Blog Archives

Jodhaa Akbar (2008)

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If you dialled 1300-FILM EPICS in India, I’m sure you’ll get a direct line to Ashutosh Gowariker. The man seems to have a penchant for making big epics. Note his body of work – Lagaan, Swades, Mangal Pandey. His most famous work outside of his home country is the nearly 4 hour long Foreign Film Oscar Nominated Lagaan. So what is he offering this time with Jodhaa Akbar, a historical epic set in the 16th Mughal empire?

I’m … (read more)

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Om Shanti Om (2007)

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No one and I mean no one could have been having a better time at the cinemas than I did last Sunday. If they claimed they did then they’re fibbing. That or they were part of the raucous crowd who were cheering along with me. Such was the effect of Farah Khan’s sophomore effort – a splashy, cheeky and retro-looking masala film that made everyone walk out with a smile on their faces and no socks on (they were blown … (read more)

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Rang De Basanti (2006)

It would be a rare film indeed to be inspirational, to transport the audience into its world, to be carried away by its idealistic fervour and winds of patriotism AND be a great film. So Rang De Basanti didn’t turn out to be this awe-inspiring film I expected. Boohoo. Serves me right for having high expectations and buying into the hype. Unfortunately RDB just didn’t have the complete package. Plus I forgot to take into account that I am a … (read more)

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Don (2006)

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Don… If your first thoughts were of Don salami, then allow me to introduce you to the other non-cured meat variety — a suave criminal, a stylish James Bond-like figure ruling the underworld with vicious tenacity. A seminal film of 70s Bollywood, with a big star cast (Amitabh Bachchan, Zeenat Aman), it was a blockbuster that spawned several hit tunes, notably “Khaike Paan Banaraswala”. It was a slice of 70s action movie, in the vein of Bond and Dirty Harry … (read more)

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Koi Aap Sa (2005)

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Oooh boy. Where do I begin? I’m a Bollywood fan-girl but my love and appreciation reached its limit here.

Taking inspiration from 1998 superhit, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Koi Aap Sa makes no pretence about its admiration for the former film, even thanking the director Karan Johar in the opening credits. I have no problem with that except it unsuccessfully tries to channel everything from the narrative to music (is it just a coincidence that the actress who plays … (read more)

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Darna Zaroori Hai (2006)

I begin this review with a small confession — I’ve recently turned into a Bollywood fan girl. Yes, I genuinely like Bollywood movies. I don’t watch them to laugh at them (well, only when they deserve it) and, no, I have absolutely no problem when the actors break out in song and dance. I had seen Bollywood films before (Lagaan, Kaante, Talaash, Dil Chata Hai) but the bug really bit with Kuch Kuch Hota Hai(read more)

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Main Hoon Na (2004)

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Woot. A back to school hijinks caper. Does not sound like something that’s too inspiring does it?

Well if Bollywood can come up with an amazing film about cricket then surely one must be prepared to be surprised by even the most staid formulas of old.

Of course, with that kind of telegraphing, is it really any surprise to say Main Hoon Na is a surprisingly great film to watch and enjoy? Well I hope not because if you saw … (read more)

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Kama Sutra (1997)

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The word that springs to mind when talking about this film is “lush”. Sets, costumes, cast, locations, all are opulent and beautiful. I could wax lyrical in much more detail, but I’m afraid I’d use up my store of adjectives, and be reduced to reviews of two sentences for the rest of the year.

The film is set in 16th century India, and tells the story of two friends, Maya and Tara. Tara is the daughter of a prince, while … (read more)

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