Kya Super Kool Hain Hum

As a director or producer of a film, to think that film will work on double meaning words or abuses, is just not insult to your profession. It’s also like playing with the morals and culture of a country like India. Okay, I also believe in entertainment. A movie should be entertainer, but not on explicit side.

Kya Super Kool Hain Hum starts with the double meaning and ends with this also. It has make fun of several movies, especially Devdas’s, whose Dil Dola song has been used as a key word for back ground music in some other sense. It include a long list. But there are several characters, which I personally feels that is also a kind of parody to several movie. Like the Adi’s (Tusshar Kapoor) love quotient is quite similar to that of Shahid-Vidya starer Kismat Konnection and in pre-climax where the duo travel with the character of Kevin Dave, who is in coma looks parody of cult Jane Bhi Do Yaaron‘s Satish Shah’s sequence. Also some time I find the dog as important as they are giving kind of tribute to Teri Meherbaniyan or Hum Aapke Hain Kaun too.

The film starts averagely. Pace of the movie regularly goes up & down. Mainly because director has nothing to show on the content basis. Thinking of a plot where you can make audience believe that a character of movie is emotionally attached with dog & bitch as their parent’s rebirth kind of connection is seriously abrupt & rubbish.

Acting wise Ritesh has the capacity to deliver nice performances but he is wasting his time & skills in bad scripts. Some of the critics thought him off as new generation Amol Palekar but in that case he has wasted his time seriously in working in such movies.
Tusshar know only one character to perform well, that is the character of Golmaal. There is a scene where he perform that scene in front of Rohit Shetty and it is only scene where he looks normal. Otherwise in most of the movie he has gone over the top.
For Chunky Pandey, I want to make a request that please get retire from this profession as soon as possible. Except Tezaab, he has always irritated me as an over the top actor. You can always see an actor trying hard to act in Chunky Pandey.
An actor of Anupam Kher’s level should not be considered for such cheap roles. Also Kher should try himself, not to get connect with such projects.
Sarah Jane Dias tries to impress but fails, & Neha Sharma doesn’t get as much scope as Sarah also. Kevin Dave can perform if he get any good character.

There is a scope for music but Sachin-Jigar fails to create any humming tune. Only single song Teri Shirt Da Button, has some good notes, but lyrics are completely absurd. Dil Garden Garden mein impress youth for some days.

Direction needs much improvement. First of all Sachin Yardi should learn to select good stories rather than just start directing it. Editing can be much better. There are several scene need to be trimmed. Cinematography is okay. Goa can look much beautiful.

Overall, try to leave this fare. It is one of those movie which doesn’t have much to show beyond the trailer. In case you are a complete movie buff & you have already watch all the last Friday’s release than only go for this one. Or than also you can try for a picnic instead of this outing. Go only if you like double meaning too much.

Rating- One & a half out of Five

The Dark Knight Rises

When the sequel of a movie is more appreciated by critics and audiences than it’s predecessor, than the third franchise comes under great pressure. It is seen that sequel only gets wrong most of time. But in case of Batman, every time a new installment raise the bar much and much higher. The Dark Knight Rises by Christopher Nolan is again a much better fare than it’s predecessors.

If they say, it is an epic than surely it is the epic conclusion in every way. This time it is Wayne vs Bane, Wayne vs Ra’s al Ghul, Ra’s al Ghul vs Gotham & over all it’s Good vs Bad & Dark vs Evil.

If you have watched the movie than narration of the story is not necessary because you know & if you haven’t watch it, than go to your nearest theater tomorrow. Telling the plot is like stealing the real pleasure and thrill from the audience.

It is completely a one man movie & he is Christopher Nolan. Every frame has the stamp of Nolan. Right from story telling to execution you can experience the Nolan’s view. Cinematography is top notch. According to the news all the action sequence are real and there is very less animation or graphics in the movie. In that case movie will sweep most of the award next year for cinematography. Apart from Nolan the other person witnessed in the movie completely is  Hans Zimmer. The background score is humming & humming effectively through out the movie.

Acting wise Christian Bale will be remembered as the most prolific actor to play this epic character in this franchise for a long time. Now whenever I heard the name of Bruce Wayne, image of Bale came across my mind. He has completely justify the role as always.
Than there is new addition of two female character i.e Cat Woman & Miranda Tate played by Anna Hathaway & Marion Cotillard respectively. Both have played there pretty well.
Than there are some old faces like Morgan Freeman as Fox, Michael Caine as Alfred & Gary Oldman as Gordan. They all are as usual in their role, pitch perfect. Joseph Gordan-Levitt as Blake or Robin is also a new addition in which he score. Then there is Ra’s al Ghul played by Liam Neeson and Cillian Murphy as Dr. Crane in a special appearance.
The lead villian  played by Tom Hardy as Bane is a evil one or you can say a devil one. Characteristic wise may be it matches Joker but acting wise Tom Hardy is way behind the Heath Ledger. Though he has done a great job, but comparison is obvious.

Over all this is the movie of the year in superhero Genre. And franchise for the life time (If this is the final installment). If you have follow this franchise than don’t be late. Watch this as soon as possible. Missing this is the heavy cinematic mistake of one’s life.

Rating – Four And A Half out of Five

Nukkad(1986-87) – Old Doordarshan Serial

I can’t say about this present day generation, born after 90; but most of the 80’s born generation will remember the serial Nukkad for always. I’m no one to review this cult classic. Neither I nor anyone else can review this. Everyone can just pay their homage to this gem directed by three popular directors of art house i.e Kundan Shah, Saeed Akhtar Mirza & Aziz Mirza.

Nukkad is a 40 episode series consisting of more than 25 different stories(some stories continues for two episode), in which most of the story can be a base for an entire movie script. Here I want to discuss two important stories which I personally feel provided the base, again for two cult movie. First story is where the parents arrive of one of the Nukkad member(Gopal aka Khopadi). And complete nukkad treat him in the way so as their parent find their son a wealthy and a good man. It is similar to the starting of Munnabhai MBBS. And secondly a story where Nukkad challenges the college boys for cricket in order to prove their respect and dignity. Most of them haven’t played the cricket and they are pretty much awkward in playing gently, but then also they go on to win the much to symbolize the victory of good over evil. Same is the case with Lagaan. Also Ashutosh Gowarikar, director of Lagaan had worked with the directorial team of Nukkad, in Circus. May be that had inspired him about their work.

Apart from being content full Nukkad has all the masala of  main stream cinema, yet it is real, touching and identifiable for every one from every age group at the time of it’s run. It depicts some philosophical stories too. Like in one where Mohan Choti came as Madari or an episode where master ji dies and a couple arrive & the women is suffering from labor pain. Or take the episode where a man is killing the people with stone. It touches all the aspect of life. It has characters which symbolize ever aspect of life. It is because of them the Nukkad looks so real.

Raghunath aka Guru represents young and idol leader, some time enthusiastic, some time harsh. If he has aggressiveness, he has a soft corner too. Guru played by Dilip Dhawan is one of the most popular and loved character of the serial. All are for him and he is for all.

Ms Cherian aka Teacher ji is the love interest of Guru. Though they never confess their love in this season, but than also any one can see the vibe between the two. The chemistry between the two is superb. Apart from being the love interest, this character played by Rama Viz is a kind of reformer, educator and medium of inspiration for many. In the serial she is reason of transformation of a thief (showed in the last episode), guide for one student among the Nukkad people, and many more

Haider Ali who played Raja Harshad Bhai Shambhu Bhai Patel aka Raja is a prankstar. He depicts the youngsters who are educated, who dreams big, but can’t do beyond that. They began to visualize their dreams as real and started telling it to people so that they also can believe and become a part of their dream.

Harischandra Maurya aka Hari played by Pawan Malhotra represents the romanticism of 80’s. He love Madhu, daughter of a shopkeeper. Therefore showing the love story between rich and poor. Also a girl named Radha love Hari, forming a love triangle. And that is the specialty of the serial, that every character was multidimensional, every story was multilayer-ed

Now my personal favorite Gopal aka Khopadi. He is a drunkard but than also he never lose control. He always use to tell the logical thing or real thing. He ran away from his house to become some thing but he fails and become a drunkard. Many people can find such character around them. But no one can match the love & affection of Khopadi. He had never said any thing harsh or rude to any one. Neither had he abused anyone ever after being drunk. He had a cuteness after being drunk also. Sameer Khakhar played the role to such perfection that some time I feel he has outplayed Johny Walker or Keshto Mukherjee too.

Now there are several shopkeepers like Kareem Khan, a barber, palyed by Javed Khan, Kader a hotelier, played by Avtar Gill, Dukhiya a poet played by Suresh Chatwal, Chaurasiya, a pan wala played by Shrichand Makhija, Kundu, a cobbler, Ghansahyam Das aka Ghanshu, a beggar played by Suresh Bhagwat, Tambi a student, Dagdu a sweeper, Master ji a band master and an honest police constable Ganpat played by Ajay Wadhvakar.

They all had some dream which are very common. Some are also shown in form of some episode. Some want to go abroad, some want to start a business like auto driver, some want to enlarged their shop etc. But they always remain as a family member. They never look like a society or street corner. Most of the stories has natural ending. They never forced them to be happy ending. Like in one where Hari can’t ride the cycle for 5 days or where an honest corporator lose the election because of religion or an episode where Raja, Khopadi and Dukhiya bought a stolen scooter unknowingly.

The acting by all the cast is very natural. Most of them are from NSD or FTII. Cinematography is top notch. Editing by Renu Saluja is excellent. To show such content full story with messages in 23 or 24 minute is way too difficult.  Direction is first rate. Different story is directed by different one from the trio. But execution of every episode is perfect.

Because of these reason Nukkad is one of the best serial ever aired on television. May be the present day generation can’t connect with such character because life is not so simple these days. People can’t dream for such silly thing. May be that love is not in the air for other civilian. And then love is missing these days among family only. But Nukkad should be watched by one and all. Because it will show you the real image of Indian society of 80’s and before, when life is not a race.

Nukkad has a second season too as Naya Nukkad but the society has started changing at it’s time of run and people can’t acknowledge with it. Also to match the first season, some time it goes over the top in some episode. Basically Nukkad deals with the real world & Naya Nukkad belongs to a kind of utopian world.Most of the major character remain unchanged in second season too. It also introduced some new character. But it lacks the charm and popularity of first. It mainly revolves in romantic angles between characters in most episode.

The show is above all rating. And again in the end it’s not a review, it’s a tribute to Old DD, 80’s and simplicity.

If any one wants too watch the complete show. GO HERE
If you like this show & wants to watch more. GO HERE for Naya Nukkad

Cocktail

Sometime you inspiration get over the original work in a wrong way. Same is the case with the last Friday release COCKTAIL. Director Homi Adajania has accepted that Vicky Christina Barcelona is one of his favorite movie. And it is clearly visible in his directorial venture. Writer Imtiaz Ali who has given some revolutionary stories in past like Rockstar, Love Aaj Kal and more, fails this time in re-creating that magic again with his pen.

Cocktail is story of Gautam, Meera & Veronica. They meet each other in a quick session of time & they started bonding really well. Meera hates Gautam in starting, but later she began to creates infatuation against him. At the same time she discover regarding Veronica’s emotion also. and then old Bollywood sacrifice story in a boring manner. 

Film starts pretty slow, but began too take the grip in next 15-20 min. But post interval it falls terribly. Thanks to 3-4 songs that come in quick succession, which make movie bearable. Climax is more or less in similar fashion like in Love Aaj Kal, where male protagonist reaches India (specifically in Delhi) , leaving female protagonist stunned by delivering some previous dialogues.

The tag line of movie and promo attracts the viewer but after entering the hall scenario changes. Sometime good friends are too good to be shared changes into Vicky Christina Barcelona and a rom-com looking trailer turns into heavy drama (post interval). Also the energy radiating from trailers goes missing from movie.

Acting wise Daina Penty makes a impressive debut. She has the potential & looks to sustain in B-town for coming years. Deepika can deliver strong performances if she works more on her dialogue delivery. Her dialogue delivery is very odd which deteriorate her performance. And last but not least Saif, I feel that his character of Dil Chahta Hai & KHNH take over his other character when it comes to being funny or  flirt. though he is okay, but still he is actor of much higher caliber than this performance.

Direction lacks heavily. The pace of movie goes up & down regularly. Frames and Light create frustration many times. May be there are too many night club scenes. Homi fails too bring the natural funniness from the script or character. May be Imtiaz only can bring his script alive as in case of Rockstar, where screenplay & story may have some loopholes but he has bring out the spark from his main protagonist. 

Cinematography is very good. Locale of Cape town comes alive on big screen. The beaches look much beautiful. Choreograph is also good. Lyrics are somewhat touching the genre of Sufism.

Music is top notch. May be this the first time when Pritam has given a chart buster without any complaint regarding piracy.

Overall, you can go to cinema hall once if you are free this weekend. And most importantly if you haven’t watched the Vicky Christina Barcelona. If you have watched that one, it’s better to live this one & wait for next Friday

Rating- Two and a half out of Five