Genre: Romance/ Period

Period films, when well made are a visual treat. Right from the likes of Mughal-E-Azam till the recent Jodhaa Akbar, these flicks have the power to transport one back in time to relive those ages. What might disconcert many viewers of this genre is the excessive directorial license used by some movie makers to blur lines between fact and fiction. Nevertheless, I would still say that Jodha Akbar is a great effort and a well made film!

Based on the popular folklore, the story is about young Mughal Emperor Jalaluddin Mohammed (Hrithik) getting wedded to the princess of Amer Jodha (Aishwarya), a match arranged for political gain. But, little do both know that this marriage would spark off a fiery romance in the backdrop of young Jalal metamorphosing into an all powerful Emperor Akbar thwarting pressures from family, religious heads & administrative issues.

As such, the story neither has a beginning nor an end that any average moviegoer would look for. In fact, there is a little bit of everything. You can find romance, action including both human and animal duels, large scale wars, songs, great looking lead pair, and most importantly, the opulence and glorification of Akbar's reign. But, it wouldn't qualify as a documentary either, since the concept of Jodha in Akbar's life is in itself fictitious.

The highlight however, is one man who stands out the most in the movie, Hrithik Roshan who has once again proved his star prowess. His talent and hard work is visible in every frame that he is in, be it romancing Jodha or on the battlefield. You would really believe him to be Shahenshah-E-Hindustan (Emperor of India). His shirtless scene with the sword and the sparring contest between the lead pair are extremely praiseworthy.

The Hrithik-Ash chemistry seen in Dhoom 2 has not just been continued here but has taken to a different level altogether. Aishwarya made a great choice to play a proud and defiant princess. The chemistry and the directorial genius can be seen in scenes where Akbar acknowledges his ignorance to read and write, his confusion when offered arati, the sparring and scenes when the couple have their private moments. 

With a three and a half hour runtime and lots of sub-plots, Jodha Akbar at times, seems dragged. A tighter script chopping off at least half hour from the film could have helped. The songs, Jashn-E-Bahaara, Azeem-O-Shaan Shahenshah and the sufi Khwaja mere Khwaja stand out. If not a blockbuster, the movie will definitely go down in history as a well made movie. Recommended for a very patient audience only!

Rating: 8/10 ' Hrithik & his chemistry wish Ash are amazing, but story drags!

Genre: Drama

Coming from the team that made last year's surprise hit Bheja Fry, many would have expected Mithya to be another laughter riot with a different edge. Maybe, the promos are to blame. But, this new offering from Rajat Kapoor, despite all its ills is nevertheless a decent effort in the realm of Hatke cinema, a genre which some call as the coming of age of Bollywood. Some call it a black comedy, but I'd call it experimental drama.

VR (Shorey) a bollywood struggler inadvertently and unwillingly gets involved in an inter-gang rivalry due to his uncanny resemblance to a leading gangster. The opponents plot to kill the original and replace him with Shorey. Things turn against the protagonist when an accident causes amnesia and he starts to believe that he is the don he has been posing to be. The first half has a bit of comedy and the second has more pathos.

The narrative of Mithya, its lack of songs, use of shades, dialogue style, gave it a strong feel of European cinema. The question pops up as to whether this was flicked outright from one, a la Bheja Fry being inspired from 'The Dinner Game'. I'd say, if you go for it expecting it to be a comedy, you'll dislike it. On the contrary, it could remind you a bit of RGV's hey days of Satya and its likes. But it isn't a total gangster story either. 

The only saving grace was the splendid performance by Ranvir Shorey which actually makes you feel for the character, mostly for its pitiful and at times funny situations. He is the movie's only anchor. The Bheja Frier Vinay Pathak was nothing awesome this time. His sidekick Brijendra Kala was better. Naseeruddin Shah was wasted. Saurabh Shukla seems the same old goon we've always seen. Neha Dhupia was okay.

For all the praise that the movie has different layers, like the life of a Bollywood struggler, a gangster story, a bit of action, love and sympathy, I'd ask, what does it prove in the end? It just gives a feel that all was Mithya. Sometimes it makes me wonder whether the critics are just lauding different cinema just because it is 'different'? The box office has the answers; the sparse audience in the movie hall yesterday said it all!

Rating: 5/10 ' Decent effort, Ranvir is awesome but the movie really drags

Genre: Comedy

Most comedies that one comes across in Indian mainstream cinema are either slapstick comedies or those that have the same jaded plots or a bunch of jokers chasing a dame. Amidst the usual chaotic comedies, Bheja Fry was a pleasant surprise. More like a stage play, this one can keep you laughing almost till the end.

Inspired by the French film 'The Dinner Game', the movie has a group of rich friends who invite a simpleton with some 'talent' as a guest to their weekly dinners and unbeknownst to the guest, poke fun at him. This week it is Ranjeet's (Rajat Kapoor) turn to find a 'talent' and he lines up an imbecile singer Bharat Bhushan (Vinay Pathak).

Just before the fateful night, Ranjeet develops a backache and is unable to make it to the dinner and is also dealing with a wife who may break away anytime. Bharat Bhushan tries his best to help Ranjeet with his backache and his wife, but being an 'idiot', he messes up things in the most comical fashion seen in recent Hindi cinema.

I had the least expectations out of this movie but this one turned out to be an absolutely fabulous comedy with excellent comic timing and twists. Set more like a stage play, the focus is all on the central characters. Vinay Pathak is extremely convincing as a dork and Rajat Kapoor, Ranvir Shorey & Milind Soman are convincing in their brief.

Some unforgettable moments include Bharat Bhushan's voicemail tone, his 'it's ringing', his desi drink, oh boy, I can go on and on. There is probably no moment where one would feel bored. It's quality comedy, full value for your money. If you are wondering why I am applauding this movie and giving it only a 7, that's one star less for being inspired.

Genre: Adventure/ Mystery

The first National Treasure movie about hidden Templar treasure and clues dating back to founding of the United States was although farfetched, a very interesting movie. In the second adventure, Nicholas Cage, Diane Kruger and Justin Bartha reprise their roles to solve a maze of ciphers and monuments dating back to the American Civil war.

Just at the end of the Civil War, John Wilkes Booth hands a cipher to Ben Gates' great grandfather just as he heads out to shoot President Lincoln. As he deciphers, Gates learns that the cipher leads to an ancient treasure which the confederate better not lay their hands on and destroys those 18 pages.

Cut to present, Ben Gates is talking about Civil War heroes when a black marketer Wilkinson (Ed Harris), quite an effective villain, produces a partly burnt page from the Booth Diary with the old Gates' name on it as one of the architects of the assassination. Ben Gates gets into a treasure hunt and attempts to clear off his ancestor's name.

To assist Benjamin Gates are his trusted team Justin Bartha as Riley Poole and Diane Kruger as his estranged girlfriend Abagail Chase. This time the adventure takes you through Paris, Buckingham Palace, The Oval Office, yeah one at the White House and Kidnapping of the President, Library of Congress and Mount Rushmore! Whew!

The movie casts three Academy Award Winners Cage and Jon Voight & Helen Mirren as Cage's parents. While Jon Voight has got a larger role this time, Helen Mirren seemed too old for her role. The lead characters simply repeat their roles. When you see them solving clues one after another, it doesn't surprise as you've seen it all before.

For those who head to the movie hall with expectations just as much as its predecessor, you will come out happy. If you prefer using too much of logic, you would laugh at the idea of a city of gold under a hill. All said and done, I have all admiration for American movie makers to turn out fashionable adventures with a nationalist feel.

Rating: 6/10 ' A Fast Paced Adventure that gives a bang for the buck

Genre: Drama 

Aamir's Rang De Basanti was according to me one of the best movies last year. IMHO, it's Aamir again with his TZP which could be called the best of 2007 narrowly beating King Khan's Chak De. In line with the standards he had set with his acting skills, Aamir the Perfectionist has delivered a masterpiece in his first movie as a Director. 

The protagonist of the story, Ishaan (Darsheel) is an eight year old who sees the world differently from the left brained majority. His world is full of color with fishes, space stuff, dancing letters and art work flowing from unbridled imagination. When it comes to academics he trails behind with single digit marks and is a repeater in Standard III. 

What the parents, the Awasthis ponder is that while Ishaan's elder sibling is a topper throughout and also accomplished at Tennis, how could the younger one be so poor. They soon conclude that the little boy is a brat and the best way to set him right is to put him in a boarding school. Here, the boy becomes even more a recluse. 

Things change for Ishaan when substitute art teacher Ram Shankar Nikumbh (Aamir) identifies the boy's problem as dyslexia, which he had himself suffered during childhood. Soon, Nikumbh works out innovative ways to help little Ishaan discover himself. 

The strongest point is Amol Gupte's masterful script. Attribute it to the director or his protégé, Darsheel is amazing. Those who play parents are apt and real. The movie has many special moments. My favorites are when Awasthis leave the boy at the boarding school and one where Nikumbh makes Awasthis understand about the boy's condition.

TZP deals with a protagonist with a brain condition, but it is surely not a film on dyslexia. It is more about children and nurture. It emphasizes that being a topper at academics and sport is not everything in life, but every kid is special. It presents an alternative view that it is in fact, those who see the world in a different light that change the world. 

Comparisons with black seem inevitable since both have protagonists with a congenital condition and both have a mentor played by a superstar. TZP simply scores over Black, with its no-nonsense screenplay and realistic characters as against unreal setting and over-action by the lead star. Moreover, as known, TZP is not inspired by Hollywood. 

Maybe I tend to appreciate movies with boarding schools because it gives me a sense of nostalgia about my days in one! But, for sure, TZP is a very lovable film. You'll love it for the story, performances, the music, use of color and the locales. Hope Aamir goes on doing what he does best and continues to deliver such gems. 

Rating: 9/10 ' A really well-made sensitive movie without any excesses

Genre: Comedy 

When you know that Akshay Kumar and Paresh Rawal are together, you know that you are in for a typical Masala comedy. Jaded Nana Patekar, Anil Kapoor and Feroz Khan join in the Melee. While what you might expect would be another Hera Pheri or a No-entry, this one falls flat even if you get into a movie hall with Nil Expectations. 

Nana plays Uday Shetty, a don whose sister Sanjana (Katrina) falls for Rajiv (Akshay) whose uncle Dr Ghungroo (Rawal) wants him to be married to a family with no criminal record. In a comedy of errors, Rajiv falls in love with Sanjana and is now faced with the prospect of marrying someone from a crime based family or face mafia style death. 

The film's only selling point is Akshay Kumar who has been having a run with his comic Movies. With Katrina in it, this one looked like a mafia version of Namaste London, in a silly style. If Akshay continues with mediocre stuff like this, his luck may run out. Nana is past his sell by date. Anil Kapoor and Paresh Rawal are just around average. 

Coming to comedy, the rare comic parts in the movie are when Nana, the don tries his hand at acting in a movie and is courted by Mallika Sherawat. Partly funny are scenes where Anil Kapoor turns painter and is courted by Sherawat again. The climax sequence involving almost all characters is too pointless to be even discussed. 

Talking of its entertainment value, Welcome makes you regret for paying to watch this movie. You may even fall asleep during some clichéd scenes. As for the songs, most of them are way below average and are all thoroughly ill timed. Keep Out! 

Rating: 3/10 ' Predictable and dragged to the limit of patience

Genre: Romance / Parody 

This review is coming more than a month from the release of this movie. But, how does it matter when Deepika Padukone is still fresh in memory with her Ajab si adaayen. Honestly, I went to the movie to watch her. Long ago, I had predicted that this babe would make a big entry into films. Well, a debut with SRK! How bigger can it get? 

This Deepawali had two major releases, King Khan and Farah Khan's OSO and Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Saawariya. Most newspapers drew comparisons between these movies, some on story, on the debutante lead actresses, track record of directors, songs, so on and so forth coupled with aggressive marketing campaigns.  

OSO starts with the story of a junior artiste Om Makhija in the 70s deeply in love with screen sensation Shantipriya. Both become friends after Om saves Shanti from a fire accident on the sets. Both die in exceptional circumstances and Om is reborn again, this time as superstar Om Kapoor 30 years later. Om realizes his past and sets out for villain Mukesh Mehra in his quest to uncover the secret of his past lover's demise. 

Till the interval, Farah Khan did a great job on recreating 70s cinema. Two comic sequences, one on Manoj Kumar and the other on a mock Tamil film shoot are hilarious. While being a parody on the movie industry of those days, in many ways, OSO pays tribute to many cinematic moments, such as those of rebirth with the Om sign, group dance sequences, bell bottom pants, etc. The best stuff stops here. 

The second segment dwells too much on SRK's stardom and the story somehow loses focus. Deepika's role is too limited. But here, villain Arjun Rampal as steals the show. The best of the comic sequences is the Award ceremony with many star cameos. The clips of nominees that is shown there is worth the watch. The end too is very filmy. End credits follow Farash's style in her first films to show her entire crew. That was sweet. 

Non-SRK fans may not really like any praise that I say here. But, one must admit that this great guy has amazing star power, all acquired on his own! There is no dull moment in OSO. Ah, and what do I say of Deepika, she's just awesome! Arjun Rampal, Shreyas Talpade and Kirron Kher have done great. The music too is captivating. If you haven't seen this movie, I would say it is worth it for its entertainment value.  

Rating: 7/10 ' A fun movie. Deepika Padukone is enthralling.

Genre: Boquet of 10 stories of mixed genre 

Bollywood audiences have recently been exposed to mix of short stories with Darna Mana Hai, Darna Zaroori hai, Salam-E-Ishq, etc. In comparison, 10 stories here don’t have a common thread. Well, I don’t say that a good storyteller doesn’t need two hours and five songs to make his point, but this movie should have delivered better. 

But sadly, barring three to four stories, others were a mere waste of time or waste of talent. Adding to the plight was the predictability in most stories. One actually ends up counting x down and 10-x to go. The filmmakers though deserve credit for coming up with the concept of 10 short stories with a twist in the end, a new in Hindi Cinema. 

In brief on the tolerable of the lot: 

(1) Matrimony: Mandira Bedi, a bored wife of an MNC Banker Arbaaz Khan has found a way to spend her Thursdays but meets her match in the end. Maybe I appreciated it because it was the first of the ten stories and it doesn’t have any gyan or tears. 

(2) Zahir: A budding writer Manoj Bajpai gets interested in her neighbor Dia Mirza, reacts about something and ends up in a path of no return. Nothing great, but decent! 

(3) Pooranmashi: A story of Amrita Singh who following her heart just for once and messes everything for her daughter Minissha Lamba. Comparatively OK! 

(4) Lovedale: Aftab finds his love Neha Uberoi through destiny’s twist. The end was absolutely predictable but I at least liked since it was the only happy ending of the ten.

The ones which were really intolerable: 

(5) High on the Highway: Jimmy Shergill and Masumeh are seen high on drugs throughout their entire screen time, both very jarring. The portrayal was sick. 

(6) Rise and Fall: Sanjay Dutt and Sunil Shetty are stereotype dons who meet a predictable end. They mostly played their roles with tons of boredom thrown in. 

(7) Sex on the Beach: Dino Morea finds a mysterious woman on a beach and invites him home for you know what. The end is a typical thriller with lots of skin show. 

(8) Strangers in the Night: Neha Dhupia and Mahesh Manjrekar are a couple who narrate deep secrets every anniversary. The dialogues & the twist were too cheap. 

(9) Rice Plate: Shabana Azmi and Naseruddin Shah in a confusion over a rice plate set against their divergent religious backgrounds. Remember the story on biscuits? 

(10) Gubbare: Nana Patekar who goes on an on about how he bought his wife balloons to end quarrels. I guess Nana Patekar too has become boringly predictable off late. 

Rating: 3/10 - New Concept but most stories are predictable or boring