kaustubh-2 Reviews

Chennai Express (2013)

The disappointment of 2013!

[4/10 · 9 August 2013]

I love most Shah Rukh Khan movies. And I have enjoyed almost all the movies that Rohit Shetty has done. Deciding to watch Chennai Express first day first show was a no-brainer for me.

Throughout the entire movie, I kept WANTING to like it. Shah Rukh Khan did try very hard and the effort showed on-screen, but somewhere the movie lost the connection with its audience. It is a movie that tries to celebrate itself without engaging the audience.

I am all for this category of cinema. I loved the Dabang movies. I loved the Gol Maal movies (besides Gol Maal 2). I even enjoyed Om Shanti Om. I have no complaints against movies that don't have stories, as long as they are entertaining. I don't even have a problem with contrived jokes, as long as they make me laugh.

Unfortunately, Chennai Express fails on several counts. Perhaps Rohit Shetty was so overawed by the fact that he was directing Shah Rukh Khan that he let it go. Or perhaps Shah Rukh Khan had so much faith in Rohit Shetty's brand of entertainment that he let it go.

The music can at best be called above average. The songs really don't stay with you, and you expect much much better stuff from a Shah Rukh Khan movie.

The end result is a movie that falls way short of expectations - at least mine. There are some good moments - especially between Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone - where they manage to make you laugh, but they are not enough to keep you entertained. Deepika Padukone actually puts in a good performance, especially compared to her previous roles. Shah Rukh Khan is extremely likable, but not likable enough for you to like Chennai Express.

3 Idiots (2009)

An incredible, feel-good movie

[10/10 · 28 December 2009]

2009 wasn't a great year for Hindi cinema, with not many movies seeing commercial success and even fewer winning universal critical acclaim. Just as it is about to end, one movie makes up for the entire year. 3 Idiots was carrying the weight of huge expectations, and it is almost shocking to realise that those expectations can be surpassed by the product in front of you.

There are shades of Hirani's earlier movies (Munnabhai MBBS, Lage Raho Munnabhai) and even Taare Zameen Par in 3 Idiots, but that is not a bad thing at all. A movie like 3 Idiots often seems predictable, but predictable it is definitely not. Hirani's movies try to deliver strong social statements, and 3 Idiots is no exception, but in doing so, it never gets preachy. Just when the seriousness is about to border on being uncomfortable, they drop a joke that really works.

At the end of it all, the movie makes you want to tell everyone to watch it. It makes you feel good. It connects with you, tickles you, but at the same time, makes you think, without making you think too much. How Hirani does it, only he knows, but AAL IZ WELL!

Ghajini (2008)

One of the best Hindi movies of 2008

[10/10 · 24 December 2008]

Ghajini is perhaps one of the best Hindi movies of 2008. Like Taare Zameen Par last year, Aamir Khan does something special in the second-last week of the year. And Ghajini belongs almost entirely to him. He makes you relate to his character. If it wasn't for Asin, the movie would've been all about Aamir Khan. She is probably the find of 2008. You cannot even compare her to Deepika Padukone or Anushka Sharma, both of whom had equally hyped launches. The movie packs in almost everything in those 3 odd hours, without compromising on content. The music, by A. R. Rahman, is consistent with his reputation, and doesn't take anything away from the movie or the performances. But, the star of the movie is Aamir Khan, and if there's one reason to watch the movie, it has to be his performance.

Like Stars on Earth (2007)

Undoubtedly the best Hindi movie of 2007

[10/10 · 23 December 2007]

If you haven't seen Taare Zameen Par, you are missing out. The best Hindi movie of 2007 without doubt. Extremely sensitively handled, and flawlessly executed performances, especially by Darsheel Safary. This movie really hits you.

In a way, everyone can relate to it, especially if you have grown up in India where most children are classified as dumb or unintelligent if they "can't" become engineers or doctors. I went in with huge expectations, and this movie exceeded them.

Some reviews have complained about situations in the movie being too simple or repetitive in parts, but I have absolutely no problems with that. This is no thriller. You know what's going to happen, but you are looking forward to it too.

The songs might not be great hits, but they gel really well with the movie. They are beautifully worded, and capture the emotions of the characters perfectly.

When the end credits started rolling, most people started walking towards the exit, but even when they had almost stopped rolling, most of them were still standing near the exit, watching the images in the end credits.

Khoya Khoya Chand (2007)

Disappointing

[4/10 · 8 December 2007]

Disappointing, to say the least. This movie doesn't even come close to Hazaaron Khwaahishen Aisi. This was a movie with so much potential, but Sudhir Mishra's apparent self-indulgence makes it almost painful watching in parts. Khoya Khoya Chand was never meant to target the commercial audience, but I doubt many people will be able to appreciate the plot, especially the second half. It is a movie that tries to celebrate itself without achieving an iota of greatness.

Shiny Ahuja is brilliant, as usual, and Soha Ali Khan tries, but her role demanded someone more expressive, like Vidya Balan. The performances though are completely negated by the story. The last half-hour is a tragedy, both in the movie, and for the audience.