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Raffoo Chakkar - Preview

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Love life, enjoy life and live life to the fullest — that's exactly the mindset of the four central characters of Raffoo Chakkar. Pappu (Aslam Khan) and Munnu (Yudhishtir), known as PM are very rich brothers. Millie (Nauheed Cyrusi) and Julie (Nisha Rawal), known as MJ are sisters from the upper crust of society. All of them believe in enjoying their life to the fullest and are not interested in getting married. But the unbelievable happens. When forced to get married they run away from their homes.

While on the run lots of fun happens. Pappu and Munnu meet and get attracted to the cute looking Millie and Julie. Naturally they try to woo the girls, not realizing that they are the same girls with whom their father had fixed their marriage. Another twist comes in the story when Millie and Julie meet Kokila and Koena (KK), two middle-aged sisters who hate men and never want to get married.

Fate takes another turn and KK's father, who wants his daughters to get married, dies. In his WILL he clearly puts this condition – if KK do not get married before they turn 45 his property will go to the trust, managed by Dilkhush (Sadashiv Amrapurkar) and Hansmukh (Shakti Kapoor)

They only have 24 hrs to find the boys, get married and save their property because KK will turn 45 the very next day.

P M, who are on the run, are broke but need money to buy an expensive gift for their girls MJ. So they land up at KK's house to rob them. They are in for a surprise. The old girls are Judo/Karate champions and catch the boys red handed. This leads to arrest and eventually marriage to sisters KK. All hell breaks loose.

Since KK want to keep things under their control right from day 1, they start torturing brothers PM.

Further confusion pours in because MJ by now are in love with PM, not knowing their married status with KK sisters. What follows is a plan by PM brothers to murder KK. The trustees realize the marriage is fake which leads to a very hilarious unfolding of the entire story.

Provoked - Preview

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Set in London, ‘Provoked’ is the traumatic story of a battered Punjabi housewife and mother of two, Kiranjit Ahluwalia (Aishwarya Rai). Unable to bear the brutality of her alcoholic husband Deepak Ahluwalia (Naveen Andrews), she takes revenge by setting him on fire. Charged with first-degree murder, she is sentenced to life imprisonment, where she befriends her cell-mate, a wealthy white woman Veronica Scott (Miranda Richardson), from whom she learns English.

Her cell mate is so moved by her story that she asks her step-brother Lord Edward Foster (Robbie Coltrane), a highly respected queen’s counsel to file her appeal. Her case comes to the notice of a motley group of south Asian social workers running a under funded organization called South all Black Sisters. They bring her plight to the attention of the media by organizing rallies to gather public support for her freedom.

She is ultimately freed by the judicial system in a landmark case called Regina vs. Ahluwalia that redefined the word PROVOCATION in the case of battered women. She was reunited with her children and subsequently gives an award by the Prime Minister’s wife for her crusade against domestic violence.

Zamaanat - Preview

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Kajol (Karisma Kapoor) is a girl born with silver spoon to very rich parents. She falls in love with a poor boy Suraj (Arshad Warsi), who is her college mate. But as always is the case, the path of lovers never runs smooth …because her father wants her to marry his business partner’s brother Sunil who has got all vices of a rich pampered boy. Suraj with all his good qualities is human and helpful to the fellowmen and is the hero of the college. When Sunil comes to know of the love affair of Kajol and Suraj, he plans to remove him from his path and succeeds in his attempt to get Suraj arrested for a murder of a girl student … Tara …during a college dance drama show.

The efforts by Kajol to extricate Suraj from the murder charge proves futile as all the lawyers became helpless because the witness for prosecution were very strong. Helpless Kajol appeals to all lawyers to save the innocent Suraj. A sympathetic lawyer suggests to Kajol that the only person who can save Suraj from gallows is the famous advocate Shivshankar (Amitabh Bachchan). But unfortunately he has stopped attending court after he became blind in a car bomb explosion and is a almost inaccessible except to his close friend Dr. Madan..

Kajol tries to approach Shivshankar through Dr. Madan but is turned out by him inspite of Kajol’s pleading to save her love. She accuses him of having no knowledge of love. Provoked and angered by this accusation, Shivshankar narrates his own unfulfilled love story and finally asks Kajol to leave the house.

The last hope of engaging the noted advocate Shivshankar to save Suraj became futile and Suraj concludes that he is going to be hanged finally. But Kajol says it will not happen.

Kajol and the entire college agitate before the court. Shivshankar does arrive at the last minute before the final count by the police ACP to order to fire at students.

What did Shivshankar do?
Did he save Suraj?
Whether Kajol got back her love?

The Namesake - Review

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A Mira Nair film is special! Over the years, Mira’s films have won tremendous acclaim and admirers on home turf as well as on foreign soil. Although opinions and feedback to her films vary, there’s no denying that the competent storyteller handles human relationships with astute sensitivity.

THE NAMESAKE, based on Jhumpa Lahiri’s best-selling novel, is a cinematic triumph. Like MONSOON WEDDING, THE NAMESAKE explores human relationships, besides raising several poignant issues in those two hours: The diverse cultures and how most children belonging to Asian-American families find themselves in a quandary. The clash of the old and the new, when asked to follow their traditional values.

Mira takes time to set things up and when you do get acquainted with the characters, you’re slowly sucked into their world -- their problems, their differences, their beliefs, their sorrows. That’s one of the primary reasons why THE NAMESAKE works so beautifully!

Ashoke [Irrfan Khan] and wife Ashima [Tabu], a Bengali couple, migrate to New York from Kolkata after an arranged marriage. Leaving behind her family in Kolkata, Ashima decides to adjust to a new life in New York. Soon, they are blessed with two kids -- son Gogol [Kal Penn] and daughter Sonia [Sahira Nair].

Ashoke and Ashima want their children to grow up in the land of opportunities, but retain the traditional Indian culture and customs. Gogol struggles with his name [named after Russian author Gogol] and his heritage/roots. Gogol wants to be like other American kids, but no matter how hard he tries, he can’t escape reality.

Gogol attempts to find his way and identity. He starts distancing himself from his traditional parents. He changes his name to the more American-sounding Nick. He moves to another city and begins dating a white girl, Max [Jacinda Barrett], although he knows his parents expect him to marry a Bengali girl.

On a visit home, Ashoke finally explains to Gogol the relevance of his name. In the 1970s, when Ashoke was a young man, he was critically injured in a train accident. He was reading Gogol at that point of time and was engaged in a conversation with a fellow passenger, who urged him to see the world. “Every day since then,” Ashoke tells Gogol, “life has been a gift.”

The story takes a turn when Ashoke dies of a massive heart attack. Gogol longs to turn back the clock and appreciate his father, but it’s too late by then. Later, he marries Moushumi [Zuleikha Robinson], a family friend’s daughter, but Moushumi cheats on him by having an extra-marital affair with a French guy.

Although THE NAMESAKE is a lengthy journey, you don’t mind it for two vital reasons: Mira Nair’s deft handling of the subject material and bravura performances by each and every member of the cast. The narrative catches your attention from the very start, but the film gathers momentum when Gogol grows up and starts finding his way.

The sequences that hold your interest are mostly those that feature Irrfan and Tabu. At the start. In New York. And their last interaction together -- an unwell Irrfan calling up from a hospital -- gives you goose bumps. The film becomes an emotional journey thereafter, when Gogol goes back to his roots.

Also, the film envelopes the heat and dust of Kolkata and the snow and slush of New York beautifully. The Kolkata episode specifically -- when the family visits their ancestral home, right till their journey to Taj Mahal -- are amongst the interesting moments of the enterprise. The screenplay [Sooni Taraporevala] is just perfect.

The film is embellished with topnotch performances. Tabu is brilliant, essaying the roles of a wife as also the mother with flourish. Note her expressions when the voice on the phone informs her that her husband passed away after a heart attack. You’d agree, she’s a world class actor. Irrfan Khan is splendid. Controlled and convincing, he enacts a difficult part with amazing ease. It’s yet another significant performance from this supremely talented actor.

Kal Penn is first-rate. Although he’s plain ordinary in the initial reels, the actor matches up to Tabu and Irrfan’s level in the latter half. The transformation after his father’s demise is the highpoint of his performance. Barrett and Sahira are able. Zuleikha is quite good.

On the whole, THE NAMESAKE is a classy product that caters to a niche audience mainly -- those who appreciate qualitative cinema. At the box-office, it’s a film for very select multiplexes.

Khanna & Iyer - Preview

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Faced with conflicting cultural values and beliefs of their families, Aryan Khanna (Sarvar Ahuja) and Nandini Iyer (Aditi Sharma) have run away from home. While on the run, a series of unforeseen circumstances unfold and unknown to them a CD containing proof of relationship between a known politician and infamous terrorist Donga lands up in their Bag. Chased by their parents, cops and terrorists in the jungle of Lal dora; what ensues then is series of adventures and misadventures.

Would their parents overcome animosity for the sake of their children? Would they survive between the crossfire of cops and the terrorist? And most importantly, would the young love survive the reality check of life?

Life Mein Kabhie Kabhiee - Preview

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Life Mein Kabhie Kabhiee is the story of five friends, five lives, five years, one goal – happiness.

On their graduation day Manish (Aftab Shidasani), Rajeev (Dino Morea), Jai (Sameer Dattani), Monica (Nauheed Cyrusi) and Ishita (Anjori) get insanely drunk and have a bet that who out of them would be the happiest in life. They give themselves five years. At the end of five years Manish would decide who was the happiest. All of them have different ideas of happiness.

Rajeev thinks that to be the best in what you do is happiness,
Monica thinks fame is happiness
Jai thinks power is happiness
and
Ishita thinks money is what happiness is all about.

Life Mein Kabhie Kabhiee is the story of the journey of these five friends. What people do to achieve what they want? It is a journey of success and failure, triumphs and tribulations, hope and despair, happiness and sadness and of course the final question. Who will win the bet?

Cheeni Kum - Preview

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The boy is actually a 64 year old man, Amitabh Bachchan - Buddhadev Gupta. The girl is a 34 year old woman, Tabu - Nina Verma

Buddhadev Gupta is the 64 year old chef cum owner of London's top Indian restaurant. He lives with his 85 year old mother and his only friend and confidante is his 9 year old neighbour - Sexy. Buddhadev Gupta is an arrogant, egoistic, pompous man with a singular passion in life - cooking. A confirmed bachelor who has never been in love.

Until…….Nina Verma walks into his restaurant and life.

Nina Verma is a beautiful, charming, Indian woman. Cool, calm, quiet, always smiling, but independent and strong willed.

Two extremes…in age, character and attitude. Meet and against all odds fall in love. They decide to get married. And, like any Indian man, Buddhadev Gupta respectfully comes to ask Nina's father, a true Gandhian, living in Delhi, for her hand.

Sweet……Just one problem….

Mr. Omprakash Verma, Nina's father is 58 years old 6 years younger than Buddhadev Gupta, his would be son-in-law.

Cheeni kum……A romantic, musical comedy!!

Raqeeb - rivals in Love - Preview

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Raqeeb is a musical thriller – a roller coaster ride that hurtles from one twist to the next at breakneck speed. The story has many themes that are so different and yet so closely linked that they overlap each other. These themes are like shadows where the viewer is never quite sure where one shadow ends and the next begins. Seduction leads to love, love becomes betrayal, betrayal is motivated by passion, passion leads to obsession and to crime, and this crime reveals another betrayal which again is motivated by love.

The protagonist, Remo Mathews, is a computer whiz kid and the owner of a highly successful software company. Remo’s parents had died in a car crash when he was still a child. Siddharth is his employee and probably, only friend. Sidharth is the extroverted playboy, and is the exact opposite of Remo who is shy, introverted and asthmatic. Sidharth constantly pesters Remo to socialize so that he can meet a few girls and fall in love with one of them. Remo seems to be averse to the whole idea until, one day Sidharth plays a prank and sets Remo up for a blind date.

Remo meets the girl and after the initial hilarious misunderstanding falls in love with her. The girl is Sofie, a theatre actress who is high on life. Love blossoms and all is going smoothly until Remo and Sofie discover that her parents died in the same car crash in which Remo’s parents had been killed. Sofie realizes that Remo’s parents were responsible for the death of her parents. Remo doesn’t know how to deal with this tragic discovery. Sidharth persuades him to propose to Sofie. Remo proposes and after the initial hesitation, Sofie accepts. Remo and Sofie get married. Thereafter, the story takes an unexpected twist with the introduction of Sunny.

Sunny is a struggling actor who was in love with Sofie. But Sofie had always wanted a luxurious life which Sunny was unable to provide. Hence, Sofie married Remo. When they meet again, the old love is rekindled. Thus begins a torrid affair between them. Finally, tired of having to meet secretly and only occasionally, they plan to kill Remo. The plan is to hide Remo’s asthma medicine and then aggravate his asthma so as to trigger an asthma attack. Once the asthma attack occurs, Sunny has to pretend to shoot Remo with fake bullets so as to aggravate his condition further eventually leading to death. The post mortem will reveal that Remo died of natural causes and hence, no one will be suspected of any foul play.

The D-day arrives and Sunny comes to Remo’s house to execute the plan. But there is another twist in the tale. Sofie double crosses Sunny as well and he is arrested and accused of Remo’s murder.

Why does Sofie double cross Sunny?
Is there more to her than what meets the eye?
Does she really love anyone?
Does Sidharth find out the truth about Sofie?
Is Sunny able to clear his name?
And…is Remo really dead or has he pulled off a Houdini act?

All these questions are answered as the story breathlessly races to its nail biting, chilling climax!

1:40 Ki Last Local - Preview

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Ek Chalis Ki Last Local’ is a comic thriller about two people who miss the last local train at 1:40 am to Vikhroli and have poore dhayi ghante (full two-and-half hours) before the next local will arrive. The movie meanders with an intriguing drama with a set of stories intertwined with each other. The tale revolves around Nilesh (Abhay Deol), a call center executive and how missing the last train home proves to be a significant episode in his life.

Nilesh bumps into Madhu (Neha Dhupia) who has also missed her train on the same station and because there is an auto strike, the duo finds themselves getting together and soon seated in a desi bar for some time pass before their next train. One thing leads to another and circumstances spiral off into experiences and events, some bizarre and beautiful whereas others unpleasant and uncanny. Subtle and dark humor take you by surprise and so does the mystery and excitement as the film picks up pace and Nilesh’s life comes on “fast track”.

Simply surmised, ‘Ek Chalis Ki Last Local’ is uncertain, riotous with alarming twists thrown in to the plot. A story of Nilesh fraught under the pressure of his circumstances for complete two and a half hours and then emerging triumphant with two and a half crores. Taking the audience on a confusing trail, here is an intriguing, comic & psychosomatic drama that unscrambles itself with unforgettable characters and captivating performances.

Dhayi Ghante Mein… Dhayi Crore.

Say Salaam India - Preview

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Say Salaam India is the story of cricket. It’s a story that revolves around a group of 4 boys and their passion for the game. The boys come from humble backgrounds and limited resources but what they have is a zeal for the game of cricket and undeniable natural talent. They study in the local corporation school where the most important sport on agenda is wrestling, taught by Wrestling Guru Surinder Huda – a man driven by hatred for cricket because in his eyes it is cricket that is responsible for destroying traditional sports like Kushti, Kabbadi, and Hockey etc.

The story begins with establishing the 4 boys Viru, Mahi, Shakeel and Guri and their milieu, and how they fight their circumstances and lack of resources to pursue their fervor for the game. From here the story moves on to an elite school Royal Heritage in the state capital. It is here that we meet the protagonist of the film, Hari Sadu, a Cricket Fanatic who believes that gully cricket is to be played with a similar commitment as any other level of cricket. His new job is to coach the Royal Heritage team to win their sixth state championship, but he faces a stiff opposition to his coaching methods by the headstrong, arrogant members of the school team, who are more impressed with Sachin’s Ferrari than his batting skills and hard work behind it. The boys are talented but don’t have the passion and the discipline to match Hari’s ideas.

This results in a lot of situations, which add to the already simmering tension leading to a final showdown where Hari Sadu is wrongly accused and is thrown out by the members of the school trust. He’s replaced by Harry Oberoi, who is more of a suave fixer from the cricket world than a coach, but suits the image and profile of the school.

Hari Sadu gets home determined to make a local team to take on the cudgel at the inter school challenge. He is helped in this pursuit by his wife Sonali and his cerebral palsy suffering son Rustam. How he develops a cricketing eleven from the wrestling team at the local corporation school, overcoming various hurdles to take on the Royal Heritage School at the inter School Challenge is the story Say Salaam India.

Sarhad Paar - Review

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Too late! That’s your instant reaction when you watch SARHAD PAAR.

Everything comes with an expiry date. Perhaps, SARHAD PAAR may’ve worked had it released a few years ago. Perhaps, SARHAD PAAR may’ve struck a chord with the junta when the Indo-Pak wave was at its peak. But SARHAD PAAR makes a late entry to movieplexes and its release timing is also inappropriate.

What’s the verdict then? SARHAD PAAR won’t work eis paar [India] or sarhad paar [Overseas].

Army man Ranjit Singh [Sanjay Dutt] returns home after a long time. Declared missing in action after he inadvertently crossed the border, Ranjit went through trauma and torment as a prisoner across the border.

Amongst the faces to greet Ranjit on his return is that of his wife Pammi [Tabu] and sister Simran [Mahima Chaudhary]. They are happy that their loved one is back, but are shocked to see his condition.

In the Army Hospital, Ranjit is trying to recuperate from the horrifying experiences he has gone through. He sees a face every time he shuts his eyes, only to reopen them in a state of confusion. He has lost his memory, but can only remember this face.

s Meanwhile, Pammi and Simran try to help Ranjit to get back to normal life, but in vain. Disappointed, Pammi begins giving up hope when Simran vows to bring Ranjit back to his normal self. How she will do this, no one knows, but she has the support of Ravi [Chandrachur Singh], a folk singer whom she is engaged to.

Simran’s efforts pay off and Ranjit discovers the root cause of his pathetic condition. His tormentor was Bhaktavar [Rahul Dev], a mercenary terrorist associated with traitors in India.

While Ranjit tries to fight the enemy within and Pammi tries to recapture the glorious moments with her husband, Simran is caught in the emotional dilemma between supporting her brother in his fight against his oppressor and fulfilling her marital commitment to the man she has tied the knot for life.

You get a strong feeling that you’re watching a dated product once the reels unfold. That’s not the only problem with SARHAD PAAR. It also looks like a disjointed effort, with certain pieces in the narrative giving you the feeling that it was hurriedly packed up, with some loose ends still remaining.

Also, SARHAD PAAR seems like one confused product. Portions of the film give an impression that it’s a realistic, hard-hitting film, but there are times when you feel that the film suddenly tries to play to the gallery [overdose of songs, including a forced item song].

Any redeeming aspects? Difficult to find! In fact, the drama loses pace as it progresses. Director Raman Kumar has handled a few sequences well, but a few skillfully executed sequences don’t camouflage the shortcomings. Music [Anand Raaj Anand] is strictly okay. Cinematography is inconsistent, but you can’t blame the D.O.P. for it. The delay in the making is bound to tell!

Sanjay Dutt runs through his part mechanically. Tabu is natural. Mahima Chaudhary is efficient. Chandrachur Singh wears a blank look most of the times. Rahul Dev is loud. Akash Khurana leaves a mark.

On the whole, SARHAD PAAR has nothing going in its favor. At the box-office, it’s a loser!

Shakalaka Boom Boom - Preview

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Four people whose lives and destinies are ruled by music…
Music will connect them…
Music will destroy them…

Music will scale the notes of jealousy… betrayal… passion… desperation…

Character Sketch

Bobby Deol is AJ
The singer/ composer at the pinnacle of success and popularity, he has reached where he is through sheer dint of slog and hard work. He is used to winning; he revels in it and will never allow anybody to overtake him.

Upen Patel is Reggie
The hugely talented newcomer, who wants to be where AJ is – on the top! Reggie’s hunger for success is only matched by his hunger to make music. His talent is inborn, he does not struggle to make music, he struggles to get noticed.

Kangana Ranaut is Ruhi
The lovely young singer who unwittingly comes between the two. She likes singing, admires AJ and falls head over heels in love with Reggie.

Celina Jaitley is Sheena
The beautiful and ambitious PR professional, who once went all out to promote Reggie. Now she will do everything in her power to destroy him.

Storyline

Set against a backdrop of the international music industry, Shakalaka Boom Boom delves into the complex relationship of two dramatically different men who have but one thing in common – their passion for music. If ruthless, manipulative, cut-throat… is considered synonymous with the music industry, these terms certainly do not apply to AJ – the most loved, the most popular singer/composer New York has seen.

If prodigious talent, passion, attitude… is considered synonymous with the music industry. Then Reggie fits the bill. Young and hugely talented, he hungers for what AJ has; he craves to be where AJ is – on the top. Into the lives of these two men enter two beautiful women – aspiring singer Ruhi and ambitious PR professional Sheena.

On the professional front, Ruhi admires and looks up to AJ. On the personal level she has been wooed and won over by Reggie. On the professional front, Sheena has done a lot for Reggie. On the personal level, she holds a huge grudge because he has spurned her. As ambition, manipulation and desperation take centre stage, Ruhi and Sheena become pawns in a ruthless game…

As AJ and Reggie face off against each in a do or die battle… envy and betrayal rear their ugly heads… As talent struggles to survive the onslaught of a carefully orchestrated smear campaign, Music will be the ultimate winner… and the loser… In Shakalaka Boom Boom.

Water - Review

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Take a bow, Deepa Mehta.

Deepa Mehta’s body of work includes several noteworthy films, notable among them being EARTH and FIRE. But she reaches the pinnacle with WATER, her most accomplished work so far. Okay, WATER didn’t really win the coveted Academy Award, but film aficionados have given their mandate, showering it with accolades. That, to put it bluntly, is a far bigger achievement than winning the coveted statuette.

In the past, reputed names such as Shakti Samanta [KATI PATANG, ARADHANA], Yash Chopra [DAAG], Ramesh Sippy [SHOLAY], Raj Kapoor [PREM ROG], Rituparno Ghosh [CHOKHER BALI] and Ravi Chopra [BAABUL] depicted the plight of widows. Sometime back, SHWET – WHITE RAINBOW [Sonali Kulkarni] also revolved around widows and their journey to overcome the societal stigma.

WATER is an exquisite drama that works because it encompasses so much in those 2 hours -- life, laughter, tenderness and tragedy. Despite its simplistic plotline, it manages to stir your soul, grip your heart and transport you to an era which many of us haven’t experienced. Also, not once does the film meander into sub-plots or take you away from the core issue. At the same time, it’s not preachy, nor does it get melodramatic.

To sum up, WATER is a remarkable piece of cinema. It’s a must-see for all those who appreciate qualitative and refined cinema. Without doubt, the final chapter in Deepa Mehta’s trilogy [FIRE, EARTH] is her best!

Set during the pre-independence era, WATER revolves around an ashram for Hindu widows in 1930s India. The woman who runs the establishment, Madhumati [veteran actress Manorama], exploits the residents by running a prostitution racket. With the help of a transvestite Gulabi [Raghuvir Yadav], she pimps out the widows to the upper class, so that money keeps flowing in to run the ashram.

Narayan [John Abraham], a Gandhian, falls for the beautiful Kalyani [Lisa Ray], a widow in Madhumati’s house. Chuyia [Sarala], an 8-year-old widow and Shakuntala [Seema Biswas], a middle-aged woman are the other residents of the ashram.

Narayan proposes marriage to Kalyani. Kalyani decides to revolt against Madhumati’s dominance. Madhumati reasons that they will go to hell if Kalyani re-marries, but Kalyani has already made up her mind. Narayan decides to introduce Kalyani to his parents. But when she spots the house they’re heading towards, she insists they turn the ferry around.

Narayan is confused, but Kalyani tells him to ask his father the reason. When Narayan learns that his father had sexually exploited Kalyani, he feels disgusted. The end is tragic: Kalyani commits suicide, while Madhumati and Gulabi pimp out the little Chuyia.

WATER touches your heart on several occasions. The film begins with Chuyia being told that she’s a widow and her heartbroken father drops her at the ashram. The subtle romance between Narayan and Kalyani is another interesting aspect. The understanding between Gulabi and Madhumati raises eyebrows. But the finale is what catches you by complete surprise. Kalyani’s suicide and the innocent Chuiya being thrown to a pervert shakes you up completely.

WATER is, without a shred of doubt, Deepa Mehta’s finest work to date. The director handles the complex relationships with dexterity. Although the pacing is slow, given the theme of the film, not once do you feel uneasy because the drama that ensues has the power to hold your attention. Even the tragic finale has been handled in a classy manner.

Besides, Deepa Mehta raises several pertinent questions through Chuyia. Questions like ‘For how long will I be a widow’, ‘When will I return home’ or ‘Where do men who’ve lost their wives go’ are brutally honest. Mahatma Gandhi’s appearance in the end is another masterstroke. The final sequence, when Shakuntala hands over Chuyia to Narayan, is akin to a ray of hope.

Another remarkable feature is its cinematography [Giles Nuttgens], which captures the era with precision. Surprising, the film wasn’t nominated in this category! Dialogues are wonderful. The background score [Mychael Danna] as well as the songs [A.R. Rahman] injected in the narrative are appropriate. However, the film could’ve done without songs even otherwise. Costumes [Dolly Ahluwalia] reflect the detailing that has gone into the film.

Every performance in WATER is mesmerizing. But the one who really stands out with a remarkable portrayal is Sarala, who enacts the role of Chuyia with rare maturity. She is incredible! Seema Biswas proves yet again that she’s amongst the finest talents India has produced in recent years.

Lisa Ray looks stunning as always and emotes with flourish. John Abraham is perfect for the part. Known for his handsome looks all the while, you notice the maturity in his performance in WATER. Manorama returns to the big screen after a long gap and you’re bound to hate the lady -- so effective is she!

Raghuvir Yadav is first-rate. Vinay Pathak is believable. Kulbhushan Kharbanda stands out in a brief role. Waheeda Rehman [as John’s mother] suits the part.

On the whole, WATER is Deepa Mehta’s finest work to date and will win unprecedented critical acclaim in the Indian media. At the box-office, the film caters to a niche audience -- those who appreciate qualitative cinema. Therefore, its business at multiplexes of big cities will be better.

Undertrial - Review

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There are far too many stories in everyday life. While you forget most of them as a new day unfurls, a few stories find a place in some corner of your mind and are difficult to erase from your memory’s ‘recycle bin’. Nazim Rizvi’s UNDERTRIAL, directed by Aziz Khan, is one such story.

Let’s give you a gist of this straight-out-of-life story: A man is accused of raping his three daughters. Worse, the mother of the girls also testifies in court against the man in question.

Let’s talk of the cinematic interpretation, UNDERTRIAL.
First the good news: The story moves about in a serpentine fashion and since it’s based on a real-life incident, you’re baffled at the turn of events. The intricate details that you weren’t aware of hit you like a ton of bricks!

Now the bad news: Despite genuine intentions and captivating execution, the story isn’t everybody’s cup of tea. Although UNDERTRIAL is the celluloid interpretation of a real-life incident, a section of the audience would find the goings-on disturbing, calling it dark and depressing.

Yet, despite the pros and cons, a film like UNDERTRIAL drives home the point that some people succumb to weaknesses and take the wrong path in life, trying to reach the winning post via shortcuts. But at what cost? At the cost of sacrificing your self esteem? Losing out on your dear ones for materialistic pleasures?

Sagar Hussain [Rajpal Yadav] is an undertrial prisoner at the Central Jail. He is accused of raping his daughters continuously for eight years and also for conspiring to murder them. The evidence is stacked up against Sagar.

The last witness is Sagar’s wife Sameena [Monica Castelino], who wants to ensure life imprisonment for him with the help of Public Prosecutor P.P. Verma [Prem Chopra]. Amidst a guaranteed guilty verdict enters Ravi Vishnoi [Kader Khan] to, perhaps, Sagar’s rescue. Does Justice Jaya Reddy [Pratima Kazmi] pronounce him guilty?

Any film that boasts of a hard-hitting and compelling story ought to be handled with equal conviction. Although the initial portions of UNDERTRIAL aren’t captivating, primarily because the film gives more-than-required footage to the jail inmates and assorted characters, a few moments between Rajpal Yadav and Mukesh Tiwari are interesting nonetheless.

But UNDERTRIAL takes a leap in the second hour. The courtroom sequences -- Kader Khan cross-examining the chief complainant [the mother of the daughters] -- is attention grabbing. The flashback -- the mother’s past [already married to someone else – a fact she hid from Sagar], the murder of the eldest daughter, the prostitution racket -- are sure to give you goose bumps. The execution of the material is also first-rate.

The film concludes on a positive note -- the man is freed -- but it instills sadness in you as the jailor questions the man: “Where do you go from here?” And the dejected man, who has almost reached the sunset of his life, replies helplessly: “I don’t know. Jahan raaste le jaaye.” It moves you!

Making his Hindi film debut with UNDERTRIAL, director Aziz Khan handles a complex subject with conviction. The execution stands out during dramatic portions towards the second hour. The screenplay [Nazim Rizvi] is strong, although the entire exercise of capturing the death on a mobile phone looks a bit far-fetched. Although there isn’t scope for music [Anu Malik, Shamir Tandon] in a film of this genre, the two songs [one filmed on the jail inmates and the other, on bar girls] are completely justified. Cinematography [Tapan K. Basu] is just right.

Rajpal Yadav doesn’t get many lines to deliver, but emotes through his eyes. The anger, the pain, the anguish, the agony, the disgust, the will to fight back… the varied emotions surface convincingly all through those two hours. If you thought that the actor is cutout for comic roles only, you need to correct yourself. Watch UNDERTRIAL.

Monica Castelino gets a meaty role and although she goes over the top in a few sequences, you can’t overlook the fact that she’s enacting a role that demands an actor to be loud. Yet, in all fairness, she’s excellent in a role that shows her in various ages: Youngster, middle-aged and reaching the sunset of her life.

Kader Khan enacts his part with gusto. You rarely see the actor in movies these days, but it’s a pleasure watching him fight it out in the courtroom sequences in UNDERTRIAL. Prem Chopra is efficient. Pratima Kazmi is wonderful. She suits the character to the T. Mukesh Tiwari shines yet again, although the makers should’ve given the viewer a background of his character. Sunil Rege and Rajesh Puri are okay. The actor enacting the role of the social activist is effective.

On the whole, UNDERTRIAL has a bold storyline and an engrossing second hour to stay in the viewer’s mind. At the box-office, the lack of face-value will tell on its business, although the film has the merits to rise with a strong word of mouth.

Namastey London - Preview

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AKSHAY KUMAR as ARJUN
Akshay Kumar is Arjun, whose joy knows no bounds when he marries the beautiful and sophisticated Jazz. But the joy soon turns to despair when he realizes this marriage means nothing to her and she is determined to marry her British boyfriend. As a man who is forced to watch his wife romancing another, as the determined lover who will go to any lengths to make his beloved happy, Akshay’s sensitive but strong; helpless but determined Arjun will win everybody’s hearts. Will stubborn Jazz be the exception?

KATRINA KAIF as JASMEET SINGH
Katrina Kaif is Jasmeet Singh (Jazz). Born and brought up in London, you understand why she loves and wants everything that’s western, including a husband. You also understand her anger and rebellion when he father forces her to marry a stranger. But does Jazz realize the folly of her stubborn behavior? Or will she wake up too late? Only Katrina with her mix of western sensibility and eastern vulnerability could have pulled off this role of a confused girl, with her soul intact but her heart leading her astray.

RISHI KAPOOR as MANMOHAN SINGH
Rishi Kapoor is Manmohan Singh. This ‘angrezi beti ka desi baap’ is horrified to discover how obsessed his only daughter is with everything western. He does what any other Indian father would do – gets her married to a boy of his choice, without realizing the repercussions. As the loving father who will go to any lengths to safeguard his daughter’s happiness, Rishi Kapoor’s Manmohan Singh will strike a chord immediately with all those who have faced a similar situation in their lives.

UPEN PATEL as IMRAN KHAN
Upen Patel is Imran Khan. He is a Pakistani, but born and brought up in London like Jazz. Naturally if their fathers are best friends, so are they. He completely identifies with Jazz’s obsession for everything British as he himself has a Brit girlfriend. But when push comes to shove, when his very identity and religion are at stake, he realizes how much he ha wronged by giving Jazz the wrong advice.

JAVED SHEIKH as PARVEZ KHAN
Javed Shaikh is Parvez Khan. This talented actor returns to his ethnic roots by playing a Pakistani taxi driver, whose best friend happens to be an Indian, Manmohan Singh. He loves his son to death but cannot accept his live in relationship with a British girl. As the anguished father of a wayward son, the pathos and dignity he brings to his role must be seen to be believed.

What happens when you transplant an English rose to a countryside in Punjab and expect her to thrive in an alien environment? The rose will either die or rebel. That’s exactly what Jazz, rather Jasmeet does when her father Manmohan Singh brings her to India and gets her married to Arjun, a rough and tough farmer who can barely speak English. But Jazz too is equally determined to marry Charlie Brown her British boyfriend. Caught in this emotional tug of war between father and daughter is poor Arjun, who is helplessly and hopelessly in love with his beautiful but unyielding wife.

In Namastey London, this emotional and dramatic tug of war will determine whether love is more about giving or taking? Whether Indian values must surrender to Western culture? Whether Jazz will win or Jasmeet!

Nehlle Pe Dehlla - Review

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Certain films worked in the 1980s. In fact, Manmohan Desai and much later, David Dhawan made a career making such films. Ajay Chandok follows their footsteps in his directorial debut NEHLLE PE DEHLLA. Unfortunately, NEHLLE PE DEHLLA comes too late in the day!

The archetypal, humdrum, unexciting masala of two crooks wanting to upstage each other to lay their hands on a booty [Rs. 30 crores] have been cycled and recycled time and again over the decades. Padding the narrative with illogical situations and mindless humor, NEHLLE PE DEHLLA has nothing novel to offer.

To state that the script is outright predictable would be putting it mildly. In fact, it doesn’t take an Einstein to guess what’s in store next, once you’re 15 minutes into the film.

Johny [Sanjay Dutt] and Jimmy [Saif Ali Khan] are petty thieves. Johny has a fetish for robbing expensive watches from showrooms during the day, while Jimmy robs mansions in the wee hours of the morning. Both land up behind bars often, but detest each other’s sight.

Outside a bar one night, they encounter Guptaji [Avtar Gill], who has been killed by the villains [Shakti Kapoor, Mukesh Rishi, Aasif Sheikh and Shiva]. Before dying, he blurts out the words ‘Roxy Hotel, accounts department’ to Johny and Jimmy.

Both Johny and Jimmy land up at the hotel giving false stories to Balram [Shakti Kapoor] and get employed as stewards. In the meanwhile, Balram’s niece Pooja [Bipasha Basu] and her friend Kim [Kim Sharma] plan to start a hotel in Mauritius and instruct Balram to dispose off the Goa property.

But the scheming and corrupt Balram has usurped all the money [Rs. 30 crores] with the help of three crooks [Mukesh Rishi, Aasif Sheikh and Shiva] and hidden it in Mauritius. Johny and Jimmy get to know Balram’s game plan and demand a share in the booty. Balram calls them to Mauritius. In the meanwhile, the three crooks also hatch a plan to eliminate Balram and usurp the booty themselves.

The action shifts to Mauritius. Balram is murdered. Johny and Jimmy are in a fix since only Balram knows where he had hidden the booty. In the meanwhile, the three crooks rob the body and take it to a tantrik [Supriya Karnik], who says that the dead body of Balram will only react to a Mauritian song.

How everyone gets to the treasure with the help of the dead body, forms the crux of the film.

NEHLLE PE DEHLLA defies logic. And the writer of the film deserves a Razzie for cooking up a story that centers around a dead body. The corpse of Shakti Kapoor dances to music, drives a car, completes the formalities in the bank, reaches the place where the booty [Rs. 30 crores] is hidden and even fights the goons in the end. Wait, there’s more… The dead body falls off from the hotel, is thrown in the sea but returns to the shore, it meets with an accident but the body shows no bruises, is even hidden in a refrigerator but it remains normal… Waah, mazaa aa gaya!

Director Ajay Chandok seems to be stuck in the 1980s. No problem if you’re inspired by the masala potboilers of yore, but times have changed, Mr. Director. Any redeeming aspect? A few funny moments. Sure, it’s juvenile stuff, but the humor does bring a smile on your face at places. Music is strictly okay, although the filming of the two romantic songs between Saif-Kim are visually striking. Cinematography is up to the mark.

Everyone hams to the hilt here! While Sanju has attempted similar roles in the past, it’s Saif’s first attempt at non-stop nonsense. Both are loud. Bipasha has a set of three expressions all through, while Kim Sharma has one. Shakti Kapoor is his usual self. The three crooks -- Mukesh Rishi, Aasif Sheikh and Shiva -- are mere gap fillers.

On the whole, NEHLLE PE DEHLLA is a poor show all the way.

Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd. - Preview

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Character Sketch

Couple 1: Oscar Fernandez (Boman Irani) and Nahid (Shabana Azmi)
They are an elderly couple; a bit out of place in this group of young honeymooners. The carefree twosome doesn’t care about people poking fun at them. They are on honeymoon to keep their difficult past behind and search for a new future with each other.

Couple 2: Partho Sen (Kay Kay Menon) and Milly Sen (Raima Sen)
This couple from suburban Kolkata is engaged in an eternal war of the sexes. A dominating Partho tries curbing his wife’s fun-loving instincts till things get shockingly out of control in Goa!

Couple 3: Pinky (Amisha Patel) and Vicky (Karan Khanna)
Pinky and Vicky, from Delhi, are poles apart. While Pinky is talkative to the hilt, Vicky is the quiet sort. The reason for his aloofness is manifest at the end.

Couple 4: Madhu (Sandhya Mridul) and Bunty (Vikram Chatwal)
This is a “crossover couple” with the husband being an affluent NRI from L.A., and the wife, a typical Mumbai girl. Seemingly, they’re well-matched – well, almost like girlfriends!

Couple 5: Aspi (Abhay Deol) and Zara (Minissha Lamba)
They are, supposedly, the “perfect” couple who’ve never had an argument. All the other couples comment, with envy, on their compatibility, but no one can guess their real secret!

Couple 6: Hitesh (Ranvir Shorey) and Shilpa (Dia Mirza)
This is a young couple from an orthodox Gujarati family. Shilpa is petrified of honeymooning but Hitesh assures her that she will return with a smile on her face – words that will prove uncannily ironic in retrospect!

With an enthralling score by Vishal-Shekhar, “Honeymoon Travels” is a young, new-age and hilarious meditation on marriage and the most shocking and unexpected surprises that come with it. Not to be missed!

Storyline

Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd. is about six married couples on a package honeymoon to Goa. Exciting and cheerful, this vacation is a subsidized option for a lot of dreamers on the brink of their new life.

The film opens with six couples, a guide, a driver and a handyman riding in a bus from Bombay to Goa. The narrative humorously unfolds seven different stories that explore the nature of love and human relationships. Woven into the hectic four day honeymoon schedule is a radio show – “Pyaar Ke Lamhe”. The jockey plays the role of an omniscient narrator and discusses individual characters, revealing secrets about them and their past.

From the time the bus leaves Bombay, a man on a bike follows them all the way to Goa. We don’t know who this mystery man is. He is dressed in leather and a helmet throughout, until one day….

Nishabd - Review

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The older man-younger woman / older woman-younger man concept isn’t alien to Hindi films. Years ago, Yash Chopra’s production house attempted DOOSRA AADMI [Raakhee, Rishi Kapoor]. Then, of course, there was LAMHE [Anil Kapoor, Sridevi]. A spate of films in the intervening period tackled similar themes, notable among them being LEELA [Dimple Kapadia, Amol Mhatre], TUM? [Manisha Koirala, Karan Nath], EK CHHOTI SI LOVE STORY [Manisha Koirala, Aditya Seal], JOGGERS PARK [Victor Banerjee, Perizaad Zorabian] and DIL CHAHTA HAI [Dimple Kapadia, Akshaye Khanna].

Attraction between two people is natural, despite an age difference. But the pertinent question is, Is the Indian moviegoer ready for a change? Let’s face it, we’re still very orthodox and conservative about certain issues. And NISHABD, Ramgopal Varma’s new creation, tackles an issue which, for some unexplainable reasons, we don’t wish to discuss publicly.

RGV says what he wants to without mincing words. In NISHABD, the 60-year-old man admits that he loves an 18-year-old girl. In the process, he severs ties with his wife and daughter. He wants to commit suicide subsequently, but doesn’t. Conclusion: He wants to spend the remaining days of his life thinking of the tender moments he spent with the 18-year-old. Daring stuff!

So, does RGV borrow from Adrian Lyne’s LOLITA [1997; Jeremy Irons, Dominique Swain, Melanie Griffith]? Not really! The only similarity is that the older man falls in love with the younger girl. LOLITA tackled, besides the aforesaid issue, pedophilia too. Thankfully, NISHABD stays away from that!

NISHABD is sensitively handled. No two opinions on that! But a film like NISHABD isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. It might appeal to a thin section of Indians living in metros, but for the wide majority, it’s an absolute no-no. It’s simply unpalatable, to put it bluntly.

Vijay [Amitabh Bachchan], a photographer, lives with his wife [Revathy] at a picturesque hill station. Their daughter Ritu [Shraddha Arya] and her friend Jiah [Jiah Khan] visit them during holidays. It isn’t love at first sight for either Vijay or Jiah. But Vijay and Jiah are drawn towards each other.

However, Ritu gets to know of the affair and all hell breaks loose.

Like a majority of RGV films, NISHABD has an unconventional storyline. If the maverick film-maker needs a pat for swimming against the tide and choosing a bold subject, he also needs to know that certain subjects are taboo as far as Indian moviegoers are concerned.

Besides, the writing isn’t foolproof either. Jiah is attracted to her best friend’s father and falls in love with him. Her behavior is defiant and aggressive. She woos him openly, even though she’s sharing the roof with the man’s wife and daughter. Now that’s a bit difficult to absorb. Also, Jiah walks around in the skimpiest of outfits, making you wonder what her true intentions are. Is she merely attracted to the man? Or does she need him to fulfill her physical needs?

Much later, the daughter gets to know of the clandestine relationship. How does she get an inkling of it? There should’ve been at least one sequence to justify it. A few sequences later, there’s some realization and the man asks Jiah to leave the home. Why does he develop cold feet suddenly? If the man had the courage to take a bold step, admitting his feelings to his wife and daughter, why doesn’t he stick to it?

The penultimate reels are a downer. The man cannot erase Jiah from his memory and the film ends on this note. Besides being a bold ending, it comes across as too abrupt.

RGV has tackled the theme with maturity and sensitivity. But, as mentioned earlier, it’s the subject that has its limitations. Besides, the slow pacing of the film is another deterrent. The film moves at a lethargic pace in the second hour and even otherwise, after the truth is out in the open, there’s not much meat in the story.

Cinematography [Amit Roy] is excellent. The lush green locales of Munnar lend the film a stunning look. Also, the camera movement is truly imaginative. Another technical aspect that deserves a special mention is the background score. It’s fantastic!

Amitabh Bachchan is in top form, essaying the role with complete understanding. He emotes through eyes on several occasions, which is the hallmark of an accomplished actor. Newcomer Jiah Khan is supremely confident. Loaded with attitude and sex appeal, the newcomer carries off her part with flourish. Her scenes with Bachchan are superb!

Revathy excels yet again. Nasser is competent. Shraddha Arya is first-rate. Aftab Shivdasani [sp. app.] is adequate.

On the whole, NISHABD will meet with diverse reactions thanks to its bold theme. While a tiny section of moviegoers [elite] may appreciate the effort, the aam junta won’t. At the box-office, the film caters to the multiplexes only. But not all multiplexes! A handful of multiplexes of Mumbai, Delhi, Pune and South might register decent business in its opening weekend, but the film will face a tough task in several circuits. Its business at single screens will be poor!

Hat Trick - Preview

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Life with its twists and turns can never be predicted…
But definitely is inter-linked…
Linked to events …
And a change in 1 event spirals similar changes in life, 5 lives to be precise.

Adventure gets a new name as 5 completely diverse lives roller coasting along the World Cup, bind in one moment of magic… and life is never the same again!

“Hat Trick!” is one such magical story of triumph… the triumph of the human spirit

Deriving it’s name from the famous magical expression, “Hat Trick”, it deals with three stories across different slices of life, each of which reaches a crescendo and each of which needs the protagonist to pull out a magic trick from the hat, something that they’ve never done before, and something that must be done now, in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds… Because it will make the difference between winning and losing!

The life of each character with Cricket, to be specific, with the World Cup 2007 that is to be played in the Caribbean.

Using the tournament as a sensational and poignant backdrop and the fictionalized fortunes of the Indian Cricket Team in the tournament, “Hat Trick!” takes a tangy look at what happens to FOUR sets of lives during the span of the tournament. Yes, FOUR! The fourth being the journey of the Indian Cricket team in its quest for the World Cup.

Hat trick synonymies three consecutive victories in a row. Aptly, the film Hat Trick is also about three such victories – about underdogs battling life’s crazy challenges to emerge winners, and eventually recognizing the winner that lives in each one of us!

1971 - Preview

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Character Sketch

Manoj Bajpai as Major Suraj Singh
Major Suraj Singh was captured on 12th December, 1971 in Uri sector on account of running out of ammunition. He hails from 18 Rajputana Rifles and was imprisoned at kot Lakhpat jail in Lahore. He has been said to have made two escape attempts from there and was dealt with severely.

He is the father figure in the Prisoners of War camp and has nobody to go back to in India, but he wants to do this for a bigger cause. He wants the rest to meet up with their families. In this camp he makes the men not forget their army manners. From entertainment of the Prisoners of Wars to disciplining them, Major Suraj Singh is always there.

Ravi Kishan as Captain Jacob
Captain Jacob hails from Cochin. He had fallen in love with his wife in a cinema hall and had got married just 2 years before the war started. She is waiting for him in the hope that he will come back alive someday. He specializes as an explosive and topography expert and it comes in handy whilst they are all on the run.

Chitaranjan Giri as Subedar Ahmed
He comes from a small town Muslimabad. He has left his three month pregnant wife at home prior to leaving for the war. He was the only son and was supporting his two aged parents. He had taken care of all his superiors in the best way. And at the Prisoners of War camp he was in Major Suraj Singh's regiment to whom he served loyally.

Kumud Mishro as Captain Kabir
Captain Kabir is a married, shy and a quite man by nature who comes from Pune. He has a daughter who is 11 years old and often dreams of himself walking the streets of Pune with his daughter and wife. He is also from Major Suraj Singh's regiment and is his most trusted officer. He takes Major Suraj Singh in the highest regard.

Manav Kaul as Flight Lt. Ram and Deepak Dobriyal as Flight Lt. Gurtu
Flight Lt. Ram and Flight Lt.Gurtu bothering to 21st Squadron MIG 21. Ram is from Delhi while Gurtu is from Srinagar. They both met in their training days and have been best friends ever since. Both of them are second generation air force officers and planned to get married as soon as they get back . Both flew out from Ambala, were shot down and caught by the enemy and were imprisoned together in Mutant jail. They are great buddies with a very quirky sense of humour. They would go to any extent to ensure each other's well being, literally, a friendship to die for.

Story line

A band of six Indian prisoners of war have to make the most daring escape from a Pakistani camp to the Indian border at all costs. What ensues is a gut-wrenching chase, across the unyielding terrain, where these men brave inhuman weather conditions and the constant threat of the Pakistani officials on the hunt for the stray Paw’s

All they have to rely in this dangerous mission are each other, their undying sprit and their love for their homeland. But will these be enough to see them through.