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)

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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.

Top 10 Hindi Movies of 2016 - Best Actor and Director Award goes to ....

Top 10 Hindi Movies for 2016 -

1. PINK - (Social) Drama (PG13) - For the message and effect it generates on audience. It had the right balance in entertainment and substance. Gone are the days when popular movies cannot have substance.
2. UMRIKA - Drama / Thriller (PG) - The small movie feel of the movie gives it a nod over others. It has a lot of relationships tied into a movie, there are no heroes or villains but life at it's best.
3. SAALA KHADOOS - Sports Drama (PG) - That's how a sports movie should make you feel. Very well written and acted.
4. KAPOOR AND SONS - Drama (PG) - The only 'wholesome entertainer' in this list. The movie has everything a big hindi film has + it does not compromise on content either.
5. UDTA PUNJAB - (Social) Drama (R) - Drug menace in Punjab beautifully meshed into 4 stories of love and struggle.
6. LAAL RANG - Romance (PG13)) - Hooda at his best. Blood bank underworld as a backdrop to a beautiful love story.
7. RAMAN RAGHAV 2.0 - Pschotic Thriller (R) - The twisted mind enthralls you until it is a movie.
8. ALIGARH - Documentary Drama (R) - Just watch Mr Manoj Bajpayee play a role of a Gay Professor in India.
9. KI&KA- (Social) Romance (G) - A Topic about what Ladki and Ladka can and cannot do. Both are trapped not one.
10. TALVAR -  Thriller Drama (PG13) - Our society, our justice system all stand exposed in what we already know, but what we don't know is .. how the victim feels.
11. Honorable Mentions - TE3N, NEERJA, NIL BATTEY SANATTA, RUSTOM.

Best Actor (Male) Award -

1. Manoj Bajpayee (Aligarh) - Manoj has memorable roles to his credit but this one was probably the biggest challenge for him. There are moments he is in the background sitting in a corner in the courtroom and taking a nap and all you can see is him in the scene. He is so immersed in the character it is hard to separate him from it. Also what a difficult character to play! Awesome job.
2. Sushant Singh Rajput (M.S. Dhoni) - Yes I have seen Dhoni for last 10 years but after the movie I see Sushant when I think Dhoni. He played Dhoni better than real Dhoni... If that is  a possibility. How good are today's kids? They are into their craft!
3. Nawazuddin Siddique (Raman Raghav 2.0) - Fact is - their could be no other Ramanna... no one who can do such a loathsome job. I was scared, irritated and amused at the same time by this portrayal of a psycho murderer! Obviously the script was with him and the director is a genius and hence I put him down to Number 3.
4. Randeep Hooda (Laal Rang) - I can't believe I am putting him that low. This guy lit up the screen and carried the movie all by himself. The rustic bad guy with a golden heart who is heart broken.... oh.. what a beautiful portrayal. I would not mind putting him at the top too. This year is awesome year for performances.
5. Amitabh Bachchan (Pink / Te3n) - When I do anything good I put this line - for a 40 year old I play cricket good. For a 40 year old I still am pretty active. What do you say about Bachchan? For a 70 year old the dude is awesome? No.... he is awesome without any disclaimer. That weird lawyer just added to my hatred of myself and my society on how we as a society developed. The Te3n character was also one difficult character played with flair.
6. Other honorable mentions - Shahid Kapoor and Diljit Dosanjh (Udta Punjab), Vicky Kaushal (Raman Raghav 2.0), Rajkummar Rao (Aligarh), Shah Rukh Khan (Fan), Rajat Kapoor (Kapoor and Sons)

Best Actor (Female) Award -

1. Alia Bhatt (Udta Punjab) - Though admittedly the role was author backed and loaded with positives for her. Still the girl is early in her career and pulled it off pretty well. Just for working diligently on it, she gets the top honors.
2. Ritika Singh (Saala Khadoos) - Don't know where she came from, but she is packed with energy and talent. In this original sports movie of the year this girl was the heart and soul of it. A lot is similar between this movie and Dangal. Ritika ... I hope we see you again in a movie!
3. Tapsee Pannu (Pink) - You must have heard enough on her portrayal of a modern fragile strong fallible innocent girl... which is pretty much every body. We all are scared but want to standup to injustice but we are not saint ourselves. We don't need to be! to get modicum of justice and she does all that portrayal beautifully.
4. Anushka (Sultan) - Easily the best actor amongst the popular actresses, she has the screen presence rarely seen. She can light up any scene with her presence and not because of a dance number but just cuz she is a compelling watch.
5. Honorable Mentions - Hetal Gadda (Dhanak), Geetanjali Thapa (I.D), Deena Pathak (Kapoor and Sons)

Best Director Award -

1. Anirudh Roy Chawdhary (Pink) - The movie was bereft of drama but was still high drama. The girls did not need to be 'perfect' according to society, they did not need to be perfect temperamentally but still you root for them to get justice. all along beautifully directed. From 'Damini' to 'Pink' we have come a long way! .... well at least in movies. State of society ... this blog does not talk about.
2.  Meghna Gulzar (Talvar) - I think she maybe the only director who does what she does. She is in her own league, her movie has violence without any, in fact they are calm but intense calm.
3. Anurag Kashyap (Raman Raghav 2.0) - this blogger is biased towards a few people and Anurag is one of them. It was right up his ally ... this psychotic, tilted freak show... but still there is only one who can do this.

2016 Q4 (October to December) - Some good ones in second half but no 5 Star Movie.

2016 Q4 Top Performers -

Best Actors (Male) -

1. Randeep Hooda (Laal Rang)
2. Nawazuddin Siddique (Raman Raghav 2.0)
3. Vicky Kaushal (Raman Raghav 2.0)
4. Diljit Dosanjh (Udta Punjab)
5. Shahid Kapoor (Udta Punjab)

Best Actors (Female) -

1. Alia Bhatt (Udta Punjab)
2. Hetal Gadda (Dhanak)

Best Director -

1.  Anurag Kashyap (Raman Raghav 2.0)

Worst of the Quarter -

1. Ashutosh Gowarikar (Mohanjodaro)

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

Akira - 3.5 Stars - PG13

Director - AR Murugadoss.

Actors - Sonakshi Sinha, Konkana Sharma.

Trailer - Akira

Sonakshi is the Hero in this action flick. I mean literally she is the 'hero', no not because she is the main protagonist in the movie, but there is nothing female about her in this one. If you would have replaced a 'guy' to do the role - you may not have needed much to change in this movie. My 'pet peeve' about hindi movies is when they have these 'mental asylum' scenes where they make mental health a huge joke... and that's what the director does in this one. Dude .. you are showing your age, stop doing it. Anyway.. the movie is pretty good in pace but hey! heroine not taking a male's support but doing it all by herself! that is some novelty! Tough Novelty or blowing soul into the movie is something Mr Murugadoss always lacks. So this is a huge upgrade! And Yes... it has Mr Anurag Kashyap as the villain so that probably makes a difference!

Umrika - 4.5 Stars (NETFLIX) - PG

Director - Prashant Nair

Actors - Suraj Sharma, Tony Revolori, Prateik Babbar.

Trailer - Umrika

Beautiful movie in the genre I call - Life. This is on Netflix and sometimes you find gems sifting through that endless movie sand called - Netflix. You gotta give it sometime, a poverty stricken village's boy goes to Umrika (America) and so starts the journey of 2 brothers that shape them. Parents, siblings, love, hate, motherly love and big bad world. Everything in one movie, it is life as you live through it. No one is a villain or a Hero it is life and it is beautiful.

Kabali - 1.0 Stars - G (YouTube)

Director - Pa Ranjith.

Actors - Rajnikanth, Radhika Apte.

Trailer - Kabali
 

The movie dubbed in Hindi already loses all the punch of the dialogues that another language wants to convey. Though there has been no attempt in dubbing it good, but the fact is the movie itself has nothing in it. Cashing on Rajnikanth's star power makes film maker just make him rerun familiar scenes from his earlier work. Well.. who am I talking to? If you are a fan, you are. All I am saying is you don't need to watch the 'hindi' dubbed version. It seems like a 80s movie with the familiar theme of superhuman hero Vs an evil villain.

Mohanjodaro - 1 Star - G

Director - Ashutosh Gowariker.

Actors - Hrithik Roshan, Pooja Hegde.
 

Trailer - Mohan Jodaro
 

After Jodha Akbar you start expecting from Gowarikar. This one is a huge let down. First the challenge of showing an era before Christ is in itself a huge challenge. You don't feel like you are in that era, just something is missing. Especially Hrithik and the girl (Pooja Hegde). They look like they are from 2016 Mumbai! Also when your film's only novelty is showing that era, and that itself is not believable, it is not good. The story is pretty much mishmash of all 80s / 90s movies - a typical love story and a typical 'zamindaar' type villain. If that is what was happening in B.C. era, why to make a film about it? Yea.. there are some history lessons showing demise of Mohanjodaro and harrappa civilization but that probably is incorrect too.

Laal Rang - 4.0 Stars - PG13

 

Director - Syed Ahmad Afzal
Actors - Randeep Hooda, Piaa Bajpai, Akshay Oberoi.

Trailer - Laal Rang

Randeep Hooda is one badass dude! the guy is modern Bachchan. He has some swag.... this is about Hooda's screen presence. This role is tailor made for him, based in Haryana with heavy harvanyi accent Hooda is at his best. With the backdrop of Blood donation smuggling in small towns. It is hilarious at times and sad at others. Songs are outstanding folksy kind, check out - Kharch Karod, Bhang Ragad. Above all it is a beautiful love story or 2. Some dialogues are beautiful that you want to hit the rewind and play again. It is a small movie so if you are into watching small budget movies and love the earthy feel to the movies, those that take you to real streets of Haryana.... then go for it.

Madaari - 3.5 Stars - PG
Director - Nishikant Kamat.
Actors - Irrfan Khan, Jimmy Shergill.

Trailer - Madaari
 

Similar theme has been depicted many times in near past, where a common man wants to get back at the corrupt system in a novel way. Irrfan is the common man who has kidnapped a Politician's son. He does not treat the son like a typical Kidnapper... why? why did he kidnap? what is his plan? To know the answer - go to your nearest pirated stuff illegal website and check it out.

Dishoom - 1.0 Stars. - G
Director - Rohit Dhawan.
Actors - John Abraham, Jacqueline Fernandez

Trailer - Dishoom
 

Someone tell John Ibrahim to stop taking drugs or whatever he is doing to look like an alien. In fact this is a public service announcement for every Actor in Hindi films - Please stop becoming over buffed He-Man. You all are definitely not representing us on the screen, maybe you all think it is a must to have all these muscles, are you all from Jupiter? Anyway... back to the movie - it is one of those movies that are my 'pet peeve' about movies. This is the movie which is made by someone who says - let's make 'that' kinda movie... where there is one badass cop and the other hero is a comedian sidekick and they go all over a foreign locale... yes let's do it. Don't watch it. John is worst actor than I am an Engineer... what else can I say?

Rustom - 4.0 Stars. - PG

Director - Tinu Suresh Desai.
Actors - Akshay Kumar, Illeana D Cruz.

Trailer - Rustom
 

Akshay Kumar probably will go down as the greatest Soldier in hindi film industry. Every other movie he is a righteous cop or a soldier. This one paints a bygone era, I think of 50s? I am not sure, but it is pretty well done. The righteous Navy Soldier comes home to find his wife cheating on him and he kills the guy who was having an affair with his wife.... or did he? Pretty good thriller where it really looks like an open and shut case ... but then things start happening. Good one.

Raman Raghav 2.0 - 4.0 Stars.(NETFLIX) - R

Director - Anurag Kashyap.
Actors - Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Vicky Kaushal.

Trailer - Raman Raghav 2.0
 

The movie has signature of the indomitable Anurag Kashyap. This is one guy who makes a movie for the sake of love of making a movie. Raman it seems was a brutal 60s killer, this is a psychological thriller that is true to it's genre. Every Raman needs a Raghav and vice versa. Raman is Siddique and Raghavan is this new cool dude Vicky Kaushal. Raghavan is the cop after Raman the killer, or is it that simple? Look closer and they may even look similar... is there a difference? Just sit back and enjoy the ride till the end, oh ... Mr Kashyap stay weird! Another awesome job by Siddique and the new guy Vicky.
 

Udta Punjab - 4.5 Stars - R

Director - Abhishek Chaubey.
Actors - Shahid Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor, Diljit Dosanjh, Alia Bhatt.

Trailer - Udta Punjab
 

Much talked about movie and it deserves the talk. Apparently Punjab is engulfed in web of drugs and the first half is more of a documentary that establishes this fact about drug menace in Punjab. But somewhere along the lines the movie takes off, the actors fly with it and take it to another level. Absolutely brilliant performances by Diljit Dosanjh, Shahid Kapoor and Alia Bhatt makes it a must see. Shahid probably had a very difficult balance to achieve, and he is awesome. Beautifully knit this story.

Mr X - 2.5 Stars - G

Director - Vikram Bhatt
Actors - Emraan Hashmi, Shagufta Rafique.

Trailer - Mr X
 

You can call me X.... there is a song in this movie that goes like this. It is one of those movies that is unintended comedy. It is about a guy who is forced to do wrong and in the process becomes invisible. There are dialogues like - (looking under a microscope and seeing microbes) oh god, his skin and jacket has dissolved and now jacket cannot come off, but the radiations have done something wrong. The guy disappears and can only be seen in sunlight! Just watch it if you find it. it our bankable trusted Emraan Hashmi who is I guess forced to do a in-family movie. Uncle Vikram Batt has completely lost it. There are some scenes that make you wonder... what the heck! - If your Boy Friend is missing and presumed dead and he shows up one day and you can't see him most of the times - what is the first question you ask? the girl never asks him... how the heck are you invisble! she doesn't care! she is going on about how he does not love her and shit! OK another one - if you figured that there are 3 villians and one works right with your girl friend... why will you go and tell the names of the 2 villians that don't pose a threat to your girl friend but withhold the name that will???

Dhanak - 3.5 Stars (NETFLIX) - G

Director - Nagesh Kukunoor.
Actors - Hetal Gadda, Krishh Chhabria.

Trailer - Dhanak
 

I got sad watching the movie about a brother sister. Brother is blind because of malnutrition and Sister is the adoring sis who is all out to make sure the brother is well taken care of. set in a village backdrop... I just can't see kids in a bad spot in life. I will someday complete it.

One in a Billion - 3.5 Stars (NETFLIX) - G

Director - Roman Gackowski
Actors - Satnam Singh Bhamara.

Trailer - One in a Billion
 

Satnam Singh Bhamara is the first Indian born player to get into NBA draft. He got in dead last in last year's draft. I just started this Netflix documentary thinking I will watch for a few minutes and ended up watching the entire thing. This Bhamara guy is from a village in Punjab with no trace of education or English. NBA just got hold of him and trained him in every aspect. the dude is 7'2. Watch it if you have some time to kill.

Q3 (July, August, September) - 2016 Finally comes to Life and NETFLIX 4.

2016 Q3 Top Performers -

Best Actors (Male) -

1. Manoj Bajpayee (Aligarh)
2. Amitabh Bachchan (Pink)
3. Sushant Singh Rajpoot (M.S. Dhoni)
4. Rajkummar Rao (Aligarh)
5. Shah Rukh Khan (Fan)

Best Actors (Female) -

1. Ritika Singh (Saala Khadoos)
2. Geetanjali Thapa (I.D.)
3. Taapsee Pannu (Pink)
4. Anushka (Sultan)

Best Director -

1.  Anirudh Roy Chowdhary (Pink)

Worst of the Quarter -

1. Farhad, Sajid. (Houseful 3)

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• PINK - 4.5 Stars. (R)

Pink Trailer

 

Director - Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury.

Actors - Amitabh Bachchan, Taapsee Pannu.

A movie with a social message is tricky. It may become too didactic, or may become pseudo-progressive. Kudos to the Director, none of that was a problem with this one. This one just shows how far has Indian films come, they can make a movie that hits the right notes without compromising for the so called essentials to make the movie saleable. For all the progressives who go into the movie thinking this movie is for people who are not - you are the problem. The movie makes you sit up and think, and I felt every molecule in my body cringe, because I too am a product of that culture that makes the playing field an uphill task for girls. I can see how it all takes effect. Bachchan's performance is great and I think he manifests what Director feels for the - slow to change culture. Bachchan's character can't breath in the air / culture, that is shifting ever so slowly towards change. Even when he wins he stares in the nothingness because that is not a win in the over bearing culture. Taapsee and all girls act natural and perfect, the dialogues are perfect and not loud. Rules of society are aptly stated and the fact that everyone needs justice irrespective of whether they pass the moral code or not, is the message of the story. It is not just about women but for all those instances when you feel helpless against a over bearing system that always makes victim the problem. Just go and check it out, this is a movie you got to see and don't think you are not part of the problem, because we all are.
 

• M.S. DHONI - 3.5 Stars (G - For Kids who are into Cricket)

M.S. Dhoni Trailer

Director - Neeraj Pandey
Actor - Sushant Singh Rajput, Anupam Kher, Bhumika Chawla, Disha Patani, Kiara Advani.

I had no expectations from this movie, but it turned out pretty good. Even though I am not a huge fan of any celebrity, and I don't find them Demi-gods. The movie's biggest negative is it's length, sitting for 3 hours is a little too much for today's movies. there may be 3-5 instances they wanted to show which people don't know about Dhoni and they took a long time showing that, also very few details are really shown. The movie impresses in execution. Technically Indian movies are being made at a very high level. Sushant Singh Rajput shows his mettle as an actor, and as Dhoni struggles before coming out as a great cricketer Sushant has come out in this movie as an actor to stay. He got into the skin of Dhoni and it was hard to see that he is not Dhoni, only if they had just gotten a better wig for his  scenes for the long haired Dhoni. The movie is low on histrionics and that keeps it real. Somehow new movie directors and actors are very confident in their craft and hence don't care to over do things. Great Job guys.

 

• HOUSEFUL 3 - 0 Stars. (Unhealthy for everyone)

Director - Farhad, Sajid.
Actor - Akshay, Abhishek, Riteish, Nargis, Jacqueline, Lisa.

Don't get carried away, there are loads of crap flowing out of the industry. In case you were wondering. Showing stupidity is funny, but you still need to be creative. This franchise keeps on going, there are people who want to watch the same jokes, and same over the top cartoonish acting. You want to be brave? go ahead and watch it, mind you - there is a small difference between Bravery and Stupidity :)

• SULTAN - 1.5 Stars. (G - Kid Friendly)

Director - Ali Abbas Zafar.
Actor - Salman, Anushka, Randeep Hooda.

I think I read somewhere that this is the best sports movie in India, that probably made my expectations higher than what I have from any Salman Movie. So sorry for giving it a low rating. The movie has nothing in it. Wrestling movie, with Salman looking 50 years old uncle but acting like a child. Sallu uncle start looking at some age appropriate roles, time has come. Movie is very predictable and obviously regressive in it's outlook (which doesn't bother me - you should know what you are getting into). What the movie showed me was - how a good actor can light up a movie, Anushka is an actor par excellence, what a punch she puts in her role! and then if you want style and smug - there is Randeep Hooda, the guy always has an awesome way to present himself.

• ALIGARH - 4.0 Stars (R)

Trailer - Aligarh

Director - Hansal Mehta
Actor - Manoj Bajpayee, Rajkummar Rao.

As I was talking about how good these new kids are. This kid - Rajkummar Rao is awesome, earlier he stunned me with his performance in "Shahid" and now he comes up with this. A journalist decides to take up the story of a Marathi Proff in Aligarh university who is gay. This probably is the best performance of Mr Manoj Bajpayee and that's saying a lot! The guy has a great resume, from Satya, Gangs of Wasseypur, and Aks. Both these actors just do a jugalbandi and take this art movie to a new height. I need to warn you-  yes this is the so called "Art Movie", one scene continues for 5 minutes showing a door and nothing happens! So be careful - sit back relax and think.

 

• GHAYAL ONCE AGAIN - 3.0 Stars (PG-13)

Trailer - Ghayal Once Again

Director - Sunny Deol.

Actor - Sunny Deol, Rishabh Arora.

The man himself is directing! Yes Sunny papaji directs this selfie. I was all set for an unintended comedy from the deols. I was surprised! it is not a bad movie! It is a good action flick with all the cheesiness possible. The movie ties to the original Ghayal and has a lot of old Ghayal scenes. If you remember Sunny goes to jail in Ghayal and now he has come out of jail and living a troubled 'post trauma filled' life. Not for long! as a bunch of kids get stuck trying to unveil truth about a powerful business man and there you go, Sunny papaji has to get them out of trouble. But the action is not bad and it is a movie that is pretty engaging.

• BAAGHI - 2.5 Stars (PG13 - Kid Friendly)

Trailer - Baaghi

Director - Sabir Khan
Actor - Tiger Shroff, Shradhha Kapoor.

What kind of a person names his Son Tiger? Anyway... just a random thought. Baaghi is the old school movie with loads of good marshal arts. Tiger Shroff is pretty good at that stuff, but he should do less of his 360 degree kicks, they get boring after the 1000th time. He is getting better, last movie I think he was bad now he is ok. He needs to get out of these old school action movies and do something else. The movie is not bad, lot of action, no story, everything can be predicted so all you need to do is pay attention on the 'action'. Shradha Kapoor is the prize in the match - Hero Vs Villain.

• AZHAR - 2.5 Stars (PG)

Trailer - Azhar

Director - Tony D Souza
Actor - Emraan Hashmi, Nargis Fakhri, Prachi Desai.

The movie is made on shoe string budget and none of the 'perfection' showed in Dhoni is in this movie. All the cricketers look like comedians playing the actual players ( and there are lot of them). Emraan is ok and did not get into the character. Obviously Azhar is yesterday's news and not today's like Dhoni. I thought movie was just made to make sure people know that Azhar got acquitted by court of any wrong doing. But public opinion is I guess set. I would have liked, if they would have showed more of Azhar and less of the court room drama and how he got acquitted. Anyway only hardcore movie buffs will go for this one.

• NIL BATTEY SANNATA - 4.0 Stars (G)

Trailer - Nil Battey Sannata

Director - Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari
Actor - Swara Bhaskar, Ratna Pathak, Riya Shukla.

Women power for you. All female cast. Quest of a mother to make sure her daughter has a better life than hers, sounds a little boring, but it is not. The story has pretty good depth to it, the characters are full and not one dimensional. It is a little slow, but later half it does catch steam. It is not a theme that you won't relate to, most parent-kid relationship falls in this category and the movie does a good job explaining it.

• TRAFFIC - 3.0 Stars. (PG13)

Trailer - Traffic

Director - Rajesh Pillai.
Actor - Manoj Bajpayee, Sachin Khedekar, Jimmy Shergill.

It is not what it sounds like. When you see Manoj Bajpayee standing as a constable you somehow think it is some hard hitting movie about social issues, it is not. It is just a thriller where a traffic police somehow ends up driving a car from Mumbai to Pune to save a life. The entire movie is very tacky, it just doesn't look real, all scenes seem to have been made up, the soul was missing, probably it just didn't jell properly. But all said and done it is good timepass movie, it's ok to forward a little bit.

 

• Ki & Ka - 4.0 Stars (PG)

Trailer - Ki and Ka

Director - R. Balki.
Actor - Kareena Kapoor, Arjun Kapoor.

It is Balki, and he comes with a few rules. The movie won't be your regular movie, it will have a very different concept and the negative of all Balki movies is - after the introduction of that novel concept the movie does not go anywhere else. This movie does follow similar pattern, but before you are going to lose interest it does give you enough twists that you are engaged. The let down are the 2 actors, Arjun Kapoor has some problem with his looks, he has problem carrying his body. Kareena looks really bad, and both can't act. Inspite of all that the movie is very good, the concept that 'ki' (Ladki) has some preset functions and 'ka' (Ladka) has set of norms is interesting. Also later on when they humanize both the characters it becomes interesting some more

• FAN - 3.5 Stars (R - Not for kids)

Trailer - Fan

Director - Manish Sharma
Actor - Shah Rukh Khan

I like it that SRK understands that he has to do different stuff and does not look good in same old 'big budget' movies he has been doing. He cannot be a Salman or a Rajneekant, I think he has way more potential than that. Doing the same thing for decades should be left for Salman and Rajni, because they won't look good doing anything else anyway. This movie has SRK and SRK as a SRK Fan. Once you get over the looks of the 'Fan SRK' you wonder if the movie will progress further, but then after some delay it does. The movie suddenly turns into a thriller with 'Darr kind of SRK' re-surfacing. It is SRK (the superstar) Vs SRK the fan. The fan challenges the superstar and vice versa. The 'chase sequences' are unnecessary and too long. especially when you are showing an ordinary kid on the streets and an aging superstar, they cannot be having chase sequences straight out of a Bond Movie. o well... over all... movie is pretty engrossing and something different from SRK. But chances are you want to see the same SRK who opens arms and makes faces, then wait for a few months.

 

• SAALA KHADOOS - 4.5 Stars (PG)

Trailer - Saala Khadoos

Director - Sudha Kongara
Actor - R Madhavan, Ritika Singh.

You want a sports movie? Skip Sultan and watch Saala Khadoos (On NETFLIX). This is probably the best sports film I saw coming out of India. Madhavan is buffed and looks good, the girl is absolute powerhouse of talent (Ritika Singh). She is just awesome, she really looks and feels exactly like the character of an eccentric boxer she is playing. The trial and tribulations of coach and student through the corrupt system, you start rooting for her with all her flaws and passion. Go watch it.
 

• NETFLIX 4 -

1. I.D. - 4.5 Stars. A 2012 film about a girl trying to ID a painter who collapses at her home. Beautiful depiction of life in general, in slums in Mumbai. A perfectly cut slice of life, the camera work is superb, and I am sure all the shots are real and not acted. the settings are authentic and the story is a beautifully carved reality. Loved it.
2. Saala Khadoos - 4.5 Stars. As I said above, a great find!
3. Delhi in a Day - 3.0 Stars. A movie about a Indian American who comes back to India for "Arranged Marriage". Discovers India, US and himself.
4. Stories by Rabindranath Tagore - 4.0 Stars. This is not a movie, but episodes. Choker Bali is awesome and so are others. You can tell why Tagore was a class apart. After 100s of years the stories are still 'alive'.