Posts Tagged ‘Wake Up Sid’

Whose “Iktara” is it ?

Posted: March 6, 2010 by moifightclub in bollywood, cast & crew, News, songs & videos
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Lil late to discover it but as they say, better late than never. Atleast for the record!

Remember the popular Iktara song from last year’s Wake Up Sid ? We discovered Kavita Seth and realised that Amit Trivedi can kill Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy with just one song. The trio had the rest of the album. But nobody played anything beyond Ikatara. And many are still playing it in non-stop loop.

Had lot of doubts since the song came out. It sounded so different from rest of the album. And then got to know that there is a male version too. And the male version is not in the CD ? It was released much much later. Was it a official release ? Not sure. A good friend mailed it to us as we were desperatley looking for it. So, whats the story ?

Intially Amitabh Bhattacharya wrote the male version of the Iktara song. Everyone liked it. But Javed Akhtar doesnt like sharing credit on music albums. Its should be only him or let anyone else write all the songs! But it was too good a song to let it go. 

To solve the problem Javed Akhtar rewrote a new version of the same Iktara song. It was recorded in a female voice and was put in the album. The male version of the song remained in the system and was released much later after the release of the film.

For better comparison, here is the lyrics of the male version and click here for the lyrics of the female version. Thanks for it Goonda, the only person who doesnt like the song! Or better click on the play buttons of the video attched and decide for yourself. First the female version and the next is male version.

30 Filmy Fundas of 2009 – The good, the bad & the fuglies!

Posted: December 31, 2009 by moifightclub in cinema, bollywood, News, cast & crew, Thoughts
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2009 – The Master of Feel Bad started the year delivering his career’s first hit and the Master of Feel Good Cinema ended the year with a recording breaking monster hit! Aha, not that bad if we count only the boundaries. After the musical notes of the year, we sat down to discuss the filmy notes of the year. Here it is – the good, the bad and the fuglies!

1. Best Credit Roll – If ever a credit roll said something so simply and superbly, this is it. Luck By Chance. Also great debut by Zoya Akhtar.

2. Anurag Kashyap turned musical and how! More than a dozen songs and we discovered Amit Trivedi.

3. Anurag Kashyap – 2009 belongs to only one director. Dev D, Gulaal and even Paanch finally got a release, you know where. Whats more, he finished shooting his next film That Girl In Yellow Boots in just 13 days. Aur bolo ?

PS : The same Anurag Kashyap wrote the dialogues for Kurbaan ! Strange bedfellows remained strange.

4. Nobody, we repeat nobody, can save Harman/Hurrman/Harmann/Harrman/Whatever it is Baweja.

5. Wooden Film of the Year – New York. Three good looking woods with zero expression.

6. Ranbir Kapoor – Dude of the year! He is not only working with best directors of bollywood but delivering his best too. Cool & confused, fool & romantic, middle class & lost – he did it all.

7.Imran Luck Khan – The poster boy of 2008 is light years behind Ranbir. He only talks cool and acts still uncool.  Competition, whats that ?

8. Imtiaz Ali has only one story to tell. The journey of cool and confused lovers on the verge of marriage. First time, they were about to mary. Second time, they were close to marriage. This time, they finally married and then solved their problem. More here and here.

9. Samir Karnik got money to make one more movie. Who ? Where ? Why ? How ?

10. Rani Mukherjee’s career is over. Hadippa!

11. Multiplex cinema & hits are not everything. Its a big myth. Ask the makers of Wanted. Or is it only Salman Khan ?

12. And if its Salman Khan, why Main Aur Mrs Khanna packed up in just two days ? As they say, nobody knows anything. And what was UTV smoking ? 

13. Overrated Gimmicky shit of the year – Paa. More ramblings here.

14. R Balki should stick to making tv commercials. One idea and thats it. He also told the same story again. Smart & dying child bring lovers back together. Age gap somewhere. Check.

15. Akshay Kumar’s bubble busted and how!. He failed everywhere. Chandni Chowk, China, Hollywood, under water, inside or outside Tasveer.

16. The Invisible Director – Who is Anurag Singh ? Does anyone knows him ? The man who put the last nail in the coffin of Rani’s acting career. Hadippa!

17. Sanjay Gupta and gang (read Suparn) are still copying. Even the promos! Now the Unknown ones! More here.

18. Suresh Nair – the only writer to have two big films releases on the same friday. Aladin & London Dreams and both flopped.

19. Underrated Film – Sooni Tarporevala’s delightful Little Zizou, where all the possible parsis united to turn bollywood into pollywood! ( Missed Barah Aana, Mohandas)

20. Ripley’s Believe It Or Not – Sunil Shetty got an award for acting in Anant Mahadevan’s Red Alert – the War Within. Believe it, nobody has seen the film yet.

21. Most Subtle Expression of the year – In Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s Delhi 6, a man lands up with a mirror to show your andar ka kala bandar! Beat this!

22. Nagesh Kuknoor – Dont give him big budgests and big stars. He will go cuckoo-noor!

23. Vishal Bhardwaj delivered again. Five films in a row. And showed us Amole Gupte – the actor. More here.

24. Ajab Prem ki Gazab Kahani tried too hard to be Andaz Apna Apna. Insanity happens! You cant plan and design it.

25. ENG Filmmaker -Madhur Bhandarkar continued his expose and it finally flopped.

26. Smirk & Smug of the Year – Vivek Oberoi in Kurbaan. It was the ROFLOL film of the year where terrorism was wrapped in chiffon saree.

27. RajKumar Hirani lied to all of us and made the same film again. As a friend said, its Munnabhai B Tech. More here.

28. Couple Of The Year – Jaideep Sahni & Shimit Amin who delivered Rocket Singh – Sales Man of the Year! More here.

29. The only U-25 who proved us wrong – Ayan Mukherjee. Wake up Sid. Confident debut. More here.

30. Only 12 scenes, not 12 roles – Ask Priyanka Chopra. Easily the best performance of the year. Length doesnt matter, performanace counts. Vishal did it. Gowariker failed.

Bravery Awards  – Aftab Shivdasani turned writer and producer with Aao Wish Karein.

Someone directed a film titled Jai-Veeru!

Abhijeet Sawant turned actor.

LOL Titles Of The Year  – They said it all. No explanations required.

Kal Kisne Dekha

Do Knot Disturb

Fruit & Nuts

London Nightmares

Blue-s

Aa Dekhein Zara

Dhoondte Rah Jaoge

Ek Se Bure Do

(Tough) Luck

Shorkut – The Con Is On

PS. ENG – Electronic New Gathering.

Coming up next –  what to expect in 2010!

K Jo is willing to wake up! Am willing to cheer and wait for more!

Posted: October 8, 2009 by moifightclub in bollywood, cast & crew, cinema, film review, News, reviews, Thoughts
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First, few confessions!

1. I dont discuss cinema with U-25! Because i believe you dont understand cinema well if you havent lived and experienced enough. Except few, not many of us make sense of our life and the world around us by 25. Forget cinema! BTW, by U-25 i mean Under 25!

2. After reading all the reviews of Wake Up Sid (WUS), I thought it must be of, for and byU-25! And coming from Karan Johar production, where the director’s access to producer had nepotism at the core, I was more reluctant! 

3. With K Jo’s films, I had love-hate relationsip! I loved Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. Blame it on college days. I HATED Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham. I loved Kal Ho Na Ho. I hated Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna. Dostana – Had not much to react. And now its Wake Up Sid!

Wake Up SidThere are some million reviews already out. And I thought Baradwaj Rangan nailed it beautifully! Here is his full review if you havent read yet. But if this film is any indication of things to come from Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions, it seems K Jo is willing to wake up. Is it the koffee ? And so am willing to cheer and wait for him to wake up completely, get out of the bed and run like Lola one day!

Like YRF and their brand of cinema which still believes in doing Hadippa, K Jo also has his brand of cinema. The airbrushed designer cinema. But look at Wake Up Sid and what it offers!

SPOILER ALERT (minor)

– OMFG, the heroine and the hero sleeps on floor. And have one room kitchen to live.

– For the first time, the character actors look like characters. And they talk and behave like characters. Neither airbrushed nor designer! Is Lakshmi (Sid’s friend) Tiku Talsania’s daughter ? What a natural performance!

– There is no artificial rain. It rains because the season changes according to the flow of the story or the hero pours a bottle of water on heroine’s face!   

– There is no melodrama. Its all subtle. Amit Trivedi’s background music and iktara track fills the gap beautifully! No heavily loaded music like the one which still plays when the Dharma Productions logo come on screen.

– In the club scene, is that Agnee’s shaam tanha ? Yeah yeah, one of the best bands in recent times that I have heard!

– The hero doesnt sing a song. The heroine also doesnt sing a sog! They dont even have a dream sequence in song! Its all in montages.

– And finally we have the hindi film hero not only falling for an older woman and that too, not so good looking one! And its Karan Johar production! Wooohoo!

There is more. Felt that its a beautiful postcard for the Mumbai Bombay city too. It starts with the city and ends with it. And so, there is Mumbai Beat magazine! And am I the only one who felt this is more of Alish’s (Konkona Sen) story. Sid’s (Ranbir Kapoor) slate was clean, its easy to scribble there. But Konkona’s slate had lot of stuff, it goes through change, she learns, she re-writes, she gets confused and finally she is the one who wraps it up.

Also, Alisha was much more difficult character to potray. Think of the situations she faces, like that scene when she comes back home after the not-so-good jazz experience and she finds the house all clean! And there are so many scenes like that. Its a predictable story and has a simplistic view of the world. But the director Ayaan Mukherjee knows his world really well! Damn confident debut!

After WUS, I hope K Jo doesnt go back to good ol’ naach gaana like his good friend Aditya Chopra. He is willing to wake up. And am willing to cheer for him. And I know, I am not the only one!

Finally have just one question for K Jo – Will he now join Hansal Mehta on his Gandhigiri protest against Raj Thackeray ?

Film Reviews : Wake Up Sid & Do Knot Disturb

Posted: October 2, 2009 by moifightclub in bollywood, cast & crew, film review, News, reviews
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Wake Up SidTwo 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

Do Knot DisturbThe 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.

Wake Up Sid – new video!

Posted: September 21, 2009 by moifightclub in bollywood, cast & crew, cinema, first look, News, songs & videos
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A new promotional video of Wake Up Sid has been released. The film is produced by Karan johar, directed by Ayan Mukherjee and stars Ranbir Kapoor and Konkona Sen Sharma.

The video has been shot on the title song but where is Konkona ? The one who is going to make Sid wake up! Think they cut her out to focus on the glamour quotient because by bollywood rule book, she surely doesnt score high there.

Iktara – The best song of Wake Up Sid!

Posted: September 11, 2009 by moifightclub in bollywood, cast & crew, first look, News, songs & videos, Thoughts
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But why is the video so unimganitively done! And those words on screen, kabhi hai kabhi nahi!

And here is the best thing about the album. The music is by Shankar Ehsaan Loy but the song Iktara is composed by Amit Trivedi ( Aamir and Dev D). And with just one song, Amit kills it! If you havent heard the song, click the play button. Sung by Kavita Seth and Amitabh Bhattacharya. The second video has the full song.

Full song

Fox Star Studios has bagged Karan Johar’s My Name Is Khan!

Posted: July 23, 2009 by moifightclub in bollywood, cast & crew, gossipmongers, Hollywood, News, Story / Plot / Synopsis, Thoughts, Xclusive
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My Name Is Khan2Yes, its confirmed. Since its inception, Fox Star Studios, a joint venture between 20th Century Fox and STAR Network, hasn’t been much active. It started business with the big one Slumdog Millionaire. But could not manage much business because the whole world had already seen the film by the time they decided to release it in the theatres in India.

Recently Fox Star Studios signed the deal with Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions for rights of My Name is Khan for a whopping 100 crore. The figure is not yet confirmed but thats the number doing the rounds. Earlier this year, Karan Johar tied up with UTV for his other two productions, Qurbaan ( Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Vivek Oberoi ) and Wake Up Sid ( Ranbir Kapoor, Konkona Sen Sharma). And now the deal with the Fox Star Studios. Seems like its the end of Yashraj films-Dharma Productions’ dostana, who earlier used to distribute all of Karan Johar’s films.

My Name is Khan stars Shah Rukh Khan & Kajol and is directed by  Karan Johar. Its the story of Rizwan Khan, a man with asperger syndrome, whose son gets killed in a racial attack and he is branded as a terrorist. Rizwan then decides to  meet the President to clear his stand. Eventually it turns out to be a big campaign across the country and makes him famous. Rizwan’s punchline says it all – My Name is Khan & I am not terrorist! It has superhit written all over it. Seems like a good deal for Fox Star Studios.

Bollywood News Updates – 17/07

Posted: July 18, 2009 by moifightclub in bollywood, cast & crew, cinema, gossipmongers, News, Thoughts
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TGIF! Too much of news flow today. Some bolly quickies!

1. After almost two decades, Nana Patekar will soon return to direction to direct his son Malhar. The film will be produced by Prakash Jha.

2. Bit late but better to keep track. Agyaat is in High Court! Writer Sajit Warrier filed a complaint with Film Writers Association that Agyaat is his script. He was writing it for Ramu long back. And after few years, he suddenly got to know that the film is ready. FWA told Ramu to pay him 9 Lakhs. Ramu has moved to High Court. A unit member from Agyaat confirmed the fact that Sajit was writing for Ramu, not sure if its the same script. Will put a detail post soon.

3. Irfan Khan walks out of Sanjay Gupta’s Alibaug. First it was Sanjay Dutt and now Irfan Khan. Problem ? Payment issues. Thats Guptaji’s old habit. Irfan doesnt want to work with Guptaji till his Acid Factory (P – Gupta, D – Suparn Varma) payment is cleared. Or is this some PR at work for Acid Factory  ?

4. Saif Ali is putting 28 ACs in his new home at Bandra. WTF ! And for what ? To have ice cubes and snow flakes in the potty! He has also taken up the terrace of the building and is turning it into a gym with all the facilities. May be its for the gym!

5. Heard of a film called Kissan ? No ? Its obvious. Has Sohail Khan, Arbaaz Khan and Jackie Shroff in the lead. Manoj Kumar has given permission to the makers of the film to use the song mere desh ki dharti in Kisaan.

6. Yashraj Films has denied the news that they have signed Salman Khan for an upcoming film.

7.  Delhi Belly is social comedy and NOT sex comedy. NO desi American Pie – Abhinay Deo ( director of Delhi Belly. P – Aamir Khan) 

8. Post Dev D, music composer Amit Trivedi’s hands and pockets are full with offers. He is doing Udaan ( D – Vikramaditya Motwane. P – Anurag Kashyap), Chillar Party ( P – UTV. D -Vikas Bahl’s debut), Film City ( P- UTV. D -Deven Khote’s debut ). Also the background score of Wake Up Sid (P – Karan Johar. D – Ayaan Mukherjee) and some more!

9. Shah Rukh Khan is in London, with his family for holidays. Karan Johar is also there. And he is busy shopping with Ritesh Deshmukh! Hmmmm. Looks like Ritesh will finally get a role in Dostana 2.

10. Ayesha Takia’s sister Natasha Takia is all set for her bollywood debut soon.  And Mukul Deora ( Politician Milind Deora’s brother)  is getting into film production. Is Bhabiji Pooja Shetty behind the filmy inspiration ?

PS. D is for Director and P is Producer.

First Look : Ranbir Kapoor’s Wake Up Sid

Posted: June 16, 2009 by moifightclub in bollywood, cast & crew, first look, News, pics
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Here is the first look of Ranbir Kapoor starrer Wake Up Sid. The film is produced by Karan Johar, directed by debutant Ayaan Mukherjee and Konkona Sen Sharma stars opposite Ranbir in the film. The story is set in Mumbai and its a love story of an aimless young guy (Ranbir Kapoor) who falls for an older and simple woman (Konkona Sen Sharma), a writer from Kolkata.

Wake Up Sid