AGENT VINOD - Unravelling the Spider Web

Agent Vinod or A (gent) Vinod, sounds confusing..well, wait till you watch the movie and then decide. Did the movie live up to its hype, well, read on to make up your mind.

The movie starts in James Bond style, with the desert of death (Afghanistan) being shown in  all glory and Agent Vinod being beaten black and blue by the ISI agent 'Morka' or something like that. Vinod wins their confidence by revealing an Indian agent to them and then suddenly all hell breaks loose. Vinod beats up atleast 40 guys (sic), saves the Indian agent and somehow, 'Mujra' girl and escapes from the desert, in true James Bond style (meaning, blows up a few trucks carrying armed men and hey presto...

The narrator then goes on to explain how the break up of the soviet union and their corrupt generals are putting up tactical nuclear warheads for sale to the higest bidder, in this case, the Lashkar... They go on to explain the involvement of a large number of middlemen, russian mafia and so on who are a part  of this nexus (the mafia don Abu Khan - Ram Kapoor, The Colonel, Prem Chopra as Kazan, a business tycoon- Metla, Kareen kapoor as Dr Ruby Mendes a.k.a Iram Parveen Bilal, Rajat Kapoor as the ISI Chief, Morka as the Renegade ISI agent and a host of other characters...(which also includes Gulshan Grover). I have run out of breadth.

The story moves from Afghanistan-India- St Petersburg-Morocco(where a large part of the movie has been shot)- Riga- Karachi-Somalia ....phew...and back to India at breakneck speed, with never a dull moment. The story is quite simple - The terrorist have got their hands on a Nuclear bomb, the detonator is in a Omar Khayyam Rubyat and the book is for sale (lot 242) at an auction in Morocco. Vinod's mission is to find ther detonator and the bomb so that it can be neutralised. I shall leave it at that

The screen play is complex and so is the execution of the plot. The story has been worked out in detail, however, the time allotted 2 hrs and 40 mins approx, is not enough to make it understandable and coherent for the masses at large. What comes to the fore is all the action (the car chases, the hand to hand combats..) wherein, Vinod always manages to polish of foes with a ration of 1:20. Like I said earlier, the story is simple but the execution is complex, which actually makes you think about all what happened even after the movie for you to understand it. But one thing is clear-India has to be saved at all costs to avert a nuclear war between India and Pakistan.

The acting is quite so-so. Saif as Agent Vinod does not impress you as much as James Bond did. I think its largely because he tries to keep a wooden, expressionless face throughout trying to portray the tough RAW agent, and somehow does not connect with the audience. His seeming indestructability also makes the action sequence ho-hum.  Kareena looks confused about her role and she has no fire (like we are accustomed too from her). The Chemistry between Kareena and Saif is quite insipid and does not evoke any sympathy for her or them. Prem Chopra is menacing at times but loses the plot midway. The host of other baddies are efficient and do their job competently.

All in all, the movie is quite complex to follow. The director had a taut script and he has tried to incorporate all the logical steps in it, but in doing so, he has introduced a large number of characters, too many sub plots and two extremely avoidable songs. The action sequences like the car chase, fights etc are well done. The back ground music score has a nice rock feel and is edgy in the right places. The movie has been made in James Bond style (as we all lap up Bond films anyway) but without the suave edginess of  Craig, Pierce and Sean...

All in all - a decent time pass, but keep your wits about or else you shall not understand what happened. I would rate it a 2 1/2 stars as the much awaited film does not live up to the hype and leaves you generally confused and cold.

 **1/2

Paan Singh Tomar - Catch me If you Can

There are some movies that you want dont want to watch just because...no reason..you may hate it or love it..its a different issue, but you will watch it.. Ek Deewana Tha was one of them..and the other was Paan Singh Tomar. I shall readily admit that I was under intense pressure to watch this movie, so like a good socialble human being I succumbed .. And for the umpteenth time in my life (listening to advice and recommendation from friends is  mostlly beneficial ) ... I admit I just loved the movie.

The story is a rather simple one (and forgotten as it has never been a part of our educational curriculum). Paan Singh Tomar (PST as I shall call him), belongs to a smemall village in Modena district of UP (near chambal). He joins the army after Independence and just loves to eat.. he is rather rudely told by one of the Mess Havaldars that if he wants to hog, become a sportsman, so PST goes and tells his Div O that he wants to become a sportsman. The DO, in jest gives him a pack of Ice Cream and tells him that if he can deliver this to a majors house, before it melts, he can become one..So PST does it..in less than 4 mins..

He then does well in the local 5000 mtrs race and to his CO's shock informs him that his uncle is a "Baaghi" (an euphemism for a dacoit).  He tells him that in Chambal, no one becomes a dacoit for pleasure and therefore, they are known as Baaghi's. The tete a tete continues and the CO feels that PST is a complete misfit and has a lot of latent anger..His DO gives a suggestion of sending him to sports school to hone his talents and channelise his energy.

At the sports school, he tells his coach (Maj Randhawa) that he has come here so that he can eat well.. and in the very first 5000 mtrs race, trumps his son-in-law. The coach is worried and requests PST to take up another race, which at first he vehemently disagrees, but when the coach tells him that his daughters happiness is at stake..he understands the situation and agrees to run the Steeple chase.

The story goes on about how he makes a national record, looses in the asian games just because he was forced to wear spikes.. and then finally at the age of 30+ goes and wins a gold medal at the International Defense meet ...a competition in  which he was allowed to participate as compensation for not sending him to fight in the 1965 war inspite of his age..

After his retirement, the hard facts of life hit him and when he realises that his land has been usurped by his cousin, he goes from pillar to post to retrieve it, tries all legal means but the final humiliation comes when the local policeman tells him that his medal and army background have no value, and throws his medal and papers away.. he decides enough is enough and has todo something. In the meanwhile, incensed by PST going to the police, his cousin attacks his home, bludgeons his mom to death (luckily his wife and kids run away). PST then takes the law into his own hands and becomes a Baaghi. The irony is that his son joins the army and he has to become a dacoit.

So as a dacoit, he has to kidnap people to get money for firearms and all that, which he does, with the sole aim of killing his cousins and avenging his mothers death and sons beating. He achieves his aim, takes revenge and thereafter does not know what to do. His fame has spread far and wide and even police approach him to take revenge on their enemies. He realises that there is no return to his earlier life.

The movie is a sad reminder of how we treat our sportsmen, of how the very people supposed to protect us become our tormentors, leaving no recourse for justice. It clearly depicts the tough life in our villages, the internal politics, the wheels within wheels within wheels. The entire story is narrated by PST, to a journalist.

The movie is superbly shot, the chambal ravines look desolate and inhospitable . Irrfan as PST is there in almost every frame (its his movie through and through) and he is simply brilliant. Mahie Gill as PST's wife is endearing (though she does not have much of a role, as a matter of fact, no one else has).  Effortless acting and some superb direction, screenplay and editing  make it one of the best movies in the past few years. The locations are authentic, the diction is local ... Just go an watch it..it gives Bandit Queen a run for its money..

Rating - ****1/2 ('cause nothings perfect)..

Wake Up Sid - Timeless reality

Sitting at home on a lazy Saturday afternoon, flipping channels, the catchy rythm and melody of Wake Up Sid (the song) suddenly got me out of my stupor and I started watching the movie - for the fifth time and against all odds (Daughters wanted Doraemon and the better half wanted to see Charlie's Angels...)

I know the movie is old, but I guess something about the way the entire  movie has been made...its just right!!! what else can I say.  Let me start from the music... All songs capture the mood at that point of the movie absolutely brilliantly..Like Wake Up Sid at the beginning just takes you along the mad partying, easy going life, free of worries  of the main protagonists and Ek Tara (when konkona realises that she actually loves Sid) sets the mood so beautifully that you wish that it was you she was falling in love with !!!!

The characters are so well defined. Anupam kher- as the proud self made dad who wants the best for his only son, Supriya Pathak as the doting, uneducated  mum, His friends Rishi , Laxmi and the whole gang, Rahul Khanna as the eccentric Jazz loving Editor and of course Konkona..the migrant aspiring writer, whom we all want to fall in love with Ranbir, which she first denies and then realises - simply brilliant

The pace of the movie is superb.. it flows - right from his partying days, his failure, meeting konkona, getting kicked out of home, moving in with konkona, the adjustments made by both, jealousy kicking in, his photograph getting selected - seem so real...especially his chat with his dad where he expresses his shock at his dad not calling him home once he left in a huff, it all seems so real, so endearing..

Ranbir was superb.. Konkona - brilliant (especially when he is leaving her house to go back to his home- her tantrums are absolutely feminine- unpredictable.. because she does not want to admit to him that she is in love) and the rest of the cast  admirably supports them...

A must watch (if there is someone who has not seen it !!!)..

**** */2 (cause nothing can be perfect)

Ek Main aur Ekk Tu - Movie Review

There are Rom-Coms and then there is Ek main aur Ekk Tu. Having heard that the storyof this rom-com was similar to "What Happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas" and Kareena's character was similar to Geet's character in "Jab we Met". However, it was a pleasant surprise to see that though some parts of the story have been inspired by them, but overall, the film holds its own.

The movie starts with Imran classifying the types of children, The smart ones who make a show of obeying their parents, the average obedient ones who obey their parents and the rebels who care a damm. Rahul Kapoor (Imran) is a good looking, "Perfectly Average" guy, whose entire life has been planned by his parents to perfection. His Father (Boman Irani - Effortlessly portrays the ambitious father for whom winning a silver means that you lost the gold!!!!! ), wants him to become and architect, get experience and then join the family business. So he is constantly goaded by his father to do his best while his mother (Ratna Pathak- looking suitably the Socilaite like in Sarabhai vs Sarabhai), gives him tips on  his dressing and hairstyle. They both are not averse to fixing him up with their associates daughter's so that business can mix with pleasure - union of businesses...and ofcourse a marriage of convenience...

Well, as always well laid plans are always are meant to go astray and so the same happens here (if it didnt the movie would be mind numbingly boring).  Rahul loses his job on christmas eve, goes to a pyschologist, bumps into Rihanna Braganza (Kareena Kapoor playing the Sober form of Geet- Was it the LA Effect???), who mistakes him for something else and then starts the story. ......

Rahul - the straitjacketed inexperienced guy, prim and propah, Rihanna - the older, carefree and obviously experienced gal get together, have a blast in Vegas and then get married- just like that. What happens thereafter is predictable to an extent, but is protrayed sensibly and does not go over the top (with tears that could put Ganges to shame and force you to wipe your eyes). Their budding friendship and its subsequent ramifications are interesting and .... oh..let me not spill the beans...go and watch it.

Overall, the movie had the KJO touch, with songs merging very well with the story ( my favourite is Auntyji), some excellent understated acting by Imran Khan and a mature, but bubbly performance by Kareena. For the first time, this rom-com does it differently and that makes it worth a watch...

Rating - *** and */2 for the twist...:).You can read the Kaveree Bamzai review and the Rediff Movies for a second opinion

The Auntyji Song

Gali Gali Mein Chor Hain - Satire without the Fizz

 
Everyonce a while, comes along a movie that has a lot of promise, but somehow does not live up to it.. However, all said and done, this movie's  screen play (a satire on the times we live in) starts off on a promising note and like a tired long distance runner... gives up in the end.

The movie is has three plots running side by side and all converge towards the end. Akshaye Khanna (Bharat) is a boring cashier, married to a jealous Shriya Saran (Nisha- A school teacher). They both stay with his father - Satish Kaushik, in Bhopal. The movie starts off with a wandering sadhu (who wanders every week to their house to collect oil and is obliged by the lady of the house). As Bharat keeps grumbling about the cost of oil, the sadhu makes a prophecy that Bharat is about enter one of his darkest phases in his life and is going to be beset by several Misfortunes. The only way to deflect the impending crisis that "Shani Dev" has to be appeased....

The first  track is that Bharat  is a amateur Ramlila actor (playing Hanuman), the second track is that he has given shelter (as a paying guest) to Mugdha Godse (his bosses niece) and cannot tell her to go as he would get transferred to a village and the third track is that he refuses to give a room in his house to the residing MLA's volunteers. So I guess you would have got the plot.....

Just because he refused to give the room to the MLA (insipid performance by the MLA Tripathi and his brother) and his father giving the room to his opponent Mohanlal (Singapore returned NRI wanting to do good), the MLA's brother ropes in the police to harass Bharat. Annu Kapur as the constable and a host of other characters (the portly pan stained pan vendor - the witness,  a thief, a government lawyer, the SHO, all hatch a plot to harass him over  trivial issue (Supposedly a fan stolen from their house which they have to identify in court) and ends up costing him Rs 31000/- in chai paani, bribes and the works. (This entire portion of the movie is"Inspired" by Office-Office and is really tiresome after sometime.

There are enough instances for Nisha to suspect that something is brewing between Mugdha and Bharat( the lipstick mark on his cheeks when she thanks him, the midnight rendezvous at the refrigerator ....) and she leaves home because of that. After that Shani dev takes over and Bharat and his dad are convinced that the FAN   (which turns out that it wasnt theirs after all) is the cause of all worry. The MLA's bro who is playing Ram in the Ramleela, is getting jealous of all accolades that Bharat is getting and is tryng to sabotage him. Bharat's pop wants him to ditch the FAN but every attempt by Bharat to ditch it (throwing it in the lake, leaving it in the bus, ditch etc) all fail and it comes back to him.

In the finale, Bharat gets his bag with the fan mixed up with another bag which has RDX and the terrorists are trying to get it, and finally during Ramleela, dressed as Hanuman, unknowingly is able ditch the bag in the pond and then blah ..blah..he gets arrested , his dad has to grease many people to get his son off..

The movie reinforces the belief that if you are straight, you are going to get kicked and how. If you want your work to be done, u need to be pragmatic. All politicians are goondas and chors and there is nothing one can do about it!!!!!  The feeble attempt at showing some aggression at the end does little to salvage the movie.

Veena Malik's Channo song is decent, and she looks hot...but by that time you are so bored that even she fails to enthuse you.....

Concluding, The movie is a bore, cliched and not very original or inspiring. The satire is there but is tiresome as it is stretched to the limit. A definite Office - Office rip off.... Redeeming factors - Shriya looks really good..but does not get much chance to show off her talent, Akshaye is consistent and good , Annu kapoor is irritating and thats it. Mugdha looks tired and uniterested in a pathetic role, satish kaushik is wasted, the MLA and his bro are terrible (seems like a Dabangg rip off) and the list goes on.......... (I almost slept off writing this review...)

Rating - * */2