Movie Review: Uladhal

Movie Review: ‘Uladhal’ - Marathi

Director: Viswas Sarpotdar

Cast: Bharat Jadhav, Makarand Anaraspure, Ankush Choudhary, Siddharth Jadhav, Madhura Velankar, Aaditi Sarangdhar, Subodh Barve and Others.

Gener: Comedy

Music: Ajay Atul

The Marathi movie industry follows for success is either makes multi-starrer comedy film or makes an emotional family saga. And for many years now they are following the same trend except some movies like “Shwas”, “Tingya”, “Dombivali Fast” and others. This Movie “Uladhal” follows the same trend. Director – Producer Vishwas sarpotdar chose safest route for his first film by making comedy film that too with biggest names in Marthi Film Industry.

The movie revolved around ‘Dhaal’ (Shield) of gold which is considered to be of high exclusive heritage and so of very high value. It is belongs to Sayajirao (Makarand Anaraspure) and his prestigious family. This is the story about how this shield gets stolen and in the end how it has been recovered.

Movie is as funny as it supposed to be, very much entertaining. And it assures you good quality family time. All the actors are in there usual roles so they were very much comfortable doing their roles and doing it really well. Bharat Jadhav as usual comes with good performance with his immaculate comic timing. Siddharth Jadhav as usual does his mad character act very well but I feel like he could have been utilized little bit more. Ankush Choudhary, Aaditi Sarangdhar, Madhura Velankar does their respective roles as expected. Subodh Barve is getting too predictable in his negative role, it seems there is nothing more he can offer. He need to think about this hard before accepting negative roles as he is getting monotonous.

All this is good, but there is big blunder in casting Makarand Anaraspure as Sayajirao. I can understand the psychology of first time director – producer to cast biggest stars in his movies. So he can bring people to theatres. It is said that Makarand Anaraspure wanted to change his image in films so he accepted this role. This was big challenge for him; but he was never suited for this role in first place. He couldn’t pull it off although he is a brilliant actor and entertainer.

The movie was good but there was scope for to make it even better. Technically Marathi cinema is improving. Actors were always been top class. Movie is shot in Goa so it was pleasant to watch but they could have used it for their advantage more. Music of the film is so – so nothing great. Movie starts with a great song which was popular even when movie was in pipeline. So Music directors Ajay – Atul raise the hope but could not sustain it. In the end movie was good family entertainment it even seems to have budget for costumes because costumes of both the actress were considerably good.

If I have to rate the movie I will give it 6/10.

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Movie Review: 'Dostana'

Movie Review: 'Dostana' – 2008 (Hindi)

Director: Tarun Mansukhani

Producer: Karan Johar

Cast: Abhishek BAchchan, John Abrahm, Priyanka Chopra, Bobby Deol, Kiran Kher, Boman Irani.

Music: Vishal – Shekhar

Genre: Comedy

“Dostana” which is very recently released is all in all good entertainer, it is mad comedy with little seriousness and little romance. It also dares to talked about the taboo around homosexuality.

If we have to talk about USP of “Dostana” it will be two guys who pretending to be gay, and there gay gags, Abhishek Bachchan’s superb comic timing, John abrahm’s hot body, Priyanka chopra in golden Bikini, peppy songs, and beautiful and exotic Miami.

First of all we should appreciate Karan Johar as he decided to come out of his stupid ideas around “K” letter. And now after “Dostana’s” success he and all the others like him infatuated with “K” will know that it is the content what really matters. Second thing he decides to take the homosexuality out of closet and treat it as a normal thing. We should appreciate the courage by Abhishek Bachchan and John to accept this kind of role and perform it brilliantly.

This movie is not at all about homosexual couple it is about two guys Sam (Abhishek Bachchan) and Kunal (John Abrahm) who just pretends to be gay to get a apartment. And after they get apartment they both fall in love with a landlady Neha (Priyanka Chopra). And there is Neha’s Boss (Bobby Deol) who also loves her. So in the end it is story about three guys chasing one girl and one of them gets her.

While watching movie first things come to your mind is the 'Kantaben' episode from Karan Johar's movie ‘KAL HO NAA HO.’ I am sure this movie idea has been derived from there. But in this movie takes ‘kantaben’ episode to next level.

Out of the star cast Abhishek Bachchan stands out big time. This is one of his best performances so far. He brings the house down in some scenes with his immaculate comic timings. The scene in which he narrates his love story with john is hilarious. After disappointment of ‘Drona’ this should urge him do selective and quality films. Priyanka Chopra did good job and gave 100 % to her role. She looks amazingly hot and sexy in every scene. This is her second successive hit after many flops so she must have been relieved. John Abrahm’s acting may be not that impressive he certainly could have done better but his physically being there in the film, did wonders for film. No one else could have managed that. Bobby deol was little dull. Boman Irani and Kiron Kher very small roles in the movie but the scenes involving them are the best of the film. Even the kid who played Bobby deol’s son was cute and lovable. Some of his expressions were brilliant.

Technically also movie was of top class, good cinematography, good music, good editing and good direction. And Shilpa shetty in opening song was very pleasing for eyes.

Overall it was entertaining and one of the very few good movies released this year. May not be the best but I think Abhishek Bachchan can easily get nomination for best actor in comic role and surely should win award for it.

If I have to rate the film I will give 7/10 and it very very good score.

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Movie Review: Golmal Returns (2008)

Golmal Returns (2008) - Hindi

Director: Rohit Shetty

Cast: Ajay Devgan, Arshad Warsi, Kareena Kapoor, Tushar Kapoor, Shreyas Talpade, Amruta Arora, Celena Jetley, and others.

Genre: Comedy

“Golmal Returns” is clearly a effort by director and production house to cash on the success of its prequel “Golmal” which was released two years back and made by same director and production house.

Now “Golmal” was a good movie appreciated by crowd and did some very good business although it was also no brain comedy. So when same director, production house and almost same cast (except Sharman Joshi, who was brilliant in first part) comes up with sequel of that movie we start expecting more out of “Golmal Returns”. But not only this movie failed those expectation but it cannot maintain the standard of Golmal. It is not 10 % good as prequel.

By this I don’t mean movie is unbearable altogether, there are some good moments in the films. There is good performance by Tushar kapoor. Shreyas Talpade also stands out of bunch of star cast. But on the whole movie is no good. When I walked out of theatre I feel lost and irritated with myself that why I choose to watch this movie. I feel like someone robbed my money and even more so because it was my treat to my cousins and friends. It was 180 Rs. Per head in movie time. I feel like my money was wasted.

We understand that director wanted to make no brainer movie but how can you be so obvious. The film might have earned very well on box office but it was all because it’s prequel “Golmal” was very much fresh in peoples mind. And other thing benefited them is that they released it in Diwali festival. That help them big time. It has only one competition “Fashion” which also released on same day. Although “Fashion” is far better movie family crowd prefer “Golmal Return” as “Fashion” supposed to be a very intense movie. And people prefer light hearted movie in festival time. Although after festival week “Golmal Return” will die its natural death as it don’t have content to survive.

Issues with the films are that actor like Arshad Warsi who is sure shot crowd puller is not utilized at all. I couldn’t understand why actors like Ajay Devgan and Kareena Kapoor do this kind of films don’t they feel they have some kind of responsibility towards crowd as people spent there money on reading the star cast. There is a song called ‘Tha Karke’ on which they spent 5 corers of Rupees. The song was not at all necessary for the film. Film could do without this song. So why director does spends so much money in vein. It seems these corporate houses are negligent about investors money that too in these trying times of global meltdown.

Anyways if I have to rate this movie I will give 2/10 and this only for Tushar Kapoor and Shreyas Talpade.

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Movies to watch befor you Die - (11 - 20)

11. Black (2005) – (Hindi)

Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali

Writer: Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Bhavani Iyer

Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Rani Mukharjee and Others

Genre: Drama

Rani Mukharjee gave performance of her life…

12. Jane Bhi Do Yaaron (1983) – Hindi

Director: Kundan Shah

Writer: Ranjit Kapoor, Satish Kaushik

Cast: Nasruddin Shah, Pankaj Kapoor, Satish Shah, Ravi Baswani, Om Puri, Satish Kaushik, Neena Gupta, Bhakti Barve

Genre: Comedy

The best climax scene you will ever see in any movie…

13. Sholay (1975) – Hindi

Director: Ramesh Sippy

Writer: Salim - Javed

Cast: AmitabhBachchan, Dharmendra, Sanjeev Kumar, Amjad Khan, Hema Malini, Jaya Bhaduri, Sachin, Keshto Mukharjee, and others

Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Romance, Thriller

The biggest entertainer and biggest blockbuster in Indian film industry.

14. Godfather (1972) – English

Director: Francis Ford Coppola

Writer: Mario Puzo

Cast: Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, and others

Genre: Drama, Thriller, Gangster

This has been rated as one of the best movie made by critics all over the world.

15. Titanic(1997) – English

Director: James Cameron

Writer: James Cameron

Cast: Leonardo Decaprio, Kate Winslet, and others

Genre: Drama, Romance

This is how movie should be made

16. Ashi Hi Banavabanvi (1987) – Marathi

Director: Sachin Pilgaonkar

Cast: Sachin, Ashok Saraf, Laksmikant Berde, Supriya, Ashwini Bhave and Others

Genre: Comedy

Music By: Arun Poudwal

One of the best movie in Marathi

17. Dil Chahata Hai (2001) – Hindi

Director: Farhan Akhtar

Writer: Farhan AkhtarKassim Jagmaggia

Cast: Aamir Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Akshay Khanna, Preity Zinta, Dimple Kapadia, Sonali Kulkarni and others

Genre: Romance, Drama, Musical, Comedy

Music By: Shankar, Ehsan, Loy

Started new trend in bollywood, greatest movie on friendship..

18. Deewaar (1975) – Hindi

Director: Yash Chopra

Writer: Salim - Javed

Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Shashi Kapoor, Neetu Singh, Nirupama Roy

Genre: Drama, Family, Action, Crime

Unforgettable dialogues….

19. Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge (1995) – Hindi

Director: Aaditya Chopra

Writer: Aaditya Chopra, Javed Siddiqui

Cast: Shahrukh Khan, Kajol, Amrish Puri

Genre: Romance, Family, Musical, Comedy

Music By: Jatin Lalit

Die Hard Romantic, excellent Music

20. Andaj Apana Apana (1994)- Hindi

Director: Rajkumar Santoshi

Writer: Rajkumar Santoshi, Dilip Shukla

Cast: Aamir Khan, Salman Khan, Raveena Tandon, Karisma Kapoor, Paresh Rawal and Shakti Kapoor

Genre: Comedy

It’s a Mad, Mad Comedy.

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