Lafangey Parindey Movie Review

Director- Pradeep Sarkar
Producer: Aditya Chopra, Yash Chopra
Lafangey Parindey’ (Lafange Parinde) from Yash Raj’s Banner a film in Mumbaiya Coloquial Bhasha. A love story, which shapes up slowly and gradually. Neil Nitin Mukesh [One Shot Nandu,] a fighter who punches his opponent in the ring blindfolded. Deepika Padukone [ Pinky Palkar,] a dancer who turns blind. Now, how she turns sightless is the million dollar question? Nonetheless, she is ambitious to make it big on the dancing floors. Pinky’s love for Nandu is true. However Nandu is a kind hearted guy but unable to declare his love for Pinky . Finally Pinky and Nandu make it big on the “Got Talent Hunt” dancing reality show. Nandu is keen to take over the job of K.K.Menon, K.K Menon is working for a gangster. He is the dada of the Tilakwadi. Nandu who is always the winner in the boxing ring had to lose the last round, as he chooses Pinky over the boxing ring.. A good amalgamation of the reality show.
Direction by Pradeep Sarkar is a refreshing change for Yash Raj Films. The accident of Pinky after which she turns blind, the case is shut down abruptly. Finally, the Police Inspector in-charge of the case tries to solve it on personal level. The case looses importance. Love story turning too hot and the other angle losing importance loosen the intricacies of the story and hence director’s cut suffers a lot. Before the intermission hopes from the “Parneeta” director Pradeep Sarkar is quite high. But with closing down of the parallel story line” the accident of Pinky.” Looks, like the director too looses the strings of the tale.
Neil is the saviour for YRF. He seems to be the perfect solo hero, for the YRF.Neil’s exuberant performances certainly deserve a pat on his back. Hopefully, he could be the perfect replacement of Shahrukh Khan. Deepika Padukone has done a wonderful job. The rest of the cast and credits too performed well.
Dialogues match the Chawl dwellers, very appropriate to the situation. No prizes for guessing that the Censor Board has become liberal with the big production houses as all the cursing words used by the characters have gone uncut.
The peppy and foot tapping number “pakad pakad …  will be on the tip of the tongue of the audiences after they come out of the theatres. Music is soothing to the ears.

Lamhaa Movie Review

While the burning issue of Kashmir has been handled before on the Indian screen rarely any effort has been such well researched, carrying such depth and effectively narrated with technical finesse as Rahul Dholakia (Parzania) directed Lamhaa. Taking you straight into ‘the world’s most dangerous place’, Dholakia offers a very disturbing piece that brings out many emotions out of you.
The film opens with Indian Military Intelligence suspecting a plot to disrupt and paralyze Kashmir and an attempt to do a successful repeat of what was a failed attempt in 1989. That’s breaking of the state of Kashmir away from India, hand in glove with Pakistan. A retired paramilitary commando Vikram (Sanjay Dutt) is sent to investigate and avert it. In Kashmir, he goes undercover posing as press photographer Gul Jehangir. Haji (Kher) an influential separatist leader has had 17 attempts on his life so far in the last 18 years and Vikram through his sources concludes that last attempt on his life was an insider’s job. He succeeds in gaining the trust of Haji’s protégé Aziza (Bipasha) and convinces her that there is another attack planned on his life. Atif (Kunal Kapoor) a former militant and love interest of Aziza who has had a fall out with Haji hopes to bring peace to the valley by participating in the upcoming state elections. But then as Vikram digs further he realizes the mess has only got deeper. Nothing is actually what it seems and there is hardly any one who can be trusted.
Dholakia and his co-writer Raghav Dhar successfully put before the viewers the fact that Kashmir is being run like ‘Company’ where everyone (RAW, ISI, Indian and Pakistani Military and political leaders from both sides) are all its mutually benefiting shareholders. Also, how everyone is keeping the issue burning forever so they all can benefit more from it. Hardly giving any space to breath, Dholakia’s treatment of the film is very international with quick cuts and hand held camera moment giving many a time a feel of guerilla shoot. He doesn’t waste time in establishing a scene but gets straight to the point with minimal dialogue exchanges, expecting the viewer to apply his brains and be an active participant. He also brings superb authenticity to the proceedings by means of setting, locations and jargon. Despite the fact that the big conspiracy at the climax doesn’t come across as effectively as it should have, the culmination of the principal characters appears apt.
Dutt in an unrecognizable look is in top form and goes beyond the character. Check out his body language on his arrival to meet anyone, he always looks around trying to feel convinced he is not on ‘target’. Bipasha Basu is an unusual choice for a Kashmiri girl but puts up a convincing act. Kunal Kapoor does his job earnestly but fails to maintain consistency in his diction. Anupam Kher not only looks the part but goes on with it with tremendous conviction. It is a hard act for any Kashmiri Pandit but Kher proves why he is the best in the business when it comes to strong character roles. Cameos by Denzil Smith as the Army officer, Yashpal Sharma as the ISI agent masquerading as a businessman and Mahesh Manjrekar as Dutt’s trusted old source are good. Murli Sharma, Jyoti Dogra and Shernaz Patel are effective as well. Another aces are Mithoon’s soul stirring tunes and James Fowlds remarkable camerawork.

Patiala House Hits Theaters In February

The makers of upcoming Bollywood film Patiala House have reportedly decided to change the promotional posters of the film. According to reports in the media, this change has been finalized at the last moment to incorporate the leading lady of the film Anushka Sharma. Post her box office success with the Yash Raj film Band Baaja Baarat, Anushka Sharma has become one of the most wanted young actresses of Bollywood. And it is keeping this fact in mind that the producers will now promote Patiala House as a love story between lead actors Akshay Kumar and Anushka Sharma as opposed to the earlier choice of projecting the film as a father-son emotional drama.
However, the director of Patiala House, Nikhil Advani has vehemently refuted any claim of making changes in the film’s poster keeping only Anushka Sharma in mind. In a statement to the media, Nikhil Advani says that the concept of a variety of posters had always been in his mind and it was only the Akshay Kumar – Rishi Kapoor poster that was released initially. Nikhil Advani also confirmed that since Anushka Sharma is an integral part of the star cast, there was no question of releasing posters without her picture.
Patiala House essentially concentrates between the emotional tussle between a son (played by Akshay Kumar) and father (played by Rishi Kapoor). Their battle begins when the son wants to join the England cricket team inspite of being an Indian citizen. Patiala House hits theaters in February.