2.48
Directed by - Ali Abbas Zafar
Starring - Imran Khan, Katrina Kaif, Ali Zafar, John Abraham, Tara D'Souza, Kanwaljeet Singh, Parikshat Sahni ...
Review by Taran Adarsh
Mere Brother Ki Dulhan is a delectably wholesome, heartening, feel-good entertainer.
Our fascination for shaadis, band-baaja-baaraats, dulha-dulhans and swayamvars is for all to see. In Bollywood, most stories either begin with a shaadi or end with a shaadi. The audience claps the maximum when the hero wins his bride in the climax, overcoming all obstacles and hurdles thrown on his way by opponents. Like a veteran film-maker once told me, "Marriages [in Hindi films] can never go out of fashion." I completely agree!Yash Raj too has had their share of shaadis and baaraats on celluloid. Be it DILWALE DULHANIA LE JAYENGE or BAND BAAJA BAARAAT, the production house has successfully come up with stories that had the viewer thirsting for more. MERE BROTHER KI DULHAN more than lives up to the legacy. Sure, it has the trademark flamboyancy and family drama associated with Yash Raj, but it's totally different from what we've watched thus far. MERE BROTHER KI DULHAN isn't trite or clichéd, but it's simple and honest, so much so that this could be the story of someone you know. Thanks to a well directed cast, sparkling script and a luminous soundtrack, this is easily one of the most heartwarming movies from the leading production house.
Kush [Imran Khan] is looking for the ideal Indian bride for his brother Luv [Ali Zafar], who stays in London. In his quest, Kush goes through an array of wacky encounters with several families until he finally finds that perfect girl in Dimple [Katrina Kaif], the craziest / wackiest girl he has ever known. Both the families meet. Formalities are completed. Preparations proceed in full swing. And just then Kush falls in love with Dimple... his brother's dulhan.
On hindsight, if someone were to tell you that the story of the film is about a guy who falls in love with the bride he has chosen for his brother, you'd expect lots of melodrama and an undercurrent of tension after a point in the narrative. I'd say, ignore all the nagging misconceptions or preconceived notions you may have had about MERE BROTHER KI DULHAN. Venture into the cineplex with an open mind and trust me, as the reels unfold, you'll realize that the film is not like what you may have envisioned prior to its screening. It makes wonderful sense!
Most rom-coms follow the conventional route. You know how they start, what's in store in the middle and how they usually end. They don't really challenge the intellect, frankly. But there's a twist in the tale in MERE BROTHER KI DULHAN that catches you by surprise. Sure, it's about two guys liking the same girl -- a formula that's done to death -- but even if the theme has been used and re-used time and again, there's always scope that the next man who attempts it may treat it slightly differently. Thankfully, MERE BROTHER KI DULHAN has the conventional plot, but isn't conventional in the true sense. And it's definitely not the been-there-seen-that kind of a movie either. On the flip side, MERE BROTHER KI DULHAN has its share of few predictable moments in its second hour. Actually, the graph of the film dips, albeit slightly, in the post-interval portions. The problem is, the first hour is so high on entertainment quotient that you expect the second hour to supersede the first by leaps and bounds. Lots seem to happen in the post-interval portions, but the episodes aren't as exciting as the first hour, which is why you feel the difference. However, the finale throws a new twist, which may appear stretched to some, but is likeable nonetheless.
First-time director Ali Abbas Zafar has complete grasp over the medium and has treated each scene wonderfully well. Besides, he has drawn admirable performances from the principal characters. Handling comic scenes is one tough job, but Ali seems to have a flair for it. MERE BROTHER KI DULHAN has a winner of a soundtrack. Expectedly, the songs, composed by Sohail Sen, stress on the fun quotient that compliments the mood of this film. The songs are urbane-friendly, yet massy, with 'Dhunki', 'Choomantar', 'Madhubala' and the title track being excellent compositions. I would also like to make a special mention of the choreography of these songs [Bosco-Caesar]. It's truly eye-catching. Sudeep Chatterjee's cinematography is vibrant. The performances are easy on the eyes. The unlikely chemistry between Katrina and Imran coupled with Ali Zafar's impeccable comic timing keeps you glued to the screen. Imran, frankly, seems the apt choice for this role and he more than lives up to it. Katrina is only getting better and more endearing with every release. Ali Zafar is a supremely talented actor and this film proves it yet again.
Tara D'Souza does a fine job. Parikshit Sahni and Kanwaljeet Singh are truly wonderful. The actor who plays Imran's friend is natural. John Abraham appears in a cameo.
On the whole, MERE BROTHER KI DULHAN is a delectably wholesome, heartening, feel-good entertainer. Not just a comedy, but also a tender, bittersweet saga, this rom-com is sure to melt your heart, then restore it anew all over again. Yet another winner from Yash Raj!
Bodyguard
3.67
Directed by - Siddique
Starring - Salman Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Mahesh Manjrekar, Aditya Pancholi, Hazel Keech, Rajat Rawail, Asrani ...
Review by Taran Adarsh
Bodyguard works for varied reasons -- it has a simple, but captivating story with a dramatic twist in the tale, the chemistry between the lead actors is perfect and the music is well juxtaposed in the narrative
Let me elaborate. You expect Salman starrers to be larger-than-life, superhero films. You expect him to be the messiah of the masses. BODYGUARD presents Salman exactly the way we expect him to be presented, but, at the same time, the film brings back memories of the soft, romantic roles that Salman essayed in his initial films. What makes the film tick is that Salman and director Siddique have done something hatke within the limitations of the typical Bollywood formula, which, I am sure, should appeal to the Hindi movie buff abundantly.
Final word? BODYGUARD is a perfect family entertainer that compliments the spirit of the festive season.
When it comes to being punctual and doing his duties perfectly, Lovely Singh [Salman Khan] is unmatchable. Taking great pride in what he does, he spares no effort in giving his everything to his profession.
Lovely is summoned for an assignment of guarding Divya [Kareena Kapoor], the daughter of Sartaj Rana [Raj Babbar], a business tycoon. Lovely accompanies her to her campus, but ends up rubbing her the wrong way with his over-protective nature. She finds him to be a major obstacle in leading a regular campus life. To throw him off-track and get him out of the way, she comes up with a 'master plan' -- that of trapping him in a fake love affair. 'Once he's smitten by the girl of his dreams and is reveling in his new-found romance, he will leave us alone and we shall be free to do our own thing unhindered', says Divya to her friends.
She becomes an anonymous admirer of his and starts hounding him, expressing her 'feelings' in no uncertain terms. Lovely, however, proves to be a tough nut to crack and it takes quite a bit of doing from her side to penetrate his fort-like exterior. But once she succeeds in doing so, he transforms into a completely different person. Divya is triumphant and is all set to relish her regained freedom.
But things take an unexpected turn when she learns a few things about Lovely. Things that she could've never even imagined. And she soon finds herself trapped in a dilemma that she's unable to resolve. And with her, soon enough, Lovely finds himself trapped in a web of lies, trickery and deceit.
BODYGUARD is a simple-n-sweet tale of love that's engaging and relatable. At the same time, there's an unexpected twist in the pre-climax which shocks you completely. At no point does the director swerve from the main plot to provide a few extra laughs or thrills. Besides, this is a script which gives actors a lot of room to emote. And both Salman and Kareena seize the opportunity with both hands. More on that later!
Like I pointed out earlier, with BODYGUARD, Salman returns to a genre he started out with -- love story. Sure, BODYGUARD is a remake of a Malayalam film [remade in various South Indian languages as well], which has all the trappings of a perfect masala film -- action, music, comedy -- but BODYGUARD is essentially a love story at heart. Salman's intro may give an impression that it's a hardcore masala film, especially the song and fight sequence [frankly, the first half of the film is routine, with not much happening in the plot]. The director reserves the best for the second half, when it transforms into a love story. The action scene in the second half -- when Salman and Aditya Pancholi get into a fist fight -- is outstanding and will send his fans in raptures. Especially the moment when Salman's shirt rips off and his ripped muscles can be seen. The twist in the tale is a complete shocker. In fact, the penultimate reels of the film catches you complete unaware since you don't expect the story to change so dramatically. Director Siddique, who has directed the same script for the third time, ensures that a simple story is narrated with simplicity and unfussiness. The twist in the tale comes at the right time, the songs are smartly integrated in the plotline and of course, there are ample comic moments, courtesy Rajat Rawail. The best thing about the film is that Siddique has made a very conscious effort to project Salman as a sensitive human being and not as a demigod, which is why the character becomes all the more relatable and endearing.
The soundtrack fits the genre of the film well. The title track at the very start [Salman's intro] will draw whistles and claps, while 'Teri Meri' is undoubtedly the pick of the lot. Soulfully rendered, this one's simply mesmerizing. Overall, it's a hit score from Himesh Reshammiya and Pritam. Sejal Shah's cinematography is appropriate. Vijayan's action sequences are stylish. Though not an action film, the action sequences do stand out.
Salman delivers one of his best performances in recent times. He makes magnificent use of his tough physique and soft face. Salman's fans are sure to lap this knockout performance in a big way. BODYGUARD would be incomplete without Kareena's contribution. Some roles are tailor-made for actresses who can deliver with aplomb and who better than Kareena to infuse life in a challenging character. She looks gorgeous [as always] and gives this character the dignity that it deserves. Raj Babbar is perfect. Mahesh Manjrekar is as usual. Aditya Pancholi, in a cameo, stages a welcome comeback. He's first-rate. Rajat Rawail is a joy to watch. He's truly funny. Hazel is quite good. Asrani and Vidya Sinha are okay in their respective parts. On the whole, BODYGUARD works for varied reasons -- it has a simple, but captivating story with a dramatic twist in the tale, the chemistry between the lead actors is perfect and the music is well juxtaposed in the narrative. But its biggest USP is, without doubt, Salman Khan. He carries the film on his broad and brawny shoulders and that alone is the imperative reason for watching this film. BODYGUARD should emerge his third festive hit and fourth super-success at the ticket window. Expect a hurricane called BODYGUARD to strike at the box-office.
Bol
4.17
Directed by - Shoaib Mansoor
Starring - Atif Aslam, Iman Ali, Mahira Khan, Humaima Malick, Shafqat Cheema, Manzar Sehbai, Zaib Rehman ...
Review by Taran Adarsh
Bol is a courageous film that has the guts to expose issues plaguing the society.
By Taran Adarsh, August 29, 2011 - 17:16 IST
Shoaib Mansoor is one of the brightest names to come out of Pakistan. A few years ago, his film KHUDA KAY LIYE, which tackled the theme of terrorism, won wide acclaim and praise. The supremely talented storyteller is back with another bold and hard-hitting effort called BOL, which unmasks the dual standards prevalent in the society. In fact, we make tall claims about the rights of women and how they are equal to men, but if one looks around, especially in the under-developed countries, the disparity and inequality is for all to see.Shoaib is indeed a courageous storyteller and this film must have sparked off a debate when it released in Pakistan several weeks ago. Like KHUDA KAY LIYE, BOL addresses the religious extremism in the neighboring country. It's about a daughter who stands up against her father, but most importantly, she dares to defy the age-old societal norms that treat women as lesser beings. The fact that a Pakistani film-maker has had the courage to tackle this theme makes it all the more commendable and praiseworthy.
BOL shocks and stuns also because of the sub-plots in the plotline and the twists and turns in the story. Of course, I wouldn't like to reveal the details and spoil the fun of watching this brilliant fare, but I'd like to add that one has rarely witnessed such themes on the big screen. It serves as a wake-up call for the orthodox types on both the sides of the border.
BOL has a striking story to tell. It's about a Hakeem Sahab's quest to have a son that sees his wife give birth to fourteen children, but only seven daughters survive. The eighth is a hermaphrodite, much to Hakeem's embarrassment. The film throws light on this family's problems and how each member of the family reacts to them, taking contradicting decisions and handling awkward situations. BOL takes you on a roller coaster journey of emotions. A story that dares to bare the troubles of a certain society: the status of women in the neighboring country, the life of a hermaphrodite and of course, the quest for a male heir to keep the family name alive. Admiring BOL and not appreciating Shoaib would be doing a great disservice to the individualist film-maker. He deserves brownie points for not just choosing a controversial subject, but also handling it with aplomb. That's not all, for Shoaib has extracted wonderful performances from the principal cast.
Shoaib is a fantastic raconteur and you realize how talented he is at several points of the narrative. The difference of opinion between the eldest daughter [portrayed by Humaima Malik] and her father [Manzar Sehbai] is electrifying. You can feel an undercurrent of tension every time they share the screen space. Also, the start of the film, when Humaima begins to narrate her story and the way her story unfolds, is shocking.
On the flip side, the narrative dips, albeit sporadically, during Iman Ali's portions. Besides, a song filmed on her wasn't necessary in the first place and looks like a complete add-on. Even her performance isn't as invigorating as the remaining cast. Yet, despite the minor aberrations, BOL leaves you spellbound at the conclusion of the story. BOL belongs to both Humaima Malik and Manzar Sehbai, who stand out with terrific portrayals. Both are splendid in their respective parts. Atif Aslam and Mahira Khan don't get much scope and they are strictly okay. In fact, Atif Aslam's screen space is limited to a few sequences and a song or two. Shafqat Cheema is exceptional; it's a character that works very well in the plot. Zaib Rehman [the mother] is most effective.
On the whole, BOL is a courageous film that has the guts to expose issues plaguing the society. It raises questions, challenges the age-old customs and mirrors a reality most convincingly. A brilliant film embellished with bravura performances. Not to be missed!
0 comments:
Post a Comment