DIL TO BACHA HAI JI

Cast: Ajay Devgn, Emraan Hashmi, Omi Vaidya, Shazahn Padamsee, Shruti Haasan, Tisca Chopra, Shraddha Das
Director: Madhur Bhandarkar

Love is probably a subject that is integral part of Indian cinema. Most if not all Indian movies has a love track. And same goes with comedy (actually its hard for a movie to be a hit it doesn't have these two main ingredients). So it was about time that Mr. Madhur Bhandarkar tried his hand at both. And so we have Dil to Bacha Hai Ji- a modern day take on the subject that has kept the human species confused for long.....you guessed it right....LOVE.

DTBHJ is story of three men and their encounters with beautiful women and of course LOVE. Naren Ahuja played by Ajay Devgn is a soon to be divorced banker, Abhay aka Abby played by Emraan Hashmi is a playboy and also a gym trainer and Milind Kelkar played by Omi Vaidya works with a matrimony company and also a part time poet, they all come together when Naren decides to rent out his house to two PGs. The three are very different from each other not only in age but also the way they look at love.

There is a 38 year old Naren who is attracted to a young intern at his office, June Pinto played by Shazahn Padamsee. Abby is stuck and confused between love and money and cannot choose between the mother and daughter duo of Anu and Nikki i.e. Tisca Chopra and Shruti Haasan. And lastly Milind, a firm believer in true love who loves radio jockey Gungun played by Shraddha Das, who uses him all the time.

Best performance is surely by Ajay Devgn who does well in his role as a middle aged man looking for love from a girl half his age. Emraan is of course at ease playing the playboy (he is a veteran in this kind of a character now).

So does DTBHJ work? Well it does in parts. I personally found the movie to be too long and slow. The dialogues could have been better (& funnier). But the movie is still enjoyable in parts. A note though you wont fall laughing from your seats watching this one.

Image Source: bollywoodhungama.com

Dhobi Ghat

Cast: Aamir Khan, Prateik Babbar, Monica Dogra, Kriti Malhotra

Director: Kiran Rao

“What did this movie want to say?” was what my friends said after coming out of the movie hall (a thought echoed by most coming out of the hall). Dhobi Ghat is a very different kind of cinema, one with which we Indians as not too accustomed with. I actually liked the English title for the movie 'Mumbai Diaries' (it describes the movie better).

The film revolves around five characters, Aamir Khan (Arun- a Painter), Monica Dogra (Shai- a Investment Banker+Photograpger from New York), Prateik Babbar (Munna- the Dhobi), Yasmin (a young newly wed Muslim girl) and Mumbai (the city plays the fifth character).

Arun is a painter who lives a lonely life (and likes it that way), he makes a rare public appearances at his exhibition and meets Shai- a investor banker from NY, who is also a photographer. They come together and spend the night together. A night with which Arun isn't too happy about and in the process hurts Shai, who on the other hand feels they had a connection. Munna is a 'dhobi' in the morning and a rat-killer by night, who wants to be an actor. He introduces Shai to Mumbai and while doing so falls in love with her. Yasmin is newly wed Muslim girl who comes to Mumbai from a small town in UP. She appears from time to time in the video letters to her brother, which Arun accidentally discovers in his new house.

The movie shows the city of Mumbai from four different perspectives of its four central characters. It is a story of four different people from four different backgrounds and how their lives crosses each other. The complexity of everyday life is well explored in the movie. The movie opens with a view of Mumbai from a under construction building and that is what the movie is about 'Life under construction'. There are really some chilling scenes towards the end of the movie.

It has some really good performances by all the four characters but Munna and Yasmin's characters steals the show. Especially Prateik Babbar is excellent at his portrayal of Munna- the expressions, body language, everything. Kriti Malhotra does well in her role. Monica Dogra looks beautiful and is good in parts. Aamir Khan though is not at complete ease (it is probably not one of his best performances).

Kiran Rao's directorial debut is experimental and is not for everybody. The movie takes some time getting used to because we don't often see this kind of cinema here. So if you are not afraid of experiments this movie is for you.

Image Source: BollywoodHungama.com

One Life to Dream

“Sam…Sam….wake up Sam….get up now”….said a soft voice in his ears. 'Whose calling me?' thought Sam, he didn’t know whether he was dreaming or was this voice actually waking him up…so he decided to find out…and slowly tried to open his eyes. What he saw next was unbelievable….he saw a beautiful girl looking at him....Sam had never seen somebody so beautiful. The girl had lovely wavy brown hair…beautiful blue eyes…lips as red as rose…it was too good to be true…so he closed his eyes and opened them again…only to find this girl to be even more beautiful. Slowly he lifted his head from her lap….the girl was wearing a beautiful pink silk gown....Sam was dumbstruck and bowled over by her beauty....still looking at her he mumbled “Who are you? What am I doing here? Where am I?” She helped him stand on his feet. Sam was amazed at what he was seeing; this place was like heaven, with trees, plants and flowers all around. He looked at the girl and asked her again “What is this place? Who are you? And what am I doing here?” The girl said “I am Pari…God has sent me to take you to him….and this is the path to God’s palace”.
Sam was shocked….he couldn’t believe what he just heard…was he dead...or was he dying? If yes, then why wasn’t he feeling any fear? “I am probably dreaming” he thought and pinched himself, but he felt the pain of it. The girl smiled and said to him “You are not dreaming Sam…so don’t inflict pain on yourself”. Sam didn’t know how to react…he said to her “How do you know my name? Is this some kind of a joke because let me tell you it’s not funny at all….who has sent you? Vicky…or was it Adi?” She smiled again and said “This is no joke Sam…this is for real…I am here to take you to god...now let’s start…we have a long way to go”. Unable to understand anything…Sam thought to himself, “probably I am dead now…this is what I wanted “DEATH”…and now am getting it, so let’s not be late for my appointment with God”.
Sam was walking with Pari now; they weren’t talking just walking in this paradise. At last Sam broke the silence “How far is God’s palace from here Pari?” Pari looked at him “Not far from here, but it depends on you Sam....how much you want to walk to get there…” Sam didn’t understand what she meant but he liked it; he thought “may be this is how these angels talk”. Sam was actually enjoying this walk with this angel named Pari…she was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen…her voice had a sweet calmness and he just wanted to hear that voice again and again. He was thinking all this when suddenly he heard himself asking her “Are all angels as beautiful as you?” Pari looked at him…silence…and then she blushed and said “Well, it depends on who and how one looks at us, which makes us beautiful”. Sam thought “Wow, am I really flirting with an angel here and she blushed as well…probably she likes me as well”. He was still thinking when they reached a huge door about 25 feet tall. And then the door opened and the bright light welcomed them. Pari told Sam “this is God’s Palace Sam….lets go in”.
Both Sam and Pari were now inside the palace, although there was nothing you would associate with a palace…no gold or silver pots or huge paintings, or carvings….everything here seem to have life and emitted some kind of light...there were colors all around and the air had a sweet freshness about it. Sam said to Pari “you know Pari....I always thought heaven would be a place in the sky...where everything would be in white...but....” Pari continued “but you’re feeling an amazing inner peace here”. Sam was surprised and said “How do you know what I am thinking?”......“I am an Angel remember” said Pari.
“So we are inside God's Palace now....so what now??” asked Sam. Pari kept quiet and pointed to a room on the right. Sam followed Pari into the room....this room had glasses all around....there was couch at one corner....Sam didn't understand what was happening so he looked at Pari....she took him to the couch and they both sat there. “What are we doing here Pari....when is God going to meet us?” said Sam. “Well he will meet us soon enough....till then we have to wait here for him” answered Pari. After few moments of silence Pari started to speak “Hmmm...Can I ask you something? Hmm....why are you here? I mean you seem to be such a nice guy...having a good life...then why? I mean then why did you wish for your death?” There was again a moment of silence...but this time it was really long. Sam had tears in his eyes as he remembered all that had happened in last six months....he hadn't spoken about it for long...not even to his closest of friends....but he wanted to share it with someone...so he started to speak slowly...and Pari was listening intently to him.
You know Pari….Life is really a roller coaster ride….when things are going right you feel a rush of going up…and when things go wrong….you feel the fear from gravity pulling you down even more….six months back I was a happy man…..I was going to propose Shez my love…my life…my everything for last four years….then I popped the question to her….she was amazed to hear it…and she said ‘no’…because apparently she thought I wasn’t well settled and won’t be so anytime soon….so she had thought of breaking up with me and marry a rich techie from US…..and she walked out on me…..I was shattered of course….actually shattered was a small word for the pain I felt inside…..anyways when I told my parents about it, they wanted to be with me….I waited for them….but they never came….only the news that the car by which they were coming met a freakish accident in which both of them died on the spot……I was alone in this world….I started to drink heavily during that time to get through this pain, but the pain never subsided……it all started to affect my work and I was thrown out soon….then I was thrown out of my apartment as I couldn’t pay the hefty rent anymore with my job gone….all my assets…my bike..TV…everything…..were taken back by the bank…these loans just kill you…you know!!!A friend then gave me his flat as he was moving to US……I looked for jobs but I didn’t get any….so here I was alone…without parents…without love…without work…and fast receding bank balance…Shez took a lot with her…so much so that I felt that there’s nothing left inside me..…I had no aspirations…no goal…nothing at all….not knowing what to do in life…just waiting and praying for this pain to end…I wanted to meet god…and ask him a simple question ‘Why Me?’…” at last finished Sam. He was amazed how easily he had told Pari everything that till now he had hidden till now in the darkest corners of his heart. He felt so much better now.
Pari wiped the tears of Sam’s cheeks and kissed his lips. Although it was a small moment…it made Sam feel happy after many months. Pari now took Sam in her arms and hugged him tightly. Sam also held her tightly…he felt real peace in his heart right now….the peace that had been missing all this time. Then Pari said “I need to go now Sam….God is going to meet you now…but promise me no matter what happens from now on you would be happy….do you promise me?”. Sam didn’t want Pari to leave…he wanted to hold on to her…he then said “ don’t leave me alone….I promise I would be happy but only if you are with me….don't leave me please!!” Pari said “I promise I would be back soon..but now you have to meet God now….you shouldn’t keep him waiting..we will meet soon”. Before going Pari kissed Sam and wished him luck.
Sam was sad that Pari was gone now, but he also felt an anxiety of meeting God….he felt like he was giving his first interview. He was waiting for God and thinking what he will say to him, when the door opened. A young man entered the room….he was dressed in a Light Blue suit…he looked smart and handsome. Sam was amazed as he had never imagined God to look like this. The guy came forward and sat next to him and began talking to Sam “So you are Sameer Sen…..how are my boy? I heard you had a few questions for me….why are you so amazed????....alright I get it…you didn’t expect ‘THE GOD’ to look like this young right…well sorry to disappoint you but this is me…so tell me”. Sam collected all his courage and asked “You know everything about my life…so I just had a small and simple question for you…Why me?” God smiled and said “OK I will answer all your question…lets just take a walk outside”.
So Sam was walking with The Almighty God himself now on a road that was going straight...the sun was rising at the horizon...the same place where the road was heading. After walking a bit God started speaking “Do you remember that night Sam..the night before the day when you were gonna propose to Shaina....you wrote something in your blue diary....you wrote 'God, please if you're listening you know how much I love Shez...please so something that she loves me back as well'...you know I granted your wish that night...and the next day you proposed her...and she eventually said yes to you”. Sam said “yeah she took a month to answer that”. God laughed and said “thats not the point my boy...she did say yes didn't she?....okay forget that remember that day when you were coming back from a marriage with your family...and your car got hit by a truck...you were shocked and scared...and you thanked me for saving you and your family.” “Yeah I remember all that God...but whats your point?” said Sam. “My point is when I granted you a wish or when I saved you from a certain death....your first thing you did was thank me......but when I threw a challenge at you...the first thing you said was 'Why me?'....why is that Sam?....Life's full of ups and downs...joys and sorrows...happiness and sadness...but thats what makes life alive....think if you only had days and no nights, would you still enjoy the rising sun?....if there was rain everyday...would you still enjoy the first drop of rain on your face?” Sam was getting what God was trying to say and it got him thinking. God continued “OK tell how high can you jump from this place without bending even a little?...not that high right... Sam I throw challenges at you, not to hurt you or make digs at you...challenges are are stepping stones to the bigger and better things I want you to have...” “But what good did the things that happened to me, did for me?” thought Sam. “Are you sure it didn't serve you any good?.....okay think what would have happened if you married a girl who didn't want you as much as she wanted materialistic things in life...would you be happy with that...or would you be happy with a job that you hate...but didn't have the courage to leave and pursue your passion and start that restaurant you always dreamt of having?....just think would your parents be happy seeing you in so much pain and ruining it all?....Sam you only get a chance at life, why be sad at what you lost...instead why can't you be excited of what is to come in future?” Sam looked at God and said “I understand what you want to say God....I wish I understood all this before instead of crying over what had already had happened...I wish I had another shot at life...”. God said smiling “your wish is granted Sam...you were never dead actually, I just wanted to talk to you...now that I have, don't forget what I told you...love life and listen to your heart”. At this very point Sam realized they had reached the horizon..he could hear a loud music in the background...the sun had risen and all he could see was light and that was it.
Sam slowly opened his eyes, the light from the window was falling straight on his face...he sat up shocked, not knowing what had just happened... “was I really dreaming all that” thought Sam. He picked up the ringing mobile now..it was from his friend who was back in the city and he wanted to meet him for a new business he wanted to start..a multi-cuisine restaurant....and he wanted Sam to manage it. It was 1.30 pm, Sam tried to think exactly what had happened last night. Apparently he was very sad and had finished a bottle of whiskey...he wanted to end the pain, so he then took four sleeping pills with the last glass of whiskey. And after 15 hours of non-stop sleep and a bad bad headache...he was over his pain and thankful to god for his life . He was happy that he was getting another shot at life. But he was sad that he won't be able to see Pari now. Thats when somebody pressed the door bell. Sam opened the door and found a beautiful cute smiling girl with dimpled cheeks in pink tee and blue jeans. “Hi, I just moved into 502...I was thinking if you can help me move things around.. I mean if you are free....its a mess in there and I couldn't do it alone” said the girl with the dimpled cheeks. Sam couldn't say no (of course), so he said “Surely am free....just give a minute..let me get my chappals”. He then followed the girl to her flat, it was a mess inside with with boxes all around. “By the way, what was your name again?” asked Sam. “Oh sorry I totally forgot to tell you my name...anyways...Hi I am...Pari...Pari Roy...and whats your name?” said the girl. The name triggered the obvious thoughts, Sam closed his eyes for a second, then looked at Pari and smiled (he had got his answer); he then said “I am Sameer Sen...but you can call me Sam”. They both started placing things around the house...they joked and laughed together and enjoyed each other's company. The only thing Sameer speaking to himself was "God and his ways are way to kool man".