100 Word Review: Zindagi Milegi Na Dobara

Zoya Akhtar's latest offering, Zindagi Milegi Na Dobara, is a story of three friends who find themselves at different crossroads as they take a trip to Spain which changes their lives forever. Zoya’s coming of age story starts off on a slow note but slowly picks up pace later. A couple of sequences could have been edited, but manages to entertain. Hrithik and Katrina are impressive while Abhay and Kalki play their parts with ease. But it’s Farhan who steals the show in more than one way. ZMND is not groundbreaking cinema but it’s message is clear: live it up!  

* I honestly thought it was one film that would be slightly wannabeish. I was wrong.
** On a side note, the poetry by Javed Akhtar is simply superb.

*Yawn* Gossip!

Bollywood is a strange world. And gossip that comes out of it daily can be sensational and sometimes even monotonous; read: same old. So what are those pieces of gossip that we hear repeatedly without them going stale? Check it out!


She's Pregnant!
Any actress that is married and is yet to conceive, finds herself in the midst of this major piece of gossip. All it takes is one sighting, one walk down the ramp or the fact that she is glowing, and boom, she is almost immediately pregnant. And for all you know, the actress may have just put on a teeny-tiny bit of weight but really that is not allowed! And so she must be pregnant.
Case Study: Aishwarya Rai Bachchan finds herself in the center of this particular one!

It's Over!
Yeah, the best of couples have had to endure this piece of gossip: the split story. They can be as honest and open about their relationship but they will no doubt be split up by the media for whatever reason. It can be another man or women, the fact that they haven't been seen together in a while or are seen in the presence of another star and badda-bing, the superstar and starlette are over!
Case Study: Priyanka Chopra and Shahid Kapoor are nonstop in the news for their alleged break ups.

Nip/Tuck
They've all done a bit but admit it? Hell no! That would be so wrong. So we hear rumors of too much botox on a prominent PZ and the nose job of one SS followed by the boob job of the very sexy BB. And when they get caught, they come out with fab excuses which they expect us to buy.
Case Study: Recently Salman Khan apparently got his under eye bags surgically removed; he claims its a mere scratch.

Saath-Saath
When news of break ups come, then news of new hook ups are always popping up. The minute a celebrity finds themselves in the "single" zone, the media takes it upon themselves to play matchmaker. And then they common statement that is seen in tabloids all over include "X and Y are rumored to be..." Fill in the blanks yourself!
Case Study: Sonam Kapoor and Ranbir Kapoor, Punit Malhotra, Abhay Deol...

B*tch Fights
The actresses deny it and the media insists it happens. If they do or not, only the actresses will be able to tell you. Nowadays they all claim they are thorough professionals and get along with one another. And if they don't, well, they certainly are doing a helluva a job acting like they dote on one another.
Case Study: Once rivals, Kareena Kapoor and Bipasha Basu, have apparently made peace now with one another.

Abhay Walks the Ramp!

Abhay Deol took it upon himself to walk the ramp for Arjun Khanna and wow is all I can say. Very rarely do we see the suave Deol do something incredibly outlandish off screen but he walked and all I can say is Va Va Vroom. Unfortunately, the crowd wasnt as large compared to the last few shows and the celebs were close to none. Anyhow, he walked and shocked, if not the sparse people who came to Khanna's show then definitely those who managed to get a peep of the pictures post the show.

Abhay Deol: (c)Ow -Boy!!!

Aisha = Clueless + SATC - Emma

 

Honestly, I refuse to sit here and pen a full blown review on Aisha. Why? Cause I don't feel any Sonam Kapoor is worth it. So instead, here are some valid and perfectly apt reasons to watch 'Bollywood's first chick flick' - that is what the actress seems to be calling Aisha. Anyway, back to business. Ah yes, why should you watch Aisha. Here we go.

• 'Coz its set in Delhi. Finally, praise the Lord, a director realized that a film should be set in the India. This is something I've been howling about for eons now; the mere fact that our own country houses perfectly cosmopolitan cities and rural areas perfectly apt for Hindi films. Aisha is set in Delhi and while I've never been there, I am more than curious to visit the capital city because it has been picturized so well. Of course, we're talking about the more wealthier parts of the city and not Chandni Chowk which has been ignored by the film.
  
  
• 'Coz the supporting cast rocks. More than the main protagonist, i.e. Sonam Kapoor, who is uber fake, pretentious and tries too hard in Aisha, the supporting cast is flawless. Amrita Puri as the more vernacular Shefali is hilarious as she attempts to fit in with high society Delhi and falls into Aisha's matchmaking scheme. Ira Dubey as Pinky is a must watch and an actress to look out for. She simply rocks and has mastered the snobby Delhi attitude. Her scenes with Cyrus Sahukar are gosh darn funny. And the veejay himself, is his fab self. Cyrus plays this chipku Delhite who is out to impress Aisha but fails and how!
  
  
• 'Coz Abhay Deol is mad dreamy. For Abhay Deol, who isn't around much, this role is was like walking down the street, i.e. that easy. However, he brings to the table a confidence and charm that makes you swoon. His chemistry with Sonam though is really thanda, so don't go in looking for sparks. Instead go in to watch him play a suave Investment Banker, who is every girl's dream. Yum.
  
  
• 'Coz the soundtrack is perfect. I've always been a Vishal-Shekhar fan who compose incredibly urban and yet melodious music, their position is threatened by one Amit Trivedi. The music director-singer has outdone himself with Aisha. The songs are fun and melodious, traditional and urban, fun and singable. Every track outdoes the next. Watch out for the balle-balle Gal Mithi Mithi (whose choreography was te-te-phus), Suno Aisha (the lyrics are awesome) and Lehrein (romantic and how).
  
  
• 'Coz the clothes are to die for. Yes, you will wish you had the following after Aisha: 1) a father who would pay off your credit card bills; 2) Aisha's huge closet; and 3) Her wardrobe in its entirety. Aisha is basically fashion on drugs. Every single designer label has been used and while Sonam may not act well, she can certainly sport the dresses, bags, stilettos and make up used in the film perfectly. Full power to the stylist Pernia Qureshi.

Yes, those are the only reasons to watch Aisha. Sonam Kapoor hams (those Sonam Fans -- Sonaholics as they call themselves, are gonna kill me for this one but i'll bear my cross), the script is filled with holes and is confusing; too complicated yaar! Initially, you are intrigued but then...it gets repetitive. The film is a mix between Clueless and Sex and the City; hardly any Emma here. In fact it would be an insult to Jane Austen if we were to compare Aisha to Emma. Aisha is a wannabe film. Nothing interesting beyond the above.

Kapoor Khandan Update

Check it out. Apparently, after basking in the success of Slumdog Millionaire. Of course you are, Slumdog is plain boring now. Come to think of it, I never really understood why there was so much hoopla over it anyway. Read: boring and over rated.

Oh and another Kapoor close to Anil, Sonam that is, has rejected her co-stars, Abhay, Imran and Ranbir as potential life partners. She may be a fashionista but the actress is not afraid to let her co-stars know that they really don't fit the bill. "I would never date a guy who works in films like me. We would then end up discussing movies most of the time and that would get boring eventually. Also, if he works in films, he would remind me of my dad!" she was heard saying.

And when it came to her co-stars, she went on to claim, "They are not my kind. I want someone who is intelligent and caring." Wow. Is she implying that the likes of Abhay, Imran and Ranbir are not smart or sweet?

Today I Cover the World!

Hrithik Roshan and Farhan Akhtar are topless in Zoya Akhtar's Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara! For the ladies and their admirers, i.e. moi, this is great news! It is rare that we see both actors and so seeing them sans shirts makes me go hubba-hubba-hubba! Abhay Deol, who is also starring in the film decided not to shed his shirt (wuss!) and so will be seen in a vest (read: boring!). I think it may be a slight complex that the no-pack Deol may feel  towards the many packed Roshan and Akhtar. Note to Abhay: We'll take you, topless or not!


In other news, my new best friend Paul the Octopus predicted Germany's win for third place which happened today. We all waiting patiently for the final for which the eight-legged creature has placed his legs around a Spain win. By the way, PETA has come out in defense of the Octopus and believes that he should be freed! Yes, animal rights activists are upset at the amount of publicity Paul is receiving. They claimed no animal should be confined to a tank and so on. Uh...where were they when he was unknown to the world?


And another piece of news that I found oh so fascinating was this one: Victoria Beckham is a Strict Mom. My initial reaction, "Uh huh." So I read on to find out that she has a punishment chair for the kids. Yes, if they do anything wrong they are sent to sit. On a chair. Oh the torture. I wonder if the chair is designer? Made of pure leather? You know what would be a better punishment? Perhaps if she made her kids listen to some of her music. And mind you, I'm a huge Spice Girls fan! I promise.


Sources: Mid-Day and Hindustan Times

Dev D Movie Review

Photo Credit: Masala.com

By Roshni Mulchandani

He is controversial, eccentric, emotional and unconventional. Anurag Kashyap, has gone from making cinematic greats in the form of Black Friday to the infamy No Smoking. While he still stands strong and firm by the script of No Smoking, his boisterous ways has managed to keep him in the news for the right and wrong reasons. His new venture Dev D, a progressive look at the historical Devdas, is said to be contemporary and entertaining. Looking to break his jinx at the box office and receive critical acclaim from his “friends,” the critics, Kashyap swore that his new flick was bound to create waves. Read on to see if Anurag’s Generation-X version of the classical Devdas manages to live up to its avant-garde reputation.

In true modern day fashion, young Dev (Abhay Deol) is shipped off to school at the tender age of twelve. He departs for London leaving his childhood love Paro (Mahi Gill) behind to yearn for him. He returns, now a grown man, eager to hold Paro in his arms. While the lovers reunite, they also become victims of a misunderstanding after which Paro is married off leaving Dev in a state of melancholy. Rich and irresponsible, he turns to drugs and alcohol, moves out of his family home falls into a deep self destructive rut. Enter Lenny (Kalki Koechlin). Young, rebellious and bored with her mundane school life, she is thrown out of her house after a shameful MMS scandal, and she is taken in by Chunni. The pimp forces her to indulge in a life of sex and prostitution by the alias of Chanda. She decides to take on a double role playing Lenny the school going girl by day and the sexy boudoir Chanda by night. Dev and Chanda meet only to detest each other and while the latter falls in love, Dev is still mesmerized by his first love. Dev is left at a blurred crossroads where he must decide between life and love.

Anurag Kashyap has taken a delicate and usually orthodox story, added conventional millennium norms: drugs, sex and revolution, making it relatable to the current generation. Kashyap’s understanding of the current generation is fabulous. His script incorporates a vodka drinking, cocaine sniffing Dev; Paro emailing nude pictures of herself to Dev; and a phone sex indulging Chanda. His personality of being an extremist works in Dev D to his advantage making the script different and fresh in many aspects. Another facet to the script is that even though every moviegoer already knows the repeated plot, they are still in for a slight shock when they see the unconventional manner with which the movie has been executed. Shock being the key word here, as some of the behavior of the characters is outrageous and scandalous. However, Kashyap takes on this wild attitude in a wicked fashion. He includes some dry tongue-in-cheek humor too which subtly points out his belief and take on love. Additionally, the mind-bending scenes between an intoxicated Dev and school girl Chanda are shot magnificently in typical Kashyap flair.

The letdowns are few. The “misunderstanding” between Dev and Paro was not as well thought out and clearly could have been resolved. Also, why could educated Paro agree to marry a widowed man with two children? A girl of her stature and strength would normally speak out and disagree to such a match. Additionally, Dev’s evil indulgences are financed by a doting father but why? Clearly, in this day in age, fathers would kick their sons to the curb instead of funding their daily doses of coke. The scenes between Chanda and her pimp are boring. Towards the end, as the movie works towards the climax, it becomes a tad bit monotonous.

Abhay Deol is once again top notch. He is proving to be an actor who prefers to stay away from the usual run of the mill scripts and does a great job in those roles. Deol plays Dev D’s role as the bratty decadent pardesi who is heart-broken to the ‘T.’ His chemistry with both the leading ladies is sizzling. Watch out for the scene where he blatantly asks Paro to get down with him on the fields and later when he expresses his remorse to Chanda. After Oye Lucky, he is back with a bang and is turning out to be an actor par difference and excellence. Mahi Gill is decent and natural as her portrayal of Paro. She lights up in the intimate scenes with Deol. Kolki Koechlin, who was supposed to be the new find of the movie, is strictly okay. She definitely should consider a few acting classes however exhibits great confidence onscreen.

Emotional Atyachar is top class. Its witty lyrics and choreography is unique adding some spice to the emotionally charged love story. Pardesi too is another song to watch out for.

Dev D is Anurag Kashyap’s first love story and his interpretation is quirky and alternative which is naturally expected of him. In a nutshell, Dev D, in true Kashyap fashion will make you gape at the bluntness of the characters and the story. This one is not for the children, so leave them at home. Otherwise, Dev D is one to watch and talk about. No emotional atyachar here - Dev D is a must watch.