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Posts tagged maya
Movie Review: GAME by FENIL SETA
02 years ago
Murder mysteries always have a tremendous fan following. Whether reading a book or watching a film of this genre, the pleasure is immense as it not only the characters of the story, but you yourself are using the grey cells of your brain to find out the killer. However, the expert stories are those where you won’t be able to guess the culprit till the end and that’s where the satisfaction lies. And that is where Game falters. Minutes before the unveiling of the killer’s identity, the viewer correctly guesses it. Although the film has its moments and surprises, the kick you get after watching a good whodunit is clearly missing in the case of Game.
The story of the movie: Kabir Malhotra (Anupam Kher), a reclusive billionaire, invites 4 strangers – Neil Menon (Abhishek Bachchan), OP Ramsay (Boman Irani), Vikram Kapoor (Jimmy Shergill) and Tisha Khanna (Shahana Goswami) on his private island in Greece. Neil runs a casino in Istanbul as a cover up to his drug business, Ramsay is a leading prime ministerial candidate in Thailand, Vikram is a famous film actor of Bollywood while Tisha is a crime journalist in London. All 4 are tempted to come to Kabir’s island although they neither knew Kabir, nor do Kabir knew them. Once at Kabir’s island, they find themselves trapped in an ugly game and they also realize the connection between the 4 of them-Maya (Sarah Jane Dias).
The first hour oscillates between good and some not-so-good scenes. Boman feeling threatened when More >
Ash was supposed to be in Game
02 years ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
By Joginder Tuteja, March 3, 2011 – 13:54 IST
It is a known fact that when Aishwarya Rai couldn’t work with hubby Abhishek Bachchan in Game due to date issues, Kangna Ranaut came in as a quick replacement. However, what is not known is the fact that the makers of this suspense thriller were already in talks with Kangna as there was always a space for two leading ladies.
Informs an industry insider, “There are two important female protagonists in Game, one which is that of a mysterious young woman whose life is connected to four different people and another is that of an investigating officer. When Aishwarya was offered Game, there was uncertainty around which part would she play.”
Between Ash and director Abhinay Deo, there were healthy discussions around which part would suit her best. However, the eventual character was never finalised. Meanwhile Kangna had already been approached for the film as well though it wasn’t clear as to which part she would end up eventually playing.
“While the game of musical chairs was on, Ash had to leave the film due to date issues. Even as the makers were thinking about the replacement, Kangna had already been confirmed to come on board. This is when Sarah Jane Dias was finalised to play the part of Maya, the mysterious woman in Game“, informs a source.
Eventually all was well with Kangna and Sarah being clear of the parts they were playing and what was expected out of them. Meanwhile two other important female More >
Checkout: Rajinikanth’s metamorphosis into Robot-Part 1
02 years ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
By Neville Bode, October 18, 2010 – 15:43 IST
With the enormous success of the South Indian blockbuster, Robot (Endhiran) has already made a benchmark in the evolution process of filmmaking in India. The Rajinikanth – Aishwarya starrer directed by S.Shankar, got rave reviews for its uniqueness in action and visual effects. With a budget of over a hundred and fifty crores, 25 % of the funds were allotted in executing the commendable work done in VFX that helped in the narration of the film.
The film revolves around Dr. Vaseegaran played by Rajinikanth who invents a High-end robot named Chitti, a mirror of his own image. The scientific body, AIRD, declines the approval of the robot stating that it does not have emotions and the ability to make rational judgment. An unexpected flash of lightning induces emotions in the robot, and Chitti is geared up for its integration into the human world. Chitti then falls in love with Dr. Vaseegaran’ fiancée Sana played by Aishwarya Rai and goes against his creator.
The film has already spread its wings across the globe with raking in massive box-office collections. V. Srinivas Mohan, the VFX supervisor of this film and CEO of the VFX studio – Indian Artists, utilized the innovative skin grafting technology that got laudable appreciation from critics for Sivaji. Shankar got him on board for his latest endeavor Endhiran. He has also worked with the director in Aparichit and Boys hence it was certain that the director More >
Movie Review: RAMAYANA-THE EPIC by TARAN ADARSH
02 years ago
by Fenil Seta
in External Reviews
By Taran Adarsh, October 15, 2010 – 08:26 IST
When asked to comment on the quality of animation films produced in India, I recall commenting that we are still in infancy stages right now, still grappling with how to make animation movies, still confused about the target audience and how to compete with feature films which remain the first choice of moviegoers… The thought of competing or comparing with animation films in the West just doesn’t arise at this point.
Generally, animation films made across the Atlantic target not just the kids, but also grownups, but the animation films made in Mumbai are targeted at kids primarily. When they [the kids] have access to the best of animation on television, why would they spend their parents’ hard-earned money to watch an animation film in theatres?
BY BOLLYWOOD HUNGAMA.COMBut, hopefully, things should change for better with Ketan Mehta’s animation film RAMAYANA, which has been timed during Dashehra. One expects a top notch animation film from Mehta, mainly because his studio [Maya] is a front-runner in the animation industry. The expectations only double since Mehta and director Chetan Desai choose ‘Ramayana’ as the subject for their animation film.
RAMAYANA works for two reasons. One, the story [yes, we know the story well, but love to listen to it again and again] keeps you hooked and two, the quality of animation is super. It’s difficult to encompass this great epic in a two-hour film [this one's less More >
PEN to release 2D animated feature Lava Kusa
02 years ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
By Bollywood Hungama News Network, October 5, 2010 – 15:54 IST
Seems it is an animated Ramayana season this Dussehra.
Close to the heels of release announcement of Maya’s 3D animated flick Ramayana, Hyderabad based RVML animation is all set to release 2D animated feature Lava Kusa: The Warrior Twins on October 8th across 200 screens pan India.
The feature is presented by PEN, produced by RVML animation and released by Suniel Wadhwa from ’52 weeks entertainment Inc’ in India.
Lava Kusa: The Warrior Twins, is the tale of two endearing twins Lava and Kusa (Sons of lord Rama and Sita), growing up in the forest with their mother and sage Valmiki. As young men they pit their strength against Rama, the absentee father who has aggrieved their mother. This story from the Ramayan depicts the determination of the twins and the adventures they have as they journey towards their aim, getting their father to redress the wrongs he’s done to their mother.
On being asked about choosing a generic topic (mythology) as the story has been told several times on different platforms, Rayudu V. Sashank, Creative Director and Producer of Lava Kusa. Says, “The story of Ramayana has surely been told several times in popular media, but not so in the case with the mythological characters of Lava and Kusa. This is the reason why children today do not know much about the warrior twins. Telling the story of Lava and Kusa through an animation film would best connect with children who are More >
Movie Review: WE ARE FAMILY by FENIL SETA
02 years ago
Lets one get one thing straight-We Are Family isn’t a ‘copy’ of or ‘lifted’ from Stepmom as is believed by some. It’s an ‘official adaptation’ of the Hollywood flick and due credit is given to its writers as well. With a brilliant plot in one hand and powerhouse actors on the other, the makers could have easily come up with a classic. However, We Are Family suffers from the same problem that some recent films helmed by debutant directors faced-an execution which just isn’t upto the mark. Inspite of it, the film has its moments and also the wonderful performance make it worth watching!
The story of the movie: Although Maya (Kajol) and Aman (Arjun Rampal) are divorced, they are still on good terms. They have 3 children – Aliya (Aanchal Munjhal), Ankush (Nominath Ginsburg) and Anjali (Diya Sonecha) who live with Maya. She’s the perfect mother and wonderfully takes care of them and adheres to their needs. Aman, too, catches up with them regularly. However, he has moved on and has a girlfriend Shreya (Kareena Kapoor). On Anjali’s birthday, he introduces Shreya to Maya and their children who develop an immediate dislike for her. Aliya is angry and feels that Shreya will ‘rob’ her daddy from them and they both will marry. Whenever Shreya tries to be friendly with the kids and strike a chord, something unexpected happens which leads to the kids hating her more! However, one day Maya discovers a very bitter truth and realizes that Shreya needs to be made a part More >
Movie Review: WE ARE FAMILY by TARAN ADARSH
12 years ago
by Fenil Seta
in External Reviews
By Taran Adarsh, August 31, 2010 – 17:10 IST
Okay, WE ARE FAMILY is the official adaptation of Chris Columbus’ STEPMOM [1998] and lots of us have already watched this Julia Roberts – Susan Sarandon starrer. Even otherwise, the story of a woman, diagnosed with a terminal illness, entrusting her kids to the ‘other woman’ before she does the final salute, gives the feeling of deja vu. But WE ARE FAMILY is not a tear-jerker. Sure, it has dollops of emotions, but also integrates the light moments wonderfully in those 12 reels.
In the good old days, in the 1960s and 1970s specifically, well-made family films struck an instant chord with viewers across the spectrum. But with the changing times, the quantum of well-made socials made a rapid decline. WE ARE FAMILY belongs to the Rajshri gharaana and tells the story of a family facing two life-changing developments: The woman of the house is diagnosed with a terminal illness and two, there’s a stepmom on the scene. A difficult subject to handle, without doubt.
BY BOLLYWOOD HUNGAMA.COMBut debutant director Siddharth P. Malhotra surprises you constantly. Casting the best available talent for two pivotal parts and doing complete justice to their roles is tough. Very tough. But the ease with which he handles the tense moments between the women and also the emotional finale shows he has learnt his lessons well from his peers.
Final word? WE ARE FAMILY is for the family. It is well acted, deftly written, More >
Movie Review: PRINCE by FENIL SETA
33 years ago
It’s always a pleasure to watch sleek action thrillers equipped with watertight scripts. Unfortunately, Bollywood rarely comes up with such films and when it does, the film fails to captivate. Race was last such film in this genre which turned out to be fabulous. Now its makers (Tips) are back with Prince and fortunately, it’s not an all-style-no-substance kinda film! The film is stylish, sexy but at the same time has powerful execution and plot which’ll grip you from the very start and till the finish! A must watch, in short!
The story of the movie: Prince (Vivek Oberoi) is one of the savviest thieves in the world. Making the utmost use of his intelligence and technology, he can break into the most safest and secured systems and commit daring robberies. After committing one such grand heist in Durban, he suddenly finds himself not remembering anything at all. He has a gunshot wound on his arm. The CBI, The IGRIP and the villainous Sarang (Isaiah) are behind him and are asking him about some coin which he has robbed. However, he doesn’t remember where he has hidden it. And moreover, he meets 3 hotties (Neeru Singh, Nandana Sen, Aruna Shields) in 3 days, all of them claiming to be his girlfriend Maya! And finally he finds the deadly secret-he hardly has 6 days to live! To find out how Prince finds the truth and puts all the jigsaw puzzles back in place, watch the movie!
Prince sets the mood wonderfully from the first scene itself. Prince robbing the More >
Movie Review: PRINCE by TARAN ADARSH
03 years ago
by Fenil Seta
in External Reviews
By Taran Adarsh, April 9, 2010 – 13:54 IST
Hollywood has come up with so many movies on memory loss, while Bollywood too has had its share of films which depicted the protagonist losing his memory, GHAJINI being the most recent example. But what if someone robs your memory? Quite an interesting thought, isn’t it?
One of the advantages of having a GenNext director is, he’s ready to take risks, ready to tread the untrodden path, ready to go where no one has been before. But there’s a disadvantage too: Visuals and technique take precedence, while story takes a backseat. PRINCE has a terrific first half, where technique and content go hand in hand, but technique overpowers the content in its post-interval portions.
What surprises you is that PRINCE is penned by the writer of RACE [Shiraz Ahmed] and like RACE, PRINCE too has several twists and turns every 15 odd minutes. But the twists and turns are a mixed bag here – captivating at times, not captivating at some places. More on that later!
BY BOLLYWOOD HUNGAMA.COMOn the brighter side, PRINCE has great stunts and chase sequences [Allan Amin], fantastic visuals [South Africa] and of course, a chartbuster musical score [Sachin Gupta]. And these three factors, coupled with Vivek Oberoi’s convincing performance, should take the film to safety!
One of the savviest thieves in the world [Vivek Oberoi] commits the biggest heist of his life. He wakes up next the morning to realize he has a gunshot wound on his More >