Son of Sardaar – Entertainer in its own way!

Star Cast: Ajay Devgan, Sonakshi Sinha, Sanjay Dutt, Juhi Chawla, Mukul Dev, Vindu Dara Singh.

Director: Ashwni Dhir

Producer:  N.R.Pachisia, Pravin Talreja and Ajay Devgan.

Duration: 139 Minutes

Jassi aka Jasvinder Singh Randhava (Ajay Devgan) is a Punjabi NRI living with his uncle in London. Jassi receives a courier that contains details of his father’s property which can be claimed by the legal heir upon his presence. Jassi’s uncle warns him about their family rivalry with the Sandhu’s.

Jassi on his way to Punjab encounters Sukh (Sonakshi Sinha) and as expected falls in love with her. Upon reaching Punjab Jassi meets the most influential people in the town through Sukh’s reference, Billu (Sanjay Dutt), Tony (Mukul Dev) and Tito (Vindoo Dara Singh) who would help him in claiming his father’s property.

Story takes a turn, when Jassi realizes that, the people who are helping him are none other Sandhu’s who has vowed to kill the Randhava’s.

Cut to Sandhu family has tradition of respecting the guests and at any cost would not spill their blood in the house. Roller coaster fun ride begins as, Jassi in order to save his life should stay back in Sandhu’s house and Sandhu’s are waiting for him to get out of the house so they can kill him.

Can Jassi win back his life along with Sukh? If so how? is the plot.

Son of Sardaar has a story which is inspired from a Telugu Movie “Maryada Ramnna” which in turn is inspired from an English Movie “Our Hospitality”. But, accolades to Ashwin Dhir for adding his own Punjabi Tadka to the existing storyline and making it watchable.

Coming to performances, Ajay Devgan played well as Sardaar but was not convincing enough. Sonakshi Sinha fitted the role of Sukh a true Punjabi Sikhni and even performance wise she has improved a lot when compared to her previous films. But, for me the show stopper has been Sanjay Dutt, whose characterization is complexed in the movie, Billu has to maintain the right balance between looking evil and comical. Sanjay Dutt played the role to the perfection.  

Noting much comment on the music or the other aspects of the film but, credits to stunt director for picturizing some good fight sequences.

All in all SOS is a good one time watch. Give it a try.

Rating: 3/5

Jab Tak Hain Jaan – It’s A Yash Chopra Romance

Star Cast: Sharukh Khan, Katrina Kaif, Anushka Sharma, Rishi Kapoor, Neetu Kapoor & Anupam Kher.

Director: Yash Chopra

Producer:  Aditya Chopra

Duration: 175 Minutes

It’s not a story of courage. It’s not a story of miracles. It’s a simple story of love…!

Major Samar Anand (Sharukh Khan) a bomb defusing expert is positioned in Ladakh. Samar encounters Akira Rai a discovery channel intern, saving her life from an accident and forgets his diary with her. Akira accesses to Samar’s diary.

Cut to movie shifts ten years back, where in the same Samar a church attendant cum singer encounters Meera (Katrina Kaif) a rich brat. Meera takes singing classes from Samar only to surprise her dad on her wedding with Roger her childhood friend.

The movie takes a twist when love blossoms between Samar and Meera. Fate intervenes or you can call it a director’s cut in the form of a accident leaving Meera and Samar separated. Heartbroken Samar filled with angst for Meera leaves London as per her wish.

What happened to Meera after Samar’s exit? Can Samar and Meera be together again? If so, how? is the plot of the movie.

Now coming to other aspects of the movie let me first start with direction. Late Yash Chopra has left no stone unturned to make this movie another master piece. Be it casting, locations, music, performances, and of course his magic direction.  

Every scene has Yash Chopra’s stamp on it be it sequences in church, showing Sharukh in black jacket with shoulder bag and Raj Kapoor hat and his famous Guitar or his cult character name “Raj” it has it all.

Coming to individual performances let me start with the king of hearts one and only Sharukh khan. His charisma rules, that is evident till today as I see young girls cheering for him in the movie every time he is on screen. Mark me it is one of his best and the real performances so far. He made sure the character Samar is made a cult just like his characters raj & veer from (DDLJ & Veer Zaara). For all those Sharukh fans you get to see him in a Lip lock for the first time on screen. (Sorry……for revealing the secret)

Coming to the leading ladies Katrina & Anushka both did a splendid job. Nothing to take away from Katina’s performance but Anushka did a fabulous job ensuring the screen is lively as long as she is there on screen.

Lastly credits to Gulzaar Saab for some amazing lyrics & A.R.Rehman for his wonderful notes. London & Ladakh have never been so beautiful before, thanks to Anil Mehta for his Cinematography.

The only thing that can be debated is the length of the movie.

All in all Jab Tak Hain Jaan is great movie to watch from a legendary director who romanced with romance through his movies. It is a movie for all the generations. If you belong to 70’s, 80’s or 90’s era it is a beautiful walk down the memory lane. If you are a 20’s kid get a slice of Yash Chopra romance, you would love it.

Jab Tak Hain Jaan……..Yash Chopra romance lives on.

Rating: 5/5

Stolen- Been there & done that.

Star Cast: Nicolas Cage, Danny Huston, Malin Åkerman, M.C. Gainey, Sami Gayle, Mark Valley, Josh Lucas.

Director: Simon West.

Producer:  Jesse Kennedy, Matthew Joynes, and René Besson.

Duration: 90 Minutes

Stolen fails to steal the show…!

The movie begins with an amazing robbery scene where in Will Montgomery (Nicolas Cage) the most famous and wanted thief in town and his team Riley Simms – (Malin Åkerman), Vincent - (Josh Lucas) and Hoyt – (M.C. Gainey)   are set to sneak out 10 Million from a bank.

Will & Vincent after their successful robbery, on their escape, end up in a scuffle over a hostage which results in making Vincent handicapped for life time & Will getting caught and imprisoned by FBI  for 8 years.

Will after serving his sentence, returns to stay with his beloved daughter Alison (Sami Gayle) who refuses to accept him as her father. Will encounters Riley; in their casual discussion Riley reveals that Vincent is dead.

Cut-to, Will gets a ransom call from un unknown number stating Alison is kidnapped and she would be killed if Will does not arrange for 10 Millions in 12 hours. Finally story takes a turn when Will realizes the kidnapper is none other than Vincent who has faked his death.

Can Will arrange 10 million in 12 hours to save his daughter is the plot of the movie.

Coming to the movie, in spite of a predictable story line with many pot holes, the movie holds you in bits & pieces. All credit to Simon West for picturizing some amazing robbery scenes.

Crediting individually, the two characters that stood out are Nicolas Cage & Danny Huston. Nicolas Cage, ever dependable puts up his best foot and delivers his best both in action and dramatic scenes. A Scene where in he encounters his daughter for the first time truly stands out.

The secret pudding of the movie is Danny Huston, a strict FBI chief who just makes you laugh with his comic timing every time he is on screen.

All in all, Stolen is an average movie which can be watched for once.

Rating: 2/5

1920 Evil Returns- Missing The Fear Factor

Star Cast: Aftab Shivdasani, Tia Bajpai, Vidya Malvade.

Director: Bhushan Patel.

Producer:  Husnain & Vikram Bhatt.

Duration: 140 Minutes

True Spooky Buffs will be disappointed with this flick.

Story of 1920 Evil Returns revolves around Jaidev Verma (Aftab Shivdasani) a famous poet who falls in love with a pen friend Smruti (Tia Bajpai) the girl whom he has never met. The day both Jaidev & Smruti decided to meet, the latter receives a message that Smruti does not exist anymore and has been dead.

Jaidev unable to accept the reality finds his respite in alcohol. One day Jaidev encounters a girl who cannot recollect her past and shelters her.

Jiadev ignores warning of locals who reveal that, the girl whom he sheltered has been possessed and would bring bad luck to him and to his family.

The story unfolds as Jaidev realizes that the girl whom he sheltered is none other than his lost love Smruti.

How and why Smruti is possessed? Can Jaidev Save her? is the plot of the movie.

The biggest drawback of 1920 Evil Returns is lack of originality, be it the story or story taking. The story comes across as a fusion of various Hollywood & Bollywood movies (Exorcist, 1920, Haunted etc). Lot many scenes have been inspired from the movie The Exorcist especially the ones in which the girl is possessed by the demon. The saving grace of the movie has been the music.  Thanks to Chirantan Bhatt for giving some fabulous numbers.

Coming to individual performances except for Tia Bajpai there is nothing worth mention about. Tia has done a reasonably good job as possessed girl. Aftab’s role is pale and do not give any scope for him to showcase his talent.

All in all Vikram Bhatt’s 1920 Evil Returns do not sore high on the Spooky Meter. Watch it if you do not have any better options.

Rating: 1.5/5

Skyfall-The Real Bond is Back

Star Cast: Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem, Judi Dench, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, Bérénice Lim Marlohe & Albert Finney.

Director: Sam Mendes.

Producer:  Michael G. Wilson & Barbar Broccoli.

Duration: 2 Hours & 23 Minutes.

If you intend to see the real and more humane bond then Skyfall is the movie to watch.

Skyfall starts with an amazing fight sequence where in the MI6 agent James Bond (Daniel Craig) is on a mission to recover the hard drive containing the details of all the Secret Agents who are working in various terror groups form an undisclosed organization working against MI6.

A miss hit from Bonds companion Eve Money Penny (Naomie Harris) makes Agent 007 fall in to the waters. MI6 declares Bond to be dead as his body could not be traced.

MI6 headed by M a.k.a Mom (Judi Dench) faces serious trouble from an undisclosed organization which is on a mission to fade out the traces of MI6. The fall of MI6 starts with a huge bomb blast in its head office.

Here comes a twist in the movie when bond returns defying death to save MI6 and several other secret agents whose life is at stake. M clears Bond, in spite of him being declared negative for any future missions and asks him continue his mission.

Bond in search of the undisclosed organization working against MI6 reaches Shanghai and counters the devil or the man from shadows-Raoul Silva a.k.a Tiago Rodriguez (Javier Bardem) an ex-MI6 agent.

What made Silva work against MI6 and will he succeed is the plot of the movie.

Coming to merits of the movie let me start with commending one man Sam Mendes for his new way of presenting the bond. Keeping the Bond legacy intact at the same time showing the bond in more real manner is a perfect blend. Sam Mendes has successfully done that. He believed in the showing bond as more real and it has just payed off.

Coming to individual performances, Daniel Craig just excelled in this movie. His performance was more calm yet more intense and powerful when compared to Casino Royale.

Coming to the real Trump card that did wonders for the movie is the role of Javier Bardem who literally lived in the Silva’s evil character. For me it was Javier Bardem who stole the show. At times you feel the tinge of Joker (from the Batman) in the role of Javier Bardem but this does not take anything away from him.

Lastly, to mention about the real bond girl Judi Dench who just did what she does best. Thanks to sam who elevated the role of M and made her indispensable and more relevant.

All in all watch Skyfall where in the Agent 007 just goes to back to his basics, be it a old model razor, vintage Aston Martin or the old style fighting with knifes, you will love it all.

To end this in the words of the bond “Some things I like the Old Way”.

Rating: 4/5