Welcome - Another Akshay Kumar hit

Akshay and Katrina have already done 2 movies together - Humko Diwana Kar Gaye and Namastey London. Namastey London was a hit, and the pair did feel good on-screen. Welcome just takes the pair to their best hit so far, and does so in style. The movie is styled as an out and out comedy, the kind that you go and watch, and whether you like it or not, you really don't think too much about it afterwards. Welcome must have been difficult to put together, what with so many different stars, different locales, and the need to put so many gags into one movie, but director Aneez Bazmi seems to have managed that. And Welcome has been a big hit, more so overseas.
I was very enthused about the movie when I went in, but a trifle disappointed with the movie when I came out. It could have been far better in my opinion. I liked another comedy from the same producers (Nadiadwalas) much better, which was Mujhse Shaadi Karoge ? That was an all out comedy in which the comic bits never flagged, while in this movie there were times when I was not laughing, it seemed so forced.
Ok, so maybe it was not so bad. The 4 main other characters of Paresh Rawal, Anil Kapoor, Nana Patekar and Feroz Khan were great in their roles. They seemed natural. For example, I loved the way that Paresh Rawal meets a family when hunting for a bride for his nephew, and the way that his encounter with Ranjeet's family goes. Similarly, the way that Nana Patekar goes ballistic, and then says 'Control'; and also the time when he has to become emotional in front of Paresh Rawal (while faking it) was great. And Feroz Khan just acted naturally, and overall was great. It's just that the storyline and direction seemed to become much weaker in the second half.
The story of the movie is about the auctioneer Rajeev (Akshay) for whom his uncle Dr. Paresh Rawal is hunting for a bride, but she has to be from a honest family. And this is the main issue. Akshay meets Katrina and falls for her (literally ! She has to carry him away from a fire), and things seem to start moving. But her brother Nana Patekar and fellow don Anil Kapoor are the biggest dons in Hong Kong, and so Paresh refuses. Much threatening and comedy later, he agrees. But Paresh brings in Mallika to try and break up the marriage; she is actually a family friend. To try and break the impasse, Akshay tries to turn them honest (and this was very weak, since how would getting both of them to dally with Mallika in different roles - a wanna be movie actor and an artist work, since when the truth would come out, they are unlikely to remain honest). And then there is the head, Feroz Khan, and when accidentally Katrina shoots Feroz's son dead, there is hell to pay. Eventually, after a lot of drama and cliff-hangers, things work out. But the movie could have been far better.
Music for the movie is by 3 music directors: Himesh Reshammiya, Anand Raj Anand and Sajid-Wajid


Videos of songs

Welcome title song:



Uncha Lamba Kad

Song: Baras Ja from movie Fareb

Baras Ja is a major fast-paced song, starring the hot Shetty sisters, Shilpa and Shamita. The song is fast, shows plenty of skin, and is pretty suitable for a movie all about emotions, relationships and passion. The song is from the movie Fareb, and stars Manoj Bajpai, Shilpa Shetty and Shamita Shetty in the pivotal roles. Manoj Bajpai is happy with his family, with a loving wife Shilpa Shetty and a young child. And then he meets the demanding Shamita Shetty, who is a big customer of the ad agency where Manoj is a senior executive. Shamita wants Manoj and eventually manages to entice him, and he, in his lust and for a difference from the regular marital relationship succumbs and has an affair, severely impacting his relationship with Shilpa. But soon, his affair with Shamita also breaks; and then a murder happens where he is the prime suspect. What happens after that ? Who is the murderer ? The movie is a so-so movie, but more forward in the depiction of an affair than a lot of other movies on the same subject.
The movie is directed by Deepak Tijori, with music by Anu Malik and lyrics by Sayeed Quadri. Movie is written by Brijesh Jayarajan and Girish Dhamija. Also stars Kelly Dorji, Parmeet Sethi and Milind Gunanji.

Video of songs:

Baras Ja (Sung by Sunidhi Chauhan)



Pehle Se Ab Woh Din Hain (Sung by KUNAL GANJAWALA, SHREYA GHOSHAL)



Lyrics:

Pehle Se Ab Woh Din Hain

(pehle se ab woh din hain, na pehli si raat hain
shayad humare bitch, kahi koi baat hain) - 2

kya baat hain jo ab tu hume, dekhta nahi
ho kis haal mein hain , kaise hain
kutch pootchta nahi
lagta hain koi aur, tere aas paas hain
shayad humare bitch, kahi koi baat hain
pehle se ab woh din hain, na pehli si raat hain

jaane kaha se raah mein yeh, mode aa gaya
seene mein dabe paon koi aur aa gaya hain
jabke har ek kadam hain, tu hi mere saath hain
shayad humare bitch, kahi koi baat hain
pehle se ab woh din hain, na pehli si raat hain

pehle se ab woh din hain, na pehli si raat hain
shayad humare bitch, kahi koi baat hain



Baras Ja

Yeh Pyaas Kahi Kar De Na Mujhe Paagal
Baras Jaa Aye Badal Baras Jaa - 4
Jee Bhar Ke Bheegode Aaj Mere Tan Ka Sandal
Baras Jaa Aye Badal Baras Jaa - 4
Its Raining Love - 4

(its Raining Love
Leti Hain Nazaroka Is Dil Mein Angdai
Tu Kya Jaane Yeh Kya Hain Badan Ki Tanhai) - 2
Mann Chahe Teri Baahon Mein Ham Jaaye Pighal
Baras Jaa Aye Badal Baras Jaa - 4
Its Raining Love - 4

(everywhere - 2
Love Is - 2 In The Air) - 2
Baras Jaa Aye Badal Baras Jaa - 2
Its Raining Love - 4
(its Raining Love
Tu Hamko Duboke Rakhde Apni Chaho Mein
Ab Chain Hamein Bas Milta Hain Teri Panaaho Mein) - 2
Ham Tere Bina Rehtein Hain Hamesha Hi Bekhal
Baras Jaa Aye Badal Baras Jaa - 4

Yeh Pyaas Kahi Kar De Na Mujhe Paagal
Baras Jaa Aye Badal Baras Jaa - 4

Dus Kahaniyaan: A good effort

After the horror series of Darna Mana Hain, and the Darna Zaroori Hain, Dus Kahaniyaan is the next movie based on a series of short stories. Dus Kahaniyaan is a series of 10 short films, with each movie being around 15 minutes each. Overall, since the time is short, these movies do not have much time for character development, or any songs. At some point, if you find that you really don't like a movie, it gets over real fast.
Overall, Dus Kahaniyaan has a pretty big cast since each short movie has its own set of characters. I was fairly impressed with some of the movies, while others were fairly predictable, and the horror one was actually sub-standard.
After watching the whole movie, my impression was that this genre of short movies is hard to sell. People like to get involved with a movie, see the character developing, and spend some quality time getting enthralled. I am not sure whether such bite-sized chunks of entertainment will work. Well, enough about the effect, let us see the movies individually:
Matrimony (Directed by Sanjay Gupta): Starring Arbaaz Khan, Mandira Bedi, and Sudhanshu Pandey. This is a nice movie with a twist. A bored housewife with an MNC busy husband has an affair, and then gets presented with a necklace. Trying to show as if it is a lucky gift, she asks her husband to fetch the gift; but in a twist, she finds out the true affairs regarding her husband.
High on the Highway (Directed by Hansel Mehta): Starring Jimmy Shergill and Masumeh Makhija, this is a slightly offbeat movie about 2 college students in love with each other and also in love with getting high. At one such time, she gets kidnapped and he can't do a thing. Even though she is saved, he guiltily kills himself. So so.
Pooranmasi (Directed by Meghna Gulzar): A delightful but very tragic movie starring Amrita Singh, Parmeet Sethi and Minisha Lamba. A tale of love amidst social customs, and how letting one's feelings take over can cause severe problems. Minisha is getting married, and tries to brighten up her mother's life. This feeling combined with a pining for her old lover who waits for her every pooranmasi causes her to succumb to desire once. However, she is seen and her daughter (because she is wearing her daughter's dupatta) is believed to be characterless. Her daughter realizes the truth and jumps into a well.
Strangers in the Night (Directed by Sanjay Gupta): Starring Mahesh Manjrekar and Neha Dhupia, this is an incredible movie. Both of them talk about relationships on their anniversary, and Neha talks about an erotic encounter with a strange man in a railway station waiting room. As Mahesh gets jealous, the truth is realized; it was about saving a child during a communal riot.
Zahir (Directed by Sanjay Gupta): Starring Dia Mirza and Manoj Bajpai, this is also a story with a twist. About the passion that develops in a relationship, and the frustration in that relationship, the movie also passes in a message about unsafe sex and AIDS.
Lovedale (Directed by Jasmeet Dhodi): Starring Anupam Kher, Aftab Shivdasani, and Neha Oberoi, the movie involves the supernatural (in terms of a dead mother helping her son get married); overall, the movie was predictable, but also unconventional. After all, how often do you see a father asking a daughter about whether she thinks the marriage she is getting into is correct.
Sex on the Beach (Directed by Apoorva Lakhia): Starring Dino Morea and Tarina Patel, this is the horror movie. About a book on the beach that leads Dino into a trap that eventually kills him. The worst movie of the lot.
Rice Plate (Directed by Rohit Roy): Starring Shabana Azmi and Naseeruddin Shah, this is one of the better movies of the lot. A message about communal amity and biases, the movie stars Shabana as a South India grandmother who is rushing to meet her children. She is anti-Muslim, but over the course of the story, you see her losing her biases.
Gubbare (Directed by Sanjay Gupta): Starring Nana Patekar, Rohit Roy and Anita Hassanandani, this is a beautiful movie. During a quarrel between newly-weds Anita and Rohit, she starts talking to Nana; getting mesmerized as he talks about resolving his quarrels with his wife by gifting her balloons. It is only later that she realizes that his wife has been dead for 6 years and he visits her grave.
Rise & Fall (Directed by Sanjay Gupta): Starring Sanjay Dutt and Sunil Shetty, this is a movie that runs in forward and flashback mode, where Sanjay Dutt is the gangster leader, and Sunil Shetty is his side-kick. There is intrigue, back-biting, and the sudden fall of people who came up the violent way.

Song: Mere pyar ki umar ho itni sanam

This is a nice sweet song, from the movie Waaris. The movie, released in 1988, was probably Smita Patil's last great movie, with her voice in the movie dubbed by Rekha. The movie starred a number of characters such as Smita Patil, Amrita Singh, Raj Babbar, Raj Kiran, Amrish Puri, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, and Sushma Seth.
The movie was directed by Ravindra Peepat, with music by Uttam Jagdish. The movie is a complex family drama involving a rich man Kishnan Singh who has 2 sons. He wills his belongings to his 2 songs equally, but leaves his property to only one of his sons. The other son has a fight with him, and the father gets killed; with the son going to prison for 16 years. The story takes a turn when he gets back, just when his brother's son is getting married. In a tragic turn of events, the family is left without a heir, and the movie is about this confusion.



Video of song 'Mere pyar ki umar' (sung by Lata Mangeshkar, Vinod Rathod)



Lyrics:

Mere Pyaar Ki Umar Ho Itni Sanam
Tere Naam Se Shuru, Tere Naam Pe Khatam
Teri Khushi Se Hai, Khushi, Tere Gham Se Hai Gham,
Tere Naam Se Shuru, Tere Naam Pe Khatam
Mere Pyaar Ki...

Mere Sapne Gulaabi Neenden Ho Gayi Jawaan
Lo Aake Teri Baahon Mein, Ho, Lo Aake Teri Baahon Mein
Maein Kho Gayi Kahaan
Haazir Hai Jaan, Jaan-E-Man, Jaan Ki Qasam,
Tere Naam Se Shuru...

Bin Tere Ik Pal Bhi Mujhse Raha Nahin Jaye
Ye Door Door Rehna,
Ye Door Door Rehna, Ab Sahaa Nahin Jaye
Teri Pyaar Bhari Baahon Mein Hi Niklega Dam,
Tere Naam Se Shuru

Silsila: The movie portraying real-life relationships ?

Silsila was a movie that seemed way ahead of its time. It was released on August 14, 1981, and starring a powerful star cast; Shashi Kapoor, Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bhaduri, Rekha, Sanjeev Kumar, and others. The movie was even more sensational because the movie was rumoured to be about a relationship between Amitabh Bachchan and Rekha, with an equally strong rumour about an actual real-life relationship between the two.
However, the movie did not work well at the box office, with the most probable reason being that the audience was not ready for th depiction of an adulterous relationship between Amitabh Bachchan and Rekha (when both of them were married to other people). The movie had some great music, with good songs and some great dialogue. The music was by Shiv-Hari, with lyrica by Javed, Rajendra Krishan, Nida Fazli, Hassan Kamal. You can see the flourish of Yash Chopra's direction, with a movie that seems almost like a poem, a romance story on a large scale. Performances by the various actors is great, and give the story great strength.
The movie is about the love story between Amitabh Bachchan and Rekha, a story that flourishes twice, and yet is destined to fail. The first time they meet is when Amitabh goes to Kashmir to meet his army officer brother Shashi Kapoor and his fiancee Jaya Bachchan. There Amitabh meets Rekha, and it is love at first sight. However, Shashi Kapoor dies in action, and it is then revealed that Jaya is pregnant. To care for his brother's fiancee and the baby, Amitabh sacrifices his love and marries Jaya, telling Rekha to forget him. Rekha eventually gets married to a doctor (Sanjeev Kapoor), a loving man.
And it happens. Amitabh and Rekha meet again, and the old passion gets ignited. They meet often, and are soon involved in a passionate affair (with the twist that they are both betraying their spouses). Their spouses are soon suspicious, while Amitabh and Rekha decide to leave their partners. However, at this time, Dr. Sanjeev Kumar is involved in a place accident, and needs support and help. This time, both lovers decide to make the ultimate sacrifice and go back to their respective spouses.

Videos of songs from the movie.

Yeh Kahan Aa Gaye Hum (Sung by AMITABH BACHCHAN AND LATA MANGESHKAR)



Pehli pehli baar



Dekha ek Khawab (sung by Lata Mangeshkar & Kishore Kumar)



Rang barse (Sung by Amitabh Bachchan)



Neela asma so gaya (Sung by Amitabh Bachchan)



Sar se sarke (Sung by Asha Bhosle)





Lyrics:

Dekha Ek Khwab

Dekha Ek Khwaab To Yeh Silsile Hue
Door Tak Nigahon Mein Hain Gul Khile Hue
Yeh Gila Hai Aapki Nigahon Se
Phool Bhi Ho Darmiyaan To Faasle Hue
Dekha Ek Khwaab...

Meri Saanson Mein Basi Khushboo Teri
Yeh Tere Pyaar Ki Hai Jadugari
Teri Aawaz Hai Havaaon Mein
Pyar Ka Rang Hai Phizaaon
Dhadkanon Mein Tere Geet Hain Mile Hue
Kya Kahun Ke Sharm Se Hain Lub Sile Hue
Dekha Ek Khwaab...

Mera Dil Hai Teri Panaahon
Aa Chhupa Loon Tujhe Maein Baahon Mein
Teri Tasveer Hai Nigaahon Mein
Door Tak Roshni Hai Raahon Mein
Kal Agar Na Roshni Ke Kaafile Hue
Pyar Ke Hazaar Deep Hain Jale Hue
Dekha Ek Khwaab...



Neela Aasman So Gaya (Male)

Neela aasmaan so gaya -2
La ra la ra la, la la la la
La ra la ra la, la la ra la ho
Neela aasmaan so gaya

O ho, ons barse raat bheege honth tharraaye
Dhadkane kuchh kehna chaahe keh nahin paaye
Hawa ka geet madhyam hai -2
Samay ki chaal bhi kam hai
Neela aasmaan so gaya -2

O, meri baahon mein sharmate lajaate aise tum aaye
Ki jaise baadlon mein chaand dheere dheere aa jaaye
Yeh tanhaayi yeh main aur tum -2
Zameen bhi ho gayi gumsum
Neela aasmaan so gaya -2
La ra la ra la, la la ra la
La ra la ra la, la la ra la ho
Neela aasmaan so gaya



Rang Barse Bhege Chunar Waali

Rang barse bheege chunar wali, rang barse
Are kaine maari pichkaari tori bheegi angiya
O rangrasia rangrasia, ho
Rang barse bheege chunar wali, rang barse ...

Sone ki thaali main jona parosa
Are, sone ki thaali main jona parosa
Haan, sone ki thaali main jona parosa
Are, khaye gauri ka yaar balam tarse rang barse
Holi hai!!!
O, Rang barse bheege chunar wali, rang barse ...

Launga ilaichi ka, are launga ilaichi ka
Launga ilaichi ka? Haan
Are launga ilaichi ka beeda lagaya
Haan, launga ilaichi ka beeda lagaya
Chabe gauri ka yaar, balam tarse
Holi hai!!!
O, Rang barse bheege chunar wali, rang barse ...

Are, bela chameli ka sez bhichhaya
bela chameli ka, sez bhichhaya
Are, bela chameli ka sez bhichhaya
Haan, bela chameli ka sez bhichhaya
Soye gauri ka yaar, balam tarse
Holi hai!!!
O, Rang barse bheege chunar wali, rang barse ...




Sar Se Sarke Sarke Chunariya

(sar se sarke sarke chunariya
laaj bhari ankhiyon mein
ho maiyya gaaye sajan kehna hoke magan
gaake sakhiyon mein) - 2
nainon mein neendiya
neendiya mein sapane
sapanon mein saajan
jab se basa hai
bahaaren aayi jeevan mein
nayi hulchul hai tanman mein
ek roop basa hai ankhiyon mein ho ho
sar se sarke sarke chunariya
laaj bhari ankhiyon mein

kuchh lamhe jeevan ke churale
saanson ki yeh aag bujha le
duniya se duur kahi duniya basa le
jab se mili hai tujhse nigaahen
jaadu yeh kaisa mujh pe hua
ke dil jab tanha lagta hai
mujhe kuchh aaisa lagta hai
tu jhaank raha hai ankhiyon mein
sar se sarke sarke chunariya
laaj bhari ankhiyon mein

aaj ka har ek pal sundar hain
kal kya ho kisko yeh khabar hai
lamba safar zindagi mukhtasar hai
darr lag raha hai kya jaane kya ho
dil tujhko maine jabse diya
udi hai neende aankhon se
teri aaisi hi baaton se
badnaam hui hu sakhiyon mein
sar se sarke sarke chunariya
laaj bhari ankhiyon mein
ho maiyya gaaye sajan kehna hoke magan
gaake sakhiyon mein
nainon mein neendiya
neendiya mein sapane
sapanon mein saajan
jab se basa hai
bahaaren aayi jeevan mein
nayi hulchul hai tanman mein
ek roop basa hai ankhiyon mein ho ho
sar se sarke sarke chunariya
laaj bhari ankhiyon mein

taaron se yeh maang sajadu
hothon pe ek phool khiladu
tere liye saari duniya bhula du
mehkega sara gulshan humara
dil ka sahara baahen teri hogi
khushi se hari bhari hogi
yeh duniya teri meri hogi
(sar se sarke sarke chunariya
laaj bhari ankhiyon mein
ho maiyya gaaye sajan kehna hoke magan
gaake sakhiyon mein) - 2



Yeh Kahan Aa Gaye Hum

--MALE--
Main aur meri tanhaai aksar yeh baatein karte hain
Tum hoti to kaisa hota, tum yeh kehti, tum voh kehti
Tum is baat pe hairaan hoti, tum us baat pe kitni hansti
Tum hoti to aisa hota, tum hoti to vaisa hota
Main aur meri tanhaai aksar yeh baatein karte hain

--FEMALE--
Yeh kahan aa gaye hum
Yunhi saath saath chalte
Teri baahon mein hai jaanam
Mere jism-o-jaan pighalte
Yeh kahan aa gaye hum
Yunhi saath saath chalte

--MALE--
Yeh raat hai, yeh tumhaari zulfein khuli hui hai
Hai chaandni ya tumhaari nazrein se meri raatein dhuli hui hai
Yeh chaand hai ya tumhaara kangan
Sitaarein hai ya tumhaara aanchal
Hawa ka jhonka hai ya tumhaare badan ki khushboo
Yeh pattiyon ki hai sarsaraahat ke tumne chupke se kuch kaha hai
Yeh sochta hoon main kab se gumsum
Ke jab ki mujhko bhi yeh khabar hai
Ke tum nahin ho, kahin nahin ho
Magar yeh dil hai ke keh raha hai
Ke tum yahin ho, yahin kahin ho

--FEMALE--
O, tu badan hai main hoon chhaaya
Tu na ho to main kahan hoon
Mujhe pyaar karne waale
Tu jahan hai main vahan hoon
Hamein milna hi tha hamdam
Issi raah pe nikalte
Yeh kahan aa gaye hum
Yunhi saath saath chalte
Mm, meri saans saans maheke
Koi bheena bheena chandan
Tera pyaar chaandni hai
Mera dil hai jaise aangan
Koi aur bhi mulaayam
Meri shaam dhalte dhalte
Yeh kahan aa gaye hum
Yunhi saath saath chalte

--MALE--
Majboor yeh haalaat, idhar bhi hai udhar bhi
Tanhaai ki ek raat, idhar bhi hai udhar bhi
Kehne ko bahut kuch hai, magar kisse kahe hum
Kab tak yunhi khaamosh rahe aur sahe hum
Dil kehta hai duniya ki har ek rasm utha de
Deevaar jo hum dono mein hai, aaj gira de
Kyoon dil mein sulagte rahe, logon ko bata de
Haan humko mohabbat hai, mohabbat hai, mohabbat
Ab dil mein yehi baat, idhar bhi hai udhar bhi

--FEMALE--
Yeh kahan aa gaye hum
Yunhi saath saath chalte
Yeh kahan aa gaye hum

Song: Thoda Sa Pyaar Huan Hain

A typical violent movie about a rich girl, a young man, and both of them in love. Her father does not approve, and wants to get her married to his friend's son - unknowingly, the friend (Dalip Tahil) and his son want to get hold of his money. The bride's father (Kabir Bedi), not able to change the intention of the young man (Sohail Khan), hires a local tough, Sanjay Dutt to use force to change the young man's mind. Sanjay Dutt starts doing that, and then, under the influence of his younger brother's suicide (over a romance), changes his mind and supports the young man. And, after a very violent scene, the young man marries the pretty lady (Sameera Reddy in a very inhibited and dressed role).
The movie (Maine dil tujko diya) was released in 2002, directed by Sohail Khan. Music was by Daboo Malik. The songs were good, but the rest of the movie was not particularly good.

Video of song Thoda Sa Pyaar Huan Hain (sung by Udit Narayan and Alka Yagnik)





Lyrics:

Thoda Sa Pyar Hua Hai Thoda Hai Baki
Thoda Sa Pyar Hua Hai Thoda Hai Baki
Hum To Chaahenge Tujhe
Hum To Chaahenge Tujhe
Jab Talak Jaan Hai Baki

Pyar Humne Kiya Hai Pyar Tumne Kiya Hai
Yaar Phir Imtihaan Kyon Zamane Ne Liya Hai
Pyar Humne Kiya Hai Pyar Tumne Kiya Hai
Yaar Phir Imtihaan Kyon Zamane Ne Liya Hai
Saath Hum Denge Tera
Saath Hum Denge Tera Tujhse Vaada Hai Baki

Dard Jitna Milega Pyar Utna Badhega
Apni Chahat Ka Aaye Yeh Zamana Jhukega
Dard Jitna Milega Pyar Utna Badhega
Apni Chahat Ka Aaye Yeh Zamana Jhukega
Dil Se Dil Mil Hi Gaye Apna Milna Hai Baki

Song: Woh Kahte Hain Humse

This is a song from an old movie, at a time when Govinda was a new actor, and was also turning out to be a big hit due to an unassuming nature as well as the level of his dancing. You could call him an unlikely hero, but at that time, he had become a superstar. The movie is called 'Dariya Dil' and was released in 1988. The movie was directed by K. Ravi Shankar, and had music by Rajesh Roshan. The movie also starred Kimi Katkar and Kader Khan. The film is a family movie.
Dhaniram (Kader Khan) is a rich man, with 3 sons; his 2 elder sons see him a miser and when Kader Khan dies, the 2 elder sons kick out the younger good son Govinda and his mother. Eventually, it is discovered that Kader Khan was still alive, and they team up to reform the 2 older sons.

Video of song: