Uthama Puthiran

Medium : Tamil
Starring : Dhanush, Genelia D'Souza, Vivek, Bhagyaraj, Ashish Vidyarthi, Ambika, Rekha
Director : Mithran Javahar
Music : Vijay Antony

Director of remakes, Mithran Javahar had come up with another one for his favorite star. This time it is 'Uthama Puthiran', borrowed from the telugu hit 'Ready' by Raam and Genelia. Previous projects from the director like 'Yaradee Nee Mohini' done by Dhanush and Nayantara (remake of 'Aadavari Matalaku Ardhalu Verule' by Venkatesh and Thrisha) and 'Kutty' done by Dhanush and Shriya Sharan (remake of 'Arya' by Allu Arjun and Anu Mehta) had done fairly well at the box office. Hence Dhanush wants to continue his luck with the same director. They had kept Genelia D'Souza ('Boyz', 'Unakkum Enakkum', 'Santhosh Subramanyam' fame) here also, the girl who acted in the original version. Vijay Antony is the msuic director and Balasubramanyam is the cinematographer.

Siva (Dhanush) and his companions are kidnapping a girl from the marriage hall for her friend. Later, he came to the know that she was not the right girl to be brought. When got up, the girl named Pooja (Genelia D'Souza), was not ready to go back and she also thanked them to take her out of a function that is not interested to her. The villains are also chasing them. Siva and Pooja spend some days and as per former's idea, she is reaching Siva's house. Her uncle (Bhagyaraj) is allowing her to stay there. Siva and Pooja stayed there without revealing others that they know each other, a love track was developing within them. At one stage, Pooja's family members reached there and take her away. How Siva got success in his love is told in a lengthy second half.

The story and the family situations here reminds us of movies like 'Unakkum Enakkum' and 'Santhosh Subramanyam' which were also telugu remakes. The heroine's character is having the flavor of those movies and Genelia had done well in charming role in her style. The family scenes sometimes felt a cinematic thing (such a big canvas is a part of the telugu industry). The second half is told in a comedy background, Vivek had stolen most of the scenes there with his performance. The cheating scenes done by the hero's family have been shown many times before.

Dhanush is ok for the role (his continuity in the appearance is affected in some areas). Ashish Vidyarthi and telugu actor Jaya Prakash Reddy who comes in the role of brothers did a good job. Master Bharath, who comes as the latter's son and his activities are good. Vijay Antony had given some fast numbers. His bg score is also good. Action scenes are not the best. Cinematography by Balasubramanyam ('Maja', 'Azhagiya Thamil Magan', 'Ninaithaale Inikkum', 'Kutty' fame) is colorful. The director should have taken care to cut short the length of the movie, which would come nearing three hours. Comparing the two, I felt that the original version is the
best.

'Uthama Puthiran' is a family entertainer having ingredients like comedy, songs, dances, fights, sentiments etc.


Rating : 6.5 / 10

Chance Pe Dance

Medium : Hindi
Starring : Shahid Kapoor, Genelia D'Souza
Director : Ken Ghosh
Music : Adnan Sami, Sandeep Shirodhkar (bg score)

After the popular film 'Kaminey', that discussed the theme of the underworld people in an unusual way, Shahid Kapoor's new film 'Chance Pe Dance' has got a different subject. Here the hero is an ambitious dancer, who struggles to enter the movie field. The heroine is Genelia ('Boyz', 'Jaane Tu Yaa Jaane Naa' fame). The film is directed by Shahid's favorite director, Ken Ghosh. It was through his film, 'Ishq Vishq' that Shahid entered the field, later he was paired with Kareena Kapoor in 'Fida', which was also given by the same director. 'Chance Pe Dance' is produced by Ronnie Screwvala, UTV pictures distributes the film.

The Delhi based hero (Shahid Kapoor) reaches to Mumbai with an intention to act in hindi films. He has got the talent in dancing. He is attending auditions, he meets the heroine (Genelia D'Souza), who works as assistant choreographer in films and gets into an affair with her. For meeting the livelihood, the hero is working as the dance tutor in a school. One day, a director (Mohnish Bhel) agrees him to give the lead role in his new film. Later it is changed and It has not worked out and the director had decided to take the new face through a talent hunt. Hero had got some financial problems and he was forced to leave the rented house. His lover motivates him to participate in the talent hunt. His students winning the dance competition is also shown through a show. In the end, hero wins the talent hunt, becomes an actor. After an year, he is a successful actor and it is a dream come true for him and his lover...

The situations involving the hero's ambition for getting into films, the heroine's support, his father's disagreement etc has been adapted from the film 'Luck By Chance', acted by Farhan Akthar. But the new film stands no where near that film which was conceived realistically and excellently. 'Chance Pe Dance' is too cinematic on the presentation side. The way in which his students winning the dance title, the way in which the hero himself wins the reality show etc are some of the examples. The climax also happens all on a sudden and director had committed the mistake by showing the natural theme in an un realistic way. Due to this, we don't get sympathy towards the hero's character (with the body language of a muscle man), who is shown as if he is going through the difficult days in his life. The lengthy scenes without dialogues, filled with bg score for showing the dance rehearsals and the preparations etc creates great lagging.

Adnan Sami had given some fast numbers for the dancing. Sandeep Shirodhkar had given the bg score. Shahid Kapoor had done good and also performed well in the dancing sequences. Genelia did the role in her usual way.


'Chance Pe Dance' does not have any situations which can impress you, other than some fast dance steps by the hero...


Rating : 4.5 / 10