Zid

Filmy Review

It's very rare that one gets to see a film of thriller genre in Bollywood. In fact I don't remember when was the last time that I saw a good Hindi film of this genre. Hence when the trailers of Anubhav Sinha and Mushtaq Shiekh's Zid came out around a month or so back, I had made up my mind to watch this film come what may.

So, keeping up to the promise that I made to myself, I went to watch Zid,  first day, first show! I entered the screening room and I realized that I have forgotten something. As the opening credits rolled out, it struck me that it's my cup of coffee!!! I wondered if the film could keep me up, at least till the interval. Half an hour into the film and I was very much awake. I realized that Zid was one of those rare films that stayed true to it's genre. The film starring three debutants - Mannara Handa (Priyanka and Parineeti's cousin sister), Karanvir Sharma and Shraddha Das was all that it promised and much more. 

Mannara Handa plays a Goan nurse who has a past to hide. She falls in love with a crime journalist played by Karanvir Sharma who sleeps with her not realising she is obsessed with him. The two are involved in a hit and run, which results in a death. The rest of the film details what happens when the journalist goes ahead with the nurse’s plan of trying to cover up the case. The more he does that the deeper he sinks into a quicksand of murder and deceit.

To make life more difficult for him, the victim’s sister Shraddha Das walks into his life. An already on the edge Mannara decides enough is enough and goes for the kill or so it seems. Of course being a suspense film with a closet full of secrets nothing is what it seems. The nurse, the journalist, the victim’s sister and a cop played by baritone voiced Denzel Smith play a cat and mouse game, one which sucks us all in. 

Zid has more twist and turns than the Western ghats and enough good songs to make the ride enjoyable. The movie is an erotic thriller that keeps us engaged by throwing clues at us and daring us to guess who is who and what is what. But nothing prepares us for the ending.

This fast paced, edge of the seat film toys with its audience like a cat with a ball of wool. Of course the yarn does get entangled more than it should complicating matters a bit. The writing could have been leaner and meaner, the actors could have underplayed a bit but that’s small complaint in a film that keeps you engaged for the two hours of its running time and that in Bollywood is a rarity.

Film Verdict - On the whole, Zid is an extremely well made film. The screenplay of the film is watertight and it's execution is commendable. For a film that stars three newcomers, Zid packs quite a punch. The real heroes of this film are it's producers. It takes a lot of conviction to come out with a thriller film in India and to do so with rank newcomers, is a great achievement! Don't miss out on this one. 

Filmy Feeling:

P.S: By the time the film ended, I had forgotten about my cup of coffee!

Happy Ending

Filmy Review

Last time the director duo of Raj Nidimoru & Krishna D.K (better known as Raj & D.K) and Saif Ali Khan collaborated, they churned out India's first ever Zombie film, 'Go Goa Gone'. I saw that movie back then and quite enjoyed it. I especially liked how the directors brought in a new perspective and much needed freshness into the world of Bollywood! Hence when I got to know that the same team (Illuminati Films, Raj & D.K and Saif Ali Khan) was coming back once again, my levels of expectation and anticipation were at an all time high. For me the cherry on this tempting cake (chocolate truffle, as I imagined it to be) was Govinda. I saw him make an impressive comeback with 'Kill Dil' and to see him in another film within a span of a few days..I couldn't have asked for anything more!

And so I went into the theatre with a tub of popcorn (the popcorn is mandatory!) and settled down to watch what Raj & D.K had in store this time around. Without wasting much time, we are introduced to the uber cool Saif Ali Khan aka Yudi, an L.A based, commitment phobic writer who is living life on the past laurels.  A book that he wrote almost five and a half years back, did really well and made him into an overnight success. He still basks in the past glory not realizing that he has been forgotten long back. It's only when he is broke and desperate, that he decides to get his act together and get back to doing what he does best, writing. Does he get back in the game? Well, the answer is a BIG No. While Yudi was whiling his time, chasing skirts, managing girlfriends or at least trying to, other writers were doing what they are meant to - Write! One such young author is the beautiful and smouldering, Aanchal (Ileana D'Cruz). She is the current writing sensation who has taken L.A by a storm because of her impressive writing skills.

Things look bleak for Yudi both on professional and personal front. On one hand he has stiff competition from Aanchal and on the other, it's his psychotic girlfriend Vishakha (Kalki Koechlin). Initially Yudi does not share great vibes with Ileana but soon he realizes that she is much like him. The two start growing fond of each other but how do two commitment shy people get together? While the love blossoms slowly between the two authors, Yudi gets the desperately needed second chance as a writer when an Indian super-star, Armaan (Govinda aa la re) summons him to write a movie script. Armaan stacks up a few Hollywood film DVD's and asks Yudi to give him a film which would help him capture the elusive multiplex audience.

A career that is heading nowhere, a love life that is confusing to say the least, a manager whose worse than a nagging mother and a lazy, slacker of an alter-ego Yogi, make Yudi's journey an interesting watch.

Happy Ending is a mixed-bag. While it has many things going in it's favour - The wonderful music and foot-tapping songs by Sachin-Jigar, Great Cinematography, Charming Saif Ali Khan who looks every bit of Yudi (and Yogi), the Mesmeric Govinda, who lightens up the screen everytime he comes on and of course the camoes by Kareena Kapoor Khan and Priety Zinta. Things that haven't quite worked in the films favor is it's weak screenplay and direction.

Filmy Verdict - The film has it's moments but they are too few and far between. With a plot that had a lot of potential and actors who had it in them to deliver, 'Happy Ending' leaves much to be desired, the saving grace being it's witty dialogues and decent performances by Saif Ali Khan & Govinda.

Filmy Feeling:

Kill Dil

Filmy Review

Kill Dil was one film that I was waiting for with bated breath, as it marked the return of Shaad Ali after 7 years. No, I am not nuts and I do remember he is the director who gave us the unbearable 'Jhoom Brarabar Jhoom'. But then he also gave us 'Saathiya' and 'Bunty Aur Bubli'. It's these two movies that gave me hope that Shaad would deliver once again, after coming back from a 7 year sabbatical.

If the trailers were a sign of things to come, then I must admit that Shaad and team did a stupendous job with it. The argument that goes against the 'impressive trailer' claim is that when you have the likes of Ranveer Singh, Parineeti Chopra, Ali Zafar and most of all Govinda, cutting a decent two-minute trailer  shouldn't be a difficult task. They say a glimer of hope is enough and with my heart full of it, I headed to watch Shaad's Kill Dil.

The minute the film started, I was transported to a world of Friendship, Mentorship, Sharp Shooters, Bikes & Bromance! The world of Bhaiyaji (Govinda), the goon who has his way around Delhi. The world of two trusted lieutenants of Bhaiyaji - Dev (Ranveer Singh) and Tutu (Ali Zafar). Killing for them is no biggie. They fire rounds of bullets at the drop of a hat and don't leave an opportunity to take the mickey out of each other. Just when one starts enjoying the blazing guns and bromancing heroes..Enters Disha (Parineeti Chopra). I knew she spelled doom the minute she made an entry during the brawl in the pub.

Then what? Disha shows Dev the right 'Disha' (Disha means Direction guys!) and he does not kill anymore! He falls head over heels for the girl and we cut to a beautiful song for which the makers would have spent a bomb! The choice in front of Dev is very clear. He has to pick between Kill and Dil. He obviously choses Dil and they live happily ever after....No..picture abhi baaki hai mere dost!!!

Bhaiyaji isn't a happy man. One of his trusted men is giving up and that too because of Dil! Dev's madness does not go down well with his mentor. What follows then is a story of friendship, love and obsession. If you are interested to know how it all ends then you must go and watch Kill Dil!

The film has been shot lavishly and does not lack in style and glamour. It would have been a far better film had the makers spent a little more time on the screnplay and dialogues. Ranveer Singh is in great form and has carried the film on his shoulders. Parineeti is her usual self and really needs to do a role that is 'Hatke' in the near future or else she runs a huge risk of being typecast. Ali Zafar sails through the film with four-five expressions (At the most!) Govinda makes a brilliant comeback. He dances, passes witty comments, looks menacing and mean! How I wish his role was a bit more fleshed out.

Filmy Verdict: Kill Dil might not be THE comeback that Shaad Ali would have dreamt of but it wasn't a 'Jhoom Barabar Jhoom' either. He looks a bit rusty but manages to deliver a decent film. Do watch it for Ranveer Singh's enegmatic performance and Govinda's much awaited comeback!

Filmy Feeling:

The Shaukeens

Filmy Review

As a rule, I always read the synopsis of a film before going to the theatre to watch it. This time around when I booked my tickets for 'The Shaukeens', I decided to improvise a bit. I went to my regular movie library (Yes, in the world of Torrentz, I am probably the only specimen who still believes in buying/renting DVD's to watch movies) to pick up the original Shaukeen. This film from 1982 was directed by Basu Chatterjee and had a phenominal line up of actors - Ashok Kumar, Utpal Dutt, A.K.Hangal, Rati Agnihotri and Mithun Chakraborty.

The plot of Shukeen (1982) was extremely funny yet simple! Three lecherous old men decide to have some fun in their twilight years. They hire a driver who convinces them that Goa is the place for such pleasures in life. Little do they know that the driver has his own motives of going to Goa. His beloved girlfriend stays there and he couldn't have got a better opportunity than this to meet her (An all expenses paid trip!). The old men and the driver arrive in Goa. It is here that the film peaks and we have one hilarious situation after other when the three men fall for the drivers girlfriend without knowing who she is!

High on the original Shaukeen, I ventured into the screening of Abhishek Sharma's 'The Shaukeens'. The flm started and I was glad to see that the writers Tigmanshu Dhulia and Sai Kabir had done well to retain the basic plot of the film of three lecherous men and their desire of having some fun in old age. Here the three old men were - Anupam Kher, Piyush Mishra and Annu Kapoor. With such talented actors, the film can't go wrong, i thought to myself. Then the director started springing surprises one after another. To begin with, the 3 men decide to go to Mauritius instead of Goa. So what? I questioned myself. It's 2014 after all and Mauritius looks far more grand and opulent than Goa, I convinced myself. The three men reach Mauritius and as luck would have it, the land lady Ahana (Lisa Haydon) of the house they were staying in, cuts short her trip and comes back much before than planned. The men are more than happy to have her back as she turns out to be just the kind of girl they were wanting to hook up with.

Soon the three oldies start on their mission and are seen doing all sorts of things to impress the leggy lass. Soon they realize that impressing Ahana wouldn't be all that difficult as she is a huge fan of 'Akshay Kumar' who happens to be shooting in Mauritius. Quite convenient I thought at first but soon I remembered, 'cinematic liberty' is a birth right of every director. I will not look for 'logic' anymore, I brainwashed myself as I saw three men trying their best to convince Akshay Kumar to be a part of their plan in order to impress Ahana.

As the film came to an end my mind was under my control. It asked no questions, it demanded no explanations. It was as blank as a clean slate!

The next day when I went back to my movie library to return the Shaukeen DVD, the manager there couldn't resist and started talking about the original Shaukeen and how it remains one of his favourites. I asked him if he had watched the remake and he said that he didn't want to, as he felt that a bad remake will take away the memories he cherished of the original for so many years. We then spoke about the original for the next 30 minutes.

While making my way back home I realized that it was the simplicity of the original that worked for it back then and continues to do so even now. It was the genuis of Basu Chatterjee that steered the film towards 'Class' rather than 'Crass', inspite of the main plot of three old men leching on a young girl.

'The Shaukeens' lacks the touch of Basu Chatterjee and the charisma of Utpal Dutt, Ashok Kumar and A.K.Hangal. Abhishek Sharma could have done far better..or maybe not! 'The Shaukeens' is yet another example of how one should not tinker with classics and just let them be.

Well, thanks to Abhishek Sharma's remake I got an opportunity to watch this old gem of a movie, Shaukeen.

Filmy Verdict - 'The Shaukeens' is just about a decent film if you don't compare it with the original. For those who have seen the original Shukeen, this one is surely going to be a huge dissapointment. 

Filmy Feeling:

Roar - Tigers Of The Sunderbans

Filmy Review

For starters, I wish the title of the movie was a bit shorter! Think of it, when someone asks you, "Which movie did you watch today?" And you reply, "Roar - Tigers Of The Sunderbans", there are bright chances that the person would walk away before you finish the name of the film.

Well, thank God the movie isn't as long as it's title. At 2 Hrs 23 Mins, this Action/Adventure flick is a decent attempt at filmmaking by debutant director Kamal Sadanah. The story of the film revolves around a man's mission who goes inside the Sunderbans to kill a white tigress in order to avenge his brother's death.

The film begins with an over enthusiastic photojournalist, Uday who has come to the Sunderbans on an assignment. While in the midst of his work, he comes across a small cub of a white tiger, who is entangled in a poacher's trap. Seeing the cub in a difficult situation, Uday helps it out and takes it along with him to his room. Realizing that the journalist has got a cub along, the villagers create a ruckus. Soon enough a forest officer (Achint Kaur) arrives at the spot with her team and takes the cub away. During the same time, the cub's mother, comes to Uday's room, sniffing her cub. The Tigress kills Uday and takes his body along deep into the jungle.

The news of Uday's death, reaches his brother, an Army Officer 'Pandit' (Abhinav Shukla). He tries to get the forest authorities to help him get his brothers body back but that doesn't happen. The authorities sherk off their responsibility. That's when Pandit decides to take matter in his own hands. His plan is to kill the white tigress who killed his brother (Now that's a revenge story!)

He sets out for the daunting task ahead of him with a team of a few of the best officers - CJ (Norah Fatehi), Hero (Ali Kuli), Cheena (Virendra Singh Ghuman), Kashmiri (Aadil Chahal), Sufi (Aaran Chaudhary) and a couple of local guides. In the journey to avenge his brothers death, Pandit and his team come across various hurdles and life threatning moments. It's not just the wild animals and the tricky terrian of Sunderban but also the evil poacher, 'Bheera' whom Pandit and his team have to tackle.

What happens in this journey is what 'Roar - Tigers Of The Sunderbans' is all about. The film has a sluggish first half but manages to gain momentum in the second half. The screenplay of the film written by Kamal Sadanah along with Swati and Anand Goradia is flawed and has various loopholes, which have been over looked. The direction of Kamal Sadanah is just about OK.  The cinematography of the film is the saving grace. The film has been shot beautifuly by Michael Watson. The background music of the film, given by John Stewart is decent as well. What comes as a big surprise is the VFX of the film. The commendable work done by the visual effects team gives us an opportunity of watching a beautiful beast up close and personal.

Filmy Verdict - Over all, Roar - The Tigers Of The Sunderbans is an average film. One should watch it for the beauty of the Sunderbans and the mighty white Tigress.

Filmy Feeling: