Indian movies

Let's clear a misconception before we get down to reviewing SHAURYA. It's not a war film. It's not jingoistic. It doesn't spew venom on the neighboring country. It doesn't show mutilated bodies or blood-soaked faces and limbs.

Sure, SHAURYA has the backdrop of the armed forces. But it's about a court martial. It's about two friends, who're pitched against each other in a courtroom. The 'culprit', in turn, doesn't want to defend himself and remains a mute spectator for reasons best known to him.

SHAURYA is a serious film and raises a serious issue in the penultimate 20 minutes. And that's where it scores. Director Samar Khan gradually builds up the tension and when it explodes in the finale, it leaves you stunned and speechless. Most importantly, it makes you uncomfortable… perhaps, that's one of the reasons why it succeeds.

SHAURYA is about the common man, but as a cinematic experience, it's more for the discerning viewer looking for a hatke theme, thirsting for a story in those 2 hours. Most importantly, it does justice to the tagline - 'It takes courage to make right… right'.

Captain Javed Khan [Deepak Dobriyal] is charged with mutiny, treason and killing a fellow officer. Even when he is held for court martial, he refuses to speak in his defense as the secret he holds is too powerful for the establishment to handle. Assigned for this task are Sid [Rahul Bose] and Akash [Jaaved Jaaferi], two best friends, lawyers and very ambitious individuals who have contrasting views on life.

Nevertheless, this one case changes their lives forever. The case takes them to Srinagar. While Akash, for whom winning the case matters the most, follows the blueprint, Sid discovers a new meaning in life, Kavya, Javed and of course, the man in question, Brigadier Pratap [Kay Kay Menon].

Why is Javed silent? What is the truth of that night? Why is Brigadier Pratap hell-bent on getting Javed convicted? Will Sid have the courage to save Javed's life?

SHAURYA isn't a flawless script. But it has been treated with utmost realism and sensitivity by Samar Khan. Talking of the narrative, the film could've done without the item song at the very start [and what was Pawan Malhotra doing in this song?]. Besides, one fails to understand why Deepak Dobriyal doesn't confide to his mother, since the family has always taken pride in the fact that they've adhered to principles all their lives. Besides, the film could've been shorter by at least 15/20 minutes. The second hour drags at places!

Despite the hiccups, SHAURYA delivers what it promises. At the end of the screening, you actually pinch yourself. Did the same guy who helmed this riveting fare called SHAURYA, direct KUCH MEETHA HO JAYE, a bitter cinematic experience? The execution of SHAURYA is impressive and Samar also succeeds in extracting stellar performances from the ensemble cast.

Despite the shortcomings, the screenplay is tight, not deviating from the core issue. The reason that compels Deepak Dobriyal to shoot a fellow officer and also the powerful climax prove that the writers [Jaydeep Sarkar, Aparnaa Malhotra and Samar Khan] know their job well. There's not much scope for music in a film like this, therefore the two songs don't make much of an impression. However, in terms of melody [Adnan Sami], 'Dheere Dheere' has a soothing effect on the listener. Carlos Catalan's cinematography is topnotch.

The story rests on five actors - Rahul Bose, Kay Kay Menon, Jaaved Jafferi, Deepak Dobriyal and Minissha Lamba. Rahul excels in a role that fits him like a glove. In fact, this performance easily ranks as one of his finest works. Kay Kay is dynamic. Watch him explode in the climax and you realize the potential this actor possesses.

Jaaved does a decent job. However, his character is relegated to the backseat after a point. Deepak conveys a lot even when silent - that's the sign of a fine actor. Minissha is effective. Besides, she looks the character. Amrita Rao handles her part with maturity. She's first-rate. Seema Biswas, as always, is a complete natural.

On the whole, SHAURYA is a well-made film that will have to rely on a strong word of mouth to sustain in the coming days. However, the film deserves to be tax-exempted since it's a genuinely deserving case.

It's an arduous task to make a film with kids. And much more difficult to inject a sport [read, cricket] in the plotline. 2007 has witnessed two films with cricket as the backdrop - HATTRICK and SAY SALAAM INDIA. In CHAIN KULII KI MAIN KULII, two tracks run concurrently -- an orphan's desire to have parents and his passion for cricket.

Made with noble intentions and with the motive of making a film that would appeal to kids from 6 to 60, CHAIN KULII KI MAIN KULII doesn't really measure up to the expectations of either adults or kids. That's because the film appeals in bits and spurts. The sequences on the pitch succeed in arousing the required emotions, but the emotional angle in the story [between Rahul Bose and his estranged father Nasser Abdullah] appears fake. Also, the romance between Rahul and Meera Vasudevan is half-baked. In fact, forced in the narrative.

In a nutshell, CHAIN KULII KI MAIN KULII isn't great cinema. Conversely, it's not a below-the-mark movie-going experience either. It floats somewhere in between.

CHAIN KULII KI MAIN KULII is a journey of a 13-year-old an orphan boy Karan [Zain Khan], who lives in a dilapidated orphanage owned by a stern, uncouth warden, John Kakkad [Rajesh Khera]. Karan has two dreams, one is to have parents and the other is to be a big cricketer. His inspiration is Kapil Dev since he has been brought up on the motivating stories of India's World Cup win by the orphanage caretaker, Bholu Dada [Susheel Parasher].

Karan's best buddy in the orphanage is Daboo [Deeptiman Chaudhary], who often lends his gentle ears to the aspirations which Karan lives on. His dreams take a turn when one day, he lays his hands on an old cricket bat which Karan is convinced is the bat that Kapil Dev used to win the World Cup, and for him the bat becomes a magic bat.

One day, by the stroke of luck, the coach of the Indian cricket team [Vijay Crishna] spots Karan and is highly impressed by his batting skills. This happens at a time when the Indian cricket team is going through a rough patch. Karan is inducted into the team as the opening batsman along with the captain, Varun [Rahul Bose].

Karan soon becomes the nation's heartthrob. Only one person hates him, Raghav [Raj Bhansali], the orphanage bully, who feels that if Karan did not have the magic bat, he would have never made it to the cricket team. Raghav now wants the magic bat at any cost.

At the final one-day match between India and Pakistan, events spiral out of control and Karan's magic bat is destroyed. Karan is a nervous wreck, but Varun makes him realize that faith in oneself counts beyond anything else.

Jay Shewakramani's story has the potential to strike a chord with moviegoers of all ages, but the screenplay [Nupur Asthana] vacillates between convincing and least convincing. In an effort to please the kids as also grown-ups, the film drifts away from the core issue.

Debutante Kituu Salooja's direction is simple and a few moments are deftly executed, especially those in the orphanage. But, as mentioned at the outset, the film works in bits and spurts, not in totality. Salim-Sulaiman's music is plain ordinary. The title track in the end credits is eye-catching. Cinematography [Promod Kumar H. Pradhan] is functional.

Rahul Bose takes a backseat since the focus is on Zain Khan, who's supremely confident all through. Ditto for the other kid, Raj Bhansali. Vijay Crishna is effective. Rajesh Khera's performance is impressive. But his shabby get-up resembles that of a male witch, not an orphanage warden. Meera Vasudevan gets no scope. Deeptiman Chaudhary is cute.

On the whole, CHAIN KULII KI MAIN KULII is an ordinary fare that might attract kids in its opening weekend. But the three tough oppositions next week will marginalize it completely.

Anuranan means 'resonance' in Bengali and this movie is about the story of two couples, each with their own struggles to survive as a couple and as individuals. These individuals can be distinctly seen as four separate entities, with their own dreams, desires and emotions. Fate and circumstances bring them together.

After living in London for a few years, Rahul and Nandita have recently moved back to Kolkata. The Kanchanjunga project is what brings Rahul and Amit together. Friendship eventually blossoms amongst both the couples - Rahul & Nandita and Amit & Preeti. As time flies, lot of events unfold and the relationship these friends share creates a resonance, a chord - that echoes through their present and future.

Rahul, Nandita, Preeti and Amit are seen walking through life, each of them going through a different phase. They bump into each other and their life takes a subtle turn. Rahul and Nandita strike a chord at a different level which continues to reverberate. They experience a unique bond and emotionally connect with each other in a significant plane of their journey in life.

The understanding between Preeti and Nandita at the end of the story when their individual worlds are broken to bits and pieces also signifies a new resonance that has been struck. It signifies a new beginning for two people who will grow and nurture each other meaningfully in days to come.

This movie shot in London with some brilliant photography, has very beautifully portrayed relationships. The sensitivity with which the emotions have been captured is commendable. The film contemplates how at various moments and thresholds of our life we experience different kinds of bonds and emotional attachments with different kinds of people.

Chain Kulli Ki Main Kulli, a children’s film, is a journey of an orphan boy of 13 years of age who dares to dream big and thereby, proves to the world that “Believe in yourself and the world will be at your feet”.

The film revolves around an orphan boy, Karan (Adil Badshah), who lives in a dilapidated orphanage owned by a stern, uncouth warden, John Kakkad. Karan has two dreams, one is to have parents and the other is to be a big cricketer. His inspiration is Kapil Dev since he has been brought up on the motivating stories of India’s ‘83 world cup win by the orphanage caretaker, Bholu Dada who is a loving and a gentle old man.

Karan’s best buddy in the orphanage is Daboo who often lends his gentle ears to the aspirations which Karan lives on. His dreams take a turn when one day, he lays his hands on an old cricket bat which Karan is convinced is the bat that Kapil Dev used to win the ‘83 World Cup, and for him the bat becomes a magic bat.

One day by the stroke of luck, the coach of the Indian cricket team, spots Karan and is highly impressed by his batting skill. This happens at a time when the Indian Cricket Team is going through a rough patch. Karan and his magical bat is inducted into the Indian Cricket Team as the opening batsman along with the captain, Varun. A wave of shock and horror runs through the nation. Accusations and altercations abound…Tempers and tantrums fly…Until the little boy marches on to the pitch and wins the match for India.

Karan soon becomes the nation’s heartthrob. Once rejected by adopting couples he is now the most sought after kid in the country. Only one person hates him i.e Raghav the orphanage bully ….who feels that if Karan did not have the magic bat he would have never made it to the cricket team. Raghav now wants the magic bat at any cost.

Karan and Varun, develop a strong emotional bond. A bond deeper than fellow cricketers. Karan has no parents and Varun has parents, but is estranged with his father and does not want to accept him. Karan strongly believes that parents are the best gift endowed by God, and succeeds in uniting Varun with his father.

At the final 5th one day match between India and Pakistan, events spiral out of control and Karan’s magic bat is destroyed. Karan is a nervous wreck, but Varun makes him realize that faith in oneself counts beyond anything else….The magic is in you.