STARBUZZ 20th November 2009

De Dana Dan Movie Preview

Nitin Bankar (Akshay Kumar) is a personal butler, cook, driver, watchman, gardener to a wealthy female industrialist (Archana Puran Singh) in Singapore. Like any young man, Nitin too, dreams of a better life, but misfortune is his constant companion and his reality is his job under Archana. He desperately wants to become rich and marry the love of his life, Anjali Kakkad (Katrina Kaif), who supports him financially.

Ram Mishra (Suneil Shetty), Nitin's best friend also came to Singapore with the dream of striking it rich, but ended up a courier delivery man. He falls for Manpreet Oberoi (Sameera Reddy), but her high society parents will never approve of marriage, not unless Ram has lots and lots of money.

In the midst of all this, is Harbans Chadda (Paresh Rawal), a shrewd businessman, is looking for ways to multiply his income and avoid his debtors. He decides the best way would be to marry his son off to a girl whose parents can give him a large dowry. He is introduced to Manpreet's parents at a Diwali function and is impressed by their social status. He introduces himself as a well-established businessman, impresses them and they decide to get Manpreet and Harbans' son (Chunky Pandey) married.

With several factors working against them, Nitin and Ram soon reach a dead end in their relationships. When both receive ultimatums from their girlfriends, they realize that only a life of vice can help them out of their misery. They come up with an audacious plan to kidnap someone important and demand a ransom. The kidnapping goes well, and both hide out at a local hotel while waiting for the ransom money. But misfortune is never far, and the kidnapping spirals out of control.

Meanwhile, Manpreet's wedding reception is being held at the same hotel that Nitin and Ram are hiding in. Soon, they are joined by a motley set of characters including a Chinese Don, a hired assassin, a ACB police inspector, a club dancer, an ambassador, a young frustrated double crossing wife, a letch, a drunken waiter, and a dead body nobody wants check into the hotel....

What happens next is De Dana Dan...full of many twists and turns that will leave you giddy with laughter...De Dana Dan...full of Masti and Madness!!!

Rogers Cable - The Clear Chice is cable

STARBUZZ November 13 2009

“Heer Ranjha” Movie Preview

You mention any good usual love story and it will have all the usual emotions of love, longing, pain, quest and sacrifice. But the moment you mention Heer Ranjha, the word ‘eternal’ is pre fixed to all these emotions eternal love, eternal longing, eternal quest and eternal sacrifice. Time is perhaps the ultimate test of greatness and it is a testimony to the enduring appeal of the story of Heer Ranjha that it continues to be a dearly loved part of the collective and individual memory of millions across the world even after almost 300 years. Even today, people across cultures and languages read and sing about the love story of these two star crossed souls. Many a lover has invoked the names of Heer Ranjha to sanctify his love and to express the immeasurable depth of his feelings for his beloved. Such is the reverence and affection that this story has earned from the people that it is no longer a story but has become a metaphor, a symbol of pure and eternal love. Our film Heer Ranjha is an attempt to capture on celluloid the eternity of this metaphor. Ranjha, flute playing ‘man mauji’ who looks at life with a twinkle in his eye and a smile on his face, is shattered after the death of his loving father. He leaves his home in ‘Takht Hazaara’ after being disillusioned with the behavior of his family and wanders about aimlessly into the unknown world. However, his wandering feet and heart are arrested by just one glimpse of the mesmerizingly beautiful ‘Heer’ from ‘Jhang Siyaal’. Love blossoms and the two souls are soon pledged to each other for all eternity. However, the bitter ‘Kaidon’ and the wily ‘Qaazis’ conspire to separate the two lovers and Heer is forcibly married off to ‘Saidaa’ of ‘Rangpur Kherra’. A disconsolate Ranjha renounces the world and wanders around in search of Heer. The two lovers meet again only to be dealt a cruel blow by fate once again. Ultimately the two lovers meet a tragic end but their story doesn’t end with their deaths. It grows into a legend instead. Every time a ‘ghabroo’ sighs in love just as Ranjha must have centuries ago, and every time a ‘mutiyaar’ feels the tars of Heer flow from her own eyes, we know that the story of Heer Ranjha has lived on in the heart of every man who has known and experienced love. Heer Ranjha, the film, tries to recreate the legend of the two lovers with utmost sincerity and historical accuracy. The best of technicians and artists form around the world have come together on this film with a common goal the most authentic and lavish retelling of the story of Heer Ranjha. The dialogues have been beautifully crafted to express every emotion and every nuance that plays out in the story. The soulful music covers the entire melody of the story right from the first note of the Ranjha’s flute as it wafted across the night air and whispered a promise into Heer’s ear, and up to the last painful note of the lovers’ last sigh. A lot of research work has been invested into creating the Punjab of those times. Authentic costumes, architecture and characters from centuries ago have been recreated so that the audience can be transported back to a time, centuries ago, when these two star crossed lovers walked the same earth that we tread upon today. Owing to the hard work that has been put into the making of Heer Ranjha, the team behind the film is sure that the audience will be able to have the soul stirring experience of actually touching the essence of Heer Ranjha in its purest form and will surely come back for more.

The First review of AJAB PREM KI GHAZAB KAHANI has come out giving it a excellent 4 Stars

Rajkumar Santoshi has changed lanes. Known for intense, hard-hitting movies [with the sole exception of ANDAZ APNA APNA], Santoshi now attempts a rom-com in AJAB PREM KI GHAZAB KAHANI, his new endeavour. That's something we all know by now, right?

But not many of us know that Santoshi is equally at home handling a comedy. And AJAB PREM KI GHAZAB KAHANI proves it.
If you're attempting a rom-com, you need to get a few things right...One, the romance should be livewire. Ditto for the chemistry between the on-screen pair. Two, the film should make you laugh. As simple as that!
In AJAB PREM KI GHAZAB KAHANI, the romantic moments are endearing. Most importantly, the on-screen chemistry is electrifying. Ranbir and Katrina look great together!
I've often said that comedy is serious business and the audience has moved over from banana peel humour in movies. The comedy in AJAB PREM KI GHAZAB KAHANI - though it borders on absurdity - is funny in most parts. Sure, there're times when you feel that the humour looks forced [climax fight especially], but you don't grudge it since Santoshi's intentions are crystal clear from Scene 1 onwards: Entertainment ke liye kuch bhi karega. Another factor that goes in its favour is Pritam's music, who belts out a couple of lilting tracks. On the flip side, the film could've done with a fresh plotline. When you talk of 'Ghazab Kahani', it has to be ghazab by all means. It shouldn't fall prey to predictability, but the second hour succumbs to mediocrity occasionally. Yet, despite the blemishes, AJAB PREM KI GHAZAB KAHANI is a full-on entertainer. One thing is for sure, you'd fall in prem with Prem and his antics. An ideal date movie that should connect with the youth. Prem's [Ranbir Kapoor] fundas in life were very simple - be happy, make others happy. A case of mistaken identity leads Prem to almost kidnap Jenny [Katrina Kaif], who was brought up by indifferent and uncaring foster parents. Prem falls in love with Jenny, but realizes gradually that Jenny is in love with someone else [Upen Patel], the son of a conniving politician [Govind Namdeo]. Prem decides to sacrifice his love and get the lovers married. In the first sequence, Santoshi makes it loud and clear that AJAB PREM KI GHAZAB KAHANI is very unlike his previous ventures; this one harbours on illogical situations. Right from the time Ranbir sets his eyes on Katrina [the yellow outfit episode], the film is a roller coaster ride.
A few sequences entertain you thoroughly. Sample these: Katrina slaps Ranbir when he stammers as well. She feels he's imitating her; Ranbir's sequence in the church; Salman Khan's cameo; the love-hate relationship that Ranbir and his father [Darshan Jariwala] share; the sequence at the party; the interval point when Ranbir falls on the ground literally... the first hour of the film simply rocks! But the second hour makes you a little grumpy. The third angle of the triangle [Upen Patel] isn't convincing, while his father's [Govind Namdeo] track is beaten to death. Even the villain [Zakir Hussain] is a sore point. Watching the second hour makes you feel that the film may've had a longer running time and in order to bring down the length, a number of scenes must've been chopped off, which, in turn, must've resulted in continuity lapses. For instance, Katrina's kidnap by the villains looks too sudden. When and how did it occur? Yet, there're two sequences in this hour which are remarkable and which should bring the house down. One, when Ranbir wears Katrina's top to hide her presence in the house and the climax fight, when Katrina mistakenly bangs Ranbir a couple of times. Directorially, Santoshi proves the naysayers wrong and bounces back with a film that the youth would relate to. You can't write off the maker and AJAB PREM KI GHAZAB KAHANI proves it. Pritam's music has 'Hit' written all over it. S. Thiru's cinematography is first-rate. Ranbir Kapoor is the next big thing and AJAB PREM KI GHAZAB KAHANI proves it yet again. He's charismatic, emotes exceptionally well and tickles your funny bone without making faces. It's a fantastic performance all the way. Katrina Kaif continues to surprise. She surprised you in NEW YORK. She surprises you again in this film. She scores in both emotional and light scenes. Also, Ranbir and Katrina make a wonderful on-screen couple.
Darshan Jariwala is exceptional. Smita Jaykar is very good. Upen Patel is decent. Govind Namdeo is getting typecast. Zakir Hussain is fair. Navneet Nishan is alright. On the whole, AJAB PREM KI GHAZAB KAHANI entertains majorly. At the box-office, the fantastic pre-release campaign coupled with the terrific chemistry between Ranbir and Katrina, excellent music by Pritam and tremendous appeal for youth should ensure a big start for the film at the ticket window. The business prospects seem excellent, thus ensuring handsome returns for its investors.

STARBUZZ November 6 2009