The Dirty Picture Music Review (BD)

BD Music Review : The Dirty Picture

The Dirty Picture

Music Director: Vishal - Shekhar

Lyrics: Rajat Arora

BD Music Rating: ❤ ❤ ❤ ½

There has been much buzz in B-Town about Vidya Balan‘s next “The Dirty Picture”. Ekta Kapoor’s preceding high budget venture Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai was a commercial and a musical success. Therefore, there are unquestionably high expectations from this movie. Moreover, lyrics are penned by Rajat Arora (story-screenplay, Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai) and music by Vishal – Shekhar; so it would be interesting to experience the music of 80’s by the duo that is prominent for western musical influences.

Ooh La La

Singers: Bappi Lahiri, Shreya Ghoshal

Ooh la la, that is what you start singing as soon as you finish the rendition by Bappi Lahiri and Shreya Ghoshal. Bappi Da is the apt choice for this one. The “Dafli” and “Dhols” are musically sound. Lyrics add a hot spice to this peppy number. Above all, this one is the perfect commencement for the album. Well done!

Ishq Sufiana

Singers: Kamal Khan (Male Version), Sunidhi Chauhan (Female Version)

This song is sung by Kamal Khan and I doubt if the pop star would fit anywhere in this album, but wow, he has sang this romantic number quite well. There is a sufiana touch in singing and the composition is an absolute delight. Lyrics are meaningful at the same time, simple. I expect this number to pick up among mass as soon as the Ooh La La fever slows down.

The female version by Sunidhi Chauhan could have been better, if was sung by Shreya Ghoshal.

Honeymoon Ki Raat

Singers: Sunidhi Chauhan

Yes, you read it right. The song is titled “Honeymoon Ki Raat”. Pop in 80’s would be the best possible phrase to describe this number. Brilliant music production, perfect lyrics, addictive composition and spicy singing can make you go gaga. Vishal – Shekhar have flavored the 80’s vividly, kudos!

Twinkle Twinkle

Singers: Shreya Ghoshal and Rana Mazumder

The song has very suggestive lyrics. This song would heve been better, if was sung by Sunidhi Chauhan, giggle! Vishal – Shekhar seems to be inspired from RD’s music for this song, but somehow the song lacks the zest and it misses the spark of RD’s music. Rana Mazumder does a fabulous job as RD's substitute. A good listen though.

One Line Music Review: Oh, the album has four originals, one reprised version and one remix. I wish if album was bulk quantity wise , anyway, it is bulk quality wise. Is this “Dirty Picture” worth buying? Yeah sure! 

Rating: ❤ ❤ ❤ ½

Ra One Movie Review

Bollywood Dil Se Movie Review: Ra One

Rating: ❤ ❤ ❤

Movie Information: IMDB Link , Wiki

Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Arjun Rampal, Sahana Goswami, Armaan Verma, Satish Shah, Tom Wu

Direction: Anubhav Sinha

Genre: Sci-Fi

THIS REVIEW CONTAIN SPOILERS!


I have been observant that the movies that create a huge hype before their release always prove to be disappointing. Take it Mausam or Bodyguard or Ra-One, the big budget releases in recent times have not been able to fulfill the expectations from them.

Shahrukh Khan has put 2 years of his life in this movie, and going strictly by the cinematic experience, the movie is not worthy of it. Instead of reviewing this movie in conventional way, here is the review of Ra One based on two pillars – Ra – Ones or the bad ones due to which the movie is a letdown and G – Ones or the good ones which somehow make this movie a one time watch.


Teaser:





Ra – Ones for the movie (The reasons why Ra-One fails to create the magic of Robot):


Everyone would have Ra – One Vs Robot (Enthiran) criteria in their mind, but no one will compare it directly, sorry if I go beyond the line, but this is what I really feel.I dont know why people are comparing Ra One and Bodyguard, its extremely foolish! 


Story: 
The “Truth Always Triumphs” thing is presented in such a messy way, that the viewer gets confused, bored and clinched.  Plot of the movie is taken from various films like Terminator – 2, Bicentennial Man and many other Hollywood movies.

There is extremely poor characterization of protagonist and antagonist, how can a super hero made up of infrared or ultraviolet rays eat something? More doubtingly, how can someone evolved out of rays be strong as steel? There may be logic behind all these gimmicks, but frankly, they are too complicated to understand. Someone please educate me. The epics in these genre like Avatar, Terminator Series, Batman Series or say Robot or Krrish click in the viewer’s mind due to clear concept and simple story which is missing in Ra – One. Shahrukh as South Indian father seems to be mocking at the particular caste, which is pathetic. Even if the intension behind Shekhar Subramanium’s character may be to create some giggling moments, it does not.

Screenplay: 
Again, very dull show. First ten minutes are entertaining but not needed at all. By the end of boring first half, one feels that the second half would pay back to the prior damage, but it does not. Almost every alternate sequence sans Ra – One or G – One seems unwanted. Three consecutive songs in first half and two in second half nowhere benefit the story that is so predictable.

 The screenplay is a mash of Hollywood movies. Chase sequences are inspired from Matrix, Car lifting sequences from X Men and the HART thing looks ditto from Iron Man. The desi quotient is missing in the screenplay (unlike Robot, which was so original, and if some portion was inspired, it never got me bored). There is never, an emotional attachment with the movie. Even, the thrill element essential for climax sequence is missing.


Direction:
Anubhav Sinha has completely failed as a Sci – Fi director. Unlike visionary Shankar's Enthiran, the movie has loopholes (actually potholes) that are almost impossible to hide. 


If the movie is made for children, then why the hack, there is a load of adulterated humor throughout the movie. Lingo of Kareena is objectionable. There are vulgar dialogues on “Lee sisters” and “Main Part”, Moreover; Teen uttering “Condom Condom” is not fair Mr. Director. Sequences like Student seeing personal tape of a teacher, Pierced nipples of SRK, Power Yoga, Shahrukh asking for Keys to a blonde in ill-disciplined way, Shahrukh getting physical with Kareena Kapoor are all absolutely unbearable in a film made for Children. Despite all these Gay Jokes and Pink humor, movie is given a U Certificate, which is undoubtedly arguable.

The director has missed many sequences. Say, the birthday sequence of Prateek, where we see blonde women wearing bikini-blouse kind of top and skirt. What are these ill – dressed women doing in the birthday of a kid? Why someone would sing a song like Chamak Challo (where Kareena is dancing without Sari) at a birthday party? Shahrukh is laid in Coffin at first and then his ashes are shown, how is it possible? Kareena lights up candles with off candle. How can a super hero made up of light radiations eat curd and noodles? What was G- One doing by hanging on the antenna at roof top? Receiving DTH signals? Such loopholes are acceptable in a mindless entertainer, but certainly, not in a Sci – Fi movie.

Minor Ra- Ones: 
Background music is very weak; there are soundtracks of 70’s in a train chase sequence. I would sue the makeup artist of Sahana Goswami, she is such a beauty, but she does not look so in the movie. Actors like Satish Menon, Satish Shah and Dilip Tahil are wasted.



G-Ones for the movie:


VFX:
This is the only reason to watch this movie. The technology used is simply spell bounding and first of its kind in India. Sound Engineering is first class. Resul truly deserves to be the Oscar winner. Kudos to Red Chilies!

Cinematography:
Cinematography is splendid. The movie “looks” splendid in 3 D. Chamak Challo song and Dildaara Songs are very well filmed. London as well as Mumbai is shown vibrant and vivacious.

Performances:
Thumbs up for Shahrukh as G-One (not as Shekhar but), ditto for Arjun. Tom Wu steals the show. Kareena looks gorgeous. Above all, I loved Sanjat Datt’s cameo and the master act of Rajni Da. Lovely.

One Line Review: Shahrukh fans will watch it anyhow. Non Shahrukh fans should watch it ONCE in 3 D, strictly for the sake of technology used. I go with generous three out of five for the movie, accounting only the G-Ones, If I count Ra-Ones then, it would be miserable to rate this movie.

Rating: ❤ ❤ ❤

Desi Boyz Music Review (BD)

BD Music Review : Desi Boyz

Desi Boyz

Music Director: Prittam

Lyrics: Irshad Kamil, Kumar, Amitabh Bhattacharya

BD Music Rating: ❤ ❤ ❤

Make Some Noise For The Desi Boyz

Singers: KK and Bob

After splendid “Mausam” I expect much from Prittam with this one. The album kicks off with the track heavy on distortion. The tune has a very Prittam kind of feeling and reminds of Aahun Aahun at some places as well. Yet undeniably, this one is the USP of the album. Three highs of the track: stupefying lyrics, guitars around 2:10 – 2:30, and Krishnan Kunath (was missing in Mausam). The song is too energetic to charge up the party busters.

Subha Hone Na De

Singers: Mika Singh & Shefali Alvaris

I must say, Prittam has enhanced a lot on music production. This one is again very flippant song with a very odd pair rendering vocals – Mika and Shefali Alvaris. And yes, the singers make this song alive. This track is basically a pop song with uncanny lyrics, but the singers (it’s good to hear Mika singing something that is not of folk genre) make it exceptional. Rap portion is funky. Tune sounds much like English pop songs of 90’s though. I am more than satisfied till now.  

Jhak Maar Ke

Singers: Neeraj Shridhar & Harshdeep Kaur 

Brilliant acoustics make sure that this song will hap too. And yes, it does, till an extent. This one is a typical Prittam – Neeraj Shridhar track. I wonder why Prittam experimented with Harshdeep Kaur rather than his regular Sunidhi Chauhan, anyway Harshdeep carries off her part well. The song lacks vigor unlike previous two but it’s worth lending ears to this one. 

Allah Maaf Kare

Singers: Sonu Nigam and Shilpa Rao

The track begins with very engaging guitar work. Tune is somehow of ordinary level. Sonu Nigam tries to create a mood but the innovative chorus (the pitch bend around 0:10 and 1:30) spoils it. The song fails to create a strong imposition and relics like a song without feel. Shilpa Rao is wasted.

Let It Be

Singer: Shaan

I have been observant that Jhak Maar Ke, Allah Maaf Kare and this one (Let It Be) all start off in a same fashion, with fascinating guitars. This time its Shaan to croon yet again a typical Prittam composition. This track lacks very much required innovation. Lyrics keep on the flow and so does the singing. But song lacks the glimmer like the first two.

Tu Mera Hero

Singers: Mika Singh & Shefali Alvaris

With same tune and music production, this is the second version of Subah Hone Na De. I liked Subah Hone Na De more.

To conclude, there are remixes of all the originals except Let It Be.

One Line Music Review: The album starts on a high note but fails to keep up the pace or soul, good but not exceptional. 

Rating: ❤ ❤ ❤

Azaan Movie Review

Bollywood Dil Se Movie Review: Azaan

Rating: ❤ ❤ ❤
Movie Information: IMDB Link , Wiki
Cast: Sachiin J Joshi, Candice Boucher, Dilip Tahil, Sajid Hassan, Amber Rosh Revah, Sarita Chaudhary
Direction: Prashant Chaddha
Genre: Action Thriller


Movie Overview:

Azaan is an attempt to make a spy action thriller of Hollywood echelon and makers have partly succeeded in their job. The movie is shot exotically, and seems polished but misses out the real thrill element of an action thriller. Thanks to very poor screenplay, a viewer is never connected with the movie, and thus enjoys this stylish odyssey at a superficial level only.

Sachin Joshi isn’t apt choice for this movie. The actor, who is also the producer of the movie, is unfortunately, a big letdown. If he would have casted some veteran actor of Bollywood and invested good amount in publicity and marketing, and the movie would have turned a money making machine for him.

Unfortunately, one of the most expensive movies of Bollywood (precisely 180 crores) will flop in an unnoticing approach.

I can easily summarize my experience of Azaan as follows.

Good:

Cinematography (arguably, the best that Bollywood has even seen)

Background Score (Undoubtedly, the best that Bollywood has heard this year till date)

Novel theme (biological warfare and undercover agent concept)

Bad:

Sachin Joshi’s performance (and strictly okay performances from veterans like Dilip Tahil and Sajid Hassan due to scare scope)

Scattered screenplay (probably the worst one for such a tight-edited movie)

Nevertheless, I will watch this movie again, just to hear the background score by Salim – Sulaiman.

Teaser:





Quick Review:

Cast:
Bad performance by Sachin Joshi and average performance by all the actors. Candice Boucher (playboy cover girl) and Amber Rose Revah (From Paris With Love fame) do their cameos well. It would not be wrong to say that Sachin Joshi has messed up the movie.


Story And Screenplay:
Story is good, screenplay is scattered, inconsistent and full of flaws.


Editing And Cinematography:
Kudos to editor and cinematographer!


Music And Background Score:
Music is good. Afreen and Khuda Ke Liye sounds good and are shot well. Background score is grandiose!

Direction:
Direction is a series of hits and misses. Some sequences are brilliantly directed where as there are major loop holes post interval.

Final Verdict:
If screenplay (bad) and hero (very bad) were of the same standards like its cinematography (far better than most of Bollywood movies) and background score (far better than any movie released this year), then believe me folks, this could have been the Bollywood's answer to Bourne series.

Rating: ❤ ❤ ❤ 

Soundtrack Movie Review (BD)

Bollywood Dil Se Movie Review: Soundtrack

Rating: ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤
Movie Information: IMDB Link , Wiki
Cast: Rajeev Khandelwal, Mrinalini Sharma, Soha Ali Khan, Manu Rishi, Mohan Kapoor, Ankur Tiwari, Siddharth Cuotto, Yateen Keryekar
Direction: Neerav Ghosh
Genre: Drama

[First things first, I rate movies based on what I see! And not what I could have seen. I have read reviews where critics mostly criticize the movie saying that the movie is good but it could have been better. Their statement is accepted if the movie fails to leave its proposed impact on the moviegoer. However, say, a movie is made to make a viewer laugh, and then you can’t criticize the movie saying that it did not make you cry. Reviewers say this movie, Soundtrack lacks humor in first half and it’s predictable in second half.

Now, to those reviewers, I would like to ask, did director ever intended to make you laugh out loud throughout the movie? I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. Of course, the movie has dull moments but nothing is perfect. Regarding its predictability, I believe this is not a thriller, where you can expect twists and turn. The genre is drama and mostly, dramas have predictable story.]

Movie Overview:

In recent times, Bollywood has witnessed many melodramatic remakes (most of them, remade from South Indian movies). Soundtrack, though a remake of Canadian movie It’s all Gone Pete Tong (officially mentioned in the end credits of the movie), is thankfully not over-the-top. 

The movie is narrated in a documentary style, seldom taking interviews of many famous music personalities. The movie has an intriguing screenplay, where a viewer is supposed to get connected with the movie and its character and it happened to be the case with me.

Rajeev Khandelwal as Raunak Kaul is just marvelous. He is thoroughly in synch with his character and he has proved his versatility with this movie. Soundtrack is all and all a movie for Rajeev Khandelwal fans.

Soundtrack, has very good music but the background score of the movie sounds a bit pale. Two songs, Naina Lagey and Banao are placed wrongly in background score, which can’t be digested in a musical drama. The “Johnny Joker” element added to make it a bit artistic movie, is appreciative, but not needed.

Camera works is fancy. Cinematography is brilliant. Direction is good, not excellent.

The movie could have been narrated in a heroic way but the director chooses a subtle way (not to misinterpret as a mediocre way) of narration giving it an artistic touch rather than commercial appeal. 

To conclude, there are only two loopholes in this movie, first, no strong implication of mood of the movie. Second, background score of the movie.

Soundtrack, thus, deserves accolades and appreciation of viewers. Folks, don’t waste your money and time in the other movies this Friday, just go for this one! Highly recommended!

Teaser:




Quick Review:

Cast:
Rajeev Khandelwal is brilliant. He transits well from a DJ hunk to a deaf musician. Mrinalini Sharma is unbelievably hot. Soha Ali Khan acts well (yes, you read it right). Both the ladies represent contradictions in Rajeev’s character. Mrinalini makes you go high in first half and Soha makes you feel dry in second. Mohan Kapoor is very good as a Casanova kind of manager. Ankur Tiwari (yes, the singer-composer) and Siddharth Cuotto (yes, the singer) are noteworthy. Manu Rishi is wasted.

Story And Screenplay:
Story and screenplay (majorly) is adapted from It's All Gone Pete Tong so not to credit much. Dialogues are fresh, crisp and hap devoid of any melodrama, which is commendable.

Editing And Cinematography:
Editing by Sanjey Roderick and Ambar Vyas is tight. Screenplay is intriguing and fast paced (at some extent, inconsistent too). Cinematography is fine and high on production values.

Music And Background Score:
Music is good. Read the Soundtrack music review here. Background score is okay.

Direction:

Direction is good, still a long way to go. I hope to see more of him soon.


Final Verdict:
Don’t trust the reviewers that rate Bodyguard as first class, and do go for this movie. You won’t be disappointed, if you love good cinema. 



Rating: ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ 

Force Movie Review (BD)

Bollywood Dil Se Movie Review: Force

Rating: ❤ ❤ ❤ ½
Movie Information: IMDB Link , Wiki
Cast: John Abraham, Genelia D'Souza, Vidyut Jamwal, Mohnish Bahal, Raj Babbar, Aaitha Nair, Sandhya Mridul, Mukesh Rishi
Direction: Nishikant Kamat
Genre: Action, Romance, Humor


Movie Overview:

Force, first of all, is a remake without much creative inputs from the makers. This does not necessarily make it a dull movie; actually, those who will see this movie sans watching Khakha Khakha would love it. I have seen Khakha Khakha (Tamil original starring Surya) and Gharshana (Telugu Remake starring Venkatesh) as well. Nevertheless, frankly, I enjoyed this remake as well.

Nishikant Kamat has proved with this movie that he can manage both art cinema (previously, he directed Mumbai Meri Jaan) and commercial cinema on a perfect balance. Force, is an out and out commercial movie, yet it stands out strong on technical aspects.

John Abraham has done his role immensely well. Those who feel that John was emotionless or was underplaying his role, must understand that his character in the movie is like a hit machine. Thus, it becomes quite essential to stay calm, look cool and under act your character. Come on folks, this is not Singham or Dabbang.  Coming to John’s physique, I was amazed. John has truly the best body in B - Town.

I even concluded one more thing after seeing the movie. Genelia D’souza is the sweetest actress in the recent times. After her Telugu movie Bommarillu (it was just lovely, do watch it folks) I feel this is her second best. Okay. Accepted that she has done mainly bubbly roles in her filmography, but the roles that have been played by Genelia, I doubt if anyone could do them so well (I found Asin dull in Hindi remake of Ready).

Music, which sounds okay, looks great on screen thanks to brilliant cinematography and choreography. I am overall quite impressed with the way the movie is remade. One should also keep in mind that the original movie dated back to 2003, and so re-creating the same mood is a tough job.

The only problem that I found in all the three versions of the movie is a simple story. Unlike Ghajini or Wanted (to an extent), which belongs to the same genre – action thriller, this movie doesn’t have twists and turns to unfold the story. The movie neither has romance to the level of Ghajini or humor quotient to the level of Wanted (I do not define these movies as a benchmark, but these two are just names of the same genre).

Therefore, when you leave cinema, the two things that you remember is John’s physic and Genelia’s cute acting.  

Teaser:




Quick Review:

Cast:
John looks cool. Genelia acts like a candyfloss. Newcomer Vidyut is remarkable. Mohnish Bahal and Sandhya Mrudul fits up the bill. Raj Babbar seems wasted.

Story And Screenplay:
The only downside of otherwise a brilliant movie. The predictable story and adapted screenplay (almost) are to be blamed at most. A major loophole of the movie. Dialogues somehow keep a layman entertained.

Editing And Cinematography:
Aryanka Bose does her job as a DOP efficiently. Cinematography is world - class. I mean it. Editing is good. No complaints here. Not to forget, the action sequences, are very well choreographed and I have probably seen for the first time, the real man to man combat in the movie. The action sequences never look unreal.Kudos.

Music And Background Score:
Check out Force Music Review here.  Music and background score are apt.

Direction:
Nishikant directs the movie very well. I somehow feel absence of his creative inputs in story - screenplay section. Anyways, If the purpose of the movie is to entertain the people, then the makers have succeeded.

Final Verdict:
Raw action + blissful romance - lack of strong story and sub plots = one time entertainer.


Rating: ❤  ❤  ❤ ½