. Kudos to her to even consider such a role so early in her career and even more to have performed so well in it. The innocent yet independent teenager she plays may come naturally, but the varying shades her character takes through the course of the movie would take some doing. Randeep Hooda is good but he is on all too familiar grounds with his angry brooding avatar. He could take a leaf from Alia?s book and try something more challenging

Highway then, lets itself down. After a promising start to an intriguing adventure, the course of the journey disappoints and there isn?t much to cherish once you reach the final destination

Movie Review: Queen..deserves her elevated status

 
Given quite the royal reception on its opening on Women?s Day, Queen deserves most of the glory showered upon it. I say most, because its not perfect, but to be fair some scenes are so exceedingly well done, that it makes up for the gaps.

A great part of the movie is that it is very relatable and for the initial part, what you watch is pretty much the actions, reactions, emotions, discussions of a typical middle class Punjabi family. Then while the settings and surroundings change, the transition is still very smooth and seems natural. Sure it strikes a few jarring notes here and there (which you really wish it hadn?t) but quickly gets back on track. The flash back and forward during the first half also works well and is contextual to the proceedings without seeming out of place.

There are two problems with Queen. One, it tries to say a little too much or maybe nothing at all but stretches certain sequences unnecessarily nonetheless. The other is that it can?t make up its mind whether its protagonist is a simple girl breaking free or just plain dumb. Some scenes would show her as learning ? a trial by fire ? while others would have you label her as too dumb to save her own life, and that lowers her credibility

Other than that, Queen deserves a pedestal of her own as the movie breaks new barriers and presents a fresh face to a tried, tested and even stale plotline. A familiar sequence/ context would come up and you would grimace at the obvious conclusion it would have ? only, it doesn?t. The ending credits are particularly neatly done so stick around even after the movie is over

Queen puts centre focus on Kangana Ranaut and she delivers a near flawless performance in her heavily mainstream role. A far cry from her ?Gangster? days (when frankly I found her dialogue delivery intolerable) this is a much more in-control, graceful and highly capable of emoting Kangana Ranaut in Queen. Her expression and delivery is near perfect in every scene and her transition seems natural and smooth as well. You won?t like Raj Kummar?s character one bit and I guess that?s testament to his wonderfully restrained performance as well

If you haven?t gone for a visit yet, you might want to book your tickets to pay tribute to both Queen as well as Kangana for a job well done

Movie Review: Bobby Jasoos..some thrills but an ordinary case

It doesn?t have the spine chilling suspense and thrill of Kahaani. Nor towards the opposite end of the spectrum is it a typical case of a bumbling detective like the inimitable Pink Panther. No, Bobby Jasoos is a unique variety of its own ? much like the local Hyderabadi brand it so faithfully adopts. But does it work?..Well..yes and no.

In parts, Bobby Jasoos gives you some clues of what could have been ? genuinely hilarious moments, top notch disguises and a mystery that intrigues and interests you. However, as an overall package the movie succeeds in being just about an average watch.

Right from the opening credits, Vidya Balan tries too hard to convince you she can play the small town, loud mouthed Hyderabadi detective really well. One gets reminded more of her act in Ghanchakkar (the loud ? mouthed Punjabi wife) than the Dirty Picture during this time. However, as the movie progresses, the bluster is thankfully replaced by thoughtful reflection and calm dialogue which is so much more up her alley. Ali Fazal though in a much smaller role, makes his presence felt, especially in the comedic scenes

When you are solving mysteries and hot on the heels on a case, you don?t go into the song and dance routine but since this is Bollywood, that is exactly what happens (since it can?t happen in the story, it happens as imagination)  Its not all on the songs ? the pacing of the movie itself is equally to blame and despite just a two hour runtime and just 3 songs, you feel a distinct lack of pace. For a debutante director Samar Shaikh does a good job ? though there is much that could have been better and you can?t help feeling that if the reins were with someone else, this might well  have been a different product.

The great revelation (of course I won?t reveal all) is a matter of perception ? some might consider it a master stroke, I viewed it as an anti-climax and one that dug all kinds of holes into the plot ? let?s just leave it at that

The real mystery for me is why some people are calling Bobby Jasoos Vidya?s finest work till date. I wouldn?t call it that ? this is clearly one of her lesser accomplishments. For that you should watch Kahaani or Dirty Picture. If you really want to watch this detective at work ? my advice to you would be to go with low expectations. Go in search of some fun moments with less focus on the case itself and you might just come back pleasantly surprised

Movie Review: Humpty Sharma ki Dulhaniya..DDLJ deserved better

 
First things first, this movie is not a tribute to DDLJ. Those who are calling it that, the film cast and crew included, need to look up the dictionary meaning of a tribute. This is pretty much a parody. Simply put, the script writer, director et al, looked at DDLJ and thought ? where all can we make a change ? no matter how nonsensical, illogical or downright silly it all gets. (Think Amazing Spiderman from Sam Raimi?s original creation). And thus, that script and some bad songs with hilariously bad lyrics later Humpty Sharma came to the theaters

The fact that it clocks a lesser 2 hours 15 minutes is a welcome relief, considering this is Bollywood and the agony could easily have been prolonged to 3 hours instead. One should be grateful. Another aspect to be grateful for is that the 2 leads make a valiant effort to lift a lifeless script and their sidekicks (or rather Varun?s sidekicks) have been blessed with some smart one-liners that make for a few fun moments. For everything else ? especially the songs, you can curse Humpty Sharma ki Dulhania

This is the fourth film with Alia playing her fiesty avatar and while she fits the bill, she could certainly do with some variety in her characters. Speaking of characters, this movie hardly invests in them and while Raj and his Senorita Simran made efforts to find a place in your heart where you willed till the last moment that their story had a happy ending, you couldn?t care less whether Humpty and his lady love end up together or not. As for the other performances, much has been said of the performance of Ashutosh Rana, playing the Amrish Puri babuji counterpart. Personally, I just found his performance unnecessarily intense.

There are sparks here and there, where the story could?ve taken a fresh approach which made some sense. However, the proceedings thereon extinguish any such hope. Moreover, while some of the gags and one-liners may bring some laughs, you can?t help but shake the uneasy feeling that its all been done too many times before

While its not a tribute to the masterpiece of its time that DDLJ was, Humpty Sharma certainly makes you want to consider a re-viewing of that eternal love story (for the umpteenth time). In its own paradoxical way, that qualifies to be the best reason you would consider watching this revised Dulhaniya. If you have any other expectations ? best to stay at home and watch Raj and Simran instead.