Bang Bang New Trailer with Dialogues

After a disastrous Anjaana Anjaani, Director Siddharth Anand returns with Bang Bang, touted an official remake of the Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz starrer Knight And Day the film does seem to have a great scale, stunts and a sizzling pair of Hrithik and Katrina going for it.

Here is the latest trailer. Enjoy!

Film releases October 2nd 2014.

Na sugar Na Spice My Review Daawat E Ishq

Director  Habib Faisal

Written by  Habib Faisal, Jyoti Kapoor

Starring   Parineeti Chopra, Aditya Roy Kapur, Anupam Kher

I attended a wedding some years back. The invite was jazzy, with dry fruits and chocolates. How wrong can you go with the chocolates! It was going to be held in one of the heritage properties turned into a boutique hotel. Now one big reason for me to attend it was the food, an array looking so interesting from renowned caterers, I almost forgot to wish the bride and groom. And then as if as a punishment for my gluttony, when I served myself those shami kebabs, the rogan josh and the yakhni pulao, it didn't taste great and the worst part, it turned out to be lukewarm, almost cold! My foodie world came crashing down.

And now I come to Daawat E Ishq. Helmed by Habib Faisal, who has given some satisfying fare in the past. Do Dooni Chaar, Ishaqzaade as a director and some fresh flavors in Band Baaja Baaraat and Ladies Vs Ricky Bahl. So yes the Invite was interesting.

The ladka ladki, Parineeti Chopra and Aditya Roy Kapoor seemed to be aptly ready to get into this arrangement. Add to it Anupam Kher, who still packs in a punch if he decides to. So to be fair, I decided to spend the fare and go to this Daawat E Ishq.

The story of Gulrez Qadir (Parineeti) is of most middle class girls in India, where Dahej, zahej, dowry is the biggest bane even today. The girl's father starts saving money for her dowry from the day she is born. The boy market rate, yes, they are sold in marriage, is decided by their education (Irony died right here), their future prospects and if they are total losers themselves, then they count the flaws in the girls and strike a profitable bargain. How she decides to rebel against this, con these dowry seekers, give them a taste of their own medicine is the plot here, in which she enrols her sweet Booji (abbu) played by Anupam Kher, and sets off to find her marks, starting in Lucknow. As they pass themselves off as the Habibullahs of Dubai and set up a sting operation to ensare dowry demanders, meet Tariq Haider (Aditya Roy Kapur), the master chef at his own family run Haiders, known for its delectable Lucknawi delicacies. Will this meeting turn into a successful con as planned, or the kuch kuch hota hai will lead to firni sweet surrender is what unfolds in the film.

What could have been a genuinely different take involving a serious issue, dealt with a tongue in cheek attitude, including the crafty usage of the (oft repeated) Section 498 A of the IPC which has landed many a dowry seeking monsters behind bars, turns out to be a lazily written script, sparkless dialogues and a predictable unfolding of the third act.

Parineeti does a believable Gulrez till a certain point, then the writing pushes her to do things which are not only predictable, but lack panache, that leave you unimpressed. To see her play a spunky, outspoken motor mouth is turning into a yawn.

Aditya Roy Kapur tries his best to fit into the character of a kohl eyed, heart of gold Lucknow launda, again let down by the storytelling. The memorable moments belong to Anupam Kher, who despite a character changing stance every now and then, does evoke empathy and some laughs.

The Hyderabadi accent, the Lucknawi flavor, all adds up to nothing ultimately. The music, totally uninspiring. So there is nothing left then to lift up the proceedings.

Ultimately it turns out to be a daawat that doesn't live up to its promise. The recipe gone wrong, the food ho-hum.

My Verdict 2/5

Kill Dil Official Trailer Ranveer Singh Parineeti Chopra Govinda Yash Raj Films

After lying low for 7 years, Director Shaad Ali is back with what looks like a crazy, campy, heist film.

Interesting for me is the Govinda factor. He is finally doing substantial role, and I am looking forward to him sharing screen space with young 'uns.

Ranveer and Parineeti are back together, and Ali Zafar stars in this YRF film.

The lyrics are by Gulzar, another thing to look forward to, music by Shankar, Ehsaan, Loy. The same team that gave a good album in JBJ, Shaad's last film.

Enjoy!

A bum-py Ride : My Review Finding Fanny (English)

Director  Homi Adajania

Starring   Naseeruddin Shah, Pankaj Kapur, Dimple Kapadia, Deepika Padukone, Arjun Kapoor

Written by  Homi Adajania, Kersi Khambatta

Ferdie (Naseeruddin Shah) holds a love letter he had sent to Fanny Fernandes, returned undelivered to him after 46 years. His scream of anguish at this poor joke played on him by fate wakes up the entire sleepy little Goan village of Pocolim. You smile, the premise is set, you know you are in for a whimsical ride.

Angie (Deepika), Rosie (Dimple), Don Pedro and Savio (Arjun) are introduced to you as your partners on this journey to find Fanny, so that Ferdie can finally know what Fanny would have said if she had read his letter of proposal decades ago.

The characters are etched in detail, but that doesn't make them perfect. A sweet angelic young widow, a sharp tongued, extra curvaceous mother in law who rules over her village roost, a famous painter who uses his lingering gaze to see through the clothes of his amply endowed female muses, a disillusioned loser with a broken heart and the bumbling, innocent choir head looking for his lost love.

The film should have been in Konkani, which of course is my pipedream, but at least a more "goan" language would have worked better, such is the ambience, the susegad, captured so well. But alas, it is in English, and a smattering of local dialect. Now English mind you, is not a problem for the cast, but Goan English, oh, that is a different bird which they haven't been able to catch. An occasional "mins what" doesn't suffice. The biggest sufferer is of course Mr. Pankaj Kapoor whose Punjabi accent made me wait for "Pencho Pencho" to happen any moment. What I love in other movies of this phenomenal actor, when pitched as Don Pedro, becomes a bit of a sore point.

The story is not what drives this film, it is the journey. The film uses various philosophies and metaphors as the characters are unravelled, layer by layer, their minds laid bare, their secrets revealed.

Homi has managed to infuse a kind of freshness, a bonhomie, a camaraderie, frenemity between his five characters, which is a big plus. It is such a pleasure to watch Naseer and Pankaj vie to outdo each other. Naseer wins, as he puts his body language, eyes, smile and that hesitation in speech to create a memorable Ferdie. Pankaj has some really tongue in cheek lines, and he enjoys playing the lusty painter to the hilt. "God should have left me with the task to create women" he says , with a twinkle in his eyes.

Deepika is a mellow breeze in the film, making acting look effortless, playing the virgin widow with a heart of gold yet a yearning in her heart well.

Arjun Kapoor is still patchy in his deliveries, shining in some moments, lacklustre in others. His Savio is quite likeable though.

Coming to Madame Kapadia, not a brilliant actress, even a ham at places, made up for it here with her enthusiasm and hunger to do a good job. With a fake xxxl fanny, she is spirited, free with her act, creating a character on screen you end up having a love-hate relationship with. Only she could have carried the line "Spread my legs" with such coolth. At a crucial point in the film when Don Pedro speaks to her after finally painting her portrait, I wanted to hug her.

So with these characters different from each other, yet not so different, Homi touches upon a lot of themes, loneliness, love, desire, fate and fulfilment. What is the end to our efforts, and do efforts lead to an end we thought we deserve...

Finding Fanny attempts at the quirkiness of films like Amelie, the interpersonal relationships and unfolding of emotions and secrets of Les Petits Mouchoirs (Little White Lies), Homi seems to be heavily influenced by the irreverent European comedies. But the biggest is the doff to Wes Anderson.

The film has its moments, taking you through the hitherto unseen side of Goa, which is not beaches, rave parties or an old bearded priest, which are staples of many a films shot there. It is a road trip replete with hilarious going ons, including a dead cat nestling in Dimple's bosom. Here I must mention that the Cinematography by Anil Mehta works magic.

But there is a feeling of emptiness at the end of it all. That is the problem beleaguering this film. I am not left with a sense of fulfilment, a part of the journey, I am left craving for more. The writing, inspired in some places and totally flat in others is the main culprit here, specially in the second hour of the film.

To me, Finding Fanny is like the first batch of a new wine, the best grapes have gone in, it has been worked with passion, the aroma as the bottle opens is promising, the color lovely, but slowly as you sip, twirl it in your mouth and gulp, you feel it doesn't do anything more, it doesn't quite hit the sweet spot, and while you may continue to enjoy the flavor, you know you will not be satisfied. This wine could have been better.

Watch it for its quirkiness and some fine acting by Naseer and Pankaj.  And Homi, you are getting there.

My Verdict : 2.5/5

O Womaniya : My Review Mary Kom

Director : Omung Kumar 

Starring :  Priyanka Chopra, Sunil Thapa, Darshan Kumar

Story, Screenplay :  Saiwyn Qadras

 Before you read any further, did you know that this film, based on the life of one of the greatest Indian sportswoman will not be shown in her own state Manipur due to a ban by insurgent outfits? That is truly a shame. This year had already seen three distinct films with strong female leads. Queen, Bobby Jasoos and Mardaani. A great year for women in Bollywood I would say! Mary Kom was thus highly awaited. 

Priyanka Chopra essaying the role of the feisty, multiple title winner Mangte Chungneijang Mary Kom was a topic of great discussion and debate. The marketing and promotions were relentless. 

The film sees the debut of Omung Kumar, known Art director/Production Designer as a director. 

To me more important than how Priyanka would "Look" was if the film will be able to tell Mary Kom's story, capture her essence and address the real issues a female boxer faces in India.

The film scores in some places and compromises on others, but the essence, the fire of Mary Kom, comes through.

When you can google and find out almost all details about the person on whose life this biopic is made, it is a big achievement if the film can keep you engaged and interested.

The winning punch for the film comes from Priyanka Chopra. She manages to evoke all the right emotions, portraying Mary Kom in a most sincere manner, despite not looking like her at all. She has definitely put in her heart and soul in the film and this will be counted as one of her finer performances. 

The storytelling is where the film could have been much better. The very fact that before she won the Olympic Bronze Medal, very few people had even heard of her, despite being a winner of five gold medals at the World Amateur Boxing Championship. That itself is a great one-line. The film doesn't even touch upon this properly. I don't get to know what really made Mary choose Boxing, the random opening of the film where she fights with some boys, I kept wondering why SO angry? 

We see her struggle, but the way some of it is handled, specially the realisation that she is pregnant, could have been more impactful. 

Another problem of the film is the melodrama, designed purely to excite your tear-ducts into action. The product placement is so in your face that you can not help but laugh out loud. 

Having said that, the film has its moments, my favorite being where she is not even recognised by a girl and her father as Mary Kom, the pride of Manipur. The dismal condition of our sports facilities, the corrupt officials, gender discrimination, the reality that the Indians from the north eastern parts are treated as outsiders, the film addresses all of these important issues. 

Darshan Kumar as her extremely supportive husband Onler does a fine job, Sunil Thapa as her coach plays it a sur too high but you end up liking him. The film sees some good cameos by Manipuri/North East actors.

The dialogues are just about okay, nothing new there.

The editors have done a fine job, keeping the film tight at 2 hours approximately. It is only in the climax I felt I was watching an inter-cut marathon. 

The cinematography is another plus in the film, and the credit goes to the Japanese D.O.P Keiko Nakahara. She has captured the boxing action well. 

Omung has not disappointed, specially for a debut film. It is finally the script which turns out to be flyweight.

I felt more for the real Mary Kom, her story is so inspiring. Which Priyanka Chopra's committed act brought out well, even in the most un-inspiringly written scenes.

As Mary Kom herself is supposed to have said " I am glad they got a commercially successful actress like Priyanka to play me, people will finally know I am an Indian." I am sure this film will achieve that. 

Watch it!

My Verdict  3/5