Veer

Veer
EXPECTATIONS Honestly, expectations aren’t mammoth from the music of Veer. Yes, the film stars Salman Khan but Veer is a departure for him when it comes to his on-screen image. Yes, the film has music by Sajid-Wajid but this was clearly a setting that brought them out of their comfort zone. In fact, presence of Gulzar as the lyricist further makes one wonder how this unique combination will actually click. Moreover, since the film is a historical, there is always a ‘what if’ factor involved. MUSIC However, there is a surprise in store from the very first note of Veer with a grand feel with which ‘Taali’ arrives. An uncharacteristic beginning to the album due to the fact that it is not really a love song that kick starts the proceedings, ‘Taali’ is a spirited track that boasts of great energy. A truly Indian number which has Sukhwinder Singh at his boisterous best (who later returns to do a ’solo version’ of the song), ‘Taali’ boasts of some fine arrangements with a variety of instruments coming into play. In fact if not for Sajid-Wajid on the credits, one may have well imagined A.R. Rahman to be at the helm of affairs here. With Sonu Nigam joining the show and Wajid along with Neuman Pinto providing added support, ‘Taali’ takes a couple of listenings to settle down but once that happens, one looks forward to how director Anil Sharma has got the kind of grandeur that the song deserves. A good start. From here on the album takes a turn for something even better with ‘Surili Akhiyon Wale’ coming next. A melodic romantic number that boasts of some heartfelt and never heard before lyrics (has anyone ever heard of ‘ankhiyan’ being ’surili’?), it is further elevated due to silky vocals of Rahat Fateh Ali Khan. He sings ‘Surili Akhiyon Wale’ at a low pitch and in the process of doing so comes up with a rendition that would certainly make a mark for months to come. Sajid-Wajid take a complete departure from the kind of score they have made for films like Wanted and get into a classy scheme of things. The song also includes an English portion (obviously created for a Brit woman who is in love) and singer Suzanne D’mello pretty much justifies her inclusion. In fact it’s not just the ‘mukhda’ but even the ‘antara’ that works so very well that one finds it difficult to move on to the next track in the offing. A brilliant track that also appears in a much deserving duet which also features Sunidhi Chauhan. If the film is successful at the box office, it would be hard to ignore ‘Surili Akhiyon Wale’ which is as pure as it gets. It is the same purity that can be evidenced in ‘Salaam Aaya’ and by the time the song is one minute through, one is convinced that Sajid-Wajid had some of their best compositions reserved for Veer. In fact the song makes one wonder that why had they been choosing a different route for most of their masala outings when they had so much to offer. A soothing track that sees the coming together of Roop Kumar Rathod and Shreya Goshal, ‘Salaam Aaya’ is a moderately paced love song which is a complete shift from the high-on-beats club tracks that are in vogue today. This one has a truly Indian appeal to it and though one doesn’t quite hum around such songs on road, it does make a good impact on audio. For Salman Khan fans through there is ‘Meherbaniyan’. A Sonu Nigam solo, this one has an elaborate beginning to it and while there is a definite old world feel to ‘Meherbaniyan’, one can’t deny the fact that Salman will have his fans asking for more once the track plays on screen. The beginning of the track doesn’t quite indicate where it is heading but the moment the word ‘Meherbaniyan’ is heard for the first time (after about 60 seconds), it is obvious that there won’t be any looking back. A dance number that could well have been placed in a movie belonging to today’s time, ‘Meherbaniyan’ may not carry the same appeal as the opening three tracks but would go down reasonably well with the masses. However, for class lovers there is a ‘thumri’ - ‘Kanha’ which establishes once again that Sajid-Wajid do come with a good enough classical background. They may be making a Paying Guest on and off but listening to ‘Kanha’ brings an entirely different facet of their composing skills. They also rope in the best in the business with Rekha Bhardwaj leading the charge. Even though the track has a strong classical base to it, the accompanying vocals of Shabab Sabri, Toshi & Sharib ensure that it doesn’t just restrict itself to the class audiences. A very good piece musically, it should add value to the film’s narrative. Last to come is a one minute instrumental piece ‘Spirit Of Veer’ which has a ‘Meherbaniyan’ feel to it while being laced with fun and humour. OVERALL Veer throws a pleasant surprise. There were apprehensions galore (as explained eariler) but a couple of listening pretty much facilitates their dilution. Sajid-Wajid have indeed given their best three soundtracks ever in Veer and though they may have had managed chartbusters earlier, Veer is the kind of album that would fetch them a much deserving respect. Along with Gulzar they have created the kind of tunes that may not necessarily turn out to be the hugest chartbusters of the year but would certainly be remembered for time to come. OUR PICK(S) ‘Surili Akhiyon Wale’, ‘Salaam Aaya’, ‘Taali’

Allah Ke Banday

Allah Ke Banday
Character Sketch Naseruddin Shah as Warden Crippled, cold, calculative. The”Langda” warden has been ruling the Juvenile Prison of Mumbai since long and has been minting money by doing exactly everything that he is not supposed to do, example drugs business, alcohol, extortion, etc. And his customers for all these are kids serving time. Sharman Joshi as Vijay The Planner. The Observer. He has been a friend to Yakub in all times and a son to his ailing mother like none. He would go to any extent for the happiness of his loved ones. He’d peddle drugs as a kid to fund his mother’s medical treatment. He’d face bullets to shield Yakub. He’d change his life-style for the woman he loves. But for those who fall outside his circle of affection, he is the one with the dangerous ideas. Ideas that can kill as well as bullets can. And how easy he makes everything look with his calm demeanor. Faruque Kabir as Yakub The unguided missile. Some people ‘think’ before they shoot a gun, some when they are pressing the trigger, some after the kill. Yakub doesn’t think at either time. He couldn’t care less. Bred with the desire to rule the biggest & richest slum of the world, Yakub is totally intoxicated with power. He’d give his life for Vijay, his friend and brother. His curly wild look is only a feeble sing of his wild character. Atul Kulkarni as Ashwani With the education he had, he could have easily taken a job somewhere and lived happily with his wife Nirmala. But Ashwani started a school for the underprivileged children of the slums. He has always stood for what is right. Passionate in his mission, Ashwani is not the one to get scared of any opposing force. Zakir Hussain as Ramesh The one common factor between Vijay & Yakub’s childhood and present is Ramesh. An owl. A much senior in age to them, Ramesh is also a product of the Bhool Bhulaiyya and like them, he too has found ways to survive, very oft the wrong ones. If there is one man whom Vijay & Yakub can depend on, it’s Ramesh. Anjana Sukhani as Sandhya Beautiful, Sensuous & Mysterious. Sandhya is that turning point in the life of Vijay which he was never expecting. Her gentle presence is the whiff of fresh air for Vijay. She makes him complete. Rukhsar as Nirmala Educated and married to a teacher, Nirmala is the perfect woman. Be it in the classrooms or the den of the gangsters, she is unafraid to stand shoulder to shoulder by her husband and fight for everything that he believes in. It’s her confidence in his strive for justice that gives confidence to Ashwani. Saksham Kulkarni as Vitthal The Artist. The Student. Vitthal was the star pupil of Ashwani until Vijay & Yakub made a gangster out of him. With turn of events, Vitthal is now to return to his school and give up crime. But destiny again has different plans. Suhasini Mulay as Mother The only person that Vijay & Yakub really cared about in this world was their mother. Her death left them orphaned. Years later, even a sketch of hers would mean everything to Vijay & Yakub. Synopsis Allah Ke Banday is a film that spans the life of two twelve year old boys living in one of the most ruthless slums of India. From delivering drugs for the Mafia to looting people with their transvestite friend, the two aspire to assert their position in this world of crime. But when they are wrongly convicted for a murder and sent to the Juvenile Reformatory, they discover a World more chaotic and tough to survive in, than the one they left behind. The senior inmates with the participation and permission of the dreadful Juvenile warden, subject the two friends to all kinds of torture to suppress their sense of power. But not the ones to take it lying down, they start developing a more sinister criminal psychosis instead of reforming and set on a quest for ultimate power. Set free at twenty three, Vijay (the intelligent one with dangerous ideas) and Yakub (the hot headed one) form a gang of teenage boys to rule the slums they were born in. The vicious cycle of life continues. But life forces the two men to make a decision between choosing their misguided childhood dreams and redemption. Redemption comes, but with a heavy price. Allan Ke Banday (Children of the Divine) is a film about children in crime, about the inspiration for redemption and above all, this is a film about love. Love for all of us ‘Children of the Divine’.
Source: www.bollywoodhungama.com

Hide N Seek
They were kids - Om, Abhi, Jaideep, Imran, Gunita and Jyotika. And it all started as a game on a chilly Christmas Night. But little did they expect that night and that game would change their lives forever. Twelve years later, while some still wrestled with memories of that fateful night and others left it buried deep within them, it was a past that came back to haunt them again. Twelve years later, someone was bringing them all together. To play that game all over again! But this time it will cost them their lives! Haunted by the past… Trapped in a shopping mall… Six best friends turn into worst enemies as they play… HIDE & SEEK!
Source: www.bollywoodhungama.com

Edward Scissorhands
This wonderful fantasy tale stars Johnny Depp as a not-quite-real teenager who was built by an eccentric inventor. The old man died before he could finish him, so Edward has knife blades where his fingers would be. A well-meaning Avon lady (Diane Wiest) finds him living alone in his crumbling castle, and brings him home […]

This wonderful fantasy tale stars Johnny Depp as a not-quite-real teenager who was built by an eccentric inventor. The old man died before he could finish him, so Edward has knife blades where his fingers would be. A well-meaning Avon lady (Diane Wiest) finds him living alone in his crumbling castle, and brings him home to live with her family, which includes daughter Kim (Winona Ryder). Edward is naive and timid, but so sweet and helpful that he soon becomes the darling of the neighborhood. He is smitten with Kim, which angers her bully of a boyfriend (Anthony Michael Hall).

Diane Wiest is perfect as the ditsy and always-cheerful mom. Ryder is convincing as a selfish and spoiled teen. Hall is the villian you love to hate. The star, of course, is Johnny Depp. As Edward, he is painfully shy and lovelorn; his performance is so heart-wrenchingly delicate that you ache for him in every scene. Covered with white make-up and with only a few words of dialogue, Depp proves he is a very talented actor. The wonderful and quite frail Vincent Price, as Edward’s loving creator, will surely bring a tear to your eye.

This completely unique film blends comedy, fantasy, and romance to make a sentimental fairy tale that both teens and adults will enjoy. It is a heart-breaker; bring your hankie.

Source: www.bestfilms.info

Ice Age: The Meltdown
The kids really enjoyed this. At first, “Ice Age: The Meltdown” looks like the inevitable sequel to the famous 20th Century Fox animated blockbuster, trying to cash in the success of the previous movie but that wasn’t the case. This new adventure of the prehistoric mammals manages to stay on its own legs and delivers […]

The kids really enjoyed this. At first, “Ice Age: The Meltdown” looks like the inevitable sequel to the famous 20th Century Fox animated blockbuster, trying to cash in the success of the previous movie but that wasn’t the case. This new adventure of the prehistoric mammals manages to stay on its own legs and delivers nothing but great fun becoming a worthy sequel. That alone is an achievement in its own right.

“The Meltdown” continues with the style of its predecessor both in humor and animation, so those who fell in love with the original will love the sequel too. The difference however, is in the fact that now Manny is our main character. We get to know more about this character apparently anti-social and cynic, but who in the inside feels very lonely after the loss of his family. Sid and Diego make good sidekicks in this adventure and while their roles in the film are somewhat diminished, they still are very well-developed characters. Scrat, the nut-obsessed squirrel is back too in his constant quest for his lost nut, giving slapstick humor of the finest type in every scene he is in.

It is always hard for sequels to live up to the expectations, specially in family-oriented animation films, but director Carlos Saldanha and his team manage to make a funny movie that never gets boring or tiresome (something vital as it is a movie mainly oriented for kids).

While probably the story is not exactly original or complicated writers Peter Gaulke and Gerry Swallow make up for it with good character development and funny one-liners that fit the movie tone very good. Two new characters, the young possums Crash (Sean William Scott) and Eddie (Josh Peck) are a welcomed addition to the family, as well as Ellie (Queen Latifah), the lost mammoth.

Ellie, Manny and their relationship is a very important subplot in the movie, and one that was perfectly handled by the director and his crew. While Diego’s subplot was also interesting and served as basis for very good jokes, it didn’t had enough screen-time; a shame in my opinion, but overall the movie was very good. The only problem I had with it was the language and innuendos. Yes, the PG rating warned of that, however it is a cartoon and maybe we need to let the movie producers know that we don’t have to have foul language and sexual innuendos to make a movie good.

To summarize, fans of the first “Ice Age” won’t be disappointed by “The Meltdown,” and it also breaks the “sequel’s curse” this film is entertaining on its own right.

Source: www.bestfilms.info

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