Warning 3D

The only person who could possibly answer a basic question is Gurmmeet Singh, the director of the movie.  Why was the movie called Warning? Who warned whom? Was someone supposed to warn someone else? Was I supposed to hear some sort of warning?  There was some red board with the word on it somewhere during the movie.  But other than that why not call it what it was – A SHIPWRECK!!!

Grand Masti

Let me starts with 10 vignettes from Indra Kumar’s latest blockbuster where the only thing cornier than the name is the movie itself. I refuse to translate them because of the trauma I will be causing my readers who are unaware of Hindi.  I cannot have their blood on my hands. Here goes

1. Nirodh ka Virodh
2. Pussy kahaan ghusi
3. Pichwada hai kya Vijayawada
4. Kahin iska joke hamein thok na de
5. Get cozy in the jacuzzi
6. Pocket mein koi rocket hai
7. Chooha mota hai par khali tera lota hai
8. Only one thing can save us from maran – Vastraharan
9. Is se pehle tumhari choote grip, we have to strip
10. Its not the spring boys. Its the thing.

You are free to interpret the context in which these lines were introduced into the script.  Grand Masti is nothing but an attempt to mash up all editions of American Pie upto the last one – American Reunion (2012).  There is little that can be called original or not slapstick.

But to be fair - let us look at what was great about the movie? It wasn’t an unnecessarily long movie – unless you consider that the movie itself was not required and could have been done away with – it finishes in under 2 hours (2.5 including the intervals).  And the other good part was that no one associated with the movie made any bones about what it is before the release – we were promised a senseless sex comedy and that’s what we got.

No matter what I say, the audience will have its final say and in this case I am reminded of a tweet from Mihir Fadnavis, “Every time someone tells me Shuddh Desi Romance is a 'boring' film I'm convinced that we deserve films like Zanjeer only. Bas goo hi khao”. (Apologies for not seeking permission Mihir – but the tweet was too apt for GM as well). I am going to avoid ripping GM to shreds because it will not matter.

The audience was not just laughing at the below standard humour.  They were jumping in their seats while splitting their sides.  I can guarantee that I was the only person who had a poker faced expression.  The only thing scarier than Grand Masti – and I mean “SCARIER” – was the trailer of WARNING before the movie. No comments on the movie or any aspect related to it from my side.  2 on 10.

Watch the trailer on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8L4qT6-fNzQ

I M 24

One of the few saving graces in September was this off beat movie called I M 24. When you have a movie with a cast that includes the likes of Rajat Kapoor, Ranvir Shorey, Vijay Raaz and Lilette Dubey, it is a safe bet to spend a little bit of money on. This was part of the triple header that was planned for the 2nd September 2012 (not Finding Nemo – which was on the previous Sunday) and thankfully it turned out to be a decent watch. Else my death warrant was pretty much sealed.

Shubendu Roy (Rajat Kapoor) – and I kid you not when I say that I burst out laughing loud when I heard the name itself – is a thirty something writer who has come in from somewhere in the Indian hinterland to the city of dreams. He shares his lovely house in Ghatkopar with his childhood buddy Gagandeep Singh (Ranvir Shorey). Gagan is a struggling actor himself and uses his smooth talking skills to get odd jobs. Given a choice, Gagan would never speak the truth. Shubhendu is the magnetic opposite.

Gagan lands up a small time job with a leading producer, director of small time serials played by Saurabh Shukla. The only worry is that the house is notorious for not making payments. On the sets he meets Sheela (Neha Dhupia) a struggling actress. Using the same slick talk, Gagan starts wooing Sheela. In the meantime, Shubhendu bumps into Kanak (Manjari Fadnis) on a chat site. When Kanak asks Shubhendu his age our man replies – I AM 24.

I M 24 is a bitter sweet movie that may have several inconsistencies and probably doesn’t stay true to its central theme that is – BE HONEST. But the lies and inconsistencies Saurabh Shukla (as the director) throws at you are petty ones with a certain endearing quality to them. From the first shot, you know that it is a super low budget movie that will offer not too much in terms of quality of movie. But what it lacks in quality of execution, I M 24 more than makes up in terms of story.

And then there are the performances of the cast that I had called out earlier in this review. True to their reputation – Rajat Kapoor, Ranvir Shorey, Saurabh Shukla, Lilette Dubey and Vijay Raaz all deliver very strong performances. Neha Dhupia is slowly but surely getting some quality roles to keep hopes alive on people believing that there is an actor somewhere there. Overall, a pretty decent way to spend a Sunday evening. May have left the screens by now. But the DVD would be a safe pick. 5 on 10.

Watch the trailer on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HVJtPfPAuE

Zokkomon

He is here!!! India's first "young" super hero. He is 4 ft tall, all of 10 years old (probably) and uses the marvels of science that Magic Uncle (Anupam Kher) dishes out to him that make him fly and levitate in a cloud of smoke and disappear within the blink of an eye into the same cloud of smoke. He throws paint / ink balls at the enemies of society (children in particular) and also sends a pair of boomerangs flying through the air as and when required (with no proof of their coming back ... er did I burst someone's bubble). He wears red and black and also an eye band of sorts that defines his persona and makes his eyes glow orange (like a fire) in the dark. He is not your regular superhero. He is a phenomenon. He is the hope that lives inside the heart of every child. He is the manifestation of what every oppressed child in the world wants to be. He is Kunal aka ZOKKOMON!!!


Kunal has been wronged not only by his blood relatives but also by God who snatched away his parents at a tender age leaving him in a boarding school where he is well taken care of but doesn't have a family anymore. His chacha (paternal uncle) goes by the name of Deshraj (Anupam Kher) - a slimy old man who wears wig and spends most of his time pocketing money from various government grants for his school. Deshraj is also his sole gaurdian currently and decides all of a sudden that Kunal cannot study in boarding school but must do so @ his village Jhunjhunmakastama. A village of the living dead of sorts - people who apparently are alive but live under the morbid fear of the local god man and a bhoot bangla (ghost house). They are superstitious to the core - a fact which is only fuelled further by Deshraj through the Dhongi Baba (god man). Deshraj goes to the extent of "losing" Kunal @ Esselworld and then pronouncing his dead so as to claim the 75 lacs that Kunal would get rightfully when he turns 18. However, Kunal makes his way back to the village with some help from Kitto Didi (Manjari Fadnis) only to find himself back @ the Bhoot Bangla where he meets famed scientist Vivek Rai aka Magic Uncle. Together they decide to take on Deshraj and his cronies and ensure that they put an end to the pain that the kids are going through.

What is disappointing about Zokkomon is that Disney hasn't paid any attention to detail like it normally would. Just because its a Bollywood movie doesn't warrant you exposing Darsheel Safary's complete lack of basketball playing skills. I mean he makes SRK and Rani Mukherjee look good (GAWD!!!) at the game. First time director Satyajit Bhatkal doesn't leave much of a mark and one can only hope that he gets better with experience. But he is definitely made to look good by the entire cast which has given a solid effort. Notable performances would include child artistes Gargi & Jai Vyas who play Kunal's friends in the village with a name that can barely be remembered. Manjari Fadnis is at her bubbly best and a tad over the top as always. That she is pretty makes up for her lack of acting talent. Disney has smartly left enough open for a sequel/s but will need to put more effort in the finishing department to come up with a good movie. This one is a 5 on 10 in my books. A definite hit with the kids though. Parents beware - Zokkomon will very soon burn a hole in ur pockets just like he did with Deshraj's pants. Loads of revenue forecasted for Disney through merchandise. Cheerios friends till the next time.

Watch the trailer at http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi1491311897/