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Posts tagged opening credits
Movie Review: KARTHIK CALLING KARTHIK by FENIL SETA
Feb 27th
The successful jodi of Farhan Akhtar-Ritesh Sidhwani is back. Their banner have consistently come up with fine qualitative films like Dil Chahta Hai, Lakshya, Don, Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd, ‘Rock On!!’ and Luck By Chance. Hence, the expectations from their next, Karthik Calling Karthik were naturally high. However, the mixed and negative reviews that appeared in the last 24 hours did upset me a bit. However, all my disappointment went out of the window after watching the film. Karthik Calling Karthik is a wonderful, innovative flick which is stylishly presented and most importantly, has a completely unpredictable suspense!
The story of the movie: Karthik (Farhan Akhtar) lives in Mumbai alone. Although he’s a topper as a student, he is damn shy, introvert and not-so-confident which never allowed him to rise higher professionally. His boss (Ram Kapoor) ill-treats him every day. He’s in love with Shonali (Deepika Padukone) who works in office since years but he never got the courage to go and say even ‘Hi’ to her. His life was thus miserable. One fine early morning, he receives a call from, believe it or not, none other than himself! The caller, who also claimed to be Karthik, became his guide, mentor and his friend. He gave him the push to stand and face the world bravely. Slowly, thanks to the caller, Karthik’s life takes a bright turn. He also finds Shonali getting drawn towards him. Everything was going perfect. But at this point, problem arises in Karthik’s life.
Karthik Calling Karthik hooks you even before the first scene with the innovative presentation of titles. And as soon the scenes start rolling, we immediately get drawn to ‘loser life’ of Karthik. Director Vijay Lalwani allots adequate screen time to show Karthik and his ‘loser’ attitude. Obviously, things brighten up when Karthik gets the mysterious call for the first time. Things get even better when Karthik turns confident and shows everyone around his worth. Watch out here for the scene when he gets back to his boss-it was brilliant and easily the best part in the 1st half! The Farhan-Deepika love story was sweet and the goings-on, their conversations and Deepika’s past bad experiences seemed very real.
The post-interval portions were a little dry and one begins to wonder whether the film is going off-track. But it’s at this juncture that the whole mystery gets unveiled and it comes like a bolt from the blue. I guarantee that no one would be able to guess the suspense fully! And it’s because of this unpredictability factor that Karthik Calling Karthik works big big time! The climax came sudden but seemed totally justified!
This is a complete Farhan Akhtar film. He carries most of the film on his shoulders and comes out with flying colours. He amazes by the way he plays the role of a shy guy and later of a confident youth so effortlessly. First Rock On followed by Luck By Chance and now Karthik Calling Karthik-in each film he has scored! Great going FA!
Deepika Padukone like everytime looks charming and gives a confident and natural performance. Nice to see that she’ll be seen in 4 more films in the next 12 months! Ram Kapoor is simply amazing! He should shift base to films rather than anchoring Swayamvar seasons! Vipin Sharma as the landlord was funny. Vivaan Bhatena as Ashish was perfect in his supporting role. Shifaali Shah (why the hell has Shefali Shah changed her name’s spelling?) was awesome as the psychiatrist. Others did a good job too.
Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy’s music is breezy. Uff Teri Ada is already a sensation and is a treat to watch in the film too. Hey Ya is nicely placed and the title song that comes during the opening credits was brilliant! Midivial Punditz and Karsh Kale’s background score was lilting. Sanu Varghese’s cinematography was eye-catching especially in the Kerela scenes. Babylon Fonseca’s background score was effective. Aarti Bajaj’s editing was slick.
Finally, debutant Vijay Lalwani scores full marks as the dialogue/story/screenplay writer and as a director! Dialogues were sharp and very witty at times. Story was unusual and very original (although you might be reminded of similar films in this genre at some point). Screenplay and direction was amazing. Vijay knew his job well and hence was able to deliver a class product! Most importantly, he wins because of the unpredictability of the film. At several points, you feel you know what shall happen next but the unexpected occurs! Great work Lalwani and looking forward to your next film!
Some of the best scenes of the film:
1. All scenes of Karthik and his boss
2. Karthik getting the first call from Karthik!
3. Karthik teaches his landlord a lesson
4. Karthik and Shonali’s first date
5. All songs (very well picturised)
6. The intermission point
7. Psychiatrist at Karthik’s house at 5 am (awesome scene!)
8. Shonali at Karthik’s house at 5 am (even better one!)
9. Karthik’s strange journey
10. The last 15 minutes
11. The last scene
On the whole, Karthik Calling Karthik is a fabulous thriller that’s cleverly made and wonderfully performed! Watch it for some hatke experience!
My rating-**** out of 5!
Movie Review: BLUE by FENIL SETA
Oct 16th
BLUE WILL GIVES YOU BLUES!!
No matter how grand a film is, how wonderfully it has been promoted or which big names associated are with it, if its content is bad, then nothing can save the film. Blue comes in this category. The film was so nicely publicized, the promos looked rocking, Akki-Sanju pairing seemed electrifying and Lara Dutta’s bikini scenes had sent the youth in frenzy. Unfortunately, the film’s story is pathetic and thus, the film disappoints…big time!
The story of the movie: Sagar (Sanjay Dutt) is an honest guy staying in Bahamas and has a girlfriend, Mona (Lara Dutta). His best friend is Aarav (Akshay Kumar), a rich and over ambitious businessman. One fine morning, Sagar’s younger brother, Sameer aka Sam (Zayed Khan) arrives at Sagar’s place after staying in Bangkok for 5 years. Sam hasn’t come there just to meet his folks for a few days-he had ran away from Bangkok after taking panga with a gangster Gulshan (Rahul Dev) there. On the other hand, there is a treasure lying deep under the sea, somewhere near Bahamas, and Aarav persuades Sagar to join him in finding the treasure. But Sagar has reservations about it which is connected to his past.
In just 15 minutes, you get a hint that the director is unfit and doesn’t know his job well. The opening credits scene was brilliant. But the following scenes and also the boxing sequence hold attention initially but the interest soon wears off. The movie then focuses on Zayed Khan which was the best part of the first hour. But the story hardly moves once Zayed comes to Bahamas and joins Sanju and his team and this happens till the intermission point. In between, there two songs are thrown in, ‘Chiggy Wiggy’ and Blue Theme, which serve no purpose to the main storyline.
The actual treasure hunting begins in the last 30 minutes and you expect fireworks right till the climax. But alas…it was plain lackluster. The director could have included added more thrills or at least some twists and surprises. Sure, there is a twist in the end but that doesn’t work big time. Also the climax was so lame!
Talking about flaws, there are plenty. What is striking is-the treasure is part of India’s wealth and was coming to India in a ship in 1949. But when the ship sank, no effort was made by the Indian Govt or for that matter, any adventurer to get hold of it. Although there were stories that the captain of the ship took away the treasure, still no one tried even investigating this case and that too for 5 decades! Very hard to digest!
However, the film scores at a few places. The bike race and the following chase scene involving Zayed Khan rocks! Another bike scene post-interval, which also involved a train, was also well-shot. And the best scene of the film was when the goons attack Sanjay’s place. Simply outstanding! So you can see, only the action sequences hold attention. And the film, overall, is a damp squib!
It’s a treat to see Sanjay Dutt in every film and in Blue too, he does a great job. Although he looked a bit fat places, overall, he gives a smashing performance. Akshay Kumar steals the show. He also raises a few laughs in between and was perfect for this role. However, it’s really disappointing to see Akshay Kumar in pathetic films lately. Let’s hope De Dana Dan (his next with Priyadarshan) works. Zayed Khan looked dashing and charming. The world may denounce him but I feel that he has the potential and can reach the top, if given an opportunity.
I really feel bad for Lara Dutta. When she signed Blue, she didn’t know swimming and she dedicatedly learnt how to swim in just three months and became a pro. However, she hardly has any contribution to the main plot of the film. In fact, one can argue that there was no need for her character in the film at all! Really very unfortunate! Rahul Dev was okay and Kabir Bedi doesn’t have a single dialogue in the film. Katrina Kaif is stunning while Kylie Minogue oozes oomph!
A R Rahman’s music was good, but nothing special. The Blue Theme, Chiggy Wiggy and Aaj Dil are the best songs of the lot. Rahman’s background score sounded modern and fresh.
Laxman Utekar’s cinematography was eye-catching. The underwater cinematography by Pete Zuccarini was outstanding and the underwater scenes really looked stunning. Oscar winner Resul Pookutty strikes a sixer with his marvelous sound designing. Fantastic job! The locales (Bahamas) are excellent.
Some of the dialogues (Mayur Puri) stand out. While the crew did their job wonderfully, the story and the script (Anthony D’Souza and Jasmine D’Souza) spoil and ruin the show. Same goes for direction by Anthony. He had everything-a producer who was ready to invest large amounts of money, top actors of the current period, an excellent crew (including some from Hollywood) and what not. But alas! Did Anthony feel that people are going to praise his film just by showing them some wonderful underwater scenes and handful of action sequences? The producer, Dhilin Mehta, is equally to blame. What was he thinking when he invested 90 crs+ on such a flawed script and on a debutant director? My blood boils to see huge amounts of money going waste, which could had been utilized in a better way. We are a pro when it comes to lifting/copying/inspiring from Hollywood flicks. Then why can’t we have a Hollywood-like terrific direction and screenplay? Really very very disappointing!
Some of the best scenes in the film:
1. Sam in Bangkok
2. Sagar and Aarav having a drink at the edge
3. Sam being chased in Bahamas
4. Gulshan’s attack on Sagar
5. Sam, Sagar and Aarav searching for treasure
6. The final scene
On the whole, Blue is a big time disappointment. The film’s cast and crew have done a brilliant job but the film fails to impress because of its faulty script. Blue should fail (and it will, for sure, keeping in mind its high cost) at the Box office so that it gives a lesson to all producers in Bollywood that investing large amounts of money on faulty scripts and taking audiences for granted will result in big losses and disaster.
My rating-** out of 5!
This review first appeared on MouthShut.com: http://www.mouthshut.com/review/Blue-177340-1.html
Movie Review: LOVE AAJ KAL by FENIL SETA
Aug 2nd
Very rarely do you come across a film which fulfills all your expectations and in fact, provides more than expected. This year, however, we were mostly bombarded with some pathetic flicks. But behold as Love Aaj Kal has arrived! The film sees love and relationships in a new light but what works big time is its terrific execution and smart storytelling. Love Aaj Kal is surely one of the most refreshing romantic flicks to come out of Bollywood!
The story of the movie: Jai (Saif Ali Khan) and Meera (Deepika Padukone) is a modern-day couple based in London. They are always together but are clueless whether they can be categorized as ‘boyfriend-girlfriend’! Meera gets an opportunity to move to Delhi which she doesn’t want to miss while Jai is soon going to be at San Francisco. Jai and Meera conclude that their long-distance relationship won’t work and thus, decide to break-up (happily). At this point, Jai comes across veteran Veer Singh (Rishi Kapoor) who is shocked to see how Jai treats relationships and break them so easily. He is of the view that the present generation can’t understand love. Love is that trap in which he got entangled 4 decades back when he was the dashing and cool Delhiite Veer (played by Saif again) and when he came across Harleen Kaur (Giselle Monteiro). Jai laughs at Veer as to how he had travelled thousand kilometers from Delhi to Calcutta just to catch a glimpse of Harleen.
Jai-Meera…Veer-Harleen-both these ‘love stories’ were poles apart and of different generations. But love is the same as it was 4 decades back. Jai soon realizes that he’s having the same feeling and experience that Veer must have gone through when he fell in love with Harleen!
The opening scenes give a strong indication that Love Aaj Kal is a different and unique film. During the opening credits, the glimpse of the scenes to follow is shown but yet, you won’t be able to guess what’s going to happen in the film! The execution and editing really works wonders in this film!
The first half of this film is very interesting and surprising. The way the couple break-up was indeed hilarious! Jai and Meera keeping in touch with all modern-day means of communication (sms, call, internet, Mobile Internet) makes you smile. And the eternal Jai-Harleen cute love story also flashes a smile on one’s face, albeit for a different reason!
Telling two stories that run parallel in a film is not easy but Imtiaz executes them with élan and even intersects them wonderfully, a la Rang De Basanti style! Also, the film, especially in the 2nd half reminds one of Jaane Tu…Ya Jaane Na.
The film gets slow and drags at few places in the 2nd half. But the final 30 minutes compensates for the cons. The film manages to show a true picture of today’s confused individuals who fail to think rationally before taking big decisions and denounce and detest love.
When it comes to performances, each one is brilliant in their place. Saif Ali Khan shines wonderfully and manages to come up with one of the outstanding performances of his career. He had two diverse roles in the film and he performed both of them perfectly. It was a treat to see Saif as Jai getting confused, irritated, sad, shocked-all at once in a couple of sequences. At the same time, he looked like a convincing Sikh and was extremely likeable as Veer Singh too. It’s great to see Saif in another modern and fresh love story (after Salaam|Namaste) and this time, he scores as the producer too. He’s definitely on a roll!
Deepika Padukone was simply outstanding and gives a charming performance. Her brilliant job will surely put an end to all speculation regarding why Kareena was not casted in her place. Deepika was perfect for her role and she and Saif look excellent together. Love Aaj Kal would surely be another feather in her cap. Great going, Deepika!
Rishi Kapoor also manages to impress as much as Saif and Deepika. Everyone will surely love him in the still-young-at-heart role. After Luck By Chance, this is surely another brilliant performance from this actor. The one who enacted the role of Harleen is actually a Brazlian, Giselle Monteiro. Yet, she is likeable as the Punjabi kudi of the 60s. Only someone like Imtiaz Ali can extract such fine desi performance from a firangi! Rahul Khanna is as usual charming. It’ll be great if he gets the role of protagonist too! Neetu Kapoor comes in unexpectedly! Raj Zutshi and others were okay.
One can argue that songs weren’t necessary in the film. Quite true, since many songs crop up unexpectedly and the film could have been a romantic songless flick! However, although songs at several places weren’t necessary, it doesn’t bore or put a brake on the narrative. And the songs itself are so good that one doesn’t mind! Pritam scores a sixer with this album and is surely one of his best compositions. Also, songs are also very well picturised, esp ‘Mein Kya Hoon’. It was just outstanding and also impactful. ‘Ajj Din Chadeya’, the best song of the film in my view, also brings a smile on one’s face, even though only the initial part of the song is played in the film. Rest of the songs, ‘Twist’, ‘Dooriyaan’, ‘Chor Bazaari’ and ‘Thoda Thoda Pyaar’ are brilliant too!
Irshad Kamil’s lyrics also deserve a special mention. The way he has used some unusual words in songs is extraordinary. For instance, in Chor Bazaari, the word ‘ghatna’, which is never before heard in any song before, is used here!
N Natarajan Subramaniam’s cinematography was flawless. It’s great to see the lensman didn’t show the popular landmarks of the city in which film is shot. For instance, in scenes of London, not even a single scene or frame show Tower Bridge, Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square or any other popular London landmark. Similarly, Red Fort and India Gate are missing in the Delhi sequences! It is little things like these that make Love Aaj Kal special!
Salim-Sulaiman’s background score, as expected, was top-notch. Aarti Bajaj’s editing was sharp, slick and brilliant. Watch the film and you’ll get my point! Production design was marvelous and eye-catching, especially in the sepia coloured 60’s scenes!
Finally, Imtiaz Ali, the writer and director, comes out with flying colours! His debut film, Socha Na Tha flopped but it was noticed and appreciated by moviegoers. His second offering, Jab We Met, succeeded across the country. And now with his third flick, he has surely been hailed as the one of the finest directors of our country. The way he treated both the diverse stories and found out striking similarities is worth appreciating and extra ordinary! Also, it’s fabulous to see Imtiaz comparing Calcutta and San Francisco. Both the cities have a tram network and if SF has the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, Calcutta have the rustic Howrah Bridge! Hats off Imtiaz for your wonderful effort!
Some of the best scenes of the film:
- All songs (well shot and picturised)
- Jai and Meera’s break-up
- Jai and Veer Singh’s conversations (damn interesting!)
- Jai and Meera at the airport
- All scenes of Veer-Harleen’s love story
- Drunk Jai escorting drunk Meera to her home
- The New Year’s eve at Delhi
- The marriage
- The last 30 mins, including the SF scenes!
On the whole, Love Aaj Kal is a very interesting take on the modern relationships and surely emerges as one of the best films of the year. Performances, songs, cinematography rocks but it is Imtiaz Ali’s touch which works wonders! Highly recommended!
My rating-**** ½ out of 5!
