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Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Bachchan at Oscars 2011

2011-02-28T17:49:00.000-08:00

Here is an interview of Aishwarya and Abhishek Bachchan at the Oscars 2011. Apparently the Bachchans "happened" to be on holiday in that part of the world and just "happened" to be invited to the event and just walked in!

Aishwarya wore a bronze Georgio Armani Prive gown with a Jimmy Choo clutch.

RAmbha and Mango Dolly in Quick Gun Murugan

2009-08-27T01:18:00.000-07:00

(image source - rediff.com)

Ever wonder where Rambha disappeared to? Yes Ramba, the voluptous Southie who bore a startling resemblance to the late Divya Bharti. Well, she is back in Quick Gun Murugan and How! Read her interview here to find out what she has been doing!

Kaminey Review - Starring Shahid Kapur, Priyanka Chopra

2009-08-27T01:14:00.000-07:00

Here is my review of Kaminey.

For those of you who haven't watched it - Kaminey is a Vishal Bhardwaj movie. Vishal Bhardwaj of the Maqbool, Omkara fame as also Makdee and Blue Umbrella - two of the best children films made in recent times.

Vishal doesn't make apologies in his movies. He shows blood, gore in full measure. But there is just one line he refuses to cross - a line that would have catapulted the films to macabre and maybe mediocre - and staying within that line his movies somehow turn out to be brilliant. The complex emotions, situations, dramas, climaxes that Kaminey portrays are the hallmark of all Vishal Bhardwaj movies.

Kaminey is an intensely complex movie. It is fast paced - but with brilliant editing there are hardly any loose ends. The movie is all Shahid Kapur (wonder what he did previously to inspire such confidence in the producer/director). It is the role of a lifetime for Shahid Guddu Charlie Kapur. And the movie is all about villians too. There are villians of all hues here. No middle path grey villain. All the villians, the "hail Maharashtra" criminal politician; the race course fixers, gun crazy and nutty Bong brothers; the international drug cartel leader; the intensely corrupt Narcs Officer - all of them are dirty, corrupt and deadly.

On a dark, dreary, rainy night all these people come together in a hunt for Guddu and / or Charlie. It was also the night Guddu was getting married (to Priyanka Chopra) and Charlie incidentally discovered he had Rs 10 crore of drugs in his possession. Guddu and Charlie happen to be identical twins with slight speech handicaps. One stammers and the other lisps. Some of the finer Shahid Kapur moments are when he lisps S as F - Jab Fell phone ko Fell phone kehta hai!

Among the characters - Amole Gupte ar Bhope is deadly, Priyanka comes across well in whatever little her role demands and Shahid Kapur is not brilliant - just okay. It doesn't look likely that his portrayal will be as acclaimed as Irfan Khan's in Maqbool or Saif's in Omkara. One character that I really liked was Mikhail (Chandan Roy Sanyal).

The movie ends in a crisply executed climax and one is left looking forward to watching it all over again - to catch those fine VB moments one may have missed in the first watch!

This article has also been published at Xomba.Com and my other blog mylittlelogbook.blogspot.com

Shahrukh To Play Dhoom 3 Villain

2009-05-25T00:36:00.000-07:00

Shahrukh Khan is likely to play the all popular thief in Dhoom 3. The Cops and Robber story which has attained classic cult status is likely to have Shahrukh Khan playing the robber in its 3rd edition. Hrithik Roshan stole the thunder from "cop" Abhisekh in Dhoom 2 with a dashing performance and after that the anti-hero role of this particular sequel has been much coveted.

Read the news here.

Priyanka Chopra And Shahid Kapoor Together?

2009-03-27T05:17:00.000-07:00

Are Priyanka Chopra Shahid Kapoor dating? Those keeping track of Bollywood on a regular basis might know. But frankly this comes as a surprise to me. What is it with Shahid Kapoor that he can date only tall women? Why not date the sweet Vidya Balan? And I thought Priyanka and Harman had not broken off properly. But Priyanka Shahid jodi looks okay to me. After all Priyanka Chopra is not as hot as Kareena Kapoor and Shahid Kapoor is at least better than a Harman Baweja!

Here's a link that will give the full story!

Dostana Hindi Movie Review

2009-01-06T00:51:00.000-08:00

Main gay hoon, Main gay nahin hun, Main gay hun kya? Kya tum gay ho? This sums up the story of Dostana – a story of two young men over confused about their sexuality. Well the plot is thin – So thin in fact it loses itself many a times in the tangle of legs and hormones - of Priyanka Cho. and John Abe. And the cute one day stubble of Abe babe. What was Bobby Deol doing with those three? The Deol Baba was such a let-down. I was really thankful to Bobby for providing some relief in Jhoom Barabar Jhoom (The worst ever movie I have ever watched) – I guess the Director too thought of Bobby’s role in a similar way – to provide plenty of back-up to the Bachchan Baba. But here’s news for you – Abhisekh Bachchan was outstanding – Bobby Deol was a dead bore. Dostana really has brought the term gay out of the closet, in India amongst the masses. There are some thoughts that the movie would throw the fragile gay rights movement in this country decades behind. I tend to disagree – bringing such a theme into open and into the mainstream was necessary in India.

Coming to the (non-existent) script, Abhisekh Bachchan and John Abraham decide to project a homosexual relationship in order to get accepted into a PG accommodation. As the third occupant was a young pretty babe, the niece of the house-owner, young males were not allowed. However the two decided to prolong the acting in order to get a faster visa too. In the meantime, they both fall in love with the niece (Priyanka Chopra) and the three become fast friends. Priyanka, meanwhile, is in love with her Boss, Bobby Deol. The two John Abe and Abe Babe do everything their power to thwart that relationship, even going as far as to poisoning Deol’s young son’s mind against Priyanka.

There are lots of comic encounters, climaxes in the script. The scene where Priyanka’s gay Boss Boman Irani tries to make a play for the duo with a Visa officer looking on was hilarious and exasperating at the same time. In fact, that sums up the whole movie – funny and exasperating in turns. I feel John Abraham doesn’t deserve such a huge part in any script – one does tire of the biceps and looks for some expressions at times. Sigh. Too much to expect. Kiron Kher does a gem of a job as a gay person’s mother – a traditional mother trying to come to terms with her son’s sexual orientation. Susmita Mukherjee overacts. Irani does his bit convincingly. There's Shilpa Shetty in a wee bit role too. But the movie belongs to Abhisekh and Priyanka. Priyanka was outstandingly gorgeous. Actually the three of them (Priyanka, John, Abe) in their scenes together make the movie paisa wasool. One does exit the theatre with a goofy smile – so that makes the movie worth watching!

I do know it’s too late for a Dostana review – but what the heck – I watched movie now and couldn’t help writing about it! Dostana is apparently faring very well at the Box Office too.

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Here is a link to Karan Johar's blog - the actual brains behind Dostana1

Taare Zameen Par - Oscar Entry

2008-09-21T03:33:00.000-07:00

Taare Zameen Par is India's official entry to the Oscars. Taare Zameen Par (or TZP) stars Aamir Khan and Darsheel Safary and is the second Aamir Khan movie to go for the Oscars. His movie Lagaan had been nominated to the Top 5 in the Foreign Films category. The movie is from Aamir Khan Productions and is directed by Aamir Khan

TZP, the movie is on a dyslexia affected child who is otherwise naughty and normal. The movie is a heartwarming story on the trauma faced by the child because of his problems in reading. The boy (portrayed brilliantly by Darsheel Safary) feels weighed down by the expectations of his parents who without understanding his dyslexic state think him to be unruly and disobedient. He is finally sent to a boarding school where one sees the complete transformation of a happy, cheeky boy to a brooding unhappy child...until one teacher begins to understand him and forms a friendship with him.

As is usual in Hindi movies, the film has lots of songs, some great music by Shankar Ehsaan Loy with heart rending lyrics by Prasoon Joshi, with Bum Bum Bole and Maa being very very good.

Taare Zameen Par also got the 2008 Filmfare Awards for Best Movie, Best Director, Best Lyrics, Best Supporting Actor (Aamir- who else!), Critics Award For Best Actor (Darsheel Safary).

Salman Khan Mein Dus Ka Dum

2008-06-03T19:43:00.000-07:00

I have no doubt whatsoever Salman Khan's show Dus Ka Dum is going to be a massive hit! It is a quiz (?) show that targets the masses with the right amount of ribald Salman humor and oodles of Salman-ness! And his personality is such that he carries the audience with him while still maintaining a distance.

The show Dus Ka Dum starts on 6th June and we will have to wait till then for the verdict. Meanwhile, you will find a link to Salman's Blog on the show on the right side of this page.

Aamir Khan Writes On Shahrukh

2008-05-19T20:30:00.000-07:00

I would say Aamir's Sharukh dog blog is a compliment to King Khan.

I just read Aamir Khan's blog on Shahrukh! Let me state at the outset that I am a "casual" Aamir Khan fan. I like Shahrukh too, but he is irritating at times and too clever for his own good! What I mean to say that I am not really a Bollywood crazed person, so my views are pretty unbiased.

Now coming back to the blog. What has Aamir said? He says Shahrukh is licking his feet and he is feeding him biscuits while he Aamir is enjoying "jannat ki hawa"...thats the only insulting phrase. Fine.

Can Aamir help it if his puppy licks his feet? Which dog doesnt? He goes on to clarify he hasnt named the dog but it came with the house. Now its too far fetched an idea that Aamir Khan bought a house because there was a dog Shahrukh in it so he could eventually blog about Shahrukh licking his feet! Thats too far fetched for anyone evn of Aamir Khan's far-sightedness! Now if my friend even named her dog after me I would be honored. And I wouldnt mind a little bit a small dig like this. It is irrestible!

I feel the blog is humorus and kool and Shahrukh was right to take it in the spirit it was written. And the people making the most noise about the blog are those who have only heard of it. Like I was apt to before I read it!

Read the blog (right side of page) and judge for yourself!

Om Shanti Om Review

2008-05-19T18:40:00.000-07:00

I was fortunate enough to get a pass to a special screening of the movie and just finished watching it in a jam-packed hall early at 9 AM post Diwali.

A thing about Farah Khan's movies that strikes you in the face is the commitment, the intensity. She goes out to make an all out Masala Movie...and in Om Shanti Om (OSO), she succeeds beautifully...only just that she has tried a wee bit too hard in her masala genre...

The movie starts as a tribute to the early 70s..the gestures, the costumes, the mannerisms...she gets them perfect. Its like watching a movie within a movie with Om Prakash Maakhija (Shahrukh) and his family acting out their daily roles and tributes to the industry...Farah is subtle in bringing out all the nuances in a very unsubtle way...

When the Movie shifts to the current Karan Johar GenX, the audience is already living in a huge set...and the plot is lost somewhere...

A star-crazy Om Prakash is re-born as a star OK (Om Kumar - OK!!!) and goes out to get revenge against his murderers...

Karz was so lovable and memorable since it concentrated on the plot of revenge and Rishi's number in "om shanti om" was paisa wasool...in OSO, the paisa wasool scenes are many, so we have sharukh act as a "superman", and also as a limbless, deaf and dumb actor...other than the 32 stars song...there are the umpteen stars in the "Filmfare Awards", there's Sharukh's six pack abs number...and like mostly the case with such star power, no item number, no glitz stands out as memorable...

But this Farah khan venture needs to be seen to be believed and appreciated. Its a homage in all senses to Bollywood. No promo, no review is going to do it justice except big screen viewing...Those of you who will see it streaming online...its not worth it. If a movie has been made for 70mm this is it.

The one problem with a Shahrukh Movie is that its always Shahrukh everywhere...unless the script is strong. This script is not and so we see a LOOOOOT of Shahrukh. Well Deepika is there, but her awe of him is evident on the sets too...She is beautiful, graceful and acts as if she was born to it, to give her credit.

I loved Main Hoon Na, I loved Jaan-e-Mann (Shirish Kunder's) even more, this movie disappoints me a little bit as compared to the other two but not enough that I wont go back...it will go down in history as the movie in which Farah tried too hard!!! Because she is going to make history, this feisty lady.

ps - review originally written on 10/11/2007

Saawariya Review

2008-05-18T22:25:00.000-07:00

This is a first person review of Saawariya. Let me just start with a prelude...THE THEATRE WAS ONLY HALF FULL ON THE FIRST STAURDAY NIGHT!!! The closest I have come to an emptier theatre was while watching "Jhoom Barabar Jhoom" but that was in the 2nd week. Based on this I was prepared to go through 2-1/2 hrs of torture...But what happened on screen was...

Sheer sublime poetry...the sets were incredible (since there was just one set I guess SLB hasnt really spent too much on the movie - 20crs seems overestimated with just 2 newcomers starring), and the movie was just magic...only thing is, it could have been one hour shorter. The music was a huge disappointment, except one song. There were just too many songs...as seems to be the case with most movies these days. The pace too could have picked up in the middle and end. But the Sanjay Leela Bhansali touch was evident throughout. It is evident SLB has tried Raj Kapoor's format here....what started with Awaara, continued with mera naam joker again picked up with raju ban gaya gentleman (with shahrukh)... has finally been attempted by Sanjay Leela Bhansali - the losing hero. Raju has become Raj and the sets are just slicker...but the underlying theme is the same, the good looking lion hearted hero who is a loser in life...and love. The surprise package is definitely Rani.

About the newcomers, Ranbir Kapoor is the true flag bearer of the family male genes (Karan and Kunal Kapoor were mishaps!!!) He is outstanding...and he does try to do a Raj Kapoor in his style! Sonam...well I reserve judgement on her. Her role was not really that meaty and she seemed hidden under clothes, umbrella, hair most of the time fo one to make a true assessment of her capabilities. She did seem sweet and comfortable when she was visible...

The film's not got the drama associated with SLB, its more of a poetry...and a long one...Later I got to know that the movie was screened on another nearby hall too, maybe the audience had gone there!!!

ps - originally written on 11 Nov, 2007

Downlad And Watch Race

2008-03-29T20:06:00.000-07:00

Race Movie Review

Race the movie is aptly named. Do you remember "Naqab" by Abbas Mustan? How the plots and subplots and the twist in the tail had you gripping the edge of the seat throughout the movie. Well Race doesnt have Abbas Mustan favourite Bobby Deol, but it has a more than capable Saif Ali Khan. And of course Akshaye Khanna has to be there! He excels himself in movies of this genre. But having seen him in all these similar kinds of Abbas Mustan thrillers, I feel he should start experimenting.

Saif (Ranvir) and Akshaye (Rajiv) are brothers. Saif runs a stud farm (the biggest and best in Durban) and Akshaye drinks and makes merry. Saif is the over-achiever, a Richard Branson like character, always out for the thrills, living life on the edge...till someone tries to kill him. The lady loves of the brothers are Bipasha Basu (a top model) and Katrina Kaif (Saif's Secretary). The plot changes as frequently and as rapidly as a model changes clothes in a show! And at times I am left steps behind on the story (I had my infant son with me).

Anil Kapoor has a unique role in the movie. He plays a mercenary detective RD with the Samira Reddy as his dumb assistant (remember Karamchand and Kitty). They get some of the best dialogues and Samira gets a lot of laughs. Anil Kapoor is like the proverbial wine, at his maturing best! All three of the ladies impress as does the entire cast. All the characters have their grey areas. No black and white or good or bad classification. Life is a Race and everyone does all he or she can to win the Race.

The locales are breathtaking as also the horse racing and car racing sequences at the beginning and climax. The editing is superb with not a single redundant sequence. The songs will be around in the discs for a while but nothing really that will stick around for long!

The movie is fast paced, racy, cool and well worth watching. But not really memorable!

Download and watch the movie at this link

2007-11-01T09:08:00.000-07:00

the latest buzz...

Aishwarya's Birthday Celebration...Watch the video here at Bobal