Ashok Chakra Release Date : 28,May 2010

Producer Colorfull Movies
Director S.P. Muneshwar
Music Aroon Bakshi
Writer Sartaaj Maani
Lyrics Manoj Kumar
Release Date 28-May-2010

Starring: Introducing Rajan Verma, Aroon Bakshi, Ashok Samarth, Mushtaq Khan, Homi Wadia, Sudesh Berry and Amit Behl

Director: SP Muneshwar

The first question that comes to your mind in the first 10 minutes of the film is for whom this film is made. Who is the target audience? The makers claim the film to be dedicated to the martyrs of the 26/11 carnage but in execution it is nothing but an insult to those who laid their lives on that black day.

The film chronicles Ajmal Kasab (Verma) and his journey from the LeT training camp in Pakistan to his targets in India. He arrives on the Mumbai shores with his nine other accomplices to spread terror on the fateful night of 26th November 2008. Aasab is pitted against Hemant Karkare (Homi Wadia), Tukarum Ombale (Ashok Samarth), Ashok Kamte (Amit Behl), Salaskar (Sudesh Berry) and several other law enforcement officers. The rest of the film is about what happens after Asab is caught by the valiant Ombale, who lays down his life trying to arrest him.

Immature in every single department, the film tests your patience with bad acting, bad production values, bad editing, bad cinematography and yes bad direction. It is sad that such a film on an important topic is wasted by some undeserving talent who had money at their disposal to attempt such a film. One can only imagine the plight of those who underwent pain in real, if they get to watch this foolish depiction of the 26/11 incidents.

Rajan Verma, who plays Asab aka Kasab appears more of a psychopathic killer than a terrorist. The less said about rest of the over acting actors the better.

Kites Release Date : 21,May 2010

Producer Rakesh Roshan
Director Anurag Basu
Music Rajesh Roshan
Writer Akash Khurana, Anurag Basu, Robin Bhatt
Lyrics Nasir Faraz, Asif Ali Beg
Release Date 21-May-2010

Look out! Here’s a part epic love story-part crime caper, that’s folded in with some neat action.

This assortment is baffling mostly, swinging you up and down like a yo-yo. Because when, in the middle of a situation where our protagonists risk losing their lives, we suddenly hear the background score turn flirty and the camera shows us a random character’s comical expression.

Or the time when the central characters hijack a car at gunpoint, only to have the owner charmingly turn interpreter between them. Not to be mistaken for dark comedy, this kind of insinuated humour is only trying to be cute; admittedly you tend to ignore these intrusions into the real story.

Special: All about Hrithik, Barbara and Kites

So we meet Jai (Hrithik), a refreshing change from the regular Hindi film hero. He’s a weak man, falling to the extent of courting a girl Gina (Kangana) he doesn’t like, just because he happened to see the car she travels in. Immediately falling in lust with her money, he behaves like the perfect lover, even charming her casino-owning, influential family.

Before this, we see him making a living as a dance teacher in Las Vegas with a side business of marrying illegal immigrants. What follows his fake interest in Gina is an introduction to new cars and the high-life. When he meets Gina’s brother Tony (a comic-book like villain, growling and abusive), he’s in for a shock.

A Mexican woman Linda (Barbara) he had earlier 'married' and had felt a spark for, turns out to be Tony’s fiancé. Their stories are the same - born into poverty and in the relationship for the money. Both similar people, they’re instantly drawn to each other. Of course, their language barrier – she manages only broken English – is the least of their problems.

The dilemmas are many: to choose money or love? To stay safe or risk their lives by daring to upset the mega-powerful family?

For all the hype about the explicit scenes, the movie’s tame by today’s standards. And quite dignified, too (no excessive body shots when the heroine’s wearing a bikini).

Images: Kites takes London by storm! | Times Square traffic halts as Hrithik runs to meet fans

There are some more filmi elements that'll put you off: a dance number insinuated to remind you how well Roshan Jr. moves, his character jumping on trains when he’s injured, and the usual best friend track that materialises to take the story forward.

Hrithik Roshan is impressive and evocative. His is a character we dislike at the outset, but begin to warm up to as the film progresses. Roshan plays this up-and-down track with aplomb.

Barbara Mori is immediately impressive, handling the intensity of her character’s range masterfully, and adding her natural effervescence ever so often. Their cracking chemistry is the highlight of the film, exploited every inch by co-writer-director Anurag Basu.

After Gangster and Life in a Metro, Basu shows a change in storytelling style; this time he chooses the non-linear narrative hopping between the past and present, and keeping the pace laid-back.

The songs with mostly melodious numbers, reflects this too. In keeping with the film’s dual-personality, the love story is marked with chases (including an air-balloon scene), a thumping background score, and great action. The topography ranging from the vast Mexican desert, to crystal waters, to the blingy Vegas streets is a treat.

Special: All about Hrithik, Barbara and Kites

Kites’s essential flaw is the story unfolding at a pace that’s too relaxed. One is certain this would have been a far better film with snappier editing. But then how many films do you see where you can remember the characters long after the film is done?

Linda and Jai’s love story unfolds predictably, but there’s a rebellious innocence to it that draws you.

Indeed, the film is at its most fun when we’re soaking in the playful chemistry between the two central characters.

Worth the ride.

Verdict: 3 stars

Admissions Open Release Date : 14,May 2010

Producer Mohd. Israr Ansari
Director K. D. Satyam
Music Amit Trivedi
Lyrics Shellee
Release Date 14-May-2010

This film is all about a revolutionary movement started by the victims of our stereotype education system. A disheartened IT professor, Tariq Siddhiqi (Anupam kher) who is basically disappointed with the orthodox education system and Devang Tripathi (Ashish Vidyarthi) an alcoholic professor who is thrown out from Mumbai University for his abstract methodology for teaching and Arjun Sehghal, (Ankur Khanna) an under achieving student who disenchants the traditional education system as he doesn’t believe in grading system and Priyanka (Arshi) who wants to break through the typical parental pressure of our society to accomplish her passion as a super model. Finally as they all posses same perception towards our stereotype education system, they decide to go against to it and they form an abstract pattern of education system to encourage the failure students of our society. But problem arises for them when Raghavendra Reddy (Pramod Moutho), the dean of a prestigious college in Pune complains to the National Accreditation Council (NAC) against the new college for being run without accreditation.

The subject is very topical and the film appears extremely well intended but the director K.D. Satyam fails in executing it well. Amateurish writing makes the matters worse. The new college looks more like an ashram where classes on seduction and occult sciences are held apart from those in cookery and painting! During a sequence, the college girls and boys are shown to be sleeping with one another in suggestive positions. Is this the kind of new education the makers suggest in place of the existing one? What is the funniest part of the film is the characters talking about education can’t even pronounce English words right.

Ankur Khanna who earlier made an impressive debut Yun Hota To Kya Hota (2006) delivers a sincere performance. Arshi needs to brush up her acting skills. Veterans Anupam Kher, Rati Agnihotri and Ashish Vidyarthi are good as usual. Pramod Moutho is impressive.

The only positive thing to talk about this film is the music by Amit Trivedi of Dev.D fame. But sad such good tunes are wasted on a film like this.

Bumm Bumm Bole Release Date : 14,May 2010

Producer: Sanjay Ghodawat Group Percept Picture Company
Director :Priyadarshan
Music: M.G. Sreekumar, Tapas Relia, Azaan Sami
Writer: Manisha Korde
Lyrics :Sameer, Irfan Siddique, Satish Mutatkar

What's it about: If you haven't watched Iranian filmmaker Majid Majidi's brilliant opus Children of Heaven, then you won't realise the gravity of how wrong the remake has turned out. Priyadarshan's version of the 1997 Academy Award nominee for Best Foreign Film is set somewhere in the North East. Pinu (Darsheel) and Rimjhim (Ziyah) are the children of a poor tea garden worker (Atul) and his wife (Rituparna). After losing his sister's shoes in the market, Pinu's whole world revolves around finding her a brand new pair. He loses sleep, comes up with back-up plans to replace them but fails. His poor family can't afford a new pair so he decides to participate in a marathon where the third runner-up gets to take home brand new shoes. However, it doesn't quite work out right. Along the way there's a terrorist plot (ULFA?) wanting to create upheaval in their quiet town.

What's hot: Priyan succeeds in creating the right mood for the film. Even though he keeps the location ambiguous for a long time before someone says Shillong, the characters fit perfectly in the scenic setting. When there are child actors involved there's always the fear of them turning out either super cheesy or just plain boring. Fortunately both Darsheel and Ziyah perform exceedingly well. Priyan creates moments highlighting the simplicities of a child's life like the world coming to a stop when you don't have proper shoes to wear, or the plain pleasures of finding a playmate to play catch. Ziyah is a find, with a natural charm and right effervescence; she fits the part perfectly.

What's not: There is an agonising wait for the ball to start rolling at some point in the film. Priyan takes too long to cut to the chase and start telling his story. We get the fact that he needs to establish his characters, but once that's done why the delay in taking the action forward? Scenes of Pinu and Rimjhim exchanging shoes before the other goes to school get monotonous and lethargic. Also watching a tiny tot run across fields in large shoes over and over again serves no purpose other than the fact that the poor girl must have got a really big treat waiting at the end of the shot. One can't turn a blind eye to the crude product placement of a shoe brand in the climax, and then cut to another shot of a health drink being guzzled down by a kid. Talk about making a film on a 'shoe-string' budget! Atul Kulkarni is earnest and stays true to his brief while Rituparna doesn't have much to do. The terrorist angle doesn't add or take away anything from the film. The second half needs heavy trimming and the fantasy song with giant shoes only adds to the already impending doom.

What to do: Priyan's version of the Children of Heaven doesn't hold a candle to the original. Lengthy second half and weak script makes it a dull affair.

Badmaash Company Release Date : 07,May 2010

Producer Aditya Chopra
Director Parmeet Sethi
Music Pritam Chakraborty
Writer Parmeet Sethi
Lyrics Anvita Dutt Guptan
Release Date 07-May-2010

Story: Shahid Kapoor and his gang of three friends -- Anushka, Vir Das, Chang -- dream of getting rich quick. Obviously, morals don't have much to do in their show-me-the-money schemes and they set up their million dollar company on umpteen crooked deals. So far so good, but soon power corrupts, the law catches up and family values come in conflict. Can the dream run continue?

Movie Review: They are your average friendly neighbourhood guys: the hazaar Cafe Coffee Day dreamers and diviners who hatch a million plots and plans for a zingy future before their cappuccino gets cold. And they all have one thing in common. They all want the good life fast, any which way, and don't mind breaking a few rules here and there. No nine to five stiff-collared jobs for this Badmaash Company who may have been brought up with middle class values, yet they couldn't care less before dumping them in the nearest trash can. Extra baggage for them, all this blah-blah about imandari (honesty) and izzat (respect).

Hence, the importance of Shahid Kapoor and gang who tell their dads to take a chill pill and turn their backs to papa's punctilious way of life, believing it got him nowhere. In a seminal scene of the film, Shahid watches his mom pawn or sell off her jewels -- or something precious--for a couple of thousands which she hides under pallu, as the duo drive off to the hospital to save daddy (Anupam Kher) who's suffered a heart attack. His eyes well up but his face grows hard, with anger and frustration. Ah! the desperation and the drudgery of the middle class existence....After that, it's mission get-rich-quick all the way, as Shahid embarks upon a dangerous journey with his friends to unleash one shady business deal after the other. The foursome christen their badmaash company as Friends and Co. and hop aboard a roller coaster ride that obviously has no disembarkment point. And, when they've done all the stuff that money can do, they realise they aren't the same simpletons any more. More importantly, Shahid's grown into an egotistical, power-hungry maniac who actually believes he's God! Watch out for this neat little sequence which adds punch to the proceedings.

Indeed, Badmaash Company does have a bunch of riveting scenes, although the story does follow a very predictable line of crime and punishment/repentance.Also, what jars most are the repetitive business deals which form a major chunk of the film and say nothing new, other than the fact that the foursome are building their empire on fraud. The film picks up when the cracks begin to appear and the company breaks up due to internal fission. The chemistry between the foursome does have a dash of energy, although most of the time is spent in song and dance.

Badmaash Company may not be as buoyant as Bunty aur Babli, the original badmash couple in recent cinema, but it does make for some merry viewing.

A word about:
Performances: Shahid Kapoor does manage to hold your attention in certain sequences, but essentially it's the ensemble cast of Vir Das, Chang and Anushka that creates most of the drama.

Story: Parmeet Sethi makes his debut, both as director and scriptwriter of the film. The story is interesting, simply because it talks of today's youth and their rush to rise to the top.

Cinematography: Sanjay Kapoor captures middle-class Mumbai with credibility, though goes touristy with Manhattan.

Dialogue: Loads of four letter words, freakin', f'of and the rest: Badmaash Company is peppered with aaj ki bhasha

Music: Music by Pritam. Really? Quite un-Pritam like. No chartbusters.

Styling: Urbane and chic, the foursome pass from chokra style to brando-maniacs, minus hiccups.

it's wonderful afterlife Release Date : 07,May 2010

Director Gurinder Chadha
Producer
Starring Shabana Azmi, Shaheen Khan, Sendhil Ramamurthy, Zoe Wanamaker, Jimi Mistri, Sally Hawkins, Goldy Notay, Sanjeev Bhaskar, Mark Addy, Ash Varrez, Adlyn Ross

It set me thinking as reel after reel of Gurinder Chadha's It's A Wonderful Afterlife unspooled. We (the Bollywood reviewers/critics) are extremely harsh on films produced on hometurf. We go hammer and tongs after these film-makers, as if they have committed a crime that they cannot be absolved of. We tend to ridicule films, its makers, the actors in those films… In fact, just about everyone associated with those films.

How about using the same yardstick for movies attempted by names that command tremendous respect in the West? We forgive them, most of the time. We even turn a blind eye, ignoring the deficiencies only because the West holds them in high esteem. The thought crosses our mind pretty often: Wouldn't we come across as complete nincompoops if we ridiculed them, even if they turn up with pure trash?

I am not going to mince words. With It's A Wonderful Afterlife, celebrated filmmaker Gurinder Chadha hits a new low. It actually makes me wonder, was Bend It Like Beckham a fluke? It's A Wonderful Afterlife is so insipid and hollow that it makes her previous film Bride & Prejudice, considered by many as her weakest film, look like an epic in comparison.

Final word? It's A Wonderful Afterlife had everything going in its favour. But let's not forget that great vegetables don't necessarily make a yummy meal. This Gurinder Chadha curry is just not palatable!

Mrs. Sethi (Shabana Azmi), a widow, can't bear the thought of her daughter being alone and unhappy. When Mrs. Sethi can no longer stomach the rudeness of families who refuse her daughter, she takes matters into her own hands with the only way she knows... Suddenly a police hunt begins for a serial murderer.

Mrs. Sethi doesn't feel too guilty until the spirits of her victims come back to haunt her, as they are unable to be reincarnated until their murderer dies. Mrs. Sethi has no problem killing herself - she'll get to see her dead husband again - but how can she go before her daughter is married? The spirits realize that helping Mrs. Sethi find a suitable husband for her daughter, before the police catch her, is their only chance for a wonderful afterlife.

On paper, perhaps, the story of It's A Wonderful Afterlife may sound tempting and alluring. At least I found it attention-grabbing when I first heard it, several weeks ago. But sitting through those 1.40 hours of this cinematic journey is an ordeal. Seriously, what were writers Chadha and Paul Mayeda Berges thinking when they wrote the screenplay? Barely a few minutes into the film, you realize that Chadha has lost the plot already.

To state that the screenplay is shoddy would be putting it mildly. The only aspect that's amusing and which bears the unmistakable stamp of Chadha are the sequences between Shabana and the spirits. The love story is a total yawn, while the emotional moments are weak and the investigation of the murders is half-baked too. In fact, an investigating officer gets killed in the backyard of Shabana's home and guess what, the crime is conveniently forgotten, except when Senthil talks about it to Shabana. And why the beaten to death 'cancer' end? Gurinder seems to be watching too many (terrible) Bollywood films, seems like.

Talking of performances, Shabana is dependable, as always. Goldy Notay as Shabana's daughter is efficient. Sendhil Ramamurthy is alright. Jimi Mistry doesn't get ample scope. Sally Hawkins is first-rate. Mark Addy is passable. Sanjeev Bhaskar is wonderful. Shaheen Khan and Zoe Wanamaker (Shabana's next-door-neighbour) are decent.

On the whole, this one's a woeful experience, not wonderful by any standard!

Housefull Release Date : 30,Apr 2010

Producer Sajid Nadiadwala
Director Sajid Khan
Music Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, Sameer
Lyrics Amitabh Bhattacharya, Sameer
Release Date 30-Apr-2010

Once again, comedy kings are back in Housefull 2010 movie. Housefull is a new Hindi movie of Bollywood in the direction of Sajid Khan. House Full movie releases on 30th April, 2010 in Indian theaters.

Akshay Kumar as Arush, Riteish Deshmukha as Bob, Arjun Rampal as Major Krishna Rao, Lara Dutta as Hetal, Jiha Khan as Devika, Randhir Kapoor as Kishore Samtani, Chunkey Pandey as Akhiri Pasta, Boman Irani as Batuk Patel, Lilette Dubey as Zulekha and Malaika Arora as Pooja are the leading casts of Houseful Hindi movie.

House Full movie is presented by Eros International. The film is produced by Sajid Nadiadwala’s. Co-producer of the movie is Andrew Heffernan. House Full Hindi film is introduced by the Nadiadwala Gradson Entertainment Ltd. Production. Music of Houseful movie is composed by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy.

Official website of Housefull movie, housefullthefilm.in writes about the film synopsis, “‘HOUSEFULL’ is a romantic comedy entertainer which narrates the story of Aarush – the world’s unluckiest man. Being jinxed he believes his bad luck can vanish if he finds true love. In this quest for true love how one lies leads to another and how different people from different walks of life come together adding even more confusion to his hilarious comedy of errors resulting in total chaos and mayhem. As Deepika tells Akshay in the film ‘JIS JHOOTH SE KISSI KA GHAR BASTA HO, VOH JHOOTH JHOOTH NAHIN HOTA’.”

Housefull Hindi movie is a romantic comedy which narrates a story about the world’s unluckiest man – Aarush. He is under the bad luck. His bad luck can turn into good luck if he finds a true love.

Story of Housefull 2010 movie reveals around comedy and hilarious confusion during the quest for true love. In the result, the movie introduces total chaos and mayhem. Now, there is a question – is Housefull a new version of All The Best movie?

Housefull is not a new name in film industry. There is already many movies on the same name - Housefull (2010 Telugu film), Housefull (2009 Kannada film) and Housefull (1999 Tamil film). We already have watched a drama serial also with the same name - Housefull (2008).

Now, there is also a question – how different Housefull 2010 Hindi film from others? Yes, answer of the question can be gotten in the cinemas on 30th April, 2010.

Director of Housefull movie - Sajid Khan has again tried to introduce the comedy team of Heyy Babyy movie with a small change. However, Heyy Babyy was a remake of an American comedy movie.

After the failure of Chandni Chowk to China, 8 X 10 Tasveer, Kambakkht Ishq, Blue and De Dana Dan - Akshay Kumar is again back with a new comedy – Housefull 2010. However, his character in Housefull Hindi movie is very similar to Garam Masala and Deewane Huye Paagal.

On the other hand, Houseful Hindi film gives the best chance for Ritesh Deshmukh and Arjun Rampal also. It is the big time for Arjun Rampal because comedy is very difficult for him.

There is no doubt about Ritesh Deshmukh because he has already proved himself as a comedy actor. BOMAN IRANI is another comedy king for Houseful 2010 film. Similarly, JIAH KHAN has also to prove herself in comparison of DEEPIKA PADUKONE and LARA DUTTA.

Script of Houseful movie is very close to Do Knot Disturb movie. Arush’ friend - Ritesh Deshmukh helps him to hide his secret.

The most popular song of Housefull 2010 movie - “I Don't Know What To Do” is a new version of "Hum Bane Tum Bane" song of Ek Duuje Ke Liye movie. Overall, music of Housefull Album has gotten the biggest popularity by "Papa Jaag Jayega" soundtrack.

In a recent interview, Lara Dutta reveals about Housefull movie – “‘Housefull’ is a comedy about mistaken identities and people coming together to help each other. It gives out the message of looking after the people who really matter to you in life and protecting them. It’s a fun filled film as you can make out from the promos. It’s a mad-cap comedy, but not a ‘mind-less’ comedy. It is not like other brainless comic movies. The plot is extremely delicate and you have to pay proper attention to it or you will loose the link.” She talked to TOI, an online news portal.

Lara Dutta is playing a character of Gujarati girl - Hetal Patel in the movie. House Full is a big-budgeted Hindi movie of Bollywood. Every casts have great expectation with this movie. Audiences are also waiting to watch a match of Akshay and Deepika in comedy role.

Houseful word derives from entertainment world. It is used for superb and blockbuster movies. The word has been taken by Housefull 2010 movie to entertain audiences with the biggest blockbuster. Housefull film has been shot with the entire cast over four countries England, Italy, Hong Kong and India. It is the second blockbuster of Eros International after Paathshaala movie. Check out the biggest comedy Hindi movie - Housefull this weekend in your nearest theaters on 30th April, 2010. The movie brings back comedy kings with the biggest entertainment.

Chase Release Date : 30,Apr 2010

Producer Dr. Anuuj J. Saxena
Director Jagmohan Mundhra
Music Vijay Verma, Udbhav Ojha
Release Date 29-Apr-2010

When you walk into a multiplex and are informed that there is no other person in the auditorium other than you, there are no reasons to be elated. It only turns out to be a repeat situation of many a film released during last couple of months when you watched a film all by yourself in a theatre which was on the verge of cancelling the show until you flashed your card of being a film reviewer.

So what is it that works for 'CHASE'? Well, a few well executed action sequences, a couple of twists and presence of two hot bods (Udita Goswami, Tarina Patel) that should engage audiences, especially at single screens in B and C centres.

How do the stunts work? Well, after a 'Dhoom' inspired opening credit roll sequence comes a chase sequence which involves a perceived criminal being pursued by cops on busy Mumbai streets. Frankly, these 15 odd minutes do keep you hooked to screen as the protagonist does everything from manoeuvring his bike dangerously and indulging in parkour. The sequence which follows in a 'jungle' is hardly enticing though but then the climax action sequence is still reasonably engaging.

In the interim there are Udita Goswami and Tarina Patel who are captured from all flattering angles, hence ensuring that the oomph factor continues to be on screen alternatively. If Udita, due to the demand of the role (well!), plays her mini skirted nurse part well and indulges in sensual tricks to arouse (knowingly or unknowingly) a patient (Anuuj) of hers from coma, Tarina wears some of the most revealing costumes that any fellow journalist could have ever worn.

Does that mean that 'CHASE' is only about bikes and babes? Not really because at the core of it, there is an element of uncertainty about the lead protagonist when it comes to his real status - whether he is innocent of guilty. This is the plot line which could have been really nurtured well to get an ideal mix of thrills, drama and suspense but unfortunately the twist in the tale is totally lame.