When I saw the trailer of Badmaash Company, I knew I had to watch it.
I am always biased towards Shahid Kapoor movies. I like him. He puts an honest effort in his work and after the Khan's, Akshay and Hrithik, he is probably the most sellable star in India. A Solo hero star. A feat low caliber actors like Fardeen Khan, Aftab. Tushaar Kapoor and even Suneil Shetty and Sanjay Dutt could not achieve. Sanjay Dutt's major hits like Khal Nayak, Munna bhai franchise and Sajan were multi-hero films. I think Kaminey was probably the best film of last year, even better than Three Idiots.
And then there is Meiyang Chang I named my cat Chang after seeing him in Indian Idol a couple of years back. Again, what I liked the best about him was his honest effort in singing as compared to other contestants who went overboard in pretending to be better singers. He is a good singer, a good host, a good writer, a good photographer and now a good actor.
And then there is Vir Das does anyone remember the guy in Namaste London who runs a compatibility test for Katrina Kaif as a suitor in a small hilarious sequence? I absolutely loved him in that scene however small it is.
And lastly, there is Anushka Sharma. I was to in Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi because I didn't get the patience to sit and watch it completely. Anushak got ignored.
They all got together in Badmaash Company (BC) for an adventurous thriller. It's a movie that feels like a Sidney Sheldon novel. Lots of unbelievable but possible coincidences and the low-end guys making it big. The first half is swift, funny and gripping. Even though believability factor goes down in a couple of scenes but entertainment never does. Watch out for Vir Das in the flight and Bangkok scenes. The way Chang's Chinese looks have been treated for humor in the movie are too good. It looks as if the character was written only keeping him in mind. Confrontation scenes between Anupam Kher and Shahid are also well done especially where Shahid tries to control himself despite being irritated with his father.
Second half is weak in comparison. It drags, scams become predictable and there is a bit overacting by Pawan Malhotra. Hard to believe though but there is. However, the best scene of the movie is also in the second half on the terrace of the hotel when Shahid tells Anushka he feels like God. Shahid's turnaround from evil genius to nice-man is not convincing nor are his low-wage jobs. The last scam, if it can be called one, is very well written.
To me, BC is an all and all writer's movie. He had a nice plot and he knew what he was doing even if the audience were baffled for brief moments. The screenplay by Parmeet Sethi is also very nice despite the weak scenes. Talking about Parmeet, he has done a great job for a debutant director. For those who don't know, actor turned director Parmeet is Simran's fiancée from DDLJ. Debutant directors have lately done very well in bollywood right from Nishikant Kamat of Mumbai Meri Jaan to A Wednesday. Of course, Farhan Akhtar of Dil Chahta hai. Parmeet has handled the script well to explain a bit complex business deals. Make-up and disguise has also been nicely shown. Given more chances, he will come up with much better results I hope. Editing is sharp and cinematography is excellent. One of the high points of BC is its camera work.
Shahid has again done a great job. If the film goes down at any point, it is not his fault at all and I am not being biased at all. He has still not achieved box office collections up to his potential. He looks good, is probably the best dancer in the industry along with Hrithik and manages to carry a film on his shoulders well.
Meiyan Chang is amazing. What a multitalented good pack. To me, Vir Das is a show stealer in BC. He is funny and down to earth. Very convincing in his portrayal of simplicity. Anushka does well too. She needed this movie to show that she has variety and she does. She looks good on-screen too; who minds a few bikini scenes of a cute looking girl anyway. Does very well in Car Scene with Shahid and the modeling audition scene. She needs to improve the emotional bit.
I watched BC with a group of friends and that's the ideal setting for watching it. It is not a movie you should watch alone first time. When I watch it again, which I will, I might watch it alone. It was impossible for me to dislike BC just by looking at the cast it had. The negatives I have put on are not negatives for me. As I said, I will watch it again for sure!
PS: Manmohan Singh was not the Indian Prime Minister in 90s. The Writer missed that one.
I am always biased towards Shahid Kapoor movies. I like him. He puts an honest effort in his work and after the Khan's, Akshay and Hrithik, he is probably the most sellable star in India. A Solo hero star. A feat low caliber actors like Fardeen Khan, Aftab. Tushaar Kapoor and even Suneil Shetty and Sanjay Dutt could not achieve. Sanjay Dutt's major hits like Khal Nayak, Munna bhai franchise and Sajan were multi-hero films. I think Kaminey was probably the best film of last year, even better than Three Idiots.
And then there is Meiyang Chang I named my cat Chang after seeing him in Indian Idol a couple of years back. Again, what I liked the best about him was his honest effort in singing as compared to other contestants who went overboard in pretending to be better singers. He is a good singer, a good host, a good writer, a good photographer and now a good actor.
And then there is Vir Das does anyone remember the guy in Namaste London who runs a compatibility test for Katrina Kaif as a suitor in a small hilarious sequence? I absolutely loved him in that scene however small it is.
And lastly, there is Anushka Sharma. I was to in Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi because I didn't get the patience to sit and watch it completely. Anushak got ignored.
They all got together in Badmaash Company (BC) for an adventurous thriller. It's a movie that feels like a Sidney Sheldon novel. Lots of unbelievable but possible coincidences and the low-end guys making it big. The first half is swift, funny and gripping. Even though believability factor goes down in a couple of scenes but entertainment never does. Watch out for Vir Das in the flight and Bangkok scenes. The way Chang's Chinese looks have been treated for humor in the movie are too good. It looks as if the character was written only keeping him in mind. Confrontation scenes between Anupam Kher and Shahid are also well done especially where Shahid tries to control himself despite being irritated with his father.
Second half is weak in comparison. It drags, scams become predictable and there is a bit overacting by Pawan Malhotra. Hard to believe though but there is. However, the best scene of the movie is also in the second half on the terrace of the hotel when Shahid tells Anushka he feels like God. Shahid's turnaround from evil genius to nice-man is not convincing nor are his low-wage jobs. The last scam, if it can be called one, is very well written.
To me, BC is an all and all writer's movie. He had a nice plot and he knew what he was doing even if the audience were baffled for brief moments. The screenplay by Parmeet Sethi is also very nice despite the weak scenes. Talking about Parmeet, he has done a great job for a debutant director. For those who don't know, actor turned director Parmeet is Simran's fiancée from DDLJ. Debutant directors have lately done very well in bollywood right from Nishikant Kamat of Mumbai Meri Jaan to A Wednesday. Of course, Farhan Akhtar of Dil Chahta hai. Parmeet has handled the script well to explain a bit complex business deals. Make-up and disguise has also been nicely shown. Given more chances, he will come up with much better results I hope. Editing is sharp and cinematography is excellent. One of the high points of BC is its camera work.
Shahid has again done a great job. If the film goes down at any point, it is not his fault at all and I am not being biased at all. He has still not achieved box office collections up to his potential. He looks good, is probably the best dancer in the industry along with Hrithik and manages to carry a film on his shoulders well.
Meiyan Chang is amazing. What a multitalented good pack. To me, Vir Das is a show stealer in BC. He is funny and down to earth. Very convincing in his portrayal of simplicity. Anushka does well too. She needed this movie to show that she has variety and she does. She looks good on-screen too; who minds a few bikini scenes of a cute looking girl anyway. Does very well in Car Scene with Shahid and the modeling audition scene. She needs to improve the emotional bit.
I watched BC with a group of friends and that's the ideal setting for watching it. It is not a movie you should watch alone first time. When I watch it again, which I will, I might watch it alone. It was impossible for me to dislike BC just by looking at the cast it had. The negatives I have put on are not negatives for me. As I said, I will watch it again for sure!
PS: Manmohan Singh was not the Indian Prime Minister in 90s. The Writer missed that one.