Kismet Connection: Too much chance / luck

I was watching Kismet Connection trying to see what would appeal to me. I did not go there expecting anything great, even though I like both Vidya Balan, and Shahid Kapur; however, in the end, if I summarize my view of the movie as something like this - my expectations were met (I did not expect anything great, and there was nothing great). In my view, the movie depended too heavily on the concept of Kismet / chance, and somehow overlook tuning the story to be more clearer. And the sheer wastage of Juhi Chawla in that stupid short role was criminal. Overall rating of the movie from 1-5 (with 5 being very good / excellent), just about touching 2. Yep, not a very good score, but justified. There was just nothing compelling about the story.



The movie was by Aziz Mirza, and you expect the maker of a movie such as 'Yes Boss', 'Chalte Chalte' to make a much more compelling movie, and it starts in a nice manner. You have this guy, Raj Malhotra (I tend to think of Shahrukh Khan when I hear such a name) all young and dashing, struggling to make it good. He is a top architect from a good college, but is not able to make good for himself. And then he runs into this girl, Priya, who causes him more trouble; to the extent that they taunt each other when they meet again. He is bidding for a big contract from Sanjeev Gill (Om Puri, in a good mostly comic role along withe more comedy from his wife), but does not seem likely to get the contract.
And then he runs into this fortune-teller, Haseena Bano (a ghastly role by Juhi Chawla). Juhi plays as bubbly as ever, but somehow this role does not fit. She tells him that he needs a lucky charm, and it is around the corner, and he suddenly realizes that another confrontation with Priya actually saved him from getting painted, and that maybe she is his lucky charm. She is passionate about saving an old age place from the clutches of a property developer, which incidentally is the same one that Shahid is looking to get the contract for.
He wants on her his side, and manages to trick her into believing that he is on her side, so that she is with him when he has to do the contract negotiations. And you know what will happen after this - he will repent, she will get angry over his trickery, and then everything will be happy at the end. In the end, however, he is not able to win by himself, and needs the unexpected support of somebody else to get the situation to his side.
The movie was produced by Ramesh S Taurani, and was written by Sanjay Chel. The music was by Pritam. The narrator of the movie was by Shahrukh Khan (after all, Aziz Khan was a co-partner with him in a movie production company). The songs were the saving grace for the movie.

Videos of songs from the movie:

Soniye Ve



Bakhuda Tum hi ho



Is This Love



Move Your Body




Lyrics from the movie:

Tu Hain Meri Soniye

Lets go
If you feeling me, make some noise
Ladies and gentleman raise your voice
Nan nan nana nana..
Naa nan nana nana..
If you feeling me, make some noise
Ladies and gentleman raise your voice
Nan nan nana nana..
Naa nan nana nana..
Let’s go…

Tu hai meri soniye,
I’ll be with you night and day,
Jab tujhe dekhe nazren,
Kismat Konnection ho jaaye..
Everybody on the floor,
Make some noise, aa kar le shore
Deewanepan ka hai zor,
Common everybody now, sing it one time..chill
Aai pappi, Aai pappi, aa Aai pappi, Aai pappi,
Aai pappi, Aai pappi
Let me take you higher..
Aai pappi, Aai pappi, Aai pappi, Aai pappi,
Aai pappi, Aai pappi
Higher and higher..

Badli badli si raatein,
Sach ho gayi saari baatein,
Badli badli si raatein,
Sach ho gayi saari baatein,
Yeh khushiyon ki saugaten,
Jaise rab ki hai dua..
Everybody with me swing,
Let Sebastian just nod away
Dil mein jo hai aa keh de,
Common everybody now,
Hit it like that. Chill

Aai pappi, Aai pappi, Aai pappi, Aai pappi,
Aai pappi, Aai pappi
Let me take you higher..
Aai pappi, Aai pappi, Aai pappi, Aai pappi,
Aai pappi, Aai pappi
Higher and higher..
Let’s go

Jump down feel my floor
Baby take it easy, I m nice n slow
Wanna show you why we are to be two
And wanna make you part of all that I do
Cant do without you I testify
Need you in my life and I cant deny
Read it in the stars and stars don’t lie
Without you girl my heart rather die
If you feeling me, make some noise
Ladies and gentleman raise your voice
Nan nan nana nana..
Naa nan nana nana..
If you feeling me, make some noise
Ladies and gentleman raise your voice
Nan nan nana nana..
Naa nan nana nana..

Peeche duniya mein aage,
Mere soye armaan jaage,
Peeche duniya mein aage,
Mere soye armaan jaage,
Ab to bass aisa laage,
Mere kadmon mein jahan..

Everybody join the song,
Keep the party going on,
Yaaron humse badhke kaun
Common everybody now,
Hit it like that..chill
Aai pappi, Aai pappi, Aai pappi, Aai pappi,
Aai pappi, Aai pappi
Let me take you higher..
Aai pappi, Aai pappi, Aai pappi, Aai pappi,
Aai pappi, Aai pappi
Higher and higher..
Lets go..

Tu hai meri soniye,
I’ll be with you night and day,
Jab tujhe dekhe nazren,
Kismat Konnection ho jaaye..
Everybody on the floor,
Make some noise, aa kar le shore
Deewanepan ka hai zor,
Common everybody now, sing it one time..chill
Aai pappi, Aai pappi, Aai pappi, Aai pappi,
Aai pappi, Aai pappi
Let me take you higher..

Aai pappi, Aai pappi, Aai pappi, Aai pappi,
Aai pappi, Aai pappi
Higher and higher..
----------------------

Bakhuda Tumhi Ho

Hoooo…
Ho ho ho..
Hooo…
Tu hi ehsason mein,
Tu hi jazbaton mein,
Tu hi lamhaton mein,
Tu hi din raaton mein..

Bakhuda tumhi ho,
Har jagah tumhi ho,
Haan mein dekhua jahan jab,
Uss jagah tumhi ho,
Yeh jahan tumhi ho,
Wo jahan tumhi ho,
Iss zameen se falak ke,
Darmiyaann..tumhi ho,
Tum hi ho, beshumaar,
Tum hi ho..
Tum hi ho, mujh mein haan,
Tum hi ho..Tum hi ho..
Hooo….

Kaise bataye tumhe,
Aur kis tarah yeh,
Kitna tumhe hum chahte hai,
Saaya bhi tera dikhe,
To paas jaake,
Usmein simat hum jaate hai,

Raasta tum hi ho,
Rehnuman tum hi ho,
Jiski khwahish hai humko,
Wo panah tum hi ho,
Tum hi ho, beshumaar,
Tum hi ho..
Tum hi ho, mujh mein haan,
Tum hi ho..

Tu hi ehsason mein,
Tu hi jazbaton mein,
Tu hi lamhaton mein,
Tu hi din raaton mein..

Kaise bataye tumhe,
shab mein tumhare,
Khwaab haseen jo aate hai,
Kaise bataye tumhe,
Lamz wo saare,
Jism ko jo mehkate hai

Iftida tum hi ho
Intehaan tum hi to
Tum ho jeene ka maksad
Aur wajah tum hi ho..

Bakhuda tumhi ho,
Har jagah tumhi ho,
Haan mein dekhua jahan jab,
Uss jagah tumhi ho,
Yeh jahan tumhi ho,
Wo jahan tumhi ho,
Iss zameen se falak ke,
Darmiyaann..tumhi ho,
Tum hi ho, beshumaar,
Tum hi ho..
Tum hi ho, mujh mein haan,
Tum hi ho..Tum hi ho..
Hooo….
Ho ho ho..
Hoo…

--------------
Move your body now

Get up..
Thats right
Stand up
Clap ur hands man
Ill make u wanna dance
I ll make u wanna move
Aa jaa tu soniya
I can u get in the mood
Ill make u wanna dance
I ll make u wanna move
Aa jaa tu soniya
I can u get in the mood

[Move your body now,
Shake your body now,
Balkha ke lehra ke,
Hit your body now,
Tujhe seene se mein apne laga lu,
Tujhe bahon mein chupa lu,
Come on closer to my body now..] -2

Ho Dhadkan badh gayi, badh gayi,
Ho saasen chadh gayi, chadh gayi,
Hassen ek ladki se,
Meri aaj nazar jo lad gayi..
[Sade naal kar le party,
Kudiye te lagdi hai naughty,
Feeki feeki raat ho gayi]-2

[Girls can go crazy,
Boys can go crazy,
Tu bhi nachle baby,
Lets get now]-2
Bina dekhe kabhi mujhko pukare,
Karta hai mujhe chup chup ke ishare,
Arey dekhe kabhi kisi ke bahane se,
Koshisein bhi maine kar dekhi saari,
Is ladke se aaj haari mein to haari,
Isne to naa sikha darna zamane se,

Tu kis uljhan mein pad gayi,
Yeh kaisi baatein kar gayi tu,
Mohabbat kya wo mohabbat,
Jo duniya se dar gayi..
Sade naal kar le party,
Kudiye te lagdi hai naughty,
Feeki feeki raat ho gayi
Common sing along with me now,
Sade naal kar le party,
Kudiye te lagdi hai naughty,
Feeki feeki raat ho gayi

N tell my love story
Wud you do anything for me
Lagta hai mujhko tu chore
Because u stole my heart from me
Jaba jaba touch me slowly
Jaba jaba, put your hands on me
Jaba jaba just get closer
Jaba jaba chori chori

Khud se hi baaten karne lagi hu,
Teri hi khayalon se mein badhne lagi hu,
Anjaana ek dard hai seene mein,
Hoo hoo..
Jaane kaise kaise khwaab sajaun,
Jab jab kabhi tere paas mein aau,
Ab kuch naya khaas hai jeene mein,
Oh yeah…

Mohabbat mein tu pad gayi,
Tu ishq ki suli chad gayi,
Tere iqraar ko sun ke,
Khushi se aankhen bhar gayi..
Sade naal kar le party,
Kudiye te lagdi hai naughty,
Feeki feeki raat ho gayi
Common sing along with me now,
Sade naal kar le party,
Kudiye te lagdi hai naughty,
Feeki feeki raat ho gayi

Move your body now,
Shake your body now,
Balkha ke lehra ke,
Hit your body now,
Tujhe seene se mein apne laga lu,
Tujhe bahon mein chupa lu,
Come on closer to my body now..

ki Dhadkan badh gayi, badh gayi,
ki saasen chadh gayi, chadh gayi,
Hassen ek ladki se,
Meri aaj nazar jo lad gayi..

Sade naal kar le party,
Kudiye te lagdi hai naughty,
Feeki feeki raat ho gayi
Common sing along with me now,
Sade naal kar le party,
Kudiye te lagdi hai naughty,
Feeki feeki raat ho gayi
------------------

Kahin Na Laage (Is this love)

Kissa tera, teri daastan,
Chehra tera khud kare bayan,
Kisi se pyaar tujhe ho gaya,
Tu maan jaa,
Haan maan jaa…

Kahin naa laage mann,
Kya hai yeh sunapan,
Ahaa..ahaaa..
Mujhe tum bata do,
Koi to wajah do,
Ahaa…ahaaa..
Har ghadi ab khayalon mein,
Keh raha hai koi,
Har ghadi mere khwabon mein,
Aa raha hai koi..
Is this love?
Maine naa jaana
Ahhaa..
Is this love?
Tu hi bata naa
Ahhaa..

Tune chuna ishq ka raasta,
Hum safar iss safar mein dudhta hai tu,
Haan baat yeh maan bhi le zara,
Tut kar ab kisi ko chahta hai tu,
Raat din meri needon mein,
Jag raha hai kio
Raat din meri aankhon mein,
Bass raha hai koi
Is this love?
Maine naa jaana..
Ahhaa..
Is this love?
Tu hi bata naa
Ahhaa..

I need you,
You need me,
You are with me
Is this feeling of love?
Inside our hearts..

Tune tera dil kisi ko diya,
Baat yeh sach hai gar tu maan le isse,
Dil ka sukun tune hi kho diya,
Ab haqeeqat hai yeh tu jaane le isse,
Aajkal meri chahon mein,
Dhal raha hai koi,
Aajkal meri saason mein,
Chal raha hai koi..
Is this love?
Maine naa jaana..
Ahhaa..
Is this love?
Tu hi bata naa
Ahhaa..

Kahi naa lage mann,
Kya hai yeh sunapan,
Ahaa..ahaaa..

Har ghadi ab khayalon mein,
Keh raha hai koi,
Har ghadi mere khwabon mein,
Aa raha hai koi..
Is this love?
Maine naa jaana
Ahhaa..
Is this love?
Tu hi bata naa
Ahhaa..

Sarkar Raj - Taut, but does not rise to be a great movie

Sarkar Raj was a move that was awaited for quite some time; it came after a few clunkers for The Factory of Ram Gopal Verma such as 'Aag', 'Darling', etc. Memories of his earlier movies such as Satya, Company, Rangeela, and Sarkar (for which Sarkar Raj is the sequel) were fading out due to these recent disastrous movies that he made. All his admissions that the movies were bad, mistakes were made, etc, don't really help in lifting his reputation. So, this movie was awaited for multiple reasons:
- This movie showcased the Bachchan clan; Amitabh, Abhishek, and Aishwarya (not Jaya though)
- It was supposed to have the same kind of suspense, the taut and slick making that was there in the original movie Sarkar (made in 2005)



Unlike some of his other movies where the actual direction was by other people, Sarkar Raj was actually directed by Ram Gopal Verma. Other credits for the movie include script by Prashant Pandey, background score by Amar Mohile (and the background score is haunting and fast throughout the movie, although a bit loud), cinematography by Amit Roy, and action by Allan Amin.
The movie takes off from where the previous movie had ended, with the Nagres (minus Kay Kay Menon) being in command of Maharashtra through their reign of force (although the way that elected politicians are seen to be humiliated by them is a bit patronising). There is the normal tussle between the ruling Chief Minister and his opponents, but both of them pay respects to Sarkar (Amitabh) and his son and heir Shankar (Abhishek). It is at this stage that a beautiful tall CEO of an energy company, Sheppard Power Plant in the form of Anita Ranjan (Aishwarya Rai) presents a plan for a power plant that will meet the future energy needs of Maharashtra. The only hitch is that the best place to setup the plant is a place called Thackerwadi, in rural Maharashtra. Sarkar is against this proposal, but his son sees this as a beneficial mechanism, and is willing to go to any lengths to move this proposal ahead. He first tries to convince the local leader and Gandhian Rao Saheb, and then convince the rest of the villagers about the advantages of this plant.
However, he is in way above his head. The grandson of Rao Saheb (Somji) starts to work against the deal, and to canvass people against this deal, making the deal a tough sell. Further, the management of the power company seems to think that Gujarat is now a better deal for this plant. Abhishek does not seem to realize what he he is against, and even his power (which he hardly ever uses) is unable to prevent harm to him, his wife (Tanissha in a small role) and in the end, he cannot even prevent his own killing by a hired sharp-shooter (the shooting scene was not very good, seemed amateurish). It is only when Amitabh, taking on responsibility again, starts to unravel the mystery behind his death and to show what he is capable of (basically kills everybody involved, somewhat like Michael Corleone ordering the killing of all those against the family).
And these are the weak points of the movie - If the family is so powerful and people so scared by them, how is that a massive conspiracy can get created against them (after all, in this case, there must be a large number of people who knew there was a conspiracy) without the involved fearing that the Sarkar will kill them if their involvement in the conspiracy became known. Secondly, the last 20 minutes seem like magic, where the writer wrote a twist in the story that seemed to have been manufactured out of thin air. So, the end where the last murder is shown, that emerged out of thin air, but was very chilling.
Acting is okay, with some strong parts. Aishwarya did not get all that great a role (it seemed in the end that she was being projected to be the leader in any sequel), Amitabh was good in parts. This was basically Abhishek's movie, but he came across a person who was not in touch with reality, could not comprehend that he was just a pawn in a conspiracy.



Videos from the Movie:



Another video from the movie:

Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic (2008)

Thoda Pyar Thoda Magic was a movie made under the banner of Yash Raj Films (produced by Aditya Chopra and Kunal Kohli) starring Saif Ali Khan, Rani Mukherji, and a smaller role by Amisha Patel and Rishi Kapoor. The movie is written and directed by Kunal Kohli (no doubt an attempt to try to re-create the success of his earlier movie Hum Tum (2004) starring Saif and Rani). The movie has some nice music by Shankar Ehsaan Loy (with the 'Nihaal Ho Gaayi' song being catchy and popular; the 'Lazy Lamhe' song did not become so popular even though it had a lot of eye candy). The movie had some great performances by the kids, by Rani Mukherji (given her closeness to the producer, this would have been expected though); the performance by Saif Ali Khan was marred by the fact that the movie script almost made him change his character in the space of 15 minutes.



The movie is the story of a hard-nosed guy forced to look after the kids of the couple whom died in a traffic accident for which he was responsible. The judge, in a most unusual decision (that would have without doubt got reversed in a higher court on appeals) sets the responsibility for raising the kids onto this guy, with the provision that if the kids are not happy, then sentencing will happen as a punishment. He has to raise them till they are 18 years old (which is strange, since a person needs to be raised till he / she is self-sufficient, and college education does not end till around 20-21). The kids hate him, and are willing to what it can to get him sentenced. He in turn is shown as being horrified by this responsibility, and wanting to stay away from them. Does this remind you of a combination of 2 movies ? 'Hum Hain Rahin Pyaar Ke', and 'Dushman' (the Rajesh Khanna movie where he has to take care of the victim's family).
Anyhow, this situation is rapidly going downhill, when the kids fervent pleas to God cause God (an over-acting and wasted Rishi Kapoor) to send one of his angels (Rani Mukherji) to earth in order to make things better. She reaches Earth, and forces her way to being the Governess of the kids. And she slowly starts to make things better (helped by a sudden transformation of Saif Ali Khan who suddenly shows that he is not a hard nosed businessman, but a guy who has lost people whom he had, and hence is afraid of love). Slowly, he (helped by Rani) starts winning over the kids, except for the eldest one whom he wins over almost near the end of the movie, at the cost of losing an important business deal. He has, in the meantime, got rid of the simpering and luxury seeking Amisha (wonder why she did this movie), and fallen for Rani. She, however, is an angel incapable of feeling love for anyone. So does she return back to heaven ?
The movie did so so on the circuit, having got some positive reactions, but somehow not able to strike that gold mine in terms of user reactions.

Songs from the movie were:
1. Pyaar Ke Liye : Sung by Shankar Mahadevan
2. Nihaal Ho Gayi : Sung by Shankar Mahadevan
3. Bulbula : Sung by Shankar Mahadevan & Sunidhi Chauhan
4. Lazy Lamhe : Sung by Anusha Mani
5. Beetey Kal Se : Sung by Shreya Ghoshal & Sneha Suresh