Katti Batti (Hindi) (2015)

Nikhil Advani is definitely not known for brilliant movies with the one exception of D-Day where he made his only genuine attempt to aid the effort of quality cinema in Bollywood.  Back to Back releases in a week may indicate that Shri Advani over estimated his prowess in the field of direction.  Regretably he has botched up both stories – one which was a classic and the other that had a lot of promise.

Happy Ending

Saif Ali Khan is getting a tad predictable these days.  Over the past 4 years, he is trying to carve a niche for himself as the leading hero for Romantic Comedies. Not unfortunately but not excitingly either it doesn’t seem to be putting forth anything different for audiences.

What If

It is not often that you see theatre properties being taken to the big screen.  I haven’t had the opportunity to see the play by T J Dawe & Michael Rinaldi called Toothpaste & Cigars (and probably never will).  Screen adaptations of plays are usually not as good.  With that thumb rule, I would guess that T&C will definitely be worth a dekko.  What if, however, can be seen on DVD.

Khoobsurat (2014) (Disney)

A 20 something eligibly girl is a physiotherapist (PT) for the Kolkata Knight Riders (defending champions of the IPL).  Apparently in the IPL, people are allowed to swarm onto the dressing room.  Once you have gotten over that minor aspect of security, you see this 20 something girl pretending to do something that is supposed to correct the injury of a star batsman Kapoor (no first names were given).

Daawat-E-Ishq

The weekend is here and it begins with an invitation from Yash Raj films.  An invitation to love / romance.  I know. I know.  That is a corny translation and I should have thought of a better one.  But Daawat-E-Ishq is exactly the kind of RomCom that deserves a corny opening line like this one.

Blended

To set the record straight, this is Frank Coraci’s 2^nd movie with Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore.  The first time was The Wedding Singer.  This is the 3^rd time Sandler and Barrymore are coming together.  50 First Dates was directed by Peter Segal and not by Coraci. So all of you who are saying 3^rd time lucky for Coraci, Sandler and Barrymore, have more reason to be convinced otherwise.

2 States

The most difficult part of this review is going to be the beginning.  I have just walked out of Screen 4 @ PVR Mulund feeling overawed by the performances from 5 brilliant actors and a sincere but not so talented one.  I am also confused because I don’t feel the thrill that I felt after Highway or Queen.

Bewakoofiyaan

25 learnings from Bewakoofiyaan

Total Siyapaa

Do you remember a director called E Niwas? The one who did Love Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega some 13 years back (2001) and an extremely forgettable movie called My Name is Anthony Gonsalves around 6 years ago (2008)? Total Siyapaa is his attempt to make a comeback into cinema.  Regretably, Eeshwar Niwas will remain a one-movie-wonder with Shool (1999 – Manoj Bajpayee).

Shaadi Ke Side Effects

Many moons from now, there will be a question asked in any number of quizzes across the country. What is the significance of the dialogue, "congratulations - its a baby girl" in Indian cinema. The answer is that it is my good friend Sudhendra Sharma's first dialogue on the silver screen. To make things better, it is a credited performance. Notice Doctor in the Delivery Room in the end credits.

Hasee Toh Phasee

There is a good looking young man who is engaged to be married an equally (if not better) good looking young woman. The two seem to be very much into each other and are really looking forward to getting married. In walks the mysterious, girl next door kinds sister who creates ripples in the still waters just by being present. Her presence is just about enough to create doubts in the mind of the groom to be.

Babloo Happy Hai

The description of Babloo Happy Hai online is as under

Babloo Happy Hai is a Hindi film directed by Nila Madhab Panda. It is a love story of today's youngsters, and what they think love and sex is in the times of multiplexes and fast cars. Before the film's name was "love is not mathematics"

Let me assure you that there was no mathematics involved anywhere.  There was some sex and some love thrown in but the word “directed” had very little presence.

One by Two (Hindi) (2014)

I stand corrected from my previous statements about Bollywood being obsessed with objectification of women.  I think the trend is moving slowly but surely to farting on screen.  Is there some focus group discussion that caused this spark to become a raging fire? Every movie seems to have someone in the lead cast passing wind – on demand!!! Getting bored with the dialogue? Hey – get someone to fart and people will be fine.

Kalyana Samayal Saadham (Wedding Feast) (Tamil)

If I remember correctly, the last Tamil movie I reviewed was also coincidentally the first movie on this blog.  It was called Ravanan (Ravan in Hindi starring AB Jr.).  It was one that I enjoyed quite a bit.  Sadly, it took an alignment of my schedules to accommodate another movie to watch my 2^nd Tamil movie in over 3 years – on the big screen that is.  Mental note made – should watch more Tamil movies in 2014.

Gori Tere Pyaar Mein!

Half of the Gori Tere Pyaar Mein!’s battle against me was already lost when I realized a couple of minutes into the movie that it has been set significantly in THE VILLAGE.  Now, now people, don’t get me wrong.  I have nothing against villages.  But I have a lot against one particular village.  For those who know me, this particular village is also known as – BENGALURU.  I call it the largest village in the world.

Huff! - It's Too Much

There is a dialogue in the trailer of Huff! - It's Too Much that goes something like this, “Agar mujhe girna hi hai toh mein pyaar mein kyun giroon? Chocolate mein kyun nahin”? (If I have to fall, why should I fall in love? Why not into Chocolate?).  Unfortunately for me, I saw the trailer after I had booked my tickets for the show.  I had a choice, mind you, to not go for the show but my curiosity got the better of me.

About Time

Richard Curtis is the writer and director of 2 other movies including one of the best RomComs of all time – LOVE ACTUALLY. Richard Curtis has also written FOUR WEDDINGS AND A FUNERAL, NOTTING HILL AND THE MR. BEAN SERIES.  Quite a stark difference between 2 genres of cinema / series right? But About Time is right where Richard Curtis is great at.  RomComs.

Shuddh Desi Romance

They say experience teaches a man better than anything or anyone else.  Not that you need to commit your own mistakes to learn from – you can as well learn from other people’s mistakes.  I have no clue to where Maneesh Sharma got his sum total of learning.  Whether it was from his solid effort with Band Baaja Baraat or his just about par effort of Ishaqzaade.  Either ways, he seems to have learnt.  And learnt well.

The Five-Year Engagement

The posters and trailers of The Five-Year Engagement were all over the place for a while early last year.  The trailers seemed intriguing enough and so did the posters.  But if my memory serves me right, 5 Year Engagement never saw the light of day in this country.  I have always wondered why.

A Little Bit of Heaven

Star World seems to be on a Kate Hudson spree for their segment called Movie Magic.  Sometime back it was Fools Gold.  The week before last we saw that RomCom titled Something Borrowed.  And last week it was this Romance / RomCom movie called A Little Bit of Heaven.