So as you can clearly tell I am one of those super SRK fanatic freak fans who is counting down the days leading up to the release of My Name Is Khan.
For those you non Bolly-knowledgeable people who not aware how big this is...allow me to explain and show you some fabulous promos at the same time.
1. This film marks the reunion of the greatest trio {In my opinion they are the greatest} in the Hindi film industry. Shahrukh Khan {Actor}, Kajol {Actress}, Karan Johar{Director/Producer} have made so of the industries most memorable films;
2. This film also marks the partnership of Karan's Dharma Productions with Sharukh's Company Red Chillies Entertainment.
3. This film is also the first film to get support and partner up with FOX Searchlight Studios. Which I see as a great opportunity to get more exposure for the Hindi film industry.
4. It has been almost 10 years that the SRK + Kajol Jodi was seen on screen. They are one of the industries most memorable couple in modern Hindi Cinema.
***These are some of the reasons as to why there is so much hype surrounding the film. But for me, only need these reasons to watch this film SRK + Kajol + Karan.
Give me an Akki + Bebo jodi, I'm in! Add to that a sexually frustrated Priyanka who tries to sexually exploit our Akshay, I'm so there!!! This is as good of a cast as it gets.
This film belongs entirely to Priyanka. I love this film because it plays well into challenging gender norms, but of course it also does a good job of reinforcing them as well, but I focus mostly on the good aspects of this film. The basic story of Aitraaz is of the sexually unsatisfied wife of business mogul/owner of Voice Mobile Ranjeet Roi, played by Amrish Puri in a non-bad guy avatar, played brilliantly by Priyanka Chopra. Sonia whom tries to bribe Raj, played by the Sexy Akshay Kumar, an engineer who works for Voice Mobile into a having a sexual relationship with her, even though he's already married to Anjali, played by Kareena Kapoor {Bebo}.
When Raj rejects Sonia's advances, she accuses him of attempted rape. Anjali eventually discovers what happened and tells Raj that she's behind him and that he should fight for the truth. So now Raj would sue Sonia for sexual harassment. This of course angers Ranjeet, and this issue is then taken to court.
What's so awesome about this is that after watching Paresh Rawal do so many comedies is that I finally got a chance to see him play a sort of serious hard ass lawyer and I LOVED IT!!!
During the court procedures, news reporters made it seem as though this act committed by a woman was just unimaginable, I mean how could a woman ever be capable of doing such things.
Even during court proceedings the defense attorney gives this as his opening statement, “It is said in the scriptures, that a woman is like a river. If she remains in the boundaries of her banks she brings happiness and prosperity. And if she breaks the boundaries of her banks all she brings is destruction.”
When the original defense lawyer for Raj is unable to protect him from prison it's up to, the Good Wife, Anjali to protect her man/husband. And of course Anjali succeeds, she protects her husband from the evil woman Sonia {and prison}.
I remember a quote used by Chotlani, the prosecuting attorney, “Do you know why I lost this case? Because no lawyer was defending you. It was your wife. And when a faithful wife defends her husband, she can bring back life to him from the Lord Yama too.”
The music is Ok, not really anything to write home about. I really enjoyed the pictuarization of the song Tala Tum and Voh Tassavur {Kareena looks fantastic!}. The end song is nice, but forgettable. Overall the film was very enjoyable, but I would rent it first unless your a hardcore Akki fan I wouldn't recommend buying this film.
The film is about wealthy Anjali, played fantastically by Shilpa Shetty, and poor Dev, played byHot UncleSunil Shetty. When Anjali introduces Dev to her parents, they are less than pleased that this is whom their princess has chosen as her life partner. In their mission to get Anjali married to their chosen groom, Anjali's parents {mostly her father} successfully blackmail her to leave Dev and marry, the very wealthy, Ram, played by Akshay Kumar.
Eventually Anjali falls in love with Ram. Trouble brews when Dev returns to their life, now a very wealthy and successful businessman with partner Sheetal, played by Mahima Choudary, in hand as well.
I will confess that I watched this film during my Love Akshay period, and of course this was one of the first romantic films I had seen, besides Tashan {which is kind of romantic film}, and of course I fell in love with his portrayal of Ram.
I will say that upon my various viewings of this film, I have come to really dislike Ram's overall niceness... he's just too damn nice!!! Besides this fault, I very much enjoyed the film. I absolutely loved the Shilpa + Akshay jodi, I believe that this was their second film together.
The music, WoW, what can I say it's fantastic. It just flows so well with the film. My favorite would have to be Dil Ne Yea Kaha Dil Se {I must point out that Akshay's comb-over was a bit of a turn off, but he still managed to grab my attention} and Dulhe Ka Sehra. Shilpa looks amazing in the bridal dress!!!
Ok!...so I know this review will be a little biased, on account that this is my all time favorite Hindi film, but whatever. So, the story of Jab We Met is that of Aditya Kashiap, played by Shahid Kapoor *sigh*, failing business industrialist, who decides to get on a train to escape his troubled personal life in Mumbai. During his train ride he meets the very talkative {and I really mean this, she talks even when she's sleeping lol} and bubbly Geet, played beautifully by Kareena Kapoor.
Eventually the trip consists of Geet missing her train, not once but twice, and needing to stay at a Hotel {Hotel Decent} with Aditya while at the same time being mistaken for a call girl {3 hours ;-)}, and having to warn Aditya that she knows Karate so there wouldn't be a problem. Eventually they reach Geet' home in Bhatinda, where her entire family is there to greet her. She immediately finds out that her family has arranged her marriage to long time family friend Manjeet Mann, but Geet's only reason for coming back home was to later run away to elope with her boyfriend Anshuman.
I don't want to say much more...I really am not good at recommending films but this one is just so good!!! I believe this to be one of Kareena Kapoor's most strongest roles to date. I think that one of the best moments in the film is when Geet misses the train for a second time...her expression is just priceless!
The ending song that seems to be anImtiazAli trademark in his films worked so much better in this film than it did in Love Aaj Kal. Mauja Hi Mauja integrates itself into the wedding ceremony, unlike Aahun Aahun whose sole purpose is just to be an ending song. Don't get me wrong, I freaking love Auhun Aahun...I just feel that it didn't fit as well as the song in Jab We Met.
The story of Yaadein is of Raj Singh Puri played by Jackie Schroff, who has three daughters each with their own different personalities and sets of problems. You have Avantika (Avni Vasa) whom, I would say is the least problematic of the girls. Next is Sania, (Himani Rawat) who plays the rebellious one of the group. And last but not least is Isha, played by the fantabulousKareena Kapoor.
The story revolves around the untimely death of the mother/wife Shalini, (Rati Agnihotri) and the families' struggle to deal with it. The father, Raj, trying to take his wife's role in the family, he decides to become friends with his daughters in order for them to connect. They all make a promise to not marry anyone unless everyone in the family approves of them.
This is where Ronit Malhotra comes into the picture, played by Hrithik Roshan *sigh*, who is the son of L.K. Malhotra, (Anang Desai) and nephew of business tycoon J.K. Malhotra, played fantastically by Amrish Puri {but then again when has he ever played a bad guy wrong?} L.K. has been friends with Raj for a long time, and in that time Raj and Rohit develop a very close friendship.
Hopefully you're still with me...so Raj, Rohit and his 3 daughters have known each other very well for years, but eventually the other two daughters get hitched and only Isha is left. On a trip to Malaysia she runs into Ronit this is when their affair blooms.
This film started off with so much potential, I was so into the Ronit + Isha secret affair, but this film made a wrong turn and just crashed and burned. I hated the second part, ugh! According to the Wikipedia page the director did not want a love angle in the film, but was forced to add it at the, last minute, I wonder what would have been. Don't get me wrong I enjoyed the love angle of the film. The problems begin after Ronit + Isha return home and back to reality, in which I lost sight as to what this film was originally about. I ended up not caring whether or not they would be together.
Ooh! I almost forgot to mention the music...I loved Jab Dil Miley and Chamaki Shaam Hai …. I love Hrithik's dancing and it was nice to see that Kareena was able to keep with him.
I remember hearing about this photographer, Dabboo Ratnani last year, when I came across a fantastic picture of Akshay Kumar. I really need to get my hands on this calendar...I really enjoyed this years pix. These are just some of my favorites {In order}:
#1 Shahrukh Khan: In my eyes, this man can do no wrong!!!
#2 Kareena Kapoor {Bebo}: I pretty much worship this woman!!!
#3 Akshay Kumar: Golden Man Akshay...come one look at that bod...
#4 Vidya Balan: ...looking absolutely stunning.
#5 Arjun Rampal: There's just something intoxicatingly beautiful about this picture...
#6 Katrina Kaif: Looking as beautiful as ever...
#7 Ranbir Kapoor: ...*melts*...
#8 Deepika Padukone: Love it!!!
#9 Abhishek Bachchan: I just love him with his beard!!! I really wish he had it when they took this picture...*sigh*
#10 Genelia D'Souza: This girl is just adorable...I just love her!
{All Pictures Courtesy of http://www.dabbooratnani.com}
(Eeeek! You can see SRK with glasses in one of the pix!!!)
Due to my trip I will not be able to drool over my SRK on the big screen...and I refuse to watch any SRK film illegally...I need him on a big screen with my chai during intermission (interval)...so until I return to the good 'ol US of A, I will have to make due with the 1 minute video clips. And here for your indulgence are some teasers for the film...
*** I truly have no expectations for this film...there is only one reason I'm gonna watch this film...so yeah...I've been reading the reviews... oh well.
On my way to my vacation destination...after watching my Top SRK Videos, I began to wonder how many Hindi films I had seen since my first glimpse into this industry. Here are the results:
* This was the very first Bollywood film I ever saw, I saw it on YouTube, and I LOVE YouTube for this.
** This was the first film I ever saw without subtitles, it wasn't the best film...but I was proud of the fact that I saw it without the help of subs!
*** This was the first Hindi film I saw on the big screen, I ended up seeing it twice. My Love for my Akshay first bloomed the second I saw him on that bike with his Ravana costume. {I want that costume! I wouldn't mind 9 Akki's staring at me all night!}
I will be unavailable for the next two weeks, I will therefore not be posting anything new...unless I can get a hold of a wi-fi connection somewhere around the pueblo i'll be visiting in Mexico...so yeah...don't expect anything new...sorry!
Hopefully, this trip will give me some time to write up some reviews for Jab We Met, Tashan, Dhadkan, Bewafaa, Love Aaj Kal and Sita Sings the Blues {My YouTube Discovery}.
***Ooh! Before I forget...ok! Deep-breath...ok!... SRK is finally onTwitter !!! *Shrieks* I Know!!!!! Thank You Karan !!!!!!
