Mumbai Meri Jaan
Posted in Best Bollywood Mp3 Songs on Oct 05, 2008 at 4:41 PM
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Mumbai Meri Jaan
Cast : Kay Kay Menon, Soha Ali Khan, R. Madhavan, Paresh Rawal, Irfan Khan, Vijay Maurya
Director : Nishikant Kamat
Producer : Ronnie Screwwala, UTV
Genre : Not available
Release Date : 22-8-2008
Synopsis :The plot revolves around the devastating bombasts that took pace on 11 July, 2006 in Mumbai’s local trains.
Mumbai Meri Jaan – Well Made
To be honest when I walked in to see this film I had my reservations. Films that deal with the reality of today often lack that punch to hit home the message without going overboard or making you cringe. But Nishikant Kamat's Mumbai Meri Jaan (MMJ) manages to be very real although it holds onto its cinematic senses.
Kamat's MMJ deals with the seven blasts that shook Mumbai in July 2006. It traces the after effects of these blasts on the lives of those who find themselves somehow connected in the blast. The story sheds light on the lives of six people – a journalist Rupali (Soha Ali Khan), a high flying executive Nikhil (R Madhavan) who still prefers using Mumbai's local trains as opposed to an air-conditioned car, a policeman Tukaram Patil (Paresh Rawal) who is a week away from retirement and his junior Sunil Kadam (Vijay Maurya), a young man Suresh (Kay Kay Menon) who doesn't like Muslims and a poor coffee vendor Thomas (Irrfan Khan) who is somehow making ends meet. What happens when these six people find their lives affected with the blasts is what MMJ is all about.
Kamat has managed to extract brilliant emotions from novices like Soha to the extremely experienced Paresh Rawal. Madhavan's emotions as he struggles to find himself geared up to take the train after the blasts is put across so naturally that any common man will find himself understanding the scene before them.
MMJ will definitely hit a nerve with all those who have lived in Mumbai and know all about the city's never say die spirit. The director has managed to capture that brilliantly without sounding patronizing.
It is a definite yes simply because it beautifully portrays the emotions of the common man as he tries to get his life back on track after witnessing a horrific incident like a terrorist blast.
Cast : Shreyas Talpade, Amrita Roa, Ila Arun, Divya Dutta, Ravi Kishan
Director : Shyam Benegal
Producer : Zarina Mehta, Ronnie Screwwala
Genre : Comedy
Release Date : 19-9-2008
Welcome to Sajjanpur - Emotional Comedy
Welcome to Sajjanpur was previously titled Mahadev ka Sajjanpur because it is Mahadev's (Shreyas Talpade) story of all the people residing in Sajjanpur.
Mahadev wants to be a writer but ends up writing emotional letters for all and sundry. He also reads the replies to those letters and sometimes messes around with the content, especially when it comes to the object of his affection, Kamala (Amrita Rao) whose husband Banshi is trying to eke out an existence in Mumbai. The two develop a special bond but Kamala is devoted to her husband and Mahadev realizes his modified letters have almost put Banshi's life in danger. Meanwhile, his letters help Ramkumar (Kissen) express his love for widow Shobhaa (Rajeshwari) and Pannawali( Ila Arun) find a suitable groom for her rebellious daughter Vindhya (Divya Dutta). What's more he also writes letters to the Collector on behalf of election candidates, local goon Ramsingh's wife and eunuch Munnibai.
For the most part, the film is a laugh out loud comedy. I loved the chain-letter-with-death-threat scene wherein a villager is willing to spend 200 rupees on forwarding those letters, like the threatening emails and messages we forward. I also liked the street play scene, Ila Arun's woes about her daughter's wedding, the chase between the Subedar and Ramkumar, the letter reading between Kamala and Mahadev, the mobile chitti and Munnibai's entry. The scene where she begs him to write a letter to the Collector for her protection is very touching and sensitive.
The sets, clothes and language lend authenticity to the film. The language is slightly hard to understand; you get the gist of the dialogue but not every line. There are plenty of jokes on politicians. On the whole Indian village life has been realistically portrayed, including politics, illiteracy, discrimination and superstition.
The entire cast has acted really well. Ravi Kissen and Rajeshwari make a mark in their cameo. Divya Dutta is extremely believable as the independent, scooter driving Vindhya. Yashpal Sharma adds another feather to his cap; you hate him as he commits crimes and walks away freely. As the crying-through-her-nose mother, Ila Arun is hilarious and excellent. Amrita Rao is sensitive and expresses through her eyes. She looks very pretty too. Shreyas Talpade is clearly the star of the show. He is adorable as the clever, fun loving, sometimes selfish yet caring Mahadev. This is his best performance since Iqbal. You salute Munnibai's spirit.
Shyam Benegal's is funny and touching ; taking you back to the joy of writing and reading letters. Go for it!
Janhvi Patel, Hill Road Media
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Jaane Tu...Ya Jaane Na
Posted in Best Bollywood Mp3 Songs on Oct 05, 2008 at 4:36 PM
Current Mood: happy
Jaane Tu...Ya Jaane Na
Jaane Tu… is the story of Jai (Imran Khan) and Aditi (Genelia D’Souza) and their love for another which everyone – from their friends to their family recognize but Jai and Aditi. Ready to do anything for one another Jai and Aditi are the best of friends but just not in love – or so they think. So when Aditi’s parents think of getting the two engaged after they finish college, Jai and Aditi run in opposite directions because they aren’t in love with one another.
In fact the two decide to hook the other up with a partner. In comes meghna – jai’s girlfriend whom he meets in a club while saving her from two men who are trying to get too close to the girl. Now Jai has time only for Meghna and his friends take second position. He goes to films with Meghna, he hangs out with Meghna – he does everything he used to do with his friends now with Meghna. So while Aditi keeps a smile up for everyone else, she is quite hurt with this change in Jai’s attitude. Now she decides its time for her to find herself a man. In walks Ayaz Khan as a suitable match for Aditi and soon enough the two are engaged to be married.
But when Jai sees his Aditi with another man it suddenly hits him that he is actually in love with his best friend. Does she feel the same way? Should he tell her that? And what about his own girlfriend? While Jai tries to sort himself out Aditi ends things with her fiancé and decides to go to the US to get away from everything. Will Jai be able to stop her?
As a debutant Imran has done well for himself and it is quite evident that he has a great career ahead as long as he picks the right films. Genelia has a done a good job too. A surprise performance came from Prateik Babbar who plays Aditi’s brother. Definitely a lad to watch out for. Ratna Pathak’s performance with Naseruddin Shah re-instated why the two are still one of the best actors of the industry.
But having said that there were a couple of things in the film that were unnecessary like Arbaaz and Sohail Khan and their shenanigans with the horses. Also the last climax scene when Jai tries to reach his Aditi, it went on for longer than needed. And that too with him on his horse and then running wild right up to immigration in an international airport – no wonder Indian airports are considered to have lax security! The film could have definitely enjoyed a tighter edit on the film and the script… it was surprising to see someone like Aamir Khan allowing something like that in a film backed by him.
Credit should also be given to Abbas Tyrewalla for ensuring that the story remained what it is – a simple story of love and friendship between two best mates. For many most of the film will be clichéd in many places but while that maybe its drawback, for some it will also be a the factor that will tip things in the film’s favour because it will allow most of us to relate to a time and place in our lives…
Movie Review
Posted in Best Bollywood Mp3 Songs on Oct 05, 2008 at 4:28 PM
Current Mood: happy
Movie Review - Kidnap
Cast : Sanjay Dutt, Minissha Lamba, Imran Khan, Malaika Arora, Amrita Arora, Vidya Malvade, Rahul Dev
Director : Sanjay Gandhavi
Producer : Shree Ashtavinayaka Cinevision LTD
Genre : Action
Release Date : 2-10-2008
Synopsis
Sonia (Minissha Lamba) lives with her mother, Mallika ( Vidya Malavade) and her naani. Her parents were divorced when she was 10 years old.. And then, one day, a week before her 18th birthday… Sonia gets kidnapped. The kidnapper, Kabir (Imran Khan) will talk only to Vikrant Raina (Sanjay Dutt) and no one else! Vikrant Raina (Sanjay Dutt) is the world's richest Indian. A businessman, he is the President of Raina Inc. Divorced, he lives in New York.Vikrant Raina comes to India to save his daughter. Vikrant is to do certain 'tasks' set out by Kabir. At the end of each of the 'tasks' is a clue. Each clue will take Vikrant closer to Sonia. If he does not save his daughter, nothing will. The real drama unfolds beyond the actual 'tasks'. How far will a father go to save his daughter ?
Golmaal Returns - 2008
Cast : Ajay Devgan, Kareena Kapoor, Arshad Warsi, Amrita Arora, Tusshar Kapoor, Anjana Sukhani, Shreyas Talpade, Celina Jaitley, Mukesh Tiwari, Vrajesh Hirjee, Sanjay Mishra, Ashwini Kalsekar and Murli Sharma
Director : Rohit Shetty
Producer : Dhilin Mehta
Genre : Comedy
Release Date : 31-10-2008
Synopsis
Gopal (Ajay Devgan) stays with his wife Ekta (Kareena Kapoor), sister Esha & a dumb brother in law Lucky (Tusshar Kapoor). Gopal for one whole night gets stuck in a yacht after he saves an attractive young woman Meera (Celina Jeitly) from few goons on his way back home from his office.Due to the circumstances they stays back on the yacht. He arrives home the next day, and meets his very suspicious wife, Ekta, who is a hard core Saas bahu television soap viewer and suspects him of flirting with girls from his staff. Gopal finds it difficult to satisfy her with the incident which took place last night, and he invents a story about spending the night with a fictitious friend named Anthony Gonsalves. Ekta does not believe that he ever had a friend by that name, and decides to write to Anthony to come and visit her. Gopal then convinces one of his juniors, Laxman(Shreyas Talpade), to pretend that he is Anthony, and thus convince Ekta that he was indeed telling the truth. Laxman agrees to do so, and everything goes according to plan until the address on which Ekta had written a letter to Anthony turns out to be real. Meanwhile Gopal finds out that a dead body was found at the same location where he saved Meera from the goons. The investigating officer Maadhav (Arshad Waarsi) who is even Esha's boyfriend and does not get well along with Gopal, finds out that Gopal was missing from his home that very night and the dead was an employee from his company. There begins Maadhav's investigation - resulting in hilarious chaos.
Other Cast & Crew
Director: Rohit Shetty
Producer: Dhilin Mehta
Music Director: Pritam Chakraborty
Tahaan – Film Festival viewing
Tahaan (Purav Bhandare) is a young boy who lives in war torn Kashmir with his mother Haba (Sarika), grandfather (Victor Banerjee) and sister Zoya (Sana Shaikh). The three live in the eternal hope that their father who has been missing will return some day.
In the meantime Tahaan loses his grandfather and in order to repay the family's loans Haba decides to sell all their belongings including Tahaan's donkey. Now the little boy has just one aim to get back his donkey Birbal. When he returns with the family's little savings to buy it, he realizes that it has been sold to a trader Subhan Darr (Anupam Kher). Subhan Darr has numerous mules and donkeys that he uses to go across Kashmir to provide people with their goods.
Tahaan begins to work with Subhan Darr. But soon he realizes that he won't be able to get Birbal back as Subhan has gifted it to his nephew. Disheartened he begins to go back home when he meets a teenager who lures him with the promise of returning his Birbal in return for some help. The help is transporting a grenade hidden amongst Subhan Darr's goods.
Tahaan agrees and hides the grenade and takes it across for the teenager who is actually a part of a terrorist group. Right at the end, the teenager tells Tahaan to throw the grenade at an army camp and just when innocent Tahaan is about to do it, he sees his missing father in that camp. He runs with the live grenade towards a river running close to the camp and throws it in thereby preventing a blast.
Tahaan works on some levels but disappoints at most. It beautifully depicts the scenic locales of Kashmir. The little boy Purav has done a great and endearing job. But the overall execution of the story makes it feel more like a documentary rather than a story. Sarika plays mute in the film and still comes away with one of the most powerful performances.
All in all Tahaan will find it difficult to find takers at the box office. However it is a good watch for those who like their take of alternative cinema which innocently portray the fear and wrath faced by individuals in war torn areas.
Harshita Kohli, Hill Road Media
1920 - Keep the faith alive!
1920 starts with two people being murdered by a vengeful spirit who does not want his lair to be demolished. The lair in question is a very old haveli; more like a castle.
Arjun (Duggal) leaves his family and Hindu faith to marry Anglo Indian Lisa (Sharma). The two move to Bombay and get married. Arjun is an architect and has to move to Palanpur to convert the same haveli into a hotel. Strange things start happening to Lisa and she believes the palace is haunted. Arjun is away for work when she gets possessed by the restless spirit. The second half reveals why Lisa is the spirit's chosen one.
The movie has excellent production values and cinematography but you cannot fully believe that Allerton Castle in Yorkshire is a haveli in Palanpur, a hill station in British India. The portrayal of British India is quite good. The special effects have been done very neatly; the simple ones like doors opening and shutting are tricks but the complex ones in the second half are the best we have seen in recent times in Bollywood.
The first half is especially spooky. The second half is scary too though some parts appear comical; there is nothing we haven't seen before. The first half keeps you gripped while the second half gets predictable.
Adah Sharma fits the role to the T as she looks like a quintessential English Rose with her peaches and cream complexion and blue eyes. She undergoes a horrific transformation in the second half. Her performance is convincing too. Rajneesh Duggal recites the Hanuman Chalisa flawlessly. He has a good voice but his ex-pression fail him in the first few scenes. He gets a grip as the movie progresses and delivers a decent performance. Raj Zutshi is dependable as the Father who befriends the lonely Lisa and tries to exorcise her later on.
The music offers a lot of variety with Asha Bhonsle, Pundit Jasraj and Shubha Mudgal on the vocals and most of the songs are soulful. The piano pieces and background score deserve a special mention.
1920 is essentially a love story; the horror and period aspects are backdrops against which the love story develops. It succeeds at scaring and entertaining you. Leave your brains at home and you will not be disappointed.
Janhvi Patel, Hill Road Media
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