Movies

Movie of A "Third Kind"

January 27, 2006 Movies

Rang De BasantiThere are films which are remembered for its music. There are some films that have instances of fine performances. And then there is a third kind – like Rang De Basanti. It’s difficult to sum up anything about it. The performances were exquisite; the songs were magical; the storyline is the best in recent times. Then if there’s Aamir in a movie, there’s hardly anything that can go wrong with it (only if the movie is titled Mangal Pandey – The Rising or Mann).

Rang De Basanti presents a nice intersection of the mindset of the youth of 20th century British India and the present generation through 5 friends – D.J. (Aamir Khan), Karan (Siddharth making his debut in Hindi Cinema), Laxman (Atul Kulkarni), Sukhi (Sharman Joshi) and Aslam (Kunal Kapoor). Sue (Alice Patten) comes to India in search of actors for a movie which would be based on her grand dad’s experience in India as a British jailer. She starts to identify the characters of her film in the 5 friends with help from her friend Sonia (Soha Ali Khan Pataudi) whose also a student in the University. The film-making experience becomes more memorable when it helps the cast to recognise their true self and awakens them to do better things for their country. Madhavan (as Ajay in the movie) plays a small but pivotal role in the film as well. The movie, as a whole runs high on emotions and spirit and you’re left thinking in the end about the state of affairs in this country. The music of the film by Rahman is excellent and it’s difficult to single out a particular favorite number but I will vote for Rubaroo, penned wonderfully by Prasoon Joshi. It’s also played at a very crucial point in the movie and the lyrics hit you immediately. If you are free this weekend please watch Rang De Basanti at a theater near you.

» Visit the Official website of Rang De Basanti

Garam Masala and More

November 15, 2005 Movies

John Abraham & Akshay Kumar in Garam Masala I have been a fan of Akshay ‘Akki’ Kumar and his partnership with Priyadarshan (Hera Pheri) had left an indelible mark with his comic timing. No doubts then that I decided to catch up with his latest offering Garam Masala which was running at Fame Malad. This also meant another golden opportunity to visit InOrbit Mall and the shopping gala ;-)

This time around I took my car and Aadesh both together. This combination is the most fruitful as far as user experience is concerned :D Then I also had to get a haircut from the Exquis Salon of L’Oreal. From the onset, it would look like the same but the barber (forgive me for using that name for him) actually used numerous scissors to get my hair into shape. After a meal at Pizza Hut we headed for the Fame.

The movie is about Makarand (nicknamed Mac and played wonderfully by Akkie) who wants to show his superiority to his “senior” Shyam (nicknamed Sam played by John Abraham) and to do it he goes around with 3 gorgeous air hostesses Sweety (Neetu Chandran), Priti (Daisy Bopanna) and Pooja (Nargis Bagheri) all at the same time while still being engaged to Anjali (Rimi Sen). The funny part of the story is when you realise that all the 3 stay at his posh villa and none of them ever get a whiff of each other anytime. The support cast is awesome too and let me bow to the greatest of all Paresh Rawal who plays a cook cum housekeeper called Mambo. His comedy has come to a level where he doesn’t need to resort to flimsy actions and jugglery – the kind of which we’re so used to in Bollywood. There are some very funny moments in the movie and would be a spoiler if I described them to you but I felt it got a bit stretched towards the end. Watch the movie to see Akkie in action albeit in a comic one and the lovely damsels too.

I also have taken the Fame Purple Privelege membership and they have promised a lot to me. Tickets, meeting with stars, etc. Only time will tell the difference between fact and fiction.

‘Flights’ of Fancy

October 16, 2005 Movies

FlightplanYesterday I had an opportunity to see capitalism at its best. Being in the commercial capital Mumbai, one would say that money & prosperity can be seen everywhere but not to me. I still miss HK pretty much and I am lucky to have gone there at the right time of my life. It pretty much changed the way I think about my lifestyle.

And my appointment with this mall changed the way I would think about Mumbai now. I am talking about InOrbit which is located on the Link Road between Malad & Goregaon. It’s got the very best in entertainment, books, cuisine, cosmetics, clothes & other accessories and a lot more. Talking about entertainment I couldn’t believe it when I found the FAME multiplex (probably 5 screen) theatre bang in the middle of the mall! The convenience of a shopping experience coupled with some entertainment and food.

Well now coming back to our main discussion which is the movie FlightPlan which I saw yesterday at FAME. It’s a wonderfully gripping drama of Kyle Pratt (played by Jodie Foster) who loses her 6 year old in an airplane and the drama unfolds to some wonderful surprises. Sean Bean (Agent 006 from Goldeneye) was another actor I could recognise, whose playing the aircraft captain. The interiors of the aircraft, to my knowledge must be a set and not the actual plane but it looks fantastic. You might want to see this movie this weekend.