Dabangg (2010)

Ladies and gentlemen, it’s official. Salman Khan is the new Rajnikanth. Move over, aged Robot, and take that flimsy toupee with you. If 2009’s superhero action-hero flick Wanted wasn’t enough, Salman Khan’s biceps returned to gravity-defying action avatar in Dabangg. Legions of Salman Khan fans must be sighing in relief as to the rustic Zandu Balm the film was [let’s face it, this is no Guzaarish], but those still reeling from a bad Wanted hangover must have avoided this film like the plague.

Well, here’s a thought: don’t. Proudly presenting: the top five reasons you should watch Dabangg.

1. The Plot, or every drama you’ve seen on Star Plus, the ‘70s edition:

Set in Uttar Pradesh, Dabangg tells the [tired?] tale of Chulbul Pandey aka ‘Bad-Ass Robin Hood’ [Salman Khan], a fearless but corrupt police officer with unorthodox working methods. [Crime, masala, dishum-dishum quota filled right there. Front-benchers, rejoice!] Chulbul has had a bitter childhood. [Oh, duh. I mean, oh, no.] His father passed away when he was very young, after which his mother [Dimple Kapadia] married Prajapati Pandey [Vinod Khanna]. Together, they had a son Makhanchan [Arbaaz Khan] whom pita parmeshwar seems to favour – [hello, step-brother, forever-anguished maa, evil stepfather, it’s the Mumbai noir version of Cinderella! And who doesn’t love Disney?]

Chulbul decides to take control of his destiny and detaches himself from his step-father and half-brother. His sole attachment is his mother. However, after his mother’s demise and an unsuccessful attempt to mend wounds, Chulbul breaks all ties with his step-father and half-brother. Enter Rajo [Sonakshi Sinha], with her unique perspective of life, who turns his life upside down. Chulbul starts to see life more positively and also gets sensitized to the value of a family. But his detractors, especially the dubious Cheddi Singh [Sonu Sood], have their own vested interests and emerge as spokes in the wheels, putting one brother against the other. Makhanchan ends up carrying out an act oblivious to the consequences.

When Makhanchan realizes he has been used, he turns to Chulbul. Will Chulbul take his extended hand? Will the brothers be able to thwart their detractors?’

Will you be able to count the many clichés in that synopsis? Barring the sheer ludicrousness of the plot, which makes 2010’s Vivek Oberoi starrer Prince – It’s Showtime feel like Schindler’s List, the action sequences are kind of brilliant in all their kitsch glory, the dialoguebaazi and dramaybaazi are flat out phenomenal [and unintentionally hilarious, but still], the pace is frenetic – and most importantly, the film never takes itself seriously [like the unfortunate Veer did].

2. Chuck Norris, whoops, I mean, Salman Khan:

Having watched this film, I can now safely make the following claims:
When Salman Khan looks in a mirror the mirror shatters, because not even glass is stupid enough to get in between Salman Khan and Salman Khan.

There is no such thing as Global Warming. It’s all Salman, baby.

The square root of Salman Khan is broken bones.

Salman Khan eats pain for breakfast.

Salman Khan has more testosterone than Lady Gaga.

When Salman Khan goes to sleep, he doesn’t count sheep. He eats them.

The Matrix Trilogy would’ve ended with the first one if only Keanu Reeves had said: ‘I know Salman Khan.’

Salman Khan registered his name as a deadly weapon.

Yoda’s mentor Salman Khan was.

Milk never expires for Salman Khan.

Salman Khan can kill two birds with no stone.

The show Survivor had the original premise of putting people on an island with Salman Khan. There were no survivors, and nobody is brave enough to go to the island to retrieve the footage.

Salman Khan doesn’t wear a watch; he decides what time it is.

Salman can eat just one Lay’s potato chip.

The grass is always greener on the other side, unless Salman Khan has been there. In that case the grass is most likely soaked in blood and tears.

Salman Khan frequently donates blood to the Red Cross. Just never his own.

Seriously, though. Not since the Amitabh Bachchan [of the ‘70s] has an actor been able to epitomize the angry-yet-stoic-young-man; Salman breathes fire into every dialogue the scriptwriter throws his way with gleeful abandon. This is Salman at his most unrestrained; shirt-ripping a la Hulk included in the package. He plays the masses like Mozart. Poor debutant Sonakshi [Shatrughan Sinha’s daughter]. She never really stood a chance in this film. Come to think of it, neither did the rest of the actors.

3. ‘Munni Badnaam’ – the Malaika Factor

Can you say item-number-of-the-year? Though Salman Khan going ghetto on the streets of UP with his real-life sister-in-law Malaika Arora: awkward much? This just in: Munni being threatened by ‘Sheila Ki Shakira-esque Jawani’ [Katrina Kaif in Tees Maar Khan], so watch Malaika strut it out in all her backless choli glory, preferably in HD – before Munni goes from badnaam to benaam.

Oh, and the rest of the score is visually enticing [not to mention, easy on the ears - which is more than I can say about the We Are Family - or The Elvis Presley Massacre soundtrack] as well. Picks: ‘Tere Mast Mast Do Nain’, ‘Hud Hud Dabangg’ and ‘Humka Peeni Hai’. But Munni = 2 kewl.

4. “Hum Yahan Ke Robin Hood Hain. Robin Hood Pandey”: The Dialogues

Sonakshi ne Salman se kaha: “Thapad se darr nahi lagta sahab – par pyaar se lagtaa hai” – the frontbencher throwback to “Kaanton ko murjhaane ka khauf nahi hota” [Mughal-e-Azam]?

“Kamini se yaad aaya….Pandey ji..apki biwi kaisi hai?” – Major LOL moment.

Salman [really, who else?]: “Hum tumri jaan mein itna ched karenge, itna ched karenge ke confuse ho jao gay – ke saans kahan se ley aur paade kahan se” – okay, gross, but classic.

“Police waale ko thokne ka anjaam pata hai kya? Ikkis [21] saal jail aur thukkai alag se… Aur ussi police waale ne agar tumhe thokka, toh promotion alag se aur bahaduri ka medal bhi.” – really sums up the scope and feel of the modern police force, doesn’t it?

Practice your seeti-bajaana-skills, folks. Every scene has a college-campus-quotable.

5. Umm, I’m sorry, do you need a fifth reason?

Action, masala, romanchuk scenes, comedy, isshstunts, melodrama: Dabangg has it all. You want a Bollywood fill for 2010, this movie will suffice. Be warned, though: Dabangg isn’t groundbreaking by any standards, nor will it change your life. Unless it does. In a nutshell: Go. Watch. Dabangg. Now. Who knows, you might be able to prevent the 2012 apocalypse, as predicted by the Mayan calendar – Osman Khalid Butt

Rating – 3.5 out of 5

Cast and Production Credits

Year – 2010, Genre – Action/Drama, Country – India, Language – Hindi, Producer –Arbaaz Khan, Malaika Arora, Dhilin Mehta, Director –Abhinav Kashyap, Music Director – Sajid-Wajid, Cast - Salman Khan, Sonu Sood, Arbaaz Khan, Sonakshi Sinha, Mahie Gill, Vinod Khanna, Dimple Kapadia, Om Puri, Anupam Kher, Tinu Anand, Mahesh Manjrekar, Amitosh Nagpal, Murli Sharma

Anjaana Anjaani (2010)

Live each day like it’s your last. Enjoy life to the max. Live with a no regret policy. Yeah yeah yeah, we have all heard this time and again and that’s precisely what Anjaana Anjaani is all about. Directed by Siddharth Anand, starring Priyanka Chopra as Kiara and Ranbir Kapoor as Akash in the lead, Anjaana Anjaani is a story about two strangers who meet on a bridge, wanting to commit suicide.  Of course, they end up with unsuccessful suicide attempts and decide to die together. After a couple of failed attempts, they realize there’s probably something that they have left undone. That’s when they mark the New Year’s Eve for another suicide attempt and decide to spend the remaining 20 days doing things they have always wanted to do but couldn’t. What ensues is a 20-day road trip that takes Kiara and Akash over scenic locales throughout America.

If this rings a bell and reminds you of The Bucket List, let me just clear it out right away, Anjaana Anjaani is not an adaptation or a copy of that movie. However, there’s no denying the fact that the concept is clichéd and has been done over and over again. It’s extremely predictable. Ten minutes into the movie and you can already predict the end but what’s interesting is the way they take the story to the end. You still want to watch it despite the fact that Anjaana Anjaani doesn’t have an anjaana plot.

The reason you want to watch it is that it’s a simple, light hearted love story which is predictable but different in its own special way. Ranbir is the finest actor of this generation and his performance in Anjaana Anjaani proves that yet again. With every new release, Ranbir raises the bar higher and looks charming and absolutely stunning!

Priyanka has performed her role with great ease and looks natural. She has perfect comic timing in the comic scenes. She is emotional in the touching ones and rowdy during the drunken scenes. But even though she looks young, preppy and fashionable in the Manish Malhotra outfits, I believe she could have looked much hotter. Somehow she didn’t have the wow factor like she did in Dostana.

Priyanka and Ranbir are superb and they complement each other. It’s the first time that these two actors have come together and their chemistry is fantastic.

The movie takes a while to settle in the plot as Akash and Kiara’s bond blossoms but after a while you fail to understand why they still want to commit suicide. And just when their lame attempts to commit suicide start becoming annoying, they make you laugh like there’s no tomorrow. Watch out for the swimming adventure scene between Akash and Kiara. It is hilarious to say the least! Also, the scene where Akash is forced to pole dance at a gay club is uproarious and left the crowd in stitches. Kudos to Ranbir for pulling it all off so well without being called gay!

The initial scenes of the movie show a very carefree, fun loving, happy go lucky Kiara, which makes the audience question why she was on that bridge? But oh I forgot, the audience is not supposed to ask questions. Nevertheless, another question that kept popping in my mind was how Kiara and Akash could afford trips to Vegas and around America considering one of them was bankrupt and the other was jobless. Oh well, I guess everything is possible in Bollywood.

Another flaw apart from these unanswered questions in Anjaana Anjaani is that the entire movie focuses on only two characters basically. I am not forgetting the fact that Zayed Khan has a cameo but his performance is completely forgettable. Also, there are parts where the movie seems stretched. That’s when you wonder why Akash and Kiara didn’t jump off the bridge in the first place. But it’s not all that annoying. The locales shown are beautiful and make you feel stunned while seated in your chair gazing at the screen. Every frame is amazing. You can’t help but appreciate the cinematography. The music by Vishal Shekhar is foot tapping and easy on the ears. There’s a kind of song for everyone and the background score complements the movie to give a great effect.

All in all, Anjaana Anjaani is a predictable story with great performances, nice music, superb cinematography and light moments that bring a smile to your face. It makes you want to stop and think about what you really want to do in life. Oh and it teaches you the same lesson all over again, live each day like it’s your last but this time it convinces you a whole lot more – Hafsah Sarfraz

Rating :- 3 out of 5

Cast and Production Credits

Year – 2010, Genre – Drama/Romance, Country – India, Language – Hindi, Producer – Sajid Nadiadwala, Director – Siddharth Raj Anand, Music Director – Vishal Dadlani, Shekhar Ravjiani, Cast - Ranbir Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra, Zayed Khan, Anupam Kher

Badmaash Company (2010)

What do the box office results say about the Indian audience? When movies such as Badmaash Company fare well at the box office, and attract large audiences, what can one conclude about their taste in films?

Don’t get me wrong, the trailers were good enough to attract anyone easily: foreign location, beautiful babe, friends having a good time – that’s an easy enough formula to adhere to if the filmmakers want the movie to be watched by a lot of people.

Therefore the box office doesn’t really represent how good or bad the movie actually is; it only represents the amount of people that actually make their way to the cinemas to watch it.

That can be the only logical explanation, as one cannot understand why Badmaash Company would do so well otherwise. The movie opened to a good start, and earned fairly well. However the movie itself was not worth all the brouhaha.

The movie is about four friends who want to make it big. Well, honestly, it’s about one person who wants to make it big and gets help from his three friends. Therefore they con their way into success, where they’re living the high life. Eventually, karma hits them, and they fall with the same speed and impact, as when they were soaring high. Added with a bunch of songs shot in clubs and on the beach, some sizzling scenes between the two leads and the typical good-always-triumphs-over-bad ending, you have Badmaash Company in a nutshell.

However, the elements that were supposed to work for the movie are the reason why the movie failed. The plot could have worked, had everything else not been so forcefully added to the plate.

For instance, the unnecessary vulgarity, the crude dialogues, the lavish spending sprees – all seemed really fake and unnatural. They show Shahid as the mastermind behind all their cons, and the one determined to make it big one day and he aids the gang to their riches. But the irritating part was that after every con they pulled, they would show a scene (or a song) where they all would spend all their money on clothes and gambling and other useless things, and it all seemed so forced. Bollywood movies need to stop doing the overly glamourous thing when it isn’t looking right.

The second element which failed was the spice that was being forcefully making its way through onto the screen with the help of Anushka Sharma: the lady is fierce and strong, is an aspiring model, barely wears any clothes – basically everything that makes a woman sexy. Even then, her dialogues most of the times seemed trashy and totally unnecessary.

The second half of the movie sees a dramatic change in Shahid, when he takes the entire posse to Manhattan, and becomes so arrogant and conceited that he calls himself god at one point. What exactly was that about? He is a man with morals in the start, and after 60 minutes, we see him calling himself god, where the rest of the gang actually starts clapping and hooting afterwards!

The ending was based on a ridiculous scheme they come up with, which is absolutely honest, but clever. Therefore, he attempts to make up for all the wrong he has done by doing good. The earlier cons were actually believable, but the last final scheme which was supposed to be the biggest plan did not even make sense. So are they saying that big corporations in America are that stupid that they actually fell for the idiocy?

The most amusing part is that the movie was supposed to be a comedy, but there wasn’t a single joke that could have made anyone even smile if nothing else.

The magic of Yash Raj Films seems to be fading, as it continues to produce one failed production after another. Unfortunately, you can’t even watch these movies with your families anymore. Badmaash Company (if it absolutely must be watched out of curiosity) must not be viewed with children or young adults, or even parents for that matter. Otherwise be prepared to face some embarrassment, and quicken your reflexes to be able to quickly grab the remote control, and forward the scenes before harming anyone’s childhood – Manal Faheem Khan

Cast and Production Credits

Year – 2010, Genre – Comedy, Country – India, Language – Hindi, Producer – Aditya Chopra, Director – Parmeet Sethi, Music Director – Pritam Chakraborty, Cast - Shahid Kapoor, Anushka Sharma, Meiyang Chang, Vir Das, Anupam Kher, Kiran Juneja, Pawan Malhotra, Jameel Khan