My Top 20 Bollywood Songs - October 23 2010

October 23 2010

1. Challa - Crook
2. Maiyya Yashoda - Jhootha Hi Sahi
3. Saude Baazi - Aakrosh
4. Call Me Dil - Jhootha Hi Sahi
5. Zor Ka Jhatka - Action Replayy
6. Kya - Crook
7. Cry Cry - Jhootha Hi Sahi
8. Mere Bina - Crook
9. Tujhe Mein - Crook
10. Tujhko Jo Paaya - Crook
11. Isak Se Meetha - Aakrosh
12. Do Nishaaniyan - Jhootha Hi Sahi
13. Tera Zikr - Guzaarish
14. Man Ki Mat - Aakrosh
15. Pam Para - Jhootha Hi Sahi
16. Chhan Ke Mohalla - Action Replayy
17. Dhak Dhak Dhak - Action Replayy
18. Challa Remix - Crook
19. Dooriyan Hain Zaroori - Break Ke Baad
20. Hello Hello - Jhootha Hi Sahi

Golmaal 3 - Apna Har Din Song Promo

Starring: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor, Arshad Warsi, Tusshar Kapoor, Shreyas Talpade.
Director: Rohit Shetty
Producer: Shree Ashtavinayak Cinevision Ltd
Music: Pritam
Releasing: November 5th 2010

Hottest Movies of the Week - October 18 2010

1. Aakrosh

 2. Break Ke Baad

 3. Knock Out

Hisss - Movie Review

Starring: Mallika Sherawat, Irrfan Khan, Jeff Douchette.
Director: Jennifer Lynch
Producer: Split Image Pictures, Venus Records & Tapes.
Music: Anu Malik
Released: October 22nd 2010

A lot of us who've grown up on masala cinema of 1970s and 1980s will vividly recall two films made on ichhadhaari naagins - Rajkumar Kohli's NAGIN [1976] and Harmesh Malhotra's NAGINA [1986]. Can we ever forget the revenge of the naagin? Can we ever forget the gripping plot, the spellbinding drama, the lilting music and of course, the unforgettable performances by Reena Roy and Sridevi, respectively?

When a film-maker attempts to make a film on an ichhadhaari naagin in 2010, the viewer expects to watch all of the above, besides great visual effects of course. More so because HISSS is helmed by a Hollywood director - Jennifer Lynch. But, to put it bluntly, HISSS is a nightmare. The film has absolutely nothing to offer - no story, no screenplay, no songs, no performances... even the making is so tacky.

Final word? If there were Razzies in Bollywood, HISSS would win hands down.

The story is about the vengeance of an ichhadhaari naagin. George [Jeff Doucette], a ruthless American, travels to the jungles of India and captures her mate. She transforms into a woman [Mallika Sherawat] with absolutely no clue about contemporary civilization or the ways of mankind, and ventures into the city in desperate search for her lover with vengeance on her mind and venom in her fangs.

Vikram [Irrfan Khan] is entrusted the responsibility of solving the murders and tracking down the mysterious killer.

Films like HISSS make you realize what's going wrong in Bollywood today. On one hand we celebrate the new stories being told in our movies and on the other, we churn out a HISSS, which is badly scripted, poorly enacted and carelessly directed. Believe me, it's easy to solve the crossword puzzle in newspapers than it is to understand what exactly is going on in this film.

As for director Jennifer Lynch, she needs a crash course in film-making pronto. The visual effects seem straight out of a B-grade Bollywood film.

Actors often tell me that they choose films based on the script, so what exactly did Irrfan Khan see in HISSS? Mallika has no dialogue all through the film, she changes lenses, then changes into a snake outfit and also goes full monty. That's it! Divya Dutta is wasted. Raman Trikha is passable. The actress enacting the role of Divya's mother is okay.

On the whole, HISSS is best avoided.

Rakht Charitra - Movie Review

Starring: Vivek Oberoi, Shatrughan Sinha, Abhimanyu Shekhar Singh.
Director: Ram Gopal Varma
Producer: Ram Gopal Varma
Music: Mani Sharma
Releasing: October 22nd 2010

It's been a long time since we saw Ram Gopal Varma making film worthy to bear his name on it, considering his remarkable history as a director. Rather he has been at the butt of many jokes and criticism for constantly coming up with unworthy products. During his recent interviews the director admitted that Raktra Charitra is one film that he is extremely anxious about as he considers it among his best. The expectations rise right away. And does he deliver on these? An honest answer would be 'yes he does to a large extent'!

Rakta Charitra is one film with action and attitude right from the first scene till the last. The story is based on true life incidents related to slain Telugu MLA Paritala Ravi. Though the characters are fictionalized to a reasonable extent the director has managed to keep enough authenticity. The protagonist in this film is Pratap Ravi (Vivek Oberoi). Pratap's father Veerbhadra is killed after he gains way too much power in his own party and that does not go too well with some others. That war that starts is clash of castes. Veerbhandra's elder son Surya gets into revenge more but is killed too. And that's when Pratap steps in and goes on to finish of all who were behind his father's murder. The story takes a turn as Pratap steps into politics.

The story moves at a relentless pace. By the intermission time it leaves you wondering what more can be set into the story in a tale of revenge. The second half does not disappoint either. The screenplay is in its place. And as usual Ramu sets the mood with the help of his innovative camera-work and energetic background music. Also he uses a news channel type narration to lend the story urgency and also to keep the story time shorter.

The director however fails to end the film well. The story does not have a proper ending. However it is innovative too as Ramu opts to reveal the promo of his second part at the end. Stylish and confident!

Performances too are worth watching, Vivek Oberoi does his best as he carries the film. But it is Abhimanyu Singh, who we have earlier seen in a power-packed Gulaal, who steals the show completely with his demonic presence. And of course Shatrughan Sinha minus his moustache and trademark 'Khamosh' is extremely likable. He rather has another phrase 'topic is over' to mark end of all his conversations and you have to watch the film to believe in the elegance the veteran actor delivers it!

Overall, Rakta Charitra is tale of blood and gore and may not be digestible to many. For them there will be other options. But if you are sucker for the gore and revenge dramas Rakta Charitra is your film. RGV nails it right on the head this time. 'Topic is over'!

Jhootha Hi Sahi - Movie Review

Starring: John Abraham, Pakhi, R Madhavan.
Director: Abbas Tyrewala
Producer: Saregama-HMV
Music: A. R. Rahman
Released: October 22nd 2010

'Jhoota Hi Sahi' reinstates a couple of beliefs that were established after the release of 'Jaane Tu... Yaa Jaane Na' a couple of years back. First, it is not necessary to always have a complete new story if you have a well done screenplay and fresh approach. Second, Abbas does not need a great actor to pull his film! 'Jaane Tu' was not the most unique story and neither is Imran Khan the most versatile actor we have. Yet the film and Imran went on to become sensations. With 'Jhoota Hi Sahi' the director attempts something similar. While the attempt has its freshness, it remains to be seen how it scores with the audience.

'Jhoota Hi Sahi' has a story with loads of winner moments strewn all over. But it also has loads of scenes and characters so completely inspired from elsewhere. For one the characters are quite inspired from the American sitcom Friends. And then we have the lead guy taking lies to make the girl fall for him. And of course how can we forget similarity with Hera Pheri - the entire story starts because the protagonist Sid (John Abraham) gets a wrong call as a result of his number being published in a helpline directory by mistake.

Nevertheless Abbas goes about building his story in his own style adding humour and drama to it. He and Pakhi script out an interesting screenplay and dialogues.

The film has been shot very neatly and has been edited well too. A. R. Rahman's music however is definitely not a highlight.

What's interesting is that John Abraham comes up with a good performance as a geek. Pakhi does well too but the only wish was if the film had a younger looking heroine. Raghu Ram does well in his first outing as an actor.

Overall, 'Jhoota Hi Sahi' is fun and refreshing. It's definitely a cool watch for the youngsters. What more, the final moments lead to the airport too!

Action Replayy - Chhann Ke Mohalla Song Promo

Starring: Akshay Kumar, Aishwarya Rai, Randhir Kapoor, Neha Dhupia.
Director: Vipul Shah
Producer: PVR Pictures, Blockbuster Movie Entertainers, Hari Om Entertainment Co.
Music: Pritam
Releasing: November 5th 2010

Weekly Film Spotlight - Arjun Pandit

Released : 20 August 1999
Starring : Sunny Deol, Juhi Chawla, Mukesh Rishi.
Director : Rahul Rawail
Producer : Sunil Saini
Music Director : Dilip Sen-Sameer Sen, Daler Mehndi
Music Review : 7.5/10
Movie Review : 7/10
Box Office Outcome : Average

Songs : Gher Ghaar Ghagro


Kahan Jaye Koi


Kudiyan Shaher Diyan


O Priya


Pagal Pagal


Pyar Ke Geet

Guzaarish - Sau Gram Zindagi Song Promo

Starring: Hrithik Roshan, Aishwarya Rai.
Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Producer: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Music: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Releasing: November 19th 2010

Band Baaja Baaraat - Soundtrack

01 - Ainvayi Ainvayi - Sunidhi Chauhan, Salim Merchant
02 - Tarkeebein - Benny Dayal, Salim Merchant
03 - Aadha Ishq - Natalie Di Luccio, Shreya Ghoshal
04 - Dum Dum - Benny Dayal, Himani Kapoor
05 - Mitra - Salim Merchant, Amitabh Bhattacharya
06 - Baari Barsi - Labh Janjua, Salim Merchant, Harshdeep Kaur
07 - Band Baaja Baaraat (Theme) - Salim Merchant Shraddha Pandit
08 - Ainvayi Ainvayi (Dilli Club Mix) - Sunidhi Chauhan, Master Saleem
09 - Dum Dum (Sufi Mix) - Sukhwinder Singh, Himani Kapoor

Starring: Ranveer Singh, Anushka Sharma.
Director: Maneesh Sharma
Producer: Yash Raj Films.
Music: Salim-Sulaiman
Releasing: December 10th 2010

Band Baaja Baaraat - Theatrical Trailer

Starring: Ranveer Singh, Anushka Sharma.
Director: Maneesh Sharma
Producer: Yash Raj Films.
Music: Salim-Sulaiman
Releasing: December 10th 2010

Band Baaja Baaraat - First Look

Starring: Ranveer Singh, Anushka Sharma.
Director: Maneesh Sharma
Producer: Yash Raj Films.
Music: Salim-Sulaiman
Releasing: December 10th 2010

Tees Maar Khan - Soundtrack

01 - Tees Maar Khan - Sonu Nigam (04:17)
02 - Sheila Ki Jawani - Vishal Dadlani ,Sunidhi Chauhan (04:43)
03 - Wallah Re Wallah - Shekhar Ravjiani ,Kamaal Khan , Raja Hasan , Shreya Ghoshal (05:28)
04 - Badey Dilwala - Shreya Ghoshal, Sukhwinder Singh (04:55)
05 - Happy Ending - Prajakta Shukre ,Abhijeet Sawant , Debojit Saha (04:43)
06 - Tees Maar Khan - Remix - Sonu Nigam (04:18)
07 - Sheila Ki Jawani - Remix - Vishal Dadlani ,Sunidhi Chauhan (04:48)
08 - Wallah Re Wallah - Remix - Shekhar Ravjiani ,Kamaal Khan , Raja Hasan , Shreya Ghoshal (04:28)
09 - Badey Dilwala - Remix - Shreya Ghoshal ,Sukhwinder Singh (04:57)

Starring: Akshay Kumar, Akshaye Khanna, Katrina Kaif.
Director: Farah Khan
Producer: Shree Ashtavinayak Cinevision Ltd, Hari Om Productions, Three's Company.
Music: Vishal-Shekhar
Releasing: December 24th 2010