My Review on Vivaah

Vivah: My Rating 4 1/2

Its being a long time since a saw a decent movie. A movie which I can see with my family members. Vivah is, as title reads out "a journey from engagement to mairrage". Audiences will see a bit of themselves in 'Vivah'. May be not in the metros where weddings are now arranged on a contract basis and the bride is more concerned about getting her makeup and outfit rather than values. This time Sooraj Barjatya dint got a HUGE team as compared to his previous release like Hum Aapkke Hain Koun and Hum Saat Saath Hain. In fact thats the point I like in the move where whatever characters are there are given enough room to show the talent. Shaid or Amrita have never being in favorite list but they deliver good performance and do justice to the role. Alok Nath is very much around. And his contribution to the success of ‘Vivah’ can’t be ignored. Seema Viswas does justice to her role and adds a pinch of salt to the sugar and saves the movie from getting to sugary.

I don't know the fate of box office for this movie but people who cares for their values will surely love this movie despite of any box office record

In various forums people have raised various concern. Well if you guys dint like the movie that's absolutely fine as everyone has its own taste and so does you! Now coming to various points raised by you, I will try to address them.

- Prem falls in love with Poonam for no apparent reason.
If you watch movie carefully you will find that Prem knew everything about Poonam before he saw her, he was told everything about her by his father and his father was informed by Mr Bhagat (Now if you don't want to believe in your parents or your family then its your choice. At least I will believe in my parents and that's why it makes sense to me). And also she is educated, belongs to a decent family, being brought with values, AND she is beautiful. Now if you think these are not enough to justify for someone to fall in love, then I don't know what you are looking for.

- A city guy marrying a village girl.
Are you fixing up a rule that a village guys should marry village girl and city guy to city girl? Isn't it a completely ridiculous? I ask you whom you will marry? a person to whom you like or a person who is staying in city/village (wherever you are)? I don't agree with the fact that t people of city are not compatible with village and vice versa.


- All village girls are innocent and have values/Village peoples have more values than city.
Someone raised a point that comparing the Village girls as goddess is completely wrong. I 100% agree with that. Its not the Village or City girl who can be considered to be good. What matters is, the kind of teaching you got from your parents/elders, and how much you have adopted them. It can be any where, a village or a city. Its person dependent not place, and I don't think our Director ever tries to convey that village girls are like "Goddess" and city girls are "Bitches".

- How come a village girl will be compatible with a city guy?
I fully agree with the fact that success of a marriage totally depends upon compatibility. There are 2 kinds of compatibility in relationship like marriage which you see. Before marriage and after marriage compatibility. I have not been married for long to comment like an expert but compatibility factors are going to change after marriage. So there comes compromise by which you can increase your compatibility. And that's the fact behind marriages being more successful among Indians than Westerns (this applies only to those who agree with me that Indian marriages are more successful compared to marriages in western countries). So I don't advocate the idea of sleeping/staying with someone to check the compatibility before marriage (A Salaam Namste idea, just to let you know I enjoyed Salaam Namste for its humor).

- Various comments about Tradition and Culture
Someone stated that Bal Viavah (Child Mairrage) was or our tradition/culture. My suggestion, go little deeper in our history and you will find that there were co concept of Child Mairrage. A girl can choose anyone he wants to marry, it was her choice (something called as Swyamber). Just go and read some books, do some research and you will find the reason why Child Mairrage started. Also tradition changes from time to time, something which was good 1000 years ago may not be applicable now but basic things of love, affection will remain the same till there is mankind.

Main Meri Patni Aur Woh : Fresh Air

When I saw this movie for the first time, I could not believe that Bollywood can produce this kind of movie. Its fresh air from the same factory where most of the movie which come-out or remake of Hollywood movies in Bollywood style. This is a Bollywood movie but there is nothing "Bollywood" about it, except makeup of heroine (Rituparna Sengupta), in fact that was the demand of the character. This movie is close to my heart reason for its simplicity and the story it tells. That could be me you or someone else.

The film's plot revolves around an odd couple, Mithilesh Shukla (Rajpal) and his much taller, more attractive wife, Veena (Rituparna). But the story begins with showing Mithelesh as a bachelor who was responsible of marrying his brothers and sister and now he is 34. Due to the pressure from his mother and Mama ji he agrees to see the girl but he is somehow pre planned to reject the girl. But he does not want to embarrass anyone by rejecting. But when he sees the girl his embarrassment of rejecting turns in fear of getting rejected.

Like a typically average middle class man, Mithilesh does not like people being around his wife Veena. He is annoyed by people being overtly attentive to Veena every day, and desperately seeks a solution from Lord Shiva, whom he pacifies with a daily dose of milk and bananas. To add to his problem there comes an tall handsome and stylish software engineer Akash, who happens to be Veena's friend (Kay Kay Menon). Now Mitheles trouble increases, he want to be just like him, because he believes that Akash is the perfect man. What happens later is the cream of story and you got to see that by yourself, but I have one word to the movie "Wow"!

Now Rajpal yadav is in the list of my favorite actors (other are Om Puri, Nsheeruddin Shah, Amitabh Bachhan, Aamir Khan, Kay Kay Menon). So far Rajpal Yadav was doing some small time role in big budget movies but he has left his presence felt. But this movie has brought the best out of him. Thanks to Chandan Arora, who second time also took him in the lead role.

This is second movie of Editor turned Director, Chandan Arora. The first one to his credit was "Main Madhuri Dixit Banna Chahti Hun". And I am eagerly waiting for his next movie.

Salman an easy escapgoat.

There are so many incident happening around and we get to see justice very now and then. But in this case even though it was not quick but justice was served. But this is somehow over exaggeration by justice department. I wish, the same way justice department worked for other cases filed against all our leaders, the biggest culprits.

I strongly feel that someone is personally settling the score with him, someone who has a very strong hold in Delhi and it will not be over estimate to say "Underworld".

I don't know the fate of this but there are so many people killing innocent people for no reason or sometimes with some silly reason. Do they get the justice? May be someday the justice department will take the similar action in such cases too.

I am not advocating Mr Salman, I am just trying to understand the ground realities. If he is guilty punish him but punish other guilty and give a lesson to those who are out there doing the same or similar crime.

I may be wrong, but you cannot rule out of the possibility of someone settling score with him . That is my opinion what do you think is some one working full time behind him or is it just his very very bad time?

Here is story from NDTV.

Hazaron Khwahishen Aisi: The Movie

Hazaron Khwahishen Aisi ki har Khwahish pe Dum Nikle
Bahut Nikle Mere Arman Lekin Phir Bhi Kam Nikle
-Mirza Galib

Bollywood is getting matured day by day. Its trying to get out of boy-meets-girl-and-falls-in-love type, or Indo-Pak bashing grip. Since 2004 there have been lot of off beat movies. Like Raincoat, Black, Page 3, My Brother Nikhil, Parinita, Virudh, Iqbal etc. Made on different subject, with a "hatke" attitude. Most of the movies were small budget, and most of the movies dint do so well at box office. But a segment of people have appreciated these films. As these were the sensible movies made on sensible subject there was not much for the mass. A big segment of bollywood audience still need to get maturity.

In late 2004 there was another movie released named, "Hazaron Khwahishen Aisi", starring Kay Kay, Siney Ahuja, Chitrangada and Yashpal Sharma in lead roles.The movie is set in mid 60s to early 70s. The move is journey of a person (Sidhrath) from Marxist jargon to the Maoist (Naxalite) rebellion, as he rages on about injustice. The movie opens with a scene where Sidhrath (kay Kay) writes a letter to his girl friend Geeta (Chitrangda). Shidhart is person of principles and want to make a difference in the system where as Vikram is practical man and want to make a difference for himself.

I don't want say any other word about the story. This movie also gives you the glimpse of emergency, its consequences, law and order in rural areas, and dirty and ugly politics during that period which was not visible to a common man. Movie is so close to reality that there are few scene in the movie where you will feel ice flowing in your spine.

As movie was set in a period when I was not even born, so I was very curious to know what happened, how was the society and how different we are now. Most often I felt that Indian History books have stopped publishing what happened after independence. I know more about what happened during Mughals and British rules, but don't know what happened during 60s and 70s, except Indo-Pak war. This is the time to write a new history and let the billion know what happened during 50s,60s and 70s.

After watching the movie I believe that law and order situation is still not much different than 70s in certain states in India (specially Bihar, UP and MP). Education will be the most appropriate solution to this problem, which our governments (specially UP, Bihar, MP and other northern states) have forgotten long back.

The movie ends with lots of insight and questions to audience about the society, its problem and the complicacy of the problem. In one sentence "A must watch". Thanks Sudhir Mishra!

Sehar: A Must Watch

There are numerous of movies in Bollywood on the same concept and theory. However movie closely resembles with Ab Tak Chhappan, But still this movie has its own presence even though there are numerous of movies based on the same theme. As a first film of the director Kabeer Kaushik, he has made his mark in the bollywood. He used an un-explored territory, the northern India, which is considered to be home for the most corrupted people in India. In UP there is huge nexus of Politicians and criminals actively operating? As shown in the movie, things are organized in real life too.


Sehar, is so close to reality, that the Officers of STF that have been instrumental in the rescue of the Mumbai Stock Broker's son, have been very closely involved in this movie by providing the key inputs for it. The film brings out the issues that eclipse the cultural heritage of Lucknow and was actually shot for 62 days in Lucknow to bring in the real essence of the place. But this will surely go against it, especially as far as Mumbai and the other metro cities are concerned.


Sehar describes the journey of a newly-appointed, S.S.P. of Lucknow, Ajay Kumar (Arshad Warsi), who is determined in bringing together a group of committed police officers under the support of the Special Task Force. This Force has a single agenda, succeeds in challenging the might of organized crime in Uttar Pradesh. And in the process, what unfolds is the ever-changing dynamics of Uttar Pradesh's siyaasat: Railway contracts, ISI involvement, politician-mafia-police-builder nexus, rigid red-tapeism and criminalization of University students.


Sehar, also gave a chance to Arshad, to come out of the shell which was created by the movies like Munna Bhai MBBS, Hulchal etc. The performance given by Arshad Warsi, Pankaj Kapoor and Sushant Singh is excellent. The movie runs on the shoulder of these three people. Like any other gangaster movie, there is not much for Mahima to do, but she makes her presence felt.

At the end, there is nothing new in the movie, but what attracts me is resemblance to reality, picturisation, narrating style and out of box territory (Mumbai is not only the place for gangster, there are UP and Bihar too). May be this movie gives an idea to Ram Gopal Verma (King of Gangester Movies in Bollywood) to get out of Mumbai for his next movie.

Dus: A Crowd Puller

"Too many cooks spoil the recipe", this is what some people can say about this movie. Because this happened in "LOC" (J P Datta, 2003). But that's not happening in this movie. The movie is a full timepass. In Mumbia language "jhakash". Its not a good movie but a good entertainer. Its crowd puller. Hundreds of movies are being made on the same theme, but still this can be watched and enjoyed once.

The movie opens with a rocking song "Dus bahane kar ke le gayi...". And then an ATC Team (Anti Terrorist Cell), decorated with sophisticated weapon and instrument nabs some terrorist, hiding in a building. I wish Indian Commandos would have used such weapons and instrument during "Akshar Dham", they definitely would have caught some terrorist alive and some casualties would have been avoided. India is shining! Don't agree with me, come on - at least feel good!!

The movie has a very few songs, though not required, but if removed will not fall in the category of crowd puller. I personally don't like songs in movie, but songs are totally fitted in the movie. They go well with story.

The most boring scene in the movie is the last scene when Abhishek is taking a bomb away from the city, but due to time constraint he need to crash the plane in lake and sacrifice his life (yes he dies, may be Mr. Anubhav wanted to apply the same formula which Ramesh Sippy applied to his movies (Sholay, Shakti) on Amitabh, kill him, and he will pull the crowed). The conversation among Abhi, Zayad and Sanjay is so boring that audience gets frustrated.

In male star cast it Abhisekh, Sanjay, Pankaj Kapoor and Gulshan Grover, steal the show, Sunil Shetty is average. In female start cast its Shilp Shetty. Rest of the star cast is complete waste. Esha Deol, Zayad Khan, Ramia Sen, Dia Mirza immediatly should join some acting classes.

Gulshan Grover does a good jobs. Even thought he does not delivers any dialogs (except a few) but makes his presence felt. Its the Pankaj Kapoor who steals the show in negative role.

Even though movie is a hit but Anubhav Sinha has a long way to go. This movie would have been made better by putting some logic in it. If defusing a bomb was as easy as putting a chewing gum, then probably chewing gum would have been much more costly.

All the best Anubhav.

Abhisek Bachchan: Chhote Sarkar

I am not fan of AB Jr. but I appreciate his acting in movies like ''Yuva'' as Lallan and ''Zameen'' , ''Dhoom'' and ''Run''. His recent release, "Bunty and Bubly" and "Sarkar" have created sensation at Box office. But for me his best role so far has been in "Yuva". Maniratnam, was able to get out the best from him.

Like most of the people say, ''He is going to stay'', I agree with them He is going to stay and going to prove with his talent. He is a "Lambi Race ka ghoda", and to begin with that, he started with Yuva, Dhoom, Zameen, Bunty Aur bubbly and Sarkar.

In Yuva he is the like a nrve to body. Even though there were 2 big actors (Ajay Devgan, Vivek Oberoi) he steals the show. He walks away with all the good lines and good credit.

As an actor his biggest liability is that he is son of Amitabh Bachchan. And every one cannot be Big B. Big B kind of people are rare. Its quite natural for a normal person to look for reflection of his father in him. But remember Big B is/was a superstar. There are only a few personalities in Bollywood with whom Amitabh can be compared, so I feel that its not justice to compare AB Jr with Big B. They represent 2 different generation and 2 different era of Hindi Cinema. Compare with other actor and you will find he has his own style. He does well when it comes to serious role, it is proved in movie like "Yuva" and "Sarkar".

There was another movie by Ram Gopal Verma by name "Naach" staring Abhisek Bachchan, the movie was a flop but I liked the movie. He did a good (if not excellent) acting in that.

Well, wish you all the best Abhisek and hope you give more movies like ''Yuva'' , ''Zameen'', ''Dhoom'' and "Sarkar".

Raincoat: Something Different

Raincoat, the whole story is nothing but couple of hours from the two lovers life, who can be you, me or anyone else. They meet one afternoon after 6 years of separation. They talk, listen and feel the pain and agony of each other. This is not a boy-meets-girl-and-fall-in-love type movie. The story is so real, that you start becoming part of it. This is not a art movie or any bollywood masala movie. However it has beautiful acting and excellent screen play which will make you to stick to your chair.


By this time we all know the story and the Box Office performance of this movie. Commercially it may not be a success but this movie is setting a new trend in Hindi cinema. Rituparno Ghosh (The previous film "Chokher Bali") is successfully able to convey that for romantic movie you need go to Switzerland or any other part of the Europe. It can be found any where, it can be in a village or in a metro or in small house.


There are very few characters in the movie but they have performed very well.

Ajay Devgan: He plays role of village man from rural area of Bihar (Bhagalpur). He comes to Kolkatta to get some financial help from some of his friends. And meets his long lost love Neeru. Very good performance, successfully able to show the pain, of the character

Aishwerya: She looks great in this movie. There is no makeup. After seeing this movie i remembered the beauty of Manisha Koirala in "1942 A Love Story". Excellent performance by her. She shows pain, jealousy, anger, happiness, contended, emptiness and dignity. This movie gives her opportunity to shines the talent vested in her in all possible ways.

Annu Kapoor: He is playing very small role, hardly for 5-10 mins. But his appearance gives a twist to the story. He has delivered couple of excellent dialogs.

Mouli Ganguli & Sameer Dharmdhikari: Both are happily married couple living in Kolkatta. They just provide a support to the story. Roles are very short As there was no room left for them. But they perform their best.

In a nutshell this movie is a totally different love story, don't expect to see the camera gushing over mustard field or in foreign locations and with 100 extras in background. Its more like a stage drama, acted beautifully by all. Its hard to see this kind of movie. And as I said earlier, this is going to give a new direction to Indian cinema. It may not get a commercial success, but I appreciate Rituparno Ghosh (the director, author, screen play all in one) for giving us something different.

Music: Its very soothing melody by Debojyoti Mishra. And goes very well with the movie. They are just fitted in the movie that you will not feel as filler (like other movies).

The best dialogue in the movie: It is delivered by Annu Kapoor, while writing the receipt for the rent paid by ajay Devagan, he says ".... Yeh tumhara paschatap hai ya pratishodh...". This is enough to depict the mindset of author.

Well this is all what I had to say, so if you have not seen then go ahead and watch this movie. This is a classic movie! Enjoy!


-Narender