The Common Man Speaks

Popat (Marathi Movie) Review

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Director: Satish Rajwade

Producers: Mirah Entertainment Pvt. Ltd and Citrus Check Inns

Writer: Satish Rajwade

Cast: Atul Kulkarni, Siddharth Menon, Ketan Pawar, Amey Wagh

Music: Avinash-Vishwajeet

Genre: Drama/ Comedy

Rating: * * * *

By: Keyur Seta

Story Outline: In Kulpe village, youngsters Raghu (Amey Wagh), Mukund (Ketan Pawar) and Bala (Siddharth Menon) are the best of friends. Unfortunately, they are not able to make a name for themselves, despite each one possessing some skill. To make use of their various talents, they decide to make a movie.

At the same time, Aids awareness campaign is on full swing in their village. Hence, they choose Aids awareness as the topic of their film. As they lack a proper camera and shooting equipment, they include marriage video shooter Janardhan aka Janya (Atul Kulkarni) in their team. What starts off as a fun activity ends up being the most soul-stirring journey of their lives.

Review: The year started with Ravi Jadhav presenting a serious social message in a lighthearted manner in BP (Balak Palak). Now, Satish Rajwade does the same in Popat. Although the topic explored in Popat is hugely different from the one explored in BP, the end result of both the films is the same. After Premachi Goshta, Rajwade has once again churned out a delightful saga, which also has a repeat value.

Like various rural flicks, the aim of the writer here is to make sure the audience connects with the characters, their missions and the location. This means that the film doesn’t follow a conventional storytelling method. But this doesn’t affect the audience in any manner whatsoever. In fact, it works very well as the writer succeeds in the aforementioned aim. The ever-present lighthearted and hilarious moments keep the entertainment quotient high.

But the bigger challenge for the creative think tank was to present an unusual yet important social issue. The creatively witty and yet powerful manner in which they succeed in their task make sure they deserve nothing short of an applause. The reason for this is that it is no mean task to enlighten, delight and entertain simultaneously. The climax deserves a special mention for it leaves you overwhelmed.

The only negative aspect that appears is the overall length of 154 minutes, which could have been shortened, especially in the first half. But this won’t trouble you much as the film never treads on a slow path.

The locations look enticing due to Bhaskar Samla’s cinematography. Music doesn’t have an important part to play but the tracks by Avinash Vishwajeet suit the needs. Thankfully, songs are used only when required. The background score too is impressive.

Atul Kulkarni shows his versatility and talent in his portrayal of Janya. His sudden switch from underplaying the character to acting loud is the best part of his brilliant act. Amey Wagh, Ketan Pawar and Siddharth Menon too play their parts exceedingly well. They are impressive in both humorous and serious moments. The unusual chemistry between the four is always visible. Anita Date, Neha Shitole and Megha Ghadge shine in supporting acts.

Overall, Popat is yet another winner from Rajwade. The content has the potential of doing well at the box office. This parrot deserves to fly high!

 

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Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai Box Office Prediction

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By: Keyur Seta

Director: Milan Luthria

Producer: Balaji Motion Pictures

Writer: Rajay Aroraa

Cast: Akshay Kumar, Sonakshi Sinha, Imran Khan, Sarfaraz Khan, Abhimanyu Shekhar Singh

Music: Pritam and Anupam Amod

Genre: Drama/ Action

Release Date: August 15, 2013

Analysis:

Star Value: Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai Dobara has high star value due to the presence of some big names like Akshay Kumar, Sonakshi Sinha and Imran Khan.

Hype: The promos of the film received mixed reaction because the audience hadn’t expected the sequel of a gangster movie to be a love triangle. Nevertheless, there is some hype for the movie as the release date has neared, especially due to Akshay.

Music: Songs ‘Tu Hi Khatra’ and ‘Tayyab Ali’ are somewhat known. The overall music hasn’t quite made heads turn.

Prediction:

Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai Dobara will get a good opening. But due to the reactions to the promos and the fact that Chennai Express is still doing well, the Akshay starrer won’t set the cash registers ringing as expected. Nevertheless, if the content gets a good initial response, it will ensure good returns for the producers. The plus point the film has is that the subject suits the single screens as well as multiplexes.

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Chennai Express Review

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By: Keyur Seta

Director: Rohit Shetty

Producers: UTV Motion Pictures and Red Chillies Entertainment

Writers: Rohit Shetty, Yunus Sajawal and Sajid-Farhad

Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, Satyaraj, Nikitin Dheer

Music: Vishal-Shekhar and Yo Yo Honey Singh

Genre: Drama/ Comedy

Rating: * *

Story Outline: Forty year old Rahul (Shah Rukh Khan) is forced to go to Rameswaram to immerse his grandfather’s ashes. However, he is eager to go to Goa to have fun with his buddies. In order to fool his granny into believing that he is going to Rameswaram, he boards the Chennai Express with the intention of getting down at a nearby station and head towards Goa. As soon as the train starts, Rahul helps Meena (Deepika Padukone) and a group of heavily built men board the train.

But he soon realizes that Meena has run away from her native place Kumban and the men are forcefully taking her back. Those thugs work for Meena’s father, who is a ruthless don of Kumban. Unusual circumstances force Rahul to accompany Meena and her group to Kumban. How will Rahul escape from the don’s den?

Review: Time and again, Rohit Shetty has succeeded in providing hardcore entertainment with his potboilers. This reason coupled with his association with Shah Rukh Khan for the first time ensured high expectations from his next Chennai Express. But as they say, every day is not a Sunday. This time Shetty misses the target due to various reasons. They are as follows:-

  • Chennai-ExpressIt is needless to say that one needs to keep anything related to logic far away while watching Shetty’s films. But there has to be some degree of conviction at least in the basic plot. I am referring to the whole idea of Rahul travelling to Kumban, which has no explanation. The thugs have come to take Deepika with them. So why are they so desperate to take Rahul along since he has nothing to do with their matter?
  • Writers Yunus Sajawal and Sajid-Farhad are known for creating some entertaining lines. But this time, their writing doesn’t induce the kind of laughter it should. The humor is surely there but it is way short of being a laugh riot.
  • Despite the above mentioned huge flaw in the story, the first half can still be described as moderately enjoyable. But the film just goes downhill post interval where there is just no story to tell. Then we have a climax lifted straight out of Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, which is not only unsatisfying but also cringe worthy for the bloody violence. It surely doesn’t gel with the nature of the film.
  • Chennai Express also goes onto the level of being offensive. They have tried creating humour out of the death of Rahul’s grandfather. If this wasn’t enough, the scene during his funeral is shockingly sadistic!

Vishal-Shekhar and Yo Yo Honey Singh’s music is not so impressive. The songs fall in the average or above average category. The camerawork is very impressive and creative while the background music suits the subject.

It is Shah Rukh Khan’s performance that makes the film a watchable affair. His wit, charm and innocence will keep you smiling throughout. Deepika Padukone surprises with a good act while playing a typical south Indian girl. Nikitin Dheer is alright. He doesn’t get much scope to showcase his talent. In the role of a don, Satyaraj shines. Kamini Kaushal and Lekh Tondon are likable in cameos.

Overall, Chennai Express gets derailed due to some weak writing and lack of proper entertainment. At the box office, the film will surely become a blockbuster. This doesn’t come as a surprise when your film has such big stars and you book almost every theatre in the country.

Chennai Express Box Office Prediction

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By: Keyur Seta

Director: Rohit Shetty

Producers: UTV Motion Pictures and Red Chillies Entertainment

Writers: Sajid-Farhad

Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, Nikitin Dheer

Music: Vishal-Shekhar and Yo Yo Honey Singh

Genre: Drama/ Comedy

Release Date: August 9, 2013

Analysis:

Star Value: When people like Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone and Rohit Shetty are involved in a film, it isn’t necessary to say that the star value of Chennai Express is supremely high.

Hype: The film has had a good hype even before the promotional material was released. And as the release date of the film is nearing, the hype has increased further. This doesn’t come as a surprise after SRK’s hardcore promotions. However, there is an absence of that craze which one associates with an SRK starrer and one of the biggest releases of the year.

Music: The songs of the film are becoming known slowly. Apart from the title track, ‘Kashmir Main’ and ‘Titli’ are also catching up with the audience, although there isn’t tmuch excitement for them.

Prediction:

Like all Rohit Shetty films, Chennai Express will get a very good opening at the box office. Its hardcore masala genre would ensure high footfalls in both single screens and multiplexes of metros as well as smaller centers. However, due to the absence of a craze (as mentioned before), it won’t get an earth shattering opening. Due to this, its chances of doing well after the initial hype and earning Rs 100 crore will depend entirely on the content.

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Review: Bhaag Milkha Bhaag

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By: Keyur Seta

Director: Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra

Producers: Viacom18 Motion Pictures and Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra Pictures

Writer: Prasoon Joshi

Cast: Farhan Akhtar, Yograj Singh, Divya Dutta, Pawan Malhotra, K K Raina, Dalip Tahil, Prakash Raj, Sonam Kapoor, Rebecca Breeds

Music: Shankar Ehsaan Loy

Genre: Drama

Rating: * * *

Story Outline: The film is based on the life of the great Indian athlete Milkha Singh being played by Farhan Akhtar. Apart from Singh’s glorious and dramatic career, the film focuses on the effect of Indo-Pak partition on his mindset.

Review: The basic motto of a sports biopic is to narrate a fascinating tale that proves to be highly inspiring. Although that is the case with Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, the film surely falls short of being superlative due to an unjustifiable length of 187 minutes and the various Bollywood-isms thrown in while narrating a realistic tale.

You can’t deny that Mehra has displayed cinematic brilliance while presenting a number of important (on and off the field) events from Milkha’s life. The race scenes are not only magnificently shot but one can also notice the pains taken in creating such a mammoth stage. The significance of the title and the heartwarming climax also deserves mention. But above all, it is Farhan Akhtar’s supreme performance that proves to be the biggest plus point.

Bhaag-Milkha-BhaagBut, as mentioned earlier, the film could have been much, much more pleasurable but for some reasons. First and foremost, there can be no justification for such an enormous length for this story. You surely don’t mind a three hour plus movie if it’s fully engaging and amusing (like 3 Idiots) but here, you are forced to check your watch regularly, especially during the long wait for the interval. Surely, the love track and various other scenes, including the flashback ones, (not possible to reveal much) should have been shortened.

The film also hangs between being a realistic biopic and a filmi tale. Most of the times, we are shown a real story of an athlete but on various occasions, it is peppered by some Bollywood-isms. After the inclusion of some fictional elements, the most questionable aspect is using lip-sync songs; from which some are just unnecessary. Needless to say, they also add up to the length. From the tracks, ‘Zinda’ is the only impressive one. Unfortunately and strangely, it’s hardly exploited.

Talking about the technical departments, it won’t be an overstatement that cinematographer Binod Pradhan is one of the biggest heroes of the film. Capturing such races with perfection is extremely difficult but he rises to the occasion and how! Background score generates the desired effect but the editing should have been manifolds tighter.

Some performances bring a character alive in such a way that you completely forget the actor who is playing it. There can hardly be a bigger compliment than this for an actor. Farhan Akhtar deserves such and many more accolades for his portrayal of Milkha Singh. The word excellent doesn’t do justice for the talent and painstaking hard work displayed by him. From the rating, an extra half a star is given just for his act.

The film is also blessed by some apt supporting acts from Divya, Dutta, Pawan Malhotra, K K Raina, Dalip Tahil, Prakash Raj and Rebecca Breeds. Yograj Singh (cricketer Yuvraj Singh’s father) surprises with a dedicated performance, although he appears awkward few times which is understandable. Sonam Kapoor is getting painfully stereotyped. Her limited acting skills don’t help either.

Overall, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag has its moments of glory but thanks to various factors, it falls in an above-average category. The tremendous hype and response will ensure the film becomes a blockbuster at the box office.

Bhaag Milkha Bhaag Box Office Prediction

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Director: Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra

Producers: Viacom18 Motion Pictures and Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra Pictures

Writer: Prasoon Joshi

Cast: Farhan Akhtar, Sonam Kapoor, Rebecca Breeds, Dalip Tahil, Prakash Raj

Music: Shankar Ehsaan Loy

Genre: Drama

Release Date: July 19, 2013

Analysis:

Star Value: Farhan Akhtar has proved his acting talent quite a few times but he is not a big acting star. However, the fact that Bhaag Milkha Bhaag is based on the legendary athlete Milkha Singh itself adds star value to the film.

Hype: The hype for Bhaag Milkha Bhaag has been tremendous ever since the first teaser released. And as the main trailer and songs are out, the excitement has just got bigger!

Music: The song ‘Zinda’ has already been appreciated. Although the rest of the tracks aren’t famous, they would rank up the charts if the film does well as they too are impressive.

Prediction:

Bhaag Milkha Bhaag will surely get a very good opening at the box office. If the initial reports are positive, the film will surely be a blockbuster. Even if the initial reports don’t fetch thumbs up, the film will still stand a chance of becoming a box office success. Its subject is such that it can score well in single screens (of both metros and smaller centers) as well as multiplexes. The only concern is its runtime or duration of 3 hours 8 minutes.

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Anumati (Marathi Movie) Review

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By: Keyur Seta

Director: Gajendra Ahire

Producers: Sri Pant Production Arts, Navalakha Arts Media Entertainment and Holy Basil Production

Writer: Gajendra Ahire

Cast: Vikram Gokhale, Neena Kulkarni, Rima (Lagoo), Subodh Bhave, Saie Tamhankar, Kishor Kadam, Neha Pendse, Arun Nalavde

Music: Gajendra Ahire

Genre: Drama

Rating: * * * ½

(Review taken from the website HALTI CHITRE.)

Story Outline: Anumati is the story of the elderly Ratnakar Pathare’s (Vikram Gokhale) attempts to save his dying wife (Neena Kulkarni), who has suffered brain hemorrhage. His son (Subodh Bhave) urges him to sign the DNR form (to remove life support) since the former has already spent a large share from his savings. However, Ratnakar refuses to budge as he is hopeful that his wife will survive. But how will he manage to find substantial financial support for further treatment?

Review: How practical it is to spend a large amount on someone who is in her last stage of life? Shouldn’t senior citizens have a right to think about their future just like youngsters? Why is it that someone’s survival only depends on his or her financial condition? While writer and director Gajendra Ahire raises these questions in Anumati, he presents a heart-wrenching, soul-stirring saga that isn’t short of a blissful cinematic experience. He is also largely helped by a movingly dedicated performance by veteran Vikram Gokhale.

The most vital task for the writer was to make sure the audience feels for Ratnakar’s character. That happens here truly convincingly. As the protagonist struggles to find financial support against all odds, the audience is constantly rooting for him. Needless to say, this gets them glued to the proceedings despite the pace not being rapid. Subplots about Ratnakar’s son, daughter, village folk and an old college friend are important aspects of the story that are smartly woven.

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There does come a moment when Ratnakar’s struggle for generating funds starts becoming repetitive and tedious. But just then, Rima’s (Lagoo) entry not only gives a fresh dimension to the story, but it also conceives moments that are profoundly heartwarming. The scene where she is having a chat with Gokhale’s character in the kitchen is one of the most memorable instances in recent years. Lastly, the film strikes a chord in a creatively moving climax too.

In the midst of these positive points, the biggest questionable aspect is Ratnakar’s wife not having a mediclaim, considering their well-educated background. Apart from this, the very serious topic and the fact that the pace drops on few occasions might not go well with a section of the audience.

The film pleasantly surprises by the portrayal of some scenic locations, especially the Konkan. Govind Nihalani’s artistic camerawork is responsible for this. He has also shown his class in capturing simplest of scenes creatively. His first outing in Marathi cinema is surely successful. Music wise, Ahire’s soulful compositions go well with the subject and are nicely used in the background. The background music too is apt.

Some performances force you to stand up and applaud. Vikram Gokhale’s act also compels you to do the same. His brilliant portrayal of a struggling senior citizen will move even a stone-hearted person. It isn’t a surprise that he won the National Award for this act. Neena Kulkarni plays her part very well too. For a good amount of screen time, she is just lying down but to stay still with the hospital equipment on, needs a lot of patience.

Rima (Lagoo) is simply brilliant! You easily fall in love with her character. Subodh Bhave and Kishore Kadam get it right once again. Saie Tamhankar shows perfect support. Playing cameos, Neha Pendse is effective while Arun Nalawade brilliant.

Overall, Anumati is an honestly made moving saga that deserves to be seen. The film needs some rapid word-of-mouth to succeed at the box office.

Zapatlela 2 Review

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By: Keyur Seta

Director: Mahesh Kothare

Producers: Kothare & Kothare Vision, Viacom 18 Motion Pictures and Moving Pictures

Writer: Mahesh Kothare

Cast: Adinath Kothare, Mahesh Kothare, Sonalee Kulkarni, Sai Tamhankar, Makrand Anaspure

Music: Avdhoot Gupte

Genre: Horror/ Comedy

Rating: * *

(Review taken from the website HALTI CHITRE.)

Story Outline: At the end of the first movie Zapatlela (1993), Tatya Vinchu (whose soul was inside the puppet) gets killed by Inspector Mahesh Jadhav (Mahesh Kothare) while his henchman Kubdya Khavis gets arrested. Twenty years later, Khavis runs away from prison and lays his hands on the puppet that had Tatya Vinchu’s soul.

He visits Baba Chamatkar and forces him to bring Tatya back to life. Although Baba refuses, circumstances make sure Tatya regains his life inside the puppet. After twenty long years, Tatya finally gets the license to create havoc, especially for the late Lakshya’s (Laxmikant Berde) son Aditya (Adinath Kothare).

 

Review:  (TO READ THE REVIEW, PLEASE CLICK HERE.)

 

 

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Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani Box Office Prediction

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By: Keyur Seta

Director: Ayan Mukerji

Producers: Dharma Productions and UTV Motion Pictures

Writers: Ayan Mukerji and Hussain Dalal

Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Deepika Padukone, Aditya Roy Kapur, Kunal Roy Kapur, Kalki Koechlin

Music: Pritam

Genre: Romantic Comedy

Release Date: May 31, 2013

Analysis:

Star Value: There is no doubt that Ranbir Kapoor is not only one of the biggest superstars but the most talented young actor currently. Due to this, he has a huge fan following not just in India but abroad as well. Plus, the film also stars Deepika Padukone. So naturally, the star value for Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani is very high!

Hype: The trailers and promotional campaigns have built a lot of excitement, which is continuing to grow as the film nears its release.

Music: The song ‘Badtameez Dil’ has become an instant rage. Other songs like ‘Balam Pichkari’, ‘Dilli Wali Girlfriend’ and ‘Ghagra’, which features Madhuri Dixit, have also added to the publicity.

Prediction:

There is no doubt that Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani will get a very good opening at the box office. The genre and its appeal are such that it will score well in both single screen theatres and multiplexes. In fact, even if the film receives negative initial response, it will still sail through due to Ranbir’s presence and the commercial appeal. And if it gets thumbs up at the onset, the film will surely be one of the biggest hits of 2013. All in all, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani looks like a very safe bet at the box office.

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Mr Srinivasan, even retards won’t endorse your ‘enthusiast’ theory!

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With the BCCI chief trying to fool people in the most shocking manner, it is high time the legends of the game listen to their conscience and speak on behalf of those who made them what they are: their fans!

By: Keyur Seta

Politicians and big-shots trying to fool the aam junta is nothing new in our country. For them, the common public is either unintelligent to fall in the trap or too busy in their own life to pay heed to the issue. But the way N Srinivasan, the President of the Board of Control For Cricket in India (BCCI), is lying through his teeth has set a new benchmark in trying to take the country for a ride!

Picture Source - Indianexpress.com

Picture Source – Indianexpress.com

Let’s have a look at the background of the issue first. As we all are aware, Srinivasan’s son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan, owner of Chennai Super Kings, is arrested for his alleged role in betting and match-fixing (or spot-fixing as they are calling it) in the so-called cricket series Indian Premier League (IPL). So according to the IPL rules, the team can be banned due to their owner’s malpractice.

But to make sure his son-in-law doesn’t get into trouble and his team isn’t banned, Srinivasan has come up with a shocking theory. According to him, Gurunath is neither the owner of CSK nor he is associated with the team in any way. In fact, he also says, Gurunath is just a cricket enthusiast who travels with the team!!! Well, even mentally retarded individuals won’t believe such a theory.

The President has clearly gone way too ahead in trying to fool the people of India due to the following reasons:-

  • Gurunath’s ID card, which is splashed across all TV channels, mentions him as the owner of CSK.
  • We have seen him giving numerous interviews on TV as the owner of CSK.
  • His visiting cards mention him as the owner of CSK. This was also shown across various news channels.
  • (Best point of all) He was seen bidding for his team at IPL team auctioning.

Before this incident, nobody knew that a mere cricket enthusiast gets all these privileges! I can assure to Srinivasan that I am a much bigger cricket enthusiast than Gurunath. So will I be given the opportunity to speak as a team owner and bid for the team during auctions?

More than Srinivas’s shocking claims, it is the audacity at which he is making them and, in turn, blaming the media for ‘hounding’ him that speaks volumes about his adamancy for fooling the people of India!

On the contrary, we should thank the media, especially Times Now, for not giving up on the issue and asking what billions of cricket fans across the country are desperate to ask. In fact, we can only rely on the media because the big names of the game aren’t going to utter a word on the issue. This is so evident from yesterday’s press conference where Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni just behaved like a puppet on the hands of his CSK owner and the BCCI President!

It was highly sad to see someone so confident and brave transforming into a scary bone! If this continues, be rest assured, the whole issue will soon be swept under the carpet. It is high time the big names of Indian cricket, including the Tendulkars, Dravids and Dhonis, raise their voice on behalf of those who have made them what they are: their billions of fans! It is up to them to choose between their bosses and their conscience!