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Saturday, January 31, 2009

Amir khan's 3 idiots





















The much anticipated film of 2009 3 Idiots is all set to release on 25th December 2009. After the stupendous success of gajini and Taare Zameen Par which released on the Christmas weekend, another Amir Starrer 3 Idiots is gearing up for a winter 2009 release. The film already boasts of the unbeatable combination of Vidhu Vinod Chopra and Raju Hirani. The film also stars Kareena Kapoor, R. Madhavan, Sharman Joshi and Boman Irani and marks the debut of Mona Singh (Jassi fame).

3 Idiots had already completed its first schedule in Ladakh and Simla in September 08. The second schedule (33 days) started in early January 09 at IIM, Bangalore. The cast and crew will be back in February to complete its last schedule in mumbai After the Bangalore schedule the film will be 80% complete.

3 Idiots is written by Abhijat Joshi, Vidhu Vinod Chopra and Rajkumar Hirani. The lyrics are by Swanand Kirkire and music is being composed by Shantanu Moitra.

The film is being produced by Vidhu Vinod Chopra under the banner Vinod Chopra Films.

Tags: aamir khan, 3 idiots, kareena kapoor, ghajini, vidhu vinod chopra, rajkumar hirani.

Friday, January 30, 2009

Victory movie review




Lagaan
and Iqbal are landmark films on cricket. The response to Lagaan specifically was so electrifying [and emotional] that theatres turned into stadiums during the penultimate cricket match in the film.

Victory raverses a different route altogether: This one revolves around a cricketer, talks of the highs and lows in his life, how greed, arrogance and lust almost ruin his career, but how he regains his lost form and becomes a hero all over again.

The difference also lies in the fact that the sportsmen in the film aren't actors, pretending to be cricketers, but real-life cricketers. And that makes the goings-on identifiable.

Victory may not be a true-life account of any one person, but you can't help but draw parallels with people who led a wild life off the field. Also, any sports-based film works if it arouses the right emotions and Victory does so towards the final moments. But there's a hitch. The film could've done with a shorter running time [instead of approx. 2.35 hours] and a tight script. More on that later!

Final words? A few interesting moments don't really help. This one tries to hit a boundary, but ends up taking a single.

Victory tells the story of Vijay Shekhawat [Harman Baweja], who hails from Jaisalmer. Soon, he becomes India's latest world-class batting sensation and is catapulted to superstardom.

However, the glam and glitter makes the young, vulnerable Vijay stray from his true vocation of cricket. Unfortunately, this leads to a loss of focus and to a miserable drop in his performance. But by the time Vijay realizes his mistake, he finds himself thrown out of the Indian cricket team. Suddenly, the hero becomes a villain in everyone's eyes. His father [Anupam Kher] suffers a paralytic stroke.

This tragedy awakens Vijay's conscience. He wants to redeem himself in the eyes of his father and every Indian. Against great odds, he once again makes it back to the Indian team and gets to play in the finals of the Champion's Trophy against Australia, where he plays a stellar role in enabling India to win the Trophy.

Ajitpal Mangat chooses a difficult subject for his directorial debut. Placing immense trust on a newcomer [Hurman] and casting real-life characters could be tough and demanding, besides being expensive [cricketers' fees and paying for the various stadiums]. But Ajitpal achieves the required results.

The initial moments are very mediocre, but the pace picks up when Harman goes astray, when he can't digest success, when he falls into wrong hands [Gulshan Grover]. The graph is erratic; sometime interesting, at times boring. However, what rescues the film from failing are the penultimate moments, especially the one when Hurman faces the final ball.

On the flip side, the writing isn't convincing at several points. The first 30 minutes of the enterprise makes you break into a yawn, frankly. Also, the film is stretched in the second hour for no reason and could've done with some tight editing. The songs in this hour are a big deterrent.

Ajitpal Mangat makes a confident debut as a director, but Victory would've made a stronger impact if the writing [screenplay: Ajitpal Mangat, Kannan Iyer] would've been watertight. Anu Malik's music is listless. Barring 'Balla Utha' and 'Money Money', the remaining songs are of the fast-forward type. Cinematography is excellent.

Hurman S. Baweja displays the required confidence. He gets the body language right, looks dapper when required and conveys the required emotions well. Only thing, he needs to control his expressions at times. Amrita Rao does very well, although this isn't her film actually. Anupam Kher gets it right yet again, especially towards the second hour when he suffers a paralytic stroke. Gulshan Grover is very effective.

On the whole, Victory is a strictly average fare. Barring a few moments in the second hour, there's not much that you carry home.

Tags: victory, ajitpal mangat, hurman s baweja, amrita rao, anupam kher, gulshan grover.

Luck by chance (hrithik)



One has often heard, read and seen [on screen] the positive and negative aspects of Bollywood. It would be erroneous to state that Luck By Chance does a pol-khol of the glamorous industry. Let's put it this way: The film mirrors the behind-the-scenes drama and manoeuvring exactly the way it occurs in showbiz. Watching Luck By Chance is like experiencing it first-hand.

If you're associated with Bollywood, if you know how the machine works, you'd laud and applaud, laugh and smile, identify and understand and at times, empathize and sympathize with the characters in Luck By Chance. Zoya Akhtar's take on an industry that attracts millions of hopefuls year after year is bang on target.

Almost three decades ago, Hrishikesh Mukherjee's Guddi depicted a star-struck teenager's [Jaya Bhaduri] obsession for a top star [Dharmendra]. Along with the core issue, the film highlighted the behind-the-scenes hard work and labour that went into making movies.

Luck By Chance taps almost every important facet of Bollywood and presents assorted characters you've encountered some time in life: An over-ambitious aspirant who knows to make the right moves; an actress trying hard to get that big break, even if she has to compromise; an icon of the 1970s who desperately wants her daughter to be a star; a producer who looks at riding on big names, script be damned; a failed actor now looking at direction to redeem his career.

One of the prime reasons why Luck By Chance works is because the writing [Zoya Akhtar] is simply wonderful. Right from the characters, to the individualistic scenes, to the way Zoya puts them in a sequence, Luck By Chance is easily one of the most cohesive scripts this side of the Atlantic.

The verdict? Leave aside everything and hitch this joyride called Luck By Chance. It would be sacrilege to miss this one!

Sona [Konkona Sen Sharma] arrives in Mumbai with dreams of becoming a film star. She does whatever it takes, to make it. Vikram [Farhan Akhtar] has just moved to the city leaving the comforts of his Delhi home. He is used to getting what he wants and is smart enough to know when to demand it and when to manipulate it. Gradually, Sona and Vikram develop a romantic relationship.

Rolly [Rishi Kapoor] is a successful though superstitious producer who only works with the biggest stars. He is making a potential blockbuster launching Niki [Isha Sharwani], the daughter of 1970s superstar Neena [Dimple Kapadia]. The hero of the film, Zaffar Khan [Hrithik Roshan], is the superstar.

Zaffar decides to opt out of Rolly's film and that creates havoc in Rolly's life. Rolly decides to cast newcomers and finally, Vikram is shortlisted for the main role...

Luck By Chance picks up characters straight out of life and that's the beauty of this script. The interesting part is that each of these characters has a story running parallel to the main story. Although the writing is foolproof, this review would be incomplete if one failed to acknowledge a number of scenes that are the hallmark of this enterprise...

Note the sequence when Rishi Kapoor breaking down after Hrithik has walked out of his movie. It moves you!

On the lighter side, Farhan strikes a conversation with Dimple at a movie premiere and extols lavish praises on her.

Much later, an angry Dimple instructs Isha to patch up with Farhan, soon after Farhan and Isha's debut film has been declared a success. Watch the moments when Dimple recalls her early years.
If Zoya's writing is superb, her execution of the written material deserves distinction marks. This may be Zoya's directorial debut, but she treats the difficult subject like a veteran. Javed Akhtar's dialogues are remarkable. Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy's music is a mixed bag; the score could've been better. However, the choreography of the circus song is remarkable. Carlos Catalan's cinematography captures the right moods.

Farhan Akhtar is evolving into one of the most dependable actors of his generation. He's very real, very believable. No wonder, this character stands out. Konkona Sen Sharma is exceptional. The supremely talented actress delivers a sparkling performance yet again. Rishi Kapoor is incredible. A performance that merits the highest praise. Dimple Kapadia is in terrific form. It easily ranks amongst her most accomplished works. Juhi Chawla is first-rate. Isha Sharwani does her part well. Sanjay Kapoor springs a surprise. He registers an impact. Aly Khan is perfect.

Hrithik Roshan is truly wonderful. Note the sequence when he strikes a conversation with Karan Johar, only to realize that he himself had paved the way for Farhan in the industry. Only an accomplished actor could've handled this sequence with aplomb. Amongst the A-listers who make fleeting appearances in the film, the one who registers the maximum impact is Shah Rukh Khan.

On the whole, Luck By Chance is an outstanding film in all respects. A magnificent outing from the producers of ROCK ON!!, Luck By Chance is sure to prove an extremely lucky and rewarding experience at the box-office. Strongly recommended!

Tags: zoya akhtar, luck by chance, farhan akhtar, konkona sen sharma, rishi kapoor, hrithik roshan.

Razz the mystery continuous.....




The team behind Raaz - The Mystery Continues have often clarified that it's not a sequel to Raaz, one of the most interesting cinematic experiences, besides being the biggest Hit of that year. Yet, you cannot but draw parallels with the first film of the franchise.

Horror as a genre hasn't been tapped to the optimum in India. We've witnessed spooky fares in the past and some of them have succeeded in making you break into a cold sweat [BHOOT stands tall in this list]. Last year's PHOONK and 1920 were scary movies as well.

There's tremendous curiosity to watch Raaz - The Mystery Continues, but does it scare the living daylights out of you? Fortunately, yes!
The story [Mohit Suri] is absorbing and Mohit treats the subject like a veteran, as if he knows the genre very well. There're moments that make your heart beat faster, you watch the events with eyes and jaws wide open. Sure, there're blemishes as well, but they don't overpower the plusses or make you change your opinion about the film. While the beginning and the middle of the film is engrossing, it's the end that could've been better thought of.

Wanna get scared? Wanna get goose pimples? Buy the ticket for Raaz - The Mystery Continues pronto. It lives up to the hype and expectations completely.

A brooding artist Prithvi [Emraan Hashmi] experiences mysterious and distressing visions about Nandita [Kangna Ranaut], a woman he has never met, while he paints on canvas. Intrigued by these visions, Prithvi tracks her down and warns her that these are not merely paintings of her, but accidents that are waiting to happen.

At first, Nandita refuses to believe him and dismisses him as an eccentric stalker. However, the striking resemblance between Prithvi's paintings and the near-death incidents in her life is hard to ignore.

Now, one of Prithvi's paintings has revealed her as dead. The only way she can change her fate is to unravel this mystery with his help, at the risk of alienating herself from her boyfriend, Yash [Adhyayan Suman]. But he refuses to believe in Prithvi's premonitions. Will Nandita risk her love and her life to unravel this mystery?

Most of us have heard, witnessed or perhaps had a first-hand experience of supernatural. The present-day generation may, perhaps, term it as wild imagination or hallucination, while the believers may have their point of view. Mohit and screenplay writer Shagufta Rafique's characters in Raaz - The Mystery Continues are believers and non-believers, both.

Mohit smartly builds up the atmosphere. Sample these: Emraan and Kangna's first encounter at a mall and minutes later, inside an elevator; the New Year bash when Kangna is 'attacked' by spirits; Kangna's experience in her bathtub and also when she looks at the mirror; Kangna almost jumping off a cliff; the highpoint sequence, when angry bulls attack Emraan and Kangna. Incredible sequences all! Mohit has handled the most difficult portions with panache.

However, the entire flashback part, towards the pre-climax, is not as convincing. The ending too could've been better in terms of writing, although Mohit has filmed it exceptionally well.

Mohit's choice of the subject as also the actors is right. This is, without doubt, his finest effort to date. Shagufta's screenplay is watertight at most times. Like always, the Bhatts come up with a lilting musical score and at least two songs -- 'Soniyo' [Raju Singh] and 'Maahi' [Sharib-Toshi] -- are first-rate compositions. Ravi Walia's cinematography is up to the mark. The effects are impressive.

On the acting front, both Emraan and Kangna vie for top honours. Emraan is excellent. He conveys a lot through facial expressions and that's the sign of a proficient actor. He's just getting better and better with every film. Kangna is top notch. After FASHION, this one's another power-packed performance from the actress. Adhyayan Suman is super-confident and registers a strong impact, especially towards the climax. He shows promise. Jackie Shroff is quite okay in a brief role.

On the whole, Raaz - The Mystery Continues is rich in the horror quotient and that is one of its major USPs, besides the highly competent performances by its principal cast and a lilting musical score. At the box-office, this one will continue the winning streak of Mahesh Bhatt and Mukesh Bhatt's Vishesh Films. The 4-day weekend [Monday, January 26 in a holiday] will only cement its status further. Go for it!

Tags: raaz the mystery continues, kangana ranaut, mohit suri, emraan hashmi, adhyayan suman.

Ride movie started( swethabasu)


The shooting of Ride directed by P Ramesh Varma of Oka Oorilo-fame and produced by Bellamkonda Suresh under the banner of Sri Sai Ganesh Productions with Tanish (Nachavule), Naani (Ashta Chemma), Shweta Basu Prasad (Kotha Bangaru Lokam) and Aksha (Yuvatha) in the lead was launched at the production office recently. Popular producer Shyam Prasad Reddy gave the clap, while Sravanti Ravi Kishore switched on the camera for the muhurat shot picturised under the honorary direction of VV Vinayak.

Produce said, "It was Shyam Prasad Reddy and Sravanti Ravikishore, who gave the clap and switched on the camera for the debut film under our banner Sambayya 10 years ago (in 1999). I thank them once again for gracing the occasion. The shooting would continue till the end without any break. We have plans to release the film in May. We are introducing Sashank Vennelakanti as dialogue writer and singer Hemachander as music director through our flick."

Ahuti Prasad, Viswanath Kasi, Tulasi, Sudha, Gowrav, Brahmanandam, Hema, Dharmavarapu Subrahmanyam, Rajitha, Deekshitulu, Gayatri, Ushasri and others are in the cast. Lyrics are by Bhaskarabhatla, camera is by Shyam K Naidu, editing is by Marthand K Venkatesh, art is by Chinna, while story, screenplay and direction are by P Ramesh Varma.

Tags: ride, p ramesh varma, tanish, naani, shweta basu prasad, aksha, nachavule, ashta chemma, yuvatha, kotha bangaru lokam, ahuti prasad, viswanath kasi, tulasi, sudha, gowrav, brahmanandam, hema, dharmava.

Arundathi Gallery and Review





Arundhati (Anushka) is the great grand daughter of the Raja of Gadwal Mahasansthan. Arrangements are being made for her marriage. Arundhati visits her native place before marriage. Her beau (Deepak) asks her to come to the fort of Gadwal, where she faces a horrible experience. Learning the history from an aged servant maid Chandramma (Manorama), Arundhati comes to know that she is a look alike of her great grandmother Jejamma (Anushka).

Jejamma was an expert in painting, dancing and fighting. She had an elder sister who was married off to her father's nephew Pasupati (Sonu Sood). Pasupati a womaniser used to rape the women he liked and kill those who objected. Jejamma's sister commited suicide and the people of Gadwalthrashed Pasupati severely and tied him to his horse when they got the approval from Jejamma and her father. Though Gadwal celebrated his death, he was actually saved by Aghoras, who served the devils. Pasupati mastered the tantrik arts and entered Gadwal fort to take revenge.

Jejamma who had learnt a special dance, cut off his tongue and pinned his hands at one go through her dance. She spared him to prevent him from becoming a 'pretatma'. Pasupati was buried alive in a tomb and powerful 'yantras' with inscriptions from Vedas and holy scriptures were put on it to prevent the 'pretatma' from coming out. After this revelation through flashback, a worker in a trance, unknowingly breaks the tomb and releases the 'pretatma'. The revenge drama ensues again. Anwar (Sayaji Shinde ) who treats patients through sorcery tells her that she is none other than Jejamma and asks her to fight Pasupati. From the portrait of Jejamma, Arundhati comes to know that her great grandmother had prepared a 'weapon' with her own bones and had kept it with some tribals. Anwar and Arundhati proceed to acquire the weapon, but Anwar meets with an accident.

Arundhati left with no option returns to the fort to get herself raped to prevent the death of her family members. Anwar collects the weapon and gives it to Arundhati and in the climax Pasupati dies in the hands of Arundhati.
PLUS:

Director Kodi Ramakrishna is known for making films like Ammmoru and Anji . He has acquired a penchant to make films by using graphics. Apart from his directorial expertise, it is the gripping screenplay by Mallemala Unit, which needs to be appreciated. The graphics used in the film are extraordinary. The unit has maintained a great difference between the lavishly painted fort with lighting and beautiful garden and the dilapidated fort. Anushka is at her best in the royal attire and her performance as Jejamma is very impressive. For a change, Sayaji Shinde has played a positive role in the movie as one who helps the heroine. Sonu Sood is good as a baddie. Other artistes are okay in their respective roles. Music by Koti is okay, and could have given a better re-recording. Editing by Marthand is appropriate with not so many boring and lengthy scenes. Camera work by Senthil Kumar is good and in tune with the graphics.

MINUS:
While showing the flashback scenes, the director should have taken more precautions by avoiding the railway gate etc. The face of Sonu Sood should have been morphed in a different way after the flashback episode. The audiences cannot digest the same face even after his death some 80
years ago. Anushka has failed to do the classical dance for Arundhati's role as she has no knowledge about classical dance. But for some technical errors here and there, the film as a whole has very less minus points. The director should have avoided the killing of Manorama and Sayaji Shinde.

REMARKS:
The film has evoked lot of expectations because of its long schedule. The film was started some 28 months ago and the unit shot the film for about 264 days. The budget of the film too had gone up from Rs 4 crore to Rs 13 crore. Despite all this, the release of the film was also delayed
by two days losing two valuable holidays during the Sankaranti season. Despite all these hurdles, the film has hit the screen finally and has earned a positive talk. Though not a good entertainer, the film will have a good run because of word-of-mouth publicity.

Credits:


Cast: Anushka, Sonu Sood, Deepak, Sayaji Shinde, Manorama, Satyanarayana, Annapurna, Ahuti Prasad, Chalapati Rao, Siva Parvati, Annapurna, and others.
Dialogues: Chintapalli Ramana
Lyrics: Dr MS Reddy, Dr C. Narayana Reddy, Veturi Sundararama Murthy, and Ananth Sriram
Music: Koti
Cinematography: KK Senthil Kumar
Editing: Marthand K Venkatesh
Action: Vijay
Choreography: Siva Shankar and Suchitra Chandrabose
Art: K Ashok Kumar
Story and screenplay: Mallemala Unit
Presents: Dr M S Reddy
Producer: M Shyam Prasad Reddy
Director: Kodi Ramakrishna
Banner: Mallemala Entertainments
Released on: January 16, 2009

Tags: arundhati, sonu sood, anushka, deepak, sayaji shinde, manorama, satyanarayana, annapurna, ahuti prasad, chalapati rao, siva parvati, annapurna, kodi ramakrishna.

pavankalyanmarriagephotos

  1. మంచి శుబముహూర్థం







pavan kalyan
marriage with Renudeshay . Its a great and wonderfull occation to his fans. Its moment to all chiru and pavan fans all over the world.