Sanket’s Review: “Happy New year” entertains and how!

Cast: Shahrukh Khan, Boman Irani, ABhishek Bachchan, Deepika Padukone, Vivaan shah, Jackie Shroff, Sonu Sood.

Director: Farah Khan

Length: 3hrs

In today’s date, when most films feel dragged and overdone if it goes above two and half hours, it must have been quite a task to believe that this film will engross the audience for three hours. Well, the director ensured that she won’t really let the film to slow down which shows in the screenplay. There are long emotional scenes at places but the director peppers up the film by immediately adding some fast-paced scenes after those emotional scenes. Thankfully, neither emotional scenes drown nor does the comedy falls flat. But yes the comedy is slapstick and pronounced may not bring the house down each time.

The film starts with a bang. The swaggering entry for the lead hero of the film boosts up the energy. Although its just a “entry scene” and nothing more, but one does enjoy it especially when Shahrukh refers to his own films by using the dialogues and tweaking them. But the film lags only initially when one after other character is developed. The introduction parts of all the other guys in the film takes too much time and it doesn’t help that the film has already spent 40 minutes without really having kick-started with the original theme of the film. One enjoys the bits of comedy like the whole part where these boys try to learn foreign dances or even the famous Chak De India dialogue that our female protagonist gives a funny angle to. So far so good.

The second half of the film is one of the longest second halves ever going for around 100 minutes but Farah manages to engage with a tight screenplay especially during the heist scene, which is spoon-fed a lot, but done humorously. Take this- during the intense heist scene, after a small victory, SRK revelling in glory asks Boman “Will you marry me?” Such bits and spurts of comical angle and some over the top, yet thoroughly enjoyable patriotism makes HAPPY NEW YEAR a roller coaster ride.

The film captures Dubai in beautiful ways. The screen was filled with colors and grandeur. Look at the bar dance song “Lovely” which looks royal, thanks to crores of money spent on sets and costumes. The music of the film nicely mixes up with the theme and Khan’s choreography is laudable. The dialogues are mostly usual, but the ones borrowed from SrK’s earlier films makes maximum impact.

Shahrukh Khan manages to hold up the show. He pulls off the emotional scenes with panache, which is rare now days from this actor. Deepika Padukone manages to do some good comedy in a restricted role. Abhishek Bachchan has good amount of energy and he carries the over the top comedy to the perfection. Sonu Sood and Vivaan Shah hardly gets any major scene to display their potential. Boman Irani is endearing once again in a very sweet role.

The film in the end, turns out to be a overwhelming surprise and if the film is seen for what it is, then you’ll come out on a satisfying note. The exotic locales, terrific scenes, some manifested patriotism especially in the “Satakli” song which is one of the highpoints of the film and nice blend of comedy and drama turns HAPPY NEW YEAR into a wholesome entertainment. It entertains and how!

Rating – 3.5/5

Sanket's BANG BANG review: Its not unwatchable, but its easily forgettable.

Cast: Hrritik Roshan, Katrina Kaif, Danny denzongpa

Director: Siddarth Anand

Length: 2 hrs and 35 mins

There’s a scene in the film where Katrina asks? “Plan kya hain” to which Hritik replies “pata nai”. If we ask the same question to makers of this film as to what’s really the crux of the film, the answer wouldn’t be much different. When you have a leading couple like Hritik and Katrina, who look as glamorous as they could with elegance written all over their clothes and accessories, it must really take a screenplay as botched up as what we have in BANG BANG to restrict the exciting quotient of the film. If you think action scenes are worth watching, you aren’t wrong, but what you have to go through in between one action scene to other is something that you didn’t buy into.

So the film really lack any sense of logic, which frankly I am not much bothered about in films like these, but the conviction factor is in the air. Its sad to see a screenplay, which surely must not be more than 5 pages long, written for mundane justifications just to make sure our actors move from Shimla’s snowing weather to Prague’s exotic wallpaper beauty. Although the humor that sparks in between the couple intermittently do give a sense of refreshment from a tiring narration that relies only on its lead couple and its action. The film feels dragged at one point when you want to throw to really ask, why is Hritik fighting, really? Well we do get answered for that question, but are we satisfied with the answer? Certainly, No!

The film constantly revolves around some eye-pleasing natural places that gives the film a rich view and the cinematography is worth applauding! Vishal-Shekar’s music is peppy although one does feel the needlessness of songs. “Tu meri”, “Meherbaan” and “Bang bang” are choreographed with enough sensuality in it to allure you.

 But one cannot talk about BANG BANG and not mention the action parts of the film. The action scenes are enthralling and they keep you glued to your seats making you bite your nail. The chase scene in the beginning is par excellence. Also it suits someone like Hritik whose style and energy never dries even if the film does. The aqua-action has the newness and the background score staples to the mood of action, also the car chases are extremely engaging, and the building-to-building jumps looks super-stuff, thanks to very nuances and smartness with which they have been done.

The film belongs to Hritik primarily. He has nice sense of humor and he displays in his character effectively. There’s swagger, anger, fun and charm in his performance and he nails it. Katrina Kaif is still meddling with her distracting diction although she is fun when she is not displaying any strong emotional side of her. Rest no one really has enough role to talk about.

In the end, BANG BANG disappoints and how! Wish the director didn’t really take a nap in our leading couple’s arm and rather made something more concrete and convincing film even with a dumbed up written material. If you aren’t thinking highly of this film anyway, watch it for some really cool action, some cool songs and dance moves, the sexy personalities on screen, and the leading man who never really fails even if the film does. But if you are expecting something that will entice you every second, just buy a DVD when it comes out and watch it and be less disappointed.

Rating- 2/5 

Review: “Haider” leaves you intrigued.

Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, Kay Kay Menon, Tabu, Irrfan Khan.

Director: Vishal Bharadwaj

Length: 2hrs and 42 minutes

One has to get it at very onset that “Haider” has too many subtexts to its story. Even if it is a revenge story, there’s lot more to it that just that. The film staged in Kashmir’s political and tense backdrop has no good or bad people- it has grey people. Mingled with plot twists and terrific ideas wrapped under the genre of drama and thriller, Haider delivers on all fronts.

The film has too many characters and it becomes essential that the story gives depth to each of them to put the story ahead. So in first hour the screenplay is brisk and the occurrences are too well handled. Note the Irrfan Khan portion just before intermission. Even if its just an introduction and brief scene, you know that some big surprise is around the corner. One gets so enthralled and eager that he/she may want to skip the interval break.

Post-intermission too the film holds its own and the violent portions are commendably taken care of. The scenes give gooseflesh and the story is moving coherently. But the sudden swing in our protagonist, played by Shahid Kapoor, does draw some uneasiness. Also the romantic song, placed in beautiful locales, abrupt the story. And the overlong Bismil song, using the “Karzz” movie trick (you will know when and if you see the film) falls off the track. But the film never drowns entirely. The film ends on astounding note and transcends a strong philosophy that will remain with you for a long, long time. The climax will leave you with lot of questions to be solved for yourself.

Kashmir is used to its complete potential. Even the usual colonies are shot aesthetically, giving the film an authenticity mark. The music doesn’t really impact the narration because it lacks zing of songs like Bhardwaj's own “Daarllingg” or “Charlie” or “raat Ke dhai baje”. Even his love songs in HAIDER are too dry to evoke any feeling. But the one-minute of “Aao na” played during some zany men finding a place for themselves in grave leaves a lasting impact. The screenplay is prominent and some scenes are terrific- like the intermission point, or the last 10 minutes or even the scene where Shahid explains chutzpah.

The biggest plus for HAIDER is the mother-son duo. Tabu gives a very nice mix of vulnerability and confidence and she shines throughout as the helpless mother. Shahid Kapoor is in terrific form and he seem to have retrieved his KAMINEY zeal in his acting. Note the sfirst scene when he goes bald. His facial expressions and his dialogue delivery hit the nail. Shraddha Kapoor invests sincerity and underplays her part very well. Kay Kay Menon is mostly good but in initial scenes his performance is rather weak. Irrfan Khan transmits too much through his eyes without saying too much. But one wonders what happens to Kulbhushan Kharbanda who gives n exemplary two-minute cameo?

In the end, even if the film feels stretched in the songs in second half, HAIDER still manages to hook you throughout inspite of slow pacing. The story speaks volume and Bhardwaj skilfully extracts terrific performances from his two aces- Tabu and Shahid Kapoor. After dismals like “7 Khoon Maaf” and “Matru Ki Bijlee ka Mandola”, Bhardwaj is back to his realm with HAIDER. A film that may not be unforgettable, but a film that’s not easily forgettable.

Rating- 3.5/5