AninditaRoyMusings

LOVE AAJ KAL PORSHU: This movie has a major Truman Show hangover. A few dialogues are witty and a few scenes are view-worthy but overall the movie is cringe-worthy. Paoli Dam shines in a brief role. It was great to see Good Old Anirudhha Chakladar in a cameo.The movie cannot be termed as a concept movie. It does not create any lasting impression. It follows even Hollywood with incesssant use of the F word. A catchy movie created to capture the hype around Valentine’s Day. Madhumita Sarkar is major eye-candy and would save you from a heartbreak in case you choose to sit through it.
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LOVE AAJ KAL: This movie is several shades paler to the trailblazer Love Aaj Kal released in 2009. Chor Bazari became an anthem and Twist became a rage. Thanks to Saif Ali Khan’s able shoulders and Deepika’s effortless acting and the flawless acting of two foreign ladies (they did not stick around in Bollywood long enough) and a coherent storyline the movie reached out to several people across denominations. But this movie is a caricature and not even a satire and makes mockery of the act of love and sex. Repeated smooches and semi frontal nudity make matters worse. There is no plot whatsoever. Only staccato scenes of love making do not make a love story. There is no memorable song as well. Kartik Aryan looked uncomfortable as Sara Ali Khan’s love interest but still carried the torch all through the movie disregarding the real life feeling of discomfiture and stifling. The movie make some snide references to cult movies like Maine Pyar Kiya and the Sky is Pink and the like. Sara Ali Khan’s physical transformation is commendable and she is confident in her own skin but her acting skills are much to be desired. It’s time Bollywood stopped legacy casting and believed in talent and meritocracy. The main flaw of the movie is that nothing is subtle. In one scene Sara Ali Khan puts really small clothes in the wardrobe emphasizing her extra small almost zero figure.The performances are really average. The ensemble cast is terrible. Tough guy Randeep Hooda also failed to deliver thanks to pure direction. I had major deja vu feelings during the bike riding scene and could really connect to it. However the protagonists break into a mad dance at the climax and end with a dialogue “Je Kare Ki Tere Sath Kunwe mein Kood jaye Magar Dil Hai Na” Whatever it is, it sounded strong and less punishing. You can watch it for some voyeuristic pleasure.

DWITIYO PURUSH: A whodunit that failed thanks to a confusing climax. A sequel to Baishey Shrabon, this movie had chases, blood and gore and a mystery but everything got marred by a convoluted and illogical climax. There are smooches galore-man smooching man and man smooching woman. There is also nudity. It is a star-studded movie with Parambrata, Abir, Raima, Gaurav,Rwitabrata and Babul Supriyo who play their characters well. The music by Anupam Ray is passable. The movie will not give you a satiated feeling because of its ending which lacks sense or a clear and sound reasoning.

STREET DANCER 3D: Definitely not a movie one would like to shimmy to. Full of repetitive dance moves and mediocre performances, the movie at 2 hrs 30 mins is a tedious watch. The only time the screen lights up is during Muqabla 2.0 by Prabhudeva. The storyline is hammy and the music is nothing to write home about. The 3-D effects are useless except for throwing things the audience’s way. Nora Fatehi dances up a storm. Varun Dhawan and Shraddha Kapoor, despite adequate performances, suffer due to a horrible screenplay. Aparshakti Khurrana shows up in a sidey character. Be prepared with deal with Varun Dhawan’s horrible British accent. Hopefully the makers stop here and not make a sequel. This movie is best suited for dance-junkies.

PANGA: It is a heart-warming movie about home-makers who strive to make a comeback after marriage and kids. This topic has not been explored well in Bollywood and it adds to the current volley of women-centric movies. Set in Bhopal, Kangana plays a railway clerk immersed in blissful marital life until her 7 year old precocious kid urges her to return to professional kabaddi-a game she left several years back. The sports scenes are shot realistically and Kangana’s frustation and anguish are also depicted perfectly. The only deterrant is that there is no dramatic conflict in the movie. Everyone one is so sugary sweet-including the husband and the neighbor. The husband is shown to have several hobbies like gardening, playing the guitar and listening to music. Some part of the movie is shot in Kolkata and there is abundant use of Bengali words in the movie. Kangana’s performance is top-notch. Richa Chadda is also credible as the best friend. Jassi Gill plays the husband’s role to perfection. Yagya Bhasin is adorable as the 7-year old kid. Neena Gupta shines in her brief role. This movie is a pleasant watch meant for family audiences.