This is such a movie Indian cinema has never seen. A Clear winner of Aladin, is its SFX. Blood and sweat has been put over it and it really shows. Not at any point it looks overdone. What complements the movie more is its perfect casting and characterisation. Each and every actor is cast so well that you can never imagine anyone else playing any character. Riteish is so perfect as a loser Aladin. While Jaquline is endearing as Jasmine. Amitabh Bachchan is extremely likeable and does not make you remind his similar role of Bhootnaath.
Sanju baba is clearly show stopper. As a bad guy, Ringmaster he is oh so perfect. Cinematography is the thing to watch out for. Huge sets and excellent use of the fort city - Jaisalmer is eye pleasing. Sujoy's direction is good, but at some points movie loses a little bit. Screenplay becomes less engaging. But given the novelty value, and at short running time of 132 minutes, the movie is full on joyride.
It takes out child from within you. Child who want to dance to peppy tunes of Vishal Shekhar. Music sounds better while watching it on screen. Cause all are situational songs.
All in all, its a must watch movie for some serious and honest effort of putting up age old fable on to the screen. 3.5 stars for Aladin !!! Don't Miss it!!
Well, I am fighting with my PC these days . It has been days since it is down. So Blogging from Office, just to shout out about WebNeeTech.com ; for selecting me to do an interview with them. I am honored Absolutely.
Here are excerpts from it...
Darshit Joshi, a Mechenical engineer by profession, loves discussing about movies and music, especially Hindi movies and this desire encouraged him to start his own blog in March 2005, where he can discuss and share his thought, reviews and experience about movie, music and some personal stuff.
The blog http://dunkdaft.blogspot.com focus area is on Hindi movies, music and some personal stuff like his travel experience.
In an interview with WebNeeTech, Darshit shared his journey as a blogger and word of advice for the new bloggers.
Since long time, Trains have played a great part in Movies. Be it from Hollywood or from Bollywood. From the fantastic action in Sholay, Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja and recent Dhoom2, Rang De Basanti and Blue. Emotional at its best like Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. Dark like Devdas. To, absolutely fantastic songs since B/W era. Also, some movies which are totally based on Trains like The Burning Train and partially based like Jab We Met. and Kaminey. Trains have lured our film makers from time to time. So with that, here are some of my favorite Train songs. For which again, I would like to get more suggestions / additions from you all. [click on songs to go to Youtube]
7. Paper Planes : Slumdog Millionaire - Well, this is not actually a train song. An independent track by MIA, is used in such a way in the movie that we just can't help but imagine about the movie while playing it. Fantastic journey of the two kids is shown-from Mumbai via Rajasthan to Agra. Living their life in and around the train.
6. Chhaiyya Chhaiyya : Dil Se - You must be wondering why this song is at no.6? Well, its all because of the over exposure. Still, each and every 'so called' music channel shows this song without fail. So that made me annoyed. Besides that, what a great idea by Farah Khan, to make people dance on roof of Train. Beats of Rahman makes us feel the thump of train. And can't help but visualize Malaika Arora Khan.
5. Mere Sapno Ki Rani : Aradhana - How on earth one can forget this song while talking about trains? The one and only 'train' beauty - Sharmila Tagore - looking through the window !! S.D.Burman has made such a brilliant opening music for the track with Whistles of the coal Engine. [Toy Train of Darjeeling] Aah, talk about immortality. Kaka Rajesh Khanna was in full swing with Kishor da's vocals.
4. Hoga Tumse Pyara Kaun : Zamaane Ko Dikhana Hai - Long before Dil se..., there was a couple who boarded roof of train to sing a song.[okay, most of the scenes where special effects though] Beautiful Padmini Kolhapure was sad, and cutie Rishi Kapoor trying to cheer her up. What a fantastic video. Toy Train of Darjeeling [again] looked wonderful. And Shailendra Singh's voice suited perfectly for R D Burman's creation.
3. Dhadak Dhadak : Bunty Aur Babli - The song itself says the beats of Train. Dhadak Dhadak. Also the fantastic words by Gulzar makes this Shankar-Ehsan-Loy composition a gem. So energetic the sound of music is, that makes you feel that you are in a train. Though the song talked much about the ambitious youth, Train is used as a backdrop, a medium to catch the running success.
2. Tu Kaun Hai : Bhopal Express - Originally featured in Lucky Ali's album Aks. Well, this is a very odd choice. The movie is not a mainstream one, nor the song is made exclusively for it. But again, the overall feel of the song is such perfect for it. With sounds of railway tracks, steam engine. The chimes and darkness of death of Bhopal Tragedy. Everything makes it such a haunting track.
1. Yeh Hawayein [Kasato Mazaa] : Parineeta - Oh So Cute kids singing 'Kasto mazaa'. And then Sonu and Shreya Ghoshal engages in pure divine tune of Shantanu Moitra. Heaven.....Worth menion is Swanand Kirkire's beautiful words. Interesting thing is , this is the same train where once Saif's mom Sharmila did travelled in the song Mere Sapno Ki raani.... Here its Gorgeous Vidya Balan who's giving her tough competition. Composition with whistles and sound of steam engine makes it a classic.
My most favorite festival - Diwali. Festival of lights, crackers, sweets, meets, rangolis and shopping shopping and more shopping. I just love the spirit all around the city. Everyone gets geared up for the biggest festival of India. Everything has its own charm - from cleaning and get house painted to shop for decorative things for it. What attracts me most is the colors of Rangoli. So many beautiful designs attracts you everywhere. And how can I miss crackers & fireworks? Though I am against the noisy crackers, I enjoy playing with small ones which are lesser at noise. Yes, I am still a kid when it comes to crackers. I enjoy the simple ones. Which creates colorful lights and lights up the sky with fabulous colors.
And for a film buff like me, Diwali doubles up the joy and excitement as all big big movies get released around Diwali. Since childhood most of the times I get lucky enough to catch the movie on the same day it got released. And it feels great watching movies with Festive spirit. Halls run packed, tickets sold in black [10 ka 30], instant audience reactions.... ahh, gone were the days of Single screens. Here are movies released during Diwali of past 15 years and how I much enjoyed them.
2009 :
Of course I went for BLUE this year. Cause it has none other than Rahman. Here is my take on the movie. A huge disappointment. :( Other two movies don't interest me . While Main aur Mrs Khanna 's promos and songs doesn't look much interesting to me, All the Best is not my piece of cake. I would like to stay away from it unless anyone recommends me after watching it.
2008:
This Diwali saw 3 big releases. Fashion, Roadside Romeo and Golmaal Returns. And as expected Golmaal... won the battle. But I found it strictly average with R rated theme, a strict no-no on festivals when we go watch movies with family. Fashion had already given that warning through promos, cause the subject itself dealt with such bold theme. Madhur did nice job and I liked it, but this certainly was not my kinda 'diwali flick'. So I chose Roadside Romeo, first.. Cause I did not want to miss one of a few Hindi Mainstream Animation movies, and it was quite enjoyable one. I know most people didn't liked it much though. But it was a welcome change.
2007 :
This was my one of the favorite Diwali. Competition was really really big. Om Shanti Om and Saawariya were fighting to get their own share. Both had fabulous soundtracks. Heard everywhere. No doubt, I opted for OSO's tickets cause I knew, after Main Hoon Naa, Farah will never go wrong. And on the day of Diwali itself, Morning show ran really packed house and obviously movie was worth it. Pure Masala entertainer, which one needs in festivals. While I saw Saawariya later [2 times], I fell in love with the movie, and sighed why I did not watch it first. :) Now if you ask me to choose any one from the two, my vote would be for Saawariya.
2006 :
SRK no doubt is a king when it comes to count movies during Diwali. 2006 saw another war between two giants, SRK in DON and his beloved friend Farah's hubby who made Jaan-E-Mann. Again, I chose SRK to watch first, and then Jaan-E-Mann. Both were good movies on their own. Though Jaan E Mann failed while competing with sleek Don, I liked it. The musical format [and songs too] was good, and also both Sallu and Akki did very well. But yes, DON scored over just because of its oh-so-great Technical details.
2005 :
Another Diwali with not so big movies. Garam Masala, Kyun Ki and Shaadi No.1. Priyadarshan and David Dhawan battled to prove who's funniest of all. And of course, with help of Akki and John, Priyan won with Garam Masala. Music was also one of Pritam's first hits. Never mind the plagiarism. I loved the movie and music. And till date, I haven't seen Shaadi No.1 at all :) While Salman and Kareena is a pair, I din't look anything forward to watch out for in Kyun Ki..., so I haven't seen it yet either.
2004 :
Two big, really big movies this year. One with magnificent soundtrack - Veer Zaara and one Magnum Opus of all time - Mughal E Aazam [colored version]. Both I looked forward to. But was disappointed how dismal Veer ZZZZZara was. The only movie when I left hall during a song to get fresh air !! I regret of not seeing Mughl E Azam in theatre. Missed it due to some circumstances. :(
Corrected by @raulsail ; there were two movies which I forgot to mention. RGV's Naach and Aitraaz. But I did not watch both of them. Cause Akshay Kumar is the one whose movies I least prefer to watch in halls. And Naach, had no promises. But surprisingly Aitraaz did really well on B.O. and kick started a superstar's career [after a glitch in Andaaz] - Priyanka Chopra.
2003 :
This year saw 5 movies : Pinjar, Sssshhh, Inteha, Kagaarand Raja Bhaiya. Only one of them was credible. Based on Indo-Pak partition, Pinjar was really good. Urmila's one of the best till date. Other movies came and sank without a trace. But certainly, this Diwali was quite cold with no Masala, no big banner, no SRK....
2002:
Another 'Thanda' Diwali. With movies like Jeena Sirf Merre Liye,Anarth, Waah Tera Kya Kehna and Leela.I chose to stay at home and not to watch just any of them. Jeena Sirf...wanted to cash in the sucess of Mujhe kuchh kehna hai but failed miserably. Later I caught 'Leela' starring gorgeous Dimple Kapadia, on DVD. Its quite a good watch. Especially it has superb soundtrack featuring Jagjit Singh.
2001:
While Asoka released a week before Diwali, it was a clear disaster on box office. But I loved it for sheer beautiful locations [and Bebo of course]. On Diwali, four movies were released. Yeh Zindagi Ka Safar, Abhay, Deewanapan and Tera Mera Saath Rahen. Amongst them I caught up Abhay cause it had Kamal Hassan. Movie was kinda weird, say uneasy feel. But with unique experiments like in-line animations, fabulous action sequences and Kamal's double role - it was definitely a firecracker for me. [oh, and did I forgot to mention gorgeous ladies Raveena and Kitu Gidwani??]
2000 :
Two firecrackers battled out in this year. Fresh from success of Kaho Naa Pyar Hai - Hrithik and [so called] challenged by his stardom- SRK got together again after KNPH v/s PBDHH. Mohabbatein and Mission Kashmir. Both different films. No prize for guessing which movie I chose. Of course SRK. And in Mohabbatein - what bowled me over was not him, but new and improved BIG B. Though today, if I have to select to re-watch from both, it would be Mission Kashmir. Its my most fav movie of Hrithik.
1999 :
This was the most exciting Diwali in terms of Bollywood Marketing. After 5 long years, and legendary success of Hum Aapke Hain Kaun, Rajshri Prod. was coming with a multi Starrer. Hum Saath Saath Hai. It was marketed to death. Even Coke came up with special dedicated pet bottles too.. Though the high expectations did work against it. Everyone was comparing it with HAHK. But movie worked as perfect Family Drama on Diwali. I watched it on Black market tickets [25 bucks!!!!]. the gorgeous ladies- Tabu, Sonali and Karisma made it a dazzling Diwali. [and oh, a big banner movie WITHOUT SRK!!!]
1998 :
and SRK is back. One of my all time favorite movie. Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. I watched it 4 times in theater. And can utter dialogues even now. and ahh...Kajol Kajol Kajol. Need I say more?? the movie owes to her. Another one released with KKHH was Bade Miyan Chhote Miyaan. with the over hyped special appearance of Madhuri [first one after marriage]. Not my kinda movie with all 'shouting comedy'.
1997 :
Sheer musical delight. No one have heard name of Uttam Singh untill 2007. This was the last time when I saw such craze to buy Audio of a movie. [cause later, internet, CDs and piracy took over the industry]. Dil To Pagal Hai is still one of the highest selling soundtracks ever. And the movie complemented to its music too. SRK+Madhuri and Karisma.. What Chemistry!!! What a movie!! What Dances!!
1996 :
Kiss Kiss Kiss !! I was a kid then, and even today the first thing comes to my mind is 'the hottest kiss' in Bollywood. Raja Hindustani has this sizzling chemistry between [my fav] Aamir and Karisma. Music was damn good too. One can hear 'Pardesi' everywhere. From train compartments to shops and hotels. Biggest success ever for Aamir Khan [before Ghajini of course].
1995 :
Inspired by 'clean' movie of last year, Yashraj too 'inspired' his son to do something inline with what Suraj Barjatya was doing. There came Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jaayenge. A movie, which is still running in theater. [has anyone counted occupancy though??] I liked the movie. But don't think its really 'that' great. [I know I'm taking a risk saying that] What I really loved about the movie is one and the only Kajol Kajol. Who made the Diwali special.
1994 :
Ok, for this year I can't recall which movie was released on Diwali. But I remember watching Hum Aapke Hain Kaun, which was released two months before Diwali. After long hours of standing in queue for tickets. I gotta see the greatest movie of Bollywood. Just can't forget the experience. It was the time when Bollywood was changing. It was getting new colors. The clean, family entertainment was back. And so is fantastic music. The best Diwali gift by Rajshri.
Phew....there ends my longest post ever. I churned my brain cells a lot for this. Also some help of Google, this post is possible. Tell me HAVE YOU READ IT COMPLETELY?? :-D
And OH, how can I conclude this post without some music, related to the festival?? Surprisingly, for the biggest festival of India, there are very less songs made by Bollywood. Makers are rather interested in making Holi songs, cause it has potential of cleavage show off :P. Well, here are two of my most favorite songs. One is from legendary Guide : Piya toh se naina laage re....which has many different colors, one of them is of Diwali. And who can deny magnetic presence of Waheeda ji?!!! Check out 1:14 to 2:38
And here is one from the movie, which I think is THE ONLY one, that is completely based on the festival. I am always intrigued why we don't have such story lines based on Diwali, when Hollywood always come up with fantastic Christmas movies. Here is a song from Sujoy Ghosh's Home Delivery. Which didn't fare well at box office because of the flaws, but it had fantastic soundtrack by Vishal Shekhar. Check out the song 'Happy Diwali'. So cute, I always play it on Diwali.
p.s.: Yay!! This is my 100th post in a single year - 2009 !!
Perfect Cinematography : Check Mind Blowing Sound : Check Hotness all around the actress : Check Oooh La La designer Bikinis : Check Perfect Camera Angles : Check
Story : Oops...gimme 5 mins. I forgot it at my home. Acting : Lets party in Bahamas yaar. Who needs acting lessons?? Screenplay : Huh...what's that????????
BALOOOOOOOOOOO...................
I just don't know why our film makers keep cheating on us? Can't they see defects in their own product? Being a QA personnel from manufacturing industry, I assure that each product passing from us, shall be perfect. And I have enough knowledge about my product. So, all experienced Sanjay Dutt, Akshay Kumar & the producers couldn't find that their movie is not engaging at all??? Even though it is only nearly two hours long, it not at any point -was as engaging as a Thriller should be. And the publicity guys were shouting 'Unleash the Mystery' Blah Blah Blah......my foot. There is NO THING AS A MYSTERY. I repeat, NOTHING. It just comes and goes. No Adrenalin rush, no excitement. Nothing. Even LUCK was better for some 'meaningful' action. Here its just an ensemble of perfectly choreographed but misplaced action sequences. With all twists we know before they happen.
I am not telling that Everything is bad in it. NO. It is revolutionary in terms of Technical Expertise. Ocean has never been so vivacious blue. Sky was never so sharp. Nights were never so real. Dolphins' were never heard in Hindi movie. Never have we seen underwater action besides heroines in swimming pool. Bikinis were never so so sexy. Yes, BLUE owes its Technical Crew completely. and [the reason I went in for] Rahman's score. Thumping Background score which you can feel around your seats. Fantastic songs - with one downer. Bad Picturization of my most fav-Fiqrana. Rahman has used 'Bhoola Tujhe' theme in various portions of the movie. In different versions, which is excellent.
Acting. ha ha. I think Sanju baba has forgotten this word. He was sleepwalking. Or maybe he was trying hard to 'be in character'. of a humble guy with guilt in heart. Don't know. But why is he showing his 'getting bigger' tummy?? Zayed is average. Lara is a show piece. Nothing much for her. [after all, its all 'male' movie]. But she definitely sizzles in bikinis. She's extremely comfortable with her sexuality and she's perfect visual delight. Akshay Kumar is busy showing off his tatoo, name of his son-painted on his back. Akki repeats himself once again. Read-boring. Its just 'chiggy wiggy' which suited him perfectly. [and oh, Kylie...Muahh] Only relief as an 'actor' is Rahul Dev. After Aa Dekhen Zara, he once again rocks the screen with power performance.
Sigh....First Akki ruined new year with CC2C, then KI, now he has ruined Diwali....No more Akki movies please. No. No. He was better in 8x10. No more Akki movies for me now...unless if its extremely good, then only I will watch it. Dear Akki, don't take your initials too seriously. 'You Are Not AK' Read scripts instead of Cheques.
If you are interested, enthu about Technical expertise of movies, Go and watch Blue. If you want to watch a good entertaining 'movie'; forget it!!
My Rating : 2 / 5 [Just for Technical crew+music] My Fav Moments : The Underwater sequences [but not the revelation of Treasure chest] Rewatch : What??!!
Just can't wait to see my favorite novel on big screen. That too, with my fav stars Aamir Khan, Bebo, Madhvan and Sharman Joshi. Here's a snap of poster posted by @abhshk which originally was posted to Orkut's 3 idiots community. [Gosh!! Orkut is of some use haan?]
Meanwhile, news is in the air that Aamir has a Facebook account named Pucca Idiott. But that FB profile has nothing identical that we can believe it is Aamir's page. Damn you news channels. Or if it IS owned by him, Please, Will the really 'social' Aamir, Please stand Up!!!!
Update : And, here is the original poster. Loving the chair :P
This is such a movie Indian cinema has never seen. A Clear winner of Aladin, is its SFX. Blood and sweat has been put over it and it really shows. Not at any point it looks overdone. What complements the movie more is its perfect casting and characterisation. Each and every actor is cast so well that you can never imagine anyone else playing any character. Riteish is so perfect as a loser Aladin. While Jaquline is endearing as Jasmine. Amitabh Bachchan is extremely likeable and does not make you remind his similar role of Bhootnaath.
