singh-amrit Reviews

99 (I) (2009)

99 not out

[8/10 · 3 June 2009]

The film looks interesting from the outset, when the makers claim that they believe the incidents in film are real. And an interesting way of opening credits only adds to curiosity.

Film starts with a funny chase and kunal khemu starts to narrate the story. A story of 2 small time crooks and how they get into big time troubles. The film traverses a unique genre of comedy thriller. It keeps you at the edge of the seats, but at the same time makes sure that the edge never hurts, with enough humor spread all over.

The storyline is spread over 2 cities of Bombay and Delhi in the year 1999. The film uses a real life scandalous case as the backdrop. (Though it no suspense, still its best left untold what scandal they've used). Director has taken care of minute details to make the story set in year 1999, like mobile incoming was charged, Clinton's India visit, 20-20 cricket still being a wild idea and even the dollar exchange rates. Also the essence of 2 cities is intact. Watch out the scene when Cyrus and Kunal describe why they don't want to go to Delhi. It's simply hilarious.

Kunal Khemu is slowly coming to its own. Cyrus could have had a few more lines to say, though he is great in whatever he is doing. Soha Ali is under utilized. Vinod Khanna is neat and Boman Irani is in form as ever.

It's a refreshing break, both from some unimaginative comedies we've seen in recent past and the hiatus caused in release of Hindi films in cinemas.

Its sweet little comedy, thriller, romantic, fun film. Go refresh yourselves. Have some good time.

Aamir (2008)

Aamir means leader... did you know...???

[9/10 · 26 June 2008]

You would want to stand up and applaud when the end credits roll, for this will be easily one of the finest films you have seen in recent times. And it becomes all the more commendable considering the fact that most of the names in the credits are debutants, including the lead protagonist and director.

Debutant director Raj Kumar Gupta dares to tread the path less travelled with a dark, hard hitting drama thriller. The film starts with some candid shots of Mumbai and the candid shot keep flooding showing the unknown and dark side of Mumbai. The director and the cinematographer grip you to your seat for entire duration. You feel as suffocated as the lead protagonist. And when he beats the hell out of some road side snatchers, exhausting all his anger and frustration, you wish you could also hit a few blows to help him. And to add to the class of the director and innovation of cinematographer, there is impeccable background score.

Rajiv Khandelwal, probably the most precious Bollywood import from television and best debutant this year, showcases the character that is traumatized, shocked, feared, determined, strong, venerable all at the same time. He shows what he is capable of. We only hope he is nurtured and used well in Bollywood, for he is a talent to look out for.

Looking at the kind of cinema that's being churned out these days, you'll have to wait probably really long to watch a film of this stature. So, don't wait. Don't miss this one. For this really deserves to be stand and applauded.

Jodhaa Akbar (2008)

Jodha Finishes first, Akbar struggles.

[6/10 · 22 February 2008]

Jodha Akbar, probably the most awaited film of recent times. The film, which was supposed to be the modern day answer to Mughal-e-Azam. Though it's unfair to compare anything to Mughal-e-Azam. Jodha Akbar is not Mughal-e-Azam. But the comparisons are somehow inevitable.

The film tries to put aside all the controversies in the beginning itself by declaring that the name of Akbar's wife is debatable, and Jodha is most common name referring to her. Amitabh Bachchan lends his voice for strong opening narration, and film opens on promising note with a decently (not grand) pasteurized war sequence. The film tightens the grip by the end of first half and leaves you expecting a better half to come. But the second half fails to fulfill the promise with a rather slow and lackluster end. Film could do with some crops in the reel. The narration slackens, especially in the second half it's dragging at places.

Performances of almost all actors are high grade. Surprisingly biggest disappointment is Hrithik Roshan. He tries hard but could not deliver the commanding performance that one expects from Akbar's character. The sharp build, short hair, thin mustache and a very modern accent… naah not the Akbar material you were looking for. Longer hair, denser mustache and deeper voice could have made things better. Aishwarya as Jodha is immaculate. She has never looked and acted better. One good thing is every character has a clear Hindi pronunciation and neat Urdu diction. Almost everyone dots their I and crosses the T clearly.

The biggest draw of the film is the grandeur and the majestic art direction. Art Director Nitin Desai almost rebuilds the Mughal monuments with élan. The palaces and forts have the royal feel that was needed. Art direction though astounding overall is tacky at places with some details. Costumes also reflect the riches of the time. Music is a major let down. Khwaja and Merhabaa are ill choreographed. Khwaja is almost comic.

Direction of Ashutosh Gowarikar lacks the finer details and impeccable grip shown in his earlier ventures. Though overall direction is impressive. Story has nothing special in it about Jodha and Akbar. It's just a simple love story of a man (incidentally named Akbar) and a woman (coincidentally named Jodha).

Final verdict: A genuine attempt but Mughal-e-Azam still remains unanswered.

No Smoking (2007)

Vivid. Unreal. Stunning. Abstract art at its best.

[7/10 · 28 October 2007]

Hmmm… so didn't we think "abstract art" is a term coined to be used only for paintings or photographs or at best sculptures or any form of art that is static? Whenever we thought of an abstract cinema, most of us would start and stop at Shyam Benegal.

But Anurag Kashyap with his latest film, changes lots of definitions and perceptions. No doubt Shayam Benegal brand of cinema is one of the USPs of Indian film Industry. But usually in that brand of cinema you could see through Director's brain by the end. You could make out what was the film maker trying to portray. But Anurag Kashyap keeps his card close to his chest till the end. It's hard to define if it was a good thing to do or bad. But the fact remains that there would be numerous questions in your mind after watching this film with various possible answers and none of the answer being totally right or totally wrong. This is peak of vivid imagination. This is stuff dreams are made of.

Anurag, the director of highly rated Black Friday, shows that there is an intelligent film maker in there who dares to think away from ordinary. This bold attempt may not fetch him commercial success every time, but one thing is for sure that we have a film maker who makes film he believes in and not for making money. This is a good sign for Indian cinema. He gives a new dimension to Art Cinema. Every few reels, you can feel proud that you have got to the crux of the events going on screen, you can soar sky high. But then suddenly you realize that you don't have wing, the film takes an unimaginative new turn and you are left where you started.

With stunning cinematography, amazing art work, superb direction and high class acting, this certainly is an experience of its own kind. John Abraham looks sexy with his hot 6 packs. Paresh Rawal is as good as it gets. Ayesha Takia is decent.

Don't try to find or infuse any sense or logic of your own, just watch what is shown, be it lady singing in Adnan Sami's voice or a bath tub in Siberia opening in underground world in Mumbai, and you might like the ride.

Johnny Gaddaar (2007)

A Rare Species

[8/10 · 11 October 2007]

Here is a film directed by someone whose previous directorial venture (Ek Hasina Thi), though stylishly executed, was a box office dud. A film which has Dharmedra as the biggest name in the credits. The second biggest is perhaps Shankar Ehsaan Loy, who are favorite composers for big banners these days. They have done a neat job here as well. A film which has a debuting actor with musical genes in lead role (he is grandson of legendary singer Mukesh). So what would be expected from such a venture? Not much I reckon. And that's the biggest strength of the film. Low expectations, high returns. The film is classic thriller by all standards. Be it acting, script, direction… anything.

Commenting anything about the storyline would be a sin for this genre of cinema. Though its not suspense of "Who did it" sorts, but still its best that story is left untold. But it deserves to be told that unfolding and turn of events is gripping. It keeps you glued to your seats.

Technically the film is a jewel. Cinematography is top notch. Editing is crisp, narrative fast paced. There is hardly a dull moment. Background score is racy and innovative. Sriram Raghvan proves that the promise shown in his directorial debut was not fluke. He is a director to look out for. And thanks to him, we now have an actor too to look out for in Neil Nitin Mukesh.

So, some may call Johnny Gaddar a cult classic, some call it style exemplified. But in simple terms, it's a good film. Go and watch it.

Chak De! India (2007)

Take A Bow.

[10/10 · 20 August 2007]

If someone was to tell you that there is a film which deals with issues like gender bias, nationalism, patriotism, regional discrimination, sports politics and sportsman spirit. You'll say "Naah..!! Sounds like director has bit more than he can chew. This would be a mess with none of the issues being catered adequately." But don't pass the judgment till you have seen Chak De India.

Here is one film which is bound to give you your money's worth no matter with what expectation you entered the theater. Chak De India is not only a sports film. It is film on feminine equality, against regional inequality. It's a film depicting the politics in sports, about the pity state of national sport in the nation, total disinterest, bureaucracy involved in sports authorities. Lack of funds, media support, facilities and about unfettering determination to win despite all these.

Despite dealing with so many issues, the film is never over the top. So you don't have loud patriotic dialogs to infuse sense of patriotism. A coach showing players the way out who introduce themselves as state players and not national players is enough. The film scores both as a hardcore entertainer and a hard hitting social drama. The message is there, loud can clear and so is fun. This will make you smile (at places laugh); make you emotionally charged (at places cry). Film's excitement is sure to give you goosebumps, be the match sequences, the training sessions or any simple confrontations between coach and players.

Shah Rukh Khan as Kabir Khan, the coach who doesn't stop his girls to beat the hell out of eve teasers to inculcate the sense of team, is rock solid. This is easily amongst best performances of his career if not the best. He is never too loud, never too vulnerable. Just made to order for the role. You can not imagine any other actor playing the role. And with him are bunch of 16 unknown faces who surprise with their acting caliber and spontaneity. Apart from being top quality cinema, what Chak De India does is raise hopes for future of Indian Hockey. Now isn't that a winner in itself. Go watch it. They don't make such films often. It's a MUST WATCH.

Jhoom Barabar Jhoom (2007)

Totally mindless. What Fun...!!

[8/10 · 10 July 2007]

What generally works as the weakness of a film is the strength of this one. The film has a week storyline, virtually non-existent script and no logic. But that's where the fun lies.

Abhishek Bachchan and Preity Zinta are introduced in very beginning of the film who from there carry forward a total mindless and fun filled sequence of events. Events that are funny (sometimes very funny), romantic, sometimes emotional but never real. The narration is unique and keeps you interested for most of the time. The strongest part of the film is its music. Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy have created sheer magic with their instruments. Each song is masterpiece. And with modern day sound technology (watch it in a Doolby Digital theater) you would actually want to dance especially on the 3rd version of the title track.

Actors have performed well. Everyone has pulled the comic timing very well. Amitabh Bachchan keeps appearing in between with fabulous attire and equally good song to keep the zing intact.

The punch line of the film says it all... Jump, Dance, Shout... But don't expect anything more. Entertainment is only thing that this has to offer. No matter with what mood you enter the theater, more likely than not chance are you'll come out smiling. And isn't that smile worth all the money you spent on that ticket. It certainly is.

Shootout at Lokhandwala (2007)

Unreal, and hence entertaining.

[7/10 · 6 June 2007]

If you are expecting a real life depiction of an incident that happened some 16 years ago, if you are expecting a true to life cinema, if you are expecting a film on the lines of Black Friday… then you'll be disappointed. And big time.

Because this is no real life. Its hardcore commercial cinema, with all the entities of a typical Bollywood potboiler intact. So you have item numbers with no relevance with the narrative, you have cops delivering stylish dialogs on television, you have gangs of men walking in slow-mo, you have cop-gangster fight where they prefer fists over pistols, you have an amazing background score in the shootout sequences… so is that bad. No, not at all. In fact it's good, very entertaining. But not real by any yardsticks.

So before entering forget that it's based on any true incident (well if you know that at the first place), watch it as a fictitious action thriller, and you'll be entertained. Direction and cinematography of the film is top notch. The story is thrilling and taut, you'll be on the edge of the seat for most of the time if not always. The action sequences, especially in the final moments of film are really good.

Sanjay Dutt delivers a knock out performance yet again. Sunil Shetty makes the film all the more fictitious; I personally have never seen a cop who looks, walks, dresses or behaves like him. Arbaz Khan is decent. They should have used a better adhesive for his moustaches, its fluttering at times. Abhishek in guest appearance is good. Tusshar Kapoor tries his best to shed the "good boy next door" image, and marginally succeeds too, but it'll still take some more time. Amrita Singh is solid, well not literally, performance vise. And this film sort of marks the come back of Vivek Oberoi. You see glimpse of Company (his debut film) days. He's still not lost all of it. He can be revived, only if he selects his films wisely.

All in all, an entertaining and larger than life film. Watch if for fun, not for history lessons.

Life in a Metro (2007)

Life in Any City...

[8/10 · 31 May 2007]

They say all's well that ends well. And what if it starts well, runs well and ultimately ends well. Then it's something really good. That's the case with Anurag Basu's Life in a Metro.

The film has promising start, with 7-8 different characters being introduced, with Mumbai rains in backdrop. Then a rock band, as drenched as the city, appears from nowhere to churn out a fabulous opening song. You prepare yourself for a good cinematic experience during the song itself. And the best part is the promise is not broken till the end.

It's a story of different characters, interwoven together with some link. The narrative is tight and gripping. And that rock band keeps appearing in between, giving soul to the narration. Pritam has done a good job in music department. The film depicts how lives have become in today's fast living cities. People are always in top gear. Chase, rivalry, competition, dreams, compromises, sexual frustrations, exploitation, opportunism, disappointment, love, ecstasy… you'll find all emotions in the movie. The film tells the story of people who in search of destination forgot to enjoy the journey, who listen their minds over their hearts. The story is very believable, very true to life. Don't be surprised if you find yourself in one of the characters.

Anurag Basu has assembled a line of best performing actors. Kay Kay is impeccable as ever. Shilpa Shetty looks as good as she acts; she's finally getting roles to show her acting prowess and not only those never ending legs. Irfan and Konkana are at equal élan with comedy as they are with intense roles. Sharman Joshi is one actor who seems to fit any bill. Kangna is improving, both her looks and dialog delivery. But best performer remains Anurag Basu. He has handled the script and actors wonderfully to give a very good cinema. A very good effort by the whole team.

Bheja Fry (2007)

If you've not seen this, you've laughed less this year.

[9/10 · 14 May 2007]

Bheja Fry is unlike any comedy film you must have seen in recent past. It has no big names in the cast, you might not have heard about the director either, promotion of the film is a low key affair... No loud comic drama, no banana slips to make you laugh, no double meaning dialogs. But still it easily qualifies for the most hilarious film of the year. It is 100 odd minutes of pure humor. The film surprises you with the unique wit and classic comedy.

You might not be expecting anything from the film and might come out highly satisfied. That is the best thing about the film. This is probably the first time the comic potential of Vinay Pathak has been utilized fully. This is one actor with amazing comic timing. The characters of the film are highly believable and you can actually recall at least one person you know/have met which is similar to each character in the film.

The film boasts of great acting,great situations and a very simple script. Though its an adaptation of a french film, it hardly takes the credit away from any of the actors.

Watch it for sure, because if you've not seen this, you've laughed less this year.

Namastey London (2007)

Smiles all the way.

[8/10 · 5 April 2007]

If entertainment is what you are looking for, look no further. Namastey London is easily year's most entertaining film till date. It has good quantity and quality of humor, romance, music, emotions… almost everything you would spend your money for.

Akshay Kumar is as charming as ever. He is probably the most under rated actor of this generation. He has an amazing comic timing, he carries emotional sequences quite comfortably, and he can dance and looks great. He easily carries the whole film on his shoulders. Rishi Kapoor has not lost the innocence since his "Bobby" days even a single bit. In ever improving Upen Patel, we seem to have found someone to step into Pran's shoes, a character artiste who, with his style and screen presence can match, sometimes even overshadow, the lead actor. But the real stunner is Katrina Kaif. She looks ravishing in entire film. She looks good in whatever she wears, whatever she does. Sometimes you cannot stop wondering, where this beauty was hidden in all her previous films. She has never looked better. And with improved acting abilities and cutest of voices, she's all equipped to kill. You can easily watch this one only for her… whatever other good this film has to offer would be a bonus.

Story is simple, sweet and predictable. In fact you would know the climax from the very first shot. But it's the treatment that keeps you hooked. One never feels dragged. And if you are an Indian, this is a real feel good film. You cannot stop your Goosebumps when Akshay Kumar delivers speech describing India to a British. And there is finely blended India-Pakistan friendship. Don't be surprised if while laughing all the way, sometimes in between you find your eyes moist.

Director Vipul Amrutlal Shah scores a hat trick…!! After Aankhein and Waqt, this is his third consecutive good product. His next would be worth waiting for.

But don't wait for this one. Go and watch it. Right away.

The Namesake (2006)

Bringing Art back to cinema.

[8/10 · 3 April 2007]

Just when you started thinking that after fighting a lost battle for quite some time the so called "art cinema" has finally ran out of energy and died, comes The Namesake, bringing fresh lease of life, bringing the art back in cinema.

Irfan Khan and Tabu seem to take over from where Nassiruddin Shah and Shabana Azmi left Indian Cinema long ago, with some powerhouse performances to say the least. Well this one is not completely an Indian cinema, but to a large extent it is. Both Irfan and Tabu prove that they are truly amongst the very best, if not the best, actors the current generation has. The supporting cast is brilliant as well, with Kal Penn, playing Tabu and Irfan's son worth a special mention. Mira Nair delivers yet again with spot on direction, no frills attached. Cinematography is bliss, capturing the soul of both Bengal and USA. Background score, punctuated by some classical Bengali folks, goes on to add deeper dimension in the story telling.

The movie, based on novel by Jhumpa Lahiri with same name depicts the life journey of a couple who move from Bengal to USA. The narration of how they face life's smallest and biggest problems, how they cope with adjusting to each other and new country, is where the actual beauty of the film lies.

It's essentially for those who had enough reasons to believe that cinema was no more a form of art, but just become another medium to churn money, become just another business. It has not, believe me it has not. Watch this one and you would know what I mean.

Eklavya: The Royal Guard (2007)

Feast for eyes...

[7/10 · 20 February 2007]

VV Chopra takes on the director's baton after 7 years and unleashes a treat for your senses... your visual senses in particular. Eklavya is nothing less than poetry on celluloid. It's still a wonder why VV Chopra took so long to go behind the camera again, when he can produce such a masterstroke so effortlessly, so effectively.

Technically the film scores in almost all departments. Stunning cinematography is the highest point of the film after Chopra's direction of course. Visually the movie is so delightful with vivid colors of Rajasthan splashed all over the screen. The forts never looked so beautiful, so alive. You can actually feel the royal feel of the film in the costumes, art direction and the whole setup. There is an aura of class all over.

Director is able to extract solid performances from everyone in the cast. Amitabh, as expected excels once again in the title role. Sharmila Tagore could have been used better. Sanjay Dutt, the most enjoyable character, should have been given some more screen presence.

But the biggest drawback of Eklavya is in the most important part. The story. Despite being a rather short film, with only about 120 minutes of running time, the film seems dragging. The second half in particular is slow paced. You might start loosing interest by the end of 1st half itself. If it was not the brilliance in direction, you might even give leaving in the interval a thought. Even the Parineeta chemistry between Saif and Vidya Balan seems to be lost this time.

If only the script had been a bit stronger, a bit more gripping, we easily had a winner in hand. Eklavya is not a looser anyway.

Welcome back Vidhu Vinod Chopra, the director. Don't make us wait so long again.

Black Friday (2004)

Heartbreakingly True.

[10/10 · 15 February 2007]

This is not only a film. It's a lesson. It's a message. It's cruelly true history. It's an initiative. It's an attempt. It's a bold step, forward. It's known yet untold bare truth. And after all it's a film.

No doubt the film opens old wounds, but only to find the root cause of it, only to find cure for them, only to make sure they are eradicated and never surface again. The film presents the hard facts about the 1993 serial bomb blasts in Mumbai (then Bombay). The film gives a new dimension to real life cinema, with real name, real incidents, and real people. The usage of actual news footage of the incidents make you believe whatever you are watching. It takes courage to take names of some of the biggest name in underworld and Indian politics as bluntly, and the filmmaker shows that courage. The story doesn't point finger on any particular person, group or community as the culprit for what is still Indian crime history's biggest tragedy. It tries to make a point how some clever minds make their business out of our religious sentiments, at the cost of lives of common men. Men who are common in every sense of it. The terror, the attacks, the explosions, the riots inhales not any particular community but the whole humanity.

Director churns out a stunning effort. Technically too the film is impeccable. The blast sequences couldn't have got any more realistic. Each actor performs his character to full honesty, but Badshah Khan and Tiger Memon stand out.

And before you jump to your own conclusion to decide the culprit(s), to decide the fate of them, the film concludes with the quote that says it all.

An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.

A must watch.

Guru (2007)

Dream of a villager fulfilled, Dream of cine goer shattered.

[6/10 · 22 January 2007]

Let's start with the good things. The concept of the film to start with, is excellent which has a tremendous potential for a great movie. A dream star cast only adds to the potential of the film. And when it's Mani Ratnam, you can be rest assured of good direction and acting. So you enter the theater with sky high expectations. But alas…!! You find that most (if not all) of your expectations start falling straight on the face one after another. And by the time it ends you realize that the concept was the only thing remained good till that time.

The story, which should have been the story of struggle, set backs and standing again, realizing dreams at all cost, manipulations needed for success and then maintaining success is trimmed to fit in two love stories and some entirely unnecessary songs. You cannot stop wondering what exactly Vidya Balan is doing in the film. And when a mature looking Abhishek Bachchan stands a delivers a emotional cum strong speech to none other than the chief magistrate of the inquiry commission, the attempt to copy Amitabh is very clear. You expect a better job from Abhishek now. Aishwarya is decent in her role. Mithun Da leaves a mark. Cinematography is A grade. But music, always a high point of Mani Ratanam's film is a let down this time. None of the songs would leave you humming the tunes. Its time to pull up the socks for A R Rehman.

Overall a very average film. Its more disappointing since you go with hell lot of expectations. Don't expect too much and watch it, it definitely a one time affair.

Bhagam Bhag (2006)

Trying too much. Achieveing little.

[5/10 · 28 December 2006]

Move on Priyadarshan. No doubt you gave us one of the best comedies ever made in Hera Pheri, but its enough now. Accept the fact that you cannot create another Hera Pheri. Its time to try something new.

The biggest issue with Bhagam Bhag is everyone is trying too much, just too much, while comedy should as effortless as possible. The storyline is haphazard. In race of making a comic thriller, the end product was neither a complete comedy and remained far from being a thriller. Pitching comic line in most tense of situation dilute the grip of thriller and could not manage to grab the comic timing totally either.

Another problem lies in the fact that Akshay Kumar is over utilised while Govinda is almost wasted. Its high time for Akshay to change his comic style. Of course he possesses probably the best comic timing in the current generation of lead actors, but excess of every thing is bad. He should give it a break, may return to action flicks for a while. Govinda proves he still has it in him, in the limited screen presence and unimaginative script.

Its a typical Priyadarshan type film. Some good laughs in the start, some twist in the tale and chaos in the end. Not that its bad, just nothing new. But still some really funny sequences in the start makes the first half entertaining.

But again, its time Mr. Priyadarshan. Move on. We hear that David Dhavan is giving finishing touches to some of his ventures. Move on before David recaptures his throne of Comedy King.

Kabul Express (2006)

Kabul. Its heaven beyond that fire.

[9/10 · 18 December 2006]

The movie raises 2 BIG questions. Who is the culprit for the situation in Afganistan and who is world's all time greatest All Rounder in Cricket.

Yes, its this unique and fine blend of humor and world politics' BIGGEST burning issues that makes Kabul Express easily one of the finest films of the year.

With some convincing acts by immensely talented Arshad Warsi and great looking John Abraham and rest of the cast, coupled with great direction and splendid (simply splendid) cameraman-ship, this movie is a treat. Its essentially a big screen movie.

Kabul Express takes you to the soulful journey through the heart of Kabul with Express paced narrative but making sure you don't miss a shot due to fast speed. If there is any establishment like Kabul Tourism, this would be a perfect advertisement for it, as the cinematographer captures exactly what needs to be captured, leaving you wondering if you could some day go for a vacation on those rugged roadways.

Beauty of the film lies in the effortless ease with with which it tries to find the cause of the destruction in Afganistan and making us believe that no one, including the soldiers fighting there, wants a war. It's all about money honey. You know what's it all about when one of the protagonists says, "Its all Only for money, only to suck all the oil and sell Coke and Pepsi here." You might just laugh away at the dialog, only later realizing how true was it. The best part is that you wont realize that you are actually watching a film which deals with such serious issues with the director extracting humor from least likely situations.

Despite being very convincing the movie leave one question unanswered, Who is better among Kapil Dev and Imran Khan :o)

Go and watch it, essentially on the BIG screen.

Casino Royale (2006)

Good attempt Craiggy... But Sean remains best...!!

[6/10 · 19 November 2006]

Coming straight to the point. Has Denial Craig passed the acid test...?? Is he the right inheritor of the legend...?? Verdict: very good attempt. At least he has made the critics chew their tongue, who had blasted him off as soon as he was signed to portray the sexy spy and take the baton from Brosanan. But the words going round that he is best bond is appreciation done a bit too much. Sean remains the best bond. In fact Craig has still to match the charisma of even Brasanan. He lends the required spark in the character with good physique, good action and graceful sturdy yet venerable looks.

So Denial Craig almost passes the test, but the film as a whole is disappointing, lacking the high octane action sequences, the trademark of Bond films. Also lacking is the legendary Bond music, which u only get to hear when credit roll in the end. Even the Bond girls, though nice, but fail to raise the temptation.

But the film ends on a promising note when Craiggy dressed in classy tuxedo marks the arrival of new Bond and concludes with the words you would be dieing to hear all through the film.... The name is Bond. James Bond.

Umrao Jaan (2006)

Disappointing.

[4/10 · 5 November 2006]

To start with, I had great hopes from Umrao Jaan. Coming from a trusted stable of JP Dutta, with big star cast in lead and a story that is all time classic, expectations were bound to be high.

But the film disappoints in almost all departments. The current generation of stars just cannot carry Urdu dialogs. No one in the cast was able to lend the required grandeur required for making an Urdu film. Suniel Shetty is almost comic. Only exception being Shabana Azmi, who stands out as the best performer. Probably the script and dialog writers knew this, as most of the film is filled with Hindi dialogs. Also one expects better work from O P Dutta, as not even a single dialog could leave a lasting impression.

Music is also a let down. Its hard to believe that even a maestro like Javed Akhtar could not capture the essence of the story, and came up with some really mediocre lyrics. Anu Malik tried hard but fell short of a good musical score.

As for performance, Aishwarya tries hard, looks good but her "Salaam" remains a far cry from Rekha's "Aankho Ki masti". Abhishek starts of well be struggles during later stages. The romantic scenes between Abhishek and Aishwarya are dragging and lack any chemistry.

The tweaks in the original scripts also don't work in film's favor.

The only saving grace of the film are direction of JP Dutta and performance of Shabana Azmi, but these two are not enough to make it a success, both commercial as well as critical.

Don (I) (2006)

Phew...!! They didn't spoil the name of DON.

[7/10 · 2 November 2006]

Like any other Amitabh and DON (orignal) fan, I was skeptical about this one. I feared that they will spoil the DON's name earned and savored for so long by Bachchan Senior. But take a relieved breath... they might not be able to shine the name further, but rest assured they have not spoiled it. In one of the better performances of his career, Shahrukh Khan gives his heart and soul to the role. But still somehow he is not convincing in "Matrix like" action sequences. Also in the role of Vijay, he sometimes is below expectations, one reason may be that the expectations were sky high.

Technically the film is almost flawless, with slick direction, fast paced narration, great action, splendid camera work, racy background score and good and new twists in the script. Every time, just when you are about to get the feeling of "ah! already seen than in older version", comes a surprising and interesting twist in the tale that keeps you hooked up all through.

Music is a let down, so are the roles (not acting) of Aruj Rampal and Om Puri.

In the end you come out happy, only wondering, that though good, but was Shaharukh the best choice for the role...

Lage Raho Munna Bhai (2006)

Keep it up.... Lage Raho.

[9/10 · 26 September 2006]

To be very honest I was not very sure if they could match the class of Munnabhai MBBS again. Even though I watched the film a good three weeks after the release, by that time the rave reviews and ripple on the box office were sign enough to make anyone believe that they have done it again. But not me. I was of the opinion that this one would have a big hangover of MBBS and people are liking what they liked in earlier version, and there would not be anything new to offer.

BUT.... how wrong perceptions can be.

This is a revelation of sorts. Its not even a single notch below the its predecessor. Its right up there.... on the top, among the finest films of the year...or if I may dare to say EVER. Just when we were actually forgetting Mahatma Gandhi, and he starting to become nothing more than a photo on currency notes, comes Lage Raho Munnabhai... rejuvenating Mahatma from nowhere. Franckly speaking, I was not a fan of Mahatma Gandhi, I am not very impressed with his doings... but this film surely changed the perception a lot if not completely.

Revealing or commenting anything on the story or performance or any other technical aspect of the film would be stupidity, as its seen to be believed.

You'll realize the beauty of the film when you won't realize when your eyes were filled with tears while laughing your hearts out.

Lage Raho Munnabhai, Raju Harani (Director), VV Chopra (Producer) and the entire team.

Don't MISS THIS ONE.

Omkara (2006)

This will make Shakespeare proud...!!

[9/10 · 7 August 2006]

If Shakespeare would have seen this one, he would have been proud of two people, Vishal Bhardwaj and Himself, for Omkara brings life to what was left to the closed pages for so many years.

In today's swift world,you don't expect too many people (especially youngsters) to read through the classic literatures. One good way to bring these classics to common notice and provide them the respect and recognition they deserve is by making a good cinema out of it, and if you could do it like Omkara, then only one word comes out of your mouth.... WOW..!!

No one had a doubt about the story as it's masterpiece by the maestro, but people were skeptical about the execution. And this is where Vishal Bhardwaj excels. He has transformed the centuries old classic in a story of current day rustic country land of India, so effortlessly, with such perfection that you don't feel the bump even once.

The assembly of huge star cast in not only to attract crowed, each character has a role etched out, only you feel Nassirudin Shah could have been used better. Ajay Devgan is as intense as it can get, this is probably Kareena's best effort till date, Konkana Sen is a treat to watch, Vivek is doing what he does the best, play second fiddle... but the real thunder is Saif Ali Khan... with tremendous screen presence, he infuses so much power in the character Langda Tyagi that easily overshadows everyone else in the cast. By the time it all ends, you wonder why the movie is called Omkara and not Langda Tyagi. He should not waste the enormous talent he has, in the likes of Salaam Namaste. Why be the sweet boy, when you can be the toughest man around..??

Vishal Bhardwaj is slowly looking like the man who could get India its first fame at Oskars... he directs, sings, composes music, writes scripts and all of these with such élan.... Don't miss this one as this is one of the finest movies of modern times.

Over the Hedge (2006)

now that's animation film.

[8/10 · 20 July 2006]

Now that's what you call a perfect animation film. The first aim of animation has to be humor and Over the Hedge has that in plenty and mind you not only for kids. It will surely make the adults laugh as well. And the humor and fun is not only in animation but in dialogs as well, which makes the film all the more enjoyable. A good story coupled with state of the art 3D animation, apt voices and good direction make it a worth family outing. But fun and laughter is not the only thing this flick has to offer, it teaches a lesson or two without you ever realizing that you are being taught. that's the beauty of the film. It points a finger on changing life styles, clearance of forests for living space, cheating is always bad and more prominently the family values. All in all a real entertainer.

Krrish (2006)

It has started.

[7/10 · 3 July 2006]

So it finally started. India's first super hero is finally here and is ready to take on the best in the business. Krrish opened almost together with Superman Returns and is already eating a major share of business from the legendary super hero, which is a hint enough to mark the grand arrival of the Indian. World now seems a safe place, along with Superman, Batman and Spiderman, now we have Krrish to save the world from evils. The film invests a lot of time in evolution of a super hero from a common man. But once it arrives, you wish the movie runs for some more time... Krrish could do with some more action. the film ends just when your excitement is on the peak. Hrithik pulls the act very well, and Rakesh Roshan again proves that only he can extract best out of his boy. Though the movie is good, but not as good as its prequel Koi Mil Gaya, where you had 2 things to watch out for..splendid acting by Hrithik and Jadoo... This flick certainly lacks Jadoo... both the lovable alien and the cinematic magic... But I guess arrival of Indian Super hero could not have been better. Bravo and all the best Roshans.

Gangster (2006)

Inexperience of actors shows..!!

[6/10 · 16 May 2006]

If only we had some mature actors in the lead, we had a winner in hand. The story is good, direction A grade, splendid editing and screenplay, only the lead actors fail to match the class. They have tried good though. The director's narrations style impresses with the way story unfolds. Shieny Ahuja in lead is stale at places. And it's high time Emraan Hashmi should learn to act, he is probably the weakest link of the film. Kangana makes an impressive debut, though she can do with some improvement in dialog delivery. Gulshan Grover leaves a mark in the limited screen presence and shows what kind of intensity was required from the actors in such a film. Shiny hardly gets any lines to speak, and Kangana gets a bit too many. The strongest part of the film is its music, which spell its magic. You will realize that when you find yourself still humming the songs 3 days after you watched the movie. To sum up, a good effort by the director, better was needed from actors. Worth once nevertheless.