Friday, January 20, 2006

Rang De Basanti

Producer: Rakesh Omprakash Mehra, David Reid and Ronnie Screwvala
Executive producer: Adam Bohling
Director: Rakesh Omprakash Mehra
Cast: Aamir Khan, Soha Ali Khan, Waheeda Rehman, Om Puri, Kiron Kher, Madhavan, Atul Kulkarni, Kunal Kapoor, Sharman Joshi, Anupam Kher, Siddharth, Lekh Tandon, Alice Payton, Cyrus Sahukar
Music: A.R. Rahman
Cinematography: Binod Pradhan
Released on: January 26, 2006

A young idealistic English filmmaker, Sue, arrives in India to make a film on Indian revolutionaries Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekhar Azad and their contemporaries and their fight for freedom from the British Raj. Owing to a lack of funds, she recruits students from Delhi University to act in her docu-drama. She finds DJ, who passed out 5 years back but still wants to be a part of University because he doesn't think there's too much out there in real world to look forward to. Karan, son of Industrialist Rajnath Singhania, who shares an uncomfortable relationship with his father, but continues to live off him. Aslam is a middle class Muslim boy, who lives in by-lanes near Jama Masjid, poet, philosopher and guide to his friends.
Sukhi, the group's baby, innocent, vulnerable and with a weakness for only one thing-girls. Laxman Pandey, fundamentalist in the group, the only one who still believes that politics can make world a better place and finally Sonia- the sole girl in group, tomboy and vivacious spirit, engaged to Ajay- dashing air pilot. These youngsters could be anyone of us today and their lives mirror the kind of lives the youth of today lead - namely a self centered and materialistic existence where ideas like patriotism and making a change are strictly the stuff history books are made of. Through her film, Sue wishes to showcase to the world the efforts of these young revolutionaries and the enormity of their contribution to the freedom movement in India. What unfolds is the inspiration behind Sue's passion for bringing their story to the world. The twist in the tale is of course the fact that more than just telling the world, Sue's film makes DJ and his friends stop and stare at themselves for being the actual descendants of these great men and never recognizing and celebrating their courage and spirit. The film thus doubles as a narrative on the changes in perspective and values the young boys and girls acting in her documentary go through as they shoot for the film. Few scenes from the past and present are juxtaposed against each other, which renders a unique slick treatment, which serves to showcase the slow change in mindset and attitude that overcomes the group through the process of film.

Friday, January 13, 2006

Family

Banner: DMS Films Pvt. Ltd. and AB Corp.
Producer: Keshu Ramsay
Director: Rajkumar Santoshi
Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Akshay Kumar, Aryeman (Introduced), Kader Khan, Gulshan Grover, Bhumika Chawla, Shernaz Patel, Sushant Singh, Raza Murad, Vivek Madan, Anjan Srivastava, Arjun Raj Nirula, Sanjay Singh, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Sunil Grover, Ashok Samarth, Kamlesh Sawant and Sunil Grover
Cassettes and CD's on: T-Series
Singers: Arnab Chakravorty, Sowmya Roah, Suhail Kaul, Ernie, Sona Mohapatra, Madhushree, Shailendra Singh and Prakash
Lyricist: Sameer
Music: Ram Sampat
Cinematography: Ashok Mehta
Choreography: Bosco- Caesar
Editor: Shyam Salgaonkar
Story/Writer: Shaktimaan
Released on: January 12, 2006

Family is the story of two families, that of Viren Sahai and Shekhar Bhatia - two worlds totally different from each other and how these worlds collide with catastrophic consequences one fateful night. It is also the story of Aryan, powered by the love of his family, which gives him the strength to take on the might of an invincible gangster. Sharda, she is a woman who feared her whole life that her family would have to pay for her husband's sins and now finds that the time has come. Shekhar's doctor wife Bhumika has to find some hidden reservoirs of strength in herself and fight to save her family, from breaking down. Most important, Family is the story of Viren Sahai, a gangster who finds too late that you may have everything? power, success, wealth, fear? but if you don't have family, you have nothing!

Saturday, January 07, 2006

Jawani Diwani- A Youthful Joyride

Banner: V.R. Entertainers
Producer: N. R. Pachisia
Director: Manish Sharma
Cast: Emraan Hashmi, Celina Jaitley, Hrishita Bhatt, Mahesh Manjrekar and Tiku Talsania
Cassettes and CD's on: T-Series
Singers: Bobby Moon, Sonu Nigam, Hamza Faruqui, Sowmya Roah, Suhaas, Rahul Saxena, Shadaab Faridi, Arif Shaikh, K. K., Abhijeet Sawant, Shreya Ghosal and Sunidhi Chauhan
Lyricist: Shabbir Ahmed and Kumar
Music: Clinton Cerejo, Sajid-Wajid, Siddharth and Suhaas
Cinematography: Rajeev Shrivastava
Choreography: Stanley
Editor: Steven Bernard
Story/Dialogue: Pradeep Tiwari
Released on: 6 January 2006

Hard-core opportunist Mann is struggling singer and doesn't hesitate in 'choosing' Radha, daughter of a music company owner, as his love for purely selfish cause. An agreement for Mann's music album is signed and marriage is planned. It is enough reason to justify Mann's friends demand for treat in Goa. In Goa, Mann caught red handed in bed with Roma and forced into wedlock because of don, Chappu Bhai. Marriage reflects for Mann is ruined career and shattered dreams. To know his aspirations Roma frees him from relation. Divorced Mann, flies down to Mumbai where Radha awaits him. To convince Radha, is not difficult. Marriage re-arranged. Roma re-enters in life of Mann as is chosen model, for his video. During shooting, Mann realize his possessiveness towards her. But, Roma walks out of Mann's life for second time. Marriage postponed by a shocked Radha who learns about this episode. Now, Mann surrendered himself to his fate and destiny takes a third twist.