Hindi Movie Identity Card 2014 (Hindi Flim Review)

Identity Card

Cast: Tia Bajpai, Furqan Merchant, Saurabh Shukla,Vipin Sharma

Direction: Rahat Kazmi

TV journalist Nazia, her friend Ajay and local tourist guide Raju get abducted in Srinagar, only to find themselves locked in a Special Task Force (STF) cell. With no identity cards on them, rigorous interrogation sessions begin. While the trio claims innocence, the counter-terrorism unit thinks otherwise. Is this a case of mistaken identity or are the three really at fault?

*Identity Card* predominantly tries to highlight human rights violations of Kashmiri civilians in the form of forced disappearances, torturous interrogations and extrajudicial killings. It also tries to comprehend the psyche of terrorists, police and the STF who struggle to differentiate between innocents and suspected insurgents, given the volatile circumstances.

However, Rahat Kazmi's ambitious film tries to bite off more than it can chew. While the director's intention is sincere and noble, he fails to evoke a reaction, owing to his vague execution. Performances are decent but they prove to be futile, given the incoherent script. Especially given the gravity of the topic, solid research was required. The climax too disappoints, given the characters' wishful thinking and over-simplistic conclusion.

Also, throughout the film, you keep wondering if it was intended to be a short dramedy or a gut-wrenching tale of suffering. In either case, it fails to make an impact. After all, you can't merely 'touch upon' an issue as sensitive and intricate as Kashmir.

We don't know about identity but the film lacks substance for sure.

Bengali Movie Hercules 2014 (Bengali Flim Review)

Hercules

Cast: Parambrata Chatterjee, Paoli Dam,

          Saswata Chatterjee, Biswajit Chakraborty

Direction: Abhijit Guha, Sudeshna Roy.

Hercules is a light-hearted swipe at the harsh realities of modern-day life in Kolkata. It has all the characters — the simpleton, who is too used to abuse to be ashamed of his weaknesses, the para goon, who can go to any length to maintain his 'image', the girl-next-door, who always has cupid following her with arrows on the ready, and the saviour, who truly knows what to do when circumstances scream, 'Action!' But how can we forget the constant source of stress, the kingpin who makes goons dance to his tune? Yes, he is in the film too.

But it's Parambrata who steals the show as the goon-tormented simpleton, Haru — replicating the mannerisms of a weak-kneed nobody to perfection. He is also good in his other avatar — the hardened criminal, Bhondor. Saswata, on the other hand, is kind of sweet as the local goon, Mosh. He gets everything — confused, insulted, beaten up — except the girl, and Haru's property. And the actor has delivered the character perfectly to the audience. As for the girl, Paoli has done her bit complete justice as Meenu — Haru's long-time crush and go-to person. Her expressions and body language, however, seem a bit too confident for a girl who runs a PCO to make both ends meet. BiswajitChakraborty, too, is good as realtor Bajoria, who wants Haru's property to build the entrance to a shopping mall coming up on the adjoining plot. Of course, we have to mention the nameless characters who added colour to Haru and Mosh's locality — the milkman, the municipal sweeper and the senior citizen, to name a few. Art director Tanmoy Chakrabarty also deserves kudos for creating the perfect para for the film, including that mossy, grimy finish to Haru's rundown home. Every inch of that decrepit building looked old enough to crumble any moment, and it's hard to believe that it was actually a set. The music, on the other hand, is ok, but not something that stays on with you outside the hall.

Moreover, despite the abundance of emotions, the climax seems to leave too many questions unanswered to be truly conclusive. Though no climax ever is, one is left feeling too unsure about Haru's future, especially after the bravado he displays towards the end.

Hercules is a movie you can watch and enjoy. After all, it's so light-hearted that even its villains are sweet and funny!

Raja Natwarlal 2014 (Hindi Flim Review)

Raja Natwarlal

Banner : Utv Motion Pictures

Producer :Ronnie Screwvala, Siddharth Roy Kapur

Cast : Emraan Hashmi, Humaima Malick, Paresh Rawal

            Deepak Tijori, Kay Kay Menon

Story / Writers : Parveez Shaikh

Music Director : Yuvan Shankar Raja

Director : Kunal Deshmukh

Singers : Arijit Singh, Shweta Pandit, Mamta Sharma

               Anupam Amod, Benny Dayal, Mika Singh

Lyricist : Irshad Kamil.

 

Raja Natwarlal is a golden-hearted con for it leaves you smiling at its tricks, despite obvious flaws. Raja (Emraan) and partner Raghav (Deepak) pull off small confidence tricks in an appealing Mumbai of clattering trains, fragrant Iranis and gleaming dance bars. Raja loves dancer Zia (Humaima) and is set to marry after he persuades Raghav to steal 80 lakhs - which belong to big-time swindler Vardha (Kay Kay), who makes Raghav pay with his life. Raja's determined to take revenge but he needs the guru of crooks, Yogi (Paresh), to guide him. Will Yogi agree - and will Raja win?

With its twisting story, good-looking frames and zingy acting, Raja Natwarlal keeps you entertained. Paresh Rawal stands out as Yogi, short-tempered, foul-mouthed and shrewd, a malicious mentor - "Kheenche hue kaan se mila hua gyaan hamesha yaad rehta hai" - wincing as he mentions "a very sweet boy", the fine actor displaying the flair of an old lion that eats bottles of rum. Kay Kay matches with his Vardha, a savage in a suit, oil-slick and lean, desperately keen on acquiring a cricket team, ready to bludgeon his way towards this. And Emraan convinces too, Raja both swaggering and vulnerable, a hero who smiles shyly, then kisses on the mouth (although pecks on the cheek can get more passionate than the demure caresses here). Pakistani actor Humaima presents a graceful Zia, her role relatively slender but including chest-thumping numbers like 'Mere hothon ke namak-pare', which will have your inner tapori tapping her feet.

The plot travels from Mumbai to Dharamshala and Cape Town but director Kunal Deshmukh retains firm control. The story packs in paisa, pyaar, confidence, over-confidence, chummas, chases, corrupt cops, cricket associations, surprises and some rather nice songs - but keeps its weight under control. Despite flaws - like how a don like Vardha doesn't know the face of a man he's seeking, who's now persuading him to buy a non-existent team - Raja Natwarlal wins you over by the sassy swagger of its tricks, its hit-men and 'HDMC Bank', its tongue lodged firmly in its cheek.
Go watch - this one is, ahem, definitely worth a kiss.

Bengali Movie Action 2014 (Bengali Flim Review)

 Action

Director : Sayantan Mukherjee

Cast : Om, Barkha Bhist, Megha Ghosh, Nusrat Jahan.

The star cast has not many famous names. The director has only one more film to his name. The film does not boast of frenzied promotion. You might just have missed this one completely, if not for the lead actor.

Sayantan Mukherjee's Action stays true to its name. There's enough dhishoom-dhishoom, enough drama, enough glam quotient... enough action, we mean. When Raka (Barkha Sengupta), a hot, 20-something, gun-toting coal-mafia's amorous advents are rejected by college-goer Akash (Om), she turns his life into a living hell. Akash, along with his family, flees Raja Gunj to escape Raka's wrath and joins a college in Kolkata under the alias of Rohit Roy. Here, he meets Rini (Amrita Mukherjee) and romance blooms. But is Raka ready to let go off Akash so soon?

The first half's frequent to-and-fro into the present and the past is confusing. Also, a good half an hour has been devoted to redundant description of Akash and Rini's college life. The humour is slapstick, sometimes downright offensive and Kharaj Mukherjee, as the pot-bellied lecherous hostel superintendant, is left wasted in a stock avatar. But it's the song, an entire one at that, dedicated to farting (yes, you read that right), that leaves you squirming in your seat. Aamijamini, tumisoshi he turns into 'Aami Charini, tumicherecho, cherechogandhobaje..." Like, seriously?!

The second half helps in binding the puzzle blocks together. But that's not much relief since the resultant story falls flat on its face. Add to that BarkhaSengupta's accent and dialogue delivery, and not even Nusrat Jahan sizzling to chicken tandoori could have elevated Action from the level of average.

But wait, there's one little saving grace. In Om, as Akash/Rohit. He is pleasant on the eyes and his chiselled expressions actually force you sit straight and take notice. What's more, the guy can dance too! Comedy, however, is not his forte. But cut him some slack, he is just 2-films old in this industry. Swagata Mukherjee, as Raka's mom, is heavily influenced by Supriya Pathak Kapur's Ba, Leela's mother from Ram Leela. But she successfully establishes the character. Amrita Mukherjee as Rini, however, never had much chance to show off any acting prowess.

Lastly, the action in Action, is worth a mention. Armed with Bolly level cinematography and intelligent use of light, Sayantan Mukherjee pulls a coup, when it comes to the actual action sequences.

Finding Fanny 2014 (Upcomming Movie)

Finding Fanny

 Cast : Deepika Padukone, Arjun Kapoor, Pankaj Kapur

           Kevin D'Mello, Dimple Kapadia, Naseeruddin Shah

Director: Homi Adajania

Story / Writer: Homi Adajania

Producer: Dinesh Vijan, Saif Ali Khan

Executive Producer: Vishal Bajaj

Art Direction: Niyati Bane

Editor: Prashanth Ramachandran

Casting Director: Shruti Mahajan

Release Date: 12 Sep 2014

Hindi Movie Katiyabaaz 2014(Hindi Flim Review)

Katiyabaaz

Cast: Loha Singh

Direction: Deepti Kakkar, Fahad Mustafa

When circumstances push you way past your breaking point, can disobeying the law be justified? This conflict lies at the heart of this riveting docu-drama based on real events in Kanpur. Though it predominantly deals with something as serious as 'electricity theft', it never ceases to be a humane drama that is heartbreaking, yet funny at times.

True to the title, the film's (self-proclaimed) 'hero' of sorts is local vigilante Loha Singh, who is a Katiyabaaz, Katiya being the wire used to steal electricity and Katiyabaaz, the expert electricity thief.

Plagued by poverty and power cuts which last for as long as 15 hours a day, Kanpurites prefer paying thieves like Loha to get illegal but instant electricity, as opposed to paying KESCO (Kanpur Electricity Supply Company Limited), which fails to meet their expectations.

On the other hand, due to poor billing and collection standards, lack of funds, soaring demand, inadequate power generation and meter tampering, KESCO has been making heavy losses.

To bring the situation under control, KESCO's MD Ritu Maheshwari tries her best to resolve the long-standing issues and generate revenue. She orders taking serious steps against the perpetrators and during the process, faces multiple challenges. Is there a solution to this rampant problem?

The film draws your attention to the reasons and repercussions of the critical crisis, instead of merely focusing on the illegalities, thus giving you the whole picture. Balanced in its approach, this is one of very few social issue-based films that dares to take sides. A tale of survival was never so poignant and entertaining, all at once.

Sensitively directed, realistically shot,* Katiyabaaz* will make you value the most basic thing your city provides you with, that you often take for granted - *bijli.*

Hindi Movie Mad About Dance 2014 (Hindi Flim Review)

Mad About Dance

Cast: Saahil Prem, Amrit Maghera

Direction: Saahil Prem

No Elvis this. Yet his thrusts have a lot of pelvis. He 'locks', 'pops' and 'breaks'. He's fast, smooth and footloose. The heart of this story rests on the dance floor, but dares to step out too.

Aarav Anand's (Saahil) life pirouettes on one big dream - he wants to join his idol Caesar's dance group. With little money and pounds of passion, he moves to the quaint town of Sheffield in UK to track down his dancing guru. He bonds with other struggling desis having similar woes of living in a phoren land. He traces Caesar and his troupe of sinister-looking white snobs, who hate the 'brownies' ("Brownies are fit to be waiters, cabbies and caterers!").

He even suffers a humiliating defeat in a dance battle and is ousted. He meets UK-born desi girl Aashira (Amrit) who hates the 'browns', but abruptly waltzes over to the other side, finds a partner in him and falls in love too. Aarav then forms the first Asian dance crew in Sheffield that participates in a fierce dance battle at the national level.

Debutant director Saahil Prem's film is simple with a formulaic story line. It doesn't ever 'step-up' to another level. It delves into issues beyond dance - racial conflict, youth dilemmas and dreams. While none of these sub-plots are well-fleshed out, they end up throwing the story off the dance floor.

Debutant director Saahil Prem's film is simple with a formulaic story line. It doesn't ever 'step-up' to another level. It delves into issues beyond dance - racial conflict, youth dilemmas and dreams. While none of these sub-plots are well-fleshed out, they end up throwing the story off the dance floor.

Some dance routines (B-boying, locking, popping, break-dance, free-style - Salah Benlemqawanssa & Supple Nam - Kryptic Movement) will arouse cheers, and the dancers are undeniably impressive during the fiery dance face-offs. Yet, for a dance film, it lacks pace, energetic enthusiasm and a good soundtrack. The lead pair burns the dance floor, can't say the same about their romance. Most of the cast dances better than they emote.

Saahil strikes with aggressive moves, he's silently charming, but underplays his emotions. Amrit is smooth on the dance floor and likeable; Raashul Tandon (of the buddy gang) provides laughs.

'MAD' puts its best foot forward at the end, hold your breath for the last dance.

Overall, it's a film for dance lovers. Even if it leaves the heart dancing for more.