Guzaarish

Medium : Hindi
Starring : Hrithik Roshan, Aiswarya Roy, Aditya Roy Kapoor, Rajat Kapoor, Nafisa Ali
Director : Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Music : Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Tubby - Park (bg score)

This director had done only five movies in his career span of around 15 years. But, he is notable by giving those different movies like 'Khamoshi', 'Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam', 'Devdas', 'Black' and 'Saawariya'; the creator of those, Sanjay Leela Bhansali had come up with his latest. After giving a big flop with Ranbir Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor, this time director had placed Hrithik Roshan in the lead role along with beauty queen Aiswarya Rai (both of them coming together after 'Dhoom 2' and 'Jodhaa Akbar'). Aditya Roya Kapoor of 'Action Replay' fame has also done an important character. The director had shown the extra boldness to be in charge of the role of music director through this movie. Sudeep Chatterjee ('Aashaayein', 'Chake De India', 'Iqbal', 'Road' etc fame) is the cinematographer.

Ethen Mascarenhas (Hrithik Roshan) is a well known magician, who left the profession due to an accident happened during one of his shows, almost 14 years before. With out the help of somebody, he can't move and spending these long years in bed, he has planned something in his mind. He has moved a petition in court seeking for a mercy killing. Sofia (Aiswarya Roy) has been working as his nurse for many years and she is too intimate with Ethen. She is not liking such a hard decision from him. In the mean while, Omar (Aditya Roy Kapoor), a great fan of Ethen, has reached his house to study magic. Ethen has accepted it. How the court reacts to Ethen's wish and what he does even after the request of his close relatives are shown in the later portions of 'Guzaarish'.

The plot of 'Guzaarish' is adapted from the Spanish movie 'The Sea Inside'. Here the characters are changed, but some of the portions are shown as it is from the original. To be honest, comparing the two, the original version was more attractive. Sanjay Leela Bhansali had presented the movie in a serious manner. Hrithik Roshan had done excellent. The acrobatic actor is spending most of his scenes in bed and he is able to move his body in his style in the flash back shots only, which comes in a minimum duration. Aiswarya Rai had grown with the experience she got by working with different directors. She had shown her best emotions in the care-taker role. The chemistry happening between the two actors are good, especially the scene in which she reacts for Ethen's romantic sounds. The court episode at Ethen's house, Sophiya's reaction at the court, Omar's first meeting with Ethen and some of the radio calls are those scenes that are neatly executed. The ending of the movie should have been done in a more neat way.

Sudeep Chatterjee's cinematography is excellent, the light up used to show the majority of the indoor visuals needs praising. Though not the best, song bits by Sanjay Leela Bhansali goes with the mood. Bg score by Tubby - Park is good.


This is not very special, but 'Guzaarish' is a serious and different attempt from bollywood. Please watch it with such an assumption...


Rating : 6.5 / 10

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

Enthiran

Medium : Tamil
Starring : Rajinikanth, Aiswarya Rai, Danny Denzongpa, Santhanam, Karunaas
Director : Shankar
Music : A.R.Rahman

In the last two decades, the real super star of the Indian industry, Rajinikanth has given chance to very few technicians to direct his movies on more than one occasions, they are Suresh Krishna ('Annamalai', 'Veera, 'Basha', 'Baba'), P.Vasu ('Mannan', 'Chandramukhi') and K.S.Ravikumar ('Muthu', 'Padaiyappa'). Now director Shankar also joins them through the actor's previous venture 'Shivaji - The Boss' and 'Enthiran', the costliest movie ever made in the country. Mega distribution banner Sun Pictures has entered the production side through this movie which is made in a heavy budget of about 150crores and the shooting of the movie happened for about two and a half years.

'Enthiran' was titled 'Robo' previously and it was a project planned by Shankar with Kamalhassan in the lead role, after 'Indian'. It didn't worked out and later it was heard that the movie will be made with Shahrukh Khan in hindi. Any way after impressed by the results of 'Shivaji - The Boss', Rajinikanth has given hit maker Shankar, an immediate chance to work with him and thus came 'Yenthiran' (the change in title is done to as per the regionalism issue in giving names).

Since many years, Rajinikanth has been trying to make Aiswarya Rai as his heroine. Now only he is getting the chance to act opposite the former miss world. She worked with Shankar for 'Jeans' previously. As Amitabh Bachan didn't agreed to do a negative role, the director's search for a new face ended up in the hindi actor Danny Denzongpa. Different from the usual setup, Santhanam and Karunaas are given the option to maintain the comedy track. Rathnavelu, who gave an excellent work in movies like 'Vaaranam Aayiram', 'Nanda', 'Sethu', 'Jagadam' (telugu) and 'Cyanide' (kannada), is the cinematographer. Director's favorite editor Anthony is in charge of the cuts. Shankar's usual companion (except for 'Annyan'), A.R.Rahman, is the music director. Starting from 'Gentleman', this is director Shankar's 10th film in his career, along with him late writer Sujatha and Karky got credits in the writer's list. Oscar winner Resool Pookkutty, Arun Varma etc has worked in the sound designing team. Choreographers inculude Prabhu Deva, Raju Sundaram, Remo, Shobi etc.

Vaseegaran (Rajinikanth) is a scientist who is developing a robot, who is capable to do anything. The robot is named Chitti (Rajinikanth). Chitti will be acting as per instructions of his boss. Sana (Aiswarya Rai) is Vaseegaran's lover. She is also impressed by the performance of Chitti, on one occasion he is helping her from a dangerous situation. Vaseegaran wants to use Chitti for the development of the human kind through the scientific and atomic research activities. The professor (Danny Denzongpa) is not ready to give a clean chit for the research on Chitti, as he was having some other plans. What happens to Vaseegaran and Chitti, forms the rest of the story.

'Enthiran' has got visual effects and computer graphics sequences in its extreme. The robotics and the motion capture techniques has been used in the best way it can. Shankar has done double role sequences effectively in 'Jeans', here it is shown in a more standard style. Legacy Effects, along with other companies who worked for many hollywood movies has done their part here in a first class way. Cinematographer Rathnavelu should be given good credits for showing visuals that requires the maximum chroma shots. Editor Anthony did his part well. Songs by A.R.Rahman are peppy, but it is not so attractive as Shankar's previous ventures, his bg score goes with the mood. The visuals in the songs are rich and colorful. Peter Heins and Yuen Wo Ping had given some fast and destructive action scenes. Sabu Cyril's art work, especially for interior lab portions has got a hollywood look.

This is an out and out Rajinikanth movie, without any punch dialogues. He is rocking in different roles in his style. Aiswarya Rai also did well. Shankar has tried something different on the story side. We can't see the usual political villains or the bribe issues here, but the movie has got the signature of 'S' in it. The first half is more interesting, the second half lags a little here and there, the mosquito episode is lengthy, the situation created for 'kilimanjaro...' song felt deliberate. The scenes leading to the climax is filled with computer graphics to its maximum and they are shown as a total destruction, it can be accepted as the theme demands it, the different style attacking techniques used there enhances the brilliance of the director and it must be the costliest part of the project.

We are ready to accept anything unbelievable, shown in hollywood movies. So, after watching 'Enthiran', please don't ask foolish questions like how is it possible, is that right, do that happen etc. It is a science fiction - fantasy subject and the hero Rajinikanth is a robot, anything is possible and more over the presentation is realistic using the modern technological methods...


'Enthiran' is an extravaganza entertainer by Rajinikanth in Shankar's style, made by the immense support of Sun Pictures. You should watch it (in theaters) to witness the extreme visual effects treat never happened in an Indian movie before...


Rating : 8 / 10 (revised)

Raavan

Medium : Hindi
Starring : Abhishek Bachan, Vikram, Ravi Kishan, Govinda, Aiswarya Rai, Priyamani
Director : Maniratnam
Music : A.R.Rahman

Though watching films and reviewing them is a passion for me, sometimes writing will felt like a burden. It will happen in the case of bilingual subjects like 'Raavan', as its tamil version which i watched before was not having big positive reports as expected.

A majority of the viewers still don't know that notable director Maniratnam has made his directorial debut in tamil after making a kannada movie ('Pallavi Anupallavi') followed by one in malayalam ('Unaroo'). He was caught attention through hit films like 'Mouna Raagam', 'Nayagan', 'Agni Nakshathiram', 'Anjali', 'Dhalapathi' etc. He entered the bollywood industry in the late 90's through 'Dil Se' starring Shahrukh Khan and Manisha Koirala. Seeing the national market for his movies, in 2004, he made a bilingual subject like 'Yuva' ('Aayudha Ezhuthu' in tamil). His latest hindi-tamil venture 'Raavan' ('Raavanan' in tamil) distributed by Reliance Big Pictures, is shot in the thick jungles of south and north east India. His previous hindi venture 'Guru', based on the life story of business giants, Ambaani group, has also got Abhishek Bachan and Aiswarya Rai in lead roles.

The main difference happening between the two versions is that the title role in hindi is done by Abhishek Bachan (in place of Vikram in tamil). The heroine in both the versions is Aiswarya Rai; it is a fact that she has entered the movie industry through the tamil film 'Iruvar', directed by Maniratnam. National award winning tamil actor Vikram ('Pithamahan','Anniyan' fame), who did the lead role in the tamil version, is also doing an important role (in place of Prithviraj in tamil). He is making his debut in hindi as the pair of the former Miss World. Senior artist Govinda is an unexpected casting (in place of Karthik in tamil). Bhojpuri actor Ravi Kishan ('Welcome to Sajjapur' fame) is also acting (in place of Prabhu in tamil). National award winner Priyamani ('Paruthiveeran' fame) has done the same role in both versions.

Though Manikandan ('Om Shanthi Om', 'Main Hoo Naa' fame) started working as the cinematographer in 'Raavan', due to other assignments he moved out and the majority of the portions are later handled by Santhosh Sivan ('Dil Se', 'Asoka' fame). Songs are penned by veteran writer Gulzar. Choreography for a song featuring classical steps has been done by south indian actress Sobhana. Director's favourite composer A.R.Rahman is in charge of the music.

The movie starts when Beera (Abhishek Bachan), kidnaps Raagini (Aiswarya Rai), the wife of the police officer Dev (Vikram). Ragini is kept as a hostage in the deep jungles under the vigilant watch of Beera's gang. The police troupe headed by SP Dev, searches for Beera's hide outs with the help of a forest guard (Govinda). Raagini tried many times to escape from the custody, but all of them ended in failures. She came to know about the motive behind the kidnapping. What happens to Beera, whether Dev succeeded in catching him and how Raagini escapes from the custody etc are told in the later portions of 'Raavan'.

Abhishek Bachan is doing a character having psychic nature. His role is not stable and he is not fully fit to such a role. His eccentric behavior has even fall into over acting in many areas. Aiswarya Rai is charming, she had adjusted maximum to be suited in such a character. Vikram, with such a body language is good in appearance, but the problem in handling the language has affected his confidence level. Anyway this project is going to give big name for him since he handled characters that needs contrasting behaviors in both the versions. Priyamani has delivered her best in the debut role in hindi, even if it is small. Govinda has also done the role well. Ravikishan and many others who comes here doesn't need any comments as most of them are coming in a fraction and go.

In one way it is true that 'Raavan' is adapted from the epic Ramayana, but the style of relationship developing between the villain and the lady cannot be accepted in such a sense. The scene in the end in which she imitates the villain's 'buck buck...' voice, doesn't felt realistic. The family scenes of the hero and the cause of attack etc are not registered well.

The fight sequences that leads to the emotional scenes in the climax are done well. The visual effects involved in the jumping scenes are also the best. Cinematography by Santhosh Sivan (Manikandan also) is the highlight of this movie, he did an excellent and tough job to capture the rainy jungles. Editor Sreekar Prasad also gave some neat cuts. The music section of Maniratnam movies are also getting the hype unnecessarily these days, his association with A.R.Rahman in hindi has not given many hit songs as expected. The re-recording of 'Raavan' is also not the best, like the songs.

Controversies are accompanying 'Raavan', the latest one being Govinda supported by few actors complaining about their roles being cut down in the editing table to a greater extend; it happened after Amitabh Bachan criticizing the editing done on the title character, few days back. Such things has to be answered by the director, but it is evident that 'Raavan' still has got many unanswered questions in its story line...

Don't expect much from 'Raavan', it is a typical Maniratnam movie which is different from the usual bollywood style of making. Comparing both, the tamil version ('Raavanan') felt better.


Rating : 6 / 10

Raavanan

Medium : Tamil
Starring : Vikram, Prithviraj, Prabhu, Karthik, Aiswarya Rai, Priyamani
Director : Maniratnam
Music : A.R.Rahman

A majority of the viewers still don't know that notable director Maniratnam has made his directorial debut in the early 80's through a kannada movie, then did a malayalam movie ('Unaroo', starring Sukumaran, Mohanlal, Rathish etc) and later only started making movies in tamil. He caught attention through the film 'Mouna Raagam' followed by super hits like 'Nayagan', 'Agni Nakshathiram', 'Anjali', 'Dhalapathi' etc. He entered the bollywood industry in the late 90's through 'Dil Se'. Seeing the national market for his movies, in 2004, he made a bilingual subject like 'Aayudha Ezhuthu' ('Yuva' in hindi). His latest tamil-hindi venture 'Raavanan' ('Raavan' in hindi) distributed by Reliance Big Pictures, is shot in the thick jungles of south and north east India. This movie has also got the extra media publicity, as he receives (unnecessarily) for every project started from the time of 'Bombay'.

A brief regarding some of the persons who are in front of and behind the lenses will help us to know, how big is 'Raavanan'. National award winning actor Vikram is doing the title role here. He has grown to great level, with the experience he got by doing films like 'Sethu', 'Pithamahan', 'Saami', 'Anniyan' etc. The heroine is Aiswarya Rai; it is a fact that she has entered the movie industry through 'Iruvar', directed by Maniratnam. One of the luckiest young star in the south industry is none other than Prithviraj, who is pairing with the former Miss World in this movie. Another thing is that senior artists like Prabhu and Karthik, acting together under the director, after 'Agni Nakshathiram', in a gap of around 22years. National award winner Priyamani ('Paruthiveeran' fame) also joins this group.

Though Manikandan ('Anniyan', 'Om Shanthi Om' fame) started working as the cinematographer in 'Raavanan', due to other assignments he moved out and the majority of the portions are later handled by Santhosh Sivan, who got a tamil entry through the director's mega venture 'Dhalapathi'. Dialogues for the movie are written by senior actress Suhasini Maniratnam and songs are penned by director's favorite writer Vairamuthu. Choreography for a song featuring classical steps has been done by actress Sobhana. It is a coincidence that Maniratnam had worked with Musical maestro Ilayaraja in his first 10 projects from 'Pallavi Anu Pallavi' to 'Dhalapathi' while 'Raavanan' is the 10th movie for A.R.Rahman-Maniratnam combination starting with 'Roja'.

The movie starts when Veera (Vikram), kidnaps Raagini (Aiswarya Rai), the wife of the police officer Dev (Prithviraj). Raagini is kept as a hostage in the deep jungles, where Veera's brothers (Prabhu and Munna, 'Gowrishankaram' fame) kept guarding the area. The police troupe headed by SP Dev, searches for Veera's hide outs with the help of a forest guard (Karthik). Raagini tried many times to escape from the custody, but all of them ended in failures. She came to know about the motive behind the kidnapping. What happens to Veera, whether Dev succeeded in catching him and how Raagini escapes from the custody etc are told in the later portions of 'Raavanan'.

Vikram's character is having a psychic nature. Though he has done well, sometimes his eccentric behavior reminds us of his roles in 'Sethu', 'Pithamahan' and 'Anniyan'. Aiswarya Rai is charming, she had adjusted maximum to be suited in such a character with the help of actress Rohini, who gave voice to her. Prithviraj is ok, he doesn't have much to add on the performance side. Priyamani has delivered her best even in such a small role. Prabhu also gave a good support.

Almost all the Maniratnam movies has got one thing in common, the lead characters won't talk straight, they will speak poetic or philosophical type of stylish dialogues, there will also be a pause or silence between sentences. A good observer might understand about this phenomenon. I personally think that it is not a good custom to follow, such a thing is repeating here also. In one way it is true that 'Raavanan' is adapted from the epic Ramayana, but the style of relationship developing between the villain and the lady cannot be accepted in such a sense. The poetic dialogue between those two characters in the beginning area and the scene in the end in which she imitates the villain's 'buck buck...' voice, doesn't felt realistic. Karthik is not fit for such a humorous role, placing any comedians instead of that would have been given a better result (Maniratnam should learn lessons from director Shankar in that area). Nobody should be blamed for the 'controversial' actress Ranjitha, who gets some negative clapping from the viewers, her presence in a couple of scenes reduced the required seriousness.

The fight sequences that leads to the emotional scenes in the climax are done well. The visual effects involved in the jumping scenes are also the best. Cinematography by Santhosh Sivan is the highlight of this movie, he did an excellent and tough job to capture the rainy jungles. Editor Sreekar Prasad also gave some neat cuts. The music section of Maniratnam movies are also getting the hype unnecessarily these days. May be his association with A.R.Rahman in the beginning has given some hit songs, but after 'Alaipayuthey', you can't have many notable numbers coming from this combination. The re-recording of 'Raavanan' is also not the best, like the songs.

Don't expect much from 'Raavanan', it is a typical Maniratnam movie which can be watched for its technical brilliance (making style).


Rating : 6.5 / 10