Archive for the ‘Thoughts’ Category

new yorkto find out that circumcision comes from two latin words circum (meaning around) and caedere (meaning to cut). And New York is just “around” a triangle love story that has been “cut” to give some thrill. Story is by Aditya Chopra. Need we say more.

So let the right ones in. Kabir Khan. In. Irfan Khan. In. Katrina Kaif. In. Nawazuddin. In. John Abraham & Neil Nitin Mukesh ? They are cute. Get them in.

As a friend said what else do you expect from Yashraj Films ? They will romanticise terrorism too. And thats too little and too late. When the world is done with it and have moved ahead, we suddenly have woken up. In Kabir Khan’s New York, 9/11 seems just one more coincidence as there are such big holes in the film through which the twin towers can easily pass through. Too filmy, too convenient and too many unanswered questions. Here goes few which we could not digest. (Spoiler Alert)

FBI – at one point it detains anyone it wants. At other, it waits & waits & waits. For evidence. It negotiates with a terrorist. Oops, make that terrorist’s wife. Ganga gaye to gangadas, yamuna gaye to yamunadas.

John Abraham – even after nine months in jail, the hulk still has the bulk. Otherwise whats the point of shooting him nude, right ? The eye candy should score some ticket sales atleast.

College – Like in all hindi films, for two years, they all just sang “Hai junoon”. Much much later you get to know that John was studying architecture. And so he uses his architecture gyaan for cleaning windows!

Mom-dad – If I am not wrong, I did hear about John & Katrina’s parents. Katrina gave quite a long lecture on that. But even as they go through so much shit in life, their parents seem to be busy holidaying in Timbucktoo. More Casting ? Cut it.

Buck Fush – Except few people with placards in one shot, it doesnt feel like a story set in New York. You don’t even get to know the city & its politics. Its only there till college romance where foreign extras have been hired in good numbers.

Nawazuddin – The actor who packs more punches & definitely more emotions in one confession statement than the entire star cast & the complete film put togther. But the way he suddenly pops in & pops out, I am wondering why suddenly this dose of realism. His short story felt much more genuine than others. 

Kabir Khan’s debut film Kabul Express was also on the similar lines. Tackling a world issue in a commercial format. But this one is purely commercial trying to be seriously concerned. And this is just the beginning. More circumcision will soon follow. Rensil D’Silva with Qurbaan starring Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor & Viek Oberoi. And finally Karan Johar’s My Name is Khan starring Shah Rukh Khan & Kajol. Will they cut more or less or just around it ? 

Dvd recco – Watch Khuda Ke Liye. The Pakistani film was shoddily made but had its heart at the right place. Naseerduddin Shah’s debut film Yun Hota To Kya Hota was a collage of few stories that smoothly flowed in. From Hollywood, United 93 & Michael Moore’s brillant documenatry Fahrenheit 9/11 are must watch.

PS – Mayank Shekhar, what were you smoking ? 3.5 for this one ? We used to think Nikhat Kazmi & Taran Adarsh are the twin towers of film criticism. When did you join the gang ?

Rakhi SawantScroll down and take a look at the 16 pics. Does any of them look retard, psycho, mentally deranged, desperately horny, completely blind, fool, poor or without brains ? If not, why do they want to marry Rakhi Sawant ? What can be the real reason ? Is someone pointing a gun at their head or are they going to get fat cheques ? Or may be they are all ET, from some other planet and so have no clue about Rakhi Sawant. Or is this some kind of game ? We are quite baffled!

Scroll down the pics, more details posted. The 16 finalists for Rakhi Sawant’s Swayamvar. What next ? Rakhi Sawant ka honeymoon and then divorce ? Or the next seasons will depend on this season’s TRPs. Bring it on! We are not crazy enough yet!

Put the cursor on the pics for the names. For their age, location & profession, scroll down.

More details about Rakhi Sawant’s 16 prospective grooms. In clockwise order, from top. Age, location & profession.

1. Ali Bana – 30. Mumbai. Choreographer.

2. Aman Talwar – 21 . Haryana.  Father’s poultry business (21years ?? dude, control )

3. Ather Parwez – 33. Srinagar. J&K Police Crime Branch.

4. Ashwin Chaudhuri – 28. Nagpur. Runs marriage bureau.

5. Atirek Sharma – 24. From Kanpur, In Mumbai. Wants to get into cting.

6. Chitiz Jain – 26. Delhi. Garment export business.

7. Deepak Raghav – 25. Raipur. Fitness Trainer.

8. Elesh Parujanwala – 30. Gujarti NRI from Toronto. Family business. Wants to get into media.

9. Kapil Mathur – 28. Jaipur. In retail management.

10. Kripal Singh – 27. Mumbai. Stuntman.

11. Luv Khanna – 26. Delhi. Wants to get into glamour industry.

12. Manas Katyal – 22. Delhi. Media Professional.

13. Manmohan Tiwari – 25. Rishikesh. Lawyer. (wants to get into acting)

14. Pranav Damle – 26. Mumbai. Mechanical Engineer.

15. Raman Handa – 26. Saharanpur ( UP). Astrologer & Vastu consultant.

16. Rishi Dwivedi – 22. Kanpur. BSc Graduate ( Loves dancing & is a trained one)

Are these 16 best jokes or best jokers of the world ? Not bad at all. But we can’t figure it out. Interestingly more than half of them wants to get into media, acting or similar field. So is Rakhi Sawant their Ticket to Bollywood ? Hmmm…conspiracy theory again! 

The show Rakhi Ka Swayamvar goes on air on NDTV Imagine from Monday, June 29th 2009.

new yorkThe dry days are finally over. The first big release of the season is New York, directed by Kabir Khan and stars John Abraham, Katrina Kaif, Neil Nitin Mukesh & Irfan Khan. The film’s reviews are out and they are as extreme as they can be. Did they all see the same film ? Doesn’t look like. Hav a look. For full reviews, click on the links.

Rediff (Raja Sen ) –  New York is a sham –  1 / 5

Indiafm (Taran Adarsh) – Go for it now! – 4/5

CNN IBN (Rajeev Masand) – Not convincing – 2/5

Mumbai Mirror (Minty Tejpal) – Worth the price – 3/5

India Today (Kaveree Bamzai ) – Politics score, not the plot – 2/5

Hindustan Times (Mayank Shekhar) – For sure, NY see! – 3.5/5

So what do you guys think ? We are yet to watch it.

Why is Shah Rukh Khan digging his own grave ? Is it difficult to get the star quotient out of your head or is it impossible to hear anything beyond the voice of your cronies! That’s what it looks like. Reminds us of the film Luck By Chance and Hrithik Roshan talking to his image.

Raj Kumar HiraniRaj Kumar Hirani – Greed killed it. Hirani approached Shah Rukh Khan for Three Idiots. Khan offered to produce the film, pay him Rs 25 cr for writing-directing fees and asked Hirani to leave Vidhu Vinod Chopra. Lil did he expect that some people have the guts to say NO to Rs 25 crore. And a NO to Shah rukh Khan. Vidhu Vinod Chopra even asked Hirani to take the offer if Hirani wants it. But Hirani knew what he wanted. When Hirani said NO, Chopra wrote a letter to Shah Rukh Khan and made his views clear. Then the twist happened,  Hirani got Aamir Khan for the same film. Who is having the last laugh ? Need we say more.

Vishal BhardwajVishal Bhardwaj – Ego killed it. Some time back, Bhardwaj approached Shah Rukh Khan for a film. He narrated the script. Khan wanted changes. Disagreement. Vishal was trying to find a way. But Khan’s cronies made it ugly. As if the world moves according to Khan & his cronies, the script should be exactly what the King wants. Vishal left him. According to today’s Mumbai Mirror, now Hrithik Roshan is doing a film with Vishal Bhardwaj. We are waiting to hear more.

ashutosh gowarikerAshutosh Gowariker – Dumbness killed it. We are not great fans of Shah Rukh Khan – the actor. We love him for his intelligence & the great rise from being an outsider to the top. Swades & Kabhi Haan Kabhi Na – are the only two films of Khan which can tolerate. Rest is beyond us. But it seems Shah Rukh doesnt think so.  He wants commercial success.

According to this report, Shah Rukh doesn’t want to work with Ashutosh Gowariker anymore. Has he really lost it ? We think so. And hope that Gowariker gets someone better soon.

That leaves Shah Rukh Khan with only three directors – Karan Johar, Farah Khan & Aditya Chopra. And they will recycle him in same kind of dead boring roles.

Now compare it to Aamir Khan & the the directors that he has worked in recent past..

1. Raj Kumar Hiri – Three Idiots

2. A R Murugadoss – Ghajini

3. Amole Gupte ( writer/creative director ) – Taare Zameen Par 

4. Kunal Kohli – Fanaa 

5. Rakeysh Omprakash mehra – Rang De Basanti

6. Ketan Mehta – The Rising : Mangal Pandey

7. Farhan Akhtar – Dil Chahta Hai

Its not very difficult to guess that Aamir is willing to work with anyone who can convince him. Unlike Shah Rukh, he is not looking for “freinds” who can direct him. He is looking for “directors” who can direct him. And this is surely working in his favour. Shah Rukh, are you listening ?