Slumdog Millionaire is creating buzz all around. The movie follows the universal themes of love, destiny and determination. It is based on Vikas Swarup’s novel Q & A.
The movie has music by A R Rahman and stars Anil Kapoor, Irfan Khan along with the lead actor Dev Patel.
Fantastic, Amazing, Rocking – Superlatives that have already been used for Rock On! For a change, these superlatives seem to be well justified.
Dil Chahta was coming of an age movie for Bollywood. Farhan Akhtar is a part of another defining movie for Bollywood. Do not think of it as a Rock Music movie. Do not compare it with Hollywood movies of same genre. We have a long way to go there. However, we should appreciate that Bollywood is moving towards Hollywood….Manorama Six Feet Under, Taare Zameen Par….Rock On will be another milestone on that road.
Rock On is a cool movie. The movie is very contemporary and urban. The brilliant script is given primary importance. The characters are well-defined. The casting is spot on. The look of the film is meticulously perfect. I liked the styling of Farhan Akhtar’s apartment. The music and lyrics of the movie touch you.
Farhan Akhtar as Aditya Shroff, Arjun Rampal as Joe, Shahana Goswami as Debbie leave strong impact on you. All the other important actors including Prachi Desai, Purab Kohli, Luke Kenny have done credible job.
The characters display an high level of maturity. There is no melodrama between Aditya and Saakshi, when she discovers his past relationship. Deby’s practical reasoning and advice to Joe are part of real life. Aditya and Joe have their unparalleled talent, but their egos have destroyed lives of one and all. Yet, when they meet again, there is no acrimony. The movie’s victory is in its small moments. Farhan does not react to Deby’s accusations. The Irani cafe owner does not recognize Luke Kenny. Farhan’s indiffrerence to Joe’s song. KD’s singing act at the party.
Of course, the movie could have been better. There are small loop-holes. The break-up of Aditya and his girl-friend was abrupt. The 10-year chasm between all melts within a few moments. Character of KD & Rob could have been given more meat. However, I would not mind these. It is better than ‘Leave-your-brains-at-home’ movies.
Life is not black and white. There are shades of grey. There are no perfect answers. Questions will remain. Like did Aditya’s ego lead him into grey area? Or Joe’s insecurities got to him?
All the songs are amazing. They have a high level of energy. The Tum Toh Ho is a wonderful ballad. Socha Hai, Rock On will make your heart sing. Phir Dekhiye has inspiring lyrics and Pichle Saat Din is a catchy song. A good music album as well.
The movie’s real hero is Abhishek Kapoor. The integrity of the film maker is genuine. His passion and his special treatment to the movie touches you as well.
Farhan Akhtar also deserves credit for giving Abhishek full liberty and freedom. It would have been difficult for him to give control to someone else. Especially, when he is an successful and accomplished director. Farhan also has done full justice as a producer and displayed his new talent as singer.
Rock On Movie is a metaphor for life. It is not about music. It is about friends. It is about following your dreams. Rock On is one of those movies that have their heart in the right place.
Highly Recommended!
Shah Rukh Khan’s Farah Khan Directed Om Shanti Om and Sony Pictures’ Sanjay Leela Bhansali Directed Saawariya have ensured a gala Diwali at the box office. Both were fully hyped and aggressively promoted movies.So what is the audience verdict ?
Om Shanti Om is going to be a bigger hit. Saawariya had started off well due to headstart over Om Shanti Om in booking. However, it is not likely to continue its close fight and collections will drop in the second week.
Only SRK and Sex sells ! Proven again.
Picture perfect scene. Magnificent sets. Attention to minutest details. Good music. Focused theme. This is out and out Sanjay Leela Bhansali movie.
Sanjay Leela Bhansali does not care for the lowest common denominator. His movies are about himself and his expression of certain ideas. If they click with the audience and succeed at box office like Black, great. Else, who cares!
Hollywood’s first Indian production Saawariya is a movie based on White Nights. It is a visual treat and one cannot put your eyes away from the beautiful sets. Omung Kumar has created magic in blue and green. The bridge, RK Bar, Budhha etc are all delight to watch.
Ranbir Kapoort looks promising and is indeed going to go places. He will keep the Kapoor tradition alive. Sonam Kapoor is good but not in the same league as Deepika Padukone. Salman and Rani and Zohra Sehgal give wonderful support to the main lead.
The music is good and songs are artistically picturized. Though one wished that a few songs were eased out.
However inspite of all the positives, the movies fails to impress the audience. The story is quite slow and stretched. People did not like the ending as well. Watch it for visual treat!
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 :
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.