Review: Tanu Weds Manu

Verdict: Good Timepass, 

"K" Rating: 2.7

Watch: Theater/DVD

Tanu weds Manu (TWM)is like the mass/local version of Jab We Met.Its a funny, light romantic comedy with the right amount of drama,action and one-liners. Even though the audience has a clear idea on how the movie will end, it still keeps the audience engrossed,entertained and amused for the 2.5 hours.

Tanuja aka Tanu is the outspoken, rebellious,audaciously fun loving girl, dating a "railway contractor" (aka local don). The unconventional Tanu provides the reason for everyone to gossip and raise eyebrows in a small city like Kanpur.Manoj aka Manu is the diametrically opposite NRI Doctor from London on a bride hunting trip to India who falls hopelessly in love. TWM starts off well and keeps pace right about till the climax, where it looses its fizz. The climax could have been better in writing as it ends up being weirdly odd/funny.

Deepak Dobriyal delivers a career best performance, he is stupendous as Manu's best buddy. Infact one can watch the movie solely for him and Kangana. The era of playing the suicidal girl is over for Kangana  Ranaut. With TWM,she proves she is here to stay as she can do mainstream roles and can "act the pants off"  her contemporaries.It wouldn't be wrong to stay Ms.Ranaut carries the movie on her shoulders.R.Mashavan fits well as the obedient and dutiful NRI son. Jimmy Shergill suits his role well.

Music by Krsna is already a big hit with songs like "Sadi Gali", "Rangrez" and "Yun Hi". The entire album is good and a recommended buy with a good mix of foot-tapping punjabi and melancholic numbers .

Definitely recommended. Business wise its a low budget film and will undoubtedly prove profitable for the producers.

At the Oscars 2011: AR Rehman, Aish, AB Jr, Mallika

There was a tiny India parade at the 83rd Academy Awards in Los Angeles today.A R Rehman was nominated for 2 Oscars and he performed "If I Rise" from the movie 127 Hours.There was Mallika Sherawat - remember she did a Hollywod flick called "Hisssss". So you missed Aishwarya Rai with huband Abhishek Bachchan in hand at the red carpet?(No they were not nominated nor did they have a Hollywood flick) We don't blame you, so here is a clip of them at the red carpet. 

First Look: Thank You

Thank You is an upcoming comedy flick by Anees Bazmee starring Akshay Kumar, Suneil Shetty, Bobby Deol, Sonam Kapur,Celina Jaitely, Rimi Sen and Irfan Khan. It also has Vidya Balan in a cameo and the hot Mallika Sherawat in an item number. The promo reminds one of films like No Entry and Masti. Music is by Pritam and it has a remix version of the song Pyaar Do Pyaar lo from  the 1986 filme Jaanbaaz.Watch out for this release, post world cup on April 11th, 2011.

Koffee With Karan,Season 3: Madhuri Dixit & Sonakshi

Watch Diva herself sipping Koffee with Karan, as she completes 25 years in the Industry. With her is the newest starlet of Bollywood Sonakshi Sinha. A must watch!

Documantary: Mughal-e-Azam

Surprised so see Shahrukh Khan's look? well its his new avatar from the upcoming movie Don-2.Shahrukh was in town recently for the unveiling a documentary produced by his Red Chillies Entertainment on K Asif's Mughal-E-Azam. Shahrukh Khan who himself has starred in the remakes of Devdas and Don,said the iconic classic Mugha-e-Azam cannot be remade."Mughal-e-Azam is the mother of all films. Maa ka remake nahi hota" (Mothers cannot be remade), he said. Watch the witty SRK answer the journalists!

Review: 7 Khoon Maaf

Verdict: Festival material,passable 
"K" Rating: 2
Watch: strictly DVD

7 Khoon Maaf is a dark film with some lighter shades. Its somewhat like a novel by Ruskin Bond, which takes you in its own world - a dark, sinister, ominous world of Susanna.

Susanna, a beautiful lass who over the course of 35 odd years gets married seven times in search of true love.However the marriage proves pernicious to each of the hapless husbands who die untimely and mysterious deaths. Susanna is the prime suspect - enigmatic and yet irresistibly charming  -A deadly combination for any man. 

 Despite all the blood-shed one feels sympathy for Susanna and empathizes with her.The climax aka the ending of the film is a welcome surprise and adds freshness, new meaning to the pleonastic storyline.  After about the 3rd husband, the film gets repetitious - the audience knows what to expect next.The only thing which keeps one watching further is to find out who the next husband is and why/how he dies. The reasoning of why Susanna prefers murdering the husbands instead of separating or divorcing them is also unconvincing.

Debutant Vivan Shah (Naseeuddin Shah's son) makes for a good narrator and is fabulous in his emotional role.Konkona Sen Sharma is a good in her guest appearance.Now, for Suzzanna's seven husbands - Neil Nitin Mukesh makes a stunning impact as the General and infact delivers career best performance.Annu Kapoor is flawless. Irrfan Khan and Naseeeruddin Shah are germane in their roles. Russian actor Aleksandr Dyachenko impresses and amuses with his hindi.John Abrahim could have done better.

Music by Vishal Bhardwaj is strictly okay. The Indian version of the Russian song Kalinka, "Darling" is the most memorable and is already a chart favorite."Priyanka Chopra ko 7 khoon maaf" for her stupendous acting ability. Infact her award winning performance, could be the sole reason one should watch this film if you're a PC Fan.

First Look: Dum Maro Dum

Named after the 1971 hit song from the cult movie Hare Krishna Hare Ram, this is an upcoming movie is directed by Rohan Sippy starring Ambishek Bachchan, Bipasha Basu and Prateik Babbar. Deeepika Padukone will be seen in a scintillating item number on the title track. The movie is set in Goa and revolves around how the drug cartels thrives and influences/changes the lives of people in the numero uno party destination in India. Music by Pritam is much awaited.Its due for release on April 22, 2011.

Koffee With Karan,Season 3: Anushka & Ranveer Singh

Watch this red hot episode as Anushka Sharma and Ranveer Singh make debut on the Koffee with Karan couch! Amazing chemistry between the duo and refreshing to see the raw and straight-forward Ranveer!

Review: Patiala House

Verdict: Good!

"K" Rating: 3

Watch: Theater/DVD

Patiala House is a full on family drama with sports and racial discrimination as the backdrop. It sheds light on the fact that often due to prolonged suffering/bitterness racial discrimination victims  turn around to be racists themselves. Sometimes they need a reality check, even if it means standing up to them. Patiala House conveys a strong message to its global NRI audience while exploring the  meaning of patriotism.

Patiala House is about a father-son relationship and "doing what one was born to do". A cricket prodigy Gattu (Akshay Kumar) gives up his sport and dream for his father's false pride. A strict,stubborn patriarch played by Rishi Kapoor who still harbours animosity towards the "goras".The stern "Bauji" reminds one of the likes of Chaudry Baldev Singh in DDLJ and Thakur in Sooryavansham. Together Akshay and Rishi carry the film solely on their shoulders in this formulaic melodrama by Nikhil Advani.

An old proverb says 3rd time is a charm - and it certainly holds true for Comedy King Akshay Kumar, who's last 2 attempts (8x10 Tasveer and Blue) at serious cinema failed at the box office. Akshay is back with Patiala House- his portrayal of restrained emotions, vulnerability and profound sadness are powerful and moving.Anushka Sharma adds freshness even in her chatterbox avatar. However the Anushka-Akshay track comes across as half baked. Dimple Kapadia suits well as the diligent devoted Punjabi housewife  howbeit she has little scope. Ensemble cast of the film is apt but the storyline flounders to develop its characters to be convincing. 

Shankar-Ihsaan-Loy have given memorable music to the film - apart from some hardcore Punjabi Number's like "Laungh da Lashkara",the album also has some soft soulful numbers like "kKyon main Jaagoon"  and "Aaddat Hai Vohi".


On the whole it is an entertaining drama!

Koffee With Karan,Season 3: Ritiesh,Sajid,Boman

Sipping Koffee with Karan this week are 3 actors who are synonymous with comedy. Its a laugh riot with these 3 men on set with Karan.Watch!

Koffee With Karan,Season 3: Best of!

We have reached to the midway of Koffee with Karan, Season 3. Time seems to have flown, however each episode has not gone unnoticed as it brought with it a new controversy every time. Check out the Best of Koffee with Karan, Season 3 till date.

SRK gives advice to Hrithik!

As we all know Shahrukh Khan is one of the few stars in Bollywood who have managed to remain scandal free (not controversy free) and has been happily married to wife Gauri for nearly 2 decades now. Hrithik Roshan and wife Suzanna recently celebrated a 10 yrs of their marriage while at Zee Cine Awards 2011 at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore. The Badshah of Romance Shahrukh Khan took this opportunity to share some tips for marital bliss with Hrithik on stage. It definitely sent everyone present in splits of laughter. 

SRK's Devine Performance at Zee Cine Awards 2011

Karan Johar's My Name is Khan was a sensitive film in which Shahrukh Khan plays a man suffering from Aspergers syndrome. Issue based films rarely have dance worthy songs such as Noor-e-Khuda from this film. However, Shahrukh proved yet that he can do anything and make it look good! Watch him perform on Noor-e-Khuda in Zee Cine Awards 2011 at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. It truly is a divine performance.

Bollywood's most important year -1965

                          

                                  Aamir Khan                  Shahrukh Khan             Salmaan  Khan

They all look cute adorable kids don't they?Can you recognise them? They are destiny's favorite children, as today they not only rule the silver screen but also hearts of millions!These 3 children have grown up to be superstars of the Hindi Film Industry aka Bollywood - and they were all born in  a span of 9 months in 1965! Now, you know why we say 1965 was a lucky year for the Industry. Lets have a closer look in order of their Birthdays..

Perfectionist Aamir Hussain Khan, was born to film producer Tahir Hussain and Zeenat Hussain in Mumbai on 14th March 1965

Superstar Shahrukh Khan, was born to businessman Taj Mohammed Khan and Fatima Khan in Delhi on 2nd November 1965

Bollywood's most eligible Bachelor, Abdul Rashid Salim Salmaan Khan was born to writer Salim Khan and Salma Khan in Mumbai on 27th December,1965

Film Industry is notoriously known for its short associations and friendships. We hope that soon its "All Izz Well" between the trio.

Fabulous Feburary

Love is in the air as February is fast approaching. We've got a cross-generational conflict between father and son, a fun love story and a woman's quest to find love with her seven husbands. Here is a list of movies which make it to our list for a "dekho" with good company!

                                                                            February 11th, 2011

Pataila House: Directed by Nikhil Advani, this multi-starrer has Akshay Kumar,Anushka Sherma, Dimple Kapadia,Rishi Kapoor and Prem Chopra as the main performers. With Cicket as the backdrop,this sports drama film is set entirely in the UK.Patiala House is about British-Indian identity and the cross-generational conflict between father and son. Music by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy is already making waves. It is produced by none other than Akshay Kumar's "Hari Om Productions".

                          February 18th, 2011

7 Khoon Maaf:This black comedy-thriller, directed by Vishal Bhardwaj stars Priyanka Chopra in the lead role. It is based on Ruskin Bond's book Sussana's Seven Husbands. The seven men who will be seen in the leading roles are John Abrahim, Nasseruddin Shah, Irfan Khan, Vivaan Shah (Nasseruddin Shah's son), Neil Nitin Mukesh, Annu Kapoor and a Russian Actor  Aleksandr Dyachenko.This will be the second time that Priyanka will be seen in a negative role after her award winning performance in Aitraaz.

                     February 25th, 2011

Tanu Weds Manu: This is a fun rom-com directed by Aanand Rai. It  has Kangana Ranaut as the outspoken,headstrong girl from Kanpur and R.Madhavan the calm, collected doctor from London in search for a bride. Add Jimmy Shergil into the equation and vola! one has an interesting Love triangle. Watch out for this whacky comedy!