Popcorn Entertainment

Reviews, Previews, funtertainment

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Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhaniya Review--"DDLJ" wine in a New Bottle

Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhaniya Review–”DDLJ” wine in a New Bottle

    Film: Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania

Starring: Varun Dhawan, Alia Bhatt, Ashutosh Rana

Release Date: 11 July 2014

Produced by :Dharma Productions

Directed by: Shashank Khaitaan

Story/Screenplay:  Shashank Khaitaan

Music: Sachin- Jigar

  It was in the year 1995 that Yashraj films had created history. One film which took the nation by storm, bought the Dilwale’s and Dulhaniya’s under one platter,…

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"Finding Fanny" trailer review--Witty and quirky dish on the menu

“Finding Fanny” trailer review–Witty and quirky dish on the menu

Interesting and witty, thats what one can say after seeing the first look of Homi Adajania’s “Finding Fanny’, his upcoming movie , slated for a Sept 2014 release. Comprising of an ensemble and an extremely talented cast–Deepika Padukone, Naseer, Pankaj Kapur, Arjun Kapoor, Dimple Kapadia–Finding Fanny does bear a striking resemblance to Homi’s previous directorial ventuie-Being Cyrus. 

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"Ek Villian" Movie Review-- When Story becomes the Villian....!

“Ek Villian” Movie Review– When Story becomes the Villian….!

    Film: Ek Villian

Starring: Ritesh Deshmukh, Shraddha Kapoor, Siddhartha Malhotra

Release Date: 27th June 2014

Produced by :Balaji Films

Directed by: Mohit Suri

Story/Screenplay:  Milap Zaveri

Music: Ankit Tiwari/Mithoon

Bollywood’s penchant for remaking the core plot of successful movies continues. Mohit Suri ( a Bhatt clan favourite), after a rather surprising yet humogous blockbuster last…

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Holiday movie review--Falls short of an Edge of the Seat thriller..

Holiday movie review–Falls short of an Edge of the Seat thriller..

    Film: Holiday

Starring: Akshay Kumar, Sonakshi Sinha, Sumit Raghavan

Release Date: 6th June 2014

Produced by :Twinkle Khanna, Reliance Entertainment

Directed by: A.R.Murugadoss

Story/Screenplay:  A.R.Murugadoss

Music: Pritam

In the latest flick Holiday, director A.R. Murugadoss does a Ghajini again, by reprising his own tamil blockbuster Thupakki down south, and this time , its Akshay Kumar…

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'Highway' Review-- A beautiful and botched up film!

Film: Highway

Starring: Randeep, Alia Bhatt

Release Date: 21st Feb 2014

Produced by :Sajid Nadiadwala,Imtiaz Ali

Directed by: Imtiaz Ali

Story/Screenplay:  Imtiaz Ali

Music: A.R.Rehman

Bluntly speaking, Highway is not your usual fare. Its more of a cinematic journey than a plot driven script, delivered from a maker whose previous outings has been candyfloss romantic comedies. But despite being shot on an honest scale and riveting performances, Highway loses its sheen due to a frail plot, and it actually tires you to death till the final credits rolls. Veera ( Alia Bhatt), a rich unabashed brat, is kidnapped at gun point  by a bunch of goons led by Mahabir (Randeep Hooda), while on a late night drive with her fiance.  Soon as Mahabir discovers that Veera is the daughter of a reputed MLA, he goes on the run from the law, and in this process, both Veera and Mahabir undertake a never ending journey across India--- Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Punjab, Himachal- and develop a strange bond which defines their future.   Shot magnificently by cinematographer Anil Mehta, Highway bears the trademark stamp of Imtiaz Ali--exquisite locales and heart wrenching moments.  Each and every frame of the film depicts a textured look, perfectly complemented with unobtrusive background and lyrical musical score by A,R.Rehman. Some moments will certainly take your breath away--Veera's outburst scenes, her realisation of  freedom and new found love,  and Mahabir's helplessness in witnessing her victim turning a new leaf, a midst the entire chaos. A special mention of the scene where Veera breaks into unbridled dance in the mid of the highway,  and the goons are left straddled with haplessness. But  after a promising start, Highway derails and slowly meanders into a nowhere zone--it just doesnt go anywhere after a point. Veera's sudden transformation into a  ebullient co traveller  is unconvincing, so as her soft feelings for Mahabir. The common thread that brings this unlikely pair closer is strained , and fails to make an impact. Though both the protagonists undergo a catharsis process from their tormented childhood,  their solace in themselves seems too contrived.  The film does  end on a poignant note, but Imtiaz Ali stretches the insubstantial story so much that it tires and disengages the viewer completely.

Handicapped by his own story, Imtiaz balances by extracting remarkable performances from  the lead actors . Alia Bhatt is absolutely crackling as the fragile Veera, displaying histrionics in her second outing itself. Her coercive performance unravels the vulnerability and honesty of Veera seamlessly.  She is perfectly integrated with a simmering act from Randeep Hooda, whose, brooding intensity fleshes out a tormented yet susceptible character of Mahabir. Its easily one of his best performances. Highway is an exquisite debris, a film which will bring laurels to their performers, but fails to work at the core level. I personally feel that the principal trio-- Alia Bhatt, Randeep Hooda, Imtiaz Ali--certainly deserved better.

                       PopCorn Entertainment Rating: 2.5/5

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First look- "Holiday" trailer

Yes, so we have another southern blockbuster remake in the offing. And this time, its A.R. Murugadoss, the man who replicated his own southern hit Ghajini into a monstrous blockbuster in 2008, converting Aamir into a mean machine sorts.  He collaborates with Akshay Kumar this time and reprises his 2012 Tamil action thriller Thupakki, a box office winner. Well, i did see Thupakki, last year this time, in You Tube with english subtitles :) . And the incentive behind this was the raving reviews i read about this Vijay- Kajal aggarwal starrer. Though i was a bit confounded about its roaring success, i found it to be a decent entertainer.  The Bollywood trailer does remind me of a complete scene to scene reprisal, though, I have my expectations with the film, primarily because of the director.  Here's the first look.

Holiday would be a critical test for Akshay Kumar, who is on a downhill after a spate of box office duds-- Boss, Khiladi 786, Once Upon a Time in Mumbai Dobaara. While Sonakshi Sinha seems to enact her 'comfort zone'role, the film does promise some slick action sequences. With a release date of 6th June, its surprising that the makers have released the full throttle trailer 6 months before the release date. It would be challenge for them now to sustain the audience's interest till it finally hits the screen.

[smartarian]

'Hasee to Phasee' Review-- Cliched, but Highly watchable!

   Film: Hasee to Phasee

Starring: Siddharth, Parineeti, Adah Sharma, Manoj Joshi

Release Date: 7 Februray,2014

Produced by : Dharma Productions(Karan Johar), Phantom Productions( Anurag Kashyap, Vikramaditya Motwane, Vikas Bahl)

Directed by: Vinil Mathew

Story/Screenplay:  Harshvardhan Kulkarni

Music: Vishal Sekhar

The genre of Rom Com, the current favourite of Bollywood, seems to be coming of age, with  innovative stories being backed  by reputed production houses. Last week, it was the Abhay Deol starrer One by Two, which despite a promising story-star cast, squandered itself with insipid writing/screenplay. This weeks new release Hasee to Phasee(Dharma/Phantom Productions) treads a new line as well, and thankfully, despite being a bit predictable, it doesn't disappoint, because of the refreshing treatment meted out by the newbie director Vinil Mathew and writer Harshvardhan Kulkarni. The plot revolves around an aimless yet good hearted Nikhil ( Siddharth Malhotra), who is sandwiched between his own wedding preparations with his rather controlling fiancee  Karishma (Adah Sharma) and arranging funds for his event management company. In comes Karishma's sister Meeta (Parineeti Chopra), a demented but a  genius scientist, who was on the run for 7 long  years, after robbing her family for being denied of financial aid for nurturing her dream project. She comes back to her family with her own selfish intentions, and Karishma chains Nikhil to take care of her crazy  sister till their D-Day. The entire story is weaved with some wonderful yet subtle vignettes, unravelling to a rather cliched and predictable climax. There are  several moments incorporated in the screenplay which will win you over--A shopping day in Bhuleshwar  turns into a expedition of  sorts with one of the rickety grandmas losing her sandal-strap. Our  lead hero's sidekick undergoes a traumatic experience while taking her bhabhi for a city ride. Nikhil's retired IPS father faces a disconcerting experience when he is up for a grill in front of his family when an expensive necklace mysteriously vanishes from the house. One of the family  aids reprises his Indian Idol experience with 'Garam Chai ki Pyaali Ho', and in one of the most endearing scenes of the film, Nikhil wakes up his would be father in law , in the middle of the night, to discuss the wedding arrangements. Absolute fun!. There are umpteen poignant moments as well, specially in a remarkably restrained scene where Nikhil realises his mistake after locking out Meeta for a sizeable number of hours.

Parineeti Chopra churns a masterstroke with her geeky act of Meeta. An absolute delight to watch, she steals the show with her perfect sketch of a vulnerable and quirky scientist. Siddharth Malhotra is a revelation, impressively delineating a character dealing with the conflicts of head and heart. In fact, its the chemistry of the lead pair which is the selling point of the film. The film also gains marvelous support through its strong bunch of supporting actors. Manoj Joshi, Sharath Saxena, Adah Sharma, Sameer Kakhar..lend astute credibility to the film. Vishal Sekhar's music impresses, with 'Zehnaseeb' and 'Manchala' being the stand out tracks. Though the film is mired with a bit of a drag during the post interval portions and a done to death climax, a distinctive approach coupled with several  gratifying  moments and witty dialogues makes its a breezy entertainer. Despite the minor hiccups,  Hasee to Phasee is one of the earnest romantic comedies coming out of bollywood in recent times. Popcorn Entertainment Rating: 3.5/5

[smartarian]

Playlist 2013- My Top 10 Songs of the Year !

Friends, In my previous post of PopCorn Entertainment Awards, I didn't include the " Top Song" award for the year 2013. There was a specific reason for that, and the reason was simple:: I just couldnt collate the top 5 and pick up the best amongst them for the award :). Since there were several songs which i loved to watch on screen last year, i decided to list out my favourite 10 in this post, and yes, these are my personal favourites . Take a look! #Chartbuster10-  Maula Sun Le Re ( Madras Cafe)

 A hummable song completely in sync with the grim undertone of the film, this only song from Madras Cafe  (sung by newcomer Papon) and filmed on John is a masterstroke from Shantanu Moitra.  

#Chartbuster9- Manjha ( Kai Po Che )

This Amit trivedi and Mohan Kannan crooned song instantly connected with us, with soulful lyrics (Swanand Kirkire) and brilliant composition (Amit Trivedi)

 #Chartbuster8-  Dichkyaion Dhoom Dhoom  (Chasme Badoor)

A romantic duet , this songs features in my list solely due to its refreshing music and choreography. Both Ali Zafar (singer and lead actor) and Shreya Ghosal are highly impressive ,  and this is definitely one of Sajid-Wajid's memorable songs.

 #Chartbuster7-  Ranjhaana ( Ranjhaana)

Straight Up, I love this song. This Dhanush starrer A.R. Rehman song scores heavily due to its colourful picturization and that one man, Dhanush. Shiraz Uppal and Jaswinder Singh lend  pure credibility to it.

 #Chartbuster6-  Tu Hi Junoon, Tu Hi Karaar (Dhoom 3)

Aamir Khan and Katrina Kaif, a rather unconventional pair, look stunning in this Mohit Chauhan-Pritam  solo song from the top grosser film of 2013. The exotic locales of Chicago adds an  icing on the cake.

#Chartbuster5-  Badtameez Dil ( Yeh Jaawani Hai Diwani)

A  rumbunctious and peppy song from this romantic blockbuster, this Benny Dayal Shefali Alvarez-Pritam helmed   Badtameez Dil humongously did well. through its infectious energy and lyrics. And of course, Ranbir-Deepika electrified the entire atmosphere.

#Chartbuster4-  Shikatayein  ( Lootera)

Lootera was one of the best music albums of 2013. Amit trivedi created a star out of Amitabh Bhatacharya , with this lyrical/soulful solo song befitting the beautiful canvas of the film.

#Chartbuster3-  Kabira  ( Yeh Jaawani Hai Diwani)

Pritam stamped his excellence again with this gem of a song from YJHD.  Both Rekha Bhardwaj and Tochi Raina are exemplary in their modulation.

#Chartbuster2-  Sun Raha hain Na Tu  ( Aashiqui2)

Jeet Ganguly/Mithun ensured a blockbuster musical track for Aashiqui2, very much like its predecessor. But I was floored with Ankit Tiwari's rendition filmed exceptionally on Aditya Roy Kapur.

#Chartbuster1-  Alvida ( D-Day)

This rather mellowed song from one of the most riveting thrillers of 2013 tops my chart for two key factors: Innovative picturization and brilliant lyrics.

Shankar Ehsaan Loy through their multiple singers, crafted a gem which is so lovely to look and hear. Highly admirable.

[smartarian]

"One by Two" Review-- Unimaginative and boring!

Film: One by Two

Starring: Abhay Deol, Preeti Desai

Release Date: 31st Jan 2014

Produced by :Abhay Deol, Viacom18 motion pictures

Directed by: Devika Bhagat

Story/Screenplay: Devika Bhagat

Music: Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy

The most ironic experience of a film presets when you witness a terrible execution of a refereshing concept in those slated three hours, and this Abhay Deol produced-starrer One by two stands tall in that list.While its indeed revitalizing to see him backing unconventional storylines, ( which he usually does), he is completely let down by a wafer-thin script and vapid direction. The main protagonists of this jaded flick-- a software simpleton guy Amit Trivedi ( Abhay Deol), who is unceremoniously dumped by his rather rude girlfriend,  and Samara Patel (Preeti Desai), an aspring dancer who is battling with her demons- a committment phobic boyfriend and an alcoholic mother (Lillete Dubey). These two track run in parallel throughout, with both the lead actors meeting during the climax. Considering the current trend of rom-coms , this comes as a novel change in Bollywood. But inspite of a stimulating platform, the films falls flat due to an unimpressive screenplay. Newbie director Devika weaves out some engaging moments, which are very few and far between. While the first half sincerely drags, the post interval portions get humdrum due to its slow placing and excessive length.  Some of the scenes have been handled with dexterity, specially the ones dealing with Abhay deol and his mother (Rati Agnihotri) , and the ones between Preeti Desai and Lillete Dubey. But as mentioned earlier, good moments in fragments cannot build up into a absorbing film.

Abhay Deol, otherwise a consistent actor , delivers a tepid performance this time. His lukewarm efforts reflects in the production values as well. Preeti Desai impresses with her dancing skills, but is still nascent in her histrionics abilities. Seasoned actors like Rati Agnihotri and Lilette Dubey deliver impressive performances. Music of the film (Shankar Ehsaan Loy) is nothing to cheer about. A special mention of the DOP, as the entire film boasts of a colourful canvas.  I am going for a generous 1.5/5 for this flick. An interesting premise spiralling into a pedestrian output, One by Two is a literal disappointment. Popcorn Entertainment Rating: 1.5/5

[smartarian]

"Popcorn Entertainment Awards 2014"- Deserving nominations, My winners!

Friends, For the first time in this blog, I am not writing any review, neither I am reviewing any upcoming trailer. The Season of Awards for the year 2013 has arrived, with almost every significant channels hoisting their awards under numerous categories. In my opinion, 2013 was an exceptional year in terms of genre of films that entertained the audience, with an eclectic mix of  some mega blockbusters ( CE, YJHD, D3) that provided wholesame entertainment, and niche offbeat films (Kai Po Che, Madras Cafe, Shahid, Lunchbox) which deserved a standing applause because of their courage and conviction in portraying thought provoking cinema. My love for cinema is unfathomable. Devouring a movie in the closed archlights of a cinema hall has always been a delightful experience for me. With this undeniable passion, i have listed below my own list of categories, deserving nominations and my favourites for the year 2013. Needless to say, I had a tough time in selecting my winners, but at the end of the day, i personally feel that among the deluge of films that are released every year, to earn a nomination is an achievement in itself .

PopCorn Entertainment Awards 2014 

Best film of the year:

Madras Cafe

Bhaag Milkha Bhaag

Special 26

Ranjhaana

Lootera

Kai Po Che

Winner: Madras Cafe ( This was a difficult one . All these movies had a close tie, as each and every one were brilliant in their own way. Madras Cafe was the final winner for me because of its courage and gumption in delving into a sensitive subject , which has never been explored in Bollywood till now) Best Actor in a Leading Role- Male

Dhanush (Ranjhaana)

Ranveer Singh (Lootera)

Farhan Akhtar (Bhaag Milkha Bhaag)                                                                                          

Hrithik Roshan (Krishh3)

Rajkummar Rao ( Shahid)

John Abraham (Madras Cafe)

Winner: Farhan Akhtar  ( Farhan scores over others in portraying a complex character with sheer simplicity.  Dhanush comes a close second for his heartening take on a man lost in love, but it was  John who really surprised me with his competent performance in Madras Cafe. ) Best Actor in a Leading Role- Female

Deepika Padukone (Chennai Express)

Deepika Padukone (Ram Leela)

Sonakshi Sinha (Lootera)

Sonam (Ranjhaana)

Nimrit Kaur (Lunchbox)

Parineeti Chopra (Shudh Desi Romance)

Winner: Deepika Padukone (Ram Leela) ( Hands down to this leggy lass, with an indefatigable performance in Ram Leela. Year 2013 primarily belonged to her, with all her films hitting the bulls eye big time, but it was Ram Leela that showcased her talent through her supremely calibrated performance. Sonakshi Sinha and Nimrat Kaur come a close second here , for pitching in the right notes in their respective films) Best Director

Shoojit Sircar - Madras Cafe

Anand L  Rai (Ranjhaana)

Rakesh Omprakash Mehra (Bhaag Milkha Bhaag)

Neeraj Pandey ( Special 26)

Vikramditya Motwane ( Lootera)

Abhishek Kapoor ( Kai Po Che)

Winner: Shoojit Sircar  ( Madras Cafe was dealt with complete dexterity, blending fiction and facts in a subtle and compelling way. Special 26 and Kai Po Che comes a close second due to their taut and gripping storylines. I immensely liked BMB and Ranjhaana, but it was predominantly for their lead actors) Best Actor in a Supporting Role- Male

Arjun Rampal  (D Day)

Saurabh Shukla (Jolly LLB)

Mohammad Zeeshan Ayub ( Ranjhaana)

Amit Sadh ( Kai Po Che)

Rajkummar Rao (Kai Po Che)

Anupam Kher (Special 26)

Winner- Saurabh Shukla   ( Now this was really tough to decide. All the performances were award winning, but it was Saurabh Shukla who deserves my vote for his magnificent act as a lawyer caught in cross roads. Anupam Kher,  Mohammad Zeeshan Ayub and RajKumar Rao  battle for the second spot, while Arjun Rampal showed significant improvement as the gun trotting hard core loyalist in D -Day) Best Actor in a Supporting Role- Female

Divya Dutta  (Bhaag Milkha Bhaag)

Swara Bhaskar (Ranjhaana)

Huma Qureshi (D Day)

Kangana Ranaut (Krishh 3)

Konkana Ken Sharma (Ek Thi Daayan)

Supriya Pathak  (Ram Leela)

Winner--Divya Dutta   ( BMB had the trump card of superlative performances, and apart from Farhan, it was Divya Dutta who carved out a classic act in this biopic. Swara Bhaskar and Huma Qureshi were exceptional, a notch above Konkana and Supriya Pathak) Best Actor in a Negative Role

Rishi Kapoor ( D Day)

John Abraham (Shootout At Wadala)

Vivek Oberoi (Krishh 3)

Kay Kay Menon (Ankur Arora Murder Case)

Shilpa Shukla (BA Pass)

Boman Irani (Jolly LLB)

Winner: Rishi Kapoor ( Rishi Kapoor's Dawood was a solid punch by this thespian, who seem to be enjoying his acting to the hilt currently. Vivek oberoi as Kaal got the eyeballs rolling as well, so as Shilpa Shukla in the uncoventional BA Pass )

Best Actor in a Comic Role:

Divyendu Sharma ( Chashme Badoor)

Arshad Warsi ( Jolly LLB)

Pulkit Samrat (Fukrey)

Manjot Singh (Fukrey)

Siddhartha(Chashme Badoor)

Winner: Divyendu Sharma ( When you cant change the girl, change the girl. Chasme Badoor might have been labelled as a loud remake of the original, nevertheless, it had me in splits , and Divyendu with his tongue in cheek shaayari was a delight to watch) Best Music:

Pritam (Dhoom 3)

Pritam( Yeh Jaawani Hai Diwani)

Amit Trivedi ( Kai Po Che)

Mithun,Jeet Ganguly, Ankit Tiwari (Aashiqui2)

Amit Trivedi ( Lootera)

Winner: Aashiqui 2  ( All the nominees had an astounding musical score, but Aashiqui 2 scores for his soulful tunes , just like his predecessor.  The rather ordinary film sucked up to blockbuster status , with the nation crooning to "Sun Raha Na Tu") Best Debut (Male)

Dhanush  (Ranjhaana)

Sushant Singh Rajput  (Kai Po Che)

Ram Charan Teja  ( Zanjeer)

Manish Paul ( Mickey Virus)

Winner: Sushant Singh Rajput ( This was a close battle between Dhanush and Sushant, with both displaying histrionics in their first every bollywood outing. But Sushant scores for his freshness and despite his zero experience on celluloid , Kai Po Che did unravel one of the rising superstars of hindi cinema) Best Debut ( Female)

Vaani Kapoor (Shudh Desi Romance)

Taapsi Panu ( Chasme Badoor)

Nimrit Kaur ( Lunchbox)

Shraddha Kapoor ( Aashiqui2)

Winner : Nimrit Kaur  ( To orchestrate a debut in a rather offbeat film like Lunchbox requires gut, and Nimrit  was bang on in this flick , amidst a  dignified ensemble of Irrfan and Nawazuddin. ) I would be really looking forward to your comments/opinion/criticism/feedback on the debut of "PopCorn Entertainment  Awards" :)

[smartarian]

"Jai Ho"Review--Salman delivers in an uninspired film

Film: Jai Ho

Starring: Salman Khan, Daisy Shah, Tabu, Danny Denzongpa

Release Date: 24th Jan 2014

Produced by :Eroz Entertainment, Sohail Khan

Directed by: Sohail Khan

Story/Screenplay: A. R. Murugadoss (Inspired by Telugu movie'Stalin')

Music: Sajid-Wajid, Amal Malik

      Salman Khan 's brand and box office equity has spiraled to unimaginable levels in his past outings. Wanted, Dabangg, Ready, Bodyguard, Ek Tha Tiger, Dabangg 2--these have smashed box office records and have catapulted  the iconic status of this current mass and box office king. So when our Bhai returns to the big screen as a social crusader , after a 13 months hiatus, expectations are bound to be humongous. But Jai ho fails despite his sincere and earnest efforts, which is ironic because the film had immense potential. A remake of Telugu blockbuster Stalin, this Sohail khan helmed film is about Jai, an ex army officer, who plays a good hearted Samaritan to people in trouble. Post a tragic incident, Jai encourages people to indemnify their help and kindness to three strangers, in order to make the world a better place. The plot has a reassuring premise, only to be scattered away completely by insipid writing and lacklustre direction. The film gets completely distracted by its innumerable action sequences and dull screenplay. To justify Salman's superhuman persona, his brother instills all the unrequired elements which this film would have done without. Abysmal songs and humdrum music only add to the agony of the viewer. At the end of it, its virtually nothing that you take away home with, as Jai ho melts down to a revenge drama of sorts, rather than a film with a message. Your heart goes out for the extremely talented actors forming the supporting cast, who are completely wasted in insubstantial roles. The highly revered Tabu is impressive as Jai's sister, but goes completely off track due to the thankless scope of her character. Ditoo with Mahesh Manjrekar and Nadira Babbbar, who are wasted in their limited roles. Danny growls and shouts, but its not a match to the enigmatic stature of the actor. Daisy Shah makes up for her bland acting with her passable dancing skills, but clearly, unlike his previous films,  Salman's chemistry with Daisy  is absolutely missing.

Its left to Salman to carry the entire film on his shoulders, and to be honest, he doesnt dissapoint. He fights, screams, preaches, dances,sings--does everything that his fans expect him to do. The gallant actor delivers a committed performance, albeit, in a losing cause. Its unfortunate that despite the mega stars presence and noteworthy performance, Jai Ho fails to capitalize  on its promising concept--one which is really the need of the hour. Salman's first outing as a social crusader might just scrape through his fans, but certainly, he deserved better.   Popcorn Entertainment Rating: 2/5

[smartarian]

"Dedh Ishqiya" review- A Delectable platter full of wit!

Khalujan and Babban  are back with their escapades, and with a huge bang this time. If the prequel Ishqiya was studded with unpredictable twists and turns and a crackling chemistry between the lead actors, Dedh Ishiqya is an absolute class act in terms of witty screenplay and writing. Ornate with some exceptional dialogues and clever story, Dedh Ishqiya is a top notch successor  to its equally worthy prequel. Without unraveling much of the plot, Dedh Isqiya kicks up in  Mahmudabad, where our Khalujan visits with an intention to win the nawabi swayamvar, organised by the beautiful widow Begum Para ( Madhuri Dixit). Begum Para intends to find her suitable husband through the shayari competition, with the aid of her close confidante Munia ( Huma Quereshi). In keeping with lines with the prequel, both Khalujan and Babban are still on the  run from their boss, after they get separated during a  jeweler store robbery. But little they know is that they are inching towards a veil of deceit and conspiracy , and that all that glitters is not gold! Neatly directed by Abhishek Choubey, Dedh Ishqiya stays grounded on its earthy humour right from start to finish, with a delicious mix of witty dialogues and sparkling performances from its principled cast. The film tends to drag a bit during the post interval portions, but its ensured the screenplay with the undercurrent humor   stays tight. Several moments stay etched in your memory --the introductory prologue in the robbery, confrontation between Vijay Raaz's gang and our two local thieves, the pandemonium during the climax--absolutely brilliant.

Naseer delivers a commendable act. His Khalujaan is a delightful mix of brain and heart power. Ditto for Arshad as Babban, an extremely calibrated act filled with humour and brawn power. Huma Qureshi continues where she left from D-Day. She seems to be improving with every film. As a close confidante of the begum, she renders an energy to her Munia which is a delight to watch. Madhuri Dixit  retains her innocence, and renders a splendid performance. Vijay Raaz, as the touted Nawab is brilliant. I wonder why he is so underutilized in  celluloid. Manoj Pahwa is impressive in his cameo role. Dedh Ishqiya is a smart earthy thriller to come out in recent times. Dhoom Franchise might have earned humoungously, but both Babban and Khalujan have ensured that their franchise remains the way they themselves are--loving, adorable and absolutely delectable!!!

[smartarian]

Dhoom 3 movie review-A visual delight, but too long.!

The much awaited third installment of the Dhoom franchise, where brawns meets bikes, men are superheroes, and women are sexy ladies on the floor, finally hits the screens. With an opulent scale, mind blowing locations , loaded weapons and bikes, and an ensemble star cast, D3 promises thrice the fun , in comparison to its previous two flicks. Straight up, Dhoom 3 is bang on your bucks being a  sheer visual delight, intertwined with brilliantly executed chase sequences, spectacular canvas and exquisite choreography, but its extensive length, sloppy second half and inconsistent characterization pulls down the film considerably. Set in the background of Chicago, Dhoom 3 revolves around  Sahir ( Aamir Khan), whose father ( Jackie Shroff) commits suicide after he fails to liquidate his debt to the bank to save his dream institution, the Great Indian Circus. His death triggers Sahir to take revenge on the acrid bank, and to fulfill his unfinished dreams. The skylines of the windy city act as the perfect platform for Sahir to execute his death defying stunts and plans, but in comes his nemesis Jai Dixit ( Bachchan) and his motor mouth friend Ali ( Uday Chopra), and thus begins the real game of Mind vs Machine. Unlike the previous prequels, Dhoom 3 is rich in emotional quotient, which pitches in perfectly for a  superb canvas that unfolds , but the highlight of the film is its powerful action, which are an absolute class act and never seen before in Indian Cinema, With pulsating chase sequences on those high octane bikes, you are bound to be dazzled. Added to it, the lavish and rich production values and an interesting twist pre interval, and you have the perfect icing on the cake. But the film decidedly falls short of maintaining its momentum, and derails to an ordinary track during  post interval portions, with a completely avoidable romantic track between Alia (Katrina) and Sahir. The friendly banter between Jai and Ali too is subdued this time, with more focus on Sahir, his plans and his past. The film culminates effectively in its climactic portions, only after stretching and testing the viewers patience.

Performance wise, Uday Chopra is in great form, bringing the desired comic relief to the enterprise. Katrina kaif who has the least dialogues in the entire film, looks brilliant and dances amazingly, but is completely sidelined in terms of characterization. Abhishek bachchan is earnest, but , just like its prequels, he is ironically overshadowed by the antagonist. Ultimately, the film's main focus is on Aamir, and unsurprisingly,  he delivers a magnetic performance. With beefed up abs/packs and toned up physique, Aamir gives Sahir his trademark chutzpah and agility, performing his acrobatic acts and stunts with complete dexterity. Yes,  he lacks the killing demeanour of Hrithik , but he makes it up with a sincere depiction of his characters angst and subtleness, and you end up empathizing for him profoundly. Music of the film is strictly average, with the stand out track being Malang and Tu hi Junoon, which are a delight to watch, though same cant be said for the title track.  A special mention of the action sequences here. Absolutely brilliant!! Dhoom 3 would have been a rock solid entertainer had it tightened its screws on the length and script a bit. But nevertheless, keeping the nature of the franchise, D 3 scores high on its attitude and audacity, and is a must watch for its cool quotient.

[smartarian]

"'R..Rajkumar" review - Exhaustively Excruciating Experience

In a recent interview couple of weeks back, Shahid Kapoor candidly confessed that he is an under-rated actor of  his generation, who is desperately looking for a hit to get back on track to match  the mercurial rising of his contempories, especially Ranbir and too an extent, Ranveer. His desperation is genuine, since his last solid hit was Badmaash Company, way back in 2010. Since then, he has shown flashes of brilliance in all his films, but that has not resulted in good box office numbers. His desperation is vivid in his latest outing R..Rajkumar, helmed by Prabhu Deva, where he dons a completely new avatar of a beefed up action hero in a trademark masala potboiler, with loads of action/stunts, gyrating numbers and a skeletal storyline. But R..Rajkumar begins and ends with just one experience--Exhaustion!, and a clear indication that a talent like Shahid Kapoor needs a miracle to end his drought of miserable films. A film which offers a zero sum value in terms of characters and plot,   R..Rajkumar unfolds the story of Rajkumar Shahid), who mysteriously lands in a lawless village bifurcated between  two gangs. He sharply joins Sivaraj ( Sonu Sood), and thus begins the tryst of mindless action and songs. Add to it a mandatory track of wolf whistling with a girl Chanda ( Sonakshi),and you have a film ready on your platter. A film pompous with corny dialogues and extremely pathetic performances, R..Rajkumar is an assortment of crass and crudely directed scenes, beneath the veneer of an entertaining film. Shahid tried hard and sometimes really hard to make a mark, but the role of a beefed up goonda smashing and pounding people simply doesnt suit him. So as Sonakshi Sinha, who is getting completely monotonous in her inconsequential roles in these mindless flicks. Sonu Sood tried to reprise his Dabanggiri here, but falls flat on a skeletal plotlne.  The saving grace of the film is undoubtedly its music, and Shahid's bravura dance moves.   R..Rajkumar offers exhaustion in terms of entertainment, with complete wastage of time and money. I am not sure about its box office prospects, but i really felt sorry for Shahid. The supremely talented actor deserves a much better film to over write his recent failures, and a bad dream called R..Rajkumar..!