Monday, June 30, 2008

Kadha Parayumbol- the most happening malayalm movie ever?

Well Srinivasan & Mukesh must be in cloud 9 with Kadha Parayumbol their maiden production as a team striking gold big time.Also getting into limelight is Srinivasan's story & screenplay for the sheer simplicity of the tale set amidst a sea of emotions. As everyone knows Rajnikanth is doing the tamil & telugu bilingual version of the movie ( Kuselan/Kathanayakudu) and incidentally the audio launch of Kuselan took place today. We also know that SRK-Priyadarshan combo is remaking the same in hindi as Billo Barber.Now comes the latest news- Golden Star (G) Ganesh & Ramesh Arvind are joining hands for the Kannanda version. The next venture from Srinivasan I'm sure will now be keenly awaited :)

Song of the day

I know I am guilty of not contributing regularly for this topic ( in fact its only my 2nd ever post) but let me try to make a habit of the same. To bhaiyon aur behnon aaj ka vishesh gaana hai-"sambhala hai maine, bahut apne dilko, zubaan pe tera phir bhi naam aa raha hai". Well this one's from the 1994 movie- Naaraz.Directed by Mahesh Bhatt and picturised on the lovely Sonali Bhendre and Atul Agnihotri ( probably the biggest hit song in his career as an actor) , it had music by Anu Malik.It was one of the most romantic tracks of the early 1990's. Infact even today the movie is only remembered for this song.

Saturday, June 28, 2008

21- A Quick Review

Here come's a clean campus flick but with a difference. The tale is not really one of campus life, but about high stakes in las Vegas. Are you confused , then read on. Jim Sturgess plays a brilliant student at MIT who gets admission into Harvard Medical School, but is finding it difficult to manage to pay the tution fee there.

Thats when one of his professors ( good portrayal by Kevin Spacey) comes in. Seeing the hero to be good with numbers the prof, asks him to join his gang of super brainy students who have a habit of hitting the casino's at Las Vegas during the weekends , using their intelligence to count the cards & winning big time.

Though Jim is reluctant at first, he soon gives in & gets sucked into the labyrinth. Kate Bosworth who is part of the group soon becomes his love interest. At one point of time , the stakes start getting higher & Jim is unable to turn back. Also on their heels is Laurence Fishburne who helps the casino management's to track such sharp heada like them who try to beat the system.

So what happens next? Does Jim get caught & does he go to Harvard?Well all in all a decent movie which is worth a watch and will not make you feel you've wasted your time.

Rating-3/5

Mere Baap Pehle Aap- A Quick Review

Ok at the very outset let me reveal that Priyan has remade the malayalam movie - Ishtam ( directed by Sibi Malayalil, starring Dileep-Navya Nair) as Mere Baap Pehle Aap. There's hardly any deviation from the original script. Its all about a son trying to bring happiness in the life of his father by getting him married to his old flame.

Akshaye Khanna plays the son & Paresh Rawal the father. Om Puri plays the friend of Paresh Rawal who is constantly looking to getting married. Whenever the two friends set out in the pursuit of some lady for Om Puri, they get into trouble with the police -Archana Puran Singh does well as the cop with the Haryanvi accent. And Akshaye generally comes to the rescue of his dad.

One day a mysterious girl ( Genelia) starts calling up Akshaye & says she's his old friend. She keeps irritating him & finally its revealed that she was his junior in college. They become friends & Genelia even gets attached to Paresh Rawal. She stays with her guardian ( parents are in the U.S) played a bored looking Shobhana.

Once during a wedding when Paresh Rawal & Shobhana come face to face both Akshaye & Genelia realise something's wrong as they start behaving differently especially Paresh Rawal.They soon find out that they used to love each other long ago but couldnt get married. That is when both Akshaye & Genelia decide to get them both married & also in the process fall in love themselves.

Its a hppy ending of course. Musically ( Vidyasagar) its one of the worst movies from Priyadarshan. Acting honours go to Paresh Rawal & to some extent Genelia.Akshaye is decent but not great. For those who havent seen the malayalam original , its not a bad watch.

Rating- 2/5 ( reduced 0.5 for a bad soundtrack)

De-Taali - A Quick Review

E.Niwas tries his hand at comedy once again with De-Taali. Its a tale of 3 friends who have grown up together- Riteish Deshmukh, Aftab & Ayesha Takia.They are the picture perfect group of friends who do almost everything together. Riteish plays a fun loving guy, Aftab keeps falling in love & getting out of it ever so often & Ayesha plays the balancing act.

During one such incidence Riteish mentions to Ayesha that she would make the ideal girl for Aftab. This sets her thinking & she actually falls in love with Aftab. Unfortunately he falls in love very seriously with Rimi Sen. Riteish & Ayesha try hard to break the pair.They are all the more vindicated when they realise Rimi is a gold digger.

But there's a problem, Aftab is smitten by Rimi & believes her blindly.What happens next?Do Aftab & Ayesha finally unite?This is what the rest of the movie is all about. The movie had a great publicity & Vishal-Shekar's music has added to the decent hype created. Unfortunately the movie doesnt really deliver to the expectations. Riteish is good as usual. Aftab looks lost as ever, Ayesha is decent , but surprisingly its Rimi Sen who emerges the scene stealer & appears quite natural.

Rating-2/5

Thoda Pyar Thoda Magic- A Quick Review

Yash Raj Films is back with one of their favourite directors,Kunal Kohli ( this is his fourth film with Yash Raj after Mujhse Dosti Karoge, Hum Tum & Fanaa).This time Kunal Kohli also is co-producer & comes up with a sugar coated candyfloss movie aimed at the kids and family crowd.So does it do the trick for Yash Raj who have been having a tough time at the box office of late?

Well the answer is yes & no. Yes its not a bad movie, there are genuine moments in the movie where you smile, but then the whole tale is very predictable & therein lies the fault.The script ( a bit of Mary Poppins, a bit of Sound of Music, a bit of Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke ) does not keep you gripped to the script.Its very laidback & does not throw any surprises at all.

Saif Khan plays a rich brat with a tough past and Amisha Patel ( now known as Ameesha eeks!) is his girlfriend.In a freak road accident he hits a car and the couple sitting in it die. The court orders Saif to bring up the couple's 4 children as their legal guardian. The trouble is he hates the kids & the kids in turn hate him.

When the kids pray to God to help them, God ( played by a charming Rishi Kapoor) sends his favourite fairy,Rani Mukherjee to bring Saif & the kids closer. Rani literally comes riding a bicycle along a rainbow & straight into their house as their nanny. Of course by now you must have guessed what happens after this right? There in lies the problem for the movie. Pritam is not in form this time. The kids have all done quite well especially the kid playing Iqbal - the sardar. Saif & Rani are strictly ok. Amisha sizzles in the lazy lamhe song.

Overall a ok movie, go for it if you have nothing to do this weekend.

Rating- 2/5