STARBUZZ - September 25 2009

Pick up your latest copy of StarBuzz fast. Circulated all over Greater Toronto Area.

“WANTED” Movie Review

This is for fans and foes of Salman Khan...Fans, rejoice, Salman is back with a vengeance with WANTED. This is his deadliest performance to date. Yes, you read it right! Foes, sorry, you won't be able to lash out at him or pick on him or launch a vicious tirade this time. The spate of flops should come to a grinding halt with WANTED. Let's get this straight. WANTED rides on Salman Khan's star power. He may not be the best actor in town, but in a film like WANTED, in a role that seems like an extension of his personality, you can't think of anyone else enacting this role with flourish.

A remake of POKIRI [made in Telugu and Tamil versions], WANTED is a full on masala film. Recall the successful potboilers of yore. Recall how the good guy would reduce 10 hoodlums to pulp in a fraction of seconds. Recall how heroism prevailed in the end, no matter how adverse the circumstances were or how powerful the villains would be. Recall those movies in which logic took a backseat since the focus was on entertainment... You relive those moments as reel after reel of WANTED unfolds. candyfloss movies and diabetic-sweet characters that most Hindi movies boast of, WANTED takes you back to those days when popular cinema reigned supreme, when the sole motive of the film-maker was to entertain. The daring hero and his herogiri, the naïve girlfriend, the corrupt cop, the dreaded don, the don's moll, the fist-clinching henchmen...

WANTED is for those who seek unabashed entertainment and relish masala films. Damn the indomitable critics, pseudo intellectuals and connoisseurs of parallel cinema, this one's not for them. WANTED is for the aam junta. Radhe [Salman Khan] is a hardcore gangster. A sharpshooter with a sharp brain, he works for Gani Bhai [Prakash Raj], the dreaded Mafioso, but on his own terms.

Totally fearless, Radhe single-handedly eliminates Gani Bhai's enemies one by one; making more enemies in the process. He's astounded when the young and pretty Jahnvi [Ayesha Takia Azmi] professes her liking for him. Inspector Talpade's [Mahesh Manjrekar] lustful eyes fall on Jahnvi. He doesn't know that Jahnvi has developed a soft corner for Radhe. Whether it's the Golden Gang or Data Pawle's Gang, everybody wants the biggest piece of the lucrative cake that is Mumbai and the only way to get it is to eliminate whoever gets in the way. As Mumbai reels under bloody gang wars, Commissioner Ashraf Khan [Govind Namdeo] vows to make the city crime free.

Director Prabhu Dheva serves a hardcore masala fare that's not inventive or path-breaking by any standard, but the execution of several scenes as also of stunts takes the graph of the film Northward. In fact, if at all there's any film that competes with GHAJINI as far as raw appeal goes, it's WANTED. Every action/stunt/chase here is choreographed with aplomb. Watch out for the action sequence at the interval point or the penultimate half-an-hour. The climax is sure to send scores of action lovers in frenzy, as Salman bashes the evil forces black and blue. It wouldn't be erroneous to state that the climax is worth the price of the ticket, samosa, sandwich, popcorn, nachos and cola put together. Not that this 18 reeler abounds in mindless action. As mentioned earlier, this one's a hardcore masala film and the narrative has its share of light moments and romantic sequences. Even the bad man here makes you laugh intermittently [when he's not spewing venom], especially in the sequence when the Commissioner of Police holds him captive in the middle of the sea. Even the romance between Salman and Ayesha charms its way into your heart. It's very likable. But WANTED is not without its share of flaws. The film stands on a thin storyline and the viewer can guess what's in store next, which means that there's not much novelty in the plot. Besides, WANTED could've done without a song or two, thereby keeping its length in check.

Director Prabhu Dheva has presented Salman like never before. Most actors have drifted away from roles that hold tremendous mass appeal, that cater to the desi audience, like they did in the 1980s. SRK did it in OM SHANTI OM, Aamir Khan did it in GHAJINI and Salman does it so effortlessly in WANTED. The screenplay [Shiraz Ahmed] may not be foolproof, but it has its share of shining moments. Dialogues are clapworthy, especially those delivered by Salman. Sajid-Wajid's music is of a mixed variety. 'Jalwa' is the best of the lot and the star presence of Anil Kapoor, Govinda and also Prabhu Dheva in this track will send the viewers into raptures. The remaining tracks oscillate between good and strictly okay. This review would be incomplete without the invaluable contribution by the action director. It deserves brownie points. Cinematography too is top notch. Salman is like a ferocious lion who roars with all his might. The show belongs to the actor, who scorches the screen every time he displays the manic anger. Without doubt, Salman gives the power to WANTED. It's his best work to date. Ayesha Takia Azmi is very good and the pairing with Salman looks wonderful. Vinod Khanna is sidelined. He deserved more footage. Mahesh Manjrekar is excellent. He's only getting better with every film. Prakash Raj is first-rate. The accomplished actor adds yet another feather to his cap. Govind Namdeo is perfect. Mahek Chahal radiates oomph. Aseem Merchant is alright. Raju Mavani is effective. Inder Kumar and Sajid are okay. Manoj Pahwa tries hard to make you laugh. Prateeksha Lonkar is as usual. On the whole, WANTED rides on Salman, Salman and only Salman Khan's star power. A masala film that's aimed at the masses, WANTED is backed by tremendous hype and hoopla, which will result in the film taking an earth-shattering start at the ticket window. The Idd celebrations in the coming days will only enhance the business of the film, which means that the film will have a solid Week 1. The holidays in Week 2 should also be bountiful, thereby ensuring a strong place in the 'Hit' category.

StarBuzz-September 18-2009 issue on stalls.

“Dil Bole Hadippa” Music Review - Releasing on 18th at Albion & Woodside Cinemas in Toronto

Ladies and Gentlemen - Lay out the red carpet for our very own resident Punjabi composer - Mr. Pritam Singh. He did that in Singh Is Kinng, he repeated it in Love Aaj Kal and he has been roped in for Dil Bole Hadippa as well. Do we expect him to do the job? Yet again? Well, very much so when the banner is Yash Raj Films (that has been responsible for centering Bollywood on the Rajs and the Malhotras and the Balwants of the world). Add to that the setting of the film coupled with a title that carries a certain 'Panjabiyat' to it and you know that it would require a really bad hair day for Pritam along with lyricist Jaideep Sahni to mess it up!

MUSICA rocking kick start -

that's the best way to describe 'Hadippa' that marks the beginning of the film's soundtrack. In Mika Singh, Pritam chooses just the right man for the job and together the entire composer, singer and lyricist team seem to be thoroughly enjoying creating 'Hadippa'. The remix version by Sandeep Shirodkar doesn't follow the conventional 'let's add on an additional beat' route and instead brings in a different tone to the original composition.

Sunidhi Chauhan's entry into the scene only adds further spunk to this number that is bound to add value to the celebratory mood of the song. Shahid Kapoor recently saw the biggest musical chartbuster of his career in 'Dhan Te Nan' [Kaminey]. Now he can be rest assured that he has another chartbuster waiting for him in the form of 'Hadippa' that has some fun lyrics doing complete justice to Pritam's foot tapping beats. 'Discowale Khisko' - Now who could possibly think of such lyrics? Well Jaideep Sahni did think about it and the result is a song that has Sunidhi Chauhan beginning the proceedings for this yet another celebration number. In fact if one discounts the 2 second gap between 'Hadippa' and 'Discowale Khisko' then the two songs appear to be almost gelling into each other in a seamless manner. Yet again it's the Punjab background to the song with trademark YRF dhol beats that keep the pace going for 'Discowale Khisko'. KK and Rana Mazumder join Sunidhi Chauhan behind the mike and keep the energy levels high for the song that also has an Abhijit Vaghani created 'remix version' that is sung by Master Salim. This time around the pace becomes even faster, hence ensuring that DJs have one more song for them to keep the dance floor engaged.With the names Sonu Niigaam and Shreya Ghoshal appearing on the credits, one realizes there and then that Pritam is looking at changing the mood of the album with a soft number. That's exactly the case with 'Ishq Hi Hai Rab' which is more Yash Raj than Pritam. Rope in Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, Vishal-Shekhar or Salim-Sulaiman and they would have come up with exactly the same results when presented with the requirements. Nevertheless the number stays true to the mood and genre of the movie and doesn't deviate into anything experimental. The north Indian feel continues to be prevalent in 'Ishq Hi Hai Rab' and the feel good factor ensures that there won't be any dull moment in the film's narrative. Oops, now what's that? If a number with lyrics like 'Bhangra Bistar' would have appeared in any other film outside the Yash Raj Films banner, it would have immediately raised a question mark.

This time around it's an all women show with Alisha Chinoy and Sunidhi Chauhan coming together with rap by Hard Kaur. Though the number starts off in a rather conventional manner, it's the way the entire rhythm builds up in 'Bhangra Bistar' that helps up the momentum. A situational number where girl power seems to be in all force and up against men, 'Bhangra Bistar' isn't quite a 'hadippa' moment in the album but still does well in not breaking the flow of the album. Joshilay is the guest composer and singer for 'Gym Shim' that completes an all around Punjabi show of Dil Bole Hadippa. A number that is tailor made for Shahid Kapoor to showcase his dancing skills, 'Gym Shim' follows the Punjabi folk music template and does quite well there. Boasting of some very high energy, it's the combination of rhythm and arrangements combined with some innovative lyrics that makes 'Gym Shim' another potential winner.

OVERALL

Pritam was assigned a task when it came to creating the music of Dil Bole Hadippa and he does complete justice to that. Of course when it comes to the composer one always looks forward to yet another 'Mauja Hi Mauja' [Jab We Met] or an 'Aahun Aahun' [Love Aaj Kal] from him. Well, he manages to touch the same height with the title song 'Hadippa' that turns out to be a good enough reason to go for the album.

Rani with StarBuzz

StarBuzz is an entertainment & lifestyle newsweekly from Toronto, Canada, distributed all over Greater Toronto Area. It covers news from BOLLYWOOD, HOLLYWOOD, TV, Theatre, Events, Sports etc.Contact: 647 802 2899, 905 507 2579, starbuzz.ca@gmail.com

Dil Bole Hadippa Movie Preview

Dil Bole Hadippa Movie Preview

Dil Bole Hadippa is a celebration of the never say die spirit of India. Here, for the first time, the dynamic duo of Shahid Kapoor & Rani Mukherjee, take you on a hide and seek game of romance, passion and dreams.Veera (Rani Mukherjee) is a fire-cracker of a girl who lives in a small village but dreams in 70mm. She works in a local theatre group but dreams of playing cricket in the big league. Yes, believe it or not, she wants to play with Tendulkar and Dhoni for India. While Veera dreams on in India, Rohan (Shahid Kapoor) is an accomplished captain of a county cricket team in England. Rohan returns to India to captain his father's cricket team which has been losing consecutively for the last 8 years. In a village where girls don't play cricket, Veera has to put on a turban and beard and become a man to fulfill her dreams. Her brilliance on the field earns her a place in Rohan's team and Veera Kaur becomes Veer Pratap Singh. And then begins a roller-coaster journey of Veera, Rohan and Veer filled with music, romance and comedy through Punjab and beyond. This tale of turbans, twists and tricks will make your heart go - Hadippa!
Dil Bole Hadippa is set to release on September 18th @ Albion & Woodside Cinemas.

Bollywood star RANI in Toronto to promote her film 'Dil Bole Hadippa'.

RANI in Toronto (Albion Theatre) with the STARBUZZ team and others. She was in town to promote her forthcoming film 'Dil Bole Hadippa'. (Pics by Ben Girn)

Meena Chopra is reading poetry at Living Art Centre on 13th September during 'Mississauga Literary Festival', organised by Mississauga Library System,

Meena Chopra is reading poetry at Living Art Centre on 13th September during 'Mississauga Literary Festival', organised by Mississauga Library System, Ontario, Canada.

Onkar Singh - A remarkable singer

For the past 30 years, Onkar has been enthralling audiences with his original compositions and mesmerizing voice. Trained in East Indian Classical music, Singh has performed kirtan, or devotional Sikh music in various venues across Canada, the U.S. and India. To date, Singh has released 3 kirtan albums, all of which have been very well received. Recently, he sang on the album, SHIVABOOM (produced by Andrew McPherson) which was nominated for a Juno award this year for Best World Music Album. The past 6 years have seen Singh diversify his musical repertoire by performing ghazal, sufi and fusion music. He has recently performed outstanding concerts at the ROM (2008), DesiFest (2008), MMM (2008 & 2009) and the Zaika festival (2009). In 2008, he was voted Best Music Artist of the year for MMM and this past April saw him singing the US and Canadian National anthems for the Raptor’s game accompanied by his fellow musicians Gurpreet Chana, Harman Singh, and Jiwanjot Singh. He has appeared on numerous T.V shows including the OMNI show Cherdi kala, Roger’s daytime, South Asian Focus and been written in feature articles for the Toronto Star, the Toronto Sun and the Expositor. Errol Nazareth of the Toronto Sun says, “blessed with a gorgeous, evocative voice”. A voice that is sure to leave you feeling at peace, grounded and yearning for more, this talented artist is sure to make more strides in the musical arena.

http://www.onkarsinghmusic.com/