Lafangey Parindey

Medium : Hindi
Starring : Neil Nithin Mukesh, Deepika Padukone, Kay Kay Menon, Piyush Mishra, Manish Chowdhary
Director : Pradeep Sarkar
Music : R.Anandh, Zubin Balaporia (bg score)

Yash Raj Films, the most promising production-distribution banner in bollywood, has come up with their latest venture named 'Lafangey Parindey'. The youngest member of late singer Mukesh's family, Neil Nithin Mukesh ('Johny Gaddar', 'New York' , 'Jail' fame) and the tall heroine Deepika Padukone ('Love Aaj Kal', 'Om Shanthi Om', Karthik Calling Karthik' fame) did the lead roles. The previous venture by the producers, 'Badmaash Company' didn't do well at the box office. 'Lafangey Parindey' is being directed by Pradeep Sarkar, a former associate to Vidhu Vinod Chopra and had movies like 'Parineeta' and 'Laaga Chunari Mein Daag'.

Nandu (Neil Nithin Mukesh) is a boxer who earns money by working for Usman Bhai (Piyush Mishra), who runs the under world business. His dream is to become a local gang leader like Anna (Kay Kay Menon), one day. Pinky (Deepika Padukone) is a middle class girl in the same locality, whose ambition is to become a well known dancer. She is taking effort to practice dancing on skate wheels. One day, she met with an accident and lost her eyes. Nandu trains her to overcome the blindness and to lead a normal life. She got selection to the reality show. How she achieves her dream is told in the rest of the story.

Deepika Padukone has done excellently well in the blind role. Her actions and emotions are suited well for the character. Neil Nithin Mukesh is also good as a boxer. Manish Chowdhary, who comes in the cop's role has got a natural look. Kay Kay Menon also made his job well in a small role. The scatting dance scenes are done in an extra ordinary manner. Both of them gave some incredible steps on wheels under the guidance of Sandro Guerra, an international scatting figure and choreographers Bosco-Caeser. The climax is impressive. The friendship scenes featuring the hero are also done well. Natraj Subramanyam's cinematography is good. Sanjib Datta is the editor. Other than the fast number 'dhathad dhathad..., none of the songs by R.Anandh is not impressive. Zubin Balaporia did the bg score matching the mood. Pradeep Sarkar's directorial effort to make this positive subject should be welcomed.

It should have been more interesting, had the suspense element regarding the heroine's character been revealed in the later portions only. The two versions of the story needs a big interval between them. The winning shot of the boxer with the same action all the times, should have been avoided. The hero teaching the blind girl has got a realistic look; on the other side heroine's lessons can be accepted in a cinematic way only. The affection between hero and heroine and the related incidents has got the flavor of tamil movie 'Thullatha Manamum Thullum' by Vijay and Simran.

'Lafangey Parindey' won't be the best bet; but a real lover of bollywood movies can watch this, it won't make you restless...


Rating : 7 / 10

Jail

Medium : Hindi
Starring : Neil Nithin Mukesh, Manoj Bajpayee, Mugdha Godse
Director : Madhur Bhandarkar
Music : Sharib Toshi, Shamir Tandon, Amar Mohile


Films like 'Chandni Bar', 'Page 3', 'Traffic Signal', 'Corporate' and 'Fashion' discussed themes which were adapted from real reflections of the society. Though they were all commercial films, the difference in presentation made them unique. The man behind all these movies should be noted here and he is none other than Madhur Bhndarkar, who has directed all these movies; he also belongs to the team of script writers who had written theses films.

So when such a prominent director is coming with his new film, the expectations will be more. His new film, 'Jail' has got Neil Nithin Mukesh in the lead role. The actor, who is also the great grandson of yesteryear singer Mukesh, had got films like 'Johny Gaddar', 'New York' etc to his credits. Mugdha Godse, who has been introduced through the director's previous venture 'Fashion', is the heroine. Manoj Bajpayee, who has not been busy these days, has done an important character here.

Here, the hero Parag Dixit (Neil Nithin Mukesh) is a regional manager in the stock exchange. His lover (Mugdha Godse), is an air hostess. While traveling in his car with his room mate, police chases them and when the car is stopped, his companion ran away and the police fires at him. The police seizes drugs from the vehicle which was carried by his room mate and Parag is being arrested. He is being kept in the police custody and trial happened for months. The court was not ready to accept his innocence and he was rejected bail every time. He got a companion (Manoj Bajpayee) in the jail. He is sentenced to 10years imprisonment by the sessions court. In the end, after two years the case is taken to the High Court where a lawyer (Atul Kulkarni) fought for his justice and he was freed in the climax.

The film which covers the majority of scenes inside the jail is not at all enjoyable; here the director had tried to highlight the darkness more. We can't demand it to be colorful as the theme of this film doesn't demands it. There is nothing special in the story here; how an innocent guy is put in jail and the trial which happened for months has made him frustrated (as the viewers) and in the end the right justice is granted.

The performance of Neil is ordinary. Manoj Vajpayee (who is also the narrator of the story sometimes), has done well. The heroine is here as a visitor in jail and court rooms. Cinematography by Kalpesh Bhandarkar gave the dull mood. Background score done by Amar Mohile doesn't matches with the mood of the film.

Since the theme of the film is not colorful, the director should have changed his style here. Rather than the realistic approach, he should have done something cinematic this time, to attract the audience.

Recently, I watched the French film 'A Prophet', where the story is about the happenings inside a jail. Though the story is different, it which was an extra ordinary attempt that doesn't bored me for a second...


'Jail' doesn't gives you a pleasing experience; no need for a worry even if you have missed it.


Rating : 5 / 10