Category Archives: Hindi Movies

Hindi Movie Reviews

Drama, Genre, Hindi Movies, Must Watch, Rating, Reviews, Romance

The Lunchbox

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The Lunchbox – is a Hindi drama released in 2013. A mistaken delivery of a lunchbox (dabba) by the dabbawala service in Mumbai helps an unhappy house wife Ila and an about to retire government servant and widower Saajan discover love and a soul mate in each other, when they start exchanging letters through the dabba.

The movie is not a fairy tale although the plot might seem like a stereo typical romance tale. The movie is very close to real life and many a times the audience would feel the “bite” of reality in the lunchbox. Irrfan Khan does a brilliant role as an old man about to retire. His body language, habits and everything he does convinces you of his portrayed age. Nimrat Kaur has performed decently. The characters of Nawazuddin Siddiqui, a shameless young man getting trained as a successor for Irrfan, the aunty living in the top floor of Nimrat advising her like an oracle are brilliantly woven into the screenplay to reflect the various emotions the lead characters go through.  The director Ritesh Batra deserves a lot of credit for making a movie that stands out from the usual larger than life bollywood flicks and that captures the glimpse of life as it is. Cinematography by Michael Simmonds and music by Max Ritcher makes you feel that you are in midst of Mumbai witnessing the event… simply brilliant. Overall the lunchbox is served with mixed flavors of happiness and sadness in everyday life and it does not serve you dessert 🙂 The movie would do well with multiplex audience but may not appeal beyond the multiplexes as there are many dialogues in English. If you liked movies like Lost in Translation then this one is a must watch for you….!

Must Watch – for serious movie lovers

Comedy, Genre, Hindi Movies, Rating, Reviews, Romance, Wait for DVD/TV

Shuddh Desi Romance

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Shuddh Desi Romance – is a Hindi romantic comedy film released in 2013. The plot deals with the confusions in the minds of the present day youngsters about marriage and commitment.  Raghu a tourist guide meets Gayatri an open minded independent girl on the previous night of his wedding and likes her. He elopes from the wedding stage just before his wedding ceremony. Later he meets Gayatri and both of them start a live in relationship which eventually leads to wedding. But few minutes before their wedding Gayatri runs away. What happened to Raghu after that, Did Gayatri come back? Were they able to change their perception on wedding is the remaining story.

Yash Raj Films comes out with yet another bold concept of live in relationship that is not often talked about widely in Indian families. Director Maneesh Sharma has used Baraat and Wedding planner backdrop which worked for him in Band Baaja Baarat to convey the story. It is not just a romantic comedy film but has a strong take on the confused mind of present day youngsters regarding commitment. Maneesh should be praised for taking up such a concept. However once the lead characters get into live-in relationship the movie slows down and he has used intimate scenes as the mode to move the story which makes it sluggish.  Shushant Singh Rajput and Parineeti Chopra has played their part well. Many of the audience might find Shuddh Desi Romance to be “adult”-e-“rated” because of the concept it deals with.  Overall the movie is different for the new plot and the actual problem that is bothering the current younger generation, however due to the lack of substance in the screenplay you might find it slow. It might make a good watch in TV or DVD.

Wait for TV/DVD – for the plot

Comedy, Drama, Genre, Hindi Movies, Must Watch, Rating, Reviews

Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro

Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro – is a Hindi satirical comedy film released in 1983. Two photographers get involved in bringing a construction scam to light in association with a press editor. As they start gathering evidence they realize that the number of people involved in the scam keeps increasing.

The movie is filled with satirical comedy that is relevant even in the present day scenario as well. The screenplay is still enjoyable even though it has been taken in 1983. The cast ensemble is very phenomenal as you would see in the initial credits many of the names have gone a long way to influence Bollywood in their own areas all these years. The highlight of the movie is its climax where in the characters become part of the Mahabharata stage play and it is a ROFL comedy that would be evergreen forever. The movie is known for its ending which you may not see in many of the comedy movies. The movie has become a cult classic and still has many followers. Recently the movie has been digitally remastered and released. You can buy the DVD and watch it and do share your comments with me.

Must Watch – for a brilliant screenplay!

 

Comedy, Genre, Hindi Movies, Rating, Reviews, Romance, Wait for DVD/TV

Nautanki Saala

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Nautanki Saala – is a romantic comedy film released in 2013. The story is based on a French movie Après Vous. Ram is a talented theater artist who has the nature of carrying his theatrical skills into real life to help people. One night he comes across Mandar who is trying to commit suicide. He saves him and takes up the responsibility to rebuild his life. They become friends and the movie is about how their friendship builds, the problem they run into and how they solve it.

I am a fan of Rohan Sippy’s movies like Bluff master, Dum Maaro Dum. Nautanki Saala has many of the ingredients of a Rohan Sippy movie. It has got wonderful sets, great songs and a new canvas for the plot. The concept of the movie is absolutely brilliant where the real life incidents relate to the scenes in the theatrical play of Ramayan. The characters bring real life to reel life and reel life to real life to solve their problems. However the movie misses the usual punch. With cast like Ayushman Khuranna and Kunaal Roy Kapoor coming from Vicky Donor and Delhi Belly respectively you expect a ROFL comedy. However the movie is able to do this only in parts and it slows down during the build up phase. Ayushman’s acting is bit flat as there is no much variation as the characters go through the emotional turmoil. Kunaal Roy Kapoor is a treat to watch he has a done a great job, the scenes involving him are hilarious. The adaptation to Indian scenario could have been done a little bit better with respect to the sets they look a tad bit foreign. Overall this movie definitely has something in it and deserves a one time watch. It is coming up on TV this weekend watch it if you are in a mood for a light romantic comedy.

Wait for DVD/TV – for its Novelty

Biopic, Drama, Epic, Genre, Hindi Movies, Must Watch, Rating, Reviews

Bhaag Milkha Bhaag

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Bhaag Milkha Bhaag – A biopic of the famous Indian Athelete Milkha Singh who made India proud in athletics (running) and has won many medals for the country. He just missed the Olympic bronze by a whisker.

Director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra should be lauded for bringing the inspirational biopic of Milkha Singh on to the screen. The movie is inspirational and engaging right from the word go. The only dull moment in the film is when the plot deals with one of the dullest point of Milkha’s athletic career in Australian olympics which indeed makes it effective for the script. Prasoon Joshi has written the screen play very well and has told an incredible and compelling story. Farhan Akthar has lived as Milkha Singh. All his hard work and effort pays off as you never realize it is Farhan playing the role. Music by Shankar Ehsaan Loy has made the story telling very powerful. The visuals and camera angles is very artistic. I couldn’t think of any short coming in the movie. I had always wanted more biopics to be made in Indian Cinema by Indian Film makers. This one is definitely a milestone in Indian Cinema and hope it inspires many film makers to make good biopics. For many of us who haven’t lived in the era when Milkha Singh was flying on the tracks this one is a chance to relive it. The theater turns itself into a stadium in the second half with audience cheering and applauding. We may already have the Oscar nominee for Indian film this year. Don’t miss this movie when it is in the theaters. Milkha is still breaking records and is set bag many medals (awards)…. Its not just a “Must Watch” but an Epic!

Epic – Get Inspired

Drama, Genre, Hindi Movies, Must Watch, Rating, Reviews, Romance, Tamil Movies

Raanjhanaa

Raanjhanaa (Amibkapathy – Tamil) –  A local boy in Varanasi falls in love with a Muslim girl since his childhood… Soon he finds rest of his life, aspirations, dreams, love, pain everything limited to her (Bas Tum Tak…!)

Anand L Rai has given a very good story that is just not limited to a puppy love story. The first half of the movie is colorful and enjoyable, the cinematographer Natarajan Subramaniam brings the lively colors of Varanasi in front of your eyes… the second half of the movie has a serious tone and through the journey of Kundan and Zoya the director takes you through the current political affairs in the country. Love prevails in the end and stays immortal. Dhanush is a very appropriate selection for the movie and has essayed his character very well, Tamil audiences might have watched this in many of his movies. Abhay Deol is charismatic in the portion he plays. Anand hasn’t let any star cast over shadow the plot and the screen play but has the story lead the way all through. The life and soul for the movie is A.R Rahman’s musical score. Raajhanna would make you laugh, cry and think. It is a wholesome entertainer that will keep you engaged throughout… Go for it!

Must Watch

Comedy, Drama, Genre, Hindi Movies, Rating, Reviews, Worth a Watch

Ghanchakkar

Ghanchakkar – An expert in opening lockers and stealing money goes into retirement. He is affected by partial memory loss and one of the things he forgets is where he has hidden the money from his last heist.  He has to remember this and find the money as it also has the share of his accomplices.

Ghanchakkar is a slang word commonly used to refer to a dumb person although its literal meaning is to spin fast. The movie is crazy and dumb in parts as its title. If you go in with the expectation of a ROFL comedy you would be disappointed. Ghanchakkar is one such movie which comes once in a while completely whacky in the way it is executed and catches you off guard. . The movie is brilliant in parts particularly the heist sequence and the characters of Emraan Hasmi and Vidya Balan. The pace of the movie is slow, it gives you enough time to savor the humor as you move along. Many of which you might miss as they are subtle. Despite its slow pace the McGuffin  (I had written about this in my Friday Facts) keeps you engaged with the script. The ending is completely unexpected and be ready to be caught off guard… Overall the movie is all about the journey not the ending… Soon you would find two groups of people who would just love the movie or those who simply hate it… If you are open for “not the usual script with song and dance” then Ghanchakkar is watchable…

Watchable – for its difference from the usual!

Drama, Genre, Hindi Movies, Must Watch, Rating, Reviews, Suspense, Thriller

Dum Maaro Dum

Dum Maaro Dum – A suspense thriller  that revolves around drug trafficking and associated crime. ACP Vishnu Kamath a previously corrupt cop looses his family in a road accident. He transforms and he is posted to Goa to clean up the drug gangsters. Lorry a footballer and aspiring student to go to abroad for studies is forced to smuggle drugs to fulfill his ambition. Kamath finds and arrests him. Lorry’s friend DJ Joki tries getting him out of Jail. All the source of drug trafficking leads to a mystery man Michael Barbosa. The story gets engaging as the plot moves towards the search of Michael Barbosa. Did Kamath succeed in cleaning up the drug gangster mob? Did Joki succeed in saving Lorry? Did Michael Barbosa meet the end? – is the rest of the story.

Rohan Sippy is one of the brilliant film makers of recent times. His movies are stylish and does not have any frills attached. They are also noted for new plots and unique way of story telling. Unfortunately his movies do not make a box office blockbuster. Dum Maaro Dum is no exception. It is a brilliant movie but unfortunately did not make a bang in the box office. Probably he doesn’t need so much star value in the flick which is just a distraction.  The hero of the script is the story and not any of the characters. For the enthralling suspense, slick editing and engaging screenplay Dum Maaro Dum is a Must Watch. If you have missed watching this movie when it was released then grab a DVD and watch it…

Must Watch

Comedy, Genre, Hindi Movies, Rating, Reviews, Romance, Worth a Watch

Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani

Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani – Ayan Mukerji’s movie after his critically acclaimed Wake up Sid is a feel good entertainer. In his previous movie he has used the plot and the story line to move things however in his new outing he has relied heavily upon  on the star value of Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone. The movie is a package of well blended commercial elements of love, friendship, father son relationship, sentiments. There is never a dull moment in the movie which makes it a pleasant watch… but there is something missing on the whole when compared to Wake Up Sid, probably as I had said too much reliance on the star value of the lead actors might be the one. In the end it turns out to be a typical movie from the K Jo’s banner which keeps you entertained throughout. If you are in mood for a feel good romantic movie you would enjoy this.

Watchable

PS: I had read some reviews with comparison to Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara and Dil Chahta Hai… I would strongly recommend you not to do that as that would set your expectations very high and might disappoint you… Just go an watch it with an open mind 🙂

Drama, Genre, Hindi Movies, Reviews, Worth a Watch

David (Hindi)

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David (Hindi) – The movie begins with 3 persons with the same name “David” on the verge of doing something destructive that would end a life, friendship and relationship. The only difference is the first David’s story is set in 1975, the next ones in 1999 and the last ones in 2010. Coincidentally the date of the incident remains the same. The story then rewinds back in life of each of them and take us through the incidents that had bought them to this juncture. The movie is quiet engaging in particular the story of the first two played by Neil Nitin Mukesh and Vinay Virmani. The shots have been taken picture perfect and the editing is done very well. The third story in which Vikram plays David seems to be too weak for a movie plot and is in sharp contrast to the other two. However the other two make up for it. All the lead characters have done very well. Kudos to the director for screening the 1975 story in black and white. It is so pleasant to watch the black and white sequences which concentrates on the depth of the story with some brilliant lighting and cuts off the unwanted details which might have conveyed in color. If you like movies like Amores Perros, Yuva where the plot is built around incidents and does not have an ultimate goal which it leads to, then you would like this movie. Or else this may not interest you.

Watchable

Genre, Hindi Movies, Historic, Must Watch, Other Languages, Rating, Reviews

Raja Harishchandra

Raja Harishchandra – Got to watch the first ever movie of Indian Cinema (May 13, 1913). Was inspired by it. Although 20 min footage in between was missing but I could see what a visionary and an artist Dadasaheb Phalke was. The movie was shot mainly in outdoor. Every scene was sculptured in a way to represent a living Raja Ravi Verma painting. One of the greatest challenges was Phalke did this when acting in movie was considered to be evil. He had to make male artists play the female roles and also to the outside world he had asked actors to tell that they worked for Harishchandra’s factory. The movie was released and a was a commercial success. This was the new beginning of Indian Cinema which today has reached many a new heights and has a world-wide marketability. Hats off to Dadasaheb Phalke for being persistent in his vision and goal.

Must Watch – A tribute to 100 years of Indian Cinema

Drama, Genre, Hindi Movies, Rating, Reviews, Worth a Watch

Bombay Talkies

Bombay Talkies – A perfect bouquet of four stories from four great film makers of the present… It’s a tribute to 100 years of Indian Cinema. It is anecdotes of lives of people, their challenge and how they deal with it… All the directors have dealt with subject which they wouldnt have dealt with in their mainstream cinema… So what is so Bollywood about it… Well it needs some reflection 🙂 Bollywood is integral part of all their lives… Leaves you with the feeling how the on screen artists impact everyday life… A laudable attempt… Due to its lack of commercial elements it might appeal only to serious movie goers and multiplex audience… If you like great stories and not bothered with star values and gimmicks… This one is for you…

Watchable