Jolly LLB Movie Review

It is good to see that the Indian film industry is not afraid to make different fimls anymore. The entire theme of satire may still not be as mainstream as we all would perhaps like it to be, but rest assured Bollywood is moving down that path. Three decades after the brilliant Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro, came movies like Peepli Live, Phas Gaye Re Obama and last week's Saare Jahan se Mehenga. Now, you can add Jolly LLB to that list.

Helmed by Subhash Kapoor, who came into limelight with his comment about global recession and its effects in his last movie, Phas Gaye Re Obama, Jolly LLB aims at laying bare the foibles that defines our entire judiciary system. The story revolves around Jagdish Tyagi (Arshad Warsi), better known as Jolly to friends and near ones. Frustrated with the fact that his career is not taking off in a small town like Meerut, Jolly decides it's high time he moved to Delhi. He also convices in girl-friend Sandhya (Amrita Rao) and hits Delhi's Districts and Sessions Court where is 'office' is a feelble desk perched under the wide open sky. He flounders and moves about his daily chores until the day he meets the super-successful Tejinder Rajpal (Boman Irani), arguing about the victimization of his rich client Rahul Dewan, whose Land Cruiser had run over 6 labourers on a foot-path. Suddenly, an eye-witness to the case appears, and Jolly files a PIL. 

There are a couple of blemishes in the movie which I would like to mentio here; like the song featuring  the clumsy' daaru', which was completely uncalled for, and perhaps I would've personally loved to see more of the Meerut city. But, with cracking scenes between Jolly and Rajpal and eventually Rajpal vs. the judge Tripathi (played by the brilliant Saurabh Shukla), the ongoings becomes absolutely electric. Eventually, drama builds up as Jolly mirrors the public's (aam aadmi) bewilderment and determination to fight against corruption and wrong-doings.

Jolly LLB works, and works big time because of the wonderful star-cast. Arshad Warsi as Jolly is outrightly convincing, while Boman Irani as the high-flying advocate is absolutely brilliant. And when both of them come together, each scene becomes a joy to behold. The movie also works because of its larger point - decency is absolutely worth fighting for. The movie uses satire and plot twists, and somehow manages to show corruption used against the corrupt in a way which would, I am sure, to touch the general public. It does have a wee bit weaker first half, and songs could've been done without, but what it ultimately becomes is a Jolly good show. If you think you'll enjoy a court-room drama with a twist (satire) and a certain seriousness to it, go watch Jolly LLB and have a jolly good time.

Rating: 3.5/ 5 Stars

Kai Po Che Movie Review

Indian film industry is evolving, and in what an amazing way, really. We are almost looking at a new Bollywood, evolving exactly as it ideally should. This 'change' that I have been talking about is something which defines this latest iteration of Chetan Bhagat's novel 'Three Mistakes of my Life'. What's more, this movie sets the stage for 3 new exciting talents who are worth a watch; actually MORE than worth a watch, really.

The above lines defines 'Kai Po Che' in a nutshell. Directed by Abhishek Kapoor, adapts 'The 3 Mistakes of My Life', best-seller author Chetan Bhagat's take of a story, mixing cricket rage with a few other notes regarding politics, religion, the confused youth, and finally coming of age. The story of the movie says what Bhagat majorly says in his book, but that is to be expected since it is the book that the story majorly follows. Like the book, the film unfolds the film's story in Ahmedabad in the year 2002, with the backdrop of the Gujarat riots. This movie cannot really be slated into a particular genre as such. It actually depicts friendship, romance, sports, religion, politics and what's more, it talks about all this in a way that is really toucing, and would really strike a chord with the audience. 

Kai Po Che tells the tale of three friends who are based out of Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The story sees a young boy in Ahmedabad, named Govind (Rajkumar Yadav) dream of starting a business. However, to accommodate his friend Ishan (Sushant Singh Rajput) ad Omi's (Amit Sadh) passion for cricket, they finally open a cricket goods and training shop. But, if you really delve deeply, you will notice the fact that the three friends have their own motive; while Govind's goal is to make as much money as he can, Ishan desires to nurture Ali who is a gifted batsma, while all Omi wants to do is stay with his friends. However, the events which take place ultimately change the lives of each of the friends in a very different ways.

With Kai Po Che, Abhishek Kapoor has proved what a fantastic story-teller he is, a fact which is clearly evident in his earlier films too, namely, "Aryan" and "Rock On". You might find a few similarities between Rock-On and Kai Po Che, but they are still very different. I truly believe that a movie like Kai Po Che is really tough to make as it just doesn't has a solid story, but also has a few sub-plots - a much bigger canvas, really. As for the sound-track of the movie,  the songs are not complicated, and fits in beautifully within the movie. More importantly, it is purely a sound-track which can be enjoyed by us all, every Indian would really find it easy to understand and perhaps even hum along, long after getting out of the theatre. Cinematography (by Anay Goswamy) is brilliant, and captures the feel of the city in a beautiful way.

The main parts, as played by three hugely gifted actors is absolutely brilliant. Sushant Singh Rajput, Rajkumar Yadav and Amit Sadh are the heart-beats of this enterprise. They are all terrific actors, and are blessed with an amazing screen presence, and pure talent. Not only are these three actors brilliant, but even the supporting cast is equally superb. 

Finally, all I can say is Kai Po Che is full of awesome content. It proves the simple fact that to make good cinema, it is not always neccessary to cast a huge star-cast. Watch Kai Po Che because movies like these need our encouragement. This movie so much deserves a standing ovation. Absolutely brilliant!

Rating: 4.5/ 5 Stars

Murder 3 Movie Review

I want to confess something before starting out with this review. Sara Loren's character in this movie (Murder 3 ) has her first dialogue which goes like, "Mujhe akele aur tanha aadmiyon ki aankhon mein aansoon achhe nahin lagtey", which means "I don't like seeing tears in the eyes of alone and lonely men." These words does say a lot about the movie, doesn't it? 

Murder 3 could have been a brilliantly done movie, but what it actually transpires into is a bland, borderline comatose and what it believes is an 'official' adaptation of the Columbian thriller "La Cara Oculta" (The Hidden Face). It shows sensuality, lip locking and almost as bad dialogues as you could ever hear from a commercial movie! 

True love is perhaps the best thing one can ever find in this life, but if you do dare to cheat on your spouse, you might end up in more danger than you could imagine. Yes, that is the main plot or the premise of the movie Murder 3, Vishesh Bhatt's latest offering in the Murder franchise. Murder 3 starts off with Vikram (Randeep Hooda), who seemed to have been dumped by girl-friend Roshni (Aditi Rao Hydari). A heart-broken Vikram starts to spend most of his time drinking in the bars, and is almost ready not to ever forgive his girl-friend for what she did to her. That is where he eventually meets Nisha (Sara Loren), who lends him her shoulder to cry. Eventually, it happens; Vikram and Nisha fall in love with each other and Nisha ends up shifting into Vikram's palatial house situated on the outskirts of the city. Soon, Nisha starts to experience things, starts to hear voices, et al from the old house, made decades ago. But, she is confused as to what is actualy is. She thinks there exists some ghost in the house, but Vikram takes her all too lightly. What happens next and what secrets does the house hold is the main plot-line of Murder 3.

Where Murder falters, for me, is the fact that it has romantic songs forced in after almost every scene. These songs do not hold any real relevance to the plot, or between them at all. It is almost as if the film-maker spoiling the grip or the suspense or the drama with these unwanted songs. Performance wise, all the leading characters do a decent job; however, Randeep Hooda doesn't really live up to the expectations that perhaps the public or his fans might have had from him, especially given his earlier strong performances. Debutant director Vishesh Bhatt, though of a directing lineage has quite a lot of catching up to do is what I felt, especially his actors are almost like the sketches of what his characters should have been.

There is a strong twist at the culmination of Murder 3 which almost saves it from a bad and predictable ending, but anyways, since it is almost a copy-paste job of another movie, the credit goes to the original content and not Murder 3 in its entirety. At the end, all I can say is Murder 3 is not really one of the best offerings from the Bhatt camps. It is a one time watch, yes, but, if you ask me, placing cameras, huge sets, and copying a story doesn't really guarantee a hit. But, that's just me I believe. Not everyone in the fraternity agrees with me.

Rating: 3.5 / 5 Stars