Kick :: Movie Review

KICK is a typical knockout masala entertainer that has all the quintessential ingredients of a typical Salman Khan movie ; high octane action, sizzling romance, rib tickling comedy and Topsy-turvy storyline. In fact, during the climax Salman says to Randeep, 'Mere baare mein itna mat sochna, dil mein aata hoon, samajh mein nahin' which goes for the movie's screenplay too. I mean, to relish this movie, you just have to relax, sit back and enjoy the on-screen proceedings without putting logical skills into practice. ‘Kick’ is a vintage Salman-Khan movie, one that unapologetically glorifies his every move, muscle and mannerism. Whether it’s being masked and taking on the “devil”, or being smitten by an absolutely gorgeous Jacqueline Fernandez, he’s just “being Salman”. To delight his loyal fan base, Salman Khan in Kick ; mouths witty comic punches in his own inimitable style, bashes up his opponents with swagger, sings song in his own voice & for the first time plays a larger than life character (Devil) while wearing a Krishh style mask. Sajid Nadiadwala (known for his lavish production values ) has donned the hat of a director for the first time with Kick & as expected he has left no stone unturned to make Kick a grandeur affair which is quite evident from each n every frame of the movie. Sajid conjures up a world that combines visual brilliance with several knockout episodes especially the action scenes - be it the chase sequences in Warsaw or the bike chasing in Delhi. 

STORY & SCREENPLAY                                                               ::              The story of Kick that has been penned by Vakkantham Vamsi & the screenplay by Rajat Arora, Keith Gomes, Sajid Nadiadwala n Chetan Bhagat has only one agenda : pure entertainment through antics of Salman Khan. And, why not as most of Salman's fans throng theaters just to watch histrionics of their beloved Bhai & whistle on his moves. I bet, you wont buy a bit of the story but Salman's charm will make you enjoy the movie. The film, remake of a Telugu action-comedy by the same name, is about a young man called Devi Lal (played by Salman) who is constantly looking for thrills in life or as he prefers to call it, kick. It is this eternal quest for an adrenaline rush that pushes him to do the things that he does – like help a couple elope, beat up boys at a bar (for eve-teasing of course; bhai always has his reasons) or insist on being taken to jail with hand-cuffs on, because walking in like a regular civilian just doesn’t match up; it doesn't have the same kick.From numerous references to his aviator-shaded cop act in ‘Dabangg’ to his ‘Being Human’ charity initiative, to a glimpse of his ‘Maine Pyar Kiya’ days, there’s more about Salman than there’s to Devi Lal Singh/Devil.Coming to the storyline, the story starts with Jacqueline Fernandez (Shaina) reminiscing about her ex-boyfriend Devi to Randeep Hooda, a man she has just met on her dad’s insistence, who happens to be a cop. In keeping with the traditional boy meets girl, girl hates boy, boy tries too hard, girl gives in, sequence, the Shaina and Devi fall in love. But Devi’s quest for kick makes it difficult for him to stick to one job and hence he keeps jumping from one thing to another, in the process straining relations with his girlfriend who is tired of his once-charming wayward ways.They part ways but luckily for Devi, he soon finds his true calling or kick . It is while pursuing this calling that he makes some choices and sets off on a mission to carry out high-profile robberies and in the process, meets Randeep Hooda and Nawazuddin Siddiqui. The story is essentially a chase sequence between Hooda and Salman.

STARCAST                                                                                             ::                  Undoubtedly, Salman Khan is the soul of Kick - it's like a one man show. He towers above everything else with his persona, style and attitude. In a quintessentially Salman-esque film, Salman has portrayed the character that the Bhai-worshipping audience was craving for after Jai Ho. At one point he’s a Johnny Bravo-styled cartoon, and in the next a hunk with glorified superpowers and he plays both the characters with equal finesse. Jacqueline, who makes her first appearance as a lead actress, is incredibly dazzling, and moves like a magic. She not only looks gorgeous but even her chemistry with Salman is very appealing, although she needs to work a bit more on her dialect. Randeep Hooda is restrained and sober, aptly depicting the frustration of a cop on a failed mission. Another surprise package is Nawazuddin Siddiqui, who impresses the most whenever he appears on-screen. He has crossed over to commercial mainstream cinema with a powerhouse performance as his character lets out a combination of a wheeze and laugh which he portrays to immense perfection. Mithun Chakravarty plays Salman’s father who shares his son’s idiosyncrasies, zest for life and appetite for alcohol. Archana Puran Singh who plays his mother, captures the essence of a stereo typically obnoxious Punjabi woman. Saurabh Shukla as Jacqueline's father & Vipan Sharma as Home Minister have played their respective roles to perfection and manage to entertain. Not to forget, Sanjay Mishra who invokes some genuine laughter while playing the character of a bewildered Police Inspector.

TECHNICAL FINESSE                                                                                ::         Another, high point of the movie apart from Salman Khan is its technical brilliance for which credit goes to Sajid Nadiadwala who is the producer as well as director of this flick. The soundtrack of Kick has been composed by Himesh Reshammiya in collaboration with Yo Yo Honey Singh & Meet Brothers who have composed the tracks keeping the genre of the movie in mind. Some of the tracks including " Jumme Ki Raat", " Hangover" have already become rage. Julius Packiam’s background music is outstanding & provides impetus to on-screen proceedings. Rajnish Hedao (Production designer) &  Lukasz Trzcinski ( Art Director ) have done commendable job as they have succeeded in giving lavish n rich look to the movie. Anl Arasu and Stefan Richter deserve a big applause for their contribution in action arena as the movie has some real high octane action, stunts and chase sequences. The cinematographer of Kick is Ayanaka Bose who has done a fabulous job behind the camera. She has captured the plush locales of Warsaw with utmost finesse and made the frames look visually appealing. The movie has been edited by Rameshwar.S.Bhagat who has kept the runtime of the flick to a crisp 146 minutes but still some scenes in the first half need a bit trimming.  Sajid Nadiadwala has scored all the brownie points as a debutant director and has helm ed the movie with utmost brilliance. Due to his apt direction, the drama in Kick never becomes tiresome. He has ably extracted the best out of his cast n crew & made a thorough entertainer with all the blockbuster ingredients in it.

CONCLUSION                                                                                                       ::     Logic be damned, you won't be disappointed while watching this movie & this movie gives you enough reasons to get kicked whether you are a Salman fan or not. Despite most cliches of Hindi Cinema being trotted out the ride is worth its while & is a fultoo Paisa Wasool fare.

ROHIT SHARMA.

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Hate Story 2 :: Movie Review

Hate Story 2 is a vendetta driven revenge drama which though begins on a promising note but soon takes the predictable, sassy & routine path failing to pump up your adrenaline levels which is a basic requisite for every good thriller. As expected, Hate Story 2 takes the basic elements of sex and violence from the first film and amplifies it manifold to carry the franchisee forward. But, the biggest problem with this sequel is that there is very little to curdle up your blood and it has nothing new or novel to offer. Sure, the vile politician Mandar (Sushant Singh), is despicable but not so virulent that you can't wait to see him dead. That he will eventually fall to a bullet and make you bite one in the process is not surprising, and you can't fault me for spilling the beans. Actually, this is the movie's real Achilles Heel......its predictability that almost borders on ennui. Now, here is some real news for the prudes and bad news for those who have been hitting the You Tube with gusto for a sneak peek at its erotic trailer. The much-promised and anticipated sleaze quotient, except for a few dare-bare bedroom scenes, is nothing to really write home about which includes Sunny Leone's item number "Pink Lips" too. Another low point is that revenge scenes where Surveen kills her tormentors conclude very quickly making you not only gasp for more but also making you wonder that was that huge build-up worth it.

STORY & SCREENPLAY                                                                      ::         The screenplay that has been penned down by Madhurima Banerjee is very average and has nothing novel to offer. Forget novelty, it seems that Banerjee got so driven in penning this revenge drama that she failed to put her thinking cap on. Again logic must fly out of the window in every B grade Hindi films, that wears its tacky lines as a badge of honor on its sleeve. But this one topples the worst of the lot. You have to leave your logic and intelligence skills at home if you wish to enjoy this one. Sample 1 ::Chawla's transformation from a strange, stuttering victim to a gun totting avenging angel dodging cops, goons and press is preposterous. Sample 2 :: A scene where Bhanushali woos Surveen by saying :"My girlfriend broke up with me. Because I typed LOL when she messaged about her pet dog's demise. LOL means Lots of Love na?" Surveen says "Silly, LOL means laugh out loud. You're just kidding, na?"  And he replies "But, hey, I made you LOL." And you caught in the turmoil dont know whether to LOL or cry. Sure, the movie begins on a dramatic note when an alive and kicking woman is discovered in a coffin. She is transported to a hospital where another attempt is made to end her life.Exciting ? For a while, you do want to know who wants her dead. But for the initial rush of events that introduce us to Sonika (Surveen), her tormentor, Mandar (Sushant) & her love, Akshay (Jay), the film moves on to " been there seen it all " path all too soon. Coming to the storyline, Sonika (Surveen) is the mistress of politician Mandar Mhatre (Sushant Singh) who dominates her causing  major physical trauma. Despite the restrictions imposed by Mhatre, Sonika manages to fall in love with Akshay (Jay) during her photography class. What follows are a series of incidents that give the film its final conclusion. Sonika is buried alive by Mandar, but she manages to cheat death and come back to seek revenge on those who wronged her!  

STARCAST                                                                                            ::         It is Surveen's movie all the way as she has a larger-than-life part and a challenging one at that n the actress did a decent job at her work. Surveen Chawla catches you completely unaware with a no-holds-barred performance, interpreting her character with utmost confidence. Moreover, there are crucial chunks in the narrative when she has to look dejected and disheartened, which should make the viewer feel for her character, and she handles those moments with conviction. Jay Bhanushali despite being the leading-man of the movie shares very limited screen space with Surveen. He is further undone by the script, which has him not even batting an eyelid when he comes to know that love of his life is another man's mistress. His expressions and body language during that scene make you go LOL instead of making you feel senti for him. Sushant Singh has definitely once again delivered a splendid performance. He delves deep into the skin of the character and looks every inch the tormentor of Surveen that he portrays on-screen. He is one brilliant actor who needs to be seen more on the big-screen. In the ensemble starcast, Siddharth Kher (Goan Cop), Neha Kaul (Sushant's wife) & Rajesh Khera (Sushant's cousin) are the ones who manage to shine in their respective brief roles. 

TECHNICAL FINESSE                                                                            ::          The soundtrack of Hate Story 2 has been composed by a battery of music directors namely Mithoon, Laxmi-Pyare, Arko, Rashid Khan & Meet Brothers Anjaan. The soundtrack has turned out to be good with couple of renditions making it to the top chart-busters. The background music that has been composed by Sunny Bawra & Inder Bawra is of good quality n in sync with the on-screen proceedings. The cinematography of this movie has been handled by Kedar Gaikward who has done his job with aplomb. His camera has captured the locales of Goa beautifully. The movie has been edited by Kuldeep Mehan who has kept the run-time of the movie to 130 minutes which seems a tad long. He definitely should have used his scissors a bit more & lot of scenes needed to be trimmed down. Vishal Pandya as a director disappoints ! He has not been to able to balance the elements in a perfect tandem. Even, the revenge scenes which form the core of a vendetta driven movie end up too soon and fail to stir you up. He has tried to concentrate more on style rather than the substance which is a big big drawback for this movie. Indian audience has matured over the years and they need something novel even in revenge dramas to pamper their entertainment buds. 

CONCLUSION                                                                                                 ::        Couched as a revenge drama propelled by woman's hatred for the man who has wronged her in more ways than one, it does not throw up anything fresh or invigorating. Good for DVD watch or you can wait for it to air on Satellite channels.        

ROHIT SHARMA.

Follow me on twitter at  https://twitter.com/smgr105

rohitreview@gmail.com

  

Some of the scenes in the second half are unnecessarily dragged to the point where you scream, “Ok, we get it!” - See more at: http://www.mid-day.com/articles/movie-review-hate-story-2/15459168#sthash.wQAijBlN.dpuf

Some of the scenes in the second half are unnecessarily dragged to the point where you scream, “Ok, we get it!” - See more at: http://www.mid-day.com/articles/movie-review-hate-story-2/15459168#sthash.wQAijBlN.dpuf

Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhaniya :: Movie Review

Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania is going to be worth your time and money! It's an entertainer in the true sense. Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania is deconstructed Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayange, the iconic 1995 blockbuster starring Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol. The ingredients from the original cult romance are all intact but director Shashank Khaitan has given a modern spin to the classic. Traditionalists may mock at his attempt, while the adventurous ones may embrace his tweaked (read trivialised) version. It’s the cinematic equivalent of de-constructing a faultless Indian curry such as murgh makhani (butter chicken). The entire film is pacy and crisp, the duration is perfect.  The credit goes to Bhatt and Dhawan for injecting life into a love story that has been beautifully told in DDLJ. Varun Dhawan who is just a couple of movies old exudes loads of confidence, charm & is definitely an actor to watch out for.

STORY & SCREENPLAY                                                               ::       The screenplay of this flick that has been penned by Shashank Khaitan is definitely one of the high points of this movie. Although, there is no novelty in the narrative but it has enough heartwarming and rib-tickling moments as well as pun-laden dialogues and witty one-liners to make it an above average fare. Shashank has done really well in sketching the characters which add up to the entertainment quotient. Coming to the storyline, Kavya Pratap Singh [Alia Bhatt], a chirpy, yet feisty girl from Ambala, decides to make a trip to Delhi for her marriage shopping, she meets a young, carefree Delhi lad, Humpty Sharma [Varun Dhawan]. Humpty's father [Kenny Desai] is the owner of a campus bookstore, where Humpty and his two best friends, Shonty [Gaurav Pandey] and Poplu [Sahil Vaid], have grown up together. Kavya is unattainable for Humpty initially, which makes her even more endearing to him. But he is not the one to give up so easily. With some help from his two best friends, he finds out all about her and through an interesting turn of events [including a ploy to save Kavya's friend Gurpreet's marriage], they start growing closer to each other. The more time they spend with each other, their love-hate banter grows, but their chemistry is apparent. They are both different, yet very similar as people. Once Kavya's trip ends, she heads back to Ambala, knowing very well that her father, the very strict, yet loving Mr. Singh [Ashutosh Rana], would never accept her love for Humpty. But even though they both weren't looking for love, love happened. So Humpty, accompanied by his two friends, decides to go get Kavya. That's the beginning of a journey for him that he wouldn't have imagined undertaking even in the wildest of his dreams as there he faces stiff challenge from Angad ( Siddharth Shukla ) who is not only Mr Perfectionist but Kavya's fiancee too.

STARCAST                                                                                        ::          I'll give full marks to the casting director, Jogi for choosing the right starcast. Varun Dhawan does a lovely job and plays Humpty Sharma with all the earnestness at his command. His dialogue delivery in the typical middle-class, Delhi-based Punjabi ‘Romeo’ style, is very endearing. Varun slips into the skin of the character right from the word go and he can definitely prove to be a dark horse. Alia Bhatt shines, delivering a first-rate performance as Kavya. Her dialogue delivery and expressions are simply excellent. Alia Bhatt is charming in the fiesty role of Kavya. Somehow with each film, Alia is getting a better command over her acting skills. If there is anyone in the film who had DDLJ’s intensity, it was Ashutosh Rana. In a caricaturish role, he brings vigor. He plays the character with remarkable ease and understanding. Siddharth Shukla is impressive in his maiden film role. He has screen presence and charisma but his role was needlessly left undefined. Sahil Vaid is wonderful as Poplu and evokes laughter with his antics, acting and facial expressions. Gaurav Pandey also lends admirable support as Shonty. Jaswant Daman (as Kavya’s grandmother), Kenneth Desai (as Humpty’s father), Deepika Amin (as Kavya’s mother), Mahnaz Damania (as Kavya’s sister) and Aditya Sharma (as Kavya’s brother) stand their own, in well-defined roles.

TECHNICAL FINESSE                                                                         ::          The soundtrack for this movie has been composed by Sachin-Jigar & Sharib-Toshi and couple of tracks have already made it to the chartbusters list.  John Stewart Eduri’s background music is of a good standard. Neha Parti Matiyani as the D.O.P. has done a splendid job and captured frames in a vibrant way. The editing by Manan Sagar is real crisp and he has kept the run-time of the movie to 135 minutes which seems just appropriate. Shashank Khaitan has made a real impressive debut as a writer as well as director. As a storyteller, Shashank knows his fundas right and he gives his lead actors a well-knit, cohesive screenplay to peg their acting skills.He has used a simplistic style of direction to match his simple story of matters of the heart, and he deserves distinction marks for that.

CONCLUSION                                                                                          ::     Humpty Sharma along with his Dulhaniya & two bosom pals takes you on a full Paisa Wasool cinematic ride that is laden with crisp humor, new-age romance, Dhansoo Naach-gaana, witty one liners and some senti Rona-Dhona too. So, you'll enjoy this journey with Varun Dhawan in quest of his dulhaniya.

ROHIT SHARMA.

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rohitreview@gmail.com

Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/movie-review-humpty-sharma-ki-dulhania-alia-bhatt-varum-dhawan-siddharth-shukla/1/370774.html

Bobby Jasoos :: Movie Review

Bobby Jasoos is a delightful caper with a lot of heart, and you root for both the film and it's protagonist all the way till the interval & its after first half that the movie starts to loose its steam and ends up in a very ordinary way......Still, there are many fine things about Bobby Jasoos ::: A terrific lead performance, a great supporting cast, surprising attention to detail and Hyderabad in full glory. The old world charm of Hyderabad is ideal foil for the narrative. It is one of the lovely touches that give the film real texture. The authenticity of the setting, locations, and the flawlessly consistent diction of every major and minor character contribute in making the proceedings all the more engaging. Full credit to the makers for being able to integrate both these themes seamlessly into the story, and not making either suffer. But the charm of Bobby Jasoos lies in the fact that the director balances this primary track with the personal travails of Vidya's character. An aspiring female detective in Hyderabad has her work cut out to be taken seriously, and the often bumbling but ever optimistic Bobby wins clients and hearts with equal ease. 

STORY & SCREENPLAY                                                              ::          The screenplay as well as dialogues of the movie have been written by Sanyukta Chawla Shaikh who has done a good job by keeping the premise simple & entertaining. Bobby Jasoos makes a half decent attempt to attain the wholesome pace and the gritty thrill  And going by this film’s first half alone, it is semi successful. Throughout the first half, I was engrossed in the narrative. It was a jaunty tapestry of fun and mystery in equal measures. The pace was just about right and till interval the film seeps you in with terrific vigor. But with the second half wrapping up into a convoluted climax, the spry look begins to fade away with the agility of the story wearing out. As far as the story goes, Vidya plays Bilkis Ahmad, a Muslim girl in a patriarchal household in the Hyderabad town of Mogulpura, who dreams of becoming the top sleuth in her neighbourhood. She may remind you of a desi Nancy Drew — dressed in a salwar kameez, canvas shoes and a knapsack. She isn’t armed with a degree in investigation but banks on her quick wit, intelligence and her burning desire to succeed when it comes to solving cases. Enter the sinister-looking Anees Khan (Kiran Kumar) who throws money in her face to hunt down a couple of young women. In her rush to be taken seriously as a sleuth, she forgets to question her client’s motives. The money keeps getting better and her final case involves searching for a young man with a missing toe. She’s instructed sternly by Khan not to ask questions and just find the answers. As a viewer, I wish the movie had ended there since it was entertaining to watch an endearing Bobby in action. Unfortunately, no such luck. After the interval, the film sinks south as Bobby forgets to keep her end of the bargain and begins snooping around her rich client’s business. 

STARCAST                                                                                             ::                   Post Kahaani, it is clear that roles are now written with Vidya Balan in mind. Her spirited performance in the title role justifies this decision. Her effervescence rubs off on the proceedings and gives it an energy that drives the film. She is at her undeniably charming best but the story doesn’t live up to her caliber. The surprise package is Ali Fazal who plays Tasawur, an ambitious broadcast journalist who hires Bobby occasionally to thwart marriage proposals brought forward by his orthodox parents. I guess he has hardly ever grabbed for himself an eye grabbing part but in this film despite a very overshadowing presence of Balan, the guy shines. Rajendra Gupta [as Vidya's father] has given an impeccable performance & so has Supriya Pathak as her mother. Tanvi Azmi is absolutely wasted in the film and so is Zarina Wahab. Kiran Kumar has done a good job.  Arjan Bajwa is noticeable and looks good in his character.. Aakash Dahiya and Prasad Barve as Vidya's constant companions, leave a mark. 

TECHNICAL FINESSE                                                                        ::                   The soundtrack as well as background music has been composed by Shantanu Moitra. I will have no qualms in saying that the music compositions are very average with none of the songs making a soulful impact. The cinematographer of the movie is Vishal Sinha who has done his job to perfection. He has been able to capture the beautiful locales of Hyderabad with finesse. The movie has been edited by Hemal Kothari who has kept the runtime to 121 minutes. Samar Shaikh makes a stable debut as a director and as a first timer he must be complimented that his skills are quite etched contrary to the story he had picked up.   

CONCLUSION                                                                                     ::                Bobby Jasoos can be watched once for its interesting premise, some real funny & spirited moments and another flawless performance by Vidya Balan which drives energy unto this movie. 

ROHIT SHARMA.

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rohitreview@gmail.com