'My character gets raped in a police station'

Sameera Reddy talks about her role in Red Alert: The War Within

Sameera Reddy has come a long way from her glamorous, sexy avatar to playing deglam and serious roles. IBNMovies chats with her about it. Excerpts:

Tell us about going deglam in Red Alert: The War Within.

I was not given a chance to go deglam before this film happened. But going deglam is not to prove that you are a good actor. Rani Mukerji was anyways a good actress, even before she did Black. So was Abhishek Bachchan. Every glamorous actress is good but she's not given a chance. So, it's not as if suddenly overnight I became a good actress when I started doing deglam roles.

Was it difficult playing a naxalite in the film?

It was very sad. Every woman out there has a story. Nobody wakes up and just becomes a naxalite. Every person over there has a reason to be there. I realised so many things. As an urban girl, I didn't know much about so many other issues going on in the interiors. None of my friends knew about this. We're very self-absorbed, caught up in our lives. Getting our salary is all we worry about. But the naxalites are crying out for attention – for someone to hear them. Nobody's a terrorist. You become one. I have read the biography of Osama bin Laden, and I know that some things happened to him in his childhood and later in life.

But then does that mean that you sympathise with a terrorist like Ajmal Kasab – since everyone has a story?

There is no sympathy because there is no justification for violence. Everyone has a story, but you have to deal with it. It's your karma. You do not blow up people just because something was done to you.

Did playing a rape victim upset you?

My character Lakshmi gets raped in a police station. I was shocked to know that such things happen. The day the scene was shot when Lakshmi gets raped and is in the bathroom, I had a problem. Rape is something nobody wants to think about. That upset me for a day. But I never talk work at home with my parents, as they're very sensitive.

Are you acting in Race 2?

I don't know anything as of now. Acting in the first part was difficult because I had to play a dumb girl. It was one of the most difficult roles I've played in my life – to just be blank. Everyday I used to wake up say, I don't wanna do this. It was so different from what I am as a person. I just swallowed hard when Anil Kapoor's character's sexist comments were made, and went ahead with it. Musafir and De Dana Dan were easy and fun roles, though.

So, which is your best role as yet?

I did a Tamil film called Vaaranam Aayiram, a beautiful love story between actor Surya and me. That character was real and very me. And it was a very strong role and there was so much connection. And in Hindi, the film which I'm very proud of is Yeh Hausla. I'm waiting for it to come out.

Shweta Parande , ibnlive.com

TOP Children's Films of Bollywood

Bumm Bumm Bole
Here's a list of the kiddie flicks we like. Who says meaningful cinema is not being made for kids? Aamir Khan's 'Taare Zameen Par' and Mani Ratnam's 'Anjali' are prime examples of children's films, which have effortlessly combined entertainment and moral messages for the young ones and adults alike. And now we have Darsheel Safary in Priyadarshan's new film, 'Bumm Bumm Bole'. Here's a look at our favourite of the lot. TEXT: SHWETA PARANDE | All Photos: Publicity Stills.

Taare Zameen Par
The dream directorial debut for actor Aamir Khan, this film could've been another one where he hogged all the limelight. But Aamir the director chose to let the prized child star Darsheel Safary be the main protagonist. Ishaan Awasthi is a dyslexic child in 'Taare Zameen Par', but the film is not entirely a sob story. The subject and the child's experiences have been showcased gently and deftly by Aamir. And Darsheel's superlative performance makes us want to watch the film any time of the day.

Krrish
A superb superhero flick, about our own 'desi' superhuman, and that too in Bollywood? It was like a dream come true for Indian kids, who'd had to make do with either the foreign counterparts or bad Indian rip-offs for decades. And who better than the hunky Hrithik Roshan to be the ultimate superhero of the country? The star was already a favourite with the young ones since his first film, and then 'Koi Mil Gaya'. To add to the charm was Priyanka Chopra, a journalist who falls in love with Krrish. The film had all the action, emotion and drama needed for success in theatres. And it is a big hit in the DVD circuit as well.

Anjali
This was Mani Ratnam's 'Taare Zameen Par'. About a two-year-old girl Anjali (Shyamali) who is mentally challenged and terminally ill. Her father, played by late actor Raghuvaran, hides her from the mother (played by Revathi), letting his wife believe that the child died at birth. The mother eventually finds out, only to discover that her li'l daughter shies away from her. Ratnam had portrayed kids as they are in day-to-day life – naughty, adventurous, mischievous, singing and playing and indulging in little gang wars. The film explores the couple's relationship with each other and with their other two children. Everyone was at their best as far as acting was concerned, and Ratnam could bring out an amazing performance from the baby who played the title role.

Mr India
'Mogambo khush hua' – villain Amrish Puri's voice still resonates from the film. Shekhar Kapur's 'invisible man' tale, 'Mr India', touched hearts. Arun (Anil Kapoor) and the super naughty orphans, who together with the sexy paying guest Seema (Sridevi) take on mega villain Mogambo, thanks to the device which makes Arun invisible. Straight out of a kid's dream.

Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke
A must-watch laugh-riot. Rumoured to have been ghost-directed by Aamir Khan, this Mahesh Bhatt film has gone down in history as one of the funniest films involving children in Indian cinema. Rahul (Aamir Khan) inherits a brat-pack of his sister's three kids along with her house. A simpleton with meagre means, he finds it difficult to adjust to his new life. To add to that, he has to unknowingly give shelter to a runaway to-be bride Vyjayanthi (Juhi Chawla). A hassled Rahul lands in further trouble when he refuses the advances of his boss' daughter (Navneet Nishan). The spoilt kids and the runaway girl finally come around to help Rahul save his business, and the house from being auctioned.

Halo
Santosh Sivan's cute film about a motherless child (Benaf Dadachanji of 'Baa, Bahoo Aur Baby' fame) who loses her dog Halo. The little sweetheart tackles all kinds of people and situations in the city in the pup's search. But Halo is nowhere to be found. Finally, she finds it, but let's it go.... Why? That's the reason why you should immediately grab a DVD and watch it, with your children. ASAP!

Makdee
Music director Vishal Bhardwaj's first attempt at filmmaking was 'Makdee'. Chunni and Munni are identical twins (played by Shweta Prasad) who are poles apart. Chunni's prank lands Munni in the village witch's hands (essayed by Shabana Azmi), who turns Munni into a hen. The wicked witch needs 100 hens as an offering to the great big Makdee, or spider. Azmi plays the witch to the tee, scaring the wits out of the audience. And Shweta Prasad gives a career-making performance.

Chhota Chetan
India's first 3D film. One remembers enjoying the experience of going to the theatre and putting on the glasses for viewing the film. And then, removing them in some scenes just to see the thrill of a punch coming your away. Bam! Scary at that age. The story of kids who enter a haunted house and awaken the spirits, was scarier. But we went again and again to watch it. 'Chhota Chetan' was re-released 14 years later, with added touches including Urmila Matondkar's appearance.

The Blue Umbrella
Between 'Maqbool' and 'Omkara', Vishal Bhardwaj made another children's film, based on Ruskin Bond's story. The film was released only in 2007 in India. Pankaj Kapur is Nandkishore Khatri, a shop-cum-restaurant-owner in the hilly region of Himachal Pradesh. He eyes an enchanting blue umbrella, which little Biniya (Shreya Sharma) has acquired from Japanese tourists by exchanging her rare neckpiece. In his conceit, Nandkishore steals the umbrella and dyes it red to hide his misdeeds. But villagers abandon him later for the act. Just like in Sivan's 'Halo', in this film too, the child shows immense maturity and lets go of the prized possession.

Hanuman and Hanuman Returns
The 2005 animation film traced the life of Lord Hanuman right from his birth to when he goes on to rescue Goddess Sita from Ravan's Lanka. Well, to be frank, the story's a bit fast-paced to be able to really enjoy it. But in the first half, the baby Hanuman rules the screen and that's when the film is gripping. Nevertheless, the animation was one of the best India has seen and the film clicks with the young 'uns. But the sequel, 'Hanuman Returns' did not do well.

Bal Ganesh and Bal Ganesh 2
The first part of the film was cute - about the adventures of elephant-headed god Lord Ganesh, when he was a child. The sequel, was cute, too. But not as good as the first one.

My Friend Ganesha - I, II and III
This series is a cute attempt, but only the third part was appealing to kids. The first two were average.

First Look: Reshammiya's new heroine, new look

After several actresses reportedly refused to be cast opposite him, the leading lady of the remake of 1980s hit Karz, starring Himesh Reshammiya, has finally been found.

Director Indra Kumar's daughter Shweta will make her debut opposite the actor-singer-composer in Karzzzz.

Produced by Bhushan Kumar and Krishan Kumar, Karzzzz is a remake of Subhash Ghai's 1980s film about reincarnation.

While Shweta is cast in the role played by Tina Munim in the original blockbuster, Reshammiya steps into the shoes of Rishi Kapoor.

T-Series has bought the remake rights from Mukta Arts for the original film.

Directed by Satish Kaushik, the film also stars Urmila Matondkar, Gulshan Grover, Danny Denzongpa , Rohini Hatangadi and Raj Babbar.

After Aap Kaa Surroor, Reshammiya will once again act, sing and compose the music for the film which will be shot in South Africa, Kenya and Mumbai and will go on floors from January 28.

There’s a one reason why all Reshammiya fans can look forward to this one: He will be seen without his trademark cap and will wear his long locks loose.

Ashutosh Rana talks about his upcoming flicks, TV show

The actor will be soon seen in a reality T V show Sarkaar Ki Duniya

He is truly what one calls a 'powerhouse' actor. Ashutosh Rana made an indelible mark in the minds of the audience with films like Dushman, Sangharsh, Raaz, Ghulam, LOC and recently, Dhokha.

He began his career on TV with Swabhimaan and continued doing TV shows alongside Hindi and regional films. Preferring to keep a low profile, he's made a comeback of sorts with hosting Sarkaar Ki Duniya on Real TV, and will now be seen in films like Coffee House and Hook Ya Crook among others. We chatted with him over some coffee....

Q. What is your role in Coffee House?

Ashutosh Rana: A guy who wants to bring about a change in society through theatre and his newspaper.

Q. Did you hang out at coffee houses ever? Were you part of the culture there?

Ashutosh Rana: Yes, in school and college. We sometimes also discussed the tricks of passing an exam (laughs). A coffee house is like a mobile SIM card with the whole world's data in it. All kinds of people meet in a coffee house and discuss and plot. The vibrations of that place are highly enlightening as far as thoughts are concerned.

Q. How is the coffee house scene today?

Ashutosh Rana: Today the Baristas and CCDs have taken its place – but in B and C class cities, the coffee house culture is still pretty much present. And that is why you'll see, that 80 per cent of the famous personalities are from small towns – due to the connection of a coffee house and the interactions there. Metro coffee houses are more business-like, while the small town ones are more social.

Q. How was it working with Sakshi Tanwar?

Ashutosh Rana: It was interesting. She knows her job and she also has a command over the language, which makes it easier for an actor to emote.

Q. Who has designed your costume in the show Sarkaar Ki Duniya?

Ashutosh Rana: Raghavendra Rathore

Q. What is your take on Sarkaar Ki Duniya?

Ashutosh Rana: People generally think that if you're pretty or have special abilities, you're successful. In the show, extremely ordinary people are there and we make extraordinary leaders out of them. A man travelling in a Mercedes feels inferior and less successful if he loses the car. He forgets that it is he who got the Merc in the first place. We have become slaves of materialism. An East India Co is not ruling you today, but a Vodafone is. Or an electricity board is. One day if the lights go out suddenly, there could be fights in the house. They rule our minds. So, in the show, we want the participants to start from the basics. There is no electricity on the island in Goa. They don't have a shower in the bathroom – they have to push a lever for water, use a handpump too. They have to dig a well for water. Yes, after all, it is for a booty of Rs 1 crore – money which can make you or break you.

Q. Are you as successful today as you wanted to be?

Ashutosh Rana: People still remember Dushman and Sangharsh. Until we don't have money, we think success is not there. But I work at my pace. I have a car, a house, and business class travel. Ashutosh is working in recession, when the whole world is at home. I think that speaks for itself. You should hold on and save your energies for longevity.

Q. But are there roles left to play yet in your mind?

Ashutosh Rana: Yes, like I'd said before, I'd like to play Chanakya. But I also wish to play Lord Krishna and Ravana, as well as Swami Vivekanda and Ramkrishna Paramhansa. But these movies are not happening.

Q. So then, would you take up direction to play your dream role?

Ashutosh Rana: No direction for me as of now. I'm a labourer, not an architect. I can only build according to the blueprint, not create the blueprint itself. God wants me to wait for the right film. Like a man wants his girlfriend to wear certain things to make her look good, God wants you to go through certain things to get his love, and the things you want.

Q. You recently shot for Hook Ya Crook in Ramoji Film City, Hyderabad. What is your role in it?

Ashutosh Rana: I play a high-security jail's warden who loves cricket, and makes the inmates play it.

Q. So, do you actually love cricket and are you excited about the IPL?

Ashutosh Rana: I love cricket. In this country, anybody can be a cricketer or an actor. But I'm not excited about the IPL. It's more like club cricket – they're all not Indians playing. The elections are far more important for me – they're our need, obligation and passion. Elections should be the biggest festival for us.

Q. What are your forthcoming films?

Ashutosh Rana: Apart from Hook Ya Crook, there's Monica which is a political thriller.

Q. There you go. So will you enter politics someday? You're a good orator as well.

Ashutosh Rana: No, never. A politician follows the masses (for votes), but the masses follow a nayak (hero) – which is what I am. A politician should never be a good orator. He should do more and speak less.

Q. What next in your life?

Ashutosh Rana: I dunno. I don't make my life a calendar.

Saakshi Tanwar talks of life beyond Parvati and soaps

Saakshi admits the pace of film making is different from TV shoots.

The actress with whom every Indian woman identified, thanks to her character Parvati in Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii, is back. This time Saakshi Tanwar is doing a film called Coffee House. We decided to meet her and ask her what more has she been up to. Excerpts from an interview...

Network 18: Coffee House is your second film, after a cameo in C Kkompany. Saakshi Tanwar: How has the transition from films to TV been?

I'm an actor. I'm creative and I want to reach out to people. So, the medium doesn't matter to me. But yes, while shooting for Coffee House, initially it was difficult for me as the pace of shooting films is slow – there is a lot of detailing.

Network 18: Was it difficult to adjust to the new life after Kahaani Ghar Saakshi Tanwar: Ghar Kii ended?

Yes, I didn't realise that eight years had passed with me playing Parvati. The day the show got over, I went abroad for a month to the UK and US. Then I went home to my parents in Alwar. That time was enough for me to get over the Kahaani…vacuum.

Network 18: What is your role in Coffee House?

Saakshi Tanwar: I play Kavita, the wife of Kamal, Ashutosh Rana's character. Kavita is a modern woman, simple but with strong ideologies. Kamal and she are a normal couple but both stick to their ideologies. She's more flexible and practical than him, and she's not the first one to make peace with him.

Network 18: So, what's the film about?

Saakshi Tanwar: The film addressed the various issues in our society. When people meet in a coffee house, they discuss issues but don't do anything. The couple tries to make a strong socio-political statement through Kamal's theatre group.

Network 18: Have you ever been to a coffee house?

Saakshi Tanwar: I've celebrated birthdays in the coffee house while in college in Delhi. We had a liking for a particular table. We didn't really talk about issues, but there are people who do that. And the film is about them. In Coffee House, there's a retired person, a guy who's been cheated in life, some directionless youth, and then Kamal's theatre group. Each table has a story to tell, and in the end there's an amalgamation of all.

Network 18: How were you approached for the film?

Saakshi Tanwar: Coffee House was offered to me in December 2007 while I was still doing Kahaani... Gurbir Singh Grewal, the director, called me, and I said 'yes' because I got good vibes from him on the phone. Plus, I started my TV career with him with Dastoor, and I'm doing a film with him. It's my way of restoring the faith he had in me.

I covered Riya from head to toe in my film: Joshi

Girish Girija Joshi, the director of Zor Lagaa Ke Haiyaa, talks about his film.

Girish Girija Joshi, the debutant director of children's film Zor Lagaa Ke Haiya, was an assistant with Karan Johar's Dharma Productions, and Rajkumar Santoshi.

He left a high-flying software career in the US with Siemens, after a family tragedy made him come back to India. And that possibly made the urge to be a filmmaker in him stronger.

The years of struggle have been numerous for Girish, but life has been good as compared to the others who've assisted big directors, he feels. We chat with him about working with Mithun Chakraborty, Riya Sen and Mahesh Manjrekar in his first film, which has a narration by none other than Amitabh Bachchan. Excerpts:

Buzz18.com: What's the story of Zor Lagaa Ke Haiya and where did you get the idea from?

Girish Girija Joshi: I'd read an article in The Indian Express about illegal cutting of a couple of 100-year-old trees – that's where the idea struck me. Zor Lagaa Ke… is a children's film, a comedy of a 'noise with a cause' genre written and directed by me. I have always felt a child needs his or her own space, a corner where the parents won't disturb them. The kids in my film have a tree-house where they play during the day.

During the night, a homeless man (Mithun Chakraborty) stays in it. When the kids come to know about it, they hate him and call him Ravana because of his unkept look. But soon, a healthy relationship forms between them. Now this tree is about to be cut by a builder in the area. How the children take it up as a cause for the environment forms the story.

Buzz18.com: Was it difficult to convince Mithun Chakraborty for the role?

Girish Girija Joshi: In the first script narration itself, Mithunda said he'd do it. The only issue he had was with the beard – it needed 45 minutes of make-up and it weighed 2 kg. Plus, his skin is sensitive. He would only sip juice the whole day, and have dinner after the beard had been removed. His role as Ramkrishna Paramhansa (in Bengali) was the only other film in which he sported a beard. In the first half of the film, his role is antagonistic – then a change of heart happens.

Buzz18.com: How was it working with Mithun?

Girish Girija Joshi: Mithunda was very forthcoming. The kids loved him. When we were shooting in Pune, even in the hotel, he wore the same costume throughout. He really got into the character, which has been living on the streets for 10–15 years. He's a committed actor. On the first day of shooting, 2,000 people turned up to have a look at him. Mithunda's an ex-student of Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), and he went there after 20 years. Actress Ranjeeta who stays in Pune also went with him.

Buzz18.com: What did you learn from him while directing him?

Girish Girija Joshi: It was a revelation that Mithun Chakraborty is a school of dubbing, too – if you know he's dubbing somewhere, just hang around! He's also very humble as an actor and always prepared for the shot.

Buzz18.com: How did you get Amitabh Bachchan to be the narrator for your film?

Girish Girija Joshi: Well, a rapport had been established with him while shooting Khakee, for which I'd assisted Rajkumar Santoshi, and Amitji was more than willing to do it for a princely sum of Re 0! People will take the message on environment more seriously with his voice. He's been a sweetheart with us. I'm lucky I have Amitji's voice and Mithunda's acting!

Buzz18.com: How do you compare the two great actors?

Girish Girija Joshi: Mithunda is spontaneous. He quickly gets into character and it's over in a couple of takes. He has a tremendous sense of screenplay. In Khakee, Amitji got on the set on time and had no complaints. His performance is a mix of spontaneity and a methodical approach.

Buzz18.com: You have an item song by Riya Sen in the film.

Girish Girija Joshi: Riya has never done a children's film before. She plays a construction labourer. She's wearing the typical Maharashtrian 'navvaari' sari. I told her, 'You'll be covered from head to toe' (laughs). She said, 'Let's do it'!

Buzz18.com: You worked with Karan Johar's Dharma Productions. He makes romantic, emotional films. Why didn't you choose that path?

Girish Girija Joshi: I've graduated from that production house (Dharma Productions). I'd assisted on Kaal. Zor Lagaa Ke… is like a home-production (for KJo) in that sense. He's not involved in the project, but he likes the concept. I have also assisted Rajkumar Santoshi on The Legend of Bhagat Singh apart from Khakee. His is another great school of filmmaking.

Buzz18.com: So, which school do you prefer?

Girish Girija Joshi: It's like comparing apples to oranges. Karan Johar pays more attention to the look, costumes and music. And I love his dialogues. While Santoshi really knows how to handle his actors.

Buzz18.com: What do you think are the film's prospects at the box office?

Girish Girija Joshi: I'm very confident about the film in the multiplexes, as the target audience is children. We've had special screenings for organisations like Akanksha. Plus, the kids have done a fabulous job. More than 350 child actors were auditioned for this role. It was like a big party and picnic for the chosen five. We had three workshops for them. The kids were smart – they knew everyone's dialogues and not just their own. They added freshness to the product.

Buzz18.com: So, are all the protagonists children?

Girish Girija Joshi: There are four middle-class children, and one labourer's child played by Ashwin Chitale of Shwaas fame. Ashwin's character is poor but dreams of becoming an architect someday. Designing the tree-house is fulfillment of his dream in part.

Buzz18.com: Did you want it to be a children's film?

Girish Girija Joshi: Yeah. I can't have a Salman or Shah Rukh in a subject like this – there wouldn't be any drama in it then. It's much better with an innocent child. But we have made it entertaining.

Buzz18.com: Who are the other people in the cast?

Girish Girija Joshi: Seema Biswas plays Ashwin's mother. Gulshan Grover is the builder who wants to cut the tree for expansion. Mahesh Manjrekar is the contractor, while Raj Zutshi is the client. Their roles are pivotal, but it's not a commercial film. I have so much gratitude towards these actors for doing my film.

Buzz18.com: And what's in store in the future for you?

Girish Girija Joshi: Right now, I'm waiting for the release of Zor Lagaa Ke Haiya. I'm doing one more project with its producers, Gemini Films. I'm off children after this. In fact, I don't want to have kids (laughs). I can't control them!

Bigg Boss 2 star charged with drunk driving

Ashutosh has been charged for driving without a licence.

Bigg Boss season 2 winner, Ashutosh Kaushik has been charged for driving without a licence and under the influence of alcohol, on Friday night.

Ashutosh has been accused of driving rashly without a helmet and a license. He was fined and is expected to appear before the court on Saturday.

Ashutosh was one of the three finalists on the show along with Zulfi Syed, who is better known for his brush with Bollywood, and Raja Chaudhury, who tasted a bit of fame while dancing along side his now separated wife, television actress Shweta Tiwari.

Ashutosh's is truly be a 'rags to riches' story. He hails from the small town of Saharanpur, in Uttar Pradesh where his only source of income until six months back was a tiny dhaba.

Life did a u-turn when Ashutosh won the fifth season of MTV's adventure reality show, Roadies.

Winning Bigg Boss 2 was the icing on the cake, thanks to the big money that has made life a lot easier for the small towner.

Ashutosh was nominated for eviction by the housemates three times but each time his public following saved him.

While in the Bigg Boss house, Ashutosh was often accused of using foul language and criticised for his unhealthy living habits.

Review: My Name is Khan has many messages

MNIK is unlike any other Karan Johar-directed film

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'My Name is Khan, and I am not a terrorist'--one line sure to be mouthed by you as you step out of the theatre. And mind you, there are many other priceless quotes.

My Name is Khan is unlike any other Karan Johar-directed film, although it has glimpses of his past work. It does not have masala, no mindless song and dance, and no comic fillers. It has a very strong main message, and several others tucked in. KJo has sure come a long way from candyfloss.

Shah Rukh Khan as Rizwan Khan is gullible, lovable and careful to be not irritable. And thankfully, he makes the audience empathise with him as an Asperger Syndrome patient, and does not look for pity.

So, Rizwan is attracted to machines, and pebbles. He is loving, caring but cannot express it. He hates a hug, and times sexual intercourse--'Can we have sex, please?'. He feels passion but cannot express it. He is good at facts and figures, and handling and repairing any kind of machine. And, bright colours and loud sounds freak him out.

My Name is Khan begins with Rizwan looking over the President Bush's itinerary. He wants to meet Mr President and tell him, "My Name is Khan, and I am not a terrorist". Rizwan starts his journey to Washinton, D.C., but becomes a terror suspect in the beginning itself.

As a child in Mumbai, India, Rizwan (played superbly by Tanay Chheda) loses his father early and is nurtured by his mother (Zarina Wahab) who recognises his special talent along with his Parsi teacher Wadia. But amidst all this, Rizwan’s younger brother Zakir (Jimmy Shergill) feels left out, and he moves to the US as soon as he turns 18. After a few years, he calls Rizwan to stay with him and his wife (played effectively by Sonya Jehan) and work as a salesman for his company.

A genius with machines should have been channeled in the appropriate direction, but Rizwan ends up being a salesman. But it is while selling beauty products that he meets future wife Mandira Rathod (Kajol) who is a single mom with a six-year-old boy Sameer (Yuwaan Makaar).

After a few cute moments together, Mandira and Rizwan get hitched. She is now Mandira Khan and her son, Sameer Khan. And then, 9/11 happens. Attitudes towards Muslims and anybody with a beard and turban change. The film does make you cringe at the thought of being in a situation like countless Muslims and Sikhs have been because of their appearance and/or surname.

It is this innocence of Rizwan that wins you over. At an only-Christian charity event for Somalia, he donates his ticket money "for those who are not Christian in Africa". Superb. And in spite of his hurry to meet the Prez, Rizwan changes track to save people from a calamity. And at the same time, when someone offers him food, he grabs more than his share of the pie, quite in a gullible fashion. It is these small things that make you love My Name is Khan, making you ignore the unnecessary deviations and the length.

But the film never loses focus on the 'Meet the President' track. You begin to travel with Rizwan on his quest. The film shows how and what makes Rizwan a hero from a terror suspect, with the help of media (reporters played by Parvin Dabas, Arjun Mathur and Sugandha Garg).

There are other actors who have bit roles but are worth mentioning – Arif Zakaria, Vinay Pathak, Navneet Nishan, Tarun Mansukhani and all the foreign ones.

Kajol is back with her mischievous on screen persona, and is suitably intense where required. As for the Shah Rukh Khan-Kajol chemistry, never did it feel like they were doing a film together after years. Their tuning is all intact, and it has been proved again that they make the BEST onscreen couple.

The India back story has been captured very well by Johar. Cinematography by the renowned Ravi K Chandran lives up to his name totally in My Name is Khan. Hats off for that.

My Name is Khan is international in its feel and treatment, shots, production values and the various settings – but with some of Karan Johar's trademarks thrown in. But it's obvious Karan Johar wants to please both India and overseas markets, especially the US.

The hurricane Katrina sequence has been unmistakably put in for this effect. And the track of Mama Jenny and Funny Hair Joel. Through this, the film not only shows the animosity towards Muslims and Sikhs, but also African-Americans. There is also a message for terrorists. Karan Johar has truly aimed for the global audience.

Shibani Bathija's story is not water-tight, but her dialogues are impressive, including 'Namaz jagah se nahin, neeyat se padhi jaati hain'.

Verdict: One of the important films of Hindi cinema. Although it messes up its length, there are some touching scenes not to be missed. My Name is Khan has many messages and not just an 'Autism Alert' and 'Terror Alert'. Go for it and enjoy interpreting.

Rating: 3/5


Comments 40

from baner009 at 04:22, Feb 17, 2010
I am not sure what the big hype is about. I watched the film and found it to be a modest affair. The first half was decent, but the second half was unbearably RIDICULOUS!

K-Jo and SRK are men of modest talent and immodest means. The movie is a reflection of the same. SRK was a poor caricature of Dustin Hoffman in Rain Man and the less said about K-Jo's direction the better.

But my ire was directed not so much at these fellas as it was towards the movie critic Rajeev Masand who rated this at a 3.5 and the immensely more enjoyable 3-Idiots a 3.0.
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from bowler at 11:38, Feb 15, 2010
Oh! Come on Rajiv, this review does not come from yoyur heart. It is half hearted at many places, where you should have commented. But, we can understand. But, at least you haven't given 5 stars like some of the bias reprters have done it. Isn't this film very slow and almost the repeat of what we have seen in 'Yashraj film's 'New York' and the same producer's film 'Kurbaan ' ? Just adding autism does not make it different. Let us admit frankly that this SRK film needed a lot of publicity and our electronic media did the job well. After watching the film in parts on TV sets for seven days, is there any need to go and watch in theatres now ? .
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from md.sikandar at 22:34, Feb 13, 2010
rizwaan khan ne jo bhumika is movie me nibhaya hai kaash ke real life me koi aisa nibha pata ........... kyu ke aaj hamare desh me agar kisi cheej ke sab se jayada jaroorat hai to wo hai rizwaan khan jaise log ........ main apne sabhi bhaiyo se ye kehna chata hu ke ye film ko kewal ek film na samjhe ye hamare samaj ka kathoor sach hai ..... yaha baat kewal muslim ye ki nahi yaha baat hum indians ki hai ..... aur hum na to koi muslim hai na koi hindu aur na koi "marathi".
kyou ki insaan to kewal do tarah ke hote hai Ek wo jo acche kaam karte hai, aur doosre wo jo boora kam karte hai......
plz hamare desh ko boore logo se bachana hoga ...... aur ye hame hi karna hoga kyou ki yaha koi rizwaan khan nahi aane wala hai .... rizwaan khan ko hame apne andar hi jagana hoga ....plz do somthing plz...plz...plz....
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from sattyraj at 11:07, Feb 13, 2010
this is satyendra from gwalior .................MNIK is housefull and we have to wait for two days to for advance booking.......... :)
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from slims7 at 11:02, Feb 13, 2010
Its really good movie.... its touches our heart, wel done SRK, weldone KJ
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from mohitnegi18 at 01:16 AM, Feb 13, 2010
I was half sleepy when i read the climax of my name is khan. It said kajol is the real terrorist and jimmy shergil her lover, i felt like killing the person who forwarded it to me. But i consoled my self saying that this wont be true. And i feel proud to tell you in fact it isn't.. So my name is khan.. ( khan from the epiglottis.) Is about a guy named Rizhwan khan.. Khan! Its his impractical journey to meet the president of Usa to fulfill the promise that he had made to his wife mandira and to tell the president that.. " My name is Khan and am not a terrorist." Impractical because not a single normal guy would do what Khan can, as Khan suffers from asparagus syndrome. yet he loves mandira as much as no normal guy could. Kajol's acting is superb in the movie.. she is all bubbly in the beginning and plays a very strong mother in the second half. But Shahrukh Khan takes your breath away.. although he does not expresses his emotions yet he plays is so fine that nobody else could have. The story of the movie is very touching.. Yes the theme of the movie is 9/11 but no its nothing like new york. its one of its kind. you will laugh at how Khan acts to situations. ( like when he asks mandira for having sex.) and you will cry along with him. Not because he cries but because his acts touches your heart and soul. From music to direction everything is perfect in the movie. and you could not ask for more. its a movie that you will regret if you miss it. and will love it if you watch it. " Insaan ya to Ache hote hai ya Bure.. Or kuch farak nahi hota.. KUCH NAI." My rating - 4.5 on 5
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from dr vk bansal at 01:08 AM, Feb 13, 2010
YANKS WONT BE VERY PLEASED. THATS WHY MY NAME IS KHAN WOULD BE HIT OF THE CENTURY-AS WE PREDICTED AFTER WATCHING PRE-LAUNCH. BUT FILM SHOWS INDIANS AT THEIR VERY BEST-WORLDWIDE. ESPECIALLY IN PAKISTAN AND OTHER ISLAMIC COUNTRIES. ALL YANKSHATERS SHALL LOVE THE FILM. INDIANS DONE IT YET AGAIN-SHAKEN RACISM AND FACISM IN THE WORLD YET SENAS ARE WORST RACISTS FACISTS AT HOME.. WHAT AN IRONY !
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from Sovon1091 at 10:58 PM, Feb 12, 2010
The storyline is a little weak.In spite of that,the trio SRK,KAJOL,KJo make it superb and as well as entertaining.The film has got some substantial meaning.A must watch because the three magicians are back after 9 yrs...and they will make you ********* for this you have to go and watch...
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from praneeth212 at 10:34 PM, Feb 12, 2010
there has to be free screening for shiv sena.. hope they will learn some thing
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from onlyforu_alic at 09:50 PM, Feb 12, 2010
It should be 0 out of 5. for this idiot of indian cinema.
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from salim_sakir at 09:47 PM, Feb 12, 2010
Thanks for the "detailed" review but you have revealed too many scenes from the movie, depriving readers of some of the surprises when they go to watch the movie !
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from sahilasr at 09:27 PM, Feb 12, 2010
@rajesh2010raj I will recommend u to watch RAINMAN and then decide how is this movie......please
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from sahilasr at 09:26 PM, Feb 12, 2010
Come on man can't u see that the acting done by sharukh khan was straight lift up from RAINMAN(Dustin Hoffman). No doubt that 2nd half of movie is great but the ist half will be so irritating for all those who had watched rainman,in short 1st half of movie is a bad bad remake of RAINMAN.
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from sahilasr at 09:26 PM, Feb 12, 2010
Come on man can't u see that the acting done by sharukh khan was straight lift up from RAINMAN(Dustin Hoffman). No doubt that 2nd half of movie is great but the ist half will be so irritating for all those who had watched rainman,in short 1st half of movie is a bad bad remake of RAINMAN.
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from ecky at 09:14 PM, Feb 12, 2010
I have question for SRK: 1. R U awared that only country in the world, which have terrorism export for INDIA......and sponsored by government of that country...........Its Pakistan. 2. Do u know......our country was attacked in Kargil....It was earlier told that .....PAk army has nothing to do with this attack....very recently President Mushareff acknowledged that ..it was PAK army. 3. Do u Know that Pakistan Govt official policy %u2026%u2026..........to not allow Indian musician, actors, actress and are banned and can not make sing %u2026...despite of that but India keep allowing there actor, musicians in our country. Its pakis govt. official policy that they don%u2019t want any cultural relations with india,this is what they are demonstrating by there acts. 4. Punjab came out of terrorism bravely But u all know that all terrorist trained by ISI Pakistan. 5. And last myself is big FAN of SRK but my wife is just opposite ,enemity with SRK without any reason, whenever she see SRK she just give a SLAP %u2026but I love very much SRK. Now how will u Handle ,can you keep cordial relation with my family%u2026be HONEST%u2026%u2026.not at all %u2026%u2026%u2026You will avoid..50 % is PRO SRK (myself) and 50 % (my wife) against. I think SRK whenever you meet us your response shall be %u201Care bhai door reho,hum bewejehe thapper nehi khana chahte, pehle apni biwi ko theek kero , and all the best%u201D myself and my wife refers here (good people and bad people in pakistan) I love my country, here we Live in peace hindus , muslims, sikhs , christens and all other religion. SHIV sena is wrong but SRK too is not right.God bless you all Jai hind , Jai Bharat
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from anishoo7 at 08:13 PM, Feb 12, 2010
your movie rocks.............. i loved your acting.... i saw first show in my city........
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from anishoo7 at 08:13 PM, Feb 12, 2010
your movie rocks.............. i loved your acting.... i saw first show in my city........
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from putraofindia at 08:03 PM, Feb 12, 2010
Khan, my name is Khan. Offsecreen also it has conveyed a brief message to Sena and Company.
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from putraofindia at 08:03 PM, Feb 12, 2010
Khan, my name is Khan. Offsecreen also it has conveyed a brief message to Sena and Company.
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from putraofindia at 08:03 PM, Feb 12, 2010
Khan, my name is Khan. Offsecreen also it has conveyed a brief message to Sena and Company.
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from putraofindia at 08:03 PM, Feb 12, 2010
Khan, my name is Khan. Offsecreen also it has conveyed a brief message to Sena and Company.
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from jojojoy2k at 07:44 PM, Feb 12, 2010
@amitavabc: maybe the length of the movie is rate lessening factor.
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from sujayag at 07:40 PM, Feb 12, 2010
dear srk, ur gamble has worked. the 'innocent' comment of ur has just cost u and karan the morning show earnings, now that people are seeing the movie just to make a point, we will love to see you dump one international player from KKR and make way for a pakistani player. and we promise to forget that u had that choice as a owner during the bidding, but then there was no point in doing it the right way, was there?
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from neeljunx at 07:08 PM, Feb 12, 2010
Didn't fattu Rajeev Masand go to catch this movie because of protest... :) Bravo Shweta for watching and sending across the review... btw rajeev u bore!!!
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from sumeetgill at 06:43 PM, Feb 12, 2010
this masterpiece. i don't have words to describe..iwana say i am indian and shiv shena is terrorist....and ...i don't understand why u give 3 stars r u shiv shenikkkkk
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from geokoshy at 05:19 PM, Feb 12, 2010
I am not a ShahRukh-Kajol fan, and I especially hate Karan Johar movies. But I will still see this movies as my way of showing the finger to shiv sena.
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from bob2005 at 04:56 PM, Feb 12, 2010
MNIS movie idea taken from hollywood movie RAINMAN pls go tru url http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rain_Man
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from sbhattacharjee at 04:56 PM, Feb 12, 2010
Dear Sir The only ONE message that I would personally like to say the hero and the producer of the film is- PLEASE DO NOT TRY TO POLITICISE YOUR FILM BY MIXING FILMS WITH POLITICS Niether has Mr SRK, nor has the Shiv Sena lost anything.The poor multiplex and the people who were vandalised have lost their sense of security Thanks Rgds Shyamal Bhattacharjee Bangalore
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from iqmohamme at 04:42 PM, Feb 12, 2010
well, as for me I will watch this movie, not because I am a bollywood movie fan nor an SRK fan. I will watch it just because of the controvesy the release of the movie has created - thanks to ShivSenas :).
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from debasis80 at 04:29 PM, Feb 12, 2010
I hope Karan will make another moive called My Name is RAM , highlighting issue of Hindu%u2019s of Middle east specially Saudia arabia , Not a single temple is build and prohibition to practice hindu religion in middle east and Arab country. Also problems of hindu%u2019s living in pakistan, bangaladesh, malasiya and Indonesia. I know Karan will never make bcoz it will will hurt saudi and umate mushlima sentiment.
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from geokoshy at 04:29 PM, Feb 12, 2010
Why are you explaining so much about the plot in your review? Isn't a 'review' supposed to talk about the movie without exposing the plot?
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from niladri1707 at 04:23 PM, Feb 12, 2010
@ Shweta- Expected much better comments from your review , what r u trying to say its unclear and confusing, i guess the moview deserves much more than a 3 rating it surely deserves ....all i can say that with movies like 3 idiots, MNIK Indian cinema is making a significant difference in world entertainment - movies with messages and not just fun !!
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from mjak1212 at 03:09 PM, Feb 12, 2010
Hi Shweta,I was not expecting you to join this CHAMCHA TOLI of SRK.I have seen this picture and what is new in this movie which inspire you to write this article and felt you overwhelmed by this movie.As it says that MY NAME IS KKKKKHAN AND I AM NOT TERRORIST, we knew it since last 20 years and enough of 26/11 knowledge and we know that all muslims are not terrorist and also know that ALL TERRORIST ARE MUSLIMS ONLY.Its a simply waste of 3 hours to watch this movie and 5 minutes waste of reading your article.Why dont you people suggest your SRK and KJO to come with some meaning full and heart movie like 3 IDIOTS.While praising such movies and writing article of SRK and his dumb movies, you are kind of SOCIAL TERRORIST for news reader and common public.
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from mjak1212 at 03:09 PM, Feb 12, 2010
Hi Shweta,I was not expecting you to join this CHAMCHA TOLI of SRK.I have seen this picture and what is new in this movie which inspire you to write this article and felt you overwhelmed by this movie.As it says that MY NAME IS KKKKKHAN AND I AM NOT TERRORIST, we knew it since last 20 years and enough of 26/11 knowledge and we know that all muslims are not terrorist and also know that ALL TERRORIST ARE MUSLIMS ONLY.Its a simply waste of 3 hours to watch this movie and 5 minutes waste of reading your article.Why dont you people suggest your SRK and KJO to come with some meaning full and heart movie like 3 IDIOTS.While praising such movies and writing article of SRK and his dumb movies, you are kind of SOCIAL TERRORIST for news reader and common public.
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from rpsibn at 02:51 PM, Feb 12, 2010
Where is rajeev Masand review ? This is a complete biased review never highlighting major weak points of film like incredulous plot,cheesy lines etc
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from rajesh2010raj at 02:40 PM, Feb 12, 2010
come on SRK.I am from coimbatore-tamilnadu.I am thrilled we have full house here in theater.I watched the film its great i have no words to describe.You rock, the film is rocking all over here.Its an EXPECTIONAL film must watch FOR ALL INDIAN.
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from rogerxx at 02:00 PM, Feb 12, 2010
Cud u tell me if this is the same Rajeev Masand who gave 2 stars to 3 idiots and the film turned out the India's biggest blockbuster ... they even took out tht review... lmfao... cmon moderator..i know u will delete this post... lol
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from rogerxx at 01:54 PM, Feb 12, 2010
My name is Rajeev Masand... and producers pay me to write gud reviews for their movies...
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from amitavabc at 01:40 PM, Feb 12, 2010
if its so good, why did you rate only 3 and not 5 out of 5? I saw it and truely feel that it deserves 5 out of 5. If only the Shiv Senas saw it and had a change of heart...Hats off to the entire crew of MNIK! Great job!
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'LSD' doesn't shock audiences

The film is unpretentious and very real

Dibakar Banerjee's Love Sex Aur Dhokha (LSD) is a story of human relationships and conflict, all being captured on camera, with or without the knowledge of the people involved. The film interweaves three stories in one to show how our lives are affected by the intrusion of the camera.

The first story shows two film school students, Rahul (Anshuman Jha) and Shruti (Shruti), who fall in love in the process of their diploma film's making. Belonging to different backgrounds but with a love for films, especially Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, they elope and get married, while capturing everything on camera for their idol, filmmaker Aditya Chopra...

The second story is based in a supermarket and what its security camera records, and is manipulated to record. Unemployed Adarsh (Raj Kumar Yadav) has an affair with store staffer Rashmi (Neha Chauhan) and records their adventures for some easy money…

The third story shows journalist Prabhat (Amit Sial in a completely different avatar from Hope and a Little Sugar) saving the life of a dancer Mrignaina 'Naina' Biswas (Arya Banerjee). Naina has been a victim of the casting couch at the hands of several people, including pop star Loki Local (Herry Tangri). The two form a team in order to expose Loki's misdeeds…

All the protagonists in the film are shown to be either naive, gullible or victims of the circumstances created due to their naivety. The actors in the film do a good job, especially the two in the first story. The look and feel of the film is very, very real.

The camera angles are all hand-held and point of view, and of course, security cam corner angles. So, it's not a film where you will see great shots, but shots as they look in real life through a spy cam. It takes guts to use such cinematography throughout the film, that too a film which is meant for a theatrical release as a feature.

But in the end, due to that fact, LSD might just end up looking like the director's own diploma film. It certainly cannot be compared to Anurag Kashyap's school of filmmaking (if you were expecting a Dev D). Kashyap would've probably handled the script and direction with much more maturity.

Not taking credit away from Dibakar where it's due – he has chosen everyday characters and etched them out well, right from what they're wearing to their body language and dialogue.

LSD will shock you at points, but the shock value, at least in the uncensored version, will fade away. The young crowd who probably would buy the tickets for some cheap thrills will be disappointed.

But then, that's not what the film is about. It shows you what happens and lets you decide what is right or wrong. But it also shows its characters in black and white –- Shruti and her dad, the dancer and the popstar, the reporter and his editor.

It's good to see a film like this being made, but overall, LSD is strictly a multiplex film and will not appeal to the masses. It has no songs and action, and people will watch only for the thrills. Nevertheless, it holds your attention because you want to know what's going to happen next. You know what's going to happen is wrong, but you also want to see it stopped and see who stops it. One does not feel that when one emerges from the theatre.

Somewhere, you feel LSD is a reflection of things happening around us, but just that. Although it shows its characters making choices, right or wrong, the film does not offer a conclusion neither does it attempt to get preachy and offer a solution. LSD is simply 'what you see is what you get'.

With the constraints of making a commercially viable and releasable film, LSD does not really tackle voyeurism in depth.

Verdict: LSD is a good try with new storytelling and camera techniques. But it does not have mass appeal or repeat value. Strictly for multiplexes.

Rating: Just a notch above average.

Amitabh to produce more Marathi films

He's impressed with the response to 'Vihir'

The premiere of AB Corp's Marathi film Vihir was held in Mumbai on March 18 amid much fanfare. Amitabh Bachchan was present at the event. Shweta Parande of IBNMovies spoke to the superstar on the occasion.

Was producing Marathi cinema always on AB Corp's agenda?

We have always been open to producing regional cinema. Not many people know this, but since AB Corp's inception in 1995, we have produced Tamil, Telugu, Bengali and Marathi cinema. Jaya (Bachchan) and I have even starred in a Marathi film (Akka) made by my make-up man Deepak Sawant.

How did you pick up Vihir?

As for Vihir, its director Umesh Kulkarni is a gold medalist from the film institute (FTII, Pune). Since Jaya is his senior there, she was very impressed with his work and instrumental in him getting a gold medal. We are very proud of the response Vihir has been getting. It has been screened at film festivals in Seoul, Berlin, London, Rotterdam….

So, do you plan to produce more Marathi films?

For the past couple of years, Marathi cinema has made huge progress in terms of its quality, content and performances. Hindi cinema has always had actors from Marathi stage and films. But Marathi films have really come up in quality now. So, we might produce some more.

'LSD' is not a copy of another film

IBNMovies compares both the films

The verdict about Love Sex aur Dhokha is out. It is a hit and the producers are laughing all the way to the bank. Dibarkar Banerjee has attempted to make a film, which never before has been made in the history of Indian cinema. PD cameras, CCTVs and a spy cam were used to make the entire film. Most of the visuals are shaky, as the camera is not supported by a tripod and is held by the characters.

There have been many instances in the past where after a film is declared a hit, someone not associated with it tries to squeeze in and hog the limelight for five seconds of fame. But if the film flops, no one comes ahead to claim the credit.

Recently, short filmmaker Abhay Kumar from Chandigarh claimed that Love Sex aur Dhokha's first story is inspired from his short, Udaan, which had won the Jury Award at the MAMI Film Fest 2010. Mehul Thakkar and Shweta Parande of IBNMovies saw the short film to find out if any of his allegations were true. Here's a comparison.

Abhay Kumar had mentioned to Indiatimes.com in an interview that he had gone to meet Dibakar at his office a few months back to assist him, but couldn’t meet him.

At the time, Love, Sex aur Dhokha was in post production, as the shooting was completed in October. So, Kumar's allegation that LSD is inspired from his short film ends there. Yes, his film has done rounds at film festivals a year back. But there are so many aspiring filmmakers who shoot the way LSD has been made, holding the camera freestyle.

The first story of LSD has characters Rahul and Shruti, who are students of a film academy. Rahul is an aspiring director and falls in love with his heroine during the process of making their diploma film. In Udaan, there is no aspiring filmmaker and a heroine from an institute.

Let’s move ahead. Rahul meets Shruti’s father, and gives him a role in the film so that he allows his daughter to be a part of it. In the short film, no such thing....

Rahul and Shruti fall in love, run away and tie the knot because Shruti’s possessive father would have never allowed them to get married. In the short film, the lead actors run away and come to Mumbai because the hero of the film had stolen money from the heroine’s father. Still no connection to LSD.

Shruti calls her dad to confess she is married to Rahul, following Rahul’s advice to reveal their whereabouts to her father. Abhay Kumar does not have any such scenes nor does his plot touch the storyline of LSD.

After knowing about the whereabouts of his daughter Shruti, the father sends his kin to kill her husband and her. It is Shruti’s brother who chops the couple into pieces and buries them leaving no evidence, an incident inspired by a true story. In Udaan, the couple is shot dead in broad daylight on a beach and their bodies are left floating in the ocean.

The only relevance in Abhay Kumar's claims is that both the films have been given the same treatment. Period.

We contacted Anshuman Jha, who played the role of Rahul in the film LSD to get his point of view. After watching the film Udaan he said, “I didn’t see any love between the couple unlike Rahul and Shruti in LSD. The two characters in the short film are on the run - that’s it. Maybe the filmmaker will get some mileage by this but it is not going to help in the long run. No doubt, his short film is very good and I am sure he is a very good filmmaker. I have gone to film institutes and I see people filming each other in the canteen, so-called making a film. That is how aspiring filmmakers start. Only thing which is common in Udaan and LSD is voyeurism”.

Shruti, who was paired opposite Anshuman Jha in the first story of LSD said, "I saw the film and there is no history about the characters in the film, there is no proper script. I would have been happy if the filmmaker would have made a full fledged story out of it. I don't know what to say about this filmmaker. We are just actors who have done what we were told to do it. If he wants credit, just walk into the maker's office. There is no point making unnecessary noise otherwise."

Siddharth and Girija in 'Huppa Huiyya'

The film releases on March 25, 2010

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Marathi film Huppa Huiyya, a Samit Kakkad and Dream View Productions project, stars Siddharth Jadhav and Girija Oak in lead roles. The film releases March 25, 2010.

Girija Oak has starred in Marathi films and also Aamir Khan's Taare Zameen Par.

Siddharth Jadhav plays the son of a sarpanch. He is a great devotee of Lord Hanuman. The film shows how Siddharth's character performs good deeds and helps the society while simply passing time. The film is a comedy.

The film also stars Mohan Joshi, Usha Nadkarni, Ganesh Yadav, Mangesh Desai, Maansi Mangikar, Vaibhav Mangale, Kushal Badrike, Nilesh Divekar and Poonam Jadhav. The creative director is Samit Kakkad, cinematographer is AK Bir, the story is by Hemant Edlabadkar and the music is by Ajit Parab.

First Cut: 'Mittal v/s Mittal' is relevant

The film touches upon an important issue

Quite a few films have dealt with marital rape in India – Daman, Provoked (though in English) and Matrubhoomi to name a few. Karan Razdan's film, Mittal v/s Mittal, deals with a particular case involving Karan Mittal (Rohit Roy) and Mitali Mittal (Rituparna Sengupta).

Karan is a rich Casanova businessman who woos the very middle-class Mitali into marrying him. But problems start cropping up in their relationship in their courtship itself.

Karan charms Mitali very aggressively, even winning over her parents. But his real side is an egoistic womaniser and cannot tolerate a woman refusing an offer, especially if he has treated her well and showered her with gifts and all.

Mitali is a woman who's looking for romance and gentle behaviour from a man, and shoos Karan away. But the man woos her again, and soon they're married. On their first wedding night itself, Mitali sees Karan's true colours. Differences crop up soon, and Mitali ends up getting raped several times by Karan.

Finally, Mitali walks out and files a case against her husband with the help of lawyer Karuna Maheshwari (Suchitra Krishnamoorthi). Amongst high drama, Mitali has almost lost the case, but for the twist in the end. Watch the film to know that.

Mittal v/s Mittal has been shot with a very '90s feel to it. It is low on production values, but does involve you as an audience at some points, actually making you look forward to the court room drama – which does not disappoint either.

Some of the issues related to what a woman in Mitali's situation faces have been brought out well. Her mom and mom-in-law both don't support her, and her dad and dad-in-law both do. She has to face embarrassment in court due to the questions, and is also accused of having an affair with her husband's best friend.

Rituparna Sengupta performs OK, but she looks too old for the part, especially in the ramp shots. Plus, her voice seems to be dubbed which does not go with her performance. Either that or she needs to work on her diction.

Rohit Roy is perfect as the innocent-looking husband whose real face is obnoxious and dangerous.

Suchitra Krishnamoorthi is slightly repetitive in her court room scenes, but the jugalbandi between Gulshan Grover and her is watchable. Gulshan, as usual, is a cool cat as the lawyer. Though we wish someone had pointed out the correct pronunciation of 'violence' to him (he kept saying 'voilence').

Iravati Harshe does a cameo in this one, after being seen in Raat Gayi, Baat Gayi. We sure want to see her more. Reema Lagoo, Anjan Srivastava, Dolly Thakore and Amar Talwar perform well.

The placement of The RKB Show, which has now moved on to another channel, seems a bit weird. And nobody will try to have an amicable settlement with one's spouse through a TV interview, however famous the personalities might be. This whole sequence seems to be out of a Hollywood film. The importance of the media is shown to be too much. Strangely, nowadays every other film one sees, there is a scene involving reporters and cameramen. But surely no one will discuss their personal life or try to sort out issues on TV, unless they are getting monetary gain out of it – as happens on reality shows like Sach Ka Saamna, or Swayamvar… or Emotional Atyachaar.

Mittal v/s Mittal presents just one case inspired by the many real ones. So, one does have a few questions at the end of it – what if Karan wasn't a rich guy and Mitali did not have the support of the media and social organisations? What if her papa and papa-in-law had also gone against her? And what if Karan's behaviour was not the result of some childhood happening that had affected him? There are scores of marital rape cases in India and worldwide, and showing an excuse for the perpetrator's behaviour is like giving an idea of an excuse to such men in real life.

Verdict: Predictable, but it does touch upon an important issue and brings out the predicament of a woman who is a victim of marital rape.

Rating: Average.

'Right Yaaa Wrong' is thrilling

Sunny Deol and Irrfan Khan are super cool

It might seem lifted from a film or a novel, but the fact is, the Sunny Deol-Irrfan Khan film Right Yaaa Wrong does not disappoint. And credit should be given where it's due. The crime thriller works to a large extent, although its length might seem longer the actual. But since one had zero expectations from this much-delayed film, it actually throws up a few surprises.

Goa-based ACP Ajay Sridhar (Sunny Deol) is a super cop with a heart, aided ably by his partner and best friend, Vinay Patnaik (Irrfan Khan) who's more formal in his approach. Ajay has a pretty wife, Anshita (Eesha Koppikhar) and a son. Anshita is having an extra-marital affair with Ajay's step-brother Sanjay (Aarav Chowdhury).

While on a mission, Ajay has a bullet injury and he ends up on a wheelchair paralysed waist down. But instead of being heartbroken, he resolves to be "the one in a million" who could walk again and begins physiotherapy.

But soon realising it's all in vain, Ajay's life becomes depressing and he decides it's time to die. But rather than commit suicide, he convinces Anshita and Sanjay to kill him, so his family could use the Rs 5 crore life insurance claim amount.

Seeing this as an opportunity, the two agree to do it, and Ajay prepares what he feels is a foolproof game plan for his murder. As in any crime story, the plan goes haywire. These parts of the film are pretty gripping and compelling.

A murder takes place for sure, but whose, and committed by whom, is for you to go and watch. Director Neerraj Pathak manages to create an edge-of-the-seat drama. You could guess the murderer, but the police takes its time to do that. The lead up to that and the court room drama makes for an interesting watch. However, the end is a tad disappointing.

Irrfan Khan continues his good run after many memorable performances, and is truly a class apart. Sunny Deol, too, delivers a wonderful performance, suitably mellow. And the two together make for some compelling scenes. Not to be missed.

And good to see some raw action sequences after a long time. What else could you expect from a Sunny Deol film? Good fight sequences have to be there.

Eesha Koppikhar in a film shot two years ago is pretty and plays her part well.

Konkona Sen Sharma arrives only in the second half, as Radhika, the lawyer sister of Vinay. She is good in her small role. Her character development is a bit confusing. But Life in a Metro's cute pair plays brother and sister in this one. And the climax of Right Yaaa Wrong becomes as much a fight between right and wrong, as between siblings who share the same house.

Sanjay Singh is impressive as Anshita's bro-in-law lover. Deepal Shaw hardly has a role as a team member of top cops, and there is not a single scene between her and Irrfan even though there's a hint of them seeing each other.

The music of the film is average, but the background score makes up for it.

Verdict: Irrfan Khan and Sunny Deol's crime flick makes the right moves. And their chemistry is super cool. The film is recommended for lovers of murder mysteries.

Rating: Good.

'My Name is Khan' has many messages

My Name is Khan is unlike any other Karan Johar-directed film

'My Name is Khan, and I am not a terrorist' – one line sure to be mouthed by you as you step out of the theatre. And mind you, there are many other priceless quotes.

My Name is Khan is unlike any other Karan Johar-directed film, although it has glimpses of his past work. It does not have masala, no mindless song and dance, and no comic fillers. It has a very strong main message, and several others tucked in. KJo has sure come a long way from candyfloss.

Shah Rukh Khan as Rizwan Khan is gullible, lovable and careful to be not irritable. And thankfully, he makes the audience empathise with him as an Asperger Syndrome patient, and does not look for pity.

So, Rizwan is attracted to machines, and pebbles. He is loving, caring but cannot express it. He hates a hug, and times sexual intercourse – 'Can we have sex, please?'. He feels passion but cannot express it. He is good at facts and figures, and handling and repairing any kind of machine. And, bright colours and loud sounds freak him out.

My Name is Khan begins with Rizwan looking over President Bush's itinerary. He wants to meet Mr President and tell him, "My Name is Khan, and I am not a terrorist". Rizwan starts his journey to Washinton, D.C., but becomes a terror suspect in the beginning itself.

As a child in Mumbai, India, Rizwan (played superbly by Tanay Chheda) loses his father early and is nurtured by his mother (Zarina Wahab) who recognises his special talent along with his Parsi teacher Wadia. But amidst all this, Rizwan's younger brother Zakir (Jimmy Shergill) feels left out, and he moves to the US as soon as he turns 18. After a few years, he calls Rizwan to stay with him and his wife (played effectively by Soniya Jehan) and work as a salesman for his company.

A genius with machines should have been channeled in the appropriate direction, but Rizwan ends up being a salesman. But it is while selling beauty products that he meets future wife Mandira Rathod (Kajol) who is a single mom with a six-year-old boy Sameer (Yuwaan Makaar).

After a few cute moments together, Mandira and Rizwan get hitched. She is now Mandira Khan and her son, Sameer Khan. And then, 9/11 happens. Attitudes towards Muslims and anybody with a beard and turban change. The film does make you cringe at the thought of being in a situation like countless Muslims and Sikhs have been because of their appearance and/or surname.

Rizwan and Mandira's life changes dramatically post 9/11, and he embarks on a journey to meet George W Bush to tell him that every Muslim is not a terrorist. But his simple motive behind this is to win his wife back, and not exactly represent a community.

It is this innocence of Rizwan that wins you over. At an only-Christian charity event for Somalia, he donates his ticket money "for those who are not Christian in Africa". Superb.

And in spite of his hurry to meet the Prez, Rizwan changes track to save people from a calamity. When someone offers him food, he grabs more than his share of the pie, quite in a gullible fashion. It is these small things that make you love My Name is Khan, making you ignore the unnecessary deviations and the length.

But the film never loses focus on the 'Meet the President' track. You begin to travel with Rizwan on his quest. The film shows how and what makes Rizwan a hero from a terror suspect, with the help of media (reporters played by Parvin Dabas, Arjun Mathur and Sugandha Garg).

There are other actors who have bit roles but are worth mentioning – Arif Zakaria, Vinay Pathak, Navneet Nishan, Tarun Mansukhani, Sheetal Menon and all the foreign ones.

Kajol is back with her mischievous onscreen persona, and is suitably intense where required. As for the Shah Rukh Khan-Kajol chemistry, never did it feel like they were doing a film together after years. Their tuning is all intact, and it has been proved again that they make the BEST onscreen couple.

The India back story has been captured very well by Johar. Cinematography by the renowned Ravi K Chandran lives up to his name totally in My Name is Khan. Hats off for that.

My Name is Khan is international in its feel and treatment, shots, production values and the various settings – but with some of Karan Johar's trademarks thrown in. Like the use of Hum Honge Kamayaab throughout – a song for effect. But it's obvious Karan Johar wants to please both India and overseas markets, especially the US.

The Hurricane Katrina sequence has been unmistakably put in for this effect. And the track of Mama Jenny and Funny Hair Joel. Through this, the film not only shows the animosity towards Muslims and Sikhs, but also African-Americans. There is also a message for terrorists. Karan Johar has truly aimed for the global audience.

Shibani Bathija's story is not water-tight, but her dialogues are impressive, like 'Namaz jagah se nahin, neeyat se padhi jaati hain'.

Verdict: One of the important films of Hindi cinema. Although it messes up its length, there are some touching scenes not to be missed. My Name is Khan has many messages and not just an 'Autism Alert' and 'Terror Alert'. Go for it and enjoy interpreting.

Rating: 3/5.

'Atithi Tum Kab Jaoge?' is entertaining

It's all about loving your elderly guests

Warner Bros production Atithi Tum Kab Jaoge? is based on Sharad Joshi's novel Tum Kab Jaoge Atithi. While going to watch this film, do remember that it is not a madhouse comedy like Priyadarshan's or David Dhawan's. It takes you there slowly and subtly, bringing home the message.

Puneet (Ajay Devgan) is a scriptwriter who's landed a big film project. He has an interior designer wife, Munmun (Konkona Sen Sharma) and a little son.

Life is pretty much routine for them until a relative arrives one day from Gorakhpur, calling himself Chachaji (Paresh Rawal). While friends and neighbours are irritated with guests at home, Puneet and Munmun actually welcome their new arrival.

But right from the moment he enters the building complex, Chachaji causes havoc with his old-fashioned and some very weird and annoying ways. Soon, Puneet and Munmun start looking for ways to get rid of him, but to no avail. This old worldly and simple uncle just doesn't seem to get the hint.

The first half of the film goes in establishing all this, and does a pretty good job of it. There are twists and turns in the second half, all tackled with the help of comic situations.

What scores is that the film does not have slapstick or in-your-face comedy. It is just about loving and accepting your guest, the way he or she is – taking the good things from them and ignoring the bad. However,the film does not say whether one should accept and endure guests who are not relatives of the hosts. That could be a different story altogether.

Paresh Rawal is the rockstar in Atithi.... Here is one character actor for whom people flock to the box office.

It looks like Ajay Devgan would continue his successful spree after 2009's All the Best, although London Dreams didn't do that well. The actor is in full form in the scene where he confesses he wouldn't even have tolerated his dad as a guest for more than four days, and that his son would do the same.

Konkona Sen Sharma is a natural as the modern, working wife, mother and daughter-in-law. She looks pretty, too, and adds a freshness to the film.

It's an exciting week for Satish Kaushik, with two films releasing on the same day. He convincingly plays the film producer in Atithi..., as well as the mechanic in Studio18's Road, Movie. The beginning of a good year for the lovable 'Calendar' from Mr. India - who is more successful as an actor than a director.

Writer-director Ashwani Dheer's Atithi Tum Kab Jaoge? almost reminds you of Karan Johar's 'It's all about loving your family' punch in his films - although in the message, not the treatment. But Atithi... is a good eye-opener for today's youngsters who lead a fast life just like Puneet and Munmun, and have no time even for parents. And never does the film get boring or sermonic.

But remember, it's not a laugh riot, but displays comedy with the help of dialogues, situations, and parodies (like Beedi Jalailey becomes prayer song Jyoti Jalailey).

Verdict: All in all, Atithi... is a family film, and seems like a best bet this week to watch with one's family, as compared to the other films.

Rating: Good.

'Karthik Calling Karthik' is touching

Farhan Akhtar is brilliant in this thrilling and touching tale

In Karthik Calling Karthik (KCK), Farhan Akhtar plays the title role. Karthik is basically a loser, a simple, middle class guy who lacks confidence and is forever bullied in life. He does not like to use mobilephones - for the same reason that Rizwan Khan (Shah Rukh Khan) in My Name is Khan doesn't use them.

Karthik is gullible, naïve, and cannot strike deals at work. He likes a girl in office, the hot architect Shonali Mukherjee (Deepika Padukone), but is never able to tell her. He's working there for the last four years, but she never notices him. Karthik is always under-confident, as a childhood incident has affected him.

So, what brings about a sudden change in Karthik's life, and for the better? You guessed it right, a phone call from a man who is his namesake and knows everything about him. Karthik calls Karthik everyday, and guides him through the day to get whatever he wants – that hot position, that hot chick, whatever. Now, if only everyone had a mentor like that!

Until this point, KCK seems like a lesson in self-confidence. But the twist comes when this caller Karthik becomes our loser Karthik's enemy and begins destroying the same life he helped build. That's when the film takes a dramatic turn. From then on, poor loser Karthik builds his life back bit by bit. How he does it, is what touches your heart.

Writer-director Vijay Lalwani has made KCK with a lot of love. Its Hollywood style treatment is good and so is the editing. It's an old story in a new format, but the humour in the dialogues makes it watchable. The cinematography also does the trick.

The film makes you sympathise with Karthik. And yes, you get the jitters every time the phone rings. Even the shrink (played by Shefali Shah) runs away from it!

The director has effectively been able to make a thriller out of a story about the games our mind plays. The treatment is edge of the seat and smooth.

Even though it's pretty clear by the interval what the film is about, the suspense remains till the end. You don't know till the end if it's about something supernatural or not. Watch the film to know the truth.

Farhan Akhtar excels in his third outing as an actor. He has good screen presence, and truly possesses the ability to get into the skin of any character. Here we have a great actor in the making, if he keeps going the way he is right now.

Deepika Padukone is as fresh as she was in Love Aaj Kal, and plays her bindaas girl part well. There's not much scope for her in this film to show her acting, but she makes a hot pair with Farhan Akhtar. We wish there was a li'l more screen time for them in terms of songs and stuff.

Ram Kapoor, Vivan Bhatena, Tarana, Shefali Chhaya and Vipin Sharma fit into their parts well.

The chartbusting songs provide a li'l bit of relief from the slow pace, but the undercurrent of the tension onscreen remains – which is both good and bad.

But Karthik Calling Karthik never gives you that high you expect from a thriller. It will also remind you of some Hindi or English films on the same subject, which I'm not revealing on purpose. Nevertheless, it's a touching tale.

Verdict: Vijay Lalwani shows that Taare Zameen Par and My Name is Khan are not the only two ways to treat sensitive subjects on celluloid. But the film does not have repeat value once you know the suspense.

Rating: 3.5/5 (extra 0.5 ONLY for Farhan Akhtar).

'Teen Patti' is stylish but loses track

The film goes wrong towards the end

There was a time when critics half-heartedly reviewed Hindi remakes of Hollywood films. But now, there are more remakes than original stories in Bollywood. So, one just has to sort of ignore the references to the original and watch the new version as a standalone product.

But Leena Yadav's Teen Patti heavily borrows from 2008's Kevin Spacey-starrer 21, which in turn was based on a book, Bringing Down the House: The Inside Story of Six MIT Students Who Took Vegas for Millions by Ben Mezrich.

Amitabh Bachchan plays Mathematics professor Venkat Subramaniam who is invited by another great mathematician and magician, Perci Trachtenberg (Sir Ben Kingsley) to a casino in London to discuss his thesis. The film moves into flashback.

Subramaniam, a teacher at B.I.T., does not get along with his dean (played by theatre guru Barry John) and is on the verge of losing his job as his papers are not being published. Dejected, Subramaniam is trying to put his mind back to work, when a pop-up on his computer entices him to play a game of teen patti or black jack.

Subramaniam soon realises that if he applies some math, and knows the cards of any one player, he can predict the winner. He decides that this 'theory of probability' will be the topic of his next paper. He tests it again with a young prof Shantanu Biswas (Madhavan) and a group of students comprising Aparna (Shraddha Kapoor), Siddharth Bajaj (Siddharth Kher) and Bikram (Dhruv Ganesh).

Shantanu convinces Subramaniam to test it on real situations. And so the gang plots and plans their strategy. Each member takes on a different name and disguise for safety. Soon, they start trying out the theory at dingy gambling dens.

But after getting caught in several dangerous situations, Subramaniam decides to put an end to it all. It's a phone call from a blackmailer that makes him continue playing and winning.

Meanwhile, richie rich classmate Abbas Sheikh (Vaibhav Talwar) follows the group. He shows them more money and takes them to high society gambling dens. Caught in the web of their habit, the gang has no option but to keep it on. It's not about the professor and his theory anymore.

Things get murky from then on. Everybody suspects the other, and greed, lies, fraud and betrayal take over their lives. Each of the players gets involved in his or her alternate identity to such an extent that their real identity is lost. This leads to more complexities and tragedies.

The film suddenly turns a bit abstract in between, which takes it a bit off track. Like the relationship between Bikram and his roomie, bordering on the homosexual. Is that for the firang audience? Or just to show Bikram as the most emotional of the lot?

It's strange that basic morals and the voice of one's conscience are ignored by these 'needy' young folks. Kind of hard to digest that these bright, young students are only after money. Aren't most students on scholarship or paying off loans? Don't most belong to the middle class?

Siddharth Kher and Shraddha Kapoor are likeable as Sid and Apu aka Bonnie and Clyde. Both actors are to watch out for. Shraddha especially was cool, and could do well if groomed by her dad Shakti Kapoor and aunts Padmini and Tejaswini Kolhapure. The other newcomers, Dhruv Ganesh and Vaibhav Talwar are also good. Vaibhav displays cool confidence, required for his rich guy character. Raima Sen as Shantanu's fiancé hardly has a role. Madhavan as the young prof with grey shades is at his best.

Bachchan as Subramaniam is cool as the dejected ol' prof, who talks to Albert Einstein's picture every time he's in distress. His character is positive as against the grey of Kevin Spacey in 21.

But the chemistry between Sir Ben Kingsley and Bachchan leaves a lot to be desired. No powerhouse performance together here. Also, we would've loved to see a game or two between the two geniuses in the end.

The special appearances of Ajay Devgan, Shakti Kapoor and Jackie Shroff add nothing to the film. Also, at one point, Devgan calls Bachchan 'Krishnamurthy'. He is Subramaniam.

Teen Patti starts with English dialogues, and ends with them. It's a stylish film, though it goes wrong in the end. It's made for urban, multiplex audiences but even those might not be able to appreciate the good points if the proceedings don't engross them. How much it'll be appreciated abroad is tricky, too – people will not want to see another 21, which was an average film by any standard. Amitabh Bachchan and Ben Kingsley are the only ones to pull the crowds in, who will be disappointed.

Verdict: A stylish attempt definitely, but it goes wrong horribly towards the end. Such big money and great actors are not put to optimum use, thanks to a flawed script.

Rating: 2.5/5 (extra 0.5 for style.

First Cut: 'Click' is spooky

If you haven't seen the original, the film manages to scare you

Director Santosh Sivan's Click is a remake of the Thai film Shutter (directed by Masayuki Ochiai), which was subsequently made into English (as Shutter), and Tamil and Telugu as well. But I tried to watch the Hindi version as an audience who hasn't seen any of the earlier versions. Let's take a look.

Shreyas Talpade is Avi, a hotshot fashion photographer who is dating model Sonia (Sada). All is well in their lives, until they hit a girl on their way back from a wild party. The two decide to drive away instead of helping the victim, and soon forget about it. Until something strange reminds them of their doing – a ghostly figure starts appearing in all of Avi's pictures.

Filled with guilt, Sonia is sure that the accident victim is dead and her spirit is troubling them. But Avi does not believe it until the ghost haunts him everywhere.

Meanwhile, three of Avi's friends are killed in succession and in similar fashion. That is when Sonia takes it upon herself to get to the heart of the matter. And that is when the story picks up.

Click in the first half manages to scare you and arouse curiosity. But it starts dragging a bit. It's only later that you're engrossed, when the 'ghost' Aarti Kaushik's (Sneha Ullal) back story begins. The film's end is also not conventional.

What's good is that Click is not predictable if you haven't seen Shutter.

Cinematography by T Ramji is not spectacular but one does notice some good shots. The spooky ones, though, are very conventional and 'been there, done that'.

But thankfully Click is two hours long, and does not use extreme horror treatment like The Exorcist and its kind. The film manages to scare with sound effects and shock value at crucial points. It often reminds you of Ram Gopal Varma's Bhoot, which was excellent in comparison.

Shreyas Talpade and Sada both perform well, without whom the film would be totally drab. Sneha Ullal has just one line, but has an impact through her silence. However, she could do with cutting a bit of her flab, if she wants to get back to Bollywood big time.

Chunky Pandey as the weirdo writer Manu Sharma is amusing. Avtar Gill, who made an appearance in all Mahesh Bhatt films, makes a comeback of sorts after Dhoondte Reh Jaaoge, in a bit part as photo studio owner. He has not lost touch. Rehan Khan plays Avi's friend Tarun well.

Riya Sen is not even noticed in her heavily edited 'item number'. The ghost has more screen time than her!

Shamir Tandon's music is strictly OK, except the title song. Sandeep Chowta's background score is average, but complements the 'ghost moments' well.

Click takes a lot from Shutter, but if you haven't seen the original, it's not a bad watch. But one does feel that some well made TV shows like Aahat or Zee Horror Show managed to involve viewers more than Click.

Verdict: If you haven't seen the original, Click will scare you. And, more importantly, it's better than the other two films this week. That should work in its favour.

Rating: 2/5

'Anolkhi Hey Ghar Majhe' is average

Ashok Saraf shines in this average film

Ashok Saraf's Anolkhi Hey Ghar Majhe is a film Marathi audiences would look forward to, knowing that the actor-producer's films generally have a good quality to them. Moreover, decent films such as Rita and Samaantar in the past two weeks have served as appetisers for the discerning viewer. So, let's see what Anolkhi Hey Ghar Majhe has dished out to us.

Saraf plays Jagannath Deshmukh, patriarch of the middle-class Deshmukh family. The first half of the film goes in establishing the various characters – Jagannath's wife Malti (Meghna Vaidya), their three sons, and daughter-in-law. Tushar Dalvi is Shekhar, the eldest son, and Kavita Laad Medhekar plays his wife Shubhada. Jagannath also has a daughter who has run away and got married to a man from another caste. The family is not in talking terms with her.

Shekhar is the highest earner and takes care of most of the expenses of the house. As the expenditure increases day by day, he gets more and more irritated. To top it all is the wedding of his younger brother (played by Pushkar Shrotri), who earns less than half of the income of Shekhar.

Shekhar nearly loses it when Jagannath takes voluntary retirement at the age of 50. And just when he's feeling more pressure building up on him, his sister comes home, bag and baggage, after a fight with her husband. Shekhar gets nervous with another addition to the family.

Further, his Shubhada becomes pregnant. That really makes him think about separating from the family. So when Shubhada is away for delivery, a big fight happens between father and son. The house is now divided with a red line that runs across, and neither member can cross it. Jagannath promises to return all he owes to Shekhar, and throw him out of the house in the end.

Woah! Sounds like an Ekta Kapoor show, doesn't it? Well, apparently the film is a remake of Hindi film Sansar, just the kind of films that Ekta must be referring to while scripting her shows.

Anyways, so this partition makes Jagannath take up two odd jobs. All the men in the house now want to contribute to the fund to repay Shekhar.

The third son, Siddharth (Sushant Shellar), is a good for nothing engineering student who takes to drugs due to parental pressure. Siddharth too wants to earn now, but is firmly told to clear his exams. He continues his addiction.

Shubhada returns home with her baby, only to see the family divided in to two and no love coming her li'l son's way. It is she who brings all together in the end, making Shekhar realise how sharing expenses is cheaper, and that maintaining relationships is more important than anything else. She also manages to bring some sense to Siddharth's head. Watch the film to know how she does it.

Ashok Saraf shines in this melodramatic but average film. Tushar Dalvi and Kavita Laad are perfect for their roles, acclaimed actors that they are. Pushkar Shrotri and Sushant Shellar both get to show off their acting skills, and both excel in them when the right moment arrives. The music of the film is above average.

As far as the production values go, one can't expect much in a medium-budget Marathi film. Regional cinema in India has come a long way, but it's often that one has to ignore the packaging and look for a good story, decent acting and hummable music. This is because, most of the films are low budget with the exception of a Me Shivajiraje Bhosale Boltoy, or big-ticket south Indian, Bengali or Bhojpuri flicks.

Verdict: Director Sachin Deo's film could actually have been a good watch but for the length – close to three hours is too long for today's audiences for a rona-dhona flick. One needs some respite and surely their could've been more light or comic moments.

Rating: 2/5.

Tum Milo Toh Sahi saved by Nana-Dimple

The veteran actors hold the fort in an average film

Kabir Sadanand's Tum Milo Toh Sahi has three parallel love stories which meet at Lucky Café.

Track One: Lucky Café is managed by a lovable, enterprising Parsi lady, Dilshad Irani (Dimple Kapadia). Her outlet is popular in the locality, and faces danger of being taken over by international coffee chain, Blue Bell.

Rajagopal Subramaniam (Nana Patekar) is a lawyer who's chucked out of his firm for being too old fashioned. Subbu has his quirks. He has his deceased mom's framed picture placed on a traditional jhoola, which he swings every now and then. Forced into retirement, he develops problems with every other person and thing.

Track Two: Amit Nagpal (Suniel Shetty) moves into a lavish four-bedroom flat given by his company Blue Bell, and is compelled to take possession of Lucky Café by hook or by crook. In the process, he has problems with his wife Ankita (Vidya Malvade) and kid.

Track Three: Dehradun boy Bikramjit (Rehan Khan) is an army man's son. He comes to Mumbai to pursue Mass Communication, and gets lost in the city's ways. Bikram falls in love with Shalini (Anjana Sukhani), a middle-class Maharashtrian girl who portrays herself to be a rich, high-flying girl.

Tum Milo Toh Sahi begins very well but moves off track after the interval. Audiences would've loved to see the Nana-Dimple track dominate the screenplay. They both perform well in their respective parts, and share cool chemistry. Nana does go back to his Prahar and Krantiveer in some scenes, but Dimple is superb as a Parsi woman. Both actors forget to use their accent only once or twice.

But the film tries too hard to give importance to all the characters. And hence fails to bring out the main story effectively. What starts out as a promising film, progresses with a sprinkling of embarrassing 'filmi' lines. We'd rather just watch Nana and Dimple watch perform than the item songs and the stories of other characters.

But all credit for the production design. The sets are very real - right from the Irani café to the simple Tamilian house of Subramaniam. It seems like Sophia College at Breach Candy has been used to depict Kingston College in the film. And Kabir's sister Kunika's restaurant has been used in a scene.

The background music in the film changes with the three tracks and is loud. Especially funny is the 'Blue Bell' one, which seems unnecessary. Also, music director-singer Raghav Sachar is too cute, but did not really fit into the film.

In the climax, the court room drama begins well, but sadly becomes a bit of a farce in the end.

Suniel Shetty and Vidya Malvade are good in their parts. Rehan Khan and Anjana Sukhani look a bit old to play students. Vrajesh Hirjee (Jimmy) manages to generate a few laughs with his lines.

Verdict: Watch it only for Nana Patekar and Dimple Kapadia's performance.

Rating: Average.

Sendhil on 'It's a Wonderful Afterlife'

Heroes' actor Sendhil Ramamurthy exclusively talks about Gurinder Chadha's film, 'It's a Wonderful Afterlife', and also 'Shor'

He became famous as the geneticist in hot TV series Heroes. And now he's playing a major role in Gurinder Chadha's It's a Wonderful Afterlife, releasing in May 2010. IBNMovies spoke to Sendhil Ramamurthy in an EXCLUSIVE interview on his experience, and also his Bollywood plans.

First up, let's talk about your experience working on the much loved TV show, Heroes.

It was an amazing experience to be a part of a show that blew up to be so big and has captured the imagination of people worldwide. It runs in 226 countries, and there's no place where people don't know who we are. It's been four great years of working on it, and the show has opened doors for more work – for all of us.

How kicked were you playing a geneticist in Heroes?

Well, I'd really been doing theatre when I landed the role. So, I was just excited to have a job, because it paid well. And it was a sprawling concept, very filmic in nature. They have spent a lot of money.

You mean, Heroes was shot on a movie camera?

Yes, it was fully shot on Panavision film, which is very rare these days.

Had you seen any of Gurinder Chadha's films before you accepted It's a Wonderful Afterlife?

I had seen Bend It Like Beckham, which was terrific. I knew that she was doing very commercial, popular films. I accepted Wonderful Afterlife...because was very different from Heroes, and also, it fit into my schedule.

How was it working with Shabana Azmi?

Amazing. We don't have too many scenes together, but even watching her was great – someone so much more experienced than I am.

Tell us about your B'wood project, Shor. How did you land the role?

I finished shooting it in February. The writer-directors Krishna D.K. and Raj Nidimoru flew to LA and offered the role to me over breakfast. They showed me their short film which went to Cannes, called Short, which I liked. My role in Shor is that of an NRI who comes to set up a non-profit organisation in India and gets caught up in corruption and the mafia. I work with a terrific new actress, Preeti Desai who's been Miss Great Britain in 2006.

Are there anymore Bollywood films in your kitty?

I don't speak Hindi, so only if films are being made in English, I can do them. There are three stories in Shor, and my story is in English. So, I'm looking at more crossover and character-based kind of films. But say, if Ashutosh Gowariker is making a film in English, I can be a part of such projects.

You're a Tamilian. Have you been approached for a role in south Indian cinema?

I have been recently approached for a Tamil and a Kannada film. But I will wait for the right script.

How do you research for your role? What is your approach?

It depends on the character. In Afterlife…, I play a cop. So, I roamed around with the London Metropolitan Police, and talked to them.

Will you go back to theatre?

Yeah. I did theatre in New York and London, and would love to do West Enders or a Broadway.

Meet the winner of MTV Roadies 7

IBNMovies spoke to Anwar Syed, the winner of MTV Roadies 7

Delhi boy Anwar Syed won the MTV Roadies 7 title in a gritty finale on April 4. IBNMovies spoke to the 24-year-old on his experience on the show, and also his future plans. Excerpts:

Is it a big thing to be a Roadies winner?

The magnitude of the entire situation is still sinking in. From being a college student to being a Roadies winner – it's a happy transition.

Did you always think you would win?

I had come in with a mindset to win. I knew that I had all the attributes to win, like physical endurance, mental toughness, ability to overcome fear and to keep going in all circumstances.

How difficult was the final task in your road to victory?

After the task was explained to us, I knew it required a lot of muscle power. I thought that I would be better at it than anybody else. I realised that your aim, speed, stamina is very important. But I must say that Zaid (the other finalist) gave an amazing fight. I admire him for it.

Who were your arch rivals on the show?

I think the trio of Mohit Malik, Amritpal Singh and Zaid Bin Nazir – ever since the show started. They were a group of friends. I got very little support on the show initially.

Are you very physical in real life?

Yes, I play a lot of sports. I was the cricket captain in my college. It's not like I'm a bodybuilder, but I like being fit.

Did you miss Raghu on the show?

Audiences feel that after he went, the charm was lost. Raghu brought along his own stamp and has a loyal fanbase. But I think Roadies was good with Rannvijay, too.

You are an MBA from XLRI, Jamshedpur. After Roadies 7, what are your future plans?

I've majored in Finance and Marketing, and I already have a job in place. After the Roadies victory, I have two career options. I have not decided yet.

Have you been offered Bigg Boss or any other TV show? What about a film?

Not yet. I will be considering whatever quality work I'm offered.

I don't fear failure: Mahesh Manjrekar

The filmmaker chats with IBNMovies on his film Lalbaug Parel a.k.a. City of Gold

Dynamic director Mahesh Manjrekar is ready with his new film, a bilingual based on the story of Mumbai's mills which closed down due to land deals. The Marathi version of the film, titled Lalbaug Parel is releasing on April 9, while the Hindi version, titled City of Gold, shall release on April 23. Mahesh is also playing the part of singer and lyricist for the films. We spoke to the filmmaker on the occasion of the film's Marathi music release. Excerpts:

You have always made films about topics close to your heart. What made you think of the mill workers story?

It was in the 1980s when this thing happened. I was too young to think about doing anything for the displaced and unemployed mill workers. But today I feel ashamed of it, and we all should be. About 80 mills were closed down, rendering three lakh people unemployed. These people must've gone through hell. We must do something about them.

And you think your film will be able to help them?

We must put the point across. I want this film to go abroad so that people realise what happened. We know about the gas chambers in Hitler's time, because films were made on the subject. Very few people know about the Bhopal gas tragedy, as we have not been tom-tomming about it abroad.

Why did you think of making this film in Hindi and Marathi?

Because, the soul of the film is Marathi and the story is from Mumbai. I have used various Marathi dialects in the film. And in Hindi because, I want

What if your film doesn't work?

I have no fear of failure. I'm ready to accept defeat. I wrote this film five years ago, and for four years I didn't have a producer. My blood pressure was rising narrating this film. I had to get it out of my system. Suddenly, three equally passionate people turned out to produce it.

What about singing and writing lyrics for the film?

Like I said, I have no fear of failure. We must try new things.

Amitabh Bachchan didn't turn up for the event, but called you up to wish you at the event…

Yes. He is one person I can just pick up the phone and call. Earlier too, he has obliged me by attending an event for my film Viruddh's background music composers, Ajay-Atul who are winners of the National Film Award for Jogwa's music.