Oh My God!! Indian Movie Review

Movie Review: Oh My God; Movie Cast: Vinay Pathak, Divya Dutta, Harsh Chhaya and Saurabh Shukla; Director: Chandrakant Kulkarni

 

Rajendra Dubey (Pathak) is a simple salesman who has big dreams. Being an hardcore Dhiru Bhai Ambani fan, his biggest dream is to become like him but using ethical ways. He even carries with him brochures of a scheme that he believes will change his (and his investors’) fortunes forever. But the thing is there is simply no one who is interested in investing in it, except his boss (Harsh Chayya). Dubey’s sweet but frustrated wife Suman (Divya Dutta) begs before god to change their fortunes. God (Saurabh Shukla) obliges and thus begins a series of events where god tries his best to make Rajendra rich but with little success. As when Rajendra does finally get the one thing he’s been dreaming of, he has no idea of what to do. The rest of the film revolves around how Rajendra comes to terms with his obsession.

Finding one good reason to watch this film is real frustrating as what could have been an enjoyable comedy ends up being a sheer waste of time for various reasons. The concept appears okay for an one hour comedy show on television but blowing up for a big screen version makes it really silly and boring after a point of time. The actors, right from Vinay Pathak to Saurabh Shukla appear completely over the top. Divya Dutta appears wasted and has nothing much to do. Harsh Chhaya gets mysteriously disappeared in most of the parts. The jokes looked forced upon and naturally fall flat. Unnecessary elements (an item dance out of nowhere) make you cringe in your seat. If that is not enough, you are subjected to a topless hairy Saurabh Shukla!

Okay even if you decide to forgive all of this what about the technicalities? The film is a completely amateurish attempt at filmmaking. Imagine out of focus frames, pathetic camera angles and jump cut editing at its worst! No wonder the filmmakers hardly promoted the film. Perhaps they knew well their silliness would get exposed had they promoted it more and more people would have come in!

Maharathi Indian Movie Review

Indian Movie Maharathi Review

Movie Review: Maharathi; Star Cast: Naseeruddin Shah, Paresh Rawal, Om Puri, Boman Irani, Neha Dhupia, Tara Sharma, Vivek Shauq; Directed by: Shivam Nair

 

Subhash (Paresh Rawal) is a struggling actor cum small time crook who makes money by cheating unsuspecting ATM visitors. One late night he saves a man’s life, to do so he puts his own at risk. He ends up accompanying the injured man back home. Subhash is awe struck at the grandeur and affluence of Mr. Adenwalla. (Naseeruddin Shah) Subhash realizes this may lead to a generous tip. Adenwalla impressed by Subhash hires him as his driver much to the resentment of his beautiful much younger wife, Mallika (Neha Dhupia). Subhash realizes nothings well between Adenwalla and his wife. Once a big time filmmaker, Adenwalla is now forever drowned in alcohol and is now frustrated with his greedy wife. He decides to teach her lesson by throwing upon her a ‘deadly’ challenge. What this challenge is all about and how Subhash gets embroiled into it and what it unexpected situations it further leads to forms the rest of the film.

Adapted from a very popular Gujarati play by the same name, Maharathi makes for an interesting watch solely for the performance of almost all its lead actors. But what keeps on striking the viewer constantly are the limitations of a play being adapted to the big screen. Firstly, for a thriller, the plot appears far too stretched, especially in the first half. Then once the first major twist in the plot takes place, what follows is at times, a matter of convenience. Ok even if you are willing to forgive some cinematic liberties, what really comes out is not only predictable but also raises many questions as to how certain things took place like the game of one-upmanship between Subhash and Adenwalla’s trusted lawyer, Merchant (Boman Irani). The whole drama majorly unfolds in the big Adenwalla villa itself and ends up giving you kind of a claustrophobic feel.
But being fair, one must admit that director Shivam Nair (Ahista Ahista) has made good use of the excellent actors he had on his hands. Also avoiding the temptation to incorporate songs in the film needs to be lauded.
The film completely belongs to Paresh Rawal. Just check his changing expressions and body language in various catch 22 situations is a treat in itself. Naseeruddin Shah too is brilliant as the alcoholic, failed filmmaker. Boman Irani gets less scope in the first half but manages to impress with his antics in the penultimate moments. His confrontations with Paresh are paisa vasool moments. Neha Dhupia manages to hold their own despite being amongst acting stalwarts. Tara Sharma in a brief role as the villa’s caretaker is good. Om Puri appears wasted though as the investigating officer.

Indian Movie Sorry Bhai Review

Sorry Bhai Indian Movie Review

Movie Review: Sorry Bhai; Starring: Sharman Joshi, Sanjay Suri, Chitrangada Singh, Shabana Azmi and Boman Irani; Director: Onir; Rating: 1.5 out of 5; Sorry Bhai: Naa Mere Bhai.
 

Geeky scientist Siddharth Mathur (Sharman) is given their mother’s ’swear’ by elder brother Harsh (Suri) to bring her along for his wedding to be held in Mauritius. Their mom, (Shabana) is least interested in attending the wedding because Harsh has planned to marry against her wishes. Siddharth succeeds in bring along mom and jovial dad (Boman) to Mauritius. Since Harsh is pre-occupied with lots of work he lives it to his fiancée Aaliyah (Chitrangada) to show them around make them feel comfortable. Herein starts the trouble as since their mom doesn’t really like Aaliyah, Siddharth ends up spending most of the time with Aaliyah. At the same time Aaliyah starts feeling neglected because of Harsh’s workaholic ways and starts getting drawn towards the very loveable yet shy, Siddharth. What happens after they both end up falling in love with each other forms the rest of the film.

Sanjay Suri is as easy going as usual but despite being the co-producer of the film, his character appears neglected in the second half. Sharman puts up a convincing act and perfectly fits the part. Shabana has a wonderful knack of doing some really difficult parts that look easy on paper. She succeeds yet again. Boman as the forever leg pulling father is back in form after some hamming acts in films like Yuvvraaj, Love Story 2050 and Dostana. Chitrangada Singh not only looks extremely sensuous throughout but also puts up a nice natural act.

Onir fails to hold your attention for two hours. The biggest blame for the same goes for the poor scripting. The film is predictable from the word go and the dull pace literally puts you off to sleep. The whole ‘Maa Kasam’ thing ends up being unintentionally hilarious. Imagine, Shabana giving a mother’s swear to younger son (Sharman) to let go of the forbidden love so that her elder’s son upcoming marriage is saved from trouble! Also, though Shabana and Boman appear almost like a real life couple, the whole attempt appears like the maker is keen to recreate the couple’s magic from their last film together, Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd. The music too isn’t something that has immediate recall value. Agreed there a few funny moments but barring them, the bold themed film with so many minuses going against the film, it appears little chance that it will appeal to its target – the multiplex audience.