19. Chup Chup Ke

A houseful of comedy turns into an unsolvable riddle. I am not sure how the name justifies the movie, but the movie justifies itself. Probably this storyline has been used hundreds of times in Bollywood, but like other Priyadarshan's movies, this movie keeps you glued till the end.

A town-youth Jeetu (or kid down the Bollywood block - Shaahid Kapoor) is indebted to scores of people owing them 13 lakh 9 thousand rupees. He is son to a school teacher with a meager salary and is pledged to marry childhood love Pooja (played by Shushma Reddy). He has tried (sincerely) various jobs but always failed. Finally he decides to commit suicide, so that his father can get insurance money.

But as usual, as often in a bollywood movie it comes into play, the nature does not let Jeetu die. He is swept away to neighbouring areas where another poor fisherman Gundya (Paresh Rawal) and his colleague Bandya (Rajpal Yadav) net him in their fishing trawler.

Twist and turns in the fast winding story (which I personally like) full of comedy and co-incidences put Jeetu as future son-in-law of a Gujrati family (not to forget in Bengal). The girl who is to be married to Jeetu is Shruti and is played by Kareena Kapoor - probably his off reel life live too :).

Now to help Jeetu's family out of troubles from the moneylenders, Shruti helps Jeetu with some money. Here Jeetu comes to know that Pooja is married to someone when she learned of Jeetu's death. Jeetu is happy to know that Pooja is settled and so decides to marry Shruti.

But the twists and turns dont end here. (Otherwise a Bollywood movie would seem like a Hollywood movie - short and sweet :) ). Just at the last moment he learns about the fact that Pooja did not marry anyone and was leading life as his widow.

The climax of the movie brings Jeetu, Pooja and Shruti at the same place, where Shruti had to walk back from the aisle without marriage.

Whom does Jeetu now chose as his life partner, one to whom he is morally indebted, or one to whom he is dutifully indebted ? Does Pooja let her childhood love marry someone else ? Does Shruti let the newly found love of her life go away ? Can the caring brother of Shruti (played by Sunil Shetty) let Jeetu leave behind Shruti in agony and pain ?

Definitely a one time watch, the family movie is filled with sufficient comedy, hardly any action, good amount of drama, good star cast and always a questionable situation, - Arre Shyaam, tane radha game ke game meera - Oh Krishna, who do you like more, Raadha or Meera :)
Probably the only flaw in the movie was shown at the end; the cast list shows Rupa as Rajpal Yadav and Bandya as Neha Dhupia !! :D LOL

18. Alag

The movie with same usual story of hero, heroine, hero's friends, heroine's family and a villain; yet different, because its name is "different" :) that is, the name is Alag. A unborn child survives a lightening while in his mother's womb comes to this World with some powers; powers that become danger for people around him when he is furious and can be a boon of they are in control.

Prof Rastogi (Yatin Karyekar - Shanti serial fame) has an unusual child Tejas Rastogi (Akshay Kapoor - Popcorn Khao Mast Ho Jao fame or unfame should I say), who is kept aloof from the world because of his abnormal powers. The kid is a genius and has been in dark and solitude for 18 years and has spent his life reading books 18 hours a day, daily and he claims to remember every word on every page in every book (I think you should try him)!!.

When Prof. Rastogi dies, Apoorva Rana (Diya Mirza - seems she is really getting no 'movies' to do) takes charge of Tejas, brings her to the outer world to her center, where she with her father Mr. Rana (Jayant Kriplani) runs a re-habilitation center, not knowing anything about Tejas's powers.

Over a period of time Tejas has to face unfavourable and favourable incidents (that was the order of incidents - otherwise one cant make a story :)) and become adopted to the center and accepted by one and all in the center.

Now we have talked of hero, heroine, heroine's family, (there are no hero's friends :)) now comes the turn of the villain. Doctor Deyer played by Tom Alter (maybe a distant relative of General Deyer of 1919, I say that because the scientist seems to be equally empty headed ;)) is a scientist who is illegally experimenting on live human's and their brains to tap energy and study them to invent some medicine for diseases related to brains. He comes to know of Tejas and his powers.

Tejas who yet does not have control of his powers falls under captivity of Deyer. How does he get out of the captivity (needless to say he is hero so he has to get out)? Does he find himself a normal life (of course with the heroine of the movie)? Does he get control of his powers to turn it to a healing capacity?

Does his being different be a boon to human kind? Watch Alag to know all these - and if you have guessed the answers - they are right; dont go to watch the movie.

There are forced songs in the movies, except a couple which suit the flow of movie. Rest are not even melody to ears. At the end the producer has grabbed a few known faces of the industry - for a reason yet not known - probably publicity stunt - where neither of the dozenful stars get even a minute of screen share. I am sure they have a good friendship with the producer or director - I mean how can one charge someone for a role so meager, that the star disappears even before you can call out his name !!! Just to answer your curiosity, the stars - in order of appearance are - Shah Rukh Khan, Sushmita Sen, Priety Zinta, Bobby Deol, Lara Dutta, Karan Johar, Abhishek Bachchan, Arjun Rampal, Priyanka Chopra and Bipasha Basu. Such a long list that I had to pause the song numerous times to ensure I have got the list in proper order of appearance.

The movie reminds me of Maggi Tomato Hot And Sweet Chilli sauce - because - "Its Different" :D

17. Shikhar

A movie about big dreams and being big in humanity!!

One one end is a businessman-builder GG - Gaurav Gupta (played by Ajay Devgan). GG is ambitious and takes enormous chances in his business and has been quite successful so far.
The other end is Jaydev Vardhan (played by Shahid Kapoor), a simple, true to heart, and humane son of Guruji. Guruji has turned aesthetic after he met and accident and lost his wife, while he and his kid were saved by the inhabitants of the area where his ashram is. He helps the people of that area with education, medicine and irrigation methods by turning the barren stretch of land into green forest.

GG has dream of making a huge city - full with modern amenities and facilities near mumbai and the best location he finds for it is Songad - the place where Guruji's Ashram stands. GG has already started working on his dream project thinking that dealing with the Ashram would be a petty task. But a determined Guruji and his economic power poses a threat to the dream city.
GG now gets in touch with Jaydev Vardhan who is looking forward to manage the Vardhan industries. GG offers lucrative business ties between GG and Vardhan industries hiding his true intent of the friendship. GG is all set to lay a trap around Jaydev which will force Guruji to move away from the disputed land.

Does GG succeed in his intentions? Does Jaydev who had never seen the modern/social world before, break out of trap laid by GG? Is Guruji able to save his Ashram from the hands of the greedy politicians and corrupt politics? Would the area get to see a green forest land or a concrete jungle?

A big question from me to the makers of the film - why the name Shikhar? Another thing worth noticing is that the theme of the movie closely relates to the dream project of SEZ Mumbai city proposed by one of the Ambanis !!! (No further comments :) ). And one learning from the movie was - whatever a man earn, a good chunk of it should be spent on the welfare of the society, which earns him a invaluable respect and honour which will last longer than the money he'd spend for the same - so true!!

16. Fanaa

It was surprising to see Aamir Khan under the Yash Raj banner. :)

Well Fanaa is a love story of course and that too full of sher-o-shayaree. "Tere dil mein meri saanson ko panaah mil jaaye, tere ishq mein meri jaan fanaa ho jaaye". I dont know much of Urdu, but i guess Fanaa is to sacrifice everything (mostly life) for love or want of something.

Ziya Ali Beg (Kajol Devgan) is a blind girl from Kashmir who is in Delhi for the Independence Day celebrations and is supposed to present a dance with her troupe in front of the guests of the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Since they are in Delhi for a week, they hire a guide for Delhi sight-seeing. Rehan Khan (Aamir Khan - the old man didnt suit in that character at all) is the guide who not only guides the group but also entertains them with their shaayari. Both Ziya and Rehan fall for each other and they go to a private tour of Delhi :)

Rehan is to marry Ziya and has called her parents to Delhi. He also gets her eyes operated (and she does get sight after that - thanks to process in science); but before she could ever see her, she gets news of his death following a blast in the Rashtrapati Bhavan. There comes the intermission. :)

The second half of the movie shows an intelligent terrorist Rehan Khan (Of course Amir Khan in his new look - dashing young man with fire and a goal in his eyes) who is after one of the six triggers of nuclear missile that the Indian govt possesses. Since his face is unknown to the Indian intelligence, he easily mingles with the Indian people and officials.

He disguises himself as BSF Captain and manages to lay hands on the trigger. He is dodging the Indian forces in Kashmir and is almost on the verge of death when he finds himself in front of a solitary house in the valley. That house is none other than that of Ziya Ali Beg.

Rehan and Ziya are facing each other after seven years since they last 'met'. Ziya is now living with her father and son (also named after his father Rehan - we'll call him Rehan Jr.) - her mother having died. None of the family recognize Rehan Sr. Ziya can now see well, but she had never 'seen' Rehan Sr. before. The family takes proper care of severly injured Rehan Sr. Rehan Sr. initially is disturbed by the fact that fate has once again brought him in front of his love and at the other hand he has a 'mission' to complete which is Anti-India.

Rehan Sr. finally succumbs to the call of the heart and tells Ziya all the truth (of course except that he is a terrorist) and marries Ziya. When he has recuperated finally, he sets out to complete his 'last' mission (after that he had decided to stay back with Ziya and Rehan Jr. forever) and Ziya comes to know of this. The factograph of Rehan Sr. is advertised on TV and media !!!!

Can Rehan Sr. complete his mission ? or does Ziya manage to convince him to give up the 'mission' ? Does Rehan Sr. who is deprived of fatherly love gets it at the end ? Does the incomplete family unites for ever ? Does the Indian army get good of Rehan Sr. ? Who is to get "Fanaa" for the love - Rehan Sr. or Ziya or the country or terrorist group ?

Overall the story in the movie is well narrated and adequately paced to keep you on tip of your seat, the songs are quite good. AR Rehman's music get grip on you after a few hearings as usual. However quite a lot of people may find first half of movie bit boring, which starts to make sense around intermission. In second half the movie seems to have been stretched a little much before the end.

Wonder Boys

This is the story of a professor in a literature college. Michael Douglas who plays the Professor Tripp is a successful story writer who also lectures on the art of writing stories. Among his students are two brilliant ones - James Leer (played by Toby Maguire of Spiderman fame) and Hanna (Katie Holmes). James is brilliant author but disturbed and is facing troubles in personal life. Hanna is another good writer with already a couple of books under her cap, who is boarding at Prof. Tripp's house.

Grady Tripp is in love with the wife of head of department Sarah (played by Frances McDormand); Sarah who is also the chancellor of the University is pregnant with Tripp's child. At a annual Wordfest which begins with a party at the HOD's house, James steals an antique - Marilyn Monroe's jacket and shoots the HOD's dog who was attacking Tripp.

Now Tripp is trying his best to save James of the troubles while facing his troubles that includes dealing with his broken marriage and finishing his second book for his editor Terry Crabtree (Robert Downey). Terry is on verge of losing his job for not publishing anything hit since a few years. And to add to the troubles Tripp finds that the car that he got as compensation against a sum of money that he loaned to someone, is a stolen one.

Often you find Prof Tripp getting into the detective mode, trying to find solution to his troubles.

How does Tripp manage to set his life? Is he able to save James from his troubles? Does he save his own marriage or marry Sarah who is already married - wife to HOD of the University? Does he manage to complete his book and save Terry's job ?

Not quite a comedy that would make you laugh, but definitely a light movie. Michael Douglas as usual has done well.

Humko Deewaana Kar Gaye

Its a story about "feeling" - Ehsaas.

Aditya Malhotra (Akshay Kumar) is an Automobile engineer quite jobial and smart. He is engaged to a famous fashion designer Sonia (Bipasha Basu) who prefers career over family. Akshay goes Canada for an assignment, where he meets Jiya Yashwardhan (Kartina Kaif) who in turn is engaged o a tycoon Karan Oberoi (Anil Kapoor) who gets what he wants. Karan does not have time for Jiya as he is busy expanding his empire. A few co-incdental meetings between Jiya and Aditya are taking form of destiny where they start liking each other.

But the engagements have already taken place. How would their lives take turn? Can Aditya and Jiya see each other as life partners ? How would Karan react when he comes to know of this ? Can Sonia who likes Aditya - let go off him ?

Full of emotions and nice songs on some scenic locations, the movie brings upon the realistic war between destiny and situations of complex relations. A good entertainer - definitely a one time watch - specaully for those who are young at heart :)

Chameli

This is the story of a handsomely earning person from the cosmopolitan world who comes across a girl from the brothel, who is out on the streets looking for 'customers'. Like the many of the Pritish Nandy movies, the movie "looks" very realistic and the movie ends with speculations in the viewers mind, leaving questions about the society and the system.

Kapoor (Rahul Bose) who is a widower and has lost interest in social life and whatever social life he spends is only to maintain his network. On one rainy night (it has to always rain in a Bollywood movie to make the story interesting and have unexpected turns :) ), while he is returning from one of 'his' parties, he is stuck up in corridor with a whore when his car simply refuses to move further on a flooded road.

The whore is the center of the story - Chameli (Kareena Kapoor). She tries to hook him up as customer, but he politely refuses. But unable to go anywhere he continues to share the corridor of the building with Chameli, waiting for weather to clear or have some adequate means of reaching home. Chameli is also waiting for a 'customer' and the story of the night begin. No they two do not get intimate, but indulge in a talk.

Chameli's pimp has set her up with some person for the night, but Chameli is reluctant to go. When Kapoor comes to know of this, he is determined to save Chameli. In turn he gets himself involved in an accident with the pimp, who get hurt badly. He is later held by police (for moving around with a whore!!!). He uses all his influence and efforts to get himself and Chameli out of the situation, only to find that the person Chameli was schedules to visit was some nut case ex-corporator.

The web of troubles seems to be continuously spinning around Kapoor as the night goes past. Can he get out of these troubles? How far can he fight because of his affection for Chameli ?? How does Chameli influence his life?

After seeing the movie, I felt the name should have been like "A night with Chameli (or whatever it is called in English)" :P for the movie spans over a common night in both the characters life.