Action Replayy

Medium : Hindi

Starring : Akshay Kumar, Aiswarya Rai, Aditya Roy, Randhir Kapoor, Ompuri, Neha Dhupia
Director : Vipul Amrutlal Shah
Music : Pritam, Salim Sulaiman (bg score)

The director of 'Aankhen', 'Waqt', 'Namstey London' & 'London Dreams', Vipul Amrutlal Shah had come up with his new movie, 'Action Replayy'. The hero of the director's first three movies, Akshay Kumar did the lead role with Aiswarya Rai. They have teamed before in Rajkumar Santhoshi's 'Kaakki', which happened 7 years before. The posters and the promotional scenes of the movie with hero - heroines in different appearances, showed that the story is happening in the olden days.

Bunty (Aditya Roy) is the only son of rich couple Kishen (Akshay Kumar) and Maala (Aiswarya Rai). He is fed up after witnessing the quarreling happening between his father and mother for silly things. Hence he don't want to marry his lover. One day, he got a chance to meet the latter's uncle (Randhir Kapoor), who has developed a time machine with which one can travel against time in the past. Using the equipment, Bunty tried to go to the time when his parents started loving, thus comes the flashback where he is shown as it is with his parents at their younger age.

The story of the movie, based on a gujarati play, is an unbelievable one, though we have seen similar ideas in english movies like 'De Jaavu' and 'Inception' before. Here also the director had tried something similar to it, but the motive is not so strong and the climax given to the movie is not easily conveying. It is not easy to digest the fact that a child (even before his birth) is planning to make his father getting love with mother. It would have been better if the director would have avoided such a negative logic to tell that story. The mid 70s period is totally wasted to tell the hero becoming glamorous and bold to express his love. The changes happening to the hero is all on a sudden. The machine used by the scientist to travel through the past looks like the one that used by bike riders in circus. The passing shots of extra artists wearing the old style dress in many sequences, felt that it is deliberately created.

The title sequences had got good visual effects similar to the old style movies. Salim Sulaiman had given the essential bg score there. It comes here and there, but is not maintained through out in all portions. Songs by Pritam have got the beats, but not the best. Cinematography by Sejal Shah is colorful. Aiswarya Rai's make up is not suited some times, as her old look is revealed. She had done well in the dance scenes. Akshay Kumar is ok, needs more improvement in performance as an old man. As a new face Aditya Roy did well.


No need to go for 'Action Replayy' with the impression of a different entertainer. The story and its presentation is not good enough to attract you.


Rating : 4.5 / 10

London Dreams

Medium : Hindi

Starring : Ajay Devgan, Salman Khan, Asin, Ompuri

Direction : Vipul Amrutlal Shah

Music : Shankar Ehsaan Loy

After the super hit film, 'Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam', bollywood stars Salman Khan and Ajay Devgan teamed up againthrough 'London Dreams' directed by Vipul Amrutlal Shah ('Aankhen', 'Waqt' and 'Namasthey London' fame). After being introduced as a second heroine through an average film like 'Narendran Makan Jayakanthan Vaka', Asin had grown up through films like 'M.Kumaran S/o Mahalakshmi', 'Gajini', 'Pokkiri' etc reached hindi through telugu. Her first hindi film was a remake subject ('Gajini) with Amir Khan. She repeated almost her same style of performance in the remade film also. Since it became a hit, she got a chance in the multi cast project; also the heroine's character being a native of tamilnadu, might be the another reason for her to get the lead role.

'London Dreams' tells the story of two friends (Ajay and Salman). Among them Ajay is too ambitious to become a singer in the younger days itself. But his father didn't allow him to sing. After the demise of his father, son reached London, traveled here and there, finally when grown up, he becomes a street singer. He got two companions to play the instruments. His friend at the village is spending an unstable life. By the time, Ajay becomes a popular singer in abroad. He has got the heroine to perform in his troupe. As per his friend's request, he also reached London. Realizing his friend's talent in singing, Ajay asks him to join the troupe. The new star soon dominates the troupe leader. Thus he soon becomes a hero there. Though Ajay loved the girl who works with her, he kept silent about this. But his friend, who is the new member, soon gets into affair with her. After losing the lover and fame; Ajay's jealousy started to work and what he does to overcome this, happens later.

Whatever things that the director had tried to discuss here like the friendship, love, hatred, jealousy, fame etc lacks detailing. The bond of friendship between two heroes are not shown clearly, the way in which Ajay becomes popular is cinematic, we don't know the reason for the heroine being attracted to the new friend, even though Ajay gave her a break. The anti climax scenes happening in the stage looks like a drama scene. Also the happy ending for the film is childishness. (I never expected such things from a director who gave a different film like 'Aankhen').

Music is by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy; they gave some peppy numbers which is not memorable, but it felt didn't bad. Ajay's body language didn't suits a singer, but he managed well in serious situations. Salman's role has got a comic shade, which he did well. Asin looked non confident in most of the scenes including the songs. Let us wait till her next project to give more comments.

The title of the film 'London Dreams' is big; but the content doesn't impress you to think like that...

Rating : 5.5 / 10