Fim Review: Happy New Year, Paisa Vasool Masala Cracker

Film Review: Happy New Year

Cast: Deepika Padukone, Shah Rukh Khan, Abhishek Bachchan, Boman Irani, Vivaan Shah, Jackie Shroff and Anupam Kher, Malika Arora Khan, Vishal Dadlani & Anurag Kashyap in guest appearances.

Music: Vishal-Shekhar

Director: Farah Khan

Producer: Gauri Khan/Red Chillies Entertainment

Wanna go on a bumpy and roller-coaster ride? If, yes! Read this review at your own risk..oops! my bad! Risque! It's for the haters of 'meaningful' brainless flicks and kick ass comedy that tickles the heart to happiness. A word of caution to intellectual critics, swearing by meaningful cinema, it's a sugar-coated appreciation of Happy New Year and don't blame me for giving you a heart attack 'kyon ki saala Kismet bada kutti cheez!'....'Haaro to Haaro, Ijaat Mat Uttara'...'Nandu manjhe Dimaag mein Khide'...

Happy New Year belongs to the masses. Stunning visuals of Dubai captured to perfection, mass appeal, Jhakaas dance moves, super entertaining songs and lovable performances. It's no secret that Farah Khan belongs to the Manmohan Desai's school of cinema whose one-liner should remain buried in our head, 'If you want to enjoy my films, leave your brains at home.' I know, the intellectuals must be fuming coz HNY has done to them what 'Mere Brains Ko Aanda Kisne Maara.' Happy New is a typical 'Masale dhar' movie, a bit stretched perhaps as it hits almost three hours, that will woo and make you laugh your lungs out. What works for Farah's is the dialogue baazi, after all what's a Hindi movie without mazedar dialogues?

Happy New is the story of six losers in Dubai, Charlie (SRK), Mohini (Deepika), Nandu (Abhishek), Tammy (Boman), Jag (Sonu) and Vivaan (Rohan). A team of six underdogs who are hell bent in seeking a revenge by making the biggest diamond heist. In turn, they captivate the hearts of million across the globe and not just Rs 100 crores worth star-studded diamonds.

Shah Rukh Khan as Charlie, the Boston University topper, is endearing and proves why he is one of the biggest superstar in the country. Perhaps, HNY is the film where he packed an action storm that would make the rest of his movies fade in comparison in terms of Maar Dhaar. He exudes charisma whether in funny situations, action, romance and emotions. The rehearsing of his old filmy bazzi dialogues that won him hearts and wooed his audience remains the movie's forte. Captivating.

The surprise package of HNY is Abhishek Bachchan. In case you haven't watched this roller-coaster ride, grab your tickets and you'll know why. Abhishek as Nandu Bhide excels in comedy and HNY will certainly be one of his most loved character after a spate of bad movies. He is hilarious when he does a repeat of Amitabh Bachchan, 'I can talk in English and Walk in English.' Junior Bachchan scores big time in this one with his hatke, tapori style, 'Nandu Bhide Dimaag Mein Khide' which the fans will love to no end. In one word: Brilliant. People will identify with the character Nandu that re-defines Abhishek as an actor.

Deepika Padukone as Mohini is live poetry in motion. Her entry is fantastic in the 'Lovely' song and the kind of energy she displays, hitting the octane level like a volcano is breath-taking. She has improved a lot as an actor and in every movie, she raises the bar a notch higher which leaves her contemporaries far behind. Certainly, Deepika proves in HNY that she is the most accomplished and versatile actor who gives her fans something new in every film. Whether it's the romantic scenes with King Khan and comedy or emotional scenes, she shines throughout. She adds credence to her character whether getting ensnared by English the Phunny language or doing a spoof of Kabir Khan in Chak De India. Deepika as Mohini is endearing.

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It's an education watching Boman Irani as Tammy and one wonders how he pulls his characters so effortlessly. An endearing performance by one of the most talented actors in the Hindi film industry. Sonu Sood as Jag performs competently while Naseer's son Vivaan Shah plays his part well as the loser Geek. A potential to watch out for. Jackie Shroff is competent and suave as the villain.

Farah Khan as a director is fully attuned to the taste of the masses and is a maven on making films injecting the right dose of , 'Masala.' However, two back-to-back songs towards the interval seems repetitive and tad boring. Plus, the films drags a bit with its nearing three hours which could have been chopped to make the screenplay more crisp.

On the whole, credit goes to Farah Khan for packing the right punch of action, comedy and emotions to make Happy New Year, the real winner in terms of entertainment.  The right dose of striking a hilarious route coupled with a subdued text of patriotism in the climax makes Happy New Year a flick that carries repeat value coupled with gripping narrative and blockbuster with the right ingredients. Plus, the friendly appearances of Anupam Kher, Vishal Dadlani, Dina Morea and Anurag Kashyap is the extra Mithais.  Truly Team India! Happy New Year has come to make the perfect Diwali gift like the jalebis, mouth-watering Gulab Jamuns and Rasgoolas. Plus, the music by Vishal-Shekhar is captivating and catchy. Another musical high.

What I like with Farah Khan is how she always gives credit to the whole crew in the end. A special gift by Shah Rukh Khan how he presented his cute son, AbRam and of course, Farah's triplets. It's lovely to see Gauri Khan shaking a leg. Reasons for you to watch HNY.

PS: Breaking with the tradition of giving stars to HNY and just go, munch the pop corn and enjoy the ride. To nay-sayers, I am your average blogger and no, SRK, Farah, Abhishek and Deepika have not paid me for the review. So shut up and stop cribbling.

Size Zero Syndrome

Huma Qureshi favoriting my tweet

A discussion on Twitter with NDTV, Parineeti, Sonakshi and Tara Despande

It's a tale of weight, curves, size zero and six packs abs to 'flaunt' one's body. First, there was a huge helluva over the size of models and actresses in the film & fashion industry with the media going great guns over size zero. Remember, Kareena Kapoor shedding oodles of weight in a swim suit in Tashan where she went from curvy to size zero. It made headlines that provoked reaction from all quarters, be it fans gushing or loathing, media going berserk and the the film fraternity.

Before Kareena Kapoor, Shah Rukh Khan's six pack abs in Om Shanti Om in 2007 not only was over hyped but got tiff competition from Amir Khan one year later in Ghajini. It moved 2 notched higher with eight pack abs. Now, one don't really know what will come out to see the gentlemen hitting the gym to hit the double, 15 pack abs.

Then, we have new age and talented actors of the likes of Parineeta Chopra, Huma Qureshi and recently, Sonakshi Sinha who came out in the open and hit back at critics and cynics, mocking their weight on various social media sites. 

Actors such as Parineeti and Huma Qureshi rightfully placated critics who call them curvaceous. After all, what's wrong with curves as long as the ladies are comfortable in their bodies. The whole craze about being skinny is so passe and over-the-top. It's so sad how the media and people on Twitter mocks the amazingly talented actors who are comfortable being themselves. The best thing about the actors is that they are comfortable in their bodies, wearing clothes that fit them. Yes! Being curvaceous is beautiful. I am not saying that someone should be overweight but this whole size zero is an unwanted syndrome. 

It is a known fact that some models are subjected to rigorous diet where they undergo skeleton regime where one gets the impression that they would starve to death.  Eat healthy and be healthy doesn't mean to go without food or gulp only water during the day. The 90s witnessed the best models on ramp and they were not skinny men and women but wore designer clothes that fit them to the hilt. The models were not skinny or size zero but totally rocked the scene. The bottom line is to wear something you are comfortable with. Why should someone wear clothes that would make them look bad or be like a skeleton?

Credit should go to Sonakshi Sinha who posted an image of a skeleton, telling 'Girls Be Like "I Finally hit my goal weight". It couldn't get better than that! I am no fan of Sonakshi Sinha but looking at the jokes or flak she received on Twitter, she deserves respect for giving it back to critic. I mean, look at Deepika Padukone! She is probably one of the woman with the hottest bod who carries herself effortlessly well and with grace. But, Deepika is not skinny nor she is the embodiment of size zero. Far from that! She is comfortable in her body and her curves is in the right place.

One needs to get over this whole size zero syndrome where several models try to impress the world by competing to look best. Sorry ladies and gentlemen! We, men or for that matter any sane person, is not really buying this size zero thing. I feel Parineeti Chopra and Huma Qureshi look fab by being curvaceous. The size zero syndrome doesn't bite the bait. I feel many look weird by shedding bundle of weight by try to be size zero and it shows not just on their body but face. They look  not just weird but like lolly pops and pale anorexic version. 

Size zero is like a patient who is sick in the last stage of their life. Who is this model who is hell bent to die of malnutrition? They look grotesque wearing clothes that are even thinner than their bodies and not really a tale of one size fits all! I mean, Kareena looks scary and weird in Tashan, as if she was deprived of food for days or months. 

God save the ones who are dying to starve in secret with this never-say-die fake hang over and weight complexity. Size Zero is not just a syndrome but a fad that will only make you fade into oblivion. Come on! We love the beautiful dimples flashed that charm us off our feet and not a figure that inching closer to minus zero and negative. Let's not do the mathematics of weight in the battle of curvaceous vs skinny coz it will make you bonker. 

Bust size of 31 inches, waist of 23 inches and 32 inches of hip. Eat well and let's not complicate the world as half of the world are dying of hunger. Let's not burden the world. Zero Diet Plan is an absolute No No. Get rid of this syndrome and eat well people. Be comfy in what you are and twiterrazi stop being gung-go with this bull shit called size zero.

With Love

Vishal

TOI does it again! The Cry Baby defying gravity

They are simple incorrigible and 'thick skinned', no matter how wrong they are. Yes, Times of India has done it again! A sad tale of indulgence where India's  supposedly No.1 newspaper is sinking itself into new lows of journalism. Post the fracas where Deepika Padukone has rightfully slammed 'India's leading daily', they are repeating their feat. Rather than gracefully tendering an apology and moving on, TOI is getting angry and sullen like a cry baby by spewing venom on someone and questioning her career choice and life style.  It sucks to see ToI indulging into such cheap antics journalism.

Words failing me to make sense of the gravity-defying logic of the journalist in question who is a woman and who is indulging in slanderous attack against another working woman and professional who is an accomplished person in her own field. The fact is TOI cannot explain themselves after last week's flop show and they have driven themselves against the wall. The picture shall speak for itself where the paper has made itself the butt of practical jokes. The so-called letter appeared in Sunday's edition of Bombay Times. Have a look for your own reading pleasure.

I wrote this post on my other blog to voice my opinion against the kind of mudslinging made against Deepika Padukone where they attacked her femininity and showcased her cleavage. To say the least, it's an unveiled attack against the person. Now, they are justifying something that cannot be!

Entertainment! Seriously! Deepika's cleavage show! Guys, are you serious when your EQ is all about the lady's cleavage. And, the country I am based in, I fork 25 bucks to get a late copy of Sunday Times shipped from India, which is sold for five bucks.  Am I a fool to fork out five times more money to get a late copy of my 'favorite' newspaper? It makes me shudder when you defend and justify yourself that it's a compliment to Deepika. It's downright sexist and it doesn't make 'news' sense to me. It's not even sensationalism and you've gone to an extreme step by living up to the adage, 'sex sells.' It's not even that but a scathing attack on the dignity of a professional woman who is proud of her femininity. Mind you! Being comfortable in one's body, doesn't mean someone is indulging into skin showing as the newspaper is trying to portray but rather she is expressing pride in who she is. She is proud of her body, but,ToI, you make it look so cheap.

TOI has been my favorite newspaper and I was in awe of them, owing to their high standard of journalism and the kind of human-cum-feature stories they would come up with in the not-so-distant-past. But, now! I am not very sure about that. Now, I understand why accusations of pen pushers and whistle blowers are directed with a punch against my tribe. The OMGs! Actress have sex in car, show boobs, showcase assets is a matter of laughing-stock. I mean, seriously! Is that feature or news in the first place! I wonder whether I am in the right profession!

Deepika served you right when she placated, Yes! I am a Woman, I have Breasts and a Cleavage. You Got a Problem?!  Don't Talk about Women Empowerment when You don't Know How To Respect Women. Deepika Padukone deserves and commands respect for taking a stand against something which is demeaning and humiliating, to say the least. It's so unfortunate that many women in the film and fashion industry face such kind of cheap thrills under the name of journalism. Sorry, it's not. Before going to print, one should have checked the facts and quality of news.

It pains me to say that TOI is going the down slide when we see such stuffs appearing as news. Not so recently, someone wrote something sexist in the name of entertainment, 'advantage of women being a virgin till they marry.' It's another thing after protests that the story was removed. But, the damage was done. Sad that the paper with the biggest circulation in the world has reached this stage. I am tempted to ask, 'What's gone so horribly wrong?' Is there no such thing as editing and news filtering, with sub-editors being the last line of a newspaper's defense?

Objectification!You name it, you get it! The latest victim today is SRK 'We don't go into frenzy seeing SRK's abs.' Mind you, I am no prudish and know that some people enjoy picking up a mag seeing glamour and sexy pictures. But, seriously, this is not even glamour but an act of over selling yourself. Surely, you are not that desperate to sell your newspaper since your office is not housed in some dingy corner down the road. It's no standard of journalism. Let's not speak about ethics. I feel a shudder down my spine since I have seniors whom I respect a lot and who made careers at TOI and one of them is a respected columnist. But! But! such sexism cannot be tolerated. Good that someone took the cause of not just the females but males in the industry. Yet, sometimes back, Aishwarya Rai's Karva Chauth was breaking news. Or years down the road, Amitabh Bachchan's family boycotted the Filmfare Awards when one of your sister company, Mumbai Mirror, published an untrue story about Aishwarya Rai suffering from stomach tuberculosis and therefore cannot conceive. It's slanderous against woman! The irony was a refusal of apology and the rare feat is repeated in Deepika's case, four years' later.

Nowadays, I prefer to read Hindustan Times who has upheld its standard of journalism, features and entertainment. Hope ToI will pick up the thread where they left or may run the risk of being sunk into oblivion with the adage, 'Has-been newspaper with high standard'. It will break my heart to see TOI going down the road like that. I want the good old Times of India which made me rush to hold it in my hands, enjoying a  cup of coffee on a lazy Sunday.

Or else! I'll prefer a pirated copy of Akshay Kumar's Entertainment, any day. Let's skip the booby trap TOI and cleavage show. Certainly, it doesn't honor our profession as journalists.

100 years of celebration, entertainment and joy of movie-making

100 years in a history of the silver screen is a long time to hark back upon! On May 3, the Hindi film industry celebrated a century of entertaining zillions of views and as we retrospect on the stars we love and the movies we cherish, there is no doubt that Hindi cinema has come a long way and today, there are new talents zooming their way ahead and film-makers are ready to experiment and explore with new talents and subjects. Certainly, the best time to be in the film-industry where 100-crores plus movies dominate but at the same time, small and meaningful cinema exist side by side.
The 1950s and 1960s saw a host of memorable actors to the likes of Raj Kapoor, Sunil Dutt, Dev Anand, Shammi Kapoor, Dilip Kumar and so many who shine through the film industry and I feel that this era has produced many classics such as Mother India, Shree 420, My Name is Joker, Sahib Biwi aur Ghulam, Madhumati, Guide, Kashmir Ki Kali, Bimal Roy's Do Bigha Zameen and of course, the cinema of Guru Dutta where he churned out master pieces like Pyaasa. At that time, movies were made in Black and White and many believed that the 50s and 60s was the best time in the history of Hindi cinema where movies were subject centric. The best and memorable songs were composed during that time. We were also exposed to movies like Pakeezah that saw the birth of a performer like Meena Kumari and Manoj Kumar's patriotic movies.
Dilip Kumar was the tragedy king and it is nearly impossible to forget memorable roles in movies like Devdas, Madhumati, Leader, Shakti and Vidhaata, among others. He is an institution of acting that is considered unparaled and gave tragedy a new definition. Certainly, one of the greatest actors of all time who is still a model to the young generation.
The late 60s and 70s saw the birth of the first superstar in the history of cinema, Rajesh Khanna and the epithet was coined for him. Rajesh Khanna was a phenomena and it was said that young girls married to his picture and slept with his image under their pillow. As we celebrate 100 years of cinema, it makes sense to pay a tribute to Rajesh Khanna who passed away last year. It was the death of a man who spread havoc among the crowd and Kaka, as he was known, contributed immensely to sensitive cinema such as Anand, Safar, Namak Haram, Aradhna and Amar Prem, just to name a few. Rajesh Khanna was a phenomena that got bigger and bigger. He made romance soft and love endearing. This is a phase in the history of Hindi cinema that cannot be obliterated.
Come the 70s, the angry young man, Amitabh Bachchan was born in Zanjeer and after facing rejection where 15 of his movies flops, a new star was born. The success of Zanjeer at the box office gave Amitabh Bachchan, the name 'angry young man' who went to rule the silver roost for more than 30 years and beyond. Bachchan was the star, the companion and the actor may dreamed to be and he was a dream to so many of us. He gave us memorable movies like Sholay that is considered to be the biggest success in the history of cinema, Deewar, superhit entertainments like Amar Akbar Anthony, Naseeb, Don, Muqquadar Ka Sikandar, Shahenshah, Agneepath and Hum, among others. Bachchan turned the way in which we looked at TV with the game show, Kaun Banega Crorepathi that sent waves of ripples across the country. Today, we no longer look at TV with contempt and it won't be unfair to say that actors like Shah Rukh Khan, Govinda, Salman Khan and Madhuri Dixit took to TV but nobody came an inch to the Bachchan persona and charisma. Bachchan is the only actor to star in four superhits movies in a year in the 1970s and it is a feat that he managed to repeat in 2005 with movies like Black, Sarkar, Waqt, Bunty aur Babli. He is also the only factor whose career graphs has much more hits and flops and trade pundits, says that even today his movies that doesn't to well at the box office manage to get an initial opening that ensures that distributors doesn't lose their money. 
In the 1990s, Bachchan took a five-year break from the film industry and it was the time when new heroes such as Shahrukh, Amir and Salman saw successed in romantic movies. The 1990s were the era where action movies took a back seat and romance was the flavor of the season. Actors like Ajay Devgan, Sanjay Dutt, Anil Kapoor and Sunny Deol also thrives during the era where India opened its economy to the world and India became rich through globalization. The face of cinema changed.
But, legends are legends. Bachchan came back and met with failure which was a reminder that he cannot remain a cliche of his own image and re-invented himself with movies like AKS, Sarkar, Ek Rishta, Ankhen and Kaante and of course, Kaun Banega Crorepati. This paid off big time as he not only paid back debts from the failure of his corporate company, Amitabh Bachchan Corporation Limited but ruled the roost again. There was only one Amitabh Bachchan who even today donning the father's role to young stars is seeing young producers and directors making a beeline at his doorsteps and where roles are being written for him. One has the impression that his young co-stars are being rendered insignificant and despite being the hero of the film, the latter is seen as secondary to Bachchan. That is the power he wields among the audience. This is why I feel that the history of cinema cannot be written, re-written or scripted without Amitabh Bachchan. I often wonder what will happen if Bachchan didn't take the five-years long break and perhaps the Khans, had to wait for another ten years to make it big.
The year 2000s saw a host of new talents such as Hrithik Roshan, Abhishek Bachchan, Irfan Khan, Katrina Kaif, Priyanka Chopra, Ranbir Kapoor, Imran Khan, Kariena, Sonam and Deepika Padukone as well as actors like Ranvir Shorey, Rahul Bose, Ayushmann Khuranna, Parineeti Chopra, Rajat Kapur, Konkona Sen-Sharma who made a fortune in the small budget movies.
The future of Hindi cinema is brilliant where new subjects are being explored and there is whole lot of possibilities with new age directors such as Abhinav Kashyap, Zoya Akhtar, Sujoy Gosh and many more. It is the best time for the film industry as one doesn't need to crores to make a movie but a good subject is needed and a small budget will do. Good cinema shall always prevail. The perfect example of a good film for me is Bheja Fry that was shot in one apartment on a medium budget. Similar, subjects exploring relationships will always have a medium, so will rom-com and out and out commercial movies.
On the occasion of 100 years of Hindi cinema, one do not have the right not to mention Dadasaheb Phalke, the pioneer of the Hindi film industry, who made a dream come true. One should always chase their dreams.
Long Live the Silver Screen.