Ishaqzaade review

3/5 

After a carefully planned marketing campaign and some beautiful songs that aroused interest in this uniquely titled movie, this Yash Raj venture released today. Directed by Habib Faisal who has been a regular in the Yash Raj stable and produced by Aditya Chopra, Ishaqzaade stars debutante Arjun Kapoor, son of Bonny Kapoor and the one film old Parineeti Chopra, cousin of Priyanka Chopra. Does it make an impact? Read on to find out.  

Ishaqzaade is the rustic love story between Parma (Arjun Kapoor) and Zoya (Parineeti), 2 youngsters from opposite clans of the political scene in Almor, a small town in central India. While Parma is a Hindu belonging to the Chauhan family, Zoya is a Muslim belonging to the Qureshi family. Their journey together starts off with great friction amid campaigning for the local MLA election, becomes romantically intense, has some betrayal thrown in and on the whole it is not a bed of roses by any means. Finally when the young lovers decide to bury their differences after being consumed by their love for each other, they are not let to live in peace. Whether they unite, given the severe culture of hatred between the Hindus and Muslims in their town, is the finale of this movie.

This is one of the rare rustic love stories to come out of Bollywood amid the slew of urban movies coming out every other week. The pace of the movie is pretty steady save few instances in the second half like when a dance number suddenly pops in and during the extended chase sequence in the climax.  

Parineeti Chopra is the lifeline of the movie. She is a natural and emotions just come so easily to her, be it mischief or rage or romance. A real talent to watch out for and a possible replacement for Rani Mukherjee’s brand of boisterous acting. The hulky and hunky Arjun Kapoor makes a very earnest debut. The kind of effort that a city lad like him must have put to get into the skin of such a rural character is admirable. Though he is a bit sluggish in his body language, his dance moves are terrific and his wicked laughs stand out. The chemistry between the lead players is the main reason why this movie leaves a mark on you. 

The ‘Pareshaan’ song in the 1^st half in particular is a dreamy montage song where the lead pair develops their romantic interests. There are also some intense physical moments between the two which have been aesthetically captured. Gauhar Khan also has an impressive role as the dancer who gives some solace to the pair in the raging second half.  

Amit Trivedi’s songs are the next major standout. ‘Pareshaan’ and ‘Ishaqzaade’ will remain with you long after the movie gets over. The BGM score by Ranjit Barot is also in line with the movie’s mood. The cinematographer Hemant Chaturvedi, has captured the raw energy of the rural heartland of our country.   

To conclude, Ishaqzaade will stay with you and make an impact given the magical on-screen chemistry between the lead pair and the unconventional climax that will leave you pondering on the way back home from the theater. The director has woven a message into the climax and though it surely affects you, you do wonder if the movie could have ended in a different way.

VERDICT: An absorbing tale of love in the backdrop of intense communal politics.

Ek main aur ekk tu movie review

Another glossy rom-com from Bollywood, inspired by similar such Holly love flicks. Has a contrasting couple in the form of a boyish but uptight Rahul & a jovial and bubbly Riana. Rahul has just been fired from his job while Riana has been dumped. They cross paths a few times before getting married overnight in Vegas after a drinking binge on Christmas night. They decide to get the marriage annulled but their journey together is destined for more.

Rahul falls in love with Riana slowly and he turns around his life in a more cheerful manner thanks to Riana's influence. Riana on the other hand, treats Rahul as her best friend and even takes him to India for him to lighten up his mood. Rahul finally gets the courage to speak his mind out to his parents who are obsessed with his looks, habits and career.  

Just as we expect Riana to slowly start reciprocating Rahul's love, the ending is something unexpected. She stays firm in her stand and maintains that she is just a great friend to him. Rahul turns around his life and the two stay friends forever. 

Review

• Imran Khan sets the benchmark for boyish charm and turns in an engaging performance. Towards the end, he is top class. His dressing, his style sense are all very "boy next door" types. 
• Kareena Kapoor delivers as expected. The parents have all done well, be it Riana's cheerful parents or Rahul's socially conscious parents. 
• The songs by Amit Trivedi are a major plus. The BG score by Clinton fits the mood as well. The locations in the movie are fresh and glossy. Rich production values. 
• Some classy scenes like the scene when Riana calls Rahul the perfect average guy, when Rahul is about to kiss Riana but she refuses, when Rahul burst out to his parents and the climax
• The editing is nice and the chapter style is new to Indian films. The chapters could have been named better though. 
• The dialogs are cheeky, humorous and quite progressive for a typical Indian film. 

VERDICT

A familiar romantic premise lifted by Imran Khan and the different ending. Worth a watch. 

Wake Up Sid (2009)

The Plot
The film is about the coming of age of a filthy rich young brat named Siddharth Mehra aka Sid. Sid is in Mumbai. He fails his degree exams and has no aim in life. His father is a rich businessman who specializes in flower furnishings. Sid isn't able to fit into his father's business as well.

Sid just has fun with his 2 buddies Laxmi and Rishi. He meets Aisha one day and they instantaneously hit it off. Aisha is from Kolkota and she has come to Mumbai to be independent. Basically she is the exact opposite of Sid. Sid helps her settle in Mumbai and Aisha also gets a job in the magazine "Mumbai Beat"

At one stage Sid has a major fight with his father and he moves out of his home. He lives with Aisha and slowly learns about life. He learns to cook, clean up, wash etc and also gets the urge to work. He is very good at photography and he gets placed as an intern at "Mumbai Beat" thanks to Aisha. Sid works his way up and finally gets a permanent posting as an Assistant Photographer.

By then Sid's father calls him back home and they mend their differences. Aisha also falls for Sid slowly but surely. Sid had been having love feelings for her from the beginning but she feels he is too kiddish for her liking. Finally Sid comes to know about her feelings for him, through her first published article.

Sid and Aisha unite in the Mumbai rains in the end.

Hits

• Such realism in the way relationships have been portrayed be it - love, friendship, mother son bonding, father son bonding. Beautiful to the core. Great work by debutante Ayan Mukerji. 
• Brilliant acting by the entire cast be it Ranbir Kapoor, Konkona Sen, Anupam Kher as the dad, Supriya Pathak as the mom, Sid's friends Laxmi, Rishi & Kashmira Shah as Sonia. Perfect casting. Even the characters in the flat like the young kid, his mom etc. are so life-like.
• Lovely songs by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy and Amit Trivedi. Peppy, meaningful and melodious at the same time. The BG score by Amit Trivedi is so well in sync with the movie. 
• Even though each of the cast has done a brilliant job, it is impossible to single them out because everyone is equally brilliant. 
• Nice light screenplay that becomes serious just at a couple of points.

VERDICT

One of my all time favorite cults. Ranbir arrived in a big way with this light-hearted coming of age classic. 

Dev.D (2009)

What's it about
This film is a modern take on the age old Devdas story and an uber cool take at that. Dev and Paro are lovers from childhood. The ultra naughty Dev is sent to London for his studies by his rich businessman father, Satpal Singh. Paro and Dev develop their love through chats and pictures (nudity included)
      Dev returns to India smitten by Paro's photos. They are mad about each other. But, he hears certain rumors about Paro's sex life and blindly believes them. Thus, their love is broken. Paro gets married. Dev is unable to bear this loss and starts getting neck deep in drugs, alcohol and dope.
      Dev is spotted by a pimp called Chunni and he is lead to Chanda aka Leni a young girl who is forced to become a sex worker after a terrible MMS scandal and negligence by her family. Dev and Chanda seek solace in each other and after some hiccups they are madly in love with each other.
      But Dev's dope trips result in a terrible accident where he mauls 7 people on the spot. He wanders further, looses his father, roams all over the country like a beggar and finally reunites with his soul mate Chanda after he realizes that he can after-all set his life straight.
     The final shot shows Dev going to surrender at the police station along with his lover, Chanda.

                                                            
Hits

• Terrific style in the presentation
• Absolutely bold characterization of all the 3 lead characters.
• Great casting and equally great acting by Abhal Deol (the stylish drug addict who is always in a hangover), Mahie Gill (the bold and beautiful Indian village girl) and Kalki Koechlin (the naive cute school girl who later becomes a mature young woman)
• Classy music by Amit Trivedi. Some great picturization too in the form of montages. 
• A super concept, totally English in execution. Kudos to Abhay Deol for some new age thinking. 
• Very fast screenplay. Never a dull moment. 

VERDICT

One of the front runners in bringing style to Indian cinema. Smashing and utterly innovative. AN ABSOLUTELY NEW-AGE, COOL INDIAN FILM.