Review: Dirty Picture

Verdict: Good
"K" Rating: 3.2 [in its genre]

Watch: DVD

If the boorish,in-your-face trailers of this movie left you astounded, then the movie will leave you gasping for air. Known for her raunchy movies, Ekta Kapoor's latest outing The Dirty Picture has it all - plunging necklines, dumpy hemlines, crassness aglore. However the intentional indecency is supported by a decent, touching storyline so the skin-show doesn't come across as sheer shameless sleaze. Infact the story and the subject kind of justify the rest.

The Dirty Picture is the biographical account of southern siren Silk Smitha. Her rise to stardom and her ultimate tragic downfall.A trend setter in the movie making business who turned even flop films into cash cows but faced the wrath of the so called keepers of moral police. She was condemed and denigrated by the very people who gave her the very work. The flick falters in the ending - the "downfall" seemed to be a bit hurried, also the sequence of Silk seeing her reflection and "waking" up to reality reminds one of the flick Fashion. Rajat Arora's dramatic dialogues and witty one-liners are impactful and also sprinkle plenty of humor. Dirty Picture spoofs heavily on the southern film industry. 

Hats of to director Milan Lutharia for setting his film in an era [the 80's] in an environment [South Film Industry] completely foreign to today's audience. Everything from the fashion to the flab - alien in today's times, has been dished out for the audience.Music by Vishal Shekhar is apt for the film as it recreates era beautifully.Bappi Lahari's "Oh lala" complements the item numbers and is well contrasted with the soft soulful "Ishq Sufiana".

Vidya Balan's sheer audacity in portraying a sex-symbol with an unapologetic attitude is commendable. Its a risk which her contemporaries would think thrice before undertaking as it could backfire tarnishing her image. She stuns the audience and critics as she dawns the avatar of "Silk" to the hilt.  The male ensemble caste stands firm on its own ground. Naseeruddin Shah is convincing as the aging, south superstar. Tushar Kapoor is comic. Emran Hashmi as the archetypal serious director brings class and morality to the movie. 

This movie is not for the faint hearted nor the family audience[A certificate] but definitely for those who go for shock value. We would categorize it right up there with Dev D. Look beyond the packaging and you'll find a thought provoking story.

Promo: Dirty Picture

Balaji Telefilm's film Dirty Picture is based on the south siren Silk Smitha. Soap Queen Ekta Kapoor better known for her Vamp & Values based TV Soaps, has Sleaze & S** as the USP for her films, gives her history [ LSD/ Rajini MMS/ Dirty Picture]. Witty Dialogues, Emraan Hashmi, Naseeruddin Shah, Tushar Kapoor and Vidya Balan make for a potential good watch- check out the naughty promo!

Review: Crook

Verdict: Passable.

"K" Rating: 1/5

Watch: strictly DVD (i.e if you must see it)

Crook comes with the tag line of "Its good to be bad", as far as the film itself is concerned - the tag line should have been "Its NOT good, its just BAD".  Crook is based on the racial tension between the Indian students and Aussies in Australia. The movie falls flat on its face due to a weak storyline and screenplay. It does not deal with the issue at hand whole heartedly and makes it a melodromatic background for a love story. 

Rebellious Emraan plays an illegal immigrant to Australia, trying to escape son-of-gangster stigma in India. As he hangs around a bunch of taxi drivers trying to marrying an Australian stripper to get Residency, while falling in love in an Indian. Both the girls have monomaniac brothers who have racial prejudice.Add in couple of one liner dialogs, racial slurres and speeches on cultural tolerance- you get the story line of Crook. Emraan Hashmi is his usual good, debutant Pakhi has nothing to offer to the film. Arjan Bajwa delivers a good performance.

The Bhatts and Emraan Hasmi movies are usually synonymous with good melodious  music, however Crook is a disappointment even on the front. The music is hardly memorable.

Spectacular September 2010

Here are some movies releasing in September which are bound to get the box office ringing. Making this month a truly Spectacular September filled with Dharma Production's Drama, Salman's Action, Priyanka's yourthfullness and Hashmi's slickness.

September 3rd, 2010
We Are Family:
This Karan Johar's remake of the 1998 Hollywood flick Stepmom stars Kareena Kapoor, Kajol and Arjun Rampal and is set in Australia. Music is composed by Shankar Ehsaan Loy, the album includes a song which is a tribute to Elvis Presley's Jailhouse Rock.

                                                                          September 10th, 2010

                                                                                               Dabangg

Dabang is perhaps the most awaited action packed film starring noneother than Salmaan Khan as a corrupt police officer. Shatrughan Sinha's daughter Sonakshi makes her debut with this film.It is produced by Salman's brother Arbaaz Khan with music by Sajid-Wajid.

  September 24th, 2010            
   anjaana anjaani

Siddharth Anand's  Anjaana Anjaani stara Ranbir Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra. The film is supposed to be inspired from the hit American sitcom "Friends". It has some "first-time" in hindi movie scenes shot at the NY Ice rink and  Cafe Lalo (When Harry Met Sally).
**Movie has been delayed in its release to Oct 2nd in light of a pending Supreme Court verdict wrt to Babri Masjid on Sept 24th. 

Crook

                                                                  

With the punch line of  "Its good to be bad" this film has Emraan Hashmi and debutant Neha Sharma deals with the serious issue of racial attacks on Indian students in Australia.Music by Pritam, produced by the Bhatts and directed by  Mohit Suri.
**Movie has been delayed in its release to Oct 2nd in light of a pending Supreme Court verdict wrt to Babri Masjid on Sept 24th.