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PERAANMAI ( TAMIL , 2009 )

Director : S.P. Jhananathan

Cast : Jayam Ravi , Vadivelu , Roland Kickinger , Urvasi

My Deepavali was kick-started with this movie , and let me make this very clear that if this movie is going to be any indication about my Deepavali weekend , I think this is probably one of the worst ever.

Peraanmai revolves around a group of College Girls who attend a NCC Training Camp , in some far-off hill station place . Dhruva ( Ravi ) is an Forest Instructor / Officer , who has come from the Tribal Area and passed through the system to make a name for himself , and this caste issue is subject to frequent humiliation by his superior and the girls.

The girls are under the constant watch of a Nun played by Urvasi . It is very well established early in the movie that certain girls , 5 to be precise , are least interested in working with Dhruva , thanks to the caste issue. And they resort to all sorts of silly pranks to humiliate him.

Ironically , at the end of the Camp these very 5 girls are selected by Dhruva to venture into the Forest for a whole day under his guidance. What happens when a freak accident leads to a series of events , is what Peraanmai deals with.

The opening sequences show a Rocket all set to be launched by a Space Agency , and as a group of scientists point out , this rocket would aid India in its agricultural research . Further as the movie progresses , we realize that a group of foreigners land in the jungle to destroy the Rocket with a missile. And Ravi , as always gets his share of bashing up , this time under the pretext of saving the country.

The story and script definitely oozes with so much potential and it would have been much better if this was given better treatment. The first half is easily one of the most horrendous bit of comedy I have ever come across. The Director clearly establishes the 5 girls' dislike for Dhruva , very early in the movie. But why for God's sake does the audience have to be subjected to torturous sequences which repeatedly show the girls playing out their never ending schemes to defame Dhruva.

Scenes like these clearly choke the viewer and you just begin to think about exiting the Cinema hall. No wonder there was a mini-exodus from the Theater not even halfway into the movie. the first half is so shoddy you wonder if this movie was made by the same Director who made that beautiful movie "Iyarkai". Nothing short of torture , this is the worst part of the movie , and drags on for long , thanks to a few misplaced songs.

Post-interval , things somewhat fall into place , when the 5 girls and Ravi are stranded in the forest , and realize that a group of 16 foreigners are in the jungle , to destroy the rocket . The portion between the pre-interval sequence and a the initial portion of the second half manage to keep you interested , but later on you can't stop feeling choked again , especially when Ravi and the 5 girls decide to confront the mini-army themselves , heavily inspired by some seriously ridiculous dialogues from Dhruva.

Screenplay is extremely poor , and the pace could have been sustained easily if a majority of the silly pranks were edited. The second half is somewhat better as far as the pace is concerned.

There is nothing in the movie , which makes the audience connect to the characters. In my opinion , a movie should have at least one character whom the audience can relate with , and that enriches the whole experience. In this case , you just cannot stop laughing at the sheer obscurity of the characterization , especially those of the girls and the superior Officer.

There is some hint of a brief romance between Dhruva and a girl called Ajitha . This too is shot in the shoddiest manner , and the love scenes evoke unintended laughter from the audience. Especially the sequence where Ajitha steals Dhruva's pistol , is dragged beyond reasonable limits and truly tests your patience.

Acting by Jayam Ravi can be described as mediocre at best . He does perform well in some scenes but in many portions , thanks to some horrendous characterization , irritates you with pathetically written dialogues . The girls all overact happily , adding to the audience's woes. Only the character of Ajitha seems to have even tried to act . Wonder what the Director was thinking about the characterization.

The comedy track by Vadivelu seems grossly out of place , and have not we seen enough of him playing the bumbling Hostel warden ? Urvasi comes up with a decent performance in a brief role. The Superior Officer is another classic case of overacting.

Music by Vidyasagar is least pleasing , and the placement of the songs does not help either. I mean , how can anyone just break into a dance , almost semi-nude , in a waterfall , when hardly half an hour has elapsed since their jeep plummeted into destruction , and you are stranded in the middle of a Forest area ? This as they say , happens only in India :(

The foreigners.. Ah , such a terrible bunch when it comes to acting and dialogues , with a mixture of British and French and American accents , all led by the giant sized Anderson , played by Roland Kickinger , another import from Hollywood.

The second half I thought , would have some credibility , but towards the end of the movie it is nothing but all boom boom stuff , with guns and bazookas blazing all around. The action scenes are so pitifully shot , you just begin to wonder who actually is firing at whom. And Dhruva , a Forest Guard seems to be an authority on weapons , ranging from Land-mines to The latest machine guns . Beats me. And the girls , whom we are made to think of as bumbling pranksters , are finally shown to be people capable of handling technology such as Radar , Rockets , Passwords etc. Probably Kollywood's answer to Charlies' Angels ? Wonderful , the audience are not fools ,Sir.

The movie has so much potential , with a strong storyline and script and even though I do appreciate the makers for trying out something new , it does fall flat on it's face. A classic case of potential being wasted.

I will go with 2 out of 5 for Peraanmai , and that too merely judging its potential and not just the actual outcome. Frankly speaking , with all that women power trying its best to come to the fore , coupled with shabbily filmed action sequences , and an overdose of patriotism , it was like watching a Kollywood action version of Chak De India . Much better was expected from the Director of "Iyarkai". This one is a big disappointment.

My Deepavali is off to a poor start thanks to Peraanmai.

Verdict : 2 / 5 ( Poor )

MOVIE - UNNAI POL ORUVAN ( Tamil , 2009 )

Director : Chakri Toleti

Cast : Kamal Haasan , Mohan Lal , Lakshmi

Well , what can I say ... What do you expect when you get a movie with the stalwarts of Indian Cinema coming together... A scorcher .. and a scorcher is what you get folks.. Ladies and Gentlemen , Unnai Pol Oruvan ( UPO ) , the remake of " A Wednesday " brings together Kamal Haasan and Mohanlal.

UPO portrays the events which unfold on one fateful day in the city of Chennai. The entire movie revolves around Kamal Haasan , who threatens to blow up bombs which he has placed in different spots. He deals with Chennai's Police Chief , played by Mohanlal , upon whom the duty to save the city is vested upon .

Brilliantly shot , UPO is an absolute treat for cinema lovers.. Although the movie remains faithful to the original movie , certain subtle changes have been made to make it more of a Tamil oriented movie. UPO shows what can possibly happen when a man representing the common public is so disgruntled by certain aspects of the Country , especially when extreme threats are posed to National Security.

I don't feel the need to elaborate any further on a simple story . The story is definitely an innovative one , and although it does belong to the "anti-establishment " genre of movies , if I can call it that , this movie is not a preachy one with a dozen punches about Deshbhakti etc thrown in .

UPO certainly pretty much sums up the sorry state of affairs in today's world , especially the Terrorism aspect . There are certain similarities at least concept wise to movies based on vigilante-justice , however UPO does not preach it in any way. A very simple plot sometimes forces the Director to normally resort to unwanted means to bring in the audiences , and thankfully the Director does not do any of that in UPO.. No songs , no item numbers , no separate comedy track . It is just a clean , honest and well intended jibe at today's world , especially India , which bears the brunt of terrorism from across the border.

The screenplay does appear to sag just a little bit in the first half , but it definitely grips you from the beginning. Not much of unwarranted scenes , and this helps in keeping the viewer hooked to the proceedings on-screen.

UPO is a fine example of how you do not need a comedian to make the viewers laugh. The witty dialogues are enough to bring out a chuckle from the audiences. Watch out for the scene where an actor / wannabe politician , asks Mohanlal for extra security . That was such a direct shot at the Illaya Thalapathy Vijay , and this scene had the theatre in splits. It is moments like these which provide some humor , a break from the more serious sequences which constitute the bulk of the movie. However it is the serious moments which linger even after exiting the Theatre...

UPO is one movie , which requires the audience to pay close attention and relish the finer aspects of film making. The reference to the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks are evident in a few parts of the movie. The references to vote bank politics and other such things are all well portrayed.

UPO practically covers every problem which the country faces , right from Terrorism which is the crux of the movie , to Inflation , in that wonderfully shot scene where Kamal picks up a tomato which has fallen in dirt . Even though it touches upon so many problems , it does not come across as a preachy , documentary kind of movie at all. Another standout scene has to be the one where Lakshmi , who plays the role of Tamil Nadu's Chief Secretary , tries to pass on the responsibility of dealing with the situation to Mohanlal.

Acting.. Well do I really have to comment on this aspect ? Mohanlal , as the Police Chief is an absolute delight to watch . Lalettan , India's best actor after Kamal, simply shines in all sequences , and is a picture of dignity and Straightforwardness throughout the movie. He has obviously enjoyed playing the role and the theatre went mad when he said " Not only Kerala , Tamil Nadu is also my Nadu "..

The supporting cast too have come up with good performances to backup Lalettan and Kamal . Lakshmi is absolutely natural as the Chief Secretary and other characters like the Police Inspectors Sethu and Arif , the Cigarette wielding TV Reporter , have all added value to the movie. Not forgetting that imitation of the voice of the Tamil Nadu CM Karunanidhi , whom we only get to hear over the phone :)

Now .. The Ulaga Nayagan himself.. an amazing performance as always from undoubtedly India's BEST ACTOR EVER .. Portraying as simple a character as the Common Man , might be easy when you think about it. Believe me , it is a very tough one. And when you realize how every emotion , ranging from Anger , to disillusionment with the system , to grief , needs to be portrayed all together , I can't think of anyone who fits the bill more than Kamal Haasan. He has underperformed his role to perfection . And those clever dialogues in that brilliant voice of his , man , what an actor :)

Background music is nothing great to be honest . But the songs which were released , were amazing stuff , from Shruti Haasan , who makes a very impressive debut as Music Director in UPO. I would have been delighted if the songs were played in the background , but sadly we don't get to hear them that frequently , except in a few places.

Cinematography and other technical aspects are excellent as in most Kamal films , as he has impeccable standards which he sets for his movies. In my opinion , the dialogues are the best thing about the movie. "Brilliant" is an under-statement , as far as the dialogues are concerned.

Finally comparisons with " A Wednesday " .. Well , all I can say is if you have seen the original then this one probably loses out on the novelty factor when you watch it , cos the Director has remained faithful to a massive extent , and thus the "josh" is tough to experience , but the superb and clever dialogues definitely make up for it. But if you have not seen the original , am certain you shall love UPO.

Overall I shall go with 4 out of 5 for this excellent movie .. not only is Kamal's character the " new face of terror" , it also represents the new face of Indian cinema.. Bold , innovative , and delightful.

P.S . Am sure many people will not notice this when you watch the movie. But I beg you to watch out for this.. The stand out moment is a scene where Mohanlal watches his men dress up in protective gear and then says " These are the latest bulletproof vests.. Thanks to Mr.Karkare ". That dialogue is simple , yet magical for those who really experienced the trauma of their fellow citizens , when the dastardly attacks on Mumbai and other places happened. And in certain ways , it makes the movie appear as a tribute to those unsung heroes who laid down their lives fighting for us .. You and me.. The common man.. Unnai Pol Oruvan..

VERDICT : 4 / 5 ( Excellent )

MOVIE -- NINAITHALE INIKKUM ( TAMIL , 2009 )

Director : G N R Kumaravelan

Cast : Prithviraj , Karthik Kumar , Priyamani , Shakti , Bhagyaraj

Now , how many movies have we seen , based on college nostalgia , meeting up old college friends at a reunion etc ? This is another movie added to that genre , which pretends to send you down memory lane reminding you of your college days when you watch this movie. At least , that is what this movie pretends to do , but in reality , seems half-baked.

The movie is almost entirely based on a flashback , when Shiva ( Prithviraj ) , visits his College for a function 8 years after he left college. Shakti and Prithviraj are best friends . Then there is Meera ( Priyamani ) , who happens to be Shiva's love interest . Vasu ( Karthik ( Evam ) ) is shiva's bete-noir in college , and both always have an excuse to bash each other . Now , through a series of events , Priyamani and Prithviraj get separated romantically , thanks to an evil plot schemed by Vasu. Let me stop with the story here , as there is nothing much more to be written about it.

This movie inspite of it's good intentions , made me yawn . It is largely due to the numerous songs thrown in , when they are completely unwarranted . The story too has the least bit of novelty , and seems to be a half-baked mix of Mystery , Romance , College Drama etc. Sadly , what turns up is hardly delectable fare.

Quite a few scenes , even though well intended , fail to keep the viewer engrossed in the proceedings. The Director chooses to bombard the audience with an overdose of melodrama at regular intervals , mainly through the character of Bhagyaraj , who portrays the role of Shakti's father. Dialogues hardly make any impact at all , and are met with laughter from the audience , thanks to their sheer silliness . Cliche ridden at the outset , the dialogues hardly add any value to the movie.

The so called "comedy" scenes in the movie seem to be Directed by some 3rd Grade School student. God , have not we seen enough Classroom humor ? a Professor lamenting about his bunch of unruly students .. The ridiculous scene in which there is an attempted spoof of "Kaathal Kondein " , is so badly taken , it actually makes you laugh at the stupidity unfolding on-screen , rather than at the actual comic factor. And there is another horrendous attempt at Comedy , when Prithviraj and his friends go to watch a movie , only to be unknowingly caressed by eunuchs , which they don't realize until the lights come on ... countless movies contain this scene , and you simply cannot digest it any longer .

The fight scenes however are well shot , and thanks to the intensity portrayed by Prithviraj and Evam Karthik , they stand out. Songs are absolutely unwarranted and only a couple of songs are worth listening to . Add to it the obnoxious background score , which sounds amateurish to say the least. Oh , speaking of songs , wonder who choreographed the sequences . Shoddy dance steps .. I generally never tend to focus on Dance sequences at all when I watch movies , but there were some preposterous dance steps in this one which made me take notice , and the rest of the audience along with me , who had a good laugh at the choreographer's expense.

Acting is probably the saving grace of this movie. Prithviraj has come up with a very good portrayal of the tempered Shiva , who is aggression personified . Evam Karthik is the best among the lot , even though he does not have as much screen space as I would have liked , but still comes up with an excellent performance in a role which offers limited scope. Priyamani has nothing much to do. Shakti tries his best at acting , but , son , sorry to say this , but you gotta hone your skills even more , especially when you are teamed with people like Prithviraj who is an established Malayali actor , and Evam Karthik , who is easily a fine performer. Bhagayaraj resorts to melodrama , but I guess that is his trademark , and comes up with a dignified performance , even though some of the dialogues which he uses generate unintended laughter from the viewers.

Screenplay is this movies' Achilees Heel. Every scene seems to be extended beyond reasonable limits , and add to it some unwanted sequences , amateurish humor , and you have one of the worst first-halfs I have ever seen . Too slow , you just cannot wait for the Interval , so you can stretch and relax a bit , after being subject to such stupidity on screen. The second half is by no means good , but I guess anything is much better when compared to the ludicrous first-half. The second half shows some element of credibility , and there is a twist towards the end , which might surprise you , and comes as a welcome respite.

Melodrama , unwanted songs, horrid humor , and silly dialogues--- These are the elements which pull down the movie the most. There are some excellent moments though , thank God. But very few in number sadly. The movie definitely has it's heart in the right place , but I only wish it could have been executed much better.

I will go with a rating of 2 out of 5 for this movie , which is a remake of the Malayali film "Classmates" , which many people say is an excellent movie , and apparently has none of the elements which pull down "Ninaithale Inikkum".

VERDICT --- 2 / 5 ( Hardly Average ).

MOVIE - KANTHASWAMY ( TAMIL , 2009 )

Director : Susi Ganeshan

Cast : Vikram , Shriya Saran , Prabhu

Now , the amount of hype that this movie generated , was way beyond reasonable limits. The grandiose Audio launch function , the innovative trailer concept etc , made people think that this movie was gonna be interesting , to say the least. But sadly , as things turn out , it is anything but interesting.

Kanthaswamy tells the story ( ? ) of a CBI Officer , played by Vikram , who tries to do a modern-day Robin hood , the guy who steals from the wealthy , and passes on the money to the poor and the needy. The movie is based around a Temple of the Lord Muruga ( Kanthaswamy ) , on whose premises , there is a tree upon which people tie a piece of paper , with their wishes. Now , these wishes are mostly requests for money to help their families and the like. The people of the village think these wishes are granted by the Lord Himslef , but in reality Kanthaswamy and his bunch of dedicated Officers , try to solve all the people's problems.

The story has the least bit of novelty , as this is a tried and tested concept. The Director tries his best to do something different , with the protagonist in the guise of a Superhero. But this attempt falls flat on its face , BIG TIME.

I admit I did not harbor much expectations from this movie , going by the promos . But , I am sure it was not unfair on my part to expect atleast a decent movie , if not a life changing one , like the promos hyped it up.

Absolutely , nothing positive about the movie. It is nothing but a lengthy ordeal , inflicted upon innocent viewers. And the love angle between Shriya and Vikram , gosh , such a terrible waste of time to be honest.

The movie tries to outdo its capacity , and the Director assumes an overdose of creative liberty , and sadly the viewers are at the receiving end. It is one of those movies , which appear to be path-breaking , but after 3 hours and a few odd minutes , it was my head that was broken into pieces. It almost gave me a headache , especially the songs.

All that talk about this being an unique movie , is nothing but bull crap. Absolutely nothing new in it , in any aspect. The Director seems to be trapped in his own world of juvenile Superhero stuff , crossed with over the top romantic interludes , and as is the case with most Tamil movies , helluva fights , and mindless songs thrown at the audience when least expected.

The Screenplay is nothing much to write home about. It takes it's own sweet time to unravel a seemingly simple concept , which eventually ends up being a pile of senseless scenes all mixed up together to offer a lethal combo , which leaves the viewers pissed , to say the least. God knows why Susi Ganeshan tries to introduce characters which do not add any value to the proceedings whatsoever.

The cinematography and art design might be one of the very few good things about the movie . It is very colorfully filmed , especially the songs. But then , the songs themselves are nothing short of sheer torture. Not only because they are thrown like rocket missiles at the audience , but the highly mediocre nature of the music. Songs like "Meow Meow Poonai " seriously need to be blanked out , and I advise anyone reading this blog , to carry a pair of Cotton buds which you can happily use when the songs play. Devi Sri Prasad , was all ecstatic at the audio launch about the songs , but , boy , such a horrible mess in the name of music. And the background music sounds like it was composed by some lunatic , and does not blend at all with the scenes.

Chiyaan Vikram's acting is nothing great to be honest. No doubt one of India's best actors , this role just did not work out for him. Shriya does what she is best at .. exposing , and nothing else. Her expressions are nauseating especially in some horrendous scenes like the one in which she tears apart ger dress and accuses vikram of raping her. Scenes like these were met with wild laughter from the audience . Prabhu tries his best to portray a Police Officer who tries to solve the case , but appears to be caught in his world of deadpan expressions.

I don't want to waste any more time talking about this movie. I will go with 1.5 out of 5 , for this sorry excuse of a movie . Stay away. Even if you have nothing else to do , please do not watch this.

Verdict : 1.5 / 5 ( Poor )

Movie -- Kaminey ( Hindi , 2009 )

Director : Vishal Bharadwaj

Cast : Shahid Kapur , Priyanka Chopra

Hiya all.. It's been quite a looong time since my last post.. No particular reason , sometimes I did not have the mood to write a review , or else I was busy ... Call it Writer's block if u insist , lol :)

I have seen quite a few movies over the elapsed time , but never really had the mood to write a detailed review.. God knows why... Well... There is one movie , which has rekindled the desire to blog about movies all over again.... Minutes after watching this movie , after leaving the theater , I could not wait to start typing away and praise this movie like I have never praised a movie before... Ladies and Gentlemen , here's Kaminey !!!!!

Easily one of the finest Hindi movies ever made , Kaminey tells the tale of two identical twins , Charlie and Guddu , both played by Shahid Kapur. Guddu is a calm , socially conscious person , which is established very early in the movie in a Street-theatre dance sequence for AIDS awareness. On the other hand , Charlie is a ruthless rowdy element . Both characters have their own unique speech deficiencies .. Guddu stutters and stammers , while Charlie simply cannot pronounce the letter "s" , and uses "f" instead. both twins do not have contact with each other , following an incident which the director reveals towards the fag end of the movie.

Guddu is all set to marry Sweetie ( Priyanka Chopra ) , who happens to be the sister of a Maratha fanatic politician , who cannot digest the thought that his sister is getting married to a non-Maratha , Guddu .

Charlie on the other hand , is a bookie at the horse races and is involved in a race-fixing mafia , and also the usual hitman variety too. Now Charlie , by sheer accident gets his hands on a drug package worth 10 Crores , and being the quintessential "f(s)hortkut" taker , wants to make the best use of it , but gets mixed up in the deal unknowingly , and has to deal with a drug mafia.

What happens when both their lives collide , one fateful night and its aftermath is what Kaminey is all about... Oh , just in case you feel that this sounds like your usual Bollywood " Bhaiya / Brother " bull crap , you are mistaken.... VERY badly mistaken....

This is nowhere close to Bollywood mainstream cinema .. In fact , I do not think it would be far fetched to say that if the songs were removed , and the love sequences between Guddu and Sweetie were to be toned down a little bit , this is as good as any top notch Hollywood or European Crime thriller.

Beautifully executed , this takes Hindi cinema to the next level... one in which "Crime" does not necessarily mean Big-Bad guys with AK-47's , with pretty young girls as arm-candy , the quintessential irritating sidekick and other cliches... This is completely different...

Kaminey is a non-linear movie , and where most non-linear movies fail , is the sheer stupidity in which the story is sequenced on-screen , with scenes placed as if the Director had just selected them randomly. However , in Kaminey's case , this is its biggest achievement. Each sequence never seems out of place , even though sometimes they appear out-of-context to the current scene , but later on you realize the motive behind this sequencing.

The movie might appear to be a wee bit slow moving towards the middle portion of the first half , but I felt that this was a beautiful ploy executed deliberately by Vishal Bharadwaj. He builds up the story a bit slowly , and by the time the interval occurs , you are left in a state of sheer excitement . Sheer genius I must say !! The second half boasts of one of the fastest screenplays I have ever come across in Indian movies. It just blows you away.

Acting is one aspect in which things can go really horribly wrong , especially if such a strong script is not supported adequately by the players... but again Kaminey scores here as well.. Priyanka Chopra is really good in her role as Sweetie , the girl who dares to defy her Goonda/Politician/Marathi fanatic brother , played with aplomb by Amole Gupte . The supporting cast too has come up with a commendable effort . Even characters which might not really be strong as far as their value to the movie is concerned , have been enacted beautifully . The Bengali gangster duo , the Marathi's sidekick , the corrupt Narcotics Branch Cops and other such characters all have been portrayed in the most efficient manner by the supporting cast. Of particular mention , is Charlie's partner-in-crime , Mikhail . I really dunno the name of the actor , but , boy , he was ace ...

Now.. Shahid Kapur.. What a brilliant performance by this young actor.. For all those who thought Shahid was only good at chocolate faced - lover boy stuff , you can eat your own words after watching Kaminey .. A scorcher of a performance , in every sense of the word. As Guddu , the calm , timid guy , Shahid plays the character with remarkable ease . However , it is his portrayal of the ruthless Charlie which stands out..

The best scene in the movie has to be that short sequence in which the Marathi Neta and Mikhail meet , and Mikhail converses in a drunken stupor , and the neta plays along.. Beautiful !!

Pankaj Kapur , one of India's finest yet under-rated actors , had starred in Vishal Bharadwaj's movies , Maqbool , The Blue Umbrella and a short film , Blood Brothers . He must be a proud father now , watching Shahid shine like never before , under the same Director.

Music by Vishal Bharadwaj is extremely good. I never got an opportunity to listen to Kaminey's music before entering the theatre.. But the background score and the music are terrific. " Dhan Te Nan " blew me away , watching it on the best screen in Chennai ( Sathyam RDX ).. This song just vibrates with so much energy , you simply cannot resist humming it to yourself after getting back home.

Technically this movie is top notch and like I said , on par with any Hollywood / European brand of Thrillers.

Vishal Bharadwaj has never denied the fact that Quentin Tarantino's movies have an influence on his ideology. This is evident in Kaminey , in the camera angles , the sequencing of scenes , the type of background music etc. Any Tarantino devotee like me will easily spot the similarity . However , with all due respect , Tarantino IS Tarantino... Vishal Bharadwaj is no less , but not quite the same league.

Shahid Kapur's performance is the best thing about the movie . He has proved his worth in Kaminey. However , I feel his next release " Dil Bole Hadippa " might be burdened with too many expectations after people are stunned by Kaminey.. " Dil Bole Hadippa " , I personally feel is not an ideal follow up from Shahid's side , to Kaminey. This is what I judge from the promos , the usual Yash-Raj fare , but am hoping it turns out to be good . At least for Shahid's sake.

Kaminey is a definite must watch for any Indian fan of Tarantino's movies . For those expecting juvenile stuff , the likes of " Singh is King " , "Partner" , "Welcome" etc , please stay away. This is not for you , sorry amigo ...

Overall , Kaminey is an absolute scorcher . A small request .. Please do watch it in the Theatres .. Sensible , top notch movies like these need to be encouraged . If not for anything , please do visit the Theatre and watch it just for the "Dhan Te Nan" song.. The experience.. WOW...

I will go with 4.5 out of 5 for Kaminey , India's best Action/thriller I have seen so far. vishal Bharadwaj , take a bow !!! You rock ... May his tribe increase :)

Verdict : 4.5 / 5 - Simply Uber... oops.. Fimply Uber !!!

KANCHIVARAM – MOVIE REVIEW

KANCHIVARAM ( TAMIL , 2009)

Director : Priyadarshan

Cast : Prakash Raj , Shreya Reddy

Frankly speaking , my opinion about Priyadarshan has changed after this movie . He had always come across as a person who makes cheap Bollywood entertainers. I knew he had made some brilliant films , but I never had the opportunity to watch them..

“Kanchivaram” is set in the year 1948 , only a few months after India's Independence. It shows the story of Venkatam ( Prakash Raj ) , one of the town's best silk weavers . The movie highlights the neglected lives of these weavers , who produce some of the costliest and finest silk sarees , but do not have the money to make some fine clothes for themselves , thanks to the attitude of the businessmen.

Venkatam is married to a beautiful young lady ( Shreya Reddy) , and they have a daughter child Thamarai .Venkatam makes a vow to dress his daughter in a silk saree , during her marriage . The entire community is shocked , as Venkatam simply does not have the money to afford such a huge gift for Thamarai. What happens next follows the rest of the story... Will Venkatam succeed in fulfilling his promise ?

Remarkably picturized in a rural ambience , Kanchivaram portrays the emotional turmoil of Venkatam , as he reminisces about his past , when traveling as a convict from Madras to Kanchivaram.

The movie is definitely one of the finest Tamil movies made this decade. The Director has done a splendid job , treating such a delicate storyline , with utmost care . Venkatam's fixation towards Communism is easily the best part of the movie , something which drives the story forward , ensuring that the movie does not become something like a father-daughter flick.

The movie is one of those rare Tamil flicks , which thankfully don't succumb to formula driven concepts , with half-dozen songs thrown in. It is a very mature movie , and focuses more on characterization rather than trying to bring audiences to the theaters.

Acting by the support cast , is excellent , and all the cast members have done justice to their roles. Right from the Communist Revolutionary to the Silk Merchant , to the Police constable whose Hat Emblem gets dislodged , everyone adds value to the movie.

However the best thing about the movie , has to be Prakash Raj playing the role of Venkatam , the Silk Weaver . One of India's finest actors ,he brings so much life into the movie , with an underplayed and subdued role , which he has played to perfection. This is one character which takes you for a ride across varying emotions. The happy joyful new father , who promises to get a silk saree for Thamarai .. the sorrowful son who loses his father , the fierce orator during the Communist uprising , Prakash Raj has done a commendable job , as always . This is the Prakash Raj I wanna see , not someone playing the stereotyped villain in some B-Grade Telugu movie...

Thankfully , there are no songs in the movie except one soulful rendition by the ladies when Thamarai is born .

Cinematography is the strong point which drives the movie . Every frame is so natural and rich , making the movie a visual treat in every sense of the word.

However , the screenplay could prove to be the movie's drawback. The problem with the movie is that , the actual story could have been made into a movie running for half an hour , but it has been extended to an almost 2 hours long flick . Not boring definitely , but you will surely feel that the movie could have been a lot crisper. No issues anyway , as am used to slow movies. But , this wont go down well with the mass seeking audience . The climax sequence sums up the hardships of the weaver , in a beautifully executed last few frames. But people in the audience were making a mockery of this wonderful scene.

I will go with 4 out of 5 for this fine movie . I would have gone with a straight 4.5 out of 5 , only if the movie had been crisp . This movie is very strongly recommended for serious movie lovers , but is a definite no-no for people who want to have a good time in the theaters.

VERDICT : 4 / 5 ( EXCELLENT)

YAVARUM NALAM (TAMIL , 2009)

Director : Vikram Kumar

Cast : Madhavan , Neetu Chandra


" Yavarum Nalam " , is another attempt at trying to scare the living daylights out of the audience.

This is the story of Manohar (Madhavan), who with his joint-family moves into an apartment 13B , in a huge building . The large family has enough fun and frolic together. But later on realize that all is not well . Manohar realizes that the images unfolding on a soap opera " Yavarum Nalam ", reflect the immediate future of his family. And when things start getting nasty , he feels the need to put an end to this.

The movie then follows his attempt at finding out the reason and truth behind eerie happenings like his image getting distorted in his mobile phone , the lift not working only when he sets foot in it , the milk getting wasted etc...

The movie does not succumb to the usual horror cliches like blood spill all over the
place , women clad in white with long hair etc. The movie is a sensible attempt at trying to scare the viewer. Using the concept of the idiot-box , which we are all addicted to , the Director tries to spin a web of horror , but manages to just make the mark.

The movie does have its share of scares , but they are very few . You do realize 20 minutes into the movie , that this is not the usual horror flick , and is something much better. But then , this movie is made as if its supposed to scare you , and sadly , it did not scare me.

The characters are normal everyday people , especially Manohar's family , who look like they will suffer a nervous breakdown if they miss their daily quota of soap operas . But then , they hardly help in the movie's progress.

Although the logic of the movie sounds a bit far-fetched , we always have to provide some leeway for the horror/thriller genre of films. But then the novel concept of using the TV as a base to drive the scares , almost ends up falling flat on its face... especially towards the second half , whose logic I guessed long ago. I knew it would be about a past murder , waiting to be avenged... sadly , it came true , and I did not need a TV to tell me that.

Screenplay is probably the biggest drawback of the movie. I was ashamed , to be frank , to almost fall asleep on at least 3 or 4 occasions , in what is supposed to be a Thriller . The movie could have been cut down by at least 20 minutes , and the 2 songs in between hardly serve any purpose. The intelligent plot , is badly let down by some unwanted sequences , which test the patience of the viewer.

Acting by Madhavan is nothing great , but he is his dependable best as always . Playing the role of Manohar the man who loves his family and is willing to go to any length to save his family , this is not exactly the greatest role he has played so far , nor does it offer any scope for extraordinary acting . However he has come up with a fine job , nevertheless. The rest of the cast come up with decent performances.

But I felt , the real hero of the movie has to be the man behind the camera P.C. Sreeram . This legendary cinematographer has taken this movie to completely new heights , technically. The camera plays with the viewer all through the movie , and helps a lot in sustaining the dark mood.

There are many flaws in the movie. How does only Madhavan manage to notice the connection between the serial and his family , when its staring them in the face all the way ?? And have not we had enough of the "death being avenged" stories in our movies ?? And what was the need to include a song in the middle of the movie ?? And the dialogues are very plain and ordinary , and seem to be written by a novice. Better dialogues could have made the performances appear much more alluring.

Overall this movie could have been much much much better . Such a novel attempt , has just managed to make the mark. Thankfully , things fell into place before I felt like running out of the movie hall.

I will go with a generous 3 out of 5 for "Yavarum Nalam ". It could have easily been a 4 out of 5 , only if it did not move at a snail's pace in many places.

VERDICT : 3 / 5 ( Above average and worth a watch )

THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON

Director : David Fincher

Cast : Brad Pitt , Cate Blanchett

Life... something which we all take for granted. Little do we realize , how blessed we are , for this wonderful gift.

" The curious case of Benjamin Button " takes up this brilliant concept of life , and changes it into a spectacular portrayal of the life of a man. not an ordinary man... An extraordinary being in every sense of the word.

Benjamin Button ( Brad Pitt) is born on the day America wins the War , to wealthy parents , but is abandoned , as he is unique.. not in a positive way , but in a seemingly gruesome manner. He is born as an old man , and ages in reverse. He is taken care of , by a kind African-American family.

What follows , is the extraordinary life of this man. shot across varying periods , this movie holds you till the last minute.

There is every possibility that many things could go awfully wrong , with such a complex subject like this one. but thankfully , there are hardly any flaws in the movie.

Brilliantly crafted by the Director , with help from some superb special effects , "The curious case of Benjamin Button" is an unique movie , as unique as its protagonist.

There is a brilliant sequence in the first few minutes of the movie. An expert clock maker installs a clock in the Railway Station ... and this clock runs backwards , in reverse. This pretty much sums up Button's life.

The movie has its share of comedy,drama,romance and even action , in a brief war sequence.

Traversing through the life of Benjamin Button , the film shows him as an old man , a middle aged person , a ship helper , a young man , and a kid all in a brilliant fashion.

The romantic interlude between Benjamin and Daisy ( Cate Blanchett ) are the best parts of the movie , with some amazing dialogues.

Screenplay is not exactly fast , but at a running length of 2 Hours 43 Minutes , you still wont feel bored , once you start realizing and experiencing the magic unfolding in front of you.

Acting by Cate Blanchett as Daisy , is superb and this movie is yet another example of her versatility. Brad Pitt is an absolute treat to watch. Although he was a bit of a let down in the middle-aged sequences , the places where he plays an old man , and later on a young person , are examples of Pitt's brilliant acting. His subtle expressions in the scene where he voices his concern about taking care of his kid , will melt any heart.

But the real stars of the movie , have to be the supporting cast members , whose lives collide with Button , during his extraordinary journey . The kind Queenie who adopts Benjamin , the old man who has been struck 7 times by lightning , the ship captain and many more lively characters , all add special value to the movie.

I will go with 4 out of 5 , for this superb movie , which I never believed would be this interesting considering its length.

The last frame , showing the backwards running clock , is a stark reminder of Button's life , which is definitely curious , to say the least.

VERDICT : 4 / 5 ( Superb !! Highly recommended)

DELHI 6 - MOVIE REVIEW

DELHI 6 ( Hindi , 2009)

Director : Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra

Cast : Abhishek Bachchan , Sonam Kapoor , Waheeda Rahman , Rishi Kapoor

Delhi 6 is one of the early biggies to hit the screen this year . Directed by the man who gave us "Rang De Basanti " , Delhi 6 is a passionate tribute to the old world charm of Delhi's Chandni Chowk.

Roshan (Abhishek Bachchan) lives in New York , and comes to Delhi , to drop his ailing Grandmother (Waheeda Rahman) , who wishes to spend her last few days in Delhi. Roshan initially wants to just spend a few days and leave , but gradually finds himself falling in love with the warmth and vibrancy of Delhi .

There is no story as such , and the film is all about varying emotions. There is a small , beautiful love story with Bittu ( Sonam Kapoor ), a bubbly , energetic lass who aspires to be an Indian Idol. The Monkey-man who terrorized Delhi a few years ago has been used to take the movie forward.

What the Director wants to portray is never really explained , till the Intermission stage. The movie comes across a comic portrayal of the eccentricities of Delhi's Chandni Chowk. Humour is inherent all through the movie , ranging from innocent family camaraderie , to some wildly suggestive humor in that scene in which Cyrus Sahukar hots up things with an already married woman.

Every aspect of Chandni Chowk has been captured in great detail by the Director. Be it the local sweet shop , or the Ram Leela festivities , an enormous amount of work has gone into creating the rustic charm of the locality.

Characterization is the strong point of the movie . Roshan is an initially sceptic person , who finds it tough to understand why a cow giving birth in the middle of the road is such a big event in the locality . But later on , he falls in love with the varying aspects of old-world Delhi. Bittu , is from an orthodox family , which tries its best to stop her from pursuing her dreams of making it big on Indian Idol , and in the process , tries to make alliances with some stone faced men.

The movie is definitely flawed . Now , making the audience guess what's in store for them is one thing.. But convincing the audience that there will be SOMETHING in store is a completely different game altogether, and this is where I felt the movie faltered. What are the actual intentions behind the movie , never really translates on screen during the first half. It is only later on during post-interval stage that the audience realizes what the Director was trying to say all this while.

Screenplay is not exactly jet speed material , but it is definitely tolerable , especially in the absence of a concrete storyline backing the movie. But cinematography in this one , is a visual treat in every sense of the word. Some truly awesome shots, like that of the Namaz at Jama Masjid , the Ram Leela Festivities , keep you spellbound.

Music is by Oscar Nominee A.R.Rahman ( nominee as on February 20th 2009 @ 11:42 PM , hoping he wins it for "Slumdog Millionaire" in a few days time from now ) . Some truly amazing songs keep up the vibrant mood of the movie. The best one has to be the "Masakali" number , which has been making waves.

Acting by Bachchan Junior is an effort to be appreciated . The character is one sans dramatics , and he has underplayed his role , and easily fits into an NRI character , albeit with a dodgy accent. Sonam Kapoor is alluring beyond limits . The bubbly character of Bittu fits her to a T . Though the role offers not much scope for acting potential , she has done a neat job. The "Masakali" number picturized on this lovely lady , almost made me fall in love with her .

However the strongest pillars of this movie have to be the supporting cast members . Waheeda Rahman as the ailing Granny is a delight to watch , as she fills the screen with her lovely grace . Rishi Kapoor as the advice rendering neighbor is brilliant. Vijay Raaz as the corrupt , ruthless cop is as reliable as ever. Atul Kulkarni is the best among the support cast . Om Puri ,I felt , was wasted , but still his role was strong enough to keep audiences happy. There are a host of other small characters who you adore as the movie progresses , like the gossiping housewives , the local sweet shop wallah , and the garbage cleaner .

The Director vents his heart against some menaces still plaguing the society , like untouchability , communalism etc in the most delicate manner possible . I felt the sequence where Waheeda Rahman is mad at AB Junior , for touching the garbage girl , was one of the finest moments of the movie. It is moments like these , which appear all through the movie , which make this movie watchable , as it lacks a convincing plot.

The climax was a bit of a let down , with an unwarranted sequence in Heaven , with the Big B thrown in for good measure. However , the climax does not disappoint , as there are many scenes which are not even half as good as the so-so climax. I hate to say this , but this is a consolation of sorts.

Delhi 6 is definitely not a great movie . But it deserves to be watched for the subtle treatment meted out to Delhi's old word charm.

I will go with 3 out of 5 for "Delhi 6" , which could have been much better and also much worse at the same time. You will understand why when you get to watch it.

VERDICT : 3 / 5 ( Definitely worth a watch )

NAAN KADAVUL – MOVIE REVIEW

NAAN KADAVUL (Tamil,2009)

Director : Bala

Cast : Arya , Pooja

This movie had been delayed for a long time , and increased curiosity levels to an all time high. It has finally hit the screens thankfully , and the best part is , it has justified all the hype and massive expectations surrounding it.

Bala , who gave us gems like Sethu, Pithamagan, Nandha has yet again proved why he is still considered a force to reckon with , in spite of the long time delays associated with his projects.

“Naan Kadavul” starts off with some beautifully filmed sequences in the Holy Town of Kasi. A father , heeds the words of astrologer , who tells him that his son will be a bane to the family , as his stars are not proper. Unable to live with such a burden , the father takes his son to Kasi , and abandons him there . 15 years later , the father returns to Kasi , hoping to locate his son , and persuade him to return to his native town MalaiKovil in Tamil Nadu.

His son , has now turned out to be an Aghori Sadhu. These people are extremely unique , and their ideals are beyond the comprehension of normal people like us . Rudra (Arya) agrees to return home , on the orders of his Spiritual Guru. What happens when Rudra returns to his roots , forms the rest of the story.

Contrary to all expectations , “Naan Kadavul” is not all about Rudra alone. We then realize that the temple town of Malai Kovil , is home to a huge and disgusting beggary racket. In fact this forms the major part of the story . These beggars are controlled by the ruthless Muthalali , the crooked villain , who manipulates the lives of these beggars , and makes a tidy fortune everyday , from their earnings.

The movie focuses largely on the helpless lives of these poor beggars. Later on in the movie , Hamsavalli (Pooja) a blind beggar , is forced to join this racket. There is no story as such , to be frank. If you are expecting a straight tale to unfold on screen , you are in for a shock. Somewhere down the line the characters of Rudra , Hamsavalli and the beggary racketeer all collide , culminating in a stunning climax.

The movie has been painstakingly filmed. The effort which has gone into making the movie is obvious right from frame 1 . The lives of the Mystical Aghori Cult of Kasi has obviously been subject to some intense research . I myself had extensively browsed the Internet to read about the cult , a few weeks before the movie came out. The ideals of these people are portrayed in an excellent manner , albeit only for a brief period , as only the first few sequences are set in Kasi .

Venturing out to make a movie on such a distinct concept is a huge achievement in itself , and Bala's touch is evident all through the movie . He belongs to the rare breed of Directors who believe in making serious , realistic movies.



What I really liked about the movie was the secondary significance of the actual story . The beggars pathetic lives is given priority , and the story in itself , takes a backseat. The magic of the movie lies in the fact that despite the absence of a functional plot , the movie keeps growing on the viewer. The emotional turmoil of these poor souls , makes for some very disturbing viewing.

Technically , every aspect of “Naan Kadavul” is top notch . Each frame , be it the opening frames of the Holy Town of Kasi , or the town of Malai Kovil is so rich in every detail. The close up sequences of the Bhaang smoking Rudra , muttering Sacred Chants or the portrayal of some seriously disabled beggars are all filmed brilliantly.

Music by Maestro Illaiyaraja is another highlight . Be it the vintage style of “Pichaipathiram” or the high energy “Om Shiva Om” , every song is classic Raja Sir . His songs blend so well with the storyline, and as with all of Bala's movies , there are no unwanted songs thrown at you.

Screenplay is as fast as lightning. Even with the lack of a concrete storyline , the movie grips you , thanks to Bala's magic.

However , the best thing about “Naan Kadavul” has to be the acting. Pooja is brilliant as the blind beggar , with a divine voice. She is easily one of Kollywood's most beautiful heroines , and even sans make up , there is something special about her . She shines in a completely de-glamorized role. The climax scene in which she bares her heart , in completely tattered clothes is easily one of the best scenes of the movie.

Arya as the Aghori Sadhu Rudra is superb . This is easily the role of a lifetime , and Arya has proved his worth . He smokes Bhaang at will , shouts at his father , pushes his mother in anger when she tries to touch him. Easily one of the most unique characters to grace the silver screen , the sheer energy which he brings into his role deserves accolades. The role fits him to a T . The long beard , the flowing mane and those piercing eyes will make everyone sit and take notice of this young actor , who deserves to be lauded for accepting such a different and complex role.


But , the real stars of the movies are the beggars . Some of them are completely deformed and will definitely strike a chord with the viewers. In fact there is a small,deformed beggar kid , whose cheekiness made the entire theater burst out laughing . Bala simply does not stop at showing how physically appalling these beggars are , but also goes one step ahead in bringing out their humane emotions .

These beggars too are humans like us . If you are expecting a documentary like portrayal of these poor souls , you are going to be surprised . The movie does not have a separate comedy track like all of Bala's films. There are some truly hilarious moments , in which the beggars poke fun at themselves . They are resigned to their fate no doubt , but the subtlety of their characters , is so beautifully brought out. Yes, the scenes involving the beggars makes the movie very disturbing overall. But they also provide some comic relief from the dark mood . Watch out for the scene in which Tamil Actors , especially MGR are spoofed in the Police Station... Rib-tickling !!!

Overall the movie leaves the viewer completely disturbed after watching it . This is not an entertainer , mind it. Bala's movies always ensure that you are made to feel bad about something in the movie. This one is no exception . The plight of the poor beggars is very disturbing . And add to it some serious violence , portrayed by Arya , especially towards the latter stages of the movie , it is not a movie for the weak hearted.

This is easily one of the best Tamil movies to hit the screen , for a long time . And coming from Bala , I expected nothing less .

However , am sure that the movie will not go down well with a sizable portion of the movie-going audience. Those who want to go to a movie just to be entertained , will be disappointed. Those ignorant to the problems faced by the lower strata of society , will hate it even more.

This is for a very mature audience , and strictly not for die hard fans of so called “actors” , who are given some mindless sobriquets , whose movies they make these days, can hardly be termed “watchable”. Thanks to Directors like Bala , Tamil Cinema still holds its head high.

A very disturbing film , this will easily go down as one of the classics of Tamil Cinema . Watch it to appreciate some truly brilliant performances from every single cast member , be it the Mystic Arya , the ruthless villain , or the cheeky little beggar . But more than anything else , watch it for Bala's magic. He is evidently the man with the Midas touch .

I will go with 4.5 out of 5 for Bala's “Naan Kadavul” , a movie to be seen and truly appreciated. A must – watch . Congrats Bala Sir , you have done it again !!!!

VERDICT : Uber ( 4.5 / 5 )

LUCK BY CHANCE - MOVIE REVIEW

LUCK BY CHANCE (Hindi , 2009)

Director : Zoya Akhtar

Cast : Farhan Akhtar , Konkona Sen Sharma, Rishi Kapoor , Juhi Chawla , Dimple Kapadia ,Isha Sharvani

One of the first big releases of 2009 , there was a lot of expectation riding on this one. "Luck by chance" is first-time Director Zoya Akhtar's portrayal of the Hindi film industry.

Vikram Jaisingh (Farhan Akhtar)is a young aspiring actor from Delhi , who comes to Mumbai, hoping to make it big in the Film Industry . Same is the case with Sona (Konkona Sen Sharma), who leaves her family in Kanpur and comes to Mumbai , chasing the same dreams as Vikram . How a chance meeting between vikram and Sona blossoms into a relationship , and the various struggles and hardships which they have to endure in the cruel world of Cinema , is what the movie is all about.

The movie is a honest and straight forward take on the Film Industry in Mumbai . A place where the seemingly inevitable casting couch still exists , a place where failed actors become Directors and are openly "influenced" by Hollywood movies , where friends wont think twice about ditching you.

The movie came across as cliched while watching it , but looking back there was a sense of realism in it. Half of Bollywood pitches in with cameos and guest appearances. Rishi Kapoor ( Romi Rolly) the film-maker is easily the best member of the large , over-sized supporting cast . His antics make you laugh , and although his character might appear stereotyped , he has come up with such a natural performance. Dimple Kapadia as the yesteryear hottie Neena Walia is superb .

Isha Sharvani as Nikki Walia , Neena's young daughter is quite a revelation . The role requires her to come across a not-so-bright starlet , and she pulls it off well. Hrithik Roshan as Zafar Khan , the Superstar is delightful. Konkona Sen Sharma as Sona has done a remarkable job , as the aspiring actress who is ditched by her apparent Godfather .

Farhan Akhtar as Vikram is the best thing about the movie . He never resorts to over the top acting and underplays his role with ease. He shines in the comedy sequences and is equally good when it comes to portraying the emotional turmoil of a struggling actor.

The screenplay is the weak point of the movie , especially in the first half. The first half is definitely a drag , even though we have some interesting characters in the support cast. The movie picks up steam in the last 15 minutes of the first half , and the momentum is maintained post-interval too , thankfully.

A few of the characters in the support cast could have been cut down or done away with , as they dont really keep you interested , in a few annoying sequences. Although Zoya Akhtar has made an earnest effort to justify the inclusion of each character , it is sadly reduced to an exercise in celebrity-spotting , inspite of the well intended characterization.

Technically this movie is top notch . Music by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy deserves a word of praise . The songs blend perfectly with the storyline , and thankfully there are no song sequences which pop up at the most unwanted points.

At first glance , the movie definitely appears stereotyped and cliched. But in retrospect , this is not the case . Each sequence is just so synonymous with the wide,ugly world of Hindi Cinema,that it looks cliched ,but it is not so.

The most defining aspect of the movie has to be , hold your breath .. The Baadshah Shah Rukh Khan himself. He appears in a very brief cameo and passes on some words of wisdom to the young actor Vikram , who has just tasted his first dose of success. SRK is at his charming best , no doubt. But more than his impeccable style , I really liked his very brief conversation with Farhan . Words which are not synonymous with fame and movies alone , but so true in every aspect of the wider context called life. Watch the movie and you will know what I mean.

The movie is a mature and earnest attempt by debutante Director Zoya Akhtar . Yes there are quite a few flaws , like the screenplay in the first half , and some truly unwarranted sequences . I was a bit disappointed that such a strong attempt at making a good movie , has been reduced to an exercise in celebrity-spotting , in a few scenes.

If you can sit back and patiently watch the first half , the second half definitely makes up for the shortcomings of the pre-interval phase.

I will go with 3.5 out of 5 , for this mature film , which might appear stereotyped at first glance , but looking back, there was a lot more to it. Zoya Akhtar Maam , good job :)

VERDICT : 3.5 / 5 (PRETTY GOOD)

FROST / NIXON - MOVIE REVIEW

FROST / NIXON – (English,2008)

Director : Ron Howard

Cast : Frank Langella , Michael Sheen , Kevin Bacon , Sam Rockwell

Frost / Nixon is Director Ron Howard's portrayal of the aftermath of the Watergate Scandal , which rocked America in the 70's . President Richard Nixon was forced to resign following a series of allegations against him.

The film focuses on a series of interviews , by David Frost (Michael Sheen) , a British TV presenter , with Richard Nixon ( Frank Langella) . The President had never apologized even after his resignation , for his misdeeds. Now Frost is on a mission... to force an apology from America's first ever President to resign from Office.

The initial stages of the movie deal with the Watergate Scandal itself , and slowly moves on to the setting up of the Interviews. It is only towards the latter stages of the film that we actually get to see these Interviews between Frost and Nixon.

A lot of time has been spent in establishing the characters. We realize that Frost is a maverick TV host , with a flair for impeccable timing. He is a very well established name in the Industry , and is always on the lookout for better things. We also get to know about the Watergate Scandal in parallel , and one fine day Frost decides to grill Nixon.

Howard uses a lot of archival footage , across the movie , probably to give the audience a feel of what really transpired during Watergate. The actual political controversy is underplayed , and the movie focuses more on the interviews.

Even though the movie is 2 hours long , and is what some people call a “talking film” , sans any action or comedy , it keeps you gripped. Frost tries to assemble a team to help him and is desperate for funding. After all that he has gone through to setup the interview , the audience is always in a state of suspense .

Shot in an almost documentary manner , with the supporting cast members expressing their views about the Interviews , at regular intervals, this is a rather unique method of storytelling. And juxtaposed with the Archival footage especially in the initial sequences , the viewer can be pardoned for thinking he has stepped into a documentary movie. But the actual action is really worth the wait.

Acting is the strongest point of the film. Michael Sheen as the flamboyant presenter Frost is a treat to watch. His attitude and determination to force an apology from Nixon can be contagious. We also have excellent performances from the support cast , like Sam Rockwell's portrayal of James Reston , whose sole agenda is to defame Nixon as much as possible. Kevin Bacon is as reliable as ever playing the role of Jack Brennan , who is Nixon's Man Friday.

However the best aspect of the movie has to be Frank Langella. His brilliant portrayal of Richard Nixon , the man who has lost everything and is still determined not to admit his failures , is a class act. Langella never really resorts to theatrics and blends into the character of Nixon impeccably. There is a close up frame of Langella towards the end , which will haunt movie-goers for sometime , not really for the role of Nixon , but for the sheer caliber of acting.

The movie has a lot of bright moments , like the mind-games which both camps play before the Interviews and also Frost's determination to find sponsors for the Interview. But the piece de resistance has to be the final Interviews , which are truly worth every minute which the Director spends liberally in establishing the characters and their purpose .

The movie definitely reminded me of a boxing duel. The mind games played by both Frost and Nixon , the attempts at modifying the contract clauses are all synonymous with any modern day big boxing duels. And the Final Interviews are definitely synonymous with a boxing match , with both sides trying to hit where it hurts the most. But eventually there is only one victor.. and your guess is as good as mine...

The movie is definitely yet another masterpiece from the Director who gave us that absolute gem of a movie “A Beautiful Mind”. Ron Howard has done it yet again.

I will go with 4.5 out of 5 for this excellent movie. This movie will surely not go down well with the “American Pie” and “Fast and Furious” loving movie-goers. But for those interested in serious cinema , this is a must watch.

VERDICT : 4.5 / 5 (Uber)

SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE ( English,2008)

Director : Danny Boyle

Cast : Dev Patel,Freida Pinto, Irrfan Khan,Anil Kapoor

This one has been making waves all across the world , thanks to the 4 Golden Globes and 10 Oscar nominations. I had to resist the temptation to download and watch the movie for a long time , just to watch it on the big screen , as I knew this one was something special.. and boy, was I correct...

This is a classic story , which revolves around Jamal ( Dev Patel) , who makes a huge fortune , answering questions on " Who wants to be a Millionaire ?" . Now , Jamal is from the slums of Mumbai and is just a coffee boy in a call centre. Suspecting that he has resorted to unfair means , the Police interrogate him . What happens during the course of the interrogation , is what the bulk of the movie is all about ..

There have been many movies made in the past few years in the "East meets West " genre.. But this one overtakes them all by a huge margin.. The packaging and storytelling is definitely Hollywood . But under Danny Boyle's brilliant handling , lies a beautiful love story.. A heart warming tale of regaining a "lost love"..

The movie shows us the sorry state of affairs , through the eyes of the slum kids from Mumbai.. Begging , prostitution , unhygienic lives are all portrayed in the most sensible manner possible. It does not aim to showcase the hardships of the people living in the slums.. all it does is showcase to us , how a "Slumdog" can live his dreams.. dreams of love and affection , like all of us.

The movie has its flaws no doubt , but all these are camouflaged under Boyle's highly compelling storyline. This is one movie which takes you for a ride across varying emotions . It makes you laugh , feel bad , guilty , proud , and even makes you watch with disgust , in that scene in the opening stages in which a young Jamal jumps into a pile of excreta , just to chase , well... his dreams....

Jamal's search for his childhood love Latika (Freida Pinto) is what the movie is all about. Characterization is another strong point of the movie. The older Jamal has been enacted brilliantly , albeit with a dodgy accent for a "slumdog" , by Dev Patel. Freida Pinto's character of Latika forms the crux of the story and has come up with a decent act . However , it is the earlier sequences , with the young Jamal and his brother Salim in their childhood days , which form the best part of the movie. It is the acting by these young kids , which really makes you sit up and take notice. There is a beautiful sequence in which the young Jamal takes a couple of foreign tourists for a ride posing as a guide at the Taj Mahal. It is scenes like these which form the best parts of the film.

The support cast is another plus point for the film. Irrfan Khan as the Police Inspector is a class act. Anil Kapoor as the game show host is brilliant , but only in parts . He was a bit of a letdown in very few shots , to be honest. Mahesh Manjrekar shines as Javed Bhai , the don , in a brief role.

Technically this movie has a lot to offer. Screenplay by Simon Beaufoy is impeccable. I could not recall getting bored for even a moment . However the biggest attraction , apart from the visual magic on-screen , has to be A.R.Rahman's music score. For those of you wondering why his music for this film is getting all the hype , please do listen to the OST. Some amazing music , which Boyle has used as the background score , blends so well with the imagery , it is truly a magical experience. The song "O Saya" , which shows the slum kids running across the narrow lanes of the Dharavi slum , in gay abandon , trying to give the pink slip to the police , is easily the most brilliant piece.

Like I mentioned before , there are flaws in the film . Everyone has been talking about how "Kaun Banega Crorepati" was never a live TV show. Yes , agreed there are some very few scenes which appear too good to be true. But Danny Boyle's treatment of such a delicate love story , in the form of a Police Interrogation , is brilliant.

I strongly recommend that this movie be watched on the big screen , to feel the magic . After all , when you get a Director of Boyle's caliber , with a beautiful story , and music by the Mozart of Madras , it deserves to be seen in the theaters .

This is not what I would call a great movie .But this simple story of a boy searching for his childhood love , braving all odds , is simply overwhelming. This is a movie about hope and chasing your dreams. And Hope like The Shawshank Redemption says "... is a very good thing , maybe the very best of the things. And no good thing ever dies.." . Jamal's never ending love for Latika , even after knowing that she has been with his brother Salim and Javed Bhai , is truly a heart warming tale... of hope , and believing in your dreams.

This movie , in spite of its very few weaknesses , deserves to be seen. And comes as a whiff of fresh air , in these troubled times . The core concept of the movie , Hope and Love , is meant for all of us to truly appreciate and really overwhelmed me. And there could have not been a better time to release the movie , in this "Yes, We Can ! " phase which we are going through.

I will go with 4.5 out of 5 for this little beautiful movie , with a very big heart , and an even bigger message. Danny Boyle , take a bow Sir.

As for the Oscars , there is still some time. And if " Slumdog Millionaire " manages to sweep the Oscars like it did at the Golden Globes , all I can say is "IT IS WRITTEN " . Jai Ho !!!!

VERDICT : 4.5 / 5 (Uber)

21 GRAMS - MOVIE REVIEW

21 Grams ( English , 2003)

Director : Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu

Cast : Sean Penn , Benicio Del Toro , Naomi Watts

Now , with a star cast like this one , you dont have any other option , but to load yourself with heavy expectations from this movie. And the best thing is , you are not let down... not one bit...

I will not get into the story , as it is best left for you to discover. The movie revolves around three individuals Paul Rivers ( Sean Penn) , Jack Jordan ( Del Toro) and Cristina Peck ( Naomi Watts). It deals with how a series of events combine to make their lives meet.

The movie follows a non-linear approach to the storyline , much like the Director's " Babel" , another fine movie which came out 3 years after " 21 Grams " . The characters are established , and the events which made their lives meet are uncovered only later on in the movie.

Non-linear movies can get on your nerves a bit , if you dont pay enough attention to the proceedings. This one is no exception . They say a good movie is one which makes you think , and this one makes you think quite a bit. Initially you do feel a sense of " What the hell is happening ?" , but later on you realize the beauty of the film once the story unfolds.

The movie makes you come across a lot of emotions - affection,hate,compassion,anger et al , through the course of the story. All beautifully brought out by the amazing star cast. These actors are among the best in the league , and they come up with superb performances.

Sean Penn , as the sick patient is a treat to watch . Subtle expressions are his forte in this movie and his acting is something to be truly admired.

Naomi Watts as the widow is at the top of her game . Do watch out for the scene in which she changes her emotions when Penn visits her house at 2 in the morning.

However , the strongest point of the movie has to be Benicio Del Toro , as the God fearing Jack Jordan. In fact the actual series of events which are responsible for making the three lives collide , can be attributed to his character , something which you will realize only later on the movie.

Such a powerful performance from Del Toro , makes this movie even more memorable. His character is something which reeks of philosophy , and a strong conviction in God. The best scene in the movie has to be the one in which Del Toro and his friend have an argument about God's will. This is acting at its best, in its purest form...

Screenplay is not exactly the fastest I have seen , but it does not let you off the hook so easily. The non-linear approach might not go down well with many people , but I feel the movie would not have been this good , if the Director had used the conventional linear technique.

Human emotions have always managed to strike a chord inside me. And especially Del Toro's character, Jack Jordan, who carries a sense of guilt throughout the movie , is simply a treat to watch.

This movie is definitely one of the best non-linear films I have come across. I find it really tough to find any flaws in this movie. I will go with 4 out of 5 for this brilliant movie , which almost makes it to the "Masterpiece" league , but for reasons unknown to myself , it falls one step short.

VERDICT : Brilliant ( 4/5 )

DISTURBIA - MOVIE REVIEW

Disturbia (English , 2007)

Director : D.J.Caruso

Cast : Shia LeBeouf , Aaron Yoo , Sarah Roemer , David Morse

After a long , self-imposed sabbatical from movies , I decided to break the dry run , with this one...

Kale Brecht (Shia LeBeouf) , another ordinary American teenager,loses his father in a car accident . A year later he ends up being placed under house arrest for 3 months , for hitting out at his Spanish teacher , who mentions his father , during class.

Now , just when Kale is trying to figure out how to spend his time , he notices that new neighbors have moved in . He is almost obsessed with the beautiful chick Ashley (Sarah Roemer) , who has just moved in with her family next door.

One night , Kale realizes that there has been a murder in town , and due to various reasons , he suspects his neighbor , Mr.Turner ( David Morse) of being the murderer. He then spies on Turner , and thinks he has uncovered the murder mystery.

This movie can hardly be termed as a great movie , but it definitely makes for some rather interesting viewing.

The story is rather simple , and is riddled with a few cliches. Predictability is where the movie loses out , especially towards the latter portions. It's really tough to classify this kind of movie. It turns out to be a teen flick in some portions , a romantic movie in some , and thankfully as a thriller for the bulk part.

The acting is nothing great to write home about , since the roles don't provide much scope for any of the cast members. Nevertheless , everyone has come up with a decent performance. The story is interesting enough to keep you interested for the most part. But somewhere down the line , it becomes very predictable , and the Director gives us the liberty to guess what he has in store for us in the next few scenes , and unfortunately , most of my guesses were proved right.

Being a murder mystery freak , I was almost disappointed by the movie , as it had nothing new to offer. . But the pacy portions kept me going.

The movie would have been much better if the Director had made a full-fledged thriller. Instead we are made to put up with romance and comedy being thrown in at regular intervals. However the best scenes in the movie are the comic ones. Like the ones in which Kale and his friend Ronnie ( Aaron Yoo) spy on a strikingly alluring Ashley , as she swims in her house-pool.

The screenplay is very good and the movie is fast towards the latter portions . But it can be rather tiresome to endure the romance and voyeurism which is portrayed in huge dollops , before the actual mystery starts.

Although cliched and predictable, the movie manages to keep us interested , except for a few scenes.

I felt product-placement was done pretty well here . We have XBOX , Apple iTunes and iPod , which form an essential part of any American teenager's life.

Overall , I would not strongly recommend this movie , as it does not manage to provide anything substantial. However , it can be termed as worthwhile , if you decided to watch it one boring night , with nothing else to do... like I did...

VERDICT : 2.5 / 5 ( Almost interesting)