F.i.g.h.t C.l.u.b

Two big hindi releases this week. Wake Up Sid is directed by 26 year old Ayan Mukherjee and stars Ranbir Kapoor and Konkona Sen Sharma. The film is produced by Karan Johar. So, will Sid wake up this friday ? As I tweeted on wednesday evening, think it will score between 3-3.5/5.  Some of the reviews so far…

Anupama Chopra ( NDTV) – Finally then, Wake Up Sid can’t match Dil Chahta Hai, which even eight years later remains Bollywood’s gold standard for coming-of-age movies. I’m going with a generous three stars and recommending Wake Up Sid with reservations – 3/5

Taran Adarsh (Indiafm) – On the whole, WAKE UP SID is a well-made film that should strike a chord with the youth mainly. A metro-centric film, the film should attract its target audience and should also prove to be the first choice of the elite/urban audience this Friday – 4/5

Rajeev Masand (CNN IBN) – It has its heart in the right place and it marks the breakout of a bright, shining star who has come into his own so early in his acting career. Watch it, and be awestruck by Ranbir – 3/5

Sukanya Verma (Rediff) – Wake Up Sid has its heart in place, but it still doesn’t have much of a plot or novelty to rely upon. That’s why the dialogues could have done with a little more quirk and nifty humour. Having said that, a superlative Ranbir makes it too darn hard to notice – 3/5

Gaurav Malani (ET) – It’s pleasing to see Bollywood warming up to fresh talents like Ayan Mukerji and waking up to compelling narratives like Wake Up Sid – 3/5

Anand Vaishnav (Buzz18) – When the veterans are royally messing up screenplays, Ayan Mukerji deserves full marks for his maiden effort. His conviction shows in every department. Wake Up Sid is easily the freshest film in the marquee – 4/5

Avijit Ghosh (TOI) – In the end, Wake Up Sid becomes a sort of template of how GenNow navigate their lives: deal with their own little rebellions, find meaning to their own definitions of independence and handle their own set of mistakes. It feels good when the two friends finally meet in driving rain under the grey skies by the sea. Refreshing and heart-warming, Wake Up Sid really puts you in the mood for love – 4/5

Kaveere Bamzai (India Today) – So wake up, and go watch Sid and Aisha’s sweet little prem kahani. It’s not as perfect as the decor in Sid and Aisha’s home but it’s pretty. Ad yes, the boy gets the girl, a career and his parents too (with their credit card) in the perfect little summation of our consumerist-driven lives – 3.5/5

Mayank Shekhar (HT) – If anything, this film is just as real if not more. Given the clichéd subject, most importantly, the coolness isn’t fake: something most films pretending to be for or about ‘youth’ don’t quite manage to grasp. You can immediately tell the writer-director (Ayan Mukherjee, a heart-felt debut) has lived though the material. So have the actors. I may not mind living through this again – 3.5/5

Minty Tejpal (Mumbai Mirror) – Ranbir has a charming vulnerability coupled with a cheeky insouciance that makes him superstar material, the kind of boy who is adored both by the dadi and her granddaughter. And thank the cinema gods for Konkona Sen Sharma. The talented actress once again puts in a nuanced performance, as we have come to expect from her. Well done, Sid – 3/5

Shubhra Gupta (Indian Express) – Despite the obvious passages, Mukherjee shows he has a way of adding nuance to a scene. `Wake Up Sid’ is a promising first effort – 3/5

The other release of the week is Do Knot Disturb starring Govinda, Ritesh Deshmukh, Lara Dutta and Sushmita Sen. The film is directed by David Dhawan.

Anupama Chopra (NDTV) – This is cinema as punishment. Steer clear – 1/5

Taran Adarsh (Indiafm) – On the whole, DO KNOT DISTURB is a mass entertainer that keeps you entertained and smiling/laughing in most parts. At the box-office, this one lives up to the hype and expectations and that in turn should reflect very strongly in its business – 3.5/5

Gaurav Malani (ET) – Fun lies behind closed doors’ reads the tagline of the film. One would rather close doors to such farcical fun. It’s time directors DO NOT take the viewer for granted. Take the cue from the title. Do not bother to disturb yourself for this deafening drama – 1.5/5

Rajeev Masand (CNN IBN) – It’s hard to believe this film was actually directed by someone. Was David Dhawan ever on the set at all? Perhaps Sushmita Sen ate him! That answers two important questions – 1/5

Anand Vaishnav (Buzz18) – Govinda and David Dhawan have made us laugh a lot more in the past. And this is certainly below par for them. Watch it if you are looking for handful a of chuckles. Do not expect more – 1.5/5

Minty Tejpal (Mumbai Mirror) – I think the real reason that Govinda is a much loved star is because of his looks or lack of thereof. To see a round, middle aged goofy looking man with clumsy hair and a huge smile flirt and hug former Miss Worlds is pure value for money, especially for all the fat men in the audience. If Govinda can, so can they – 3/5

As expected, Wake Up Sid is clear winner this week! And lets knot disturb the other.