Ghajini

Director: A.R.Murgadass

 

Tale of redemption is not new to Indian viewers, but Murugadass strikes gold by flavouring the age old tale with the idea showcased marvelously in Memento.

 

Sanjay (Aamir) a business tycoon takes the path of revenge after his lover is brutally murdered. With only the name Ghajni as a clue, how Sanjay, now suffering from short term memory loss avenges the dead of his dearest forms the crux of the movie.

 

Ghajini which begins as a tale of revenge shifts to romantic comedy and finally ends in typical filmy style with Aamir removing the rod with which he was stabbed in his stomach, after killing the antagonist and walking alive.

 

The balance between realism and fantasy is maintained nicely in the action sequences while Ravi Chandran with his measured lighting creates magic. Antony deserves credit for not letting the movie sag one bit. Except some sequences Rahman elevates the movie with his background score and soundtrack.

 

Aamir gets into the skin of the character of a person suffering from short term memory loss; his expressions in the beginning few sequences of the movie is testimony to the anger and pain the character has within, yet he slips a bit when he plays the youthful business tycoon when compared to the tamil version. Asin reprising the character she perfected in the tamil version is not as bubbly as she was then, yet she shines.

 

Pace is the main asset of this revenge saga leaving the viewers no time to question the flaws, yet for a script which was modified to pump in more logic there are many a sequences which will irk, like when a person who can't remember anything after 15 minutes is shown as breaking down after reading two complete diaries.  Watch it only for its entertainment value. 

Verdict: 3 ½ / 5 stars

Rab ne bana di jodi

Director: Aditya Chopra

Starring: Shah Rukh Khan, Anushka, Vinay Pathak

 

Every film doesn't' have a great concept. It takes great screenplay and direction to make a flawed concept into a great movie. Rab ne bana di jodi(RNBDJ) does have an interesting concept, but poor screenplay plays spoil sport here.

 

Story wise it is about Surinder(SRK) who wanting to make his wife Taani(Anuskha) be happy again comes in disguise as the fun loving Raj only to make her life more complicated. Whom she chooses (or God chooses) to be her lover forms the rest of the story.

 

Aditya Chopra forgot the most important aspect of commercial film making while writing the script: the audience should not be let to think about the movie while watching it. It is accepted that Taani can't identify her husband in disguise the first time they meet, but even after days of being together with both the characters; her inability to identify the disguise is plain stupidity. SRK's character is the most confusing character of all in the film; if Raj can be that intelligent in making her fall in love with him, then why does Surinder try such atrocious ideas to impress her? It was like Surinder was willingly being reserved to make Taani love Raj. Then what is the use of singing "slowly slowly love will come" every now and then?

 

If at all one wants to watch this movie, then it is for SRK; be it the reserved Surinder who loves his wife behind her back or the openly flirting Raj, SRK essays both the roles to near perfection; especially in the scene near the climax where SRK cries and laughs at the same time when Taani tells to Raj that she is in love with Surinder. On the whole RNBDJ is half baked: see it if you must.

 

Verdict: 2/5

Yuvvraaj

Director: Subash Ghai

Cast: Salman, Anil, Katrina, Zayed

 

From the time the title shows the name A.R.Rahman till the end where he makes a small appearance; its Rahman's film all way. He enchants us through out with his brilliant songs and impeccable background score. But sadly the film is only an assemblage of mesmerizing tunes with poorly conceived story backed by very bad screenplay and editing; mainly in the second half.

 

It's accepted that Subash Ghai has tried a musical here but it's so over the top and clichéd with pointless scenes thrown in, making the film sink deep. Though the witty dialogues does make us laugh and forget the atrocities that is being screened; the film doesn't work on the whole.

 

Story wise the film is about an arrogant Devan(Salman) and spoiled brat Shanu(Zayed) scheming to get their deceased father's fortune from their autistic music-genius brother Gyanesh played sincerely by Anil.

 

Apart from few fiery dialogues the two brothers exchange, there seems to be no plan what so ever. To top it the attorney played by Mittun is irritating; so are the family members of the brothers. While Zayed's role is poorly written, Salman doesn't make use of a great opportunity. Two people who make the film passable (apart from Rahman) are Anil and Katrina; the latter attracting us with her god sent beauty with convincing acting and former with his antics though it gets over the top at times. Look out for the scenes where Anil sings: commendable enacting.

 

A film worth the watch for Rahman fans and a big no for everyone else.

 

Rating: 2/5

Vaaranam Aayiram

Mission accompolished!

Director: Gautham

 

Gautham proves with this film that even with a poor screenplay you can make a lovable film if you are sincere in what you want to convey. Leave the fact that the film doesn't have a flow, leave the fact that emotions are conveyed through words rather than visuals and get ready to be swept off your feet by the examples set by daddy as to how a dad should be.

 

Story-wise the film is basically the recollection of memories of Suriya, exploring various stages of his life, where his dad has helped him move ahead after he learns that his father has passed away.

 

It is accepted that Suriya is only recollecting various incidents in his life, but while narrating, the seamless flow that is required is missing; result the film doesn't show anything more than what was shown in the trailer. It is disheartening to see the most important sequences in the film being handled amateurishly. Example- the kidnap sequence which was supposed to show the transition in Suriya never establishes that. There seems to be an air of artificiality in most part of the film; mainly when Suriya tirelessly praises his dad in every other scene, as a consequence the drama and emotional touch seems to be forced in. Yet the point that is made with these forced situations is heart warming.

 

Technically the film is brilliant, baring poor back ground score. Unnecessary songs do irritate the viewers, but hey it's a tamil film, people come mainly to see marvelously choreographed songs than the film on the whole.

 

All said the film is worth a watch for the point it makes and obviously Suriya who has single handedly carried the film.

 

Verdict: 3/5

Roadside Romeo

Director: Jugal Hansraj

 

Roadside Romeo is a rich-rag-happy ending tale of Romeo (a dog) who finds a way to live in the gutter and in the process finds love in the form of Laila and wins her over the obstacle called Charlie anna. With Road side Romeo Yashraj has found a way to make money out of their poor scripts. Remove the dogs and make actors play the roles they voiced; then Roadside Romeo will end being damp squib. One wonders if Yashraj knows anything else than DDLJ, proving yet again Chak de! India was a flash out of the pan.

 

 All said, yet this being an animation film all the clichés and nostalgic moments which we all have gotten bored of doesn't look that bad. Look for the scene that comes after Romeo does a Raj of DDLJ by lending his hand from train; intelligent script writing.  But is there anything original in this script? The director answers that too with the game the dogs play at night to wake the humans- clever again. These interesting moments though very good are very few and far between. Even scripting wise in the first half, the director seems to be in a hurry to say everything, making us feel distant from what is happening on the screen.

 

Technically Roadside Romeo is a good attempt by Indian standards but can never be called a revolutionary. The voice sync is not that great especially for Laila. Kareena fails to bring life to the wonderful body language created for Laila. Of all the actors Javed Jaffery stands out which his marvelous command over the character. One can't stop smiling at the way he pronounces Row-meow (Romeo).

 

On the whole a time pass film not for the kids but only for the teen.

 

Verdict: 3/5 stars

Saroja

 Go without expectations

Director: Venkat Prabhu

 

Saroja, the second outing of the team of Chennai-28 is undoubtedly a very good attempt in Tamil cinema, but for a movie which promised to offer more than few smiles it falls short.

 

Half an hour into the movie and three songs up we can clearly judge the director's intentions: to not make a film which will stand the test of time for it near flawless and perfect script like his previous venture, but a film which covers all its flaws with the humor coated with it.

 

Story-wise the director took the script of 'Judgement night', mixed it with the concept of our very own 'Anjathey' and finally coated it with lots of nostalgia and humor, not to forget the 'home alone' style climax.

 

The graph of the film starts from negative and gradually attains great heights near the pre-climax, but falls badly after that. But Premji carries the whole movie on his shoulders to make us forget the negatives. Yet the director could have given more justice to the tagline "heroes are not born, they are made" more effectively like in 'Judgement day'.

 

Attempting to indianise the script of 'Judgement day', Venkat pumps in unnecessary songs and pointless guest-appearances (though Brahmanadham impresses). It is shear shame that only in Tamil cinema a guy's girlfriend dances obscenely for his accomplices. Of all the songs only "dosh" song jells with the film though all are crafted well. The background score impresses throughout except for the theme chosen for the antagonist. Cinematography and art is shear pleasure to view.

 

All said about the negatives one can't but appreciate Venkat's skill to grab the attention of the average film-viewer, make him sit throughout the 2 ½ hrs without getting bored. For this one reason alone Saroja is worth the watch.

 

Verdict: 3stars

Dhaam Dhoom

Director: Jeeva

Jeeva seems to have done the same mistake which his bollywood counterparts are doing: making a sleaze and chic film by compromising the script.

The film has an ages old storyline whose treatment which promises to be different at the beginning fails so badly that you wish they had made a typical Tamil film instead.

Ravi, a doctor by profession leaves for Russia a fortnight before his wedding to attend a medical conference. By circumstance he is trapped there by the local police on the charges of murdering their commissioner's daughter. The rest of the story revolves around how the protagonist succeeds to clear his name.

 

Few comparison between typical tamil cinema and Dhaam dhoom; the hero instead of singing a dapankuthu sings a rap for his intro, instead of running around the local streets the hero WALKS in the streets of Russia while the police chases him in motorcycle and car.

But don't worry its still is a tamil film, this they prove by making the hero fly in air, take a bullet on the left chest and just walk away; heroine who doesn't even look a bit like a tamil girl; the accused making more public appearance than Obama probably did for his entire election campaign with the only person the police suspects him to be with.

Even though the film has tones of clichés the first half keeps you engrossed. Only in the later part of the film does the director slip with his age old approach. Yet the pace in the film never slips thanks to the technical department. All the actors have performed well, that includes Kanga who in a role which completely doesn't suite her has done it decently baring the poor lip sync.

On the whole a time pass if you don't have anything to do.

Verdict: 2 ½ stars.

Race

Cast: Saif Ali Khan, Akshay Kanna, Anil Kapoor, Bipasha Basu ,Katrina

kaif, Sameera Reddy.

On recommendation from a friend I went for this film. What should

have been a great entertainer turned out to be nothing more than a

typical bollywood film of the 70s.

The film opens with Saif meeting with a car accident.

Flashback: Saif is the owner of a horse race track. He is SHOWN as an

intelligent person & loves adventure [!?!].His younger brother Akshay

is a drunkard. There is a so called villain in the film. In one such

race, Saif looses his bet because his rival had allegedly bribed

Saif's horse rider to slow down. When Saif sees his rider getting

money from his rival he plants a bomb on his car. The director being

the clever person here, before you think 'why can't he plant the same

on the rival's car?' silences you with a punch dialogue! The story

takes a turn here as Saif meets with an accident.Cut.

Present tense: Till now the film is shown as being narrated by Anil

kapoor [don't ask why he doesn't enter the screen now even though he

is in the cast!].Enter Bipasha, a model and a friend of Saif. Akshay

falls for her. With help from Saif he marries her. Meanwhile there is

Katrina, the secretary of Saif who is trying for him. Another twist-

Akshay and Bipasha were separately trying for Saif's money. Akshay

knowing Bipasha's background asks her to join hands to kill his

brother. They succeed too. Now enters Anil kapoor and Sameera Reddy as

the investigating officers. There is another twist that Katrina is

Saif's wife. Who gets the 100million dollar insurance money of Saif

form the rest of the story?

Be it poor camera angles or clichéd dialogues, Race has it all.

Sometimes you feel you are watching a south Indian film on hearing

those punch dialogues. Skin show seems to be forced in.

The characters of Anil and Sameera resemble that of the officers who

come in the Tamil film Aburva Sagotharargal. Emotions take a burner here especially in the scene where Bipasha seduces Saif. These

flaws eventually hide the poor acting of Katrina and Akshay's poor wig

selection. Only Anil, Saif and the hot cars makes the film viewable.

Summing up, if you are ready to leave your brain outside you will

simply enjoy the film.

Verdit: comedy of the unintentional kind!