shafiq-siddiqui81 Reviews

Pinky Memsaab (2018)

Effect, impressive and earnest attempt

[7/10 · 7 December 2018]

First things first, Pinky Memsaab is an independent film, so don't expect masala entertainment and larger than life treatment with it. The film is loaded with brilliant performances by Hajra Yamin (Pinky), Kiran Malik (Mehar), Sunny Hinduja (Santosh) and Adnan Jaffar (Hassan).

The film is about how expats live their lives, what challenges they face, it's also a film about relationships and the way we see them from different angles. The direction by Shazia Ali Khan is effective and dialogues are simple, to the point and very believable.

This film is best fit for festivals and subject oriented cinema. I thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend it to everyone who liked films like Cake, Manto, and other quality-oriented cinema.

Raasta (2017)

Raasta – Road To Foolishness

[2/10 · 2 April 2017]

Sahir Lodhi is among the most loved celebrities of Pakistan; this statement holds true as people love Sahir Lodhi whether he is hosting FM shows or morning shows. Sahir is one of those celebs who have a huge following. But the question is will his fans spend money on tickets to watch his movie? Will he be able to prove himself as the next superstar of Pakistani Cinema with his debut feature film Raasta? Let's explore this all and dissect Raasta The Movie. Samir (Sahir Lodhi) is the younger brother of righteous police officer Sultan (Aijaz Aslam) who is married to Sana. The bond between Samir and his sister-in-law is very thick. Samir keeps on applying for jobs but he seems "over- qualified" for most of the jobs and because of no solid reference he fails to get a job every time. Shamoon Abbasi (Don) and Naveed Raza (Chhota Don) are the baddies who are brothers; shown as smugglers and involved in human trafficking. Sultan plans to crack down their empire but soon he faces an attack from Shamoon because of which Sahir comes face to face with Naveed. In this game of cats and dogs, Samir becomes one of the most wanted criminal beside Don and Chhota Don. What happens next is what Raasta is all about. Raasta is a dull attempt in totality. The film lacks in good (read: sensible) script. Raasta is just like a food that is served without salt. Sahir Lodhi is not at all a hero material. Sahir looks lethargic and fatigued in scenes. It looks like he is trying too hard to be convincing. Sahir's performance falls flat in Raasta. Aijaz Aslam is a decent actor but in Raasta he is below average. Directors and actors need to understand that in every sequence one does not have to be high on intensity. Naveed Raza is another let- down, tries to look cool but rather looks retarded (or mentally challenged) with his looks and expressions, which he was not playing. Shamoon Abbasi is the only actor who gave somewhat mature performance in Raasta. Both the actresses Abeer and Saima can hardly be considered as character actors because of their performance, diction and body language. Raasta is one of those movies where the center of attraction is only one character, and that is Sahir Lodhi. More than 85% of the movie is on and about Sahir Lodhi, either he is shown on-screen or he is narrating. This would be one of a kind film where after every ten to fifteen minutes there is narration. Narration keeps on moving with the film. Obviously it is narrated by Sahir Lodhi. The plot of Sahir Lodhi's Raasta is big time inspired from hit Bollywood movies from 70's and 80's era. You take some scenes and basic plot from Deewar (1975) add a little Arjun (1985) and Gardish (1993) to it and then mix it well with Shakti (1982); Raasta is the end product. Settings of songs are also inspired from Bollywood; choreography and cinematography of Dil Faqeer is inspired from Suraj Hua Maddham (Kabhi Khushie Kabhi Ghum) and Teri Ore (Singh Is King). Mathira looks horrible in item number titled "Yaar Sajjan Mein Launra Channiya". On the whole, Raasta is a total letdown. One cannot find any sensibility in the movie. Dialogues are weakest and songs hardly make any impact. Raasta is all set to go on the route to failure. At the box office, it won't be a hit. I rate Raasta 1.5/5 stars.

Revenge of the Worthless (2016)

Worthless Watch

[4/10 · 22 July 2016]

Jamal Shah is amongst the most reputed names of Pakistan Television industry. Shah even did international projects in 80's and 90's but this time he has returned with his directorial debut, "Revenge of the Worthless". With a highly potent cast including veterans like Firdaus Jamal, Ayub Khoso and Jamal Shah, what Revenge has to offer to its viewers? Let us discuss the Revenge of the Worthless. Revenge of the worthless is set on the backdrop of Swat insurgency on different levels and how multiple lives are involved and affected during that phase. Revenge shares the story of an upright progressive man Zarak Khan (Jamal Shah), who is closer to his roots; a singer Shabaana (Maira Khan) who preaches the message of love and harmony, a boy Gulalai (Abdul Raheem) who is disowned by his father due to his sexual orientation and a man Janaan (Imran Tareen) who lost his family in terrorist attacked. How their lives are affected by Talibans and extremists in Swat is what Revenge of the Worthless is all about. Despite being an ensemble cast of veterans, the movie fails to impress on the whole. Firdaus Jamal and Ayub Khoso stand out a bit, but not completely, due to the feeble script. Jamal Shah is average; there are scenes where, as an actor, he could have pulled off very well but unfortunately he doesn't leave any mark. Maira Khan overacts in most of the scenes. She falls terribly short in the diction department. She could have done her homework more effectively to portray a character which Shabaana was. Shaamil Khan has limited screen presence but again, his dialogues are badly written, giving him no margin to perform decently. Imran Tareen looks promising and can turn out to be a very dependable intense actor, provided he is given the right kind of roles. Abdul Raheem manages to portray the character as per the requirement. Noor Bukhari in a cameo is wasted. Another letdown in Revenge is that it seems that the actors worked half-heartedly during the shooting. There's not a single performance to lookout for. The music is below average. The only saving grace of Revenge is its action sequences, to certain extent. It looks like Jamal Shah made a film for himself only. The narration had many hiccups; editing is haphazard at some points; however the cinematography is good. As an entire package, Revenge is worthless as it does not leave any mark. I would rate Revenge a 2/5; a below average film, and a disappointment from old-timers.

Sawal 700 Crore Dollar Ka (2016)

The miserable watch

[2/10 · 9 July 2016]

It was during the 1980's when Sultan Rahi (Late) ruled the box office with his "Gundasa oriented" Punjabi films, and there were a only few young lads who were giving Rahi Saab a decent competition in Urdu cinema including Javed Sheikh and Ghulam Mohiuddin. After a hiatus, both of these fine actors are back in Jamshed Jan Muhammed's directorial debut "Sawal 700 Crore Dollar Ka". The movie is also the launchpad for Ali Mohiuddin and Qurat-Ul-Ain. This Eid S7CDK is released alongside other Bollywood and Hollywood releases. Let's see what Sawal 700 Crore Dollar Ka has to offer to die-hard Pakistani film lovers and fans of 2 living legends of Pakistan. Tiger and Commander are 2 con-artistes and they only take up jobs which involve precious and unique jewels. In one assignment, Commander is arrested by the police and Tiger is left at large. Years later, Tiger (Javed Sheikh) plans to rob Maharaja (Nayyar Ejaz). For this robbery, Tiger needs someone who can be trusted upon. Here enters Rocky (Ali Mohiuddin); a young, smart and fearless conman. Tiger and Rocky plan and execute their plan but Inspector Khan (Shamoon Abbasi) and Ringo (Ghulam Mohiuddin) have some other plans for the duo. Will Tiger and Rocky be able to finish what they have started? What does Inspector Khan have in his mind for the 2 con-men? How Ringo changes the entire plot? To get answer of all these questions, you'll have to watch Sawal 700 Crore Dollars Ka. Ali Mohiuddin looks dashing but he needs to work very hard on his dialogue delivery, dancing, and emotional scenes. He can be a young action hero but then again he has to work on that as well. QuratUl- Ain plays the love interest of Ali and she needs to improve her dancing as well. Her character in the film is strong which allowed her to show her emotions and expressions but she kind of wasted it. Shamoon Abbasi is just okay. At times, Abbasi goes too over-board. Javed Sheikh proves that he is a veteran. It's only Javed Sheikh in the entire movie who manages to save the sinking yacht. Ghulam Mohiuddin is first-rate. If he had been given some better dialogue, Ghulam Mohiuddin would have been a treat to watch. Ismail Tara and Iftikhar Thakur are wasted, their comic sequences were majorly targeted towards the front seaters; mostly below the belt jokes – those too very lame. A special mention for the background score team; don't assume that audience is not familiar with Indian songs and title tracks Mera Pyar Shaalimar (Shaalimar), Laila Main Laila (Qurbani), Pyar Karne Waale Pyar Karte Hain Shaan Se (Shaan), Pyar Lo Pyar Do (Jaanbaaz) and Title Track of Race. Songs are not for repeat listening, not a single one. The highlight of Sawal 700 Crore Dollar Ka is its VFX and this is also the most horrendous part. Some scenes are shot and executed nicely but the remaining ones don't give realistic feel; and that is a huge letdown. The little to moderate focus on VFX and major on acting could have made the movie a decent watch, but the reversal of both is simply awful. Dialogue by Nasir Adeeb have nothing new and neither a recall value is attached to them. The director, Jamshed Jan Mohamad, should come up with fresh ideas and fresher team, maybe this will help him in the long run. I rate Sawal 700 Crore Dollar Ka a strict 1.5/5 (that's the maximum it deserves). The movie might do well in single screens, in multiplexes it's a laughing stock.

Maalik (2016)

Maalik Is A Solid Entertainer

[7/10 · 10 April 2016]

Ashir Azeem is known for entertaining his audience. Right from the days of Dhuwaan, he is labeled as the patriot and genuine entertainment provider to Pakistanis. Maalik is Ashir Azeem's directorial debut and the movie is amongst the most anticipated movies of Pakistni cinema. Let's see what Maalik has to offer to its viewers. Maalik is a tale of every citizen, in one way or the other. It revolves around an SSG officer who starts a private security company, after going through a major tragedy in his life. It is about the grudge between a feudal and a righteous school master. And it is also about a family which escapes from Afghanistan and settles in Karachi. There comes a point when all these lives intersect one another, that's what makes Maalik an engaging tale of love, patriotism, power, revenge and feudalism. Performance wise, Ashir Azeem is very calculated. He gives exactly what the character required. Hassan Niazi is competent and gave a stellar performance. Adnan Shah Tipu is very effective. Tipu adds lighter mood to the movie and some of his scenes re very well executed. Sajid Hassan and Muhammad Ehteshamuddin are good in their respective roles. By the way, there is Farhan Ali Agha in the movie as well, but his character is almost a filler, nothing substantial attached to it. Music of Malik leaves great impression. The title track and Maula are picks of the lot. But the remaining songs and the climax song "Nazria" are good too. The cinematography of Maalik is beautiful and brilliantly done. Direction wise, Maalik is impressive. Ashir Azeem proves again after so many years that he is an able captain of the ship and can sail in rough tides with competence. The only flaw in Maalik is editing. The film could have been chopped a little, plus there's an abrupt ending, which makes audience question about many things which weren't clearly answered in the movie. Apart from these two points, Maalik is a very nice attempt for the Pakistani cinema. It is a movie which is packed with patriotism, romance, action sequences and message. Watch Maalik and take ownership, that's what the movie is all about.

Ho Mann Jahaan (2015)

A Dragging Family Entertainer

[6/10 · 31 December 2015]

Asim Raza's Ho Mann Jahaan is the most anticipated movie of 2016. The New Year will bring "massive-TV-audience" to cinema halls in Pakistan. Ho Mann Jahaan features the gorgeous Mahira Khan, talented Sheheryar Munawar and Adeel Hussain. The movie Ho Mann Jahaan was heavily promoted on social media and a huge series of multiple promotional events were also witnessed in different cities of Pakistan. Let's see what Ho Mann Jahaan has to offer to its viewers. Ho Mann Jahaan is a tale of 3 friends Mahira Khan, Adeel Hussain and Sheheryar Munawar. Their love and passion for music is intensified but they are always suppressed by the society and family from which they belong. What happens in the pursuit of finding their dreams is what Ho Mann Jahaan is all about. Performance wise, Ho Mann Jahaan, unfortunately does not belong to any actor. The performances are nothing like over the top or worth remembering. Sheheryar Munawar is a good talent to be utilized but in this very movie he is not in his finest form. He needs to work on himself. A few of post-interval scene from Shehryar are nice; and that is it. Adeel Hussain carries the character well but lacks the conviction in many parts. Mahira Khan is simply gorgeous. This could have been her most promising role, but she somewhere got carried away and did not look the character she performed. Music of Ho Mann Jahaan has received a mix reaction, some songs are melodious, some are promoted excessively to be heard and some are just average. The highlight of Ho Mann Jahaan is its "Cameo-Gang". Asim Raza has interestingly and smartly utilized multiple actors (read: stars) as cameo in the script and that's refreshing. The biggest let down of this movie is that it's editing is very lousy. It could have been a lot better and shorter with smart editing. Asim Raza as the director of the movie is dependable. It's a nice effort from Raza but the movie is sure to receive both applaud and criticism i.e. a mixed response. Ho Mann Jahaan is a family watch.

Manto (2015)

Manto - A Sheer Brilliance

[9/10 · 11 September 2015]

Saadat Hasan Manto aka "Manto" was not just a man but a mirror to the societal issues, happenings and diplomacy and at places mockery as well. Manto was that inner voice which no one ever wanted to listen to; he was the reflection which everyone tried to hide from others, to keep their personalities clean and spotless. For many, Manto was a riddle and for many he was eccentric. But who Manto actually was is a question that is still raised in the mind of many of his readers and followers. If you really want to know who and what MANTO was watch MANTO. Manto is the tale of famous URDU writer who is not limited to Indo- Pak but also across the globe with highest number of translated publications. The mind which came up with countless ideas, characters, messages and tales on literally daily basis even after suffering from peer pressure, governmental bans and court cases can only be give one title i.e. genius. The movie revolves around Manto, his life, family, friends and his tales. How Manto was released from Mental Hospital and then again sent back to it is what Manto the film is all about. As Manto is based on reality, the storyline is as realistic as possible. Performance wise, Sarmad Khoosat as Manto is remarkable, he gives a calculated performance. Thumbs up for not going overboard and not playing underdog! Manto is by far the best performance of Sarmad Khoosat – hands down. Sania Saeed is the most dependable actress right from the beginning of her career i.e. Sitara Aur Mehrunnisa. She is seen composed, calm, quiet and very natural in every single shot. Sabah Qamar as Noor-e-Jehaan is not as earnest as she could have been. One can spot that "she's acting". There are 4 highlights of Manto The Film, which Pakistani cinema has not witnessed for ages. Bold topics (not vulgar) were penned by Manto and this was one of the reasons why most tried to ban him. Showing eroticism on Pakistani screen is a baby in an incubator. Hats off to the entire team for writing, acting, executing and not crossing the line – that's not a usual thing. "Mehrum" is a song which unleashes the sensuality with nothing but camera work. The title track of the movie is flawless. It's rare to watch a movie that is backed with script that radiates beauty of a language; Manto secretes the beauty of Urdu. For those, who love Urdu language, will definitely love every other dialogue and phrase from the movie. Music of Manto is apt. No more, no less. The music supports the lyrics and vocals – big time. Emotional outbursts and finest detailing of expressions is vaguely seen in movies these days. Manto offers both in abundance. It's a movie with power packed emotional scenes including gestures, looks and most definitely dialogues. It's hard to recall any Pakistani movie which showcased multiple tales in one story, Manto's flawlessness lies in smartly sprinkling different tales from Manto's pen. Stories like Tooba Tek Singh, Hattuk, Thanda Gosht, Ooper Neechay Aur Darmiaan and Khol Do are efficiently woven in the main script. This deserves applauding. The only places where Manto could have scored well include the missing aura of filmmaking. There's nothing grand about Manto in terms of picturization. The other thing is, the movie could be chopped a little more like 10 – 15 minutes. Manto is by far the most authentic, genuine, impressive and faultless movie which Pakistan has produced. Those who support revival of Pakistani Cinema, Manto will be a treat for you.

Karachi Se Lahore (2015)

Rom-Com Road Trip

[7/10 · 1 August 2015]

The most common issue that is raised by people about Pakistani film industry is that the script of the movie is usually not engaging plus the dialogues are either inspired from Bollywood movies or reinvented from our dramas. With the release of movies like Namaloom Afraad, Waar, Wrong No. and Bol, Pakistani films have proved that they are worthy of being watched at least once. Karachi Se Lahore is directorial debut of Wajahat Rauf. Karachi Se Lahore has launched some great performers on silver screen like Ayesha Omer, Ahmed Ali, Yasir Hussain etc. Will Karachi Se Lahore be another turning stone for Pakistani Cinema? Let's discover. Karachi Se Lahore is a rom-com road trip of Zaheem (Shehzad Sheikh) who comes to know that his girlfriend Ashi (Eshita Syed) is planning to dump him by getting married to Timmy in Lahore. After learning the reality, Zaheem with his two friends Sam (Ahmed Ali) and Moti (Yasir Hussain) plans to leave for Lahore to crash the wedding of Ashi. They don't have a dependable ride, so they take help from Zaheem's neighbor Maryam (Ayesha Omer) and her younger brother Zeezu who own a jeep. What happens next on the road is all about cherishing friendship, treasuring loved ones and finding love. Karachi Se Lahore rests on the shoulders of script and dialogues – hands down. Hats off to the writer and actor Yasir Hussain for beautifully writing the characters and performing Moti which would easily remind some great performers of the past like Moin akhter and Saleem Nasir. Yasir essays his character with originality and with complete gusto. He is a treat to watch, no second opinion. Ahmed Ali as Sam is adorable and shows qualities of a super star who showcases accurate expressions when needed. His cool attitude, lame jokes and body language is just so very believable. Shehzad Sheikh in his second movie has shown huge improvement. His dialogue delivery, diction, fast paced statements and acting skills have multiplied. He can easily be a good comic hero of Pakistani cinema because of his great comic timings. Ayesha Omer is good. She sizzles in the item song "Tutty Fruity". Eshita Syed hams a lot. Javed Sheikh is wasted, he is one fine actor and should be given more screen presence Rasheed Naz is outstanding, each and every of his scene are definitely going to bring laughter and smiles to viewers' faces. As a kid, Ashir Wajahat is good and very confident. Karachi Se Lahore is studded with cameos of Waqar Zaka, Rubya Chaudhry, Ali Hamza, Shiraz Uppal, Shazia Wajahat, Ali Noor etc. Wajahat Rauf has definitely worked hard on the script and filming. Karachi Se Lahore offers a freshness and good script. It's a total entertainer with some great one liners, jokes, and humor that one does not come across in Pakistani cinema. Tutty Fruity, Rabi Ralli and Aaja Re are picks of the lot whereas Lohriya gives the typical Punjabi track. Watch Karachi Se Lahore if you want to laugh out louder and witness how a simple and easy storyline can be engaging and interesting for viewers. Karachi Se Lahore is no PK, Waar, Bajrangi Bhaijaan but it's also nothing less than Na Maloom Afraad, Pyar Ka Punchnama and other hit laugh riots. I would rate it 3.5 out of 5 for fresh humor, Yasir's and Sam's acting.

Wrong No. (2015)

Senseless Laugh Riot

[17 July 2015]

(Spoilers Ahead) What's the sure-shot way to launch a blockbuster at the box office, when there's an intersection of a festival and long weekend? Create a masala entertainer, market it on (literally) every platform and get loads and loads of business. Well, that's exactly what YNH (Yasir Nawaz, Nida Yasir and Hassan Zia) Films did. Wrong No. is one of the most hyped movies of this year, produced in Pakistan. Yasir and Nida have produced Nadaaniaan (a TV Sitcom) that gained massive popularity. One can only expect mega dose of laughter and entertainment from their first movie. Danish Taimoor, after Jalaibee needed a performance to save his career in the Pakistani movie industry. Javed Sheikh is has proved yet again that his comic timing is among the finest ones in the industry after Na Maloom Afraad's huge success. Would Wrong No. be able to do great business at the box office? Will it be a turning point for the main leads? Let's explore! Wrong No. starts with Sallu (Danish) running away from his home because his father Haji Abba (a butcher by profession) wants him to get married with Laila (Sohai Ali Abro) and join him in his business either of which Sallu doesn't want. Sallu plans to sneak in the empire of Sheharyar (Sallu's look alike). Shehryar visits Pakistan for the first time and his subordinate Haya (Janita Asma) visits Karachi from Lahore to take him to Lahore. On the contrary, Shera (Shafqat Cheema) and Danish Nawaz both want to abduct Sheharyar to get ransom from his grandfather who is a Nawab (Qavi Khan). What happens next in intermingling of male protagonists and their female leads is what Wrong No. is all about. Performance wise, Wrong No. depends mainly upon the shoulders of its greatly ensemble supporting cast. Javed Sheikh is a treat to watch, especially his expressions and one liners would keep audiences smiling and laughing at one point or the other during the entire movie. Nayyar Ejaz (Gullu Butt) is a revelation. Although his character has very limited screen presence but as they say a strong actor does not need lengthy role to impress his viewers. He cannot go "unnoticed". Danish Nawaz and Nadeem Jafry are good in their respective characters. Danish is very entertaining and it's his highest leap from what he usually does on television screens. Danish has the accurate talent for movies, particularly comic ones. Nadeem Jafri does not have many dialogues but his presence is very strong and some of his dialogues will be repeated by viewers. Danish Taimoor, the male lead of Wrong No., does not impress. This was a perfect role for any actor to nail it because it offers all drama, comedy, romance and dance. He needs to improve his dancing big time. There are two sentimental and dramatic scenes in the movie which center him and he looks fatigued in them. As far as his comic dialogues are concerned, it's the dialogue which will make the audiences laugh – not the way he has delivered them. Janita Asma needs to improve her acting skills, period. Sohai Ali Abro carries a huge baggage of Pyarey Afzal's Yasmeen's character. She performs like the same she did in that drama. Shafqat Cheema is average. Yasir Nawaz in a cameo is good. Tooba Siddiqui in a song is an eye candy. One special mention for the kid is the must. There's no way audience could ever stop laughing or forget his dialogues, expressions and plea. The kid is very very cute. As director, Yasir Nawaz has impressed and Wrong No. being his directorial debut makes him stand in the queue of dependable and able directors. Movie's songs are good, not great. Wrong No. is a laugh riot, thanks to the supportive cast to make that impactful. At the box office, Wrong No. will be a huge success and the reason is quite simple it's mindless comedy. Leave your brain at home or outside the theater when you plan to watch it. I would rate is 3.5 out of 5.

Jalaibee (2015)

Jalaibee – Falls Short On Expectations

[2/10 · 22 March 2015]

What happens when you create a lot of hype of a product through all possible mediums and when you experience the product if fall short of value and quality? Jalaibee is the mirror example of such a product. The much talked about and marketed crime caper Jalaibee has more than many angles to focus. After all, it's all about the continual of revival of Pakistani Cinema. A revival alone is not adequate – good revival is significant. Let's dissect Jalaibee and focus on what's the actual taste of Jalaibee! Jalaibee, in simple words, is a so called complicated and twisted tale of two childhood friends Billu (Danish Taimoor) and Bugga (Ali Safina) who first met in an orphanage and become lifelong friends. They both Life brings them to a point where these buffoon goons are in a situation where they are indebted by local mafia. How they cope up with the situation and try to come clean out of it; is all what Jalaibee offers to its audience. Addition of revenge saga, political power, assassinations and cheap alleys of cities along with a Ford Mustang (1973) are all elements that are sprinkled over Jalaibee to serve to the viewers. Performance and acting wise, only Adnan Jaffar (Dara) stands tall in the entire fare. Adnan is a villain who has the potential to bring back stylish and great on vocals villains (like Aslam Pervaiz) back in Pakistani Cinema. Sajid Hassan is good and delivers a decent performance. His scenes with Adnan and Sabeeka are very well executed. Danish Taimoor keeps only one expression glued to his face – for all these years it was Akshaye Khanna who signature looks are made fun of, this time we have Danish as strong contender in same niche. He shouts! Ali Safina on the contrary has a few good scenes which he ably performed but keep in mind only "a few". At places, Ali Safina hams. Zhalay Sarhadi (Banno) should have improved her acting skills before signing the movie. The "I Love You" sequence is the eye- opener for those who has slightest doubt Zhalay can act. She totally misses the ooze and sharpness that a bar girl has in her dialect – homework seemed missing by lady Sharhadi. Wiqar Ali Khan (Ali) is just an eye-candy. He looks damn good – and that's the entire thing. He falls short in performance. Wiqar terribly fails to deal emotional scenes. Sabeeka Imam is just okay – she looked a lot confused with the script and that's evident from her dialogues. Uzair Jaswal was hardly there, it's a side-kick kind of character, who is being told "Don't come to home as I am with Eman" or "Get the garbage truck ready" etc. The script of Jalaibee lacks the power, substance and good dialogues that you bring back from theater. At times, characters try too hard to make you laugh but all you experience is uneasiness. The hyped item number by Zhalay is nothing but a total fail. Calling it an item number, (that means latkaas and jhatkaas with a dash of skin show, is definitely an insult to the genre. However, the guy in that item number is a lot better than Zhalay. Even Lux Style Awards' stage performances are better than "Jawaani". Direction wise, Jalaibee is a very nice and pleasant experience. The movie offers stylized dressing, sets and direction in abundance. The movie is receiving mixed reviews. If you watch Jalaibee as Pakistan's effort to revive cinema – it's good; but if you want to watch an entertainer that is high on content, performance, music and thrills plus chills then better skip Jalaibee. Jalaibee is an example of home cooked dessert that lacks syrupiness and sweetness – all you experience is too much effort… I would rate Jalaibee a strict 2/10 on performance and its promise i.e. thrills.

To Strike (2013)

Waar – The 1st step towards Pakistani Cinema's Revival

[8/10 · 20 October 2013]

Waar is the most anticipated movie of Pakistan. It took almost 5 years to complete this movie, well after witnessing the movie all I could say was "It was worth the wait". When I was in the cinema, watching the movie it was really hard to believe that this movie was an attempt by Pakistani Film Industry. It is a great piece of work to watch. It has some great fight sequences, ever witnessed in Pakistani cinema. The script is engaging and very apt. The writer (as well as the producer of the movie) Hasan Waqas Rana made sure what kind of words he needs to inculcate in the movie. It's definitely a flawless script with some amazing punches. Bilal Lashari (The Director of Waar) proves his command on both aesthetics and on narrating the entire movie. There are multiple scenes which will impress you as an audience and inspire you if you have a hidden director in yourself.

The movie revolves around the terrorist attacks faced by Pakistan in 2009 in Lahore's Police Academy. This movie is about how an ex-army officer (who willfully resigned) helps police team to sabotage the terrorist activities planned against Pakistan. The emotional sequences are shot amazingly well and so are sensual ones. The highlight of the movie is its stunts, fight scenes and action.

Shan sinks into the role of an army officer effortlessly. He enacts the most difficult role with complete ease and maturity. The interrogation sequence is worth a watch. Aisha Khan and Meesha Shafi look stunning and elegant in their roles and surprise the viewers. Shamoon Abbasi (the main villain in the movie) looks confident, calm and cold blooded. Hamza Abbasi is a revelation; in his second movie he takes a long leap and astonishes the viewers.

The music of Waar is first rate and is apt for the genre of the movie.

This is a definite blockbuster that is why in just 4 days it is declared as the highest grosser of the Pakistani film industry. 75% of the movie's dialogues are in English, so before planning to watch the movie rest assured you are not geared up for just another Pakistani flick, it's something international standard.

Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (2013)

Bhaag Milkha Bhaag – A Flying Tale of A Flying Sikh

[9/10 · 19 July 2013]

A great movie experience is a combination of many things. It includes a convincing plot, high voltage drama, light moments that stay with viewers even when they leave the theatre, good music, inspirational elements and a few emotional scenes. "Bhaag Milkha Bhaag" is among those movies which offer all the above mentioned ingredients at par. For those who keep a track of innovative, interesting and path breaking Indian Cinema the name of Rakeysh Om Prakash Mehra is the symbol of excellence. Whenever he unfolded his sleeves, movies like "Aks", "Rang de Basanti" and "Delhi-6" were witnessed by cine-goers. All these movies are distinctive in one way or the other. BMB is nothing different than them. It is a master stroke – without a doubt.

Farhan Akhtar secretes immense talent but no one has, up till Rakeysh Om Prakash, utilized that talent. Farhan's directorial ventures "Dil Chahta Hai" and "Lakshya" made people realize his credibility as one of the finest directors. As an actor, BMB is his landmark. The way he has carried out his role and portrayed his emotions definitely demand standing ovation.

BMB is based on the journey of great Indian athlete Milkha Singh (also known as Flying Sikh). It is a movie about a boy whose entire family excluding his elder sister was murdered in the riots of Indo-Pak partition and he became a national and international rage back in 1960's. It is also about the bond between a brother and sister – executed with exceptional detailing. Moreover, the movie is about a blooming romance, some promises with loved ones, emotional fits, flying high yet not leaving the ground by any means and a lot more. In short it's about the life of Milkha Singh and what he went through.

Performance wise, Farhan Akhtar deserves to be nominated for this movie especially by critics. He is a revelation in BMB. He tackles the most difficult parts with complete ease and effortlessness. His transitions can be easily witnessed and felt by the audience from first scene to the last. Divya Dutta as Milkha Singh's sister is vibrant, emotional, lovable and above all highly expressive. In 2 of the scenes particularly, she involved the audience to a level by her performance that no one could resist moistening their eyes. This is a performance she will always be reminded of. Sonam Kapoor (as Biro), Meesha Shafi (as Perizaad) and Rebecca Breeds (as Stella) had limited roles but they all performed well in their respective characters.

Pavan Malhotra (as Milkha Singh's senior) is inspirational and at his peak. This actor is unfortunately most underrated, he needs to be casted in more movies to show-case his vast talent. Yograj Singh as (Milkha Singh's coach) is just perfect. Dalip Tahil is strictly passable and ditto for Dev Gill (Abdul Khaliq). Art Malik (as Milkha Singh's father) and Jabtej Singh (as young Milkha Singh) are credible and treat to watch.

Music of this movie is amazing. Arif Lohar's "Bhaag Milkha", Sukhwinder Singh's "Slow Motion Angrezza", Suhas Sawant's "Zinda" and Divya Kumar's "Maston Ka Jhund" are totally different from one another yet are really awesome tracks in all respects. Shankar-Ehsan-Loy's music is simply amazing for this venture.

Some sequences to lookout for – performance wise:

When Farhan asks from where can he buy the Indian Team's blazer!

When Divya Dutta meets young Milkha Singh in the camp.

When Farhan insists Divya to wear his blazer – the scene would definitely bring tears to many viewers' eyes

When Farhan slaps himself repeatedly in the washroom

and a lot more…

On the basis of performance, direction, execution and story-telling I would easily rate this movie 9/10. It's a must watch for those who celebrates quality and inspirational cinema. A must watch!

The Dictator (2012)

Dictator Lacks Borat Syndromes!

[5/10 · 17 July 2013]

Those who are familiar with ALI G, Borat and Bruno, must definitely be waiting for the new and much awaited movie of Sacha Baron Cohen named "The Dictator". There is not second thought that the actor is amongst the finest comedians and can take up any script and add "life" to it by using his tremendous efforts. This particular movie "The Dictator" receives a mix reaction from the audiences. Let us discover more about this laugh riot.

"The Dictator" revolves around a plot that is based on the bestselling novel "Zabibah – The Kingdom", penned by Saddam Hussein. The movie tells the tale of a ruler (Dictator) who lived a jeopardized life trying to make certain that democracy would never enter his land. Sacha Baron Cohen portrays the role of Admiral General Aladin along with the much talented and amazing actor Ben Kingsley as Taamir.

As far as the performance of both the actors are concerned, they both do justice to their roles – without a doubt. But one can not go overboard when the script is weak. Same happened with "The dictator". The well known writers Alec Berg, David Mandel and Jeff Schaffer could simply not let the audience gag. On the contrary Larry Charles (director) tries really hard to do justice and he definitely saves himself on that ground.

Cohen is an amazing performer and his conviction is seen on the screen, he is one committed actor but the role that is played by him in this particular movie lacks conceiving power. He manages to provide some great laughs especially when he discusses about "Osama Bin Laden" and his death. Ana Faris is competent and adds what she is capable of.

This is amongst first of those American movies that makes audience laugh at 9/11. This is definitely a bold step in itself. On the whole "The Dictator" is receiving multiple reactions, for those who have high hopes with the movie will be definitely disappointed and for those who will take it as a normal or usual fare will in one way or the other might like the movie. The movie offers few nice jokes, not good enough, and the rest of the jokes range from filthy to terrible and obtuse.

Advise: Before going for this movie, throw away the expectations that were born after watching "Borat" or even "Ali G". Life will be good, if the expectations will be lesser.

The Avengers (2012)

The Avengers - A Complete Package

[9/10 · 17 July 2013]

Marvel needs no introduction. Those who grew up in 70's, 80's and 90's read and watched comics and cartoons produced by Marvel and those whose childhood belongs to 2000 must have watched some amazing movies produced by them. It is simply close to impossible to create a master piece again and again; this is the reason why most of the sequels flop at the box office. But I simply don't know what formula lies with Marvel, from Hulk (2003) to The Avengers (2012), they continue to provide the best of experience to their audiences, including, Iron Man (2008/10), Thor (2011) and Captain America (2011). They are definitely the entertainers.

It was not a piece of cake to get all the superheroes together in any movie just like that. After all, screen play, plot, logic and script have to be extraordinary for making them stand shoulder to shoulder. Marvel Studios and Paramount Pictures bang on the perfect script in which they united the amazing team of Superheroes as well as they grab the right cast. The story revolves around how the director of S.H.I.E.L.D, Nick Fury (performed by Samuel L. Jackson), gathers a team of all super heroes including, Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Captain America (Chris Evans), Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) along with Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) and Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) to fight against Loki (Tom Hiddleston) who plays Thor's father's adopted son and threats Nick Fury to demolish the peace on earth and rule it. As Loki, just like Thor is not a human and possesses super natural powers and army there has to be super heroes against this God of evils.

The movie brings surprises in many ways, the interaction between all the characters whether in their super heroic attires or common suits is first-rate. The dialogues between Tony Stark and Captain America gives you many reason to smile and clap at many places (off the record, I managed to whistle as well). The action sequences of Hulk were worth watching again and again, just to note the expressions and daredevil stunts. Thor's entry is a treat to watch and the complete scene is remarkable, how Thor (The God of Thunder), Iron Man and Captain America try to show their strengths – simply bravura. Samuel L. Jackson gets a much lengthy role this time, unlike Iron Man 2's role, and he simply proves his excellence with his performance, be it the beginning of the movie, communiqué with Loki and post interval. Same goes for Scarlett Johansson, she is fast and a nice element included in the movie – it is a difficult task to get noticed as a normal human in the movie studded by superheroes. This time Hulk is much civilized, well you may say that, he knows how to control his rage and Mark Ruffalo perfectly portrays a role, am sure audience will love him over the previous Hulk(s). The only character from THE Avengers who under-performs (I am not saying that he has not performed well) is Hawkeye. In such movies where there are so many heroes it is really difficult for the villain to stand out but Tom Hiddleston as Loki excels and performs a role that is tailor-made for him. He looks comfortable and cold blooded both at the same time.

Like all the scenes and sequences the climax is also directed very well by Joss Whedon. Characterization is strong, script is clap-worthy and there are many other surprises "action wise". It is undoubtedly a Super Movie brought to its audience by a team of Super Heroes, called The Avengers. Watch this movie in Cinema, it is worth experiencing.

Listen... Amaya (2013)

"Listen Amaya" - A finest Attempt That Shouldn't Be Missed

[8/10 · 16 July 2013]

It is sad that meaningful cinema is only appreciated when there are known faces or better say star power is associated with it. Have you wondered how many great pieces of arts have you missed just because of the fact that those movies either didn't had super stars or were not backed by heavy advertisements and marketing. "Listen Amaya" is one amongst those movies. This movie by Avinash Kumar Singh was screened at London Asian Film Festival and what else could it receive other than hoards of appreciation. I recently watched the movie over DVD and for 2 hours I only enjoyed each and every scene of the movie.

"Listen Amaya" revolves around two widowed individuals Jayanat (Farooque Sheikh) and Leela (Dipti Naval) along with her daughter Amaya (Swara Bhaskar).Leela runs a library cum coffee shop, named "Book A Coffee" with her daughter and Jayant is her routine customer, friend, admirer and what not. The story revolves around these three individuals and the complications, self-respect and egos associated with their relationships. The plot is based on very thin line where words don't need to express anything but emotions do. It is remarkably dealt as well, on screen.

I have grown up watching Dipti Naval's and Farooque Sheikh's off beat movies, also known as parallel cinema of early 1980's. Movies like Chashm-e-Buddoor, Saath Saath, Kissi Se Na Kehna, Katha and Faasle etc. were a complete revelation from mainstream cinema. Coming back to "Listen Amaya", it simply touches the hearts of audience. There are many sequences where Farooque Sheikh and Dipti Naval express their emotions with extreme ease. Swara Bhasker (Amaya) expresses her uneasiness with flaw. The contradictory personalities can only be show-cased by a seasoned actress. She is another actress to look out for after Tabu, Nandita Das and Vidya Balan.

Music of the movie is very light. The beauty is that all the songs are situational (though movie's length could have been decreased if the songs would be omitted). Direction is first rate and so is cinematography.

If you are looking forward to watch a simple, easy going, full of mature emotions movies then this one is the perfect one. "Listen Amaya" is all about emotions and performances. It is highly recommended for those who value quality cinema or let me say a meaningful cinema.

I would personally rate it 4/5 on the basis of story line, script, performances and close to reality.

Men in Black³ (2012)

Movie Review – Men In Black 3

[7/10 · 16 July 2013]

Men In Black 3 (MIB3) is definitely amongst the most awaited movies of this year. Those who enjoyed MIB 1 and 2 have their hopes high for MIB 3. Agent J and Agent K gained overnight popularity and they provided best of entertainment to their viewers. By the way can anyone recall what were both agents doing almost 10 years ago in MIB 2? Apart from maintaining harmony on planet earth between Aliens and Humans.

This time the movie rolls back from 1969, the time when astronauts were trying their luck to "moon walk". On the contrary Agent K was imprisoned by an alien called "Boris the Animal". After 4 decades Boris is focusing on killing agent K. On the contrary, the current chief Agent O, (played by Emma Thompson), orders agent J to visit back in to time and save agent K and return back without getting trapped in time.

The plot is brilliant, undoubtedly and so is the execution. Those who can remember Star Trek IV can definitely rejoice the idea of getting acquainted with unusually fancy yet weird characters. Etna Cohen's screenplay and Barry Sonnerfeld's direction provide an extraordinary and captivating experience, highlighting the evocative hopefulness of that era.

As far as the performances are concerned, so fasten up your belts to get amazed by Josh Brolin who performs the character of young agent K. The remarkable actor grips the character with both his hands. The funnier side of the character will definitely bring smile to audiences' lips. Will smith continues to inspire and astonish the viewers with his marvelous performance. He is charming, quick witted and perfectly lovable in this character.

The movie is definitely a nice one for those who will go with "not much" expectations. But for those who have their hopes "high", this fare might disappoint them. There are some great scenes and dialogues that will be loved by the viewers. Some highlights of the movie include:

• Josh Brolin as the young Agent K shows a brilliant stroke. Brolin captures Jones' spirit to such a towering scale that he creates the perfect old chemistry with Will Smith. It's a great change, and gladly, the old comedy team is back.

• Director Barry Sonnenfeld is as tremendous as ever. His frenzied manner alters between action, comedy and pathos are speedy enough to induce whiplash.

• The movie is high on action and it offers slick humor with rasping fun. MIB 3 is the wonder of chance that makes up the cohesive fabric of the past, present and the future

It is a must watch for the fans of Will Smith, Men In Black Series, alien flicks and for those who want to discover the talent of Brolin.

Jab Tak Hai Jaan (2012)

Jab Tak Hai Jaan - A Dull Fare

[5/10 · 15 July 2013]

Yash Chopra (Late) has always been the name of romantic, passionate and dramatic cinema. From "Waqt" (as a director) and "Daagh" (as a producer) he has always shown the best attempt in terms of providing quality cinema; the main part of which has always been detailing. His last attempt "Jab Tak Hai Jaan" was unfortunately not as detailed as his movies like Deewar, Kabhie Kabhie, Silsila and Lamhe etc. Even in later years his movies like Dil toh Pagal hai, Kaabul Express and Hum Tum were worth watching again and again. But when it comes to "Jab Tak Hai Jaan", no one will want to see this movie for a second time – unless they are die-hard fans of Shahrukh Khan.

JTHJ is a story of love and faith. The storyline is definitely something which audiences have seen many times before. JTHJ is a story about two love birds, Shahrukh Khan (Samar Anand) and Katrina Kaif (Meera) who meet in London and fell in love. Later, Meera leaves Samar for his well- being. Samar returns to India, joins Indian Army and becomes a Major in Bomb Defusing Squad. After 10 years of his service he meets Anushka Sharma (Akira), a budding TV reporter and she falls in love with him immediately. The story then moves on and takes a different route and Shahrukh and Katrina meet again. I won't disclose the rest of the story. It's not exactly a typical romantic triangle but even then it has its moments.

Like all my reviews, I am never interested in the box office standing of any movie. Similarly, I am not concerned with the 15 – 17 crores earned by the movie every day after its release. What matters is the combination of a few factors like script, performances and music. As far as the music of the movie is concerned it's not the usual A.R. Rahman thing. After "Rockstar", fans of Rahman were expecting something much better. Ditto for Gulzar's lyrics – something was quite amiss.

As far as the performances are concerned, it is obvious that Katrina and Anushka stood out whereas the senior lead took the back seat. Katrina is a stealer; she is improving with every movie, undoubtedly. She has all the potential to lead the list of Yash Chopra's "perfect women. She has both elegance and sensuality which is evident on screen. I am sure that in every scene where she shares screen with Shahrukh, the major audience could not keep their eyes off her and didn't notice SRK. Anushka is a competent talent and has always proved to be a performer. In JTHJ she is lovable and performs amazingly well. All her scenes are worth watching. It's a sure award winning performance – in "character actor's category".

Let's come to the so called "God of Love" SRK. If you have seen him in "Kal Ho Na Ho" and "Chak De India" then you can easily recall the repetition of his looks, acting style and role. As an actor he is still standing at the same place. Its time for SRK to take some serious roles which are performance oriented rather than oozing his boyish charms. He has already passed that age, ages ago. He really tries hard to look a young guy in JTHJ. He is sharing the same stage which Amitabh shared back in early 90's and acted as "Young Angry Man" – in case of SRK its "Romantic Boy". For those, who named SRK as "God of Love" have definitely missed Rajesh Khanna's movies.

Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh in guest appearances mark their presence. Rishi (Chintu) still has screen presence and when he shared screen with SRK, with no dialogue of either, you can't help but notice Rishi's cuteness. Anupamkher is efficient and same for Sarika.

The technical drawbacks of the movie are listed as under – due to which it has lost the weight: Shahrukh joined army at the age of 28 or 29 (technically) which is totally baseless. 27 is the maximum age to join Indian Army, even that in special cases (after passing some exams).

The moments shot between Anushka and SRK in Jammu were hard to believe as its not professionally possible for a serious officer / major to hug and get personal with a TV reporter.

Within a few days SRK's memory is back. Strange!

Heroine (2012)

Heroine – Are Critics Mad?

[6/10 · 15 July 2013]

P.S. Let me clarify a few things first! I am not a Kareena Kapoor's (aka Bay Bow's) fan or even an admirer of her Zero Image! i.e. "Size Zero Figure". The last movie of hers which I liked was "Mujhe Kuch Kehna Hai". After hearing it from different friends and colleagues and reading from some of my gurus and friends from "Blogging fraternity" I was convinced that apart from Kareena Karoor, there is nothing much in the movie to watch! And this might be the reason why I planned to watch it, to see how good has she evolved as an actress and has she really stopped her "hamming style" and "oh so sexy pouting looks". Anyways, I was surprised! Not by the movie but by the people whom I used to consider sensible and critically sound when it comes to movie making and Hindi Cinema. This is amongst the very well made movie of the current times. I agree to the fact that the movie has nothing much to offer subject wise or story wise but when it comes to direction, dialogues and acting. It is really an impressive attempt by Madhur Bhandarkar, who does not need any introduction. There is not much to tell about the story of the movie. It's simple yet predictable. People initially also related "Heroine" with Angelina Jolie starrer "GIA – 1998" but that's not the reality at all. Let me quickly get back to the reason why I am attempting to write this "kind of review" for "Heroine". First – To all those people, critics and cine-goers, who think that this movie has nothing but Kareena Kapoor, please get yourself seriously treated. There is a huge list of amazing performers who stole the show and performed astoundingly. Arjun Rampal is a volcano of talent if utilized properly. Right from the days of "Moksh" he has the ability to perform complicated roles. And this time he is over the top, his outburst after the party where Kareena insults his wife is natural. The other scene stealer is Randeep Hoda. This guy is a surprise factory – watch him interacting with Kareena in the party where he makes the move and then watch him breaking up with Kareena. Spell bounded. Sanjay Suri is always adequate with his eyes and expressions when it comes to any role! The guy must be offered more roles! He will surprise you in post interval with his tone, looks and authoritative style. The best part of the film is when Kareena goes to Ranbir Shorey. That scene is amazingly shot. Ranbir Shorey as "Tappan Da" is flawless. He comfortably reminds of those self made Bengali directors who ruled the Hindi cinema back in late 70's and early 80's, crisp, blunt and appreciative. Shahana Goswami is great in small but strong appearance. The aftermath of her and Kareena's encounter is amazingly shot and acted! Divya Dutta is getting type-actress! But here she performs really well. Govind Namdev as "Rashid Bhai" doesn't have much dialogues but you can feel his presence with his expressions. Helen's scenes will show simplicity and experience of a veteran. The other scene which is the highlight of the movie is when Shahana takes Kareena to a brothel with her. The communication which takes place there simply tell the real world of those "red light" alleys. Smartly penned Last but not the least Kareena has really performed well. She looked psycho, hot, manipulating, simple and broke. After all, whole film rested upon her shoulders so she had to perform apart from flashing her skin, which she did quite well. Niranjan's dialogues are clap worthy. Screenplay is strong. In a way Heroine is a combination of different scripts of Madhur Bhandarkar's earlier releases like Chandni Bar, Page Three and Fashion. But all in all a nice entertaining fare!

Ek Tha Tiger (2012)

Ek Tha Tiger? Or Ek Tha "Copycat"?

[7/10 · 15 July 2013]

The most anticipated movie of 2012 "Ek Tha Tiger" is released with a bang. Before the release all the tickets were sold, it was hard to get tickets even for the 5th day of the release. The reason behind it was nothing but Salman Khan's box office power, which has yet again proved to be the ace in marketing any movie, and yes I mean "Any Movie". YashRaj needs no introduction for those who are avid film viewers. Director Kabir Khan (Kaabul Express and New York) managed to justify his inspirations quite well. Here we all must know "inspiration" is just a modified name of "copying". The storyline of the movie is nothing that audiences haven't witnessed before. It is about a RAW agent with a code name of "Tiger", played by Salman Khan and an ISI agent named Zoya, played by "Katrina Kaif". Tiger is sent on a mission to Dublin, just to observe the movements of Indian scientist (Roshan Saith) because according to Tiger's chief Roshan might be involved in sharing some research finding with Pakistan's defense. There Tiger meets Zoya and their romance starts to blossom. After that it's a movie with lots of chase, lots of action and so many predictabilities.

ETT is a bravura combination of multiple movies, script wise along with action sequences hugely inspired from west. For instance the script of the movie is a combination of Mr. and Mrs. Smith, One of the movies from James Bond's series and a few more (in bits and pieces). The most talked about action sequences of ETT are, also to huge extent, copied from 2 blockbusters "Fast 5" (starting scene and when Kat and Sallu escape from their hideout); the climax is again inspired from Expendable's climax when local Sly jumps from bridge on to the jet plane. As far as the performances are concerned, Salman is as usual – he is already a "STAR" and for stars performances are not benchmarks (on the basis of past release like Dabbang, Ready and Wanted). Salman Kan looks cute, sober and serious with this movie as well. Katrina is a complete performer now! She surprises everyone with her performance, dialogue delivery and hotness. Ranvir Shorey grabs the role exceptionally well, there are scenes where he doesn't even speak but his presence is strongly felt – after a long time this actor is truly been utilized. Direction is good, better than other recent Bollywood movies (excluding GoW 1 and 2, Rockstar, Pan Sigh Tomar, Vicky Donor, Shanghai, Jannat 2, and a few others).

Music of ETT is nice – nothing exceptional. Cinematography is worth experiencing – hats off to Aseem Mishra.

Watch this film if you are a Salman Khan's or Katrina's fan; else there won't be much for you in this fare.

Jolly LLB (2013)

Jolly LLB - Movie Review

[8/10 · 15 July 2013]

Movies based on judicial system and courtroom dramas have always been admired by cine-goers. It's not just because of the fact that audience love their favorite actors and actresses in black gowns, it's merely because most of the courtroom scenes are penned exceptionally. For instance we have huge list of some amazing courtroom scenes from movies like Damini, Meri Jung, Andha Qanoon, OMG Oh My God, Geraftar, Veer Zaara, Shaurya, Maine Gaandhi ko nahin Maara and Aitraz etc. In same list Jolly LLB also falls. It is based on a real life case with a few amendments. Subhash Kapoor, a talented entertainer, brings Jolly LLB in front of his viewers as a comical fare but in reality it is a serious movie with light hearted and situational comedy. Like his earlier movie "Phhans Gaye Re Obama", Jolly LLB also deals with day to day life experiences which one comes across. The strongest points of this movie are first rate acting, great script and simplicity.

The plot of the movie is simple; Jolly (performed by Arshad Warsi) a suffering lawyer, leaves Meerut and arrives in Delhi in search of more cases and professional growth. Luckily he bumps into a case which was hyped by the media and won by Rajpal (Boman Irani) who only manages high profile clients with surety to win the case. Jolly, to earn fame, files PIL against the same case and his life turns after that.

As far as the performances are concerned, in this movie everyone excels and shines no matter how large or small he has been projected. Arshad Warsi stands out undeniably. For those who have only seen him as "circuit" from Munna Bhai MBBS, and missed out Saher, this movie reminds them that he is an equally talented actor when it comes to serious and performance oriented roles. It is good to see that he is now trying to sign movies which offer him different kind of roles, like previously released Zilla Ghaziabaad.

Boman Irani is like water, every character that is assigned to him, he manages to perform it with comfort and flawlessness. His character demanded to be portrayed as egotistical, cunning and bullish lawyer, to which he lived up to expectations.

Saurabh Shukla (as Sunderlal Tripathy) amazes again. He is one finest actor who never runs after for every role that is offered to him. In this movie there are plenty of scenes where he shows his viewers that he is not less than any accomplished and finest actors of the industry. In scenes where he is silent, his expressions speak. On the contrary, the way he performs his dialogues is outstanding.

Amrita Rao (as Sandhya) has a small role but when it comes to dramatic enactment of any scene, she has always excelled, ditto for this movie. Ramesh Deo (one of the veterans – I remember his "Anand") is first rate, though he only has 2 – 3 scenes in the movie but impactful. Brijendra Kala as advocate and Sanjay Mishra as Hawaldaar Ram Gopal Verma are good, same for Mohan Agashe.

Jolly LLB has great screenplay and dialogue, kudos to Subhash Kapoor for maintaining his command over these departments. "Ajnabi" and "Makhna" are two songs which stand out and are easy to hum.

Himmatwala (2013)

Himmat Wala - A Tribute To Amitabh and Not To Jetendra

[3/10 · 15 July 2013]

Before reviewing the new Himmatwala, allow me to introduce you with some facts related to 1983's Himmatwala. K. Raghavendra Rao's Himmatwala (1983) was an experimental film, in which he signed a sinking mega-star of early 1980's Jetendra, whose movies were drowning deeply at the box office back in those days. Similarly, Sridevi was signed because of limited budget as she was planning to leave the industry because of constant flops. On the contrary, Kader Khan, who used to play negative roles, was also not getting any movies. The concept of remakes of south Indian movies was also fresh at that period of time. So, all in all, it was their hard work and commendable script with astounding performances which made Himmatwala a fare that not only started the team (Jetendra, Sridevi, Kader Khan, Amjad Khan, Shakti Kapoor and Asrani) to launch numerous block-busters but also gave a reason to copy it even after 3 decades. Sajid Khan's Himmatwala is a literal copy of the original Himmatwala. Although, he has mentioned at many platforms that his movie has a few elements of the original one but if you see the original movie, dialogues, character names, scenes and at places background score have also copied from it. There are minor amendments which add no weight to the movie.

If Sajid Khan says that this particular movie is a tribute to 1980's cinema then he should rephrase it as a tribute to the "Young Angry Man" of 1980's Amitabh's movies. The reason to quote this is that 5 action scenes from this movie reminded me of Amitabh's movies.

A – Title Track reminded me of Shan's "Pyar Karnewalay Pyar Kartay Hain Shaan Se", filmed on Parveen Babi. B – Cage fight of Ajay Devgan made me recall Amitabh's cage fight from Naseeb. C – The scene where Ajay Devgan holds the dagger from sharp end while saving his sister from "Dhanna", reminds me of the scene from "Kaala Patthar" where Amitabh did the same with a character named "Dhanna" (played by Ashok Saxena). D – The much talked about tiger fight again makes me recall Amitabh's tiger fight from "Khoon Pasiina". E – The fight sequence just before the song "Bump Pe Laat" where Ajay converses in 5 different languages with goons gives me a vivid remembrance of a similar scene from Amitabh's "Laawaris"

Anyways, the plot is similar and it tells a story of a malicious Sarpanch Sher Singh (Mahesh Manjrekar) who defames Ravi's (Ajay Devgan) father to an extent where he commits suicide and his family suffers a lot of pain. Years after, Ravi returns to take revenge from Sarpanch.

I am a fan of 70's and 80's movies, this was the mere reason why I chose to watch the new Himmatwala but experience was nothing but sheer pain. First of all, Ajay looks totally misfit for the role; he failed to pass the wittiness which Jetendra portrayed in his style. His "Atta Maajhi Sattakli" style has now stuck to him – its time to come up with something original and much entertaining. Mahesh Manjhrekar is a very talented actor but he looks cheap and acts loud in this fare. Even he failed to meet Amjad Khan's comical expressions and terrifying persona. Adhyayan Suman as Shakti does not even come close to Shakti Kapoor in a single scene. Tamanna Bhatia (a renowned and successful Tamil actress) has screen presence but when it comes to performing, she needs to focus on that. The only character that stands out (to some extent) in the movie is Paresh Rawal (enacting the role of Kader Khan). He manages to copy the appearance and tone of Kader Khan and with his dialogues, his earnest attempt is visible in every scene. Asrani is the only actor who has appeared in both the Himmatwalas but in the newer version he is wasted. Ritesh Deshmukh appears in a cameo and he is as usual – typical. Zarina Wahab is efficient.

It's saddening that this film has great performers and super stars but even then the film failed to create a magic at the box office.

If you really want to get heavy dose of entertainment watch the original one.

Rating 3.5 / 10

Chashme Baddoor (2013)

Chashm-e-Buddoor – It's Peppy, Flamboyant and "David Dhawanish"

[7/10 · 15 July 2013]

It looks like 1980's back or film makers are now emphasizing more on yesteryear's hit movies. Last week it was Himmat Wala and this week it's Chashm-e-Buddoor. Without much delay, I will come straight to the point. David Dhawan was totally correct when he commented that new Chashm-e- Buddoor is an adaptation of 1981's Chashm-e-Buddoor. The newer version is dealt differently, thanks to David Dhawan's mastery in comic movies. The plot is same but the treatment is different. The older version had Farooq Shaikh, Rakesh Bedi, Ravi Basvani, Deepti Naval and Saeed Jaffery in pivotal roles and one could also see an unforgettable scene between Amitabh and Rekha. The latest version has Ali Zafar, Divyendu, Siddharth, Tapsee Pannu and Rishi Kapoor (respectively) in main leads. So, does this Chashm-e-Buddoor really deserve the wish of "Chashm-e- Buddoor"? Let's find it out!

The story is about 3 friends Siddharth (Ali), Omi (Divyendu) and Jai (Siddhart). Out of them, Omi and Jai are womanizing loafers who tries to flatter new neighborhood girl Seema (Tapsee) but fail drastically. Siddharth, however manages to impress the beauty and they fall for each other. Knowing about their love connection both the friends try to split their relationship by formulating comical ideas and then the story moves ahead.

As far as performances are concerned, Ali Zafar impresses with his decent dance moves and he looks adorable which was the most important ingredient of his character. Divyendu is as usual, though this is his second movie but he has all the guts to carry any comic movie on his shoulders. Siddharth is a revelation. He dances fastest and with effortless ease. As compared to how he performed in "RDB" and "Striker", this movie showcases his other abilities. Tapsee (a tollywood's renowned actress but bollywood's débutant) perfectly solidifies her character. Rishi Kapoor is a surprise package; it's hard to overshadow a performer like him. Watch him in "Early Morning" twisting his legs with Ali Zafar, I am sure everyone would have noticed him and only him when the both shared the screen – dance and comedy both are natural to the veteran. Anupamkher is first rate as the teacher and as an army officer he is too loud. Bharati Achrekar is adorable and gives many moments for good laugh – she is a veteran in comic roles too (watch Chambaili Ki Shadi and any episode of Shrimaan Shrimaty). Juhie Chawla appears in a cameo and is really nice to see her.

Songs (as in lyrics) and dialogues (Farhad-Sajid) of the newer version are actual saviors of the movie, music directors, singers and writers need applaud. The background score adopted from "Amar Akbar Anthony" will take those to actual 1980's era, who used to watch movies of that era. Some of the scenes which have been adapted from older version are:

A – Miss Chamko's Visit (though in older version it was sweeter and cute). B – Flashbacks C – Kidnapping D – The Shikaar connection (when Omi and Jai points out Seema, for the first time) For those who haven't watched original version of Chashm-e-Buddoor, I highly recommend them to watch that. It's a classic in itself. The character of Lallan Mian (Saeed Jaffery) has been modified in newer version as Uncle Joseph (Rishi Kapoor) but I still think a major softness has been missed out.

David Dhawan needs no gimmicks when it comes to comic movies; he has an astounding track record of blessing his audience with a kind of cinema that is both criticized by many but at the end of the day is loved by everyone no matter how decent the audience gets.

I rate this adaptation 7/10 - entertainment wise.