In recent years Bollywood hasn't churned out too many two-hero films. We have either witnessed overcrowded multistarrers or over packaged solo vehicles. London Dreams unites Salman Khanand Ajay Devgn more than a decade after the hugely popular Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. Over the years, both actors have firmly carved a niche for themselves among the industry's top brigade. Vipul Shah's story charts the lives of two friends, from the lush fields of Punjab to the high stakes world of showbiz. Arjun (Ajay Devgn) is an ambitious, trained musician whose dream is to perform at London's Wembly Arena. His best buddy Mannu (Salman Khan) is a natural talent. Despite his inborn ability, Mannu is not at all serious about music. On Arjun's insistence, Mannu joins his band and becomes an overnight star. Arjun might be the slogger – but Mannu has the fans. A jealous Arjun now has to choose between friendship and ambition. As Devgn says in one of the scenes - he has the passion, but his friend has the X-factor. London Dreams is not your regular male bonding film. The friendship is a little more complex. Vipul takes his own time to establish the plot, giving equal attention to both his leading men. While the story is narrated through Ajay's character, Salman steals the edge in few scenes. It's almost autobiographical, as Salman's superstardom is all about how he appeals to his fans. Be it the lighter portions initially or his troubled tryst with fame post interval, this is perhaps Salman Khan's best performance ever. The actor is completely in control and emotes like never before. If you thought Wanted showcased bits of Salman Khan's acting, London Dreams is several notches higher. Hope he puts a permanent stop on romantic comedies. Ajay Devgn has played the anti-hero before. But after a wonderfully hilarious act in last week's All The Best – it is always nice to see him return to home turf. While he doesn't get the crowd pleasing one liners, Ajay is the only actor who has the intensity to carry off the role. From love to jealousy to anger to insecurity, Ajay brilliantly conveys a wide range of emotions. As a director, Vipul Shah gives a fair deal to both his actors. The interval scene involving Salman and Ajay is the high point of the film. The pace however slackens a bit in the second half. Some trimming would have helped. Vipul Shah's treatment is not over the top or melodramatic - but some more conflict in the script would have enhanced the impact. Yet it is one of the most well written films of the year. The finale might come across as simplistic, but on the flip side it also mature and practical. Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy's music perfectly compliments the screenplay. No song seems out of place. Asin Thottumkal is the common love interest and does what a traditional Hindi film heroine has to do, that is smile and go through several costume changes. The two VJs (Rannvijay and Aditya) provide the right look to the rock band. VERDICT:Eventually London Dreams is all about the joy of watching Salman and Ajay's chemistry. Their star power makes up for all the flaws. Both have put their heart and soulinto the film, delivering powerhouse, career defining performances. Rating: 3.5/5REVIEW: London Dreams
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Saturday, October 31, 2009
London Dreams REVIEW
WATCH ALADIN HINDI MOVIE ONLINE
Aladin Chatterjee (Riteish Deshmukh) shares his name with the cult character but behaves more like Spiderman’s Peter Parker. Low on self-esteem he too secretly admires his beautiful classmate Jasmine (Jacqueline Fernandez). Burdened with the famous legacy of his name,Aladin is bullied all his life. But one fine day, he actually chances upon a lamp and the modern day smooth talking genie, Genius (Amitabh Bachchan). Aladin uses his three wishes to winover Jasmine - while an evil Ringmaster (Sanjay Dutt) prepares eliminate him and take over the lamp. At its premise Sujoy Ghosh’s Aladin is admittedly interesting. Ghosh’s new age spin mixing realism and fantasy in a fictitious town called Khwaish stars off well. Right from Aladin’s childhood to his initial interactions with Genius, the sequences are fast paced and bring a smile on your face. But hereon the film slips into predictability. After you have been served the first round of special effects the film becomes a romantic comedy. The Genius is less magical and behaves more on the lines of Kishore Kumar in Padosan, as he goes about sorting out Aladin’s love story. But there is still a charming innocence to the proceedings. That's also because Sujoy Ghosh is always good at light hearted portions. Post interval and several songs later the action finally begins. But soon runs out on the thrills. While the first half worked because of its simplicity, the second half is just too confusing. Ghosh tries hard to create an engaging mystery encompassing various fantasy elements. However it doesn’t add up into anything concrete. The bit aboutAladin’s parent’s death is straight out of Harry Potter’s life. Aladin’s fears about life after Genius' exit remind you of Jaadu in Koi Mil Gaya. The Ringmaster’s evil plan is also never clear, as the plot keeps meandering in several directions. His army too resembles leftover mutants from the X-Men series. By the end of it all you just wish Ghosh had simply remade Walt Disney cult animated classic. Riteish Deshmukh is stuck in a one-dimensional part. Despite his confident screen presence, he fails to evoke any emotion in his character. His co-star Jacqueline Fernandez has a great body, flawless skin and radiant face. We’ll skip commenting about her acting though. Sanjay Dutt as the Ringmaster is far from menacing. Looking like Dr Loveless from Wild Wild West his overall mannerisms are trademark Sanju Baba. Can’t blame an actor when the role is so sketchily written. So once again it is upto Amitabh Bachchan to save the day. And he does it with style. The child like enthusiasm in the way he approaches the role, is a delight to watch. Bachchan laces his dialogues with several references to his popular films. Unfortunately in the end he too is made to go overboard with his anger for no reason. Vishal-Shekhar’s music has a lot of RD Burman, even as the songs crop up at most unwarranted plot points. Imagine Aladin, Genius and Ringmaster breaking into a 80s style pre climax song and dance! The special effects are decent but the production values aren’t exactly grand or breathtaking for a film of this genre. Sujoy Ghosh certainly had honest intentions. But couldn’t come up with a coherent plot. When the breezy love story stands out in a fantasy flick, you know something is amiss. Verdict: Ghosh's setting is neither magical enough for a fantasy nor identifiable enoughto be real. It’s too confusing for kids and adults alike. Except for a few laugh early on and Bachchan’s stand out act, Aladin is another addition to Bollywood’s failed attempts at fantasy. Rating: 1.5/5REVIEW: Ritesh-Big B's Aladin
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Sanjay goes on diet to star with Kangana
Sanjay goes on diet to star with Kangana
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- REVIEW: Blue disappoints
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Sanjay Dutt has been shooting with much younger Kangana Ranaut for Knock Out and if they look compatible in spite of the latter being half his age, it's all because of a special ketosis diet - a high-fat, low-carbohydrate food.
"Sanjay went on this special diet in June. It required him to take lots and lots of fattie food and no carbohydrates at all. In fact carbs would've been potentially lethal for this diet. In no time Sanjay started losing weight. And that too without having to give up his favourite food," said a source close to Sanjay.
The 50-year-old, who is looking trimmer, plays an assassin out to get his victim with a sniper rifle in Mani Shankar's Knock Out.
Amitabh Bachchan gets SMS threats
Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan has received threat through a text message on hismobile phone for having visited both a temple and a dargah. The sexagenarian, who often mentions his routines on his blog, mentioned his visit to Haji Ali Dargah and the nearby Siddhivinayak temple in Mumbai on Thursday. "That I visit a Muslim dargah and a Hindu temple has been viciously criticised by an unknown element on my mobile. He says it is incorrect of me to do so and that I should never do it again," Amitabh wrote on his blog bigb.bigadda.com. However, the actor is unperturbed. "We live in a secular society where we learn to respect all religions. My belief is of my own making. If the temple or the mosque or a dargah has no objection to my visits, if my constitution gives me that freedom then who is this man to stop me or correct me? I am going to do it again and shall continue to do it. And I want to see how you are going to stop me. If you have the courage and guts come and get me," said the actor. In the message, the man also mentioned that Amitabh's recently released film Aladinwill not be successful because of this act of the star. "If the film has merit, no force on earth will be able to stop its worth. If the film is weak and does not have merit, no force on earth shall be able to make it a success. At the cost of every film of mine failing, I am not going to change my routine," Amitabh said. Further criticising the message, he said it was an "obscene mobile sermon"Amitabh Bachchan gets SMS threats
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Can't think beyond male-female stuff: Imtiaz
He is not resting on his laurels after the success of Love Aaj Kal. Imtiaz Ali is already thinking aboutdifferent stories and scripts to make into film but says whatever he makes will have the man-woman relationship as its focus. "I haven't decided yet which story I am going to make next. I have a few stories swimming around in my mind. I don't know how they are going to take shape or which one is going to become a compulsive reason to make a film," said Ali. "All the stories that I have, have something to do with a man-woman relationship. I can't think of any story that doesn't involve a man-womanrelationship," he added. The three-film old director also hinted at a spy movie with a similar background. "I also have a story which is a kind of secret service type where there is a guy who discovers himself by being the obscure secret service guy. But even there, though there is not the presence of too many women, the enduring trait is his relationship with a woman who won't be seen on screen too much," said the 38-year-old. Asked about his affinity towards such themes, he said, "There is no deliberate reason why that happens. May be I just want to discover it." He added, "I don't want to restrict myself but at the same time I'm not going to try to prove that I'm different or I can reinvent myself. I'll just make the movie that I think is the best that I can make," said the director who struck gold with Jab We Met. "I don't represent a style or a function or a system of working. I only represent myself and I am a victim of my own limitations. But I have an advantage too. I am a man of common taste. What I like generally people tend to like too. It's a boon," he addedCan't think beyond male-female stuff: Imtiaz
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