Film Review: DIL TO BACCHA HAI JI

Film Toh KACCHA hai Ji - This BACHCHA is very amateurish and immature!

Aajkal Ke Bacche bi na... Well, we all know that the Kids today are more like Adults. And the Adults here in Bhandarkar's films are like Kids. The way their love life goes. Stubborn, Greedy and Innocent! Anything is possible in love, after all the heart is a kid! Madhur, you and your actors need to actually grow up! And, I am not kiddin'

A rose is a rose is a rose. And if its a bud, it could go dud, when you propose a girl who you love and also assume that she has the same feeling towards you with the way she behaves. Bhandarkar who made hard hitting realistic films from Bar to Signals, from Corporate to Fashion Shows and ended up in Jail, all this got a Page 3 mileage, but yeh Film Toh Bilkul Bachpana Hai Ji! These Trishakti, has no power at all! Although its a light hearted movie from serious filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar, It looks amateurish, kiddish (not the way the title relates), Half baked, incomplete film! And if this is what one expects from a National Award Winner, then... sorry, Yeh Film KACHCHA Hai Ji (Very Raw) and Nothing to rave about ACHCHA ya BACHCHA (child like).

And think of it, this BACCHA got an A Certificate Merit from the Censors! Its SEX that Talks in this film! All the Male Counterparts are 'Shaukeen' mizaaz! (The elderly men Ashok Kumar, Utpal Dutt and A.K. Hangal are replaced by not so elderly men Ajay Devgan, Emran Hashmi and Omi Vaidya)

A divorcee, a Casanova and a Virgin stay under a roof and get their love life going. In the process they end up at a disco, bed and a Radio Station with their female costars who play an Intern in his office, A elderly married woman plus her loud step daughter and a Radio Jockey who aims at becoming an actress. The Men fantasies them and have their dreams with them, while the Females have their own dreams and aims and the Men whose heart is like a child goes Bingo! Three Cheers to this Not so Lovable - Love Story!

If Devgan can do comedy at his BEST with Golmaal series and here and there (Athithi, Toonpur), then - YEH FILM TOH KACCHA HAI JI (as his comedy is very raw, nothing to smile upon). Omi Vaidya talks and behaves more or less like a IDIOT in this film too and the Casanova Hashmi gets to do what he is best at! Kiss and Bed with females galore! Shruti Hassan who appears more or less like a special appearance should actually take tips from her great father before she does anything else in celluloid! Shahzan and Shradha are just not promising! The finale with some stars appearing on screen does not even bring smile to your face too!

Overall as the film is about unrequited love, heartbreaks, and renewed hopes, all I can say is the Love is not mortal, heart does not break for the characters and have no hopes with the film to get any awards!

And advice to Madhur: Please make films that are Real and Shocking as that is your forte! Comedy Genre Aapko Suit Nahi Kartha Hai Ji!

Sundeep Malani
Film Critic

Film Review: DHOBI GHAT (MUMBAI DIARIES)

DHOBI GHAT is an Intellectual Cinema. But... .

Please NOTE the following while you go to watch DHOBI GHAT:

* Its a out and out Kiran Rao film, who happens to be the intellectual Mrs. Aamir Khan.
* Kiran Rao herself being an Assistant Director earlier is making her debut with this Indian Documentary film.
* Its NOT a Bollywoodish film.
* Do not expect a romantic song, an action scene or a comedy in the film!
* No magic from Aamir Khan (Definitely not going to deserve a award for his performance)
* Aamir Khan is more like a character with minimal scope.
* With or without Aamir Khan, the film does not make any difference.
* Pratiek Babbar reminds you of all his mother (Smita Patil)'s arty films.
* Slumdog Millionaire once again? Yes.. with the way, the films narrative is. But not the way it is portrayed! But, Slumdog wooed the audience, Dhobi will boo... by the audience!
* And lastly, do not expect a Break, as you walk in to the theater to watch the film and walk out, only you realize, that its not Interval but The End.

There’s Munna (Prateik Babbar), a handsome young laundry boy (dhobi) who collects, washes and delivers clothes for middle class Mumbaites like Arun (Aamir Khan), a lauded artist whose oil paintings are no way as haunting as the mysterious package he finds in his new apartment. Then there’s Shai (Monica Dogra), an affluent American born investment banker on a sabbatical in Mumbai who meets and quickly becomes fascinated by Arun after spending the night with him. Finally there’s Yasmin (Kriti Malhotra) a newly married housewife who films an innocent video diary for her brother while sitting at home and yearning for her elusive husband. And most important is Mumbai, the city that never sleeps. It witnesses everything by giving shelter to the 4 characters and leading their journey through longing, loneliness, love and loss.

Having said all this: Its a intellectual film, but...only for those who love to give a stand ovation, applaud, get itself categorized as Critics Film and being labeled as ART Cinema. It doesn't try to thrill, titillate or shock; it is rather like a mellow, low-pitched and laid-back reading of a set of diaries.

P.S: As the film is about a DHOBI (Laundry), it also is a film that can be a Yawn-dry for some! Yes, Yawn and very Dry too! Well, for many who look forward to watch a Aamir Khan film, it can be also a GHATiya film, because what they expect, they do not get! Not a sensitive performance, nor a romantic hero or a action one nor a comic act which is Aamir Khan stamp (Taare, Idiots, Ghajini, Lagaan).

Sundeep Malani
Film Critic

Film Review: YAMLA PAGLA DEEWANA

YAMLA PAGLA DEEWANA is a Mad Crap Fun Film! Three Cheers to the Deols!
Its Triple the fun! Fun on the Run! Canada to Punjab! NRI Punjabi Connection! Bachchans and Khans have been part of Yash Raj and KJo Films. The family tradition, values, masti and big fat weddings. All this and more are now a part of Deol Parivar. Samir Karnik brings the Family Tradition values PLUS David Dhawan logic (which means, don't think, anything is possible in this senseless comedy). Having said that, its a treat to watch the Triple Deols chemistry on screen as Buddies, Brothers and Father Son Combination. YAMLA (Dharampa), PAGLA (Sunny Deol) and DEEWANA (Bobby Deol) have made justice to their roles. Not necessary that the trio play YMD. Its vice versa! Garam Dharam, Jatt Puttar Sunny and Bobby Darling (referring to his romantic image). Bobby with Kulraj Randhawa's love goes Balle Balle on screen, when her family is against. Its Bade Bhaiyya Sunny who helps the lovers unite while also his Comedian Canadian wife for support! Dharampa heads the Family that lives together, has fun together,but does not stays happy together. Thats the reason Sunny comes from Cananda to Varanasi to unite with his Dharampa, who got separated years ago. Its time for a reunion and to have a smiling family pic: and they lived happily ever after!

YPD has a fair share of comedy wherein certain scenes are downright hilarious and are sure to let you have a rollicking time. So, get ready for Masala from the Deol household, that reminds you of 80's and 90's cinema with a mixture of YRF and KJo Punch to it! Its Comedy, Drama, Action, Romance and Item Number (Tinku Jiya) too! Dual Style! (Dharam and Bobby - hence its DEOL style)! In a word: Poora Paisa Vasool for the Punjabi Household! Hadippa!!!

The Only thing I regret is that: Wish Hema Malini would have been a part of the song Yamla Pagla Deewana (making a cameo' that would have hit the bulls eye)

Sundeep Malani
Film Critic

Film Review: NO ONE KILLED JESSICA

EveryONE KILLED JESSICA: Voila! Witness The Brutal Murder on Screen!
Order! Order!!
Prosecutor, please proceed with the case!

Well... herewith I am proceeding with the Review :)

Reality Bites and even Bitches too! (That too Beautiful Bitches do it with elan, style, smoke and gaalis).. Aali re.. Aali re..Rani Mukherji is back on Screen to Scream and does 'justice' to her character as well as the witness and the culprit, with lots of Gaalis... And for which, she gets Taalis too!! You need to witness this! No doubt about it!

Story? I guess this not being a Story, but a Real Incident that the Nation knows it well, that witnessed 12 yrs ago! 1999 Jessica Lal Murder Case that made Headlines on Papers and TV Breaking News! The plot which was been already seen on screen a few years ago with Rajkumar Santoshi's Halla Bol is now a full fledged plot for Rajkumar Gupta's film. The earlier co-incidentally had Vidya Balan being a moral support for the scenes, but here Vidya is the main support who fights for her deceased sister!

No guesses and No surprises and No Suspense, as the murder of Jessica Lal was in the presence of 300 eyewitnesses at the party who all deny being even present there at the time of the murder, with only 7 of them firmly assuring Jessica's sister Sabrina (Vidya Balan) that they will tell the truth in court but they turn antagonistic. Its for the reason that the culprit was a Politician's son and they are forced to remain 'Silent' and they have not seen anything! This is a known fact! The case opens and re-opens in real and in reel too! While Vidya fights for justice, its Rani who gives justice.

Order! Order!!

That's the interesting part of the film, with court martial, witnesses, prosecutors - the questioning parts and the Final Applauds, not to miss the best part - the Candle Light Vigil Walk!

If Gupta's Aamir was exciting and kept one gripped to the seat, Jessica keeps everyone glued to the screen!

A must see cinema that gives Woman Power to rule the Industry! Voila.. No Male Costars opposite the Two Strong Mainstream Heroines! Woman are definitely on top! (without romancing and having the male actors for support)

No one Miss it, Go Witness The Murder and Tell the Truth to your friends to Go for it!
As I recommend everyone to watch the film - I could say Hence: 'EveryONE KILLED JESSICA'!

The Court is Adjourned!

Sundeep Malani
Film Critic