Cast: Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif, Sharman Joshi, Sohail Khan, Isha Koppikar, Amrita Arora, Gul Panag, Sharat Saxena, Dalip Tahil
Director: Atul Agnihotri
Rating: ***
Hello is a pure original of Chetan Bhagat's novel and hence has set high expectations when it was released. The director to a great extent has managed to pull it off. Its not easy to translate a book into a movie for Indian audiences. The movie depicts convincingly the complex lives of people working in call centres. The movie happens at one fine night in a call center.
The plot is simple, it revolves around 6 people working together. The work culture and atmosphere bonds them together as a team. Shyam (Sharman Joshi) is desperate to grow in his career to meet the expectations of his girl friend Priyanka (Gul Panag). Priyanka's mom though wants her to marry a well settled NRI. Radhika (Amrita Arora) is unable to tolerate her demanding mother-in-law. Vroom (Sohail Khan) is a happy go lucky person who woos Esha (Isha Koppikar). Esha is an aspiring model who can never meet success. Military uncle (Sharat Saxena) is a lonely retired colonel who is missing his children and grandchildren who are away in US.
Bakshi (Dalip Tahil) a mean manager wants to downsize his team following requests from his boss in US. This makes everyone panic in the team and they are frustrated with their lives. And then that night God calls them on Shyam's mobile. God tells them how to deal with their lives. For people who dont believe in God and expecting logic there is another version of military uncle providing the words of wisdom. Strengthened from the words they go about fixing their problems and eventually choose more fulfilling careers they like.
The entire story is narrated by Katrina to Salma in an Airport. They make guest appearences.
The movie has some hilarious moments when call centre representatives deal with their American customers. The lead stars Sharman and Gul Panag are impressive. Songs could have been avoided as it affects the pace of the movie.
Its definitely a enjoyable movie and worth a watch. Lets look forward to more movies from well written novels following the success of The Namesake and Hello
Monday, October 13, 2008
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Kidnap - review
Cast: Imran Khan, Sanjay Dutt, Minissha Lamba, Vidya Malvade
Director: Sanjay Gadhvi
Rating: *
There are some movies which can be so horribly made you want to walk out of the theater within the first 20 mins. Sanjay Gadhvi's Kidnap is one such movie. Imran Khan, Sanjay Dutt and impressive promos of the movie about being a suspense thriller create enough hype to go watch the movie but it falls flat. How on earth did Imran Khan and Sanjay Dutt choose such a flawed script will remain a mystery.
Sonia (Minissha Lamba) is kidnapped by Imran Khan (Kabir) but not for ransom money. He wants to take revenge on her father Vikrant Raina (Sanjay Dutt) who is one of the richest men in the country. Vikrant and his wife Mallika (Vidya Malvade) are divorced. She is forced to contact him as per the kidnappers ultimatum. Vidya Malvade of Chak De fame is gorgeous and looks much younger than her daughter Minissha Lamba in the movie. Such a poor casting from the director.
There so many flaws in this movie and there it not enough space to type even half of them here. Imagine this, Minissha Lamba is asked to speak to her dad to show she is alive and she starts getting senti.. "Pappa how are you doing? where were you all these years.. i miss you so much.."
Minissha Lamba really gets on your nerves. She cant act for nuts. All we see is her cleavage and thighs through out the movie but once she opens her mouth she is a complete turn off. Wonder how she managed to pack all the designer skirts and tops when she was kidnapped, she wears one each day despite being held captive. If skin show from the heroine is not enough, the director seems to have extracted glamour from even her mom!!!
Imran Khan wants revenge on Sanjay Dutt and asks him to do silly stuff (aka Die Hard) to set her daughter free. Reaching a railyway station in 20 mins, stealing his rivals money, releasing the hero's friend from prison. Sanjay Dutt becomes a James Bond and does everthing expected (funny to watch the action scenes). You expect a compelling reason for Imran Khan to hate Sanjay Dutt so much to do all this but after you listen to the flashback you get even more irritated. Now and then Minissha breaks into a song and dance with Imran. Movie ends when Imran decides to forgive Sanjay after teaching him a lesson. He eventually becomes a software engineer later !!!!!! why is bollywood so obsessed with software engineers these days? phew! everyone in the theater gets relieved when the movie gets over.
A script which lacks depth, pathetic performances especially the heroine, unimpressive lead stars and a very bad screen play. Even one star is too generous of me for this crap. Stay away from this movie even if you get free tickets, its pure torture. For fans of Imran or Sanjay, trust me you will feel sorry for them.
Director: Sanjay Gadhvi
Rating: *
There are some movies which can be so horribly made you want to walk out of the theater within the first 20 mins. Sanjay Gadhvi's Kidnap is one such movie. Imran Khan, Sanjay Dutt and impressive promos of the movie about being a suspense thriller create enough hype to go watch the movie but it falls flat. How on earth did Imran Khan and Sanjay Dutt choose such a flawed script will remain a mystery.
Sonia (Minissha Lamba) is kidnapped by Imran Khan (Kabir) but not for ransom money. He wants to take revenge on her father Vikrant Raina (Sanjay Dutt) who is one of the richest men in the country. Vikrant and his wife Mallika (Vidya Malvade) are divorced. She is forced to contact him as per the kidnappers ultimatum. Vidya Malvade of Chak De fame is gorgeous and looks much younger than her daughter Minissha Lamba in the movie. Such a poor casting from the director.
There so many flaws in this movie and there it not enough space to type even half of them here. Imagine this, Minissha Lamba is asked to speak to her dad to show she is alive and she starts getting senti.. "Pappa how are you doing? where were you all these years.. i miss you so much.."
Minissha Lamba really gets on your nerves. She cant act for nuts. All we see is her cleavage and thighs through out the movie but once she opens her mouth she is a complete turn off. Wonder how she managed to pack all the designer skirts and tops when she was kidnapped, she wears one each day despite being held captive. If skin show from the heroine is not enough, the director seems to have extracted glamour from even her mom!!!
Imran Khan wants revenge on Sanjay Dutt and asks him to do silly stuff (aka Die Hard) to set her daughter free. Reaching a railyway station in 20 mins, stealing his rivals money, releasing the hero's friend from prison. Sanjay Dutt becomes a James Bond and does everthing expected (funny to watch the action scenes). You expect a compelling reason for Imran Khan to hate Sanjay Dutt so much to do all this but after you listen to the flashback you get even more irritated. Now and then Minissha breaks into a song and dance with Imran. Movie ends when Imran decides to forgive Sanjay after teaching him a lesson. He eventually becomes a software engineer later !!!!!! why is bollywood so obsessed with software engineers these days? phew! everyone in the theater gets relieved when the movie gets over.
A script which lacks depth, pathetic performances especially the heroine, unimpressive lead stars and a very bad screen play. Even one star is too generous of me for this crap. Stay away from this movie even if you get free tickets, its pure torture. For fans of Imran or Sanjay, trust me you will feel sorry for them.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
A Wednesday - Review
Cast: Naseeruddin Shah, Anupam Kher, Jimmy Shergill, Deepal Shaw, Amir Bashir
Director: Neeraj Pandey
Rating: ****
Lots of movies based on terrorism these days. You would have a sense of deja-vu when you are considering to watch this movie. After Mumbai Meri Jaan comes another movie based on bomb blasts. After watching this movie directed by Neeraj Pandey you will not regret spending your time and money.
Naseeruddin Shah and Anupam Kher two stalwarts of bollywood bring top notch performances which are gripping till the very end. Hindi cinema sadly has not given its due to Naseer or Anupam.
The Mumbai Police Commissioner, Prakash Rathod (played by Anupam Kher) gets an annoymous call from Naseer. Will the militants be set free? Will the bombs explode? This forms the rest of the movie. A nail biting suspense thriller with twists and turns throughout the movie.
No songs, no dancing, no romance, no melodrama, no cliched comedy, no cheap skin show or heroism. Can a low budget movie sans all this become a huge hit in the metros and multiplexes? Neeraj Pandey has proved it with " A Wednesday".
I am not giving anything away with this movie because it will spoil the suspense. Please dont miss this movie atleast for the performance of Anupam and Naseer who live their roles.
Director: Neeraj Pandey
Rating: ****
Lots of movies based on terrorism these days. You would have a sense of deja-vu when you are considering to watch this movie. After Mumbai Meri Jaan comes another movie based on bomb blasts. After watching this movie directed by Neeraj Pandey you will not regret spending your time and money.
Naseeruddin Shah and Anupam Kher two stalwarts of bollywood bring top notch performances which are gripping till the very end. Hindi cinema sadly has not given its due to Naseer or Anupam.
The Mumbai Police Commissioner, Prakash Rathod (played by Anupam Kher) gets an annoymous call from Naseer. Will the militants be set free? Will the bombs explode? This forms the rest of the movie. A nail biting suspense thriller with twists and turns throughout the movie.
No songs, no dancing, no romance, no melodrama, no cliched comedy, no cheap skin show or heroism. Can a low budget movie sans all this become a huge hit in the metros and multiplexes? Neeraj Pandey has proved it with " A Wednesday".
I am not giving anything away with this movie because it will spoil the suspense. Please dont miss this movie atleast for the performance of Anupam and Naseer who live their roles.
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