Jodi Breakers

bribJodi Breakers/b/ibrbEXPECTATIONS/bBRBR You do expect a lively soundtrack for iJodi Breakers/i. The film’s theme is such that it deserves a peppy soundtrack and with Salim-Sulaiman at the helm of affairs, you are reasonably confident about some catchy tunes ahead. Since the composers are in good form with at least a couple of songs each in iLove Break-ups Zindagi, Ladies v/s Ricky Bahl/i and iAazaan/i working with the audience, you do hope that the trend continues with iJodi Breakers/i as well which has lyrics by Irshad Kamil and Shabbir Ahmad contributing with one song. BRBR ba target=_blank href=’http://www.wowmails.com’MUSIC/a/bBRBR Of late Salim Merchant has been reserving quite a few songs for himself as a singer as well. This is evidenced yet again in iJodi Breakers/i as well which kick-starts with ‘biKunwara/i/b’. A song that celebrates single hood, it is also a re-invention of sorts for Madhavan who has otherwise been seen and heard in relatively serious roles, case in point being his last film iTanu Weds Manu/i. This time around he goes all out with ‘iKunwara/i’ which makes an instant mark and helps form a connect with the listener. A dance floor number which comes across as an energetic track, it surprisingly doesn’t see a ‘remix version’ for itself. BRBR The album sees further elevation in graph with ‘biBipasha/i/b’. After ‘iBebo Main Bebo/i’ (iKambakkth Ishq/i) where Kareena had earned a song on her (nick)name, ‘iBipasha/i’ is the only other instance in the recent times where a leading lady sees a song dedicated to her. Shabbir Ahmad does full justice to the job entrusted upon him with lyrics that go as ‘iAaja Main Sikhadoon Tujhe Pyaar Ki Bhaasha, Rab Ne Hai Fursat Mein Taraasha; Baithe Hai Jaal Bichaye, Phas Jaaye Na Bipasha/i’ hence making it clear that the song would have a lot to offer for those who have been die hard fans of Bipasha. With Salim-Sulaiman creating a fusion of Middle East and Western sound, Shradha Pandit also enjoys her stint behind the mike and is clearly having fun while rendering ‘Bipasha’. Shadab Faridi gives her good company, hence ensuring that ‘Bipasha’ would be played for quite some time to come, what with the ‘remix version’ further adding on to the appeal. BRBR There is a mood shift in the album with ‘biDarmiyaan/i/b’ and one doesn’t mind that since it is time for some hardcore romantic outing here. Shafqat Amanat Ali gets a certain ‘thehrav’ in the album and with his mature vocals doing the trick, he ends up making ‘iDarmiyaan/i’ a number that haunts you for quite some time even after it has been played just once. Clinton Cerejo is the additional singer in this love song which has poetic lyrics by Irshad Kamil, the man who has been doing well quite consistently for last few years now and has yet another beautiful number to his name now. The (much slower) ‘reprise’ version is sung by Shreya Ghoshal and since the original by Shafqat has made such a mark, you just go by the flow when this version is played. BRBR It is a quintessential Salim-Sulaiman outing from the word ‘go’ as Salim Merchant, Shadab Faridi and Shradha Pandit come together for ‘biMujhko Teri Zaroorat Hai/i/b’. While Irshad Kamil weaves some lovely lyrics all over again, it is the Western treatment-meets-Indian melody which makes this love song yet another good addition in the album. A song about two hearts longing for each other, ‘iMujhko Teri Zaroorat Hai/i’ is yet another sweet-n-simple love song that doesn’t take much time to catch on Later it has been played a few times. Later it is pretty much ’sone pe suhaaga’ once Rahat Fateh Ali Khan steps in for the ‘remix version’. BRBR Salim-Sulaiman end the album in a style with ‘biJab Main Tumhare Saath Hun/i/b’ hence making it five in a row for iJodi Breakers/i. Shilpa Rao (who deserves to be heard much more often) opens the song with Benny Dayal, who is finding good popularity comes his way, and ensures that this romantic number earns it’s well deserved place in the album. Yes, one does get an impression of the song belonging to Vishal-Shekhar territory. However one can well attribute this to the sensibilities of these composers who think around the same lines and hence can be expected to sound like each other in an outing or two. BRBR bOVERALL/bBRBR iJodi Breakers/i has all in it to be one of the more popular albums at the very beginning of the year. Salim-Sulaiman along with Irshad Kamil and Shabbir Ahmed have done their job and now it is up to the makers to make the most out of it and promote it well enough to enhance the a target=_blank href=’http://www.wowmails.com’music/a’s reach. So far there has been a good vigour shown in that direction but a sustained momentum coupled with good success of the film at the box office can promise the a target=_blank href=’http://www.wowmails.com’music/a to find farther reach for it as well. A good album that deserves an audience. BRBR bOUR PICK(S) /bBRBR iBipasha, Darmiyaan, Kunwara, Mujhko Teri Zaroorat Hai/ibria target=_blank href=’http://www.wowmails.com’Source/a: www.bollywoodhungama.com/ibrbribGali Gali Chor Hai/b/ibrbEXPECTATIONS/bBRBR For a film which is basically centred on the theme of corruption, you are pretty much sure of the fact that iGali Gali Chor Hai/i would offer situational a target=_blank href=’http://www.wowmails.com’music/a. When it is further revealed that the soundtrack comprises of just three tracks, the belief is only strengthened. This is the reason why when Anu Malik’s name is seen in the credits, you feel a tad saddened that with hardly a choice made available for him to go the whole hog, he may just end up creating a target=_blank href=’http://www.wowmails.com’music/a that acts as a filler and that’s about it. BRBR ba target=_blank href=’http://www.wowmails.com’MUSIC/a/bBRBR The album opens with the title song ‘biGali Gali Chor Hai/i/b’ which is written by Rahat Indori. A satirical tale on the current state of the country and aiming as a slap on the face of corruption, the song is set in a 70s style and woven together as a ‘qawalli’. Kailash Kher is the man roped in for the job though one does hear Anu Malik himself in the background at a place or two. Strictly situational and the kind of song that may just find a place in certain rallies and gathering of ‘aam aadmi’, ‘iGali Gali Chor Hain/i’ (appearing thrice in the album) turns out to be an ordinary tune, especially during the ‘antara’ portions. BRBR Mohit Chauhan and Anmol Malik come together for the love song ‘biSuno Suno/i/b’ which doesn’t quite kick-off in a big way after a rather slow start and just stays on like that for it’s entire five minutes duration. Even though it is ever so reliable Mohit Chauhan behind the mike, the song doesn’t quite lift from being a lazy outing and just about manages to hang on. Anmol Malik, daughter of Anu Malik is heard again and even though one gets much more than just a hint of Western accent in her voice, it could well be intentional. BRBR Last to arrive is the item number ‘biChanno/i/b’ which isn’t any great shakes either. Set in the UP-Bihar zone with its ‘mukhda’ being derived straight from ‘iBeedi Jalaile/i’ [iOmkara/i], this Mamta Sharma sung number also picks up liberally from ‘iMunni Badnaam/i’, hence turning out to be hardly the kind of item number that has anything original about it. In fact it is quite surprising to see Swanand Kirkire’s name on the credit details here, courtesy lyrics that go as ‘iChanno Ki Choli Mein Bomb Atom Bomb Hai’/i!BRBR bOVERALL/bBRBR Here is hoping that the film has a lot better to offer than the a target=_blank href=’http://www.wowmails.com’music/a here! BRBR bOUR PICK(S) /bBRBR iGali Gali Chor Hai/ibria target=_blank href=’http://www.wowmails.com’Source/a: www.bollywoodhungama.com/ibrbribEkk Deewana Tha/b/ibrbEXPECTATIONS/bBRBR One has very good expectations from iEkk Deewana Tha/i. The reason is simple - A.R. Rahman has composed some fantastic tunes for the original Tamil film iVinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa/i as well and there is no reason why the remake should be lagging behind. However, since unlike iRockstar/i there hasn’t been much hype created around the musical score so far, one is also a tad apprehensive if the soundtrack would indeed meet these massive expectations. Thankfully though, all such doubts are laid to rest once you are through listening to this musically heavy album (with as many as 12 songs - all written by Javed Akhtar). BRBR ba target=_blank href=’http://www.wowmails.com’MUSIC/a/bBRBR iEkk Deewana Tha/i incidentally starts with the weakest song of the enterprise, what with bi’Kya Hai Mohabbat’/i/b hardly sounding like an A.R. Rahman composition. A song that questions the mystery called ‘love’ and almost comes across as a sad track instead of something far more passionate (which could well have been its original intent), it sees Rahman coming behind the mike himself. Sadly though, the song just fails to make any impact whatsoever. BRBR Thankfully though there is immediate redemption in the form of a tremendous composition bi’Dost Hai (Girl I Loved You)’/i/b. A perfectly paced love song with Western arrangements that has a good choice of singers in the form of Naresh Iyer, Jaspreet Jasz and Arya, this one is a Gen X number that hooks you on in the very first listening and makes you look forward to the kind of picturisation it fetches for itself. A melodic track that continues to haunt you long after it is played; it just sets iEkk Deewana Tha/i in the right direction. BRBR There is a shift in mood immediately after with Alphonse crooning bi’Aromale (My Beloved)’/i/b, a love song which totally belongs to A.R. Rahman planet. The kind of song that he would have loved to gift to his a target=_blank href=’http://www.wowmails.com’Hollywood/a counterparts, it is an ideal fusion track that just gets sensibilities of Indian and Western classical together and results in a smooth flowing track. Unconventional, unpredictable and overtly smooth, ‘iAromale/i (iMy Beloved/i)’ is the kind of song that has to left in a repeat mode and forgotten. BRBR No wonder, it is repeated as bi’Broken Promises’/i/b, which basically stands for the situation in the film. This one is far more rooted in appeal and with Shreya Ghoshal at the helm of affairs, you can’t help but admire her form being the same girl who was singing ‘iChikni Chameli/i’ and ‘iOoh Laa Laa/i’ till very recently. Simply superb! BRBR iEkk Deewana Tha/i continues to see an elevation in its ‘likeability’ graph with bi’Hosanna’/i/b following next. A kind of number that deserves to see good popularity coming its way, ‘iHosanna/i’ reminds one of A.R. Rahman from the late 90s, early 2000s with Leon D’souza giving a very good account of himself. Boasting of some real smooth vocals, he should be heard more often in the a target=_blank href=’http://www.wowmails.com’Bollywood/a scheme of things. Suzanne D’mello is heard as a backup vocalists and she does her bit too to elevate the song’s prospects. A beautiful love song which could well have been placed at the very beginning of the album. BRBR Choice of unconventional vocalists continues with bi’Phoolon Jaisi’/i/b, what with Clinton Cerejo and Kalyani Menon as the chosen ones. A romantic number where the young boy can’t help but admire beauty of the woman he loves most, it has Javed Akhtar in his elements and weaving his poetic magic. A song that flows smoothly and makes one pretty much relate to the feelings of this boy whose heart is beating for his beloved, ‘iPhoolon Jaisi/i’ may not be the next hit in the offering but suits the flow of the album quite well. BRBR Madhushree kick-starts bi’Sharminda Hoon’/i/b, a song about the girl feeling guilty of seeing the boy so much in love with her and pretty much in a helpless state. Yet another situational number that acts as a story telling device, its strength lies in its lyrics. Also, Rahman sounds much better as a singer in this song (when compared to iKya Hai Mohabbat/i) and aids in the narrative. BRBR After a couple of situational tracks comes bi’Sunlo Zara’/i/b which is the first (and only) song that has a a target=_blank href=’http://www.wowmails.com’Bollywood/a-ish feel to it, especially in the way it is paced and sung, especially by Shreya Ghoshal. The young woman sounds totally different from the way she did in the female version of ‘iAromale/i’ and is quite spirited in her rendition. She gets good company from Rashid Ali and Timmy (as the backup vocalist), hence ensuring that ‘iSunlo Zara/i’ comes across as just the kind of happy romantic number that one wanted by this time around. BRBR It is back to a soft-n-smooth outing all over again with b’iZohra-Jabeen/i’/b. A soulful number that makes one totally surrender to iEkk Deewana Tha/i by this time, this is a Javed Ali song where the protagonist is longing for his beloved to be reunited with him. With minimal instruments in the background and the song depending entirely on Javed’s control and variation as a singer, ‘iZohra-Jabeen/i’ is yet another addition to the good collection that the album has boasted of so far. What turns out to be an icing on the cake is a 150 seconds musical piece b’iMoments In Kerala/i’/b which makes for a good musical interlude. BRBR Couple of tracks that follow next are basically centred on Jessie (the name of the female character in the film). First to come is bi’Jessie’s Land’/i/b which is basically a three minute long humming piece by Megha who does quite well in supporting Rahman’s background piece. On the other hand Sanjeev Thomas and Timmy get fast-n-ferocious with bi’Jessie’s Driving Me Crazy’/i/b which is an Hinglish piece where Rahman establishes the lead protagonist’s state of mind quite ably. In the process this song gives this album some good conclusion and only entices you to revisit it all over again. BRBR bOVERALL/bBRBR iEkk Deewana Tha/i is a very good album and a wholesome musical experience. Except for ‘iKya Hai Mohabbat/i’ (which ironically arrives at the very beginning of the album), rest of the album is fantastic and is a must-hear for those who swear by Rahman’s score and also those who may not necessarily be bowled over by each and every work of this. Since the film basically features newcomers, the buzz around the soundtrack hasn’t quite hit the roof so far. However this is the kind of soundtrack that isn’t dependent on a film’s run and should see a constant rise for itself. BRBR bOUR PICK(S) /bBRBR iDost Hai (Girl I Loved You), Hosanna, Aromale (My Beloved), Sunlo Zara, Zohra-Jabeen/ibria target=_blank href=’http://www.wowmails.com’Source/a: www.bollywoodhungama.com/ibrbr brhttp://www.wowmails.com

Players

bribPlayers/b/ibrfont color=greenBuCharacters:/u/B/fontbrbr BCharlie:/B Abhishek Bachchan BR Charlie Masceranhas is a Chartered Accountant by day and a master-thief by night.With his razor-sharp intelligence, precision planning, and perfect voice modulation, there has been no job so far in his career which has been too tough for him.Conning is, in fact, an art form for Charlie and that’s what he prefers to call himself - an artist. Charlie has been a Player since he was seven and now has his own set of rules by which he plays the game, - one of them being - ‘it’s only cops who retire, not con-artists’. BR BR BNaina:/B Sonam Kapoor BR Naina is a computer expert with a Masters in Ethical Hacking.She is the beautiful girl who did everything right with her academic life, and its only for a very personal reason that she decides to be a part of this heist.But if you think of her as a boring studious girl, you cannot be more mistaken than that. You only have to watch her behind the wheels of a hot car to know the stuff she is made of. BR BR BRonnie:/B Bobby Deol BR Ronnie is the odd one out from the pack of Players, what with no previous experience in the games of con.Ronnie was the master of illusions. At one point of time, he was one of the most famous illusionists in the country but he abruptly left his career at his peak.In fact, he hates the very word magic now. But then, he agreed to be a ‘Player’ for reasons that he would not share with the group. BR BR BRiya:/B Bipasha Basu BR The sexy as hell Riya is known to charm her way into the lusty hearts and then the safety vaults of rich and famous men.She has been Charlie’s long-standing partner-in-crime and together the duo have pulled off some daredevil heists.Besides being a full-time con artist, Riya is also an automobile expert and knows her way around automobile engines like the back of her dainty hands. BR BR BBilal:/B Sikander Kher BR Bilal Bashir is the go-to guy of the team. Having worked with several secret service agencies, Bilal has solid contacts all over the world and can speak several languages with the fluency of a local.Ever since he was a kid, Bilal had a thing for indigenous bombs (damn, he even nearly lost his hearing thanks to a self-manufactured crude bomb when he was only ten years old).And that’s the role for which the hot-headed Bilal has been picked up as a player in the heist - that of an explosive expert. BR BR BSpider:/B Neil Nitin Mukesh BR Spider is the quintessential computer geek.He is the master-hacker who robbed millions from banks and bankers all over the world and has been on the most-wanted list of several cyber crime prevention agencies world-wide.There is no computer or intelligence system that he cannot break into. And the bigger the challenge, the more fun the nerd in him has with it. BR BR BSunny:/B Omi Vaidya BR Sunny Mehra might be mistaken for the clown of the group, what with his easy-going NRI-Punjabi ways and his regular attempt at silly a target=_blank href=’http://www.wowmails.com’jokes/a.But what hides behind this demeanour is a mad passion to be a a target=_blank href=’http://www.wowmails.com’Bollywood/a star. But when every producer in town rejected his face, Sunny decided to be an expert at ‘changing faces’.Yup, he became a prosthetic expert. And from what we hear, he is bloody good at it. BR BR font color=greenBuSynopsis/u/B/fontbrbr It’s time to steady your selves for the biggest action extravaganza that a target=_blank href=’http://www.wowmails.com’Bollywood/a has to offer! The dynamic director duo Abbas-Mustan are back to enthrall the audiences one again with the lean and mean heist flick PLAYERS. The movie is the official remake of the 2003 a target=_blank href=’http://www.wowmails.com’Hollywood/a blockbuster, THE ITALIAN JOB and promises to be just as much of a thrilling ride!BRBR With a stellar cast of Abhishek Bachchan, Sonam Kapoor, Neil Nitin Mukesh, Bipasha Basu, Bobby Deol, Sikander Kher and Omi Vaidya, this remake promises to pack one heck of a punch. PLAYERS is scheduled to set the screen ablaze in January, 2012.BRBR With high speed chase sequences and state-of-the-art special effects set against the backdrop of gorgeous locales in New Zealand and Goa, PLAYERS will redefine a target=_blank href=’http://www.wowmails.com’Bollywood/a action a target=_blank href=’http://www.wowmails.com’movies/a as we know them.BRBR And hang on to your seats, because this ride has just begun.bria target=_blank href=’http://www.wowmails.com’Source/a: www.bollywoodhungama.com/ibrbribGali Gali Chor Hai/b/ibrA number of films portraying the common man’s fight against corruption have been attempted in the past. But GALI GALI CHOR HAI arrives at the most opportune time. Corruption is fiercely debated and the most discussed issue today and the fight against corruption has already hit headlines, courtesy social activist and anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare.BRBR GALI GALI CHOR HAI throws light on corruption, dishonesty and bribery and also draws attention to the people who have betrayed the society and nation. It tells the story of a middle class family living in Bhopal and how an episode changes their lives. Their lives get entangled in a series of incidents and before they realize it, they become victims of corruption. In short, the movie deals with the corrupt bureaucratic system and sends across a clear message that one needs to fight the deceitfulness and fraudulence to eradicate corruption. BRBR Though corruption is a much abused, oft-repeated and oft-depicted theme in a target=_blank href=’http://www.wowmails.com’Bollywood/a, what sets GALI GALI CHOR HAI apart is that it incorporates the recent incidents in the narrative. Though the situation depicted may differ, you cannot help but recount that somebody in your family/friends must’ve experienced a similar crisis at some point in life. It’s relatable and the characters, identifiable. At the same time, though the issue depicted is dark and serious, director Rumy Jafry ensures that the focus remains on entertainment. BRBR But what could’ve been a hard-hitting statement against corruption mellows after a point. This happens in the post-interval portions, when things begin to look impractical and ineffectual. More on that later! BRBR Meet Bharat [Akshaye Khanna], the iaam aadmi/i, part-time cashier and part-time Hanuman at Ramleela, residing in the city of Bhopal where he lives with his father [Satish Kaushik], who values freedom and hopes to see a corruption free administration in the country. Bharat is married to Nisha [Shriya Saran], a school teacher. BRBR Bharat wants to graduate from his role as Hanuma to Lord Ram someday, which is being portrayed by Sattu Tripathi [Amit Mistry], younger brother of MLA Manku Tripathi [Murli Sharma]. Sattu, a bad actor, is always unhappy that Hanuman steals the show with his performance and Manku, the MLA, is unhappy over Bharat’s refusal to let out his extra room to campaigning for his re-election. Adding to their woes is the fact that Bharat’s father befriends the opposing candidate Mohanlal [Shashi Ranjan] and lets out the room to him for his campaign. BRBR One night, Bharat’s table fan gets stolen and how he is forced to bribe his way through criminals and law keepers, just to get this table fan back, forms the remainder of the film. An ordinary cashier hits headlines overnight. BRBR GALI GALI CHOR HAI draws your attention towards the victimization of the common man, but the serious topic [corruption] is dealt with in a humorous way. In fact, the first hour is padded with several interesting episodes that bring a smile on your face. The writers bring to the fore the nexus between the cops and politicians and how the iaam aadmi/i gets victimized for no fault of his. Concurrently, there’s the husband-wife-other woman sub-plot as well, but, bluntly put, it looks like an aberration in the narrative. BRBR While the first hour keeps you engrossed, the film gives away in the post-interval portions. The track of the two goons chasing Akshaye is bizarre and the manner in which the drama unfolds once the blast occurs is far from bona fide. The finale, when Akshaye registers a slap on the face of the wrong-doers, takes the graph to a high again, but the film could’ve done with a far more credible and convincing conclusion. It looks abrupt, a rushed job now! BRBR After making entertainers such as GOD TUSSI GREAT HO and LIFE PARTNER, Rumy Jafry invests his efforts into make an entertaining film that carries a message. Also, Rumy makes a dig at the system, but, like I pointed out earlier, the writing could’ve been crisper in the subsequent half. There’s not much scope for a target=_blank href=’http://www.wowmails.com’music/a in the film, yet the title track [filmed on Kailash Kher] and ‘Channo’ [filmed on Veena Malik] catch your eye. ‘Channo’ especially adds a dash of spice to the proceedings. The dialogue bring a smile on your face on several occasions. BRBR Clearly one of the most versatile actors around, Akshaye delivers yet another fine, natural, unfussy performance. Come to think of it, playing an iaam aadmi/i can be tough, but Akshaye gets into the skin of the character and gets it right. The two girls, Shriya Saran and Mugdha Godse, don’t get much scope. Satish Kaushik excels, while Annu Kapoor is the scene stealer as the corrupt, scheming cop. Murli Sharma is stereotypical, Amit Mistry is wonderful, Vijay Raaz shines in a brief role, Rajat Rawail provides some laughs, Shashi Ranjan is confident and Akhilendra Mishra is just about okay. BRBR On the whole, GALI GALI CHOR HAI amuses intermittently. Fortunately, the movie goes public at a juncture when anti-corruption appears to be the essence of the season. But the film could’ve done with a far more hard-hitting conclusion! bria target=_blank href=’http://www.wowmails.com’Source/a: www.bollywoodhungama.com/ibrbribStaying Alive/b/ibrThere’s a drought of writers. Good writers. Screenwriters who bring substance and value to writing. The absence of a talented name like Sujit Sen, who wrote a number of films for Mahesh Bhatt and who penned the script of STAYING ALIVE, makes you recognize this fact all the more. STAYING ALIVE, a black comedy that borrows from real life, may not be riveting in entirety, but it makes an effort to say something novel, something inventive.BRBR Aditya [Ananth Mahadevan], a newspaper sub-editor, suffers his third heart attack and finds himself in the ICCU of a hospital. On the bed next to him is Shaukat Ali [Saurabh Shukla], a gangster, who has suffered his first heart attack. While Shaukat is petrified of dying, Aditya scoffs at death. Gradually, Aditya ends up changing Shaukat’s outlook towards life. As Shaukat raves and rants through his stay in the ward, it gradually dawns upon him that Aditya is right and the greatest feeling was, simply, to be alive. BRBR Shaukat decides to turn a new leaf and even becomes a police informer after his discharge from the hospital. But, ironically, gets shot by his underworld rivals for having had a change of heart. BRBR Till a few years ago, who’d ever imagined an entire film [almost] in the Intensive Cardiac Care Unit? Besides an interesting plot, the film also boasts of some attention-grabbing moments, but the glitch is that it goes back and forth a couple of times and also the track involving a rival gangster [Khan Jahangir Khan] is underdeveloped. Besides, it unravels at a snail’s pace and a few sequences in the Intensive Cardiac Care Unit tend to get cyclic and monotonous. BRBR There’s no denying that Ananth Mahadevan has handled some sequences very well, especially the portions between the two women. I’d also like to make a special mention of the effective channel of communication between Ananth and Saurabh at places. BRBR STAYLING ALIVE is embellished with natural performances. Saurabh Shukla is remarkable, injecting the movie with some a target=_blank href=’Http://www.wowmails.com’funny/a moments in an otherwise serious film. Ananth Mahadevan delivers a truly wonderful performance. Navni Parihar is top notch, essaying a difficult role with dexterity. Sunita Chhaya is first-rate as well, handling the emotional moments with élan. Chandan Roy Sanyal doesn’t get much scope. Khan Jahangir Khan [the rival gangster] is okay, while Sanjay Swaraj [the doctor] is decent. BRBR On the whole, STAYING ALIVE is more of an experiment that holds appeal for a tiny segment of cineastes — those with an appetite for meaningful, festival films.bria target=_blank href=’http://www.wowmails.com’Source/a: www.bollywoodhungama.com/ibrbribWill You Marry Me/b/ibrWill You Marry Me is a fresh, youthful story of three friends, Aarav (Shreyas Talpade), Rajveer (Rajeev Khandelwal), and Nikhil (Muzamil Ibrahim). All three boys have one thing common; their love for their bachelorhood. So much so they place a bet amongst themselves; whoever decides to marry first will lose a huge amount in shares that were contributed by all three friends and their gang of friends. All was well until a few years later; Nikhil decides to marry the love of his life, Anjali (Tripta Prashar).BRBR Rajveer and Aarav cannot believe their best friend Nikhil is getting married however they put on a smile to attend his beach wedding in Dubai. During the wedding festivities, Rajveer and Aarav coincidentally fall for the bride’s best friend, Sneha (Mugdha Godse). To make matters worse in this love triangle, the kidnapping of Nikhil takes place by the powerful business tycoon (Paresh Rawal).BRBR From there everything turns up-side down completely at Nikhil and Anjali’s wedding celebrations. Will Nikhil even make it for his own wedding? Who will Sneha choose; Rajveer or Aarav? Who will marry who; come find out in Will You Marry Me?bria target=_blank href=’http://www.wowmails.com’Source/a: www.bollywoodhungama.com/ibrbribAgneepath/b/ibrWhile partaking in a debate on remakes for a leading a target=_blank href=’http://www.wowmails.com’news/a channel, the host posed a query to me: Do you think that a cult movie should be remade? Why restructure or revise the sacredness of a film that’s so perfect? I instantly put forth my perspective and responded that if a brand is remade with a contemporary approach and in-the-running stars and if there is an enthusiastic audience to watch the cinema, I don’t see any harm in recreating a famed work of genius. All I expect is the makers don’t make a mishmash of the cult movie. It should come across more as an acknowledgment to the masterwork.BRBR But there’s a flipside to what I mentioned above! The actors and film-makers involved in remaking a classic cannot escape minute and meticulous evaluation and comparisons because cineastes are going to walk in with predetermined conceptions. Remakes come with a certain baggage. Matching the standards and aesthetics of the original is the prime criteria. BRBR It’s Hrithik Roshan’s turn to wear the mask of the iconic character portrayed by Amitabh Bachchan two decades ago. Though not a money spinner then, AGNEEPATH did fetch Bachchan Sr. the National Award in the Best Actor category and is considered amongst the best films made that year [1990]. Twenty two years later, Vijay Dinanath Chauhan is brought alive by first-time director Karan Malhotra in Karan Johar’s homage to the original film, which was produced by his father Yash Johar and directed by Mukul S. Anand. It’s a colossal challenge for any actor/maker to pay tribute to a cult film, which continues to linger in our memory even after two decades. BRBR The premise is the same. Well, almost. So is the vital dialogue from the film which comes at a very crucial juncture in the present-day adaptation of AGNEEPATH: Naam Vijay Chauhan, baap ka naam Dinanath Chauhan, gaon Mandwa. BRBR AGNEEPATH is an uncomplicated story of revenge, is hard-hitting yet entertaining, dwells on strong emotions and aggressive and forceful action, yet is dissimilar from the original. Debutant director Karan Malhotra sponges from the original, but bestows the new version with a fresh texture [screenplay adapted by Ila Bedi Datta and Karan Malhotra]. Krishnan Iyer M.A. [portrayed by Mithun Chakraborty in the original] is done away with, while Malhotra introduces another negative character called Rauf Lala [Rishi Kapoor] to make the proceedings more volatile and explosive. One can envisage the kind of burden the director has shouldered and despite the fact that viewers would be scrutinizing the goings-on with a magnifying glass and watching every frame minutely, you cannot refute the fact that Karan Malhotra has done a remarkable job as a storyteller. BRBR In a small Indian village Mandwa, Vijay Dinanath Chauhan [Hrithik Roshan] is taught by his principled father [Chetan Pandit] about the path of fire — Agneepath. His life is completely shattered when the evil drug dealer Kancha [Sanjay Dutt] hangs his father to death. Vijay leaves for Mumbai with his pregnant mother [Zarina Wahab] and has only one mission in life — to come back to Mandwa and bring back the glory of his father’s name. BRBR In Mumbai, the 12-yr-old Vijay is taken under the wings of the city gang lord Rauf Lala [Rishi Kapoor]. From then on it is a journey of revenge where he makes and breaks many relationships, only to get closer to his aim. Vijay finds support only in his best friend Kaali [Priyanka Chopra], who stands by him at every moment in his life. Fifteen years later, his hatred for Kancha takes him back to Mandwa where life comes full circle. BRBR Most Hindi films initiate with a bang, but run out of gas by the time they reach the finale, often getting deflated in between as well, but AGNEEPATH is vigorous from the very commencement to the absolute conclusion. The conflict at the very initiation and also towards the closing stages, the tension between Vijay and Kancha and also between Vijay and his mother, the game of one-upmanship played by Vijay to grab power… AGNEEPATH is one exhilarating ride. A vendetta story needs to be garnished with several terrific dramatic moments and Malhotra does just that. His handling of the subject deserves brownie points. The only ‘hiccup’, if one may say so, is the romantic track towards the first hour, which is lackluster. BRBR The assessment of the movie would appear fragmentary if one would disregard the colossal contribution by action director Abbas Ali Moghul. Raw and gritty are two expressions that best illustrate the action scenes in AGNEEPATH. Kancha is larger than life and stronger than the protagonist, so when good eventually triumphs, the heroism ought to come to the forefront and it does so forcefully, convincingly and copiously. The action scenes are sure to draw whistles and claps, especially the one in the finale. BRBR Harmonious compositions have constantly been the hallmark of Karan Johar’s a target=_blank href=’http://www.wowmails.com’movies/a and the a target=_blank href=’http://www.wowmails.com’music/a of AGNEEPATH is no exception. The songs, composed by Ajay-Atul, may not be chartbusters [except ‘Chikni Chameli’], but the compositions are in sync with the texture of the film. The pick of the lot is the devotional number as well as ‘Chikni Chameli’, which is already a rage. The background score, also by Ajay-Atul, is electrifying and exhilarating. Cinematography [Kiran Deohans; additional cinematography: Ravi K. Chandran] is commendable. The outdoor portions specially deserve special mention. BRBR The commanding dialogue [Piyush Mishra] is yet another champion of AGNEEPATH. The striking sequences in the movie get elevated to a different level thanks to the superior channel of communication. This is one of those films where numerous novel lines hang back in your memory much after the movie has wrapped up. BRBR The pertinent query that comes to one’s mind is whether the new avatar of Vijay Dinanath Chauhan has enough inferno in him to match up to the magnificent performance of Sr. Bachchan. The answer is in the affirmative. Hrithik comes up with an astoundingly arresting performance. He does not emulate the veteran’s portrayal of Vijay Dinanath Chauhan. Instead, he approaches the character in his own distinctive mode. AGNEEPATH only reiterates the fact that Hrithik has grown into a far superior and complete performer. In fact, the performance has the potential to keep the whistle blowers busy thanks to his magnificent interpretation of an iconic character. BRBR Despicable and intimidating characters are non-existent in Hindi a target=_blank href=’http://www.wowmails.com’movies/a, but more recently Prakash Raj [in SINGHAM] and now Sanjay Dutt [in AGNEEPATH] are ready to revive the era of baddies. Sanju is electrifying as the hardhearted, brutal Kancha and his sinful getup only augments the impact of his performance. The menacing getup adds abundantly to the evil/stony character and his performance in the penultimate 30 minutes, when Kancha confronts Vijay, is the hallmark of the movie. This performance would prove to be yet another turning point in his career, after NAAM, KHAL-NAYAK, VAASTAV and the MUNNABHAI series. BRBR Everyone is familiar with the fact that AGNEEPATH is fundamentally a tale of vengeance between Vijay Dinanath Chauhan and Kancha. So, logically, there’s not much for the leading lady [Priyanka Chopra] to do in the narrative. Yet, Priyanka’s character Kaali is significant to the story and expectedly, she sinks her teeth into the character. Contrary to what a lot of people believe, she’s not an ornamental item in the movie. BRBR Though Rishi Kapoor has attempted a negative role in KAL KISSNE DEKHA, it still wasn’t as menacing as AGNEEPATH. Trust me, his performance is going to shock a lot of people, especially those who are familiar with his wide-ranging body of work. He’s exceptional as Rauf Lala, enacting the bad guy with fervor and passion. BRBR The film boasts of a number of characters, but the one that stands out is Arish Bhiwandiwala, who portrays the young Vijay Dinanath Chauhan with flourish. Zarina Wahab is natural, Om Puri is wonderful, Kanika Tiwari is decent, Chetan Pandit is adequate, Rajesh Tandon is perfect and Deven Bhojani, first-rate. Katrina Kaif sizzles in the item number ‘Chikni Chameli’. She looks sensuous and catches your attention with super-energetic dance movements. BRBR On the whole, AGNEEPATH is a fitting tribute to the masterwork. The movie has all the potential to scale dizzy heights of victory and catapult Hrithik Roshan as the newest member of the 100 cr Club, besides providing the Hindi film industry with the first giant Blockbuster of 2012. A definite winner!bria target=_blank href=’http://www.wowmails.com’Source/a: www.bollywoodhungama.com/ibr brhttp://www.wowmails.com