Movie Reviews

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  'Golmaal 3' completes a rib-tickling trilogy (Review)

  It is touted as the first trilogy of Indian cinema. It's about time that the distant cousin of Hollywood had one. Yet, what's important is that Bollywood did not need to have trilogies as one hit film has the habit of spawning a whole generation of films that look and feel like the original. "Golmaal 3" also suffers from that syndrome. Thankfully, it only feels like its previous avatars.

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  Mayank Shekhar's review: Golmaal 3

  You see Mithun. You make way. As does this movie. It flashes back to mid ‘70s. Mithun da (Ayeeessh!) is the disco dancer. “I am a disco dancer” is the song on his lips, and his profession to the girlfriend’s dad: "Zindagi mera gaana. Mein kisika deewana (Life’s singing for me. I’m also crazy about someone).”

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  Mayank Shekhar's review: Action Replay

  First half of Farah Khan’s Om Shanti Om, a lovably nostalgic take on ‘70s Bollywood, I suspect, also inspired the first chapter of several films planned after that movie’s release.

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  Mayank Shekhar's review: Daayein Ya Baayein

  Joru, zindagi aur sarkar (wife, life, and the government), they come with no guarantees. Or so observes a village wit as he deals a deck of playing cards. God knows villages are full of such wits and jobless gamblers. The one shown here, a quiet kasbah called Kanda in Uttarakhand, is no different.

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  Mayank Shekhar's Review: Hisss

  Mallika Sherawat, I guess most men will agree, is hot. Until she opens her mouth in her movies. She doesn't say a word in this film. Great!

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  Mayank Shekhar's review: Raktacharitra

  A silly, croaky, overexcited old voice narrates this film like Betaal to Vikram from the popular Doordarshan show. The purpose, I guess, is to sound corny. It goes well with the movie. The intent is a giveaway.

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  Mayank Shekhar's review: Jhootha Hi Sahi

  There are so many desis on the screen, with such fine command over Hindi, you know you’re in London, the uniquely Indian neighbourhood that belongs to Bollywood alone. A guided tour, sponsored by the tourism authority, is unnecessary.

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  Lies, vengeance and violence at box office this Friday (Preview)

  Films depicting a compulsive liar and a snake woman's vengeance a la "Naagin" and a biopic on a slain factionist-turned political leader... take your pick from "Jhootha Hi Sahi", "Hisss" and "Rakta Charitra", three distinctly different films that release this Friday.

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  Mayank Shekhar's Review: Knock Out

  The phone booth was both an important instrument for communication, and a popular Joel Schumacher film in the early 2000s. Much in the world has changed since. But for plagiarism in Bollywood! Knock Out is a Hollywood knock-off. And that’s the least of its sins.

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  'Ramayana' affirms stereotypes (Movie Review)

  It is a story passed on for millennia. And through the ages, it has either shown people the way or in the hands of fanatics led to distress and destruction. And yet, the story can be interpreted in many ways. Sadly, "Ramayana" isn't that and manages only to affirm cliches.

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  'Aakrosh' has its heart in the right place (Movie Review)

  Caste based atrocity is one of the worst, chronic and a few millennia old injustice of the world. Yet its continuing prevalence, especially in India, is one of its best kept open-secrets. India's vibrant cinema has paid scant attention to it. The commercial venture "Aakrosh" comes as a late but welcome populist attempt to correct this gross neglect.

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  'Knock Out' about cash stashed away in secret accounts (Preview)

  Last seen in the issue-based film "Lamhaa", Sanjay Dutt returns to entertain his audiences with the comedy "Knock Out". While he will play a grey character, Irrfan Khan will help him spice up the drama that releases Friday.

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  'Crook', disappointing fare (Movie Review)

  Damn! Why didn't we think of sending the amazing super-hero Emran Hashmi to Australia before? Emran Saab's solution to global malevolence as provided in this disappointing mismash of masala and headlines is simple enough.

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  'Do Dooni Chaar' - heartwarming slice-of-life cinema (Movie Review)

  In a season of overblown action-comedies with superstars laying down the ground rules for dynamic dadagiri on the large screen, it is refreshing and comforting to see an aging world-weary working-class hero who travels to work on a rickety scooter and tries to fulfil his nuclear family's dreams of a car.

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  'Do Dooni Char' about Rishi-Neetu chemistry (Movie Preview)

  Yesteryear's star couple Neetu Singh and Rishi Kapoor are set to create magic on the big screen once again by acting together in the comedy "Do Dooni Char", which is releasing Friday.

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  Mayank Shekhar's Review: Anjaana Anjaani

  “All the greatest love stories (sic) are between strangers,” promises this picture’s tagline. In real life, this ‘love between strangers’ business, I suppose, would mean a one-night stand.

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  Mayank Shekhar's Review: Robot

  At the start of this film, after the presenter's name (Sun TV's Kalanidhi Maran), and before the film's title (Robot; Endhiran in Tamil), the screen screams out letters in a font twice the size of both.

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  Movie Review: Subhash K. Jha on Anjaana Anjaani

  Romantic comedy "Anjaana Anjaani" goes in to so many directions, you wonder what happened to those good old films where Boy Met Girl… and they lived happily ever laughter.

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  Movie Review: 'Robot' - Rajnikanth scores again!

  Those in the know are aware that 'superstar' Rajnikanth is perceived to be in the image of god. Rajni makes fewer mistakes during the course of a film, than god. In "Robot" this perception is taken a step further as Rajni creates a robot - in his own image.

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  'Anjaana Anjaani' about strangers falling in love at death point (Preview)

  From strangers to lovers to strangers again - is how the Ranbir Kapoor-Priyanka Chopra-starrer "Anjaana Anjaani" explores the relationship between a couple. The romantic saga is releasing Friday October 1.

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  Dabangg gets thumbs up from critics!

  Hard-core action is back in Bollywood and how! Salman Khan's Dabangg which has been generating a lot of interest thanks to 'Munni' and the right promotion, gets thumbs up from movie critics.

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  Mayank Shekhar's Review: Dabangg

  If you kill me off, Chulbul 'Robinhood' Pandey warns a bunch of goons: “You serve 21 years in jail; thokai alag se (get thrashed separately).”
  Read On..

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  HT Movie Preview: Dabangg

  Set in Laalgurj, Uttar Pradesh, this is a story of Chulbul Pandey (Salman Khan), a totally fearless but corrupt police officer with unorthodox working methods.

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  'Dabangg' - Salman's rural day out as corrupt cop (Preview)

  He has donned the garb of an honest police officer in Hindi films like "Garv" and "Wanted". Now Salman Khan once again endorses the khaki uniform to entertain his fans, but this time as a corrupt one in "Dabangg", releasing Friday.

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  Mayank Shekhar's Review: We are Family

  It’s this thing about soppy chick flicks, or afternoon soppy soap operas, if you will. The male character is destined to severe step-mom treatment. If he’s present at all, he usually has no say in his own destiny. He quietly follows nature’s will. Humour is generally scarce. This fits in well with the female worldview, perhaps (okay, that’s a joke!). It doesn’t help include varied audiences.