Madras Cafe` will re-launch Nargis, says Shoojit Sircar

Mumbai: Filmmaker Shoojit Sircar has roped in Nargis Fakhri for ‘Madras Café’ and says that he is re-launching her in filmdom with his movie on terrorism.

She made her Bollywood debut with hit musical romance "Rockstar!" as a college going student. While her co-star Ranbir Kapoor was praised for his performance in the film, the actress managed to impress with her looks.

Now Sircar is presenting her as a journalist in "Madras Cafe", a political-thriller, which deals with terrorism and civil war and was reportedly shot in Sri Lanka and India.

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Film review: Ship of Theseus soaks you in its fabric

Film: Ship of Theseus
Cast: Aida El-Kashef, Neeraj Kabi, Sohum Shah, Amba Sanyal, Faraz Khan, Vinay Shukla, Sameer Khurana and Yashwant Wasnik
Director: Anand Gandhi
Rating: ****

Read More : http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/1863145/review-film-review-ship-of-theseus-soaks-you-in-its-fabric

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Movie review: Ramaiya Vastavaiya

Ramaiya Vastavaiya

Cast: Girish Kumar, Shruti Haasan, Sonu Sood, Vinod Khanna, Poonam Dhillon, Randhir Kapoor, Satish Shah

Direction: Prabhudheva

Rating: 4 Star Rating: Recommended 4 Star Rating: Recommended

The Bollywood rehash factory won't slow down. Love stories especially find a way of returning every few years, in a new package with new faces and with very much the same plot.

Any resemblance Ramaiya Vastavaiya bears with Maine Pyar Kiya and Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya was perhaps absolutely intended. These were blockbusters, as was the Telugu film Nuvvostanante Nenoddantana - Prabhudheva's 2005 directorial debut that inspires this film (and which in turn was a copy of Maine Pyar Kiya).


Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/movie-review-ramaiya-vastavaiya/1/292138.html

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D-Day is quick and sleek

D-Day

Cast: Rishi Kapoor, Arjun Rampal, Irrfan, Shruti Haasan, Huma Qureshi, Nassar

Direction: Nikhil Advani

Rating: 4 Star Rating: Recommended 4 Star Rating: Recommended4 Star Rating: Recommended

D-Day stars Rishi Kapoor and Irrfan with a cluster of actors who have off and on proved their mettle. For director Nikhil Advani, that was half the battle won.

Advani, who has desperately tried exorcising the demons of Salaam-e-Ishq and Chandni Chowk To China for a while now, discards masala basics to go for the high octane with his latest. The film tries balancing gritty realism with what sells. Also, the fact that D-Day has no big stars has been cloaked with sufficient melodrama and some good action.

The overall package works for a one-time watch. D-Day could have been much more if Advani was more assured as a storyteller. Despite a plum cast, the narrative tends to become convoluted at times.

A highlight in the promos has been Rishi Kapoor's latest villain avatar. He plays Karachi-based don/businessman Iqbal, alias Goldman, but his thick moustache, trademark shades and wig betray a Bollywoodised Dawood Ibrahim. The veteran has been on a killer spree of evil lately, triggered off by Agneepath and carried forward with aplomb in Aurangzeb. D-Day completes a nice set of three in villainy for the actor.

But if Goldman isn't a patch on Agneepath's ruthless pimp Rauf Lala, Rishi Kapoor can't be blamed. We have seen too many of these Dawood-type rehashes now in Bollywood for the prototype to remain novel. The actor however scores by delivering the sinister with an understated edge and flamboyance.

Irrfan is cast as Wali Khan, RAW agent in Karachi to trace Goldman's movement. The don lives in a high-security set-up monitored by ISI. Wali finds a possible chink in the armour when he learns Goldman will break ISI security protocol to come out for his son's wedding.

A team is put in place. Armyman Rudra Pratap Singh (Arjun Rampal), RAW explosives expert Zoya Rehman (Huma Qureshi) and Aslam (Akash Dhaiya), a petty thief employed by RAW, have to bring back the terrorist to India. To max out the drama, each has a personal score to settle beyond the line of duty.

Of course, there is a twist. It takes the film to a credible climax. But you realise that in parts the film's tendency to be violent could merely be a ploy to extend runtime.

A talented cast comes up with functional performances. Irrfan, Arjun and Huma get some cool action that they clearly enjoy essaying. Shruti Haasan, introduced in the script as a Pakistani sex worker, does well to balance titillation with a tragic subplot. And watching Rishi Kapoor hit the menace mode, you only wish the eighties chocolate boy takes to shades of grey more often.

D-Day is quick and sleek. It is your film if violence mixed with melodrama and pop patriotism is your cocktail of choice.


Read More: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/d-day-review/1/292147.html

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Aishwarya Rai to make a comeback in Masoom remake!

New Delhi, Jul 13: Bachchan bahu Aishwarya Rai Bachchan who is away from the mainstream cinema from more than a year is reportedly making a comeback.
As per the latest buzz, Aishwarya Rai is all set to make a comeback with hubby Abhishek Bachchan in the remake of Masoom.
According to reports, Aishwarya Rai has been approached by Himesh Reshammiya for the remake of Shekhar Kapur's 1983 film Masoom. And Himesh also wants to rope Abhishek Bachchan. Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan are expected to play the role, which was played by Shabana Azmi and Naseeruddin Shah in the original film.

If all goes according to the plan, the Bachchan couple will be seen together again. They last worked together in Mani Ratnam's 'Raavan' in 2010.

Article Source: Aishwarya Rai to make a comeback in Masoom remake!

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Movie review: Bhaag Milkha Bhaag is an intense bio-drama

Film: Bhaag Milkha Bhaag
Director: Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra
Starring: Farhan Akhtar, Sonam Kapoor, Pawan Malhotra, Divya Dutta, Prakash Raj and Sahidur Rahaman
Rating: ****

What it's about: A biopic is never easy to make. How do you fit someone's entire life in a few hours? What parts do you highlight and which slice do you decide to leave out while still staying true to the story? That explains the length of the film, which is over three hours. Rakeysh OmPrakash Mehra gives you more than the story of Milkha Singh the athlete. Most of us have heard his name, but none or very few of us know his story, so this was a story waiting to be heard. Mehra chronicles young Milkha's (Farhan Akhtar) life from a small village (now in Pakistan) to India. Then follows it into youth who falls in love and then joins the army, where he begins his training to become an athlete. BMB is proof that there are intelligent filmmakers makes sensible films for the discerning audience. This is an important film for many reasons.  It radiates sincerity and it acknowledges and celebrates one of our heroes.

What's good: Some lives are made for the big screen. Milkha Singh's certainly is one. It has everything. Pain of losing a family, the backdrop of partition, the determination to win the one you love and a dream. Throw it all together with the added drama of India vs Pakistan and you have one of the most neglected sports stories of the century. You wonder why no one has made a film on this living legend. With an eye to authenticity, the director transports you back a few decades into past with superb period reconstruction. Even if you have no interest in sports and have never switched to a sports channel, this film will draw you in and has enough to keep you interested. Mehra has managed to draw meaty performances from all his actors, including the child actor who plays young Milkha. But the magic of the film lies in the simple moments. Like the new army recruits dancing in their barracks, the village gathering to hear the race on the radio, Milkha's fascination for wearing the official India blazers. Mehra also packs in emotional resonance with the brother-sister portions. Milkha runs the race despite the injury, or when he meets his sister in his India jacket.The film is good but Farhan Akhtar is exceptional. He gets all the nuances right. There are those awkward moments at times but that adds to the charm. Farhan dominates almost every frame in the film and dazzles in each one. Pawan Malhotra is brilliant as the Sikh army officer. Divya Dutta is commendable as always. Sonam Kapoor has little to do in her special appearance except be the perfect warm counterpart to Milkha. The songs and the background scrore is bang on. Finally, Mehra proves that it is  possible to make a good biopic while the events that transpired are still relevant and the characters involved are still alive.

What's not: It's a sports tale but don't expect a Chak De! India or a Swades. You will find yourself cheering for Milkha a few times but you wish there was more to cheer for. While it is what one would call a semi-documentary, it is in the end, a big budget commercial film and the director somewhere forgets that.  This one relies entirely on one man, and though he delivers brilliantly, there are portions when you find yourself wishing the pace would pick up. The editor lets some scenes linger till there is uncomfortable silence for too long and awkward giggling in the theatre. This happens on many occasions like Divya Dutta's breakdown scene when she finds her brother and when Farhan breaks down when he returns home to the house he grew up in. It's not about the length. A film over three hours can keep you entertained throughout. This one loses you somewhere in the second half but then draws you back in.

What to do: If you are in the mood for some intense bio-drama, run to the nearest theatre.

Article Source: Movie review: Bhaag Milkha Bhaag is an intense bio-drama

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Amitabh Bachchan, Gulzar, Karan Johar pay their last respects to Pran

Mumbai: Legendary Bollywood actor Pran passed away at the Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai. The 93-year-old veteran actor had recently received the Dadasaheb Phalke award. In a career spanning over six decades, Pran acted in over 400 films and played a vast range of roles, from a hero to a villain to a character artist.

He was the star villain who made heroes look good with his bad man act. Born Pran Krishan Sikand on February 2, 1920, in Lahore, actor Pran began his career in the camera department of Pancholi's Studio in Lahore but went on to become one of the most iconic villains of Hindi cinema.

His last rites were conducted at the electric crematorium in Dadar west around 12:30 p.m. Among the early attendees from Bollywood included veteran writer Gulzar.

Celebrities Amitabh Bachchan, Shatrughan Sinha, Karan Johar, Gulzar, Danny Denzongpa, Raza Murad, Shakti Kapoor, Tinu Anand and Anupam Kher were also present to pay their last respects.

During his long and prolific career, Pran was marked for his roles as a villain, hero and even a character artist.

Pran's film repertoire included over 400 projects in over six decades of his association with cinema.

He had not been keeping well since the past few months, and he was in and out of the hospital lately.

He is survived by his wife Shukla, sons Arvind and Sunil, and daughter Pinky, as well as his beloved grandchildren.

On May 10, he was conferred with the coveted Dadasaheb Phalke Award for Lifetime Achievement, the highest honour of Indian film industry, at his home, by Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Manish Tewari.

Article Source: Amitabh Bachchan, Gulzar, Karan Johar pay their last respects to Pran

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