Sanket’s review: “Badlapur” is gripping and intrusive drama.

Cast: Varun Dhawan, Yami gautam, Nawazuddin Siddiquie, Huma Qureshi

Director: Sriram Raghvan

Length: 2hrs and 15 minutes

Possibly Raghvan’s best work, “Badlapur” is an accomplished venture that starts off on a terrific note and ends with one. The film in between too hook you up, though not all is correct about the film.

The film is more about the two characters – the Hero and the villain rather than the inner turmoil of the hero. The film doesn’t take time to build the plot and goes with the kill from word go. Raghvan known to infuse enough drama and suspense in the plot, although that disappeared in his previous film “Agent Vinod, does the same here but perhaps with little more finesse. The plot moves along with twists and turns and the characters are nicely etched giving the raw deal of each player. The writing is extremely staunch and the film has brisk pace.

Although the flashback portions don’t really bring enough difference to the film’s screenplay and resulting in unexploited emotions, yet the writers win brownies for giving zany dimension to Nawazuddin’s character that gets to mouth some crackling dialogues. Or even Varun’s character that shows high levels of alterations as and when the story progresses. The film even though a revenge drama gives a nice angle to it by playing with the characters and keeping the suspense and thrill intact throughout.

But as mentioned that film does have some problems- there are several attempts to cut a nice emotional piece with flashbacks which hardly works and also pace at couple of places goes for toss.

The film enjoys sharp background score and the “jee Karda” in the background gives Goosebumps. And even “jeena jeena” is quite a nice song that gets its place at the right time. The film adequately benefits from Raghvan’s excellent execution who manages to keep the momentum high even when there’s silence. His wit blossoms in scenes where he uses subtle comical undertones especially reserved for Nawaaz  in the scenes where Nawaaz displays childish flamboyance to his co-criminal in jail or be it the mouse-and-cat play in a movie theatre.

Varun Dhawan uses silence and aggression abundantly and never losing a mark. His character has too many angle – he is menacing, he is lovable, he is heroic, he is helpless and he is funny too, and Dhawan packs all into a performance that shows of what calibre he is. Nawaaz, easily in his career’s most juicy role enjoys hilarious dialogues and also has a character that has arc and is not your typical antagonist. The dependable Huma Qureshi does well whereas Vinay Pathak hardly has much to do. Rest all are fine in the bit roles.

BADLAPUR is gripping and intrusive drama that’s worth the price of a ticket. The film could’ve managed its setbacks and could’ve been outstanding, yet for whatever it is, it is still a must-watch. The climax is a major highpoint because it’s not really conventional and yet its entirely convincing which in itself leaves you on a good note.

Rating – 3.5/5

Box Office predictions of BADLAPUR

A relatively new young star doing star doing gritty films can actually be a good mix from box office point of view and adding couple successful songs will only reassure a decent start if not any better. Starring Varun Dhawan, Yami Gautam, Huma Qureshi, Nawaazuddin Siddiqui, BADLAPUr is all set to release on 20^th Feb. Although business will keep getting affected because of World cup series, but the film will climb up to a decent performance unless the film is awful.

First day – 6.5crs

If Word of Mouth is GOOD,

First Weekend – 22crs

First Week – 37crs

Week 2- 16crs

Lifetime – 62crs

If Word of mouth is MIXED,

First Weekend – 20.5crs

First Week – 32crs

Week 2- 9crs

Lifetime – 43crs

If Word of mouth is BAD,

First Weekend – 19crs

First Week – 28crs

Week 2- 5crs

Lifetime- 34crs

Box Office Predictions of ROY

The Ranbir Kapoor, Arjun Rampal and Jacqueline Fernandes starrer ROY is releasing this Friday and the film carries good expectations because of Face value and successful songs.

First day- 10crs

If word of mouth is good,

Weekend – 34.5crs

Week 1- 56crs

Week 2- 20crs

Lifetime- 87crs

If word of mouth is mixed,

Weekend – 32crs

Week 1- 50crs

Week 2- 15crs

Lifetime – 71crs

If word of mouth is bad,

Weekend – 30crs

Week 1- 45crs

Week 2- 10crs

Lifetime – 58crs

Sanket’s Review: “Baby” is nail-biting thriller at its best.

Cast: Akshay Kumar, Anupam Kher, Kay Kay Menon, Rana Daggubatti, Taapsee Pannu

Director: Neeraj pandey

Length: 2hrs and 40 minutes approximately.

In Bollywood we usually don’t have enough of films like the ones which Neeraj Pandey churns out. BABY is a film which could have easily trespassed the boundary and could have been one exciting India revolting against Pakistan kind of a film, but Neeraj Pandey walks a thin line between patriotic drama and intriguing thriller and that’s what knocks it out of the park for BABY. The last time I remember was unmoved from my seat and hardly time to breathe in a thriller was Abbas-Mustan’s RACE which released almost 7 years back. Now that one was much safer film compared to BABY and Pandey along with his leading man, who is in stupendous form, lends the film all the finesse it required in terms of direction or acting.

There is a clear hangover of “D-day” which was directed by Nikhil Advani but BABY in contrast has a rather uncompromised screenplay for almost all its runtime. The film moves steadily from one episode to other and nicely involves one character after other. A lesser competent director could have wrangled up his screenplay to give broader narration for important characters in the film, but Pandey knows his work- even in just 4 scenes of Kay kay Menon, he remains one of the poignant characters of the film. The first hour of Baby although engaging and riveting but has lose ends like the clichéd family story of the protagonist which is almost like a signature plot of every film in these pattern of films.

But longing for almost 95 minutes, the second half is were BABY takes you for a ride. The operations in the film are explained smartly without spoon-feeding or manifesting about any twist. At places the film is predictable and little convenient, but nitpickings aside the second hour is rather outstanding. The film almost makes you jump in your seat and asks you to switch on your brains to think a little. The film could’ve ended with a little more elaborated narration, but yet, for whatever it is, it is enjoyable and engaging every minute.

The action scenes look authentic and have those thrills. The one where we have Taapsee Pannu doing some “real” action is highpoint of BABY. The gun-fights too are handled with panache. Cinematographer does a mid blowing job and he places his eyes on all the apt locations. The story and screenplay plays pivotal role in making what BABY is.

Akshay Kumar blends his performance with vulnerability and strengthening aggression and chalks out a terrific character that has more things to do than say. Anupam Kher’s comic undertones are overwhelming. Taapsee Pannu impresses enormously in those 15 minutes that she features.

BABY is nail-biting thriller at its best. The film has sharp wit at places, like the one where Akshay Kumar shuts the room door and slaps the manager or even Anupam Kher’s over-smart one-liners, and yet the film maintains its taut narrative mostly without any speed-bumps. That says a lot about a film that hooks you for about 160 minutes without indulging into songs or compromised drama. Should you watch it? Well, is that a question?

Rating – 4/5 

Box office predictions of “DOLLY KI DOLI”

On 23^rd Jan 2015 releases “Dolly ki Doli” starring Sonam Kapoor, Pulkit Samrat, Rajkumar Rao, Varun Sharma. The film is releasing against “BABY” which means tough competition for the film. Although the trailer had set the expectations right and the film might manage respectable start at the box office.

First day – 3.5crs

If Word of mouth is GOOD,

Weekend (4 days) – 16.5crs

Week 1- 22.5crs

Week 2- 7.5crs

Lifetime – 35crs

If word of mouth is MIXED,

Weekend (4 days) – 15crs

Week 1- 20crs

Week 2- 4crs

Lifetime – 25.5crs

If Word of mouth is BAD,

Weekend (4 days)- 13crs

Week 1- 17crs

Week 2- 2.5crs

Lieftime- 20crs

**NOTE :- The above three cases aren’t exhaustive. The WOM can be EXCELLENT and the film can go on to do as much as 47crs in best case scenario. If the WOM is outright disaster, then the film can settle even at around 18crs

Box office predictions OF BABY

Starring Akshay Kumar, Rana daggubati, Anupam Kher, Tapsee Pannu, “Baby” is releasing on 23^rd Jan 2015. Its an action-thriller within the backdrop of terrorism. The film doesn’t have any great buzz as there have been no song that caught the ears and also the film isn’t universally appealing.

First day – 10crs

If word of Mouth is GOOD,

Weekend (4 days) – 42.5crs

Week 1- 61crs

Week 2- 27crs

Lifetime- 108crs

If Word of mouth is MIXED,

Weekend (4 days)- 38crs

Week 1- 50crs

Week 2- 16crs

Lifetime- 72crs

If word of mouth is BAD,

Weekend (4 days) – 35crs

Week 1- 44.5crs

Week 2- 7.5crs

Lifetime- 53crs

**NOTE : The above three cases aren’t exhaustive. The WOM can be EXCELLENT and the film can go on to do as much as 135crs in best case scenario. If the WOM is outright disaster, then the film can settle even at around 49crs.

Sanket’s Review: “Tevar” is fairly consistent until the last lap.

Cast: Arjun Kapoor, Sonakshi Sinha, Manoj bajpai, Raj babbar

Director:

Length: 2hrs and 40 minutes approx

For films like TEVAR, the templates are set and therefore the only thing which has to be worked upon is to put all the genres effectively into the film and not compromising on scenes which can be elaborated for few whistles and claps. Fair enough! We understand a film has to cater to masses who enjoys drama which has protagonist spewing few heroic dialogues and antagonist who is at the back-foot. TEVAR too comes from the same school of film-making. In-fact the film is overtly repetitive in its narration where we see the lead pair only running away from the goons, a plot that’s been exploited to death in Bollywood.

But the film benefits enormously from its leading man who submits himself to the rustic, grounded rowdy boy who finds fighting with goons equivalent to playing Kabaddi. The film is pretty brisk in its first hour even if it lasts for 80 minutes. Few scenes stand-out like the ones between Arjun and his sister or Arjun kapoor and Raj Babbar or even the intense and engaging intermission episode. Not that everything is correct here though- the introduction part of Sonakshi is abrupt and the song is too mild to hook you. Also the item number, which is decent enough, feels like has popped in wrong time.

Post interval, TEVAR doesn’t lose it all at once. It has few gripping parts, like the one with Raj Babbar and Sonakshi Sinha. But intermittently the film stumbles and has to use western looking dance numbers which can be best termed boring! Who expects this film which is unapologetically earthy and “Indian” trying to put lights on for their actor to do some western dance numbers? But what really bogs TEVAR down is last half hour where TEVAR loses direction to where to take its story ahead and that brings in exaggerated and overplayed emotions followed up by stale action sequence. Only if the climax was devised in smarter manner, TEVAR could have been a satisfying watch.

The dialogues at places are funny and some dialogues cheesy. The action scenes initially are good and it is really refreshing to see some new angles and shots and thrills in action scenes. Although as pointed, it seemed like the action director ran short of ideas in climax which looked like rehashed versions of earlier action scenes of the film. The newbie director has to be credited for handling the first half effectively despite the routine screenplay.

Arjun kapoor displays vulnerability and aggression with equal zeal. He does have to work on the emotional scenes which comes across towards the weak finale, but still, he is the film to holds the film together. Manoj Bajpai, although in a role that is type casted for him, gives nice dimension of his character- a character that is brutal but falls for a girl as easily as any other guy in the town, a character that is fooled several times and yet he manages to send through menacing vibes across. Sonakshi sinha, well my review for her remains the same as what was for few of her earlier films. Raj babbar is terrific in few scenes that he appears in.

TEVAR is watchable, but it saddens to see that the film breaks down in the final half hour where ideally it should’ve been its strongest. Go for it, have a good first two hours and then assume as if you’re watching the rest of the film just a duty of finishing the whole film.

Rating – 2.5/5