Film Review: GABBAR IS BACK

A full-scale entertainer!

Cast: Akshay Kumar, Kareena Kapoor, Shruti Hassan, Suman Talwar, Sunil Grover
Director: Krish
Editor: Rajesh G. Pandey

I loved the promos and had been waiting to catch this one as soon as I could. Venkat had already seen it a couple of days back. So, it was Vinny and me who went to PVR Cinemas @ Sion (Yeah, it’s Cinemax no more) for the 8.10 pm show on Thursday.

The Film

“Gabbar” is the name Professor Aditya (Akshay Kumar) of National College fame gives himself when he’s out to get fraudulent government officers. Gabbar manages to kidnap 10 District Tahsildars. After three days, nine are let out and one is found hung in the middle of the road from a high point. Gabbar sends the police a CD, where he has recorded the reason ‘why’. All ten of the Tahsildars are extremely corrupt and Gabbar has killed the worst of the lot. Thus begins Gabbar’s terror strikes against corruption. Soon, everyone is petrified of taking bribe, at least in that particular department where Gabbar has struck.

There is one well-educated constable called Hawaldar Sadhuram (Sunil Grover) who’s relegated to driving the police officers around – only because he couldn’t afford the bribe to become a sub-inspector. When strongly discouraged by his seniors, he takes leave from work and sets out to find out who Gabbar is.

Aditya happens to meet Shruti (Shruti Hassan) by chance when she’s helping a pregnant woman get to hospital. She’s a lawyer and soon the two are in love. While Gabbar does his best to clean up the corrupt government departments, Aditya comes across a private hospital that fleeces patients mercilessly. Gabbar sets out to deal with the doctors only to catch the attention of business tycoon Patil (Suman Talwar).

I am not going to say much more about the film here. Yeah, there is more.

My Perception

As I mentioned above, I loved the promos and had to watch the film. And I must say that I wasn’t disappointed. Akshay Kumar has a new look – older and mature. It suits him perfectly. His acting skills have improved tremendously and he makes an excellent action star. He’s performed his role as Professor Aditya and Gabbar too well.

Kareena Kapoor in her brief role as Aditya’s wife looks gorgeous. She’s good though there is not much of an opportunity for her to act. Shruti Hassan looks lovely as well and plays the part of a bubbly lawyer well. I must say that she has improved a lot since the days of Luck.

It’s Sunil Grover as Hawaldar Sadhuram who takes the second prize for acting in this film. He’s too good with both his expression and dialogue delivery. Kudos!

Suman Talwar used to be a hero in Tamil films a few decades ago. Recently, he is taken to portray the bad guy in movies. He makes for a good villain. Chitrangada Singh sizzles in an item number that has been filmed very well.

Special Congratulations to Rajesh G. Pandey for editing the film to perfection! There was not one second wastage as the scenes flew from one to another, keeping it crisp and tight, running for 2 hours and 10 minutes.

After all this, I need to mention that Gabbar Is Back is a remake of the Tamil film Ramanaa (2002)

VERDICT: If you are fond of seeing good triumphing over evil, you will love this one.

*Silly
**Shaky
***Smart
****Snazzy
*****Super

Film Review: Goliyon Ki Raasleela: RAM-LEELA

Ranveer-Deepika scorch the screen!

Venkat was not keen to see the film as we are never sure what to expect from Sanjay Leela Bhansali. But Vinny and I were quite impressed by the promos and decided to go. We went for the mid-morning show at PVR in Phoenix Market City on Sunday. The theatre was packed as the film has had consistently good reviews.

THE STORY

The film is loosely based on Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet. It’s set in Gujarat and is all about the enmity between The Rajadis and Sanedas. Ram (Ranveer Singh) is the younger son of the Rajadi house and wishes for peace. It’s love at first sight for him and Leela Saneda (Deepika Padukone), the laadli of the Saneda female head (Supriya Pathak Kapur). Leela’s wedding is fixed with an NRI from London. Only the lady chooses to run away with her lover. Things don’t work out and the two return to their respective families. Anger and battles are interspersed with goliyon ki baarish and people die on both sides. Will their love survive?

MY PERCEPTION

As I mentioned, the story is loosely based on Romeo Juliet – in that it is a tragic love story. In the Shakespeare tragedy, the hero and heroine were immature youngsters. Not so in Ram-Leela.

Both Ram and Leela are extremely mature and know what they are about. The characters were superbly etched and both the actors have played them so well. I have seen Ranveer Singh in Band Baaja Baaraat and Ladies Vs Ricky Bahl. In both films his roles had been light and fun. I was quite impressed by the actor’s dialogue delivery. In Ram-Leela, Ranveer Singh has many opportunities to emote and does he squeeze your heart! He was excellent. He looks so good too! I used to think that he did not have the ‘pizzazz’ to compete with the Bollywood Biggies and I am glad he has proved me wrong. Excellent Performance, Ranveer Singh! Keep up the great work!

Deepika Padukone has slowly but surely grown up from her partying girl avatars to more mature roles. She looks gorgeous and has acted so well. She blazes across the dance floors with Ranveer Singh and their chemistry scorches the screen. Her overnight transformation from a laughing young woman to the serious head of Sanedas when her mother is injured is nothing short of amazing. Superb, Deepika Padukone! Way to go!

Gulshan Devaiah

I just love the riot of colours, the exotic backgrounds and stunning costumes along with the elaborate song and dance sequences of some of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s films. While not a great fan of the producer-director’s works, I especially loved Devdas. This movie is simply amazing and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The music and dance was awesome in the film and they fitted so well, not taking away from the story. I did not much care for the violence, but then that was very much part of the story and one cannot do away with it.

All the other actors have also performed very well. A special mention for 2-film-old Gulshan Devaiah and Richa Chadda!

Supriya Pathak Kapur’s performance as the head of Sanedas is striking. She looks the personification of evil and does an amazing job of her role. Kudos!

VERDICT: It most definitely worth a see!

RATING: ****Snazzy

* Silly
** Shaky
*** Smart
**** Snazzy
***** Super

Film Review: ROWDY RATHORE

An out and out masala flick influenced by South Indian cinema!

Cast: Akshay Kumar, Sonakshi Sinha, Nassar
Director: Prabhudheva

Venkat and I went to see this film on the day of its release, all thanks to Cinemax Sion.

THE STORY:

Shiva (Akshay Kumar) is a thief who steals anything he can lay his hands on along with a sidekick. He falls for Paro (Sonakshi Sinha) on sight and chases her. She returns his feelings despite knowing the truth about his thieving habits that he promises to get rid of. Things take a turn and Shiva’s life collapses when he is stuck with a girl child who insists on calling him her father. Who is the kid? Will Paro tolerate this new entry into his life? Watch the film to know more.

MY PERCEPTION:

It’s Akshay Kumar’s film from the beginning till the end. Back as an action hero after a long time, the actor has done an excellent job in the movie. I had stopped watching Akshay Kumar films (especially those in the lines of Housefull: Part 1 & 2, etc.) as the comedy had begun to get on my nerves. The actor is best suited for action with some comedy thrown in and it works in this one.

Sonakshi Sinha plays the part of a supportive heroine. She can act and she can dance – very well. I am sure she will go places once you stop looking at her broad shoulders that give the impression of a hugely built woman. That’s not so and she has done alright.

Other actors such as South Indian actor Nassar as the main villain and police officer Yashpal Sharma have done very well too.

The background score by Sandeep Chowta is quite catchy. While the music by Sajid-Wajid is quite good, I somehow felt that all the songs sounded the same. And believe me, there were a number of them – 4, if I am not mistaken. For a film that runs for 2 hours and 20 minutes, that can be quite trying.

The film is a copy of a Telugu original is what I heard. I don’t watch Telugu films as I don’t understand the language. But I think the same film was also released in Tamil as Siruthai starring Karthi (Surya’s brother) and Tamannah.

Rowdy Rathore is an out and out masala flick that has a heavy South Indian influence. There were a number of fight sequences. Luckily, they had the hero triumphing over the bad guys every time and hence worked for me.

VERDICT: You can see it. Not seeing it might not be a great loss.

RATING: ***Smart

*Silly
**Shaky
***Smart
****Snazzy
*****Super