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Reviews
James (2022)
An Epic Swansong
Fondly called "Appu", Powerstar Puneeth Rajkumar has left an astounding legacy of charities. Many of these becoming emotionally public, only after his demise, speaks volumes about his humbleness.
JAMES is quintessentially the last opportunity for all us to witness Appu's final performance on the big screen. And what a tearful joy it is, to watch Puneeth, dance with elegance, smile with radiance and perform exhilarating stunts with aplomb.
Kudos to the entire team and specially to his brothers, Shiva Rajkumar & Raghavendra Rajkumar, who pitched in to complete the post production & release the film on Appu's birthday.
Watch this grand Swansong, just for him, the gentleman "Appu". A crying fan rightly said, seeing him resting in a glass casket, "what's lying inside is indeed humanity personified"
Mufti (2017)
Masterpiece!
A simple Gangster tale, yet excellently written and executed with finesse!
One of the best works of Dr. Shiva Rajkumar. Enjoyed every frame, be it with dark undertones of demonic justice, or glowing emotions towards the loved ones.
Sriimurali, Vasishta Simha, Devaraj and many other actors complete an ensemble cast. Ravi Basrur's original score is amazing.
A gem from the Kannada Film Industry!
K.G.F: Chapter 1 (2018)
Excellent entertainment!
Once upon a time, a movie called "Sholay" (Fiery Sparks) dawned on Hindi film industry...
Now, we have this EPIC movie FIRE-STORMING into MAGNUM OPUS of not only KANNADA movie industry, but the entire INDIAN cinema history !!
K.G.F.: Chapter 1 is 100% Pure Gold entertainment !!
Proud of the entire Film Crew. Eagerly awaiting Chapter 2.
Don 2 (2011)
Pure cinematic entertainment
The Don is back in business and with even more style. This time entirely abroad.
Good one liners, nicely shot actions scenes and an interesting story. Farhan is exceeding expectations every time and creating a brand for his style of making action films. Watching it in 3D was even more convincing.
Background score though, seems to be Farhan's favorite since it hears the same as in Don/Lakshya. But like before the slickly shot film goes very well it and has become like fast-paced carol.
Watching Don 2 should be definitely on your "to do" list for the holidays. Absolutely pure cinematic entertainment. seven on ten.
Welcome to Sajjanpur (2008)
With love, from Sajjanpur...
As an actor, Shreyas Talpade, has exceeded my expectations every time I have seen him perform on the screen. "Welcome to Sajjanpur" in true sense is a welcome break for Bollywood, which now a days is churning out comedies which are more non-sense than light-hearted. Of course Mr.Benegal's class is very evident from each and everyone of the characters he as presented in this story.
WTS is a simple story of an arts graduate, Mahadev (Shreyas) who's new found talent of writing letters is an instant hit with the villagers. Parallely, he evolves into a writing consultant with such an élan that even a guy in love gets his love-letter written from Mahadev. There are a number of very funny people, with a variety of problems coming to him for having their letters written and the way events turn due to his thoughtful letters are truly engrossing. Ila Arun's character was the best among the supporting roles and I couldn't help laughing out mad at the climax of the movie.
Phew! very few movies like this stand up to the class of yesteryear comedies (Read Hrishikesh classics). 07/10 Don't miss this movie.
The Dark Knight (2008)
Unbelievably pure entertainer!
The Dark Knight has a new nemesis "The Joker" in this sequel to Batman Begins. And its the Joker who steals the show this time. The performance of Heath Ledger as the Joker was very satisfying to me. No, I have not seen the previous incarnation for this psycho character, but honestly, in this movie he is very good.
Talk about the plot, it all comes down to two perceptions of the audience. Some people try to find realism in plots and are rightly disappointed, while others enjoy frames after frames being churned out with spectacular stunts (not fights though). In the theater, I found myself belonging to the second type of people. If CGI has been used in these stunts then they are really good, If not, these stunt-men should be awarded.
The Dark Knight is pure action entertainer. But not as good a plot as Batman Begins. I think the movie did more good to character of the Joker rather than the Batman.
2 stars for Heath, 2 for cinematography, 2 for stunts and 1 for the music. That's 7 out of 10.
Dharm (2007)
Soul Stirring...
Pankaj Kapur has always been at his best on the silver screen of Indian Cinema. Making an appearance this time as an orthodox Hindu priest, he leaves an indelible image of "Pandit Chaturvedi" in our minds.
The story, set in the oldest city of India - Varanasi, shows us a chapter in the life of this protagonist who staunchly believes in his "Dharm" - the universal principle of living - and the ways in which he applies this divine law to himself and his fellowmen. It's about how he discovers that humanity is above all and it is knowledge that completes a human being. Though the theme has been shown in Indian cinema many times before, I never had experienced it so touchingly.
The screenplay flows at a steady pace, brings in characters and takes them out of the script to present cinema in its purest form. The backdrop of Varanasi is the best I've seen on the silver screen.
Watch this movie to seek a soul stirring experience of witnessing beautiful images, mesmerizing colors, soothing music, blended seamlessly and celebrated by excellent screenplay and cinematography.
Bhavana, which's your next project?
Contract (2008)
RGV never had the grip on the movie!
RGV's latest movie "Contract" tries to throw all its flaws straight on your face. It is just so easy to pick so many of them in movie.
First of all poor star cast; absolutely! None of them had a hold on their characters. So much so, many of the characters make you feel they were not required at all - like the gangster's wife - damn what was she trying to portray? the martial arts specialist's role was crap. I even feel the commissioner's role was enacted without even a basic level of stature.
Shabby dialogues and one-liners; Most of actors tried too much to show thinking(staring?)faces(Sarkar Style) and say one liners as if they are trying to remember their dialogues! The lead character and his love interest need professional training in acting. Even some of the dialogues are so short and stupid even kids will find them laughable such as..."It's a secret!?" Now, I truly believe... one liners or punch dialogues can be pulled off only by seasoned actors.
Poor background music and soundtrack; They were the hallmarks of cult movies like Satya and Company - but for contract it is big thumbs down.
The Plot; The start of the movie itself rushes the concept to the viewer so fast that you immediately know how the story is going to end like... and that's it... you loose interest and wait to watch who is worst actor among the cast.
Sadly, RGV's magic shows have run out of tricks. Gone are the glory days. I still hope RGV will comeback with a masterpiece like Satya.
Accident (2008)
A Thriller that needed to be made some more passion
The movie revolves around the quest of a radio jockey and his friends to seek the killers of his social activist-wife. With a good story, commendable camera-work and decent cast, the movie does to some extent keeps you guessing the end. But weakness in editing, direction and music show up now and then. Ramesh Aravind's role as the truth seeking husband is natural. I was impressed with Rajendra Karanth's performance as the corrupt health minister and also the dialogs he has scripted for the movie. Other roles are don't need much effort to be present on screen. It sure is welcome break from the current genre of movies we watch on Kannada silver screens.
A thriller that needed to be made some more passion.
Mungaru Male (2006)
refreshing!
Sitting in movie-theatre, how can you get all senses tingled simultaneously. I prescribe the following key reasons;
1. Spectacular cinematography 2. Crisp direction 3. Exquisite dialogues 4. Chartbuster music 5. Good Acting 6. Smooth screenplay 7. Great locales 8. All in all - cinema experience at its best.
And of course Pop-corn!
Per me, the best blend of all these is what was named as "Mungaru Male" Thats 8 out of 10.
Here in our Karnataka state, people are surprised if they come to know you have not watched this movie yet! My hallmark collection is awaiting its most honoured new arrival - DVD of "Mungaru Male"
Tourism ministry should thank the team because this is the best visual experience of the tourist hot-spots of Karnataka that a film has provided yet.
Khosla Ka Ghosla! (2006)
A Superb Comic Thriller
According to me, there are two genres of comedy... One is artificially injected with crazy jokes that intend to make you smile, and the other is simple everyday dialogues and sequences which have no such intention, but... you end up laughing like hell!
Khosla Ka Ghosla (literally Khosla's Nest!) is one such pure entertainment that can liven up even the dull-est of the souls. From frame one, the "action" begins and next two hours you just wont let anything disturb you watching it.
Khosla (Anupam Kher) has saved every penny he earned in his life for building a dream home on a newly purchase plot at South Delhi. Just as everything seems set for a ground breaking ceremony, a powerful builder, Khurana (Boman Irani) encroaches the plot and shatters all his dreams.
How the motley crew of his family and their friends help Khosla finally realize his dreams, forms the rest of the story. The "plot" develops in such a thrilling manner that there are moments you would actually pray for Khosla's mission team.
Casting is perfect. Apart from great performances by veterans like Anupam Kher, Boman Irani and Navin Nischol, you will enjoy even the characters played by off-beat actors like Ranvir Shorey (Frankly I didn't knew he can act so well), Parvin Dabas, Nitish Pandey and Vinay Pathak.
I would call it "A Superb Comic Thriller". Excellent Job Mr.Dibakar Banerjee.
Lage Raho Munna Bhai (2006)
Gangster & Gandhi prove it. Truth alone triumphs!
Circa 2003: Munnabhai (Sanjay Dutt), a gangster, could not become a certified doctor, but he finally did make his father (Sunit Dutt) proud by giving ailing patients hope and happiness through his "magical hugs" at the hospital. Circuit (Arshad Warsi), Munna's right hand goon ensured that whatever munna wants - is done.
Circa 2006: Munnabhai (Sanjay Dutt) does it again. But this time it is our own "Father of the Nation" Gandhi (Dilip Prabhavalkar)who inspires the gangster to break the jinx of Hiding the Truth, which our society truly suffers with. Even as Munna-Circuit combo send the viewers into laugh riot with their pranks, Gandhi makes sure they do it per his principles. Absolutely refreshing.
Charming screen presence of Munna's love interest RJ Jhanvi (Vidya Balan), party spoiling by a cunning builder Lucky Singh (Boman Irani) make viewing this movie a pleasure. Music by Shantanu Moitra (of Parineeta Fame) is good. And finally well written and directed by Rajkumar Hirani.
Munna and Circuit are arguably bollywood's best screen character duo ever. No surprises, India's second hot favorite for Oscar Nomination this year after Rang De Basanti.
Mutthina Haara (1990)
One of the best war-based Kannada movies
One of the best movies ever to come on Kannada silver screens, this film won the national award for best film in regional language. The title translates as "Necklace of Pearls" in Kannada.
The story starts with the love between an Indian Army soldier (Vishnuvardhan) and an Army nurse (Suhasini Maniratnam) and evolves into a touching story of how they both (and the audience) tragically realize that war plays havoc with lives and relationships of people irrespective of whether they are in the battle field or not.
The whole film (including a couple of songs) picturized in the beautiful western ghats (mountain range) in the south Indian state of Karnataka and along the northern locales bordering with Pakistan and China is exceptionally shot.
Vishnu and Suhasini make a great on-screen pair and both of course are acclaimed actors who have shared screen for a couple other of Kannada movies too. Vishnuvardhan narrowly missed winning India's national award for best acting, for this role. Most of the supporting actors (especially Ashwath as Vishnu's dad) also did a neat job. Music by Hamsalekha was a big hit.
War and violence are the worst realities which we live with and we never know how our lives can fall apart like pearls spilling out of broken necklace. This movie does make a Statement.
8/10