* One, its one-of-its-kind sci-fi fare, with a big chunk of footage devoted to VFX.
* Two, the pre-release hype, the frenzy in the media, the various tie-ups/endorsements has kept LOVE STORY 2050 constantly in news.
* Three, LOVE STORY 2050 marks the debut of Harman Baweja, one actor who has been lapped up by industry bigwigs even before his debut vehicle has hit the screens. It's a hi-profile launch.
From the looks of it, LOVE STORY 2050 demands a dekho, but there's a hitch…
Special effects -- for that matter the trappings used to embellish a movie -- work only if a movie has a rock-solid base: Content. Unfortunately, LOVE STORY 2050 gives more preference to special effects, while the writing takes a complete backseat.
There's no denying that Harry Baweja's intentions are genuine and noble, but, seriously, did the veteran get carried away by special effects? No doubt, the basic idea sounds interesting and the viewer would love to be a participant in this time-travel film, but what comes across is amateurish.
Given a title like LOVE STORY 2050, the film ought to evoke strong emotions, mainly towards the second hour, when the lead man has a tough time convincing his lady-love. But technical wizardry and VFX dominate this hour, while the emotional moments fail to evoke any reactions. Actually, your heart does not pine for the lovers and that's why this love story hardly creates any impact.
Karan [Harman Baweja], a young, spirited, sporty boy lives life off the rules, while Sana [Priyanka Chopra], a petite, shy girl lives life by the rules. Opposites attract… and love blossoms. Karan's uncle, Dr. Yatinder Khanna's [Boman Irani] much developed time machine finally works. Sana expresses her wish to travel ahead in time to Mumbai. But there's an accident…
Mumbai 2050. Flying cars, 200 storey buildings, robots and sky rails have changed the face of Mumbai. Through a series of twists and turns, Karan finds himself separating from his love. Meanwhile, Dr. Yatinder and Karan are under threat from Dr. Hoshi.
You are mesmerized by the initial scenes in LOVE STORY 2050. And it's not the script that hooks and magnetizes you. Harman's skills as an actor and also a gymnast [watch him give the firangs a chase] makes you speechless. Note the cycle chase [wow!] or Harman wooing Priyanka on a roller coaster [superb… you sure have guts, Harman]. The film works in this hour because the chemistry between the lead actors is also piping hot.
But things go downhill in the post-interval portions. What takes precedence are special effects, robots, gizmos, the masked villain… In this melee, the writing is put on the backburner.
Harman Baweja has the potential to be a major star, a front-runner. No two opinions on that! He's an exceptional dancer and looks handsome as well. But most importantly, he knows the grammar of acting well. Watch out for this kid! Priyanka Chopra is immensely likable. She suits her part to the T. Boman Irani is efficient. Archana Puransingh is lovable. The kids don't contribute at all.
On the whole, LOVE STORY 2050 rests on a thin plot and that would curtail its reach to a major extent. Disappointing!
Rama Rama Kya Hai Dramaaa - Review
Although the topic it touches is serious in nature, debutante director S. Chandrakant weaves humor in the plot so that the goings-on don't get heavy at any point. Also, you don't really expect the moon from the film, so you aren't disappointed either.
To cut a long story short, RAMA RAMA KYA HAI DRAMAAA isn't a great comedy by any chance. But you continue to smile, not squirm, as the reels unfold!
The story revolves around three married couples -- Prem [Aashish Chowdhary] and Khushi [Amrita Arora], Santosh [Rajpal Yadav] and Shanti [Neha Dhupia] and Mr. and Mrs. Khurana [Anupam Kher and Rati Agnihotri]. Santosh marries Shanti, a small-town girl, and later realizes that Shanti is not the 'perfect wife'. Petty differences start popping up and Santosh starts day-dreaming and imaging other women as his wives.
The marriage of Prem and Khushi is also not smooth-sailing, since Khushi is too demanding as a wife. How the two couples make up in the end forms the crux.
On the flip side, the writer hasn't spelt the reasons that put Rajpal and Neha in the war zone. Why are they constantly bickering? The other couple's [Aashish, Amrita] relationship is also not well-developed. Aashish is an excellent husband, but Amrita seeks divorce in the end. It should've been the other way round.
Debutante S. Chandrakant shows a flair for comedies. But he could've done with a tighter script. Siddharth-Suhas' music is a plus point. The songs are easy on the lips. Dialogues are funny at places.
RAMA RAMA KYA HAI DRAMAAA doesn't demand histrionics, so everyone's over the top, in keeping with the mood of the film. Rajpal Yadav is the scene stealer. Neha too acts well. Aashish has a Salman Khan hang-up. He ought to be natural. Amrita Arora gets minimal scope. Anupam Kher and Rati Agnihotri are adequate.
On the whole, RAMA RAMA KYA HAI DRAMAAA is a fair entertainer.
Naqaab - Review
For any thriller to strike a chord, it ought to follow three simple rules: [a] It should boast of actors who can carry off their parts with dexterity, [b] The twists-n-turns should catch you by complete surprise and [c] The climax, when the veil of secrecy is unveiled, should come as a jolt from the blue.
NAQAAB gets it right on two of the three vital fronts. The only time the film begins to stagnate is in its second hour, when the knots begin to disentangle. The film dips in the second hour, but the climax does a volte face again. The suspense catches you by surprise!
Abbas-Mustan have mastered the art of making thrillers and although NAQAAB isn't as compelling as their earlier products, there's no denying that the highs outnumber the lows in this case. One thing is for sure, the screenplay could've been tighter in the second hour.
To sum up, NAQAAB is a watchable fare with the twists-n-turns being its highpoint. Of course, with an end like the one presented in this film, it's sure to meet with varied opinions, having its share of advocates and adversaries. But what goes in its favor is the fact that it's at least different. Terms like 'predictable' and 'monotonous' are non-applicable in this case!
The focus of the film also shifts to the past of the three characters, with some unexpected elements thrown in. Who does Urvashi choose?
The general perception is, the story bears a striking similarity to the recently released RAQEEB [which, in turn, was inspired by MURDER BY NATURAL CAUSES [1979] -- a lesser known English film]. Not true! In fact, the concept of NAQAAB is completely fresh.
NAQAAB begins with gusto! The relationships are established at the very outset. The moments between Akshaye and Urvashi are superb, beginning with the song, 'Ek Din Teri Raahon Mein'. The chemistry is sizzling, so vital for sequences that are to follow.
NAQAAB holds your interest in the first hour. You are hooked. But the second half has its share of loose ends. The motive of one of the protagonists isn't too convincing and when the story moves further on this track, it, somehow, doesn't look too convincing.
All this while you're under the impression that this protagonist has a hidden agenda. Or, perhaps, he wants to settle a score. You're led to believe that there's a strong motive behind his actions. And when this character reveals it all, it doesn't hit you like a ton of bricks. In fact, the finale, when the story again takes a U-turn, takes you by surprise.
This may not be Abbas-Mustan's best script, but every sequence bears the stamp of the master storytellers. Stylishly shot with some great moments, the storytellers at least have the courage to walk a seldom-used path. Shiraz Ahmed's screenplay is interesting. He builds up the suspense beautifully, but the post-interval portions could've been tighter.
NAQAAB belongs to Akshaye, who delivers yet another powerful performance. He's splendid, the real scene stealer, the soul of the enterprise. Bobby is relegated to the backseat in the first hour, but manages to make his presence felt in the second half. Urvashi Sharma gets a dream launch and she utilizes the golden opportunity completely. A confident debutante, she enacts her part like a seasoned professional. Also, she looks bewitching all through. Vikas Kalantri and Vishal Malhotra are adequate. Raj Zutshi is hardly there.
On the whole, NAQAAB is engrossing in parts, with the suspense really catching you by surprise. At the box-office, the film should find acceptance in big cities mainly. It may've started slow, but it should pick up over the weekend. Overall, a decent fare!