Bollywood has recently witnessed a spate of comic blockbusters with films like NO ENTRY, MAINE PYAAR KYUN KIYA, GARAM MASALA, MAAL-A-MAAL WEEKLY, CHUP CHUP KE and PHIR HERA PHERI. Hot on the heels comes GOLMAAL. The film was awaited for many a reasons..firstly the snazzy promos were very appealing and the film promised to be a fun -filled laugh riot, secondly the film reunited Ajay Devgan with director Rohit "ZAMEEN" Shetty, thirdly the supporting cast was fresh and different with 4 actors all known for their comic timing in one film(Sharman Joshi, Arshad Warsi, Tusshar Kapoor and Paresh Rawal) and lastly... ... Vishal-Shekhars music had become popular...so does the movie live upto expectations? Well depends on your taste of films....but as far as a comic entertainer goes..the movie ENTERTAINS from start to finish!
The plot(if one could call it that since its a series of wickedly entertaining gags, slapstick humour and dialogue baazi one after the after for 2 1/2 hours) revolves around Gopal(Ajay Devgan), Lucky(Tusshar Kapoor), Mahadev(Arshad Warsi) and Laxmi(Sharman Joshi). The four are best friends who seemed to have mastered the art of conning people. The leader of the group is Gopal and together they are always on the lookout for their next scam and how to make a quick buck. By chance they stumble across a bungalow where a old blind couple(Paresh Rawal and Sushmita Mukherjee) live together waiting their arrival of their grandson whose supposed to be arriving from america. Gopal and co. forcefully enter the bungalow and force Laxmi to pretend he's the blind couples grandson. However the old couple hear Gopals voice associated with Laxmis bvody so whenever the blind couple are with Laxmi-Gopal has to speak on their matter. Gopal, Laxmi and Mahadev in the meantime fall in love with the next door neighbour and decide to "patao" her in various ways...to top it off the foursome also find out that theres hidden treasure in the house--but where? The answer to these questions are all in GOLMAAL!
The story here is wafer-thin but a film like this relies heavily on 1) Chemistry between its co-stars and 2) the punchlines and gags and the movie succeeds on both counts. Neeraj Vohra is a genius as far as writing comedies and he has proven it time and time again with films like HERA PHERI, HULCHUL, GARAM MASALA< DEEWANE HUYE PAAGAL, PHIR HERA PHERI and now GOLMAAL! The gags here are different to the ones used in his previous films and the manner in which he manages to poke fun at genres as well as portray multiple facets of the comedy genre itself is commendable and makes the movie work. At this juncture I would also like to recognize Neeraj Vohra as the dialogue writer. A comedy is nothing without its dialogues and Vohra writes some of the wittiest, funniest and simply crackling dialogues I have heard in a long time. I would even go as far as to say the movie is worth a re-watch for the dialogues alone as they are a simply magnificent. Movie in-jokes, pop culture references, digs at other actors/people etc are all there as well as some stunning play on words. Hats off to Mr Vohra.
Rohit Shetty made his debut with the action packed ZAMEEN and proved that he is comfortable directing a action film. With GOLMAAL he shows that he is a versatile director who is equally comfortable directing a comedy as well. Making people laugh is serious business and definetly no joke however Shetty manages this perfectly from the start right to the very end. He indeed does take a leaf from directors like Hrishikesh Mukherjee as well as recent directors like David Dhawan and Priyadarshan but manages to leave his own mark with his style and sense of directing. Given the super-thin plot it is indeed not a easy feat keeping the audience completely entertained from start to finish. The pace NEVER slackens although not all jokes always hit the mark(I found Manoj Joshi VERY irritating in the initial scenes) the antics of the duo are simply hilarious from start to end. His knowledge of cinema and various films/genres are just brillaint and there is a certain amount of naturalness to his style of directing....he also manages to keep the movie clean throughout without referring to any sex jokes.
A comedy film can fail no matter how hard the movie tries...if the casting isn't correct-and GOLMAAL has a FANTASTIC cast which is the lifeline/backbone of the movie.
Ajay Devgan plays his part with elan and springs a big surprise. His role is that of a big bully...the leader of the group who is always one step ahead of the others and Devgan plays his part with complete understanding. I have never thought much of Devgan in the comic genre-but he is a complete natural here and be it his new snazzy looks, delivery, facial expressions or body language Devgan is BRILLIANT. It has been a while since Devgan let loose on screen with a complete Masala role which requires him to dance, fight, romance, etc and Devgan proves that he is still able to play the complete "typical" Bollywood hero who can do all with perfection!
Tusshar Kapoor is EXCELLENT in his part! yes folks..the little man springs a huge surprise again after KHAKEE and shows that he is not just a one film wonder! I have found Tusshar effective in a comic role before with KYA KOOL HAI HUM-but here I would go as far as to say the actor has given a near flawless performance as a mute guy. His EVERY facial expression ensues an uproar of laughter and he is just adorable each time he speaks his gibberish. This is one performance which I won't forget in a while...
Arshad Warsi is well..Arshad WarsI! This is is the kind of role that Warsi can sleep walk through and despite playing these comic sidekick roles before he still manages to have the same energy, natural flair and zest to the role once again.His timing is unbeatable and his consistency is just fantastic. Delivery and facial expressions are superb as always...the actor has come a long way and is definetly here to stay now! He even manages to crack a joke at himself..."Kyun Baar Baar Flop Actor Bolta Hai...Ab Toh Mai Hit Hu"....well said Arshad:-)!
Sharman Joshi too is a natural and once again there was no doubt about Sharmans talent in a comic role. From STYLE to SHAADI NO.1 to RANG DE BASANTI Joshi has proved that comedy is his forte and that he is a terrific actor given the right role.
At this juncture I would like to say..most multistarrers like these tend to sideline some of the actors focussing more on the others who are the "directors favourites" but HATS OFF to Rohit Shetty who gives EACH and EVERY actor equal/ample footage and lets them all shine in their respective role. Ajay is no doubt the hero of the movie but all three of the other actors have their own part to play and their own scenes to shine in. Not once do you feel someone has been sidelined. Also note the chemistry that the four share on screen is just BRILLIANT and the lifeline of the movie. The actors are so relaxed around each other and its obvious they are having a blast in REEL and REAL life. The pleasure of watching the four actors alone do what they do best--ENTERTAIN made the price of admission worth it for me personally.
Paresh Rawal is again top-notch! Unlike past films where Paresh has been the main star and dominated majority of the movie he has a smaller role which doesn't require much delivery but more emphasis on body language and Rawal is efficient as ever. He too shares great carmederie with the actors.
Rimmi Sen plays her part functionally and like HUNGAMA and DEEWANE HUYE PAAGAL she doesn't have much to do here as it is a completely male dominated film. However in the scenes she is in she looks GORGEOUS and is a natural with a killer smile.
Sushmita Mukherjee(who remember Kitty from KARAMCHAND JASOOS?) is superb in her part...a pleasure to see her again.
From the supporting cast Mukesh Tiwari fails to leave a mark as a Sanjay Dutt loving don. Sanjay Mishra and Manoj Joshi too don't impress much in their parts-infact Sanjay Mishras portions get a bit repetitive after a while. Vrajesh Hirjee is funny for the most.
There are a number of sequences in the movie that stand out and are superbly executed..these include..Tusshar trying to hide a sleeping Arshad and Paresh is walking around, Arshad trying to hit Ajay with a pole, Sharman trying to poison Ajays tea, the foursome have their fight with Vrajesh as well as when the trio go to give Rimmi her valentines present. The two most rememorable scenes in the movie are 1) Ajay Devgan and Arshad Warsi doing a take-off on BLACK and 2)Paresh Rawals flashback scene with the 50's themed song..these two scenes bought the HOUSE DOWN!
Vishal-Shekhars music goes well with the ambience of the movie and is hummable. As mentioned above the Paresh Rawal song is stunning(A bit like WOH LADI HAI KAHAN from DCH but to a more comic extent as its completely tongue-in-cheek and taking the piss!).
Aseem Bajajs camerawork is keeping in mind the genre too and is VERY bright and vibrant.
All up where does that leave GOLMAAL? Well the movie lives upto its tagline of FUN UNLIMITED and is COMPLETE PAISA VASOOL! Just leave your brains at home...switch off...sit back....grab and popcorn and laugh away!
Saturday, October 07, 2006
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Woh Lamhe !!!
Hi !
Today I went to see the movie "Woh Lamhe" at metro. Really a touching movie. The movie shows how a schizophrenic woman took such a toll on actress Kangana Ranaut that by the end of the movie she felt “emotionally drained”.
Kangana has indeed made rapid strides in Hindi film industry. After giving a noteworthy performance in her very first film Gangster , Kangana has now shown glimpses of the actress in her by convincingly playing the challenging role of a highly phobic and delusional woman
Enacting the role that is inspired from the late Bollywood actress Parveen Babi , Kangana got so immersed in her character that she had “sleepless nights”.“The film (Woh Lamhe) drained me completely. To go through the emotions that Parveen went through was emotionally taxing on me,” says Kangana.And this portrayal of a traumatized and schizophrenic woman affected Kangana so much that she was not able to sleep alone at nights. So to ward off her fears, she made her maid sleep in her room.
The Story >>>>>>>Truth is stranger than fiction. And real stories sometimes have much more power than the fictitious ones. Mahesh Bhatt’s latest presentation ‘Woh Lamhe’ is no fanciful creation of an imaginative writer. It is rather an unraveling of the turbulent relationship that Mahesh Bhatt had with the late actress Parveen Babi.While none but Bhatt can tell how authentic an account ‘Woh Lamhe’ is of his stormy affair with Babi, the movie does come across as a hard-hitting, complicated love story between an aspiring filmmaker and a schizophrenic actress. The movie is multi-layered. It is the story of a woman who is gradually sucked into the whirlpool of her own madness. It is the tale of a man who fights against all odds to save the woman he loves and helplessly watches her go insane. It also takes a dig at the film industry where professional contracts and money takes precedence over a human being. And, last but not the least, it is Bhatt’s final farewell to the woman he loved and lost.At
the first glance, ‘Woh Lamhe’ seems like too mature a concept to handle for a 25-year-old director. But Mohit Suri, with guidance from his mentor Bhatt, handles the theme with remarkable sensibility and sensitivity. The movie doesn’t make us feel pity for the ultra-phobic female protagonist. We rather feel empathy and sympathy for a woman who has no control over her unfortunate fate.Kangana Ranaut deserves full credit for bringing astonishing credibility to her character in the film. She plays actress Sana Azim, who is at the prime of her acting career. Shiney Ahuja plays an out-of-work filmmaker Aditya Garewal, who is looking for an opportunity to get his lucky break. He doesn’t mind using Sana to make his own career as a filmmaker, until he falls in love with her.The film breezes on a rather light note all through the first half, with ear-catchy songs by Pritam (‘Kya Mujhe Pyaar Hai’ and ‘Chal Chale’) and with many moments of unexpressed emotions between Aditya and Sana. The sequence in which Sana is raped by her dominant boyfriend (Shaad Randhawa) does stand out like a bolt from the blue. In the second half, the film takes a rather serious course when Sana’s insanity begins to come to the fore. She begins to hallucinate. In her delusions she begins to see a woman who warns her that everyone is out to kill her. Sana loses her trust in people. She even suspects Aditya.While the people in the film industry and Sana’s mother want her to undergo electric-shock treatment, Aditya objects and elopes with her to Goa where he hopes that Sana will get cured by his care and love. But destiny has something else in store for Sana. She vanishes. Years later, when Aditya meets Sana again, she is on her deathbed.‘Woh Lamhe’ is the story of love, loss and despair. It is a Kangana Ranaut film all the way. And the girl does a laudable job in her very second acting assignment after ‘Gangster’. She does have the making of a talented actress. The love, the fear, the dementia and the resignation that she brings to her character has to be seen to be believed.Shiney Ahuja continues to live upto his reputation. He brings a required mix of confidence and helplessness to his character. He does get his golden sequences in the second half (his altercation with Sana’s mother, for example) where he gets to show his histrionics.Shaad Randhawa is efficient in his brief negative role. Masumi (playing Kangana’s delusion) is effective. On the whole, ‘Woh Lamhe’ is a well-crafted, finely written, beautifully enacted movie that is definitely worth a watch.
Today I went to see the movie "Woh Lamhe" at metro. Really a touching movie. The movie shows how a schizophrenic woman took such a toll on actress Kangana Ranaut that by the end of the movie she felt “emotionally drained”.
Kangana has indeed made rapid strides in Hindi film industry. After giving a noteworthy performance in her very first film Gangster , Kangana has now shown glimpses of the actress in her by convincingly playing the challenging role of a highly phobic and delusional woman
Enacting the role that is inspired from the late Bollywood actress Parveen Babi , Kangana got so immersed in her character that she had “sleepless nights”.“The film (Woh Lamhe) drained me completely. To go through the emotions that Parveen went through was emotionally taxing on me,” says Kangana.And this portrayal of a traumatized and schizophrenic woman affected Kangana so much that she was not able to sleep alone at nights. So to ward off her fears, she made her maid sleep in her room.
The Story >>>>>>>Truth is stranger than fiction. And real stories sometimes have much more power than the fictitious ones. Mahesh Bhatt’s latest presentation ‘Woh Lamhe’ is no fanciful creation of an imaginative writer. It is rather an unraveling of the turbulent relationship that Mahesh Bhatt had with the late actress Parveen Babi.While none but Bhatt can tell how authentic an account ‘Woh Lamhe’ is of his stormy affair with Babi, the movie does come across as a hard-hitting, complicated love story between an aspiring filmmaker and a schizophrenic actress. The movie is multi-layered. It is the story of a woman who is gradually sucked into the whirlpool of her own madness. It is the tale of a man who fights against all odds to save the woman he loves and helplessly watches her go insane. It also takes a dig at the film industry where professional contracts and money takes precedence over a human being. And, last but not the least, it is Bhatt’s final farewell to the woman he loved and lost.At
the first glance, ‘Woh Lamhe’ seems like too mature a concept to handle for a 25-year-old director. But Mohit Suri, with guidance from his mentor Bhatt, handles the theme with remarkable sensibility and sensitivity. The movie doesn’t make us feel pity for the ultra-phobic female protagonist. We rather feel empathy and sympathy for a woman who has no control over her unfortunate fate.Kangana Ranaut deserves full credit for bringing astonishing credibility to her character in the film. She plays actress Sana Azim, who is at the prime of her acting career. Shiney Ahuja plays an out-of-work filmmaker Aditya Garewal, who is looking for an opportunity to get his lucky break. He doesn’t mind using Sana to make his own career as a filmmaker, until he falls in love with her.The film breezes on a rather light note all through the first half, with ear-catchy songs by Pritam (‘Kya Mujhe Pyaar Hai’ and ‘Chal Chale’) and with many moments of unexpressed emotions between Aditya and Sana. The sequence in which Sana is raped by her dominant boyfriend (Shaad Randhawa) does stand out like a bolt from the blue. In the second half, the film takes a rather serious course when Sana’s insanity begins to come to the fore. She begins to hallucinate. In her delusions she begins to see a woman who warns her that everyone is out to kill her. Sana loses her trust in people. She even suspects Aditya.While the people in the film industry and Sana’s mother want her to undergo electric-shock treatment, Aditya objects and elopes with her to Goa where he hopes that Sana will get cured by his care and love. But destiny has something else in store for Sana. She vanishes. Years later, when Aditya meets Sana again, she is on her deathbed.‘Woh Lamhe’ is the story of love, loss and despair. It is a Kangana Ranaut film all the way. And the girl does a laudable job in her very second acting assignment after ‘Gangster’. She does have the making of a talented actress. The love, the fear, the dementia and the resignation that she brings to her character has to be seen to be believed.Shiney Ahuja continues to live upto his reputation. He brings a required mix of confidence and helplessness to his character. He does get his golden sequences in the second half (his altercation with Sana’s mother, for example) where he gets to show his histrionics.Shaad Randhawa is efficient in his brief negative role. Masumi (playing Kangana’s delusion) is effective. On the whole, ‘Woh Lamhe’ is a well-crafted, finely written, beautifully enacted movie that is definitely worth a watch.
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