Fashion Sunday, Sep 27 2009

This is one of the best Bollywood movies I’ve seen in a while.

Meghna Mathur is a small town girl with big city dreams. She wants to become a Supermodel, and after winning the local beauty pageant is determined to do so. With the help of her friend Rohit, she struggles to get auditions and make her mark in the fashion world. Eventually she gets a step on the ladder, but is competing against Shonali, the biggest supermodel of the time.

Meghna goes up the dizzying heights of success, crashes and then resurfaces in a fascinating world of Fashion.

At that start I liked Meghna, she’s spunky and ambitious, but is also so cute when she gets excited over the smallest things. But when she starts becoming more popular that’s where the story gets interesting and you’re not sue whether you want to keep rooting for her or not.

Shonali is addicted to drugs which eventually lead to her downfall until she’s flat on her face, and through Shonali we see the down sides of modelling.

Priyanka Chopra is amazing in this film. She really delivers in this high octane film about the fashion world. Arbaaz Khan is also a surprise in a more serious and very cold role.

All in all, a great film to watch if you’re interested in fashion.

5 out of 5 stars.

Fashion

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Outsourced Wednesday, Mar 11 2009

This is an adorable movie, that makes you feel good. Its a cross-cultural shock to the system and I loved it!

Todd Anderson is a Manager at an American firm for novelty products, who finds out his job is being outsourced and he has to train his replacement in India. When he gets to India, he has trouble with the language, culture shock and stomach upsets.

He also has the impossible task of getting the MPI “Minutes per Incident” down from 12 minutes to an impossible 6! Along the way he falls for the beautiful and opinionated Asha, but finds out she’s engaged to be married.

There are also some amusing characters like the kid who keeps robbing his cell phone, his replacement at the call centre who needs the job to get married to the love of his life and the people working at the laundry, one of whom invites him to dinner.

Its a beautiful film about the real India and the realities of life in an Indian call centre, captured very charmingly here.

Definitely worth it!

5 out of 5 stars!

Outsourced [DVD]

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Dil Kabaddi Saturday, Feb 28 2009

This has got to win an award for the most bizarre Indian film I have ever seen, nonetheless, I was totally hooked.

Samit and Mita are a couple who are always arguing, and on their way to dinner. When they reach their friends house, they announce quite casually they are going to separate much to the astonishment of their friends, Rishi and Simi.

Simi takes it personally while her friends and husband are bewildered as to why. What then follows is a bizarre documentary style form of narration with an unknown interviewer who questions the couples throughout the story as well as Simi’s ex-boyfriend who is also mentioned.

After the break-up Samit begins dating a young fitness instructor who gives him a new lease of life. Mita begins a relationship with Simi’s co-worker Veer but her heart isn’t really in the relationship.

Simi and Rishi begin to question their own relationship and frequently argue. Rishi begins to flirt with one of his students, and Simi flirts with Veer.

I told you it was a bizarre film! In the end though, everything works out but you’re left wondering where 2 hours of your life went.

All in all, a strange film.

3 out of 5 stars

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Just Married Thursday, Jan 29 2009

I love this film. So much so that I’ve watched it 3 times in the space of a few days. The first time on Youtube, then once again and finally in glorious technicolour and subtitles on DVD. I’d heard about this a while ago, but the topic wasn’t that interesting on the Wikipedia entry.

But, since it was recommended on my Lovefilm list, I decided to give it a go, and I’m so glad I did!

Rithika and Abhay meet at a friend’s wedding, and promptly their parents decide to get them married because their horoscopes match. Both come from traditional families and both are opposed to the marriage initially because they’ve never even met properly or had a conversation.

Nevertheless, the two marry and go on their honeymoon to Ooty in India. Abhay even remarks its the first time his dad hasn’t woken up angry!

During their honeymoon the couple find it difficult to adjust to living with a total stranger. Abhay tries his best to woo his wife, but Rithika is resistant as she finds it strange to be alone with a total stranger. At the lodge are 4 other couples. 1 is still in the throes of love even after 3 holidays together, one have known each other since childhood but are still adjusting to this new relationship, one have been together 40 years and one are in a live in relationship.

These couples all change and adjust during the honeymoon period, and have a very life changing experience.

I loved this film because it shows the realities of life with a total stranger. Unlike Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd, where all the couples knew each other, Rithika and Abhay have no idea how to form a romantic relationship with each other and must learn to adjust and compromise in this new relationship.

Its the first time I’ve seen Esha Deol actually act. Giving this restrained a performance as a quiet, unsure girl who’s just gotten married takes a lot of poise, and she delivered in this role. Fardeen was equally good in his role, as were the rest of the supporting cast.

All in all, a fantastic movie!

5 out of 5 stars.

Just Married

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Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na Tuesday, Jan 20 2009

Loosely translates to “Whether you know or not.”

This is one of the best films I’ve seen in a long time! And for a Bollywood film, that’s really something.

Rats and Meow are best friends since college. So much so that everyone thinks they’re together. With their group of friends, they try to navigate life after college. Jai or “Rats” is a sweet natured boy who has been brought up to avoid violence by his activist mother, believing his dead father hated violence. His best friend Aditi “Meow” is a passionate, violent hell cat who can only be calmed down by Rats.

Aditi agrees to help Jai find a sweet and simple girl and Jai agrees to help her find a tough guy who’ll take care of her. Both find their perfect partners, but something doesn’t seem quite right. They start spending time with the respective partners, but never seem truly happy till in the company of each other. Everyone can see this couple is made for each other except for Jai and Aditi. Throw in some cowboys, 3 conditions to become a man, a whole heap of friends, a fun story and an airport and you have this hilarious film!

I don’t think since Rang De Basanti have I watched a film that touches its target audience as much as this sweet and light film does. Lets hope more films become more in tune with their target audience like this one.

Imran Khan delivers a surprisingly good performance for his debut. Genelia De Souza is perfectly cast in her role as the feisty Aditi and the supporting cast of friends is fantastic too.

Random fact: When the group reaches the Airport, Shaleen asks Jiggy if he has proposed to Mala. He replies that if he would propose to her, Mala would give him a GPL, which in Hindi refers to an abbreviation of a slang ‘G**nd Pe Laat’ or ‘to get kicked on ones’ a*s’.

5 out of 5 stars!

Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na [2008]

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Saawariya Monday, Jan 19 2009

Ranbir Kapoor plays Ranbir Raj an aspiring but poor singer who brings happiness and lightness wherever he goes. In a beautiful town he makes friends with Gulabji, a local prostitute who advises him to live with the ageing Lili who he affectionately calls Lilipop. One night Raj meets the beautiful but sad Sakina who is waiting for her lover on a bridge. After rescuing her from some trouble, he escorts her home. Sakina thinks he’s playful but confides her love story to him, little realising that Raj is in love with her.

But Sakina loves her family’s former tenant, Imaan who promised her that he would meet her on the bridge in town in a year’s time. Raj advises her to forget Imaan and be happy with him, but she cannot forget her love. Eventually Imaan comes back and Raj realises you cannot keep those whose destiny was to be together apart.

This film received a lot of criticism, but if you look at the story its a simple one of friendship, love and hope. The songs are fantastic with some real standout numbers, and you can tell its been a labour of love for the director.

The actors, Sonam and Ranbir Kapoor were good in their parts, but Sonam Kapoor stood out more for her innocent yet intense portrayal of a young woman in love. Ranbir was OK, but he played the comedy aspects really well.

Overall a good film.

Random fact: According to Sanjay Leela Bhansali, the film is a tribute to his grandmother, who spent her whole life waiting for her son Navin Bhansali to return home. He found that aspect of love (of waiting for someone close to return to you) an interesting theme to capture in a film.

4 out of 5 stars.

Saawariya [2007]

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Bride and Prejudice Tuesday, Dec 16 2008

Lalita Bakshi is a strong, independent and fiery Indian woman who meets and instantly dislikes Will Darcy, an American accompanying his friend Balraj to a wedding in India. But Balraj falls in love with Lalita’s sister, Jaya which puts Lalita and Will in close proximity. Johnny Wickham sweeps Lalita off her feet but he hides a dark secret that Will tries to warn Lalita about, but which she finds out when its far too late.

Based on Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” this is an updated and very modern take on cross cultural romance, misunderstandings and prejudice that was as evident in Austen’s day as it is now. Filled with songs, dance and the beauty of India, you can’t help but be pulled along into the story.

Martin Henderson is searingly handsome as the arrogant Will Darcy, and Aishwarya Rai Bachan is OK as Lalita, but doesn’t contain as much fire as I see Lizzie Bennet as having. Anupam Kher is hilarious as the sarcastic but funny father and Nitin Ganatra is hilarious as the accountant, Kholi after Lalita’s hand in marriage.

I love Gurinder Chada because she makes films I can relate to, but not her most recent one. This is a funny, feel good film that leaves a smile on your face by the end of it.

Random fact: The phrase “no life without wife” is and old saying by Gurinder Chadha’s father.

4 out of 5 stars.

Bride And Prejudice [2004]

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Jodhaa Akbar Sunday, Nov 2 2008

Jodhaa Akbar is based on the life of the muslim King, Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar who became King at 13 and fought to unite Hindustan (As India was known then) as it was separate Kingdoms. He forms an alliance with the Rajput people, and marries the King’s daughter, Princess Jodhaa. Jodhaa puts two conditions on the marriage, she must be allowed to keep her religion and ways and to have a temple built into the Palace so she can practice her religion.

Jodhaa doesn’t want to marry Akbar, but eventually they learn to live together and fall in love, despite the interferences of Akbar’s nanny and political enemies who are against the match.

This is a film I wanted to see for ages, and I’m glad I finally got to watch it! It was beautifully crafted, and really gave you a sense of the time period that it was set in.

Aishwarya Rai Bachan and Hrithik Roshan have fantastic chemistry as seen in Dhoom 2, so it was nice to see them in this film. The battle scenes were too long for my tastes, and I feel the film could have been shorter if they didn’t focus so much on the political enemies.

The dialogue of the film was hard to understand as it was in very formal Hindi, so I was glad of the English subtitles and why I waited so long to watch this film on DVD. The music was beautiful and really appropriate for the time period. The cinematography was excellent and really showed the scale of the Indian empire.

Overall, a fantastic story and a great addition to any DVD collection.

Random fact: Hrithik Roshan (Akbar) had a very “filmy” horse. The horse used to know what words like action meant and so when she heard action, she would take off, even if the scene required her to be stationary. Hence the crew would use other words instead of action to avoid the horse taking off. The names of his horses were Chandni and Superman.

5 out of 5 stars!

Jodhaa Akbar

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Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd Thursday, Oct 23 2008

Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd follows six honeymooning couples on a trip to Goa. The couples couldn’t be more different.

Aspi and Zara who are perfect for each other and never fight.

Pinky and Vicky who are childhood friends. Pinky is outgoing and talkative and Vicky is more introverted but has feelings for Bunty when he first meets him.

Oscar and Nahid are the oldest couple. Oscar was Nahid’s first husband’s business partner.

Partho and Milly  who are traditional and reserved. They met in college.

Hitesh and Shilpa who had an arranged marriage which Shilpa was unhappy about. She spends the first half of the film crying against her new marriage which it seems she was forced into.

Madhu and Bunty who met on the internet and married quickly, not even telling Bunty’s parents about the marriage.

And a strange man on a black motorcycle who follows the couples and still has business with one of the passengers.

Its a really funny and light hearted film with lots of interesting moments, plot twists and a great ensemble cast. Each of the characters grows and discovers something new about themselves and their partners which is what makes this film worth watching.

A hilarious 5 out of 5 for me!

Honeymoon Travels PVT LTD

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Water Wednesday, Oct 22 2008

Water follows the powerful story of Indian Widows in the 1930s. Its seen through the eyes of 8 year old Chuiya, whose husband has died, therefore condemning her to a Widow’s Ashram for the rest of her life. There she befriends the other young widow, Kalyani. Kalyani is Chuiya’s closest friend as she plays with her and is the only one to retain her hair, which helps when she is prostituted out by the Ashram elder so that they can make rent and pay for food.

The story takes an interesting turn when Kalyani falls in love with Narayan, a young idealist who follows Gandhi’s teachings and has just finished his law exams. A love blossoms between the two, but because of the taboo of marrying widows, it looks like it’ll be nothing but a dream. However, there is a new law passed that allows widows to re-marry which gives hope to the young couple. But when Kalyani is on her way to meet Narayan’s parents, she recognises the house and makes him turn the boat around.

Water is a tragic but beautifully shot story. It made me sad and angry at the injustice done to widows. It also raised a lot of issues such as child brides, condemning widows, not allowing them to re-marry and the general injustices done to women then and now.

Lisa Ray and John Abraham give sterling performances. Its nice to see John in a more serious role, and his restrained acting gives the story a more realistic feel. Lisa’s a new actress to me, but I enjoyed her performance. But the star of the show is the girl who plays Chuiya. Its hard to not smile when she comes on, as she lights up the screen with her playfulness and bewilderment as to what is happening to her.

Random fact: Third film in Deepa Mehta’s “elemental trilogy,” which began with Fire (1996) and continued with Earth (1998).

In all, I’d give this film 5 out 5 for making me cry but also making me think.

Water – Special Edition (2 disc) [2006]

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