London Paris New York

bribLondon Paris New York/b/ibrbEXPECTATIONS/bBRBR You obviously have very good expectations from the a target=_blank href=’http://www.wowmails.com’music/a of iLondon Paris New York/i. After all the promos have been catchy, the song that plays in the background has caught attention and most importantly it is the man of the moment, Ali Zafar, who is responsible for composition, lyrics as well as singing. With him playing the lead protagonist, it makes it four roles in all. Whew! With as many as half a dozen songs in the offering, one plays on iLondon Paris New York/i with good anticipation. BRBR ba target=_blank href=’http://www.wowmails.com’MUSIC/a/bBRBR Expectedly, the album kick-starts with the title song ‘biLondon Paris New York/i/b’. With a iKabhi Alvidaa Naa Kehna/i kind of start that Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy had given to the title song there, this one forms its own identity soon enough with Sunidhi Chauhan joining Ali Zafar behind the mike. A feel good urban number with a Western sound to it that is in the same mould as one experiences in many a a target=_blank href=’http://www.wowmails.com’Hollywood/a romcom, ‘iLondon, Paris, New York/i’ is yet another track that can find a tagging of ‘coming of age’ composition. Okay, so you won’t be singing this one along but if it arrives at different points in the film’s narrative, it is bound to work. BRBR Next to arrive is a conversational song ‘biVoh Dekhnay Mein/i/b’ which belongs to the mode which is fast gaining popularity in mainstream a target=_blank href=’http://www.wowmails.com’Bollywood/a cinema today. This one is a Hinglish track where the guy is picking up the girl for her quirks and traits while narrating her various characteristics and even pulling her leg at places. A situational track which is basically driven by Ali Zafar’s lyrics and singing with musical instruments taking a backseat, ‘iVoh Dekhnay Mein/i’ is easy on ears. Honestly one does take time to warm up to ‘iVoh Dekhnay Mein/i’ though but by the time the female version comes (which is almost unplugged in its presentation), you settle down with it. What also impresses is the fact that it is none other than the leading lady Aditi Rao Hydari who renders the number here and one must admit that in this barely 80 seconds duration, she does make her presence felt. BRBR Soon after arrives a quintessential bhangra track with ‘mauj-masti’ written all over it. Though there are bits of Western influences here and there, it is the quintessential Punjabi flavour that forms an inherent part of ‘biTing Rang/i/b’. Also, such has been the hold of Shahid Kapoor over this stage and setting that you almost associate the actor with a composition like the one that is heard here. However Ali Zafar makes the song as his own and though this one isn’t the kind that would turn out to be a chartbuster outing, it adds on well to the packaging that he wanted to put together for iLondon Paris New York/i. BRBR The song that does manage to impress more though is ‘biThehree Si Zindagi/i/b’. A love song which has the kind of lyrics that one does expect from an up market product like this, it is also elevated further due to the kind of sound that stays intact right through its five minute long duration. The longest track of the album, this one too is situational as well but has a heartfelt quality to it that hooks on the romantic in you. This time around Aditi Rao Hydari gets to croon for a much longer duration and though rough edges are quite audible, it is apparent that this is the way Ali Zafar wanted the song to remain to ensure believability. BRBR What follows next surprises though because from a melodic setting, iLondon Paris New York/i gets into a club mode with an element of trance and Sufi with contemporary urban elements interspersed in it. The ones who join Ali Zafar this time around are Sanam Marvi and Hadiqa Kiani, both from Pakistan. With an 80s touch to it, this song which goes by the title of ‘biOoh Laa Laa/i/b’ is an entirely different experience when compared to the namesake track that one had heard in Vidya Balan’s iThe Dirty Picture/i. This one too is fast paced but instead of being a ‘masala’ outing that caters to the gallery, it instead pitches itself as a dance floor track. Not just that as Ali Zafar too gets into the rap-n-reggae mode, something that he hadn’t done in the album so far or any of the other songs that he has sung for a a target=_blank href=’http://www.wowmails.com’Bollywood/a film so far. BRBR The mood becomes dark soon after with ‘biAaja/i/b’ which is seemingly in the same mode as ‘iTum Jo Mil Gaye Ho/i’ [iHanste Zakham/i]. There are a couple of major differences though. While ‘iTum Jo/i…’ was a passionate love song, this one is about pain of loneliness. Also, though the start here is slow and sombre, the mood shifts a minute or so down the line with Sufi-pop taking over. From this point on it’s the word ‘iAaja/i’ that holds most prominence with Ali Zafar also letting on the heat with the kind of arrangements that are fast, furious and (of course) passionate. This one should add on to the momentum of the film’s narrative. BRBR bOVERALL/bBRBR One thing which is quite apparent after listening through the score of iLondon Paris New York/i is that Ali Zafar hasn’t taken a (presumably) safe route of putting together an album that covers a wider market segment. Instead he has stuck to the theme of the film and barring an odd ‘bhangra’ number or so, he has attempted to come up with something that goes with the mood and theme of the album. Thankfully he hasn’t changes his route drastically but still for a movie which doesn’t pitch itself as a regular romcom, he manages to come up with a soundtrack that goes well with the narrative. BRBR bOUR PICK(S) /bBRBR i’London, Paris, New York’, ‘Thehree Si Zindagi’, ‘Oo Lala’, ‘Voh Dekhnay Mein’/ibria target=_blank href=’http://www.wowmails.com’Source/a: www.bollywoodhungama.com/ibr brhttp://www.wowmails.com

Jodi Breakers

bribJodi Breakers/b/ibrIn the Indian societal setting, marriages mark a significant episode in an individual’s life and Hindi a target=_blank href=’http://www.wowmails.com’movies/a have, very often, mirrored this fact. But the question is, can one snap off a relationship/marriage if it’s not working? Is it easy for the respective individuals to start life afresh after a bad marriage? A lot of people I know are constantly under social and familial pressure to maintain the picture of contentment, even when they are not hitting off.BRBR But times are changing rapidly. Marriage as an institution isn’t sacrosanct anymore, with divorce becoming a commonality in urban India. Breaking free from a relationship calls for a celebration these days, with theme parties being organized to celebrate ‘freedom’. BRBR JODI BREAKERS narrates the story of a couple [R. Madhavan and Bipasha Basu, in this case] who help break up miserable, disgruntled couples. What makes JODI BREAKERS an innovative experience for Hindi moviegoers is the fact that a majority of our films are about people falling in love, but this one is about a pair that specializes in separation. It tells you to break the shackles and find a path of your own, after love goes wrong. BRBR Wait! Does the plot ring a bell? Does JODI BREAKERS borrow inspiration from two films, as the rumor mills want us to believe, LAWS OF ATTRACTION [Pierce Brosnan, Julianne Moore] and the French film HEARTBREAKER [Romain Duris, Vanessa Paradis]? Not really, barring a similar-sounding title with the latter. In fact, a few random moments bring back memories of YRF’s immensely likeable BAND BAAJA BAARAAT. BRBR To put things in the right perspective, JODI BREAKERS is routine, clichéd and formulaic, at least initially. Add lazy and unenergetic too. Director Ashwini Chaudhary doesn’t get a grip of things, except in a couple of sequences. But the twist and turns in the post-interval portions are of an interesting variety [writer: Aakash Kaushik], with a major chunk of the second hour succeeding in making you erase whatever misgivings you may have had from the first hour. BRBR Sid [R. Madhavan], a divorcee, realizes that happy marriages are a myth. He decides to become a break-up specialist on a rebound. He comes into contact with Sonali [Bipasha Basu] and the duo decides to become jodi breakers. But a major incident changes their lives and the duo decides to rectify the wrong they had committed. BRBR JODI BREAKERS is a mixed bag, frankly. It’s like watching two different films in those two hours. Let me explicate. The first half is largely dry and insipid and talks of ijodi/i breakers. The succeeding half is exactly the reverse. It holds your attention since the characters change gears. The drama in the post-interval portions compensates for the blemishes that stare at you initially. The film concludes on an extremely pleasant note, which is what the viewer actually carries with him/her when he/she exits the auditorium. BRBR Director Ashwini Chaudhary has the makings of a fine raconteur. This, one realized much earlier [DHOOP] and now, in JODI BREAKERS, Ashwini proves his credentials yet again. What’s noteworthy is that he keeps the drama straightforward, unfussy and unpretentious. Besides, he makes his lead pair shine magnificently in the radiance of a well-tailored script. BRBR The songs of JODI BREAKERS have already merited a place in popular charts and ace composers Salim-Sulaiman deserve credit for it. It’s a damn good soundtrack, with several tracks staying fresh in your memory — ‘Kunwara’, ‘Darmiyaan’ and ‘Bipasha’. Even the song in the finale, which may give an impression that it’s forced in the narrative, helps the story move forward. The cinematography [Arun Varma] is of standard, with the scenic locales of Greece and Goa giving the film that rich texture. BRBR JODI BREAKERS holds your attention for a key reason. It doesn’t fall prey to the conventional pairing. While he captured the hearts of cinegoers playing the conventional good boy in TANU WEDS MANU, Madhavan does a somersault in JODI BREAKERS. He underplays his character ingeniously and is incredible when he communicates his sentiments. Bipasha looks fresh, glamorous and most importantly, one hasn’t watched her in the way you will get to see in JODI BREAKERS. Part of a rom-com for the first time, let me tell you, she is very good in the film. Besides, she’s sure to send viewers into raptures in the ‘Bipasha’ track. The tender moments between Madhavan and Bipasha are tastefully handled. BRBR Milind Soman and Dipannita Sharma are truly wonderful. Mrinalini Sharma portrays her part with gusto. Omi Vaidya provides some laughs, especially in the Baba Kamdev sequence. Tarana Raja is first-rate, while Helen adds sparkle to her part. BRBR On the whole, JODI BREAKERS has an engrossing and smartly executed second half that tilts scales in its favor. The right dose of drama and romance, besides a trendy, harmonious musical score, only act as toppings. bria target=_blank href=’http://www.wowmails.com’Source/a: www.bollywoodhungama.com/ibrbribWhen Love Happens/b/ibrAll fun and frolic Gia’s life takes a drastic turn when out of her own vindictive world of surmise, Neil appears in front of her just before her engagement day, which is suppose to take place in Mauritius with the only son of The Mittal’s, Mr. Kabir Mittal. Kabir is a venerable, suave and enormously eloquent business personality who discerns the certainties and specifics of every perceptible necessity in life and to accomplish them he can effort to schlep to any magnitude. On the other hand Neil is an inestimably susceptible, flamboyant seditious bloke who happens to be the wedding planner of Kabir and Gia’s imminent marriage that is going to take place within the next six days in Mauritius.BRBR During the course of the film we have been introduced with another inexorable character called Ann who happens to be Kabir’s childhood friend. Ann is a strikingly provoked personality who does not certainly care about the world or anyone around but only for Kabir she is an all-embracing different facade. Though Kabir is not at all fretful about her existence in his life but for Ann he is the one for whom she has already shaded all her innate inhabitancy which of course Kabir is not aware of. BRBR Is there enough happiness in store for them so that they could rely on their own fortune? Are they truly prepared to find their real identity and accept the facts and truths of life? With the ultimate crux of the film we will find all the answers of these unanswerable questions.bria target=_blank href=’http://www.wowmails.com’Source/a: www.bollywoodhungama.com/ibrbribTere Naal Love Ho Gaya/b/ibrFollow three simple rules while attempting a rom-com…BR One, the romance should be livewire. Ditto for the chemistry between the on-screen pair. BR Two, the movie ought to make the viewer chuckle. BR Three, it shouldn’t fall prey to predictability. BR If you get the above-mentioned characteristics right, chances are you may be smiling from ear to ear on the decisive Friday. Okay, does TERE NAAL LOVE HO GAYA, directed by Mandeep Kumar, live up to the set standards? Oh yes, you do exit the auditorium with a smile on your face. BRBR Love stories with real-life couples don’t spell magic at the turnstiles, opined an industry insider, to which my instant retort was if the film works, everything works. Actors, chemistry, songs, technical aspects et al are only as good as the film. After making their big screen debut with TUJHE MERI KASAM, Riteish and Genelia were paired in MASTI. TERE NAAL LOVE HO GAYA is the third film that teams the two talents. This one ought to be their best, right? Well, Riteish and Genelia look great together, no two opinions on that, and the real-life husband-wife team get ample opportunity to sparkle in their third outing. There are hiccups too — the film dips in the middle of the second hour — but, thankfully, it comes alive towards the pre-climax moments, which leads to a winning finale. The credit, to a large extent, goes to Riteish and Genelia for rising beyond a commonplace screenplay. BRBR Bhatti [Tinnu Anand] is keen to get his daughter Mini [Genelia Deshmukh] married. He even chooses a guy who, he thinks, will keep his daughter happy thanks to his riches. In the meantime, Viren [Riteish Deshmukh] feels Bhatti has swindled him of his hard-earned money and confronts Bhatti in an intoxicated state. Seizing the opportunity of escaping from the situation [of marrying a guy she barely knows], Mini flees with Viren, making the episode look as if Viren has kidnapped Mini. Gradually, a romance develops between the unlikely couple. BRBR I’ve frequently said that a target=_blank href=’http://www.wowmails.com’humor/a is serious business. Though the a target=_blank href=’http://www.wowmails.com’humor/a in TERE NAAL LOVE HO GAYA borders on illogicality, like AJAB PREM KI GHAZAB KAHANI, you can’t deny that it keeps you hooked nonetheless. Sure, there’re times when you feel that the a target=_blank href=’http://www.wowmails.com’humor/a is forced, but you don’t grudge and grumble since the intention to entertain and amuse the viewer endlessly are crystal clear from the very inception. BRBR I’d like to add that TERE NAAL LOVE HO GAYA is not ‘inspired’ or ‘adapted’ from Danny Boyle’s A LIFE LESS ORDINARY, as being widely said. Following a graph of making an easy-on-your-senses film, the director reserves the best for the penultimate 25 odd minutes. Prior to that, the film vacillates between engrossing to passable to humdrum stuff. Agree, specifics are irrelevant in this case because the director or the writer isn’t aiming for realism or practicality here. This is a synthetic world, let’s not disregard this fact. BRBR The one issue I hold against the writer is that the goings-on cannot maintain the energy consistently. I mean, the writer had the opportunity to make a real rib-tickling comic fare, but what appears on screen is only moderately amusing. You aren’t amused at every juvenile gag, nor do you submit to the insanity entirely. But, like I stated earlier, the concluding reels are dramatic and thoroughly enjoyable. Especially the final moments. BRBR Sachin-Jigar’s musical score is pleasant. The songs are in tandem with the mood of the movie. It’s peppy and energetic, catering to a young audience. I’d like to make a special note of the cinematography [and the lush-green locales, of course], which is eye-catching. BRBR TERE NAAL LOVE HO GAYA would’ve crumbled in the hands of lesser talent. Riteish is earnest, delivering a subdued performance. He underplays his part beautifully, not going overboard one bit. Genelia is a livewire who adds to the insanity. She looks fresh, has a great comic timing and handles her part magnificently. Together, Riteish and Genelia elevate the film a few notches above the ordinary. Om Puri is remarkable, especially in the sequence when Genelia is asked to return to her father. Tinnu Anand is excellent. Smita Jaykar is wonderful. Veena Malik’s item number is strictly okay. BRBR On the whole, TERE NAAL LOVE HO GAYA is refreshing and succeeds in its endeavor of amusing and entertaining, more particularly in its second hour. In addition, the sparkling performances by Riteish and Genelia is the mainstay of the film.bria target=_blank href=’http://www.wowmails.com’Source/a: www.bollywoodhungama.com/ibrbribVidhata - Tere Khel Hain Nirale/b/ibrVidhata Tere Khel Hain Nirale is about the story is about how when we plan our life, our script in being actually penned by God himself. The story revolves around three youngsters Chanda, Bharat and Gyan. Chanda is a pretty young girl in love with Bharat. The young man loves pllaying the flute and has to move to the front when selected for the army. Time passes and Chanda finds herself being drawn to another young man Gyan. Gyan loves Chanda as well. But Chanda’s family wants her to marry and now… Will it be Bharat or Gyan or is there something else that God wills! This forms the crux of Vidhata Tere Khel Hain Nirale. bria target=_blank href=’http://www.wowmails.com’Source/a: www.bollywoodhungama.com/ibrbribPlayers/b/ibrfont color=greenBuCharacters:/u/B/fontbrbr BCharlie:/B Abhishek Bachchan BR Charlie Masceranhas is a Chartered Accountant by day and a master-thief by night.With his razor-sharp intelligence, precision planning, and perfect voice modulation, there has been no job so far in his career which has been too tough for him.Conning is, in fact, an art form for Charlie and that’s what he prefers to call himself - an artist. Charlie has been a Player since he was seven and now has his own set of rules by which he plays the game, - one of them being - ‘it’s only cops who retire, not con-artists’. BR BR BNaina:/B Sonam Kapoor BR Naina is a computer expert with a Masters in Ethical Hacking.She is the beautiful girl who did everything right with her academic life, and its only for a very personal reason that she decides to be a part of this heist.But if you think of her as a boring studious girl, you cannot be more mistaken than that. You only have to watch her behind the wheels of a hot car to know the stuff she is made of. BR BR BRonnie:/B Bobby Deol BR Ronnie is the odd one out from the pack of Players, what with no previous experience in the games of con.Ronnie was the master of illusions. At one point of time, he was one of the most famous illusionists in the country but he abruptly left his career at his peak.In fact, he hates the very word magic now. But then, he agreed to be a ‘Player’ for reasons that he would not share with the group. BR BR BRiya:/B Bipasha Basu BR The sexy as hell Riya is known to charm her way into the lusty hearts and then the safety vaults of rich and famous men.She has been Charlie’s long-standing partner-in-crime and together the duo have pulled off some daredevil heists.Besides being a full-time con artist, Riya is also an automobile expert and knows her way around automobile engines like the back of her dainty hands. BR BR BBilal:/B Sikander Kher BR Bilal Bashir is the go-to guy of the team. Having worked with several secret service agencies, Bilal has solid contacts all over the world and can speak several languages with the fluency of a local.Ever since he was a kid, Bilal had a thing for indigenous bombs (damn, he even nearly lost his hearing thanks to a self-manufactured crude bomb when he was only ten years old).And that’s the role for which the hot-headed Bilal has been picked up as a player in the heist - that of an explosive expert. BR BR BSpider:/B Neil Nitin Mukesh BR Spider is the quintessential computer geek.He is the master-hacker who robbed millions from banks and bankers all over the world and has been on the most-wanted list of several cyber crime prevention agencies world-wide.There is no computer or intelligence system that he cannot break into. And the bigger the challenge, the more fun the nerd in him has with it. BR BR BSunny:/B Omi Vaidya BR Sunny Mehra might be mistaken for the clown of the group, what with his easy-going NRI-Punjabi ways and his regular attempt at silly a target=_blank href=’http://www.wowmails.com’jokes/a.But what hides behind this demeanour is a mad passion to be a a target=_blank href=’http://www.wowmails.com’Bollywood/a star. But when every producer in town rejected his face, Sunny decided to be an expert at ‘changing faces’.Yup, he became a prosthetic expert. And from what we hear, he is bloody good at it. BR BR font color=greenBuSynopsis/u/B/fontbrbr It’s time to steady your selves for the biggest action extravaganza that a target=_blank href=’http://www.wowmails.com’Bollywood/a has to offer! The dynamic director duo Abbas-Mustan are back to enthrall the audiences one again with the lean and mean heist flick PLAYERS. The movie is the official remake of the 2003 a target=_blank href=’http://www.wowmails.com’Hollywood/a blockbuster, THE ITALIAN JOB and promises to be just as much of a thrilling ride!BRBR With a stellar cast of Abhishek Bachchan, Sonam Kapoor, Neil Nitin Mukesh, Bipasha Basu, Bobby Deol, Sikander Kher and Omi Vaidya, this remake promises to pack one heck of a punch. PLAYERS is scheduled to set the screen ablaze in January, 2012.BRBR With high speed chase sequences and state-of-the-art special effects set against the backdrop of gorgeous locales in New Zealand and Goa, PLAYERS will redefine a target=_blank href=’http://www.wowmails.com’Bollywood/a action a target=_blank href=’http://www.wowmails.com’movies/a as we know them.BRBR And hang on to your seats, because this ride has just begun.bria target=_blank href=’http://www.wowmails.com’Source/a: www.bollywoodhungama.com/ibr brhttp://www.wowmails.com