Bombay To Bangkok (released in 2008) - Starring Shreyas Talpade and Lena Christensen, directed by Nagesh Kukunoor

Sometimes you can have a set of excellent people involved in the making of a movie, and yet the movie can be one that is best avoided. This is a movie that appeals to some people, but critics who review movie on a professional basis would not be part of that set. The movie was released in 2008 (January) and had 2 people in who can be counted to make good movies - one is the main actor (Shreyas Talpade) and the other is the producer and director of the movie, Nagesh Kukunoor. Now, Nagesh has made movies that have been pretty well acclaimed, starting with his debut movie, Hyderabad Blues and for other well acclaimed movies such as Iqbal. So for Nagesh to make such a movie, that tries to be different, but really does not make people laugh too much, a combination of a romance and thriller, with some music thrown in. The music, by Salim-Sulaiman, does not really catch people too much either.




The plot is a simple one. A small time cook, Shankar (played by Shreyas Talpade) needs money, but is not able to make this money. So he finally breaks his patience, and resorts to stealing. He steals a pouch of money, but who does he end up stealing from ? The biggest mafia don in Mumbai (with Naseeruddin Shah in a special appearance). When you steal money from a don, you are in deep shit, and the same is the case with Shankar. He manages to make his way to a medical group that is on their way to Bangkok (for some voluntary work).
Once he gets to Thailand, he comes into contact with a very pretty Thai prostitute, Jasmine (played by Lina Christianson), but is unable to do what he is paying her to do, so she returns the money. However, the next day she turns up at the medical camp where he is pretending to be a doctor; they are not able to talk much, but still have a connection and get closer. But, he has lost the money pouch, and the men from the don are after him. So what does he do ?
The plot is very thin, and none of the performances were very excellent, and the movie did not do any great shakes with the audience as well.

Ijaazat (1987) - a great musical emotional story

Ijaazat means permission, and the name of the movie is based on the concept of the heroine having taking a drastic step without consulting with her husband, something that she would regret later. The movie is a very well regarded movie, based on alternative cinema. The movie is also very well known for its songs (shown later in this post), and is also distinctive that the movie gave a chance for Asha Bhosle to showcase her quite tremendous singing talents, since she sang the 4 main songs of the movie. These songs are all incredibly famous, and regarded as excellent songs both in terms of music and lyrics. The music of the film won 2 national awards. The movie did give a boost to the reputations of both Naseeruddin Shah and Rekha, although the commercial success of such a movie is always debatable. The movie was directed by Gulzar (also the lyrics, screenplay and dialogues), with music by RD Burman.



1988 - National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer: Asha Bhosle - Mera Kuch Samaan
1988 - National Film Award for Best Lyrics: Gulzar - Mera Kuch Samaan
1989 - Filmfare Best Lyricist Award: Gulzar

The movie works in mostly flashback mode. Mahinder (Naseeruddin Shah), on a stormy night, gets into a train waiting room; a lady sitting in the waiting room tries to avoid being seen, but eventually they meet. The lady is Sudha (Rekha), and when they see each other, the flashback starts. They were married to each other earlier, but that relationship broke because of the presence of another girl in Mahinder's life.
Mahinder used to love a girl called Maya (Anuradha Patel), a free living feminist. However, it was impossible for Mahinder to marry her since his grandfather (Shammi Kapoor) would never have allowed this. His grandfather had found Sudha, a school teacher, for him, and even though the engagement has stretched to 5 years, it was pretty clear that the marriage could happen anytime. This was something that Mahinder told Sudha about as well, with the understanding that Maya would never come between them. However, it seemed to Sudha that Maya had such an important part in Mahinder's life that her presence was always there.
The situation escalates, till there is a time when Sudha feels that Mahinder has deserted her for Maya and she laves without telling Mahinder. In the meantime, when Mahinder gets to know, he suffers a heart attack, with Maya taking care of him. Soon after, Maya dies when her scarf gets entangled in the wheel of the motorcycle that she was driving. In the present time, when Sudha gets to know these events, she is shocked, since it would seem to be that she had left without ascertaining the complete facts, and this had changed her life. And then her husband, Shashi Kapoor comes in, and she leaves with him, this time taking the permission (Ijaazat) of Mahinder, unlike the previous time.




Videos of songs of Ijaazat on Youtube:

Ijaazat Video Song: Katra Katra



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HngdE4MiL2U

Ijaazat Song on Youtube: Mera Kuch Samaan



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mjFCidDpcY&feature=related

Ijaazat song: Chhoti si kahani se



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVg7aR64DBg&feature=related

Ijaazat Song on Youtube: Khali Haath Sham Ayee Hai




Lyrics:

katra katra milti hai
katra katra jeene do
zindgi hai, bahne do
pyaasi hoon main pyasi rahne do

Tumne to aakash bichhaya
mere nange pairo main zameen hai
dekhe to tumhaari aarzoo hai
shayad aisi zindagi haseen hai
aarzoo main bahne do
pyaasi hoon main pyaasi rahne do ...

----------

Mera kuch saamaan tumhare paas pada hai -2
o o o ! saavan ke kuch bheege bheege din rakhe hain
aur mere ik khat main lipti raat padi hai
vo raat bhulaa do, mera vo saamaan lauta do - 2
mera kuch saamaan tumhaare paas pada hai - 2

patjhad hai kcuh ... hai na ?
o ! patjhas main kuch patton ke girne kee aahat
kaanon main ek baar pahan ke laut aai thee
patajhad kee vo saakh abhi tak kaanp rahi hai
vo saakh gira do, mera vo saamaan lauta do - 2

ek akeli chhataree main jab aadhe aadhe bheeg rahe the - 2
aadhe sookhe aadhe geele, sukha to main le aaye thee
geela man shayad bistar ke paas pada ho
vo bhijwa do, mera vo saamaan lauta do

ek so sola chaand ki ratain ek tumhare kaandhe ka til - 2
geeli mahendi ki khushbu, jhoot mooth ke shikwe kuch
jhooth mooth ke wade sab yaad karaa do
sab bhijwa do, mera vo saamaan lauta do - 2

ek ijaazat de do bas, jab isako dafanaaungee
main bhi vaheen so jaungee
main bhi vaheen so jaungee

--------------

Chhotee see kahaanee se, baareeshon kee paanee se
saaree waadee bhar gayee,
naa jaane kyo, dil bhar gayaa,
naa jaane kyo, aankh bhar gayee

shaakho pe patte the,patton pe boonde thee
boondo mein paanee thaa,paanee mein aansoo the

dil mein geele bhee the,pahale mile bhee the
milake paraaye the,do humasaaye the

----------------

khaalee haath shaam aayee hai, khaalee haath jaayegee
aaj bhee naa aayaa koee, khaalee laut jaayegee

aaj bhee naa aaye aansoo, aaj bhee naa bheege nainaa
aaj bhee ye koree rainaa, koree laut jaayegee

raat kee siyaahee koee, aaye to mitaye naa
aaj naa mitaayee to ye, kal bhee laut aayegee