Bollywood-2008 (First Half)

There are as many as 46 Bollywood movies released in the first half of the year, 2008and not a single movie has caught my attention. Disappointing year so far as Bollywood movies is concerned and my eyes are looking for something spectacular in the later half.

I admit, I have not scene many of them, in fact almost none of them in the theater (for unknown reasons), but still after the experience of almost 20 years of bollywood movie watching, A Good movie is a good movie, no matter where you see it. I saw only 2 movies in theater, Jodha Akbar and Sunday and both were disappointing.

Specially, Jodha Akbar, I had so many expectation from that movie but I got so bored watching it,that during the interval, I felt to drive back home. Almost As Ashutosh Gowarikar was trying to make, "Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi". Aishwarya was aweful, There was no chemistry, Her eyes looked RED all the time. Hrithik, I felt did a good enough job but when script fails to keep you on the seat, acting alone can not save the ship.

Sunday, was horrible except couple of jokes but Irfan Khan still made a mark.

In Indian Movies, There is always a phase for the comic characters. Once There was Anupam Kher (films like Lamhe, Darr etc), then came Johny Lever. He lasted for 4 to 5 years and then Since Hera Pheri, sort of Paresh Rawal took over. Now is the time for Irfan Khan. Well, he is good enough actor to carry any role but he excelled in the real life human being's comic sense.

Now..Let me say about the other movies, that I atleast completely watched in the DVD. Race/Sarkar Raj/Jannat/De Taali/ Halla Bol & Shaurya. There are few movies that I started watching it but couldnt able to finish it as they were so horrible, films like Bhoothnath/Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na/Tashan/Mere Baap Pehle Aap/Mithya/Black and White/Super Star/Rama Rama Kya Hai Yeh Drama/U Me Aur Hum.

There are few which I am not even daring to see it , films like : Thoda Pyar Thoda Magic/Krazzy 4/One Two Three/Love Story 2050. May be if Time Permit, I would like to see, Bombay to Bangkok and Aamir.

Many of my friends loved, RACE and SARKAR RAJ. Race, which looks like a better version of CASH released last year with little bit of better treatment from Abbas-Mustan. Definately, It is much better than many other movies released this year but it is no where close to the type of movies released last year, Films like, Chak De India/Taare Zameen Par/Jab We Met/Bhool Bhulaiyya or previous years such as Rang De Basanti/Lage Raho Munnabhai. Even if I consider to compare RACE with Masala Flicks like Om Shanti Om, I felt let down. I mean, Om Shanti Om, was far better masala movie then Race. Race has good plot/nice cinematography/good music/good star cast/good direction etc but then It works for BOX OFFICE not for long time. It would give you business but not satisfaction. It is not even the type of movie, where you would keep the DVD and play it when you want to kill the time. I would rather watch, Om Shanti Om or Jab We Met 28th Time then Watch RACE 3rd Time.

SARKAR RAJ, would be the best movie of the year considering Jodha Akbar for classes and Race for masses. This is the movie which could be scene with family or with friends. However, I particularly loved the First Version of the movie. Story and Story Telling was better in the SARKAR then in SARKAR RAJ. Few Drawbacks of the movie is that, Aishwarya's character was forcefully put. When you give the dialogue's like, "Kya Mein bhi tumhare saath chalu", I couldnt help myself saying, "ha bhai jao, nahinto tumhara role kaise badega"? She was trying to portray a character of Business Woman, if so, she needs to see Bipasha Basu in Corporate. Wearing Trouser Pants, you would look business woman but the moment she had given any dialogue you could make out, that "how afraid this character is"? AT one point, you give her the dialogue of "Dad, I dont like his attitude, Its too negative"..with lot of substance into it and then the same woman after one meeting comes out and says"Koi Kaise Kaam Kar Sakta hai yahan pe?"...Business Women dont think that way, They push forward and keep their emotions out of business all the time. RGV failed miserably in defining the character of Aishwarya.

This was not the only drawback, Second Drawback was the character of Abhisekh. 3 Times in the movie, He was shown with Tough looks and Attitude "Mujhe Pata Hai, Sambhal Loonga Mein" but It was all, say and not do. What exactly that character did in the movie? I mean take a look @ God Father's Al Pacino, he became shrewd businessmen when he took over from his father. He took all the decision and stood by it. Even the Style that RGV Wanted to show in the Aby Junior's character didnt worked well. Everyone from SARKAR remembers the way of drinking style of tea of Amitabh. Those eyes were special when he looks through that "RAKABI" while taking a SIP of TEA, Where was that Style in SARKAR RAJ? Its okay, You want to show Abhisekh Modern with CUP in his hand, but show it with style and grace.

Third Failure: Character of that new villain, "bhow", He was too loud, rather than aggresive.

Fourth Failure: Where is the Intelligence in the movie? Why you show Both Nagre's clueless till the end? Yes, Intelligence was showed in the movie, of the villain and then all of a sudden in the hospital, they show, Amitabh came to know everything, Like a MIRACLE?

Even the Surprise or Shocking element of Abhi's Death doesnt give any time to react. All the characters showed in the movie except, Aishwarya has given the negative role? Eventually everyone dies excpet Bachhan Family? What a nobel winning novel story.