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Movie Review: EK MAIN AUR EKK TU by TARAN ADARSH
01 year ago
by Fenil Seta
in External Reviews
By Taran Adarsh, 8 Feb 2012, 08:34 hrs IST
Released On: 10 Feb 2012
Directed By: Shakun Batra
Starring: Imran Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Sonia Mehra, Ram Kapoor, Boman Irani, Randhir Kapoor, Ratna Pathak
For those who swear by sentimental movies and are die-hard fans of rom-coms, who fervently wish Valentine’s Day is prolonged eternally, EK MAIN AUR EKK TU is akin to an answer to this yearning. Rom-coms relaxing in the splendor of harmonious compositions, a creative and innovative take on present-day romance, pulsating images and timed during the Valentine week… aah, you can’t ask for more!
It’s said that that good friendship, by and large, transforms into romance and consequently, marriage. But hold on… what if one marries by mistake? In EK MAIN AUR EKK TU, two responsible adults meet, get married in a jiffy [it's a mistake, they realize the next morning], but this faux pas is the turning point in their lives. That’s the essence of EK MAIN AUR EKK TU.
The plotline of EK MAIN AUR EKK TU may bring back memories of WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS and the Mexican film RECIEN CAZADO, but EK MAIN AUR EKK TU is no adaptation of those films. Agree, the trailers might make you conclude it could be an imitation, but it’s not. EK MAIN AUR EKK TU is shades apart from the above named movies. Imagine a guy who has lived his entire life based on decisions taken by his parents. Come to think of it, he’s not living his life, but his parent’s expectations. And then comes a girl who opens his eyes and More >
Movie Review: GALI GALI CHOR HAI by TARAN ADARSH
01 year ago
by Fenil Seta
in External Reviews
By Taran Adarsh, 3 Feb 2012, 11:51 hrs IST
Released On: 3 Feb 2012
Directed By: Rumi Jaffery
Starring: Akshaye Khanna, Shriya Saran, Mugdha Godse, Annu Kapoor, Satish Kaushik, Akhilendra Mishra, Vijay Raaz, Ashok Samarth, Rajpal Yadav, Shashi Ranjan, Amit Mistry 1, Vipin Sharma, Arun Verma, Rajat Rawail, Murli Sharma, Mushtaq Khan, Jagdeep, Veena Malik
A number of films portraying the common man’s fight against corruption have been attempted in the past. But GALI GALI CHOR HAI arrives at the most opportune time. Corruption is fiercely debated and the most discussed issue today and the fight against corruption has already hit headlines, courtesy social activist and anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare.
GALI GALI CHOR HAI throws light on corruption, dishonesty and bribery and also draws attention to the people who have betrayed the society and nation. It tells the story of a middle class family living in Bhopal and how an episode changes their lives. Their lives get entangled in a series of incidents and before they realize it, they become victims of corruption. In short, the movie deals with the corrupt bureaucratic system and sends across a clear message that one needs to fight the deceitfulness and fraudulence to eradicate corruption.
Though corruption is a much abused, oft-repeated and oft-depicted theme in Bollywood, what sets GALI GALI CHOR HAI apart is that it incorporates the recent incidents in the narrative. Though the situation depicted may differ, you cannot help More >
Movie Review: AGNEEPATH by TARAN ADARSH
01 year ago
by Fenil Seta
in External Reviews
By Taran Adarsh, 24 Jan 2012, 07:33 hrs IST
Released On: 26 Jan 2012
Directed By: Karan Malhotra
Starring: Hrithik Roshan, Sanjay Dutt, Priyanka Chopra, Rishi Kapoor, Katrina Kaif, Om Puri, Zarina Wahab, Chetan Pandit, Sachin Khedekar, Rajesh Tandon, Deven Bhojani, Rajesh Vivek, Banwarilal Taneja, Pankaj Tripathi, Brijendra Kala, Ravi Jhankal, Suhita Thatte, Sunil Chauhan, Neeraj Sood, Arish Bhiwandiwala, Kanika Tiwari, Ayesha Kaduskar, Aditya Surve
While partaking in a debate on remakes for a leading news channel, the host posed a query to me: Do you think that a cult movie should be remade? Why restructure or revise the sacredness of a film that’s so perfect? I instantly put forth my perspective and responded that if a brand is remade with a contemporary approach and in-the-running stars and if there is an enthusiastic audience to watch the cinema, I don’t see any harm in recreating a famed work of genius. All I expect is the makers don’t make a mishmash of the cult movie. It should come across more as an acknowledgment to the masterwork.
But there’s a flipside to what I mentioned above! The actors and film-makers involved in remaking a classic cannot escape minute and meticulous evaluation and comparisons because cineastes are going to walk in with predetermined conceptions. Remakes come with a certain baggage. Matching the standards and aesthetics of the original is the prime criteria.
It’s Hrithik Roshan’s turn to wear the mask of the iconic character portrayed by More >
Movie Review: CHAALIS CHAURAASI by TARAN ADARSH
01 year ago
by Fenil Seta
in External Reviews
By Taran Adarsh, 13 Jan 2012, 10:54 hrs IST
Released On: 13 Jan 2012
Directed By: Hriday Shetty
Starring: Naseeruddin Shah, Atul Kulkarni, Kay Kay Menon, Ravi Kissen, Shweta Bhardwaj, Rajesh Sharma, Zakir Hussain, Manoj Pahwa, Reetu Jain, Arbaaz Ali Khan
Naseeruddin Shah. Kay Kay Menon. Atul Kulkarni. Ravi Kishen. Zakir Hussain. A dream cast, isn’t it? When such talented actors, especially the very first name that I’ve cited, green-lights a project, the expectations sky-rocket dramatically. You can’t afford to go wrong. The talent has to be utilized to the optimum. Wasting it in an ordinary script would be sacrilegious.
On paper, after the actors must’ve read the script, I am sure they must’ve exclaimed, ‘What an idea, Sirji’! But interesting ideas don’t necessarily translate into interesting films. CHAALIS CHAURAASI proves it yet again. Problem kya hain? It’s an ordinary screenplay that relies on the customary masala to make things work. But when you cast actors of such calibre, you can’t afford to go for the tried and tested stuff. You’ve got to be innovative, you need to take risks, you need to walk the untrodden path, you need to defy the norms… which, unfortunately, CHAALIS CHAURAASI doesn’t.
The story revolves around four people — Sir [Naseeruddin Shah], Albert [Kay Kay Menon], Bobby [Atul Kulkarni] and Shakti [Ravi Kishan] — who see an opportunity to a great future when they are given a mission to pull off. Things take a twist when another cop [Rajesh Sharma] stops More >
Movie Review: GHOST by TARAN ADARSH
01 year ago
by Fenil Seta
in External Reviews
By Taran Adarsh, 13 Jan 2012, 10:56 hrs IST
Released On: 13 Jan 2012
Directed By: Puja Jatinder Bedi
Starring: Shiney Ahuja, Sayali Bhagat, Tej Sapru, Deepraj Rana, Julia Bliss, Gulshan Rana, Sandip Soparrkar, Tabrez Khan, Bijayata Pradhan
A horror film ought to spook the daylights of the moviegoer. Sweaty palms, heart skipping a beat, occasional shivers… in short, the eeriness should give you those heebie-geebies or make you uneasy if you walk into a dark room in the middle of the night. Puja Jatinder Bedi, the first-time director of GHOST, opts for the most appropriate title [it conveys what the film is all about], zeroes on a plot that’s tried and tested since Ramsay days [the spirit seeks vengeance], has some spooky moments [the back-story of the spirit], but runs out of breath as it reaches the finale.
The problem with GHOST is that the scares are scarce, despite some twists and turns injected in the plotline. Regrettably, the story goes for a toss thanks to the interrupting song and dance routine [with autopilot choreography], the listless romantic track between the lead pair [looks completely forced in the narrative] and a patchy screenplay. In fact, Puja takes the film to another level as she unravels the mystery, but the end is so tame that it leaves you with a feeling of uneasiness.
City Hospital witnesses a chain of bloodcurdling, spine-chilling murders. A young recruit, Dr. Suhani [Sayali Bhagat], is faced with uncanny happenings at the hospital. She is stunned More >
Movie Review: SADDA ADDA by TARAN ADARSH
01 year ago
by Fenil Seta
in External Reviews
By Taran Adarsh, 13 Jan 2012, 10:56 hrs IST
Released On: 13 Jan 2012
Directed By: Muazzam Beg
Starring: Karanvir Sharma, Rohin Robert, Bhaumik Sampat, Kunal Pant, Rohit Arora, Shaurya Chauhan, Kahkkashan Aryan, Parimal Aloke, Maryam Zakaria
Now this is a coincidence. This week's SADDA ADDA as well as TUTIYA DIL seem inspired, to an extent, by last year's sleeper hit PYAAR KA PUNCHNAMA. Not TUTIYA DIL as much, actually. But one can draw parallels between PYAAR KA PUNCHNAMA and SADDA ADDA for sure. Thankfully, one can't label SADDA ADDA as a mere imitation, since the film has its moments of sunshine and glory.
Like most films that focus on Gen X, one may assume that SADDA ADDA falls in the category of coming of age film with liberal doses of sex. Writer-director Muazzam Beg sets out to narrate a story about six buddies and how each of them encounters roadblocks and barriers, personally and professionally, while chasing their dreams. One of them, sadly, has a bitter end. It's more of a slice of life film that mirrors the hardships of the urban youth. Having said that, I'd like to add that SADDA ADDA isn't without its share of blemishes. More on that later!
SADDA ADDA is about how six bachelors, with completely different backgrounds and personalities, live together. Their apartment 'Sadda Adda' is a complete mess with empty beer bottles, cigarette butts, unwashed clothes, mattresses tossed all over the floor etc., yet they cook, clean, buy groceries, pay rent, laugh, cry, fight More >
Movie Review: TUTIYA DIL by TARAN ADARSH
01 year ago
by Fenil Seta
in External Reviews
By Taran Adarsh, 13 Jan 2012, 10:58 hrs IST
Released On: 13 Jan 2012
Directed By: Amit Khanna
Starring: Suzanna Mukherjee, Sidhant Kapur, Nikhil Sabharwal, Iris Maity, Ankit Gupta, Jyoti Bhardwaj, Chiragh Farmahan, Darpan Malik, Navin Kaushik
Films like DELHI BELLY, PYAAR KA PUNCHNAMA and MUJHSE FRAAANDSHIP KAROGE spoke a new language. The last two films in particular reflected the lives of Gen X living in a metropolis. TUTIYA DIL is a new era love story that attempts to pursue the same path. It talks of love, sex, heartaches and fragile relationships, albeit half-heartedly.
First-time director Amit Khanna, who has also penned the screenplay, doesn't really opt for a path breaking concept. Instead, he compensates it with some poignant moments in the narrative. What also ails the film is the fact that like most first-time enthusiastic storytellers, Khanna overstays the hospitality by dragging the film in its second hour. If it were shorter in duration, with more dum in its screenplay, it might've cut ice with its target audience -- the youth. At the end of it, as a result, TUTIYA DIL descends into a standard film on relationships. Also, it lacks the sharp wit of PYAAR KA PUNCHNAMA and MUJHSE FRAAANDSHIP KAROGE.
Rhea [Suzanna Mukherjee] becomes so unsure of herself after her breakup that she decides to see a shrink. She tells him how she met her new boss, Karan [Nikhil Sabharwal], and hit it off from day one. Rhea has to face a sudden storm when, suddenly, Karan dumps her and More >
Movie Review: PLAYERS by TARAN ADARSH
01 year ago
by Fenil Seta
in External Reviews
By Taran Adarsh, 6 Jan 2012, 08:48 hrs IST
It's a given that hi-voltage action thrillers enthrall and electrify viewers no end. The existing inclination within the industry is to opt for remakes [of South Indian films specifically], though Abbas-Mustan have continuously, in their three decade career, tilted towards western thrillers to be specific. PLAYERS, their latest offering, is the official remake of THE ITALIAN JOB. But it's not a scene to scene adaptation of the classic that was attempted twice in the West. The core conception remains the same, but the screenplay is amended significantly to suit the Indian sensibilities.
A recreation or adaptation always leads to comparisons with the original work. And Abbas-Mustan will have to pass this acid test, since THE ITALIAN JOB is no regular film. Made twice in Hollywood [first in 1969 and then in 2003], THE ITALIAN JOB is a heist film with a variation. Like I pointed out earlier, PLAYERS is an altered version of THE ITALIAN JOB, catering more to the desi sensibilities. It's about a gang of skillful, stylish and sharp players who join hands to carry out a heist. Prepare yourself for a masala film with ample twists and turns, stunning and gorgeous locales, stylized stunts and adrenaline-pumping chases, lots of style and attitude and of course, the mandatory songs and comic sequences... In that respect, PLAYERS is in a completely different zone when one draws parallels with THE ITALIAN JOB.
One more clarification! When the More >
Movie Review: DON 2 by TARAN ADARSH
01 year ago
by Fenil Seta
in External Reviews
By Taran Adarsh, 23 Dec 2011, 07:35 hrs IST
Released On: 23 Dec 2011
Directed By: Farhan Akhtar
Starring: Shahrukh Khan, Priyanka Chopra, Lara Dutta, Om Puri, Kunal Kapoor, Boman Irani, Nawab Shah, Adi Putra, Alyy Khan
Remaking the Amitabh Bachchan classic DON was a risk in itself. Not only because it is one of Bachchan's most iconic characters, but also because films like SHOLAY, DON, AMAR AKBAR ANTHONY, DEEWAR, TRISHUL, MUQADDAR KA SIKANDER [and many, many more] redefined the cinema of 1970s and 1980s. Farhan Akhtar accepted the challenge and attempted a successful remake of DON with SRK.
Paanch saal baad, Farhan and his team of writers decide to carry the concept frontward with DON 2. I genuinely feel that sequels shouldn't be attempted if you don't have an enthralling story to narrate. This time, Farhan chooses an entirely new concept, garnishes it with classic action, stunning visuals, giving it an international look and feel… the intention is to make the second part superior and enhanced than the first. Also, the fascination for thrillers such as M.I., BOURNE and BOND series is pretty evident.
While one was abundantly aware of what the first part had to offer [since it was a remake], one is completely oblivious about what the sequel has in store. And it is this facet of the film that kindles colossal interest. You cannot tell what Don's next move would be. As the reels unfold, you realize that he's cold blooded. You can't mess with him. He's dangerous to deal with. More >