Review of Latest Hindi Movies: June 2012

Sunday, June 17, 2012

Ferrari Ki Sawari- Enjoy the Ride!!!

Ferrari -- throws up images of a Red Prancing horse, the high pitched scream of a 800 Hp formula one car, whizzing through Monza and of course of excellence in engineering and design - A reminder that technologically superior products can also be beautiful while giving ultimate performance (Apple iPad, iPhone..case in point)...lest I digress further, let me get on with the review.

The movie starts up in true Vinod Chopra style.. setting the mood for the character - in this case Sharman Joshi - a Parsi single dad, bringing up his son, riding a scooter alongwith his son, inadvertently breaks a traffic light. Now being an upright RTO clerk and wanting to set the correct example for his son, and finding no traffic havaldar in sight, he looks for one, and ensures that he is challaned and pays a fine. Now, this seems far-fetched and not exactly in the nature of normal humans...but drives the point home.

 By then we have been introduced to Rustom - Sharman Joshi, Ritwik Sahore and Kayo, Boman Irani as Deboo- Sharman's father and a disgruntled old man, The Honest Police inspector - who does not shy away from impounding wrongly parked foreign cars, the traffic constable - a big fan of Sachin Tendulkar and who wants to avoid controversy by NOT picking up foreign cars as they may belong to politicians or industrialist and he may be pulled up for the actually doing his job, Kayo's  cricket coach and of course the Over the Top, Punjabi Wedding Planner -

The story is based around Kayo- a talented budding cricketer, who belongs to a middle class family.  Rustom finds it difficult to provide for Kayo's cricketing gear but somehow manages. However, one day an oppotunity comes knocking at their door - A coaching camp to Lords, London, for which Kayo will definitely be selected, however, the cost is Rs One and Half Lac, which is the deal breaker for the financially strapped Rustom. A Lac and Half, a disgruntled Grandad (Bade papa), an unscrupulous friend of grand papa- Dharmadhikari-played by Paresh Rawal , all threaten to destroy this boys dream.

Opportunity knocks and how. There is money to be made but there is a rider, A Ferrari is needed for a Corporator's sons wedding and the wedding planners best bet is Rustom. How everything falls in place is something that you must watch for yourself but there are some key takeaways from this movie:-
(a) Under the right conditions, if given a chance, Everyone is capable of crime - even the most             honest  among us.
(b) However, when the honest commit a crime, the element of guilt is too much and they cant live with it.. so they definitely try to make it up...

Overall, the movie scores for its simplicity and some genuine acting skills. Characterisation is good, however some of them like the coach suffer, as there isnt enough time or emphasis given to them in the script. Sharman as Rustom is very Likeable and does an excellent job.. Ritwik, the mac Donalds find, is good, however, the honours once again go to Boman irani, as the irascible old Parsi Gentleman, he is in his element.  Rest all have done a competent job... The movie lacks  energy and Vidya Balan's item number could'nt do much to increase it.. However, the pace is brisk and the kids will definitely love it...

A must watch with children and a May watch if you are on your own...

Rating - *** 1/2

Monday, June 11, 2012

Shanghai - You have been Shanghaied !!!!!

Shanghai

Evolution is a fact of life....and Shanghai is an evolution in darwanian terms..Would love to watch some more movies like these... No patronising, no moral lectures...says it just the way it is.... A brilliant strategic Chess game , where the moves have already been decided before the game has started..!!!

The movie is set in Bharatpur or some mofussil town, where the ruling party wants to set up an IBP- India Business Park. Now, as with all development, some one has to pay the price, and obviously, It has to be the poor tribals who have to be displaced from their land (how obvious).

The characters are well etched.. Abhay Deol as the Collector - A tamilian..reserved, quiet and crafty, Kalki as the idealistic crusader, whose dad is an army general accused in a land scam, Emraan- as Jogi,  the sleazy photographer's assistant, always on the look out for new business,  
Farookh sheikh as the flexible and compliant Principal Secretary, Supriya Pathak as the Cold Blooded CM and a host of characters to complete the plot...
Enter the dragon...Dr Ahemadi (Prasenjit Banerjee) ..in a la Medha Patkar mode.. kurta and all, who comes to tell the poor tribals to fight for their right. He is Kalki's teacher and more. Kalki is forewarned to tell Ahemadi not to come as his life is under threat, but that is brished off by ahemadi. However, the threat was real and Ahemadi is mowed down by a truck in front of all his supporters and detractors.

The spider's web starts to un ravel with the CM ordering an enquiry and makes Abhay Deol the headmaster. The cover up game starts with the police and the deeper our collector goes, the dirtier it gets. The criminals display no fear of the law , which is frightening as it holds out no hope for the common man, Emraan is uncharateristically cast, with a past and a debatable future. Kalki is the only weak link. The ending is ironic and cynical... no answers..just reality and thats the way it is...

Summing up, a smart political thriller vishwanthan anand would be proud of the moves played by all the characters. To be savoured and enjoyed. 
Extremely well directed, written, acted ...... Shanghai is a masterful  dark tale narrated by a Masterful story teller, Dibakar (maybe he shall not be called "Debacle" Banerjee any more..:)

Rating  -  ****1/2