Well here' wishing all of you a very happy & prosperous diwali.Hope all of you are having a great weekend.What better way to unwind this festival weekend apart from watching the diwali releases?Bollywood has seen the biggies- Om Shanti Om & Saawariya release.Though opening collections have been good for both.Reports clearly indicate that OSO is the likely winner.
Kollywood has seen 6 releases- Vijay's Azhagiya Tamil Magan (ATM), Surya's Vel, Dhanush's Polladhavan, Jeevan's Machakaran, Sathyaraj-Prithviraj starrer-Kannamoochi Enada & an all new star cast in Agra.Initial reports indicate that Vel is the likely winner with Polladhavan following closely behind.ATM is turning out to be big turkey!!!
Will be out with the my diwali reviews shortly.Keep watching this space!!!
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Sunday, November 4, 2007
Athithi-A Quick Review
Athithi is Mahesh Babu's much awaited movie this year.People are still talking about his Pokiri while conveniently having forgotten his last release Sainikudu which was a washout.So does Surendar Reddy ( Anthanokkade, Ashok) the director deliver with Athithi?The answer is both a yes & a no.While he scores on the technical front, he falters on the script which could have been better.
Mahesh is an orphan in Delhi, he is taken in by a couple after he saves their daughter & renamed athithi.One night somebody kills the couple & the blame falls on Mahes & he is put in a reform home.When he comes out he wants to nab the killer & find his friend- the heroine.
He once again saves the girl unknowingly ( Amrita Rao ) from some hooligans & they promptly fall in love.He then gets to know her reality & so now wants to protect her as well as identify the killer.He follows her to Hyderabad where she lives with her uncle ( Nasser) the Home Minister & his family.
The killer is now trying to kill Amrita Rao & its Mahesh Babu the saviour who comes in the way. So who is the killer & what happens at the end is what the rest of the story all about.Comedy is in the form of Sunil,Brahmanandam & Venu Madhav. Sunil-Brahmanandam's scenes , though few still raise a few laughs in the 2nd half.The ending reminds you of Kamalhasaan's Ragahvan ( Vettaiyadu Vilayadu in tamil).
Nasser has nothing much to do, Murli Sharma the latest Bollywood export to Tollywood is quite efficient.Amrita Rao sparkles & puts in a neat performance.Music by Mani Sharma is decent but not great.Malaika Arora is red hot in her item number.But its Mahesh Babu who is the life of the movie.His looks, mannerisms & dialogue delivery are all very stylish.
All in all its a mass masala movie, not bad for a weekend if you dont have other options.But Surendar Reddy you have not repeated the Anthanokkade act here !!!
Rating- 2.5/5
Mahesh is an orphan in Delhi, he is taken in by a couple after he saves their daughter & renamed athithi.One night somebody kills the couple & the blame falls on Mahes & he is put in a reform home.When he comes out he wants to nab the killer & find his friend- the heroine.
He once again saves the girl unknowingly ( Amrita Rao ) from some hooligans & they promptly fall in love.He then gets to know her reality & so now wants to protect her as well as identify the killer.He follows her to Hyderabad where she lives with her uncle ( Nasser) the Home Minister & his family.
The killer is now trying to kill Amrita Rao & its Mahesh Babu the saviour who comes in the way. So who is the killer & what happens at the end is what the rest of the story all about.Comedy is in the form of Sunil,Brahmanandam & Venu Madhav. Sunil-Brahmanandam's scenes , though few still raise a few laughs in the 2nd half.The ending reminds you of Kamalhasaan's Ragahvan ( Vettaiyadu Vilayadu in tamil).
Nasser has nothing much to do, Murli Sharma the latest Bollywood export to Tollywood is quite efficient.Amrita Rao sparkles & puts in a neat performance.Music by Mani Sharma is decent but not great.Malaika Arora is red hot in her item number.But its Mahesh Babu who is the life of the movie.His looks, mannerisms & dialogue delivery are all very stylish.
All in all its a mass masala movie, not bad for a weekend if you dont have other options.But Surendar Reddy you have not repeated the Anthanokkade act here !!!
Rating- 2.5/5
Saturday, November 3, 2007
No Smoking- A Quick Review
Anurag Kashyap's No Smoking is definitely a leaf out of his own book.Its his expression of himself.Its also a test to find out how many people sympathise with such subjects ( very few going by the no.of people in the auditorium !!!).
John Abraham plays "K" a rich successfully guy who is a chain smoker.His wife -Ayesha Takia cant take his smoking anymore.Thats when his friend "Abbas Tyrewala" ( Ranvir Sheorey) advices him to go to a Prayogshala for remedy.The prayogshala is run by Baba Bengali (Paresh Rawal).
John is forced to sign a contract & its then a downward spiral from there.Everytime he smokes a cigarette, bizzare things happen to him like his brother getting kidnapped.So far the plot seems to be a bearable, but hereafter things out of hand- literally!!!
John now revolts & ends up paying badly.It becomes a cat & mouse game.In between we see Ayesha as both his secaretary & wife ( roles keep interchanging).There are shots of Siberia thrown in, representation of hell etc.
Finally its the bath tub sequences and the two item numbers ( the Bips number comes right after the end credits !) which you can remember with clarity. Tough to say whether Anurag lost it in the 2nd half or made a masterpiece.Its too tough to comprehend for ordinary mortals.
Rating- Strictly from the critical angle- 2/5 ( actually very tough to rate such movies).The rating includes 1 point to Anurag for his guts to make such a movie.
John Abraham plays "K" a rich successfully guy who is a chain smoker.His wife -Ayesha Takia cant take his smoking anymore.Thats when his friend "Abbas Tyrewala" ( Ranvir Sheorey) advices him to go to a Prayogshala for remedy.The prayogshala is run by Baba Bengali (Paresh Rawal).
John is forced to sign a contract & its then a downward spiral from there.Everytime he smokes a cigarette, bizzare things happen to him like his brother getting kidnapped.So far the plot seems to be a bearable, but hereafter things out of hand- literally!!!
John now revolts & ends up paying badly.It becomes a cat & mouse game.In between we see Ayesha as both his secaretary & wife ( roles keep interchanging).There are shots of Siberia thrown in, representation of hell etc.
Finally its the bath tub sequences and the two item numbers ( the Bips number comes right after the end credits !) which you can remember with clarity. Tough to say whether Anurag lost it in the 2nd half or made a masterpiece.Its too tough to comprehend for ordinary mortals.
Rating- Strictly from the critical angle- 2/5 ( actually very tough to rate such movies).The rating includes 1 point to Anurag for his guts to make such a movie.
Jab We Met-A Quick Review
Imtiaz Ali is back after that sweet little love tale- Socha Na Tha, this time with Jab We Met.We see the Shahid-Kareena pair for the 4th time ( Fida,Chup Chupke,36 China Town) & this is definitely the best of them all.
The chemistry shows wonderfully & you actually hope that itsnt their last movie together with all the controversy behind them!!!The plot is very simple- Shahid is a failure both professionally & personally and is planning to end his life.
He comes across Kareena in a train.She's a nosiy, slightly irritating girl & somehow they end up missing the train in between.She then threatens him to drop her home all the way in Bhatinda,Punjab.Thus begins a DDLJ style journey home.
Kareena is in love with Tarun Arora & plans to elope.Her family reminds you of Pyar To Hona hi tha.As Shahid helps her elope, her family thinks they eloped together.Shahid returns to his business & he now gets super successful ( wow!if only things coudl be so simple).
Her family now confronts him thinking she is with him.He learns that she is in Shimla & that she has been jilted by her lover.Thus begins another journey to get her back home.And yes its a predicatable happy ending.Though the plot is very familiar it is very easy going & you just float along.Kareena is the soul of the movie & has some whack one liners.
Music by Preetham is good especially Mauja hi mauja.Go for this fun ride!!!
Rating-3/5
The chemistry shows wonderfully & you actually hope that itsnt their last movie together with all the controversy behind them!!!The plot is very simple- Shahid is a failure both professionally & personally and is planning to end his life.
He comes across Kareena in a train.She's a nosiy, slightly irritating girl & somehow they end up missing the train in between.She then threatens him to drop her home all the way in Bhatinda,Punjab.Thus begins a DDLJ style journey home.
Kareena is in love with Tarun Arora & plans to elope.Her family reminds you of Pyar To Hona hi tha.As Shahid helps her elope, her family thinks they eloped together.Shahid returns to his business & he now gets super successful ( wow!if only things coudl be so simple).
Her family now confronts him thinking she is with him.He learns that she is in Shimla & that she has been jilted by her lover.Thus begins another journey to get her back home.And yes its a predicatable happy ending.Though the plot is very familiar it is very easy going & you just float along.Kareena is the soul of the movie & has some whack one liners.
Music by Preetham is good especially Mauja hi mauja.Go for this fun ride!!!
Rating-3/5
Nasarani- A Quick Review (Malayalam)
The Joshy directed Ranjit written Nasarani is Mammooty's Ramzan release. As David John Kottarathil, it is an "achayan"role once again for Mammooka.Its a typical masala venture with all elements being wowen in ( except for songs).
Mamooty's wedding to Vimala Raman is called off as his father (Capt.Raj) accidentally shoots dead her father on the engagement day.10 years later one sees Mammooty swooping down upon a women's college where Vimala is a Professor.he whisks her away to a mountain top to celebrate their 10th year anniversary of love and a pending marriage !!!
Vimala's half sister is a medico who is on the run as she is accused of murdering a politician (Vijayaraghavan's son).Now Mammooty becomes the saviour & unravels the mystery.In between one comes across a lot of character's like Biju Menon ( the minister's elder son), Lalu Alex ( a cop), Kalabhavan Mani, Maniampillai Raju, Bharat Gopi etc who are all Mammooka's confidants.
Overall its just old wine in new packaging.
Rating- 2.5/5 ( Extra 0.5 for Mammooka in a typical kottayam achayan role-he's good)
Mamooty's wedding to Vimala Raman is called off as his father (Capt.Raj) accidentally shoots dead her father on the engagement day.10 years later one sees Mammooty swooping down upon a women's college where Vimala is a Professor.he whisks her away to a mountain top to celebrate their 10th year anniversary of love and a pending marriage !!!
Vimala's half sister is a medico who is on the run as she is accused of murdering a politician (Vijayaraghavan's son).Now Mammooty becomes the saviour & unravels the mystery.In between one comes across a lot of character's like Biju Menon ( the minister's elder son), Lalu Alex ( a cop), Kalabhavan Mani, Maniampillai Raju, Bharat Gopi etc who are all Mammooka's confidants.
Overall its just old wine in new packaging.
Rating- 2.5/5 ( Extra 0.5 for Mammooka in a typical kottayam achayan role-he's good)
Chocolate-A Quick Review (Malayalam)
Shafi ( Thommanum Makkalam,Mayavi) is back again, this time with a college romantic entertainer-Chocolate.The premise of the movie is interesting.In a women's college,a Professor's
son ( Prithviraj who has been thrown out of various colleges for violence ) is admitted in a P.G course following the use of a loophole though the parents protest the same.
This upsets Roma, Samvrutha & Remya Nambisan who are the tomboys ruling the college.Sensing a danger to their rule, they oppose Prithiviraj.The encounters between them are very light hearted & entertaining.
In the midst of all this Prithvi & Roma fall in love.Prithvi's friend Jayasuriya is in love wit Samvrutha.How the love stories climax is the rest of the story.Salim Kumar,Lalu Alex, etc make up a good supporting cast.
Music by Alex Paul ( reminds you of Classmates ) is good- Ishtamalle being the pick of the lot.
The movie is rocking Kerala's box office now.
Rating-3/5
son ( Prithviraj who has been thrown out of various colleges for violence ) is admitted in a P.G course following the use of a loophole though the parents protest the same.
This upsets Roma, Samvrutha & Remya Nambisan who are the tomboys ruling the college.Sensing a danger to their rule, they oppose Prithiviraj.The encounters between them are very light hearted & entertaining.
In the midst of all this Prithvi & Roma fall in love.Prithvi's friend Jayasuriya is in love wit Samvrutha.How the love stories climax is the rest of the story.Salim Kumar,Lalu Alex, etc make up a good supporting cast.
Music by Alex Paul ( reminds you of Classmates ) is good- Ishtamalle being the pick of the lot.
The movie is rocking Kerala's box office now.
Rating-3/5
Paradesi-A Quick Review ( Malayalam)
Hey!finally I come out with my first malayalam film review.And what a movie it happens to be-Paradesi- directed by P.T.Kunhimohammed & starring the wonderful Mohanlal in a lifelike role is not your typical entertainer but for those who love serious cinema.
The movie depicts the real life tragedy of people trapped in their own country as foreigners ( paradesis).Sometime before Indian independence there were quite a few malayalees especially malabar muslims who had moved to Pakistan for work leaving their kin behind in Kerala.After independence they were neither here nor there, not wanted anywhere.
Paradesi is the tale of one such individual -Valiyakathu Moosa ( Mohanlal) who keeps getting shunted back to Pakistan every time his visa expires.He tries to finally hide behind at home & even tries to legally stay on.But fate intervenes & he is finally deported once again.
The movie keeps shifting between past & present.Mohanlal in 3 different life stages-35,55-60 & 80-85 is the life of the movie. Its an award winning performance.All the supporting cast like Shweta Menon (Mohanlal's wife), Laksmi Gopalswamy, Jagathi, Siddique etc are all very good.The pace of the movie is a let down at times.
The make-up & props used highten the movie.Kunhimohammed & Mohanlal deserve a pat on their back for this brave attempt.
Rating-3.5/5
The movie depicts the real life tragedy of people trapped in their own country as foreigners ( paradesis).Sometime before Indian independence there were quite a few malayalees especially malabar muslims who had moved to Pakistan for work leaving their kin behind in Kerala.After independence they were neither here nor there, not wanted anywhere.
Paradesi is the tale of one such individual -Valiyakathu Moosa ( Mohanlal) who keeps getting shunted back to Pakistan every time his visa expires.He tries to finally hide behind at home & even tries to legally stay on.But fate intervenes & he is finally deported once again.
The movie keeps shifting between past & present.Mohanlal in 3 different life stages-35,55-60 & 80-85 is the life of the movie. Its an award winning performance.All the supporting cast like Shweta Menon (Mohanlal's wife), Laksmi Gopalswamy, Jagathi, Siddique etc are all very good.The pace of the movie is a let down at times.
The make-up & props used highten the movie.Kunhimohammed & Mohanlal deserve a pat on their back for this brave attempt.
Rating-3.5/5
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