Category: Cinema & Storytelling

Have you eaten Dry Fruit Pav Bhaji?

– It has assortment of Dry Fruits

– Everyone try it

– It is expensive

– It lacks the taste of Regular Pav Bhaji

– It fills the tummy but does not satisfy you

 

Well, Om Shanti Om is one Dry Fruit Pav Bhaji. Om Shanti Om is watchable. OSO is an entertaining fun-filled movie. One comes out of the theatre with lots of smile. And that is OSO’s victory – good 150 minutes of pure fun. Nothing beyond that. 

 

Om Shanti Om is a movie only SRK can carry off. Only he can get such an assortment of Stars for his movie. Only he can carry off such spoofs. Only he can laugh at himself. And that is a big thing!

 

I liked the following one liners / acts:

 

1. Kirron Kher is rehearsing to confront Arjun Rampal in second half during the launch of Om Shanti Om. Shreyas tells SRK – Mom is overacting. SRK – Yeh to hamari family problem hai!

 

2. Arjun Rampal telling Satish Shah that ultimately it is the Manmohan Desai shot that will work. 

 

3. Spoof on Suraj Barjatya

 

4. Filmfare Awards Spoof – SRK in Phir Bhi Dil Hai NRI, Return of Khiladi, Dhoom 5

 

5. Overacting and hamming of Kirron Kher in first half. 

 

It is an SRK movie all the way. The real Pav Bhaji or plot is really incidental to the movie. Logic is definitely out.

 

The movie is by, for and of SRK. Deepika Padukone is a wonderful beauty and shows great promise in the limited screen presence. Shreyas Talpade is brilliant and shows his ability to transcend into out and out glamour films from offbeat roles. Arjun Rampal, Kirron Kher and Bindu are all predictable. 

 

The music is good. The mega star cast video looks good and sounds good as well. Surprisingly, Dard E Disco makes SRK look odd – leave those moves for John and Hrithik. Art direction, cinematography, costumes are all upto the expected high levels. One big question – did this movie need a director? Did Farah Khan do anything here?

 

Om Shanti Om is a movie all of us will watch. Reviews are irrelevant. Anyway, I thought most of the reviews were too generous. Overall the movie is all of hype and hoopla. It is over the top unadulterated SRK entertainer. People will watch if for SRK. And come home entertained. Most of us watch movie for entertainment anyways!

 

 

I am not a big fan of Kareena and Shahid. But I liked Socha Na Tha and hence decided to watch Jab We Met. I am a Director Biased Movie Fan. Today I plan to see No Smoking for Anurag.

Imtiaz Ali’s Jab We Met is a good and entertaining movie. The true revelation is Kareena who has given the best performance of her career so far. She plays an over-the-top loud extrovert character with perfection and great balance. In second half, she plays totally a opposite and restrained character. Shahid is also very impressive and manages to give a raving performance after his debut film Ishq Vishq and Vivah.

There are lovely moments in the film – handling an intimate moment in second half between Shahid-Kareena, Shahid’s meeting his mother, Karate moments etc. The movie is beautiful in first half and matures in second half. Though second half had to be a little melodramatic, it is handled rather well except for one or two songs.

There are cinematic liberties but it is acceptable. The music is lovely and songs are picturized beautifully. Yeh Ishq To is my favorite.

Overall, it is a nice cute movie with refreshing treatments. There are shades of Yash Chopra but it is a nice movie. I would give it 3.5 stars out of 5. Not as liberal as TOI!

The highlight of the movie is the wonderful chemistry of Shahid – Kareena. They are magical. You wish the current rumours are just that – rumours! And just imagine if Anshuman in the movie was Saif!

Go watch it!

Additional Reviews :

Passion of Cinema – Review
Passion of Cinema – Jab We Met

I recently saw the movie Bheja Fry starring Vinay Pathak. It is a total laugh riot based on the French movie Le Diner De Cons.

The film is a welcome change from the recent crop of movies and stands on its own merit. The movie is a story of Rajat Kapoor and his friends who invite not-so-smart people for dinner and have fun at their expense. Vinay Pathak is their latest ‘talent’ but the tables are turned by Bharat Bhushan. His act of locking the suitcase, showcasing his portfolio, eagerness to make a phone call and please are wonderfully beautiful. When he says “Idiots are also human being” you cannot stop laughing and applauding Vinay Pathak. He carries the film on his own shoulders and is very natural.

Vinay Pathak’s acting, strong script and director Sagar Ballary’s brilliant debut make it a must watch. Ranvir Sheorey and Rajat Kapoor do a great supporting act. Sarika and Bhairavi are wasted. The music is OK.

Bheja Fry is another multiplex film and will do well in urban centres. Produced at a modest budget, this movie will make good money for all involved.

Watch it. It is a ‘must see’ film.