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Jimmy - Review

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JIMMY is meant to be the launch of a star-kid [Mimoh Chakraborty], but the question that crosses your mind constantly is, is the script befitting the launch of a star-kid in the first place? Does it do justice to the debutante's skills? Most importantly, how could a veteran, experienced Mithun Chakraborty okay such a shoddy script for his son's launch?

One look at Mimoh and you know that given the right roles, he can work wonders. So why a tacky script in the first place? He deserved better! The screenplay of JIMMY is an assemblage of the numerous masala films we've visited since time immemorial. The main betrayer here is its concept that has already passed the expiry date. And even a majestic tower will fall if the very foundations are weak.

Look at the cinema being churned out these days. Newer concepts, newer ideas, newer stories are the order of the day. The multiplex era has taken over completely. There's just no room for mediocrity any longer. In such a scenario, JIMMY looks like a fish out of water, an obsolete product that stands no chance in today's times.

Sorry, you just don't feel like humming the popular Mithun track 'Jimmy Jimmy Jimmy, aaja aaja aaja' for this one!

In the dead of the night, a young woman's dead body is uncovered by the police. All leads point towards Jimmy [Mimoh Chakraborty]. A mechanical engineer in day and DJ by night, Jimmy works hard to pay off the debts his late father [Prithvi] left behind. While everybody is shocked, Jimmy owns up to the murder and is sentenced to death.

Why did Jimmy commit such a heinous crime? Only Jimmy knows the truth. In a sudden twist of fate, Jimmy realizes in jail that he has been drawn into a vicious conspiracy.

It's important to change with the times, but writer Ranbir Pushp seems to be stuck in the bygone era. It's perfectly okay to pay homage to the cinema of yore, but the material should at least make sense. In JIMMY, it doesn't.

Frankly, nothing works in this fare, except, to an extent, Mimoh. Director Raj N.C. Sippy faces a major roadblock in the form of the written material. Music is strictly okay, with 'Marhaba' being the only track that demands your attention in terms of orchestration [foot-tapping] and also choreography [excellent]. Cinematography is fair.

All eyes are on Mimoh and right so. The youngster needs to take care of his styling and makeup, but let's give him the due -- he has the potential. Only thing, he needs a better vehicle to drive into the audience's heart. His expressions are okay, his dialogue delivery can be brushed up, he needs to lose weight. But there's something in this boy that makes you give him a second look, despite a pathetic script. He has the energy, but it needs to be tapped in the right direction.

New-find Vivana is a pretty face, but not an actor. Zulfi Syed hams to the hilt. Rahul Dev is wasted. And what did Shakti Kapoor see in this role? Ehsaan Khan and Vikas Kalantri do not perform either.

On the whole, JIMMY is a poor show all the way. The script disappoints, not the star-kid [Mimoh]. The film may not have a future, but the star-kid does!

Bhoothnath - Review

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Teaming two superstars [Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan] in your directorial debut is as good as impossible. Opting for a novel story -- the relationship between a spirit and a mortal -- is an equally big challenge. Really, it requires courage to make a film that defies the stereotype, yet is seeped in emotions that work with the Indian junta. Vivek Sharma's first outing BHOOTHNATH is a simple story, well told and that's why it works!

Aimed at kids between 6 and 60, BHOOTHNATH relies on the belief that has been passed on to us through generations: Aatma amar hain.

Let's get a few things straight at the very outset. BHOOTHNATH is not an eerie experience [it does have a few moments though]. It's more of a kiddie film with a strong undercurrent of emotions. In fact, the bonding between the spirit and the kid makes you smile, even laugh at times and most importantly, makes you moist-eyed at two vital points of this 2.08 hour film.

One of the prime reasons why BHOOTHNATH works, besides the above-mentioned reasons, is due to the right casting. The story rests on two shoulders -- the experienced [Bachchan] and the raw talent [Aman Siddiqui] -- and both shoulder the responsibility beautifully, both compliment each other wonderfully well and make it a must-see experience.

You forget most films the moment you step out of the cineplex. But there're films that remain etched in your memory for their simplicity. BHOOTHNATH is one of those films. Go for it!


Banku's family [SRK, Juhi Chawla] comes to live in a mansion in Goa, considered haunted after the demise of the patriarch of the family. The spirit uses every rule in the book to scare the kid, but the kid is unaffected by it all. Slowly, a bond develops between the two. The story takes a turn when Kailash Nath's son [Priyanshu] decides to sell off the mansion.

Debutante director Vivek Sharma's fundas are clear. Emphasize on substance, not as much on style. 15 minutes into the film and you know that the director doesn't believe in Russian angles or fancy camera wizardry to create the spooky effect. Sure, BHOOTHNATH begins as a spooky fare, but changes lanes the moment the spirit and the kid become buddies.

For most parts, BHOOTHNATH is aimed at the kids. The portions in the classroom/school, the interaction with the school principal [Satish Shah], the game of one-upmanship between the kids brings the kid out of you.

Vivek Sharma reserves the best during the intermission point as also the climax. The unanticipated accident minutes before the intermission and the emotional moments that follow are brilliantly executed. Ditto for the penultimate 20 minutes, right up to a pooja being organized to 'free' the spirit. Simply outstanding! In fact, the emotional quotient takes the graph of the film to an altogether different level.

Any shortcoming? Oh yes! Vishal-Shekhar's music is outright tacky. Either the duo is disinterested or they've run out of stock already. This is the second film in a row [after TASHAN] where the music composers fail in their jobs. The film deserved a better musical score and also composers who have the range to exhibit their talent.

Director Vivek Sharma's choice of the subject as also his handling of a number of scenes deserves brownie points. Besides being a good storyteller, Vivek has also extracted a striking performance from the child artiste. The film would've fallen like a pack of cards if Bachchan would've performed and the kid wouldn't. Another aspect that deserves mention is visual effects. The effects gel beautifully with the goings-on. Cinematography is consistent.

BHOOTHNATH belongs to Amitabh Bachchan and Aman Siddiqui, both. Bachchan continues to surprise you in every film. Any other actor would've been exhausted by now. Not Bachchan. Here's another noteworthy performance by the master actor! The child artiste, Aman, is adorable and a complete natural as far as acting goes. He stands up to Bachchan at every step and that itself is worthy of the highest award.

SRK's there for a good 20/25 minutes. He's excellent. Juhi is first-rate. Satish Shah will be loved by the kids. Rajpal Yadav is wasted. Priyanshu leaves a strong impression in the latter reels. Aashish Chowdhary and Nauheed Cyrusi are okay.

On the whole, BHOOTHNATH is a well-told story that has all it takes to appeal to kids and kids at heart, besides striking a chord with the families. Has the merits and potential to end the dry spell at the box-office.

Khuda Kay Liye - Review

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If given a choice between Pakistani movies and Pakistani TV shows/serials, I'd settle for the small screen any day. Not that all serials ['dramas' is what they call them in Pakistan] are engaging, but I am hooked to a few shows. From whatever I've seen of Pakistani movies, my ratings would not exceed 1 on a scale of 10. But KHUDA KAY LIYE, the first Pakistani film to release in India, is also the first Pakistani film that moved me.

The film depicts the dilemma the well-educated, progressive-thinking and liberal Pakistanis face, post 9/11. The West looks at them as potential terrorists, while fundamentalists frown on them. Director Shoaib Mansoor may not be a great technician, but is a fine storyteller nonetheless.

Honestly speaking, you don't take to the film at the outset. For, it takes time to come to the point, but once it does, there's no stopping it. However, there's a flip side as well. A theme like the one depicted in the film is not everyone's cup of tea. Although one does identify with the proceedings, the film is more for the thinking viewer, for those who dissect cinema after watching it, it's a film that sparks off debates and discussions.

Cinema in India has undergone a sea change and whether one likes it or not, the harsh fact remains that cinema here is entertainment driven. In that respect, KHUDA KAY LIYE has limited chances. Limited to the multiplexes of a handful of cities only. Yet, you cannot turn your eyes away from the fact that KHUDA KAY LIYE is a well-made film that reaffirms a dangerous fact - the world is only getting more and more divided!

The film is about the difficult situation in which Pakistanis in particular and the Muslims in general are caught up since 9/11. There is a conflict going on between the fundamentalists and the liberal Muslims. This situation is creating a drift not only between the western world and the Muslims, but also within the Muslim community.

The educated and modern Muslims are in a difficult situation because of their approach towards life and their western attire. They are criticized and harassed by the fundamentalists and on the other hand, the western world sees them as potential suspects of terrorism just because of their Muslim names.

The film has two stories running concurrently. The elder brother [Shan] wants to pursue music as a career and leaves for the U.S. The younger brother [Fawad Khan] is so influenced by the fundamentalists that he turns into an altogether different person completely. The younger brother's story of forcibly marrying a woman, the woman wanting to flee from his clutches but can't, takes you back to the Karisma Kapoor starrer SHAKTI - THE POWER and also the Manisha Koirala starrer ESCAPE FROM TALIBAN. The elder brother's story is novel and deftly executed. In fact, the elder brother's story is heart breaking.

Director Shoaib Mansoor knows exactly what he's talking about and has handled several portions with dexterity, especially the penultimate 20 minutes in the courtroom. Only thing is, the chaste Urdu spoken by Naseeruddin Shah will be difficult to decipher by most viewers. Cinematography could've been more eye-filling, in view of the fact that the locales are bewitching.

Shan is a fine actor, but he has put on a lot of weight and it shows. Imad Ali could've been more effective. Fawad Khan is strictly okay. Rasheed Naz is excellent. Naseeruddin Shah is the scene stealer. His portions are simply outstanding!

On the whole, KHUDA KAY LIYE is a well-made film, but it caters to the thinking audience, the intelligentsia mainly. At the box-office, the film caters to a handful of multiplexes in a handful of cites only. Sure, it would win tremendous critical acclaim, but box-office dividends in India are ruled out.