Archive for October, 2008

Golmaal Returns Review— Senseless-Storyless Comedy Returns

October 31, 2008 at 12:27 pm · Filed under movienomics ·Tagged , , , , , ,

I remember watching Golmaal (not the original classic, but the July 14th, 2006 one) by myself in Virginia and clearly remember that parts of it were hysterically funny; the Black episode literally got my eyes watered with laughter. The story too was okay, funny, there was something going on, and every character had a (meaty) part to play. So can you expect similar or more for what is being advertised as a sequel? Of course, one must. Before going any further, let us make one thing clear—Golmaal Returns is by no means a sequel (I don’t think our Bollywood guys have what it takes to do a sequel); it is just the next in the series (like Munnabhai). Nothing wrong with that, except that had the content of Golmaal Returns been presented with another title, the film would not even have got an opening.  Whichever way you look at Golmaal Returns, the film lacks the comic-punch that is delivered through knock-out performances, an interesting comic story/plot, and hilarious sequences, but scraps through and manages to produce a few laughs.

Ekta (Kareena Kapoor) always has a shak on Gopal (Ajay Devagan) who works in a fisheries company. Lucky (Tushar Kapoor) is Ekta’s dumb brother and Esha (Amrita Arora) is Gopal’s sister–all living together in one house. On the night that Gopal’s colleague, whom he dislikes, gets murdered Gopal is missing from the house as he saves a girl, Meera (Celina Jaitley) and has to spend the night over elsewhere as their cars get spoiled. Ekta is told to beleive that Gopal spent the night with his, just created, friend Anthony Gonzalves. In order to satisfy her, Gopal hires Laxman Prasad (Shreyas Talpade) to be Anthony and some confusion begins and at each step Gopal, Laxam, and Lucky have to deal with it. Oh yes, there is ACP Madhav Singh (Arshad Warsi) who has been assigned the case of Gopal’s colleage (played by Sanjay Mishra) and ACP Madhav, who is the boyfriend of Esha, suspects Gopal as he went missing that night. The entire second half is about finding the girl with whom Gopal spent the night with to testify that Gopal was not involved in the murder. The comic-punch is supposed to be that that girl is Meera who is Laxman’s girlfriend. Anyways, a farcical and silly climax takes place and finally Lucky is the lucky guy as he gets his girl and becomes the MD of the fisheries (as the daughter of the fisheries owner is the deaf girl that the dumb Lucky likes).

For a film that wants to be a sensless comedy it is okay to have a thin story line or even be story-less, but it must at least have several sequences that deliver knock out comedy. This goes missing in Golmaal Returns. The only highlight comic scene is when Gopal and Meera get stuck in the room and every channel that Gopal switches too there is a love scene being shown and eventually Gopal has to put one leg on the other to cover up! There is no other comic sequence worth mentioning or remembering. Even the woman-get up scene is very brief and produces no laughter. A couple of gay comedy references, but that is being really desperate. The performances are all average to below average with only Shreyas Talpade delivering some good acting. Ajay Devgan is okay, but is looking too thin and sickly. Tushar Kapoor is irritating. Kareena Kapoor looks like a patient; it is high time she got out of that Globus ad campaign and joined some fast food ad campaing; at least she will look healthy. Her acting is as usual useless. Arshad Warsi gets a raw deal. Celina and Amrita are as usual useless. And how can we imagine such comedies without the masters—Paresh Rawal, Om Puri etc. Characterizations, which are an integral part of any comedy, are totally missing. There are hardly any songs, and the two that come are useless. One of the songs picturization is taken from Rajnikanth’s Shivaji. 

Having said this, the film just about manages and tries real hard to create a few laughs. The only good thing about the film is that at least it does drag. Given the total lack of any comedy or entertaining film in Hindi right now, Golmaal Returns will benefit; clearly evident from the that Ramakrishna 70mm, Abids was packed with youngsters for a morning show on the third day. But this will only be for a few more days or max one week. The film just does not have the merits to have a long run or even be remembered for any comedy worth its name. Watch it only if have absolutely nothing else to do. If one is to believe the last scene then a third is being planned. My request to the makers, please do not return again…trying making something else.

Mr. Inkenti’s Movienomics Verdict: Thumbs Down!

ps–Mrs. Inkenti’s verdict is that the film should be called Bore-Maal!

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Fashion Movie Review— Cliche and Boring Fashion Fails to Impress

October 29, 2008 at 5:02 pm · Filed under movienomics ·Tagged , , , ,

The choice was tough to choose between Golmaal Returns and Fashion. I would choose a comedy anytime over serious film, but three hot models on the posters is hard to resist. As I entered Ramakrishna Glitterati for the evening 6 pm show, although HOUSE-FULL, the atmosphere inside was calm and no buzz when the censor certificate was displayed. First signs that the film is dull. ‘All that glitters is not gold’ is what director Madhur Bhandarkar wants to show in Fashion, but he tries to put his point across without a story or entertainment and the model falls flat on the ramp.

Meghna Mathur (Priyanka Chopra) is a girl from Chandigarh who dreams of becoming a super-model. Against her parents wishes she comes to Mumbai to make it big. Aimlessly, but quite luckily she meets the right peope at the right place and quickly makes it to the top. Around her she sees big models rise and fall, but she is undettered and becomes arrogant as she begis to click. As the brand ambassodor of the brand Panache, she becomes the girlfriend of fashion industry’s tycoon Mr. Sarin (Arbaz Khan). She even becomes pregnant, aborts, leaks the info to Sarin’s wife, drinks and drives, gets arrested, smokes, gets fired from her contract, becomes ungratefull to those who helped her, takes to drugs, sleeps with an unkown African, and then returns back to home sweet home where she takes rest for one year. Then, her dad asks her to go fulfill what she couldn’t and she goes back and does it. But the second time, she is sensitive about her success. This is what happens in the really long and boring 2 hours and 40 minutes of the film. Add to this, plenty of gay comedy (every second man shown in the film is gay, ‘not that there is anything wrong with that’), drug use, drinks, ciggarates, and all Page-3 type characters.

The problem with the film is that there is no story and nothing entertaining is going on. Okay, so Madhur Bhandarkar is the master director who portrays reality (there is also a silly appearance of Madhur and a mention about the research he is doing for his film Fashion by attending all hi-fi parties), but we all know that the movie or fashion industry is cruel and harsh–whats new about it? Showing reality is fine, but it has to be done in the backdrop of a good story. Priyanka Chopra is in every frame of the film and must have wished that this would be her ticket to stardom, but the script disappoints her. Her acting is the same, nothing special this time around too. She already looks like model prior to becoming one so I wonder where is the transformation. She looks great at times, but most of the times like most models she too looks like a patient. Kangna Ranaut as Shonali, the super-model who just got reduced to dust before Meghna, is absolutely irritating and disgusting repeating her high-strung-i-am-always-a-drug-addict-and-alcoholic-and-loser-in-life performance yet again. Mugdha Godse as Janet is fine. The Chak De girl, the one from Haryana, in a brief role is artificial. Arbaaz Khan does not deliver. The entire film is like watching one fashion show after another and thats it. The music disappoints with only one tune playing in the background all the time.

The only entertaining part of the film were the comments audience were hurling at the film out of sheer boredom. Don’t even think of taking your (teen) kids for this film; there is nothing educative or informative the film offers other than telling that your life is bound to be like a piece-of-sh** if you enter the fashion world. It is true, all that glitters is not gold and that aptly applies to Fashion. I am all for realistic cinema, but its gotta entertain when it is made on a canvas meant for entertainment.

Mr. Inkenti’s Movienomics Verdict: Two Thumbs Down.

ps–Mrs. Inkenti gives the film a 3.5/5 as she feels that the reality of the struggles of a model were well shown.

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Why Ghajini’s First Trailer is Just Average

October 29, 2008 at 7:30 am · Filed under movienomics ·Tagged , , , , ,

Just a day before Aamir Khan’s December 25th release Ghajini’’s first trailer came out, Taran Adarsh wrote that it was like the roar of a lion. Thats when I knew that it would definitely not be anything like that. Sure enough, just a couple of hours before going to burst the crackers on diwali day I saw the first trailer on indiafm.com and it was just average. Why? lets put the blame on Samsung.

Did anymone take a look Ghajini’s first look? it was quite good, but again the suspense, curiousity, and thrill was just missing because we already saw the first look of Ghajini in Samsung’s Next is What? campaign with Aamir Khan. No doubt, the hair style is a hit (I’ve seen atleast a couple of guys with that hair cut). So there ends the fizz. Now, coming to the 59 sec trailor, Aamir looks too beefy and it does quite suit his small frame body, but there is no focus on the haircut. We are shown his love interest–a gorgeous Asin, a millionarie Amir walking down a jet with bodyguards, and loads of evidence to suggest that there will be death, revenge, violence, and action. The action scenes have a heavy south-indian overdose. The biggest dissapointment is the music. It just doesn’t sound anything like A R Rahman (ARR); it could be any one from Vishal-Shekar to Jatin-Lalit. The ARR Stamp is missing. The text that appears also is most unimpressive: this december…forget everything…remember Ghajini.. what is that?…That does not tell anything about the film.

To sum it up, Ghajini’s first trailer lacks the punch. It does not even build up any curiousity about the film and with Aamir in the lead this trailer design comes as a surprise. It looks like, the hindi version will be a faithfull reproduction of the Tamil original and blockbuster hit with the same name starring Surya. Lets wait and see how the music comes out. For now, Ghajini’s first trailer gets Mr. Inkenti’s Thumbs Down!

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Roadside Romeo Review— The Dog has No Story to Tell

October 28, 2008 at 7:12 am · Filed under movienomics ·Tagged , ,

Ten minutes in to this film and I am sure Papa Chopra would have put a white cloth on his head and sat through in disbelief and hoping that their december 12th release will give the banner he built its glory back. Roadside Romeo is another addition of dissapointments to list of forgettables from Yash Raj Films (YRF). It is quite clear that Aditya Chopra, the producer, did not even bother to read the script else he would have known that he is putting in money in to a no-story, no-plot, no-emotion, no-character animated film called Roadside Romeo that too in partnership with world famous Walt Disney.

We are shown in a five minute flashback song that Romeo is a dog used to the lifestyle of the rich & famous and when his owner’s kid fancy a new dog in London they leave Romeo to the roadside. Romeo begins to see how un-cool the outside world is and shows-off his coolness to some roadside dogs and forms a gang that will open an saloon. The purpose? to earn enough dog-currency (i.e bones) to live a cool life. Then, Romeo–the dog meets Liala–the bitch (thats what a female dog is called, isn’t it?). Liala dares Romeo to dance with her on stage in front of everyone and she will also fall in love with Romeo. However, Liala happens to be the heart-throb of local don, Charlie Anna. Romeo tells Charlie Anna that he will make Liala fall in love with him, but is caught red-handed when his bluff is called and has to confront Charlie Anna and loses Liala’s love. Anyways, a climax ensues where Romeo saves Charlie Anna from the Muncipality van and Charlie Anna brings Liala to Romeo.

Saif Ali Khan’s voice for Romeo is great and is the only aspect of the film that keeps its spirit alive. Kareena Kapoor once again proves that she is the Iron Leg of Bollywood (any film she stars either is a flop or is subect to criticism; exception is Jab We Met). Her voice for Liala is too artificial and lacks talent. Javeed Jaffery’s south indian tamil ascented hindi for Charlie Anna is a big letdown; it is full of over-action and you can’t even understand what he is saying.  Romeo’s tapori gang just does not click as they all try to talk like munnabhai. The biggest problem with the film is that there is no story to tell. Jugal Hansraj does a pathetic job with the story, screenplay, and direction. An animated film needs to be intelligent and Roaside Romeo is plain dumb trying to be like a Yash Raj musical. Nothing wrong in being filmy, but it will work if the story is intelligent. The world of the dogs was not even shown. If they the collaboration with Walt Disney could have been on story and character development, the film would have been better I guess.

Technically the film is better that all the animated films we have seen so far coming from Bollywood. However, there is not even one scene that is fun and nothing that has emotional depth, both of which are essential for an animated film to strike a chord with audience. There is also nothing interesting for the kids. The only interesting experience we had was that a few college punks sitting the balcony of Senstation Insomnia were having a fun time whistling away at the cartoons and their filmy antics—a kiss/smooch scene, DDLJ type climax, and characters imitating heroes etc. Don’t get me wrong, I am deriding this film because of camparison to Hollywood animation films film are high on emotion, story, depth, humor, and intelligence in addition to technology. As a product by itself, Jugal Hansraj completely messes up the film from the concept stage itself. The songs are bad and cause more irritation. The only saving grace for the film is that it is just one and half hours so thanks director for that.

Mr. Inkenti’s Movienomics Verdict: Two Thumbs Down! Don’t torture yourself and your kids with this film.

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The Happy Diwali Poll

October 26, 2008 at 6:30 am · Filed under The Hyderabadi ·Tagged , , , ,

Wishing all friends of Mr. Inkenti’s Weblog a Happy Deepavali!

I have been wanting to write a post on the Global Financial Meltdown, the stock market crash, and the bright side of the bad news, but things at work and home have kept me busy.  Anyways, with two more days to for Deepavali, I hope everyone is getting ready to have a blast! Having said that, I wanted to try out the new feature our WordPress.com friends have provided in the form of Poll Daddy.

Once again, have a blast this Deepavali 2008!

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HEROES Review— We Salute the Heroes!

October 24, 2008 at 11:40 am · Filed under movienomics ·Tagged , , , ,

It is the Diwali weekend and I decided to bunk office and head for the FDFS* of Heroes without any knowledge, hype, or expectations from the film. Just the previous day, I saw Taran Adarsh’s take on it [he seemed to have liked it], but if you know his reviews as well as I do then you know they’ve got to be taken with a pinch of salt. I honestly was not expecting a crowd at Ramakrishna Gliterrati, but I was delighted to see a crowd, a HOUSE-FULL board, and black tickets being sold [Rs. 40 ka Rs.100]. I guess the hero-like star-cast including Salman Khan brought in the crowds. This is the first sign that a film has the potential to deliver. As the film rolled, my wife and I enjoyed, wept, and felt a sense of pride for our armed forces and realized that along with the officers, their families are heroes too.

Sammy aka ‘Saand’ [Sohail Khan] and Ali aka ‘Nawab Saab’ [Vatsal Seth] are best buddies having a blast as graduates of the Film Academy. Their blast includes [failed] attempts to seduce their girlfriends, being strippers at all-girls birthday parties, drinks, bindaas attitude etc. As expected, Sammy and Ali fail their course and are asked to finish an independent film project in order to get a degree. In their farewell pool-party one of their friends suggests they do a film on the armed forces of India. Sammy, Ali, and all the other yuppy youth around ridicule the idea saying that there is no security of life, it is torture for families, low pay etc. Sammy and Ali then decide that they do a project about why not to join the armed forces of India. Their girl friend puts them on to IBN 7’s war journalist [Mohnish Behl] who gives them three undelivered letters that he collected during his research [the film opens with these war scenes in Kargil] that need to given back to the surviving family members. The boys are asked to give them back and record their experiences. Thus, begins their journey on a cool Bajaj bike with all camping gadgets to different parts of India and through this journey their life, experiences, and priorities change.

They first go to Punjab to meet Balkar Singh’s [Salman Khan] family where they see his wife Priety Zinta, thier son Jassi, and their family. Next, they go to visit Vikram Shergil [Sunny Deol] to give his brother’s [Bobby Deol] letter. Next is Sahil Naqui’s house to give his letter to his parents where the father, Dr. Naqvi [Mithun Chakravarthy] is in denial about his son’s death. At each place, Saand and Nawab Saab spend a few days, record, and learn a few things about life, honor, respect, pride, love, duty, responsibility and family. There is comedy, sentiment, and emotion, though the latter two dominate. Each episode and the instances of the episode slowly and steadily bring about a change in the two guys and at the end they realize the importance of being in the armed forces. Following the are highlight scenes that received maximum response in the theater:

(1) Jassi, Salman and Priety’s son, tells the two guys that he too wants to join the army like his father. ma khud ka khayal kar sakti hai, main desh ka raksha karunga…

(2) The scene where Jassi puts up his father shirt and salutes it followed by his mother hugging it [highly emotional scene].

(3) The shot where while flying the kites, Saand and Nawab Saab stumble upon the India-Pakistan border with green fields on either side.

(4) The fight sequence with Sunny Deol on the wheelchair and on the floor. Full mass-massala fight sequence.

(5) The self-realization shot of Saand when he too like, Balkar Singh, rolls up his pants, enters the chilled waters and catches a fish with his bare hands!—superb shot!

(6) Jassi grows up to look like his father and as Salman Khan meets the two guys after several years to give passes to the army parade. There was pandemonium [Salman still commands craze among the masses] in the theater as Salman Khan’s [tired and stressed out] face is revealed towards the climax as Jassi.

(7) The dhaba scene where Saand questions the server boy if he cleaned the plate with his underwear?! And ends up liking the smell when the server boy really cleans it with his underwear!

In addition, there are several scenes that are emotional and will make  you weep with pride and love for the families that have seen their loved ones give away their life in the army, navy, and air force. It makes you salute those families that have sent their loved ones into the armed forces to protect the nation. Without a doubt, the film makes you feel patriotic and the best part is it does not cater to routine and typical dialogues about enemies, there is no anti-Pakistan sentiment, no terrorist lingo. Most movies take us directly in to the battleground to show the valor of the amred forces, but Heroes looks at it from the side of families and thus it is high on the emotional quotient.  To balance this, we have two youngsters, just like most of us, to whom most of this will be alien or sometimes even too idealistic and lack pragmatism. [SPOILERS AHEAD] The climax of the film is sensible. Saand and Nawab Saab try for the army twice, but fail then they put up their own school in an attempt to serve their mother land. The best thing about the film is that it is not spoiled by love stories of the lead actors.

The performances are first rate. So far I only saw Sohail Khan make an ass and a fool of himself, but in this film he is a revelation!...his expressions, body language, comedy timing, and even the crying is good! Sunny Deol as usual is cool and you can’t but feel that Sunny Deol type mass-action hero is badly needed in Bollywood! Bobby Deol fails to impress. Mithun is first rate. Riya Sen looks her usual self in a song. The songs could have been better and it would only have helped the film. Out of the three episodes, the first is the best and the third is not as good. Somehow I felt that perhaps the story could have been more creative or innovative. The director gets too involved in delivering a knock-out emotional punch that other aspects of the story might have been affected. If you are not much into senti-emotional movies then this one might not catch your attention and neither is this a fast-paced army action thriller, but still it is a good film with its heart in the right place.

Mr. Inkenti’s Movienomics Verdict: One Thumb Up! Definitely not the Deepawali fire-cracker type masala entertainer. High on emotions, but go watch it.

*FDFS–First Day First Show

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Dostana Music Review— Unimpressive Film Album and an Average Pop Album

October 23, 2008 at 11:26 am · Filed under movienomics ·Tagged , , ,

I saw the trailer of Dostana during the interval of a disasterours movie experience called Drona. As the Dharma Productions banner began forming on the screen with ‘that’ Kuch Kuch Hota Hai music [aaaa..aaa..aaaa], I could hear the guys behind me at Ramakrishna Gliteratti go NoooOoooHHH! [read oh no, it is that karan johar again] This reaction aptly summarizes the kind of stereotypical image that Karan Johar has developed with just a couple of films. Karan, it is high time for you to change that music for the banner! However, thankfully, this time around Dostana’s music and trailer offers non-Johar material.

Dostana does not offter the typical music one expects from a Karan Johar’s produced or directed film, but that doesn’t mean it is necessarily good/great. Somehow I felt that the six tracks are unimpressive as film music album, but work well as a private pop album that too an average one. Broadly, there are four peppy numbers and two slow-medium love songs. Maa Da Laadla [typical punjabi pop], Shut Up and Bounce, Desi Girl [a wannabe Pretty Woman type] are peppy-pop numbers. Jaane Kyun is a cool breezy number, its pretty different and good but I hope it is not a clean lift from somewhere. Kuch Kam and Khabar Nahi are slow love numbers, which don’t quite fit into the fun-mood of the film and i smell that parts of the film will be uncessarily senti and slow.

No song has the feel of a movie-song. Given the film is based in the sunny beaches of Miami, USA, and bikini-Priyanka the songs fit that beach-feel. However, the songs lack the punch and are difinitely not worthy to be part of Karan Johar’s musical and movie blockbuster family. The theme is quite bizzare, about two guys lieing to a pretty girl that the are gay and the disaster news is that the film is starred by three highly inept and useless names among bolywood actors—John ‘useless’ Abraham, Abhishek ‘Drona’ Bachchan, and Priyanka ‘2050′ Chopra. Lets see how this fully-multiplex-centric film fares at the box-office when it releases on November 14th.

Mr. Inkenti’s Movienomics Verdict: Thumbs Down. Save your Rs 160/- and hear them on FM.

Mr. Inkenti’s Pick: Jaane Kyun

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Why did Karzzzz Flop at the Box Office

October 22, 2008 at 12:17 pm · Filed under movienomics ·Tagged , , ,

Today is the sixth day of Himesh Reshammiya starrer Karzzzz’s release and the verdict is loud and clear: at the box office, Karzzzz is an Utterrrr Flopppp. The signs were evident two days prior to the 17th October release when Prasads Multiplex at Hyderabad, one of the busiest and hardest multiplex to get tickets for any averagly decent film, recorded slow advance booking. However, I felt the single screens would be a better barometer given Himesh’s craze among the masses and dislike among the so-called classes. But looks like even the masses have rejected the film. Why?

Himesh’s songs, voice, and of course his avatar with the cap have been a craze so far. Our office-boy is a hard core fan of Himesh and always wears a cap listening to his songs on the mobile even though he is not bald. Critics et al might say that Karzzzz flopped because it was madly remade without much creativity [true], or that the problem is it was unacceptable to see Himesh replace the then young, handsome, and dynamic Rishi Kapoor as Monty [true], or the music just didn’t live up to the cult-following standard of the original Karz musical score [true]. While all these reasons definitely have an element of truth in them, I feel the reason is that Himesh Reshammiya did not have his lucky charm—the Cap.

It is the Cap, yes with a capital C for honors, that made Himesh look like the comman man’s hero. Unfortunately, he choose to look like a city-based always-at-the-pubs-and-multilpex-type baffoon/howla and with that the charm of Himesh Reshammiya has gone. Seriously, although indiafm.com first brought the first-look of Karzzzz and called HR’s new look smashing…I thought he looked like a fool trying to be something he is not. HR could have become a uniquie Mass Hero who always wears a cap in his movies (like the cowboy ones).

Legend has it that the film industry runs more on sentiment and less on story….and Himesh Reshammiya broke his own sentiment. Same songs, cap get-up, a different story and HR would have delivered another Super-Hit and we would have had a new Mass Star, alas it is not.  Better luck next time HR!

Karzzzz Reduced to Ashes; as on 24/10/2008:

Karzzzz is down to just two single screen theaters in Hyderabad City and no shows in any Multiplex. This is a complete disaster and Himesh Reshammiya needs to do a serious re-think of strategy.

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Yuvvraaj Music Review— No Taal In This One

October 18, 2008 at 9:28 am · Filed under movienomics ·Tagged ,

A long time back, pre-Taal, I was excited while reading a Subhash Ghai interview that 75% of the narration in Taal will be through music. Since childhood I was a fan of Subhash Ghai and his blockbusters and also a fan of A R Rahman, who at that time was nothing less than God creating new sounds of music with each big album. We all know about Taal, it was, is, and always be a gem. Now when, Subhash Ghai and ARR are coming back again, in the backdrop of a rather classy/western poster, the expectations are bound to be sky high. However, the music of Yuvvraaj does not quite have the taal to make it a musical blockbuster.

Honestly, I don’t quite know what the movie is about. The tag line reads MUSIC BINDS LOVE. Hmm…ok, quite interesting…looks like another musical love story. Makes sense with ARR as the music director. Next, the posters so far look quite classy, like Western classical-ish. So what exactly do we expect? I don’t know, but at least as a Subhash Ghai, ARR, and Taal fan, I should expect a good music album that I can play in my car and enjoy. But unfortunately, the album does not quite deliver. Most of the songs seem to be part of a narration, like a musical. Of course, the quality of the music, some music bits, orchestration are really good, but there is nothing path breaking coming from ARR to fit the tag line of the film. I am positive, however, the songs will look better on screen and might fit well with the narration. We will have to wait for the film’s release. However, as a separate CD album to purchase, it might not come close to any of the previous musical blockbusters of Subhash Ghai or ARR. There are a mix of genres–little bethovan, thoda pappu cant dance type, melody, some south indian raaga types etc. And the most annoying part of the album is Salman Khan’s really irritating intro in his own voice for a song. The same old typical Salman stuff even for a film that promises to be creative and different and again we get to hear Salman talking as though in a David Dhawan film that he will be the superstar. I wonder why even Subhash Ghai choose Salman, good luck to the film.

I thought there will some solid Western classicial stuff or maybe some solid fusion, but nothing. Honestly, I feel ARR is losing this touch. Even Jaane Tu…had only a couple of hit numbers, the rest of them just worked cuz the movie was youthfull, peppy, and well made. From the vagueness of the poster, so-so music, I wonder how this film will turn out to be. To add to this, it looks like Ghai is making a very thoughtful musical film with two very untalented stars who just cant’ act–Salman and Katrina. Good Luck Ghai!

I know that all hardcore ARR fans have come with a new theory that if you listen to his music 2,3, to 25 times you will see the beauty in it. This applies to any song by any composer. The point is–is it paisa vasool? can we put in our money, Rs. 160, and buy the album? do the songs entertain? Save your money, and listen to it on raaga.com for now and wait for the film to release.

Mr. Inkenti Movienomics Verdict: Thumbs Down.

Mr. Inkenti’s Pick: Manmohini Morey, Tu Muskura

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Karzzz (Karz 2008) Review— Fails to Pay its Karz to Fans

October 17, 2008 at 5:30 pm · Filed under movienomics ·Tagged , , ,

There are two categories of fans that Karzzz (how many zzz are they anyway?!), the remake of Subhash Ghai’s Karz–Blockbuster entertainer of 1980, is expected to pay its dues to: fans of blockbuster-80s-karz type massala films and Himesh Reshammiya (HR) fans. For both these reasons I too was eagerly awaiting the film’s release and hoping that it will deliver massala entertainment. My hope became intense as there are no fireworks on silver screen this Diwali (since SRK couldn’t make it on schedule). Unfortunately, for HR fans, Karzzz just does not have the punch that massala-reincarnation films need to have and hence does not deliver on several fronts.

Karzzz is the story of love, betrayal, and revenge. Ravi Verma (Dino Moria) is a millionarie madly in love with Kamini (Urmila Matondkar) who kills him by throwing him off a flight a few days after marriage for his wealth. She does this because a villian by name Sir Juda strikes a deal with her. Ravi’s mother prays to Durga Maa for her son and in true reincarnation style Ravi is born as Monty–the rock star. 25 years after Ravi’s death, Monty begins to see flashes of his past birth and is determined to find the secrets of his past. Upon realizing the truth, he wants to bring justice to his mother, sister, and seek revenge on Kamini. To do this, Monty becomes close to Kamini and even convinces her that he is indeed her husband from 25 years back (he sings, repeats romantic lines, and even recites their suhaag raat details (of course, the audience are not lucky enough to hear these) to convince her!). But he maintains that he does not know how he died and wants to get that confession out of her. He finally does, and in the climax Kamini crashes into the same place where Ravi Verma died after chasing Monty on the ground from the air.

The only aspect of the film that works in the film is Himesh Reshammiya’s haunting voice (for Lut Jaon). Thats it, the rest of the film just does not click. Monty’s love interest, Tina, played by Indra Kumar’s daugther (director of Beta, Raja, Dil) is pure disappointment. Urmila looks differnt at different places (pre-interval backless dress is probably the best scene of the film). Her make up is over done at times, sometimes we see her wrinkles, and at times she looks like an aunty and just does not have the grace and evil that her character is supposed to carry. The biggest problem with the film is the narration, which has not been modified to suit present day tastes and expectations. There is no suspense and no tension between the two most important characters–Kamini and Monty. You wonder why Kamini freaks out when it is revealed to her that Monty indeed knows how Ravi Verma got killed? It would have been a better and bigger freak-out had it been kept till the end that she didnt know who Monty really was. The murder of Ravi Verma by Kamini just does not have the power and disgust that can evoke the feelings of revenge that cuts across two life times. And the biggest drawback of the film is that it is entirely set in South Africa, Kenya (read studio settings for the most part). Through out the film you see only residents of South Africa and Kenya dancing and walking around. My simple question to T-series and Satish Koushik: why not India?

The director has simply and faithfully lifted from the original without putting in any efforts to be creative. Yea, a few changes, just a little, here and there to the story and much to the film’s disadvantage the twists are useless. The characterizations are not strong, suspense and tension are missing, entertainment and masala is absent, too many songs and that too most of them are average. As for Himesh Reshammiya, there is honesty in his eyes, just like how I felt while watching his debut Aap Ka Suroor (which worked because of great songs, nice massala, and a juicy new heroine). Himesh tries his best to put up a good show, but is disappointed by the narration and treatment.There is also no highlight scene worth the mention, which is absolutely essential for a massala entertainer.

Adlabs-Goldspot, in Hyderabad, where I saw the film was empty with the few crowd in there heckling and laughing at the film. The booking at all multiplexes in Hyderabad has been very weak, but I wonder how the film is doing at the single screens. Whatever it may be, the film lacks the fizz. Only Himesh’s haunting voice when he begins the film and a couple of numbers are good. All the songs have the same look and feel, no special efforts to make a musical extravaganza.

Mr. Inkenti’s Movienomics Verdict: Thumbs Down.

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