Lakshaya - good, but failed to work

War movies typically try to raise the jingoistic pitch, pushing the envelopes of patriotism, sacrifice, dedication, and lots of grunting, screaming, and similar behavior. A typical example is Border which showed determination, courage, sacrifice, death, honor, etc. Lakshya was a bit off from this track, trying to combine the story of the development into maturity of a young rudderless route when exposed to the harsh environment of a war. In that sense, it was different from the other war movies.
The movie was a perfect opportunity for the lead star, Hrithik Roshan, to showcase his histrionic skills; he was there right from the first frame to right at the end, where his individual triumph is showcased. The other actors in the movie were Preity Zinta, Amitabh Bachchan, Om Puri and Boman Irani (although it was only Preity Zinta who got a role almost the same size as that of Hrithik). The movie was based on the Kargil war of 1999, and depicts the effort by Lieutenant (later Acting Captain) Karan Shergill to capture a critical peak and keep the honor of his Brigade. The movie was directed by Farhan Akhtar, with the story by Javed Akhtar, and music by Shankaar-Ehsaan-Loy.
The movie made some good watching. You had this guy, wandering around aimless in life, with his dad wondering when he will do something in life. Some of his friends were similarly aimless, although his girlfriend Romi (Preity Zinta) was more caring about causes, and a career for her in journalism seemed to be a likely next step. In this carefree mood, he decides to try out for the army, and actually gets selected to the astonishment of his parents. However, he cannot stand the discipline of the NDA, and jumps from there.
His parents expected this, but Romi is disgusted with him, and leaves him. He is shaken at this, and this turns him into a dedicated person. He returns to the academy, takes his punishment and graduates into a good soldier, and officer. And then he gets involved with the Kargil conflict as part of his brigade, and then meets Romi again over there. Romi's character was apparently styled on Barkha Dutt, is covering the conflict as a TV reporter. They meet, when Romi is now engaged to somebody else, and Hrithik and his brigade have to break the Pakistani stranglehood on a critical peak, and the way to do that is very challenging.



Videos of songs from the movie Lakshya on Youtube:

Agar Main Kahoon (link)

Main Aisa Kyon Hoon (link)

Main Aisa Kyon Hoon, Lakshya - Hrithik's Awesome Dance Performance @ Yahoo! Video

Lakshya Title Song (link) - Hrithik looks real determined in this beautiful song

You have changed (link)

Kitni Baatein (link)

Ha Yehi Rasta hai (link)



Climbing the mountain:



Lakshya - Final Battle



Kandhon Se Milte Hain Kandhe (link)

Lyrics of movie Lakshya:

Title Song:

Haan yehi rasta hai tera, tune ab jaana hai
Haan yehi rasta hai tera, tune ab jaana hai
Haan yehi sapna hai tera, tune pehchaana hai

Haan yehi rasta hai tera, tune ab jaana hai
Haan yehi sapna hai tera, tune pehchaana hai
Tujhe ab ye dikhaana hai
Roke tujhko aandhiyaan, ya zameen aur aasmaan
Paayega jo lakshya hai tera
Lakshya toh har haal mein paana hai

Mushkil koyi, aajaaye toh, parbat koyi, takraaye toh
Taaqat koyi, dikhlaaye toh, toofaan koyi, mandlaaye toh
Mushkil koyi aajaaye toh, parbat koyi takraaye toh
Barse chaahe ambar se aag, lipte chaahe pairon se laakh -2
Paayega jo lakshya hai tera
Lakshya toh har haal mein paana hai

Himmat se jo koyi chale, dharti hille qadmon tale
Kya dooriyaan kya faasle, manzil lage aake gale
Himmat se jo koyi chale, dharti hille qadmon tale
Tu chal yunhi ab sub-o-shaam, rukna, jhukna nahin tera kaam -2
Paayega jo lakshya hai tera
Lakshya toh har haal mein paana hai

Haan yehi rasta hai tera, tune ab jaana hai
Haan yehi sapna hai tera, tune pehchaana hai
Tujhe ab ye dikhaana hai

---------
Kandhon Se Milte Hain

( Kandhon Se Milte Hain Kandhe, Qadmon Se Qadam Milte Hain
Ham Chalte Hain Jab Aise To, Dil Dushman Ke Hilte Hain )...(2)
( Ab To Hamein Aage Badhte Hai Rahna
Ab To Hamein Saathi Hai Bas Itna Hi Kahna )...(2)
Ab Jo Bhi Ho, Shola Banke Patthar Hai Pighlana
Ab Jo Bhi Ho, Baadal Banke Parbat Par Hai Chhaana
( Kandhon Se Milte Hain....Dushman Ke Hilte Hain ) -2

Nikle Hain Maidaan Mein, Ham Jaan Hatheli Par Lekar
Ab Dekho Dam Leinge, Ham Jaake Apni Manzil Par

Khatron Se Hans Ke Khelna, Itni To Ham Mein Himmat Hai
Modhein Kalayee Maut Ki, Itni To Ham Mein Taaqat Hai
Ham Sarhadon Ke Vaaste, Lohe Ki Ik Deewaar Hain
Ham Dushmanon Ke Vaaste, Hoshiyaar Hain Taiyar Hain
Ab Jo Bhi Ho..Par Hai Chhaana
Kandhon Se Milte Hain...Dushman Ke Hilte Hain

Josh Dil Mein Jagate Chalo, Jeet Ke Geet Gaate Chalo...(2)
Jeet Ki Jo Tasveer Banane Ham Nikle Hain
Apne Lahoo Se Hamko Usmein Rang Bharna Hai
Saathi Maine Apne Dil Mein Ab Ye Thaan Liya Ha
i Ya To Ab Karna Hai, Ya To Ab Marna Hai
Chahe Angare Barse, Ke Bijli Gire
Tu Akela Nahin Hoga Yaara Mere
Koi Mushkil Ho Ya Ho Koi Morcha
Saath Har Mod Par, Honge Saathi Tere
Ab Jo Bhi Ho...Par Hai Chhaana
Kandhon Se Milte Hain...Dushman Ke Hilte Hain

Ek Chehra Aksar Mujhe Yaad Aataa Hai
Is Dil Ko Chupke Chupke Vo Tadpata Hai
Jab Ghar Se Koi Bhi Kat Aaya Hai
Kaagaz Ko Maine Bheega Bheega Paaya Hai
Palkon Pe Yaadon Ke Kuchh Deep Jaise Jalte Hain
Kuchh Sapne Aise Hain, Jo Saath Saath Chalte Hain
Koi Sapna Na Toote, Koi Vaada Na Toote
Tum Chaho Jise Dil Se, Vo Tumse Na Roothe
Ab Jo Bhi Ho, Shola Banke Patthar Hai Pighlana
Ab Jo Bhi Ho, Baadal Banke Parbat Par Hai Chhaana
Kandhon Se Milte Hain ...Dushman Ke Hilte Hain

Chalta Hai Jo Ye Kaarvan, Goonji Si Hain Ye Vaadiyan
Hai Ye Zameen, Goonji Goonji
Ye Aasman, Goonja Goonja
Hai Ye Hawa, Goonji Goonji
Hai Ye Samaa, Goonja Goonja
Har Raste Ne, Har Wadi Ne, Har Parbat Ne Sadaa Di
Ham Jeeteinge, Ham Jeeteinge, Ham Jeeteinge Har Baazi
( Kandhon Se Milte Hain...Dushman Ke Hilte Hain )...(5)

----------
Kitni Baatein

Hariharan:
Kitni baatein yaad aati hai
Tasveerein si ban jaati hain
Main kaise inhein bhooloon
Dil ko kya samjhaaun

Sadhana:
Kitni baatein kehne ki hai
Honton par jo sehmi si hai
Ik roz inhein sun lo
Kyun aise gum-sum ho

Hariharan:
Kyun poori ho na paayi daastaan

Sadhana:
Kaise aayi hai aisi dooriyaan

Hariharan:
Dono ke dilon mein chhupa hai
Jo ik anjaana sa gham
Kya ho paayega woh kam
Koyi kya kahe

Sadhana:
Dono ne kabhi zindagi ke
Ik mod pe bhi jo paayi
Hai kaisi woh tanhaai
Koyi kya kahe

Hariharan:
Kitna viraan hai ye sama

Sadhana:
Saanson mein jaise ghulta hai dhuwaan
Kaisi aayi hai aisi dooriyaan

Hariharan:
Kitni baatein yaad aati hai
Tasveerein si ban jaati hain
Main kaise inhein bhooloon

Sadhana:
Tumse aaj yun milke dil ko
Yaad aaye lamhein kal ke
Ye aansoon kyun hai chhalke
Ab kya kahen

Hariharan:
Tumne hamko dekha jo aise
Toh ik umeed hai jaagi
Phir tumse pyaar paane ki
Ab kya kahen

Sadhana:
Aa gaye ham kahaan se kahaan

Hariharan:
Dekhe mudke ye dil ka kaarvaan
Kaisi aayi hai aisi dooriyaan

Sadhana:
Kitni baatein kehne ki hai
Honton par jo sehmi si hai
Ik roz inhein sunlo
Kyun aise gum-sum ho

Hariharan:
Kitni baatein yaad aati hai
Tasveerein si ban jaati hain
Main kaise inhein bhooloon
Dil ko kya samjhaaun

--------
Main Aisa kyun Hoon

Main aisa kyun hoon -4
Main aisa kyun hoon -3
Main jaisa hoon main waisa kyun hoon
Karna hai kya mujhko ye maine kab hai jaana
Lagta hai gaaunga zindagi bhar bas ye gaana
Hoga jaane mera ab kya
Oh…
Koyi toh bataaye mujhe
Oh…
Gadbad hai ye sab kya
Oh…
Koyi samjhaaye mujhe
Oh…
(Oh we ee aa owe ee oh
Oh we ee aa owe owe owe owe) -2
Main aisa kyun hoon -4
Main aisa kyun hoon -3
Main jaisa hoon main waisa kyun hoon

Ab mujhko ye hai karna, ab mujhe woh karna hai
Aakhir kyun main na jaanoon, kya hai ke jo karna hai
Lagta hai ab jo seedha, kal mujhe lagega ulta
Dekho na main hoon jaise, bilkul ulta phulta
Bad loonga main abhi kya
Oh…
Maanoon toh kya maaanon main
Oh…
Sudhroonga main kabhi kya
Oh…
Ye bhi toh na jaanoon main
Oh…
Jaane ab mera, hona kya hai (oh)
Lagta hai tumko kya
Jaane ab mera, hona kya hai (oh)
Kya main hoon jaisa bas waisa rahoonga?
Oh we ee aa owe ee oh
Oh we ee aa owe owe owe owe
Karna hai kya mujhko ye maine kab hai jaana
Lagta hai gaaunga zindagi bhar bas ye gaana
Hoga jaane mera ab kya
Oh…
Koyi toh bataaye mujhe
Oh…
Gadbad hai ye sab kya
Oh…
Koyi samjhaaye mujhe
Oh…
(Oh we ee aa owe ee oh
Oh we ee aa owe owe owe owe) -2
Main aisa kyun hoon -4
Main aisa kyun hoon -3
Main aisa aisa aisa hi hoon

---------
Agar Main Kahoon

Udit:
(Agar main kahoon mujhe tumse mohabbat hai
Meri bas yehi chaahat hai toh kya kahogi) -2
Alka:
Main tumse kahoongi, is baat ko agar tum
Zara aur saja ke kehte, zara ghooma-phira ke kehte
Toh achcha hota

Udit:
Agar main kahoon
Tumko jab dekhoon lagti ho jaise nayi
Honthh hain pankhadi phool ki
Aankhein jaise jugnu chamke huwe
Soche mera ye dil dhadakte huwe
Agar main kahoon…
Agar main kahoon ye jo chehra hai
Jaise koyi chaand hai toh kya kahogi

Alka:
Main tumse kahoongi
Mujhko bhoole se bhi chaand tum na kaho
Chaand mein toh kayin daag hai
Mujhe phool na kehna woh murjhaate hain
Jugnu bhi na kehna woh kho jaate hain
Ye baatein puraani hai, jo mujhko sunaani hai
Kissi aur adaa se kehte, zara ghooma-phira ke kehte
Toh achcha hota

Udit:
Agar main kahoon mujhe tumse mohabbat hai
Meri bas yehi chaahat hai toh kya kahogi

Udit:
Agar main kahoon
Baatein sunke tumhaari main hairaan hoon
Jo bhi kehna hai kaise kahoon
Lagta tumhein kuchh bhi achcha nahin
Sach ko bhi kehti ho sachcha nahin

Alka:
Agar main kahoon..
Agar main kahoon tumhein pata nahin hai kyun
Hai pyaar mujhe bhi tumse toh kya kahoge

Udit:
Main tumse kahoonga, mere dil ka hai ye kehna
Ham ko hai saath mein rehna

Alka:
Ye dono ke dil mein hai na toh phir kyun kehna

Udit:
Agar main kahoon

Alka:
Toh main tumse kahoongi

Rock On - the Farhan Akhtar movie

Rock On is a movie by Farhan Akhtar, and most people envisioned this to be another Dil Chahta Hain, after all, Rock On was also a story of friends (4 friends), who go through great bonding in life, and then split apart. However, this was a different movie. It has won great acclaim, and for many reasons. There are not too many movies made on a musical note, that too focusing on rock music. Lyrics for the movie were also great, the music was excellent; there were also some innovations such as the use of two parallel tracks in the movie that kept the viewer from learning some of the crucial facts of the movie till much later in the movie. An interesting touch was the use of Farhan Akhtar to be doing the singing as opposed to some industry singer.



The movie was written and directed by Abhishek Kapoor, with music by Shankar Ehsaan Loy, and starred mostly newcomers or unknown people - besides Farhan and Arjun, the movie introduced Prachi Desai (from the Hindi Serial, Kasam Seh), and also starred Purab Kohli, Luke Kenny, Prachi Desai, Shahana Goswami, Koel Purie and Nicolette Bird.
The movies takes off with these 4 people in middle life, all leading their own lives. They show the lives of Farhan (a successful finance professional, married to Prachi Desai, and well settled into the fast life), Arjun Ramphal (married to his sweetheart, but not having achieved much in life; his wife handles the household finances and is frustrated over his inability to make much of himself). In the younger track, there are 4 close friends (with their girlfriends) who are fond of music and form a band called 'Magik'. They decide to try out for a competition to make a music record, and qualify. However, when they see Aditya (Farhan) being favored over the others, and him not objecting, the angry Joe lashes out at the record director and Aditya and walks out - this breaks up their band and their friendship.
Aditya has become a successful investment banker now, after 10 years, but he is also cold, and his wife Sakshi (Prachi Desai) does not feel a comfortable relationship with him. She finds out about his old band (which he had hidden), and decides to call them for his surprise birthday party. However, his wounds are still there, and he remains uncomfortable. Sakshi knows not much about this, and is shocked. She feels that he is indirectly also rejecting her, that he has not got over his old wounds and this is hurting their relationship, and when he does not respond, she leaves him (while telling him that she is pregnant).
Aditya has an about turn, patching up with his old band (KD, Rob, and Joe) and being an active member along with them; this about turn brings Sakshi back. However, Joe is hiding all this from Debbie, and she is very angry when she finds out, since she has not forgiven Aditya for his treatment of Joe. They decide to enter another music contest, but when Debbie finds out about this, she is strongly against this, since Joe could join a ship and make a lot of money from working there. However, he ditches the taxi going to the airport and joins the band members at the contest, dedicating the song to Debbie. The gang sings their last song together, since Rob dies 2 months later from a brain tumour.
In the epilogue, rob has died, Sakshi delivered a child, KD and Joe start a company to promote new talent, and they all meet once a week.
The movie was different, but there were some chinks in the armour. There was no need for Rob to suddenly get brain cancer, the sudden reason for Sakshi to go away was not clear, the sudden change in Aditya was too sudden, and the ending seemed a bit forced. However, the acting seemed natural, and Prachi Desai made a nice entry, with a short role that allowed her to demonstrate many emotions.

Songs from the movie Rock On:

Tum Ho Tho



Ye Tumhari Meri Baatein



Pichle Saat Dino Mein



Socha Hain

Parinda - A classic movie

How many people are there who would not have seen Parinda (well, atleast if you take people who are more than 30 years old). Parinda was not director Vidhu Vinod Chopra's first movie, but if there are some movies that he will be most remembered by, it will be for this movie. Similarly, both Anil Kapoor and Madhuri Dixit have reckoned that this movie is one of their best movies. The movie was produced and directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra, written by Shivkumar Subramaniam, and starred Jackie Shroff, and Nana Patekar in pivotal roles. Music was by R D Burman, and lyrics by Khursheed Hallauri. Some other actors who had great roles in the movies were Tom Alter, Anupam Kher, and Suresh Oberoi.



The movie was released in 1989. It tells the gripping story of the Bombay underworld, the fight between the rival gangs, the lack of trust and warfare between them, the role of the police. In the end, the movie was about the guy who got involved in a gang for survival, and who learns the hard way that life in the gang is brutal. In the end, everybody is expendable, life is brutal; and even a loyal member of the gang cannot save his own brother.
The reason why the movie was so popular was due to its realism, essentially attributed to the technical crew of the film, with Binod Pradhan´s cinematography being a great hit. The overall sound of the movie, the shots with the pigeons, the mad gun shooting amid the honeymoon lovemaking, the various deaths in the movie, the climatic scene where Jackie Shroff kills his own boss (and the killer of his brother) by burning him to death in a fire of alcohol bottles, all of these were shots that still enthrall people.
The movie is about the love between the 2 brothers, Jackie and Anil. When they were young and fighting for survival, Jackie joins Anna's gang and prospers. He sends Anil out for studying, with Anil all the time unaware that his brother actually worked for a gang leader (and too, a psychotic one). Jackie tries to keep his brother away from the gang, but eventually fails when Anil's friend, Inspector Anupam Kher is killed by Anna's men (using the meeting called by Anil). Madhuri Dixit is Paro, a teacher, who is in love with Anil, but moves away when she learns that he is now part of the gang. The rest of the movie is about the revenge taken by Anil, the consequences when Anna learns about this, and the reaction of Jackie. This movie is a must watch.

Videos of songs from the movie:

Tumse Milke (Singer(s): SURESH WADKAR AND ASHA BHOSLE)



Pyar Ke Mod Pe (Singer(s): ASHA BHOSLE - SURESH WADKAR)



Anna's death in Parina by fire



Awards given to Parinda (Filmfare awards):
1989: Winner, Filmfare Best Director Award for Vidhu Vinod Chopra
1989: Winner, Filmfare Best Actor Award for Jackie Shroff
1989: Winner, Filmfare Best Editing Award for Renu Saluja
1989: Winner, Filmfare Best Screenplay Award for Shivkumar Subramaniam
1989: Winner, Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award for Nana Patekar




Lyrics from the movie:

Pyaar Ke Mod Pe

pyaar ke mod pe, chhodoge jo baahe meree
tum ko dhoondhegee, jamaane mein nigaahe meree

jindagee mein jo kahee aaur main kho jaaoongaa
tum se milane ke liye, laut ke fir aaoongaa
aye meree jaana-ye-wafaa dekhanaa raahe meree

ayesaa naa ho, aye sanam jaao to fir aa naa sako
meree ye tamannaa hai, tum mere paas raho
kyo tumhe bhaatee nahee, aaj panaahe meree

koee ban jaaye meraa, ayesee takadeer nahee
dil ke aaeene mein ab koee tasaweer nahee
ye hakeekat hai, asar kho chookee, aahe meree

saath main tumhaare hoo, ab koee gam naa karo
khud ko tanahaa mere, hote humadam naa karo
ho ke maayoos naa dam tod de, chaahe meree

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

Tumse Milke

--MALE--
(Tumse milke aisa laga
Tumse milke armaan hue poore dil ke) - 2
Ae meri jaane wafa
Teri meri meri teri ek jaan hai
Saath tere rahenge sada, tumse na honge judaa
Tumse milke aisa laga
Tumse milke armaan hue poore dil ke
Mere sanam, teri kasam chhodenge ab na yeh haath
Yeh zindagi

--FEMALE--
La la la

--MALE--
Guzregi ab

--FEMALE--
La la la

--MALE--
Hamdam tumhaare hi saath
Apna yeh vaada raha, tumse na honge judaa

--FEMALE--
Tumse milke aisa laga
Tumse milke armaan hue poore dil ke
Ae meri jaane wafa
Teri meri meri teri ek jaan hai
Saath tere rahenge sada, tumse na honge judaa
Tumse milke aisa laga
Tumse milke armaan hue poore dil ke
Aah aah aah aah

--MALE--
Maine kiya

--FEMALE--
La la la

--MALE--
Hai raat din

--FEMALE--
La la la

--MALE--
Bas tera hi intezaar

--FEMALE--
Tere bina aata nahin ek pal mujhe ab qaraar

--BOTH--
Hamdam mera mil gaya, ab hum na honge judaa - 2

--MALE--
Tumse milke

--FEMALE--
Tumse milke aisa laga
Tumse milke

--BOTH--
Armaan hue poore dil ke
Ae meri jaane wafa
Teri meri meri teri ek jaan hai
Saath tere rahenge sada, ab hum na honge judaa
La la la la, la la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la

A Wednesday - Dynamic

Sometimes you come across a movie that shakes you a lot, and which leaves a promise that there is a space for movie making that is different from the standard cliches, or romances, or manufactured tragedies. 'A Wednesday' is a movie that I got around to watching much after the movie was released, and I was thoroughly impressed. You may not agree with everything that the movie propounds, but you cannot be but impressed by the pace of the movie, by some superb acting from the various stars, by the ability to leave you sympathizing with a person who directs acts of murder, and eventually admiring the director, Neeraj Pandey, who dared to make a movie with no main female lead in a romantic situation, and most of all, a movie without any songs.
The movie certainly was not a rich action sequences laden movie such as 'Singh in King', but given a choice, I would rather watch a movie like 'A Wednesday'. This was a movie that gained extremely from word of mouth, colleagues who had seen the movie gave enthusiastic reviews, and I would do the same if somebody asked me.



Without revealing the end, the twist in the movie as well as the impassioned speech by the bomb maker comes at the end of a gripping movie, and keep you on your seats till the final credits come to an end. The performances by Anupam Kher, Naseeruddin Shah, Jimmy Shergill and Deepal Shaw are all first rate, and the fact that they are able to make their presence felt in such a short movie (1.5) hours makes the performances even more creditable. The movie also introduces the concept of a backlash by the 'stupid, common man'; all of us who live in a city and go to our work places, and some of whom die in bomb blasts that happen in our cities.
The movie is about the flashback by a retired police commissioner of Bombay, Prakash Rathod [Anupam Kher]. He remembers an incident that happened in the space of 4 hours, on a normal weekday afternoon, the details of the incident not being present on any file or records (only in the memory of those involved). He gets a call from an anonymous caller about bombs kept in the city at different locations, and for defusing which, 4 Muslim terrorists in police custody needed to be rounded up from their separate locations. The caller, Naseeruddin Shah, situated on the top of a building, almost like a picnic, makes the police believe in his story when he discloses the location of a bomb right in the police station next to the police headquarters.
Anupam Kher gets complete authority from the Chief Minister to handle the negotiations, and gets down to business. He is obviously dealing with a person who knows how to conduct himself, defeating attempts to track his details. Eventually, inspite of a crack team and some fast police work, spear headed by a hot headed police officer (Jimmy Shergill in a great role), Anupam Kher is forced to follow all of the directions he is given, till the time that the terrorists are transported to an air field in Juhu. If you have not watched the movie, you should watch it.

Drona - disappointing

I was reading an article in a magazine last week, and it was talking about the forthcoming release of Drona. The article raved about this being a highly acclaimed technical movie, with an incredible amount of hard work and technical effects thrown in, and I was eagerly anticipating the movie. I managed to cajole the spouse and parents to see the movie along with me, and even though reviews were out by that time and did not promise much, I still went along. Bad decision, I should have believed the reviews.
Drona is a movie about a secret as old as existence, from the Hindu mythology where the Gods and Demons (asuras) churned the seas a long long time back, and one of the secrets that emerged was the elixir of ever-lasting life (amrit) which would make the owner live forever. In order to keep it away from the demons (you would not give anything so powerful to the demons), it was decided that there would be a set of warriors who would forever protect the secret of this 'amrit', and they and their descendants would be called 'Dronas'. In addition, there would another set of warriors to protect them. And here is this 'Cindrella' in the shape of a man, who has been terrorized since childhood by a horrid foster mother, who would suddenly discover that he is the 'Drona', and then go through mysteries aided by a beautiful protector. He would fight the evil monster who killed his father, and save the secret.



What a fantasy. Imagine the story with its deep magic, mystery, and special effects that would make this movie on the class of a Peter Pan, or a Harry Potter, but the movie failed miserably to do anything in this regard. The movie did not have much of magic, it had a fairly comic villain who would repeat a phrase so many times that you got sick of it, you had not too much good music, not much of action except for a car chase, a scene on a train, and a couple others, but there was something missing. Somehow the picture was not gripping enough, and even though I was forcing myself to not be overall critical right away, there was just not enough excitement.
For all this, I don't lay too much blame at the heads of either Abhishek Bachchan, or Priyanka Chopra (for her, it was a big role, pity it did not work out), or the criminal display of Kay Kay Menon as a shallow (not much cunning or mystery in him) magician who was also a demon (he just did not look or act like a demon, more like a normal villain who knew some magic). Most of the mistake I would lay at the door of the Director, Goldie Behl. There was not enough guidance about how to make this movie, sparkle, where even a movie like Krrsh, with its limited story, was still gripping enough with some good action. Jaya Bachchan was totally wasted.

Singh is King: Nothing to write home about

Singh is King made a major splash on the movie circuit. Akshay Kumar was acknowledged as a real hot item in the past few years, being credited for hits that he gave (Namastey London, Welcome, etc), and not being tarred with the flops (Tashan). He must be doing well enough that Shahrukh Khan must be getting sleepless nights. And then I read that Singh is King had a mega 3 day weekend rush, making more than most other movies that have been released in the past few years.
So, it was with some amount of anticipation that I went to watch this movie; and the reaction at the end of the movie was - another 'Welcome'. I must confess, I enjoyed 'Welcome' while watching it, but immediately after that I was thinking about why I enjoyed such a movie that did not have much of a story, depended on action, and was basically a senseless movie. Singh is Kinng is such a movie, made in the same genre.



The movie was controversial because of the depiction of all the main characters as Sardars / Sikhs, and there was the usual objection from some sikh bodies, but that died down and the movie release went off without the problems that the Sunny starrer 'Jo Bole So Nihaal' did.
The movie starred Akshay Kumar, Katrina Kaif, Ranvir Shorey, Neha Dhupia, Javed Jaffrey, and Sonu Sood. The direction was done by Anees Bazmee, and the movie was produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah. Music was by Pritam and RDB (the song is Singh Is Kinng). Although Katrina Kaif was the heroine, there were a lot of scenes shot on Neha Dhupia, and she earned a lot of positive reviews. The music also did the job, with the title song being good, and the romantic 'Teri Ore' being superb.
The movie is all about the adventures of Happy Singh (Akshay), who is a simple guy, always ready to help people. The whole village in Punjab where Happy Singh lives is unhappy with another son of theirs, Lakhan "Lucky" Singh (Sonu Sood). He had gone to Australia, got jailed for a drug crime that he did not commit, and after coming out, he had taken revenge and eventually became the mafia overlord. Happy Singh volunteers to get him back to the village, and sets off along with a reluctant Om Puri (there are some comedy scenes between the two). They get into a boarding card mixup, and land up in Egypt instead of Australia. While waiting for the mistake to get corrected, Akshay runs into Katrina in Cairo, and after a few encounters (in which he discovers that she wants to get rid of all criminals), he falls head over heels for her.
Well, he eventually reaches Australia, only to find that Lucky Singh is not exactly eager to get back to his village. Wandering around, he runs into an India lady who takes care of him, and he starts treating her like a mother. In a big coincidence, one of many, Lucky Singh gets injured in a shootout and Happy Singh takes over as the leader of the gang. In another coincidence, Katrina turns out out to be the daughter of the lady who helped Akshay, and Akshay helps her out by pretending that she is still rich.
The rest of the movie is about how Akshay wins over all his detractors, faces many challenges including the fact that Katrina is about to be married off to somebody else, and so on. If you watch the opening scene where Sonu Sood catches a would-be-assassin by jumping off a building while wearing a parachute under his party jacket, catches the killer who is running away in a bike, and then the parachute and Sonu again climb in the air where Sony drops the killer, you can imagine how the rest of the movie would be like.

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..