Second Hand Husband Movie Exclusive Review

Released today, Second Hand Husband, marks the acting debut of Govinda’s daughter, Tina Ahuja and Punjabi actor Gippy Grewal. The movie which is directed by Sumeep Kang, also stars Dharmendra, Rati Agnihotri and Geeta Basra in pivotal roles. Let’s see how it is.
Story :
The story of the film revolves around the life of Rajbir (Gippy Grewal) who is deeply in love with his lawyer, Gurpreet (Tina Ahuja). The two are all set to get hitched but there is a twist in the tale. Rajbir’s ex-wife, Neha (Geeta Basra) gets Rajbir’s money as alimony every month and in order to avoid paying her, Gurpreet asks Rajbir to get Neha married to someone else.
This is when he meets Ajit (Dharmendra), a businessman who is caught cheating with his wife and is all set to get divorced now. Will Rajbir be able to convince Neha to marry Ajit? And how will all their lives suffer, forms the rest of the story…
Positive Points :
Due to lack of promotions and word of mouth publicity, not many people may have expected the flick to be a worthy watch. However to mine and everyone’s surprise, the movie managed to be a decent watch.
Speaking of performances, lets start with the legendary Dharmendra. The actor’s impeccable comic timing will leave you in splits. He is sure at his best. Gippy Garewal, who is known for his comedy stints in the North, was believable and convincing. Another actor who deserved an applause was Vijay Raaz. The actor can make even the most serious scenes funny. His expressions are amazing in every sense. Another high point of the film was cricketer Harbajan Singh’s cameo.
Negative points :
The only reason why the film was somewhat known to a few people, because it was been promoted as Govinda’s daughter Tina Ahuja’s debut film. However, her mention and presence was limited to the promos. The actress does not have much screen space. And for the time she appears on screen, all she does is overact.
Another actress Geeta Basra, looks bland and maintains a single expression throughout the film. The girls basically elevated the glamour quotient of the movie. The first half an hour of the film failed to make any sense what-so-ever. The characters could not be established and the sequences only confused the audiences.
Technical aspect:
Apart from a few performances, another good thing about the film was its music album. All the songs are placed rightly in the plot and suit situations. You may also keep humming them even after you leave he theatre. Sumeep’s direction was ok and you will just have leave all logic home to watch this flick. Most of the scenes do not make scene, which is fine if you looking for a stress buster that does not make you use your brains much. Editing of the film could have been better. Dialogues are fine, as a few one-liners sure make you laugh.
Verdict :
On the whole, Second Hand Husband can be watched if you are looking for some time pass this weekend, or else, if you are the intellect ones, this is just not your cup of it.

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Mr X Movie Review - Director Choice

Emraan Hashmi has been going through a lean phase as most of his previous films have bombed at the box office. He is back now with the action entertainer Mr X. Directed by Vikram Bhatt, this film has hit the screens today. Let’s see how it is.
Story:-
Inspector Raghu(Emraan Hashmi) is a fearless officer with the Anti Terrorist squad. One fine day, he is sent as security cover to save the chief minister. Twist in the tale arises when his finance( Amrya Dastur) gets kidnapped and Raghu in turn is asked to kill the chief minister.
Left with no choice, Raghu kills the chief minister and runs away to save his life. But cops hunt him down and beat him up to death. A sudden intervention happens and a divine light brings him back to life but in an invisible mode. Rest of the story is as to how an invisible Raghu takes revenge on those who put him in such trouble.

Plus Points:-
Emraan Hashmi is the only saviour of the film. He gives his best for the film which is otherwise below par. Some of the scenes where he goes invisible and comes back to life have been shot nicely. Amrya Dastur plays her supporting role well. Even though she has limited scope she does her part well. First half has some decent moments and the way Emraan Hasmi plans his revenge is also ok. Climax of the film has some engaging moments.
Minus Points:-
Major drawback of the film is that it has absolutely no Emraan Hashmi moments which we are used to generally. This film does not even boasts of decent music and has no witty dialogues. Most of the film is heavily inspired by many Hollywood films which is evident in many scenes.
There is absolutely no chemistry between the lead pair which is a must in all Hashmi films. Probably, Amrya Dastur is the most dull heroine that has come out from the Bhatt camp. Talented actor Arunodhay Singh is completely wasted in the film. Second half of the film gets hugely predictable and also gets bogged down a bit.
Technical Aspects:-
The 3D effects of the film are quite bad. There was absolutely no need for the 3D effects in the film. Dialogues are just about ok and so are the lyrics. Music of the film is below average, and is not like any typical Emraan Hashmi film. Vikram Bhatt disappoints big time with Mr X. Neither does he elevate Emraan Hashmi nor he brings any entertainment value to the film. His direction misfires completely and let’s down the film badly.
Verdict:-
On the whole, Mr X is a complete disappointment from the house of Bhatt’s. Except for Emraan Hashmi’s screen presence, this film has absolutely nothing to offer and can be completely ignored this weekend.

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Hunterrr Movie Review - Peaks Of Romance

Release date : Mar 20, 2015
bollywood3.com Rating : 3/5
Director : Harshvardhan Kulkarni
Producer : Kirti Nakhwa
Music Director : Khamosh Shah
Starring: Gulshan Devaiah, Radhika Apte

An addition to the adult comedy genres of movies in bollywood, Gulshan Devaiah starrer Hunterrr releases today. Directed by Harshvardhan Kulkarni, the movie also stars Sai Tamhankar and Radhika Apte. Let’s see how different or similar it is to the other movies of the same genre…

Story:
‘Hunterrr’ has a story that revolves around the life of a sex addict, Mandar Ponkshe (Gulshan Devaiah). Mandar is attracted to the opposite sex in a large way since his childhood and goes on to have multiple relationships with women even after he grows up. Apart from having an affair with a swimmer, Parul (Veera Saxena), Mandar also falls for a housewife Jyotsna (Sai Tamhankar) and ends up having a relationship with her, just to fulfill his sexually desire. Time passes by and Mandar, who now calls himself a player plans to settle down in an arranged marriage. In the course of meeting different women, he realises that none of them are comfortable with his past. This is when he meets Trupti (Radhika Apte), who is a modern, outspoken kind of girl. The fear of loosing her makes Mandar not to disclose his past life to Trupti?
Will Trupti find out about Mandar’s addiction? Will she still be willing to take him as her husband? Forms the rest of the story…
Positive points:
There have been many adult comedies in Bollywood, where the viewers have put in much thought to understand the double meaning dialogues. But the best thing about Hunterrr is that it gives you the privilege of enjoying each dialogue without using your brain. The movie comes out straight. It quite explains what changes boys actually go through, sexually and how a few of them consider sexual desire over emotional needs. Thus creating a nostalgia for many.
Performances wise, the movie sure stands out. Gulshan Devaiah, who has earlier proved his worth, is perfect in his part. The way in which he transitions his character across various age groups is excellent. Actress Sai Tamhankar is absolutely stunning and suits her character to the T. She looks hot and can have any man fall flat for her. Radhika Apte is again brilliant. Her confidence is evident in every scene, especially her dialogue delivery and unique style of emoting.
Negative points:
The fact that it comes out straight and has some in-the-face vulgar dialogues and scenes will not quite be accepted by many. The first half deals only with the protagonist’s sexually attraction and tension across different age groups, which proves to be extremely confusing with all the regular flashbacks. The second half, on the other hand, comes with an addition of love between Mandar and Trupti, but the director fails to explain their attraction properly. It is weird how a guy who is so good at convincing girls, can not get a single girl to marry him. It is also unexplained how Mandar, who does care about feelings, actually falls for a girl only after meeting her ones.
Technical aspects:
Direction by Harshvardhan is original and taken by real life scenarios, which is one reason that people will be able to connect with Mandar’s character. Speaking of technicalities, the movie has some very bad editing. The director takes us back and forth in flashbacks to explain Mandar’s character from his childhood to being a middle aged man, but there is less explaining and more confusion. Apart from that, even the camerawork is shaky and the screenplay is loose in a lot of places.
The music album is rather good. Singers like Bappi Lahiri to Altaf Raja make the the music varied and with superb melodies.
Verdict:
Even though technically the movie does not give much, the star performances and the songs make it a one time watch.
Rating : 3/5

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Badlapur Movie Review - High Scope Container

After his not-so-successful drama Agent Vinod, Sriram Raghavan is back with a revenge drama in the name of Badlapur. Starring Varun dhawan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Huma Qureshi, the film hits the theatres today.
Story:
Badlapur is a revenge saga of man named Raghu (Varun Dhawan), who loses his wife Misha (Yami Gautam) and kid, after they are killed in a bank robbery by Layak (Nawazuddin Siddiqui) and his partner Hurman (Vinay Pathak). While Hurman escapes with all the money, Layak is caught by the police and sentenced to imprisonment for 20 years. While Raghu tries to find the name of Layak’s partner, but in vain. After 15 years of search, an NGO worker, Shobha (Divya Dutta) informs Raghu about Layak’s cancer and asks Raghu to forgive Layak, so that he can spend his remaining days of his life out of jail. Even though he forgives Layak, the two come face to face and the truth is prevailed.
Do Raghu and Layak settle their equation? Forms the rest of the story…

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Positive points:
Badlapur promises for an enthralling start and it sure delivers what it commits. The narrative from the firat scene to the last is worth a applaud. Speaking of performances, it was extremely smart of young Varun Dhawan to choose a movie like Badlapur to break the stereotype of a romantic hero attached to him. And bravo, what a performance he gives as a brooding, revenge seeking man. However, no one and I mean no one can take their eyes off this tsunami of talent, Nawazuddin Siddiqui whenever he steps on screen. From showing his emotional to the shady side, the actor is more than perfect. You will love the fact that you hate him in the movie. Vinay Pathak and Radhika Apte are fantastic in their parts. Yami Gautam and Huma too are amazing in their small yet integral roles.
Negative points:
The first half of the film is a little slow-paced, owing to the fact that the revenge drama is started only in the second half. It may be due to Nawaz’s presence, that Varun is side-lined in a few scenes and appears week. However, he does gain pace later on.
Technical aspects:
Living strong to his legacy, Sriram Raghavan makes sure that the film is technically sound. From the cinematography, involving the camera to cover the jail shots in the best way possible to the editing, which is extremely sharp and crisp, every techinal aspect is worth a mention.
The story falls flat in a few places, but sure comes back to keeping the viewers engaged. Songs are amazing and go well with the flow of film. They ray true to the genre. However, what is worth all the credit is Sriram’a direction. The filmmaker exactly knows how and when to take the best out of all his characters. He keeps his idea of story-telling simple yet so engaging and interesting. A few scenes with Vurun, Radhika and Vinay are simply mind blowing.
Verdict:
On a whole, even if you are not much of a fan of dark cinema, Badlapur is surely not a miss because of its tremendous performaces and techniques.

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PK Movie Review - Aamir Khan Comedy Entertainer

The most anticipated film, PK marks the return of the hit Jodi of Aamir Khan and Rajkumar Hirani after 5 years. After extensive promotions and a huge buzz with its unusual poster, this comedy caper which features Anushka Sharma as the female lead, has hit the screens today. Bollywood3 has reviewed it and let’s see how it is.

Story:

Jagat Janani aka Jaggu (Anushka Sharma) pursues her TV production course in Belgium. Sarfaraz (Sushant Singh Rajput) who hails from Pakistan is a architecture student. One fine day, they fall for each other and decide to get married. To Jaggu’s shock, Sarfaraz never turns up on their marriage day. Thinking that she got ditched, Jaggu returns to Delhi and joins a news channel.
One fine day, Jaggu happens to see an unusual man called PK (Aamir Khan). Seeing his weird nature, she follows him and comes to know about his story that he is searching for his missing object. Who is PK ? What is his story and how is it linked with a self obsessed god-man (Saurabh Shukhla)? To know the answers to these questions, you need to watch the film on silver screen.

Plus Points:

Aamir Khan, is no doubt a show-stealer. He is stupendous, and it does not mean that rest of the cast not done well. This film required a tough act and he is just brilliant with his expressions and performed his role with ease. Aamir’s funny dance moves, dialogue delivery and mannerisms are all just superb. Budding actors have to just watch his performance and learn a major part of how to go about acting.
Anushka Sharma looks pretty in her new avatar. She is a perfect fit for this film and her chemistry with Aamir is cute. Sushant Singh Rajput and Boman Irani in their short roles have given good performances. Saurabh Shukla as an evil god-man gives a commendable performance. Sanjay Dutt’s cameo is delightful and as usual he gives his best.
Most of the film is humorous and almost all the episodes have been designed well. Even though the film is a laugh riot, it has an underlying social message in it. The racy pace of the movie makes it interesting and the surprise element in the climax leaves you stunned.

Minus Points:

There are not many flaws to mention. Even though the screenplay makes it interesting, the basic story line is old and has been tried by many filmmakers. Second half of the film has the glimpses of Akshay Kumar – Paresh Rawal starrer Oh My God. Once the twist unfolds in the second half, the story gets predictable. After an entertaining and racy first half, second half gets slower in parts.

Technical Aspects:

Cinematographer Muraleedharan, who brilliantly showcased the beauty of Ladakh in 3 Idiots, has once again proved his mettle. The Rajasthani deserts, Belgium scenes and songs were shown beautifully. Songs may be just average in album, but they definitely leave a cool impression after seeing them visually and stays with you for a longer time. Editor should have concentrated a little more in the second half.
Dialogue writers need a huge applause as they are quite meaningful. Rajkumar Hirani has once again showed his directorial brilliance. He is just superb in every department and his effortless direction has taken this otherwise a normal film to another level. Even though there is good social message in this film, he presented it in a humorous manner which will definitely leave a good impression on the audience.

Verdict:

On the whole, Rajkumar Hirani’s directorial brilliance, Aamir Khan’s flawless performance and good music, makes PK a perfect paisa vasool entertainer. This comedy caper with an underlying social message is a must watch film and will surely enthrall you. Don’t miss the climax, there is a surprise which brings a smile on your face.

Movie Rating........3.5/5

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Dhoom 3 Movie Review

Dhoom 3 is one of the most eagerly awaited films of 2013 and it has hit the screens today, across the world. After John Abraham in part 1 and Hrithik Roshan in part 2, it is now Aamir Khan’s turn to essay the villain’s role in this hugely successful franchise. Abhishek Bachchan, Katrina Kaif and Uday Chopra are the other lead actors in this action entertainer. Let us check out the film now.

Story :

The Union Bank of Chicago faces a grave threat from the very intelligent Sahir (Aamir Khan). Saahir has a personal vendetta against the bank, as his dad was put out of business and declared a bankrupt by the financial institution.

A circus artiste by profession, Sahir hits the bank hard by looting its branches. ACP Jai (Abhishek) and Ali (Uday Chopra) are brought into the picture, to put an end to Sahir’s activities.

As Jai begins zeroing in on Sahir, he discovers some unexpected things. Who is Sahir? Will he succeed in escaping from Jai? This is what ‘Dhoom 3′ is all about.

Plus Points :

This film is Aamir Khan’s one man show. Aamir has successfully pulled off two very different characters in this movie and he has performed well in the stunt sequences. There are some emotional scenes in the second half and Aamir simply steals the show here.

Abhishek Bachchan has been doing a good job as ACP Jai for quite some time now and he has delivered yet again in Dhoom 3. Uday Chopra is ok as Ali. Katrina Kaif looks incredibly hot in the film and she has performed well in the action sequences.

The film has tremendous pace in the first half, with some high voltage action sequences. The interval twist is unexpected and quite thrilling.

The film has a very lavish feel and everything has a sense of grandeur. A lot of money was spent on the film and it shows in each and every frame. The climax block has been set up nicely.

Minus Points :

Some of the stunt sequences are outlandish and unrealistic. Perhaps, they were conceived with the aim of catering to the front benchers in small towns. After a racy and explosive first half, the film slows down a bit in the second half.

Instead of high voltage action sequences, there is more of drama and sentiment in the second half.

The film’s plot is quite superficial and there is nothing much in terms of novelty, except for a few twists.

Technical Aspects :

Cinematography is a big asset for the film. The visuals look quite rich and stunning. Background music is good and helps the proceedings. Editing is very good in the first half, but could have been better in the second half.

Vijay Krishna Acharya has concentrated on coming up with a racy entertainer and he has largely succeeded. Production values of Yash Raj Films are lavish.

Verdict :

‘Dhoom 3′ is bigger and better than the previous installments in this franchise. Aamir Khan steals the show with his superb performance and he is ably supported by Abhishek and Katrina Kaif. The movie is a perfect holiday entertainer, for it delivers bucket loads of entertainment. Don’t miss this one!

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Rajjo Movie Review

From the legendary Rekha to the recent Aishwarya Rai, everyone has tried their hands in playing a nautch girl on screen. This time it is Kangna Ranaut who plays a mujrewali in Rajjo. Directed by Vishwas Patil, this film also stars Paras Arora, Mahesh Manjrekar and Prakash Raj in other lead roles. Rajjo has released amidst yet another biggie in Ram-Leela. Let’s see how it is.

Story :
Rajjo (Kangna Ranaut) is a call girl in the famous red light area of Mumbai. Right from her childhood, Rajjo is longing for true love. One day Chandu (Paras Arora) steps into her life and sweeps Rajjo off her feet. Younger than her and coming from a good family, Rajjo falls in love with Chandu and soon both of them tie the knot.
Right after their wedding, the couple face rejection from Chandu’s parents and the society. Sick and tired of this, they decide to start a new life in a land far away from the city. Everything is fine, until Rajjo’s past comes face to face with her once again.
Will Rajjo be able to leave her past behind? Will she continue to spend a normal life with Chandu? The answers to these questions form the rest of the story…
Positive Points :
Kangna looks stunning in the film and carries the whole film on the shoulders. She has developed her dancing skills and has worked quite hard on her dances.
The young newcomer, Paras Arora is decent in a few scenes. Prakash Raj does a decent job and particularity his expressions are top notch.
Negative Points :
It is extremely sad to see a national award winning actress like Kangna Ranaut to associate with a such a bad movie. Mahesh Majrekar looks and acts nothing like a eunuch. One feels that there are three to four bad stories being portrayed one after the other.
Even with such a strong concept, the movie fails to connect emotionally. Climax of the movie is unintentionally funny. The audiences laugh their lungs off listening to the extremely cheesy dialogues and even worse performances.
Technical Points :
Songs do not have any impact for the film as they are plain bad. From the film’s cinematography to its screenplay and background score, every technical aspect of this film is dreadful. Editing is not at all sharp as the scenes have hardly any connectivity.
From the very first scene of the film, Rajjo fails to entertain. Vishwas Patil’s direction is plain tacky. Except for a little eye candy called Kangna, he has nothing to offer in this film.
Verdict :
Even though Rajjo was said to be a romantic musical drama, it is neither romantically, musically or dramatically appealing in any way. Forget the theaters, this film is not worth watching even when the DVD’s are out. Just stay away from this one.

Movie Rating....1/5

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Besharam Movie Review

Abhinav Kashyap, who directed the 2010 blockbuster ‘Dabangg’, is back with his second film in the form of the massy entertainer titled ‘Besharam’. The film has Ranbir Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor, Neetu Singh and Pallavi Sharda in the lead roles and film has hit the screens today. So let’s read on to see how the hugely anticipated ‘Besharam’ has turned out to be.

Story:
Babli (Ranbir Kapoor) is a car thief who has grown up in an orphanage in Delhi. As a grown-up, he steals cars to run his orphanage and doesn’t keep a penny for himself.
During one of his car-thieving adventures, Babli accidentally hurts his lady love Tara (Pallavi Sharda) when he robs her car and sells it to Chandel (Jaaved Jaafrey) who is the baddie in the story.
Depressed in love, Babli plans to undo his mistakes and impress Tara. On this mission, he ends up facing numerous difficulties. The question of will he succeed in getting Tara’s car back and win her love is what forms the rest of ‘Besharam’…

Plus Points:
Ranbir Kapoor is the only savior in the film. After giving back-to-back 100 crore superhits with ‘Barfi’ and ‘Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani’, Ranbir is back with a mass role and expectedly, he is nothing less than perfect. His expressions are excellent and he very brilliantly portrays the role of a charming street-smart guy.
As expected, veteran Rishi Kapoor is at his best and also it was refreshing to see Neetu Singh on- screen after such a long time. Javed Jaffrey takes the cake and looks amazing in the villainous avatar of Chandel.

Minus Points:
Even though Ranbir and his parents aren’t related in the film, there is an overdose of emotions that happens on-screen between the three characters. Another major point is that the chemistry between the lead pair is completely missing in this film. Ranbir and Pallavi do not gel well with each other on-screen and the romance between them feels forced. Pallavi Sharda is an absolute disappointment.
It looks like Abhinav still hasn’t got out of his Dabangg hangover and someone should tell him that an overdose of Matrix-style action scenes can only be pulled off in style by Salman Khan.
The film’s action sequences in the climax are over-the-top with Ranbir bashing up goons and jumping on cars. One actually feels that the actors have been forced to potray their humorous sides on screens. Overall, despite promoted as a comic venture, ‘Besharam’ lacks amusing dialogues and sequences.

Technical Aspects:
The songs in Besharam are quite disappointing and the pace of the film drags because of some very slow romantic tracks. When you see the Kapoor Khandaan grace the screen together, all you expect is sheer fun and amusement. Unfortunately, this sure wasn’t the case with ‘Besharam’ because of its loose plot and unsubstantial screenplay.
The camera covers the beauty of North India beautifully. While the first half of the film is a little bearable, the second half is plain tedious and over-dramatic.

Verdict:
Overall, ‘Besharam’ disappoints in every aspect. Even its holiday release will not add as a plus for the film because of its ridiculous storyline. Finally, even if you are a diehard fan of Ranbir, you might hate him from doing a film like this.


Movie Rating............1.5/5

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The Lunch Box Movie Review

‘The Lunch Box’, the Anurag Kashyap production starring Irfan Khan has been creating quite a buzz worldwide. It has also now joined the race to become India’s official entry to the Oscars along with putting Indian cinema into the global cinema genre. Directed by Ritesh Batra, the film also stars Nimrat Kaur and Nawazuddin Siddique in other lead roles. Bollywood3 attended one of the special shows of the film and so let’s read on to see how the film is.

Story:
Saajan Fernandez (Irfan Khan) is a government official and a widower who stays alone in bustling metropolis of Mumbai. Saajan keeps to himself and prefers to do things on his own. He gets his lunch box delivered through the famous Dabbawalas of Mumbai and one day his lunch box is interchanged by another lunch box sent by Ila (Nimrat Kaur), an unhappy house wife, to her husband.
When Ila notices that the box is going to the wrong person everyday, she writes a letter to Saajan and sends it along with the lunch box. Saajan finds that letter interesting and replies back to Ila and as days go by, Ila and Saajan start sending letters everyday through the lunch box and end up becoming close friends without having met each other. The rest of the story is as to where these letters take the two of them over time and whether they eventually end up meeting each other.
Positive Points:
One cannot help but applaud the innovative story presented in the film. The manner in which the film has been narrated is pretty interesting and there is never a dull moment which in turn keeps the viewers intrigued till the end.
As usual, Irfan Khan nails the film with his extraordinary performance. He is sure to win many major awards for his performance as Saajan Fernandez. He looks so natural and plays out his character in a very realistic way. Nimrit Kaur is a revelation and does a fabulous job for her debut film. As Ila, she looks absolutely realistic and believable as a depressed housewife. Nawazuddin Siddiqui, who plays Irfan Khan’s assistant at his office, also does a wonderful job and compliments Irfan Khan perfectly.
There’s something timeless about this movie even though it is set in present day Mumbai. The trains, offices, dabbawallas and the daily life of Mumbai are captured authentically.
Negative Points:
The Lunch Box is not your regular film that aims to entertain you. The film has no songs and those who are looking for a fun element can safely stay away from this film. This film is strictly for mature audience and film festivals. The way the climax has been handled is also a little unclear.
Technical Points:
The cinematography in the film is absolutely stunning with the middle class Mumbai life showcased in a realistic manner. The screenplay of the movie is very gripping and fires your imagination right till the end. The film has finely etched characters, genuine emotions and a cute and a clever love story that connects with everyone.
Director Ritesh Batra gives the film an unsentimental eye and even gives the real-life dabbawalas a central place in the screenplay. The editing of the movie is neat and the crisp run time also helps.
Verdict:
Overall, The Lunch Box is one film that will stay with you long after you are done with the viewing. Stunning performances by the lead cast and a gripping narrative will involve you completely. On the flip side, the movie will not find any takers at the box office and might mostly be limited to film festivals and award ceremonies.

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Satyagraha Movie Review

The father of political films, Prakash Jha is back with yet another engaging drama in Satyagraha. The film has an ensemble cast of biggies like Amitabh Bachchan, Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor, Arjun Rampal and Manoj Bajpayee. The film has hit the screens today and lets see how it is.
Story :

Amitabh Bachchan(Dwarka Anand) is a retired school teacher who strongly opposes evil forces in the society. Manav (Ajay Devgn) is Dwarka’ son Akhilesh’s friend who believes in starting up his own business.
Akhilesh gets married to Sumitra (Amrita Rao) and after three years, dies in an accident. Minister Balram Singh (Manoj Bajpai) announces compensation which Akhilesh’s wife Sumitra does not get despite repeated attempts from Dwarka. One fine day a huge argument in an government office leads Dwarka to slap an arrogant official and in the process gets imprisoned
A visibly upset Manav starts a campaign to free Dwarka. He uses the social media, ropes in wannabe politician Arjun Singh (Arjun Rampal) and journalist Yasmin (Kareena Kapoor) in the movement.
As time moves on students, hungry labourers and angry middle class citizens join the movement. Rest of the story is as to how Dwarka and Manav manage to accomplish their Satyagraha movement towards the corrupt politicians of the country.
Positive points :
As per the reports, Satyagraha is surely not a sequel to Prakash’s Raajneeti. The strongest part about the film is the way it creates an awakening against corruption and showcases the power of youth and social media. It is a call that was needed by the masses and a step towards political crimes, scams, corruption and greedy netas.
Speaking of performances, each character carries the movie on their shoulders in their own style. Amitabh Bachchan is in his usual self with his performance. Ajay Devgn convincingly portrays the role of a youth fighting against political fraud. Kareena Kapoor is extremely believable in her character and Amrita Rao looks apt for her role.
Special mention goes to Manoj Bajpayee, who steals the show here. His dialogue delivery, expressions and timing is plain perfect and adds a lot of weight to the film.
While the first half is all about the protagonists march towards the movement, second half creates an awareness about the different ways through which the society can be changed into a better place.
Negative Points :
Even though Satyagraha is a film that is much needed for the society, it is not a type that is wanted by the masses. You cannot just enter the movie hall and look for some entertainment quotient, except for Manoj Bajpai who adds in a little bit of humor here and there.
Arjun Rampal has not been given much scope to showcase his talent. The intimacy shown between Ajay and Kareena could have easily been cut off from the plot.
The weirdest part of the film is when Kareena, who plays a journalist, is allowed in all confidential political meetings and is also the part of the decision making. The climax of the film is not up to the mark and has been dragged unnecessarily.
Technical Aspects :
Music of the film goes well with the screenplay, especially the title track. The lyrics by Prasoon Joshi are top-notch. Cinematography is decent as the camera covers the violence and protests in a realistic way. The editing is a bit disappointing as a few scenes are disconnected in the second half. Screenplay is good and so is the background score.
The movie has been exaggerated in a few sequences in the second half and too much drama spoils the pleasure. Prakash Jha has nicely showcased a number of real life aspects such as the Anna Hazare movement, the telecom scam and the people’s reaction against hoax government initiatives.
Verdict :
On the whole Satyagraha leaves behind a powerful and noteworthy message for the society. The effect could have been even more if it was well executed. So, go ahead and join this Satyagraha revolution without any hesitation.


Movie Rating........3.5/5


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Satyagraha review

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Madras Cafe Movie Update Review

Director Soojit Sircar broke all barriers in Bollywood with his cult hit Vicky Donor. He is now back with a intense political thriller in Madras Cafe. Joining hands with actor-producer John Abraham, Soojit has managed to create quite a buzz for his movie. Also starring Nargis Fakhri and Siddharth Basu in other lead roles, Madras Cafe has hit the screens today. Let’s see how it is.

Story:-
Vikram (John Abraham) is a RAW agent who is deployed in Sri Lanka by the Indian government and his mission to carry out covert operations that will bring some peace in the strife-ridden country. His major aim is to counter Anna Bhaskaran, the chief of LTF who is dictating terms for the rights of Tamils in Sri Lanka.
Once Vikram gets going on this challenging mission, he not only discovers a huge conspiracy but also finds out about the different third parties involved in this sensitive civil war. What facts and truths does Vikram find out? How does it affect the Indian government and its VIP’s? And what role does Vikram play in this complex web is what the rest of ‘Madras Café’ is all about.
Positive Points:
To start with, ‘Madras Café’ gives us a brief glimpse of the decade long civil war led by LTTE in the north east regions of Sri Lanka. One can safely say that the film’s true star is its story that builds up to a tragic end.
John Abraham suits the script perfectly and his character will be his coming-of-age role. John gets a chance to play out range of emotions ranging from troubled, angry and helpless and he plays it all with intense sincerity. Nargis Fakhri fits in well as a journalist and she plays out her character exceptionally well. Siddharth Basu is a revelation as this senior television quizmaster portrays the role of an Indian Chief whip to perfection.
While the first half showcases John’s exciting mission in Sri Lanka, the second half will blow you away and take you back in time when India lost one of its most charismatic leaders.
To its credit, Madras Cafe boldly captures the aspects that no Bollywood filmmaker has ventured to touch before. The film does not support any cause or organization and instead sticks to its plot and makes up for a well-crafted gritty entertainer.
Negative Points:
Very rarely does one see a film from Bollywood where you would not look for entertainment and Madras Cafe is one such film.
The story takes some time to grow on you and the audience who might be unaware of the political scenarios of the 90′s might take some time to adjust to the flow of this film.
A better background score could have elevated the film much more. Those who are looking for regular popcorn entertainment can stay away from this one.
Technical Aspects:
Kamaljeet Negi’s cinematography is brilliant and showcases stunning visuals of violence in the strife affected areas in Sri Lanka. There are no songs in the film which makes it a smooth and a breezy watch. The screenplay by Shoojit Sircar is brilliant as it holds your attention right till the end. The editing is sleek and showcases the scenes in a proper way.
Madras Cafe does not have any unwanted drama and sticks to whats it intends to show as the narrative. Shoojit’s storytelling is brilliant as he narrates the whole film with complete craftsmanship. The so called drama and exaggeration that Bollywood films are typically associated have been eliminated in this film.
Verdict:-
On the whole, Madras cafe is one of the best Political thrillers Bollywood has ever produced. The realistic drama, sleek narration and the last half an hour of the film will make you edge out of your seats. Very seldom does Bollywood produces such kind of films so don’t dare to miss this one.


Movie Rating...........4.5/5

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Once Upon a Time in Mumbai Dobaara Movie Review

After a box-office record breaking start by Shahrukh’s ‘Chennai Express’ last week, Bollywood will now see another gangster film in ‘Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai Dobara’ that joins the long list of the Mumbai underworld themed films. Directed by Milan Luthria, the sequel to the 2010 superhit film ‘Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai’ stars Akshay Kumar, Imran Khan and Sonakshi Sinha in lead roles. Initially slated for an Eid release, this film was postponed and has finally hit the screens today. Let’s read on to see how this much awaited film fares.

Story :

Shoaib (Akshay Kumar) is the uncrowned king of the notorious Mumbai underworld who dominates the crime scene and is also the most wanted criminal of Mumbai. One fine day when several arrest warrants are issued against him, Shoaib shifts his operations to Dubai to evade arrest. Very soon, Shoaib is attacked by his arch rival Rawal (Mahesh Manjrekar) in Dubai. Unfortunately for Rawal, Shoaib survives the attack and then decides to come back to Mumbai to destroy Rawal and his empire.

In Mumbai, Shoaib relies on his close friend and gang-member Aslam (Imran Khan). Interestingly, Shoaib and Aslam’s 12 year old friendship based on trust takes a complete u -turn when an upcoming starlet Jasmine (Sonakshi Sinha) enters the scene.

As expected, both friends fall in love with same girl and soon enough end up becoming arch rivals. The rest of the film is about the problems created by the presence of Jasmine between the two former best friends and about who she finally chooses to settle down with at the end!

Positive Points :

As he had done in the prequel, director Milan Luthria has worked closely on the look of each of the lead characters alongwith the production design of the film which makes the movie look realistic. Coming to performances, Imran Khan brings in some innocence with his character as Aslam while Sonakshi has done a good job in the emotional sequences of the film. The chemistry between and Imran and Sonakshi is showcased beautifully.

Sonali Bendre has a very miniscule role but she does look beautiful and it was refreshing to see her onscreen after such a long time. Abhimanyu Shekhar Singh, who plays the role of a police officer, has done a splendid job with his dialogue delivery. The film has a lot of romance and drama and the love triangle has been presented in a unique way.

Negative Points :

To start with, Akshay Kumar should stick to action and comic roles as he is quite good at those roles since he looks absolutely unauthentic as a menacing don in this film. While Ajay Devgn was mesmerizing as the ruthless but sensitive don in the prequel, neither Akshay’s looks or his expressions impress the audiences. Infact, Akshay ends up looking more like a hero than a villain.

Imran Khan, on the other hand is a complete disappointment as I strongly believe the actor is only good at playing roles of a college or lover boy. Seeing Imran play a street-smart ruffian in this film was a frustrating experience. Though Sonali Bendre looked ravishing, her role in the film was wasted given her blink and miss appearance.

At one point, the movie just stopped making sense at all. In a few scenes, Akshay’s character, which is supposedly inspired from Dawood Ibrahim, roams around in the streets of Mumbai without any threat to his life from his rival or the Mumbai Police who has issued warrants against him.

Technical Points :

Cinematography is a huge asset for the movie as it captures the mood of the eighties perfectly. The art direction is not up to the mark since the props used in the movie including the cars and accessories are of the 80’s while the hotels shown are contemporary.

Editing, on the other hand, is flawed since some of the sequences are disconnected while a few connections don’t make any sense. The background score and music by Pritam is OK. The dialogues are good while the screenplay is quite predictable.

Verdict :

One can safely say that Milan Luthria clearly couldn’t create the magic of the prequel. The weakest part of the film is its star-cast and the weak direction. If you are a hard-core Akshay Kumar fan and are keen on seeing him as a don, then watch this film once but not Dobaara!

Movie Rating......2/5

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Chennai Express Movie Review

It has been a while since Shah Rukh Khan scored a massive blockbuster. He has teamed up with Deepika Padukone and Rohit Shetty for the film ‘Chennai Express’. The absence of any competition at the Box Office and a huge release will work in the movie’s favour. Will SRK score this time? Let us find out.

Story :

Rahul (Shah Rukh Khan) is the grandson of a famous sweetmeats merchant. He is immensely wealthy, but he is not too happy with his life. As fate would have it, he is forced to get onto the ‘Chennai Express’. His grandmother tasks him with immersing grandpa’s ashes in the holy city of Rameshwaram.

On the train, he meets the very pretty Meenamma (Deepika Padukone). Meenamma is the daughter of a Tamil Don (played by Sathyaraj). She runs away from home, in order to escape an arranged marriage.

Rahul gets caught in between and a comical game of cat and mouse starts. Rahul must now run for his life to save himself and Meenamma from the goons. And as can be expected, love blossoms between the two.

Will Rahul successfully escape? Will he save Meenamma from an unhappy marriage alliance? That forms the story of ‘Chennai Express’.

Plus Points :

If you are an SRK fan, you will love him in this movie. He is simply brilliant in the comedy sequences. It has been a while since we saw such an energetic performance from Shah Rukh Khan. Deepika Padukone is simply gorgeous. She has given a flawless performance and even manages to overshadow SRK in some sequences.

Deepika looks pretty in sarees and her chemistry with SRK is very strong. In fact, this chemistry between SRK and Deepika is what makes Chennai Express so entertaining.

Tamil actor Sathyaraj has a limited role but he has given a classy performance. Nikitin Dheer has imposing screen presence. There are a number of Tamil actors in the movie and they have performed adequately well.

The entertainment quotient in the film is quite high. Good comedy scenes, racy screenplay and nice performances work in the movie’s favour. The song ‘Titli Dil’ has been shot beautifully.

The climax sequence, though a little cliched, manages to engage viewers emotionally.

Minus Points :

Deepika’s fake Chennai accent in the film is a little irritating. Hey Rohit Shetty, no one speaks like that in Chennai dude. There is some unnecessary stereotyping as well.

Do not look for logic and intelligence in the plot. You won’t find it. The film has a very simple and linear story line. The pace drops slightly in the second half for some time. Some people might find the actions sequences a bit too loud.

Technical Aspects :

Dudley’s cinematography is a big asset for the movie. The south Indian locales have been captured quite beautifully. Vishal – Shekhar’s music and background score are good. The editor has done a pretty good job overall.

Rohith Shetty manages to keep the film’s pace racy and he has also succeeded in keeping the entertainment quotient high. The film is supposed to be a commercial entertainer and that is what it does. It entertains.

Verdict :

‘Chennai Express’ should bring cheer to SRK’s camp. The movie is quite enjoyable. SRK has given a very nice performance but Deepika Padukone takes the cake. If you can ignore the stereotypes and the fake Chennai accent, the film makes for an entertaining watch.

Movie Rating.............3.75/5

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Nasha Movie Review - Poonam Skin Show

Amit Saxena, who earlier helmed Jism is back with another exotic thriller in Nasha. Starring the controversial queen Poonam Pandey, the posters and trailers of the film have created a lot of buzz. Let’s see how the film is.

Story :

Nasha is story of an 18 year old boy Sahil (Shivam) who studies in Panchgani and falls in love with his 25 year old art teacher Ankita (Poonam Pandey).

The young boy falls deep in love with her and even ends up in a physical relation with her.

However, his dream crushes when Ankita’s long time boyfriend Sameul comes to meet her. Sahil envies Sameul and his closeness with Ankita.

One fine day, Ankita comes to know the real intentions of Sameul which forces her to break up their five year long affair.

Now will Sahil be able to tell Ankita his feelings for her or will the age difference between them stand as an obstacle? The answers to these questions form the rest of the story.

Positive Points :

Amit Saxena, who wore the director’s hat with Bipasha Basu and John Abraham starrer Jism very cleverly chooses the cast of the film.

The popular model Poonam Pandey who has successfully created her own male fan base with her stripping controversies and bold Twitter pictures will definitely get the movie a decent crowd with her popularity.

Speaking of performances, Poonam is quite confident in front of the camera, even when she is doing an intimate sequence. The movie doesn’t seem like her debut film. Shivam too supports the actress in the intimate sequences pertinently. The characters that play Shivam’s friends have played their parts well.

Apart from all the bold scenes included in the film, the director explains a passionate love story between an 18-year-old boy and a 25-year-old girl. The story speaks aptly about the mindset of an 18-year old.

Negative Points :

As seen in the trailers itself, the movie is definitely not a family film. The content is too bold for normal crowds.

The director tries to tell a love story but all that the audiences can see is pure intimacy. Amit tries a concept that is not tested in the industry before but fails miserably.

The movie portrays the youth of today who are more towards physical intimacy rather than true love.

Even though Poonam looks confident, her acting is not upto the mark. All she is good at is showing off her body and seducing.

The guy playing Poonam’s long time boyfriend is not convincing and it looks like he is forced to speak the lines. Even though Shivam looks innocent it is lost somewhere in the movie.

Technical Aspects :

The direction by Amit is upto the mark. He does what he can do best with the execution and storytelling.

The performance however lacks substance. The songs of the film go in contrast to the film’s theme. The tracks composed by Sangeet and Siddharth are romantic and soothing, specially the romantic number Tera Nasha which comes as a surprise and fits well in the screenplay.

The cinematography is just about OK, while the screenplay and storytelling could have been a bit better. The first half is all about bold songs and sequences, while the second half tells a story, but could have easily been a little shorter.

Verdict :

On the whole, Nasha is for those who love chessy skin show. If you are a hard-core Poonam Pandey fan and rigorously follow her on Twitter, then Nasha could be your visual treat.

Movie Rating......2/5

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Ramaiya Vastavaiya Public Talk

Updated at 13:03 PM
The movie has come to an end..keep watching this space for the complete movie review.
Updated at 12:55 PM
Climax scenes are now, Girish Kumar and Sonu Sood are fighting it out.
Updated at 12:46 PM
Important scenes are on now, movie heading towards the climax.
Updated at 12:37 PM
Scenes showcasing the whole star cast are currently on.
Updated at 12:28 PM
The Atif Aslam song Rang Jo Lagyo is currently on.
Updated at 12:20 PM
Scenes between Sonu Sood and Girish's dad Randhir Kapoor are on now
Updated at 12:14 PM
Girish accepts the challenge and starts working towards it.
Updated at 12:07 PM
Sonu Sood throws Girish a huge challenge.
Updated at 12:00 PM
Intense scenes between Sonu Sood and Girish Kumar are currently on.

Updated at 11:54 AM
The item song featuring Jacqueline Fernandez and Prabhudeva is currently on now.
Updated at 11:47 AM
Post Interval the movie heads to Sonas village.
Updated at 11:32 AM
Interval time now.
Updated at 11:24 AM
Some intense scenes currently on now, movie heading towards Interval.
Updated at 11:16 AM
The super hit song Jeene Laga Hoon is on now, Shruti and Girish are in love.
Updated at 11:10 AM
The hit song Hip Hop Pammi is on now, Girish Kumar is good in his dances.
Updated at 11:06 AM
Tamil actor Nasser makes an entry as the bad guy.
Updated at 10:59 AM
Teasing scenes are currently on between Shruti and Girish.
Updated at 10:50 AM
Shruti haasan and Girish kumar see each other for the first time.
Updated at 10:44 AM
The first song Churake Jaye is currently on now.
Updated at 10:39 AM
Randhir Kapoor and Poonam Dhillon make thier entry as Girish's mom and dad.
Updated at 10:35 AM
Girish Kumar makes a stunning entry showcasing his six packs.
Updated at 10:31 AM
Shruti Haasan makes a pretty entry as Sona.
Updated at 10:27 AM
Sonu Sood makes an entry in a jail.
Updated at 10:25 AM
Hello Folks. The movie has just started with some interesting titles rolling.

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D Day Movie Review

Nikhil Advani, the ‘Kal Ho Na Ho’ director and former Karan Johar protégé, is back with his sixth venture titled ‘D Day’. The movie stars Arjun Rampal, Rishi Kapoor, Irrfan Khan, Huma Qureshi and Shruti Haasan and is all set to hit the screens tomorrow. Bollywood3 has attended a special screening to bring you a comprehensive review well in advance. Let’s see how the film is.

Story :

In a nutshell, ‘D Day’ is based on the lives of four RAW agents who are Rudra Pratap Singh (Arjun Rampal), Wali Khan (Irrfan), Zoya Rehman (Huma Qureshi) and Aslam (Aakash Dahiya) who go across to Pakistan on a mission to bring back Goldman (Rishi Kapoor) who is one of India’s most dreaded terrorist.

Each of the four RAW agents meticulously plans to execute their mission during the marriage of the don’s son that is to happen in Karachi. Do the officers manage to bring back the dreaded don back to India or end up losing their lives in this mission is what the rest of the film is all about.

Plus Points :

Nikhil Advani who is generally associated with emotional films like Kal Ho Na Ho and Salaam-e-Ishq breaks away from his comfort zone and tries his hand in the action genre. He manages to do a decent job and makes D Day quite different from the other films based on Dawood Ibrahim. Where Nikhil scores is around the point that D Day’s setup is very natural and for the first time in Bollywood, a filmmaker actually gets around to showing the lifestyle of the most wanted man instead of just dealing with his shadowy profiles like other films based on Dawood.

Coming to performances, no one could have imagined that the evergreen lover boy Rishi Kapoor could have carried off the character of a dreaded gangster so convincingly. Rishi is tremendous in his role and brings a lot of depth in his character and convinces you about his vision.

As usual, Irrfan brings a whole lot of weight to the film with his impactful performance. Arjun Rampal proves his worth once again and is suited for this role. Nasser as the RAW chief is extremely expressive while the female leads Shruthi Haasan and Huma Qureshi support the film well in their roles.

Minus Points :

Nikhil Advani as expected adds some emotional touch to D Day which was not required in a thriller like this one. The emotional scenes between Shruthi Haasan and Arjun Rampal could have been totally avoided and also there are a few sequences that are unexplained.

In the second half, a few sequences where Irrfan looses interest in the mission and howls for his family is a big bore. The first half and second half lack a strong common thread and feel like two different films. Overall, the length of the film could have been a little shorter.

Technical Aspects :

No doubt about the fact that D Day is a brilliant film technically. Be it the authentic locations of Karachi or the interior parts of Pakistan, the locations look stunning. All thanks to the excellent cinematography by Tushar Kanti Ray who gives us a authentic feeling of the country and its culture. The editing is top notch while the music is situational and creates an impact.

The best part about the film is that despite being an action thriller, D Day does not have any unwanted action sequences. Nikhil Advani’s screenplay could have been a lot better as many scenes are inappropriate and lack justification. While the first half goes on smoothly, there are a few scenes in the second half that make you want to fast forward them.

Verdict :

Overall, D Day is an amalgamation of some amazing performances and superlative technical aspects. If you can sit through some boring and unwanted emotional scenes, D Day will be a racy action packed thriller. Go for it!

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Bhaag Milkha Bhaag Movie Review

In an era of biopics, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra has come up with the real life story of former Indian Olympic athlete Milkha Singh. The movie speaks about his life and all the struggles he had to go through to become India’s most popular athlete ever. Starring the super talented Farhan Akhtar in the lead role, BMB also has Sonam Kaooor and Yograj Singh in other lead roles. The movie has hit the screens today and let’s see how it is.

Story :

Milkha Singh (Farhan Akhtar) loses all his family, apart from his sister Isri Kaur (Divya Dutta) in the 1947 partition. He possesses an in-born talent of running which is unveiled while he goes on to pursue his childhood dream of joining the army.

While in the army, he keeps remembering the love of his life, Nirmal Kaur (Sonam Kapoor), whom he has promised to come back after he achieves something big. Milkha runs in an indoor running competition for a glass of milk and is selected for a national level championship.

After facing a number of hardships, Milkha goes on to win medals after medals at various international championships. One fine day the sprinter is appointed to head a friendly tournament between Indian and Pakistan. Milkha bluntly disagrees to be a part of it.

What is reason behind his disagreement ? and with this decision what new turns will his professional and love life take? That forms the rest of the story.

Positive Points :

First and foremost, I would like to take a bow to Farhan’s rigorous training to achieve a body so overwhelming. He looks, walks and talks like a true athlete. His performance is not just jaw dropping but also his best works till date. Apart from Farhan, actors like Pavan Malhotra and Yograj Singh give stunning performances.

The movie is an in-depth biopic of the legend and talks all about his struggle, defeat, victory, love-life and childhood efforts. The director has covered even the tiny details of his life.

The running sequences in BMB are executed in the best way possible that even the audience in the theater would start cheering for Milkha.

Negative Points :

After a super hit and impactful film like Rang De Basanti, one would expect a lot from Rakeysh Mehra‘s direction in Bhaag Milkha Bhaag. But sadly he brings forth nothing but predictable turns and unnecessary emotions.

Divya Dutta’s character in he film makes you feel bad for her as the poor girl does nothing but cry. Sonam Kapoor on the other hand rarely has a dialogue. All I can remember her saying is ‘Ji’. She looks beautiful though.

The frequent flashbacks of Milkha’s devastating childhood and his over emotional relation with his sister displays an overindulgence of drama. The romantic sequences between Farhan and Sonam is absolutely unnecessary and incomplete.

Pace of the movie is way too slow and takes for ever to finish. Even the length does not help either as many scenes could have easily been chopped off. First half of the film is too slow and meaningless as the Flying Sikh doesn’t start flying until the interval.

Technical Aspects :

Even though some of the songs in the movie are worth a listen, they just don’t fit in the plot. An emotional moment is made even more emotional with the insertion of a slow song.

It is only by the second half that the story starts getting a little interesting and starts concentrating on the character’s professional journey. Prasoon Joshi’s writing is excellent and he shows off his creative mind once again with this one.

The background score by Shankar Ehsaan Loy is apt and sounds authentic. Cinematography by Binod Pradhan is top-notch as his camera covers the village as well as the stadium sequences in the right way. Editing by P S Bharathi is again sharp and intelligent.

Verdict :

On the whole, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag offers nothing new for the audience. The in-depth aspects of Milkha Singh’s life in the first half will probably bore you to the core. The film takes for ever to finish, but the visual treat that Farhan gives with his performance is the only one to watch out for.

Movie Rating......2.5/5

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Lootera Movie Review

After his critically acclaimed film Udaan, filmmaker Vikramaditya Motwane is back with a classic love story in Lootera. The much-awaited movie stars Ranveer Singh and Sonakshi Sinha and is set to hit the screens tomorrow. We get you a complete and detailed movie review. Lets see how the film is.

Story :

Varun (Ranveer Singh) plays a suave archaeologist who visits Makinpur in plan of a huge robbery. He soon gets close to Zamindar’s frivolous daughter Pakhi (Sonakshi Sinha). Pakhi also develops romantic feelings for Varun and the couple fall in deep love.

As Pakshi’s parents decide to get her engaged to Varun, he gives them an ultimate shock and leaves the town by robbing their house. Rest of the story is as to how both Varun and Pakhi meet each other, and whether Pakhi forgives Varun for his cruel deeds.

Positive Points :

After a long gap we have come across a romance that is innocent and poetic at the same time. Coming to performances, even though the rest of the cast including Barun Chanda, Adil Hussain, Arif Zakaria and Divya Dutta support the film aptly, the lead pair of Sonakshi and Ranveer showcase their career best performances.

The two actors take the film to an altogether different level. Sonakshi portrays the role of an innocent girl with contemporary yet modern habits with excellence. She steals away the whole show and gets her career best role. Ranveer works outstandingly with his sober and grave expressions. First half of the movie looks poetic and is filled with lovely moments.

Negative Aspects :

The first and the most noticeable reservation of Lootera is its long length. The film is way too lenghty as many scenes have been dragged. Ranveer, who has managed to give a praiseworthy performance in this one, has far less to showcase as compared to Sonakshi.

While the first half of the film covers all the major aspects of the plot, the second half is nothing but slow paced and depressing. A few sequences in the second half are based on O Henry’s short story, The Last Leaf, but it becomes difficult for the audiences to judge the thought process of the characters correctly.

Technical Aspects :

Music of the film is soothing and soulful. All the tracks fit aptly to the plot. Background score by Amit Trivedi is splendid. Camerawork is stunning and effectively displays the classiness of the 50’s in Kolkata. Vikramaditya adds an aesthetic element to the scenes by using the vintage cars and contemporary sets and costumes.

Dialogues by Anurag Kashyap are pure disappointment. The lines are awkward at some places and keep the viewers thinking. The poignant and melodramatic climax of the film too doesn’t help bring back interest.

Vikramaditya is a man of creativity and has worked true to his skills with his excellent storytelling. The direction is one thing to look out for in this period drama. The aesthetics of the film are top-notch.

Verdict :

On the whole, Lootera has a certain conventional charm to it, but the slow pace of the film will not lure the young and restless. Watch it for Sonakshi as she will leave you spell bound with her performance.

Movie Rating................3.5/5

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Ghanchakkar Movie Update Review

Actors Emraan Hashmi and Vidya Balan, who earlier had given the critically acclaimed superhit ‘The Dirty Picture’, team up again to try their luck with comedy for the first time with Raj Kumar Gupta’s ‘Ghanchakkar’. After helming critically acclaimed thrillers like “Aamir” and “No One Killed Jessica”, Raj Kumar is back with this third film which is also his first comic venture. Bollywood3 brings you an exclusive review on ‘Ghanchakkar’ and so read on to know whether the movie manages to tickle the viewers’ funny bone!

Story :

Sanjay Athray (Emraan Hashmi) is a Maharashtrian con-man who is married to a loud over-the-top Punjaban Neetu (Vidya Balan). Just when Sanjay and Neetu decide to quit a life of crime and focus on leading a respectable life, Sanjay gets an offer to carry out the last robbery of his life which in turn will guarantee his secure future.

After thinking seriously about this proposition, he along with two of his partners-in-crime robs a bank and the trio goes separate ways with an agreement to meet after three months and distribute the money.

This is where the twist in the tale comes in when Sanjay accidentally loses his memory and cannot remember where he has hidden the loot from the bank.

Has Sanjay really lost his memory or is he just lying to his partners in order to keep all the stolen money? What problems will he face while trying to search for the money? The answer to these questions forms the rest of ‘Ghanchakkar’…

Positive points :

Director Raj Kumar Gupta has come up with a unique storyline that has never been seen before in Bollywood atleast. There are a lot of suspenseful scenes that keep coming in at regular intervals and this is one thing that keeps the viewers glued to their seats and longing for more.

Speaking of performances, Emraan and Vidya’s chemistry is the one to definitely watch out for. Emraan has once again proven his worth by giving one of his best performances while Vidya who is trying comedy for the first time gives it her best shot and has the audiences in splits. Infact, most of the comic sequences in the film involve Vidya. The other main supporting actors Namit Das and Rajesh have done commendably well as Emraan’s partners-in-crime.

Negative points :

Rajkumar Gupta moves away from his comfort zone and tries his hand with a different genre, i.e. comedy for the first time and his inexperience with this genre is quite visible in his direction. While the story kicks starts with an interesting plot, it gets confusing over time.

Some of the sequences in the film are too vulgar to be funny and the sequence in which Namit Das talks to his girlfriend on the phone is crude. The comic scenes and dialogues that were showcased in the promos are the only comic scenes in the film while the audiences keep waiting for more of such sequences to laugh at.

The movie doesn’t reach the viewers’ expectations and the climax is quite disappointing.

Technical Points :

The one good thing about the film is that there are not many songs to act as a hindrance in the narrative while the song ‘Lazy Lad’ fits in perfectly in the flow. The first half of the movie has some unique comic sequences but the second half just drags itself till the end.

Raj Kumar leaves a few scenes unexplained and the audience ends up waiting for the resolution that never happens leaving them disappointed. While the cinematography is up to the mark, the screenplay lacks substance. The editing and direction departments are below par.

Verdict :

On the whole, Ghanchakkar lacks the necessary punch. Sizzling chemistry between Vidya Balan and Emraan Haashmi is the only savior of the film. They manage to save the film and make it worth an attempt only for their performance.

MOVIE RATING.........2/5

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Shortcut Romeo Movie Review

After a long time, Ameesha Patel is back in demand thanks to her recent superhit film ‘Race 2’. She has managed to bag some decent films and ‘Shortcut Romeo’ is one of the good ones. Starring the handsome Neil Nitin Mukesh and Puja Gupta, this crime thriller is a remake of a Tamil film titled ‘Thiruttu Payale’. Susi Ganesan, who handled the Tamil version, also directs the Hindi remake which has music by Himesh Reshamiyya. ‘Shortcut Romeo’ has finally hit the screens today and so let’s read on to see how it enfolds.

Story:

Suraj (Neil Nitin Mukesh) is a good for nothing young man living in Goa who keeps throwing his weight around his family with his violent attitude. Depressed and frustrated with his behavior, his family packs him off to his uncle’s house in Mumbai. Once he lands in Mumbai, Suraj chances upon a couple indulging in love making and he shoots the entire episode on a video camera.

He promptly proceeds to start blackmailing the couple who are Monica (Ameesha Patel) and Ashish (Jatin Garewal). Despite Monica’s offering large sums of money for the tape, Suraj refuses to part with it. Given his endless needs and greed, he demands an assurance from Monica that she will pay for his luxurious lifestyle throughout his life. Monica succumbs to the blackmail and agrees to this option as she has no choice. Suraj soon leaves for his holiday in Kenya and as days pass, Monica at every stage tries to outsmart Suraj which results in a cat and mouse game between them.

During his stay in Kenya, Suraj meets Sherry (Puja Gupta), a rich but lonely girl, and falls in love with her. That’s when he begins to realize that there is so much more being planned behind his back. How does Suraj tackle his enemies and find his love and more importantly does Monica free herself from the clutches of Suraj? That’s what the rest of ‘Shortcut Romeo’ is all about.

Positive Points:

Though a remake, this film has been well adapted to Bollywood sensibilities. ‘Shortcut Romeo’ manages to surprise you quite a few times during the entire course of the movie. Neil Nitin Mukesh is at his best when it comes to dark roles and his look, dialogue delivery and the way he has approached the role is quite interesting.

Ameesha Patel gets a plum role and delivers a very good performance. She not only portrays varied emotions of her character but takes care not to make it look vulgar. Puja Gupta, recently seen in ‘Go Goa Gone’, is the find of the movie as she not only looks good but also acts well. Some of the twists and turns that are showcased are executed smoothly.

The first half hour of the movie is very interesting and the cat and mouse games between Neil and Ameesha Patel have been designed well.

Negative Points:

The songs are a big minus for this movie. The film would have been a lot crisper if the makers could have omitted the songs. The entire Kenya episode is stretched too far and many of the scenes could have been omitted. Some logic is missing in the movie while cinematic liberties have been taken in abundance.

The film is stretched way too much and the second half takes forever to finish. Neil’s childhood scenes are a big letdown and could have been easily chopped off. Also, Neil’s love track with Puja lacks justification and is unbelievable at times. The last 20 minutes becomes highly predictable with many unnecessary fight sequences spoiling the fun.

Technical Points:

As mentioned above, the director could have done away with the songs. Surprisingly, none of the songs composed by Himesh Reshamiyya are worth a listen. They are bad and only hamper the breezy flow of the movie. The dialogues are just about OK and so is the editing.

The screenplay of the movie is average as many scenes are misplaced. The action sequences are showcased decently and highlight Neil’s action image. Susi Ganesan’s direction is good as he makes a film with smaller stars look decently convincing. Though he has a very simple story line, he makes the film interesting with its unexpected twists and turns.

Verdict:

Overall, ‘Shortcut Romeo’ is film which is surprisingly decent. With no big stars and the lack of a proper promotional strategy, it might see a shorter run at the box office. For those people who like witty crime thrillers, ‘Shortcut Romeo’ can be given a shot.

Movie Rating........2.5/5

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