Q3 2017 - Small Random Set of Movies. Hope Q4 is better.

2017 Q3 (July, August, September) Top Performers -

Best Actors (Male) -

1. Deepak Dobriyal (Hindi Medium).
2. Rajkummar Rao (Trapped)

Best Actors (Female) -

1. Saba Qamar (Hindi Medium)
2. Rhea Chakraborty (Bank Chor)

Best Director -

1.  Bumpy (Bank Chor)

Worst of the Quarter -

1. Jab Harry Met Sejal - Shah Rukh Khan and Imtiaz Ali.

 

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• Hindi Medium - 4.5 Stars. G. (Netflix - only on DVD)

Story of the entire world's middle class.

Hindi Medium - Trailer

Director - Saket Chaudhary.

Actors: Irrfan Khan, Saba Qamar, Deepak Dobriyal.          

A well made movie, though a copy of the Malayalam movie but still it takes a lot to bring a movie to life in another language. This is what movie making is all about. Take a leaf out of every person's life and show it back to them and people laugh when they see themselves in some one else. Parents trying to get their daughter in the best school and going overboard with it. Simple plot but very well executed. It does go a little over the top but it all serves the cause of keeping a topic light and humorous that is anything but a joke in most households.

couple of clichés did take some sheen off the movie. The husband being more grounded and logical and wife being the diva and completely unpractical and unrealistic. This cliché has been pushed into every male dominated society which bugs me. Though Saba took the cake with her superb portrayal of a wife who wants to best for her daughter. The theme line of the movie is hers - when she equates every failure will drive their daughter to drugs! Though the best actor goes to Mr Deepak Dobriyal as the poor good at neighbor. He can make you laugh and cry in a few seconds. What an actor! Watch it!

 

 

• Guest Inn London - 1.5 Stars. G. (YouTube)

Paresh Rawal needs to stop being a guest in movies! How many can we take?

Guest Inn London - Trailer

Director: Ashwani Dhir
Actors: Kartik Aryan, Kriti Kharbanda, Paresh Rawal.   

Paresh Rawal plays the annoying guest again and they try to sell it as the same character from the Ajay Devgan movie 'Atithi'. They rope in Ajay Devgan to play a cameo too. The annoying guest is rude and annoying but then as expected you have to just ignore all that because movie will twist him into a 'greatest uncle' you will ever find! Really no matter how great someone is that does not give them licence to be annoying 99% of the time. The rest 1% you throw some heart breaking past and make it all better. The movie is so disjointed that it feels there was not one script in the movie. They start with annoying guest who's 90% jokes are about 'paad' (fart). There is a entire song on Paad. Many politically incorrect jokes about Pakistan and in general quitelow standard of comedy. For some reason the guests are supposed to be going to New York but somehow land in London! anyway... it really does not matter. Go check it out if you like a cheap comedy or if you are a Paresh Rawal Fan.      
 

• Raabta: 3.0 Stars. PG. (Netflix - Only on DVD)

Bollywood's obsession with 'पुनर जनम' Love Stories continues but with a twist.

Raabta- Trailer

Director: Dinesh Vijan

Stars: Sushant Singh Rajput, Kriti Sanon, Jim Sarbh.

It is not bad as you expect it to be. In fact it is pretty good. Problem is in the first half, when you already know what's the story about and you have revealed it in your posters and trailers. OK let me rant a little about Trailers now a days. The trailers are supposed to bring people in to see the movie, not push them out! Trailer show all the good scenes and give away almost entire plot of the movie. I don't watch them most of the times but whenever I do I don't like them.
Anyway back to the movie. First half is all about there present life and how all 'cool couple' meet in Europe and hangout with white people in Europe. Hindi movies have some real 'inferiority' problems. All these Yash Raj kind of movies have to be shot in Europe, why can't kids be in Mumbai and Delhi and behave like kids of 2017!! I have seen them, they are pretty westernized in India too! If westernized couple you want show! Ok another rant is over.
Back to the movie. First half is about their present life where Sushant does his best impersonation of Ranvir Singh in Befikre. Both Kriti and Sushant falling in love which we know all along doing dares one too many. Enter Jim the Villian who can't speak Hindi, another Born somewhere Indian who has come to Hindi films who's 'claim to fame' is not knowing hindi. Anyway .. he is a good actor and he brings some life in the movie.
The movie gets really good when the 'punar janam' life is shown, because what you expect is not what you get! Thank God! Yes there is a little creativity in their and the movie vrooms from 1 star to 3 stars in no time. Go watch it not that bad as I make it sound :)

 

• Mantra: 3.5 Stars. PG.

Multi nationals spoil the fun in 90s.

 

Mantra - Trailer

Director: Nicholas Kharkongor

Actors: Rajat Kapoor, Lushin Dubey, Kalki Koechlin, Shiv Pandit.

 

You know the rules - If Rajat Kapoor is in the movie, it is a good movie. Well this one is ok. the movie seems to have started as something but ended as something else. There are lot of small plots that are not addressed after being developed to a point. The entire case of 'Mantra' restaurant is unresolved. The movie duration is very short too, it seems like the movie was supposed to be longer but then due to budget they shortened it to whatever they could do.

Whatever they did is pretty good. 1990shave brought a wave of foreign investment that is eating into the Local Brand that Rajat Kapoor has hurtured for so long. He can't let it go and don't want to see the writing on the wall. The struggles of a Delhi business man and his life in 90s. It is an ok movie if you got sometime to kill.

 

 

• VIP2 Lalkar: 1.0 Stars.

Clichés galore as South Indian Movies stuck in 80s formula.



VIP2 - Lalkar

Director: Soundarya Rajnikanth
Actors: Dhanush, Kajol.

You want to know why Kajol is in this movie? I don't know. Maybe she has nothing to do. Why was this movie dubbed in Hindi? I don't know. It has so many clichés that all 80s movies combined won't have. The Hero is the greatest human being on Earth, he is Geek, dancer, fighter, Great Son, Best at Romance and everything else in between. Who writessuch roles anymore? oh yea .. and he is also struggler and upright moral kind .... just keep adding stuff. Obviously the heroine (Kajol) is snobby Rich corporate CEO. Watch it and find me one single thing novel or new about this Movie. Well... I don't think you are going to watch it.

 

• Jab Harry Met Sejal : 0 Stars. PG.

Jab SRK is in an extended Mid Life Crisis.

 

Jab Harry Met Sejal - Trailer

Director: Imtiaz Ali
Actor: Shah Rukh Khan, Anushka Sharma.

I understand what Imtiaz was going for... he was going for a love story a pure love story with lots of cute romantic moments and some tears and some laughs. Like DDLJ and Jab we met. What I don't understand why you will take a 50 Year old Shah Rukh Khan and make a movie for a 30 Year old Shah Rukh? You needed some twist something.. to hold on. Or maybe Shah Rukh was yearning for good old days when he would twist his brow and girls would love him for that. So Imtiaz said let's just recreate the Magic sir. Let's do it one last time. Well .. you guys did it. Don't do it again.
Anushka obviously one of the most talented actor, did a good job with a gujju accent but it will look weird if it is not set right with surroundings and the character is dressed for it. I understand there are these westernized gujju accented girls. But that is one mission impossible given to her.
Anyway Get Well Soon Imtiaz and Shah Rukh.

• Bank Chor: 4.0 Stars. G.

Stupidity sometimes is perfectly OK.

Bank Chor - Trailer

Director: Bumpy.
Stars: Riteish Deshmukh, Vivek Oberoi, Rhea Chakraborty.

When you don't have a budget but you still make an awesome silly comedy. Hats off to you. I had no hopes from this one. But it turned out to be pretty good. First check out their hilarious spoof on their own movie.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNzwn-pPrPc

There are 3 Bank Chor who are bad at their job. The 2 additional random actors (Sahil Vaid and Vikram Thapa) with Riteish are hilarious and they are really good. There internal jokes about North (Sahil / Vikram) Vs Mumbai (Riteish) are hilarious if you understand them. Then there is internal internal jokes between Sahil and Vikram about Ghaziabad Vs Faridabad jokes (these cities are next to each other). They are even worse than the north Vs Mumbai jokes. Then there is Vivek Oberoi, I don't think he knows what he is doing - but his one line was - यह जितने बेवकूफ दीखते है। ......... उतने ही है  or something like that. It was hilarious.
You got to be in the right mind though to take such stupidity. And if that is not enough there is Baba Sehgal in the movie too, who is an after thought as he has no real role.

          

• Baahubali 2: 3.5 Stars. PG.

Over the top Sequel, but thats what sequels do.
 

Baahubali2 - Trailer

Director: SS Rajamouli

Actors: Prabhas, Anushka Shetty.

 

Answer to why Kattappa killed Baahubali was always going to be forced. You know it they won't go bold as to make Kattappa the real Villian. If you thought so, well be disappointed now before you watch it. It is some stretched reason you know that... probably only Kattappa know how that makes sense.

I was wondering will they resist going over the top? They did. The CGI was again tacky, fake Bulls were out of a cartoon, the projects Baahubali undertakes makes him a superhero times 2. It's all fine, in fact they were pretty creative endevors the Baahubali Senior does. It is just that the movie is not as novel as the first one, obviously because it is all done in the first one.

Baahubali series was popular enough that I wrote a skit on it. When I went to check how the actors modified it. Someone amongst them told me - the only thing he learnt from the movie was - that you need 4 fingers to shoot 3 arrows at a time. So there you go. In case you did not check it out.

 

Munna Michael: 1.5 Stars.
Kahe ka Michael... Only Munna.

Munna Michael -Trailer

 Director:  Sabir Khan          

Stars:Tiger Shroff, Nidhhi Agarwal, Nawazzudin Siddiquie

First movie where Nawazzuddin Siddiquie did not take a role and dazzled in it. He tries his best but comedy along with being bad guy along with being a good guy.. was too much stuffed into that character.
The movie should have been called Munna the Dancer's Love story. It starts as if it is a dancing movie that is tribute to Michael Jackson after a couple of scenes they forget about that and it becomes Action Hero stuff, then it turns into a Love Story before it becomes a comedy. They wanted everything and did not get anything out of that movie.
          

• Trapped: 3.5 Stars. PG13.

Yes, he was trapped but that's it.

 Trapped - Trailer

Director: Vikramaditya Motwane.

Stars: Rajkummar Rao, Geetanjali Thapa.

The movie is true to it's genre. A man gets stuck in his apartment in Mumbai. How? Why? check the movie out. Can he get out? How? check the movie out. It is pretty good movie. It has it's moments and keeps you enthralled all the way. Rajkummar has the skills to keep you glued to him. Go for it, if you can handle a stuck in an apartment movie. It is not scary or troubling at all, that is the negative and positive of it.
 

 

Q2 2017 - Hindi Movie Reviews - Dangal breaks 5 Star Drought and Female Actors Excel

2017 Q2 (April, May, June) Top Performers -

Best Actors (Male) -

1. Aamir Khan (Dangal)
2. Naseeruddin Shah (Waiting).

Best Actors (Female) -

1. Tapsee Pannu (Naam Shabana)
2. Fatima Sana Sheikh (Dangal)
3. Sakshi Tanwar (Dangal)
4. Parineeti Chopra (Meri Pyaari Bindu)
5. Alia Bhatt (Badrinath Ki Dulhania)
6. Zaira Wasim (Dangal)
7. Kalki (Waiting)

Best Director -

1.  Nitesh Tiwari (Dangal)
2. Anu Menon (Waiting)

Worst of the Quarter -

1. No one made it.

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• Raees - 2.5 Stars - PG (YouTube - Movies, Netflix)

 Director - Rahul Dholakia Actors: Shah Rukh Khan, Mahira Khan, Nawazuddin Siddique.

	Trailer - Raees

If you crave an 80s potboiler I would say re-watch some of the 80s classics. Why do you want to make a 80s gangster movie again? SRK wants to play the Bachchanesque bad man with a good heart yet again. He was never great at it. Yes, if someone wants to make throwback 80s movie, probably SRK is a good choice along with Sanjay Dutt, not many are left who understand that genre.

The problem with this movie is - nothing is different, you know how you want old wine in new bottle at least? dialogues like 'माँ कहती थी...' are just forced. Only saving grace is again Nawazzuddin Siddiquie, you can give him anything and he will make it work. He is the cop running after Raees, he gives a different approach to his role, he makes it fresh and watchable. He has this 'हटेला। .. सटकलेला .. kind of eccentricity to him, which I have not seen in a cop that has a un-envious role of catching the author back do gooder hero. Mahira Khan has little role, she has a very different look to her, and does her part.

I would have given it a 0 or 1 star, but then as soon as we saw a side kick in the movie, we said - seems like this guy is ready to die after interval! I said at least if director gives me anything different (like the side kick not dying) I will rate it at 2.5!!!.. well director did it!!

• Kaabil - 3.5 Stars. PG-13. (Netflix)

Director: Sanjay Gupta
Actors: Hrithik Roshan, Yami Gautam, Ronit Roy.

	Trailer - Kaabil

I had pretty low expectations of the movie for many reasons. Hrithik has made a habit of playing characters with some handicap. And he hams and over does it in trying to gain sympathy. The music had a feel of 80s and 90s.. that felt like Rakesh Roshan is still stuck in 'jaadu' times. Biggest one was - Director name showed up as Sanjay Gupta. The director who thinks throwing in some stylish postures and slick camera tricks are equivalent of direction. He is definitely not a story teller, but Rakesh Roshan is, somehow it all balanced out I guess.

To my surprise, movie was pretty good and engrossing. They take sometime in building it to inevitable revenge drama, a blind couple wronged, and Blind Hero going after his villians. Obviously the entire plot is impossible to pull off the way they show a blind person against the entire world scenario. But aren't movies all about that mission impossible being possible. There are twists in the tale, good old school dialogue-baazi. etc... it is a good one to watch. Don't be a party pooper and start questioning the plausibility, otherwise stop watching all super-hero movies, and all Hollywood thrillers too.

• OK Jaanu - 1.0 Stars. G. (YouTube - Movies)

Director: Shaad Ali
Actors: Aditya Roy Kapur, Shraddha Kapur.

	Trailer - OK Jaanu

What a fall for Shaad Ali, a master of low budget romance, who could keep it simple and cute can't do it anymore. I think it is a good thing for him to get out this Genre. Trying to take a South hit movie especially a Love Story is tough. Mindless Action movies like Singham are easy, but romantic sensibilities do not cross over from South to North. Well there are exceptions like - Saathiya. But you don't create a Saathiya all the time.

Nothing jells in the movie, the actors are doing their job, but the chemistry is lacking and the entire movie has a feel of nothing happening. Pretty difficult to follow it, when you know what's going on and feel nothing.

• Dear Zindagi - 3.0 Stars. G (Not a kid entertainer) (YouTube Movies, Netflix)

Director: Gauri Shinde
Actors: Alia Bhatt, Shah Rukh Khan.
Trailer - Dear Zindagi

What a rise for Alia! Movies made for her as the central character. Hindi Movies starting to churn such 'Hallmark (TV Channel reference)' movies is a good sign. They need to find another avenue than just releasing in theaters, Netflix and Hallmark should produce such movies. So we can have more of these.

Girl is going through her life, young people problems, BF and what not. She finally decides to meet a psychiatrist. AND BOOM the movie takes a nose dive, once SRK enters with his typical SRK mannerisms. No one told him he is playing a psychiatrist. Yes, SRK sir you go ahead do your thing, he makes faces and over acts trying to look all DDLJ cute. I guess it was to make us believe that the girl may fall for the psychiatrist!! if that happens the entire movie's premise is compromised! but who cares SRK needs to do his thing.

Anyway it is not as bad as I make it sound. But there is enough Alia and other things going in the movie, that you will have a good time watching it.

• Irada - 2.5 Stars. PG-13.

Director - Aparna Singh
Actors: Naseeruddin Shah, Arshad Warsi, Divya Dutta.

Trailer - Irada

कभी कभी मेरे दिल में ख्याल आता है ...... why do they make these movies. Not that it is a bad movie, in fact it has everything you need out of a social drama thriller. Everything is pushed into it. Too much pains have been taken on script, selecting good actors, including every checklist, relationships - check, father - daughter = check, frustrated cop - check, bad politician - check, silent lady - check, journalistic ethics - check, underworld-politics nexus - check, unearthing a mystery - check, end twist - yea kinda..

Naseeruddin shah has lost everything, and is the old man fighting the system, Arshad Warsi is the frustrated but funny cop who is waiting to get something to get back at the system. All good and great. But yea. have seen it before. But not bad.
          

• Commando 2 - 3.0 Stars. PG. (YouTube)

Director: Deven Bhojani
Actors: Vidyut Jamwal, Adah Sharma, Esha Gupta.            

Trailer - Commando 2

Commando 1 was great - the sequel is not that great, but still good enough. It stays true to the genre of action thriller with Vidyut Jamal showing all the stunts in the world. As is the problem with most sequels they lack the emotional tug that the first one was based on (Like Ab tak chhappan - below). This one lacks the small, rustic basic emotion of Commando-1 where commando gets stuck on protecting a girl against the entire family, then village, then army. In this case now the commando has gone too big, international criminals, big conspiracy, bigger blowup and chases and just too much high profile than I care. 'Leave the world is ending and we will save it' formula to Hollywood, do the basics right!

Anyway.... Adah Sharma talks the entire movie in hyderabadi hindi!!... I will say it is one gutsy move, may become the single point many can't watch it. Generally heroines are not picking accents, so I would call it a commendable move to try it, but it was kinda not needed. Vidyut is another buffed up balloon but he looks good and is still young and handsome. He has time to move into other genre.

• What the Fish - 2.0 Stars. G. (YouTube Movies, NetFlix.)

Director: Gurmeet Singh.
Actors: Manu Rishi Chadha, Naresh Gosain, Dimple Kapadia.
Trailer - What The Fish

This is a low budget comedy. One house one fish that needs to be taken care of and lot of people exchange keys and fishes and lot of stories happen. Pretty good fun, but somehow nothing makes you go hahaha.... it is ok, though a lot of stuff goes on. But somehow nothing gels.

• Begum Jaan - 2.5 Stars. PG-13. YouTube Movies

Director: Srijit Mukherjee
Actors: Vidya Balan, Naseeruddin Shah.            

Trailer - Begum Jaan

A good effort, but someone somewhere was confused. What are we making? Are we making a women oriented movie with a strong woman character, are we making a historic movie?, showing partition problems?, prostitutes movie (a favorite of Bollywood award craving people)? Well.... let's make all in one. 

2 people who are asked to divide 2 countries according to line on a map drawn by British, are going about their business of drawing the map along with talking unneccesarily horrors of partition and how India and Pakistan are killing and raping each other. They should have removed that part, this was so forced. For no reason they would start talking about how their kin all died at hands of other's religion. it was pretty trite. 

Otherwise movie is about Vidya Balan, strong operator of a brothel who keeps her prostitutes like her own... blah blah... The partition line is going right through her brothel and for some reason she won't let it happen because for some reason they cannot be shifted to another location.

• Michael - 4.0 Stars. R. YouTube Movies

Director: Ribhu Dasgupta
Actors: Naseeruddin Shah

Trailer - Michael

This is a typical Anurag Kashyap Genre (He is the producer it seems) where a movie goes from unstable to weird to whacky.... at the end. If you want to attempt it, have a open mind. Michael a police officer is manipulated into shooting at a peaceful crowd resulting in a kid's death. That incidence haunts him and he completely loses it. He can't come out of the trauma. Rest is all a blurry recollection of reality and imagination of his mind. As he takes us on his confused ride into life after a life changing event. Michael stumbles and stumbles more trying to protect his own 12 year old and himself .... from himself. 

Mumbai Delhi Mumbai - 1.0 Stars. G. YouTube

Director: Satish Rajwade. 

Actors: Shiv Pandit, Piaa Bajpai. 

                 

Trailer - Mumbai Delhi Mumbai

 

A girl comes to Delhi from Mumbai loses her wallet and phone, and then a stranger from Delhi helps her through out the trip. The girl has come to meet to be groom but has no idea who he is. This is the general plot of the movie. The actor overdoes every scene, but that probably is director's fault. Delhi guy it seems has to be loud with over the top body language, but does it has to be every time he talks? is there a second gear to it? the entire movie goes on and on for hours (so you feel) with pretty much nothing happening, except for probably the chemistry, which I did not see happening. A good try from rookie director and actors. 

Main Aur Mr Right - 3.0 Stars. G. YouTube

Director: Adeeb Rais. 

Actors: Barun Sobti, Shenaz Treasury.

Remember ASR from 'Is pyaar ko kya naam du'... no ... I thought so. If you see hindi TV serials, then you would know. The guy was a sensation back then and I think the series is being revamped and ready for second run. Speaking of TV series, number one TV series now is - Naagin-2, no, there never was Naagin-1. And yes the saas and bahus are Naagins in that show, and no it is not horrible it is pretty interesting. 

Anyway back to Main aur Mr Right, Shenaz looks good, Barun Sobti does not look the heart throb he was on TV, he does good for the role. Group of friends have there problems fake friendships and relationships, etc. Shenaz fakes a BF and hires a struggling actor to play her BF in real life. Enter Mr uncouth and he teaches a lesson or two to the group of friends. It is ok, if you are doing nothing watch it in background along with surfing the internet. 

Meri Pyaari Bindu - 2.5 Stars. G.

Director:
Akshay Roy
Actors: Parineeti Chopra, Ayushmann Khurrana.

Trailer - Meri Pyaari bindu

Parineeti Chopra is cute. Period. (Tapsee and Parineeti are cutest kids along with Huma Qureshi.) But that can't make a movie. This movie confuses you no ends. Why are they listening to cassettes and tape recorders? and why is there so much talk and feel of 80s? there is no real explanation. The movie is set in 2000s, but for some reason director wanted to make a movie about 80s when we had cassettes, and so our hero and heroine are working on type writers and cassettes... why? This is the biggest part of the movie that doesn't make sense and results in inhibiting a good love story. Then there is this problem of jumping randomly into time periods... why? can we keep it simple? they keep jumping narration from few years back to forward to childhood to present. Very confusing, I understand you need to hold interest by doing all this. But all it does is take us out of the love story we want to concentrate on. If they would have focused on love story a simple nice love story, it would have clicked, Parineeti would make it happen.

Still it's not that bad as I make it sound, you know I am a irresponsible blogger, goes over board with things. Another problem was there was no explanation to the climax, why the end happened the way it happened. Sorry.... positives, were... a few very well done scenes that were serious and romantic and nicely done.
 

Noor - 3.5 Stars. PG-13.


Director: Sunhil Sippy.

Actors: Sonakshi Sinha, Purab Kohli. 

Trailer - Noor

Sonakshi has done something to her face that has not been done well, so if you ignore all that, the movie is about a new age kid, journalist who has a typical messed up life of a city girl. BF troubles, No fun in Job, no direction etc. Problem is as can be said about almost all hindi movies, they drag the concept tooooo long. We get it what kind of life she is living and what kind of kid you are showing but can we move on? I guess director is just too happy showing that new age concept, yes we don't see much of it in hindi movies, but nothing happens in her life except she narrating her cool but pathetic life all at the same time. 

Thank god movie does get into something serious when Noor stumbles on to a serious issue with her maid. The movie suddenly gets a huge twist and becomes dark and uncomfortable. Sonakshi does her part well, the nice guy Purab excels in his nice guy role. The movie again wanders towards the end and has unsatisfactory ending, but it is ok to have that, as difficult issues don't have a picture perfect culmination. If you decide to go for it, fast forward a few parts in first half. 

 

Phillauri - 2.5 Stars. PG.


Director: Anshai Lal
Actors: Anushka Sharma, Diljit Dosanjh.

Trailer - Phillauri           

You don't make a movie for one scene. You can make it on one idea but not just one twist you have thought about. This film is well done by working in 2 worlds, one during freedom struggle Phillauri, Punjab and other in 2000s Punjab. A NRI comes to get married, and is confused about relationships and meets a ghost (Anushka) who does not know why she is there, pretty cool concept. There is no real similarity between 2 stories of NRI or the ghost, but the movie tries to draw parallels it seems. Again like most movies it gets stuck on this novel concept for almost the entire time, and does not know how to get out of it. Later it settles on 1940s story being the main story and why the ghost is still struggling in this world. 

Not a bad attempt in trying something new, but it does not go as planned. The story had one twist they wanted to show, why a lover doesn't show up. But that ain't going to make a movie. Still a novel idea and creative thought, will earn this movie a decent rating. 

Dangal - 5.0 Stars. G. (Netflix)


Director: Nitesh Tiwari.

Actors: Aamir Khan, Sakshi Tanwar, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Sanya Malhotra, Zaira Wasim, Suhani Bhatnagar.

Trailer - Dangal

Everyone has already seen this movie, it has earned like a zillion dollars. So I better not waste a lot of time. But this is first 5 Star Movie for this blog in a few quarters. Also a first for Aamir Khan movie in this Blog (not that Aamir was losing sleep about the fact). Lot of firsts in this one.

Why I love this movie - 

1. Easy to drag this movie into Jingoism, it does not do that. Remains plain and simple ... emotional relationship oriented .. tugging at your heart.
2. Beautiful chemistry between, daughters and Mom. Especially the girls when they are kids and Mom (Sakshi is awesome). The kid fighters are just as big (if not bigger) part of the movie as the adult ones. I think Zaira is the younger Geeta, she is awesome. 
3. Narration through the awkward cousin is the master stroke. It is hilarious coming from his perspective the entire movie. Whoever thought of that is a genius. 
4. Keeping Haryanvi accent in check was also good. Too thick an accent would have killed the narration, perfect amount of subtle comedy with sprinkle of tension at the same time is well done. 
5. My pet peeve of most Aamir movies are their didactic nature, this one has none. No moments where Aamir is teaching us how to.... 
6. Songs are great! especially "dhakkad" I can't stop it in my head. A great story of a girl in a country and culture that does not give any voice to girls. 

Go watch it! ohh... yea you already did. 

Ab Tak Chhappan 2 - 2.5 Stars. PG-13


Director:Ejaz Gulab.

Actors: Nana Patekar, Mohan Agashe, Gul Panag.

Trailer - Ab Tak Chhappan 2

It came out in 2015 or sometime. I think I missed this one. The first one was a classic, this goes through same problems like most sequels, the pain is missing, the one overwhelming reason the guy is doing what he is doing is missing. Also as is the want of all sequels, it goes a little bigger than it needed. Trying to fix entire political climate etc. There is only one good dialogue in the movie at the beginning and then I kept waiting for another punch from Nana that never came. 

This is about an encounter cop who is called back to duty to get rid of criminals that have taken over Mumbai, obviously everything is not what it seems. There are couple of good twists in it. If you are a Nana fan... go ahead watch it.

Badrinath Ki Dulhania - 4.0 Stars. G. (YouTube Movies.)

Director: Shashank Khaitan.
Actors: Varun Dhawan, Alia Bhatt, Sahil Vaid.

Trailer - Badrinath Ki Dulhania

Another sequel (to Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania) but unlike others this is well done. Again like most movies nowadays, Female lead (Alia) is a better actor than male lead (Varun Dhawan). Varun plays a small town North Indian character in a fashion typical of Mumbai kid playing a north Indian caricatured character, the way Mumbai kids see north Indians, not what they actually are. But that is small detail that can be ignored. 

The movie is kind of a modern Raja Babu, with Varun playing a sadak chap illiterate and Alia a smart career oriented girl. The movie does address ills of dowry system but still keeping a main stream Bollywood movie feel to it. Jhansi (Varun) to Kota (Alia) is well done, at least the movie is set partly in india and characters are indian unlike most love stories that are placed in overseas locales. 

The love story blossoms as twists an turns happen in love story, though the theme of the movie never waivers from Love. Director has deftly handled lot of things and still keeping 'love' at the center. 

Well done.

Naam Shabana - 3.5 Stars. PG. 

Director: Shivam Nair. 

Actors: Tapsee Pannu, Akshay Kumar, Manoj Bajpayee. 

Trailer - Naam Shabana

This is a rare prequel (to 'Baby' - a movie that was closest to a Hollywood thriller Hindi Movies have gotten). Hindi movies before 'Baby' were never close to Hollywood movies in the 'patriotic thriller' genre. Baby being a landmark movie, the prequel had high expectations + there is Tapsee Pannu. 

Tapsee dives into her character, what an actor!. This movie had nothing to do with cuteness, and Tapsee is this hard headed eccentric girl, she needs to be. She does not smile a la kaala Pathar Bachchan (oops... I am showing my age here, kids go figure what Kaala Pathar is). When she smiles, you notice her pain. She is marked by the spy agency as a potential recruit, they give her an offer she can't refuse. A traumatic incidence that hardens an already hardened girl and now she is ready to be an agent. 

The movie has its flaws, the movie goes over board with style quotient of this spy agency. They are everywhere Omni-present, Omni-science super efficient greatest force ever made on Earth. They are just too good to be believable. Also everything happens in empty places, hospitals are deserted, all public places are just sets that some how has no one except people who are needed for the scene. Some supper kanjoosi by the film maker on the extras usage. 

There are many references of Baby movie's plot in the movie, Akshay is a little over the top and has started looking old and weird, I think it is time for him to start showing his age in the roles he plays. Manoj Bajpayee is suddenly become very frail and is not at all in his element. Tapsee.... she is awesome.
Girls if given an equal chance just rock! I have started believing if the world was fair they would outshine boys so badly that it will not be fair either... Just a thought. 

Jolly LLB 2 - 3.5 Stars. G. 

Director: Subhash Kapoor.
Actors: Akshay Kumar, Huma Qureshi, Saurabh Shukla.

Trailer - Jolly LLB 2

Another sequel! Wow... sequels have become a regular in hindi movies. Why not? It is easy money, the plot is set the story needs a few tweaks and boom another movie is ready. It is like... you have cut all vegetables and made masala for Aloo Gobhi, might as well make Mattar Paneer. (umm... will need to check with my wife if that makes sense, well in her world that is blasphemy, to think of short cuts in food creation, don't tell her this analogy please). 

Ok, so first movie was Jolly LLB with Arshad Warsi, clearly Arshad was a better fit as Jolly. He was the one the movie was made for, Akshay tries but he is ok. Akshay has gotten stuck in this rut. He became an actor with Khaaki and then found these comical / serious roles along with some spy/cop roles. Now they all look the same. He needs a fresh look and director who can do a makeover. 

Movie is about a small time lawyer who makes unpardonable mistake and has to carry the burden of it all his life. He fights hopeless case that is not just a case but a statement. Huma in her small role is good, good to see Huma Qureshi after a long time. 

Rangoon - 3.5 Stars. PG-13.


Director: Vishal Bhardwaj
Actors: Shahid Kapoor, Kangana Ranaut, Saif Ali Khan.

Trailer - Rangoon

This is the modern '1942 .. A Love Story' based partly in fact and mostly in fiction. A story about Subhash Chadra Bose's army that planned to attack British from the east. The movie has all the feel of a Vishal Bhardwaj film. It is a little slow to get going and tests your patience, once it gets all the characters defined and addressed it does pick up steam. Still like all old school directors, Vishal needs to edit his film's better. Kangana is an entertainer / girl friend of the Rich prince (Saif) who is paly with British officer and not interested in freedom struggle. Shahid is a celebrated officer in the british ranks, but is falling for Kangana. Soon all their lives will entangle in the web of war and freedom struggle. It is pretty intricate and detail oriented film. One film of this kind take 10 times more effort than a regular film I am sure.

Somehow it did not gel the way other Vishal Bhardwaj movies do. But still better than most of the crap that comes out.

Waiting - 4.5 Stars. PG-13.

Director: Anu Menon.
Actors: Naseeruddin Shah, Kalki Koachlin, Rajat Kapoor.

Trailer - Waiting

This Blogger has a rule - If Rajat Kapoor is in a movie, it is going to be excellent. This movie also proves the rule.

The movie is about 2 people helplessly waiting in hospital as their significant other is battling for their lives. Sounds pretty sad, but it is not. It is a masterpiece with nuances on coping with trauma and just life in general. Beautifully executed, and some great performances by 2 great actors. Kalki is very weird in her body language and sometimes she gets weird roles. But what an actor she is! Rajat Kapoor is also awesome as the doctor dealing with patients and more importantly with relatives. Naseer Bhai is motivated to play this role, and does not sleep walk the role, like he sometimes does in non descript movies.
Go watch it. 

Welcome 2017 (Q1 - January, February, March) - Hindi Movie reviews - Watch Movies and Hide From Reality.

2017 Q1 Top Performers -

Best Actors (Male) -

1. John Ibraham (Rocky Handsome)
2. Vicky Kaushal (Masaan)
3. Manoj Bajpayee. (Bhudia Singh - Born to Run)

Best Actors (Female) -

1. Tapsee Pannu (Running Shaadi)
2. Richa Chadha (Masaan)
3. Deepa Mehta (Midnight's children) - 2012 movie

Best Director -

1.  Neeraj Ghaywan (Masaan)
2. Amit Roy (Running Shaadi)
3. Ruchika Oberoi (Island City) - 2015 movie.
4. Nishikant Kamat. (Rocky Handsome)
5. Munish Bhardwaj (Moh Maya Money)

Worst of the Quarter -

1. Ajay Devgan (Shivaay)
2. Remo / Jacqueline Fernandez (Flying Jatt)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Happy Bhaag Jaayegi - 3.5 Stars. (G) - You-Tube-Full-Movie

Happy Bhaag Jaayegi

Director - Mudassar Aziz

Actors - Diana Penty, Abhay Deol, Jimmy Shergill.

A woman centric comedy is always refreshing and difficult to do. This blogger is biased for Jimmy Shergill so.. I am sorry but I may have liked it more than I should have. A sweet love story crossing borders between India and Pakistan. Making no statement just simply India and Pakistan are the backdrop. Abhay Deol is also in a very refreshing good role of son of a Pakistani politician. There are no strong high points in the movie but it goes on at a comfortable pace with not too many up and downs. Perfect time pass movie.

The movie is about a girl who runs away from home and then runs away more and more, she runs away to Pakistan and has to be brought back. The Lover wants her and she makes new relations etc.... If you don't have too many issues in life watch the movie. If you are the right wing kind, who suddenly have found a new fond hate for Pakistan then skip it, this won't help you hate more. They just show Pakistan as another regular country with people!

Masaan - 5.0 Stars. (R) - You Tube / Netflix.

Masaan-Trailer

Director - Neeraj Ghaywan

Actors - Richa Chadhha, Vicky Kaushal, Sanjay Mishra.

This seems like a 2015 movie. After scrollingpast it forever on Netflix we decided to give it a go.... and oh what a decision it turned out to be! A beautiful poetry of a movie. A movie which makes this blogger sit numb in happiness and sadness.... life as it unfolds for 4 extraordinary ordinary lives. Life in it's ugly and beautiful ways takes them on a ride. Life .. Death and everything in between....

The movie has some heavy weights behind it ... Phantom Production (Anurag Kashyap), it was a Cannes Festival release I think. I wonder how can a director (Neeraj Ghaywan) and writer (Varun Grover) conjure this thing into a movie from thin air. There are writers in India? Wow... and what they can do! Finally the actors, is there anyone who can do a better job than this? Richa Chadhha playing a girl stuck being a girl in an oppressive culture, Shweta Tripathi ... is another power house performer who can light up the screen with her innocence and smile. Speaking of Power House performers and seasoned greats like - Sanjay Mishra, Vicky Kaushal and Pankaj Tripathi.

It's about a Girl who was caught romancing a boy and having feelings for a Boy makes her life spiral downwards. Being a Boy is also not easy, the movie also tracks a Boy who has to shake his caste and society if he wants to have feelings for a girl. I don't think I can explain it... because it's not a story... life unfolds.

One big disclaimer! - YES IT IS ARTSY kind.... so if you are not into them, probably you can treat it like a 3.5 star movie.

Midnight's Children - 4.0 Stars (R) - Amazon Video, Netflix.

Director - Deepa Mehta.

Actors - Rajat Kapoor, Vansh Bharadwaj, Ronit Roy.

Midnight's-Children - Trailer

All I remembered from Midnight's Children is .... some huge controversy with the writer Salman Rushdie and Right wing hindu fundamentalists involved. That tells you that the book is worth something :) When Deepa Mehta directs a movie it has to involve all the complex intertwines the author intended to present to the reader. The product is a beautiful ode to history of india and fictitious lives it affects as 2 countries and 2 kids are born and exchanged. Life unfolds with lot of drama and fantasy and crazy happens.... very well shot and very well directed. This is for people who like complex books made into complex movies. Attempt it if you have patience and time to enjoy a marathon of a movie. It is exactly opposite of mindless timepass Bollywood movie.

Budhia Singh Born to Run - 3.5 Stars (PG-13) -

Director - Soumendra Padhi

Actors - Manoj Bajpayee, Mayur Patole

Budhia Singh - Born to Run - Trailer

Honestly I did not know about this 5 year old kid who was a rage in India for running inter city marathons. Story of Budhia a running sensation from the slums who had an able and iccentric coach. The movie is well made and remains pretty real and factual, beautiful depiction of how things change once things gets noticed.

Wajah Tum Ho - 2.5 Stars (R) -

Director - Vishal Pandya

Actors - Sharman Joshi, Sanaa Khan, Zarine Khan.

Wajah Tum Ho - Trailer

I did not remember what happened in the movie, that makes it a 2.5 star movie. Movie can leave an impression if it is good or bad, this one was a perfect low budget low class thriller, suspense, some dollops of sex and drama all in one. You get the idea... bunch of one liners, police, chor, dhoka, indecent proposal mixed with Race kind of twists with some good music. If you are not too snooty about movies, and you got time to kill ... sure go for it. It has over the top acting from all involved.

Baar Baar Dekho - 4.0 Stars (G) - YouTube

Director - Nitya Mehra

Actors - Sidharth Malhotra, Katrina Kaif.

Baar Baar Dekho - trailer

After I got a lot of bad feedback of this movie, I finally got a chance to watch this one. I was expecting to click forward and get it over with (Professional Hazard for a Movie reviewer). Turned out... Wife... who is always right, was right again. I liked it! Perfect cute romantic movie. It did great impersonation of 'Hallmark' or Disney romantic movies from Hollywood.
A professor, yes.... Sidharth Malhotra is a professor in this movie! and no it is not a joke. Anyway... a professor is getting married and having cold feet and then he starts time travelling uncontrolled by him to find how life will be if he took certain decisions, he can go back and correct them too. Obviously it is about how cute small things are everything in life and big milestones are not. But I get a lump in my throat if a movie is hopelessly romantic about life! I liked it, but again if you are cynic kind and can't watch mushy stuff... (like I was 20 years ago) ... don't try it.

Ae Dil Hai Mushkil - 3.5 Stars. (PG) - YouTube rental.

Director - Karan Johar

Actors - Ranbir Kapoor, Anushka Sharma, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.

Ae dil hai mushkil - rental / trailer

Ranbir Kapoor cries and cries more.... Aish looks stunning ... and Anushka lights up the screen... yes it is a KJ movie. Karan Johar redefined Big Bollywood Movies with his kind of movies, this is another from the same genre. Couple of decades back I would not watch this, now I am ok with this. Great music beautiful presentation.

What I like about the movie -

1. It's an out and out love story. So it is kind of in a nice niche of it's own.
2. Girl is brash and strong and Guy is lost and weak (though Ranbir is master of that role), this is a pretty good refreshing change.
3. The music is awesome, even if you don't care about the movie the music keeps you going. Like all these new crop of movies, they have to be shot oversees preferably Europe, I guess someday this fad will fade too. Really it could have been a 2.5 but for the music and some refreshing philosophy.
4. It kind of shows how friendship is an emotion way better than being in Love, friendship is way more caring than selfishness of love! Well at least that's what got out of it. If you survive till the end and can take the cheesiness of the climax with 2 bald characters (cant divulge too much) .... they belabor and explain the whole point.

Banjo - 3.0 Stars. (PG) -

Director - Ravi Jadhav

Actors - Ritiesh Deshmukh, Nargis Fakhri.

Banjo - Trailer

A Mumbai slum Banjo player who is accidentally heard by an American musician, tries to search for him resulting in this movie. I like it that they dared to make a movie with such a different theme! Kudos to them. It was not really bad either.
The American girl comes to Mumbai looking for the Banjo Player who is right in front of her eyes all through, as they live through a topsy turvy music scene, tapori gangs, fall in love... or not. I know you guys are not going to watch it, but if you do, it's not THAT bad as the name suggest :) thinking about it.. who the heck names their movie BANJO!

 

Shivaay - 0 Stars.(PG) -

Director - Ajay Devgan

Actors - Ajay Devgan, Erika Kaar.

Shivaay - Trailer

Ajay Devgan is hell bent on being a director. I heard him say - of all given choices he loves direction! because that makes him say what he wants to say. God give him less power! Sometimes ... we not having enough resources to kill ourselves is a good thing. Devgan has a very old school sensibilities, he is late by at least 25 years. He wants to become a super hero, romancing white girls, raising kid on his own and fighting armies of various countries all by himself!! Is that what you want to really do? So all those brooding eyes, and emoting with sad eyes are being forced by other directors on you? Thank God .... you had to work under other directors. I don't want to be mean, but I guarantee you Mr Devgan you are not a director, you are an actor, play to your strengths and don't waste your money.

Force 2 - 3.0 Stars (R) - Netflix / YouTube

Director - Abhinay Deo.

Actors - John Abraham, Sonakshi Sinha.

Force-2 - Full Movie

I did not know Force was such a big hit that they made a sequel to it. Honestly I have little recollection of the movie, in the first one John is a cop and his wife dies and that is the sad part which sticks with him all along the movie as he tackles the case given to him which is obviously tied to her wife's murder too.
In this one the sadness still remains the same as they kind of remind you about it. John is a Mumbai cop and somehow needs to join forces with Raw (indian intelligence) to crack a case and Raw officer is Sonakshi... in the worst role of her career. She has a ugly wig on her and she just does not look comfortable in the role nor does John. John still goes through the movie with ease as he knows what he is required to do. I know I have been hard on John in earlier blogs but John has shown improvement.... that is saying a lot!! He is starting to understand how to not do too much if you don't know what to do... Wow.. even John is improving!

Rocky Handsome - 4.0 Stars (R) - Netflix

Director - Nishikant Kamat.

Actors - John Abraham, Shruti Hassan.

Rocky Handsome - Trailer

Mr John Abraham has arrived, yes.. after decades of flunking the acting class... he has passed!! The guy is a legit actor... He cried!! and I did not laugh... I cried with him!! ... well.. not really.. but come on.... let me flow.
The director was awesome he put John in situations that suit him. A typical action movie with a string tugging at your heart. The emotion of the movie is exactly same to Shivaay and treatment completely different, this is how you make a movie about a missing girl and the hero trying to save her. (Devgan needs to see how not to waste money and still involve emotions into the narration). John does not act he has one emotion the entire movie and it works! He is sad and he is angry and confused and that's how it stays, he is our Bond he is our Bachchan from Kaala Pathar... he wants the kid back and he will make it happen. My friend has criticized me to embrace John just because he was not a complete goof up.... but hey! the world has Hope!! If John can act... who knows the world may become more loving too! Believe.

Moh Maya Money - 4.0 Stars. (R) - YouTube

Director - Munish Bhardwaj

Actors - Neha Dhupia, Ranvir Shorey.

Moh Maya Money - Trailer

Neha Dhupia and Ranvir Shorey are rockstars in this blogger's books. Once their names are on a movie, the expectations go up. This movie is in the genre of Awara, Deewar, and maybe Raju ban gaya gentleman. What's common between these movies? Let me explain... there are only 6 stories in the world to be told, you need to decide how to treat them. This genre is a story of a regular middle class man who wants to make it big, he doesn't accept his destiny of a middling life, he wants to do something ... if that something is to break a few rules so be it! As a result he runs into problems and in the end he/she succeeds or fails. The story has been a favorite in 70s and 80s as common man sees a glass ceiling and they can't move past it. Anyway... this movie starts like a small cute story but suddenly becomes dark and scary soon. Ranvir and Neha are in pretty good form.

Island City - 3.5 Stars. (R)

Director - Ruchika Oberoi

Actors - Vinay Pathak, Amruta Subhash, Tannishtha Chaterjee

Island City - Trailer

Watched in an airplane, I think it is an old movie but worth a mention. Again it does come in a artsy genre, 3 completely different stories somehow have a connection. Vinay Pathak is a corporate slave / employee and he is depressed and he wants to kill everyone, there are other stories attached to this main story. One of them is about a family with a typical overbearing Dad you find in most households. The guy is on the death bed and the wife needs to become the bread winner. Is an insensitive Dad even needed in their lives? They escape into a TV serial with similar theme, TV serial and reality are mixed, what happens on TV affects the family more than real life. All confused? go and watch it .. If you find it and ...... be patient.

Mirzya - 2.0 Stars.(PG) - Netflix

Director - Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra.

Actors - Harshvardhan Kapoor, Saiyami Kher

Mirzya - Trailer

Much talked about debut of Anil Kapoor's son. Star kids have it easy and everything is a discussion that starts as soon as you see another star kid joining. Well... if you got a chance to have a headstart in a field you are interested in... won't you use it? In fact whichever field you are in, you had a head start and that is the reason you are in it.
Anyway .... the movie sucks big time! I gave it a 2 star and not a 0 because of the effort on novelty. It shows that they were not making a 'star son' introduction movie, the director really wanted to make a classic, '2 different eras telling the same Love story' kind of movie (Remember Prem? Kajol's Hamesha?). Because the timeless love stories return and return again. All this tied by a one liner poetry running through the entire movie, all the vision was correct somehow the wafer thin story and nothing to look forward to made it a boring watch. The actors are not at all ready for such a challenge, a real star with a huge screen presence would have made it better. The story had just one twist from a typical love story, but one scene don't make a movie.

Flying Jatt - 0 Stars.(G) - YouTube

Director - Remo.

Actors - Tiger Shroff, Jacqueline Fernandez.

Flying Jatt - Official Trailer

The ABCD director (Remo) trying to get out of his genre of dance movies and tries to make a 'Super Hero' movie. Once you already decided to make a super hero movie you are already thinking of aping all the super hero movies and give it some 'indianness' and boom the movie is ready. the problem is it does not work like that, the sets are tacky the stunts are out of a 'Hi Fi RamLeela' ... now a days making a super hero movie on shoe string budget is not a good idea. Also the actors and director are not good enough to infuse any real emotion. The director is afflicted with the same problems as Mr Ajay Devgan in Shivaay. Skip it.

Kahaani 2 - 4.0 Stars. (R) - YouTube

Director - Sujoy Ghosh

Actors - Vidya Balan, Arjun Rampal.

Kahaani 2 - trailer

Difficulty of making a sequel to a 5 Star movie is - it is probably not going to be a 5 Star movie. If you can... then take this movie at it's own face value then I think it is a great movie!
The protagonist (Vidya Balan) has moved on and is living a parallel life and has a daughter. Everything else is shrouded in mystery and once the daughter disappears it becomes clear that nothing and no one can be trusted. Again a side kick (Arjun Rampal) for Vidya Balan is a cop who sometimes seems like is on her side but he has a family too and other responsibilities. Child molestation somehow is the center piece of this movie, though the movie remains true to it's roots of being a suspense thriller. Go watch it with not too many expectations.

 

Tum Bin 2 - 3.0 Stars. (G)

Director - Anubhav Sinha

Actors - Neha Sharma, Aditya Seal, Aashim Gulati.

Tum Bin 2 - trailer

Tum Bin .. the first one, if you remember that movie, then you should remember this - 'कोई फ़रियाद तेरे दिल में दबी हो जैसे ' ..... yes this song was the highlight of that movie and thankfully of this sequel too. The song uses same sound track as the earlier one of Jagjit Singh's timeless voice and this time Rekha Bhardwaj is completing the duet with some new lyrics.
The movie? ... it also stays true to the plot, the soul of Tum Bin. Lovers are rudely separated by destiny, life moves on and a stranger enters life of the person left behind. A new beginning happens... a new love happens... but is it so simplistic? Will lover come back? who is this lovable stranger? does he have a past?.... Don't expect too much out of it but it is ok movie to watch.

Running Shaadi - 4.5 Stars. (G) - YouTube

Director - Amit Roy.

Actors - Tapsee Pannu, Arsh Bajwa, Bijendra kala

Running Shaadi - Trailer

Tapsi Panuu is my new favorite, she is the cutest girl in Bollywood. Period. She rocks this movie like no other can. Set in Amritsar and travelling to Bihar... the movie is comfortable in it's indian-ness, the culture of not letting kids decide important decisions of their lives makes a frustrated kid to create a website that let's you run / elope and get married. they provide all the services, all they need is a willing couple who are ready to do running shaadi.
Tapsi is cute, then a little evil cute, and then just smart-cute. She does it all and has arrived. It is basically a Love Story and a very running love story at that. The movie probably has nothing to do with reality but the emotions it delves in .. are real. Also it is the best timepass easy going movie for sometime! perfect timepass entertainment you want a movie to provide.

Befikre - 3.0 Stars. (PG-13)

Director - Aditya Chopra.

Actors - Ranvir Singh, Vaani Kapoor.

Befikre - Trailer

Vaani Kapoor... please get better soon! She looks sick, these actors keep doing something to their looks and end up destroying themselves.  Something is very wrong with her.... she has either become unnaturally thin or done some plastic surgery or whatever. I could not get over her not looking her cute smiling self.
Anyway .... the movie is a typical Aditya Chopra movie, though he says he made a different movie... but I guess that's what he makes .. a different movie. But it has all the same emotions a love story generally has. Again ... all the so called NRI catering movies... which is short for movies with international locales and rich people problems. the only thing different is.... now these movies show a lot of kissing and earth shattering (pun intended) concept of living in and relationships with out shaadi.... come on... how long we will make it a BIG issue. Anyway movie is not bad... it does check most boxes for a movie like ... harry met sally... where the actors are in love and maybe not... yes they are ... may be they are not.