Murder 2 (2011)

At a glance:
Sequel only in name, Bhatt family product Murder 2 has little to do with the Emraan Hashmi and Mallika Sherawat starrer sevens years ago in 2004. While that one was said to be lifted off Hollywood’s Unfaithful (2002), this one is said to be loosely-based on South Korea’s The Chaser (2008) and there is truth in this, comin from a reviewer who has now coincidentally seen both movies. Dabblin with some Christian elements just like the Seoul thriller, Murder 2 is an unabashed showcase of Emraan Hashmi’s (pic) broodin good looks and the bodily delight of the Ceylonese beauty queen that is Jacqueline Fernandez (pic), packaged within a story that will remind you of gory thrillers like Seven (1995) and Hannibal (2001). She is more of a looker than Bipasha Basu (whom she replaced as the lead) but she’ll have to improve her dancin as she accepts more roles. Both leads do quietly well and carry the movie along its charged, superficial eroticism.

Bad news on the doorstep:

While admittedly dark and entirely humourless, Murder 2 is lackin in any real depth and reflection – but as a Bollywood entertainer in the thriller genre, it does what it says on the tin, thanks to the deranged villain character played by Prashant Narayanan. This performance, though and not particularly original, is mildly compellin, and provides some semblance of substance to the otherwise MTV proceedings in Goa.

Perennial wonderment:

Are Bollywood sex sirens shaven?

Reminds me of:

The grindhouse feel of watchin the midnight show alone at TGV Capsquare, Kuala Lumpur.

Amacam joker, berapa bintang lu mau kasi?

Two and a half for the effort. The soundtrack is solid fare that has more endurance than the movie proper and will win fans. Watch out for Yana Gupta in a special appearance in the openin track, Aa Zara, somethin so sexy that apparently they couldn't use it for TV promo.

3 Idiots (2009)

At a glance:
Finally, a movie that no reviewer can be faulted for pinnin five glowing stars to - Rajkumar Hirani's winsome 3 Idiots. Reunitin Rang De Basanti stars Aamir Khan (pic, centre), Sharman Joshi (pic, left) and Madhavan (pic, right), the Munnabhai maestro delivers an endearin crowd-pleaser that's substantial and more importantly, resoundingly entertainin. Backed by producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra and built on a refreshin source material in Cheetan Bhagat's 2004 novel Five Point Someone (a bestsellin English novel in India about three strugglin students at the Indian Institute of Technology in Delhi), looks like Bollywood saved the best for last in 2009's curtain frame. This is a triumphant picture in every sense of the word. Chroniclin varsity days never looked more fun than when a 44-year-old Aamir Khan plays Rancho, an avant-garde ME student at India's leadin university who knows the difference between gettin a degree and gettin an education. Told in flashbacks, we follow Raju (Sharman Joshi) and Farhan (Madhavan) as they track him down, years after he disappeared from uni mysteriously. Thrown in the mix are a colourful set of characters - the draconian, by-the-book Don King dean Viru Sahastrabudhhe (Boman Irani) they not-so-fondly dub Virus, his disillusioned daughter Pia (Kareena Kapoor) and also the unrelentin sore loser Chatur "Silencer" Ramalingam (Omi Vaidya) who insists that academic distinction is achieved solely by acin exams.
Reminds me of:
Uni days. The heart of the story is about missin out on fun and the true meanin of learnin, as most students in India (and obviously elsewhere) chase their parents dreams in pressure pots called universities. However, while this screen treatment can be preachy and overly simplistic at times, it's delightful narrative keeps the movie at a zoobi doobi pace, allowin the audience to overlook some of the more contrived and predictable sequences. There are only five music tracks (Aal Izz Well, Zoobi Doobi, Behti Hawa Sa Tha Woh, Give Me Some Sunshine and Jaane Nahin Denge) but they serve ever so well to keep the momentum of the adventure.
Most memorable line:
Rancho: "Chase excellence and success will follow you, pants-down."
Amacam joker, berapa bintang lu mau kasi?
It's truly a wonder how 3 Idiots can be successfully driven by three male leads with relatively little screen time for the only female lead played by Kareena Kapoor. End product is a memorable knockout picture that surely sits well with the handful of Hindi films in every 10 years or so that we concede as both commercially and critically acclaimed. Although the movie will be available for download on YouTube three months after its theatrical release (a move to fight piracy), this isn't a movie you would want to miss at the cinemas.

London Dreams (2009)

At a glance:
Namastey London director Vipul Amrutlal Shah continues his fascination with the English capital and trades his favourite actor Akshay Kumar for two able leadin men in Salman Khan and Ajay Devgan with London Dreams, an aptly-titled musical caper that reunites the duo some ten years after Straight From The Heart. Pic opened head-to-head with another Deepavali release Aladin and if BO figures and critic reviews are anythin to go by, is the superior of the two. London Dreams are shared by Arjun (what's with this name and Vipul?) and Mannu, two childhood friends who find fame and fortune after a bit of Punjab village backstory. However, their bond is severely tested when the determined one is not the more talented one, while Chennai dancer Priya (Asin Thottumkal) introduces a love triangle.
Bad news on the doorstep:

Can't get much cheesier than this, can it?

Lead actress Asin is the sorest point of the movie. She ain't improved from Ghajini and delivers an unconvincin, stutterin performance when flanked by two established stars. Underutilised supportin characters include bandmates Zoheb (Rannvijay Singh) and Wasim (Aditya Roy Kapoor), while veteran Om Puri gets a cameo as a disapprovin uncle. Addin to the mediocrity is a lacklustre score by Shankar-Ehasan-Loy (would it have been a different movie if A.R. Rahman didn't fall out of the project?) which is found wantin especially in the buildup to the climaxin showdown at Wembley, itself an almost farcical drama overkill, complete with water bottle shower. Music lacks a certain energy to it; Barson Yaaron, Yaari Bina and Tapkey Masti just pass us by while Khanabadosh and Man Ko Ati Bhavey manages to be slightly more sprightly.
Watch out for:
Devgan (successfully breakin out from the action hero mould), who puts in a heartfelt performance of angst and aggression; and Khan, more than comfortable playin a lackadaisical but hilarious, simpleton womaniser who is blessed with talent but not the ambition to use it.
Most memorable line:
Mannu: "Every year, a Manjit or two get married here."
Amacam joker, berapa bintang lu mau kasi?Three stars. London Dreams is best remembered for a strong chemistry between the two leads and for providin a second revivalist injection to Salman Khan's star appeal after Wanted earlier this year. Asin though, can go back to Kerala.